Day 10: What is God teaching you as a woman?

God is teaching me much right now. I'm learning a lot about becoming completely His - letting Him rule in my heart and my life. In surrendering things to Christ, I've noticed that I don't mind when things don't go the way that I thought they would.

For example, about a month ago, I lost my iPod, and it was near the beginning of this process - honestly, I didn't care. I was a little bummed, but I decided that it would all be okay. I really only used it while I was flying, and while I did have a couple plane trips planned, I was just not going to stress about it. I couldn't even really remember where I had it last, so I wasn't sure where to look. I borrowed my brother's iPod for my trips, and that was great. Then, last night, my I got an email from this girl who had found my iPod and found my email address on it and decided to email me and let me know that she had it and that she would like to return it to me. Seriously? There are still decent people in the world!

God is constantly teaching me things about Him and the way that He works. I also have a Bible passage engraved on the back of my iPod - John 8:1-11, "They went each to his own house, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" This they said to test him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."

I had the opportunity to talk with this girl about this passage (through texting, so not completely in depth) and I am hoping to have more opportunities to talk with her in the future.

I know that there was a reason I was supposed to lose my iPod, and I know that it was on purpose that Gracie found it. God used this simple thing of losing an iPod to bring Gracie into my path - I have been praying for an opportunity to reach out to someone and share Christ with them, and I'm thinking that this just might be that opportunity. I'm excited to see what it is that God is going to do.

Day 9: What virtues do you value in yourself

One thing that I value in myself is that I am fairly patient. I know, I know, saying that out loud gives God reason to test that statement, but I’ve done it before. I can get impatient when I’m behind a slow driver or when something that is normally fast is taking a long time, but for the most part, I’m cool with waiting. I’ve found that these waiting times have given me time to talk with my Savior that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. They give me a chance to seek His face and allow Him to speak to me. I have come to love those times when patience should be taking over.

Day 8: Have a beauty secret? Share please!

Well, I don't really know that I have any beauty secrets. I am not big into makeup (I used to be but got lazy while in college and it hasn't kicked back in yet and I'm not sure that it ever will), not that I don't wear any, but it just just the basics.

I guess what I can say is figure out what it is that you like and just do it. I have people say to me all the time, "Wow! You look amazing, but I could never pull that off!" And I'm wearing something like a dress with leggings. Now, while I will admit that I have seen some girls that I would have preferred to see in more clothing than they were wearing, I am a big advocate of wearing what you like and doing your makeup how you like. If you like it, you're going to rock it! This is because when people see you in it, they will see the confidence that you exude because you LOVE what you are wearing. It is impossible to please everyone, and I say, as long as it isn't going against the Bible, rock on!

I'm also just going to add this little clause: Many girls wear things that they like, but they like it for the wrong reasons. Maybe someone likes something because it shows off some skin and they get attention for that. Well, I'm here to tell you that that is a completely wrong reason to wear something. As a Christian, you need to be wearing things that are honoring to God. I know that not everyone who reads on here is a Christian, but these are my beliefs. We, as Christians are called to not make our brothers in Christ stumble, and skin on a girl is something that definitely crosses that line. We, as women of God, need to be protecting our brothers and showing them that we love them by covering ourselves up! There have been times when I've been able to see straight down a woman's shirt, and if I notice, I know that all of the guys have noticed. This should not be! We should be honoring God with what we wear and what we use for makeup. Makeup should enhance the beauty that God gave us, not try and change us into who someone else thinks we should be.

**Stepping down off my soap box now**

Day 7: Write a blog to encourage another woman.

J, I love you so much. You and I had amazing times when we lived together, and I will never forget those times. I am so proud of where you are in your life. You have let God completely capture your heart and take you farther than you thought you would be able to go. Just under 2 years ago when we first met, there were things in your life that would have hindered you where you are, and at times, they hindered you from moving toward God, but that year we spent living together, you so completely allowed God to take hold of your heart in the midst of trials and things trying to take both of us down. It is amazing to me the strength that you have shown through all of this. You have been such an inspiration to me and I learned so much from your perseverance in trying to find God through all of this.

I am so happy for you and the life you are beginning! You are headed in this path from God, and I cannot wait to see how it all works out! I love you and am constantly praying for you!

Love, me.

Day 6: Jaded Beauty. Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?

