Eden to Gethsemane

Eden to Gethsemane.

Today is Saturday. The day in between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It’s the awkward little pause in the weekend when we’re not sure if we should mourn because of yesterday or be overjoyed because we know the end of the story, the resurrection of Jesus.

I think too often we live in the Saturday.

Not in a good, memorial sort of way; In an on-the-fence sort of way.

We know that Christ suffered for us to the point of death, and yet, we do not live in the victory of Christ. We believe in Friday and yet our life doesn’t reflect Sunday. And so, we get caught in the middle. Saturday.

I believe in the goodness of Saturday. I believe in taking this weekend slow and not simply jumping ahead to the goodness of the resurrection.

But I also want to live a life that ultimately reflects the sweet joy of a Sunday.

Today has forced me to reflect on where I’m living. It took me to the garden. First Eden and then Gethsemane. Which was really beautiful because I spent all day arranging flowers. How lovely is it that our Savior spent time in a garden?

He sat under olive trees and I stood surrounded by greens and tulips. But our prayer was the same: To be fully surrendered to our sweet Father.

It is my utmost prayer to not only live a life of gratitude for Friday but a life radically changed by the story of Sunday.

“Knees to the earth that You breathed by Your word,

As You watched the darkness come

As You watched the darkness come

Crushed by the weight of the cost as You prayed

Not my will but Yours be done

Gethsemane, where heaven met me

Redeemer, crowned in endless praise

My Savior, name above all names

King Jesus, take the highest place.”

-Kari Jobe

{Chosen} Guest Post by Dylan Maris

{Chosen}

(Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12)

Dear mission trip fellows,

There I was, an eight year old kid, waiting to be selected by one of two team captains. Physical Education kickball has no importance to me now, but in that moment I was petrified with fear. A girl was one of the captains so she would pick all of her friends rather than the strapping young athletic boys who would secure a win. If you’re like me, chubby and slow, then you’re chosen last. Because the girl had already chosen all of her friends and I was the last one, I was the only boy on her team. It was (Boys) VS. (Girls + 1).

I hated the feeling of being last and unwanted. I felt worthless. Fortunately, my parents taught me how to find my purpose in other aspects of life. I tried football for three years, track, basketball, chess, you name it. But I never really felt like I was good at anything. I never felt chosen. Finally, in middle school I joined the speech team. As tacky and cheesy as it was, I was good at it. The other kids in speech team looked up to me, laughed at my dumb jokes, and made me feel chosen.

God has chosen us regardless of how we look, how we feel, how we act, and how we try to look like a pro when kicking a kickball. God has chosen us.

The concept of being chosen by God goes back to the Israelites, whom God chose to be his people. But in the new covenant, God has chosen people outside of Israel to be his people. Both Jew and Greek, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free are members of God’s house, chosen and brought onto the team.

Notice the two adjectives that follow “chosen” in the verse above: “Holy” and “Dearly Loved.” These two words describe the nature of those who are chosen by God. First, they are “Holy.” We must be careful not to assume that the Colossians (or us and anyone who reads the letter, for that matter) are holy in terms of their behavior. The word holy refers to that which is sacred and special and which should be cared for because it is sacred and special. Remember your favorite toy as a kid? It may have no value to anyone else, but to you it’s special, it is sacred. We are people in whom Christ dwells and are therefore sacred, special and holy. We are holy because God has chosen us. And, of course, our behavior ought to reflect that. Just as we would never throw our (or anyone else’s) favorite toy away in the garbage, so also we ought to walk in holiness.

Second, those God has chosen are “Dearly Loved.” Remember John 3:16? Yeah, it’s kind of a big deal. Jesus voluntarily went to the cross to show us how much he loves you, so that we may believe. God loved us into existence and has given you life and breath and sustenance for as long as you live. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to tell you that eternal love has chosen you, not merely everyone, you.

