Life ~Promise

   Life. It's funny, it's crazy, it's happy...
It's also painful, and sad.

   Summer days, flowers, cool breezes wafting through your hair, winter chills, hot chocolate, hugs from friends.

   Regrets, changes, moves, death, tears and dark nights that you cry yourself to sleep, praying that tomorrow will be better.

   I get it.

   I guess this post is to tell you that you're not alone. Life is hard, life brings pain and disappointment and failures, but it's something nobody should ever give up on. To you teenagers out there, hi. I know how hard you try to get school done, figure out who God created you to be, keep up with friends and family. Let's be honest. Life kinda stinks sometimes, right? It's okay to admit that you don't have it all figured out. I'll let you in on the world's big secret. Nobody has life figured out. But, I know who created life. I know who created you.
 
    I hope you know how much you are loved.

   Guess what? You know that voice in your head that whispers ' Nobody likes you, why would they? If you were gone, who'd notice? '

  NEVER.

  LISTEN.

   It's one of the devil's best tricks. You are valuable, needed, and cherished by those around you and by God! It breaks his heart to see you suffer. That doesn't mean you won't suffer. Pain makes us strong. Hardships lead us to the One who's strong.
 
    If you're going through a hard time in your life, don't give up. I promise you that it will get better. I promise you that Jesus will sit with you in the dark watches of the night.  I promise that a new dawn will break and the light of morning with draw you into it's arms.
  
   So, life. Crazy, unpredictable life.

It's kind of beautiful, isn't it?

God bless. ~Promise.

National Lipstick Day!

Hey everyone! Promise here, with a post about one of my favorite things, LIPSTICK. ( I know that I seem like a total girly girl all the time on here, but I promise that I actually do non girly things... )

   For lipstick day, I'm sharing three of my favorite lipsticks. 

This one is a Covergirl Outlast lipstick in the shade 'Plum Fury.' I don't really wear it that much because I forget about it, but I love the color. 

The next one is '70,' a lipstick from the Covergirl Starwars collection. Lipstick...AND Starwars? PERFECTION. I love the peachy rose gold shade. 

The last one is called Fire Opal from Revlon. It's a nicely pigmented lipgloss ( okay, technically not a lipstick ) 

It's a super bright orang-y red. 

Have a favorite lipstick, Grace? ;) ~Promise. 

MBTI as Christian Music

   Hey ya'll!  So, I should probably explain what this is all about (per Promise's note in all caps left here for me...)  :D  Saturday night, I was chilling out and listening to some music.  Last month a friend and I were talking about our current music obsessions, and he told me about the song Happiness by Needtobreathe.  I looked it up, and I currently love it.  So, I was listening to it Saturday, and this random thought when shooting through my head... "If Myers-Briggs types had theme songs, this would be an ESFP."  Thus, I emailed Promise, asking for help, and...here we are!  Thank you, kindly INFJ, for taking over so well.  Because you know us INFPs....ha...ha...ha *gets distracted by the butterfly floating through the garden*

   So...Grace and I are writing this post together. She's doing the 'Ps' and I'm doing the 'Js.'

   

   It took me a long time to decide on a song for ISTPs, but I finally chose Live Like You're Loved by Hawk Nelson.  The reason I chose this song is because ISTPs tend to be pretty laid-back.  They seem kind of spontaneous and just kind of...go-with-the-flow to me (even though they are full of oxymorons and tend to be rational, too).  They are very relaxed, and I feel like this song is kind of saying, "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself.  You're loved by God!!"

   For ESTPs, I chose Revelation Song by Phillips, Craig, and Dean.  The reason I chose this song is because ESTPs come across as blunt to me, like they're saying, "Here's the truth!"

Since INTPs are very logical, I chose I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe.  I've read that INTPs have an "unquenchable thirst for knowledge."  This song is one man wondering what meeting Jesus will be like.

   Since I'm not really close to ENTPs and haven't really figured out how they work yet, Promise suggested VIP by Manic Drive.  I have to admit it's pretty accurate for what little I know of ENTPs.

