Tuesday 27 January 2015

5 Bible Passages I would remind my younger self.

                                                                                                                                                               Pinterest

I TURN 20 TODAY! 


1)
Then said I: 
"Ah Lord GOD!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am youth."
But the Lord said to me:
"Do not say, 'I am youth,'
For you shall go to all to whom I send you, 
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,"
says the Lord. - Jeremiah 1:6-8 (NKJV)

I remember when I was just turning a teenager, I had already given my life to the Lord but I was so afraid of my faith that very few of my school friends knew about my Saviour. It was all very well going to Church and being able to be myself but at school I searched for ways to avoid the whole "christianity" topic. I have always been very concious about what people think about me and I remember hiding Him from everyone because I was embarassed. Can you believe being embarassed about the Creator of the heavens? It saddened me greatly because my relationship with the Lord was growing and a part of me was rising up inside and wanted to shout His name from every rooftop of my town but the other side suppressed that and I was in a real battle of giving either side the glory. I struggled with this for a few years until I got past it, with the Lord's help I decided that He was worthy of my praising and worshipping of Him outside of my bedroom and the Church walls. My heart really wanted to let people know the beauty He's given my life. If you're in a similar position to me that I was in when I was around 13 I want to encourage you to stay strong and bold in your faith because your battle has already been won by an almighty God that love you and cherishes you with all His heart and that your voice matters. This world needs more amazing and inspiring individuals like yourselves to shine a light in this darkened land and if not you then who?

2) 

The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man. - Psalm 118:6-8 (NKJV)

Along with my conciousness of what people thought of me was caring too much about people liking me. I was heavily concerned with everyone getting along and would wince at the possibility of someone not liking me. It would make me incredibly sad and at times would consume me, I tried ever so hard to keep the peace wherever possible and would avoid conflict and drama. The hard truth is not everyone you encounter will be as appreciative of you than others and getting to grips with that and moving on to focus on God and shift that pressure and expectation you place on yourself is going to be so liberating. Do not put all your confidence and waste energy on getting people to like you, it will be a wasted effort and you may end up comprising instead put all your confidence in the Lord.


3)

Let love be without hypocrisy, Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in a tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath for it is written "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" says the Lord. 
Therefore 
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink; 
For in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head"
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
 - Romans 12:9-21

It is very easy to become disheartened when people hate you, gossip about you and hurt your family with words. I would tell my younger self that hatred is a waste of time and it is much better for the soul to forgive and bless your enemies rather than curse, gossip and stir. It is easy to hate but love takes courage. Love is the very essence of God's being and if we are empowered by His love and His Holy Spirit we begin to see people through the eyes of Jesus and we love them. Our enemy is against principalities and powers not flesh and blood. The devil wants to cause disunity with hatred and gossip but with the Lord guiding us united we'll stand drenched in His love and ready to win people back for Jesus.

4) 
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. - Colossians 2:8-9

Growing up in church, I was very concious and aware of what those older than me and in authority over me were saying. I took every word in as the truth and never tested it with the Lord's word. A couple of years ago when I moved church I was able to find people that loved the Lord, hung onto every word of the Lord and showed the love of the Lord, the genuine love of the Lord to me and it was something I had rarely experienced beforehand. Pray that the Lord opens your spiritual eyes and grants you wisdom, knowledge and understanding of Him and His Word. Pray that He plants people into your life that can be accountable for you and will love you regardless of what you have to say. Pray that He puts genuine, sold out for the Lord people in your life that will inspire and grow with you and treat like family :) Shoutout to Mama, the Matejka family and my very best friends from home and uni and around the world - you know who you are and what an inspiration you are to me I thank God for you beautiful people in my life. I enjoy doing life with you very much!

5) 
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. - Colossians 3:2

I thought it best to finish on this verse as Christians our brothers and sister in Christ are being attacked, slaughtered and silenced all over the world. His Word and His values are being ripped out of schools, out of countries laws and thrown to the pavement. Becoming a Christian doesn't guarantee an easy life on this earth, no, aren't we grateful for He swears to never leave us nor forsake us. When the weight of the world is on our shoulders, when we feel bounded by our sin and when we feel unworthy of stepping into His presence and His goodness being so low down and far away from Him puts us in the perfect position to kneel at His feet and pray. When the trials and the tribulations build up and you can't see whether or not the future is looking bright look to Him, always to Him, press past the flesh, past our self and into Jesus for our reward is not on this earth but with Our Father in heaven!




Sunday 25 January 2015

Haul: SALE ITEMS - from Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Superdrug!













