So Artsy! So Fresh! So Cool!

Goodness, I just cannot shake this shoe fetish I have!

Thankfully the idea of "window shopping" has sunk in and I enjoy looking for cute shoes other people are wearing rather than buying them myself.

First on the super-cute-and-totally-awesome shoe list are Sseko's. My friend, Cameron, is an ambassador for this non-profit that her best friend started in Uganda. I'm stealing the following from Heather's blog because she explains it all so well (thanks, Heather) :

It's a sandal company started by a young girl...here she is:


She's a cutie.

This cutie has a name.

Liz

Liz was in Africa. She found out smart girls were graduating from a private school called Cornerstone Academy in Uganda. However...after graduation, these girls weren't going to college. Liz wanted to know why. She found out the girls don't have the money for school, and have no way to earn it. There's no work. It's non-existent. What work does exist goes to men. There was no way for these smart girls to earn enough money to afford to continue their education.

Liz was not satisfied with this sad situation and wanted to do something about it.

Oh...you've just got to love a woman who is frustrated. Watch out world. Just watch out.

Liz created Sseko Designs.

Girls...who recently graduated from a secondary school in Uganda make sandals so they can pay for their first year of college.

From the website...

Sseko \say-ko\ Designs was created to help these bright young women continue their education. The Ugandan school system is designed with a nine month gap between secondary school and university. These nine months are intended to allow time for students to earn money for tuition before continuing on to university. However, in an impoverished and male dominated society, many of these young women struggle to find fair work during this time.

Sseko Designs hires recent secondary school graduates for this nine month period to live and work together, while earning money that will go directly towards their university education. These women will not make sandals forever. They will go on to be doctors, lawyers, politicians, writers and teachers that will bring change and unification to a country divided and ravished by a 22 year-long war.

Sseko Designs is a not-just-for-profit enterprise that recognizes the power of business and responsible consumerism to support sustainable economic development, which in turn affects a country's educational, justice, and health care systems. The goal of Sseko Designs is two-fold: provide university tuition for these promising young women through a sustainable monthly income, while also contributing to the overall economic development of Uganda.

Although consumerism makes many empty promises, responsible and proactive consumerism has the ability to change lives. Like the lives of Mercy, Mary and Rebbecca.

Every sandal has a story. This story has only just begun, but with your help, it will be a story of hope, success and change.

For real!?!? How cute are these!?! And trendy! And versatile! So cool...go check out her other awesome designs and learn more about Sseko Designs here.

____________________________________________

Next up is my artsy friend Candice who likes shoes and painting, so she combined the two:


She paints mostly TOMS:

So talented! If you would like a personally-hand-painted-with-love pair, shoot her an email at kustom_kickz@yahoo.com.

The sweet thing about TOMS is that for every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. This is from the TOMS site...

In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers.

Since our beginning, TOMS has given over 150,000* pairs of shoes to children in need through the One for One model. Because of your support, TOMS plans to give over 300,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world in 2009.

TOMS are a big deal here in College Station. They are totally "in" and are totally for a great cause!

These are my favorite:

Go here to learn more and to see all of their different styles for men, women, and kids!

'Tis the season to give! And why not give to two people for the price of one? Happy shopping!

Here Is Where I Am

I love those moments when God "coincidentally" presents words, or a song, or a message, or [fill in the blank]...something that perfectly aligns with the current state of my heart. Really, there is nothing coincidental about it. Thus, His sovereignty. He ceases to amaze.

Last night, He hit the nail on the head via the day's devotional in My Utmost For His Highest.

So here is where my heart is:

The Riches of the Destitute

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24)

The Gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the truth that it reveals is not palatable or easy to swallow. There is a certain pride in people that causes them to give and give, but to come and accept a gift is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom; I will dedicate my life to service - I will do anything. But do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

We have to realize that we cannot earn or win anything from God through our own efforts. We must either receive it as a gift or do without it. The greatest spiritual blessing we receive is when we come to the knowledge that we are destitute as long as we think we are sufficient in and of ourselves. We must enter into His kingdom through the door of destitution. As long as we are "rich," particularly in the area of pride or independence, God can do nothing for us. It is only when we get hungry spiritually that we receive the Holy Spirit. The gift of the essential nature of God is placed and made effective in us by the Holy Spirit. He imparts to us the quickening life of Jesus, making us truly alive. He takes that which was "beyond" us and places it "within" us. And immediately, once "the beyond" has come "within," it rises up to "the above," and we are lifted into the kingdom where Jesus lives and reigns (see John 3:5).

This is where I am: stuck between the knowledge and the receipt of grace.

TONS of people have noticed this struggle within me. I am extremely thankful for their guidance, concern, wisdom, and help (particularly my Mom).

In the end, it's a pride issue. I am confident that - in time - it will work itself out. It seems funny to ask for your grace as I wrestle (since grace is what I seem incapable of accepting), but nonetheless, I am asking.

He is good.

He is sovereign.

He shapes.

He molds.

He perfects.

In the end, He reigns.

For this I am thankful!



** On a special note, Casting Crowns' Prodigal "coincidentally" played on my iTunes as I typed this :)

Thankful for Thanksgiving

I am SO thankful to have now met my extended family!

My grandfather's brother (who I call Uncle Bob) and wife (Aunt Marion) warmly welcomed me into their home this past Tuesday for a day and a half of fun, family, food, and of giving thanks. I also met two of my second cousins, David and Robert, whom I had never heard much about. They were around for about 24 hours and then booked it on a flight to Tulsa to spend the holiday with more family I don't know. I liked seeing the Landis-side of the family. They are very much Landis's with the Landis personality (quite different from the Frankel side). I now see where my Mom gets her spark :)

I am so thankful for family. And for food. Aunt Marion is a WONDERFUL cook! I woke up Wednesday morning to my choice of eggs, hash browns, bacon, donuts, toast, waffles, juice, and a variety of other goodies. Uncle Bob graciously made me an omelet. Needless to say, they kept me well-fed. And, oh my goodness, they wouldn't even let me refill my own water glass most of the time! I am so thankful for their hospitality and love to a "stranger." Although, they claim to know much more about me than I think they do. That could be good or bad...