   For INFPs, I have picked Here's My Heart, Lord by Casting Crowns.  The reason I chose this song is because of our high Fi.  Fi means we look at our hearts and say, "This goes against my morals" or "This goes with what I believe".  I think the line that drew me to picking this song for us INFPs is, "Here's my heart, Lord; speak what is true."

   

   As for ENFPs, I've chosen And All the People Said "Amen!" by Matt Maher.  This song just makes me think of the bouncy happiness of ENFPs!  I just love it.  :D

   They say ISFPs like to "wake up a different person than they go to bed as", and that they're very passionate.  Since this is the case, I've picked Tell Your Heart to Beat Again by Danny Gokey.

   Now for my favorite one that I picked -- in fact, the song that inspired this whole post....for the 

   ESFPs, I picked Happiness by Needtobreathe.  This song was recommended to me by a dear friend, and after I listened to it for the first time, I was hooked.  One night I was listening to it when I realized, this could be the ESFP's theme song.  Always ready to have fun and be the center of attention, ESFPs are always searching for happiness.  :)

   Hey! Prommie here with our lovely 'J' friends!

   Starting off with INTJ. This is Not a Test  by Tobymac. I feel like the song has the fearless, logical heart of an INTJ. Its go that "quit messing around and go do what God wants, and for heaven's sake don't whine" thing that a friend of mine has. (love ya, Kat!)

   ENTJ. Grace is quite interested to find what I've picked for this type. (hi Jon! the HPEPP lives!) I chose Slow Down by Third Day. It just struck me as a "Keep up with me if you can!" Battle cry of a strong willed ENTJ.

   INFJ. Being this type, I had a super hard time choosing 'cause there are a ton of great INFJ-y songs out there. I chose This is Who I Am by Colton Dixon. This song kinda sounds like an INFJ's thoughts.

   ENFJ. This was super easy for me. My daddy's a ENFJ. This is Let Me Love You by Third Day (yes more Third Day. They're great.) ENFJs love fighting for people and Ideas. They're caring and courageous.

   ISFJ. My Mom's an ISFJ. She's kind and practical, and doesn't hesitate to help. I picked Brave by Nicole Nordeman. I think they'd appreciate the idea of letting go and letting God.

   ESFJ. I thought this was the perfect song. If We're Honest by Francesca Battistelli. It's caring and sweet and honest, like the ESFJs. I feel like they might enjoy this song.

   ISTJ. I picked this song, He is With You by Mandisa for it's reassurance. I know ISTJs sometimes just need someone to be there for them. They are so strong and determined to finish their task.You always have God. No matter what. (hi Kathryn! love ya!)

   ESTJ. Last One! Trust in You by Lauren Daigle. ESTJs are awesome, so determined and great at commanding order, but this song shows off the vulnerability that ESTJs sometimes have with control. I think they'd appreciate it. 

So, since Grace wrote the intro, I'll do the wrap up. I know I had a ton of fun (and work) doing this post, and I'm sure Grace did too. Enjoy! ~Promise --Grace

Special Guest Makeup on Promise's Mom!

So, this is my mom. She normally doesn't wear a ton of makeup and she looks great. Today I gave her a bright rosie lipgloss and some definition on her eyes. ~Promise. Special thanks to Prommie's Mommy! 

I'm Not Perfect -- Grace

I have a confession to make.

I'm a sinner.

I mean, we all are.  But there are some things I did right up until yesterday that made me...well, pretty wicked.  And there I was, vacuuming, and the song Slow Fade by Casting Crowns "randomly" came on the radio.

I struggled with a secret for probably about a year.  No one, and I do mean literally no one, knew about this.  Even Promise -- who knows all and sees all -- didn't know....I doubt she ever even guessed.

This sin of mine, as deep and dark as I knew it was, had ahold of me.  I was stuck for months in the vicious cycle of repent, fall, repent, fall...repent....and slip and fall even further.

