I am SO excited about entering into 2014 and focusing on goal setting! As we are only 1 day away from entering into the New Year, I have been doing a little soul-searching.
I don’t want to skim through this upcoming year but BELIEVE that I can change for the better and live a thriving life! I don’t want to try and do this alone, but involve my friends and family along the journey. It’s statistically proven that when we are accountable to each other, there is a higher percentage to permanently stay on track to your goals. It’s so much easier and exciting to walk into freedom and breakthrough with FRIENDS!!
So what do you do!? It is So easy, super fun & here you have it!
My challenge for you in the month of January is to actually get your goals broken up into small, manageable pieces. On a piece of paper, white down 4 LIFE categories: Physical, financial, spiritual and personal. Take some time to think through each category and jot down areas that you want to focus on and grow in. After you have a good amount of thoughts and ideas written down, grab your planner, iPad, or desk calendar (whatever you will actually USE to stay organized) and take those goals one month at a time.
For example, my goals for January are as follows: Physical-continue juicing 2x a day & schedule morning workouts 5 days a week. Financial-Begin Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University” and start a cash system & zero budget. Spiritual– Read through the book of John & meditate on verses that stick out to me. Personal- Schedule 2 “hang out” times with friends.
It’s that easy! Yet it is so important to actually schedule it, write it down, & PLAN your life! Once you have those 4 aspects locked down, they you can try adding in more details. Start that by simply taking one week at a time, & start to plug-in those goals in ways that are DOABLE! Don’t reach for things that are too lofty or unobtainable, but reasonable and measurable goals. Start small and build!
Write them down! Track you progress and tell me some of the areas that you are going to focus on in the month of January! Pop on over to www.facebook.com/youareallfair and let me know if you have any questions 🙂 I know you can do this friends!
As you go about the busyness of your day today, I want to encourage you with this beautiful Advent devotional from John Piper on the gift and importance of remembering Jesus this Christmas Eve. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of making dinner, wrapping presents and welcoming in loved ones, but we must see the worth of Christ and treasure Him in our hearts this Eve.
I pray that this devotional encourages you as much as it did me.
May your days truly be merry and bright!!!
Xox, Rachael Dee
GOD’S INDESCRIBABLE GIFT If while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. —Romans 5:10–11
How do we practically receive reconciliation and exult in God? One answer is: do it through Jesus Christ. Which means, at least in part, make the portrait of Jesus in the Bible—the work and the words of Jesus portrayed in the New Testament—the essential content of your exultation over God. Exultation without the content of Christ does not honor Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 4:4–6, Paul describes conversion two ways. In verse 4, he says it is seeing “the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” And in verse 6, he says it is seeing “the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” In either case you see the point. We have Christ, the image of God, and we have God in the face of Christ.
Practically, to exult in God, you exult in what you see and know of God in the portrait of Jesus Christ. And this comes to its fullest experience when the love of God is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, as Romans 5:5 says.
So here’s the Christmas point. Not only did God purchase our reconciliation through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ (verse 10), and not only did God enable us to receive that reconciliation through the Lord Jesus Christ (verse 11), but even now, verse 11 says, we exult in God himself through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus purchased our reconciliation. Jesus enabled us to receive the reconciliation and open the gift. And Jesus himself shines forth from the wrapping—the indescribable gift—as God in the flesh, and stirs up all our exultation in God.
Look to Jesus this Christmas. Receive the reconciliation that he bought. Don’t put it on the shelf unopened. And don’t open it and then make it a means to all your other pleasures. Open it and enjoy the gift. Exult in him. Make him your pleasure. Make him your treasure.
(excerpt taken from “Good news of Great Joy” by John Piper)
*Please take a moment to share this post on your Social Media networks. There are share buttons blow. Holidays can be such a sad and difficult time for many that we might know, and this devotional could be that spark of hope that they might need!
Have an amazing day and love those around you with your whole heart. I am grateful for YOU this Christmas Eve and thank God for your life!
I know that in the fashion world right now, there are many poor uses of these wonderful additions to the “pants” category, but leggings bring great comfort and ease while still looking polished!
Wait. Hold UP. Did she REALLY just put leggings in the PANTS category??
Yes. Why YES I did.
I mean, come on now! Leggings DONE RIGHT look awesome! I’m not talking about wearing TIGHTS with a cutoff top or even a thin cotton legging with a cropped shirt…Seriously ladies. No one wants to see your underwear print… or the dreaded camel toe. Please. Spare us the pain and discomfort.
I am however talking about my FAVORITE way to look chic and feel comfy all day!
