I'm getting a hair cut on Friday!

So, I'm getting a hair cut on Friday morning to celebrate what looks to be the onset of warmer temperatures and melting snow. If the weatherman doesn't disappoint, it should be 38 F this Saturday and 39 F on Sunday. That calls for a celebration, folks! I found these 5 hair styles that I really like but I can't make up my mind. I need something that is functional and easy to maintain because I do not have a lot of time on my hands. 

Help me, friends! Vote for your favorite!

30 Random Facts About Me

30 Random Facts About Me

1. I hail from sunny Florida and I miss it. A lot. 
2. I wear baby cologne on the daily.
3. I'm obsessed with babies. 
4. I'm a soon-to-be senior in nursing school. Ah!
5. I married my best friend when I was 19. Some people think that's crazy.
6. On that note, we fell in love when I was 14 and he was 15.
7. I've never broken any bone. 
8. I wore braces for 2 years and 9 months. Eeeek.
9. I want to adopt a baby someday. 
10. I absolutely hate chocolate. The taste literally induces nausea for me.
11. I've never had meat (including fish) EVER.
12. When I was in 1st grade, my teacher's only complaint about me to my momma was that I often appeared to be in another world. Borderline ADD much? I don't know but I'm easily distracted!
13. I love to hang from the monkey bars upside down.
14. Playing dress-up is one of my favorite things. I love to dress up for any and every occasion. Costume party anyone?
15. I once rode a small boat around my neighborhood after a hurricane dumped a couple feet of water on our streets.
16. I'm the Mad Hatter's long-lost sister, cousin, or something! I LOVE HATS!
17. I could live off a diet of only mango. Drooling as we speak. Just kidding, that's pretty gross. 
18. Not a fan of coffee, but pass me a cup of tea. 
19. Between the hours of 12-1 AM, I sink-in to delirium and either get really hyperactive or enter non-stop giggle phase. 
20. I love Jesus. 
21. As a child, I had a pet fish (Toti), bunny (Tommy), rooster (Chiki), and two cats (Blacky and Chichi). Not all at the same time though! ;)
22. About that rooster, he was HILARIOUS! I can write an entire post about Him but for now let's just say he had a vendetta against big dogs and made sure they got a piece of him.
23. I can't sleep without socks on. 
24. My all-time favorite movie is probably The Little Mermaid. "Look at this stuff isn't it neat, wouldn't you think my collection's complete...Go on and Kiss ze girl! Shalalalalala my oh my...."
25. Speaking of movies, I REALLY love High School Musical. Don't judge me. 
26. Sometimes I can't believe I'm past my teens. My inner child is alive and well.
27. I have little hands and feet.
28. When I was a kid, I used to cry when people said I was "getting so tall." My life goal was to be small and I've achieved that. :)
29. I twitch. A lot. I think I have a mild case of myoclonic seizures. I discovered this in class one day as we spoke about this condition. I twitch my self to sleep. Weird, I know, but I can't help it! :( 
30. This is strange, but I type everything. Not physically type everything but I have this sort of compulsory typing thing where I type what people are saying or what I'm thinking. Go figure.   

The Style Diaries: Hues of Blue

Good morning friends! 

It is still winter in this side of the country and we are expected to get 12 inches of snow starting tonight. I'm trying to not even think about that right now lest I sink into an immediate seasonal depression. Last night must've been around 10 degrees F, SO COLD! My body is just aching for Spring. 

On another note, I had such a wonderful Sabbath! Started out teaching the youth about witnessing and how we can be more effective witnesses of Christ and for Christ. Then, I was challenged and flabbergasted by our Pastor's sermon on the spirituality of the Law. BLEW MY MIND. But that happens most days anyway. I learned that God's Law (Exodus 20) is but a minimal requirement, a basic guideline, but no where NEAR what God's ideals are for us! As we grow and mature in Christ, we begin to understand the complexity of it like what Jesus meant when speaking of divorce in Matthew 5 or His words in the Sermon on the Mount. More so, as Christians, we must respect where other people are at in their spiritual walk. If we are helping someone come to Jesus, we cannot give them a prescription of Christian living applicable to all. Instead, we need to affirm their steps in the right direction, encouraging them in love to continue their quest to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Can we just embrace the fact that God's law is a joy, a will, a plan from God for our happiness? It is not a boring Law School book, it is a manual for abundant life and goes far beyond than the basic requirement of "do not kill." Cue in other 9. 

