Washing Your Face & The Parallel

Some products I've been using/trying out. :)

I've never been one for multi-step skin care regimens. Well, that was up until lately. This happened partly because I watch entirely too much youtube, and partially because I'm on the verge of turning 30 in 2 short years and I don't want my skin to get any bright ideas. I've never been much of a "wash your face apart from taking a shower" type girl either. In the recent past I've been more of a "maybe take off your makeup, maybe not- & face-plant into bed" type of girl.

All of that is really beside the point.
Washing your face at night is a great idea. I've recently taken more care to be intentional about what I do before bed. Washing my face, putting on some great smelling lotion (bath & bodyworks anyone?), setting the tone for relaxation with either worship music or some other mellow music, and then climbing into bed, setting my alarm, and off to sleep I go.

Washing my face has become such a huge pre-bed ritual for me for a few reasons. The main one, and really the only one worth mentioning, is because it feels great! I feel amazingly clean and fresh. This is even aside from the fresh feeling taking a shower gives. It's like I've washed all of whatever the day has brought me right down into the drain, and given myself a blank slate for the next day. THATS THE PARALLEL. Take it how you will. I think it's important to 1. give yourself a jumpstart on the next day (clean face/clear mind), 2. give yourself the most restful sleep possible (fresh face/ fresh perspective), and 3. to participate in a little self love everyday (skin care/soul care).

Wash away whatever today has brought you, and start fresh tomorrow. Literally and figuratively. Wash your face, give your cares to God, & go to sleep. We'll try again tomorrow. 

Shoutout

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http://kuzmenkojay.wix.com/justjulia

“unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”

— Isaiah 7:9b

You can follow her journey on snapchat @justjuliahulia or on Instagram @justjuliagulia

JULIA! 

She is an incredibly multitalented, encouraging & mad inspiring person & currently she is in PERTH, AUSTRALIA. 

I met her awhile ago through some awesome Bay Area Peeps, and she has never ceased to amaze me with her faith and her determination to be who God created her to be. 

I wanted to share about her because she is currently day by day learning how to trust God for the unthinkable. She is currently in another country learning how to advance the kingdom of God and reach those who are victims of slavery, prostitution, and human trafficking. Currently she only has part of the funding necessary to participate in the classes she needs, but is continuing to step out on faith that God will continue to make a way for her to do His will. 

Its incredible to me how often we won't step out on faith for even little things, while God wants us to dream bigger and have faith that He can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can even fathom. 

I am inspired every time I think of her story: she quit her job to do art (she's amazing) and to open herself up to a move of God & God sustained her. She felt him guiding her to this YWAM program in Australia, and not knowing how it would be funded she stepped out on faith, and God is funding it as she goes. 

What I take from this is that God doesn't necessarily show you the whole picture. What He will do is give you the pieces, piece by piece to succeed in the plan He has for you if you're open to it. When we surrender to His will and are sensitive to His leading He will give us the information and the resources as they are needed. We are never without, and life is an adventure waiting to be unveiled as we continue to trust and move forward. 

I hope her story inspires you like it does me, & if you feel lead to contribute to her journey, please do. 

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This is an awesome mini portrait she did of me on a thoughtful card. :)

Dear Future Husband

Dear future husband,
I am an independent woman, 
I can finance myself. 
I also know that when God intends for me to marry, I will be a submissive woman, to the man that loves me the way Christ loves His church. 
Dear future husband,
I am an independent woman, 
I don't need or want you for your paycheck. 
I can purchase my own shoes, bags, and pay my own bills. 
I do need you to spend time with me, pray for me, support me, pray with me, spend time with God with me, and seek God with me in all things. 
Dear future husband,
I am an independent woman. 
I am self motivated, career driven, and educated. 
I will encourage you, challenge you, & push you to be the best you that you can be, for you, for us, and for God. I honestly expect the same from you. If we aren't the ones building each other up and pushing each other the hardest, then who is? No one will root harder for you, than me. 
Dear future husband,
The way this thing should operate is teamwork, remembering that the man is the head of the household right after God Himself, and the woman was crafted from the mans side, not his head... not his feet.
Dear future husband, 
Just because I am independent doesn't mean I don't wish to feel wanted and fought for. I still wish to be wooed, courted, and pursued. I still wish to be cherished, to love, and to be loved. I still wish to be desired, thought of as beautiful, romanced, and to be someone's priority. 
Dear future husband, 
I look forward to meeting you, if I haven't already. Please know my being an independent woman will never take away from your masculinity. Please know that I will be the best partner and sidekick I can be to you. Please know that my independence now doesn't take away from my ability and willingness to be a team player. Please know that my independence doesn't take away from my desire for a family and for companionship. I look forward to growth, and I look forward to the hard work it takes to maintain a good thing. I look forward to much laugher, communication, and doing this thing called life together. I look forward to keeping God as the glue and the only third party ever to be between us. Keep seeking God, keep hope alive, keep growing, keep learning, keep loving. I'll see you soon. 
In patient hope towards love always,
Your future wife.