This Time, I Will Praise The Lord

Leah. One of the most pitied women in Scripture. The older, less desirable sister. Given in marriage disguised as the younger, beautiful sister, Rachel. In a seemingly unending race to be the best and most loved with Rachel. I can't read her story without feeling her pain. 

Genesis 29:31-33: "When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive. Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben (he has seen my misery), for she said, 'The Lord has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now'. She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, 'The Lord has heard that I am unloved and has given me this son also.' So she named him Simeon (he has heard). She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, 'At last my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him.' Therefore he was named Levi (he will join)."

Leah wasn't happy in her circumstances. Her relationships were broken and screwy. She desperately wanted them to change, as is shown even in her boys' names. She was unsettled and longed for approval and love.

The last week or so, I have been wrestling with something I've wrestled in the past: being disappointed by another person. This is something we all deal with, be it a spouse or a child, an employer or employee, a friend or a coworker. I have allowed it to consume me. All the emotions - hurt, anger, sadness - would just take over. I'd plead with God to fix it, remove it, or whatever else I felt justified in asking regarding "it". It would weigh me down and cripple me for days, sometimes weeks, at a time.

But this time is different. I was reading in Jesus Calling (Sarah Young) yesterday (catching up a bit, to be perfectly honest) - and came across this: "Trust and thankfulness will get you through this day.Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing. Thankfulness keeps you from criticizing and complaining: those 'sister sins' that so easily entangle you." (Jesus Calling, February 21) 

Back to Leah. Genesis 29:35 says, "And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, 'This time I will praise the Lord.' Therefore she named him Judah (to praise)."

You know what? I have tried to fix things on my own. I have taken it upon myself to inflict punishment on others. You know what else? Those things don't work. Maybe they hide the issue for a while or make me feel "better" or in control. But they don't work in the long run. Only the Holy Spirit works in the long run. 

This time, I will praise the Lord.

I decided yesterday morning I was not going to let another person's decisions or actions interfere with my relationship with Christ. I wasn't going to dwell on the situation. I wasn't going to give in to anger. I wanted to just fix my eyes on Christ, forgive, and move forward. The hurt was still there, but my heart was at peace because it was resting in my Savior Who will never let me down or disappoint. (And of course, as always seems to happen, God gave one more push in this direction through last night's sermon. Okay, God, I hear you!) 

A friend said something the other day that really resonated with me. When someone hurts us or disappoints us, we have the opportunity to practice being like Jesus. We can forgive and wipe the slate clean. 

So here's the deal: I am human and I offend and sin, too. I have been forgiven by my Savior. Who am I to withhold forgiveness from others? It is never my job to "teach someone a lesson" or to punish others for sin. (It IS my job to discipline my child, but that's another thing altogether.) It is not my job to hold something over another person's head or to manipulate relationships based on what I think I deserve. If I look in the mirror, I can see all too clearly what I deserve. Christ has withheld that from me and offered forgiveness instead. Praise Jesus! As my friend so perfectly put it, I want to practice being like Jesus. It is my job to forgive, to show grace as I have been shown grace. 

I will be hurt again, by many people. It's the nature of our fallen world. And I will hurt others and need to ask their forgiveness and grace. From now on, I want my response to be, "This time I will praise the Lord." Every day. Every time. I can choose to praise. I can choose to let God use my hurts and failures to grow me in my walk with Him. This time I will praise the Lord. 

"Let the ruins come to life
in the beauty of Your name,
rising up from the ashes.
God forever You reign.

And my soul will find refuge
in the shadow of Your wings.
I will love You forever
and forever I'll sing"

Glorious Ruins - Hillsong
Hear the whole song here

The Comparison Stops Here (at least...it starts stopping here...)

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!!!