After that, we ate a delicious potluck with our church family, watched Louie Giglio describe the immensity of the Universe, felt really really small and so so loved by God, confirmed God's constancy through prophecy, cuddled with an adorable baby, and then went out with friends for some late-night belly filling. I had the hottest black bean burger, EVER. But it was delicious. 

I feel like I haven't updated you all in such a long time. It's been exhausting, folks! School has been ridiculous, but I have good news for ME,

I AM ON SPRING BREAK! YES!

Happy Sunday, y'all! :)

dress: forever 21 gift, blouse: goodwill, leggings: target, boots: kenneth cole via marshalls

Linking up with: WWIW, Plane Pretty, Monday Bloom, YOLO Mondays, Thrifters Anonymous, The GFC Collective, Style Sessions, Monday Mingle

Bye Bye Google Reader...Hello Bloglovin'

So, it's true. Time to say goodbye to Google Reader and Google Friend Connect. In just a couple of months they'll be gone!

If you want to continue to receive updates from Lily Among Thorns, there are a few ways you can stay posted!

I so appreciate your readership and heart-warming comments so I'd love it if you stuck around through other social media sites like...

Facebook

Twitter

Bloglovin'

Thank you darlings! 

While we're at it...why not meet a ton of new blog peeps via Bloglovin' and follow each other! Join the Bloglovin' blog hop y'all! 

Herbivores by Design

Hello friends from the blogosphere! I am so psyched to be back here for another round of Abundant Life. I would LOVE to get some of your feedback in the comments section about what you think of this new segment on the blog. Food and health is something I am very passionate about. I know I can go on and on and on about food, but I'd so appreciate hearing from YOU. What would you like to talk about? Do you have any questions we can explore together or experiences you'd like to share? Share your thoughts... :)

On to today's topic: Herbivores. Oh yeah.  

So the question of the day is: Are humans herbivores or carnivores?

Before we start discussing the differences between those three terms let's take a trip back to high school biology. In its most basic form, here are the definitions of those terms: 

Herbivore: animal that feeds on plants. 

Carnivore: animal that feeds on flesh.

The words "herbivore" and "carnivore" refer to the animal's biological need to consume such a diet in order to survive. With that said, carnivores, for example, cannot live on a diet based on plants alone. Their organism needs flesh to function. SO what are humans?! I've heard many a people call themselves "carnivores" because they love meat, or "omnivores" because they consume plants and meat, but what do our bodies say we are? Here are some physiological differences between carnivores and herbivores:

source

• Intestinal tract length. Carnivorous animals have intestinal tracts that are 3-6x their body length, while herbivores have intestinal tracts 10-12x their body length. Human beings have the same intestinal tract ratio as herbivores.
• Stomach acidity. Carnivores’ stomachs are 20x more acidic than the stomachs of herbivores. Human stomach acidity matches that of herbivores.
• Saliva. The saliva of carnivores is acidic. The saliva of herbivores is alkaline, which helps pre-digest plant foods. Human saliva is alkaline.
• Shape of intestines. Carnivore bowels are smooth, shaped like a pipe, so meat passes through quickly — they don’t have bumps or pockets. Herbivore bowels are bumpy and pouch-like with lots of pockets, like a windy mountain road, so plant foods pass through slowly for optimal nutrient absorption. Human bowels have the same characteristics as those of herbivores.
• Fiber. Carnivores don’t require fiber to help move food through their short and smooth digestive tracts. Herbivores require dietary fiber to move food through their long and bumpy digestive tracts, to prevent the bowels from becoming clogged with rotting food. Humans have the same requirement as herbivores.
• Cholesterol. Cholesterol is not a problem for a carnivore’s digestive system. A carnivore such as a cat can handle a high-cholesterol diet without negative health consequences. A human cannot. Humans have zero dietary need for cholesterol because our bodies manufacture all we need. Cholesterol is only found in animal foods, never in plant foods. A plant-based diet is by definition cholesterol-free.
• Claws and teeth. Carnivores have claws, sharp front teeth capable of subduing prey, and no flat molars for chewing. Herbivores have no claws or sharp front teeth capable of subduing prey, but they have flat molars for chewing. Humans have the same characteristics as herbivores.

