[edemloves]

Day 2 : Planning ahead and understand. I have been terrible at planning ahead and sticking to it. For a strong willed person, I let things go pretty easily and I think that would change if I planned ahead. Also, I tend to do things without understanding which leads to frustration then letting go. So planning ahead + understanding. (Proverbs 2 : 11)

[edemloves]

Day 1 : This passage reminds me of God's character. I feel like God is constantly drawing us to Himself and His knowledge and every good thing He has for us. In other translations it says I would have poured out my Spirit on you. Although this is lady wisdom speaking, I hear God speaking. He is after all the ultimate wisdom. He is constantly calling us and inclining His hand toward us, but will we listen? Do I reach out? Suppose I paid attention every time He called me, I would be full of His Spirit and I would know what He's thinking. What I love about God is that it's never too late to turn back to Him. It's never too late to pay attention and take His hand.

[readandreview]

I miss Bible challenges that go around Tumblr. Do any of you remember coming across posts of Bible-reading or Scripture-sharing challenges? 

Let’s motivate each other to fill the rooms of improvements in our lifestyle by reading The Book of Proverbs. The goal is to be saturated in God’s wisdom that we may grow in His sound judgment and discernment.

PROVERBS 31 CHALLENGE:

The Book of Proverbs only has 31 chapters. The goal is to fully accomplish this challenge in only 31 days or 1 month. Here are the rules…

1 Make time to pray and read 1 chapter from the Proverbs each day for every day of the month - whenever day this week you choose to start.

2 Reflect on what the chapter of the day is revealing to your lifestyle. 

3 Write the verses from the chapter of the day that spoke to your heart.

4 Share on your blog a verse (or more) from the chapter of the day with the format of this example: Day 1 - To learn wisdom and moral instruction, and to discern wise counsel. (Proverbs 1:2 NET) 

You may also include the insight or prayer request that you have after sharing the verse/s that enlightened you.

5 Apply the message of God’s Word in your life esp from the chapter you read. It will even be best to memorize parts or all of it - up to you.

6 Keep it going from steps 1 to 5. If you miss a day, continue with the next and still do steps 1 to 5. Feel free to hashtag #ScriptureinPictures 

Are you up for this kind of challenge? If yes, SHARE this post and do it ♥

Proverbs here we go!

[edemloves]

Yay! Let’s do it!

[edemloves]

Me vs My Hair 01

Me : Ooh, let me try a different oil mixture. My hair : If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Now I’m dry.

Me : All these chemicals I can’t even pronounce might not be good for my hair, let me dry an all natural, homemade organic conditioner. My hair : Ew, this is too healthy for me. I won’t be as soft as you expected.

Me : *tries new hairstyle* My hair : Didn’t I just say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it? *hairstyle flops*

Me : So much build up, let me use a Sulphate shampoo. My hair : Ouch. Too many chemicals!! Great, now you’ve stripped all my natural oils.

Me : *Co-washes to preserve natural oils* My hair : How you not gon clean me right? Now I’m going to embarrass you with dandruff.

Me : I want to make sure I detangle thoroughly. This brush should do. My hair : Is that so? *single stand knots* Now look what you did.

Me : Maybe you’re right, Fluffy. If it ain’t broke, why fix it? My hair : While you were doing the usual routine I got bored so I tangled up. Me : *rolls eyes* My hair : Don’t act like you haven’t been itching to detangle me.

[edemloves]

Comfort in my own ignorance.

I don’t know. I found myself saying that so much this week. I will admit, I would be one of those people who didn’t quite admit they didn’t know. But now … Those words, “I don’t know”, they make me peaceful. I actually find myself smiling when I say them. I say them over and over and over again. I don’t know. I don’t know.

Next word, no.

[edemloves]

Glory chaser

And not in the way you're thinking, not in the way the world chases glory. Not the world's glory. God's glory, you know like when the Israelites only moved when God's glory moved, stopped when His glory stopped. They went after His glory. Glory chasers. If there's anything worth chasing I could ever chase, let it be His glory. If there's anything worth saying I could ever say, let it be to His glory. If there's anything worth not doing, let me not do it because He would not be glorified!

[edemloves]

Here is a dodgy, low quality picture of my braid and curl.

[edemloves]

#WashDaySeries - setting my hair for the week. This week I did a braid and curl, really I was just trying to stretch my hair before I straightened it(I know, I know, my goal was no heat for a year) . I really liked the results of this braid and curl.

[edemloves]

#WashDaySeries - clean hair, squeaky clean hair

[edemloves]

WashDaySeries - conditioning **when I am deep conditioning, I just apply my normal conditioner, let it sit in for 5 minutes, rinse that out, then I deep condition in the bag. PS. I thought my twists were sexier than that, lol.

[edemloves]

WashDaySeries - shampooing

[edemloves]

#WashDaySeries - detangling... My “all spice mixture” is a mixture of any conditioner I have at the time, castor oil, glycerin and water. All Spice.

