share the umbrella

if it was raining, either a steady sprinkle or a torrential downpour, and we were walking outside in it, if we had to walk a long distance weathering the storm, and if i had an umbrella and you didn't, if i was staying dry and you were soaking and chilled, i promise not to look you in the eye and tell you IT'S OKAY TO GET WET. 

i would share my umbrella with you.

i know what it's like to be out in the rain without an umbrella. i know it's okay. it's uncomfortable, but it's temporary - the rain always stops eventually. i'm not going to melt. i'll be okay. i know that. 

but if a friend with an umbrella saw me getting drenched in the rain, it would not be super encouraging if she said in passing, "hey eryn it's okay to get wet," and then she went on her way all dry and happy.

yeah, i know it's okay, but will you please share your umbrella? 

i see this happening right now. not with umbrellas and rain, but with faith and fears.

i see people shaking, afraid of the unknown, discouraged, stressed, uncertain, anxious, lonely, losing sleep, on edge, angry, frustrated. like they're stuck out in a torrential downpour. 

and i see friends not sharing their umbrellas. i see friends saying IT'S OKAY TO FEEL THAT WAY. and going on their merry way with their faith umbrellas strong and intact.

sharing the umbrella is offering real, genuine encouragement to a friend in need. it's sharing truth, joy, peace, and comfort. it's okay to feel that way can leave a friend feeling empty and cold. when my faith is built up, it's not just for me. it's so i can encourage others in the faith, as well.

"it's okay to feel that way, and let me share some of God's promises with you." 

"it's okay to feel that way, but have hope, sis. God's got you."

"it's okay to feel that way, but don't be afraid. God is here."

"it's okay to feel that way, but remember how faithful our God is? He'll never abandon you."

i'll share my umbrella - my faith - the very thing that is keeping me protected from the elements. i won't enable you in your weakness, i'll encourage you with my strength from God. i can identify with you, but i won't let you claim that place in the storm as your identity. i'll remind you to surrender to the Lord, not to the storm. 

i might even remind you that you have your own umbrella, actually. (2 peter1:3-4) because maybe you momentarily forgot God's promises and you just need a loving reminder that He is still on the throne and He still has a good plan for your life? maybe just seeing me and my umbrella reminds you to grab a hold of yours? can i remind you that you had an umbrella on Sunday morning, on Easter Sunday, and around Christmastime, maybe you left it there?

and, friend, beware of trying to use fake umbrellas. beware of trying to fake your way to happiness, or confidence, seeking and striving in all the wrong places. peace and joy is only found in Jesus. it's okay to be seen in the rain and ask for help. there are plenty of friends with umbrellas willing to share and help you find yours. and i guarantee someday i'm going to forget my umbrella and i'll need you to please share yours. 

and if we are both standing out in the rain, and neither of us have umbrellas? we need to find someone who does, ASAP. take my hand and let's get out of the rain together. let's seek our refuge and safety! (psalm 91) let's get with believers who will encourage us in the faith and let's get into God's Word immediately! as soon as He hears our cries for help, He answers us and leads us in His perfect peace. (isaiah 30:19-21)

staying afraid and caught up in our circumstances together does neither of us any good. sitting there getting rained on, even if we're together, doesn't make it any better. it's still miserable and uncomfortable. relating to each other in the rain isn't enough to get out of it. commiserating in our weakness is exactly where the enemy wants us. two or more gathered in the name of anxiety. no thank you. i don't want to stay in the rain, afraid, alone, unsure, bitter, complaining. and i don't want to leave you there, either.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -Romans 12:12

if you have an umbrella, share it.
if you need an umbrella, find one. don't stay in the rain.

if you are encouraged by the Lord, if you have hope, and faith to see beyond the circumstances, share it. (1Thess5:11)
if you are feeling discouraged, hopeless, and fearful in the circumstances, surround yourself with believers and seek Jesus. there is grace for you, girl, but please don't stay in those feelings. process them in prayer, get in God's Word, and fellowship with friends who will encourage you.

one of my favorite memories is from one time when i was at disneyworld with my family. we had just started our day at epcot and it started to rain, like possible hurricane-type rain. as i ushered my family underneath an awning to assess the situation, i noticed something: people weren't panicking. they were getting their ponchos and umbrellas out of their backpacks, sharing them with one another, and going out into the rain to continue their magical time in the happiest place on earth. i saw strangers huddling under porches, making a place for others to squeeze in out of the rain. IT'S OKAY TO GET WET, BUT HERE, YOU CAN TAKE SHELTER. 

imagine if we all shared our faith and built one another up with promises of God when our friends were caught up in fear and feelings! our faith isn't just for Sundays and good days and counting blessings, friend. our faith is also for storms and pain and challenges. it's for sharing hope. it's for being light. it's for speaking life.

"I don't want fair-weather faith. I want resilient, bold faith that is deeply rooted and secure...We pray for belief that He can calm the storms. And even if He doesn't, for belief that He will not abandon us in the downpour." 

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

-Isaiah 43:2 

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everyone’s going to be fine

there is a scene in one of my favorite shows, The Office, where Michael and Dwight have a surprise planned for the employees. (it's a demonstration for mental health awareness gone extremely wrong, but that's beside the point.) Dwight urges the others to come with him, but the employees are hesitant and tentative. they're standing around in uncertainty, kind of rolling their eyes, questioning: what about their work, how long will they be gone, what should they bring, what should they expect, what should they wear?

dwight gets frustrated and says something kinda profound

everyone’s going to be fine in exactly what they’re wearing

just trust me, he's saying. i have something really great planned for you. you're going to love it. don't worry about a thing- i've thought it all through and everyone's going to be fine. just come with me. just as you are. trust me.

wait. this seems familiar. 

i couldn't shake it. i took that quote completely out of the context of The Office and was convicted right there mid-binge.

"And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." 

-Matthew 6:30-33

oh. there it is. how many times am i like the employees? questioning and doubting? hesitant and tentative? dragging my feet, stuck in uncertainty? thinking like an unbeliever. ugh i'm more like Stanley than i want to admit.