[source]

Pretty neat eh? I was reading a research commentary by Dr. William Roberts of Baylor University recently that talked about the cause of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the build-up of cholesterol in the walls of the arteries causing them to harden and decrease in diameter. This leads to coronary heart disease which is the #1 killer in the United States. Dr. Roberts went on to explain how atherosclerosis can only develop in herbivores because they are intaking animal products which by nature, contain cholesterol. Cholesterol is not necessary in a herbivore diet and is directly related to the development of atherosclerosis. 

So to answer the original question, are humans herbivores or carnivores?

By design, humans are herbivores. Our bodies were uniquely designed to ingest plant foods and when we deviate from that, we reep disease. How does this change the way you view your diet?

I understand this is a tough pill to swallow. All sorts of questions might be popping up in your mind like the infamous, "Where do you get your protein?!" See Mr. Elephant over here? He doesn't eat meat, yet He is the biggest, strongest herbivore I know! ;) We'll be talking about this very thing next week so come back! You might just discover a ton of new sources of protein you never thought existed. 

What are you going to do this upcoming week to be plant-strong? What's your favorite fruit or veggie? Start by eating more of your favorite plant foods!

 

My Very First Nutriblast, Oh yes!

 

So yesterday I stopped by Bed, Bath, and Beyond and grabbed the incredible Nutribullet courtesy of my amazing mother-in-law. Ah! I am in love! I made my very first Nutriblast this morning with spinach, grapes, blueberries, orange, flax seed, and cashews. It was divine. My body felt so so good afterwards and full of energy. I cannot wait to experiment with all sorts of veggie/fruit/nut variations and make amazing nutrient-dense smoothies! The best thing about smoothies is that you don't waste the fiber in the foods. Fiber is essential for healthy guts! Yeah, I said guts. Your GI needs to be smooth and functioning. I can't tell you much more about the machine since this is the only time I used it, but I can tell you that since 7:45 AM, I have had to go pee pee twice. (TMI, sorry!) Something is working!!!

Do you have a Nutribullet?

What are some of your favorite recipes?

 

*This is not a sponsored post but smoothies excite me!

Couscous Recipe & A Health Tip

I hope you all enjoyed last week's Abundant Life Blog Hop! If you haven't seen my first post click here to read it. Today I have a simple recipe and a quick health tip for you! My mom shared this yummy recipe with me last week after she discovered this simple grain called couscous. Ever heard of it?  Yes, no, maybe so? It's in the pasta family, but it's tiny and delicious. It contains a good amount of protein and the trace mineral selenium which the body uses to gear up the immune system and produce antioxidants that fight to keep your body healthy and free of toxic substances. Couscous is such a versatile grain and it's SO easy to make! It's a great alternative to white rice which is full of empty carbs that provide little nutrition and an unsatisfied tummy. With couscous, as is the case with quinoa, you can eat to your heart's content and not worry about the weight gain. 

What have you done this past week to stay healthy? Any tips you can share with the rest of us? How are the foods you eat helping you live an abundant life? Make sure to link-up your posts and share your thoughts in the comments below!

Making this couscous dish is so easy, you'll be all done in less than 15 minutes! Seriously...

-Cook couscous by using equal parts of couscous and water. One cup makes enough for two people with extras! Three cups makes enough for a good 20 people! It's THAT awesome, yup! Let water boil then turn off heat and pour in the dry couscous. Stir constantly with a fork for about 3 minutes until the couscous fully expands, soaks in all the water, and has a grainy texture. Serve the couscous on a bowl and let it rest while you cook the rest of the ingredients.
-Use your food processor to lightly chop onions, peppers, and garlic (and anything else you want, really!). 
-Warm pan (oil-free if you want a fat-free recipe!) and throw in chopped veggies when hot. Season with salt and your favorite spices. Cover and let soften for a few minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
-When veggies are ready, throw them in your bowl and mix with the couscous. Throw in the craisins and your'e ready to dig in and savor this simple dish!