And Slow Fade came on the radio.  The more I heard, I realized something.  Maybe it was the Spirit witnessing to me, or maybe it was my thinking, but the thought occurred... "If you continue down the path you are in, you will lose yourself."

"You will lose yourself."

So...last night I confessed to someone.  I told her almost everything.  And then I confessed to God.  I told Him that because of this sin I felt like I had lost my innocence.  And, tears streaming down my cheeks for the things I'd lost and the irreparable scars I'd gained, I sobbed, "O, Father, forgive me..."

I can't explain how nasty I felt for what I'd done.

And then, there it was...in my mind's eye.  A field, filled with beautiful flowers...and a Man in a white robe standing there.  A little girl, bawling, was running towards Him...and His arms were outstretched.  She reached Him and He caught her up in His arms as she cried into His robe...and He comforted her.

I don't know if it was the Spirit, or my imagination.  Maybe it was a little bit of both.  But that was exactly the picture I needed to see.  I know that no matter what you've done, He still holds His arms wide open to you.

You just have to come as a little child.

Tuesday Tunes, Grace Version

Hey guys!  So while Promise is off and away, I've been asked to do Tuesday Tunes this week.  DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS????  Hahaha, that's only because I'm going to subject you to Casting Crowns.  Hahaha...you poor folks.  Okay, here we go.

Just Be Held

This song has meant a lot to me in the past.  Every time I'm going through a trial, holding a burden, or walking through a valley, I listen to this song.  It brings me peace and helps me surrender my problems to God.  I do tend to worry about the future a lot, and there are parts of it that just...touch me.  "I'm painting beauty with the ashes, your life is in My hands..."  It reminds me that no matter what I see, God sees the full picture.  I see puzzle pieces, but He sees a finished picture.

Dream For You

This strikes me as one that Promise would like...Dream For You is a song that I can't decide if I like or not.  I'm not a fan of the music of it, but the words are just really.cool.  It reminds me that I have no idea what this future holds...but He knows.  I have my dreams, and He has His.  "So let go of your plan, be caught by My hand, I'll show you what I can do..."

The Well

This is my absolutely positively most favorite Christian pop song.  I love the message of this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  "And all who thirst will thirst no more, And all who search will find what their souls long for, The world will try, but it can never fill...so leave it all behind, and come to the Well."  It reminds me that the world will try to satisfy my soul, but Jesus, the Son of God, is the only One who can satisfy the human heart.  It gives me encouragement when I'm going through temptation.

Slow Fade

This song really hit me today when it "randomly" came across my Pandora.  The part about "Be careful, little eyes, what you see; it's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the string" really made me stop and think.  Let's just say, I'm grateful for this song.

Glorious Day

My second favorite Casting Crowns song, I love the way this song just...sounds, and is written.  I love the piano introduction and I love how hopeful and sweet it is.  I also really love the chorus (which is often running through my head).  "Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me; buried, He carried my sins far away!  Rising, He justified freely forever, one day, He's coming, O glorious day!!"

I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I do!

Love, Grace

LATE AGAIN. Tuesday Tunes.

AAAARG! Forgot again. Today's post is encouraging songs that I love.


Mandisa - Press On

 I love Mandisa's powerful voice and her often wonderfully positive music. This song always helps me out when I'm feeling unsure or I just want to quit fighting. Her advice is golden, "One step in front of the other, no looking back, no looking back..."

Britt Nicole - The Sun is Rising

 I was hooked on Britt Nicole ever sense I heard 'Set the World on Fire' many years ago. I admire her ability to write some of her own music. Her lyrics in this song lift my spirit and help you look to the rising sun.











Enjoy! ~Promise.


BTW GRACE. I will be gone next week so Grace's writing Tuesday Tunes.

Korean Makeup on Grace!

Soooo, I tried out Korean style makeup on Grace. The only problem was that Grace was laughing while I was trying to do her makeup. ;)

~Promise. 

Dieu Bénisse France -- Grace

They say it was an odd day today.  It was odd for me too. 

