Pearls & Tunes. Vol 2.

Lyrics: Britt Nicole, Ready or Not

This Wednesday we head into a mall to check out the clearance items available in stores like American Eagle Outfitters & Charlotte Russe.

I probably made a big fashion mistake in using dressing room pictures,

but obviously I don't have the kind of money to buy these amazing finds in order to share them with you. 

All of these items were under $20! 

It's amazing what you can find when you hunt through the expensive rails of normal stores at the mall.

 Lyrics: Britt Nicole, Ready or Not

I love Britt Nicole's words about how important it is to shine for the Lord. I personally do feel as ladies we should invest time in our appearance. Not to obsess about the way we look and be materialistic about having the latest fashion trends....but the bible talks about caring for our bodies as they are temples of the Holy Spirit. We glorify God with our bodies by caring for them.

We are also good stewards of our money when we search for deals and spend wisely on things like clothing and accessories.

'Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.'

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

We can be interested in fashion and glorify the Lord in the process. Dressing in a way that draws attention to the hidden beauty within. Dressing so that when people see us, they see Him through our attitude and mannerisms.

'Do not let your adornment be merely outward; arranging the hair, 

wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel. 

Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty 

of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.'

(1 Peter 3:3-4)

 Lyrics: Britt Nicole, Ready or Not

Lets be women who dress with selfless, dignified elegance bringing glory to Jesus Christ because of our intimate relationship with Him. Showing the world where the Love is.

Let me give you a sneak peek of the duo who may be the brains behind this series in the future.

Much Love,

L

Thankful//for beautiful lyrics.

Thankful//for inspiration and a new blog series.

Thankful//for my beautiful sister.



Blue Floral top: American Eagle
Navy Blue Dress: American Eagle
Neon Dress: American Eagle
Skirt: Charlotte Russe
White cami layered underneath: Charlotte Russe
Sandals: Payless
White lace top: American Eagle
Pink Dress: Charlotte Russe
Red Necklace: Handmade by L
Red lipstick: Target

The Time has come the Walrus Said, For Paid Sponsorship & things.

Thanks to the Adproval guys, I have been persuaded.

This month I am opening paid sponsorship on this little blog.

The long term vision for this little space would be to grow in sphere of Influence.

To be able to encourage more people and share Christ.

Now in order to do so, I would love to be able to advertise on larger blogs.

These ads will help make this a reality.

So consider whether or not you want to join the Glorious Within Family.

Check out the options on the Sponsor tab. 

(There are also limited swap spaces)

We would love to have you sister! 

Much Love,

L

Thankful//For the journey the Lord has us on and excited to see where it will go.

Learning From Wise Women.

Sitting down on the first day of the Conference listening to Anne Bogel following the Emily Freeman session was the first time I had felt my head was clear since arriving. She offered some amazing advice and joked with the room about being in love with Anne of Green Gables. Woman after my own heart right there.

{Via}

I love Anne Shirley and her dramatic nature, her love for bosom friendship and the fun she and Diana have together. So right from that moment, Anne Bogel had my attention.
She talked about society and how there seems to be a right of passage to becoming an adult, you graduate college, then get married and have a baby. Then you buy a home and life continues through this pattern. When you don't meet the normal pattern, you feel as though you have failed.
Anne talked about how we don't have to be in a set place to be an adult, how life is about learning and growth, that the path is winding not linear.


She talked about real growth and how that can look a lot like being lost. That it takes time to put it all together!


She told the women in the room about how we should not please other people. That we shouldn't deal with the expectations of others as though we don't have God to turn to. As though we don't have value in His eyes.
She spoke about the importance of dealing with baggage. How we shouldn't ignore junk that is there but deal with it. Have a person we can talk to should the need arise from the events in our life  which have affected us. Remembering that we all grow through the hard times in life!

I learned about the importance of not being a complainer, which is why I am cautious about what I write on this little space. No-one really likes to hear complaints, I need to be careful with my words, to encourage not tear others down. I don't want to ever regret things that are written or posted. So my plan is just to not write them.
My blog should be a safe place for those who love me. So for that reason, I won't write anything that would hurt them or make them feel unsafe. Just throwing that out there for clarification.


