Tradition. Or, outward signs of one’s faith. Jesus was trying to teach that the ancient traditions that had developed over the years that were extensions of religious rites instituted to teach of the coming of the Savior needed to be put away.
One such was the washing of hands before certain daily tasks. In our world we think of washing hands as a simple hygiene issue. However, washing one’s hands before partaking of certain foods or other tasks was a ritual developed over many years of tradition.
Washing hands was a ritual associated with repentance, spiritual cleansing, and other similar situations. However, Sadducees and Pharisees, over the years created traditions associated with rituals. Meaning, they expanded the original rite in an attempt to prove that they were able to more faithful or offer more sacrifice. Who knows at what point things got out of hand, but it is obvious that it did. Jesus ushered in a ‘higher law’ that didn’t require the rigorous sacrifices and daily law. The people were now tasked with a higher law of simply knowing what they should be doing as opposed to offering a rite to show that were abiding by the Holy law.
When Jesus said, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” They specifically used as the example of Christ and his disciples would eat before they washed their hands. This was a ritual washing, one of the ones that had been developed over the years. Therefore, the doctrines of men, rather than His doctrine. Why would this be something that we need to know to improve our lives today?
Our goal for this week is to look through our lives and evaluate where we have allowed the thoughts of society to interfere with the doctrine of Heavenly Father. A simple one is ‘the Sabbath Day’. Society has changed it to just another day of the week. We can make small changes to achieve major change in our lives.
Are the “hottest” fashions really relevant anymore? The haute couture fashion shows are the epitome
Bryn Walker tunic, LulaRoe skirt, nude fishnets from Amazon, and Antonio Melani shoes from Dillards…complete with gaudy, silly, romantic bow!
of excess. There are those that feel they are relevant. But, the every day person lives their life completely unaware and unaffected by their presence.
I pretty much buy from three different lines, and all three have basic styles that will change color or pattern each season. And, guess what, I always feel great! I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. Fads come and go, and the ‘pioneer’ fad is rampant right now. Many are making fun of the tiered skirts and poofy sleeves. Well, you Dramatic personalities need to back off and let us Romantics and Classics, and some Naturals, revel in our poofy sleeves and tiered skirts. I just bought not one, but two sweaters specifically because they had poofy sleeves.
I’ve lost some weight so I’ve wanted to go look in my box in the attic and see if my two tiered skirts will fit! Oh, and by the way–the ONLY reason I’m not wearing them is because they didn’t fit, not because they weren’t ‘in style’. In my world they are always in style!
I did have a tiered dress I purchased on Wish. And I loved wearing it–until it fell apart. It made me sad, but truly what did I expect for $10?!?!? So…do you think haute couture affects your fashion choices?
“… But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full…” Matthew 14: 16 – 20 is a miracle, that many witnessed. There were thousands of people, and Jesus fed them all with just two fishes and five loaves of bread. I’ve seen this miracle. We had a Daddy/Daughter dinner and dance. We were running out of green beans. We were tasked with filling the plates while others were taking the plates out those in attendance. My job was a spoonful of green beans on each plate. We could tell the beans were waning, but there were still several tables that had not received plates. I prayed in a whisper, “fishes and loaves, Heavenly Father, fishes and loaves.” My partner that was passing the plates down the line said, “We are going to run out of green beans.” I said, “Fishes and loaves.” She then said, “Fishes and loaves.” Each time I dipped into the green tinted water I pulled up a spoonful of beans, many of them were pieces now, but it was still a spoonful. We asked, how many more, and we’d get the reply. As I was handed a plate, one of the Young Women leaders stepped inside the kitchen, “All done! Everyone has a plate!” I pulled up the spoon, it was empty. I looked at my partner, we both smiled, “fishes and loaves.” I will never forget that experience, it is so etched in my mind that I can see the spoon coming up out of the pot liquor as if it were yesterday.
Let’s delve more into the chapter, “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, sand said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Matthew 14: 27 – 31 provides us with another miracle that involved just one person, however, others saw it. One person desires to walk on water to meet Jesus as he was walking to the ship, and then the wind blew and he remembered where he was…his faith then gave way to fear as the Natural Man jumped in to remind Peter that water is not a solid substance, therefore, it cannot be walked on. That fear led Peter to begin to sink into the sea, a vast darkness at that time of day. Can you imagine stepping off of a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, at night when you can’t see the horizon? Without the knowledge of a life boat being under me, that I can see, I’m not so sure I could take that first step!
