Coming to Know Him

In these past couple of weeks, God has TRULY been re-teaching me the concept of application in my life. Often times as Christians, I feel like there are a lot of crucial things that we read in the Bible and while we realize they are crucial, we don’t quite remember that these things need APPLICATION. It’s not enough to just read it, because we can read it for one minute and then go and do something and forget about what we just read. It’s not enough to just read & not apply. It’s not enough of just knowing Him. What comes next is APPLYING the knowledge He gives us through knowing Him. Having said all of that, over the past week or so in my studying of different books of the Bible, God has revealed to me some application of things that can take our relationship to the next level after I have come to know Him.



First, I should say that many people may have different opinions and definitions of coming to know our Creator. This is just my personal opinion and what I feel God has been telling me. Knowing Him to me simply means learning of His character and experiencing His character on a personal level. Knowing Him is literally life changing. The deeper we get to know Him, the more we can take on His character for our own. Colossians 3:10 tells us, “put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to KNOW your Creator and BECOME like Him.”


When I am coming to know Him more and more, I should see the FRUIT of that. It says it right there in Colossians. You start off by coming to know Him and then you inevitably become more like Him. It’s a two fold concept. You can’t become like someone unless you first know them. Taking on qualities of someone else requires DEEPLY knowing them.

Do you find yourself doing or saying some of the same things of an acquaintance that you know? No, because you don’t know them well enough. But I personally find myself saying A LOT of the same things as my best friend. It’s second nature because I spend most of my time with her and know her well enough. We can apply this same concept with God. The more we spend our time with Him and come to know Him, the more we will see our character begin to mimic His. 


Maybe you’re not seeing any of this playing out in your life. You have “come to know Him” but you act the exact same as you did before you came to know Him. Well, nothing happens over night. Our relationship with God is ever-growing. It also may be that you’re not truly getting to know Him. Really think about how much time you’re spending with Him, but more importantly think about the quality of that time. You can’t just skim over a couple of verses and devotions and say you’re getting to know Him the way you know you could. We as Christians have to really PRESS in His presence. Give it all you’ve got every time you encounter Him. Satan LOVES to trick us and help us justify mediocrity is acceptable in our relationship with God. The Bible makes it extremely clear that He is always at work in us, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 1:6.


So what comes after knowing Him? When I was reading 2 Peter, I noticed 3 main concepts that were highlighted in Knowing God.


1. 2 Peter 1:2: ”May God give you more and more GRACE and PEACE as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” As we come to know Him more, we receive more grace and peace. I personally think that the reason we receive more and more grace and peace is because we are starting to realize the magnitude of God’s character. We are coming to understand His gracious character more. As we come to learn Him more, we can’t help but to learn that there is NOTHING that we can do that could ever make Him stop loving us (Romans 8:38-39). We are coming to understand the peace He provides more because as we get to know Him we comprehend more that God holds everything in His hands. There is nothing He cannot handle and this opens our eyes to how amazing and possible it is to have peace.




2. 2 Peter 1:3: “By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” When we come to know Him more, we receive EVERY single thing we NEED to live a godly life. I take that as a promise of God. As I get to know Him more, I am realizing I have everything I need to live this godly life, because HE is everything I need to live this godly life. I find this to be such a beautiful promise of God because He knows this life can seem scary at times. But He reminds me time and time again that He is right by my side in this life and He is all that matters. Colossians 3: 11 simply tells us, “Christ is all that matters.” Numerous verses remind us that God will NEVER leave us, Deuteronomy 31:6, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 41:13, Hebrews 13:5, and so much more. God gives us the knowledge that because of Christ’s death for us, we have everything we need to live this godly life when we have Him. He alone is the only source of provision that we should be concerned about because out of Him, everything else that we need can flow (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25).

 He alone can be the strength, joy, love and discipline that we need. He gives us all this and more through His Holy Spirit, which highlights the third point that was brought to my attention.



3. 2 Peter 1:5-8: “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This one is SO important to me. There is so much in here that I really didn’t understand until I read it a good 3-4 times. First and foremost, when referencing to God’s promises in this passage there are plenty of promises that I could use to apply. But a HUGE promise that Jesus gave us when He was leaving this world was that of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). As I look over the things that were listed that we are to supplement our faith with, a lot of them are similar to the fruits of the Spirit. Jesus even tells us in that passage of John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit will teach us everything. This includes just how we are to supplement our faith with all of these challenging qualities. Many times, I truly feel like the Holy Spirit gets put on the back burner in the Christian world. We often overlook the Holy Spirit being an equally important part of the trinity.

