GospelLK 1:26-38 

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

Gospel Mk 1:7-11

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Gospel Lk 4:14-22

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he has anointed me
       to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
       to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

• Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Raymond of Peñafort, priest

Gospel LK 2:22-35

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”  

Disclaimer: This post is long. I couldn’t make it any shorter–I tried. And it didn’t make sense to break up into a series. Apologies in advance. :) 

If you’ve been reading The Evangelista since its beginning last August, you’ve probably noticed a not-so-subtle shift in content, especially during these past few months. Lately, instead of outfit posts or personal shopper posts or “pinspiration” posts, I’ve been writing about emotional and psychological health,learning to trust in God’s love,paying attention to reality in dating relationships, and other such “serious” subjects. Not exactly typical fashion blog fare. When I started The Evangelista, I fully intended to keep my posts light and fun and pretty much only about style and shopping, but the Lord had other plans (as He so often does).

Some of you may have asked if this is just a temporary hiatus or a permanent change, so I thought a post was in order to explain just what the Lord has been doing in my heart regarding clothes and shopping for them, especially this past year.

As I’ve said before, this year has been a year of Revelation for me: God has revealed His love to me in a new way, and in so doing has revealed more of me to myself…if that makes sense. One of the major revelations was that I was holding certain elements of my life back from him because I didn’t trust in his love. The first area that I finally handed over to Him was my vocation and my desire for marriage. When that finally happened, I thought I was in the clear. Surely there wasn’t anything else I was trying to control in my life? (Ha.) Wrong. Slowly but surely, Jesus began to show me a sphere of life that I had never ever EVER surrendered to him, primarily out of fear but also out of sheer selfishness and vanity: my money and the way that I used it.

I’ve long thought it providential that God called me to be a teacher in part because the limits of my salary have kept me from buying as much as I would probably have bought had I been rolling in the dough. I grew up in a fairly wealthy family where I never lacked for anything that I really wanted; my parents didn’t satisfy our every whim by any means, but I always had more than enough cute clothes. I see now that for the majority of my life, I associated wealth with security and even–to a degree–with happiness. When I was an unhappy child and teenager, one of the surest ways to put a little pep in my step was a new dress or pair of shoes. Not surprisingly, this bled over into adulthood.

 When I became a teacher seven (!) years ago and got lots of compliments from my students on my cute clothes, I justified filling my closet with more and more stuff, all the while not saving any money and tithing the bare minimum. After all, I rationalized, I HAD to look cute or my students wouldn’t pay attention to me! My focus was on quantity, not quality, and on being able to wear something different every day, and on being the “best dressed” at school, among my friends, etc. Of course I NEVER would have said that out loud, or even thought about it consciously, but now I realize that this is what I was doing. And it was out of insecurity: I was living as if I didn’t have anything else to offer to my students and friends and potential suitors but my fashion sense.

He does dress better than I do…what would I bring to the relationship? 

Fast forward about a decade to last August. When I started The Evangelista, I was no longer an insecure post-graduate in her early twenties, but I still had some very bad shopping habits and a consumeristic mentality that needed to be broken. As you can imagine, starting a style blog didn’t really help in the short term. I put a lot of (completely unnecessary) pressure on myself to keep up (insofar as my teacher’s salary would let me) with secular style bloggers in terms of having new clothes on a regular basis. I signed up for emails from countless stores, checked Pinterest with almost obsessive consistency, and read dozens of style blogs a day. All of this simply fueled my consumeristic tendencies, and I was shopping more than I ever had before. Each time one of those boxes full of goodies arrived in the mail, I got that same old feeling of security and pleasure.

