God's Love is Strong

I wanted to share a short snippet from this past weekend when I felt God's guidance in a big way. I was on my way to a photo session and I plugged the address into my GPS. I had been to the location before so I (thought I) knew which direction I was heading in. Well, I got to the supposed location and I knew it wasn't right. It wasn't familiar. I panicked. I was right on time, but being in the wrong place would make me late for the photo shoot. Being late, especially for business reasons, makes me panic. But top that with being LOST and it put me into just-about-hyperventilating-and-on-the-verge-of-crying mode. I called Nate and asked him to look up the address once more, but all he got was the same place I was at already. AH!

So I prayed. "God, please lead me in the right direction." I then had the thought to email my client with the news (thank God for smart phones, seriously) and almost immediately, she called me! I was so relieved and knew that God had this under control. God sent me a huge reminder that when He is involved, there is no room for panic. Amen!

Listen to this song today, and remember God's love for you in strong and He will guide you in the right direction.

We also want to send out a huge thanks to those who have been praying for our little magazine! We have been going through some changes these last few weeks and our blogging schedule has gotten a little thrown off. But we're getting back on track! Thanks for your support!!

~Stephanie

DIY: Thanksgiving Place Cards or Mini Autumn Sign

 

I wanted to add a little Autumn into your life today, so I decided to make a mini "Happy Fall" sign that could be easily changed to a Thanksgiving place card. I just used supplies that I had laying around the house... 

-ribbon scissors

-mono adhesive

-ribbon

-Stampin' Up "Stampin' Write Marker"

-small sheet of designer paper

-yellow cardstock

-Stampin' Up "Autumn Wooden Elements" (or you can use buttons, brads, etc.)

-Stampin' Up Paper Cutter

1.) First I cut my designer paper 5" long by 4" high, and then scored the paper at 2" high so it would fold easier.

2.) I then cut the yellow 4.5" long by 1.5" high, so that there would be a border. And then I tore a thing piece off of the bottom to add some interest (hint... Make sure to rip towards you, it will turn out much better).

3.) I then tied a bow through the place card (not all the way around). This took me the longest time, simply because I'm picky about how my bows look (hint... Tie your bow upside down, and usually it will look better and fuller once you adjust the ribbon placement).

4.). I decided to write "Happy Fall on my yellow cardstock so that I could keep it up through the season. 

5.) To finish it off all I needed to do was add some mono adhesive to stick the yellow cardstock and wooden elements to the designer paper... And ta-dah, you created a great little piece of Autumn decoration for your house in less than 10 minutes! 

Hope this inspires you to create some of your own fall crafts.

-Taryn

{Devotional} Count It All Joy

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

     James' words strike a powerful chord in my life. I don't often look at the challenges I'm facing as occasions for joy. It's much easier to pout over them and play the victim when things don't go my way. But I think James has a solid argument here - one that we should heed throughout the entirety of our lives. 

     Friends, joy is not equal to happiness. James is not saying that we need to be happy in whatever circumstances life throws at us. Rather, he is commanding us to be JOYFUL. What is joy, then? I believe Paul tells us convincingly in Philippians 4:11-13. 

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

     I don't think Paul was happy while he was in prison. I'm sure that Paul was not happy when he was tortured and chased out of cities and hunted down. Although his life was filled with trial, Paul wasn't focused on his momentary troubles. He was able to cling to joy because Christ was in Him. His strength did not come from temporal emotions such as happiness or sadness. His strength came from contentedness in the truth of the gospel. His strength came from joy. And His joy came directly from Christ. 

     Our joy needs to flow out of connectedness to Jesus. If it is found in anything else, it will not stand the test of trial. One of my favorite Scripture passages is Joshua 1:9. The Lord commands Joshua to be strong and courageous, not because he has the propensity for those qualities in and of himself, but because the Lord does and is with him wherever he goes!

     It is Christ in us that makes us joyful and strong and courageous. We truly can do and be all things through Him - only Him.

<3 sarah elyse

Reflecting on Two Years of Marriage

What I've Learned: Student Ministry

Over the past year, I've had the incredible opportunity of mentoring, discipling, and leading small groups for the teenage girls at my church and through Cru High School in Natick, MA. If you're not familiar, Cru is a worldwide organization committed to making an eternal difference in people’s lives. The ministry’s objective is to give each person in the world the opportunity to say “yes” to Jesus. The ministry in Natick is particularly aimed at high school students. 

Me (third from left) and a few of the girls from Cru

Working with teenagers is rough, friends. Some of you may have teenage kids and know exactly what I'm talking about. Others of you may remember your teen years a little too well. And some of you, if you're at all like me, have tried your best to block out the memory of your teen years in the hopes that they won't haunt you for the rest of your life. I'm kidding...kinda. But there is good reason that these formative years in our lives are hard! Especially in our current cultural atmosphere, teenagers are being asked to grow up early, to bear the weight and consequences of adult problems, and to be independent at an age at which they need all the guidance they can get. This trifecta is asking too much of a generation that is still discovering who they are, what's really important in life, and how to navigate those questions without drowning under the weight of educational and social pressure. Instead of coming alongside of their kids and guiding them, so many parents are stepping back and watching as their teenagers flounder through this process - hoping they will come out on the other side unscathed. 

I've come to realize that the best thing we can do for our teenagers is to be involved and invested in their lives! Time. Time is a precious commodity nowadays. Everyone knows that. Even our teenagers. They also know that where we spend our time is a reflection of what's most important to us. My time has absolutely been the most important thing I could offer to the girls I seek to help. I spend my time intentionally with them - often for the sake of Bible study - but also for the purpose of knowing them as a friend. We study the Bible, we eat meals together, we go to the movies or a concert. In this way, I prioritize them. I'm showing them that they are worth my time. Teenagers desperately need to know that they have value. 

With the girls at a One Direction concert :) 

Teenagers also need to feel heard. So often we dismiss the potential for wisdom in our youth because of their age. By silencing them, we do them and ourselves a huge disservice. So I listen. Sometimes what they say makes no sense! And that's completely okay. They need to feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions in an environment where they won't be judged or bullied for it. Listening, really listening and hearing what they have to say, shows them that what they have to offer is valuable. 

My top priority, and what I try to weave throughout time spent with them and active listening, is to speak the truth of the gospel into their lives. When we study the Bible together, we work on application. How does this truth about who Jesus is or who God is apply to my life right now? What do I have to do better or what do I need to start/stop doing because of it? When I listen to their struggles, I insert God as an active participant in the story and encourage them to see Him as such. These students need to know that God cares deeply about them and willingly chose to die for them more than they need anything else. Only God can redeem them and adopt them into His family. Only God can save. 

I absolutely adore these horrible, selfish, confused, confusing, wise, compassionate, and loving teenagers. If I, an imperfect human, can love them so much, I wonder how much more God must love them! I am privileged to be a part of what God is doing to save these kids. And so I ask you to pray. Pray for our teenagers. Pray that they would see Jesus for who He really is - a friend, a listener, a guide, and a Savior.

<3 sarah elyse

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.