We send you a...

and a Happy Always in Christ!

We will be off till January to enjoy the holidays! Until then, enjoy archived posts and videos! More to come! See you in 2013!

A Call to Repentance

Trees, cocoa, candy, bows, fireplaces, mistletoe, toys, the nutcracker, caroling, lights, mangers, peace, and jolly men with beards. Doesn't it all sound romantic? Like something from a song or a greeting card?

But what if I said...

Idolatry, greed, pushing and shoving, law breaking, worry, stealing, gluttony, self-centeredness, and discord... hmmmmmmm.

Now, that's not something we'd want to put on a Christmas card, but does it now reflect a more accurate depiction of Christmas? In our culture, we can grab, whine, and lust, and everything is made okay by the time we wrap it all up with a big red bow. It all seems okay as long as we "remember the reason for the season." So we put our nativity sets out and attend our churches' candlelight Christmas Eve services.

As Christians, it's easy to become cheesy with our sayings of "wise men still seek him," "follow the star," "Happy Birthday, Jesus." All these statements hold truth, but we have beat them around so much that to a world of lost sinners, they could sound a lot like Charlie Brown's teacher.

"For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior..."
Did you hear that? 
A SAVIOR!!!!

And we are in need of Him as much today as 2,000 years ago. 
This Christmas, I am repenting. Repenting from my Christmas sins of discontent, greed, and the list goes on and on. No, Christ probably didn't come December 25, but I am not going to miss out on the celebration of His birth. Because He was born -- not in a place for a king as it should have been, but in a place where sacrifices might have been born. And that is just what He was, a sacrifice. A savior as a sacrifice -- unexpected but what we must have, because the ceramic one on your mantel won't save you. Nor will the spirit of goodwill and peace for a season of the year.

It is ONLY CHRIST!

Here is a poem that a teacher of mine read Sunday:

"A Labor of Love"

It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David's town

And the stable was not clean
And the cobblestones were cold
And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
Had no mother's hand to hold

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

Noble Joseph at her side
Callused hands and weary eyes
There were no midwives to be found
In the streets of David's town
In the middle of the night

So he held her and he prayed
Shafts of moonlight on his face
But the baby in her womb
He was the maker of the moon
He was the Author of the faith
That could make the mountains move

It was a labor of pain
It was a cold sky above
But for the girl on the ground in the dark
With every beat of her beautiful heart
It was a labor of love

And little Mary full of grace
With the tears upon her face
It was a labor of love

Buy of the Week

Love the movie It's a Wonderful Life?  Here is a dress that reminds me of Mary Bailey! Add a cami for extra modesty!

$87.99

Find this dress here!

**Please note that not all items from this store are recommended by SnP. Happy Shopping, but be mindful of what you purchase as an ambassador of Christ!**

F.S. ~ The Mending Kit

   

 Have you ever heard that clink, clink, clink sound of a button bouncing across the floor? You look down and, sure enough, it was from your shirt. You are on your way to somewhere important and you just cannot show up without that button in its proper place. Or, perhaps your skirt hem has decided to unravel or the clasp on your dress breaks. It is a good idea to have a small mending kit in your purse for just such times as these. They usually look something like this...

     You can put one together yourself if you prefer. A basic mending kit consists of the basic colors of thread threaded on needles, a safety pin, spare buttons, a few straight pins, and small scissors. Of course, you can add to it according to your needs. Next time there is a mending emergency, you will be prepared! 

A Gift for You!

Our author Season Sinclair has a book for you!

All you have to do is email us saying you want this book and you will receive a free digital download (kindle) of "That We Might Have Hope."

Act quickly -- this giveaway will end on Christmas Day!

Healthy Holidays

Christmas and New Year's are just around the corner, and I am sure that many of you are wondering how you can eat healthy during these special days. There seem to be temptations in many forms every time you turn around! Some of you may doubt that you can stay healthy while going to Grandma's house or a Christmas party, but I assure you it can be done. I have done it for 2 years now and managed to survive! Here are some tips that I share from personal experience.

~When asked to bring food to a party or gathering, make something healthy that you can eat.

~Stay away from whatever is tempting you. Hanging out by the dessert table does not help your self-control.

~Eat a healthy, filling snack before going to an event where there will be food. It helps not to be hungry when there are delicious temptations staring you in the face.

~Allow yourself one or two treats on Christmas or New Year's, and then purpose not to eat anything else junky.

~If you are tempted to eat a lot of junky food, just think about what it will do to you after you eat it (acne, stomachaches, weight gain, headaches, etc.).

~Above all, do not focus on food during the Christmas season. Christmas is not about us, but about Him!

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive adoption as sons." Galatians 4:5

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I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!

Serving Him, 

Elyse  

Remaking Merry

So what will you wear to all the Christmas parties that you will be attending this year?

Christmas sweaters from the 90's are best kept in mothballs this year -- instead play with the season's colors and shine!

Buy of the Week

$19.99

Find this jacket here!

**Please note that not all items from this store are recommended by SnP. Happy Shopping, but be mindful of what you purchase as an ambassador of Christ!**

Season's Greetings, or Season's Greed?

     Once Thanksgiving is passed, it seems that all anyone thinks about is Christmas. I don't blame them; this is one of my favorite times of the year, but it's easy to get distracted by all the lights, decorations, and most of all.... PRESENTS!!! Now don't get me wrong; presents are great, but it gets to the point where with a lot of people, if something isn't wrapped up in a package with a ribbon and bow, then they're not interested. And things can quickly change from "Season's Greetings" to "Season's Greed." 

