Saturday Special - "You are rich if..." Edition

"You are richer than 95% of the world if you eat three meals a day." These words stuck out to me during Pastor Patrick's sermon tonight at church.

I typically don't blog on the weekends, but being that I attended church tonight with my sister and Pastor Patrick's sermon was so awesome that it was too good not to share! And... I couldn't wait until Monday to share it! So here goes one of my first ever weekend blog posts!

In 1 Timothy 6:6-10 it reads the following, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

We are living in a selfish world. Where we're constantly being told that we have to have the best job where we get the six figure salary, we have to have the nicest car, the biggest house, the nicest clothes, so on so fourth! Others feel like we're forced to go to college so we can get our name on that pretty little paper we call a degree. I don't have ANYTHING against anyone who goes to college, I think it is totally meant for some people and totally not meant for others... I'm one of those "others". 

With all that said, the more we listen to the world... which believe me is very easy to do... the more we feel entitled, the more we feel like we are owed something, the more we feel like we have to have that nice car, and that biggest house. Friends, this world is FLEETING! Have you watched the news lately? Things are going down and they are going down fast. 

Don't define yourself on what you have! I ask all of you reading this that you would please give up finding your satisfaction in "stuff"! In order to get ahead you have to give up! Get your priorities straight and examine your pursuit of happiness! 

Matthew 6:20 says- "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

So maybe tonight's post wasn't as fabulous as I originally planned, but tonight's sermon spoke to me and I hope it spoke to you just through these few notes I took. If you would like the video stream to view the whole sermon I would be more than happy to get that to you!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

<3Ashley XO

Friday Favorites!

Today I am linking up with the sweet lady over at Momfessionals who is still, and always will be my FAVORITE blogger! Andrea is super precious, and can we just talk about her kids for a second.... they are ADORABLE!!! You should definitely check out her blog!!

Before I get too far into today's post this isn't particularly a "favorite", but it has to do with my Uncle who just so happens to be one of my FAVORITE people on the face of the earth. As I shared in my last blog post, Catching Up - Life Lately Edition, my Uncle has continued to put up a heck of a fight against that ugly word we all hate, cancer. It most recently has metastasized in his brain, this by far was one of the hardest things my family has had to swallow since his diagnosis almost 16 months ago. Within the last 10 days or so he has started blogging... sharing his advice, thoughts, and feelings. His blog entitled Roadmap, is crazy inspiring and I promise if you take the time to read it that it could possibly change your outlook at many things in life!! My Uncle is and incredible man and radiates the light of Christ everywhere he goes. When you remember please keep his beautiful family in your prayers! 

One of my FAVORITE  Bible Verses found in Isaiah 55:8 has been something I have held on to throughout my Uncle's battle with cancer and it says- "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. 

Incase you forgot how good looking my Uncle is, here's a little reminder ;)

On Wednesday we celebrated my baby sister's 13th birthday!!! We started with dinner at Olive Garden, one of my FAVORITE restaurants! And then following dinner was a round of mini golfing with my family, who of course are some of my FAVORITE people, but my FAVORITE little boy also tagged along! Corey, who has stolen my heart like no other is Danielle's VERY good "guy-friend". Both Corey and Danielle have had a fondness for each other since they were in primary school!!! I have grown very fond of him, as well as my entire family. We love when he comes around, He's pretty much like the little brother I never had! I hope he is a part of our family for many years to come!!

This picture is one of my new FAVORITES!

They're the cutest ;) :D

I love him!

My FAVORITES :D

Another FAVORITE this week actually happened when I took a quick break from writing today's post to make a Walmart run with my momma, and it's also inspired by Andrea over at Momfessionals. A couple of weeks ago she shared her beauty routine on Show and Tell Tuesday! I was immediately drawn to the $2.00 waterproof eyeliner she talked about from e.l.f. I have always aspired to have a quick and easy makeup routine, and I think I found it! Check out her simple beauty routine here!! Honestly, it doesn't get any simpler than that! 

Here are just a few of the new items I picked up in Walmart tonight. It was definitely my FAVORITE part of the day!!!

I hope you all have an amazing weekend! 

Don't forget to join me Monday for a recap of my weekend!

