Top Her Couture

". . . Sometimes we don’t understand the gifts that we receive. It’s so easy to lose sight of why we’re here. That God wants us to live and be happy but according to his plan. And when you receive such a beautiful gift, you should pass it on to others; so they never lose sight of God's plan. . . . But maybe the truth is whispered to us through our dreams like a message from a friend that arrives exactly at the right time telling us exactly the words we need to hear. It’s so easy to get lost. Chasing a life that we thought we wanted convincing ourselves that power, fame, or wealth will make us happy. That we lose sight of what is truly important and all we need is that little push to reveal what has been missing. See it’s the love our family, our friends, and most importantly the love of God that will bring us happiness. We just need to take that first step and reach for it. See its okay to follow a dream as long as we do not abandon those that truly love us. So...

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting - a wayside sacrament.  Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"We may not reach around the world to people.  But that doesn't mean God doesn't value all we do.  Though each believer may only touch a few lives, that impact may go far beyond what can be seen.  In the end, God may show the whole world that the blessed silver-tongued saint who lived down the street was priceless to Him and His work."

"Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is.  Blessed are you who run to him.  Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness."   ~Psalm 34:8-9

Like the earth, we Christians rejoice at the idea that Jesus will come.  Though we've already begun to experience God's changes in our souls, one day everything about us will be made new in Him.  Everything will be spanking clean, ready to worship the Creator.  That's something to roar with joy about!

"And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen.  And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."  Matthew 21:21-22 Fig tree?  Well in Matthew 21:18-20 it talks about how Jesus curses a fig tree for not bearing fruit and it withers.  This is hardly a literal reference and a major symbolical climax.  Bearing fruit in our lives is a metaphor for faith and not just any kind of fruit; fruit that is loving, joyful, kind, patient, faithful, and houses self control.  One of the ways we eat of this fruit is through prayer. “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don’t pick grapes from thorn bush...

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statues; and I will keep it to the end.  Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.  Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.  Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain!"  Psalm 119: 33-36 With being in many difficult situations in the past 6 years, it has come to my attention that I am not as good of a listener as I may have thought.  For years, I let other people's words hurt my feelings and anger took hold within the deep recesses of my being.  It stole my time-my time away from joy, love, and God.  My knee-jerk reaction to hear someone, make a conclusion, and choose to be offended became a choice I did not want to make anymore.  I had pushed the only thing I loved more than myself toward others and in return set myself up for some major disappointments.  The hardest part was looking in the mirror and realizing just how ...

"The imagination is the spur of delights. . .all depend upon it, it is the mainspring of everything; now, is it not by means of the imagination one knows joy?  Is it not of the imagination that the sharpest pleasures arise?" ~Marquis de Sade

"And it holds, my anchor holds; blow your wildest then, O gale, On my bark so small and frail, By His grace I shall not fail, For my anchor holds, My anchor holds." ~W.C. Martin There are pros and cons to every decision we make in life as well as consequences [some big, some small, some mistakes, some worth it].  When we make choices, it is important to realize that if the choice is right, the rewards will outweigh the fears [even as we second guess the decision].  We will be able to open a new door and move forward.  We will be able to take a chance and walk in good faith.  Not only will we have God as our anchor, but we will then become someone else's anchor.  A sturdy foundation to build!  Nothing is impossible with God!!

"Beauty is the mark God sets on virtue.  Every natural action is graceful; every heroic act is also decent, and causes the place and the bystanders to shine." Ralph Waldo Emerson Happy Easter weekend everyone!!

"Life a father, God never gives up on us, even in our disobedience.  But just because He forgives, we can't take advantage by forgetting He is still Lord of the universe or by treating Him without respect.  Because He loves us, He doesn't hold sin against us, but our Lord disciplines unrepentant children.  If He didn't so that, He wouldn't be our Father."

"Love is the divine vitality that everywhere produces and restores life.  To each and every one of us, it gives the power of working miracles if we will."  ~Lydia Maria Child A life without love is no life at all.  So many of us search for some feeling of love, but in essence it is a choice.  It is an act to be selfless, unconditional, and choose to put time, effort, & sacrifice into someone or something.  It is the seed which helps us grow and recognize our conscious heart and devour fears and uncertainty.  Love has its own energy making us aware of the miracles in life.  What will you choose?  Who will you choose to love whether they deserve it or not?

