And It Came to Pass...

 Hello everyone! I'm so sorry about my absence. Life has been crazy for this high school senior. I hope that all of you have been well! To kick off my first post in a long time, I've decided to do another Scripture Encouragement Monday!

 With the day most Christians celebrate the birth of Christ quickly approaching, I think it would be nice to reflect on a verse or more talking about this momentous occasion.

 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of        David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. ~ Luke 2:1-7

  In these verses we learn about Jesus' earthly parents, Joseph and Mary. We see pretty quickly that Mary is heavy with child, but still they have to travel to Joseph's hometown, which is a pretty long journey for someone who is about to give birth, to pay taxes. They make it to the town, but soon after Mary goes into labor. The Inn keeper has no room for them, so they find themselves in a stable, where Mary gives birth, her baby's cradle turning out to be a manger. 

 What a thought! Jesus all through His ministry on earth showed great humbleness, and it was shown from the beginning when he was born in a humble stable, surrounded by animals. Jesus was the meekest man ever while he was on earth, and we should follow His example!

 This is pretty short, but I hope it gives you a bit to think about. Next week, we'll continue further. Also, is there any sort of topic you would like to see discussed on APOC? Post it below, and we'll do what we can to cover it!!! :) 

 

Sick of Waiting (and worrying)

Okay, so I'm guessing some of you might be a little worried about the title today. Did it get you wondering about the content to follow? I mean, it sounds pretty negative, doesn't it?

 

Yeah, it does. And I usually don't like to use conclusively derogatory sounding titles. But for the last several weeks, the idea for this post has been lingering in the back of my head. And so I finally decided to stop being lazy and actually write it. And what can I say, this particular title seemed to fit best.

 

Let's face it.

 

 I'm sure most of us have heard the whole deal about "waiting for your true love". And I'm sure most everyone reading this blog agrees with the Biblically-founded moral system which makes it clear that people should remain pure until marriage, and that marriage is meant to last until death. 

 

Marriage is a sacred union; a covenant between the husband, wife, and God. Throughout Scripture, we find where terrible things happened to those who misuse or abandon it. I personally think that sin pertaining to this area is worse than sin such as stealing, lying, etc. Even though those are still forms of wickedness, their consequences/affects on other people can be lesser than that of sexual sin.

 

For example: Stealing a car vs. committing adultery. They're both wrong, of course, but the latter will hurt more lives, long term.

 

All sin is evil and to be avoided. However, some do come with heavier prices.

 

That doesn't really have a whole lot with what I aimed to write about today, but I just wanted to remind you all of the seriousness of the matter. Marriage is nothing to be taken lightly. Not that I know anything really about it; since I'm still single. But just look through God's Book.

He gave us a beautiful gift to enjoy a special sort of love. And that special sort of love was only meant for one other person here on earth - one's spouse. In this case, your future husband, ladies.

 

So then how should one handle the matter before marriage or courtship?

 

At age 13, I wrote a poem called "I'm Just Waiting."

 

I'm sorry, but yes,

I'm already claimed.

Already got myself somebody special,

Right now I'm just waiting.

Someday, somewhere,

I'll find my somebody special.

My knight in shining armor.

Right now I'm just waiting.

I'm set aside,

I'm set apart.

Right now I'm just waiting.

For him, I'm saving my heart.

I'm praying that the Lord

will bless my somebody special,

Protect him and guide him,

until (and after) the day we meet.

 

Skimming over this, yeah, I still hold to this promise of abstinence and emotional purity until marriage. I'm still saving my first kiss for THE guy. I've learned to really take emotional purity serious ever since I experienced some hard lessons as a younger teen, concerning giving your heart to somebody prematurely. (Crushes, lust, etc.) And honestly, it all starts with the heart. If you let your heart stray, you're already going down a slippery slope and sin is a the door.

 

It all starts with the heart.

 

"Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

 

But is it more than just waiting?

 

I've always thought it was a matter of "keeping your eyes open" and waiting, watching. Yes, keeping productive, not just sitting around during your single years 'waiting for life to happen.'

 

Nonetheless. There seems to be something more to it than just this. 

 

It seems that, with the 'waiting' mentality, life seems to become a bit full of doubt and fear that perhaps this, perhaps that...what ifs...