In March of this year, something happened. Or rather, a lot of things happened at once (as is usually the case when we’re talking about Divine Providence). I’ll only name the two most important. First,Pope Franciswaselected as the 266th successor of St. Peter.My undying loyalty to Papa Benny notwithstanding, Francis immediately won my heart and my allegiance as his spiritual daughter and, true to form, I read everything he wrote or said or whispered. And he said (and continues to say) a LOT of things about being poor. And about being a good steward of one’s money. And about living simply. And, because he’s the Pope, I listened (note: Pope Benedict said the same things, but for some reason it has been harder for me to ignore Francis…probably because my heart was ripe for this conversion).

Wait a second, you might be thinking, Jesus said a lot of things about being detached from material things and selling what you have and giving it to the poor–why wasn’t that enough for you?! Great question. It should have been. But I’m weak, as are we all, and thankfully Jesus knew that when he appointed Peter to be the rock upon whom He would build his Church and through whom He would continue to “feed his sheep” when He was no longer on earth. Francis is the successor of Peter, so he reminds us of what Jesus taught while placing it within the context of the place and time in which we live, in such a way that makes it more difficult for me to rationalize my way into a different interpretation of Jesus’ words that gets me off the hook. All of this is to say: Pope Francis’ election was the beginning of the end of my shopping addiction.

The second big thing that happened is that the Holy Spirit convicted me in a profound way that I couldn’t ignore. It was Corpus Christi Sunday and I was praying before Mass, meditating simultaneously on Pope Francis’ witness and the really cute skirt I had just purchased, when suddenly I was filled with an overwhelming sense of guilt. Guilt for all of the money I’d wasted on myself, on things I didn’t need–money that I could/should have spent on others whom I love or on the poor or given to the Church. Guilt about the conditions of the workers who made my clothes and the fact that I had been blithely participating in a wildly consumeristic culture–and encouraging others to do so!

Being the sanguine I am, this kind of conviction rarely happens, so when it does, I pay attention. The worst part was, I knew that I had known ALL of this on a deep level for a long time but had been ignoring my conscience.  It was horrible. I felt sick. Fortunately, one of my favorite priests was available for Confession immediately following Mass. I left the Sacrament feeling so free. Free to use my money and my material gifts for God’s greater glory, not simply for my pleasure. Free fromthe hold that, unbeknownst to me, my incessant need for “stuff” had on my life.

Here I am wearing the Dress of the Summer. I’ve worn it at least once a week for three months. It’s been wonderful.

As soon as I got home that afternoon, being the choleric that I am, I went through my closet and filled five, count ‘em five, garbage bags full of clothes, shoes, and accessories. A few days later, I drove them to a local crisis pregnancy center, and the look on the volunteer’s face when she saw everything only served to deepen that sense of freedom.

Since then (that was the end of May), I’ve removed myself from all retail email lists, unfollowed quite a few folks on Pinterest, deleted all but three style blogs from my Feedly, and haven’t shopped. At all. And the craziest thing is that I don’t miss it. I haven’t even had the desire to shop. (If any of my good friends or family members who know me well are reading this, you know that this is a HUGE deal.)

This outfit will definitely be on repeat this fall. 

I recognize that this is a major period of grace in my life and that once fall rolls around, I will miss shopping a bit more than I do currently, but for now I am enjoying the freedom that comes with not worrying about buying anything new because I already have everything I need.I have all of the basics for a professional wardrobe, have plenty of outerwear and casual clothing, and that is AFTER getting rid of five bags of clothing. When I need something new, I’ll buy it, but in the future I’m going to try to stick to the following shopping “rules”: 

1) I will pray for three days before purchasing any item of clothing, in order to discern whether or not I can justify buying it.

2) I will try to buy second-hand or gently used clothing at consignment shops when possible.

3) If I buy something new, I will do my best to purchase from small companies who treat their laborers with respect for their human dignity.

4) I will not allow myself to cut into my tithing budget or my savings to pay for clothing. (Yes, I used to do both of those things.)

This one too.

