We are officially less than one week away from a day full of love and friendship. No, not Valentine's Day - Galentine's Day! It's a day set aside to celebrate all of the laughter and memories shared between your best girlfriends. For the past couple of years, I've made it a point to go out with my girls and celebrate, whether it be with karaoke, drinks, or a fun gift exchange. If you're like me and love any reason to give a gift to someone, this is the perfect occasion! Below are some ideas to help you spoil your best friends on this very Happy Galentine's Day.
Hello everyone and welcome to Lavender Elizabeth, a place to share some of my favorite things and memories!
This blog has been a long time coming. In 2012, I had the idea to create a blog where I documented life in my twenties called Love, My Twenties. In 2013, I created a wedding blog, Dear Wedding Day, where my love for event planning began. In 2016, I wanted a place to share my testimony, so started The Light that Carries Me. I constantly had ideas and wanted somewhere to share them, so started new blogs. I recently had the realization that there was no reason I couldn't combine all three - that's what a lifestyle blog is after all! And so, Lavender Elizabeth was created.
light (lahyt) noun something that makes things visible or affords illumination
I have always been a firm believer in evangelizing through example. I think that as we try to be more like Jesus in our everyday lives, people take notice. We're called to be a light for those in darkness and I truly believe that is one of the best tools we have. In fact, that's how I first became interested in the Christian faith. I saw the example that my tenth grade English teacher put forth; I saw the light in her. Her example transformed my life and ultimately showed me how to give my life to Christ (more on that here.) Once we commit our lives to our Lord, we are taken out of darkness, allowing us to be a light for others.
Below are some Bible verses that I find to be a great example of how our lives are transformed into light once we've been saved by Jesus.
Job 33:28 "God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light."
Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."
Matthew 4:16 "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined."
Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
John 8:12 "Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, 'I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.'"
2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ."
Ephesians 5:8 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."
1 Peter 2:9 "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."
Revelation 21:23 "And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light."
To read the word studies for letters A-K, click here.
kingdom (king-duhm) noun the domain over which the spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ extends, whether in heaven or on earth
Throughout my life, I find it so easy to get caught up in this world we live in. There are so many beautiful things that can distract me from the reality of eternity. There are small things that take up so much time, that it's easy to forget God's allowed us to live in his Kingdom. Every day we have the chance to further His Kingdom by trying to be more like Christ. If you need some reminders about this glorious Kingdom we've been gifted, enjoy the Bible verses below.
1 Chronicles 29:11 "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things."
Psalm 103:19 "The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all."
Daniel 2:44 "During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever."
Daniel 7:14 "He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal - it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed."
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in the field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
Luke 12:31 "Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need."
John 18:36 "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom is not of this world.'"
Romans 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Colossians 1:13 "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves."
2 Thessalonians 1:5 "All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result, you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering."
2 Timothy 4:18 "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom."
2 Peter 1:11 "Then God will give you a grand entrance into the external kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
To view the previous letters in my Alphabet Word Study, click here.
joy (joi) noun the emotion of great delight
Joy to the world
The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
Today is one of the most joyous days - our Savior was born! I love that in this alphabet word study journey I've been on, "joy" happens to fall in this week. What a wonderful reminder about the beautiful season we have to celebrate Jesus' birth. I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas spent with loved ones and that the true reason for the season was forever in your hearts.
Enjoy some of my favorite Bible verses on JOY below.
Nehemiah 8:10 "Nehemiah said, 'Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'"
Psalm 4:7 "You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine."
Psalm 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
Psalm 47:1 "...Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy."
Isaiah 55:12 "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."
Luke 15:7 "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
John 16:22 "So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Philemon 1:7 "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people."
Hebrews 12:2 "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne."
1 Peter 1:6 "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a while."
1 Peter 1:8 "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."
For words A-I of my alphabet word study, click here.
Our God is a marvelous, beautiful, almighty God. Even when our lives seem hard or confusing, He's bigger than it all. Sometimes, I get so caught up on what's going on in my life that I forget how truly incredible He really is. Below are some verses that help me to remember the qualities of our Great I Am.
Exodus 20:5 "...for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..."
Leviticus 11:45 "...Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy."
Isaiah 43:11-12 "'I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed - I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,' declares the Lord, 'that I am God.'"
Matthew 11:29-30 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 28:20 "...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
John 9:5 "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
John 11:25 "Jesus told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.'"
John 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
John 18:6 "When Jesus said, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground."
Revelation 1:17 "When I saw him, I fell at this feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: 'Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.'"
Revelation 1:8 "'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'"
For other alphabet word studies, click here.
heart (hahrt) noun the center of the total personality, especially with reference to intuition, feeling, or emotion
God sees our hearts for exactly what they are. They may be broken, critical, lost, happy, or hopeful, yet He loves us in all stages. I'm constantly reminded that I was formed after God's own heart and therefore, I should aim to fulfill that image in all facets of my life. I hope that when people seek me out as a friend, they look deep into who I am and see my heart for the Lord.
If you need a reminder of how God views our hearts, look below.
1 Samuel 16:7 "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Psalm 73:26 "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever."
Psalm 119:10-11 "I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Proverbs 23:26 "My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways."
Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."