A Christian Style/Beauty Blog? Is That Even Possible?

Now, I'm going to begin this post by reminding you that this is a self-proclaimed style/beauty/Christian blog. Does that seem a little oxymoronic to you? Sometimes to me it has. If you're a Christian who struggles with the idea of having a blog that also features topics like beauty, fashion, or other things that have gained the reputation for being "vain", keep reading.

I'm a total girl. I absolutely love updating my wardrobe, learning a new way to style an article of clothing, and trying a new lip color, and I love blogs that feature posts on these topics. Here on Lace, Pearls, and Grace you will see me blog about things like this from time to time. These labels can make up one difficult combination to balance.

The reason is because blogs are a form of media, and similar to magazines like Seventeen, fashion ads, and television, they can sometimes portray that beauty is wearing the right clothes, having the ideal body washed in the perfect tan, and really just possessing things.

Our culture portrays a really messed up definition of beauty because the truth is that it's version is completely unattainable. We can't be perfect, no matter how hard we try. We are inherintly flawed due to our sin, and no amount of clothes, shoes, time in the tanning bed, or beauty products can change that. It's also important to remember that the girls in magazine ads and blog posts aren't perfect either. Their lives may appear to be perfect, but they're not. They're flawed and imperfect, too, and the truth is that they're all just searching for the same thing. We all have an emptiness inside of us that can only be filled with God.

That's what makes blogging about these topics together difficult. But can it be done? I believe so.

I believe that the key to maintaining a style/beauty blog as a Christian is to remember where you find true fulfillment, satisfaction, and joy. No, it's not in that new pair of shoes or the perfectly attained cat eye. It's in Jesus Christ. If ever I try to find these things that He alone offers in anything else, I will be left feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. But is having a love for style or beauty necessarily wrong? No, as long as you keep everything in proper perspective. God must come first, and everything else follows.

Maybe you're also a Christian blogger who happens to have a passion for these things. Or maybe yours is travel, cooking, or something else! I encourage you to keep blogging about what you love, but remember that at the end of the day, Christ is all that matters and He is the only place you will find true fulfillment.



I love reading your comments! What is your perspective on blogging? How do you keep Christ first while also blogging about the things you love?

Discipleship: What Does That Mean, Anyway?

I've recently had the pleasure of beginning to disciple a teen girl at the church we attend. She's fifteen, an age I was actually at not all that long ago. She actually just recently got saved and her mom felt as though she needed someone to help her grow in her new relationship with the Lord.

When her mom approached me about the idea of discipling her youngest daughter, I have to admit that I felt incredibly honored, yet completely inadequate. I mean, I still feel as though I have so much growing to do! I'm only 22 and I've only been married for two months. I have so much to learn and I'm still growing in my own walk with the Lord. Plus, I've never discipled anyone before. But that's just been a reminder to me that I'm nothing but inadequate and I'll never be able to do something like this on my own. I need the Lord's help and guidance as I seek to teach this girl the things that God taught me in my teen years.

Because let's be serious. The teen years are tough.

My plan is to go through a book that was a significant aid to me in my own teen years, a book entitled Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy. It taught me that I will never be satisfied with a guy, friends, the latest styles, or anything that the world offers to appease the desires of my soul. Nothing other than Jesus Christ can do that. He is my true Knight in shining armor who saved me from my destiny. This book even has a study guide that I'm going to use so that we can have some basis for discussion in our time together.


So what are my goals in this season on discipleship?

Build Her Trust: First of all, I want her to know she can trust me. That she can talk to me about absolutely anything she's going through and I'll be there to listen and support and give advice and godly counsel when she needs it.

Her Relationship with Christ: I want to inspire her to spend time with Him daily, reading His word and praying, not because she needs to or because it will make her a better Christian or person, but because that's the only way we become anything like Him: by spending time in His presence. I want to encourage her to read Christian biographies about missionaries and women of the faith, as well as Christian non-fictions. These are the things that brought me closer to Christ in my teen years, as well as what continues to grow me closer to Him today.

