Yellow Flowers on Valentine's Day2013

What the Bible says about Love: 

1 Corinthians 13:4–8a
(New Living Translation)
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance ... love will last forever! (NLT)

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I had something planned for this week, but I've decided nothing goes as planned. I forgot it was Valentine's Day this week. So obviously the post should have something to with love right? It took me awhile to decide what to write this week. How did I want to approach this.  Some people LOVE Valentine's day and other people wish we could just skip over the day of love entirely. 

 I'll admit that I've always thought Valentine's day was a dumb holiday. Too much red and pink everywhere (Colors I don't care for  haha.)  A day made to make single people feel bad, and people in relationships spend way to much money.  It's so funny how God inspires me sometimes.  

I loved hearing from my dear friend (and coworker), Donna, someone I look up to as a Godly woman, share how much valentines day meant to her.  She told what it meant to her growing up and how she always felt loved on that day.  After reading her blog post about it, I had a change of heart about the love day I had always dreaded. 

 Valentine's Day isn't just for the love between couples.  Its for love in general.  Love for my family and friends. Love for the beautiful middle school girls I teach on Wednesday nights.  And my love for God.

God  has a funny way of showing me how much he loves me.   I kept saying to myself all week that I wished I was with somebody (not really) so I could receive flowers this week. I've seen these beautiful flowers on the side of the road on my way to and from work everyday this last week and finally decided to stop and pick some for myself.

I didn't think I had a valentine this year. But as I look at the beautiful yellow flowers on my desk, I see how loved I am. I see that I've always had a valentine.  Jesus is my Valentine.   I got my flowers on Valentines days, from the one I least expected. My one true love, the love of my soul.  I believe God grew these beautiful yellow flowers just for me.


*****http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love    Definitions from Webster! (Below)

Definition of LOVE  (As a Noun)

1a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates>

b : an assurance of affection <give her my love>

2: warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion <love of the sea>

3a : the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration <baseball was his first love>

b (1) : a beloved person : darling —often used as a term of endearment (2) British —used as an informal term of address

4a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others 

Definition of LOVE (as a verb)

transitive verb

1: to hold dear : cherish

2a : to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for

b (1) : caress (2) : to fondle amorously (3) : to copulate with

3: to like or desire actively : take pleasure in <loved to play the violin>

4: to thrive in <the rose loves sunlight>

intransitive verb: to feel affection or experience desire

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You can like my facebook page to stay updated on new posts, ect.   49Likes!!! Thanks to everyone who already likes my page.  And like at said, at 50 likes I'm gonna do a contest giveaway. Still thinking of some good ideas.

http://www.facebook.com/KayleighsBlogSongOfSongs84

 P.S. The Link to Donna's Valentine's Day blog post that helped inspire this post
http://dartypartymom.blogspot.com/2010/02/happy-valentines-day.html

Thank you all so much for liking my page and sharing my romance picture on facebook  like crazy! 

Love, KayLeigh

Bellies, Boys, and Stumbling Blocks

Bellies, Boys and Stumbling Blocks

When the warmer weather comes, we’re all hunting through our closets, raiding our friends' rooms, and hitting the malls for summer clothes. The problem is, alot of what you find in stores is too short, too tight, and too low. Thankfully, shirts are a bit longer these days, but still, the “sexy” look is everywhere. 

1 Corinthians 8:9 says

“Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” Using our freedom to wear the “sexy” look- to see just how much attention we can get from the guys- makes us a stumbling block.

In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul quotes a saying of the time used to defend immoral
behavior. “Everything is permissible for me,” but then he challenges that freedom by
continuing, “but not everything is beneficial...” Isn’t that true for so much of what we do,
say, and even wear?

Don’t just think of “the weak” as guys with the “bad boy” reputation. The New Living Translation reads “…Do not cause a brother with a weaker conscience to stumble,” (emphasis added). We need to think in terms of our Christian brothers. Guys are visual, connect the dots kind of creatures. Show them a little something and their imagination may take them further than you intended for them to go. If you love the attention you are getting because of shirts that ride a little too high, or pants that ride a little too low, it’s because guys are connecting the dots. They are left imagining more of you.

Our clothing choices affect those around us, and they affect our inner value. Showing
too much of ourselves gives away too much of ourselves. It turns us into a stumbling
block for not only those around us, but for ourselves! We end up not respecting our
bodies as the temple our Heavenly Father created them to be. And, we end up tripping
up the very people we are trying to lift up, not let down…our brothers-in-Christ.

I know it can be hard to find clothes that leave you looking great, and cover everything
you want covered, but they are out there! It just takes a little extra work. If you find
the cutest spaghetti strap tank that you just can’t live without, but it is showing too much
skin or is too low cut, layer it over a great tee! Look for tanks that have wide enough
shoulder straps to cover your bra. Lean over and look in a mirror- can you see down
your shirt? If you can, others can too. So pick another shirt, one that keeps to you what
belongs to you. Make sure your shorts cover all they’re supposed to, and keep your underwear, UNDER your clothes.

God has blessed us with freedom. Freedom to make choices that reflect our
commitment to living a godly life. His Word protects and defends us by urging us to “be
careful” with our freedom. The stumbling block that the “weak” trip over, may be the very thing that is holding you back from truly seeing your beauty as God does.

Written by: Jen Brennan
Copyright, virtuousreality.com

http://www.virtuousreality.com/articles/2007/06/bellies_boys_and_stumbling_blo_1.html 

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I found this article and knew it would be a perfect kickoff to a summer series about modesty.
For me personally, reading and reading this article has made me think alot about how I use my freedom in my choice of clothing.   The example of taking a cute spaghetti strap tank and layering it over another shirt is something I do quite often.  (like in the picture below)

 So how are you using your freedom??

  I took this past week and did a lot of praying, and writing.  And I felt like this series was a must to start things out with. :) so i hope you enjoyed it!  Check back every Monday for a new post =D   Comment, share, let me hear your feedback!

Have a  blessed week!!  <3 KayLeigh