Monday, February 23, 2015

Daily Devotion: Lesson Learned

Over the last 3 months I can actually say I'm learning more and more how to act selflessly. No, I'm not going to sit here and portray an inaccurate picture of perfection, but I can say that I've learned to take out what, "I want", from the equation of what ,"People need", of me.

You see, when I lived in Miami, it was just Me. Me all day, every day...sure the addition of Mimi came later down the road but it was just Me. I did what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it and no one could tell me to do otherwise. It was a good and bad thing. I learned how not to procrastinate so much, but I also learned that I needed people and relationships around me to learn to do more for others and not just do what I wanted at that moment for myself.

Since I've been back in VA I have had a schedule packed with Baby Showers, helping coordinate events, birthday parties, dinners, bonding with girlfriends over brunch, catching up on the phone (so not me), helping with family and the list goes on. I can honestly say God is truly working through me because in the past my negative mindset of me needing "me time" would have taken away from the joy and need that people had of me. And this became possible by a true obedience to Christ. When I prayed and asked God to change my heart towards others to look more like his, it wasn't a "comfortable" feeling and process to go through. There were and still are many days when I feel like throwing in the towel, and doing what I want to do..then it's like I get a little gut check and nudge to say, you've come so far, do you really want to start all over. His word says Proverb 28:14, "Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity." I don't know about you but I choose not to fall into calamity, into an abyss of the unknown due to my disobedience of what I didn't feel like doing.
The very next breath you take is not promised, and I think sometimes we take that for granted. Sometimes we need to be reminded of that, because when God calls you home, will there still be works left that he told you to do, but you said "not right now father" or will your heart and mind be so free and clear that he will surely call you his good and faithful servant? Seeing ourselves for who we really are is never a fun and pleasant reflection, in the beginning at least, but one day if you keep on going and doing all that God asks of you to do no matter how "uncomfortable" you may feel you will look back at yourself and think, I still got it. So, become comfortable with the discomfort it's pushing you closer and closer through to your purpose, obedience and having a heart like His.

Stay hopeful loves

xoxo
~Nell

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Wednesday Worship: Housefires II

My favorite day to share with you :) I just can't get enough of this!
 

Modern Modesty: Objects of My Affection

I LOVE a loose flowy blouse. They're super comfy; yet still; very style, chic, girly and versatile.

Modern Modesty




Some of my current favs . I also love Everlane's silk blouses. Sure a bit more than the average top, but worth EVERY penny.

Stay hopeful loves

xoxo
~Nell

*What are some of your fav pieces?
 

Monday, February 16, 2015

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Daily Devotion

When my desires to impress people became less than my desire to impress God, then was he able to show me who I am and his desires for me. As I decreased, he increased. He showed me his purpose and desires for me and in turn his desires for me became my desires, and it all became so much easier to accomplish. 

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." ~Psalm 37:4

Monday, February 9, 2015

Wednesday Worship: Came early this week :)

Gosh, his word is so sweet. I pray this truly blesses your Monday! When all we do is praise him, how can hate, envy, strive, and anxiety grow in our hearts...it has no room to creep in. So let his praise forever be on your lips.



Stay hopeful loves!

xoxo
~Nell

Modern Modesty: Lace Obsession

I love lace and pearls...either together or separate, but gosh do they go so well together, like peanut butter and jelly (shh I've even been known to jog in my pearl studs).

Indulge in these super cute pieces for some inspiration just in time for Valentines Day! And if you can't choose just one, buy another for a friend or yourself ;)

LACE! Obsession




Stay Hopeful loves

xoxo
~Nell

Daily Devotion




xoxo
~Nell

Friday, February 6, 2015

Daily Devotion

From what table are you eating? From the table of life? Or the table of death? The more you continue to ingest or stay in situations out of disobedience to God, the more it will become your "normal", the dysfunction will become function, the anger will become "justified", the hate will become "provoked".

What you sow out of disobedience, that will you also reap out of disobedience. Take a moment to ask yourself, why? Why the hate, why the anger, why the dysfunction, why the confusion...just why? Don't allow yourself to remain in a stage in your life out of convenience to your disobedience, that can cost you your life...eternity.


John 4: 32,37; But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."...For here the saying holds true, "One sows and another reaps."