Be a True Friend: As the pastor of my church says, we're just going to "do life together". I'll take her shopping, we'll hang out at Starbucks with a drink and just talk, maybe even hang out at my apartment. The thing is that's how you reach people. You can't force religion down their throats, tell them what sinners they are, and walk away. You need to love people. Build relationships with them. Direct them toward the gospel.


If you're currently in the process of discipleship, I hope that this was helpful to you! If you've never considered discipling a younger woman, I would take the time to read over the following verses:

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. -2 Timothy 2:2

Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. -Hebrews 10:25

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. -James 5:16

Free From Fear

To give credit where credit is due, image from www.goliveoriginal.com

We all have it. It's an inevitable part of life that we really don't talk about all that often. Yet it haunts us, plagues us even. It consumes our lives entirely, but we like to push it into the corner and cover it up and choose to live like it's not really there.

It's fear. More than that, really, it's fear of death.

I have been reading through the book of Hebrews in my devotions recently and it's amazing how God has been speaking to me through it. Specifically, in chapter 2, I was reading about something I felt compelled to write about here on my blog.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. -Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV

The part that really sticks out to me is that we were subject to lifelong slavery. We are born sinners. It's something that we have inherited from the very beginning when Adam and Eve first disobeyed God. And the result of sin is death. It's as inevitable as our fear of it. And we're slaves to it. Our sin chains us down, yet we don't know how to break free. I mean, it's inevitable, right? It's something we all struggle with and it has this power of us that we just can't defeat so we may as well live life in the moment because life is short. We're not guaranteed another day. But the chains still hold us down.

The wonderful news is that there is hope. There is a way to break free.

Jesus Christ is our hope. He has suffered our death for us so that we don't have to. He did this on the cross. He was tempted, yet was still without sin. He defeated sin, death, and the one who has power over you and your sin. And He is calling you to become one of His. All you have to do is believe that He is Savior and give your life to Him. Surrender your everything and He will break your chains and set you free.

And the thing is that we can't break ourselves free. We don't have a key and we're not strong enough to break it. But He is and He wants you to be one of His, to adopt you so that you can be a child of God the King.

God is surely a "merciful and faithful high priest" (verse 17 of this chapter). He made a way to save us from our inevitable destiny. We were sinners and we hated Him and rebelled against Him, and yet He loved us. And I'm so, so far from deserving any of it. We all are. We wouldn't even love him if it weren't for His work in us. He is perfect and beautiful and loving and just and if we hate Him it is because of our sin.

I am always, ever marveling at His wonderful grace. That grace that has set me free.

Generously Love

When I was attending Bible college, I took a class that was all about to be a good wife. Yes, a class on it. Only at a Bible college.

Of course, hoping that I would soon be engaged, I attempted to soak in all the wisdom I could on the subject. There was a wonderful book of which we were assigned to read particular chapters, and now that I have finished the class and am actually preparing for marriage, I decided I would reread it. I've only reviewed the first chapter of it so far, but I have realized that I have a lot of work to do.

The thing  is, the common perception from those who are unwed (including myself) is that marriage is simple. Easy really. Just be in love, stay in love, and be sweet. Know your duties and fulfill them. Keep the house clean and have kids and take care of them and live happily ever after.

I'm learning, however, that if I want to be and stay happily married, and make my husband happy, I have much preparation before me. Of course, the only way to achieve this is to put Christ first. I cannot expect Casey to fulfill every single one of my desires. Only Jesus Christ can do that. Only out of an abundance of grace and love poured out from Him can I find joy in my relationship with others, including my wonderful husband to-be.

Likewise, as much as I love Casey and want to make him happy and give him everything he wants and needs, I must remember that only God can do that. Our relationships with Him come first, and only then can we find happiness and love in each other.

Perhaps because we are not naturally loving or kind or generous. We're naturally selfish, controlling, and ugly, and only when Jesus Christ pours out His own character upon us will we be able to generously love.

My prayer is that God would mold me into the perfect wife for my beloved, although I never truly will be perfect. I will always make mistakes, but I want to be a help, not a hindrance, to the call God places upon his heart. Being a wife is a serious task with much responsibility, but I'm also looking forward to its many wonderful rewards.

