Book Review: Forgotten God (Francis Chan) + Giveaway

I recently did a book study with my husband and a few of our close friends. We read, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan. It's crazy how eye-opening this book was for me. I know it may be hard to admit, but many of our Christian walks and local churches completely disregard this wonderful gift that God has given us. Chan writes in his book,

"From my perspective, the Holy Spirit is tragically neglected and, for all practical purposes, forgotten. While no evangelical would deny His existence, I’m willing to bet there are millions of churchgoers across America who cannot confidently say they have experienced His presence or action in their lives over the past year. And many of them do not believe they can... If I were Satan and my ultimate goal was to thwart God’s kingdom and purposes, one of my main strategies would be to get churchgoers to ignore the Holy Spirit."

It's hard to swallow, but unfortunately so true. We say that we would rather have a physical presence here with us, however Jesus stated in John 14:26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." And again in John 16:7, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." God knew it was better for us to have the Spirit than the Son at this present time.

Many churches can fabricate the presence of the Holy Spirit. Chan quotes, "Let’s be honest: If you combine a charismatic speaker, a talented worship band, and some hip, creative events, people will attend your church. Yet this does not mean that the Holy Spirit of God is actively working and moving in the lives of the people who are coming." Does your church actively teach on the theology and attributes of the Holy Spirit?

I enjoyed this book so much, that I want someone else to benefit from reading this. I'm giving away one of my copies as well as a brand new Remembering the Forgotten God Workbook. If you yearn to know more on the theology and attributes of the Holy Spirit, all you have to do is comment on this post with a simple sentence regarding the Holy Spirit and what you were taught or believe. On Monday (Labor Day) I will be randomly selecting a winner from the comments, and these two books will be on their way to your house!

~Taryn

{Devotional} Overcoming the noise

Life is always noisy. There are so many things that vie for our attention and pull our eyes from eternity to the everyday struggle. This clutter and chaos can be overwhelming, and deafening. It becomes hard to wade through the excess in order to hear the voice of the Lord. I find this happening often in my life. It starts small - the volume turned on just barely so that my subconscious only is aware of it. Then it gradually gets louder and louder until I can't hear anything other than the woes and challenges of life. It drowns out the joy of the Lord which often is accompanied by His still small voice. 

I want to make it a habit of identifying the noise for what it really is. Distraction. Misguidance. Lies. 

I've found nothing better (other than reading Scripture and being in intentional prayer) of combating this noise than music. It can quiet my spirit, convict my heart, and uplift my soul in magnificent (and I would argue, miraculous) ways. Check out the new album The Undoing from Steffany Gretzinger at Relevent Magazine's featured streaming. It's unreal. It's truth and honesty and rawness and love and passion written into fresh, beautiful melodies. I find myself listening and hearing the Lord speak directly to my heart. 

Let the sound of truth drown out the noise of the world for a change. I dare you. 

- Sarah Elyse

Modest Bridesmaid Dresses {Guest Post by Joelle from My Sunday Dress)

“I can’t believe she is making us wear this,” is the typical response from a bridesmaid for her best friend’s wedding.  The dreaded bridesmaid dress is typically more expensive, less fabulous, and extra uncomfortable than any dress you would willingly get. Fortunately for this generation, the norms are shifting. We are seeing a huge move towards bridesmaids selecting their own dresses within a specified color scheme. There also seems to be a push to move away from the typical bridesmaid dress that you see lining the walls at David’s bridal, and a move towards trendier alternatives.

My name is Joelle Janigian and I am the founder of MySundayDress.com, a blog about faith and fashion.  I’m super excited to be guest posting for Joie Magazine, as we have a very similar mission! I strongly believe that true fashion doesn’t require putting aside your personal convictions, and that it’s possible to be stylish and chic while staying modest and God honoring.

I want to share with you some recent dress trends that I believe will make your friends look fabulous and joyful, as they walk down the aisle right before your big reveal!

• Midi Dress- If you’re looking for something sleek and chic then midi dresses should be your go-to. They give you a classic and modest feel without compromising style and trend. Since midi dresses are longer, you can get away with a nicer fit without sacrificing modesty.
  
  
  
  

• Fit and Flare- The fit and flare dress is super cute for a feminine wedding. If your bridesmaids are not comfortable with dresses that hug their hips too tightly, then these dresses may be the key. This style is very versatile and can compliment virtually any body type.

• Maxi- If you want a one way ticket to modest and trendy then the maxi dress is your best bet! Maxi dresses are a great way to change it up from the typical bridesmaid dress, but still giving you a classic feel. 
  

