* Calling All Fasionistas! *

~Do you have a flair for fashion?
~Are you the person your friends and peers come to for beauty advice?
~Do you often get compliments on your outfit, accessories, hair or makeup?
~Do you have a knack for finding great deals on clothing or beauty products?

 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may be just who I looking for!


I am looking for a few new writing contributors for my weekly fashion & beauty column!


If you’re interested, send a fashion article you’ve written to:

kendrasrecentramblings@gmail.com

Spiritual Desert

 

1 Kings 19:7-8, “The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.”

Nearly all great bible heroines have gone through a “desert period”: Moses, Elijah, John, even Jesus. Desserts are the time in our lives where we often feel alone and left by God, but that is when we must cry out to God. That is what is happening in 1 Kings 19. Elijah is running away and asks God to take his life. He doesn’t want to live anymore. He believes his life is too hard and he has messed up top much.

Does your life ever feel like that? Are you or have you been in your own desert? A place where your heart and spirit feel drained and unable to be filled?

I want to tell you that God never left you and there is joy in the morning! When the angel came, he told Elijah that the journey was too hard for him, isn’t that true? Isn’t this journey far too long, painful, and hard for us to go alone? Wouldn’t that make things easier if we had the one who’s gone before, leading us? Strengthen yourselves with God’s word as Elijah did with the food God provided.

The best part of this is the end Elijah reached the mountain of God! The mountain of God can represent the place where your spirit feels refilled. It is where you’re learning and rejoicing in Gods wonder.

Where are you now? Are you going through a lonely desert or are you rejoicing in God’s blessing? If you are in a desert, I just want you to know this: God never leaves. The only way you will make it through is by leaning on Him. You must look back at the mountains you have already reached remembering those times of fulfillment. Also cling to the promises of God like, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”. ( Joshua 1:5)

Prayer:

Lord, will you please give me the strength to carry on? Will you help me remember the times of rejoicing? Help me to bask in you great love and cling to your promises of deliverance and love. In Jesus’ name Amen.”

GO DEEPER:

Ponder:

James 1: 1-3, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)

Apply:

Start keeping a journal to help you remember what God has done for you.

Read:

Want More Life? - a teen's devotional

Listen:

“Desert Song” by Natalie Grant. What does this song mean to you?

Share: If you are in a desert now have you been leaning on Him or depending on yourself? How important it is to you to lean on Christ?

To Dina With Love

Really only my close friends know that I am adopted. Its not that I am ashamed of it, its just not something that comes up in regular conversations. I am proud of it.

It may seem odd but I love my birth mother, Diana, very much.That’s not to say that don’t love my adopted parents because I love them more than air, but i still car deeply for Diana.  I have never met her I don’t even know where she lives, but I know that she loves me too. I recently have been think about her a lot so I wrote her a poem. I many never meet her but I wanted to share this just in case she comes across my blog some day.

A Poem for A Life

Her 16 year old frame trembled as she felt her stomach move from within.

How could a something sweet innocent come from a horrible mistake?

The half joy half fear took her in.

She didn’t understand how her mother could consider

Committing a crime that could end this child’s life.

But the Lord had a will for this child.

Greater that any she would every know.

And now this Child repays her with this poem.

So meaningless in comparison...

To the sacrifice that was made.

A Real Story the Boy

By RTF Editor B.J. Hamrick

We interrupt our usually scheduled sarcasm for this brief announcement: Three years ago, my life was forever altered by someone I didn’t know. Someone I thought didn’t exist. Someone I swore had died at birth.

Until I met him.

“Mom,” I announced .2 seconds after I laid eyes on the boy, “I’ve found the man I am going to marry.”

If this seems fast to you, imagine how my mother felt. In one brief second I went from spouting math equations like, “Singleness = happiness and marriage = bondage”, to asking, “Where’s the church and the white dress?”

I had no idea this story actually began nine years earlier.

He told me about it that day, on our first date. The air was chilly and crisp, the smell of fall hung thick in the sky.

“I met you once before,” he said as we walked. “Nine years ago.”

