Here is a touching movie I just saw recently. It’s one of those popular movies going around God Tube you might have seen it. It touched my heart. It’s a father and son team. The son always wanted to do a marathon. The father made it possible.

I realized while watching it that this was what Jesus did for me. When I was born I had and have a horrible defect - sin. I can’t do anything. I am helpless and I am crippled by sin. That’s when God stepped in. He knew I had to run a race. And He did it for me. This movie reminded me of what He does for me everyday. I live with sin… yet everyday I look to Him and He brings me through this race we call life. Watch this.

"I love You Lord!!!! With everything in me I want to raise my weak, and helpless person up to give You all I have for all You have done. I will live my life to glorify You. I love You. Yet I long, long to love You more. My heart is full. Let me always bring you glory. Thank You for all you went through and for all You have done for me. I will always love You Father… Amen”

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I have always loved fashion, style and beauty. It’s a fun, very girly and feminine thing to do. Something that is perfectly healthy and normal if your a girl. This is something you should do, I beleive, if you are a Christain young lady. Too often Christian young women find it wrong to be stylish or look beautiful or enjoy fixing up. I beleive this is a wrong way to think! Beauty is something God given. See our Bible heroine Esther ( though I don’t recommend spending, what was it 12 months? in a row just on your personal appearance, as she did ) she was beautiful and God used her mightily because of it!

Recently my sister Hannah found a cute book at Borders that she showed me, knowing I would also love it. (Thanks Hannah) It’s called “The Little Black Book Of Style” by Nina Garcia. It’s really a cute book and I love reading it. I think it’s good to be as stylish as we can as Christian young women. We of all people should know how to be stylish in the right way. I actually would like to write more about this subject a little later. Based on a question I recieved from a girl thinking about all of this. Coming soon. Anyway!…

My style is that I love unique things. Realizing that this IS your style. The things that you really like are the things that set you apart and make you kind of your very own person. Of course, some people need more help with seeing fashion then others. But I like this rule that if you like it and others say “That looks like you” then this is your unique style!

For me. When I am shopping with my sister’s (one of the coolest things you can do, by the way) they will often see something with ruffles, tapers to the waist, gathers, and say “Holly, this looks like you”. Usually, they are right! It’s my style! I beleive we all have our own style.

Style Tips from “The Little Black Book Of Style”

- You can never have enough high heels. (I like this one)

- Wear your size. (When I realized this it was like night and day! A lot of times I don’t need to wear a size Medium just for the sake of “modesty” that wasn’t modesty that was frumpy and frumpy isn’t holy! Ok? OK … moving on … I can fit a size small and still be modest and look like a woman. Yeah! There may be a time, God forbid, that I can’t wear a small I need to enjoy it now!)

One of the quotes in the book I like. She was talking about not always going with the flow. To be fashionable we need to do our own thing. Be our own person. I like this. Yet at the same time, I beleive we shouldn’t purposefully go against things that are in style just for the sake of oddly sticking out.

Here is the quote:

“Only dead fish swim with the steam” - Malcolm Muggeridge

So in other words, do your own thing! Make your own style. When people see something unique in the mall or in the store they say your name. That is YOU! So be stylish, have fun! Find your own way. Let me tell you it can be a challenge to find beautifully stylish things that are modest and honorJesus. I am not expert and never claim to be. But, IT CAN BE DONE. Yes it can.

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I was sitting in the living room just the other morning reading my Bible and Mom was on the other side of the living room looking at the computer. It was a quiet morning and the sun was shining on the fallen snow outside. It was beautiful and quiet a good time to get the coffee brewing and have my morning devotion to Jesus.

I was sitting there reading when mom played a link on Martha Stewarts weblog. She was interviewing a lady on her show about the abuse of horses. This lady has a shelter for horses and Martha was donating to her organization some old blankets for the horses there. She talked of the horrible abuse she saved certain horses from and most of all the slaughtering that would have taken place had she not. Martha commended this lady on her stand for ending horse slaughtering and being a shelter in their need.

I couldn’t help but think of the slaughtering of unborn babies. Just the other day we drove past what I am sure was an abortion clinic here in town. I asked mom if she thought that’s what it was. There was a man standing out front talking on his cell phone and I am sure that’s what took place there. When I heard Martha’s show I couldn’t help but think…

“Who is standing up for the slaughtering of babies? The innocent little ones that are so precious and created in God’s own image?”