God wants me to come to him and trust him. just as i am. God promises are good. His plans are good. i'm called (you're called) to stand up, firm in my faith, and walk in that. i'm called to trust God completely.

"I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. 

I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. 

When you come looking for me, you’ll find me...I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed...

You can count on it." 

-Jeremiah 29:10-14

"every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan 

of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. he knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning 

to share the likeness of his Son." 

-Romans 8:28-29

whatever God has for me, it's going to be good. i don't want to miss it because i'm worried i'm not worth it, or because i'm wondering if His plans are good or worth the wait. He loves me just as i am. yes. His plans for me and my future are good. GOOD. yes. this is for you, too.

as i was writing this, i came across this wisdom from my friend Andrea: 

"God is beckoning us onward and forward. He wants to help us move victoriously through every challenge and season of our lives. Let's be ones who take hold of the grace He has for us and rise in strength, courage, obedience, and hope-filled expectancy for the story God is still writing in our lives. It's a good one if we'll stick with it. Let's be brave, take courage, say yes to what God is putting before us to do, and more onward and forward by His grace. He is so faithful to meet us there."  

God calls us just as we are to a life of fully trusting and surrendering to His plans. 

everyone’s going to be fine in exactly what they’re wearing. let's go!

happy new year by the way:) xoxo

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social media contract for our teenager (with scripture) 📱

we gave our daughter her own instagram account for her 14th birthday. but first, we made her agree to a few things. we made her sign a contract. and yeah, we used scripture to back up our expectations.

according to instagram's terms of use, you must be 13 years old to have an account. some of my daughter's friends were on instagram long before they were 13, but we stood our ground to follow the official terms of use. but when she was 13, i still didn't quite have peace about her being on social media. there were more conversations we needed to have and more heart-work to do. so i waited, prayed about it, tried to model healthy social media presence, and then i kind of forgot about it. and so did my daughter. having her own instagram account wasn't something she asked for, or bugged us about, but i know she would have fun connecting with her friends on that platform. and at age 14, i saw a new level of maturity in her that indicated she was ready. i had peace about releasing her into the wild world of social media...with heavy monitoring and some serious guidelines in place.   

my husband and i drew up a social media contract for her, specific to instagram since that is the only platform she is using. and because the Bible is the foundation of our family's moral compass, we added scripture into the contract as a reminder of who she is and Whose she is. in a world full of puppy ears and sparkle eyes filters, we want her to know that the best filter she'll ever use is the Word of God. this contract was written with our teenage daughter in mind, but honestly i wish everyone had to agree to these things before they got online. social media would be a much nicer place! 

as a social media marketer/online influencer manager, i understand what she's getting into. being on social media is a bigger deal than it might seem. it's a big responsibility and privilege that we don't take lightly. this isn't just about posting selfies and seeing silly memes. she will be exposed to a lot. there will be temptations and influences. she'll have new opportunities to walk the walk we've taught her to walk. when my daughter is online, i want her to represent our family well and i want her to represent Jesus well. we've raised her to know that her identity is found in Christ alone, not in likes and comments. we've taught her that words are powerful and to use them wisely. she knows how to trust the Holy Spirit for discernment. she knows to prepare her heart before she posts. it's less about what to post and more about why she's posting. we have taught her, and will continue to instill, that what really matters in life is Who she follows (Jesus), not who follows her on instagram. 

"train up a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not depart from it."

-proverbs 22:6

something i'm learning as i go is that the best way i can protect my kids is to prepare my kids. the natural instinct is to protect them by preventing them from doing anything - the put them in a bubble perspective. but that isn't really living at all. a safe life isn't an abundant life, because a safe life never learns to dream big, take risks, try new things, or trust God fully. we're called to train our children in the way they should go, which means we need to prepare them and equip them for an abundant life, fully trusting God and leaning on Him. 

so, instead of keeping my kids off of social media and strictly prohibiting it for their entire lives, we are choosing to equip them with biblical boundaries and guidelines that line up with our family's beliefs. a line of communication has been established now, and how we navigate being on the internet will be an ongoing conversation with lots of grace and love, remaining firm in our foundation. this social media contract is where we're starting.

social media is supposed to be a fun place to connect with friends. that's it! these boundaries are in place not to be a helicopter parent or to take social media too seriously, but to keep it fun and safe.

you can view, download, and edit our instagram contract here: 

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTRACT (WITH SCRIPTURE) 

❤️

"let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. and whatever you do,whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." -colossians 3:17

ARE YOUR KIDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA? 

share your thoughts with me on instagram (of course)!

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craze me into a holy awareness

Come, Lord Jesus,

confront me as a prophet:

disturb my indifference,

expose my practiced phoniness,

shatter my brittle certainties, 

deflate my arrogant sophistries,

and craze me into a holy awareness

-Rev. Ted Loder

at the beginning of 2019, in a cozy cabin on top of a mountain, with snow falling thick and steady on the surrounding pines, i read God's word with a hunger for fresh perspective and revelation. i wanted to enter the new year firm in my faith, full of His power and grace. 

and He sweetly and faithfully gave me a word to frame my focus, to theme my thoughts, and to posture my prayers: AWARE. 

Lord, make me aware. 

not just any kind of aware. a holy awareness. i want to be conscious and mindful of God's presence. awakened and alert to His goodness. i want to see and behold and watch and observe the things God wants me to be aware of. i want to be aware enough to hear Him in new ways, see Him in new places, and feel Him in a new realness.

being aware means more awareness of God, and it also means less awareness of world. my prayer for holy awareness is adding and subtracting from my perspective. increasing my vision in some areas, while letting Him blur and blind me in other areas of life. there are things He wants me to see and things He doesn't want me staring at for too long anymore. awareness is focused clarity.

barely three weeks in, and i'm realizing this is a scary prayer. because not only am i asking to be more aware of God's goodness, but in His goodness, He will also make me aware of my sinfulness. awareness has already been kind of rude to me. awakenings sometimes are, i guess. 

but awareness is good. God always brings things to light. the hurt and the Healer collide. 

i love what God is showing me, what He's speaking to me, and the way He's heightening my consciousness of His will. awareness is making me even more grateful. more content. more joy. more hopeful. more peace. this is the craze. 

psalm 26:3 on repeat: i pray that i am always aware of God's unfailing love, and that i live according to His truth.