On My Inadequacies as a Wife, Mom, and Housekeeper

"A thousand times I fail, still Your mercies remain.
And should I stumble again, still I'm caught in Your grace." (Inside Out, Hillsong)

We sang this in worship Sunday morning, and it was exactly the reminder I needed. I had been in a pretty grey place emotionally and spiritually for a few days and wasn't able to clearly put it in words until Friday night. I finally looked at Andy and said, "I had 72 hours without mom responsibilities. Elisabeth has been in school every day. And I am STILL ready to turn in my mom card!" Don't get me wrong - Elisabeth is a great kid. But she's still a kid and sometimes our personalities and ideas of how things should be going get in the way of our getting along. (And we all know that kids save their...ahem...best...behaviors for their parents.) I couldn't figure out exactly what was going on with me, though. Why wasn't I handling this better? I was rested and should have been "on top of my game" - at least, that what I told myself. After chatting with a few friends, the light bulb came on. It all began to surface and it wasn't pretty. Elisabeth went to bed and I had some time to think it over. I told Andy, "I stink as a stay at home mom. My house isn't clean. I only cooked once or twice this week. It appears I've done absolutely nothing when, in fact, I've actually been quite busy. And to top it off, I can't go 20 minutes without getting into a fight with our ONE kid!"

This is how I had been feeling for days and I had let it weigh me down. It's interesting to me how I can allow myself to lose sight of Christ and only focus on my failures. What DID I do last week? Among other things:

 - I drove my sick husband an hour and a half to a class he needed to attend and then entertained an energetic 7 year old while he was in class. Oh, and a migraine started while he was in class. So I did most of the entertaining with a pounding head.

- I tackled two very scary closets in our house and have begun compiling for a yard sale. (As a side note, if any of my yard sale hosting friends are planning one soon, let me know...)

- I spent a couple afternoons with my 92 year old great aunt who is steadily declining . I treasure my time with her and try to make it a priority to be with her during the week.

- I cleaned the house and did the laundry. And everyone was fed.

- I got Elisabeth to school, dressed and fed, on time. (Sounds easier than it is; waking her is like trying to get a bear out of hibernation early. I dread the teenage years.) Also, her homework was completed and we even got to have family game time.

The truth is that I DID accomplish things last week. However, I didn't get as much done as I wanted expected and it frustrated me. I was annoyed that I was exhausted all week and was having a hard time staying awake. Looking back, I know why. I was pretty sick during most of the Christmas break but we were traveling during most of it as well and I didn't get the rest I needed. Also, I had two migraines last week; not only do they hinder me while I have them, but they leave me drained for 12-24 hours afterward. Why was I unable to extend grace to myself? (And am I the only one who struggles with this???)

See, I let it play out all wrong last week. I snapped at Elisabeth. Instead of "a thousand times I fail, still Your mercy remains", I let "you're a crappy mom AND your house is a mess" play in my head. Over and over. And you know what? By the end of the week, I believed it. And it showed. I was exhausted - not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually, too. I had listened to the wrong voice - my own - and not the voice of my Creator. He tells me He has begun a good work and will be faithful to finish it (Philippians 1:6). He tells me His love is steadfast and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Did I fail last week? Yes. Did I sin against my husband and daughter a few times a lot? Yes. Am I the worst wife/mother/housekeeper to ever step foot on this planet? No. I am a daughter of the King who needs to begin listening to His voice more than her own. I need put more effort into following Him than into meeting my own expectations of myself. You know what? I am not enough. But I know the One who is. And He desires to work through me - weaknesses, failures, and all. 

So, if anyone else can relate to this, let's forget the "you're a crappy mom" song and replace it with one that declares truth.

"In Christ alone, my hope is found.
He is my light, my strength, my song.
This Cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the Power of Christ in me.
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand.
'Til He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

(In Christ Alone, Townend)
*watch/listen here*

Marriage: A Look Back at the First Ten Years

Today, Andy and I are celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary. I won't get all mushy-gushy here; I'll save that for a Facebook status or something. ;) Instead, I'd like to share a little bit of what I have learned about marriage over the last decade. I realize that ten years pales in comparison to, say, 30 or 50 years. That being said, we know couples who haven't made it this far and it is disheartening. I hope I can offer encouragement (and maybe a little wisdom) to other couples.

