Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! Let's remember the reason for the season, shall we? I loved the devotional from #shereadstruth this morning. It was a nice change from the typical passage in Luke read around this time of year (though I love that one too!). 

In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established

    as the highest of the mountains;

it will be exalted above the hills,

    and peoples will stream to it.

Many nations will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

    to the temple of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us his ways,

    so that we may walk in his paths.”

The law will go out from Zion,

    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He will judge between many peoples

    and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.

They will beat their swords into plowshares

    and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not take up sword against nation,

    nor will they train for war anymore.

Everyone will sit under their own vine

    and under their own fig tree,

and no one will make them afraid,

    for the Lord Almighty has spoken.

All the nations may walk

    in the name of their gods,

but we will walk in the name of the Lord

    our God for ever and ever.

The Lord’s Plan

“In that day,” declares the Lord,

“I will gather the lame;

    I will assemble the exiles

    and those I have brought to grief.

I will make the lame my remnant,

    those driven away a strong nation.

The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion

    from that day and forever.

Micah 4:1-7

How great is Our God! 

Last night was a fun family Christmas party. I loved dressing up and socializing. What a great night. I wore a sweater I acquired a few weeks ago. I'd been struggling with how to wear it without showing a bunch of midriff (not something I really like doing). This oxblood skirt went perfectly. It was high-waisted enough and the colors work so well together. 

Thanks to my sister, Olivia, for taking these photos! 

sweater--Minkpink

skirt--Anthropologie (old)

boots--Matisse 

lipstick--Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in "L'Impatiente" 

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Christmas Inspiration.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, 

because he has come and has

redeemed his people.

Luke 1:68

Trying to prepare my heart to properly celebrate the birth of Our Savior is not easy. Christmastime is so consumed with commercialism and materialism. I can't seem to escape it with my own strength. All I can do is pray that He take hold of my heart. Lord, I thank you for your grace in this Christmas season.

#shereadstruth

I've compiled a nice inspiration post for y'all. Full of warm, cozy, fun, holiday outfits. I've been so busy and exhausted this week. I haven't had time to get an outfit post in. I plan to very soon, though! So stay tuned. Until then, please enjoy these inspiring looks and photos! 

All sources can be found on my pinterest. 

These Days.

 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Luke 1:25

This morning, the #shereadstruth devotional was just what I needed. I've been wondering if I am living the life God wants me to be living. What do I do about internships? What do I do when I am done with college in 3 semesters? What does God want me to do with my life? This verse and passage describes trust. That God shows favor on those who love Him. I need to put Him first and then everything else will fall into place. 

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been hanging out at home and riding horses which hasn't left much time for a good outfit post. I decided to do a little collage of what I wear (or wish I wore) when riding. 

Equestrian by momentsofeternity featuring long sleeve knit shirts

J.Crew long sleeve knit shirt / A.P.C. a p c, $370 / Angora socks / Glove / H&M , $13 / The Tailored Sportsman Trophy Hunter / Ariat Bromont Tall Winter Boot

Enjoy your Monday, everyone. Only 8 days until Christmas! 

Christmas (Break) List

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

    but the word of our God endures forever.

Isaiah 40:8

Part of the #shereadstruth Advent reading plan. 

Only You endure forever. Not my grades, not my popularity, nothing but You. 

source on my pinterest

Hi everyone.
As a college student, I always look forward to Christmas Break. It's so nice to be done with finals and home for a month. This is the perfect time to do the things I've been dreaming of ever since classes took over my life. This is the first time I won't be going-going-going since early August. I've compiled a list of things I really want to do during this time. Of course, these things may not happen, but it's nice to have them all in one place.

1. Read the Harry Potter Series
I know, I know, what kind of person who claims to love literature hasn't read Harry Potter. Well, I haven't. And now that the movies have ended I am craving those lovable (and some not-so-lovable) characters. It's time I read those books.

2. Have a Christmas dinner party. 
If you know me, you know I love dinner parties. And what better time to have one than now? It's time for apple cider and comfort food, you in?