 

What if...you're not supposed to get married? What if....maybe you never find that special dude?

 

What if this, what if that.

 

It's easy to get a little desperate even. I'll admit, I've allowed myself to get wrapped up in concern over it at times.

 You meet a guy that seems halfway decent and the first thing that crosses your mind?

 

"Hm, could he be the one? Maybe I should talk to him...?"

 

It's not wrong to wonder this, and I think it's a completely natural instinct. The key is, how much time you spend thinking on this sort of thing. It's so easy for this notion to become a self-centered one. Or, simply fear-based.

 

God's Word is very clear on fear, and states simply: don't succumb to it.

 

And, another thing. If you're like me, you're still young. I'll be 18 in January. Yes, women have been getting married at that age and earlier for centuries, but that doesn't mean it's the 'must' for each individual person. Unless I see a direct sign or direction from God on the contrary, I still think I'm a bit green for marriage yet.

 

However, I don't think one is ever truly 'ready' for marriage, as in, completely 'wisened-up' and prepared.

 We can prepare and store up wisdom to an extent, but we're always learning more. (hopefully, if you have the right mindset and a heart for learning) However, wisdom dictates that a couple shouldn't marry until they have matured to a certain degree, and possess a certain degree of responsibility. And in this society, maturity is coming later and later, if at all.

 

Gosh, I'm rambling today aren't I?

 

Okay. *takes a deep breath, tries to get back on topic*

 

I guess what I'm trying to get at is, if you're worried about finding your special someone, stop it.

 

Stop worrying.

 

If God wills it for you, it will happen. End of story.

 

Waiting is a word of stagnancy.

 

 While, in the sense of purity it's almost always implied to be good, it can easily turn into a means to create uninvolved, fear-ridden young women who are a bit on the desperate side to find their Superman.

 

Personally, I don't feel this is where I want to be.

I don't want to be the antsy young woman who acts like a feeding-frenzied shark whenever a young man enters her sight.  I don't want to be consumed with fear of the unknown, constantly wondering 'what if'.

 

 There's a reason for everything, and I know this is all in God's plan. Truth is, what's so bad about being single, anyway? During these adventure-filled years of my life, I have been given so many opportunities. Chances to point people to God through a wide variety of skills, abilities, and connections, and of course, the time to do it all.

 

In short, I am loving this season of my life. God is exceedingly good to me.

 

If He has it in His will for me to get married, wonderful! If not, wonderful! Instead of dwelling in the 'waiting and worrying' mentality, I strive to use my time wisely and productively. Learning new things every day, strengthening relationships with the people in my life, and drawing closer to my Maker.

 

I'm no longer "on the lookout" for a mate. Let's be honest, that involves way too much stress and energy! Which I'd rather spend on something a bit more productive.

 

No, I've learned that when I try to take things into my own hands, the end result is always inferior, messy, and quite often a flunked attempt. I'm pretty sure this could apply to every aspect of my life, including the 'romance' side.

 

So in conclusion?

 

I'm leaving my love story in God's hands...not mine. 

 

P.S. I'm sorry this sort of evolved into a sporadic sort of rambling rant, but hopefully you gleaned something from it? *uneasy smile*

 

Hi! I'm Khloe Grace:)

 Hi everyone!  I'm Khloe Grace and I'm new here at APOC.  I want to share my story.

I first started blogging under a different name privately, about a year ago.  One of the first blogs I found was A Pinch of Classy.  I never really cared about what I wore, fashion-wise that is.  Then I started to read here, and my interest was piqued.

     I started coming up with outfits, researching fashion and what kinds of clothes and colors were best for my body and natural coloring.  I found that it was very fun for me, and I was complimented on my outfits (which is always nice) ;)

 

  I now have my own public blog called All Things Good.  One of my missions there (and here) is to present modest, affordable fashion to teens, girls, and women.  To God be the glory!

 

 

 

P.S.  I will be posting on Sundays.:)

 

What Say The Guys? Q/A with Chard Phebe

 

Hey y'all! 

Some of us girls from APOC picked questions we thought would be interesting to hear an opinion of from the opposite gender., and today the Q/A is with Christian teen writer Chard Phebe.