I understand now what Anne meant by growth can look a little like being lost. Because that's how I started the conference off. And I am still processing and growing from all the events and speakers' messages. Hopefully I won't end up sounding like a broken record as I unpack it all slowly for you.


Let me throw some cake in.

Yep that was after lunch both days. Cake really helps when you are feeling sensitive and vulnerable from being trained and taught so much in a short space of time.

After Anne's session and an amazing lunch.....we had the life panel.

This panel was another one of the most influential sessions for me. Gather Jessi Connolly & her husband, Hayley, Emily Freeman, Sarah Matheny, Rachel Kincaid and there is such wisdom from so many different walks of life.
We had Jessi and her husband talking about how you can't really minister to others online if you aren't both on board. How we should invite our families into what we are involved in online, like the She Reads Truth community, its not an isolated thing when doing ministry through your blogging. Our families need to be on board and even involved. We need to protect them and make them a priority!
Emily reminding us that something it takes wrongly agreeing to do something in order to realise we need to actually say no. Saying a....

Brave Yes, Strong No. 

'If Christ is in You, then He wants to come out.

The Gospel is good news, no matter where you are!'

~ Emily Freeman

I have never wanted to quote anyone more than Emily Freeman whose every other sentence was said in a way I could only hope I might someday be able to communicate.

I have also never heard anyone talk and automatically want to be friends with as much as Rachel Kincaid, who is just an awesome woman! Her inside beauty just came pouring out as she answered questions in the session. Challenging each of us to live a poured out life with whatever the Lord calls us to.    

I walked in wanting to know more about strategy and how to build my blog.
But spent my entire first day meeting God in sessions about life and His Gospel. Encountering some amazing women with incredible God-written stories along the way.

The icing on the cake for me truly was dinner that evening which would take a whole other post to write about how it came into being by the Lord's hand. But I spent the evening eating, talking and sharing encouragement with Stephanie, Mackenzie, Megan, Brooke, Erin & Brittany.
Talk about bosom friends. I love these ladies. Definitely a God-ordained highlight.
I didn't get to spend anywhere near as much time with these ladies as I would have liked.
So you should head over and say hi to them for me, and let them know they are awesome! =)

Thankful//For Day One of the Influence Conference. 

Much Love,

L

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//Thankful Scripture//

Ever noticed how many times the Bible mentions our words and how we should use them.

As Mark Batterson says,

'When God says something more than ONCE, you need to THINK TWICE about what it means!'

Thinking about this verse today friends.

Much Love,

L

Meeting Emily Freeman in an Overwhelmed Ocean.

Having arrived at the Influence conference feeling overwhelmed. I decided that even though I planned on attending most of the business sessions, I found myself drawn to the life sessions the first morning. I was desperate for some encouragement, something that would point me to the Lord and the whole purpose for being here.
I also wanted to hear from the author that wrote one of the books which probably impacted me the most in the past year.
Emily Freeman.


And given where I was with feeling overwhelmed....God met me in that Sheraton Conference room.


Initially I was skeptical at the topic Emily planned on talking on as I don't really consider myself an artist. But relevant it was. I'm sure not I can even begin to find all the amazing tweets which blew up my twitter newsfeed during this session.

"I'm not cut out for this"...you're right. you have been placed into this. Don't look to be confident in yourself." 


"Art can be work done in the present moment with willing hands. A whole heart, and a steadfast belief."

"Show up and be who you already are."


"What could be more dangerous to the enemy of our hearts than women with hearts that are fully awake?"


"Our critics force us to draw a circle around what we really believe." 


"Being small and ordinary is not a flaw, it's actually a prerequisite."


"A God who turns ashes to beauty can turn lists to lyrics, programs to poetry, and management to music."


"It might not be the first time it's been said - but you saying it might be the first time someone listens!"


"...Maybe our tears are tiny messengers of the most vulnerable kind." 


"I started small & I'm still small."


"You guys have been great! Thank you for not throwing rocks!" 