Why do we doubt what the Lord can do for us? Why do we not put our full faith in those things that we need? We reach out to Him daily, many times. We feels His presence, daily. Yet, we let the winds of the world blow and remind us that we are just an everyday person, and miracles no longer happen. Until, we dip our spoon in the empty pan and lift up another spoonful of green beans.
“…And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment; and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” Matthew 14: 35-36, shows yet another level of faith. Many had heard of Him by now, and word reached the neighboring areas that Jesus was no in their midst. They didn’t even feel they needed to be formally healed by the Savior, if they could only touch his garment they knew he would be healed. So, they did so; and were healed.
We see three different examples of faith, and all three have action before the miracle happens. We must have faith that the miracle will happen. Faith of the disciples as they gathered the loaves and fishes, and then distributed the loaves and fishes…the pot luck tables were not full before they fed the thousands, they started with the five loaves and two fish. Peter’s faith started before he stepped off of the ship and onto the water, he didn’t wait for a bridge to appear…and his long as he focused on the Savior all was well, it wasn’t until he allowed outside forces blowing against him that his faith waned; and, yet, Jesus still put his hand out to lift Peter. Those who were in need of healing came as soon as they heard that Jesus was near, their faith started the moment they heard he was close and they went to see him. Their faith was so strong that all they wanted was to touch the hem of his garment. Now let’s take this into the spiritual, Jesus is the source of our spiritual food and no matter how much knowledge we have when we begin the journey with him, he is going to increase it beyond our own comprehension. As long we keep our focus on the Savior and not allow outside elements pull our attention away, we will stay firm. And, if by chance we fall, he will be there for us and reach out and lift us up. No matter what our temporal shortcomings, Jesus is there to heal our wounds, all of our wounds. All we need is to ask, or just reach out to touch the hem of his garment, he is there for us.
This week’s goal is to develop faith. Take that first step, and reach up; He will take your hand.
We have a guest blogger today! Meet my new friend, Bettye Shelton! She’s amazing, and full of energy!
What is Thrive 123?
Are you wondering how to get energy in the morning? And sustain that energy throughout the day? A lack of energy is often the result of poor sleep habits, gaps in nutrition, or both.
Here are 7 healthy, natural and reliable ways to get energy in the morning that won’t give you the dreaded midday crash you can expect after a cup of coffee. COMMENT with which of the 7 suggestions you do every morning.
1. Don’t hit the snooze button. As tempting as it may be, snoozing your alarm will only make you feel more tired when you wake up again. Getting out of bed right away is one way to avoid morning fogginess and fatigue. If you simply find the snooze button too hard to resist, try putting your alarm clock on the other side of the room so you have to get out of bed and take a few steps in order to shut it off. 2. Get some sunlight. Vitamin D, which we get from sunlight, is a natural source of energy, and exposing yourself to daylight in the morning helps your internal clock recognize that it’s time to wake up. Research shows that spending a few minutes outside on a warm, clear morning may also improve mood, memory, and your ability to absorb information. If going outside isn’t an option (hello, winter!) just opening the blinds will help you get more energy in the morning. 3. Follow the 3-Step THRIVE Experience. When you start each day with the THRIVE Experience, you give your body the nutrients it needs to function at optimum levels morning, noon, and night. Following the 3 simple steps — taking THRIVE M/W Premium Lifestyle Capsules as soon as you wake up, drinking a delicious Premium Lifestyle Shake 20 minutes later, then applying DFT — fills nutritional gaps to help you get better quality sleep at night and energy in the morning that continues all day long. For even better results, take THRIVE Sculpt amino acid capsules along with your THRIVE M/W capsules! 4. Move your body. Exercise is a tried-and-true way to get energy in the morning. Physical activity boosts your energy naturally by sending oxygen-rich blood to your muscles, heart, and brain. Even better: You don’t have to do a full HIIT workout or 10k run to reap the benefits! A short walk, yoga, stretching, or even doing a few jumping jacks can be enough to get your heart pumping. Plus, when you start the day with exercise, you’ll feel more inspired to make healthy choices for the rest of the day. 5. Eat breakfast. You’ve gone without nourishment for the last 8 hours, and your body craves fuel! Eating a small but nutrient-rich breakfast will give you energy to tackle the day head-on, so help yourself to high-fiber foods such as oatmeal, whole grains, and fruit in the morning. Just remember: If you’re working out, eat breakfast after, not before, to avoid getting an upset stomach. 6. Drink water Did you know that even mild dehydration can cause fatigue? Drinking water can help regulate your mood, make you feel more alert, and give you energy not just in the morning, but throughout the day. If you get bored of plain water, add some lemon or cinnamon to stimulate your senses, or flavored hydration powder like THRIVE THIRST for an even bigger boost. 7. Stick to a routine. This one takes the most time and effort, but it will pay dividends: Try to go to bed and get up around the same time every day — even on weekends. This will create a natural rhythm within your body that makes it easier to both fall asleep and wake up. If you still feel low on energy in the morning, you may not be getting good quality sleep. Make sure to avoid smartphones, laptops, and television in the hour leading up to bedtime each night.