Wow. This is a loaded question. Of course, it has jaded me. It has to have jaded pretty much any girl growing up in today's culture of airbrushing and plastic surgery. There were many times in the past when I looked in the mirror and hated what I saw because I did not see myself through the eyes of my loving Savior. I did not see myself in a good light. I am glad to have moved past that now.

Day 5: Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.

Okay, I need to start this by saying that I didn't get a picture of my favorite outfit - I'll try to get that up when I get back from vacation, but I'm making no promises since it'll be about a week before I get back. But, it is a pretty fabulous outfit.

Alright, now onto today.

M - Thank you so much for everything that you do. You are an amazing and inspiring person. You came into my life at one of the rockiest points, and you managed to show me so much about myself. You showed me that I was seeking the wrong things and you helped lead me into my calling from God. Whenever I am around you, I am reminded of how much you influenced my life. My heart had stopped feeling before I met you because I was shutting off so much because of the selfish thinking that I had at that point, and then you spoke words of Truth into my life and I will never be the same. You made my heart begin to feel again through your kindness and friendship. I wish we lived closer together so that we could go out for coffee sometimes, but I know that we are where God has called us, and I'm eternally grateful that you helped me get here. Thank you.

Day 4: Style 31. Post a pic of your favorite outfit.

Well, this is hard right now because I'm currently not wearing my favorite outfit, and I'm also not at home to take a pic of myself in my favorite outfit. I'll try to get that up later. Hope I can do it today! If I can't, I'll get it up in the morning - I'm going in to work late because I'm going to Florida this week! I know that sounds like I'm skipping out on work since I'm going to be gone later this week, but I promise I'm not - I'm working late tomorrow and then driving up to Portland with my boss and then we leave for Florida on Tuesday morning! By the way, did I mention that I'm going to FLORIDA?!?!?!?!

Day 3: Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?

My mom. Most definitely. My mom is one of the strongest and best people I know. She was a single mom and raised my brother and I completely on her own, and while we didn't always have the most of everything, we never went without the things that we needed.

My mom is someone who just radiates beauty. She is one of the most inspiring people I've ever met - she is amazingly crafty and can make some of the most amazing things. She has an attitude of love even when she is frustrated. She managed (after 23 years of being single) to met an amazing guy and they got married in November of 2009 and I couldn't be happier for her. She of all people deserves this - she worked her whole life and gave so much of herself to raise my brother and I, and now she is finally living her life. She is exploring new passions in her life - she has taken up photography and knitting and crocheting. She makes some of the most amazing things with yarn and takes some of the most amazing pictures.

She inspires beauty - not the kind of beauty that is sought after by the world, but the kind of beauty that comes from within. I can't thank her enough for how much she taught me about how beauty is about what is on the inside and not what is on the outside.

Day 2: What is something that makes you uniquely you?

There are a lot of things that I think make me who I am. I have an intense love of coffee - enough that I've passed it along to other people. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and yet, I feel most at home when I'm surrounded by southern accents in the disgusting heat and humidity of the South. I have a love of the outdoors, but only when I'm in the mood for it. One day, I'll wear jeans and Chaco sandals and the next day I'll wear a completely girly dress with fabulous heels (today, I'm wearing the jeans and Chacos with pearl earrings and something fancy in my hair).

I come from a culture of people who spend much time outside and hiking, but I would prefer to be curled up with a book on the couch. I love candles and the peace and calm that can be felt when in a room surrounded by candles.

But, I guess, one of the things that just makes me me, would be that I love sitting in this certain coffee shop in my town early in the morning. And, when I say early, I mean early - like before 6am. It is amazing. There are these older men who are there discussing the latest news, and there is just something about that environment that I love. If I could afford to be there every morning, I would, but more often than not I have to get my coffee fix at work. I love going to this coffee shop and listening to the quiet music and the conversation of these men while reading my Bible and just soaking in the words of my Savior. He is the greatest way to start my day, and it is made even better with a good cup of coffee.

Day 1: What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty, according to Merriam Webster is:
1. The quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.
2. A beautiful person or thing; especially a beautiful woman.
3. A particularly graceful, ornamental, or excellent quality.

Well, I can honestly say that if those are accurate, I definitely don't have that graceful thing down. Let's look somewhere else for a definition.

