Category: life

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life

Quiet

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1 Peter 3:1-7

1Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

 

During some studying today I came across this passage. IT FLOORS ME. Not that I haven’t read it before, but I am blown away by something underlined. Even if HE isn’t a believer of the word, HER behavior may win him over. 

There are a lot of shows on television that depict women as these overzealous, emotional extremists who do very little to exert or show self-control. There are males who base their impressions of a woman by what she says, but I employ women to begin showing who they are without saying a word. This is the “silence is golden” principle my grandmother used to teach me. 

It’s also very interesting with how this passage begins and ends. Verse one speaks to a women’s behavior (stemming from the word anastrophe which literally means “manner of life”) winning (kerdaino) the husband over to the kingdom. Making him a believer of the Word, of God, not by how loudly she speaks, but by the very way she lives. The beef in this hamburger is… the fact that it’s not the outer adornment but the inner beauty that holds the true value. No plastic surgeon is going to be happy with this blog. Funny thing, if I may, is realizing that our culture is asphyxiated on aesthetics that hold little value because it’s ever changing. The end of this passage, verse seven, ends with “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” 

I want to pull something out for you: Respect the weaker partner as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life. The amplified version reads this way: “In the same way you married men should live considerately with [your wives], with an intelligent recognition [of the marriage relation], honoring the woman as [physically] the weaker, but [realizing that you] are joint heirs of the grace (God’s unmerited favor) of life” 

For those who would seem to thwart being called the “weaker vessel” I draw attention to the roots of the word according to Strong’s concordance. That being alpha the first letter of the greek alphabet (beginning) and sthenoō with means to strengthen. The first to strengthen… really God? So you mean like in Ephesians 5:26 when the husband is told to sanctify his wife, cleansing her and washing her with the word. This is a complete full circle for me. There is so much here that I am struggling with my verbiage so I don’t destroy the immense-ness of this passage.  To add to that… JOINT heirs of the GRACE OF LIFE.

seriously, I am on spiritual overload… then the VERY end “so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” Might I submit food for thought here:

 Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good

and receives favor from the Lord.

 

There is favor attached to the marriage union. There is a hindrance of prayer when man steps out of what he was created to do. There are problems when women attempt to verbally change a man, or live in such a way that her inner beauty is stifled.

 

Today, I grew up.

 Ivy Out

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life

Happy New Year ;) Non-Traditionally…

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WELCOME 2013… 

January has come around again and lots of people will make resolutions because it’s the traditional thing to do. BREAK AWAY FROM TRADITION! Resolutions have a tendency to be these pesky little dust collectors that people forget about by the end of the first quarter of the year. Began to make changes in your life.. and it doesn’t take January to change! 

Use today to assess yourself. Are you pleasing God? Where can you improve (NONE of us are without need for improvement SOMEWHERE)? What are you proud of? ::gratitude:: is the little g that will get ME through this year. What will get you through 2013? My big G… God is a given… 

Be Non-traditional and apply the change you seek. You’ll be better for it. Happy New Year! 

Ivy Out

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life

ebb and flow…

grace
I stopped doing things that appeased my family when I went to college. New Problem: I started doing things with others in mind. That isn’t a problem some of the time…but it can become cumbersome when it’s ALL the time. The word teaches us to please God because pleasing man #1 isn’t possible and #2 isn’t the right focus (we are to please God). The biggest issue with recognizing this, is realizing HOW MUCH I still do it. To add salt to the wound…most of the people that get considered have a big stamp across their character that reads: TEMPORARY. ::insert shaking head here::

This would be an easy problem to fix if I didn’t realize that when I do get married (date unknown at the present time) my priority after God will be my husband. So temporarily turn off this “issue” and suspend with temperance until after name change? Right? Any married or soon to be married ladies want to chime in on this?