It is becoming increasingly obvious that a lot of people in this day and time think of Christmas as a season of going to parties, putting up Christmas trees, and getting and receiving gifts from family and friends. The commercialism of our world, especially the United States, makes us often forget the true meaning of this holiday: the birth of Jesus Christ. The gifts we receive at Christmas should not be the main focus of the event, but a symbol of the Best Gift of All, given to us more than two thousand years ago. It's a gift without ribbons or bows that can save you from your sin and give you more than anything else on earth. In other words, He's the Gift that keeps on giving for all of eternity.





When we consider how many people there are in the world that are less fortunate than us, it almost seems selfish to ask for gifts. Consumed by consumerism, we make Santa Claus a bigger hero to children than Jesus Christ when in reality, Jesus is the only reason Christmas even exists. Now believe me, you shouldn't feel guilty if you get an iPhone for Christmas. It's fun to get gifts and it should be a happy experience. But if you don't get that iPhone, then it's not the end of the world. Giving gifts is usually much more fun than receiving them, so be sure to share the love this holiday season.

And remember that you can't have the "season" without the "Son." It can be hard when presents are such a big aspect of this time, but without a doubt you'll have a much better holiday if you keep this in mind. Have a great Christmas, and may God bless each and every one of you as you embark on the wonderful journey of 2013. From all of us here at Silk and Purple: 

"We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!"   

Face Shape

Found this face shape diagram from The Beauty Department. Very helpful! 

Fighting Off the Sniffles

With so many people sniffling, coughing, and blowing their noses, we must prepare our bodies to fight off colds. There are many natural foods and supplements that can help us do this. I have listed a few below to help you know where to start.

~Oranges 

Oranges are a great source of Vitamin C, and one orange provides almost 100% of the daily Vitamin C value that most people need.

~Lemons

Lemons are also high in Vitamin C, and the fresh-squeezed juice is wonderful mixed with honey as a natural cough syrup.

~Blueberries

Blueberries are high in antioxidants, zinc, and Vitamins C and A.

~Bell Peppers

Ripe bell peppers are wonderful sources of Vitamin C and carotenoids, both of which help fight off colds.

~Green Vegetables (Spinach, Kale, Collards, etc.)

Green vegetables are high in multiple vitamins and minerals which help build up the immune system. In order to receive the most benefit from these, they should be eaten raw.

~Zinc 

Zinc is one of the main nutrients needed when you have a cold or another illness because your body uses it up very quickly in the process of making immune cells to fight the intruding germs.

~Garlic

Garlic is a powerful natural antibiotic, and it helps build up our immune system. Garlic can be taken in a supplement form if you don't prefer to eat it. 

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"Faith rests on the pure Word of God alone. And when we take Him at His Word, our hearts are at peace."

George Mueller

  

Buy of the Week

Wishing for a vintage look for your next Christmas party? Try these lovely earrings -- a lot like Lucille Ball's.

$8.00

Find these earrings here!

**Please note that not all items from this store are recommended by SnP. Happy Shopping, but be mindful of what you purchase as an ambassador of Christ!**

F.S. ~ Giving Gifts

   

     This time of year, giving gifts is a topic on everyone's mind. We give each other gifts out of gratefulness for the gift we were given long ago when Jesus Christ was born.

Buying gifts for so many different people -- mom, dad, brothers, sister, friends, co-workers -- can be daunting to say the least.

     Here is The Emily Post Institute's "Top Five for Stress-Free Gift Giving" that may help you as you work your way down your Christmas list!

1. Get their wish list.

   Ask people for hints or even a wish list.  Gather ideas during the year, and write everything down.



2. Trust your judgment.

   Forget about being afraid the gift isn’t “perfect.” If you think the person will like it, chances are they will.



3. Stick to your budget.

   Spending more than you should takes the fun out of gift giving. There’s nothing more stressful than overspending -- and feeling uneasy about it.



4. Buy it when you see it.

   If you’re shopping in July and see a sweater that your mother would love, buy it. It probably won’t be there when you look in December.



5. Start a gift closet.

   Stash a few gifts that will work in a pinch: copies of your favorite cookbook or boxes of beautiful note cards. That way you’ll be ready if you need a gift on the spot.

Have a question?

Well, do you?

We want to know! Leave a comment or send us an email! We are more than happy to try to answer your questions about fashion and beauty from a biblical worldview.

silknpurpleprov31@gmail.com

1 Year Old!!!!!!

 Today Silk and Purple's blog is one year old!!!!!!!

In 2011, we were blessed to open this blog to the public. Since then, we have brought you 301 posts! With your help, we have had almost 44,000 views, reaching over 60 countries and gaining a strong following of over 400 through facebook, google friend connect, and email.

We have been overwhelmed with all of your sweet comments, questions, and willingness to share. We hope we have been a blessing to you as much as you have been to us. 

So we are pressing forward! We can't wait to see where the Lord will lead us this next year. Our prayer is to shine light on topics and issues that need to reflect a Christ-centered worldview.

 WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!! 

So consider sharing Silk and Purple with a friend today! Let's see how many young ladies we can reach!

Here are a few of the highlights and best beloved posts of the year! 

• Shades for You
• What does He think?
• The Skirts vs. Pants Post
• The Betrothal and Wedding to Come
• Define Pink
• Baby Steps to Health
• Because it really does matter...
• Thrifty Shopping
• Tomboy
• Handshakes
• Skin Care Sensations 
• Escape
• Make it Magnificent
• Handwritten Notes
• Souls in Fashion
• The Color Wheel