You did not merit this love, and because of that, you cannot lose it. Just as you are holy and your character should naturally reflect that, so also the fact that you are dearly loved should naturally be shown in your love for God and for others. You and I have been chosen by God, and not just for this mission trip. We were in a dark and hopeless place, lost and alone, when God, through the Spirit, spoke into our hearts and bore witness with our spirit that we are children of God: (Romans 8:15-16) Now we live without fear. We are not slaves, we are children. We were chosen by God, who went to the furthest reaches to find us, and sacrificed everything to make us his because in his eyes we are holy and dearly loved.

 

Love,

Dylan

 

Spend the next few minutes or so following this verse chain that I have put together: (Exodus 6:6-9, Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Mathew 25:31-46, John 3:16-21, John 15:16-19, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 John 3:1-3, 1 John 4:9-21)

 

 

Choosing Your Best Yes

I’ve been learning a lot about what it’s like to say “yes”. {And while I do love my engagement story, and getting to say yes to forever on my wedding day, that’s not what I’m talking about! shout out to my amazing husband who picks up greens for me just because he knows how much I love them in our home!!}
I would say in general that I am a yes person. I tend to embrace solutions and like to please myself and others with a “yes”. Since entering into a new season of life {marriage, grad school, and a new job} I’ve said yes a lot. It took about 3 weeks into my busy “yes” before I hit a mental breakdown and was ready to scream “NO!” In everyone’s face. For the first time in a long time I felt like I wasn’t good at anything. I didn’t have enough time to put toward schoolwork witch was making me a bad student. I didn’t have energy toward being a coworker and manager which made me an awful employee. And because I felt defeated at those things I wasn’t being a great wife either. {and the cycle continues}
I learned to take a breath. And as Lysa Terkeurst reminds me, it’s not about saying yes it’s about saying the “best yes”. When we try to do it all we will end up failing at it all. But we don’t have to do it all. We just need to do everything in the name of our Lord. A shift in motivation and a willing spirit changes everything. Sometimes we really do need to say yes to a nap. A cup of coffee. A morning in our Bible. Or time with friends. These things fill our souls and teach us the beautiful concept of being still.
So this morning I’m taking me time. I’m saying yes to what I need. {coffee and quiet time with the Lord} I hope you will join me in slowing down and knowing that you don’t have to say yes to everything, you just need to say yes to Jesus.

In Him She Is Radiant

 In Him She is Radiant

Sister,

A few weeks ago I wrote devotionals for Women’s Appreciation Week “In Him She is…” W spent the week focusing on identity and ow I would like to share them with you! Though you are already filled with so much inward and outward beauty, our aim this week is to intentionally look for our identity in Christ beyond just “beauty.”

There are thousands of words that can describe our identity in Christ, and we hope you take time to stop by our ‘In Him She Is’ booth in Ludwig every day this week to receive a gift. We look forward to hearing what “In Him She is…” means to you! Today’s word is “radiant.”
{ In Him, YOU are Radiant! }
Psalms 34:35 reads, “Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.” (HCSB)
We love this idea of being radiant with joy! If you’re like us, there are days in which you really lack joy. But when we turn to the Lord to find our identity, it is there we can find our joy! It is such a simple concept but we so often forget or overlook it. However, it is in Him that we find the kind of joy that shines from within and glows from our inner being. This is the kind of joy we desired to be filled with!
May we today learn more about the Lord, and may we be reminded to turn to Him in order to find and understand our identity.

We Woke Up in Nashville

   
    
      

    
    
    
                
 #WeWokeUpInNashville (or Nashhole as I fondly like to call it.) 
The coffee was amazing, the friendship was great, and the laughter was sweet.
Two weeks ago a group of friends packed a car and headed to Nashville for a few days. An AirB&B loft, space to think and pray, exciting restaurants, and, of course, excellent coffee was exactly what we needed. 
I am so thankful for the crew and for the lasting memories. Weeks later, I still look back at these photos and smile. These people are great. Seriously. These photos only portray a small portion of our time together but I think they send a clear message; We love each other and we loved being in a new place. 