DO YOU HAVE A WORD OR PRAYER FOR 2019?

what is it? tell me on my instagram post here.

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lighting up HALLOWEEN

yesterday was Halloween. we had such a fun night walking through the neighborhood with our friends and neighbors. it was chilly and it had rained earlier. most of the children were bundled in jackets and raincoats, costumes covered. clinging to their candy buckets, kids of all ages dodged puddles, going door to door in droves to meet friendly faces and get some chocolate. our kids are 10 and 13 now. they have outgrown a lot suddenly. but last night they were young. last night, we let them be little. chasing candy dressed as Spongebob characters with glow necklaces. midway through the night, i looked around at my neighborhood bustling with families and i thanked God that i get to be here and now. i thanked God for another fun Halloween for the collection of memories in my heart. 

i've shared my journey of navigating Halloween as a God-fearing, Christian family. i have absolutely struggled with the tension of the holiday. there were a few years when i was so confused and torn that we skipped Halloween altogether. my heart was broken for the lost and for those in darkness. now i know God used those years to convict me, and he has shown me that the way to respond with a broken heart to a lost and dark world is not to hide from it, but to light it up.

here is how we did Halloween in 2009, 2010, and 2011. i was/am transparent in my struggle because i know i'm not the only one, and i believe there's freedom in bringing things into the light. 

ultimately, here is what October 31 actually is in my community in 2018: a night for children to dress in costumes, get together with friends and neighbors, collect buckets of candy, put candles in pumpkins with toothy grins, and pretend to be afraid of plastic spiders in cotton webs. i mean, let's just call it what it is, right?

but i still see so much tension surrounding October 31. especially, sadly, among Christians.

the week before Halloween i had a conversation with my kids about it. i wanted to know what they thought about Christ followers celebrating Halloween. do you ever do that? so often i think we (adult Christians) overthink things and make mountains out of molehills. my perception is so clouded because of my experiences and exposure to other people's opinions. i can always count on my kids for some grounded, simple, insight. their faith is so pure!

our Halloween vs Christians conversation was incredibly insightful. there's nothing like a Bible-believing child to offer an untainted perspective. they asked really good questions. they were mostly confused about why Christians wouldn't get out there among the unbelievers. why would anyone think that Christians are celebrating witchcraft? why wouldn't we want to invite our neighbors over? aren't we supposed to show the love of Jesus to everyone even if they practice witchcraft? is our faith so weak that it can't withstand fake skeleton decorations and sound effects CDs? are we only supposed to celebrate Christian holidays? why are Christians so small-minded sometimes? how do we show love in this situation? why is there division? what would Jesus do? 

they're all "who told you that you were naked?" and i'm like, oh snap.  

after we talked, i prayed, and was prompted to share some of our thoughts with others who might be feeling the tension and confused about Halloween. i put my thoughts in an Instagram story and was blown away by the responses. first, the struggle is real. Christians are trying to navigate this, and carefully, because there is so much tension and division over this issue. however, Christians are overwhelmingly burdened to love like Jesus and redeem October 31 for the glory of God. 

Pastor Dustin Bates says it like this:

when you walk into a dark room and you flip on the light switch, light overcomes the darkness. 

it's no longer dark. darkness doesn't prevent the light from lighting up the room. 

so turn on the light! God will turn the darkness in life into an opportunity for His light. 

i have come to believe Halloween is no different. as a Christian, regardless of the day of the year or the origins of a holiday, my obligation and burden and honor is to be light in the darkness to display the love of Christ to everyone. 

i have seen God work His redemption firsthand. 

i watched a close friend practice witchcraft at a party years ago. a few years after that, she needed a place to stay so we invited her to live with us. she went to church with me and my family during that time. even more years later, she is a completely new person.

another friend of mine was not a believer. a week before Halloween, her best friend tragically passed away. Halloween fell on a Sunday that year and it was her first time in church. she's been going ever since and she tells me it's changed her life. Halloween is her new birth-day.

God let me be an up close and personal witness in those situations so that i could live fearlessly. His redemption and love conquers all. nothing, no day, no darkness is out of His reach. 

these are the thoughts that i shared on Halloween, also available here:

i refuse to believe that the enemy of our souls thinks our gathering with friends and neighbors tonight for fun and fellowship is bringing us any closer to him and his evil ways. 

the enemy is a liar and would love to STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY our attempts to have a fun night with our neighbors. 

as for me and my household we will serve the Lord in all we do, on every day of the year. we will redeem the day. we will glorify God in all of it. 

this day might have origins in evil, but we serve a God who calls us to light and love, and can make all things new. beauty from ashes! redemption is His. 

we are not celebrating the origins of this day. we are celebrating victory in Christ.

we choose to reject the evil roots and aspects of today, and instead redeem it by loving our neighbors, practicing hospitality, and sharing the love of God with friends and family.

we teach our kids that god can be glorified in all things.  
everything can be redeemed. 
everything and all things. 
even a pagan holiday. 

i refuse to believe that my friends and neighbors and those little cuties coming to my door for candy are out celebrating witchcraft tonight. 

and if they are? come on over, sweetie, i'll show you the love of Christ.

living not of this world sometimes means taking the things of this world and turning them upside down for God's glory.

our neighbors might not be Christians. we might be the ones on the block who represent Christianity to them. you better believe we're prioritizing love.

we believe there's nothing and no one too far out of God's reach that He can't redeem. we will be the catalysts of change today.

once you witness redemption, you can't unsee it. 

the enemy wants me fearful today. he wants this day to be set aside for evil because after all that's how it originated. and he wants me to leave it alone. he wants to make me believe God doesn't have any power on October 31. the enemy celebrates when believers are divided and turned against one another. let's not give him that opportunity today. or tomorrow. or ever. 

perfect love casts out fear. nothing can separate us from the Love of God. don't lose consciousness of God's perfect love or our access to it today.

if the origins of Halloween are a stumbling block in your relationship with Jesus, or cause your faith to weaken, by all means skip it. 

pray about it. honor your convictions. don't judge others. (they have their own convictions). and stand firm in your faith. 

my conviction was this: the enemy doesn't care if it's 10/31 or 5/9 or 2/28. he just wants me isolated so he can shame and confuse me. he wants me to feel proud of myself and to judge others. he wants my doors locked, lights out, curtains drawn. he does not want me loving on my neighbors, enjoying family time, and being in community. 