1. Miss Selfridge - £5.00 // 2. Topshop - £10.00 // 3. Topshop - £10.00 // 4. Topshop - £10.00 // Sleek Contouring Kit - £9.99 - Superdrug // Max Factor Mascara - £7.99 - Superdrug // Garnier Marcellar Water - £4.99


For the first 2 weeks of January I was a very obedient girl to my card, all was well and money saving was working! Until a few days ago when I went to town on my own and splurged a bit too much. I wanted to show you everything I bought because these will be the last pieces of clothing and make-up that you'll see for a while! 

If you know me well you'll know that Topshop is way out of my price range. I adore looking at their clothes but I window shop only. However there were about 2 racks of Topshop clothes that were on sale and I figured that I had nothing to lose purely because I most likely wouldn't find anything that I would actually want to wear. Lo and behold I found 2 beautiful tops and a jumpsuit that I will be wearing for my birthday meal tomorrow. Totally unexpected. The white lace top with the beautiful collar detailing was something that I had actually freaked out over before Christmas, it was totally my style - girly, lacey and collared detail to die for but this little top did not come cheap at the time and I was not willing to pay around £30 for it! 

I love colour so the story behind the pink and black floral top is simple, I adored the collar and pattern and I thought it would be wonderful tucked into a skirt! 

Now to the jumpsuit, I never wear jumpsuits I feel like jumpsuits are definitely not a good look for me I mean I get bulges where I don't want bulges and it rides up and it's just, no. BUT there was something different about this jumpsuit the sleeves are long and very bohemian and the ruffled detailing of the v-neck and back was amazing. The bottom half didn't ride up and wasn't uncomfortable but instead flowed out from the waist and skimmed past my hips.

The last top, although similar to pattern to the other top I bought because it reminded me of a top that Camila Cabello wore to an interview once, I'll insert the photo here:



Even though it's not exactly the same you can pull the top down over your shoulders to create a similar look to hers. 

Make-up wise I wasn't all that experienced with contouring my face, I had watched many a youtuber contour before me but I didn't know the first thing about contouring. My good old friend Krystal who is basically my sister uses this Sleek contour kit and her contouring is always en pointe: 



She inspired me to purchase it because I wanted cheekbones like hers! Anyway, I will review the Sleek contouring kit and the mascara because I have quite a lot to say about them! The Garnier micellar water is ace at getting all of my make-up off of my face thoroughly before bedtime. It leaves my skin feeling really clean and hydrated as well I would recommend this for those who love to get lazy with taking their make-up off.

I hope you enjoyed this quick post guys! 
God bless,
All my love,




Monday 19 January 2015

My Experience: Getting CONTACTS!




Home girl has been wearing glasses since she was in Year 3 and has hated wearing them ever since. I tried my hardest to wear them as little as possible and it was difficult because my eyesight is absolutely awful.

I am short-sighted. I always struggled with reading the board in Primary School and small things like seeing friends in the street and watching the television was proving very difficult. Something happens to me when I wear glasses, I become a social recluse and avoid eye contact with people - needless to say I am slowly getting better at it but I'll never forget those years that I remained blind because I was too embarassed to wear my glasses. If I could tell my younger self anything it woud be to "wear those dang glasses and maybe your eyesight wouldn't be as bad as it is now".

When I found out that contacts were a thing, I was so excited. I went to my Dad all happy and ecstatic at the prospect of there being a chance of me being able to see clearly everyday and feel confident at the same time but unfortunately Pop shot me down and told me I wasn't responsible enough to wear contacts. Which, I guess is kind of true - I can be the world's messiest person at times and I would definitely misplace them. Also, there was the fact that my Dad would've had to pay for them and if I was to go on losing them all the time there really wouldn't be any point in getting them.

So for another 2 or 3 years I remained wearing my glasses only in class and at home behind closed doors. UNTIL the summer before University, I had been earning my own money for nearly 2 years and I was ready and feeling responsible (kind of) to get contacts myself. So I did, I went into Specsavers not because they had the cheapest contacts deal at the time (but really it was) but because I was a responsible adult (or not).


What I got given:

  • 3x boxes of contacts that each held 3 individual contacts. (to change every 3 weeks)
  • 3x cases (to change every 3 weeks)
  • 3x 250ml solution
What I bought seperately:
  • My glasses which I bought on sale with the contacts for £10















I'll go through the run-down of what I had to do before I was able to use them properly.
1) First step, I booked a contacts appointment/consultation where I had to have an eye test to check if I was able to get the contacts. When I found out I was able to get them they had to find my lenses. The lady only had a prescription for my left eye so I was called back a few days later when they were available.