Behold! THE LEGGING!
There are 3 things I love the most about a leggings versatility!
1. You have a great diversity of fabric choices, which allows your level of comfort to be maximized. I tend to stick with cotton, but have some leggings in tweed that are great.
2. Perfect for BOOTS! I remember in my mid 20’s when boots made a huge impact on the way my friends and I dressed. Skinny jeans hadn’t fully made their entrance and we would tuck and roll our pant legs into socks to get that fitted feel. No need with the legging!
3. Perfect transition for summer dresses into your fall and winter wardrobe. Most of my dresses are in a classic print or solid color, so when layered with a pair of leggings and some boots, I have an adorable ensemble and I stay nice and warm.
MY CURRENT OBSESSION: PRINTED LEGGINGS!!!
Here is where it gets FUN! I love the new addition of prints because it allows you to stay trending with all of the bright colors, fresh floral designs and my favorite trend right now… AZTEC!!!
These leggings are hitting stores everywhere and are super cozy for the fall and winter months.
In this picture I took a variety of prints and colors, giving some easy examples of how you can wear this trend. I would pair it with a cozy sweater or drapey long sleeve tee and then add any assortment of boot options! Stick with an Ugg style boot for a casual look, or match a calf length leather boot for a touch of class. Toss on a scarf or chic beanie and you have an effortless yet adorable look!
As always, never underestimate the simplicity of some simple jewelry to finish off your look.
Here are 3 different looks with printed leggings!
Soft & Cozy
Classy & Chic
Simply Casual
(all photos from Polyvore at http://rachael-dee-thomas.polyvore.com/)
Getcreative! Have fun and let your own unique sense of style shine though!
Let me know in the comments below YOUR favorite way to wear leggings.
Ok.
So I have a thought and need to know if I am the only one… Or if perhaps, there are many of us in the same place.
My thought is about the importance and value of being JUST YOU.
I’m talking about being ALL IN, no matter the season. About loving FULLY, no matter the heartache. About being all that God has made YOU to be, even when its downright HARD.
YES. HARD!
My heart is reflecting this morning on BEING (who God made) ME (to be).
Just me. Quirks, humor, personality, dreams and desires… ME!
Not comparing myself to my nearest and dearest friend.
Not being what I presume my husband wants me to be.
Not living under the shadow or cloud of who I was a year ago, but JUST BEING ME. Today.
And you know whats amazing about this?
I AM ENOUGH! Just the way I am. TODAY!
Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14, ESV)
Did you catch that? THE WAY IS HARD.
From the mouth of Jesus Himself!
HARD!!? But everyone said that when I came to know Jesus, life would get better, easier, simpler, blessed, money, provision etc…
Anyone heard these phrases? Lived under them? Questioned God when life didn’t go quite the way you thought??
He gave us a tender yet sober warning that the WAY IS HARD… Hard, but so incredibly and deeply worth it.
Shame tries to silence us and make us believe that we are not good enough, strong enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, patient enough or loving enough to truly walk in the fullness of God. Yet the moment we allow shame and condemnation to take even the smallest foothold, we are allowing those lies of the enemy to crush us into despair and a false identity of who God says we are.
The silence and isolation that follow shame are real and debilitating in the process of allowing others to speak life into the deep places of our heart. How then do we crawl out of the pit? How do we walk as God made EACH of us to be!?
My challenge to us all today is asking The Lord what HE sees and thinks of us in every aspect of our lives. EVERY Arena.
Its not about what others think. At the end of the day, God’s opinion of me is the ONLY one that matters.
He is the giver and of life and breathes truth into my weary soul… He gives abundantly when I ASK.
YOU ARE ENOUGH. You are created in His image. You are FEARFULLY & WONDERFULLY made!
My mother always told me growing up that “Hard is not bad, its just hard.”
There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Weeks, months, years of wrestling produce a patient endurance inside of us.
Let your heart be free today to just be you. Thank The Lord for making you EXACTLY the way you are. Take a deep breath (literally) and thank Him for your beauty, your strength, your wisdom, your friends, your family and your eternal relationship with Him.
He is near to you today and LOVES every part about you. Ask Him to reveal a deeper measure of His nature and character today and let the beauty of who YOU are be enough!
Comment below in any capacity you would like to share and let me pray with you, agreeing with the truth that He speaks over you.
Write them down! Track you progress and tell me some of the areas that you are going to focus on in the month of January! Pop on over to www.facebook.com/youareallfair and let me know if you have any questions 🙂 I know you can do this friends!