The 7 things (notice that the number is 7, the number of completion) listed will supplement our faith. The definition of supplement is “something that is added to something else to make complete.” These 7 things will make our faith (which I believe to be the foundation of our relationship with God) complete. Now we know that we will never be complete or perfect until the day that Jesus calls us home to Him, but we will be working to be closer to having complete faith when we allow the Holy Spirit to do this work within us. So when we respond to one of the biggest promises of Jesus, that being the Holy Spirit, He is able and WILL work within us to complete our faith. The end result of that is us being more productive and more useful in our knowledge of God, which will ultimately glorify Him and enhance His kingdom.


Coming to know Him is SO much bigger than just ourselves. God’s purpose for us to know Him is not just so we can know Him for ourselves. It’s so others can see His glory and know Him personally for themselves. It’s a cycle, that all has to do with glorifying Him, pointing others to Him and enhancing His kingdom.

About the Author :

Whitney is 20 year old college senior who is studying nursing at the University of Michigan. She enjoys baking, blogging, and shopping. Whitney is a lover of life, laughter, Jesus, sushi, and sunsets. Upon graduation, Whitney plans to become a rehabilitation nurse for those affected by spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and strokes.

Learning to Trust God as We Wait

Trusting God.

How difficult this can be, yet how needed it is!

There are many times where we are tempted to take matters into our own hands and believe that rushing into a decision or choosing to date someone who isn't a genuine Christian (instead of waiting on God's timing) is what is best, despite how God calls us to be patient, wait on Him, and lead lives in accordance to His word and His prescription for a God-honoring life.  We may doubt that God knows the desires of our hearts and wants what is best for us in all things - even if that means having to wait.

Instead of spending time in daily prayer, offering God a surrendered and obedient heart that is open and willing to embrace His will in everything, and asking for His intervention and guidance in all things, we are prone to rush to our friends or even worldly wisdom such as magazines or articles on various web sites that are anything but Biblical so we can then have the "ammo" we need for making choices in life.

God has so much more for us than merely granting our requests simply because we are persistent in asking. He very well may answer our prayers, yet asking for His answers to prayer in His way and timing (not ours) will guarantee the best result when our desires are finally fulfilled.

The next time you feel drawn toward seeking advice from your friends or a co-worker, try seeking godly counsel instead and making this a weekly event so you can grow spiritually and be more certain you are living your life and basing your decisions on God's word and counsel that is in accordance to His heart and perfect will.  It is so much better to pray and give all your wishes and longings to the Lord, leaving them in His hands to do with them as He wills, then to doubt His ability to hear and answer in the right timing and do things your way...all to miss out on His best and the lessons He wanted to teach you through waiting and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23) and character change He wanted to build in you as you patiently waited on Him and lived for His glory and honor (in a way that reflects Jesus' example).

Seek to keep God first in all aspects of your life, not just the ones where it is convenient to include Him.  It has been said, "The safest place in all the world is the center of God's will."  Keep this in mind even in difficulty, sorrow, trials, and hardship; knowing that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8: 28) and that His ultimate goal is to conform you more into the image of His Son (Romans 8: 29).

Surely, God sees your sadness, your heartache, your burdens, your worries and concerns, your desires, your wants, your anxiety and fears, your longings, and your needs.

Timothy Keller has said something to the effect of, "Imagine the people around the cross as Jesus was dying, feeling sad and questioning why such a perfect person had to die and why they were going through this, but that part of the Bible wasn't yet written; they didn't have a book explaining why Jesus had to die.  ...the problems in your life, you don't have a book for."

God, being all-knowing, wise, sovereign, faithful, and good always and only has your best interest at heart. Don't miss out on all He wants to teach you and ways He wants to use you in this season of life because you are too busy desiring to rush into the future and the blessings it holds.

Make the most of each day and let it be your heart's desire to draw nearer to God. Continue to pray for your future spouse and what you hope to accomplish, yet enjoy this season of life; whether you are still single, haven't started or completed college yet, or are still living at home.

May we rejoice in the advice offered by Elizabeth George:

God’s guidelines for making right choices:

• Always choose to do what’s right.
• Consult your Bible before making decisions.
• Make no decision without prayer.
• Seek counsel before making decisions.
• Believe God has your best in mind.

About the Author :

Emma Joy is a girl approaching her late twenties who desires to make God known and present the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him. She blogs over at Baby Pink Roses.

