Encourage Warm Friendliness

  

“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 MSG

Is there anything more wonderful than having a great conversation with your closest friends!? Regardless of if you are an introvert or extrovert, we all love meaningful conversations with people we care about.But what about people we don’t like? What about when our “warm friendliness” is a little icy?

Our word today is warm friendliness. This is translated “brotherly kindness” in other versions {NASB & KJB} and comes from the greek word, “φιλαδελφία”. The interesting thing about this particular word, is that it is found in the Epistle of 1 Peter as well. There it reads, “You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.” 1 Peter 1:22 NLT. Because this word is used twice by the same author, we can only assume that he intended the same meaning for both words.

Show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters…

Love each other deeply with all your heart…

These are big commands. Sure, they might be easy for those that we spend time with a lot, or our significant other. But thats not the target here. The target is to show brotherly {sisterly} love to everyone!

Everyone feels the warm and fuzzies when spending quality time with your BFF. However it’s so much harder to do so when it’s with someone we don’t like. Whether we feel those warm friendliness feelings or not, we are called to love deeply. 

Be encouraged today. Loving deeply is something our creator specializes in. He loves you deeply so that you might know how to love others deeply! Take hold of that love tightly and continually work at being a warm friend.

Summer is for Pretty Things

  
  

{Because a few pretty flowers is all you really need to be inspired to take photos}

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” Isaiah 40:28

Outfit: Dress- H&M, Vest- Old Navy, Converse, Watch- Fossil, Bag- Kate Spade

PC: Joe Mantarian (his work here)

Encourage Reverent Wonder

 

“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 MSG

Have you ever noticed that when you go through a time of awestruck wonder, you often go through a transformation? Rarely do we see a mountain range, and not feel a sense of transformation. There’s just something special about being brought into a state of wonder, that leaves us different, Or transformed.

Our phrase “reverent wonder” is translated as “godliness” in other translations. Now I must admit, somehow these words didn’t correlate in my mind. How is Godliness translated as reverent wonder? Godliness comes from the Greek work “εὐσέβειαν.” While we’ve probably heard the word Godliness quite a bit, it’s only mentioned in the New Testament a few times. This cues us in to not take this word lightly.

But, What does the word godliness really mean, and how does it come back around to be “reverent wonder”? I feel like we hear the word a lot but finding a concrete definition of it can be hard.  Godly behavior is more than just acting like God. It is acting like God due to the transformation we have gone through. God loves us so incredibly much and meet us wherever we are at, but luckily, he doesn’t leave us that way. He goes to work on our heart. We go through a phase of transformation becoming more and more like Him. Godliness truly is reverent  wonder. We are changed because of Him. Just like when we travel through an amazing mountain range, we are humbled and often changed a little bit. So is it like when we become more and more Godly.

Take time to be full of reverent wonder today. Think about the transformation that has already happened in your life {and better still, the one that is yet to come!}

Little Blue Skirt

Today, I am feeling all the summer vibes. Plus, I wont lie, I’m pretty excited about this adorable Gap skirt I snagged the other day! What better way to celebrate some summer sun then to capture it on camera?!

With this sunshine, I was able to pair a cute little lace tank, with my new fav striped skirt for a super cute, yet casual outfit!

“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:17

Outfit details: Tank- Express, Skirt- GAP, Ring- F21, Shades- GAP, Sandals- target

{Photos by: Joe Mantarian}

Encourage Passionate Patience

“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 MSG

There are a lot of things I consider myself to be passionate about. Patience is not one of them. In fact, I’m more of the type of person who gets annoyed when it takes someone longer than 15 seconds to order at Starbucks {like everything is delicious anyway, am I right?!}.

So the phrase “passionate patience” hits me pretty deep. The Bible talks a lot about patience though, and a lot about sticking it out {especially in tough times}.We see over and over again throughout the Old and New Testament God teaching his people patience. And we see good things happen to those who are patient.

Recently, whenever I am noticing a feeling of impatience, rather than getting annoyed or upset, I tell myself, “God is giving you the opportunity to be patient.” And boy, does that change my outlook on the situation! It allows you to step back and let your heart be developed by God. It also takes the focus off of you and your anger, and puts it on God, and His plan. It gives you a moment to breathe and look at what is happening right in front of you.

Believe me, I know how hard being patient can be. I struggle with it daily. But the nine small words, “God is giving you the opportunity to be patient,” have made all the difference. Today, rather than being impatient or angry, try to say those words to yourself and watch his plan begin to unfold.

An Open Letter to Girls Everywhere

  I was asked to write a small thought for a fellow blogger regarding things I wish I had known in high school. The following is my response and I have decided to share it on my own blog as well. It is targeted for high school girls, but really, I believe its truths apply to all. 

Dear Sister,
I lead a small group of freshman girls every Sunday. Recently, I made each girl write a “bae list” (true story) that details out the man they want to marry. I tell them to make it as detailed as possible. While this list may not include things like brown hair, or green eyes, it does include qualities that I never want my girls to settle for.

Too often, we get swept up by false realities of this world. We are told what love is, what beauty is, what perfection is by every from of media out there. Though often we forget to listen to, or cannot hear, the voice of God. If I could tell my high school self one thing it would be this:

Dear sister, do not settle.

Do not settle for a man who is not the one you want to marry.

Do not settle for clothes that reveal too much, and hide your modesty.

Do not settle for a B, when you know you can achieve an A.

Do not settle for a relationship that leaves you feeling less than the beauty that you are.

Do not settle for a mediocre relationship with your parents, when you know you love them.

Do not settle for the substance that can never fulfill you.

Do not settle for the friends that will chose themselves over you anytime.

Do not settle for a reputation that is only part of who you are.

Rather…

Listen to the single voice that is calling out to you. Sister, I urge you to listen. He is telling you that there is so much more in store for you if you only choose to not settle. Trust Him dear sister.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” James 1:12

All my love,

Michaela

Smiles & Sparkle

“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 

{PC: Joe Mantarian}

Details: Top- Express, Jeans- The Loft, Shoes- Target, Jewelry- Express, Bag- Express

Encourage Alert Discipline

  

 “So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 MSG

I’ve heard it said (on many occasions) that spending time with the Lord is just like spending time with your best friend. Thoughts like,  “Oh, it’s easy! It’s just like spending time with your human friends” or “When you spend time with Jesus it compels you to grow in your relationship with him, just like spending time with your best friend makes you want to spend more time with her!” haunt my brain.

I know there is some validity to these statements, but if I’m honest with you, I don’t find these statements to be true in my life. Spending time in my Bible one day just doesn’t compel me to open it the next. I spend lots of time with the Lord, and yet, sometimes I still feel closer to my friends who are here in flesh. Why do we try and lie to ourselves and make spending time with the Lord easy?

The previous devotion in this study laid out the steps that need to be taken to dig into learning (open. read. pray. -sounds simple right?) {PS-if you missed that devotion check it out here!} But I’m tired of acting like getting there is easy.

It occurred to me the other day that spending time with the Lord is nothing like spending time with your best friend. It is much, much harder! Why? Because the armies of hell are fighting against you to spend time with the Lord!  Of course, our discipline of spending time with God is hard! There is a spiritual battle over your heart and with we overlook discipline, we overlook the Enemy and let him right into our heart.

That’s why I love the wording used in The Message, “alert discipline.” We must be alert to the battle for our heart! Today, be alert in your discipline. Know that there is someone out there that is much more powerful than the Enemy, and he is fighting for your heart. Spend time with Him.