"May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind always be at your back, the sun shine warm upon your face. . .and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."

"From far beyond our world of trouble and care and change, our Lord shines with undimmed light, a radiant, guiding Star to all who will follow Him. . . ."  ~Charles E. Hurlburt & T.C. Horton The closer we come to Him, the closer we are to ourselves.  There is a cohesive bond which grows stronger, more enlightened, and more selfless as we walk with Him instead of against Him.  Let us not be in the dark wandering aimlessly and will selfish patterns.  Recognize the essence and power we each hold when we allow the universe to guide and offer us new teachings with every joy, pain, laugh, tear, etc .

"Caught up in their own independence, unbelievers have missed out on the truth that they aren't really free at all: They can't seem to do good.  They'll never know otherwise unless they see someone who is free indeed.  Who knows what simple act could help another understand your freedom to do right, not just do what you want?" Free will is a delusion society has created to help us find a way to ease our human brain.  It is hard for humans to comprehend we have no control of our life.  Our ego often wins the battle by giving in to addictions, temptations, and doing whatever it takes to get to the top no matter who we hurt.  Often we hear, "Do what makes you happy."  The problem in doing what makes you happy often lacks conviction, effort, sacrifice, or the task of doing good-only doing for ourselves.  The vicious cycle only continues to push us farther from God and true freedom.  Accepting our fate and looking at each situation as a...

"Everything which relates to God is infinite.  We must therefore, while we keep our hearts humble, keep our aims high.  Our highest sevices are indeed but finite, imperfect.  But as God is unlimited in goodness, He should have our unlimited love."  ~Hannah More Being human also means being imperfect.  This is no excuse to continue down pathes of temptation, sin, and destruction.  It is no excuse to stop our growth, close our inner most doors, or feed a vicious cycle.  Instead, through humble love and imperfections, we should seek growth, open new doors, and feed our souls-see every situation and person as a teacher.  We should hold the key of unconditional love & respect as it opens the boundaries of our wounds to allow us to heal.

"Life is what we are alive to.  It is not length but breadth. . . .Be alive to . . .goodness, purity, love, history, poetry, music, flowers, stars, God, and eternal hope."  ~Maltbie D. Babcock Being alive is allowing some of the simplest and most profound things to be a part of our lives.  While fame, money, addictions, sex, etc. may offer a quick jolt; they seldom bring positivity.  These things weigh on the side of high risk probability.  They are not like a coin whose weight is mostly even on both sides.  Sway towards those things that have a high probability of bringing you closer to God. . .if one is going to risk-risk for a pleasant outcome! 

"This bright, new day complete with twenty-four hours of opportunities, choices, and attitudes comes with a perfectly matched set of 1,440 minutes.  This unique gift, this one day, cannot be exchanged, replaced, or refunded.  Handle with care.  Make the most of it." Life is based on the choices we make.  It is those choices which can make or break our character in an instant.  Make choices for the better.  Bring an attitude that positively enhances.  Each opportunity should be done with no false motivation or selfish tendencies.

"As we look at God's greatness and experience His love, awe fills our beings.  Our scant ability to appreciate His personality and power lay bare our own smallness.  Yet when the Creator points out our frailities, He's not belitting us.  He reminds us that He wants to share all He has and all He is with us." Our vulnerability is the key to becoming closer to God.  Our troubles usually force us to grow our relationship with Him-through prayer, hope, faith, and trust.  Our wounds can only be touched by His grace.

"Everyone looks for satisfaction in many ways and in many areas of their lives.  We all want to feel fulfilled.  But the person who experiences satisfaction on the job, in a marriage, and in other areas can remain empty if the soul is ignored.  Christians have learned that soul satisfaction is an unsurpassed delight, and it comes only from one place: Jesus." This is to say that nothing upon nothing can ever fulfill you like your relationship with Jesus.  Certainly, a job, marriage, or other areas can add to the fulfillment but never quench the souls desire to have a relationship with Him.  We only have one soul, one body, one mind-fill it with Him!