Then he said something that made me reel: “I had a crush on you.”

Wait a second. Nine years ago. Was he kidding? That would make me… 14 years old. Do you know what I looked like when I was 14?

Skinny. Scrawny. Sick. Relentless seizures. Mind-numbing medications. Barely able to put a sentence together.

He had a crush on that?

It sealed the deal in my mind.

“Will you marry me?” I asked.

Not really. Not out loud, anyway. But my heart was in awe. This boy looked beyond my skinny. My scrawny. My sick.

And he loved me. Just the way I was.

It’s been three years, and I love him more every day.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself. Is it true? Is this is the man I didn’t know? The man who didn’t exist? The man I once claimed had died at birth?

I guess you can see how happy I am to be a fan of the new math. It goes something like this: Singleness = sadness and marriedness = happiness.

But only when you’ve found the person who loves you from the inside out. Happy anniversary, Babe. I love you.

****

B.J. and Ethan are the editors of RTF and The Bare Naked Truth. ****

REAL QUESTION: What do you hope for in a mate?

Top Ten Things That Make Me Smile

   

Until there’s a word that describes those simple things that make you smile, I’ve compiled a list of my top ten.(not in order)
1. When my favorite song is playing on the radio as soon as I turn on the radio.
2. When I find money in my pockets that I had forgotten about.
3. When I am cuddling with my mom/dad.
4. When I feel Gods love all around me
5. When I am with my family just talking and laughing
6. When I untangle a stubbornly knotted necklace.
7. When my little brother randomly say he loves me.
8. When I dress perfectly for temperamental weather.
9. When I climb under covers that have been freshly washed.
10. When the lights first dim at the beginning of a movie.
What are the little things that make you happy?

Love

Love is...
patient: "bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint."
kind: "showing or having a gentle considerate nature."
joyful: "happy, joyous, lighthearted."
true: "steadfast, loyal, honest, just."
enduring: "abiding, firm, never-failing, unfaltering, unquestioning, wholehearted"
Love is not....
jealous: "intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness, possessive, suspicious, distrustful."
boastful: "to express pride in oneself, puff up."
proud: "showing or feeling superiority toward others."
rude: "discourteous or impolite in a deliberate way."
demanding: "to ask for something as or as if one's right or due."
irritable: "easily exasperated, disagreeable."
- 1 Corinthians 13
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:16-19

HAIR by Sarah

Knots – simple yet cute. Follow the link below for How-To!

http://www.fashionising.com/hair/b--how-to-hair-knot-5650.html
Braids – whether messy or sleek, braids are in!

Bird’s Nest Bun – it’s not just for grandma anymore!

Watch this video for how-to (it starts 4 minutes into the video and ends at 6) http://livewellnetwork.com/Mirror-Mirror/episodes/Dressed-Up-Hair/7856090

I hope that was helpful and fun! Which ones will you try? (or which will you NOT try?)

NAILS by Sarah

Animal Print!

I did these fun designs with some cool nail art polish I found at Walmart (Kiss Brush-On Nail Art Paint). They’re really easy, and it’s great because they don’t have to be precise, because on a real animal, no two markings are the same.
French Tip!

French Tip is classy but doesn’t have to be boring pink/peach and white. There are so many different varieties, like Reverse French tip (dark on nail, light on tip), and many different colors to use. You can also spice it up with nail-art. Flowers are great for spring!

Sunday's Comin'.

                                           

The story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion is one of betrayal, brutality, despair, and pain. Yet we know even before His death that redemption was promised to be coming soon. We know that the story does not end at the cross. We know what many did not realize -- that Sunday's comin'.

MAKEUP by Sarah

The first makeup ideas is a pastel eye I did on myself. I laid a base color of lilac on my lid up to my brow bone, then started on the inner corner with light green and gradually worked to a light blue. I lined my eyes with a pastel blue eyeliner.

