Girl Talk: Does your image define who you are?

We live in a world where looks are everything, from the type of makeup to the name brand clothes and shoes we wear.

Alouse: Nicole how do you feel about this topic? Do you think that your image defines who you are as a person and a child of God?

Nicole: Wow, well as a woman this is a difficult subject, in many ways I love to look good, no... in a lot of ways. Trying to keep up with the latest fashions, looking at other people and judging there attire, its definitely a tricky one. But after our discussion, with God taking care of our needs, both food and clothing, I'm starting to look at it with a different perspective. I think caring for ourselves is a good thing, we shouldn't look crazy, but putting our emphasis on how much something is and judging ourselves too critically is the challenge. What are your thoughts on fashion and image?

Alouse: My thoughts on fashion and image, I feel that, what you wear should not define you. What you see on the outside shouldn't be more important than what's in the inside. I've met so many women that are beautiful on the outside, but when you get to know them, their personalities didn't match their looks. People judge your looks, but God cares about my heart.

Nicole: Yea, I agree, some of the most beautiful people that I've met, had nothing to do with their outer appearances, but everything to do with their personality and pleasant spirits. I love when I can meet just a genuine person, not necessarily trying to keep up with having the latest things, but just a genuine, loving person. I would rather spend time with someone that is real any day. Sometimes when you try to keep up a front, relationships don't seem as real. What do you think?

Alouse: I agree. Don't get me wrong physical appearance is important to God, in that it reveals the glory of his creative abilities. We should definitely appreciate the beauty that God has given us, but we should not make that our number one priority, because it does affect our personality when we focus more on appearances than people and Christ. I agree though, I would rather spend time with someone that is humble, and not worried so much about their beauty.

Nicole: So do we think that image defines us? I'd say we can take time to make ourselves presentable, and even enjoy the life that God has given us by caring for our bodies. It is His temple, and we should take care for it. But, I also believe that sometimes we can get caught up with trying to look the best, or compare ourselves to other people.

Alouse: Amen to that, Matthew 23:12 says for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. And James 4:6 says God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. So our outward appearance shouldn't be our main focus. For example, if the reason we try to be perfect as far as our weight, the best clothes we wear, how our makeup looks, if we are doing these things to impress other people, then our physical appearance becomes a prideful matter. "Oh look at me," to try to be accepted, trying hard to look a certain way for the world, versus making our selves look good because I'm a child of God, I'm beautiful in Christ. We have to watch out for anything that draws ourselves away from God.

Nicole: Wow, that was beautifully put. Its definitely a balance. Reading scripture there are so many verses in regards to giving our possessions away, and giving, and taking care of the poor, and not living for possessions. We live in a world that emphasizes treating yourself, and not feeling bad about it, living it up, and oh yea give when you can. Honestly, something tells me that's not the kind of heart we should have. I'm not against name brand clothing, a lot of times those things are made with better quality materials and the like, and you can even find a lot of things for discount or thrift stores, so I think its possible to attain things different ways. But I think it's a heart matter, opposed to if I should own it or not. We should be willing at any point to part with things, they shouldn't be used to define us. God defines us, our relationship with Him defines us, we should live our lives to His glory not our own.

Alouse: Yea, Yea, Yea lol I totally agree. The thing that God has shown us, His own amazing power and beauty, we should be humbled! If God has shown us what beauty is, we should want to resemble that, not the beauty that the world says is beauty. There are consequences to world beauty, people can literally worship their beauty rather than the Creator of beauty. ( Breaks into praise song: For your glory I will do anything, Just to see you, to behold as my king, I wanna be where you are, I gotta be where you are, peace is where you are, joy is where you are)

Nicole: So in all, we can have peace in knowing that our image is not defined outwardly, but inwardly. So lets not put the world's expectations over God's.

Alouse: We would like to know your thoughts? Does your image define who you are?

Girl Talk: Finding Joy in Material Things?

Hello!! everyone we hope you all had a great weekend. Today's Girl Talk topic is going to be about finding joy in material things.