Comeback Season

“There’s nothing more dangerous than someone making a comeback." -TD Jakes.

Comeback: a new effort to win or succeed after being close to defeat or failure.

So many of us have been walking through seasons of loss, pain, depression, fear, lack, intimidation, health issues, divorce, heartbreak and/or darkness.  I know the feeling of waking up and feeling like nothing will ever change, feeling stuck and wrecked.  Every day is exactly the same or every day is a never ending cycle of crises and fires that never seem to burn out.  I’ve had those nights where all I could do is cry and I would ask, “When is my ship going to come in?”  God has been putting on my heart the need to share that your comeback season is coming!  No matter how hard and hopeless your life may seem.  No matter how far you’ve fallen, your comeback is coming.

You don’t have to look very far to read about some of the biggest comebacks in history.  In the Bible there is story after story of great comebacks.  One of the most well-known and inspiring comebacks is Job in the Bible.

Job lost EVERYTHING;

His wealth:

 “A messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them.”-Job 1:14

His children:

 ^“While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead”-Job 1:18-19

His health:

“So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. ⁸ Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.”-Job 2:7-8

Can you imagine losing all of that?!  Maybe you’ve lost some or maybe you’ve lost it all, but one thing is for sure, your comeback season is right around the corner.  There may be friends or family that have been telling you something different and put things in your head that you’ve caused this or say things like, “How can you have so much faith in a God that allows so much harm?”  Just like Jobs friends blamed him and spoke on things they really didn’t know about.

What did Job do in the midst of all of his loss?

He didn’t lose the most important things: God, faith, prayer and trust in God.

What did God do for Jobs comeback?  God goes all out and makes his comeback loud, big and more than Job could have ever imagined (especially when Job was in the midst of losing everything).

He restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.  (Job 42:10)

All of Jobs brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him. (Job 42:11)

He blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.  (Job 42:12)

He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters.  (Job 42:13)

He gave Job long life and he got to see his children and their children to the fourth generation.  (Job 42:16)

How are you going to allow God to use your setbacks as comebacks? Do you trust that He will and is able to bring about a comeback?  What are you doing in the midst of waiting on your comeback?

The clock has been set by God for your comeback  Claim it and receive it in Jesus name

I wanted to share parts of one of my favorite poems ever written.  It’s a poem I recite a lot in my mind and I have it hanging as a reminder on my wall.

Still I Rise-Maya Angelou, 1928 - 2014

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise.

About the Author :

Leilani is a single mom to a beautiful 4 year old little girl. She is in love with the Creator of the stars. Her mission is simple yet so big, to encourage and bring Jesus to all in need. To bring hope by loving people, writing, photography, music, poetry/spoken word and meeting people right where they are. God's Grace is her air.

Lord, I Need Spousal Support

Last year, I had an epiphany.

The same way we grow in our relationships is the same way we go deeper in intimacy with God if we commit ourselves to it.

I stumbled across Isaiah 54:5 (NLT):

" For the Lord your maker is your Husband - the Lord of hosts is His name - and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called."

I'm sure I've read this some time in the past but this time, it was mind-blowing. I was doing a book study and Chapter 54 was it for me. It contains promises and declarations of love that was very needful at that time  Anyway, I stuck with verse 5 and went to ask God some questions. I'm going to be highlighting some of my journal entries for that day. The aim here is that it opens your eyes the way it did mine, that you fall in love once again and commit yourself to God once again.

"The one who made me has put a ring on my finger. He's promising me forever.  He will attend to me, take pride in me and do his best for me. Lord, right now I'm going to highlight your duties as a husband so take note. Also, being the unselfish wife that I am, I'm going to do same for me. So we both know out duties and stick to making this work.

- My husband is my head. This is a partnership where he's the leader, the guide, the director. He is the HEAD, not me.

- He loves me. The 1 Corinthians 13 kind. He's patient and kind and He'll never leave me or forsake me. He's tender and considerate. He shows me courtesy and provides support.

- He has oversight over all the areas of my life. He has a glorious, breathtaking, good plan.

- He will provide for my every need whether it's emotional or financial or health-wise, whatever it is.

Now, my part:

- I do not have authority over my own body. I cannot do what I like, obey the dictates of my flesh. My body is subject to the Holy Spirit.

- I'm to make myself beautiful and presentable to my husband. I'm to adorn myself for Him- with a beautiful and quiet spirit (a steady, unshakeable, listening spirit.)