Surpassing.

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and counted them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ..." -Philippians 3:7-8

I had read or heard this verse perhaps a dozen times or more, but when I was working on my reading through Philippians today, it really hit me. Paul had given up everything, everything, for Christ. He gave up comforts and desires and even his own life...and he counted it all loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

Surpassing.

It surpasses anything this world could ever offer. It surpasses its own version of love. It surpasses money and being well liked, friends and success. To Paul, none of it mattered. Does it matter to me? What value do I place on the way I dress or the digits in my bank account? Do I care too much of what others think of me, even above what Christ thinks of me? Have I really, truly, grasped the concept that He matters so much more? If I lost it all, would Christ be enough? If not, can I really claim Him as my all in all?

(faith + knowlege) - love = nothing

I consider myself fairly logical. I'm not one of those who go by a feeling in my gut. I rarely make decisions by feeling alone (I'm still a woman, ya know. It's kind of apart of the package). In school, I always liked math, as well as a psychology class I took. I think that most things in my life can be organized, analyzed, or simplified.

So is it any wonder that I broke up these verses into a simple equation? :

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so to remove mountains, but if I have not love, I am nothing.

Hence the title. Although I have been on this faith journey for almost eleven years  now, I still find myself trying to figure out the enigma that is salvation and the redeemed life in the fullest sense. I believe every word of Scripture, so I take great faith in the work of Christ and the inconceivable sacrifice of His own life. It's everything I put my hope and trust in, and everything I live for.

I don't try to figure out why He came or why He thought me worthy to die for. That's just it. I wasn't worthy. I'm still not. My puzzle is how do I best respond to this act of loving kindness? How exactly do I live my life in a way that pleases my King above all else?

This is where the equation comes in.

(faith + knowledge) - love = nothing

 

Order of operations states you must first deal with what's in the parenthesis. This means that you can have as much faith as you can imagine, or more...like enough to move a mountain. You can know all the characters and stories and wise statements of the Bible. You can know all the knowledge of the world. Add it all together, but subtract love, and you're left with nothing. Or something in vain.

Sometimes in my own personal Christian life, I think that what I'm lacking is more faith. I just need to trust God more, that's all. Which I do, don't get me wrong. I don't even have Peter's amount of faith which allowed him to walk the waters. Or, maybe I just need to study my Bible more. That's it. I need to spend more time reading, all day every day just reading and memorizing Scriptures. And I do need that.

But God says I need something even more. Love.

Love which never ends. Love which is greater than faith, greater than knowledge, than hope or doing good or trusting. Loving God, and loving others. Loving the sweet infant who only wants to be close and feel secure. Loving those we deem worthy, but also loving the unlovable. Those we don't think deserve it because of all of the terrible things they've done or the hurtful things they've said to us or about us.

However, greater than a lifetime spent reading and performing great acts of faith is one small act of love toward God or another. Did not Christ also say that when we have done something for the least of these, we have done it unto Him?

Love is the thing that motivates us to spread the gospel news to every soul that hasn't experienced the joy of salvation and the comfort of Christ's crucifixion. The greatest of all is love.

Deeper Than My Feet Could Ever Wander

"Go ahead, I'll meet you on the other side." This is what Jesus told his disciples as he dismissed the curious followers that had crowded around him. The disciples went ahead as their Master broke away to spend some time with the Father in prayer. They had no idea what events would fold before their eyes in the next few hours.

That evening, waves bounced heavily upon the boat that held the closest followers of Jesus Christ. Then, in the distance, they saw an image of what appeared to be a man. Or a ghost? The disciples cried out in fear, only to hear the sweet voice of their Savior calm them with His very presence. It is the same "I AM" that spoke to Moses in the burning bush.

It is God.

"Lord, if it is You, command me to come to you on the water." Peter called out to the figure. Who else would be so eager to prove himself to Christ, the others, or perhaps even himself? Regardless, Jesus beckons him to come. And he came.