God is sovereign. that doesn't change on Halloween.

i am called - and so are you - to light up Halloween.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, 

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." 

-Matthew 5:14-16

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"

-John 8:12

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. 

This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood." 

-1 John 4:4-6

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5 practical ways to practice WORD BEFORE WORLD

word before world is a buzzy little catchphrase intended to serve as a reminder to start the day in God's Word before engaging with the world. have you heard it? i'm a believer.

word before world is the concept of literally spending time in God's Word first, before consuming the noise of the world. it's an intentional practice meant to set the first focus of your heart, mind, and spirit on the promises of God. 

i believe - because i've experienced it - that spending time with God, in the word, before getting caught up in the day's tasks centers and sets my heart in the right direction, builds up my faith so i can face whatever comes at me in the day, and deepens my relationship with Jesus. the way i see it, word before world goes hand in hand with the "firstfruits" principle, which is to honor God with my first and my best according to proverbs 3:9-10. along those same lines, word before world is not done out of obligation or to check a religious to do list, but is done out of sheer reverence and gratitude. giving my first daily moments to Jesus is a joy! because, afterall, Who told the sun when to rise in the morning? and Who thought to give me breath for one more day? with the same heart of awe and thanksgiving that i end my days thanking God, i begin my days thanking God.       

consider the alternative...waking up to gloom and doom news headlines? focusing first on my neverending chore list? starting my day off filling my head with the noise on facebook? none of that will contribute to the overall good of my heart or my mind. but surrendering the first moments of my day to Jesus? is starting my day with peace, love, joy, truth, and goodness. the time i take to spend in God's Word is an investment in my life, my heart, my wellbeing, my family, and my legacy. it changes everything. 

but what does it look like? how does word before world actually play out for a mom with a bustling household, a lengthy to-do list to tackle, places to be, laundry to fold, and kids that will wake up any minute now? it sounds lovely, but, really, how do we stop the world from coming at us first thing in the morning? let me tell you: it's doable, and it's worth it. 

here are FIVE PRACTICAL WAYS TO PRACTICE WORD BEFORE WORLD:

// PAGE A DAY CALENDAR. years ago, someone gifted me a pretty little page-a-day calendar that stands up on the kitchen countertop next to the sink. every morning, it is part of my routine to pour my coffee and flip the calendar page. on each page is a verse or two of scripture. standing there in the kitchen every morning, beadhead and groggy, the very first thing i read is a snippet from God's Word. i read it, pray it, consider it's context, and it becomes the "theme" of my day. it sets the tone. i put another page-a-day calendar on my bathroom sink, too, since i'm at that sink first. from the time i wake up, i go from bed to bathroom sink (scripture) to kitchen sink (scripture) and already i'm off to a great start with God's Word in my heart before the world even had a chance to distract me. and every time i'm back at the kitchen or bathroom sink throughout the day, i glimpse again at the scripture on the calendar and repeat it in my heart. it's simple and practical, but effective! here are some calendars with God's Word on each day.

// MUSIC. not just any music, of course, but praise and worship music. Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word, so start the day listening to God's Word! most popular songs on Christian radio stations are inspired by scripture. as soon as you turn off the alarm clock, turn on the music and let your heart be lifted by hearing and singing along to God's Word. find (or make) a playlist, and let it be the soundtrack of your days. i've shared before how sound affects the peace in our home. there are a lot of noises in the world competing for our attention (tv, news, advertisements, dog barking, phone notifications buzzing...). choose wisely what you start your day listening to. let it be something that turns your heart towards gratitude, joy, God's blessings, and the new mercies of the day. 

// BIBLE STUDY. being part of a bible study is a very practical way to get in God's Word on a regular basis, especially a study that has a daily reading plan. it can become part of your morning routine to pour a hot mug of tea and sit down with your Bible open, reading scriptures, studying their context and meanings, and letting the promises of God take root in your heart. the YouVersion Bible app and BibleGateway.com have free reading plans and bible studies, and there are several others online that you could find by doing a quick Google search. LoveGodGreatly.com hosts bible studies regularly (topical and biblical) with guided reading plans and devotionals. use a calendar, find an accountability friend, or join a group bible study to hold you accountable to making word before world a daily practice. the Word is alive and active, and engaging with it - truly meditating on the words - has the power to transform your life.

// PAPER AND PEN. i love the way one of my friends practices word before world! she keeps a small notebook and pen next to her coffeepot in the kitchen. every morning, as she pours that first cup of coffee, she jots down the date, her prayers for the day, and things she's thankful for. then, she opens her bible and searches for scripture to pray for her specific needs, and writes the verses in the notebook. by the time she's ready to refill her mug, she's already established a strong foundation of truth and grace for the day. paper and a pen, and a longing to spend time with the Lord, is all she needs to put the word before the world.  

