7 Ways to Keep Femininity On When It's Cold

   People usually view summer as the biggest enemy for femininity in how we girls dress, due to the warmer temperature and the temptation to show more skin (and living in Texas, I know what they mean!). But winter poses a threat that is just as dangerous, although very different: sloppiness. The temptation in winter is to dress in "comfortable clothes"; otherwise known as wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts everywhere, with messy hair and looking as though you didn't get dressed this morning. Or maybe there's the temptation to bundle up in sweaters that are anything but attractive, just because they're warm. But I'm going to tell you about 7 items that can help you keep the femininity in your clothing this winter.

1. Hats

   Hats are one of the most useful accessories for cold weather. No, I don't mean the baseball caps, fedoras, or bulky snow hats. I mean the feminine, attractive hats (they were the fashion last year). They can make an outfit both warm and incredibly feminine.

   Beanies, like these, and other hats are cheap and you can even make some yourself (then you can pick the color, style, and size you want, as well as personalize your own outfit!). Hats really do make your body warmer, removing some of the need for extra layers.









2. Scarves 

















   Scarves are not only adorable but also fashionable. They come in every color, texture, and pattern you could ever want. They really do keep you warm, and they can be that one accent that makes the outfit. Also, they're one of the most feminine things you can do to an outfit! Why, you might ask? Well, I'm no fashion expert, but I'll guess that it has something to do with the grace that comes with it. You don't wear scarves with ripped up shorts and tank tops. Also, girls wear scarves much more often than guys do. But I would definitely encourage you to go get some scarves (you can find them anywhere too. Seriously, almost anywhere) because they're incredibly useful!

3. Long Tank Tops/Camis

   No, I don't mean to go with only a tank top on. But long tank tops add an extra layer of insulation and protect you from shirts that show skin when you raise your arms or bend over (HPA people...these were my saviors during my years there!). They come in different materials and colors, but it mainly matters that they are long. They add a cute spunk to an outfit, and you don't have to worry about what happens when you pick something up off the ground or reach for something on a high shelf. Some have wide straps and some have spaghetti straps, but it doesn't really matter as long as they're not visible. Plus, they come in every color of the rainbow.






4. Long Sleeve Undershirts

   I couldn't really find a picture for what I mean, but simple, long-sleeve undershirts are even better than tank tops for the cold weather. All you basically need is a tank top with long sleeves-and they shouldn't be too hard to find. (I realize the picture looks really awful. I was trying to find something at least similar to what I was describing.) They can also keep you from having to buy more clothes-you can put them under a short sleeve shirt if you have to. They come in any color you can imagine as well.


5. Sweaters

 





"Wait! I thought you said not to dress like this! You said no sweatshirts, no sweatpants...how are these different?" Well actually, they're very different. Sweaters are very feminine, and they're really warm. They come in every style and color, every fabric and thickness. Dressing warmly and bulkily isn't wrong, but dressing down because it's cold is ridiculous. Sweaters are amazing. Take my word for it.
   Cardigans are great too, if it's not too cold.

6. Leggings


   Anyone who's lived near any college campus has seen the recent trend in "leggings only." I don't find the ability to see every line of a person's legs attractive. But leggings are beautiful with skirts, and even some pants. Leggings can help if a skirt is just a little too short, but only to a point. If the skirt goes an inch or two above your knee, leggings should fix it. But leggings with a skirt that ends at mid-thigh just make a bad outfit worse. I wouldn't recommend "Jeggings" either, the jeans that are just as tight as leggings. Sorry people, but it's not attractive.

7. Leg Warmers

   Perhaps even better than leggings, because there's no temptation to wearing them alone-leg warmers. They can go over tights or leggings, or by themselves. They can go with a skirt, or pants. They come in every color, and some come in patterns.
   I realize that most people only have seen leggings on dancers and people from the 80s music videos, but they really are adorable and feminine! But the same thing with leggings; don't be tempted to use them to cover up an already inappropriate outfit. It won't work.
   But you can wear them with leggings, tights, a skirt, and with pants-over the pant legs or just under them to stay warm.


