What I Wore Wednesday...Church, Work and Play

Here's a little fashion fun coming to you from my closet.  I'm linking with the Pleated Poppy.

Happy Wednesday!

 

For church it was a chevron high low dress from Ross

tights from Old Navy

riding boots

 

 

Fun night out to the batting cages.  Jeans and navy top from local boutique.

Statement necklace from Charming Charlie

 

 

Another church outfit.  Chambray top from Old Navy and skirt from Ross.
Lenny & Eva necklace.

 

 

For work the top is from Forever 21, zebra Toms and necklace from Charming Charlie's.

The Mystery Revealed

I was lost. I was in sin.

You called my name; pulled me in.

Into your presence. Into Grace. 

A point in time. A decision was made.

I prayed, mercy and forgiveness, please give to me.

You answered and gave it abundantly.

 

The forgiveness, it was always there.

Waiting for me to surrender. My life laid bare.

You died on a cross.  A perfect sacrifice you made.

Taking on my sins along with the shame.

 

Because of your love, now I can live.

And from Your heart freely give.

I've been given the gift of forever.

No longer separated from my creator.

Hallelujah, my fate is sealed.

Christ in me, the hope of glory.  The mystery revealed.

The gift of salvation is free. You can't earn it and neither could I. No matter your past. There's no sin too horrific or no actions too unforgivable. God will forgive if we ask with a repentant heart. He will meet us in the deepest , darkest dungeon of our sin. He offers freedom instead of chains. Peace instead of turmoil. Love instead of rejection. Joy instead of sorrow. Make a decision to surrender your life to God. Make a decision to belong to Him but free from sin. You will never regret it!

From My Playlist: How Deep the Father's Love

This is one of those songs that ministers to me every time I hear it or sing it.  The lyrics are just so rich.  It has a hymn feel and if asked when it was written, I would have guessed the 1800s.  However, I found out just this past weekend that is was written in my generation, 1995 to be exact!  I think that's pretty awesome.

 It was written by Stuart Townend but the video below is a Skillet cover.  Enjoy and let the truth of these words wash over you today.

Heritage

I watched her as she got dressed.  She held deep sorrow in her eyes, yet I saw strength, courage and beauty.  There I stood, a girl just getting started good as a wife; not yet a mother, watching this lady who had lived a life time of joy and sorrow.  This day, like so many others, she was a wife dressing to please the man that she had spent a lifetime with, a life that held many sweet stories. 

“Do you think he would think I look pretty today?” she asked me.

I stumbled for words as the tears stuck in my throat.  “Yes ma’am, I know he would,” was my reply because to me she was beautiful dressed in red.  You see red was his favorite color. 

“Well today I’ll stand by him one last time,” was her soft declaration.

Standing by him was all she knew how to do.  She had done so with joy, pride and love for so many years.  Standing by him, honoring him was like breathing to her.

My Nana stood by my Papa’s casket that night for hours as person after person filed by her, expressing their sympathy.  She chatted with each person, hugging and sharing tears with many, but all the while she stood. With elegance and grace she stood beside her husband one more time.

 

 

This is my heritage.  This is one of many stories I could tell about the women who came before me and the ones who shaped the way I would enter into marriage.  I am blessed with those examples, grandmothers and a mother who have honored their husbands. 

Now I’m not under the illusion that they were perfect or that there marriages were/are perfect.  I know that marriage is made up of two imperfect individuals.  There are times when the honoring is hard and times when it comes easy. 

As my Nana would say, “Sometimes I could pinch his head off!”  We have these times, all of us.  However, it’s the commitment made before God to stand by our husband, honoring him that gets us through the tough seasons.

What a legacy we can leave, if we choose, for the generations that follow…honoring God by honoring our husbands.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Repentance.  What a beautiful word.  What a beautiful reality.  The turning away from sin.  The act of  turning away from sinful self (in both heart and mind) and turning to God. 

Jesus came for the sinner.  In Matthew, Mark and Luke Jesus was seen eating with the tax collectors and sinners.  The pharisees could not fathom why he would lower himself to be seen with these filthy sinners. Jesus' response was simple...this is who I came for. 

"I desire mercy and not sacrifice.  For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Matthew 9:13

In fact He rejoices over the 1 who comes in repentance more so than the 99 who are just and need no repentance.  Luke 15:7

We attended a service a few days ago and we saw this doctrine in action.  As the song Jesus, Friend of Sinners was being sung, Holy Spirit began to draw with sweet conviction.  No one stood and made an alter call.  It was simply the power of God at work in the hearts of men and women.  Several people responded to this drawing and came to the alter in repentance.  It was a beautiful site.

Rod and I didn't know these people.  We had no relationships with any of them.  Yet we sat and sobbed on the back row as we silently prayed.  We saw the love of God in action.  We witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit draw men unto Himself.  We saw ourselves.  Sinners.  Forgiven much.  Loved much. 

Hello Monday

It's Monday.  A new day.  "Every day  is fresh with no mistakes in it."  (name that movie)  So I'm saying Hello to a new day and a new week. 

 

Hello baseball practices.  Two kids.  Two teams.  Four practices.  Let the chaos begin.

 

Hello batting cages.  We had a fun time this weekend with friends. 

 

 

Hello ladies.  Yeah I work with dairies sometimes and this was a gorgeous day last week to be out.

 

Hello clean house.  I deep cleaned this weekend and let me tell you our house was in need of a deep cleaning day.  Now we are ready to start the week.  Let's cross our fingers and hope it lasts...a few days at least.

 

Hello to fun hairstyles.  I'm always looking for something to do with this mane of mine.  I have to change it up to keep from chopping it off.

 

 

I'm linking with Lisa Leonard today!

Random Things Friday

We'll it's Friday and all I have are a few random things so I'm declaring it "Random Things Friday".  Feel free to join me in the comments. I would love to hear from you!

Number One
The weekend is here!  Get excited!  What are your plans?  We are psyched to hang out with some good friends this weekend. Haven't seen them in a little while and it's time!

Number Two
My youngest got so upset last night. He has a gift for drama. He can go on and on irrationally for as long as we let him. Last night the problem was that he was not going to have as many box tops to take to school as some of his friends. He was devastated to say the least. He sat in his room crying for at least 30 minutes. That's a lot of drama for  a 7 year old boy, let me tell you. However, we made chocolate cookies and all was right with the world again. There's nothing a little chocolate won't fix.;)

Number Three
I lost my car key this week. Inside of my car. How did I know it was inside? Well, it's one of those keyless keypod things. It won't let you lock it in the car and when I couldn't lock it I knew. I looked, hubs looked and we couldn't find it. We really needed to find this stinking key so hubs prayed and asked God to help him. Well he said it wasn't a few minutes later than he had a urge to check the trunk again. So he looked in the trunk and decided to look inside of the jacket pocket in the trunk. Yeah, it was there. I put it there and forgot. Oops!  But let's not get side tracked...we found the key!  Aren't you glad God cares about the little things? The things that may seem silly and insignificant to others?  I'm in awe of the way He works out all the little details as well as the big ones. He loves us y'all!  He does!

So what are your random thoughts today. Let me know. Have a great weekend!

~Herrika