- I'm to SUBMIT myself to my Husband's loving leadership (whether I like it or not.) I'm to follow his directions. No tolerance for rebellion.

Other things to note:

- My husband needs my input for this relationship to work. It takes two to tango; it takes two to make it work. The Lord needs my time, my attention  and my obedience. He needs me to help Him help me.

- Spiritual adultery is when I start to focus on someone/thing rather than my Husband. He's has to stay in the center of my life and relationships. Nothing should be exalted above Him. All things should remain subject to Him."

Following that day, intimacy with God has gone to another height. I remember that I have to submit when my flesh is screaming.  I cry for spousal support when things get too hard. Sometimes,  I ignore Him and I know what it is like to be away from the person you love. We have fights (honestly, I'm just fighting with myself and casting the blame). I sit down and I'm ready to hear my ever-wise maker and Husband speak. When I don't agree with His plans, I remember His love and how He wants the best for me and how His plans is to bring me to a glorious end. I get bored and childish and He's always there, looking at the window, waiting for His wife to come home so He can wrap her in His cocoon of love again.

God told me one time that if I master how we work our relationship,  I would have a very wholesome relationship with the godly man I marry because I'm learning directly from the maker of the institution.

I realize more and more that this is what I was created for: intimacy, oneness, fellowship. Out of this should stem every philosophy and value I hold dear, every decision I make. I was made for Him and sorely Him, for His pleasure and His glory. I was made for Him to delight in. Isn't that something?

Girl, you and your Husband need to talk. Your Husband needs your attention. He wants to shower you with love and lovingly hold your hand through life.

About the Author :

A lover of everything words and fine paper, Ayotola is pursuing Jesus in education, youth ministry, women empowerment, and public speaking. Her life's message is centered around breathtaking lifelong intimacy with God, refinement of individual character and finding and fulfilling God's plan for one's life. You can find her at her personal blog: ayotola.wordpress.com.

Eve’s Consequence: A Curse, or a Blessing?

If you’re anything like me, you’ve read through Genesis 3:16 and cringed (notice that I said Genesis 3:16, not John 3:16). This is the part of the story of Adam and Eve where God explains the consequence for Eve’s actions. I have often read through this verse and felt angry, because it always seemed like Eve’s punishment was harsh and worse than Adam’s. We all know that after Eve ate the apple and God confronted her about it, “To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.” (Genesis 3:16, ESV). I became obsessed with this verse because every time I read it I felt punished by God.  Even though I have never experienced the pain of childbirth, I have seen the way it is depicted in movies, and heard the way it is talked about in our culture. It is described as miserable, excruciating, and horribly painful, to name just a few descriptions. I couldn’t understand why God would give such a harsh punishment to all women for what one woman did centuries ago. I couldn’t stop asking, “where is God’s grace in all of this?” I mean, the gift of a new life is God’s grace in itself, but why does the process of bringing forth that new life have to be such a horrible experience for women to go through? I started to feel like God didn’t love women as much he loved men. I felt like God didn’t love me because I’m a woman, like being a woman is a curse that makes me deserving of punishment. But even though my thoughts were leading me astray, I knew in my heart that God loves us more than we could ever comprehend- both genders, all races, all personalities. I always knew that God loves women, but I was frustrated with how that verse made me feel, so I decided to do some research and find out just how God’s grace fits in to this particular verse.

First of all, notice that God says, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing.” He says he will multiply pain, but nowhere in this verse does He say He will multiply suffering. When God designed childbirth to be painful, He didn’t design it that way to make women suffer. Pain can actually be a good thing sometimes, especially in childbirth. Many women in today’s culture are starting to realize that their experience in giving birth can be an ecstatic and spiritual experience rather than an agonizing one. When birth is experienced in a loving, supportive and comfortable environment without hospital or medicinal intervention, it can be a very intense and joyful experience, even in the presence of pain.

Pain during childbirth is what allows women to experience the spirituality and ecstatic bliss of the process. Physical pain during labor releases a hormone called Oxytocin, which is also known as the “bonding hormone.” Oxytocin is the same hormone that creates the feelings of intimacy during and after sex, as well as the feelings of bonding with a newborn during breastfeeding. This hormone is released in high levels during birth when medical interventions are not used, which increases a woman’s ability to bond with her newborn after birth as well as enjoy the process of labor before birth. It has even been found that Oxytocin levels are the highest they will ever be during birth. This means that during labor and birth women can experience heightened levels of this emotionally and physically pleasurable hormone. I researched the subject and found so many stories that women have shared about their experiences giving birth. These stories were not horrifying to read at all. Instead, they were inspiring. Many women mention the intense bonding they felt with their husbands, their newborn, and even God during labor, birth, and after birth. I read about some women who described an experience where they felt closer to God than they had ever felt before- and this wasn’t just after the baby was born, this was actually during contractions and giving birth. It seems that God created the sensations of labor and birth as a blessing for women, not a curse.