What do you find attractive in a girl? Not physical appearance... but what about her attracts you, personality wise? I have to state that among the most attractive things about a girl is her confidence (especially when it’s in Christ). I always feel so bothered when I comment on how great a singer a girl is, or how smart she is, or how kind and all I get is a debate. A girl who can acknowledge her God-given gifts is always attractive. Intelligence, artistic ability, kindness, and transparency are traits I personally find to be attractive, as well as an unashamed femininity; I have no problem with girls playing sports, using weapons, or be outdoorsy… that’s all fine, it can even be attractive, but please, please never try to have us treat you as anything other than a girl, that is so unattractive.

How do you feel about girls approaching guys? Personally I hold to the “old-fashioned” view that guys should be the initiators, hard and nerve wracking as it may be for us. I will say that if a girl is thinking of approaching a guy in a romantic sense to simply act in a way that would still allow him to be the initiator. If he talks about a social gathering you’d like to attend with him, simply speak on how you would enjoy going to that, if he’s so dense that he doesn’t realize he should invite you, then simply ask to go, but realize that he probably only thinks of you as a friend at the moment.

What are your thoughts on courtship and dating? Oh, this subject can be controversial even among Christians…awesome! I personally stand unashamed on the view that courtship is the best route for pursuing romance; now this is not to say I look down on Christians who date or want to date; Lord knows I did for the longest time. My greatest argument for this view (but not my only one) is that the time I spend dating a girl I may or may not marry just for the fun of it I could have spent preparing for my future wife. That Thursday night date could have been spent at a Bible study learning from older couples in my church, the money I spent taking that girl out to dinner I could have saved for my wife’s wedding ring.

What are things that can become distracting or make you avert your eyes when it comes to modesty? This is a sore spot because I love my relationships/meetings with all girls in my life, and unfortunately showing a little too much skin puts a sour twist on many of them. I’m not sure girls realize how perceptive we guys can be to what they are wearing and our reactions to it. Being a Christian and not wanting to mentally lust ever, this can turn a perfectly good meeting with a friend/colleague into an exercise in self-control. It makes me sad when I can’t look a girl in her eyes because her low cut shirt is only a few inches below, so I end up looking her in the forehead or just gazing all around and feel like a jerk. It also makes me sad when I basically have to ignore a girl passing by because of what she’s wearing, I want to smile and say “Hi” but the fact that she’s half naked kind of ruins any chance of that unless I want to fight her image out of my head for the next five minutes. As dramatic as this might sound, I dare say you ask several Christian guys to read this and they all would on some level agree.

Do girls make you feel uncomfortable if they're really friendly? (Not in a forward/flirting way) Not uncomfortable, but for all “really friendly” girls I do have an admonition. Ladies, God made you with your bubbly, outgoing personalities and they are beautiful and unique. I don’t ever want to put a lamp shade on this because it can be a light for Christ but I must say when it comes to guys, you should definitely hold back on any physical displays (no “Hi I just met you, but I’m friendly, so let’s hug”). Also if you’re going to be friendly toward a guy, be sure that you clarify that you do that for everyone and be sure that you’re living it. A girl in my campus ministry called me sweetheart, which kind of put me off until I saw and she explained that she called everyone “sweetheart” or “my darling” and now I don’t read anything into it, however I can’t say that coming up with terms of endearment for most people will not still cause some guys to read something into your friendliness.

What turns you away from being interested in a girl? Character qualities, attitudes, etc? I have to stress being ashamed of being a girl. This puts such a bad taste in my mouth I want to brush my teeth. The feminist movement has seemed to state that if women are “evolved” or “empowered” that they’ll chop their hair to boy-like lengths, wear masculine clothing, see motherhood or homemaking as inferior uses for their time, and basically throw out what it has always meant to be female. To me this is complete crock; I look at any mother as empowered because she has the incredible responsibility of helping shape the future generation in ways we men simply can’t. Please, girls just be girls, even if you do all sorts of sporty and tough girl things, allow us to get the door for you, pay the check, and be a gentlemen if we’re trying to be, don’t make us feel weird. Other unattractive quality is being preoccupied with superficial things, young men are interested in young women, and young women care about more than just what color their makeup is or how good their selfie looks. Also I would say selfishness, unkindness, dislike for children, and disinterest in spiritual subjects are other big ones for me personally.

