WELCOME! Thanks for stopping by today. We believe that women are the heart of the home. Uniquely created and positioned by God, no one can touch the heart of another like a woman. Together Melanie and Alisa offer inspiration and encouragement to women to pursue their potential, develop their creativity and embrace their place as the heart of the home.

Friday

Life Lines ~ He Loves Me!


"He Loves Me!"
(Excerpted from ~
Wings to Soar by Melanie Dorsey)
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One of the most liberating moments for me came when a friend spoke into my life and told me there was nothing I could do to make God love me any more or any less. At first I doubted the validity of that statement but as I pondered it and let that truth saturate my heart and mind, it offered a wellspring of freedom and joy.


The liberation of my mind and heart was not accomplished overnight. Nevertheless, over time my thinking shifted, creating a new paradigm which in turn resulted in a softer, more pliable heart. I finally began to understand that a great deal of my hard work and effort toward doing good things was not always motivated out of a heart of love but from a place of fear.

My primary motivation for serving God had been to earn His approval. I was afraid that I might disappoint God and the prospect of disappointing Him was so unacceptable to me that I served Him from that mindset. Not until I finally began to grasp the depth of God’s love for me (for ME!), did I at long last relax in that love. I could breathe deeply and know that He loved me whether I performed successfully, failed miserably or, and this is key, whether I simply was.

Do you find yourself struggling with God's love for you? I believe that it is not until you understand that if there had only been you, God would still have sent His only begotten Son and Christ would still have willingly given His life for you. Just for you! Know it. Believe it. There is freedom in truth.

"And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him" 1 John 4:16.

Lovingly Yours,
Melanie

Style File - How to Edit



In my last post I listed the basics that every stylish woman has in common. Today, I want to deal with the practical fundamentals of editing your wardrobe. Do you ever spontaneously make a purchase only to get the item home and decide it looks terrible on you? This use to happen to me all the time. So, I made a self rule to never buy anything unless I first try it on at the store. Well, that helped but I was still finding myself growing a collection of garmets that just didn't fit my style, my shape or my taste.

Learning to EDIT is the most important basic when it comes to your wardrobe. Us ladies know when something looks good on us. We feel pretty, confident, comfortable and pulled together. On the other hand, when we wear something that doesn't make us feel this way, then we are self-conscience, uncomfortable and unsure. Let's face it - when we look our best, we feel our best. The last thing I want to be concerned with is what I am wearing!
I bet your closet is bursting at the seams, but how many items in there do you wear? How many of the outfits in your closet actually make you feel good? How many times have you opened your closet, gazed inside and said "I have nothing to wear"! If your schedule is as hectic as mine, then the last thing you want to waste time on, is pulling together an outfit only to decide, you have to change. Do yourself a favor - EDIT YOUR CLOSET! Then edit your shopping habits.
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Rule #1 - Throw out what you don't wear and what doesn't look good on you. Okay, don't throw it away, just give it to a charity. Pick a weekend and go through every garment hanging in your closet. Try it on. Does it fit you? Does it make you feel pretty? Do you look your best? If not, toss it in the Goodwill box. If so, keep it. Don't hang on to ANYTHING you haven't worn in a year or longer. And DON'T keep any clothing for sentimental reasons (except your wedding dress and put that in storage). Be ruthless when you edit. Don't clutter your closet with items that you think are beautiful but you never wear. Pass them on to someone who will actually get some use out of them. Make your self a deal - for every 20 pieces you give away, you get to buy 1 piece that makes you look your best.
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Rule #2 - Buy the right size and don't pay attention to size labels. If you are a size 10, don't buy an 8. Never buy clothes because you plan to diet and lose weight. Many designers and manufacturers of clothing use different cuts and patterns thus giving us different "fits". I have everything from a size 6 to a size 10 in my closet that I currently wear. The fit is the key. I would much rather buy the size that flatters, than to buy a size because of a number on the label.
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Rule #3 - Don't buy something just because it's a good deal or it's on sale. If you pay $80 for something that was originally $300, you haven't saved money or scored a deal unless you actually wear it! If it hangs in your closet, you just wasted $80! I love to shop sales and clearance. My motto is NEVER PAY FULL PRICE! But, when shopping sales, apply the same strict editing to what you buy as you use for editing your closet.
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Rule #4 - Don't buy something just because it's the trend. If it doesn't look good on you, pass it up! Let someone else sport that trend - you wear only those things that make you look your best! Don't worry if it's the hottest, latest styles. Wear what suits you. Wear what makes you feel comfortable, pulled together and pretty.
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I have always been a "girly" girl. Shoes, bags, accessories - it was like working a puzzle. I soon found myself overwhelmed with choices and more than my closet could hold. I also found that having an over abundance of choices makes choosing very difficult. I noticed that I kept reaching for the same few pieces. It finally occured to me that I needed to discard what I didn't wear and keep only those items that I loved and that flatterd. Once you have edited what you have, and kept what you love, you will actually enjoy putting together variations of your favorite pieces. Getting dressed will be fun once again. As you grow more confident with editing and what works for you, you will develop a natural instinct for fashion. Think of the time and money you will save. Now you are ready to set the date, attack your closet and begin your new life of building a fabulous foundation of fashion favorites. Have fun!
Happy Editing!
~Alisa