   I hope that these are helpful in getting your closets set for winter! Adios! <3

Faith, Hope, Love, and...Doubt?

   I follow the blog of one of my favorite Christian singers, because I find her perspectives interesting-usually because I don't agree with them. As much as her songs are inspiring, uplifting, and true, when it comes down to her blog posts we just don't unify in our opinions. But one of her posts inspired me to actually speak out. (Actually, more than one: upcoming posts on this blog are geared off some of her other posts.) 

   In her article, she explained her view that faith naturally contains doubt; that the unknowability of God and His mystery and how He is unknowable in our teeny-tiny minds, that doubt is a natural overflow of our spiritual lives because we just can't handle it. I do agree with the fact that God is unknowable; we can't understand His ways. His thoughts are so much higher than ours! But what bothered me the most was the quote supplied at the bottom: "Faith which does not doubt, is dead faith." -Miguel de Unamuno.

   Unfortunately, the Bible seems to defy this concept. Do you remember the story when the disciples encounter Jesus walking on water, and Peter joins Jesus on the water? The reason that Peter sank is that he lost faith in Jesus' power to save him from the storms around him. "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” "(Matthew 14:30-33). It's recorded that faith (without doubt) is the key to prayer: "And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen." (Matthew 21:21), and, "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him." (Mark 11:23). One of my favorite verses just about sums it all up: "If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.’” (Isaiah 7:9). 

   Faith which does not take itself seriously is dead faith. Faith that never asks questions about itself is dead faith. Faith that does not show is dead faith. Faith that does not love is dead faith. Faith that is not put into action is dead faith.

   Faith that doubts is not faith at all.

   Because faith and doubt are not opposite sides of the same coin; they're opposite spectrums, they're opposite sides of a deep chasm and you can never be on both sides at once.

   Faith is a gift; it is a gift of God that we can even come to faith-it's not be works. It's also a spiritual gift-included in Paul's list of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 14. Faith doesn't come naturally. Everything God says contradicts what we see-but that is where faith steps in.

   If you doubt, pray. Study His word. Read faith-building stories. And pray. One of the best ways to build faith is to pray in faith, and pray specifically. It won't crush your faith; rather, it'll build it up. This is one of the most important things you'll ever do; fight for it! Talk to those who are strong in faith, ask God in faith, live in faith.

   Faith.

Thoughts:)

After I sent a random poem I spontaneously wrote to a friend. he suggested I share it on my blog. Since I have barely touched my blog recently, I decided that I'd do it. So here is my extremely informal, just-get-my-thoughts-out poem.

Get up.
Wake up.
Stop.

What are you doing?
Life's not long.
It's short.

And every moment
You only get to live
One time.

Once.

If your life is to
Be for His glory
Isn't it?

When we surrender,
We can't take it back.
It's not ours.
And yet we do.

We only get one chance.
We can't live tomorrow for God.

We never get tomorrow.
We only get today.
Just one day.

You can do that, right?

Jesus never said,
Follow me after Facebook.
After this movie.

He said take up your cross.
And follow me.
NOW.

This world is not eternal.
You are not eternal.
Nothing is.

Except God.

You only get one life.
One day at a time to sow.
And you reap it in eternity.

So get UP!
Break the average barrier.
The world has enough of average Christians.

Follow Him wholeheartedly.

Don't follow other Christians.
Don't follow Christian songs.
Or books.

They're tools to help you.
Follow God.
And His word.

Leave the half-baked Christian life.
Become a prayer warrior.
A conqueror or sin.

Be.Different.

Matthew 16:24.

To My Dear and Faithful Subscribers...