A fairly common misconception among some of our friends and acquaintances is that Andy and I get along so well and our marriage has been a cakewalk. Perhaps a few small bumps here and there, but nothing really of any consequence. So it's natural for us to be happy and in love. It's easy.

False. We've had some major bumps and issues to deal with and overcome. Here are a few examples:

• My parents separated and divorced shortly after we got married. Andy's parents were already divorced. Our first Christmas as a married couple had us making more Christmas rounds than you can shake a stick at. 
• When Elisabeth was about a year old, Andy got sick and was tested for, among other things, leukemia. Praise Jesus, he ended up with just a mono-like virus and nothing serious, but I don't like to remember or talk about the fear I felt during those days.
• Four years of dealing with major health issues and over a year of infertility ended in a hysterectomy for me - at age 27. 
• Having believed since before Elisabeth was born that we were called to adopt, we have taken steps to follow through with this calling. We had a birth mom tell us she wanted us to adopt her baby and we were in the midst of conversations with her. While we were sitting at the attorney's office for a consultation visit on finances around a private adoption, I received a text from her telling us she had changed her mind. 

We've walked through these and other circumstances. We've dealt with sin and hurt. I'm not saying it has been awful or too difficult to handle, but I am saying it hasn't be a cakewalk. Also, we got married at 20 and 21 and had some growing up to do. So, in no particular order (except for #1), these are some things I have learned about marriage.

1. Make Christ the center. It sounds so trite, but I can't stress this enough. If both spouses are following Christ and walking with Him daily, just about everything else falls in place after it. This is as simple as it is scary. See, I can't control Andy's walk with Christ. I can only make sure I am doing what I need to do. Our worst times have been when one (or both) of us has neglected our time with Him. When I am spending time in the Word and walking closely with Christ, He works through me. When both Andy and I are doing this consistently and well, our home is happy and peaceful. I can't express how thankful I am to have a husband who loves Jesus and leads our family to do the same.

2. Learn from others. One of the best decisions we made was to hangout with a couple who had been married a long time and glean from them. We asked a couple at our church - before we even got engaged - if we could spend time with them and observe their marriage and pick their brains. Not only were they there to walk us through being engaged and the very early years of our marriage, but we have lifelong friends who we know will hold us accountable.

3. Be kind! For real. Our spouses catch our worst. When I've had a bad day, I'm polite to the cashier, the teacher, the repairman, and the telemarketer and then treat my husband like he spit on my ice cream. I've realized my tendency to do this and have tried to really embrace the team mentality. Andy is on my side and for me. Instead of bottling it up and taking it out on him, I let him know what is going on and how he can help. "I need a bubble bath, a coke, and a good book." "I need to go for a run." "I need some time alone to read my Bible." "Can we just watch a movie together and forget about the day?" It works so much better when you team up instead of playing the game of Life as individuals.

4. Put your marriage before your children. Lots of people have said lots of things about this. I don't have anything extra to add to it; just know it's important! (And while we're on the topic of children - parent together! Be a united front or the "ankle biters" - as Kevin Leman calls them - will totally pit you against each other.)

5. Guard your relationship! That should be a "well, duh" but unfortunately, that's not always the case. We are very open with each other about our friendships and working relationships with the opposite sex. We don't spend time alone with members of the opposite sex - not because we are "old fashioned" or afraid, but because we value and respect our marriage and each other. We know each other's phone pass codes and email/FaceBook passwords. If one of us feels threatened by someone, we let the other know. 

6. Apologize often; keep your slate clean. And, please, a real apology. "I'm sorry you are sensitive and your feelings got hurt when I said..." doesn't cut it. 

7. The physical stuff matters more than most people think. Our culture has drastically cheapened what God created as pure and vital for a healthy marriage. It is never wise to neglect what God deems important. (Check out 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 if you are skeptical!)

