So, I have a lot going on in my head right now and I'm trying to determine if it all REALLY goes together in a blog post or if I need to make separate posts. I guess we'll just see what happens.
A couple days ago, our family watched a sermon together over lunch. It's a three part series and I'm anxious to move on to the next part - but I have some wrestling to do with this one first. It was entitled "The Comparison Trap: The Land of Er" (Andy Stanley). The essence of it is that we, as humans, tend to look to the left and right - at everyone else - to determine if we are good enough. "Are they better? Am I skinnier? They are richer. I am nicer." And on and on and on it goes. And you know what? It stinks. If someone else is "better", I get depressed. If I'm "better", I get self-righteous. Either way, it's ugly.
It shows up everywhere. At school. At the gym. At work. At church. On Facebook. I can let a total stranger or a best friend determine how I see myself. Of course, that means my thoughts and moods swing based on the voice to which I'm currently listening. (My family loves this. No, for real. Okay, fine. So, not so much.)
All the while, I am ignoring the most important opinion: the one of the Creator Who made me. What would happen if, instead of looking to the left and right to determine my standing, I looked to Christ and the truth of God's Word? My guess is I would be more content and humble. More likely to be driven to change the undesirable aspects than to be beaten down by them. This kind of goes along with my last post. Apparently, God is really trying to teach me some things. :) And I'm trying to learn. I want the loudest voice in my head to be His. I want to know at the beginning of the day my goal is to serve and please Him. And I want to know at the end of the day, that despite the day's failures, He was my top priority and I can rest knowing I am loved as His daughter.
If you're brave enough (ha!) to watch and have your toes stomped on, you can find the series here. (And if it doesn't seem too bad at the beginning, just hang on. The questions at the end are killer. Geez.)
I think that's enough for now, but I do have a fun announcement! Noonday Collection's spring line launches THIS week on Thursday, February 20th! To celebrate, there will be a 40 day Noonday Collection ambassador "Blog Train". Each day, a different ambassador will post a blog and host a giveaway! Yes! That means if you follow along, you will have 40 opportunities to win some free Noonday!!! The first blog - on Thursday - will be hosted by Wynne Elder (www.theelderadventurers.com). Each ambassador will post a link to the previous blogger and the next blogger. So jump on board! Read about other people who are just as passionate about the mission of Noonday Collection as I am! And maybe win some Noonday in the process! :) (My blog date is March 20th and I'll be giving away a super cute clutch {made with love} in India out of - get this - upcycled VHS and cassette tapes!)
If, by chance, you are new to Noonday Collection, allow me to talk about it briefly. (I mean, it's my blog, so...yeah.) Noonday uses fashion and design to create employment opportunities around the world. We work with artisan groups in over ten countries and purchases made through Noonday are fair-trade, handmade, and have (literally) enabled families and communities to rise above poverty.
So - check out Noonday at www.jenniferhostetler.noondaycollection.com or at my friend Ariel's site, www.arielallen.noondaycollection.com. Get ready for the spring launch and the 40 days of prizes! If you are wanting to see some of the pieces in person, I have a trunk show Thursday you can attend or Ariel and I would be more than happy to let you look at our samples (or talk with you about hosting your own trunk show!). You can email us at jennifer.noondaycollection@gmail.com or ariel.noondaycollection@gmail.com for details.
Gaa! All the excitement of the week is almost too much! (I also found out today that the final two seasons of the Bob Newhart Show will be released on DVD in May. But that's another blog entirely...) See you back here soon!!!
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