My thoughts after the room fell silent again were; “Who’s gonna stand up for and proclaim the rights of the unborn” We are the ones that are to stand up for the unborn and to proclaim that it’s wrong to take another’s life into our own hands. Especially something so precious and small and in what you would think is such a safe place to be - a mother’s womb.. right?

Don’t get me wrong. I love Martha Stewart. I think her blog and website are inspiring and it really seems to encourage women to take care of their homes. I think you should add her blog and webpage to your favorites. Plus she has some beautiful ideas that I love! Yet, our world is confused and mixed up when we talk about saving horses from slaughtering, and people are crying over whales not being set free, and right in our very own towns babies are being slaughtered silently and almost under cover and no one speaks up about it?! What’s wrong? I just thought I would, for their sakes.

If you live near a crises pregnancy center think about getting involved. If women are standing up and see the need to protect horses do you see the need to protect the babies? I do. Trust me you won’t get recognized for it and you won’t make it on Martha Stewert or “the view” to make your cause known but they need a voice too. Which would you say is more important horses or unborn babies?

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I am amazed by God’s leading and clear direction. I am so happy that He is so in control!!

The past few months have been such a show of God’s leading and guiding. He has been so good and faithful! He has been strong and powerful. He has given me wonderful jobs with wonderful people who have been really good to me and now He is leading so clearly my family into a wonderful new ministry! We are moving back to Michigan… !!

I am excited about what God has in mind when we go there. Right now I am working hard on our singing ministry with my sisters. We are excited about what God is doing in that and blessing that ministry. We just want to talk to others about how much we love Jesus and what He means to us. Wherever we can. So we have been practicing every evening… and getting that going a little more. God has blessed us with a mike and very nice new sound system that we have been practicing with.

Thanksgiving is coming! I am so excited. I love this time of year. Hope is already listening to her Christmas tunes on the radio and has lights up. I love that girl…. though it’s WAY too early for that.

Oh and if you want to see a cute movie for Christmas… rent “The Christmas Card” It’s cute. And yes it has romance… or I wouldn’t reccomend it

Here is an essay that has been on my heart that I would like to share with you.

Have You Been Judged?

Have you been judged? I have. It’s been from the clothes I wear ( and I think I am pretty conservative, but not enough for some -another essay for another time) I have been judged about who I talk to. If I talk to a guy I am judged by having motives behind a simple gesture of conversation. I have been judged. It’s kinda a painful thing. I would ask God why? In the quiet of my heart I would ask my Father who knows all. Why am I being judged so harshly? It was kinda like being a player in a football game. I would be bashed over and over and over from all sides and about the time I got up to my feet another unexpected turn would come and again I would be flat on my back from someone hitting me down… again.

I asked God why? I believe He answered me. It was because I judged other people. It says in His word that if I judge others I will then be judged. I realize what a sin this is. We cannot take the place of God. Only He is the rightful Judge. Only He knows the motives of all hearts… so only He can judge others accordingly! It makes sense. Our job is to Love people. That’s what He wants of us.

I was convicted of looking and seeing a girl wearing something that was way too low or way too high to my standard and I would judge. No I wouldn’t sometimes say it out loud… but I would in my mind. They weren’t doing right that was wrong. Especially it seemed if she looked really good in it. Girls are like that. In my mind I was better, somehow. Well in all reality I am the one in the wrong. Who am I to know the heart? I don’t. My job is a lot simpler. I need to love people. It doesn’t mean I love what they do or do it myself. But who am I to judge other people? God has shown me that just as others who judged me with painful, hurtful things who didn’t know my heart, so I have others. Just as others have said things about the length of my skirts or the amount of slit or sleeveless shirts….etc.etc.etc. that I wear. They don’t know my heart! I am a pure girl who loves Jesus Christ. I want to live my life to His glory and honor and I hope and beleive that I am. I want to be who God has called me to be… and by His grace I will save all the judging to Him.

My challange this day is that we would consider the damage we do by judging other people. Whether you say something out loud or in the quiet of your heart. Guess what? it doesn’t make you better that you do this. It won’t make you “holier”. It would be better to go and do a few “bad” things than to sit and judge others as though you are a “holy” person.

God bless you all! As we all seek what real holiness is all about.

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We got in late last night from being gone over the weekend. About 2 am was when I finally went to sleep. As soon as my head hits the pillow I am out. I never have problems falling asleep. We were able to sing as a family, something I love to do. “When He Reached Down His Hands For Me” I love that song. And yes we sing with that country flare to it…. I have a solo that I sing and I absolutely LOVE to sing solos. People often tell me “you look like you enjoy singing” and I say I do! I love it.