2) Second step, I had to practice putting them in. I struggled so much with this because I obviously don't poke things in my eyes that often. I was worried she would get frustrated with me because boy was I frustrated with myself. I must have said "I CAN DO THIS" more times than I'd like to admit to myself but she told me to have patience. Once I practiced putting my contacts in and taking them out around four times I was able to take them home.

3) I did all of this on a very tight schedule, I was due to go to university 2 weeks after my first contacts check-up and normally it takes that amount of time to wear them in and get used to them so they were very lovely to me and told me that I had to wear them everyday for a week. The first 2 days I had to wear them for 6 hours and the other days 10 hours (or something like that).

The day after I brought the contacts home I had a reaction to the solution. How did I know this? Because my eyes watered constantly and stung after putting them in. I stuck it out for 1 or 2 more days and then I had to phone them just in case this wasn't supposed to be happening. Turns out, it wasn't so I had to collect a different solution from them which turned out to be a lot better.

When I went in for a review of my contact experience I mentioned that my right eyes contact always felt like there was always something in it. I had read on the internet that it might be a scratch in the contact. The optician took this in and told me that it could be the fact that the contact was too big for my eye. They were able to change it and I was allowed to take them home along with 3 other packs of contacts and 3 big bottles of solution. I sorted out my direct debit and it worked out to be around £17 a month. I had to pay for 3 months before I started paying £17 so that was around £45 which I was totally fine with. Also because I was at University they wanted my contacts and solution sent to my house back at home every 3 months because they said that from experience the packages get damaged really easily.

Problems I have run into while having contacts:

  • Running out of solution - it's easy to go into my nearest optician and ask for more solution however you do have to pay for it. They normally give you enough solution that to make you have excess of but I think that because I was new to the contacts every time the contact wouldn't go into my eye I would pour solution on it so I ran out quite fast.
  • My contacts falling out while I was out - this was a very bad moment. I was just scratching my eye which I KNOW is not ideal to begin with but it was a harmless scratch okay?! I scratched my contact off of my eye. I found it easily  BUT I didn't have any solution with me and I cannot put my contacts in normal water. So one of my friends gave me a box to put it in which dried up my contact (it was inevitable) and even though once it had enough solution on it went back to normal it was evidently weaker and more flimsy than my other contact.
  • Put them on inside out - I was told that the contact, when it is the right way makes up a perfect bowl shape and with my left eye that is much harder to tell. All it does is feel uncomfortable, it doesn't affect the eye so this problem was easily resolved.
  • Slept in them - I wouldn't recommend this. Your eyes get all sticky and you struggle to blink. The opticians don't recommend it either plus the possibility of all of those scary contacts stories happening in real life is just too hard to bear.
  • Went through the day with my contacts in the wrong eye - I only did this for the second time today, the first time I resolved it but I was in a terrible rush this morning and I didn't have time. That felt so uncomfortable and very blurry at the edges, also my eyes couldn't focus on anything and I found myself squinting at the board in my seminar.
A Tip to Remember:
  • Pay attention to the cleaning processes that the optician gives you. I have to spend 15 seconds on either side of the contact with clean hands massaging the solution into it .Then I have to put either one in the corresponding side marked "L" and "<3". Then I have to fill the case with solution up to the line. 
PROS:
  • My confidence improved immensely. I could now see, not only that, I could see really well and far as well. I am able to look people directly in the eye when I engage in conversation and spot my friends across the street without them thinking I'm ignoring them and I can also search for things more effectively in shops. Not only that but I can fully appreciate a beautiful sunset. 
CONS:
  • I'm still getting used to slipping them in and out of my eyes quickly and effectively. 
  • It's also effort when I have had a really long day and I have to go through the cleaning process before going to bed.
  • Sometimes when I'm tired it can get really blurry. 
  • My contacts have dried up two times now and at the end of this month I will have to get another right-eye contact.

CONCLUSION: Contacts, in my opinion, are completely worth it. All of the cons that I mentioned can be easily resolved in time. The fact that my confidence and ability to see improved dramatically is a wonderful excuse to get them. In a way I feel like I missed out on huge parts of my life because of my embarassment that came with wearing glasses. I would've been able to enjoy my tour to Prague if I was able to see all the beautiful sights in all its glory. I know that a lot of you guys might be thinking that I should've just bitten the bullet and worn the dang glasses but it was hard for me and I tried to surpass it but it proved very difficult. Now I have a process that I'm getting used to and I am a lot more happier and confident.

I hope you guys find this post somewhat helpful!
God bless,
All my love,




Saturday 17 January 2015

Presents from America!





