God’s love – Page 2

2015, Fashion, God's love

A Very Good Friday

April 3, 2015 No Comments

Happy Easter weekend to you!

I’m so thankful to have a reason to celebrate this weekend that goes beyond the superficial dresses, eggs and bunny. While all of that is fun, I wouldn’t want to live for one second without the peace and hope of knowing that Jesus loves me so much He died on the cross for me. He would have gone through all of that pain even if it were just for me! That’s a sobering thought that makes me love Him even more.

I get to live in complete freedom because I know that He died so that I might have and enjoy life – to the fullest! He wants us to cast our burdens on Him and live life fully trusting Him and the wonderful plan He has for us.

I found myself allowing worry and anxiety in my brain recently, so I turned to the bible and came across this scripture in Ephesians…

I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. -Ephesians 3:16-17

From beginning to end that verse is so encouraging. Our God has glorious, unlimited resources and He wants to empower us! Not with a fleeting power that feels good on the outside, but with something that bubbles up from the inside and is made possible only through His Spirit.

All of this because He wants our roots – the very foundation of our being, where we draw all of life – to grow down deeper into His love. Man, oh man, I want that. Just think of how grounded and stable you would be (regardless of any situation) by having your roots down deep into His love.

That’s what He wants from us. Why we try to take things on ourselves, or figure out the best way possible for US to make things happen is silly. I do it all the time. Why?! :)

I want to live this verse out and rely fully on His glorious, unlimited resources.

Love Him back with your life because He fist loved you with His.

Happy Easter!

Beauty, God's love

Speak Yourself Beautiful

March 4, 2015 No Comments

Most of my close friends know, I don’t shy away from saying how awesome I am. Most of the time it’s wrapped up in a joke, but there’s an underlying truth that I really love getting to be the person God created me to be.

The other reason I gravitate to those jokes is because not very many women brag about themselves. Granted, I run the risk of sounding conceited every time, but it gets old and awkward hearing people degrade themselves.

I was talking to someone the other day and they brought up something about themselves that I know is a major insecurity. I don’t know this because I’m their close friend, we barely talk, but every time we do the issue that they struggle with gets injected into the conversation.

It makes me want to shake them and say, “You need to know how beautiful you are and quit focusing on that!”

Think about how you represent yourself to other people. Are you pointing out your flaws? You don’t have to swing all the way in my direction and start outright telling everyone how beautiful/awesome/hilarious you are ;) but you can refrain from pointing out negative things when you get a compliment.

Think of it this way, if you were wearing a beautiful couture gown, the most beautiful you’ve ever seen, and someone came up and complimented the dress – what if you stopped them and pointed out a flaw? A flaw that they never would have seen, but now they’re completely aware of it and can see nothing else on that gorgeous creation but that one red dot (Seinfeld reference).

It would ruin the dress. And if you kept doing it, the dress would be tainted to you and everyone else because word would spread fast. It sounds crazy – why would anyone do that about a gorgeous hand-woven gown? You should see this coming… How is that any different from you?

You were created by God. He crafted you in your mother’s womb. Sure we change as we get older, but that doesn’t make us any less His beautiful creation. I know it can be difficult/awkward to respond positively to a compliment or refrain from pointing out an insecurity because it feels as if talking about it will help, but all it does is shine an unnecessary spotlight on the problem. And it makes the person you’re talking to feel uncomfortable, which usually elicits an empty compliment.

I’d rather compliment myself than force someone else into doing it.

What you need to do is replace those negative thoughts and words with what the Bible has to say about you…

“Body and soul, I am marvelously made!” -Psalm 139:14 (msg)

My challenge to you for the rest of the week is to pay attention to what you say about yourself. Be aware of how you represent you. Replace any self-degrading thoughts with that scripture up there. If you’ll change your thinking, you’ll feel better, your words will change and before long you’ll be leading your own personal pep rally!

You’re welcome to hold your pep rally first. Mine tend to run long ;)

2015, Fashion, goals, God's love, Videos, wbir, west town mall

Let’s Refresh Together

January 14, 2015 No Comments

‘Ello!

I am Elizabeth Ogle, beauty and fashion blogger as well as Style Consultant for West Town Mall (if you know that already give an exasperated sigh while throwing your hands in the air).

This year so far has been a swirl of fun activities so now that I’m back to blogging regularly, I thought a great way to really start 2015 would be to reintroduce myself and my hidden agendas. I had a meeting about that with the other person I work with (my dog) and he agreed bones are delicious….which I took to mean, “Reintroducing yourself is the most professional thing to do at this juncture.”

I am so passionate about clothes and confidence and beauty products that four years ago I decided to pour all of that into a blog. Oh and I love to write, so consider that the homemade whip cream on top of it all. Yum.

In 2012 I was given the opportunity to be a guest on WBIR’s morning show over on FOX. Turns out I love being on TV and they loved having me, so for the past 2 1/2 years I’ve been a regular guest (my latest segment you can watch above). In 2013 I applied for “Style Setter” with Simon malls. A job that I got which meant I got to write about things from my local mall (West Town Mall – to be exact). Once that gig ended nationally in 2014, the people running West Town said they were having so much fun with me and I with them that they gave me a new title, “Style Consultant.”