Saturday

Life Lines ~ Your Plans & God's Purpose


"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven..."(Ecclesiastes 3:1)
God moves on an eternal time table that is not always readily evident to His people. He works within seasons, and time frames for His own purposes. And yet, He is also a God of the suddenly. Don't be surprised when in a certain season, out-of-the-blue, comes one of God's suddenly~s.
When a suddenly occurs, it may be a bit of a shock but don't let it take you by surprise. Have you ever jumped into a pool on a summer's day? The cold water is shocking but you are not surprised by it.


"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21)

It is right and good to plan. It is necessary for it gives direction and allows you to set priorities. However, yield some white space on your agenda and in your heart for the purpose of God to prevail. This may mean you have to readjust from time to time.

"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, Says the lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6)

Zerubbabel is representative of a person chosen by God, from whose yielded nature God causes to flow life, leadership,and ministry.

In this verse, might refers to military strength, and power refers to one's own ability. But spirit is the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer who yields to the purposes of God.

"The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water, He turns it wherever He wishes." (Proverbs 21:1)

We should never look to physical strength, political power or our own personal ability to carry out God's purpose in His kingdom. At this present time His kingdom is an invisible, spiritual kingdom. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is within you. " (Luke 17:21)
In this season, at this time, and for His purposes - go forth and plan, yield to His prevailing will, and do it all in the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Are you entering a new season? Can I pray for you? Leave a comment or email me at mylifeandstyle@aol.com.
Interested in hosting a Life & Style conference or inviting Melanie or Alisa to speak at your event, meeting or retreat? Go here for more information.

Monday

Life Lines ~ The Language of Love

"The Language of Love"
(From Melanie's Life & Style topic, "Discover Your Design")
photo: the love of my life & me

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How do you express your love? What speaks "love" to you?
Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages, describes "five distinctive languages that people use to express love."

  • Words of Affirmation

  • Quality Time

  • Receiving Gifts

  • Acts of Service

  • Physical Touch

As I am typing, my husband is washing dishes; that speaks love to me! Washing dishes is in the category of Acts of Service. However, the primary way I love to be loved is through Words of Affirmation. So if my husband were telling me the things he appreciates about me while washing the dishes, I would be over the moon!

In relationships, especially with those who live under our own roof, it strengthens the "love-ship" when we recognize and purposefully speak the love language of our loved ones. Start with your spouse. Do you remember The Adams Family? Whenever Morticia spoke French to her adoring husband, Gomez, he could hardly contain his affection for her! He loved it when she spoke French.

Whether you are fluent in a foreign language or only remember, "Donde esta el bano?" from your high school Spanish class, you can be fluent in the love language of the love of your life.

Want to take a quick quiz to determine your love language? Follow the link here. But don't stop there. Ask your husband to take it, too. Then start speaking your love language and with practice you'll be fluent in no time. Ooo la la!

Interested in hosting a Life & Style conference? Go here for more details.