I got up and went to Vacation Bible School, where I've been helping corral our fourteen first-graders all week.  I came home and ate lunch, and then I slept.  It was 6pm when I woke up, and I went to band practice.  I got home at 9:45 and worked on a story idea I had last fall.  It was 12am when I climbed into bed and started watching YouTube videos.

Last spring I gave up Facebook, and last weekend I gave up Instagram.  News just doesn't really travel on Pinterest, and I don't watch television anymore, really. 

But I saw the videos.  I clicked on one and saw the footage. 

Today was Bastille Day in France.  It was like our Fourth of July.  In a little French town called Nice, families and friends were gathered on a beachside promenade to watch the fireworks show.  It was about 10:30pm there -- they say it would have been around 3:30 here in the Midwest -- when there was another terrorist attack.

I watched the six-minute long video, and as I did, my heart shattered.  I slammed my phone down and wept.  Turning my face towards heaven, I cried, "O, Father, how long shall thy people suffer?"

Oh, how I long for Zion...

Please...keep this world in your prayers.

~ Grace

Looking Back -- Grace

Today I'm looking backwards.  I almost always look forward, to the future, but today I'm taking a moment to step back and look at how the Lord has worked in my life.

He has worked marvelously.

For the past seven years, my family has been going through a really hard trial.  It was May 2009 when I became aware of this trial, and I have been praying about it since then.  

This trial was that my brother became an atheist.  He and his wife raised their children in sin for some time.  Growing up, it was hard for me, knowing that my brother didn't believe anything that I grew to love.  It was hard for me, knowing that my nephews might not be able to make the right choices because of how they had been raised.  

Last summer I had a vision that my brother returned to church...and in April of this year, he began to bring his family to Sunday school.  This week I get to help in my oldest nephew's class at Vacation Church School.  He is so eager to pray for the classes, and he told me today,

"Sometimes you just have to trust God.  It's good to trust Him."  Then he said, "When I grow up, I want to be a Sunday school teacher."

This was so, so big for me...because I have been waiting for seven years to hear him say things like that.  I still can hardly believe it.  

Our God is a God of miracles.  He is AMAZING!!!

Know that God has a plan, even for our detours.  <3

~ Grace

Cheshire Cat Eye ~Promise

Currently I have a thing for Wonderland. I designed this eye makeup look for a dear friend of mine. I think it's insane. Exactly what I was going for. ;)

Trying my Hand at Korean Style Makeup~ Promise

Hey everyone! So I've been kinda into Korean makeup lately, so I figured I would try it out. The popular style right now is big eyes, gradient lips, dewy skin and blush almost under your eyes. I have to admit, my eyes look kinda huge. Gracie? Wanna let me try it in you? ;) 

Tuesday Tunes with Hawk Nelson

Hey Everyone! It's Promise  here with another Tuesday Tunes. Ha ha! I finally remembered! Today we're taking a look at a song beloved by Grace and myself. Diamonds by Hawk Nelson. Through the miserable, hard times God makes us strong. He's making us into diamonds. :) God bless fellow diamonds! ~Promise

Friday Tuesday Tunes.......Oops.....

   I'm done fighting it. I can't keep it in anymore. I'M DOING AN ENTIRE POST DEDICATED TO RELIENT K! They're one of my favorite bands right now.

First off. Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet. I enjoy this song a lot. It tells a story of a fight and the different ways to deal with it. The person here chose the hard path. It is sad, watching a relationship fail, but it's also a life lesson.

Next we have Mood Rings. I love the guy's perspective in this song. We girls...We sometimes don't make sense. especially if we run with our emotions. Mood rings could be a great idea. This song makes me want to keep my head on straight so I don't confuse everyone else.










Okay...One more. The Best Thing. This is the first Relient K song I ever heard. I really like this song. To me it means finding God in a personal way. To think of him as your most intimate friend, because that's who he is. My favorite line is "When I looked into your eyes, and you dared to stare right back, you should have said 'Nice to meet you, I'm your other half." Yep. That's what I want it to be like for me and my Lord.