The second idea is one I use on myself all the time. Purple is great because it works for every eye color. The picture is a bit dramatic, I usually do a toned down and less glittery version of it. It’s really easy; all you do is start with a light purple on the inner corner, working to a medium purple, then the darkest purple on the outer corner, so it gradually darkens. You can still do this if you only have two shades of purple, just add black underneath the place you want the purple to appear darkest and lay to purple on top. You can do this with a black shadow or eyeliner pencil or crayon.

The third idea is bit bolder than the last two. While the base color is black or dark grey, it is brightened up with a vivid teal. Line your eyes with black eyeliner, then use a grey or black on your lid. Surround the black area with a teal to brighten it up!

OLD TOMBSTONES SAYINGS

I found this to funny not to share!

---

Old Tombstones  A truly Happy Person is one who can Enjoy the scenery on a detour, and, one who can enjoy browsing old cemeteries...Some fascinating things on old tombstones!    Harry Edsel Smith of Albany , New York :  Born 1903--Died 1942.  Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the car was on the way down. It was.  =============================  In a Thurmont, Maryland cemetery:  Here lies an Atheist, all dressed up and no place to go.  =============================  On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in East Dalhousie Cemetery , Nova Scotia :  Here lies Ezekial Aikle, Age 102. Only The Good Die Young.  =============================  In a London , England cemetery:  Here lies Ann Mann, Who lived an old maid but died an old Mann. Dec. 8, 1767  =============================  In a Ribbesford, England , cemetery:  Anna Wallace  The children of Israel wanted bread, And the Lord sent them manna. Clark Wallace wanted a wife, And the Devil sent him Anna.  ===============================  In a Ruidoso, New Mexico , cemetery:  Here lies Johnny Yeast... Pardon me for not rising.  ===============================  In a Uniontown, Pennsylvania , cemetery:  Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake.  Stepped on the gas instead of the brake.  ==============================  In a Silver City , Nevada , cemetery:  Here lays The Kid.  We planted him raw.  He was quick on the trigger  But slow on the draw.  ================================  A lawyer's epitaph in England :  Sir John Strange.  Here lies an honest lawyer,  And that is Strange.  =================================  John Penny's epitaph in the Wimborne, England, cemetery:  Reader, if cash thou art in want of any, Dig 6 feet deep and thou wilt find a Penny.  ==================================  In a cemetery in Hartscombe , England :  On the 22nd of June, Jonathan Fiddle went out of tune.  ==================================  Anna Hopewell's grave in Enosburg Falls, Vermont :  Here lies the body of our Anna,  Done to by a banana.  It wasn't the fruit that laid her low,  But the skin of the thing that made her go.  ==================================  On a grave from the 1880s in Nantucket , Massachusetts :  Under the sod and under the trees,  Lies the body of Jonathan Pease.  He is not here, there's only the pod.  Pease shelled out and went to God.  ==================================  In a cemetery in England :  Remember man, as you walk by,  As you are now, so once was I  As I am now, so shall you be.  Remember this and follow me.  To which someone replied by writing On the tombstone: To follow you I'll not consent.  Until I know which way you went.

Fashion Icon 80's-90's Princess Diana

This Princess of Wales was and is a woman we all know and love and can thank for some setting some of our famous 80's-90's trends.
Princess Diana had her own look that wasn't exactly excepted as the societal norm. In fact, her own family hired Vogue consultants to help her dress better. But Princess Diana being the independent woman we know her as only took the advice she liked and made it her own thing.

That's why I'm going to show a style Diana sported back in the 80's and give you some ideas to take what you like and make it your own thing, like Princess Diana did!

 

Spring Beauty From Sarah

Spring is here and it’s time to try out some beauty ideas! For the new season, bright and happy is what to aim for as the weather warms, birds sing, and flowers come into bloom.This nest few days we will be focusing on all thing spring., like makeup, nails, and hair.

Come back for next three days and see what Sarah has to say

Fashion Icon 60's-70's Twiggy Lawson

Lesley Hornby was a naturally skinny child. In fact, she was so skinny, her peers took to calling her “Twiggy”, because she was thin as a twig. “At sixteen, I was funny, skinny little thing, all eyelashes and legs.” Lesley says. “…Suddenly people told me [I] was gorgeous. I thought they had gone mad.”
When she became a super model, she defied the odds of being “too skinny” to be a model, and went on the have a very successful career. She went by “Twiggy Lawson” (her married surname) in honor of this.