Peter slowly stepped on foot out of the boat and felt the salt water wet against his skin, perhaps a hundred feet or more above the bottom of the ocean, and yet it is as solid as the sand that the waves kiss at the shore. But Peter thought of none of this as he defied the laws of density and took one step, then another, and another and his eyes are only on the God-man.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew across Peter's face and he began to feel water not only on his feet, but ankles and legs. He began to sink. "Lord, save me!", Peter cried out and Christ surely lifted him up. He would never leave him to drown. What reason would Peter have to doubt?


I know for certain if I were one of the disciples in the boat, I would not have been the one to step my foot out. I recognize this lack of faith in my own heart. I would be quick to encourage another to take that step of faith and allow myself to sit back and witness the miracle being performed before my eyes all within the safety of the boat.

But is that truly where the safety resides? In the boat? Is the boat the safest place to be, with only pieces of wood nailed together to support this house that holds my soul?

Or is it on the waters, where waves crash hard and where proven laws of science state that I cannot walk? Is that not where my Savior is?



Miracles are occurring all around me everyday. More often than not, they go unnoticed. Or maybe I get too used to their existence. But what miracles wait for me to just say "yes" to the gentle pull of God on my soul? Indeed, they may seem dangerous. Opportunities that bring the fears that plague my spirit along with them. But...what if I say yes? What if I, knowing the danger and fear and all else that is certain to come along with the package, say yes anyway? What miracles would I have the opportunity to experience?

The Habitual Meek and Quiet Spirit

I'm your typical girl. I love shopping, makeup, getting dressed up, learning new hairstyles. (Let's just sum it all up in the one simple word, Pinterest, shall we?) Sports and the other "guy stuff", eh whatever.

I believe God made us women with the intention that we should be beautiful. Beauty in of itself is not a vain or negative thing whatsoever. God is the epitome of beauty, and He chose to showcase His beauty in creation : the museum that is this world. We women are meant to be part of His museum - each of us capable of manifesting a unique portrait of the beauty of God.

1 Peter 3:3-4 says:

Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and 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.

 1. God intends for women to be feminine. You would think this would be more obvious than it really is. Men are meant to be manly, strong, and confident. Women are meant to be sensitive, lovely, fragile, and of all things, feminine. Women have adapted the mindset that femininity equals weakness, but that is not true. Godly femininity is so strong it has the ability to help shape men to be the men that God intends for them to be, the men that we desire for them to be. If women try to be like men, then what are men left to be? Allow (and encourage!) the men in your life to be the manliest they can be simply by being the most feminine version of yourself you can be.

2. There's nothing wrong with making yourself look good! Do not be deceived to believe that God doesn't want you to do your makeup or hair or care about what clothes you wear because those things are "wordly". He just said not to rely on those things alone to make up your beauty. Nothing ruins a pretty face more than an ugly, angry look. So...take care of yourself! Put on a pretty shade of lip gloss, wear an outfit that makes you feel cute, and fix your hair if you'd like. Allow your outer appearance to be a mere visible reflection of your inner beauty.

3. Most importantly, work on the inside. Like I said previously, there's nothing wrong with working on the outside unless you do so while ignoring your spiritual beauty. The only way to attain true, lasting feminine beauty is through reading the Word of God, allowing Him to softly smooth out the rough areas in our souls, and through prayer. It is God's desire to use us to manifest His own beauty, so if we seek Him, He will surely answer us and begin to do a work in us.

4. Pray for and work toward a meek and quiet spirit. God names a "meek a quiet spirit" has a very precious thing in His eyes. Truly, isn't the most lady-like of all women those who are just that: meek and quiet? Quiet does not necessarily mean introvert! It doesn't mean unopinionated, either! We should certainly speak up for what's right as well as be able to talk to anybody. God uses those characteristics to draw the lost to Himself. A meek and quiet spirit is not concerned with others seeing them, but others seeing HIM. A woman precious to God Himself seeks that all glory be directed to Him rather than self.