That means I get to write some more and have mall merchandise at my disposal to talk about on TV!

I tell you all of that not to toot my own horn (ha, toot), but to instead show that I’m a professional blogger (ok maybe a small toot) (ha) and most importantly to testify to the fact that when you obey God and walk in the destiny He has planned for you, great things happen!!

God has put in me a strong desire to help women feel good about themselves and to dress in a way that presents them beautifully to the world. So if you want all of that, come back my and read some more! If you don’t want any of that, read other blogs ;) kidding. I do think it’s important to make it a habit of reading a blog(s). Not only because they’re FREE to read, but also because they help you stay fresh and in-the-know on what’s happening in the style/beauty world, from real/unbiased people.

So if you like what you’ve read so far, I hope you come back tomorrow and the next day and the day after that x infinity. :)

gift ideas, God's love

Don’t Start Stressing, Read This Instead

November 26, 2014 1 Comment

Hey.

Thanks for stopping by the blog! There are so many things I had planned to post about today, but I really felt impressed to scrap all of that and write about something else. Take 84 seconds to keep reading…

I started feeling overwhelmed last week, and as I allowed my thoughts to progress it started to come in waves. Work was piling up, the house was a mess, blogs were looming and then the holiday cooking and shopping and list making…Oh {freakin} My!

Then I realized if I don’t get control of this situation I’m not going to enjoy one minute of the holidays. And I’m the type of person to want to savor every second, so I don’t want to spend the next month stressed out, and I’m certain neither do you.

First I started meditating on Hebrews 4:11, “labor to enter into His rest.” Which means CHOOSE to enter into God’s rest. I’ve started making a concerted effort to just be still and quiet. No phone checking, no noise. Just being. Even if it means driving in silence.

This helps keep the noise down in my head (there’s a constant stream of songs going up there) and it helps me to hear and recognize God’s voice.

Next I start to really list out everything I’m stressed about and give it a time frame. Sometimes we have this long list in our minds and it seems like it’s going to take us HOURS AND HOURS. When really it won’t. When I start making sides for our Thanksgiving meal tomorrow, I’m not going to be slaving over the stove the entire time. Some of that will be spent with the food in the oven.

There will be some free time to get other things done which makes it easier.Earlier in my mind, it was me running around the flour-bombed kitchen with a crazed look in my eye while the pot boiled over on the stove.

The key to enjoying the holidays is to schedule in time to just be (even if it’s the 84 seconds you’re giving me to read this), make a list and be realistic about your time, but most importantly – labor to enter into God’s rest.

He so wants you to enjoy this season. And if you’ll have those moments of quiet time with Him, He’ll lead and guide you to do exactly what you need to do at exactly the right time to do it.

I promise. I see it happen in my own life every time I finally let go and listen.

Thanks for reading. I so appreciate you stopping by the blog. I’m so blessed in that I get to do what I’m passionate about, but it would be me talking to a wall if it weren’t for you.

Let’s make this Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year’s the most stress free ones yet!

Speaking of which, enjoy my segment from yesterday where I talk about gift ideas for the guys!

Beauty, God's love

What You Should do When You Think About the Future

November 3, 2014 10 Comments

I often think about the jokes I’m going to make about my age.

This past Thursday I celebrated my 31st birthday! I will always always love birthdays because I definitely don’t shy away from special attention ;) But what I’m still working on is how I’m going to address my age when I get older.

I’m working on what jokes I’m going to make about it, because I want them to show how comfortable I am with the age I’m at. I never want someone to think I’m afraid of getting older or that I’m sad for not being “young” any more.

For one thing, fear of getting older doesn’t look good on your face, and for another thing it’s a total waist of time. It’s completely out of our control, and every single person you come in contact with is going through the same process. So being afraid of it is just silly.

Besides, the Bible tells me that God has only good things in store for my future, so that’s exciting!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

-Jeremiah 29:11

The absolute biggest lesson I’ve learned this very first year of being in my 30’s was that it’s so important to do what Hebrews 4:11 tells us and that’s to, “be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves].” (AMP)

I have clung to that scripture so many times when things weren’t going the way I had planned, and when fear tried to leak into my mind. Instead I would strive to enter into God’s rest. I literally surrounded myself with scriptures so that my eyes would hit on the Word of God the moment unrest hit my soul.

Between our own thoughts, what we see on Instagram, Facebook or what we hear other people say – there is plenty of opportunity to become discontent. But that’s not peace. That’s not living in the freedom we are promised. So everyday, sometimes every five minutes I choose to enter into God’s rest and be content with the age I’m at, the place I’m in and the position God has for me.

And it’s wonderful. I lived in fear, but choosing freedom is sooo much better.

So I can’t think of a more fitting shirt to represent this next year in my life. It comes from this verse…

She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
-Proverbs 31:25

I get to spend another year being me and you get to spend another year being you. When we think about our future, let’s laugh :)

PS: This won’t be the last pic you see of me wearing this shirt. If you want your own, go here…

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