Not only was she an innovator of her own style, which changed fashion as we know it, she also changed the modeling industry, much to her dismay. “I think this obsession with skinniness [is] weird now…I find it worrying, I have to say.” She explains. “The media, I think, should be a bit more responsible. The fashion industry and the magazines push this image, and unfortunately teenage girls are very susceptible to it.”
Twiggy wasn’t trying to change anything, she was just being herself. But by being herself and exuding confidence in what she did, she influenced fashion and beauty. Here are some outfits I created that are inspired by Twiggy’s style and the 60s and 70s:

“Easter: God’s Promise of Comfort”

By: Debra Weiss

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:18 (KJV)

I love the Easter story. Easter is that triumphant morning when Jesus rose again. But rewind the story three nights ago and you’d see anything but triumph.



You’d see once courageous men running scared. You’d hear the regretful sobs of a man broken by his betrayal. You’d smell the mix of blood and vinegar.



And as the sky blackened, you’d know what everyone else did, too. The Light of the world had just been extinguished.



As I look to the Cross that night, I want to ask one question: Why go through it? I find the answer tucked away in a short verse in John 14.



"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."



The Light of the world couldn’t bear to see us live in darkness so He came. He came to bring life and light. He came to comfort us.



When the storm is fiercest, when the windows howl, and the thunder roars, you have not been abandoned. Jesus died so you would never be alone. He died so He could wrap His arms around you on those lonely nights.



As you celebrate this Easter week, remember that God never abandons His girls. He sent His Son so we could always know His comfort and loving care.



Dear God, I thank You for the miracle of Easter! Thank You that we can live triumphantly knowing that You cared enough to come. Please comfort the hearts of the girls hurting this Easter. Please surround them with Your love. Let the Resurrection be a reminder to them of Your great care. In Your Precious Name, Amen.


Ponder:


Mark 16:5-7, “When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

Apply:


Is there someone you could comfort this week by sharing the Good News of Christ’s resurrection?

Read:

John 18 - 20 - The story of Jesus' death and resurrection

Share:

How has God comforted you when you were hurting?

Fashion Icon 50's-60's Audrey Hepburn

Isn’t she beautiful? We may think so now, but by the fifties standards, Audrey Hepburn was too tall and too skinny, and was considered to have a “boyish figure”. As a former ballerina, her poise and confidence made whatever she wore look classy and elegant.
Audrey was not only a popular actress, but she was the innovator of her own style. She wore what she liked, which is a style now known as the Audrey Hepburn Look. She didn’t mean to make a fashion statement, she was just being herself. “I never think of myself as an icon.” Audrey says. “What is in other people's minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.”

The Audrey Hepburn look is feminine and beautiful, yet very simple. She said about her own style: “My look is attainable. Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large sunglasses, and the little sleeveless dresses.” Audrey mostly wore black and white and rarely wore colors. She always wore flats and never wore plunging necklines. Here are some outfits I created that are inspired by Audrey Hepburn and the 50s and 60s:

Fashion Icons Week

This week, we’ll be looking at 3 of the greatest fashion icons of history. They not only changed fashion as we know it, but they didn’t exactly fit the mold of “beautiful” of their times. Please keep in mind through the week that these people are human; they are not perfect and we should not use them as role models. What we will be doing is taking a look at their style and how they changed fashion in history. We’ll also be looking at how they overcame not fitting into the “beauty” mold to becoming some of the most beautiful, stylish, and confident women in the innovation of fashion.
So come back to find out who these beautiful ladies are!

