Friday Favorites - February 17th 2017
TGIF. The weekend is here and I am ecstatic to be jetting out of town and giving my brain some time to decompress and who knows...maybe even sleep a little bit. I am notorious for not sleeping well nor near enough. But, I do count my blessings that I seemingly have an endless supply of energy to keep powering through each day.
Today I am linking up with Erika, Andrea, and Narci to share some of my favorite things from this past week. These are in no particular order nor is the list all inclusive of course.
Favorite #1
My hair cut was definitely a favorite from this past week. I haven't had short hair since I was 16 years old and that experience was traumatizing. I had cut off 10 inches of hair, hated the length on me, and grew it back out to keep it long for the next 18 years. I guess you can say I do not make wild or drastic changes very often. Anyway, I took off about 8 inches back in September and while I loved it, I also felt as though I didn't cut off enough and it grew back so fast! The stylist straightened my hair to cut it dry, and even she was shocked at how long it really was. 5 more inches off! So...safe to say that change is here. I was ready for it. Chop chop chop!
A picture of my hair on Friday morning before the appointment that afternoon...
And the picture of my hair cut after (this was taken on Sunday).
Favorite #2
I was blessed to spend time with my friend this weekend as well as three of my (four) godchildren. On Sunday, she and I took the eldest to run a few errands and to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, Cyclone Anaya's. It was great to get her out for a brief bit as she's healing and I loved getting to spend time with my beautiful god daughter too. They do not live close to me so I am cherishing every moment that I get with them all while my friend has to stay in Houston.
I didn't even get my favorite meal there (because it's not Whole 30, not even close) nor one of their notoriously delicious margaritas this time (sad face), but I always do love their food. #alloftheguacplease
Favorite #3
I heard an amazing message on a Breakaway Ministries podcast this past weekend about Ecclesiastes 2 called Beyond the Sun part 2. He makes some legitimite points about our worldly lives based off of King Solomon, and he basically starts the sermon and drives home a point using a quote from the movie Braveheart.
“Every man dies. Not every man really lives.”
Do you ever wish you could bottle up a message into a nice care package and deliver it to a specific person who needs it and pray that they'd hear the message and receive it in their hearts? Yeah. So much of that here and it applies to us all.
Pastor Ateek also references a line in the movie Boyhood that was filmed over 12 years with the same cast. (I happened to have seen most of this movie though I admittedly fell asleep I think.) At the end of the movie the mom says,
““I just thought there would be more.””
If you're living within the world for worldly pleasures then it is a meaningless, insatiable journey. Pleasure always demands more pleasure. It is insatiable. He says that we get to the end of life and what is the point? If you're living beyond the sun, there is more though. There is more meaning to it all.
If any of you have time to listen to this, please do. I've listened to it twice already. The message is powerful.
Favorite #4
This outfit for many reasons. I wore it with Tory Burch Miller sandals to church and to spend time with my friend and god daughter afterwards. Then I switched into my Madden Girl Ranked Booties to wear it to dinner with another friend. My shoes were the only thing I changed all day from when I left my apartment at 7:40am for church until I went to bed after 10pm. I snapped a pic earlier in the day because liked my outfit enough to share with y'all.
And then I snapped another pic as I went out the door for dinner Sunday evening when I realized the difference just a pair of shoes can make to an outfit. Double win.
You can shop the outfit by clicking here or copying and pasting the link below. http://www.shopstyle.com/collective/everypiecefits/42690198
I've added in the precise or similar items to it. My fabulous bracelet is from Cayetano Legacy.
Favorite #5
At Hope City this past weekend, Pastor Jeremy spoke about our vision for our lives versus God's vision in the Hope is Here: 2 Year Anniversary. He explained that what you're looking at is different than what you see. Example: You may be looking at an old house, but you see your future home and family living there. That is your vision for your future and it is important because God wants us to see what He has planned for us. I am all about this topic right now as life is ever changing and any one decision can change the direction of one's life. He made a point in a previous service (Awakening the Adventure - Episode 2) that Satan cannot destroy our destiny, but he can distract us and delay our destiny so its important to focus on God's will for our lives. That's good stuff right there.
He provided some great one-liners as he explained three things that happen when we DON'T see God's vision for our lives.
- We get stuck on same and are afraid of change. "Change is inevitable, but progress is optional." "When you see what God sees, you'll see progress and not procrastination."
- We get stuck on self by reflecting on past mistakes or feel unqualified to be used by God because of our condition. His example was that being broke is a condition, being poor is a state of mind. A condition can change in a moment.
- We get stuck on scared and let fear lead us. "When you see what God sees, you won't see opposition, you'll see opportunity." "Don't tell God about your problem, tell your problem who your God is."
I'm sure you know I'd encourage you to watch the full video of course!
Well that sums up the past seven day's worth of favorites pretty well. What were your favorites from the past week?
I hope each and every one of you have a wonderful weekend! Don't forget to subscribe below and share with a friend.
XOXO