// WILL-POWER. very practically speaking, focusing on the word before engaging with the world takes will-power. it takes a heart that is determined to prioritize what is true, lovely, right, admirable, noble, trustworthy, commendable, worthy of praise, honorable, and pure (Philippians 4:8). it might mean waking up a little bit earlier. it might mean making some changes to your morning routine. if having your phone next to your bed makes it tempting to check in on social media before your feet hit the floor in the morning, consider getting a non-phone alarm clock so you can keep the phone in another room and avoid the temptation to world before word. it takes will-power to create a new habit, and where there's a will, there's a way.  

the world wants us to hit the ground running, hustling, texting, posting. the Word wants us to hit the ground submitted, surrendered to God's will, trusting His plan, soaking up His peace. word before word will require you to go counter to the culture. try it tomorrow morning and see if it makes a difference in your day. may i recommend reading the story of Jesus miraculously feeding the multitudes? it's pretty remarkable what God can do when you give Him what you have. and all we're talking here is the first moments of your day.

“I did nothing; the Word did everything.”

-Martin Luther

God's Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105) and i need God's Word with me, in my heart, to light up my daily walk in a dark world. before i need to check the weather forecast, read the headlines, see what so-and-so posted on social media, check my phone notifications, look at my to-do list, or open my email inbox, i need Jesus. i need to seek first His kingdom. what He has for me is far greater than anything the world could offer. when i practice word before world, i'm dedicating my day to God's will, and it is good. it's day changing, and ultimately, life-changing. 

i saw a funny, yet pointed, post on instagram recently that said:

“YALL DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOUR LEGS WORK YET BUT YOU'RE ALL UP ON INSTAGRAM THIS MORNING?!”

word before world, friends. first things first. get out of bed with a heart determined to put God first in your day, in your life.

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."

(Psalm 143:8)

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high-five yourself 👏

there is a zumba instructor who teaches one of the classes i go to who always ends the class by having us give ourselves a pat on the back. after an hour of following her dance moves through each song, she slows down the beat and leads us all in bringing our right hands up towards the sky, and then down behind our shoulder, and pat, pat, pat. it's sweet and silly and it always makes me smile, because i get it. everyone in the class gets it. we all woke up, got dressed, drove ourselves to the gym, and moved our bodies for an hour together. it's not a huge feat, but it's an accomplishment nonetheless. pat, pat, pat, congratulations, self!

i received an email a few months ago from a friend who works with the same company that i work with, asking if i was going on the company's annual retreat for top achievers. all expenses paid. at the beach. but, no. no i wasn't a "top achiever" so i wasn't going to the retreat. which is absolutely fine with me because as amazing as that sounds, it hasn't ever been a goal of mine to earn "top achiever" status. ((and thankfully i don't tend to suffer from FOMO with these kinds of things!)) but my friend was pumped about earning top achiever status and getting to go to the beach retreat and i was really happy for her! pat, pat, pat, congratulations!

  

rewards, raises, retreats, bonus checks, award banquets, promotions. it's all very good, this system we use to acknowledge and celebrate accomplishments. i have a pretty deep circle of friends, though, who aren't part of companies or organizations or networks with reward systems like that. our pats on the back aren't frame-able and our kudos don't show up in the bank account. it's more common for me and many of my friends in this season to celebrate accomplishments like not burning dinner, matching all the socks in the laundry, saving 50cents at the grocery store, and remembering to get a birthday card in the mail for aunt so-and-so. pat, pat, pat, congratulations, self!

i'm not being sarcastic: those are real wins. unfortunately, i think it's also common in my circle for weariness and self-pity to creep in and sabotage our daily joy. because we're doing a lot of hard work that mostly goes unseen and unrewarded like other accomplishments in other circles are. and we can easily slip into wondering does this even matter? or worse, we see someone else being applauded for their work and we think no fair.   

please hear me: this is not a pity-party invitation. definitely not. this is a call to GIVE YOURSELF A PAT ON THE BACK. when no one else is, when no one else sees, when it feels silly- do it anyway. we don't need the certificates or the title changes or the round of applause or the medal or the retreat. those things are great, yes! and well-deserved, i'm sure! but let's not discount the work we're doing or the power of encouraging ourselves in our daily accomplishments.

another caution: this is not about entitlement. absolutely not. this is a challenge to acknowledge your own accomplishments. step away from the lies of "it's not fair" or "i deserve this." and get on board with the satisfaction of simply encouraging yourself in the work that you're doing. and let's beware of bitterness when comparing our high-fives with other people's beach retreats. 

i just vacuumed the living room. pat, pat, pat. and then i handwashed all the dishes. pat, pat, pat. i'm home alone and it's very likely that no one will notice the things i did today. i could very easily give into a self-pity woe-is-me wheres-my-raise mindset. but as i was winding up the vacuum cleaner cord, i thought of that silly pat on the back we give ourselves at the end of zumba class. i don't need a kudos for taking a zumba class, but it's nice to acknowledge the time i took to do it and investment i made in my health! just like i don't need a kudos for vacuuming, but it's nice to acknowledge the time i took to do it and investment i made in my home! knowing my family will come home today to clean floors is a little secret kudos tucked away in my heart and that is all the reward i need.

have you ever tried to give yourself a high-five? try it. it's basically a clap. one clap.

i'm going to start giving myself a high-five (or clapping one time) after my daily unseen small un-celebrated accomplishments! why not?!

when i'm working hard on daily domestic stuff and i have a moment of wondering where's my awards banquet? when is my beach retreat? (first of all: shut up, devil.) it helps me to remember WHY i'm here doing what i'm doing: God chose me for this. the reality is that i was selected and appointed for this! of all the people in all the time in all the world, GOD CHOSE ME to do this here. my mindset immediately shifts to: wow, what an honor it is to be these kids' mom and this man's wife! what a blessing it is to get to serve my family in this way! truly there's no where else i'd rather be. keep the accolades: my appointment here IS the reward! i can encourage myself in the Lord because He called me to this. i can give myself a high-five for my small daily accomplishments because i know God sees me, is with me, and loves me. He's my rewarder! (Hebrews 11:6) i have a renewed pep in my step when this is my mindset! earning "top achiever" status isn't my goal right now; serving my family and honoring God by making the most of these days is. 

so, when tomorrow's lunches are already packed and in the fridge: high-five.
when the floors are mopped: high-five.
when the dirty dishes are washed: high-five.
when the library books are returned on time: high-five.
when no one had a meltdown at the grocery store: high-five.