I used pineapple chopped into little pieces then shaken or smashed in the closed container to bring out the delicious juices, green grapes, and honeydew melons. It was a tad bit sour, but I love sour fruits so I LOVED my salad. I found myself eating bowls of it daily. So great! 

Come to the Well

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1

This morning, the Lord refreshed my soul and whispered to my ear that He is the only one that can satisfy my thirst for more. My soul ached with fear and worry over the future, my body tired from long nights of studying and activities of daily living, but GOD, you are my GOD. This is a dry and weary land we live in. It is a land that satisfies appetites, fills up homes with unnecessary luxuries, urges you to work, work, work and then begs you to buy more, more, more, but never offers you a fix for an empty, unsatisfied heart. "What does a man get for all the foil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 Our efforts, our labors, our long work hours and sleepless nights of homework, those days at the mall or movie nights with friends, everything is meaningless. That is, unless we infuse life with an overdose of Jesus. Like the epinephrine pumped into the veins of a patient in cardiac arrest to infuse them with life, JESUS is the only truth that can infuse purpose and satisfaction into our meaningless existence. Without the ONE, we are simply wanderers in a dry and weary land where there is no water. But there is ONE, the Living Water who can satisfy our souls so that we never thirst again, "but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him wil become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14 

A well. Jesus is a well with no bottom. Permanent, constant, ever-full. That place where our thirst is quenched and our souls refreshed. Jesus. All.  

O fill it up, fill my cup and let it overflow. Let it overflow with love.

Untold Stories Being Told: An Abortion Story

Meet Ashley from Sweetly Worn

This year marked the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade.  Forty years and its' still a charged topic. Christians rarely let up on the pursuit of right to life, and that's good.  But to be honest with you, I often cringe when Christians shout 'murderer murderer' in reference to any girl that's sat in a Planned Parenthood room. Six years later and those words still sting- and it doesn't take much time in a church to hear them with regularity. 

No one ever thinks of the face of the girls there. Maybe because no one knows their faces. But the thing is, that waiting room is not full of haughty eyes and rebellious women.  It's full of lonely and scared women who don't realize that Jesus is the one in whom they find their self worth.

There are a lot of reasons I say this.  For one thing, 80% of college women will experience date rape.  80%  Please wrap your head around that statistic.  Out of 10 girls, 8 of them will experience date rape.  Most of these women will never come forward.  In fact I've known between 10-20 personal friends experience this and I know of one who pressed charges. The legal system failed her, by the way. Rape is one of the singularly most traumatic things a girl can experience.  There is nothing that will more shatter her self worth than that.  And often, when you find out a girl was raped, the story follows the same pattern. The girl proceeds to allow herself to be used by anyone.  Now if 80% of women in college have experienced this, it stands to reason that a LARGE percentage of college age abortion getting women are there because they were raped.  Does that excuse their action, no.  But do you really have the heart to look at a heart that broken and call her murderer? 

Or what about the high schoolers.  The high schoolers I saw were brought there by their parents.  Do they even have a choice?  I can't imagine the fear of going against my parents at 16 to raise a baby they don't want to raise.  And these girls are just kids.  They are just kids.

Or how about the fact that 1 in 4 American girls are victims of sexual abuse.  How do you know how many of those millions of girls getting an abortion aren't suffering the anguish of such a trauma.  If rape shatters a girl in one act, I cannot imagine what a girl who has been repeatedly raped by an adult thinks of herself.  Does that give her the right to have an abortion, again no.  But you have to understand that the women who have entered these clinics are hurting.  They are hurting, y'all. 