To add to that…it’s not limited to romantic interests. My family (again), friends, business partners, mentors, I want everyone to be happy. The problem is..someone is ALWAYS unhappy. That someone used to be me, mainly. But if the “crew” (insert any group of people here) is happy, then I’ve done it again. I’ve pulled it off. Cyclical Pleasing (can I coin this?) is a problem because it isn’t realistic. I can remember asking myself several “what if” questions that had to do with MAJOR changes in my life. By the time I figured out that I was really on my earthly own with these decisions, that person had exited stage left. Most of the time it was a peaceful exit that was already in the script, and sometimes, they left with a bit of pyrotechnics. While family is permanent, most of the other folk in my life are seasonal. Long or short, seasons change. So as we march gladly out of 2012…I will begin to be conscious of these little cycles of my life. Those that don’t bring progress will be reformed or removed.

Good News Cometh: I have some awesome people around me. Some are miss-labeled…but that two is a reform process. These people have the gall, boldness, and permission to correct me, edify me, polish me, and knock out the kinks where need be to help me be a better me. Every day that I live and breath is a new opportunity to grow. I am grateful for these that take the responsibility of friendship seriously. Those who offer biased, jaded, or otherwise unwanted information to my life discourse will be muted. God chastises His children because He loves us…He also has ONE HECK of a sense of humor.

*The picture above was taken by one of my MUA mentors (Elroy McDaniel) who is also a fabulous photographer. I couldn’t see the image he was capturing at the time. I had to trust his instructions and his “eye”. When the finished product was produced I was blown away. Isn’t trusting God JUST like that? We can’t see it as we walk..and then all of the pieces fall into place and we step away from the frame and admire God’s handiwork.

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life

So called friend… I am

I am smack dab in the middle of my first Timothy Keller book. His depiction of Christian friendship has me second guessing how many of them I have had. Honestly, the journey of two people with a common goal… A common cause. In the sense of my “romantic” relationships… According to the very eye opening chapter that I read… Have I been on the same page with a “friend”? Have I allowed a true friend to call me out, correct me, participate in my sanctification without letting my emotions steer me away?

Yes, I am emotional. Yes, I am tired of them diverting me from progress. Whether defense or offense, my guard can be detrimental in silk delicate situations. They are a part of my nurturing, a part of my femininity, but they aren’t the only force controlling me. I will be the first to admit that sometimes my past has been a thermostat and a thermometer in my life. It’s unfair to the new chapters that unfold.

The more I read… The more I learn… The more I want to grow.

I will finish this book this week…for the first read. Then I will read another. Mentally open and absorbing;)

Ivy Out

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life

Merry Christmas!

Know that the greatest gift isn’t under a tree! Love on everyone you can…even the people who you think have no one. Love on THEM especially today.

 

Jesus came to save us! We can help lift someone’s spirits today!

 

Hugs, Love, Light to all today and everyday!

 

Ivy Out

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life

Pst, REAL Quick…

Have you ever re-read something you wrote…and encouraged yourself? A blog I wrote early in November told me to hold on and GROW through it with JESUS. Well… It’s what I needed to see.

 

Sometimes God deposits seed in you for tomorrow.

 

amen

 

Ivy Out

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life

RIGHT against the tide..

James 3:13 says: If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. (NLT)

There is a charge for us to live differently.

I wrestled with this concept growing up because it requires responsibility. It’s not always easy to live differently when the majority around us is “living the crazy life”. It doesn’t always feel good to make the decision to swim against the tide.
I made a decision last march to be celibate after 10 years of ignoring what I knew. It has NOT been easy. It has been VERY worth it. I don’t drink anymore. That actually was easy because I have seen personally how alcohol can destroy good people. I have never used drugs, but I have seen what they do to people. So maybe I didn’t list your vice. Maybe it’s over eating, over spending, both examples of gluttony. Maybe it’s list of other things, idolatry- putting things before God, maybe it’s a mental barrier or a hardened heart. Know that #1 God still does heal. He fills empty places! #2 this world doesn’t choose God, so YOU choosing God puts you in a blessed majority. There are rewards on earth and in heaven for living a righteous life. The word calls us to be Holy because God in holy. There isn’t a pause button on that request.