Alouse: Nicole remember our conversation not to long ago about making material things of this world an idol, What did you mean when you said that?

Nicole: Basically, I was saying that material things really aren't worth anything, they're worthless. You can make anything the most important thing in your life, and literally give your all to it, and find that if it was gone, your whole world would fall apart. And its just made up of metal. Whether it's a ring, a car, anything...

Alouse: Your absolutely right about that! Nicole, we tend to make certain things in our lives an idol and not realize that we are putting God second.

Nicole: Right, we live this life hoping to build up our wealth, our name, build ourselves up to our greatest potential. And that consumes us, it becomes our only goal and aim for living. We wake up with how we're going to get more, or be better, so that in 5 years others can pat us on the back and say well done.

Alouse: ( Singing and praise dancing to what Nicole just said)

Nicole: And the thing about it is, at any point it can all be taken away. Literally, you can lose a job tomorrow, a storm can come and you lose your house, your car, everything, in an instant. But God is eternal, He is the one constant that we have in this life.

Alouse: Even as a Christian I'm guilty of that myself. Not realizing that I make certain things in my life an idol. perfect example would be my baby girl and money. I love my baby and i would do anything for her, I also live to make money to provide for my family, but put those things before God Himself and forget that without him I wouldn't have any of that. I have to remind myself  that my daughter and my income really belong to God.

Nicole: Yes exactly. Because we have to remind ourselves that everything that is given to us, is not because of us. God gifts us these things, he allows us to have things, for our pleasure. Even our children are gifts, they belong to Him, He created them in our womb, He formed them, and has a purpose for them, we're used by God and we train our children, but ultimately they find their way back to Him. I'm reminded of a scripture that I read today in Psalms, Psalm 49:11 says,

"their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names"

And I was literally taken by that because the one thing that is promised to everyone is death. You live, you die, some live a happy life, some live a wasteful life, some live a purposeful life, but the fact remains that everyone will die one day. So the "lands" and the things that we own have our names on it today, but years from now, those are the things that the  next generations will enjoy, because we're no longer here, the only thing that EVERYONE will have is a grave.

Alouse: Going back to what Job said in chapter 1:21 "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord". Just reading that makes me realize how uncertain material things are in our lives.

Nicole: Job realized that God gave him so much, to be born with nothing, and be blessed with things is more than a reason to be thankful. God gives us life, He gives us relationships, we came into this world with nothing! So when times get tough and it looks like everything is being taken away, you have more, because you still have God, so you have more than enough. His eyes were on the right thing, and that's God. No matter where you are in life, God is there. In birth, in success, in failure, in hardships, in death, God is there. So looking at my couch, I say that's nice, and I think it's mine, but it's not. My name is on it now, but one day someone else will own it, or it may even be destroyed, so why live my life for it? WHY?

Alouse: Amen!!

Nicole: My question for you is, How can you find Joy in circumstances where there is no hope, and when you look around you and there is nothing there?

Alouse: What a great question. Honestly, no matter where I am in this life today or where I may be later on, The Joy of the Lord should always be with me, reminding me of how great He is and trusting in him who is the almighty King.  

Nicole: AMEN!  On that note, God is good, and we are blessed! Beyond measure, we came into this world with nothing, but we are leaving with Jesus as our Savior! Entering into eternal life, with everything! God is GOOD!

" Naked I came from my mothers womb and naked I will return" Job 1:21

Girl Talk: Juggling Homeschool and Business

Here's the start to our girl talk series! Girl Talk is a time Alouse and I set aside to talk on a subject, and give you all a snapshot of what our conversations look like on a day to day basis.