I pray that God would continually mold me to be a woman who is kind, sincere, gentle, has a quiet voice, laughs often, smiles at strangers, is humble, knowledgeable, organized, goal-driven, encouraging, and who, most of all, loves Him supremely and has a desire to share the love He has given me to the world.

How about you? :)

Near the Brokenhearted

During my time attending a Christian college right out of high school, I had the privilege of developing close friendships with girls my age who loved God supremely. I recognize this as a true blessing from God, since I attended public school and therefore had very, very few Christian friends in my teens that I spent time with regularly. Perhaps my public school friend attended a church every once in awhile to flirt and hang out, but none of them had a similar passion and love for Christ as I did. He really used these close friendships in my college years to draw me even closer to His loving arms, and their counsel helped get me through my time there.

These girls are still close friends of mine, and although I don't see them now nearly as much as I wish, they still hold a very special place in my heart.

While reading over a few psalms today, I happened to come across a particular passage that a very special friend (who was also my suite mate my freshman year) pointed to me at a time were I was, to put it simply, absolutely brokenhearted. I find myself returning to the comforts of this chapter often when I really need to feel that God knows and He understands and He is in control of it all and with me through it all.

Psalm 34:17-22:

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

 I'm not sure that if my dear friend had not pointed me to this passage in my time of sorrow that I would truly grasp the meaning of this passage or hold it so tightly to my heart as I do today.

God hears.
He understands.
He delivers.
He is near.
He saves.
He protects.
God is very, very good.

I thank Him for allowing me to come back across these words in my own personal reading. I thank Him for godly friends.

Abounding Thanks

God has really been nailing me with the principle of thanksgiving recently. He has blessed me with so much that I too often take for granted. There are times that I do not even notice His loving hand at work , and yet, He is always there. Always loving. Always on my behalf.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught abounding in thanksgiving. -Colossians 2:6-7

I have received Him and He has washed my sins scarlet to pure, unmarked, untainted snow. He has made me not just a servant but a child. His child. He only asks that I walk with Him constantly, not too quickly to jump ahead and not lagging but right beside Him as He guides. Rooted and built in the faith, what do I do now?

Give thanks.

But not just give thanks. Abound in thanksgiving. Let the joy overflow from my covetous, conceited soul. Thank Him for the big and for the small, the noticed and the overlooked, all significant blessings in the eyes of God.

 

Life Lately...And A Little Grace.

Okay, so it's almost October and my last post (in which I promised myself mostly I'd be writing more) was in August. I should really get myself together. Maybe one of these days...

But these last few weeks have been crazy busy! I just recently started working full-time at my daycare (yay!) so most of my days are filled with childish laughter, sticky hands, and time-outs. Exciting, huh? I'm loving it. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing.

Of course I've still been keeping up with my favorite blogs, some of which I talked about in my last post. These people really make me want to go shopping which is an issue considering I'm broke! (Ha...no but really). I love getting ideas about how to mix up my wardrobe because I find myself buying something and re-wearing it the same way over and over until it wears out. Like, a lot.

Anyway, I've been reading a fantastic Christian book entitled "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. She is an awesome writer. Her style is very unique from many books I've read before which I definitely like. While reading I feel as though I'm reading a detailed journal about this woman's deepest thoughts and day-to-day events. The book is about recognizing the beauty and grace of God's gifts, most of which we tend to be far to busy to ever notice. She has such a unique perspective of the world in general. One of my favorite quotes from the book that I just read the other day:

"Humbly let go. Let go of trying to do, let go of trying to control...let go of m own way, let go of my own fears. Let God blow His wind, His trials, oxygen for joy's fire. Leave the hand open and be. Bend the knee and be small and let God give what God chooses to give because He only gives love and whisper surprised thanks. This is the fuel for joy's flame."

Pretty awesome, right? She talks much about why God allows the things in our life we would name "bad" to happen. But that's just it. We entitle things good or bad. All things God allows are for good. He has a perfect plan for everything if we just let go and let Him do what He intends because He only intends good for us. He only intends love and grace and joy for His loved.

So are you in the market for a good Christian living read? Here it is on amazon.