Listening to Emily was like a breath of fresh air in an ocean of sinking. Her talk on being in tune with what God wants and how its ok to feel out of comfort zone or useless was so helpful I can't even describe.
She spoke truths on a whole bunch of lies I had believed that have stopped me from moving forward with several visions I feel the Lord has given me for Influence in this little space.


As she spoke through each lie, it was as though the Lord was saying, this is a Lie child!
Don't believe these things. 


I could have never imagined a year ago that I would be a blogger. I don't even really know that I knew that blogging was such a big thing. I had a blog from the age of sixteen, which I kept private and shared with friends where life was taking me.
But the move to make it public and share my faith publicly with almost 300 followers, that was God! That was not my vision. I reluctantly obeyed about ten months ago.
There are days when I still want to delete the whole thing or move it back to being private because writing here means I am vulnerable.


But sitting in that conference room several weeks ago, I got a beautiful reminder from the Lord.
This is His, not mine. He reminded me that it is His to give and take away. That I shouldn't believe lies, but rejoice in truth. That I should keep writing to make much of Him, even if that is by sharing ways He is at work in my life. That by sharing my story, I may just touch lives for Him.


That I can get behind!!! 


My goal is to share my testimony through my everyday life and let others see Him in it. Emily reminded all of us, that our sphere of Influence looks different for each of us. But we should be more concerned with showing up and being who we are. We are daughters of the King and trying to make much of Him! So do it!

I have been much slower at picking up on how many times this message was spoken to me over the course of the weekend. I am also still trying to figure out which ideas as I'm usually a person who has many. But as I have been working through all the information, praying and brainstorming.....several ideas have started to seem possible.


I'm excited to see where the Lord takes us on this adventure!


Meeting this wise woman in a conference room in Indiana was incredible, mainly because through her the Lord spoke to me. So thankful for her wise words, beautiful heart,
honesty and hilarious sense of humor. I laughed so much throughout the course of the weekend because of things she said.

Photo credit: Sarah Koci Scheilz

Now how many of you ladies have read grace for the good girl? Because you really really should.

Much Love,

L

"God doesn't call the qualified, but if He calls you He will qualify you."

~ Mark Batterson ~

An honest Start.

Ever had one of those moments where you look back at pictures taken a week before and you feel like they were taken a lifetime ago. You feel like you've aged at least a decade since they were taken. That's how I feel looking back at these Influence photos.

My life was so impacted by this trip to the conference, that is why I have taken time out to digest things before diving headfirst into posting about the events.

I came back with a greater understanding of God's love, with thankfulness for sweet friendships, encouragement to pursue God-given dreams, a healthier understanding of things and hopefully a greater knowledge of grace and how much I need it. I'm not even sure I can scratch the surface in this post at sharing how much I learned. I'm still absorbing even now.

But I will share just how scared I felt in these pictures. It was surreal sitting across from two girls I had met online while waiting for a fourth to land at the airport a few short miles away. The idea that we were travelling to a city I had never been to meet 200 women I had never met before, minus one of the girls I had traveled with.

Seeing this precious friend again did help with those crazy overwhelming feelings. Several of the ladies we met at the conference asked us to share how we became friends, we may just have to do that in another post. Let me tell you friends, she is like a sister to me whom I miss dearly when she is on the other side of the country. 

I don't know if I would have made it through such an emotional, overwhelming weekend if it weren't for her. 

But make it through we did indeed. Along with so many happy memories of spending time with such encouraging, wonderful women.

It really was an experience I won't forget. If you are thinking about attending next year, I would highly recommend the Influence Conference.

But would agree with the wise words written on the Influence blog the day we arrived.

Be prepared that you will probably feel overwhelmed.

Perhaps I will be able to avoid that should I go next year and make some changes to the trip so that there is space when needed and room to go and spend time with the Lord should that need arise. Which it did several times.

I'm excited to share more about this trip with you guys now that I feel almost in a place to do so.

I'm hoping that because it has been over a week that I don't forget many of the details.

I feel the need to share it slowly to do it justice.....

so here is us on a journey.