What are qualities you look for in a girl with regards to friendship/relationships? I being a talker extrovert type find myself inextricably drawn to quiet introverts for close friendships (my mentor is one), but this doesn’t mean I don’t love talking to extroverted girls (you guys can be sooo funny!). I’d said what really makes me desire a friendship with a girl is the knowledge that our relationship with benefit both of us, I realize the girls in my life can dramatically affect me so I want to surround myself with good ones, but I also want to know I can bless this girl in some way, it’s no fun feeling unwanted or needed. In all things however love, joy, peace, patience, humor, kindness, faithfulness, perseverance, imagination,  gentleness, goodness, and faith are skeleton keys for my heart.

What are you looking for spiritually in a wife?  The Proverbs 31 woman is an ideal for most Christian guys, as it should be, I mean that lady sounds like Wonder woman (She planted a Vineyard!) but personally I like a girl who looks more like a Genesis 1-Revalation 22 woman. There’s just something about a girl who knows her Bible. Also I think that your behavior in accordance to Scripture really would be what I’d look for; a girl whose heart is set after obeying God’s truth is worthy to be praised and always worth the time and attention you give her in my opinion.

Classy Vintage Look. {ClassyGarb}

                                                                                     

 Hello classy ladies! As you're probably aware, I didn't post last week because I decided to take a little blogging break. But I'm back now, with a new outfit post for you. Hope you enjoy!

 I don't know how it is for you, but for some reason I feel like (as far as clothing goes) I belong in another century. I love, love, love vintage or old fashioned looking clothing. A couple weeks ago, we had Past, Present, and Future day at a rehearsal for the show I'm in, A Christmas Carol. I decided to go as someone from the past. My fifties outfit fell apart when I discovered my poodle skirt had a mysterious stain on it... So I scrounged around in my clothing and created a 20s-40s look. I told everyone I was seeking help for the war effort. :) I liked the look so much that I decided to wear it again at church, with a few changes. Below is an image from Past, Present, and Future Day. Then I'll share my changes.

    And here's what I wore to church. As you can see the only significant change is the shoes and tights, though I also wore a white tank top instead of a brown one. The tank top wasn't really thought out, I kind of just wore what I had, though I like the look.

                 Up close... yeah my brother took a *very* attractive photo of me. (Sarcasm.) :P

    Close up on the headish area... isn't the hate adorable? It kind of has a tweed look... those little specks are actually part of the hat, not dog hair. :P

    And of course, the boots! Which I have featured in an outfit post before. But what can I say, I love them!

 As you can see, I've restated my passion for the color brown and jackets as well. I have a completely different, adorable brown and peach outfit that I may share at a later time. Now, for where the pieces came from.

 Dress: Liz Baker. This dress was given to me by a lady from our church. It's the perfect length for me, but needs some tailoring through the shoulders as it's a big big. That's why I wear jackets. As well as the fact that it adds to the outfit.

Jacket: Studio I. This jacket actually came from a set of dress and jacket, but while looking for something to complement the dress, it just seemed to fit. It was given to me.

Hat: d8y. Peebles. (Which is owned by the same company that owns Bealls.)

Boots: Easy Street. Peebles again.

Tights: Unsure of the brand, but they came from Wal-Mart. :)

 And that's all. What do you think of the vintage look? Yay, or nay?

The Calling

 Hello. Would you like to go on an adventure of great exploits, and exciting experiences? Would you like your words to hold great meaning, and your life to show great things? Well, I have something very special for you. It is The Calling.

 ^ Sorry for the bad sales pitch. But... you ask... what is The Calling?

 God has a special purpose for everyone. One person might be called to preach, another to teach, or maybe even sing. This calling in whatever form is so important. Your calling will involve great exploits, and exciting experiences when God is directing your paths, whether these exploits include trekking through Africa, or merely singing a special at your local church. Your words will hold great meaning, and your life will show great things when God is your pilot.