However, in order to experience the bliss that results from Oxytocin, women must surrender to the pain they are feeling and trust their body to do what it is designed to do during labor and birth. The same concept applies to other areas of life. When we stop trying to control and fix our pain on our own, it subsides and becomes easier to deal with. When we accept pain and make the decision to trust God rather than leaning on our own attempts for control, the pain becomes bearable and sometimes even a source of inspiration. There are various websites and books that emphasize the importance of surrender in order for a woman to fully experience the joy in giving birth. Surrendering to the pain and letting go of fear as well as the need for control makes it easier to experience bliss in the process. It really makes sense, because when we try to fight pain we tense up, which just causes more pain. When we have faith in the fact that our bodies know what they are doing, the pain of birth becomes bearable, even joyful if we allow it. In the same way, when we surrender all control in our lives over to God, pain subsides as we learn to roll with it and fully experience what God is doing rather than suffering through our own false control of the pain in our lives.

When God designed the process of birth, he didn’t mean for it to be a repeating punishment, he meant for it to be an intense and incredible experience. The pain that is felt during birth as well as other experiences in life, emotional and physical, can be used as a blissful, inspiring and strengthening experience when we stop trying to fight it and instead find the joy in it. God’s love and perfect design can be found in every experience of life, even the painful ones. God created the process of birth to be a gift, not a curse!

The research that I used in this article was found from Sheila Kamara Hay’s website, www.ecstatic-birth.com, Debra Pascali Bonaro’s website, www.debrapascalibonaro.com, and Elizabeth Davis’ website, www.elizabethdavis.com. I highly recommend checking out these websites as well as the documentaries and books listed on them if you are interested in learning more.

About the Author :

Jessica Weibley is currently a senior at Shippensburg University majoring in English and Technical/Professional Communication. She works at a Day Care Center, and spends a lot of her free time writing and learning about children’s literature. She considers herself a partial feminist because she believes in equal respect for men and women but hates politics. She believes that God created men and women equal, and that He loves all of us more than we could ever know. She wants all women to know that their worth and value lies in Jesus alone, not in what society tells them or what men think of them.

The Little Things

If you're anything like me and spend long amounts of time on Pinterest and beauty blogs, you'll find tons of beauty tips that seem amazing but take an eternity to do. My mind instantly goes to those contour-and-highlight pictures of perfectly beautiful girls who then slap on gobs of war paint and magically transform into a completely different woman. First of all, that has to take forever to wash off. I mean, surely they have to have a paint scraper to even get that off, and on top of that, it has to take forever to do. Anyways, there are countless more tips and complicated looks out there. The main problem with these is that if it's complicated and takes a long time to do, then it's probably not showcasing your own beauty, but instead covering it up. And since makeup is only supposed to enhance your unique beauty, I've included these simple, quick, easy tips that make a big difference without completely turning you into war paint warrior or new woman altogether, because what can possibly be more beautiful than the woman you were created to be, no?

• Moisturize. I have spent years trying to figure out how to make my makeup look less like a birthday cake and more like healthy, beautiful skin. And let me tell you: moisturizing makes all the difference. If you apply even a small amount of moisturizer before your makeup, your skin automatically looks softer and smoother and the makeup doesn't look so dry and cakey.

• Bright Eyes. I absolutely cannot leave the house or my dorm without under eye concealer. This may not seem like a big deal, but under eye concealer instantly brightens your eyes, making them look more awake, as well as brightening your face. When the darkness under your eyes is brightened, your whole face looks so much fresher with just this one step.

• Lashes. I'm sure you've heard of this one a million times, but curling your lashes is such a quick step in your makeup routine. You can curl your lashes before or after you apply your mascara, or if you really love big lashes like I do, you can curl your lashes both before and after. Your eyes will look bigger and flirtier with those big, beautiful lashes of yours.