Ready to be Influenced.

Thankful//for the ways the Lord works. Through expected & unexpected.

Much Love,

L

Pearls & Tunes. Vol 1.

Lyrics: Matthew West, Forgiveness

This Wednesday's fall outfit comes in the form of Sweetness today. 

Erin over at Sweetness Itself wore this gorgeous outfit on our trip to Chicago coming home from the Influence Conference. 

I asked her permission to share her awesome styling skills on my blog with you today for a new series.

Every Wednesday I plan to share some favorite fashion finds with you guys. Although being who I am they may not always look like fashion shoots. 

At the same time I want to share some favorite song lyrics inspired by truth.

Some which in the past week have really encouraged me. 

This is Volume 1.

Thankful//for inspired ideas and being encouraged to pursue them.

Much Love,

L

Lyrics: Matthew West, Forgiveness

Striped top: Forever 21

Coral Top layered under: Banana Republic 

Belt: Thrifted

Pants: Anthropologie

Shoes: Steve Madden

Coat: Forever 21

Watch: Michael Kors

Earrings: Forever 21 

God Interrupts in Rush Hour.

Lyrics: Hillsong United, Lead Me to the Cross

As the car sits on quiet tarmac on a busy highway, the sights of downtown Chicago fill the windows. While we watch the fog block the skyscrapers from sidewalk view and press on through the traffic hoping to press forward into the city one's patience is tested.

I have never been one to enjoy sitting in a traffic jam.

The car inches forward surrounded by other frustrated drivers and I find my renewed sense of thankfulness being tested.

Really....why is there a need for traffic jams? What purpose do they serve except to make everyone frustrated, angry with each other and late for wherever they are trying to get to.

Then when you are stuck in one. You finally have space to think. Space to breathe a while.

As though God is saying....take some time with me child and just be.

Just be in this traffic jam. Stop thinking of all the things you need to do when you get where you are going. Stop looking at the clock, you can't change the traffic and looking won't help you get there any faster.

Just be here. Take a moment and pray. 

Traffic jams actually force us in the busyness of life to slow down. We don't have a choice. We have to sit. And the majority of the time, I really don't like it.
But when I choose to spend that time worshiping in the car with a CD or enjoying the Lord's presence, they become something else entirely.

I am beginning to agree with Ann Voskamp when reading through Chapter three of One Thousand Gifts, there is a change that comes from counting everyday gifts.

(See Chapter One and Chapter Two thoughts)

 All of a sudden things that were mundane become gifts from the Lord. 

It's as though we begin to see clearly.

Its a real change, we are intentional in our search for joy when we choose to see things as gifts. Through eucharisteo we overcome our habitual ingratitude, like the traffic jam attitude, and we see things we already have instead of what we want.

'I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.'

{Philippians 4:11-12}

But as Paul says, contentment is something he learned. It didn't come naturally. We have to be intentional at seeking to learn this attitude. 

To battle the discontentment and fight to see the joy and contentment in life.

As Ann says, there is something to be said about the act of naming a specific thing we are thankful for. For in naming it, its almost as though we fully receive it as a gift. It works its way into our heart slowly through each gift, creating a habit, instead of just being thankful for everything in general which is easy to forget.  

This habit of thankfulness, it really does require persistence and practice even when it seems silly, like being thankful for a traffic jam. When it doesn't even seem to make sense.

This gift of thankfulness, its a battle.

But its a battle worth fighting.

Lyrics: Hillsong United, Lead Me to the Cross

Thankful//for traffic jams.

Thankful//for foggy days.

Thankful//for being stuck in the car with friends on the Chicago highways.

Thankful//for pictures because the car wasn't go as fast as usual.

Thankful//for worship songs.

What are your thoughts?

What do you usually do during a traffic jam?

Much Love,

L

P.S. The song to the Lyrics is below......

___________________________________________________________

Summary of this series available:

Journal available see To Those Who Are Waiting:

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To Those of You Who Are Waiting.

Several years ago, I went to a store and hanging desperately onto what the Lord was telling me, I bought a journal.