3. Finally print my study abroad photos and make a scrapbook. 
It seems that whenever I go to assembling these photos, I get so lost in nostalgia that I forget the reason I began compiling in the first place. I also have a huge folder full of business cards, brochures, and receipts that I originally wanted to put into a book. Over 6 months later, I will do this.

4. Sit by the fire. 
This one's a little easier and self-explanatory.

5. Ride. 
Every. Single. Day. Man, I have missed those horses. Hardy, in particular (of course).

As always, I will be documenting all of these activities on instagram. 

Follow me? @makenagranger

Have a great Tuesday! 

Inspiration Study Break.

...so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

Hebrews 9:28

Will you be ready with Jesus returns? Something I don't think about nearly enough. This thought should consume my life. After all, what could be more important? Nothing. There's much conviction in this verse. But also comfort. Our Savior is coming again! To save us all! How exciting is that? 

So, it's finals time in college life. Meaning my life has been sucked away by studying. I thought it would be nice to post a few inspiring images to relieve my fellow college students. And to entertain those not going through finals. 

These photos are not mine. All sources can be found on my pinterest. 

Have a great Monday, everyone. 

Fingerprints.

One of my most favorite pictures I took for my project in North. Thank you Maggie for your hand and the pecan. This photo is currently hanging in the Southern Studies department in Gambrell at USC if  you want to check it out. :) 

Yesterday was a rough one. I found out that I probably won't be getting the grades for which I'd hoped. It tore me apart. A frown felt permanently glued to my face. It seemed that even reading verses, and trying to direct my attention to Jesus was impossible.

It wasn't until Greek Impact that night that I began to see a tiny glimmer of light. The speaker brought up the subject of fingerprints. I think I have always been secretly fascinated with these one of a kind aspects of the human form. I grew up watching countless episodes of CSI and Law & Order. I always loved that these seemingly meaningless lines on our fingertips could actually mean so much.

The speaker talked about how God is so enormous. He holds lakes and oceans in the palm of His hand, He makes the tides turn by the movement of His fingers. And yet, He created each and every one of us with a specific purpose. We have these special prints on our fingers to show that we are, in fact, unique. My history professor can argue all he wants that we are all actually the same and will behave the same. It's not true. God has a personal, intimate relationship with each of us, individually. He, by His will, keeps our hearts beating.

Then the speaker began to talk about Jesus' death on that cross. How He fought for six hours for us. How in the middle of the day, the world went black, and then, after the time had passed, Jesus said "It is finished". He defeated sin for ME. Me, of all people. The girl who can't seem to get a good grade in an English class. The girl who lets stupid, insignificant things tear her apart. He did this to show that He still loves me. That no matter what I do, "it is finished" and there's nothing I can do to change that.

I think this is what it means to find comfort in the Gospel. In these facts. I don't think I had truly grasped that before.

I pray you find comfort in this, too. It's a good feeling.

InstaLife.

Return to your rest, my soul,

    for the Lord has been good to you.

Psalm 116:7

I love this verse. I am bracing myself for a very stressful week and, to make it worse, I feel like I'm getting sick. One week left of classes, three finals, and an inDesign project separate me from the wonders of Christmas break. I can do this, with His help. He is the only one who can return my soul to rest in the midst of mayhem. I must remember the Lord has been good to me. Oh, so good. 

Just a little instagram post to keep y'all updated! 

 Painting ornaments with the lovely ladies of my Midtown Lifegroup.

 Running by the river with a beautiful friend.

 Visiting the very inspiring Mark Rothko exhibition at the Columbia Museum of Art.

 An early morning selfie with my new phone. I had to. 

 Earl grey for an afternoon pick-me-up. 

 A delicious breakfast at Drip before a fun day of shopping and cooking. 

 Money. 

 Getting ready to make dinner for my lovely Kappa Bible Study girls. 

 Being set free. 

Reading about Hell by the fountain.

follow me @makenagranger

I wish you all the best for this week. Hopefully I can find time to post some more in the coming days!