There is a saying which goes "guys use a relationship to get sex, girls use sex to get a relationship."  That is where I found myself.  It was never like I set out to get there.  But I wasn't a very strong Christian, and certainly not a strong person, and I had on 2 occasions almost been part of the 80% and I just didn't think I was worth much.  I honestly would think things like there was some invisible brand that suggested to all men that I was worthless and he could push me as far as he wanted.  Literally thought that exact thing.  And I didn't want to break up with said guy, because I thought if I just stayed with him it would sort of make up for it.  And maybe one day we would get married (which we did-nightmare) and then it would alleviate my own sin and I would actually be ok.  But in between my giving in and marriage, I did end up in that clinic.  And I hated every second of it.  I never once thought it was ok.  But I had so much pressure from him to go through with it.  And I knew that if I didn't that would be the end.  And I couldn't wrap my mind around it ending, because then I would really just be a sinner.  I so desperately wanted to make our relationship work because I was so fixated with fixing my sexual worthlessness.  And I did it.

And for the next several years it tore me up.  There were very few years where anniversaries and due dates didn't flash across my mind.  To this day, I don't think a week that goes by I don't think of it.  I don't think a month goes by where I don't wonder what will it be like to see that child when I go to heaven?  Will they hate me?  I call Jude my atonement child because from the day I entered that clinic I never felt I deserved motherhood.  What kind of mom does that?  I actually struggled a lot when I first started teaching because what kind of teacher does that? 

When I found out about Jude, I was both relieved and afraid.  I was terrified of a miscarriage as God's way of punishing me.  Throughout my pregnancy, God began the process of showing me he really did love me.  And he didn't save me and expect perfection.  And that there was grace grace grace.  I picked the name Jude because  I loved that it means 'praised'.  My heart has praised God everyday for my atonement child.  The one who showed me that God's grace was inexhaustible.  Unfathomable.  Covered it all.  He has used Jude to save me from a sense of worthlessness, from a bad marriage, from giving in to the depression and anxiety from my marriage failing, and 1000 other ways. 

I share this from the darkest corner of my soul.  And I don't want to even think about what this will mean in relationships with people.  I guess I can't imagine grace from others very well.  But it occurred to me that this isn't my story.  It's God's story.  He's sovereign over it all.  And far be it from me to hold back. 

If you remember anything from this story, remember that the girls who walk into those clinics are hurting.  At least most of them.  They were hurting before they ever got pregnant probably.  And before you cast the first stone, try to understand that there's a pain in their souls and an emptiness that only Love can fill.  Yes, support your politicians and make your voice heard.  But don't forget that there are faces behind policies.  Speak up for the babies, by all means.  But remember that there are plenty of girls reading your posts that have an ache in their heart that they will live with forever.  Speak love to those girls.  Take time to ask them what brought them to that place.  It will probably break your heart, but it's the broken hearts that are the easiest to lead back home, back to the God who loves them. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you so much for sharing your story of grace, Ashley! You are amazing! Everyone go, go, go, and check out her lovely blog at Sweetly Worn. 

The Style Diaries: Lace on Lace

Hello friends! 

I am so happy to be back on My Style, Your Style! This extended vacation from the blog was good for me, but I missed you all and I missed seeing your lovely outfits! I hope you consider joining us again after the weeks of separation! I'm looking forward to see what you're wearing! 

Have a wonderfully blessed week! :)

skirt: c/o Paulina Carmel, blazer: the limited, lace top: thrifted ($0.99), belt: chinese laundry, boots: kenneth cole reaction

Linking up with: WOFTW, Plane Pretty, March Madness, #YOLOMondays, Visible Monday, Thrifters Anonymous, Monday Mingle, Tell Me About It Tuesday, Thursday Threads, What I Wore Wednesday

Temples, Bodies, and Food

A morning at Knauss Berry Farms picking fresh organic strawberries and tasting along the way. Delicious is an understatement. 

Hello friends! I am so thrilled to be blogging again. I really missed y'all, for real. I'm psyched to introduce you to this new blog hop! I'm teaming up with Kimberly from Diary of a Brown Eyed Girl as we journey towards a healthier, more abundant life. Every Thursday we will have a Blog Hop where you all can link up with us and share what is motivating you to be healthier, what you are doing to stay healthy, share a plant-based or raw recipe or smoothie, or simply share fun or interesting facts you are learning about food and living a healthy lifestyle. For our first Abundant Life Blog Hop, I'm going to share with you some thoughts on our bodies as temples of God and why the food we put in them matters.