Quick & Easy Eye Make-up Tips

If you’re like me, you’re rushed for time in the mornings. School, church, or anything else you may need to do can cut your "me time" short. Here are some tips for eye makeup application on the double:
5 Step Application:
What you need:
-Light eye shadow (a cream colored eye shadow works best)
-Medium eye shadow (this can be any lighter shade of pink, brown, purple, or whatever your favorite eye shadow color is.)
-Dark eye shadow (this eye shadow color should be a deep brown or a shade darker than your medium eye shadow color)
-Eyeliner
-Mascara

Step 1: Apply the light eye shadow on your brow bone.
Step 2: Apply the medium eye shadow on your eyelid; blend.
Step 3: Sweep the dark eye shadow into the crease of your lid; blend.
Step 4: Apply eyeliner on the top and bottom of your eyelid or just on the top. Avoid applying eyeliner on just the bottom of your eyelid, because it makes your eye look smaller.
Step 5: Apply mascara.
DONE and looking gorgeous!

When you’re really in a pinch for time, try this quicker version:
3 Step Application:
What you need:
-Your favorite eye shadow
-Eyeliner

-Mascara
Step 1: Sweep eye shadow on your eyelid.
Step 2: Apply eyeliner.
Step 3: Apply mascara.
DONE and beautiful!
Having a hard time figuring out what eye shadow brings out your eye color? Maybe this will help:
Green eyes: Purples, pinks, and reds work best for you. Try using purple eye shadow on your eyelid, light brown eye shadow on your crease, cream eye shadow for your brow bone and purple eyeliner. Your eyes will really pop!
Blue eyes: Oranges, coppers, and golds work best for you. Try using sparkly gold eye shadow on your eyelid and brown eyeliner. Very glamorous!
Brown eyes: You can wear just about any color. Browns, bronzes, and greens look the best. Try using light brown eye shadow on your eyelid, a darker brown eye shadow on your crease, cream eye shadow on your brow bone, and dark brown eyeliner. You'll look like you had your makeup done by a pro!
Hazel eyes: Warm tones, bronzes, and greens really bring out your eyes. Try using bronze eye shadow on your eyelid, a light brown on your crease, and brown eyeliner. You'll look stunning!

How To Apply Mascara

Want long, dark lashes that look natural? Read on as I explain how to apply mascara quickly, easily, and properly. Many women apply mascara every day, but the problem is most of them don’t apply it correctly. Here are my step-by-step directions to beautiful, wide-open eyes.
Step 1: Apply mascara to the top of your upper lashes, starting at the base and finishing at the tips. This is the most common mistake I see girls making, especially if she has light lashes.
Step 2: Now apply to the underside of your upper lashes. Wiggle in a zig-zag pattern as you slowly twirl the wand up. This will separate each lash.
Step 3: Apply to the lower lashes, starting at the base and brushing down. Do only the top of the lower lashes. Applying to both sides is only for the upper lashes.
Step 4: Clean up the mess! If you got mascara on your skin, wait until it dries, then remove with a tissue. The mascara should have hardened and will just flake off.
Tips!
• Clumps in your eyelashes? Take a disposable mascara wand and go though the underside of your upper lashes and the top of your bottom lashes. You can buy these at any store that carries specialty beauty products. This will remove clumps and ultimately separate and define each lash.
• Confused by mascara colors? Feel free to experiment, but here’s the simple decision tip: ladies with light colored hair and skin should use brown, and ladies with dark colored hair should use black. You can use these guidelines in experimenting with colored mascara too. If you’re fair-skinned, opt for a lighter color, and if you’re dark-haired, go for a darker color. Clear is a good choice for anyone, especially if you don't want to worry about smearing or running, or just want to go for a look of natural beauty.
• Wand pumping? Do NOT do this! Pumping the wand into the container will only create air bubbles and dry out your mascara sooner, causing a lot of those not-so-glamorous clumps.
• Lash curler? This can make your eyes look more open and your lashes look longer. If you decide to use one, curl before you apply mascara, not after. You’ll get a line in your eyelashes that obviously does not look natural.
• In a hurry? Brush foundation over your face and also on your eyelids and underneath your eyes. If you have dark circles under your eyes, apply concealer before the foundation. Now put on mascara as explained above and you’re ready to go! If you have more time, use Kaley’s Quick & Easy Eye Makeup Tips!