So, where does that leave The Evangelista? I still love express my desire for beauty through the way I dress and I still care about not looking like I’m stuck in 1995, so that hasn’t changed. But I won’t be primarily blogging about clothes and such anymore. This transition has already begun, thanks to all of you and the feedback I’ve received on my most recent posts. The beautiful thing is that I didn’t decide one day that I was going to stop writing about fashion–the Holy Spirit moved in my life and simultaneously gave me opportunities to write posts like “Stop Guarding Your Heart and Start Paying Attention to Reality”. Gotta love Providence.

In the future, I will only be posting when I am moved to share the Beauty I have encountered in my life while trying to follow Jesus and His Church, failing to do so, and starting again after receiving his forgiveness and mercy…with a healthy dose of “Hey Girl” memes thrown in for good measure. :)  I figure that God allowed me to make the mistakes I did and suffer in the ways that I have in order to share the Good News that He can redeem it all and replace the ashes of life with so much beauty. Sometimes that will mean two posts a week, others three, sometimes only the links round-up on Friday (which I can’t quit because I have so much fun putting them together). I’ll still post links to (ethically produced) shops and such on my Facebook page, photos of the occasional outfit on Instagram, and I will happily answer any and all style (and life) questions via email. 

Whew. That was probably the toughest post for me to write yet (yep, even tougher than the therapy one)! Thank you so much for reading! Let’s pray for each other: that we can resist the glamor of evil and the false promises of security that the world gives us and cast ourselves completely into the arms of God, trusting that He is all that we need.

Blessings,

Christina Grace

P.S. If you have any questions about this post or want more details (believe it or not, the above is the abridged version of my story), please don’t hesitate to emailme!

…being confident of this, that he
who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until
the day of Christ Jesus.

         PHILIPPIANS 1:6 NIV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Evidence.
You are the One promise that I choose to put all my
hope and trust in. I thank You that You have always
been faithful and will always be faithful. I trust that,
just like You provided for Abraham and Sarah, You will
provide for me in Your perfect timing. Jesus, Your
faithfulness is all the evidence I need to keep going and
keep going and keep believing. You will never let me down.
In Your name I pray. Thank You, Jesus!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me.”

         JOHN 14:6 NKJV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Teacher.
I look to You today for understanding of Your Word. I thank
You that You are not the author of confusion. I ask You to
help me always read through the lens of completion. Thank
You for redeeming me from the law and its requirements. My
faith is built on what You finished for me. Thank You, Jesus!

 When you sit enthroned under the
shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden
in the strength of God Most High.
He’s the hope that holds me and the
Stronghold to shelter me, the only
God for me, and my great confidence.

         PSALM 91:1-2 TPT

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Safe Place.
No matter where I am, I know that I can run under Your
covering of majesty and hide. You are the hope that holds
me and the stronghold that shelters me. You are my great
confidence. I trust in You to protect me in every moment
and shield me from all harm. I am safe and secure before
Your face. Thank you. In Jesus’ name; Amen.

For by grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is a gift of God, not
of works, lest anyone should boast.

         EPHESIANS 2:8-9 NKJV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Salvation.
I receive Your abundant grace and GIFT of righteousness.
My salvation is not of works or my own doing, but simply
by faith in Your name. I thank You that Your gift of
salvation was not one day, but forever. In Jesus’ name; Amen.

So when they continued
asking Him, He raised Himself
up and said to them, “He who is
without sin among you, let him
throw a stone at her first.”

         JOHN 8:7 NKJV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Defender.
Today, I will be still and let You defend and fight for me.
Thank You for defending me, not based on my own goodness
but based on Your goodness and righteousness. No matter
what may come in life, I can always rest knowing that You
are my Defender. You are the One who stands by me, speaks
for me, and sets me free from all my accusers. Thank You,
Jesus!

For You, O LORD, will bless the
righteous; with favor You will
surround him as with a shield.