 Finding the true direction God wants you to go- your true calling- can be hard. You pray for the Lord to show you His purpose, you tell Him you'll do whatever He desires, and still you're pulling up a blank. You might think you have an idea of what The Calling might be... for example, I have a special place on my heart for children, so I think The Calling might have something to do with that. God has also placed within me a gift and desire for singing, writing, and acting. I don't know what His plans could be involving these things, but I know that when He asks me to use them, I must.

 But still... You may have an idea, but you aren't sure. What if you think you're calling is to preach, but you try and embarrass yourself? What if you think your calling is to sing, but you sound like you have a frog in your throat?

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. ~ Ecclesiastes 9:10

 I suggest praying. Even if you've prayed a million times, pray for peace about whatever you need to do, and pray that God's will be done.  

I can be a hard to thing to give in, and let God's will happen, but this is an incremental part to answering The Calling. 

 I still don't know entirely what The Calling is for me. I pray, and may feel certain about some areas, but still confused about others. But I want to tell you something. 

 You are called. Yes, you! There is a Calling that you don't have to wait to receive. There is a Calling every child of God has as part of their responsibility. The Calling is the most important part of being a Christian. The Calling defines us. 

  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ~ Matt. 28:19

 This Calling is not given to a specific person. This command was given to all who were present at the ascension of Christ, and carries over to every Child of the King. So when you feel discouraged, still praying for The Calling, remember that you are called for something great. You are called to be ambassadors of Christ, bringing the good news of Jesus to all in the world. There is your adventure and great exploits. There is the meaning and weight of words. The Calling is so important for the souls of all. 

 Will you accept The Call?

Purples and pinks! {ClassyGarb + Product Review}

 Hello girls! Today I have a dual post for you. *Commence cheers.* *Crickets* Okay, well... onward then.

 I was sent a lovely purple skirt from the Etsy shop SweetCakeCookie to review. So I put together an outfit to wear at church yesterday, and at assembly. My mother found the shirt and jacket for me in an attempt to find something to go with it. So now for the outfit. Here it is.

     

            This photo makes me look rather dwarfish haha. But it gives a full view of the outfit.

   Another angle of sorts. As you can see the skirt is cotton material. It's pretty thin and lightweight. 

  

 Here's my very awkward attempt to lift the skirt to show more detail. Didn't go too well. :P

 Here's a close up on the top of the outfit. As you know from earlier posts, I love to have a little jacket/sweater to go over top to add a nice detail to the outfit. I doubt the outfit would be the same without it!

                                           Look how flowy the skirt is in this shadow photo. :D

 

  And here are my shoes. Much like Katelyn with her high heels, I wear these sandals often with outfits during the summer. In fact, you can see them in another outfit post. I love sandals in summertime! But I'll soon be switching to closed toes and some heels for the fall.
 

 Want to know how I put this outfit together?

 Skirt: SweetCakeCookie. Etsy shop. 

 Pink undershirt shirt: Lands End. You can get an undershirt in several different places. My mom found this quality one at Good Will. (You know how I'm always talking about how I love Good Will?)

White over shirt/jacket: Jasonmaxwell. Another one of my mom's Good Will finds. She's a great shopper!

Shoes: Mootsies Tootsies. I believe I picked these up at Peebles. Peebles is a nice little clothing store that no one appreciates as much as they should. :P I think some of their stores are known as Beals. 

I noticed that so far I've only done dressy outfit posts... mostly. So I'll try to do something slightly more casual in the future. 

 And that's the extent of my outfit post. I hope you enjoyed it! Now for the official review...

 This skirt came from THAILAND which makes it instantly cool in my mind. Along with the package was a sweet note written by the shop owner, and washing instructions. As I said the skirt is very lightweight/made of cotton. It goes almost to my ankles in length, and twirls when you turn. I really love it, and enjoy wearing it, especially for summertime. But I'll probably continue wearing it through the fall. There is a thin, cotton underskirt sewn into the skirt. My only complaint with this lovey piece of clothing is that because of the thin substance of the fabric it might rip or something. But I haven't had that problem yet, and it's very beautiful. 

 You won't be able to get this exact skirt, because from what I can tell this shop makes homemade skirts, and they are different. But if you want an equally lovely, comfortable skirt, check out SweetCakeCookie!