OTHER WAYS TO HIGH-FIVE YOURSELF: 
// turn on some music and do a happy dance.
// write out a gratitude list. pray and thank God.
// prop your feet up for a few minutes and do nothing.
// take one minute to step outside for sunshine and fresh air. take a walk, even just to the mailbox.
// text a friend or reply to a non-work email or phone call.
// wash your hair.
// paint your nails.
// refill your coffee mug.
// read a few pages of a book or magazine.
// write out a DONE list, like a to-do list but of things that you've already accomplished so you can cross things off immediately.
// find a podcast or youTube channel to listen/watch that will encourage you or make you laugh.

remember, wherever you are, whatever you're doing today: God chose you for this. your appointment is your reward. encourage yourself with that truth! do it all for God's glory (1 Corinthians 10:31) and like David did, encourage yourself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).

high-five yourself! 

👏

"For everything there is a season,

a time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace.

What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

focusing //

i remember when i was a preteen and i got my first pair of eyeglasses. i pushed my new (metallic blue) frames up the bridge of my nose as my mom and i walked out of the optometrist office, and immediately looked up. for the first time in, like, ever, i could see each tiny branch on the every single tree limb. i saw the intricate twigs and the smallest leaves crystal clear without squinting. i had never seen the trees like that before, and i remember thinking wow, trees are truly beautiful.

those tiny branches had been there all along, but until that day with those brand new corrective lenses, they were just a blur. 

one month into 2018 and my intention to be more focused reminds me of that feeling. it's like i have a new pair of glasses that enhance my focus on my family. on God's Word. on my marriage. on my health. on beautiful intricacies that have been there here all along, just a little blurry. 

"think about things of heaven, not things of earth." 

colossians 3:2

it took time though. like an eye exam, my vision had to be tested so the impairment could be diagnosed. i had to go through some letting go and stripping away of distractions that were fruitless, selfish, addictive, and even toxic. people, places, and things. that process was painful, tbh. change is hard, even when it's for my own good and even when i know it's God. but now, i have such peace! such clarity! i feel healthy and whole and content. i'm looking up and the things in my line of vision are truly beautiful.  

here's what focusing actually looks like in my daily life: 

>> screen time limits. part of my plan to remain focused on the best God has for me is to set limits on my screen time. just like i have for my kids, i have implemented boundaries for myself. because let's be honest: phones are addictive. social media is addictive. and sure it can be used for good, but i have also found that spending lots of time on my phone can be unhealthy for my heart and mind. i am setting an example in my home for healthy screen time limits by setting restrictions for myself. i'm not trying to be super rigid- just smart. the goal is to free myself from the distractions that can often be fruitless, selfish, addictive, and toxic. i have a phone. my phone doesn't have me. 

>> less "me" time. i realize this seems contradictory to the self-care trend, but for me, in the season that i'm in right now, less me time actually is self-care. when i am focused on making and taking time for myself, and then it doesn't happen or is interrupted, i get irritable and pouty. not because i necessarily needed the "me time," but because i didn't get the "me time" i felt i deserved. me time is such an elusive concept, too, that i lost sight of what could be considered "me time" because i was blinded by visions of escaping to an all-inclusive spa to spend hours by myself in a Turkish cotton bathrobe in a sauna with a charcoal mask on my face. "me time" could very well be intentionally taking time to pray while i load the dishwasher. or listening to my favorite songs in the car on the way home from dropping the kids off at school. but "me time" was creating a spirit of entitlement in me, and i'm sure my family was (silently) suffering for it. so, for now, i'm purposely not making or taking personal time for socializing outside of family and immediate community (church, work, neighbors). what's amazing is how God gently stripped away my craving for an active social life, and has blessed me with genuine contentment. i'm not a recluse or in isolation by any means! i've just found a peace with the kind of quieter social life than i once had. my "me time" is my morning reading, 1 hour for working out, and the occasional hair or nail appointment. my self-care is spending more focused and quality time with the people that are in my life on a regular basis.

"don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. 

instead, fix your attention on God. you’ll be changed from the inside out. 

readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it."

romans 12:2

>> office hours. this is a work in progress for me. i work from home and have 2 or 3 days a week to focus on my job responsibilities. my daily schedule is still pretty flexible, but i have set aside blocks of time to dedicate to work. this is a more structured approach than i've attempted, and so far i think it is improving my productivity! i'm hopeful that i'll get the hang of it. 

"never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically."

romans 12:11

>> prioritizing health & fitness. here is something i've noticed about myself, thanks to God's graceful nudges: if i don't prioritize my health and fitness, it simply won't happen. then i'm weak and tired and feel overall icky. what works for me is sticking to a particular workout program - right now i'm doing 80 day obsession. i prefer to have specific workouts to do on specific days (ie: monday leg day, tuesday arms and abs, etc.), and a really clear outline of what foods to eat and when, based on the workouts i'm doing. it requires dedication! my meals are planned in advance (including our family dinners), which sounds like a pain but it's actually really helpful for me to have a plan in place. otherwise, i look up and it's 4:30pm and i haven't had any exercise for the day and my family is asking me what's for dinner. it has also been helpful for me to publish my weekly dinner menus.

>> others-focused. Martin Luther King, Jr said "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" i heard this quote in early january and it has been highlighted in my subconscious ever since. what are we (as a family) doing for others? what am i doing for others? this shift of my focus from self to others looks like more serving at church, selflessly and submissively serving at home, and purposely pursuing opportunities to help others. even if it's inconvenient, uncomfortable, or there isn't anything in it for me. that's the upside down part of it!