[edemloves]

Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls. All Your waves and breakers have swept over me. Psalms 42:8 TLV Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God’s prayer. Psalm 42:‬8 MSG #MyLifeIsGodsPrayer #DeepCallsOutToDeep #Psalm42 #Hillsong #LetThereBeLight #Behold #ThenSingsMySoul

[edemloves]

16 things I learned about God in 2016

1. God loves me and He won't let me burn because I disappointed Him aka nothing will ever separate me from the love of God. I learned this after an ordeal I had. I felt like I had disappointed God and the people around me. So often, after I felt like I've disappointed God, I think He removes His hand from me. That night, as I went home, God provided in a way that reminded me that He loves me always. He reminded me that no disappointment will ever separate me from His love and protection. 2. I don't know God aka the fire is never blazing. If there's one thing I hate, it's going around in circles. I have done that so many times in 2016 regarding my relationship with God. One day I'm burning and if you're not burning with me, too bad... The next I'm cold and I can't even open my Bible. Cycle repeats. Going in circles. *cringe* The moments in which I find myself being cold is when I think the fire is hot and blazing and I'm going to be a missionary in Afghanistan, then I relax and then the fire dies down. As it should. If I don't fan it, it will die. I can never "rest" in my pursuit of God. I will never know Him. The fire will never suffice. 3. He. Answers. My. Prayers. (so be careful what you pray for because you just might get it). "God! I can't believe You did this, I only prayed once and even then I wasn't concentrating!" Ha! God answered a bunch of my prayers in 2016! I trust Him to know that He hears me. Even those super short prayers or the ones that don't make it to the prayer list, He has answered. 4. He gave me the desires. I used to think the things I want came from my own head (and sometimes they do). But there are those things which I am so passionate about.. Jesus just showed me one day that, "You want it so much because it's my desire in you." Aaaaaaaahhhhj!!!!! I want what He wants!! 5. He bottled up my tears. (Psalm 56:8) This came as such a relief to me. He knows ALL the times I cried and vengeance is His. I'm at peace. 6. He talks back. It's not always a booming voice out of the clouds on a sunny day, but I've heard God. I've asked questions and said silly things and He's spoken to me. He's reassured me and I cling to those words for life. 7. He only comes as far as I let Him. God is a gentleman. It is up to you. Whether you don't let Him in because you're afraid or you don't have time.... Ultimately, the decision is yours. 8. What He has is big. His heart is big. His plans are big. I serve a very big God-o, who's always by my side, by my side. *singing* 9. He gave me jars of oil. This is gold, okay.. It deserves its own post. Remind me. 10. He loves my hair and my voice and my toes. Just a few things I've been insecure about in the past, God literally reminds me He loves them. He made me and there's no flaw in His creation. 11. He's interested in me. One night I was moaning and feeling sorry for myself and wondering if anyone would be interested in me (this is why I don't like staying up too late, my thoughts are insane). I heard God literally say, "I'm interested in you." If I could roll off the bed and melt into a puddle of gloop I would have. So, God is interested in You. What do you have to say? 12. He wants my heart. My prayer as I serve is always, " Lord, may You be glorified by my talents. Let everything I do bring You glory." I was worshipping one night and I imagined the glory going up to heaven, but it was so little. I thought to myself, this is so little and God already has glory. He has riches, He has everything! What will I ever give Him in my all? My heart. He wants my heart. Not part of it, not what's left after everyone has taken their share. He. Wants. It. All. 13. Sometimes He just want me to sit at His feet. This happened when I was just so busy doing "God's work" that I didn't have time for the King. In what looked like a curse and a set back at that time, God reminded me where His feet are at and I went, head down and took Him in and He is glorious.. But again, the fire is never enough so I will be sure to stop once in a while and take Him in. 14. He guides me and I'm not insane. So many times I have asked myself if I am out of my mind for wanting the things I do and pursuing the life I am. Number 4, He puts the desires in me, He guides me and once in a while He shows me I'm not completely mad! 15. He is in His Word. He literally lives there. (Hebrews 4:11) I have been going around reading the Bible wrong all these years. I looked at it as a book, a wonderful book that is.. But never as The Living Word. The Bible is active, God is in it and He speaks through it. It is always the same, it never changes, but it is alive and it is sharp. 16. He is good, that is who He is, that is who He is, that is who He is. Lee Burns said this when he spoke at our church last year and it stuck with me. I sing the song, I know the words but do I understand them? He is good. I've read passages in the Bible that say God is good and I've wondered why they don't use words like 'great' or 'wonderful' or 'huge'. The Bible does use those words, as well as the word GOOD. Sometimes simplicity is key, sometimes simplicity is good. God is good. Just think about that for a moment. Good. I actually didn't think I could make it to 16! There are so many things I learned about God this past year. Bless.

[edemloves]

PRAYING that my hair reverts after straightening it. I wore it "straight" (my hair semi-reverted, it was like a blown out 'fro) for two weeks. I could have worn it straight longer but I noticed dandruff!!! Plus, one of my ambitions this year is not to skip #WashDay. Oh, plot twist, my hair reverted! God.

[edemloves]

Hair Goals + Plans 2017

Goal : collar bone length or double my current length (I’m currently at 14 cm) more manageable hair to wear hair out without having to braid or twist it first aka wash ‘n go

Plan : take hair supplements (because I’m curious) protective style like it’s my job deep condition mix oils and butters (shea butter, coconut oil, castor oil I will never be without) drink more water + eat healthier document healthy hair journey more faithfully

Ambition : never skip wash days never skim on sealing my ends + oiling my edges

Things I’m Cutting Out : heat because HEAT DAMAGE HAS NEVER BEEN CUTE less combs (I had planned to cut combs out completely but it’s just not feasible for me at the moment) useless chemicals

[edemloves]

My favorite verse!