Jesus was the original remix. Your past is forgotten AND forgiven in Christ. Your life is BRAND NEW thanks to the blood of Jesus! There is no hurt He can’t heal! It pays to be different! Living holy takes a heart decision and day to day progression. YOU CAN DO IT!

Ivy Out

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life

WE NEED GOD

::sensitive subject::
I saw a video posted on someone’s page entitled, “Are we really humans?” The video started with a clip that I have seen before. A dog saw another dog get hit by a car on a busy highway. The dog runs through cars to get to him and scoots him off the road with his legs, little by little. At the end of the video you find out some workers eventually spotted them and helped. The dog lived. Then the next clip, it seems to be surveillance video from another country. A child that seems to be very young gets hit by a van…who precedes to roll over the child. No one cries out for help. No police were called. People pass by in other vehicles and scooters; one lady taking out her trash pauses, then leaves. A second van rolls over the child.

WHAT KIND OF WORLD IS THIS?

Stay prayed up! Keep God first. My heart also goes out to the entire country as we have been made aware of the elementary school shooting. I work in a school and with children every day. Never does it cross my mind to get that angry. We have got to pray because we don’t know what the day holds. There are people in the world who don’t know the peace of God, the Goodness of Jesus, or the HOPE that it’s NOT too late to be saved. We can share that with love!

Never miss an opportunity to tell someone what they mean to you.

With a full heart and a praying spirit,

Ivy Out

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life

When Did I Wake Up An Almost 30 Year Old?

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This isn’t an alarm clock, it’s just the ALARM!

Oprah.com, my addiction to food network and HGTV, watching clips of Iyanla Vanzant, listening to Focus on the Family, Reading The Power of a Praying Wife, humbling myself on my knees in prayer about others more than myself, being excited about household decorations… I mean the list goes on and on. Seasons have definitely changed in my life.  There was once a time in my life when I thought growing up was keeping my nails short (and french tipped), owning nice heels, and carrying a nice bag. I bought a new outfit every paycheck to accomodate my plans and I even made less annually; but I had places to actually go. 

“When I grew up, I put away childish things…” I am reminded by 1 Corinthians 13:11 that when seasons change, you do different things. I didn’t realize that meant that my focus would be on the things I desire now. These things don’t come with designer labels or exclusive boutiques. The things I desire have shifted to a value of eternal proportion. I am proud of the fact that I would rather lay around my house than go out to a night club. I am proud of the fact that I have an address where I can paint, yell, jump up and down, boogie, or sleep, and disturb no one. I can cook and bake with the best of them. I am addicted to the life you can live with Pinterest, who isn’t?! I am happy if I get sleepy before ten and ecstatic when I am in a deep sleep before eleven. I am also aware that while I alone can buy a house, I alone can’t make it a home. 

 

Somewhere in between a purchase and a business…I began to mature. I am twenty-nine years old…almost thirty.

 

yawning. Ivy Out

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life

Advance like chess pieces

It’s the little things that will always matter to me the most. The subtleties that will always scream from their silent places. When you have peace…so much goes unspoken. When you DON’T have peace…the conversations in your head are loud like grunge bands.

I have peace because I don’t have to know all of the answers.

Two years ago I would try to align pieces that are smooth on all sides. (Impossible right?!) Today, I smile with a request on my heart.

Abba, You know Your daughter’s heart. Tuck it away under Your safe keeping. Guard my mind, that the enemy, nor my own thoughts, root negativity and foundation-less inquiry. Bridle my tongue, that I don’t speak out of turn or withhold that which is given to me to say. -Amen

I want to scream, but that would be insecurity…and with a foundation in Christ, that wouldn’t be ok. I will smile. Test Passed. Next lesson?

Ivy Out