"for you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. 

but don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. 

instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love." 

galatians 5:13

>> Word-focused. i'm making more of an effort to check my thoughts against the Word of God. worry, fear, guilt, doubt, discouragement, insecurity, anger, bitterness, complacency...those are all distractions of the enemy that i'm learning to see as such. keeping the Fruit of the Spirit in the forefront of my mind (and literally written out and taped to a wall at my eye level where i'll see it every day) has helped me keep my mind focused on what God says. it's very practical and seems elementary, but it's certainly effective.

"the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: 

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

gentleness, and self-control."

galatians 5:22-23

i'm mostly amazed at how much freedom this focus has brought me. freedom from distractions, freedom from discouragement, freedom from sickness, freedom from selfish ambition. it's the hard kind of good! it's growth! i want to remember this!


dear future self,
      hey! if God starts making changes in your life, it's because you need to be freed from something. He's making room for something better! He wants you to focus! open your eyes and look up! 

sincerely,

yourself on 1.30.18

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beauty, goodness, truth // She Reads Truth Bible

this is one of the most beautiful bibles i've ever seen. the She Reads Truth Bible is thoughtfully and artfully designed to highlight the beauty, goodness, and truth of Scripture.

featuring nearly 200 devotionals by the She Reads Truth team, and Scripture reading plans that include supplemental passages for deeper understanding, this Bible invites every woman to count themselves among the She Reads Truth community of "Women in the Word of God every day."

the She Reads Truth Bible also features 66 key verses, artfully lettered for Scripture memorization, 35 full-color timelines, 20 full-color maps, 11 full-color charts, reading plans for every book of the Bible, one-year Bible reading plan, detailed book introductions, key verse list, carefully curated topical index, beautiful sturdy binding, two colored ribbon markers, and wide margins for journaling and note-taking.

it is truly a beautiful Bible, and is an incredible gift!

available for purchase here: http://shereadstruthbible.com

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*i was given this Bible to review for B&H Publishing by FrontGate Media. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

upside down + focus // 2018

“when we reach the end of our days, our life experience will equal what we have paid attention to, whether by choice or default” (tim wu)

a friend of a friend was telling us about a recent trip home to visit his extended family. he told us how excited he was that he got to see his 12 year old nephew who was adopted into the family not long ago. he said the family was going through boxes of old family photo albums and keepsakes handed down through the years when they came across an old, over-sized magnifying glass with 2-inch thick glass somewhat warped over time. his nephew, fascinated, took off his glasses and held the magnifying glass up to his face and looked around the room, and as he did, a huge smile grew across his face.

he went around the house peering at objects and family faces through the special glass, giggling, excited, and soon he was full-blown belly laughing at everything he saw so clear and magnified. our friend said the boy's laughter filled the room with joy. all the family members watched him and soon they, too, were giggling and laughing. the boy's joy was contagious! and seeing him experience the effects of a magnifying glass for the first time was incredible to witness. but also, he said, they were laughing because the reflection of the boy's face staring back at them through the looking glass was upside down...

a few nights after hearing this story, which, at the time was just a random conversation that i was part of, i tossed and turned in bed, wide awake when i should have been sound asleep. i was trying to settle myself with breath prayers, when my mind wandered to the upcoming new year. do i need to make resolutions? (ugh, not a fan.) what goals do i have? what are my hopes for 2018? what changes do i need to make? all of those thoughts became really overwhelming and made me even more restless. suddenly, out of nowhere, i was replaying in my mind this story about the magnifying glass that our friend of a friend told us days earlier...

a magnifying glass that brought new clarity. 

fresh vision.

brought things into focus.

made everything clear.

which induced excitement, a contagious joy.

caused a change in the environment.

inspired the witnesses.

and the reflection was upside down.

the Lord showed me right then and there in the middle of the night what he wanted from me in the new year: focus. an invitation and conviction to see what he wants me to see, the way he wants me to see: more clearly and magnified. to focus on the things he wants me to focus on, more focus on HIM, and to not be distracted by what's in my peripheral. a promise that what i see in this new way will bring great joy - a genuine, authentic, contagious joy. a caution that this newfound perspective might make me look upside down, but it will be good.

okay, God, i resolve to focus. 

"think about things of heaven, not things of earth." colossians 3:2

i spent some more time digging deeper into the word, searching God's directive for my focus, and i landed in Romans 12, the living sacrifices chapter. there, i found very practical ways to focus on the things God wants me to focus on: my health/body (12:1), my thoughts (12:2-3), service and my gifts (23:4-8), my relationships (12:9-10, 14-21), work ethic (12:11), faith and prayer life (12:12), and hospitality (12:13).

every command is for the glory of God. none of it is self-serving, instant gratification, or blurred for popular acceptance. to some, this lifestyle might even look upside down. 

"it’s an upside-down kingdom where leaders are servants, neighbors and enemies are loved, and poor widows give away half their money...humility is exalted, the first shall be last, offenders are forgiven 70 times 7, and ethnic outsiders kneel down to help half-dead strangers lying in a ditch. the way of Jesus is countercultural. it is upside-down and inside-out—a kingdom, where weakness is power, power is weakness, and suffering leads to glory." (preston sprinkle)

it was an awakening, as though i was given a magnifying glass to see not just what to focus on, but also why and how. "this is the way; walk in it." (isaiah 3:21)

and then, on an icy new years eve morning two days later, this conviction/challenge was undoubtedly confirmed as our pastor challenged the church: "what has your attention? in order to focus you have to master isolation...multitasking is essentially doing several things halfheartedly. what you look at (focus on) is what you will gravitate towards - literally, and figuratively (perspective.)" [my notes/paraphrase]

"make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word." psalm 119:35-37

okay, God, i resolve to focus. 

on how i treat and think about my body. on thinking "good" thoughts. on prayer and Your Word. on serving my family. on loving others well. on my relationships. on being hospitable. on my work and service. on making the most of where you have me. what matters eternally. and mostly, on You.

"if you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live— yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him." (oswald chambers)

REMEMBER YOUR ANCHOR ⚓

one of my friends has a tattoo of an anchor on her rib cage. it's a delicate drawing of a weighted object - so pretty in an ironic sort of way. i think about her tattoo often, and what a good reminder it is - permanently inked on your skin or otherwise - because we are so quick to forget about our anchor. 