8. Control your schedule instead of letting your schedule control you. Make time for rest - for yourself, your marriage, and your family. This past year, I resigned from my job to work from home. One of the driving forces behind that decision was to protect our relationship and family. We had all been running from place to place, event to event, and home ceased to be a haven. We were all exhausted and snippy when we got home and WHO THE HECK WAS GOING TO MAKE DINNER??? And don't even get me started on the laundry and mopping. The tone in our home and our marriage has become much nicer over the last few months. This isn't to say God's will for everyone is to quit jobs; however, do what you can to slow your pace a little. Create some margin for marriage and family time. It's okay - and even good sometimes - to say no. Protect your marriage and family! 

9. Have fun! As much as I enjoy coffee and strolls around Target with friends, my favorite person to be around is Andy. We goof off and play games and laugh hysterically at inside jokes (and occasionally our kid). He really is my best friend and my first choice for hangout time. 

Let me add a little caveat here: a successful marriage happens when BOTH spouses are working for it. Andy and I both work at our marriage. You can do everything most things right and not have a perfect marriage. We don't have one. Why? They don't exist. Marriages involve humans. Humans are imperfect and sin. That's where the forgiveness and grace come in. As much grace as God has shown me, who am I to refuse it to my husband? And, praise Jesus, Andy extends it to me as well. (Additional caveat: this does NOT apply to an abusive relationship. Forgive, but get out and get safe. Okay? Okay.)

Marriage isn't always easy, but it can be simple. And it is worth it. There are parts of the last ten years I would never want to relive. But I wouldn't trade them, because we are in this place because of the lessons we've learned and the difficulties we've survived. 

I'm not a marriage expert. I'm just an regular girl married to a regular guy. And if I was given the choice, I'd do it all over again. And without being too presumptuous, I believe he'd say the same thing. :)

PS - Since you made it this far, here's a glimpse of ten years ago. 

  

Whatever you do for the least of these

The last post was about trying to ensure our money doesn't go to enslave or harm other people. Now I want to talk about how we can use it for good. It's easy to live in our own little world and wonder really how much our daily choices matter. I'd like to present the argument that they matter more than we could ever know. Matthew 25:34-40 says, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ "

In the spirit of honesty, I am going to let you know I am pretty new to the whole fair trade scene. So many phrases get tossed around in our culture, sometimes we don't give any thought to them. Or maybe I'm the only one like that. Anyhoo... That being said, I don't have a lot of favorites right now as I don't have a ton of experience in this area. I do, however, have a couple companies and a few resources I like to use.

Land of 1000 Hills Coffee - You can read their story here: https://landofathousandhills.com/ourstory, but basically, after the genocide in Rwanda, they went in and taught survivors a trade - growing coffee. The farmers are paid fair wages and have a dignified job. Plus, the coffee is fantastic. I haven't had any in a while (because no one here sells it and I don't plan ahead well enough to have it ordered before I run out of coffee in my house), but I will be ordering some soon. It's good stuff. Besides, their motto is "Drink Coffee Do Good". Can you think of a better motto??? Me either. I have two of their shirts. (I'd be lying if I said I didn't have my eye on another one.) I like this company. I like their coffee. I love their purpose. *Update* Since I started working on this post, I discovered Land of 1000 Hills has a special Adoption Journey blend for the month of November (National Adoption Month). $5 of every bag goes to help with the financial burden of adoption. You can purchase it here: http://landofathousandhills.com/index.php/adoption-journey-do-good-blend.html. I bought some yesterday. :)