To those of you who bother to read my little blog, thank you! I realize its been awhile since I've posted anything, due to the fact that I've started many and finished none. But for the next two days its packing, packing, packing for my move to TX next week. The three days after are also full, and on the third day I depart for the Student Statesmanship Institute, where I will spend a week before leaving for vacation in Wisconsin, and we will go directly from there to Waco, Texas. I am planning to blog this summer, but I won't be in our new house until July 13th, and it might still be awhile before I blog! Thank you all so much for your patience. God bless!

Where Do You Run?

I stepped outside, my chest heaving. It was a sunny, but windy day, and constantly being passed by various people...some whom I did know and others I did not, I struggled to keep back tears. "Lord," I whispered into the air. I could feel His presence closely. "Lord...I need your help." I turned and saw my friend looking at me deeply. She knew what was wrong, and she was there to encourage me. Two other friends were close behind. But despite their amazing friendship and help, what I needed at that moment was God. I was happy because I knew that He was upholding and uplifting me...even though I felt so shocked that I could barely breathe. But He knew that His plan was perfect. *(This is recent, and that plan has not yet been shown to me. But I know that He does, for certain, have a plan.)*
While I'm not going to go into the details of that story, I'm going to take the moral out of it. That afternoon, sitting on the grass with friends, I received an unexpected shock when something was revealed to me that I hadn't noticed...and this wasn't the first time this had happened. Surprised and upset, and with no where to go to be alone at the time, I turned to the only place I could go-God.
It hasn't always been that way. Sure, when I was in trouble I might pray about it, but I wouldn't delve into His presence to find comfort and fulfillment. I would just let the waves of trouble wash over me until I nearly drowned, and then when I finally took a breath it would be a cry. But now, I fall into His arms.
Before, the solution would have been to stay with my friends for awhile. And ask their opinions. And I did do that-after I had stood up, gotten a drink, and walked back into the sunshine with my knees shaking and my head spinning. After my broken prayers, I felt so much comfort. When I asked my friends opinions, I got different answers than I wanted. If I had gone to my friends first, my confusion would have just grown and I would have been unable to handle it. But God's comforting voice saying "I'm here, I know the entire situation, and I have a plan for this," was so much more than anyone ever could.
Friends are amazing, and such a blessing from the Lord. But if we run to them first, then we lose much. Even parents can be at fault. It is a mistake to seek your parents opinion, and act on it, without first seeking God's viewpoint. Now, asking your parents, siblings, or friends first isn't unwise, but it is when you take their advice without looking for God's. He knows best. He knows the entire situation in and out, forwards and backwards, and everything from the farthest edges to the centerpieces of the hardest times. One of the ways to cultivate a close relationship with Christ is to run to Him when you need help. Isaiah 51:12 says "I, I am he who comforts you." God is there with open arms, and if you go to Him you will have the assurance that He knows and He desires to help you. It will help you gain faith, trust, and dependence on the Lord. He knows the way out, and unless you ask Him it's almost impossible to get out of the maze you're in. He is ready to help you.
So after my shock wore off and I finally returned home, I walked around for the rest of the day with questions in my head. The particular questions weren't answered by a voice in my head, but they were all put to rest by one thought. That He knows what He is doing, and that it is working for my good. Praise Him. 

No Compromise...?