 Have a lovely day! Hope you enjoyed!

 

 

More on Modesty

 More and more often I see a problem with Christian young people (and older folks too!)  I've probably already posted on this before, but with some recent things that have affected me personally, I see the need to talk about it again.
 Sometimes it seems there are two groups of Christians. There are those who dress very conservatively, and those who dress less so. For clarity I'm going to use the term "modest" for one group, and "not-so-modest" for the other, meaning nothing in particular, but to keep my thoughts straight.

These two groups are constantly in a silent, (and sometimes less than silent) battle.
 Of course, I know there can be exceptions. Some girls may not take "modesty" to the extent of the more conservative people, and vice versa.

 And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. Modesty cannot be defined by any one person or opinion. If we base modesty on opinion alone, then we are drifting into our own mindset, our own decisions, and that is not where we need to be.

 The two groups of modest, and not-so-modest people both have a problem.

 The modest look at the not-so-modest, and immediately seem to judge. "Look at them! They aren't representing Christ very well. We're sooo much more holy then them. They're liberal. They really need to pray about that." (Of course, these may not be the precise words used.)

 The not-so-modest may look at the modest and... "They think they're so holy. I'm tired of all their  'holier then thou' looks they keep sending over here. They're trying to dress like that just to make themselves seem better then us."

 Etc. Etc. Etc.

 It goes on and on. I'm telling you. Sometimes neither of these groups seem to understand the one simple little fact that should change their whole viewpoint on everything.

 Yes, modestly is so, so important. But opinions on modesty can be different. It is not our job to dictate modesty to another person. That is one of the things that falls to God. And God may use an older woman to explain some things to others.

 But maybe you're a not-so-modest person. Maybe you wear jeans instead of skirts, and think you aren't being treated right for it. Maybe you aren't sure if you should change how you dress. I'm not saying being not-so-modest in this sense is wrong. Because here's another important thing. God will show you the answer. 

 Strange as it may seem, modesty isn't always the same for each individual person. Modesty is something that must be cleansed in the heart before it can make it's way to the outward appearance. Because if a person's heart isn't modest, even if they dress with every inch of their body covered, their immodesty will eventually show. 

. I'm not saying if you feel like it's okay to go running around town with nothing on.  God always wants us to have a certain standard of modesty. To understand God's standard we need to be in constant prayer, asking Him to show us His plan. God knows what is in our heart. And if we wear those cute jeans just because they outline our shape juuuusssttt right... there's a good chance God will convict us about that. I've heard the story many times.

 No, I am not the expert on modesty, and I never will be. I'm learning along with everyone else. But I know that this issue is one that God's people must work out before we can be unified.

 The modest people need to see... maybe God hasn't spoken to those not-so-modest people yet. Or maybe He doesn't have the same expectation as he has for them. 

 The not-so-modest people need to know that the modest people have a personal conviction, and this desire to serve the Lord is why they dress the way they do. Or at least it should be.

 Instead of constantly judging those around us, making the gap grow wider between our brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to pray for others, and desire God's will. Because in God's plan, all will be revealed.

 If we trust God, He will show us the way. 

 God bless!

Assembly

Well, guess what, ya'll? I'm off to another church activity- my last of the "summer" although people keep saying summer is over. It isn't for me, the homeschooler! :) Anyway, I wanted to leave you guys with a scripture. 

  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (Cor. 2:9)

 I'm expecting a wonderful blessing at our assembly, where church members from all over the world gather together to worship the Lord. What are some things I'll be doing?

 1. Praying! This is a big part of assembly, because to talk to God, we have to pray, right?

 2. Listening to speakers. God has given some very good messages to our speakers in the past, and I'm sure He will this year as well.

 3. Clerking. One morning of the assembly, I have to write down as the speaker talks. :)

 4. Working with the children. I love kids. And ever since I was twelve, I've worked with the children in Children's Assembly, where we take the kids during the afternoon session, for a little service of their own. I have experienced God's mighty power so many times with the children! And this year I had a little extra responsibility with writing all the devotion skits to be used before the message. Otherwise, I'll probably be working as an usher, escorting children to the restroom and back to their parents. :)

5. Fellowship!!! A lot of my friends come to assembly- some of which I don't see much otherwise. Sadly, a few won't be there this year, but I can't wait to see those who will! We'll talk, play volleyball, and possibly stay up a little late. I'll also get to see my sister, her husband, and their kids! WHOO!