I walked home and sat at the desk in my dorm room and pulled it out. Opening the pages I began to write. I began to actively believe that the Lord knew what He was doing and that I was choosing to trust Him, with tears of surrender I began to believe that He was able to do so much more than I could dream. Let me tell you friend, He delivered on that promise.

I started a journal full of letters to my future husband.

I chose to let go that day and push away those feelings of doubt, 

those feelings of its never going to happen to me, 

no one could ever love me enough to marry me. 

There aren't any godly guys around me here in this place, Lord.

I chose to ignore the advice of media saying go after the guy you like, go and tell him you like him and initiate. 

I knew there had to be a better way than that.

A friend had once shared with me that she had surrendered the pen of her love life to the Lord, to do with it what He saw fit. 

And I had believed that I had done the same. 

But I realised that in not trusting Him to follow through, I was not actively believing Him. I doubted that the Lord knew my heart and who I would want for a husband someday. 

So buying a journal and believing I would one day give it to the man He had for me, I knew I was trusting Him. 

I was surrendering my love life to God through this process.

That journal became so precious. Whenever I wanted to pray for my future husband or felt discontent with him not being in my life yet, I wrote. 

I filled the pages with dreams and prayers, writing on birthdays and other days I wanted to share with him. 

Sharing those intimate details that I longed to share as I watched other couples being intimate with each other. 

Sometimes I had a lot to say and other times months would go by before I would open its pages.

Over time the Lord did bring a man into my life, and those letters started having him in mind as I wrote them. While being cautious with our conversations getting ahead of where we were at in our relationship, whenever I wanted to pray or share my dreams on where our relationship was heading, I wrote in that book.

I continued to trust the Lord to write the story He had started in His way....refusing to jump ahead now that this man was in my life.

 I filled it completely just before we got married.

On our wedding night, I handed my husband the journal and told him it was his.

All those prayers and dreams were for him. 

I gave him my whole heart when I handed him that journal. 

All the details and memories about myself I couldn't put into words to share on that night. And he read through them all in the days that followed.

I won’t share the intimate details hidden within the pages of that journal, because those letters were for His eyes only. Filled with promises I felt the Lord had for me, for us as a couple and dreams of things in the future.

I share these things to encourage you single ladies!!! To share with you how the Lord wrote that beautiful story in my life and blessed me through it. 

How those of us who wait don’t just end up all alone with no one while others get married. I want to encourage you girls, because I have been where you are. 

I have known the loneliness and the feelings of discontentment. 

I share this to share how God revealed to me how I could trust Him through those times.

The Lord protected me from revealing too much of myself to guys by nudging me to write to my future husband instead, He allowed me to record those memories within its pages to share with my husband someday. 

My husband still reads those letters to this day.

And friend, I want to encourage you to do the same.

A sweet bible study leader in high school sat a group of us down one evening and shared with us how she journalled her walk with the Lord. As she spoke of being able to look back in hard times and see how the Lord answered prayers, she revealed how often we don’t notice how prayers are answered, we forget about what we prayed and how He spoke. But when we take the time to record our prayers in a journal, we can reread things we prayed for and know how the Lord heard us! It is so encouraging in those moments when we don’t even feel we have faith the size of a mustard seed. She blessed each one of us in that group that evening and gave us each a journal in which to record our prayers and journeys with the Lord. To encourage us and to give us proof of His faithfulness in those moments of trial.

Today, I want to bless you guys in the same way.

I partnered with friends over at Paper Coterie in this last week and they want to give each of you a free journal. 

I would love for each of you to receive a journal of choice from their beautiful collection and start your own journal.

Maybe it will be full of letters to your future husband as you wait for Him.

Or even a journal recording a difficult year of your life.

Maybe even just a journal to record the mundane events you feel are taking place.

But I pray that through this journaling process, you will see God clearly. 

You will see how He does answer when we think He hasn't heard us. 

That you will be able to look back in hard times and know how He carried you through that dark valley. May you cling to His promises and not forget.  

Today I am thankful//for journaling.

Much Love,

L

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