It was just a regular, quick Facebook check. Or that's what it was supposed to be. But as I quickly fulfilled my reason for getting on Facebook and typed a quick note on a family member's status update, my eye caught an ad on the side of the page.
It was not an unfamiliar ad, or even a disgusting or disturbing one (though I have seen my fill of those!), but it was an ad that I had seen before, many times, until once I had clicked on it out of interest. After that I had visited it once more because it popped up again, and recently I decided to delve into it to see what it said. The ad has several different forms, but always mentioned the former model who started it and promising a place where tough issues like boys and faith would be tackled-and it's Christian site for girls. I was both excited and wary when I first saw this add, and when I came onto the site both of them were confirmed.
The website did have many articles that I would call very well done. One, for example, listed 10 reasons to worship God. One talked about the reason for church. Another talked about worship and its benefits. As I smiled at these posts though, I noticed that something was wrong.
One of the articles was about Taylor Swift's donation and how it reminded the author to give things up for someone else. I do agree that it is a good example and a good lesson she learned from it. But Taylor Swift, however "innocent" she may be, not only wears less than Christ-honoring outfits in her shows, but also speaks of inappropriate content in some of her songs.
Another article was about makeup, and what they thought the appropriate age to be wearing it was. Although they did stress in the article that makeup was not necessary and we don't need it to be beautiful, the amount of makeup they were encouraging (even if they recommended it for around 16-18) included foundation, eye makeup, bronzer, the whole package. Unfortunately, I find that it's not very easy to use any amount of makeup without becoming dependent on it. I have nothing against makeup, but I feel as though it's often a stumbling block for girls.
A third article was about a recent decision made by Vogue magazine, who decided not to hire any models under 16 or those who looked too skinny. Although I definitely agree with these guidelines for the magazine, the website encouraged the magazine a lot, even adding some pictures of some magazine covers to the post-despite the fact that the model's clothes were a little...revealing.
Rather than personally attacking this particular website (which, as I said, had many articles that were helpful and encouraging), I mean to attack the view of modern Christianity-that kicks out the "no compromise" agenda.
The common view is that "if it's better than the normal 'bad', it's good." You would hardly find a Christian website advocating Lady Gaga (actually, there was an article describing her Satanic influences on the site) but Taylor Swift is okay...she hasn't had any nude pictures on the cover of magazines and the sexual hints in her songs are subtle. Makeup is okay, as long as you don't wear too much before you're 15, and of course you're only using it to accentuate your appearance and not for any dark reasons. And Vogue is applauded because it changed its rules for models.
I'd say we have to agree to disagree.
What if, instead of holding Taylor Swift up as an example, we encouraged people to no longer listen to her (or any non-Christian singer's) music and devote this part of their lives to God? Even if the non-Christian music doesn't have any swearing, drugs, drinking, or immorality in it, can't we strive for something better? *Note: I know that it's very hard to find "good" Christian music now...it's very true. But I'd encourage you to try, because there are Christian music artists of all genres and styles. You're bound to find something you like. Discouraged? Comment on the post, and I can recommend artists to you.*
What if, instead of encouraging makeup, we challenged girls to try a month without it to discover that God really does think of them as beautiful with-and without-makeup? Even, we challenged them to throw out all their makeup and pray that God would show them their true beauty comes from within, and that "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)
What if we, rather than applauding magazines like Vogue, we advised girls to steer clear of those magazines that focus on nothing but the outer appearance and worldly pleasures? What if we told them, that instead of reading the magazines, to read their Bibles? Instead of paying for a subscription, maybe using the money for something worthwhile?
I'm just saying that too often in the Christian world we settle for less than we could be giving. Rather than truly devoting ourselves to God, we are caught between ourselves, trying to serve God and other things. But the Bible says that this doesn't work. "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Luke 16:13). Psalm 86:11 says. "Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name." These show that our heart can be divided. And we need to follow God with all our hearts!  "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’" (Mark 12:30 ESV) [Emphasis added]. Not with half, or part, or even most of our souls-we need to give God all of us and be uncompromisingly righteous.
Of course, we won't be perfect all the time. We won't always serve God with all of our hearts. But does that mean we don't try? No! If we lose some of our treasure-which is our life and our time, it's not time to throw the rest out! We are promised an eternal reward if we are believers-but the only way to live a joyful, radiant, and fulfilled life here on earth is when we run to God, letting Him take control of us and give us the strength to follow Him.
Oh yes, we can't follow Him on our own. We aren't able to, we aren't wired the right way to do that. Even when God changes us, you could say He reprograms us, we're used to going the wrong way. So it takes time, effort, and patience...with a large dosage of God's grace, strength, and love to get us through. And if you persevere, I can promise you from experience that it is worth it.
The title of this post was inspired by a book that I'm about to read, called No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green. It's written by his wife, Melody Green, about this inspiring Christian singer who lived life to its fullest for the Lord before dying at a young age in a plane crash with two of his children. The title comes from a song that Melody herself wrote, and it begins like this:

Make my life a prayer to You
I wanna do what you want me to
No empty words and no white lies
No token prayers no compromise

No compromise. Are we willing to push that, even though others (Christians included) will think we're crazy? Are we willing to follow God no matter what it costs? Are we willing to stand-alone?