Noonday Collection - I admit, this one seems a bit self-serving (as I am an ambassador for this company) but that is not my intent at all. I loved Noonday and who they are before I joined; that's WHY I joined. Noonday works with artisan groups in countries all over the world and brings their pieces here to create a market place for the artisans and their products. The artisans are paid a fair wage for their work and have a sustainable income due to the orders coming their way from people like you and me. Not only are individuals given opportunities, but entire communities are being changed, as artisan groups are able to hire more people to keep up with demand. Stateside, Noonday gives people like me a way to not just earn an income, but also the chance to be an advocate for orphans and families across the globe. Additionally, Noonday helps families here raise money for their adoptions with the option of using trunk shows as adoption fundraisers. Noonday Collection - style {made with love} - check it out at www.jenniferhostetler.noondaycollection.com. (Two of my favorite Noonday pieces? An adorable black clutch made out of upcycled VHS and cassette tapes by a special needs artisan group in India and a cool fringe paper bead necklace named for a former homeless man who is now building his own home. So cool.)

www.fairtuesday.org - I've just recently learned about Fair Tuesday. It is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (and Black Friday and Cyber Monday). The website has 150 fair trade brands. Their purpose (directly from the site) is this: #FairTuesday is an ethical shopping movement created in response to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The goal of #FairTuesday is to inspire conscious consumerism and show how an everyday purchase can change lives in a whole community. #FairTuesday features fair trade, ethical, and eco-friendly brands all dedicated to creating positive, sustainable change.

www.free2work.org - I mentioned the free2work app in my last blog, but apparently the app is no longer available. Not sure what's up with that, but they do have a website with great resources.

Super fast and with the hopes of avoiding offending unintentionally, let's discuss the differences between charities and fair trade companies. While charities are wonderful and have their place, they cannot be counted on for sustainability. The old adage "give a man a fish"? Don't get me wrong - we support some charities. We sponsor a little girl through Compassion International and I am confident that our giving is changing the course of this little girl's life. But what happens if Andy loses his job? All of the sudden, a little girl in India may not be able to continue on in school or get medical care. Fair trade companies create work for people; and the more we shop these companies and advocate for the ethical treatment of workers, the more demand there is for the products. More demand = more work and possibly more employees. A dignified job has a better chance of sustainability than charity. I think it's two-fold; 1) When possible, buy fair trade (or at least from aboveboard companies), and 2) If you have extra, consider sending it out to others who may not have the opportunities we do. To quote Hello, Dolly, "Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it is spread around, encouraging young things to grow." Let's just make sure we are trying to grow the right things...

 

 

Black Friday: A Paradigm Shift

Those of you who know me well (or even only slightly well) are probably aware of my knack for finding good deals. I regularly find items at 75-90% off their retail price and get pretty excited about them. I've often said that the red clearance stickers at Target were designed for people like me. I'm drawn like moth to a flame to a sale - especially when I have a coupon in my purse to go along with the sale. And Black Friday is hailed as one of the most exciting days of the year. I plan for it. I am one of the crazies who begins shopping on Thursday well before midnight and stays out until lunch Friday. And I love every minute of it. And never have I given any thought to the people who make my bargains possible. Until now. And my heart is heavy.

After going through both 7 and the 7 Bible study by Jen Hatmaker and gaining exposure to the world of fair trade and ethical working practices (through Noonday Collection and various other companies and organizations), I have begun to wonder what my bargain shopping has really cost. Maybe not anything - to me. But what about the single mom working in an unsafe factory? What about the children who make the children's clothes I have purchased? What do my good deals cost them? And, really, how much do my choices even matter in the grand scheme of things?

We hear a lot these days about modern day slavery. It's easy to put it out of our minds, though. No one wants to think about that. But it's out there. And it's here. We can't hide from it, but we can fight it. 

First, let's talk about women. While I have never been one to jump on the uber feminist bandwagon, I am very aware that women are oppressed in many cultures. In places all over the world (including our own country), women are forced into hard labor with pitiful pay and working conditions. They don't make enough to care for their children and are forced to make decisions no woman should have to make. I believe all women - and men - should have the opportunity to have a dignified job and fair wages. But when I buy a shirt or pair of jeans from a company that abuses the people making their goods, I am - at the very least - saying I don't care enough about the welfare of others to pay attention to the supply chain. The more we wealthy folk - yes, wealthy (if you make 35k/year, you are in the top 1% of the world's population) - purchase from these companies, the more they are comfortable with the way of doing things. It's time to rock the boat, people. 