What is your most frustrating makeup? Is it foundation because it never quite blends well enough? Is it blush because you just can’t find the right shade? Is it mascara because your eyes burn when you wear it? Perhaps, it’s eye shadow because how DO they get it to blend so beautifully? Or, is it lipstick, because it wears off and has to be reapplied. We will address these concerns over the next few posts. We will start with lipstick.
Is there a magic potion to keep lipstick on all day? Well, no. There isn’t. But, wait…perhaps there is! Lipsense is an amazing lipstick, and truly they need to come up with a new name for it because it really isn’t lipstick. It’s lip-glide-on-and-stay-on. The only problem that I have with Lipsense is that is only available through a consultant. Oh, wait…but if you go to their website to order it, they assign you a consultant! So, if none of your friends knows someone who knows someone, then you can still purchase. The other problem I have with them (and why I ended up leaving the company–yes, I did sell Lipsense for a while) is that they have too many colors. Yes. Too many colors. And, with that means that they have colors that are not available all of the time. They have over-extended themselves.
But, aside from that, it is a great product. Many companies have come out with their version of the stay on all day formula, and they are less expensive. And, from reviews, they are just as good. So, stay on all day lipsticks fix the lipstick wearing off after lunch, after drinking from the water bottle a few times, or in some cases, just talking! Cover Girl, Stilla, and Maybelline all have comparable brands, with one coat coverage over three coat coverage with Lipsense. It seems the makeup world has realized that we want better lipstick coverage, and they have complied!
Social Media is disparaged for many things. People present only their best, so an unrealistic view by others who are trying to just get by leads to depression. Under the cover of anonymity people will post hateful things that they would never say to a person’s face. And, we won’t even discuss politics. And, yes, there is fake news…people really believe Babylonbee and others not realizing that those are satire sites.
And then there is that person that posts positive points daily. I have one of those friends. I look forward to his daily morning posts always ending with ‘amazing days and much love y’all’. What a boost to an ordinary day, or a day that has shot you down at every turn. The amazing thing about this friend is even when he has been dealt a really bad hand that day, or that week..he takes that experience and turns it around to be a benefit to others! He really is amazing (to steal his own word)!
Can you imagine if everyone on Social Media decided that uplifting people is the true reason to have Social Media? Sometimes that uplifting comes in a comic aspect of one’s day. I have another friend that posts the insane crazy things that happens in their family of two boys and one girl. Her humor on the antics of her children brings a smile to your face no matter how bad of a day you are having. I have two other friends that home school, and they post the insane crazy things that happen in their day, too. One of those friends has an autoimmune disease that makes everyday painful for her, she could post extremely sad and depressing issues every single day of her life. However, she is another one that I always for because her posts, whether they are cute memes or actually daily happenings, will leave a little happiness in their wake.
So, perhaps the next goal we set is a goal to not be negative on Social Media, to not post divisive political posts, or use the site to tear someone down. Let’s stand up, let’s be uplifting! Our world today is so full of anger and divisiveness we don’t need to add to it. Amazing days and much love y’all!
I usually keep the heat off until we absolutely have to turn it on, usually mid-November. This year we had to turn it on late-October. Not fun. I keep the heat off because of one reason, the utility bill. Yep. I’m cheap. I admit it. My answer to those I live with, “You have socks. You have sweatshirts. This is why I buy comfy throws.”