6. My family and I will be singing.

7. Get a blessing! I love getting a blessing from the Lord, don't you?

 So that's what I'll be up to every morning, afternoon, and evening of the next week! My next post, I'll hopefully have an outfit post/review for ya'll! Have a wonderful week!

  God bless!

 

Peer Pressure

 Saturday my brother graduated, and yesterday we had a "Back to school bash" at my church. My siblings and I have been homeschooled since we started, and now I'm the only one yet to graduate- next year. I really think homeschooling is a wonderful thing, but I know it's hard for a lot of people to be able to do that. So this post is aimed toward public schoolers, but homeschoolers can glean from it as well.

 One of the things discussed was peer pressure.

 Peer pressure is something I'm sure a lot of you might come into contact with. I'm homeschooled, and I've suffered peer pressure.

 Peer pressure is defined as: Influence from members of one's peer group.

 A peer is someone that you spend time with, like a friend or classmate. Sometimes your peers want you to do things you know are not right.

 So this is a post for all of you experiencing peer pressure, or for those of you who might experience it in the future. Stand strong. For even if you have all these trying to convince you to do wrong, there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. This friend is God, and he can get you through anything. So whenever you are being pressured to do something, think about the Lord, and ask for his strength.

 Another way to combat peer pressure, is to have godly friends. With godly friends, you will find yourself stronger when fighting this battle.

 I hope this short post was a blessing to you. I'll probably go into more details on all of these posts I'm writing in the future.

 Guess what? In a few weeks... aiming for September... something special will be starting. It involves Pinterest, and me. I'm sure you all are smart enough to think of what it could be. ;)

 God bless!

 

Let's Talk About... Movies

 I love movies. I'm sure almost everyone enjoys a relaxing day where they can sit and watch a good film and not worry about the stresses they've been having at work, or school, or wherever. Sadly, most movies these days are filled with all kinds of things that I hate to fill my mind with. It isn't just swearing anymore, which is getting bad, but there is a boat load of sensual stuff going on, showing far too much. Movies also have an agenda now, which isn't just to share a story that you can eat popcorn to, but carrying forth the creator's personal opinion on political, spiritual, or other matters that I really don't want to fill my mind with.

 So how do I combat the negatives, so that I can enjoy a movie without feeling like I'm letting God down by watching it?

These days there are some fantastic websites devoted to letting you know about the inner-workings of films from a Christian mind view.  They'll let you know the violence, the sensual, and the profanity. Here are two websites I use when looking up new films that I want to be sure about.

• Christian Spotlight

• Plugged In

- also does video game and music reviews.

If there are too many negative elements to a film, I most likely won't watch it. There are a lot better choices out there.

Another thing is ClearPlay. I don't have it yet, unfortunately. I used to have TV Guardian, which was great to have. These programs blank out the profanity so you don't have to hear it. A great tool.

 If I'm watching a film that's good in most areas, but has a little more violence then I'd like (most movies these days) I'll sometimes turn my eyes away.

 Whatever you do. Whatever you set before your eyes. Pray about it. There is a scripture that says,  

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phil. 4:8 KJV)

 

I hope you enjoyed this post, and it was somehow a help to you in its simplicity. 

 

 Do you have any suggestions to add to my own?

 

BrownSugarShop {review}

Hello, everyone!  Today I'm reviewing a face cleanse from a shop called BrownSugarShop.

I'm one of those weird people that always notices how things are packaged.  What kind of tissue paper they used; envelope, manila envelope, or box; maybe bubble wrap of packing peanuts.  This item was wrapped in really pretty sparkly tissue paper, inside a bubble wrap lined manila envelope.  Very well packaged.

This is the bottle.  The words just wouldn't show up with the camera I was using.

Here's the picture they used.  Easier to see, right?  Yeeeah.  I'm not a photographer.