Second, let's talk about children - child labor, orphans, etc. 1) I am not ok with children making my clothes. I am not ok with children making my child's clothes. 2) Poverty is one of the major contributors to the global orphan crisis. When laborers don't earn enough to feed their children and care for their basic needs, they grow desperate. The result? Children in orphanages who have living parents. To *loosely* quote Jen Hatmaker (one of my favorite people, as anyone who has read this blog before has probably figured out), "It is not ok for me to have your child just because you can't feed him." And again, the more we keep silent on these issues, in the name of a good deal, the more we fight against children and families around the world. 

What can we do? Can I really make a difference? Or should I be sad for a bit and then continue on, life as usual, because it's a hopeless cause? Well, friends, our dollars speak. Loudly. Maybe not so much individually. But when a bunch of us begin to speak with our dollars, corporations will listen. We can determine to - as much as possible - purchase fair trade products from companies who are transparent - with their supply chains, worker rights, policies, etc. 

I hesitate to name names and call out companies on here, because that's not really what I'm wanting to do. I'd rather you do your own research and see it for yourself. Don't just take my word for it. I will tell you, though, some of them will surprise you. We're not just talking discount stores. We're talking expensive brands at upper end department stores. There are some great apps out there that help consumers make ethical choices. Free2Work and Call & Response are two that I have begun to use. Also, www.sweatfree.org and www.laborrights.org are websites that are helpful as we decide where to send our dollars. 

Micah 6:8 says "What does The Lord require of you, but to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." I want to act justly - not only with to my neighbors here, but the men and women and children all over the world. Even if my voice is alone and comparatively quiet, I want it to be merciful and just. I want to walk in humility; we live in a strange world and we navigate some difficult waters. I want to raise my voice, not in judgment of myself and other consumers, but in defense of real people who are hurting because of our collective choices. 

So Black Friday 2013 - will I be out in the midst of the other crazies? Probably. But let me tell you - my planning this year will include much more than who opens when and where to find the best deals. As I flip through ads and make my lists, I'll be vetting companies and carefully deciding where to spend my money. Will I miss out on some "good deals"? More than likely. But I'm tired of other people paying a high cost for my spending habits. My heart is changing and my eyes are opening. While it's not a pretty picture, I can't just turn away from it. I've seen it. And I can will make a difference. 

 

Isaiah 58:6-10

"Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.
If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."
 
Stay tuned. Another blog highlighting companies who have ethical practices and fight for the dignity and rights of laborers will be coming in a couple of days!

Clothing Week

Food week went really well for our group! Next up is clothing. Technically, clothing week should have started Thursday, but I had a migraine and lost a day and am behind. Oh, well. My clothing week will start today (Sunday) and run through Saturday. 

Once again, the goal is a simpler life, a conscious reduction of my options. This week I have reduced my clothing choices to 7: a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, a dress, my Red Wolves shirt, my turquoise kids ministry shirt, my red Drink Coffee Do Good shirt (Land of 1000 Hills) and a button down shirt. 

We have a group project this week, too. All week, we are collecting items from our closets and dressers. We will take them to church Wednesday night for our class and decide how we want to go about donating them. I'm excited about the group project! There are lots of things we can't all do together, so having a common activity this week is great! 

Once again, in our class video, Jen Hatmaker got us thinking - beyond our own lives and how our choices here affect others' lives around the world. The apparel industry, unfortunately, involves a lot of trafficking and maltreatment of of workers. This is not across the board, but there are many companies that use forced labor, child labor, extremely low wages, and awful working environments to make a profit. What can we do? We can try our best to make sure what we are buying comes from a safe and fair working environment. How? Doing a little research. Or using an app like Free 2 Work. It gives companies a grade on their transparency and ethics. In short, try to buy from companies that don't use forced or child labor and that provide fair wages. Check it out. Join us. The more people who step up, the bigger the impact will be. 

Clothing week begins: now!