• One shoulder- The one shoulder dress is a timeless style that is here to stay! It’s a great way to look stylish without sacrificing comfort, while you avoid all of the woes of a strapless dress. The diagonal lines add to the chic look, and give it a unique twist.
  

• Long Sleeve Sequin – Why not? If you want something fun and unique to surprise the guests, then here is the first step. You can either do Subtle sequins or create a bolder look with all over sequin material. 
  

The Great Old Hymns...

Be Thou My Vision

Hymns. Some people love them, and some people go off to "Lala Land" when the organ starts playing. Often we are so caught up in the sound of today's modern worship band that we forget many of these "old-time" praise and worship songs. However, I strongly encourage you not to knock them. See many of them proclaim a truth and reverence for our Savior that is completely lost in many Contemporary Christian Artists. Many Christian artists just sound as if they are trying to be like the rest of the music industry, when in fact we are called to do the exact opposite. 

"And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." -Romans 12:2 (KJV)

In many modern-day Christian songs, the name of the Lord is not even mentioned and the song can easily be mistaken for any ordinary love song about a man or woman. Or if God is mentioned, the song is so superficial it's like any other country song on the market today. 

I want songs to bring me closer to God. I want songs to bring me on my knees and weeping. I'm not saying that listening to these other Christian songs is wrong in anyway, however, when I worship my Savior I want the lyrics to dig down deep and change me.

So the next time that your church decides to worship God with a hymn, or your iPhone starts playing one of those "old-timers songs" don't just skip it. Listen to the lyrics, not the music (if that bothers you).  Make sure that it aligns with scripture (since we should be doing that with any song or sermon, in the first place). And lastly give praise and worship to our heavenly Father, who is worthy beyond measure.

P.S. There is an excellent resource that I just learned about, a book series titled, Then Sings My Soul, by Robert J. Morgan. He goes into depth about the theology and life stories behind numerous hymns. I highly encourage you to look up back stories of hymns so you can see how hymns are still relatable to today's society. 

-Taryn 

Summertime Snacks

Even though the mornings make it seem like fall is on it's way, it's STILL SUMMER! I promise :) I was perusing the internet looking for some delicious summery snacks and came across some that look so good! 

These snacks would be great to serve at a dinner party or an end-of-summer engagement party. They are healthy, fresh and pretty easy to whip up!

Summer Fruit Bruschetta packs a lot of flavor in one little bite! You can even have your guests choose what they want on top. recipe

Cucumber and Mango Skewers are sweet and fresh and colorful all in one. recipe

 Frozen Yogurt Covered Fruit is a fun snack for the kids at the party. Mix up the yogurt flavors and get lots of variety. Maybe even some chocolate for a sweeter option! recipe

Watermelon and Feta is for those with a developed palette (I'm totally stealing terms from the Food Network). I do think this would be tasty! recipe

Comment on this post if you end up trying one of these recipes!

~Stephanie

Alternative Bachelorette Party Ideas!

It's definitely wedding season! Maybe you're the bride... or the maid of honor! You have a batchelorette party to plan!

But maybe you're not into the bar-crawl scene, or your best friend wants something other than a night on the town. Check out some bachelorette party alternatives that we know you and your bride-bestie will love:

1. Take your girls to a private painting class! You'll all get the chance to let out your inner creativity...and you can bring drinks, snacks, and music along. A unique experience that everyone can enjoy - plus, you don't have to have any artistic talent whatsoever! Check out The Urban Art Bar in South Boston or Paint Bar in Newton, MA.

2. Do you have a music-loving bride? Why not check out the local music scene in your nearest city? Small venues like Paradise Rock Club in Boston or the Sinclair in Cambridge make for great, intimate shows with your favorite band! If you're lucky enough to have a summer wedding, check out your nearest outdoor venue (Bank of America Pavilion in Boston) and make a day of it! Pack a cooler with snacks, drinks, and lawn chairs. Enjoy an afternoon and evening with your favorite girls and musicians!

3. Just because you're not jets-setting to Vegas doesn't mean a weekend trip is off the table. Renting a cabin in the woods and spending a few days hiking and fishing could be just the ticket for an outdoorsy bride. This is especially perfect for an autumn wedding in New England. Catch the trees as they change in New Hampshire or Vermont! I can vouch for Lake Winnipesaukee, NH in the fall: BEAUTIFUL. 

4. Do you have a food enthusiast bride? Instead of doing the traditional dinner out, take her to a private cooking class with her best friends! The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts hosts private events where you cook a meal together. If you can book an afternoon session, cap it off with a wine tour afterwards! Food and drink...who could ask for more?!