Cleansing Grains can be used instead of soap to cleanse skin or as a mild scrub or exfoliant. These can be used for any skin type and won't scratch the skin. Very gentle and milk, great for sensitive skin.
To use simply pour a little bit into the palm of your hand and add a few drops of water, then gently scrub face in circular motion and rinse off. You could also mix with some Aloe Vera, Oil or Floral Water to make a Mask.

They suggest Aloe Vera, Oil, or Floral Water to make a mask.  I didn't have Aloe Vera or Floral Water, so I decided to try Oil.

That's what it looked like when I mixed it with oil.  I had to keep stirring it, though, because the cleansing grains kept settling to the bottom.

This is how it looked when I put it on.

Just a tip: TIE YOUR HAIR BACK WHEN YOU DO A FACE CLEANSE.  I'm just sayin', I got a lot of oil and grains and clay in my hair.  Something easily avoided.

Then I tried water.  It was very thick, but I put a lot of cleansing grains in.  You can make it thick or thin depending on how much of each you put in.

The water mix.  I like this more than the oil.  It was thicker, and I got less to cover more of my face.

The cleansing grains were really lumpy when I used them, but I figured out that was the clay.  You can't dissolve the clay.  But I liked it, overall.  I'm really bad at doing face washes, and this feels really nice.  It was rougher than I expected, but not too rough.

 

BrownSugarShop has many items.  Body sugaring, sugar scrub, body butter (cream), soap, skin care, and hair care.  All their items look amazing.  Really.  I think I want to try buy more of them, because they're amazing.  Please check out BrownSugarShop.  You can find it here.

Sorry I got this posted so late.  Thanks for reading!  May God go with you all!

What Makes You Think You're Modest?

 Hey girls! I've been gone for a really longgg time. I now offer my deepest apologies. :) I have some product reviews to do, but they aren't quite ready yet.

 

 So today I'm going to talk a little bit on What Makes You Think You're Modest? Ooh.

Image credit: rarelythere.blogspot.com

 No matter how you dress, there will always be someone who dresses "more modest" then you do.

You might wear short sleeves and pants, but someone else might only wear long sleeved dresses. So you may often run into the question from people who might be offended by your stand, or just curious.

 I have a pretty fun story. I just got home from my church's camp a few days ago. (I'll be going to another pretty soon.) Anyway, I have a modest swimsuit. It's called a culotte swimmer, and is rather like a wetsuit, with some water safe light fabric over top. It has sleeves, and culotte legs which are like a skirt almost with the space for your legs, but they are closed off. (I'll have to post some pics next week or something. ) Anyway, our camp has the rule that you have to be covered on your way to the pool for girl's swim time. I was working as an assistant cabin leader for the little girls. So they were all pulling on T-shirts, and wrapping towels around their waist, and I was just wearing my swimsuit, casually hanging my towel over my arm. I had made myself expect to receive a few weird stares, and questions. But the little girls were the sweetest. They did ask me about my swimsuit. I explained that I liked to have a more modest bathing suit because, not only did I swim with girls at camp, but sometimes I visit the beach with my brother-in-law's family, which includes several boys. So I didn't see the point in having a bathing suit I could only wear once a year, and have to wear T-shirts and culottes at the beach. To my surprise, the little girls were actually impressed and... jealous! "You're so lucky," one said. "You don't have to wear anything over your bathing suit!" Because of the nature of my bathing suit I didn't cover up like the girls because it wasn't necessary. :)

 But not everyone is like an eight or eleven year old girl. There will be those who might not dress the way you did who feel offended because they think you're saying they aren't modest. This will spark the question, "What makes you think you're modest?"

 I always try to avoid offending anyone. Just because I may dress a certain way, and everything because of a personal decision I've made between God and myself, doesn't mean I'm constantly judging others. Even if I don't approve of what someone is wearing, I'm not going to point it out to them because I know this will only hurt their feelings or offend them, and then I'll never be able to reach them.

 But if you do come into contact with someone who instantly judges you for dressing more "modestly" then them, just explain that you are trying to follow what the Bible says about modesty, and follow God the best you can. Don't say anything that would provide another area of attack for your jilted friend/acquaintance.

 Just pray about it to the Lord, and He will help you when dealing with the "What makes you think you're modest?" people. :)

 God bless, and I hope you have a wonderful day!