• No More War Paint. Instead of doing the famous highlight-and-contour war paint technique to bring out or alter your facial structure, you can try my more simple technique. I first take a bronzer and sweep it in the hollows of my cheeks, along my temples, and along my jaw line. This adds a little warmth and sunny color to my face without completely altering my shape. I then take a shimmery champagne eye shadow and sweep it on top of my cheekbone. This way, the light will catch the shimmery shadow and highlight your beautiful cheekbones, whether you naturally have high cheekbones or not. You can also take the shimmer shadow and sweep it along the brow bone, tear ducts, and the cupid's bow on your lips to add a little more light to your face.

• Brows. We've all seen pictures of people with skinny, light, barely-there brows and it really doesn't do anything for their face shapes. A good brow adds structure to your face and eyes, acting as a frame for your face to showcase your beauty. You can simply sweep a brow shadow that compliments your hair color into your brows to give them a little more prominence to your face.

Each one of these tips takes only a few seconds to do but can instantly make a huge difference in highlighting your features. They're all meant to enhance your face shape and add brightness to your already glowing beauty. I hope you'll try out at least one of these tricks and see how simple and effective they can be in showing the world how stunning you really are.

About the Author :

Ashlyn is a small town girl with a big heart for family, laughter, and all things beautiful. This history nerd enjoys taking walks, yoga, delicious food, and of course, fashion and beauty. She desires most to see a world where women have true and deep relationships with themselves through Christ.

Gentle God

Earlier this week, I met with one of the most amazing men I know. His name is Terry Smith. I've known Terry for years and I am so thankful that God placed him in my life when He did. He is truly like a father to me.

I shared a great deal of my story with Terry, as well as what's been on my heart most recently. After the ways in which God has spoken to me through Terry, to call this man an inspiration would honestly be an understatement. He has had such an impact on my life.

During our conversation, Terry looked at me and said, "Emily, there's one word I want you to remember that truly describes who God really is." I responded with a look of curiosity and he answered, "Gentle. God is gentle."

He pointed me to Matthew 11, where God is revealed through His Son.

^"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29, NIV) 

Out of all the words that God could have used to reveal Himself, He chose gentle.

I wonder why.

Perhaps it's because we're too afraid to face God after we've sinned.

Perhaps it's because our understanding of God is wrathful.

And with these things in mind, perhaps it's because God wants us to change our false understanding of His true character.

My understanding of God growing up was that if I sinned, He would be far from happy with me. If I messed up, I would have to immediately repent and pay for my consequences however God saw fit, or I was going to hell.

But then I really thought about it. Why would I want to serve a wrathful God who is constantly waiting for me to mess up? If the God I serve isn't merciful and loving, then what's the point?

Let me tell you something. That's not who God is.  

Our God is gentle. He is understanding. And He accepts us as we are. And as seen in Matthew 11:29, He even tells us this Himself. He longs for us to understand. The last thing God desires is for us to be afraid.

We should fear God not out of intimidation, but in such a way that produces love. The fear of God is about an earnest respect that recognizes Him as unfailing and infallible. It's about loving and faithfully trusting Him in every circumstance, with our hands in His.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9:10, ESV)

Of course it hurts God when we sin, but that's only because He wants the best for us. He knows our full potential; He blessed us with it.

But, when we do mess up- and we will- God understands. And He forgives.

This is who God is.

Let's back up to the beatitudes in Matthew 5. In this chapter, we learn of one of the most beautiful blessings that God pours over us. Here again is something else that shines with His gentleness.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 5:3, NIV)

To be poor in spirit is to realize that nothing we have is worth more than the kingdom of God. It is the understanding that anything that hinders us from receiving the kingdom is exactly what we are to empty our lives of.

I once sat on a curb with a homeless woman. She had three oranges in her hands. It was the only food she had for the day, or maybe even that week. She handed me one of those oranges and blessed me. She blessed me. And she told me the only thing that kept her going was God, because He was so good to her in every circumstance. She had the vision that many of us don't. She saw God's gentleness and how He cared for her, and she embraced it with every fiber of her being.

Ladies, all of us were born in the image of God and we are called to reflect this image. What we need to keep in mind is that the image is a gentle one.

Nothing is as strong as gentleness, and nothing is as gentle as real strength.

Know this.

Get in the routine of practicing gentleness. Circumstances will certainly arise where you are faced with whether or not to show gentleness. Showing it isn't always easy, but when these circumstances appear, remember that no matter what you've done- no matter how bad you've messed up- God has always chosen gentleness. And He always will.

Practice, obtain, and reflect, ladies.