I'd like to start off with a quote from a book that has greatly impacted my faith and diet. Ellen White, in Counsels on Diet and Foods writes the following: 

 Only one lease of life is granted us; and the inquiry with every one should be, “How can I invest my powers so that they may yield the greatest profit? How can I do most for the glory of God and the benefit of my fellow men?” For life is valuable only as it is used for the attainment of these ends. Our first duty toward God and our fellow beings is that of self-development. Every faculty with which the Creator has endowed us should be cultivated to the highest degree of perfection, that we may be able to do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable. Hence that time is spent to good account which is used in the establishment and preservation of physical and mental health. We cannot afford to dwarf or cripple any function of body or mind.

Our bodies are the dwelling place of God. We know from Scripture that our bodies are considered temples where the Most Holy dwells and makes His place among us. As 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says,  

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

God desires to use us for His purposes--advance the Kingdom of God and bring Him glory. Can we agree on that? To do our very best for our God, we need to have sound minds and physical vitality. Optimal health will equip us with the energy to continually progress in our spiritual walk with the Lord and serve mankind. In addition, Jesus says in John 10:10, 

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

What does abundant life look like? Does it mean a two story family home, the latest Mercedes Benz, or two weeks tanning on the clear sand of Sunny Isles Beach? I happen to believe God is a giver, for sure. He loves to lavish His children with good gifts, but one of the greatest gifts He has endowed us with is our health. Creator God has given us perfect foods for abundant health. In Eden, when He made man and woman in His image, He gave them a very specific diet--a recipe for life and life abundant. 

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

When we deviate from God's original intent for mankind's diet, we reep the consequences of poor nutrition--disease. I told a friend once that there won't be any meat in heaven. I think she almost passed out with concern for how in the world she would survive in heaven if she could not have her dear prime steak. Friends, God did not create us to eat the flesh of animals. Animal products--meat and dairy--are the ONLY food products that contain cholesterol, the single cause of atherosclerosis (heart disease) according to a recent study from Baylor University. Chronic diseases like type II diabetes and coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are ALL preventable and reversible with a plant-based diet. There is ample evidence to indicate that a diet based on the consumption of PLANT foods is live-giving and body-healing. Hippocrates once said, "let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food." I firmly believe that to be true. 

On a personal note, I have been a vegetarian from birth. Yes, I've never tried any form of meat, poultry, or fish. People usually open their mouth real big when I tell them that. "HOW DO YOU LIVE?" Just fine, thanks for asking. I've never been deficient of any nutrient, never had anemia, never experienced any of the big WARNINGS you get from health professionals when you tell them you want to cut out animal products. Quite the opposite, the healthier I eat, the more alive I feel. When I eat living foods, raw fruits and vegetables, I feel ALIVE and energetic. Though I have been a vegetarian my whole life, I am still working towards adopting a fully plant-based diet. Let's be real, cheese is pretty darn addicting! But one choice at a time, I'm letting it go as I walk towards a more abundant life. Ever-growing, ever-changing, every-improving for the glory of my King. Let's do this together, will you join us? 

Below you will find some helpful resources that will introduce you to the plant-based diet movement! I hope you will explore them this week and come back next week with some inspiring posts to link-up!

Documentaries (All on Netflix)

Forks Over Knives

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead

Hungry for Change

Food Matters 

Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue

Books & Recipe Books

Give Them Something Better by Sarah Frain & Stephanie Howard

Forks Over Knives: The Cookbook 

The China Study by Dr. Colin Campbell

The Starch Solution by Dr. John McDougall

The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn

Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr. 

The Happy Herbivore by Lindsey Nixon

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows by Melanie Joy

Websites

Nutritionfacts.org

Fully Raw Kristina

The Engine 2 Diet
Healthy. Happy. Life.