Aunt Marion and Uncle Bob prepared a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and sent me home with heaping amounts of leftovers. I'm sad to say they are almost gone. But my stomach is happy! It's hard to keep food around these days. With all of this running, all I ever do is eat. Hey, it doesn't bother me. But it's funny to watch the mass amount of food my roommates and I consume. You'd think we live with a house full of boys.

And that game last night!?!? Gig em, Ags! Sarah Elizabeth's brother, Ben, is a junior in the Corp of Cadets and got us 2nd row tickets to the game. What a great game! I was reminded of how lucky I am to be at such a great University with such awesome people. The Spirit, the maroon, the crazy constant loudness, the jumping, the yelling, the "What we're they thinking???'s," the cold weather, the cameras, the closeness of it all. I loved every bit of it! Thanks, SEB and Ben! xoxo

It has been a unique Thanksgiving, 900 miles away from my parents and sister, but one that I will never forget!

Lord, you are too good to me!

I can't wait to see what you have in store for the remembrance of your Son this Christmas!

Aggie Ring Day!!!!!!!!!

I'm a little late on this one, but "Better Late Than Never," as Heather says...

I am so thankful for my beautiful friend Jessie and her artsy eye when it comes to photography. I finally got my Fightin' Texas Aggie ring (WHOOP) last Friday, November 13th, and she spent the whole afternoon taking pictures of me and Rachel getting our rings. Then she came to our ring dunk that night and took more pictures!

This was a HUGE blessing to my parents who couldn't be here for the big occasion.

Here is just a sampling of some of the pictures she took:

Rachel and I standing in line waiting to get our rings


We got in line earlier in the day (at 5:45 am) so we would get an early pick up time (And we did!)


Left to right: Me, Jessie, Rachel, and Mrs. Hultz (Rachel's mom)


Rachel got her ring! No ring for me yet...until...


Waiting...


Almost...


Wa-hoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So shiny!!!


Two happy Aggies!


On the 12th Man bus!



WHOOP!


"OH my goodness!!!!"


This is a reflection in one of the building's glass windows. So artsy, that one!

Thanks, Jessie, for such a fun day and for capturing the memories moment-by-moment in such beautiful pictures! You are truly a blessing to me and my family!

The Right Words at the Right Time

My friend sent me this poem via facebook a few days ago. I don't know what compelled her to think of me, but it was just what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it most:

Wait
by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Are you willing to take up your cross?

Today was an emotional day - emotionally draining and, at the same time, empowering.

I had the privilege of volunteering with some friends at the Open Doors Persecuted Church Film Festival in the Woodlands. We watched three documentaries about persecuted Christians around the world, but one in particular struck a chord in my heart. Watch this movie trailer:

A Cry From Iran Trailer

It is undeniable that Haik Hovsepian was completely and totally filled with the Holy Spirit. I had to do a self-check of my heart. While others around me were shedding tears, I felt empowered. Some were sobbing, and I was invigorated. This man so recognized his depravity and Christ's sovereignty that I found myself thanking the Lord for Haik's willingness and readiness to die for the Gospel. I firmly believe that westernized Christians would be more faithful if we were not so comfortable. One of the interviewees in the documentary made a blunt but all-too-true statement: At one end of the spectrum Christians are paralyzed in fear and at the other in ignorance. It is difficult to imagine the existence of such barbaric atrocities in the 21st century when I am able to freely enter a church building at any time of any day. At the same time I post "going to church" on Facebook for the whole world to see, thousands are fleeing their home countries for their lives because they proclaim Christ as their Savior. I can't wrap my head around this vastly popularized western religion in comparison to true biblical Christianity.

Am I thankful for my freedom? Of course.

Do my freedoms make it harder for me to identify with and plead for the orphan and the widow? Absolutely.

So how can we, as free Christians, help those who are being persecuted?

1. For starters, educate yourself. Open Doors is a wonderful place to learn more about what is happening outside of our bubble.

2. Identify commands in Scripture and your response to help the persecuted church. Are they parallel? We are instructed to "...learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, [and] plead the case of the widow." (Isaiah 1:17)

3. Get involved. Whether it be through prayer, action, or giving of our time and talents, we all have the duty to help our brothers and sisters in the persecuted church.

Marriage. An Idol?

My friend, Kristin, sent me this awesome article asking the question if marriage can become an idol:

"Most single women want to get married. A good marriage is something they deeply desire. But for many, their desire is unarticulated, a silent longing. I kept quiet most of the time when I was single and hoping for marriage, mostly out of embarrassment for being romantically unsuccessful. It was easier, and less risky, to just keep it to myself. By my silence, I could avoid ridicule and the possibility of having to admit my failure if marriage never happened.

But today there's an added reason women hide their desire for marriage. They've been told and retold that nurturing such a desire will not only scare men off, but worst of all, it may lead them to idolatry. I see and hear this warning a lot among Christians. It seems anytime someone writes or preaches about marriage to singles, they start with the caveat that wanting marriage is good "as long as you don't make an idol out of it."

Can the desire for marriage really become an idol? It's technically possible. But that notion has been blown out of proportion. And repeatedly suggesting the possibility of idolatry has done more harm than good. It's caused a lot of women to be tepid in their approach to marriage and made them afraid that any amount of thinking or acting on their desire might be a sin. Both have the unfortunate consequence of making marriage even less likely to happen..."

Read on here!