"...we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls." (hebrews 6:18-19)

if we are like boats, we float through our days just kind of bobbing along with the current. sometimes a tidal wave comes and we toss and turn wildly, letting the winds dictate our drift. and other times we're caught in a major storm, a hurricane maybe, and our boat goes nuts and flips all over the place, and we freak out. sometimes we act like we have no anchor at all. the waves and the storms might as well take us out to sea, far from the shore, throw us to the rocks and destroy us. 

but, no. we do have an anchor. his name is Jesus. he is secure and firm. he is comfort and safety and hope and he is ALWAYS. the hope we have in Jesus is based on certainty, truth, and the unchangeable Word of God. our anchor isn't on a chain at the bottom of the sea. our anchor is in heaven. our anchor is

an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God (hebrews 6:18-20, message)

so the wind is blowing and the waves are crashing and the boat is swaying? get ready. plant your feet, lock your knees, turn your back to the storm, and look to your anchor. hold on to hope. remember your anchor. i'm not suggesting we all go get anchor tattoos on our rib cages (but i'm not against it, though). but i do want to suggest we establish a habit of recalling the image of a heavy, solid, safe anchor any time the wind and waves start to try to move our boat. 

what does that look like when we aren't actually in boats? how do we remember our anchor when it's tuesday afternoon and life is happening like a hurricane? here are some ideas:  

PRAY // stop that broken record in your head that is replaying conversations and negative words and just say/think/sing thank You, Jesus. repeat those 3 words over and over until you mean it from the bottom of your heart. i promise it won't take long before the Lord starts replacing your worries and fears with comfort and peace, and you will be thankful. this happens to me all the time i will have myself worked up into a frenzy, my mind going 100mph, i have to stop myself with that phrase: thank You, Jesus thank You, Jesus. thank You, Jesus. and it's like a weight is lifted and my eyes are opened to the goodness of God all around me and in every situation, drowning out my frenzied thoughts.

 

GET QUIET // stop talking about your worries, fears and problems - to yourself and to others. just stop. press pause for a sec. did you know that worries, fears, and complaints can be idols? they can. and talking about them every chance we get is a form of worshiping those idols? ew ew ew! try this - next time you want to speak out loud about something you're afraid of, worried about, or frustrated by, put your finger to your lips (shhh) and the next thing that comes out of your mouth must be a true fact. not an opinion or a feeling. give yourself a pause and let God calm the waves. what would glorify Him would be for you to not speak about your worries/fears/problems, but instead talk about how God saw you through it, provided peace, and redeemed it all! that's what we should be talking about! 

  

DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE // take your eyes off of your own boat and look across the waves to someone else in need. oh yeah, we aren't in boats. so take your eyes off of your own life and problems and go love on your neighbor. send an encouraging text, buy a coffee for a friend, water your neighbor's flowers, tip the waiter generously, complement the cashier. do something selfless and suddenly your storm won't seem so bad. 

 

EXERCISE // get up and move your body. go for a walk. jump rope. hop on that stationary bike. there is something scientifically real about endorphin and adrenaline and natural mental and physical pain killers that our bodies release when we are active. i know my natural inclination is to park on the couch when i'm stressed, anxious, or discouraged. but i also know how much better i feel after i work out. exercise does wonders for mind, body, and soul.  

UNPLUG // literally turn off the TV and log off of Facebook. your anchor is not online and is definitely not on the 9 o'clock news. in fact, i'd go as far as to say those things put a kink in our anchor chain, making it harder to hold on to hope. it's easy to forget your anchor when your mind is filled with the noise of the world. remember, the news is biased and literally written to cause waves of panic and fear and hysteria. and Facebook is just a free-for-all forum for people to share those biased news reports as well as their opinions about the news. you might not even realize that being online and watching TV is causing your boat to sink, but if you spend a lot of time plugged in, and your boat never really feels steady and secure, so to speak, i recommend unplugging.  

CONFIDE // not to negate the "be quiet" suggestion above, this encouragement is to confide in a trusted person, your spouse, a close friend, or a counselor. it can be helpful to hear someone we love gently remind us that we are believing lies, on a negativity cycle, getting caught up in fear-traps, or making an idol of worry. find a friend who's anchor is steady and reach out to her to help you access your anchor.    

"What anchors our soul is not our subjective confidence, but the sure objective reality that God has promised. This is our anchor. And this is what we are to lay hold of." -John Piper

if you search the word anchor in the thesaurus, one synonym result is HOLD. Jesus is our hold. we can hold on to hope in Christ because we are held. (you know i love that.) we are anchored. winds and waves of doubt and discouragement will come, fear will crash over us and worry will threaten to rock us, but our anchor of hope is secure and unmovable. remember your anchor: Jesus. He holds us steady and sure, come what may. 

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WEAR THE WORD // temporary tattoos, eternal promises

"i know you see me. i know you hear me, Lord. Your plans are for me! goodness you have in store, so, thy will be done..."

this pretty little temporary tattoo keeps my heart singing and seeking the will of God. i chose the THY WILL BE DONE tattoo to put on my skin as a sweet, tangible reminder to remain in prayer, Lord, Your will be done, Your kingdom come...

the tattoo is temporary but God's word is eternal.

the Armed With Truth temporary tattoos are a fun way to literally "arm" yourself with the Word of God. there are themed scripture verse packs (fearless, identity, missions, blessed, athletes, graduates, and others), as well as hand-lettered designer tattoos! these make a really neat gift idea, too!

if you've ever considered getting a tattoo, why not try one of these meaningful and pretty temporary ones? they are safe and non-toxic, great for kids, and can last up to 5 days! enter to win a FREE scripture pack and a free designer tattoo! enter here:

(giveaway ends 5/20/17 11amEDT)

meanwhile, you can use code mamahall to get 20% off of your Armed with Truth order today!

 

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"be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." 

-ephesians 6:10-11