<3Ashley XO

Catching Up - Life Lately Edition

Hello friends! Wow, it has been a long time since I blogged. I hope you all are well and are getting to enjoy some summer activities with your friends and family!

Life has kept me on my toes! And I kind of want to cry at the fact that July is more than half way over. Seriously, can it slow down just a little bit?? More than likely if you are like us here in PA you are just a little over a month away from starting another school year!!!

With that said, there are only 22 Saturdays until Christmas. Just let that sink in a little...

Unfortunately, with the way my mind has been functioning lately I had to go back and read my last post to see what I had written! For others of you that need a refresher you can check out my last blog post here!

A big praise the Lord that my gastrointestinal issues vanished as quickly as they came on. Can I just say that is one of the flukiest, most miserable things I have ever encountered. My doctor's would just like to say I caught a nasty bug that was going around at the time and I have finally gotten over it, but I prefer to say that I was healed and I still continue to give God the glory for that!

Now onto life lately, I actually don't even know where to start. Well for starters, here is one of the most recent pictures of me...

I was in one of my best friend's wedding two weeks ago.

Since I wrote you last, I have rejoined the fabulous world of retail. I can't complain though... my manager is fabulous, and everything about my job is pretty flexible! Nothing about retail is sunshine and flowers, but I am blessed to have a job!

A little humor, because who doesn't love Grumpy Cat?! Lol! 

I continue to pursue my dream to become a state certified paraprofessional, and pray that if this is God's will for my life He will open up all the right doors. 

Funny thing is that I recently thought I was going to move myself back up to New York, bunk at my Aunt's house (Surprise Aunt Kerry! If I seriously was going to consider it you would have know! I promise! Lol!), and attend a medical trade school to become and EKG Tech, but God kind of slammed that door, and laughed in my face... because I am currently in the "hallway" of what may lead to a new door being opened! Not sharing very many details now, but please be in prayer for me as a new chapter of my life may be beginning very soon! Stay tuned though, because as soon as I know you all will know as well! 

I love this part of Revelation 3:7- "What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."

I've made the mistake so many times of jumping into something too quickly, or trying to do things my own way that sometimes I feel like I forget to really truly seek after God first and put His will for my life above everything else... this is probably because I have zero patience and want things done NOW, or I want an answer NOW.

 

They played this at a Woman's Conference I went to one time... Maybe I need to listen to it more often!

My favorite part is when he says, "Can't changed what has happened till now, but we can change what will be. By living in holiness the world will see Jesus"

I really want to make it my priority to be wholeheartedly seeking after God and what he wants for my life... not listening to the world and what it thinks is best for my life, because eventually everything here is going to fade away. Would you pray for me that I will seek God on a daily basis and not just a whim when "I think" I need Him, and I promise I will do the same for all you reading this! 

Fourth of July weekend we spent with my family in New York! 

"The love in our family grows strong and deep, leaving special moments to treasure and keep" 

Can we just talk about how fabulous my almost 93 year old Great-Grandmother is??

My Uncle continues to fight against that nasty thing we all hate, cancer. Please remember to pray for him, my beautiful Aunt, and two cousins.

I got to experience being a bridesmaid, and can I just say.... it was a FABULOUS experience! I am so happy I got to be a part of Rebecca's day... she is amazing friend and I couldn't be happier for her! It was a beautiful wedding, she was a beautiful bride, and she is married the man of her dreams! I can't wait to see what God does in them and through them as they start this new journey together as husband and wife! 

You can't have a wedding until you have a spa day!

Photo Booth Fun! 

A week after Rebecca's wedding we traveled to NC to witness the marriage of Morgan and Taylor. Morgan's family lived in my neighborhood years ago, and we lost touch after they moved away, we have since reconnected and I honestly couldn't be happier!!! Having her and her family apart of my life again brings me so much joy!!! 

It is rare to find a young couple who's hearts are so on fire for Christ. Morgan and Taylor have made the commitment to make Christ the center of their marriage. It's so inspiring! It was a blessing to witness their special day, and I can't wait to see what God does in them and through them as they start this journey together as husband and wife!

I think that basically sums up my life lately! I am going to try to get back into the swing of blogging, and despite my very long hiatus I hope you all continue to follow me!!

<3 Ashley XO