Your batchelorette party doesn't have to be like everyone else's. Plan something that is totally you. We hope these ideas have sparked a few of your own!

Happy Bachelorette Partying!

{Devotional} Enough

Sometimes certain aspects of life get in the way of the things that really matter in the grand scheme of things. Like when work seems too big and the tasks of the day won't actually fit into a day, I start to feel inadequate and overwhelmed. I worry that people won't take my work seriously, or that I don't have enough of a 'following' to take my business to the next level. It's so easy to get focused on worth in regards to how 'well' we are doing, when in reality, our worth is worth SO much more than that.

Because of my reoccurring tendency of worrying about if people like me or not, the last few weeks have been dedicated to refreshing my heart about my identity in Christ. These two verses have been such a huge encouragement to me! 

"For He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Ephesians 1:4)

“‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.’” (Isaiah 43:10)

So whenever (because it does happen) you get overwhelmed. Or frustrated. Or worried that you aren't doing well enough in life... Remember: He chose you. God did! The God of the Universe! Chose YOU! To be holy. To be his child. And He knows you are worth it... that you are enough. 

~Stephanie 

Raw & Real

Today we have a wonderful guest post by Brittany Stites, who also wrote for our first issue. We're so thankful  for her heart and words! We pray that this piece will encourage you in your every day life. 

~*~

Have you ever had one of those tough conversations, the kind you dread? The one you avoid at all costs for fear of spilling tears, accusing fingers, or personal faults being put on the table? The kind of discussion that is put off for days, even weeks, hoping it will change on its own? My husband and I recently had one of these conversations and I couldn’t wait to get past it. I just wanted to get to the moment were the burden was lifted and XO’s were given! But this was the first time I felt we had been defeated, like there was no answer to our issue. Like things would never change! All I wanted was a fresh breath of air; I needed to be free from the darkness I hid so well inside of me.

Just over a year ago we brought into this world a precious, beautiful baby girl. She had tiny hands, little toes, and a smile so large you couldn’t help but laugh and snap twenty-two photos on the spot (that just brings a warm ray of sunlight, doesn’t it?). But for me, she didn’t. I struggled finding any connection to this person who was my daughter. I tried so hard to make myself feel love for her, but nothing seemed to satisfy. I wanted to be a wife to my husband but failed so many times. I couldn’t connect. I didn’t even want to be with people. Everything I came across, even sharing conversations over a cup of coffee with a friend was a climb; like being in a dark hole and no matter how hard I tried or felt there was no substance to grab onto. I tried to except my reality, #momlife. I thought going to church and reading my Bible would help! That’s what you’re supposed to do, right? Wrong! The following evening, while the house was quiet and dreams were being formed, I learned how wrong I really was.

Taking time with Jesus and allowing him to evaluate me has always seemed to be a good place to start. Not to mention he is very good at it and always gives the most grace and love, the kind I am unable to give. I was wrong and I had to repent.

“Lord, I have failed at being the daughter you have created me to be. Please forgive me. I have failed at being the wife my husband needs, and I am pretty sure I have failed at being the Mommy I am meant to be. How dare I think these things will fall into place without my full attention and effort?” –Journal Entry

Through Jesus’ embrace he refreshed my soul.

“God, thinking about our conversation (between my husband and I), looking back on life and finding bits of it, you have reminded me, showed me and encouraged me to be the person you have created me to be! An Encourager, Burden Bearer and Prayer Warrior.” –Journal Entry

I was at a point in my life where I continued to do and do and do, so that I could be. Instead of simply being whom God created me to be. I was so refreshed and the burden was gone! God had created me to be this amazing person who brings life to others through words and actions, who walks with those who can’t handle their junk on their own, and someone who prays (I mean really prays!). Not someone who just says “yes!” then forgets. I wasn’t doing any of these things, not for my husband, my family or anybody around me. The moment I began to walk out in who God created me to be was the moment I became free! I found my substance; Jesus. True genuine joy, no matter how exhausted I became or how many times I failed.

I challenge you! Living a life on auto pilot and just trying to make it through to the next best thing is a very dark place to be, I was there! But knowing, being, and acting out in the woman God created me to be has inspired a dramatic shift in how I now perceive life. I am not living to be like Jesus, but allowing him to be my hands and feet. Who has God created you to be? If you are unsure take some time to ask and reflect. What fuels you to give even more of yourself? What gives you genuine joy? Allow Jesus to evaluate you and your life, allow him to give you his grace and love that he so desperately wants to give! You are so loved, and you are so worth it!

If you need prayer or just want to talk don’t hesitate to contact me britstites[at]gmail.com