         PSALM 5:12 NKJV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Favor.
I choose to rest in Your hand, knowing You have surrounded me
with favor. I choose today to be still and know that You are my
God. You have seated me in Christ with every blessing in
heavenly places. I will not strive to earn, but I will rest and
receive from You all You have waiting for me. You are beyond
faithful and better than I could ever dream. Thank you, Jesus,
for this gift. In Jesus’ name; Amen.

“And I also say to you that you are
Peter, and on this rock I will build
My church, and the gates of Hades
shall not prevail against it.”

         MATTHEW 16:18 NKJV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Rock.
You are my firm foundation and the One I build my life upon.
You have rescued and redeemed me, pulled me out out of the
miry clay; and today, I acknowledge Your power and You
authority in my life. I acknowledge the gift of living in Your
kingdom as one of Your own. I will not live afraid of calamity,
for You are holding me up. Thank You, Jesus!

There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment.
But he who fears has not
been made perfect in love.

         1 JOHN 4:18 NKJV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Perfect Love.
Nothing and no one else can satisfy me like You do. You
have loved me with a love that will spend the rest of my
like discovering. There is no end to all that You are to me.
You are my comfort and Your presence has forever delivered
me from loneliness. Loneliness is only a lie that has told
me You’re not with me, but I know that You are near. I rest
in Your love and closeness to my heart. You are everything
to me. In Jesus’ name; Amen.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.

         PROVERBS 3:17 ESV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Peace.
Your Spirit has given me life and now all that brings me
true life is found in Your Spirit. I want to live in Your ways
of pleasantness and follow Your paths of peace. I receive all
that You died to give me. You have given me peace for my mind,
body, and soul and I receive it all. Thank You, Jesus!

But God demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.

         ROMANS 5:8 NKJV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Worth.
Nothing can define me more accurately than Your love. I find
myself when I look into Your eyes of love. You have covered
me with Your blood and now I’m forever made worthy. Thank
You, Jesus, for paying the price for my life and my freedom.
In Jesus’ name; Amen.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because
of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ (by
grace you have been saved), and raised
us up together, and made us sit together
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

         EPHESIANS 2:4-6 NKJV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Acceptance.
Thank You for loving me before I could ever do a thing to
earn your love. Thank You for the richness of Your mercy
that covers every part of me. I rest in Your love and Your
acceptance today. Thank You, Jesus!

So when Jesus had received
the sour wine, He said “It is
finished!” And bowing His head,
He gave up His spirit.

         JOHN 19:30 NKJV

DECLARATIONPrayer
Jesus, You Are My Finisher.
There is no end to Your grace and what You’ve done for
me. Thank You for accomplishing “all things” for me. Open
up my eyes to see more of the “It” that You have finished
in my life. I want to experience all that You are and all
that You’ve finished for me. Thank You. In Jesus’ name; Amen.

:

The vaccine Bill Gates is working on might have a chip along with it.

THE MARK OF THE BEAST.

Christians, don’t comprise. Don’t get the chip.

He’s saying that if you don’t get chip, you might not be able to go to the store or anywhere. Exactly what the mark of the beast is explained to be.

The end times might be a lot closer than we think.

Wake up. Stand against the anti-christ. Stand by Jesus. Spread His word and spread The Truth.

Share God’s Word to the world, family, and friends!!! Before it’s too late!

Trust God. Don’t bow down and compromise.

Daniel was such a praying man that God send an angel to him for confirmation and answer for the prayer.

Prayer is the most powerful weapon that has been given unto us, yet so many in belief underestimate it, if you are follower of Christ praying should be the number one priority in your life and most exercised.

Keep it simple, follow Christ and everything He says and The Father will have you in His heart as He have always had Christ. Remember there is no inheritance without Him for none is worthy!

Please forgive me for all the sins I have brought upon myself. And look down upon me with forgiveness for all the sins I will have in the future. I know you understand that I’m not perfect, but I try Lord. I try to keep my head up in bad times. This is a bad time. Show me the way. And if you can’t show me the way… then forgive me for being lost.

Amen