The resources are truly endless, feel free to email me at lilyamongthornsblog@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments! I would love to hear your stories as we journey TOGETHER towards a healthier, more abundant life! I don't have all the answers (not even close) but I would be happy to offer you what I know and resources to help you. 

A Much-Needed Hiatus

[source]

Since I started this blog, I haven't taken a break from it. I've tried to keep posting regularly even during really busy times. I have to be honest with you. I'm a little bit overwhelmed with it all. School, church, and blog. I just cannot give what I do not have. And frankly, I am missing a whole lot of Jesus. I need this time to focus on the ONE who is true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. I need time to satisfy my soul with His love so that I can pour out my soul to this blog, in my congregation, in my school work, and in my marriage. For those reasons, I will not be posting on the blog or Facebook until February 27th. That day, Untold Stories Being Told is starting and I'm really excited about that. I already have two stories I'm going to share with you from reader submissions. If you have a story to tell about ANYTHING you need healing from or you received healing from, please email me at lilyamongthornsblog@gmail.com and I will include it in this series and link back to your blog if you so desire. 

God bless you all, see you soon! 

The Style Diaries: Plaid on a Snowy Winter Day

Hello friends!  

On this lovely, somewhat sunny Sunday morning, I just want to express how happy I am to be a part of the body of Christ. Ephesians 2:18-22 comes to mind, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." I am so blessed to have found a Church family in Minnesota. And after watching that silly movie about a Miami girl who moves to Minnesota for a work assignment, New in Town, I realized even more how blessed I am that God brought me to Minnesota for the time-being. Part of the reason he dragged me North where the wind chill burns and the sun rarely shines, was to show me that the community of believers is a beautiful thing. What the sun failed to warm, the body of Christ went above and beyond any of my expectations. I love you guys, and I love this place. Don't get me wrong, I am still that Miami girl that has no clue how to combat -31 F temperatures or what to do on an icy day driving out, but it's all tolerable when you've got such great people to warm you up and grow together as ONE body in Christ. 

Happy Sunday y'all! I hope you experience how satisfying it can be to be a part of this great fellowship of believers! 

sweater: zara via goodwill, skirt: loft via goodwill, leggings: target, stockings & hat: hand-me-down, belt: another dress, flats: alfani via goodwill. 

Linking up with: WOFTW, Plane Pretty, #YOLOMondays, Visible Monday, Thrifters Anonymous, Monday Mingle, Tell Me About It Tuesday, Thursday Threads, What I Wore Wednesday

Coffee Date: What I Learned About -31 F

Hello friends! 

This is my second week linking up with Alissa from Rags to Stitches. I didn't know this could be so much fun! On this date, I will be sharing with you what I learned about winter in the past two days. Pretty insane stuff, if you ask ME! 

Look at the birds of the air...

I'll just let the Word of God speak for itself today. 

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or "What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)

Untold Stories Being Told

Maya Angelou once said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." She's right on. I believe stories are meant to be told. Stories are meant to be heard, read, validated, and shared. We grow in our understanding of human experience when we take a moment to listen to another's story. We grow more sensitive to foreign thoughts, emotions, and struggles when we transport our minds to the world of the storyteller, put on their shoes, and start walking their streets. There is a lack of telling, of validating, and of sharing in our culture and our churches. Consequently, we harbor deep pains, shame, remorse, and even hidden joys, because we're afraid. Afraid to be judged, hurt, or ostracized. 

I want you to know that your story is important. It is a part of who you are and who you're becoming. To find healing, your story must be told. I want to give my readers a space to share their stories in a safe, non-judgmental space. Every Wednesday, I want to share a story, your story, on Lily Among Thorns. If you're interested in submitting a story please email me at lilyamongthornsblog@gmail.com. All topics are welcomed because all stories matter. Email me with your thoughts if you want more clarification. Stories will be published anonymously unless you state otherwise. If you'd like me to link your published story back to your blog, let me know and I can do that as well. 

My hope and prayer is that many hearts will find healing through sharing and storytelling. After all, "A human being is nothing but a story with skin around it," as Fred Allen said. I believe God can work all things for good as Romans 8:28 so beautiful reminds us. God is able to use your experiences to bring hope to someone who sees no sun rising. 