The Cross Is the Attraction

Amy Carmichael is one of the most well known and revered missionaries of all time. she literally gave her entire life following her heavenly Prince all the way to India, where she poured out her life to stop the child prostitution in the local Hindu temples. She is often mentioned and often spoken well of, and looked up to by many leaders in the moder Christian movement, like Leslie Ludy and Elisabeth Elliot. But the odd thing is that during her time as a missionary, though her institution had many supportive friends, it also had enemies-among other missionaries.
You see, Amy was unethical-unorthodox in the way she directed her ministry. She had no nominal Christians participate, even when she was very short staffed for the huge task God had given to her. There were plenty of nominal Christians in her area, for the gospel had reached there hundreds of years before her time. Most other missionaries gladly took the assistance of these Christians, but not Amy. She held on, even when she was scorned and ridiculed. The missionaries who opposed her even tried to remove her from India! But she persevered, insisting that the helpers she wanted were the ones who knew the cry of a true Christian's heart: the cross is the attraction.
Nowadays, we stand up and applaud for her, smiling and saying that she did the right thing-but would re react the same way now?
Imagine the pastor of a huge megachurch planning for a missions trip. Even though he has over 200 volunteers, he selects only 10, even though the job clearly requires many more people. When his judgement is questioned, imagine that he says this: "I only want those for whom the cross is the attraction."
We all know what would happen-there would be a riot. People would be upset, offended, and many would leave the church in scorn. Whether or not the pastor keeps his commitment we can only know in our imaginations.
But let's imagine; if the pastor's judgement was right, what were the other 190 people coming for?
We know the answers. Popularity. Bragging rights. Friends, girl/boy friends, or crushes going. Maybe to get your parents off your back. Or maybe it's actually good things! Looking for a better spiritual life. Trying to become more happy. Those are both worthy goals.
But what are we promised?
The way Christendom is sold today, we are promised many things. Happiness, security, peace-many even go as far as to say wealth and status too. But we are not promised the last two, and the first three we are only promised on the spiritual level.
People seem to expect (and encourage the expectation) that your life will just straighten out. Maybe get a little easier. Which is very true on some level. You will have intense peace and no anxiety when you are surrendered to him. You will be joyful and fulfilled, and you will be secure in His arms. You also can have all those things while you are in a prison cell, or being torn down by the media, co-workers, or even your friends and family.
The point is, we have nothing to vie for in Christianity except the cross. Yes, we are going to be happy and peaceful, yes, we will have a loving relationship with Christ! But it's more than that!
The cross is more than something we wear around our necks or talk about all the time. The cross-as in, Christ, His death for us, His forgiveness, and His ability to free us from sin is the ONLY attraction, the ONLY thing that we are truly promised! There is no verse in the Bible that says "You will always have a great life and nothing wrong will happen." It says that everything on the physical side of things could not be so great. You could be starving or in prison for Christ! You could be so many things...and if you just look for happiness it's not going to cut it. You need Christ-you need the cross!
When we sin, happiness can't take it away. We won't have security or peace as long as it is on our shoulders. The only thing that can remove that is the cross of Jesus Christ, and I promise you that when you let that weight be taken off your shoulders by Jesus, that's when the added benefits come in.
So look to the cross. Remember, the attraction to Christianity is not anything but the cross.

The cross is the attraction. -Amy Carmichael