1 Peter 3:3-4, "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

To be completely honest, beauty is something that is hard to define. If you ask most people today, they will most likely tell you about physical qualities that they believe are beautiful, but have you ever met someone who is physically very attractive and then they open their mouth? Yeah...me, too. It is kind of unfortunate that our culture spends so much effort trying to make the outside beautiful when it is really the inside that needs the work.

To me, beauty is found in so many different areas of life. I have met some amazing women in the work I used to do whom the world would look on with disgust, and yet, they were some of the most beautiful and inspiring women I have ever come in contact with. They all had this spirit of allowing God to be what shone through them, and it was amazingly beautiful.

Beauty is found in the quiet at sunset on my favorite beach - the one I go to when I need to clear my head. It is found in the middle of a crowd of college students who are loud and not caring what others think of them as they worship their Savior. It is found in a hospital room with a mother and her newborn baby. It is found in a retirement home with the great grandmother who has lived longer than she wanted to and is ready to go home to her Savior. It is found in the life of that middle schooler who finally realizes that it isn't about what people think, but rather what God thinks. It is even found in the reunion of college friends after being away from each other for too long. Beauty is fluid. It cannot be contained. It cannot be defined.

When I think about beauty, I cannot help but be reminded of this verse:
Psalm 45:10-11, "Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father's house, and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him."

Have you ever thought of that? The king will desire your beauty - what beauty? Is it going to be the beauty that I make myself every morning when I get out of bed? Probably not. I'm guessing that this is referring to something deeper than make up and hair gel. I'm thinking that this is referring to something in the heart - something that is harder to attain than the beauty that is reflected in a mirror. I know that some people work very hard to make the mirror be their friend, but, really, does the mirror tell the whole story? I know that my mirror will tell me lies about my beauty. There are days when I'm absolutely hideous, but my mirror can make me believe that I am beautiful because I have done my make up just right and FINALLY found a product that works in my hair (I have curly hair, and sometimes it is the bain of my existence...but more on that later). My heart is sometimes not resting in God - sometimes it is attempting to rest in my outward appearance or how cute my shoes are. Sometimes it is worrying over the fact that I do not make a lot of money. Sometimes it is running rampant with bitterness and anger at things from my past. Sometimes it is desiring things that I do not yet have in my life.


I guess, in short, beauty can be a number of things to different people. It is one of those things that is hard to pin down, but it is also something that when you see it, you know. To me, beauty is resting in God and finding your hope in Him. He is the only one who can make an ugly heart beautiful, and a beautiful heart is something that will shine through to your appearance and actions.

Project 31

I was just reading someone's blog that talked about this "Project 31" thing, and I thought I would give it a try.

What is Project 31? It is a collection of thoughts, ideas, and women who portray beauty in an inspired way. Project 31 is you celebrating your God-given beauty, and celebrating the beautiful women around you. The meaning behind the project is taken from this:

Proverbs 31

10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

Here's the challenge: for 31 days, blog each day about things that celebrate your God given beauty, and the beauty of the women around you. The list below comes from www.shebreathesdeeply.com


The List:

Day 1. What does beauty mean to you?
Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?
Day 3. Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?
Day 4. Style 31. Post a pic of your favorite outfit.
Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.
Day 6. Jaded beauty. Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?
Day 7. Write a blog to encourage another beautiful woman.
Day 8. Have a beauty secret? Share, please!
Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself?
Day 10. What is Jesus teaching you as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?)
Day 11. Post a recipe. Or, if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!)
Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.
Day 13. Write about something you would like to change about yourself for the better.
Day 14. Style 31. Post an outfit pic!
Day 15. Write to encourage a friend. Inspire her beauty.
Day 16. Write a letter to your daughter, or a young girl in you life. Tell her what beauty means.
Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy.
Day 18. Describe your personality.
Day 19. Write about your favorite comfort food.
Day 20. Write about your job and why you love it or hate it.
Day 21. Write a letter to your husband to encourage him (or if you are single, your future husband.)
Day 22. What are some needs that need to be met in your community? Blog about how to extend your hand to those who need you.
Day 23. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
Day 24. What is Jesus teaching you presently?
Day 25. Style 31. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.
Day 26. What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday when you are gone?
Day 27. Write a blog to encourage someone and build their confidence!
Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman.
Day 29. Write about "a day in the life of me."
Day 30. Who is your role model as a woman?
Day 31. Write about your dreams and goals as a beautiful woman!