Today I got up tiredly to wash my hair and curl it as always just to realize I had left BOTH of the curling irons I use all the time at the hotel. I was sad. They are NOT cheap either. These are professional curling irons so they cost a good amount of money. And since I got paid today I guess I will have to stop by Sally’s Beauty Supply for more… I can’t go on without my irons, that’s for sure.

Today I am looking for two very exciting things in the mail. A movie I saw when I was little and loved and haven’t seen in video stores so I ordered it! I can’t wait till it comes. My sisters and I love to have girl movie nights of course the guys like to join us too, we don’t mind. So we are planning it already.. you know a good romantic movie. Whenever I am asked if I want to see a movie I always, always ask… “Does it have romance?” if the answer is “no” I usually don’t want to watch it, thats just me! That’s just how I am.. and I think God made me like that. That’s why I love the Bible too… it has beautiful romance stories in it. And of course the most beautiful love story of all time. So, I can’t wait to get my movie and have a movie night.( Little secret about me is that I LOVE movies, good ones that is. ) That’s going to come and my candles hopefully! I can’t wait to get them. That should come today! :Update: Mom just said my candle kit has arrived as I write!! I am so excited to get home now!

I am working now two days a week for a lady in Hinsdale, as I think I mentioned, I am a personal assistant helper and have really enjoyed that. The other day driving a BMW for the first time… I tell ya you feel very cool. People just look at you differently. Anyway, so tomorrow part of my work for her will be volunteering at the Hinsdale Community House. I tell you God has just opened the doors for me to go out and work in this community that I live in ! I praise Him for it. I want Him too “Shine” through me. People have asked me questions about Him and I have answered boldly. It’s been wonderful. Yet, I know my God is never pushy or awkward. He always knows just the right thing to say and I love Him for that… I know He will use me if I am just willing! The cool, awesome thing for me to realize is that God will shine through me if I am willing! I don’t need to know all the right words I just need to be willing. I want to be a willing person He can use.

Today, as I was sitting at my desk here at work it’s a little but of a slow day. The TV was on and “The View” came on. Bless their liberal hearts they are and there “views” are very much OFF. They were putting down Ann Coulter for something she said about out Christians and the topic of your fine as long as you serve or claim a god that seems to be the popular belief today. I sat here and watched as Hillary Clinton walked on and people applauded her and she spoke as though she was already the president of the United States.. (God Forbid) She has a feminist speech about how wonderful it would be if she was president and people remembered when women couldn’t vote to a day a woman became president. She talked about the fact that Bill would do what she wanted and she would send him around the world gaining back respect and speaking… I don’t want to be mean. I want to love people. But wrong they all are!

We need women… strong women who still stand for what is right and true and moral. Women who have a “Right View” based on the Foundation that cannot fail, the Word of God. Women who know what life is and they protect their own wombs from anything demonic that would try to destroy the preciousness of an innocent life inside them the life we, as women have been given to protect. Women who can humble themselves under the mighty hand of God who will all one day bow down to Jesus Christ alone who sits upon the throne. Who IS the only way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him and Him alone!! I don’t know much really, I don’t know a whole lot about my country and current events and I find myself not knowing a whole lot about much …. But I do no one thing… and that is I believe the Bible and that The only View we should ever have is through the Holy Word of God. I believe in my heart and KNOW what is right. He has opened my eyes to Himself… and I believe what He says to my heart. I know that He speaks to me this “High and Lofty One” and I believe what He says is true. And in that I have everything and know all I will ever need, and so much more! I want to be one of the women used to stand for truth in this world…

I praise God for women like Nancy Leigh DeMoss and her stand for what’s right… there aren’t that many out there saying what needs to be said though! They have their “View” do you? Then make it known wherever you go and however you can they are not quiet nor should we! So find a voice and stand for what’s right. And pray that God never allows a woman like Hillary Clinton to disgrace America by being our first lady president. I know I am going to pray that way… every single day. But, that’s just my “view”.

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Do you ever feel rushed for time? Do you ever feel like your running just a little bit behind yourself and trying to constantly catch up to you? Yeah, I know I do. Sometimes honestly it’s all I can do to pry myself out of bed in the morning and get up and get ready for work. This is just me. I hurriedly run through the shower the whole time peering through the fog of my shower door at the clock that hangs in my bathroom. Making a clear circle with my hand to get a better view I squint to see if there are just a few extra minutes I can stay in the warm water. Realizing I have already taken my last remaining minutes between my warm sheets I have to run to the next thing. Carefully spacing out my time so I will have gotten everything done just in time with not a second to spare. Finally, just having barely enough time to but on a little liner and lipstick I quickly run out the door for work- ministry. I am fully unprepared for ministry and the challenges I will face that day…

There is something wrong here. I am not taking the time I really need to be prepared for my day with my Lord. I am not taking the time to get alone and ask my Father to help me walk in His Spirit for the day. I realize that when I don’t, I allow my Enemy to have my day. If he can get my busy in the morning and focusing on what I think will be “better” for me he has won my day.