Civil War Macaroni and Cheese

My mother recently went back to work so I became the woman of the family. Basically I cook, clean, get the little man off to school,etc. Needless to say I have been stressing about what to cook for my family. A friend of the family had been talking about how good a recipe site called Simply Recipes, so naturally I went and took a look at it to get some ideas. I found a recipe called Civil War Macaroni and Cheese. So last night I decided to make it. It was so good! So I am now sharing it with you. 

The Stars of “Gold Rush: Alaska” visit NewCov

If your in the Fresno area you should defiantly come ti thins. Here is a map to get to New Cov. Todd Hoffman and his father, Jack,  of the hit TV series from the Discovery Channel, “Gold Rush: Alaska” will be making a stop at New Covenant Community Church before they return to Alaska for another season of mining.  They will be at New Covenant on Sunday, May 1st at the 9:00 am and 10: 40 services to share their story of adventure and the strengthening of faith in Christ while mining for gold in the wilds of Alaska.Sunday, May 1st
9:00 am and 10:40 am in the Sanctuary

Stars of Gold Rush Alaska Visit NewCov from NewCov on Vimeo.

Hair Tips From a Pro

Do you ever hear people say you should get your hair cut once every 8 weeks but you never believed them or never knew why? Do you hear these things all the time and wonder if they are true?  Well here is what a hairstylist had to say

1) You should not wash your hair everyday because it robs your hair from its natural oils which keep your hair healthy (unless your hair is too oily to begin with).

2) You should not sleep with your hair in a clip or ponytail because it rips out your hair as you toss and turn in the night. It also knots it.

3) Never brush your wet hair. It pulls it out and makes it thin. Instead use a wide tooth comb and work from the bottom up to get the knots out. When your hair is dry, carefully use a brush and work from the bottom of the knot up.

4) Before doing any sort of swimming, put conditioner in your hair and let it sit for five minutes. It helps keep your hair healthy and help keeps it from getting damaged by the harsh chemicals in the water.

5) Even if you are trying to let your hair grow out, you need to have your hair trimmed every 8 weeks. People think not getting it trimmed will help it, but actually, they are wrong. The ends of your hair need to be kept up with. If the ends are dead, your hair will not grow as fast.

6) To protect your hair from major heat damage, add a bit of oil to your hair. The heat will burn off the oil and not your hair. Say, "bye bye, heat damage!"

7) Deep condition your hair once a month. For a cheap and quick deep condition, put lots of conditioner in your hair and put on a shower cap. Stand in the sun of 10 to 20 minutes and rinse. When you shower you should keep your conditioner in for 5 to 7 minutes.

Happy Hair Day!

Hot Cinnamon Coffee Recipe

 

I love coffee but sadly I am the only one in my family that does so i usally go out to Starbucks to get my fix which isn't that often. Thankfully I have a great coffee shop at my church that I get great coffee from every Sunday, even if the prices are a bit extreme. But here's a nice recipe for flavored coffee without having to pay 7.00 a cup at your local coffee shop. Very nice for an evening treat ~ also satisfies a sweet tooth and saves calories and fat!

Ingredients:
2/3 cups coffee (like Folgers)*
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
6 cups of water*
*adjust for 8, 10, 12 cups

Place coffee and cinnamon in coffee filter

Place brown sugar in bottom of coffee pot

Brew ~ stir sugar with plastic or wooden spoon (a metal spoon may break the side of the hot coffee pot), until it's dissolved and drink!

Enjoy!

For Such A Time as This

“For if you remain silent at his time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your fathers family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14, (NIV)

Do you ever wonder why you are here? Why you’re in a specific school or sports team? Could it be “for such a time as this”? Philippians 2:15 says, “…so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” (NIV) That verse could not be more accurate; we do live in a crooked and perverse generation and we are here to shine as lights, but how do we do that?


Esther was a great example; she stood up for her people and for God even though she knew that it could mean death. God placed her in the palace to do a specific job; she was to save the Jews. God has done the same for you, you are where you are for specific job or purpose! You are to be a light in the darkness right where you are!