“I choose gentleness... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.”
― Max Lucado

About the Author :

Emily Lauren is a 20 year old southern girl who has a heart for loving Jesus, loving others, and serving the world. She is currently pursuing a degree in ministry as she continues to fall madly in love with Jesus by the day. Emily is also a lover of books, coffee, koalas, yoga, and the great outdoors. Her daily dose of life consists of a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus.

On Guard: Learning How to Guard Your Heart

Vulnerability

Often times my heart is an open book, laid out for all to see. I am always ready for the next person to come up and read the mysterious, poetic contents that have been written with pen strokes of joy and pain. We are taught as Christians to be vulnerable with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I have always excelled in that skill and at one point I’d say it was my favorite aspect about the Christian lifestyle. Until now. Now at the ripe-old age of twenty-two I have had my fair share of disappointments, burned bridges, and bumpy roads.

I was so openly vulnerable with people, both male and female that what I thought was one of my greatest strengths became one of my greatest weaknesses. The pain and suffering that is coupled with vulnerability is staggering. I have learned during my college days that you can’t always jump into vulnerability head-first. When you are being vulnerable with an individual or even a large group of people, you are baring your naked soul. Every wound, every scar is laid bare and illuminated for people to witness. Your soft, tender, fleshy bits of fragile heart and spirit are left wide open, susceptible to spiritual attack.

So, do we abandon our practice of vulnerability with one another in order to avoid further anguish and affliction? Of course not. There is a smart way to go about vulnerability and Ephesians chapter six tells us all about it.

Put on the Full Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-20 describes putting on a suit of armor that is meant to protect against evil forces. I read this passage many times growing up but I never quite understood it. What does it mean to put on the armor of God? Maybe it’s just me but I’m not quite familiar with how to put on invisible armor that would supposedly protect me from life’s disappointments, curve balls, and unmet expectations. When reading this passage just a few weeks ago I am reminded of something my best friend told me once when I was suffering from the painful consequences of an unbalanced relationship.  I thought I was being vulnerable and openhearted while the other person was not reciprocating this spiritual willingness. I felt rejected, known yet unloved and certainly not wanted. She told me that vulnerability was good but that I had to guard my heart at the same time. This seemed contradictory to me. How does one guard their heart and yet be vulnerable at the same time?

We begin by standing firm with the belt of truth.

The disappointments and heartache we often experience after spiritual vulnerability leaves our knees buckling under the force. It’s hard to stand tall and confident. The belt of truth is a centering force. It makes sense that it is placed in the middle of our bodies, the source of our balance. The truth is our frame of reference in which everything about us and our lives is seen. This is the truth: that we are beloved daughters of God above and are unconditionally loved. We are worthy because we have been created in the Image of God and have been set free from our sin by Christ Jesus. Nothing we say or do could cause God to love us any less. This reminder replaces balance to my soul and I am better able to stand in the face of my own heartache. Those feelings of worthlessness and of being unloved vanish under the purpose for which I was made.

Put the breastplate of righteousness in place.

The breastplate gives further protection for one of the most important organs in your body. Give your heart good and proper maintenance. Take time to meditate and have quiet time. Converse with God on what has been bothering you lately and give it over to God in prayer. To me this means a lot of meditation on the bitter and angry residue that has been left over by the rejection of others. The rest of the body cannot operate without the use of the heart. It must be clean, free from anger, hate, and injustice. The heart needs to be clear in order to pump the blood to the rest of the body; trust me you can breathe easier when you remind yourself of the peace Christ has left for you instead of dwelling on the wrongs that have been committed against you. Think of forgiveness as the cardio workout for your heart. Do a little bit each day and you find that in the future the work of forgiveness will feel like nothing.

Fit your feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

I’ve learned that remaining upset about the what-nots in my life take up quite a bit of emotional and mental energy. And it’s all wasted because being angry and bitter to the point of paralysis changes nothing. The readiness that comes with the gospel discusses what we are to do with our time-and that is to do Good. I realized that I was wasting so much time pining over the attention and affection of people who had no intention of giving it to me. I am better off making a truly amazing difference by utilizing my gifts and talents. The story of the gospel is of the nature that it will take us to many places, physically and spiritually. We must be ready. So put on that belt of truth and that breastplate of righteousness and you will be ready to engage with the world.

Take up the shield of faith.

 Faith protects us from irredeemable doubt and the alternatives that the world offers us. As a society and culture we think we know a lot; that we have progressed beyond the dependence of the otherworldly in the arts, technology, and science. It is hard to be doubtful of the facts that we are presented with and easy to become uncertain about the hope the gospel offers and the ways in which to obtain it. It takes courage of heart to engage with a world that will most likely disagree with you and claim you are wrong; you’ll begin to doubt yourself. But have faith in God’s love for you and for the grace in which you are made free. Shields give us confidence and perhaps we can act more courageously knowing that we have a strong defense.