I challenge you to take the time to be Holy. Don’t wait till you “have more time” or “feel rested” those are lies satan will feed you. You won’t ever “have more time” or “feel more rested” trust me. That is a truth the Lord has shown me lately. Take time out of your busy day today…this morning…right now. Seek your Lover while you still have time to do it in this life. Take time to talk to Him. Take time to love Him. He will take the time for you. And I guarantee it will be easier for you to walk in His Spirit if He has your heart in the morning. Take time out first of all for the number one beauty tip - Holiness.

“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” Ps.96:9

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I added a link on the right side of my webpage to one of my favorite websites- Revive Our Hearts. If you go to this site and go to “downloads” you can get all kinds of neat things for your personal use, home and family, Bible study groups or friends! It’s really neat. These things have helped and encouraged me and I thought you might like them too. They are helpful as we, as young women continually need inspiration to keep our hearts right before God.

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Tonight I have read and meditated on one of the most beautiful love stories ever told, ever acted out in human flesh. This is the story of my Jesus. I am so happy to call Him my own. To think about all He has done for me and to meditate upon His perfect love I will never tire of this.

His Love shows perfect humility:

And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?
And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly. Mathew 27:12-14

His Love was completely sinless:

The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. Matthew 27:21-23

His Love is perfect Love:

And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns,they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. Matthew 27:28-30

His Love for me is so beautiful! This Man is my Jesus…can I ever explain how I love Him? He is everything and more than I will ever need in life. If He was the only thing I ever had I would have so much more than enough. He is the one I want more than food, breath, loved ones-anything! He is my all in all. He is my life. I love Him so much. To no other do I owe so much. I give Him everything…this is the song of my heart tonight that I keep singing:

Chorus
Oh how I love Him! How I adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!
The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him!

Words by William E. Booth-Clibborn Music by Eduardo di Capua -1921
about the author of Down From His Glory

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I am wondering thinking deeply in my heart lately about what it really means to walk with the Lord. Sure, I can say the right things, I can look the right way, I can be who I “should be”, I can be and do exactly what my parent’s want, I can have all the right “standards” and I can have all the right words…but I can totally wash out spiritually. I can totally ruin my life and fall into deep sin and suddenly turn my back on all the things I used to be so firm in “believing”. I can totally walk away from the Lord completely. (This first picture is the mist in the morning rising off Wolf Lake. This is the lake we will be staying on in the Northwoods)

How do I know this? I have seen it happen. I have seen it happen to the most unsuspecting people. The ones I thought “had it all together spiritually”. To be honest it scares me. I realized yesterday with a new sense that I hate sin. I hate the sin that quickly separates us from fellowship with our Lord and will ultimately ruin our life. I cried out from the depths of myself to the throne of His mercy to help me walk humbly with my God.

This is why I am really excited about “The Journey To The Heart” for young ladies that I will be leading up to the Northwoods on Wolf Lake this month 20-30th. This second picture is the view from the house we will be staying in on Duck Point. If you could pray for us there please do. My desire and I know the Lords desire is that we would really seek the face of our God and He would reveal to each of us our own hearts. The whole point of the 10 day retreat is that we would search our own hearts before God alone and that we would say with David:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: …see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

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I like watching beauty pageants like “Miss America” with my sisters. Of course I don’t agree with all the things they do. But I notice these “put together” beautiful women when it comes time for the interview. They believe something! They have opinions. They have views. They have a passion for something. Whether it is getting a cure for cancer or helping abused children, they whole-heartedly believe in their cause. I also notice they will rattle on till the little bell goes off and its time for them to be quiet and let the next one go. They have something to say. If they didn’t do you think they would go anywhere near wearing that crown down the runway? If they stammered and stumbled around when asked a question they would be done and they would be out of the running. These girls have a ready answer! Yes they do. They believe in what they are talking about, they believe in what they are doing. They have firm beliefs and they are expected to stand for them, strongly and confidently.

Do you ever notice that so many Christians today are Christians in name but don’t really believe in anything?… (more…)

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