Stay hopeful loves

xoxo
~Nell

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Wednesday Worship: Cling To You



Oh how I love this day! I get to share with you all a song that has been on my heart and blessed me so much. Something about great worship that can shift the atmosphere and allow you to hear Gods voice in the most resounding way!!

Stay hopeful loves

xoxo
~Nell

What's one of your favorite songs at the moment?

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Daily Devotion

Sometimes God calls for a quiet season in your life and during that time you understand just what it means to stand alone. If you totally surrender to the experience, it'll be the most exhilarating, rewarding, life-changing, eye-opening experience in your life ever. 


Stay hopeful loves

xoxo
~Nell

About Our New Changes

In a world where sexual influence is everywhere, I just want to be that light in a dark place. A place where we not only look Holy but live Holy. A place where we can live free, worship Christ, and look great serving Him. I'm just following the charge Christ has put on my heart. Where I can be the wick and he be the flame and that flame not go out but burn stronger and deeper for Christ daily. I pray Flourishing Hope blesses you as much as creating each post has blessed me. 

Some of the new content will consist of outfit ideas (Modern Modesty), daily devotionals, new christian songs and books to help guide you on your journey of life, and other exciting news and content the Lord presses on my heart to release. 


I've prayed long and hard about this change and I pray it truly blesses you, and can help bridge the gap between cultures, generations, and people that just love Jesus and want to know and do all they can do to serve him. 


~Why be the same when we're set apart to be so different~


Love you guys :)


xoxo

~Nell

Monday, February 2, 2015

So much has changed

My blog has changed. The city I live in has changed. My job has changed. And most of all my heart and mindset has changed.

At the beginning of 2014 as I sat in my living room sick as a dog but determined to praise God anyhow, even if it meant streaming online; I will never forget hearing the softest of words; as I sat on my knee's broken hearted, lost beyond belief and having not a clue what challenges lied just ahead of me, "If you trust me and hold onto me harder than anything in this world this will be a year you will NEVER forget". My gosh how I still get chills replaying that moment over in my head.

Since then, I have been blessed with another job that was literally handed to me to the point where I was told, you visit the location, meet the staff and tell me if you want it. When God moves he MOVES!!

I've been blessed with the opportunity to move back closer to my family and loved ones which I missed so much, every day for the entire 2 years and 3 months I lived in Miami.

I've been healed beyond recognition from past hurt, hate, and anxiety, most brought on by my own disobedience to God, but non the less issues that lived so deep I couldn't have made it to where I am today had they not been dealt with. I mean lost to the point where I had to ask God daily to, give me the thoughts to think, the words to say, the friendships to have. I didn't know then but as I look back now I realize, this little messed up girl didn't know if she was coming or going.

As I look back and examine my 2014 already a month into 2015, I realize that God kept his word. Sure to some people they might think, well there's nothing amazing about that..but for me MY Father in Heaven knew just what I needed. I will NEVER forget 2014 let alone my time spent living in FL. I can say without any doubt in my mind that I am NOT the same, so deeply lost young girl, that moved to FL in 2012. Now, I can say I'm stronger in my faith, stronger in my walk, and stronger in knowing who I am and whose I am. Sure I have my days where I fall short, but knowing what my God has done and knowing what he's still got left for me to accomplish, I'll do just what was put in my spirit in October, "Take flight and be ready to soar".

If you just hold on like myself, and know that NOTHING in this world will ever mean more to you than God and your very personal, deep, unwavering relationship with Him, he will wow you in such a way you'll ask yourself....what took me so long to fully surrender?

Some of the greatest blessings you will ever receive won't be tangible, but intangible, and those are things that no one can ever take away...those are blessings given directly to you from your Father in Heaven. The one that created you. The one that knows what you need before you need it. The one that knows the number of hairs on your head. The one that designed you to be just who you are, so that you can accomplish that which he has set out for you to accomplish. So trust him, surrender to him and let him WoW you! You too will soon say, "Gosh, so much has changed".

Stay hopeful loves :)

xoxo
~Nell

**Stay tuned for new content and material from Flourishing Hope. I pray it will bless you, as much as this journey has been that has gotten me to this point, has blessed me**