To do that you must realize that you will run into trials. My youth pastor once said this, “ The tallest blade of grass gets cut first.” If you choose to stand up, not everyone will like your message, and they will try and break you back down. However God has promised us that He will never leave us, and that promise stands true even when others are leaving you.


God has set you apart as His child. He loves you and stands up for YOU more than you realize. We do the same for Him! You don’t have to wait until you leave home to make a impact to further His kingdom. You can make a impact now! Live a life of winning souls for Christ; its worth it no matter the cost.



Prayer:


Dear Lord, Help me to stay eternally focused and remember you promise of never leaving me. I know that people will try and stop me from loving you and living my life for you, but I know that you can give courage and I ask for that courage and wisdom now Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


GO DEEPER:



Ponder: Matthew 10:33 says, “But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”   How do you think forgiveness fits here?


Apply: Do you have friend that you haven’t shared your faith with because you were afraid of what she might think? Ask Jesus to give you His boldness. This week, expect God to answer. Look for an opportunity to share with her what Jesus is doing in your life.


Read: The book of Esther is the Bible


Share: Read Deuteronomy 7:6, Esther was chosen out of many other girls and so are you! Do find that special? Why or why not?

Randy Montana's Age

So I have fallen in love with a new comer in Nashville named Randy Montana. I looked high and low to find out how old he is. I spent about an hour searching the web I finally gave up and tweeted him saying "Hey @RandyMontana I know your probably really busy and wont get this tweet but if you do have time.Everybody is wondering How old are you?" Well I figured he wouldn't tweet me back, but around 8am I got a tweet back saying " @Kendiesmiles 25" So that pretty much made my week. Anyway so Randy Montana is 25 and I am officially a big fan! :)
Check out the music video for his song 1000 Faces

Sunday Funnies

As some of my reader know I am home schooled to i find  home school jokes the best here is one i couldn't help but share. Have any funny jokes or videos comment and let me know.

Best Friends

I recently looked up "Best Friend" in the dictionary and this is what I found (long I know) "Best Friends are very special people in your life. They are the first people you think about when you make plans. They are the first people you go to when you need someone to talk to. You will phone them up just to talk about nothing, or the most important things in your life. When you’re sad they will try their hardest to cheer you up. They give the best hugs in the world! They are the shoulder to cry on, because you know that they truly care about you. In most cases they would take a bullet for you." I met my best friend about 2 years ago. At first we really didn't hit it off but a year after that we met again and really hit it off. She is quite, sweet, perfect, and loves the color pink... So basically the opposite of me. But we have a lot of things in common and I love her to pieces. When I first met her she was kind of shy but I soon found out that once you get to know her she is a big of a goof ball as I am. :) She is like a sister to me now so I am so happy to have her in my life. So I decided to put up some quotes I liked about friends. Oh by the way she has a blog to check it out: Sugar and Spice

No road is long with good company.  ~Turkish Proverb


Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.  ~Marcel Proust 

Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.  ~Swedish Proverb


Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive.  ~Anäis Nin


It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson


Ah, how good it feels!  The hand of an old friend.  ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Friendship is one mind in two bodies.  ~Mencius


In my friend, I find a second self.  ~Isabel Norton 

A Book a Day

So I am totally in love, no scratch that, obsessed with books. During the summer I read a book about every day. But due to my crazy busy life I haven't been able to read much. However that hasn't stopped me from buying book (one of my many addictions). I love shopping online because most of the time you can get thing for really good prices.
A of late i have been becoming obsessed with used books, mostly because of hoe cheap they are. Whenever I buy books I usally buy them from Better World Books.
I discovered this website about a year ago and have since moved all my book buying business (say that 3 times fast haha) I love them because whenever you buy a book a portion of the funds goes to a literacy fund. "At Better World Books, we are committed to the helping provide better lives and a chance for economic, social and political freedom through literacy." (Our Impact)
They all have free shipping on ALL orders, not just "those over $20, $50, etc." They have pretty much every book you could want. SO head on over and buy some books!