What is your ‘go to’ for keeping warm when the miser in your home refuses to turn on the heat? Mine is flannel pajama pants, super thick socks, a turtleneck, and a sweatshirt. I love dressing warm. It’s my favorite outfit! Even if its leggings, thick socks, boots, long skirt, turtleneck and a sweater, topped off with a scarf. It’s my favorite outfit.
Warm clothes are the best! They are the cutest! I saw a sweatshirt today at Torrid that was a soft pale pink/brown with yellow and coral roses on it. I don’t even like roses, but I loved that sweatshirt, a lot. (It might end up in my wardrobe before the season it over. I’ll let you know if it does.) Another favorite of mine is the fleece sweaters by Bryn Walker. They are the warmest! There are times when I will put my blue one and I can’t leave it on! However, that blue one has come in handy walking around Chicago in October. I wore it continually on our Carnival Alaskan cruise. It was perfect for walking around on deck.
Knee socks, nice and thick and warm…and fun! Unfortunately, I don’t have too many ‘fun’ knee socks. I have a couple of fun regular socks (you have to check out John’s Crazy Socks!). Boots are the next reason to love cold weather. I live in boots in cold weather. I have suede brown boots I happened onto at Sears one day. I have blue suede boots by Stuart Weitzman, they are amazing sooooo warm. I love my brown lace up boots I got at DSW. And, my black boots are also Stuart Weitzman. Knee socks and boots, is there anything else more wonderful!
To steal a phrase, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”
Have you ever been so frustrated trying to find a shirt or blouse that isn’t cut so low that your bra shows. I just took someone shopping this last week and she loved the blouses but they were all cut so low that she had to get a shirt for under the blouse. And, of course, there was not even a camisole in that particular store. Ok, so there was one, but it was a shapewear item. It had spandex in it so strong that the XL size looked like an XS!
Now, for Fall and Winter that is not that big of a deal. But, for Spring and Summer, who wants to wear two shirts?! And the warm weather blouses are soooooo revealing. I actually had someone ask me about that this week, too! So, what’s a person to do?!
Unfortunately, a second shirt is about all one can do. Now, there are some half shirts. I do like them, very much. I have found that the largest selection of styles and colors come from Halftee.com . I like that they have short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, and long sleeve. The short sleeve and the 3/4 sleeve is good for women who just don’t want to have their arms exposed. (You will understand when you reach 60-ish.)
Two other companies have layering tees, Down East Basic and Sweet Salt, however, there are more choices at Halftee.com.
So, when you see the lady or girl wearing a spaghetti strap sun dress and a layering tee underneath; don’t scoff or say she has ruined the look. That is simply what she is comfortable wearing. The lady or girl that wears the sheer top and obviously has a layering tee underneath; don’t scoff or say she has ruined the look. The lady or girl that wears a low cut blouse and has a layering tee underneath; don’t scoff or say she has ruined the look. The lady or girl that wears the shirt that is cut open along the sides and has a layering tee underneath; don’t scoff or say she has ruined the look.
Do we see a pattern? Seriously, don’t be the sales associate that says, “You can wear the low cut, it’s not a problem,” while rolling her eyes. Yes. This was a true scenario that one of my clients had to endure. I quickly replied, “That is what she wants, don’t bully her into something else.” The sales associate looked shocked.
And, then there was the time that we were looking for dress for prom for my daughter who is a plus size. The sales associate was showing her items when I walked in. My daughter had ‘that look’ on her face, the one of ‘get me out of here!’ She then said, “Is there anything that has sleeves?!?” The sales associate looked at me, then at my daughter, ‘It’s okay, you can wear these styles,” as she pointed to the spaghetti strap, the sleeveless, and the strapless dresses. And my daughter looked her right in the eye and said firmly, “No. I don’t WANT to!” And my daughter walked out of the store, with me following and not saying a word. Oh, I got an earful in the car, she was so angry at that sales associate for being so condescending to what her style and what she wanted.
So, designers, and sales associates…not everyone wants to wear low cut, sleeveless, strapless, or spaghetti strap dresses. Deal with it, and listen to them. And, be nice.