Hey guys,
My good friend called Maddie who lives in America but studies at the University I attend was able to bring back a few Christmas present goodies all the way from across the sea. I was soo excited to find out that she had got me Winter Candy Apple scents it made me so happy! 
Bath and Bodyworks was a store that I had only heard and seen about on Youtube from every American youtuber. There have been countless times that I have looked online to buy Bath and Bodyworks over the years but have not succeeded in doing so. So yeah, now that the background to my excitement is set I wanted to share all that I have to say about them :)














To begin with, Mads placed 3 Musketeers fun size chocolate bars in amongst all the presents, the significance lies in the fact that me, Mads and Viki - my closest friends at Uni, call ourselves the three musketeers, yep that's a thing. A beautiful thing haha LOVE YOU GUYS if you're reading this :D Also she got me Pop Rocks, I know that we have exploding candy over here but I'm not too sure whether or not they're actually Pop Rocks. Either way, popping candy rules.


Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple Fragrance Mist smells divine. I love apples, just apples in general are my favourite so wearing a scent that is the scent of apples is just amazing to me. This scent combines apple, rose petals and candied orange and it has such a clean finish - it smells absolutely gorgeous. I honestly have worn it every single day she she gave me the presents! Another thing I would like to add is about the nozzle, it does a wonderful job of having a wonderful spraying width compared to Victoria Secrets scents #nozzlewin.


The shower gel has a similar scent to the fragrance mist, if a little bit more of a candied orange scent to it but that may just be me. The scent lasts a long time and smells gorgeous. I would definitely recommend getting this if you love all things winter and apple.


I don't know about you guys but during the Winter my hands go especially dry and it can become quite uncomfortable. This handcream moisturises it wonderfully and the packaging is so cute and easy to pop into your handbag before you leave the house.


I have yet to burn this because we're not allowed to burn candles in our halls but I can't wait to burn it. One of my all time favourite scents of candle is anything Vanilla.


Although this hand sanitizer is Strawberry scent it is still a one of the most fabulous smells to ever inhabit my hands. It even looks like a strawberry exploded inside of it with the black beads, this hand sanitizer is cute and compact and stays in my handbag at all times.


I hope you guys enjoyed this quick post, 
All my love,
God bless,







Tuesday 6 January 2015

Happy New Year: A Reflection.






Wow, another year has flown by! Happy New Year to all of my beautiful readers reading this! 2014 was such a whirlwind for me, I went through happiness to heartbreak, from heartbreak to healing, through seasons of loneliness, fear and issues about my self-worth to a realisation of who the Lord is, how He knows every thought, action and feeling that I have had and still loves me and was with me all along. I find it so easy to become suffocated under all that life and the world is, I have been swept under it for so long and it has caused me to chase things, distractions and vain attractions that are not good for my soul. There have been times in 2014 that I do not want to relive, there have been times in 2014 that I would gladly relive. I have learnt a lot from 2014. So much of it has been lessons of discipline, running back to Him and believing that I could do life on my own terms. 2014 has been a year of selfishness, of letting go and of new starts to relationships and new found friendships. It has been a combination of emotions that have led me to despair to complete freedom but despite all of this, I wouldn't want to change 2014 for anything. It has taught me to love my family, my friends and appreciate my loved ones. It has challenged my faith and stretched my faith and equipped me to live a life with Jesus whom I will continue to journey with for the rest of my life. 

Every time I go through troublesome times when it is absolutely impossible to see even a glimspe of the light at the end of the tunnel, when I feel like my dreams are further away than I can ever imagine He brings me back to the reality of Him and causes me to lean on Him and His understanding that is far above anyone else's on this earth.
I have met people and heard speakers that have inspired me to search the very depths of who the Lord is and I have met people that I have wanted to encourage to come to a revelation of who He is and the freedom He brings. I have seen people go through sorrow, grief and despair in my own family and my friends. I had become angry at the people that have hurt and spoken harshly about my loved ones and I had become frustrated with myself and who I, at times, became in 2014. I became helpless and questionable about my worth, place and purpose in this world in 2014 and I have learnt to encourage people on their journey and learnt to love with everything I have and more.

2014, like every year prior will always have a special place in my heart and it will be a reminder of His grace and how far He’s brought me in this world that I will not be flattened by any longer. I will always be on a journey that involves some aspect of what I have already experienced and learnt from. I believe that the Lord will always be showing me and teaching me His ways in a constant continuation of learning for all of the years to come.

In 2015 I hope that whatever the Lord has in store, whatever rollercoaster of emotions or events that await me this year I pray that for you, myself and others that our focus will be on Jesus even when seasons of loneliness and desolation hit us I pray that we let Him have the highest throne in our lives.

“Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God”. – Philippians 4:6 [AMP]

“And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7 [AMP]