Nicole: So how do you feel like you're adjusting to being home again?
Alouse: Thank you Jesus! lol I've been waiting for this day for about a year, and I haven't felt so good in a long time.
Nicole: Hmmm, so what is it about being home with Ramiyah that is so much better than working a  9 to 5?
Alouse: Just the simple fact that I'm able to spend more time with her, I don't have to worry about her getting sick all the time, I'm able to basically prepare her for this world. Especially her being raised in a Christian home. At her age, it's easy for her to pick up bad habits from other children, and just the thought of her being in daycare broke my heart.
Nicole: Awwwww, okay so yea that's a good thing, being able to watch our children, care for them, and spend time with them. Because when you work a 9 to 5 many times you don't get off until 6, get home until 7. And that means that the whole day is gone, leaving just the weekends, if you're lucky. Because your job had you working on the weekends.
Alouse: Ummhmmm, that's very true. My question for you would be, do you think that because of our financial situation, being home would be a better option? Do you think I should find another job?
Nicole:  (RAISING EYEBROWS) girl, lol, I believe the situation has been granted you for this season, you know, because of the fact that you're pregnant, it really does limit, what you can do, and who will hire you. So I do think it's orchestrated by God that you are back home. I will say, prepare yourself while you are home, to be the best wife and mother that God has called you to be. Because I know that God knows our hearts desires. And I just read Psalms today, where God's word says Delight yourself in Him, and He will give you the desires of your heart. So I say be obedient, and be faithful to God and what He's doing in your life. But also be working to the goal. And I believe that's what we're doing. We're building our business, and we're creating something that will be a foundation for our desires to actually stand on.
Alouse: WELLLLLLLLLLLLLL, (Jumps and starts praise dancing, in the mind, because ya'll know I'm 5 months pregnant) lol!
Nicole: LOLOLOLOL!
Alouse: You could not have said it any better, I just don't want us to go back to where we were. I don't want us to have to move back home, I truly feel in my heart, that this is where God wants us to be. I trust that He will help us get through these tough times. But it's so easy to say trust Him, and hard to do just that. I know in this past week, just meeting up with you, and starting our devotionals, I feel blessed, to have you in my life, and call you my best friend, because you truly are.
Nicole: Awwwwwww, ye
Alouse: I wasn't done yet, lol, Now you have me in my feelings, lol, I'm pouring my heart out, now let me finish lol. I pray that God will bless our business, and that we will be able to get it started.
Nicole: Yea, so how do you feel our progress is coming? And are you excited about what's coming, as far as the things that we have planned for the girls?
Alouse: Oh absolutely! I am very excited! Just to see how happy my daughter is with me being home. I feel that we have accomplished ALOT within the two weeks that we've been planning and creating. As far as homeschooling, it's definitely progress. Ramiyah is learning alot, she's getting better with her reading and writing. She's writing her name, all her letters from A-Z, she knows her numbers from 1-100, and she's learning how to count by 5s. I would however like to begin making the Bible the center of our homeschooling.
Nicole: AMEN!
Alouse: LOL! But I can honestly say, thanks to both you and AL (shoutout to my girl AL, lol), for homeschooling her while I worked last year, she's pretty prepared for Kindergarten. Not saying that I'm going to put her in Kindergarten, just the improvements that I see, and seeing her love for education and reading, brings me so much joy! How do you feel about the progress we're making with our business?
Nicole: I think we're doing great! We are doing an excellent job, I think in trying to balance our responsibilities in the home, with an ultimate goal for helping out financially. And the fact that we are puttting God first in everything is beautiful. Because the reality is, we can't control anything, we don't know how things are going to turn out, but with God all things are possible. And honestly, I believe that if all else fails, He's the only constant. So To God be the glory in everything! I do however, want to start doing some crafty, handy, type things with they girls. Like arts and crafts, baking, fun stuff! And I'm trying to figure out ways to incorporate Josiah (my one year old) into our fun times. But I'm SO excited about having you and Ramiyah join us on our homeschool journey. IT's DOUBLE THE FUN MAN, lololololol
Alouse: LOLOLOLOL I love it!
Nicole: So on that note, juggling homeschool and business, is not a one time discussion, it's a work in progress
Alouse: Exactly, hopefully by the end of this month we can start tutoring
Nicole:  THAT would be great!