Until next time, Nashhole! Thanks for everything! 

Photos by: Wesley Taylor, Joe Mantarian and Joey Ramirez

Thoughts on International Women’s Day

     
“Even if we find ourselves in settings in which people are unaccustomed to women displaying confidence, we must not hold back our efforts to manage the tensions between boldness and grace, assertiveness and collaboration, strength, and vulnerability.” Nancy Beach 
I have been challenged so much today, International Women’s Day, and even this week, with understanding the tension of humility and self-confidence. So many women feel as if they cannot fulfill the role of a Proverbs 31 woman if they are not gentle and meek. And yet it is clear that gifts such as leadership and boldness come from the Lord. There is a clear tension that, I will admit, I am not very good at living in. Honest time… I tend to walk in boldness and then get slapped with humility later on. So, where is the line? Where is the common ground?

I look at photos from today that are so inspiring and smile with my sisters. Women all over the nation are joining hands and encouraging others in boldness AND grace. I want to live in a world where women cheer on other women! Where jealousy comes second to grace and encouragement; where humility and self confidence live in harmony through a beautiful generation of sisters. 

Today I saw that. And I smiled. 

{Those Springy Type Days}

   
    
    
    
 
Every once and awhile those beautiful spring days pop out and that calls for some pics and a #dressedbymichaela

What’s your favorite thing to do on those beautiful spring days??
{Details}

Sweater-express, jeans-express, booties-express {wow, can you tell I work at express?!} bag-h&m 

{Such a Time as This}

  
{Such a time as this}
I sat in Revival service alone tonight. It wasn’t necessary by choice, so many of my friends had other things going on. The Holy Spirit kept pulling at my heart telling me to go, even if that meant sitting in a pew alone. 
Let me tell you that I didn’t feel alone for even a single second.
The Spirit was active and moving all night in an undeniable way. When the pastor told us to open our Bibles and turn to the book of Esther I almost started weeping. 
Only my favorite childhood story could bring me to such tears and I knew then and there that, that was exactly why I was sitting in an old oak pew alone. 
Though I have heard the story many times I was reminded of a beautiful truth, “perhaps you were made for such a time as this.”
This. Is. Our. Moment. 
Esthers across the world, we are created for right now, for today. Resist the temptation to feel that you are not worthy. You are worthy! You have purpose! You were created by the Lord who loves you dearly! 
Right now this Sanctuary is full of Esthers. People are trickling out. Prayers are being lifted up. Hugs are being given. And tears are being shed. It is beautiful. 
This. Is. Your. Moment. Esther.

Fresh Start

 

I have dropped the ball. I have given up. I have been ashamed. I have quit. I have naped when I should have been productive. I have given into hours of hgtv and Fixer Upper. I have grown weary.

Guys, it has been months since picking up the pin (laptop) to write a devotional. For that, I apologize to you. When last semester started, I had every intention of continuing to write and encourage. But as days continued on, and post continued to be unwritten, I soon wanted to hide from my laptop. Fear and shame covered me.

When a new year came about I knew it was time to get back on it. And…here we are… January 22…and this is my first post of the year.

O.K.! I’m admitting to you how messed up this is!

But here we are. A fresh start. A new year (kind of.) A chance to pick the ball back up and be renewed! To be encouraged! To be inspired! The things I consider to be so important.

Thanks for sticking with me. Thanks for encouraging me.

I so excited to see where this new year leads! Some BIG things are in store! And I hope some big things are in store for Encourage Beauty Daily!

Hang in there sweet girl. The Lord is good and He abundantly gives fresh starts!

Can I get an Amen?!

Stripes & Heels Kind of Day

   
    
   

{Rarley is there an occasion, when I don’t want to wear a great dress with some heels. Today was no exception} 

Outfit: cardigan- h&m, dress-American Eagle, Bag- h&m, necklace-f21, heels-Express

Photos by: Joe Mantarian

“7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble  and surround me with songs of deliverance. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:7-8