Take the helmet of salvation.

This is my favorite. It places emphasis on the head, the brain; knowledge. As an academic at heart I sincerely believe that knowledge is power. Those who possess the knowledge possess the power. So knowledge of yourself gives you power over yourself. Once you know who you are and are secure in your identity as a child of God then overcoming yourself and your vices becomes very possible. This is one piece of knowledge that we never have to doubt; we are made for something else, something bigger and it’s within our reach. It’s liberating; it’s the freedom that Christ has promised.

Take the sword of the Spirit.

Now we can fight back. We can stand our ground against that which opposes us. Numerous times in scripture the Word of God is referred to as a sword, a living and active thing. It has the ability to take the offensive and to take the defensive. When the truth begins to evade you and others use scripture to put you and your dreams down, go back to it with the belt of truth tight around your waist. This is your defense. The encouragement and hope I find tuck away within the precious stories of the Bible defends my heart against the attacks it currently is facing. Scripture and our interpretation of it is how God moves and acts within our world and within our lives. We must be well acquainted with it in order to reveal what God is doing right here, right now. This is our offensive. Though it may never be entirely clear, we will gain a better idea of where God is acting and where we must follow.

Warriors

We’re women and we’re warriors; dressed in the full armor of God. We can outfit ourselves for battle without losing our ability to be vulnerable. Just be smart about it. Remember the armor of God and what each piece means. If you are feeling depressed, heartbroken, unworthy, or unloved after a time of vulnerability with others go back and put your armor on. For the next time be prepared when you plan on being vulnerable with another so that after you have done everything you can, you are able to STAND. Be firm, unrelenting and uncompromising in who you are and what you stand for. Fight for truth, justice, love, and beauty. 

About the Author :

Sarah Dannemiller is a crazy-confused post-grad from central Indiana who is a curious, fun-loving individual doing her best to leave a legacy of love and laughter. She might have the tendency to obsess over words, corny jokes, and delicious cookie-dough ice cream! But she has a passion for justice, believes in this world, and the good work that God is doing in it.

Abuse is Not Always Physical

When one thinks of abuse often times, the first thing that comes to mind is physical or verbal abuse. But there are many forms of abuse that some of us live with daily. A lot of times the daily abuse one may deal with goes beyond a quick fix to become a habit. Our need to be in control is something that we wrestle with constantly and it can be a big issue in our relationship with God; as well as other relationships or situations in our lives. The things we do to try and control our emotions and feelings come in the form of detrimental habits, which are the very abusive relationships that keep us out of control.

Habits can often come in the form of what one thinks is needed. We feel in our mind’s eye that certain things, relationships, or experiences are essential needs. We have to have it!! When this happens, we can be led by what we feel more than by what is actually needed. Our bodies, spirits, and minds have at this point tied themselves to selfish desires, becoming our needs.

By making selfish desires our essential needs, we have made a choice to invite error and abuse to become a part of who we are.

In this danger zone of desired essential and selfish needs, we are blind! We can not see what is truly important because what we desire may not be what is best for us. This can keep us from being open and progressing to the next stages of life that will bring forth change and transformation.

Change and transformation can come in the form of true love, acceptance, peace, forgiveness, acknowledgement, joy, faith, discipline, honesty, and determination, to name a few. It also comes in the form of being okay with making mistakes, imperfection, and most importantly, taking care of oneself.

How we see ourselves, often comes from how others see us, because the relationships in our lives bear a weight and witness, reflective of who we are. Then we must ask ourselves who or what are we in relationship with and what does it say about us. These relationships affect the people we are and they also are very telling of what or who we need to be needed by.

Is it a relationship, your body, your mind, a spirit, addiction, people, things, habits?!…the list goes on. Only you and God know what you are dealing with. If you are open, God can be a healing light in this dark tunnel of an abusive relationship.

"Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery. They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High. That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one was there to help them. “ LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains. Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron." (Psalms 107:10-16 New Living Translation)

About the Author :

Francine E. Ott is truly thankful to have a relationship with God and is seeking Him daily for guidance and any opportunities to walk closer with Him in truth and love. Francine is a choreographer/dancer, teacher, and soon to be counselor who has a heart to see God's transforming power, renew, restore, and heal the minds, souls, and bodies of people's lives.