Commander in Chief’s Appalling Action with Our Troops by Sarah Palin

 
 Yesterday the House passed H.R. 1363, which funds our Department of Defense and our military for the rest of the year at their current levels. It allows for the continuation of current military operations, which is pretty important when you’re fighting three wars. It also funds the government for another week and cuts $12 billion in wasteful spending. So why would the Commander in Chief declare that he will veto this? Why would he play politics at the expense of our troops who are putting everything on the line to protect us? Memo to the President: I doubt the insurgents will stop and wait for a government shutdown to end before resuming actions. You need to fund our troops, sir.

Like me, you might be asking yourself: Why on earth would he threaten to veto funding for the troops? What is his game plan? Basically, he’ll veto military funding because he wants the rest of the government funded too. And by the rest of the government, he means things like Harry Reid’s “Cowboy Poetry.” Essentially, he’s holding military funding hostage to NPR funding. This is a perfect analogy for what is wrong with this entire budget showdown. Our federal government has strayed so far from what is constitutionally mandated that they are blind to the fact that NPR funding is not a constitutional duty. Funding our military at a time of war is!

The House GOP does not want a shut down. They just want legitimate cuts (and I would argue not even enough!). If we can’t agree to cut a billion here and a billion there, we’ll never close this $1.5 trillion deficit.

Let’s look at the numbers. We have a $1.5 trillion deficit this year. We’re paying $200 billion a year on our interest alone. That’s half a billion dollars per day on interest. And our $1.5 trillion deficit means that we’re borrowing $4 billion per day just to keep afloat. So, we pat ourselves on the back if we cut a billion dollars here or a billion there in discretionary spending, as we borrow $4 billion a day and pay half a billion a day in interest. The deficit for the month of February alone was the highest in our history at $223 billion. That’s more than the entire deficit for the year 2007. And there’s no end in sight. We’re not heading towards the iceberg. We’ve already hit it. Now we’re taking on water. We must find a way to get back to harbor to repair our ship of state before it’s too late.

Where is President Obama in all of this? He just doesn’t get it. His 2012 budget was a signal of that. The President’s proposed budget offered higher taxes and higher spending. A budget is supposed to be more than just numbers crunched on a spreadsheet. It’s supposed to be a credible blueprint of a nation’s priorities and direction. The President’s budget was a political document. It was designed not to ruffle any feathers or take any decisive moves to deal with the deficit problem. Instead of cutting spending, he’s moving us in the opposite direction. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office reported that the White House was not telling the truth when they claimed that their 2012 budget reduces the deficit. It actually increases it. Instead of dealing with the hard realities we face, he just kicked the can down the road. That’s not leadership. That’s politics.

Real leadership means leading by example. It means showing an “all-in” commitment to tackling complex issues and putting in the time and effort to educate the American public. Right now the American people have not been educated about this major challenge we face. Keep in mind that perception often becomes reality, and the perception President Obama has repeatedly given off is that he can’t be bothered to deal with our debt crisis.

This is profoundly unfair to the American people. Throughout our history, we have proven again and again that we are strong enough and wise enough to do the right thing when we are properly informed. We can judge and make the tough choices when we are not spun by the media or the financial class or the political class. We the People can decide – if our leaders level with us honestly.

It’s about time the President step up to the plate and lead responsibly. Our troops who are putting themselves in harm’s way deserve a Commander in Chief who is not AWOL from the debt debate. The American people deserve a president who will take on the tough challenges and understand that funding “Car Talk” is not as crucial as funding our troops at a time of three wars.

2008 seems like such a long time ago, but 2012 is just around the corner. There is a leadership vacuum in the White House right now, but that’s nothing that another good old-fashioned election can’t fix.

- Sarah Palin

Pea Pesto Crostini

I’ve always loved the arrival of spring. The days feel infinitely longer and there’s a lightness in the air that only comes around once a year. I want to savor each moment of sun, so the things I prepare in the kitchen are quick to prepare and full of fresh flavors. I first discovered this recipe for Pea Pesto Crostini around the holidays (seen here) and it’s been a staple ever since. I often find pesto to be overpowering, but this one is subtle and robust at the same time. Plus, it pretty much looks like spring in the form of food, and that never gets old.