I'd like to start publishing stories by February 27th so start writing and e-mailing me with your submissions! In the meantime, if you're excited about this project, grab the button below and share it on your blog so others can know about this project too! 


 <a href="http://www.lilyamongthornsblog.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u668/rubyruiz26/untoldstoriesPINK250_zpsb2a021bb.jpg"/></a>

GUEST POST: All Things Beautiful by Cat from This Little Life of Mine

I am so happy to be featuring Cat from This Little Life of Mine today. She is such a sweet woman of God and I am so excited for you to read what she has to share about the Lord and our self-image. Take it away!

Hello BEAUTIFUL friends!  I just want to start out by reminding us all we ARE beautiful. {GOD SAID SO} God formed each of you in your mothers womb and He creates everything beautiful.

When Rubi asked me to share with you my beliefs on the importance of our self image in our relationship with God.  I just have to be honest here.  I loved her idea and I couldn't wait to get started.   

One of the first things I did when I started blogging at the end of last year was I shared my testimony.  If you read it you will notice one of the things that was so prominent in my life was my struggle with depression....and my self image or should I say the lack of was always there.  Here is the thing, I have always struggled with my self image AND I STILL DO..... 

I have never been the girl everyone thought was the prettiest.  My friends may tell me I am pretty but I always wonder if they just say that to be nice or since we are friends.  I have never been the girl who likes what she sees in the mirror or had a stranger tell me how beautiful I was, etc.  And to be honest I used to covet those girls who I felt had that.  I wanted their image. But I do believe now there is something we all struggle with...we are all fighting our battles.  This is just one battle among many I am choosing to defeat in order to strengthen my relationship with God. 

So that being said, this post is a very personal one for me and something I feel strongly about.  I cannot tell you how many times I have written a draft only to delete it and start over (I seem to have a love/hate relationship with my "publish" or in this case copy,paste.and send).  I have prayed and prayed and shed tears...tears of pain and tears of joy.  I pray that this post will help someone...anyone.  And again just being honest looking back now I feel I was asked to write this also to remind and help myself.  This has been a blessing and I hope to pass it on to many of you. 

I want us all {myself included} to benefit from this post so please pray with me as you read.

There have been MANY factors in my life that I feel have influenced my self image and there are things I still cannot answer.  But as I have turned my life to God there is one thing I do know and can answer. 

THERE IS HOPE IN GOD. 

When we give our lives to God do we not put all trust in Him? Are we not suppose too?   In a healthy relationship with God we fully give ourselves to Him.  We are not to fear or worry.  We are to love as He loves. 

I completely trust Him but how can I honestly say this if I think I am ugly and have a horrible self image?  How can I truly believe everything He has created is so amazing and beautiful if I don't believe this about myself?  I am guilty.  Everyday I look around in amazement at how great our God is and "wow" at how beautiful His creations are...but I have not noticed myself!Starting now lets make a promise to remember WE ARE BEAUTIFUL!!  You see, I am pretty sure God didn't make myself or anyone else an exception to all things being made beautiful.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 tell us that He created all things BEAUTIFUL.  If we want to fully put our faith in Jesus and trust our Lord, we have to believe in it all....NOT just the parts that work for us.  So we have to know we are beautiful inside and out.  He would of never said it if it wasn't so important to Him. God does not lie.  He is perfect in all of his ways, including his created beings.  We are "fearfully and wonderfully made" says Psalms 139:14. We do not get to pick which parts of the Bible we want to believe. We have to take each word of God as serious as another.  God loves us ALL and we are called to love like He does. So, we are NOT the exception.  We can't just love others....we have to love ourselves to love like He does.

So while I may not be able to fully explain how important our self image is to our relationship with God...{I have a hard time explaining myself}...I hope I have at least helped someone realize their beauty.  Remember you are NOT the exception to God's perfection in all things created!

I often use music to say things I cant figure out the words to say myself.  So here is a song I LOVE and  I feel says it so well.  I get chills each time I hear it and I may or may not tear up. ;)