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‘The Fledgling Philanthropist’ – Inner Beauty

Penned by Elly | Friday, May 4th, 2:40 pm | Filed under Fun, Lil Skye, Musings

: our own fledgling philanthropist – Lil Skye

Meredith here, along with our sweet lil Skye! (a.k.a the owner’s daughter and my future boss.) I have the pleasure of being the nanny to this precious girl a few days a week. And believe me when I say that she is a special young lady.

The two of us love fashion. I LOVE to pick out her clothes and she loves to tell me she doesn’t want to wear it, but rather something of her own choosing. (Who can blame her?) Her mom has stocked her closet full of amazing choices that I wish came in my size. Needless to say, dress up is an activity that happens often. Generally I dress her and slowly add items to her ensemble (a hat, a crazy scarf, etc.) I get a good laugh at the outcome, which is followed by her giving me a sassy look (which cracks me up even more!)

Although we thoroughly enjoy our fashion “experiments” so to speak, it is my desire that she know her beauty comes from the inside, from her Creator. So often we as women and young ladies get wrapped up in the beauty of the exterior that we too often neglect the interior. The Lord speaks generously in His word of how the inside is a direct reflection of the outside. He tells us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made”, that He “knit us together in our mother’s womb.” Our God is not a God of mistakes. He created you with a purpose and a beauty that was specifically designed for you.

“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” -Proverbs 31:30

In a culture where beauty is only skin deep, insecurity is second nature. Why do we forget our source of love and acceptance comes from Christ? What causes us to doubt our beauty in the first place? These are questions I frequently ask myself, as I’m sure we all do.

I want lil Skye to recognize what her source of loveliness is. That it comes from a great God who fashioned her perfectly and that true beauty only comes from the one who created us, our Jesus.

“Train a child in the way he should go. When he is old, he will not turn away from it.” -Proverbs 22:6

Together in Him,

~Your Philanthropy Family

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Words of Affirmation

Penned by Elly | Thursday, May 3rd, 2:30 pm | Filed under Fun

We had such a blast this past weekend at Main Street Festival and, as always, LOVED seeing the faces of our regular and new friends! We are always so touched by the encouragement that we receive from y’all and appreciate you taking the time to share with us! On Saturday, a sweet woman stopped in the store with her daughter. Her daughter shops with us regularly and we were super excited to get to meet “mama”! (We love when you guys bring in visiting family and friends - We feel so special!) After spending some time wandering around and chatting with us, her mother began to share with us how touched she was by the work that Philanthropy is blessed to do. She told us that she would be praying for us for increased opportunities and favor! We were so blessed by that encouragement and appreciative of the prayers! Those kinds of blessings and words of affirmation are such a gift from one believer to another!

Thank you guys for each time you have shared something like that with us – We hear it and appreciate it!!

Together in Him….

~Your Philanthropy Family

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~ Courage ~

Penned by Elly | Monday, Apr 30th, 11:27 am | Filed under Devotions, Inspiration, Musings

Courage.

It’s a character trait that we all want to have. There are few greater compliments than someone telling you that you are brave, unafraid, or courageous and it is a wonderful feeling to look something frightening in the eye and overcome. Unfortunately though, getting to that point of actually DOING the courageous thing is often paved with some excuse making and a smidge of nausea =) (Oh…is that just me?)

In the early chapters of the book of Joshua we meet a young, new leader – the books namesake, Joshua. He’s facing some major tasks and, as the late Moses’ assistant, has some LAAARGE shoes to fill! The Lord tells him that he is going to become the leader of the Israelites and lead them across the Jordan River into the Promised Land… that is a serious task!! Can you please imagine with us for a moment THAT conversation!?!?! We’re picturing sweaty palms, a pale face, and some SERIOUS need for fresh air!

BUT THEN – God says something that changes everything (He is SO good at that!) -

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you….This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Be courageous Joshua! I have your back! You can do this tough/scary/big thing! Be strong and FULL OF COURAGE!! I’m with you!

Ready for the best part? (Oh yea…there’s more!) God’s promise of support and His commands to be courageous is for us too!! It didn’t expire thousands of years ago on the banks of the Jordan river. Suddenly, the thing that the Lord is asking of us seems slightly more doable. We have a big God in our court whose promise to Joshua still applies today!

” Be strong and courageous (insert your name here)! Be careful to obey all of the instructions I give you! Do not be afraid or discouraged (insert your name here)! For the Lord your God is with you WHEREVER you go!”

What is something courageous that the Lord is asking you to do this week? We pray for boldness for you as you jump into the amazing tasks He has for you!! He has your back today and everyday afterwards!! Be courageous!

Together in Him,

Your Philanthropy Family

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Main Street Festival 2012!

Penned by Elly | Friday, Apr 27th, 1:05 pm | Filed under Devotions, Inspiration, Musings

We are SO pumped for Main Street Festival this weekend in Franklin!! What an honor and blessing to live in a community that so many people want to come and visit for a few days! In the hustle and bustle (and crazy fun!) , it can be SO easy to forget what an opportunity this is! Our Lord sets a pretty high example of patience and focus in all circumstances and, while I like to think that I also am the poster child for calm, cool, and collected, that would be kinda far from the truth =) We are really praying that this weekend we will not get lost in the “busy” around us but, rather, be ready to be a light to all of those who the Lord sends our way!

As Jesus was preparing for the crucifixion, He has some time with his disciples….He tells them this:

^”A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

They won’t know we are Christians by our impatient attitudes or by cutting them off in traffic to get the better parking spot. They won’t know we are Christians by ignoring the mom struggling to get the stroller and 17 shopping bags through the restaurant door….. Nope. They’ll identify us by the love we express.

Jesus said LOADS of wise things in his few years on Earth but I take special note to the things he said in those last few hours before Calvary…. I almost picture him wanting to give the last run down to his precious disciples before He left, as He knew the things they were about to face. In those intimate moments before His horrific death, he wanted to remind them, above all…

LOVE ONE ANOTHER! It’s how they will know who you are….

Praying that we are all ready to love on one another this weekend and that we are a testimony of goodness, patience, kindness, and, ultimately, JESUS to everyone He brings our way this weekend!! Get ready for a good time Franklin!!

Together in Him,

~Your Philanthropy Family

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Oh, How He Loves Us!

Penned by Elly | Wednesday, Apr 25th, 12:07 pm | Filed under Devotions, Fun, Musings

“…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…” Ephesians 3:

We are honored to serve a God who is big… A God who is creative and passionate. A Lord who created us – not because he NEEDED us – but simply because he WANTED us. You were created by the God of the universe….and the universe was not complete to Him without adding you! To even begin to wrap my head around that is just the start of understanding the depth and height and width of our Makers love… and here at Philanthropy we get an extra special task placed in front of us daily – to try and show that love of Christ to the community we are part of and the world we desire to impact!

We are SO blessed to do what we do on a daily basis. We love more than anything to share with the world how great our God’s heart is and to be part of the work He is doing! Our prayer is that everyone that enters our doors be met with a love that only Christ Himself could extend. Whether our encounter with you is quick and concentrated over which scarf best matches your jacket, or whether our time together is more lengthy and ends in a hug and prayer of blessing, our prayer is always, always, always the same…

That, as you leave, you are more aware of His love for you than when you came and that, together, we are closer to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ!

“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”

St. Augustine

Together in Him,

Your Philanthropy Family

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