Sooo, that's it. Relient K, my current obsession. Hope you enjoyed. I'm going to try to remember to keep Tuesday Tunes on TUESDAY. ~Promise

Why I Gave Up Facebook -- Grace

I'll be straight-up-honest here: I love social media.  It's great.  There are some I use more than others, like how I like Pinterest and Instagram best because I'm a very visual person.  But Facebook was my first love.  Or...my first social media account...whichever is more appropriate.  :P  I got a Facebook the day after I turned thirteen.  One of my best friends lives at least two hours away, and I hadn't talked to her in years -- that was my first reason.  And now I have friends and family literally from Maine to Oregon.  Facebook was my way of keeping in touch with all of those people -- even family and friends that live in town.  I got health updates on friends and family in dire need.  I saw pictures of my little cousins and friends' babies.  I heard about birthday parties and weddings, celebrated engagements and well-wishes for trips, watched as friends bragged on their best friend or sent random "you're awesome" messages to others.  I shared my poetry on there -- the stuff that God gave me to share with others.

So why did I give it up?

(I'll be honest....I still ask myself this question sometimes).

It's a tool.  But it's only useful if you use it wisely.  I used to check Facebook once every five minutes.  I'm alone a lot, and it was very easy for me to get bored and turn to Facebook for entertainment.  And with two hundred plus Facebook friends, there's bound to be a new post every ten minutes.

What else could I have done with the hours and hours and hours I've wasted, waiting for....what?  For another like?  A comment that would make me feel good for all of five minutes?  I could have been writing, sewing, sharing with others -- things that are worthwhile.  I could have been spending time with God and reading the Scriptures.

But instead, I was wasting my time on a shallow little social media platform....waiting for....nothing.

(Disclaimer: I love Instagram...it's slower and more laid-back than Facebook, and I don't feel the need to check it as often).

So...what could you do with the time you spend on social media?  Eh?

"Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Matthew 13:19-21

Come to the Well -- Grace

Recently I've been kind of obsessed with the symbol of the well.  You know, like how God is our well?  Everything we need?  Early people, and people even still today, got life-sustaining water from their wells.  From God we get qualities -- love, joy, hope, peace -- that are spiritually life-sustaining.
    Casting Crowns (yes, yes, I'm addicted....) put out this really cool song several years ago and "for some reason" I've been obsessed with it for the past week or so.  It was used in the movie Ring the Bell which I watched (for the second, third, or fourth time...) earlier this week, and for some reason I thought the song was really pretty...so it's been my latest music obsession.  :)

    Last night I was struggling with something (technically I still am today...:( ), and I had the song playing in the background.  And the lyrics........they were perfect for what I was struggling with...

So bring me your heart

No matter how broken

Just come as you are

When your last prayer is spoken

Just rest in my arms awhile

You'll feel the change my child

When you come to the well

And all who thirst will thirst no more

And all who search will find what their souls long for

The world will try, but it can never fill

So leave it all behind, and come to the well.

Casting Crowns will never read this....but thanks.  :)

A few minutes later, as I was going to sleep, I decided to turn on a recording my bluegrass (ish...we sing lots of songs :P ) band had made that night.  The song was The Water Is Wide...but as the soloist began to sing, those were not the words I heard.

Now come ye to

The well and rest

It floweth free,

For you and me.

Come to the well,

And ye shall find,

The Master's touch,

Of sweetest kind.

His yoke is light;

He lendeth strength,

To carry on,

My anxious son.

Now let Him hold,

Your load of pain,

And ye shall rest,

From dark, cold rain.

You need to rest;

Find healing here,

Come, stay here long,

Where pain is gone,

Here at the well,

Where all are found,

And angels sing,

A heav'nly sound.

Come to the well,

Taste of His love,

It floweth free,

For you and me.

Come to the well,

Ye there shall find,

The Master's love,

Of sweetest kind.

I'm getting a recurring them here.....want to come to the Master's well of life with me?