It’s been a month since I posted the last blog to encourage all to set a goal and work towards it and we would do it together! Then, life happened. My daughter became sick. Then she got sicker. Then she ended up in the hospital and gall bladder surgery, but she was so sick that they couldn’t do the surgery! So, she was in the hospital 8 days! Our trip to New York City was put on hold, and thank you to Delta for giving us credits to purchase tickets at another time.
Then, a horrible situation reached an apex; and I quit my job. On the spot. I never thought I would do that. But, as a dear friend said today, “There is no time in life for toxic people.” As she shared with me that she had also quit her job a while ago!
Then, my Father passed away. Unexpected. And, we moved my Mom into our home.
Now, I think I have hit all of the stressors that is supposed to send someone spiraling into depression. However, I’m not there.
Why? I had to think about that. First, my daughter’s surgery was actually a relief. She has had problems for several years and it was not diagnosed. So, it was a relief to have a solution to her problems. Next, the toxic situation has completely fallen off of my shoulders. I turned it all over to Heavenly Father and Christ, and I am just fine. I have faith that all will work out. I just can’t explain the calm that I feel. And, for the last two, my Dad has always said he never wanted to be ill for a lengthy time, he wanted to just wake up dead. And, that is what happened. For my Mom, seeing her safe from their condo that was in an area that was continually getting worse is a relief, too. So, all of the stressors were actually the items previous to the situations!
However, I do know that we have to turn our stress over to Christ. This is what Gethsemane was all about. Courage to let go of stress and put it on the shoulders of Christ is not always an easy thing to do; but it is how we can move forward.
Now, to get back on that goal setting and choose the book to read! I’ll be back in touch…..
‘frumpy’. Sweater sets. Jeans that come to the waist. Athletic shoes worn as everyday shoes. Anything modest. Anything that isn’t the writer or editor’s personality.
Personality. That is what it really comes down to, different tastes in clothing. Notice I didn’t say fashion, I said clothes. A Natural personality could care less about fashion. That is the person that wants functionality. They wear clothes because it’s too cold to be naked; or it’s warm enough to be naked, but one would get arrested. A Classic personality will wear sweater sets and straight skirts. A Polo type shirt and a pair of jeans to their waste or a pair of Khakis will do them just fine. A Romantic personality will wear the latest fashion, and add a ruffle or costume jewelry. A Dramatic personality pleases all of the fashionistas, in fact, most of them are Dramatic personalities. So, we have Dramatic personalities dictating to all the rest of us (obviously the majority) what we should wear. Why do we do this? Why do we allow that to happen? Because we have been conditioned to think they are the experts and we know nothing, so therefore we do as they bid each season.
Unless, you have enough gumption within you to say, “Back off. I’ll wear what looks good on me and is comfy.” Sadly, in my image consultant years I have not met many of the ‘Back off’ people. I have tried to teach them to say ‘Back off’ and I think some have actually applied that in their lives.
Stand up for yourself. Stand up for your style. My style is Natural Romantic. We are all a mixture of two of the above personalities. Natural me wants to spend 5 minutes getting ready for my day. Romantic me gives Natural me about 10 minutes more to get my hair and makeup done. Natural me wants to be comfortable. Romantic me will be comfortable for a little while, but then I tire of being uncomfortable. And the older I get less time it takes to tire of being uncomfortable. Natural me is done with heels. Romantic me agrees, but they have to be cute flats. Natural me needs to not be constricted. Romantic me finds super cute tops that will not confine, and sweaters that don’t restrict. Natural me prefers pants. Romantic me chooses dress lengths that I can sit on the floor and not let everyone in the room know the color of my underwear. So. Natural me will wear jeans to my waist, longer skirts, and unstructured tops and dresses. Natural me would be ‘frumpy’. Romantic me says, “Back off, I’m in my style and I love it.” Natural me would be intimidated. Romantic says, “You wear those 4 inch stiletto’s and skirt cut high thigh, and I’ll let you take the last seat in the room because I can sit on the floor without any problem.”
What’s your style? Can you say, “Back off, I’m in my style and I love it” or do you say, “Back off, I’m in my style and I hate it.” If it’s the latter, message me and we will find your style!
‘frumpy’. Sweater sets. Jeans that come to the waist. Athletic shoes worn as everyday shoes. Anything modest. Anything that isn’t the writer or editor’s personality.
Carolyn Bendall 