Category: blog

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blog encouragement healing

Start Your Morning With God

Good morning, P.I.M PALS! (🌸o^-^o)/ ☀️

Welcome to today’s blog post about starting your morning with God. ☁️☀️☁️

Picture by Selene Washington on pimandpink.com

How you start your morning is so important, reader, because it sets the tone for the rest of your day. ☀️

In the Bible, God instructs us, His children, to seek His Kingdom first and that everything else will be given to us, as it says in Matthew 6:33 (NIV). We should apply this verse with each new day by seeking God in the morning when we wake. ☁️☀️☁️

There are many ways for us, as Christians, to seek God. Thankfully, we can turn to the Word of God for instruction on how to seek Him in the morning. I will list some of these scriptures along with aspects of my morning routine, which I hope will inspire you to develop your own. ✨

Every morning, I like to spend quiet time with God to remind myself of His presence, which gives me clarity and peace throughout the day. I start this quiet time by first speaking to God in prayer and thanking Him for another morning and praising His name, because as Psalm 92:1 (ESV) says, it is good to give thanks to the Lord and to praise the name of the O Most High. ‬‬🙏☀️

After giving thanks and praise, I follow Psalm 5:3 (NIV) which states, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly”. Based on this Scripture verse, I lay my requests before God and ask of Him many things, such as protection over myself, my family, and others, guidance and wisdom for the day, provision for those in need, etc. I also rebuke Satan and ask God for protection from the enemy, and I ask God for discernment of any and all demonic attacks.

Also, to prevent myself from doubting and getting anxious about what I already gave and confessed to God in prayer, I remind myself of the Scripture verse, Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV), which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Additionally, I also remind myself of the Scripture verse, Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) which says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” 🤍

After praying, I start reading the Bible, God’s Holy Word, which is alive and active, and it is described to be sharper than any double-edged sword, and is a discerner of the human heart (Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)). And based on that, reader, I truly do feel like the Bible is piercing into my soul and spirit as I read it, but it is also a “spiritual food” that I am feeding myself, which is described to be sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103 (KJV)). It is essential to meditate on God’s Word, not just in the morning but also throughout the day and at night, because doing so will enable us to prosper, like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in its season, as it says in the Scripture verse, Psalm 1:2-3 (NASB). 🍯🌳✨

Many times though, reading the Bible, God’s Holy Word, each morning can feel like a chore or an obligation, which can cause us to eventually be hesitant to read it each morning. However, when you come to understand that when reading the Bible, the Word of God, you are not just reading, but also spending time with God, you will find yourself longing for more of the Word of God, and it will feel less like an obligation and will be something you look forward to. After all, once you have tasted the Word of God, you will see that the Lord is good, as it says in the Scripture verse, Psalm 34:8 (NIV). ☀️✨

In addition to reading the Bible, I like to read other books and daily devotionals that are written by Christian authors. These Christian books that I own are filled with the author sharing their life experiences with God as well as Scripture verses that serve as very refreshing reminders that help motivate and encourage me throughout the day. 📚✨

Following my daily devotionals, I like to spend time praising and worshipping God in song and dance, with and without music in the morning. I do as it says in Psalm 59:16 (NIV), “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” 🎶💕

Next, I like to write down and speak positive and uplifting affirmations based on Scripture verses in the Bible. As it says in Proverbs 18:20-21 (NIV), “From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” ✍🏼🗣️✨

Finally, in times where God gives me inspiration and wisdom regarding my blog and any other aspect of my life, I write down any instruction He gives me, and I make it a point to fulfill that instruction. So, whether it is a blog you run, a book that you are writing, or a sermon that you are going to preach, reader, God will give you the right words to write and speak. After all, God authored the Bible by divinely inspiring several prophets/authors who were led by the Holy Spirit within them to write His Holy Word while still retaining their own manner of speaking and unique styles (2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)) / (2 Peter 1:21 (NIV)). But to receive such instruction, reader, you have to have an ear to hear God, and be ready to listen to His instructions. As it says in Isaiah 50:4-5 (NIV), “The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away.” Additionally, Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) also says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.”👂✨

I must say, reader, that during and after spending quality quiet time with God in the morning and intentionally rooting myself in Christ, I truly feel so light, secure, joyful, healed, and at peace, as if all of the burdens that once laid heavy on me has now been removed by God Himself and His presence. Furthermore, I have grown more confident in the Lord, and I know that if I should face any trials, He will be there with me throughout them. As Jesus, the Son of God, said it Himself in Matthew 11:28 (NIV), “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” ✨

I challenge you, reader, to look to the Lord and His strength and seek His face in prayer and in song, not just in the morning, but throughout the day, as it says in 1 Chronicles 16:11 (NIV). Just remembering to thank God for waking you up in the morning is already a great and beautiful first step to start every day. And if you have a Bible (that may or may not be collecting dust), I encourage you to start reading it and not take it for granted because God’s Word is a gift, and it is described to be a lamp for your feet, a light on your path, as it says in Psalm 119:105 (NIV) in the Bible. 🦶✨

I can honestly tell you from personal experience, reader, that starting my day with God everyday really has positively impacted me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and I believe that it will do the same for you too. For one, you will get to know God, your Father in Heaven, more, who loves you so much, as well as His Son, Jesus, who gave Himself for you and all of us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good, as it says in Titus 2:14 (NIV). And speaking of being a child of God who is eager to do good works, by spending quiet time with God in the day and night, you will become stronger and clear on who you are in Christ as well as what you are called to do in Christ. As it says in Psalm 143:8 (NIV), “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” ☀️🤍

Overall, reader, if and when you choose to draw near to God, I promise you that He will draw near to you, as it says in James 4:8 (ESV). ✨

☁️☀️☁️

Thank you so much for reading! I hope that you found this post to be valuable, and if it resonated with you, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section down below, for I would love to hear from you! You can also share this post with a friend who may need to read it as well. 🤗

Also, make sure to like and subscribe to my blog, P.IM & PINK, so you do not miss out on new blog posts, videos, and content in the future! ✨

For more content, you can follow my blog, P.I.M & PINK, on the social media accounts listed down below:

☀️ Official Pinterest – P.I.M & PINK

☀️ Official Instagram – P.I.M & PINK

☀️ Official Twitter – P.I.M & PINK

May God satisfy you in the morning with His unfailing love, reader, so that you may sing for joy and be glad all your days, as it says in Psalm 90:14 (NIV). May God bless you and protect you, and I pray that you are safe and healthy always. 🙏🤍🎶

Your P.I.M PAL,

Selene

Categories
ballet blog encouragement

Showtime! My First Ballet Performance

Hi, P.I.M PALS! (🎀o^-^o)/ 🩰🤍

As I mentioned in my previous ballet-related blog post called, “To My Late Bloomers… Dreams Come True“, I said that I will be launching a new blog post about my first-ever ballet performances in the near future. And with that being said, welcome to today’s blog post about my first-ever ballet performances! 🩰 🎼 ✨

Picture by Selene Washington on pimandpink.com

The day finally came on Friday, August 4, 2023, when my dream of performing on stage for the very first time as a ballerina came true. It was so surreal and exciting to perform in my first-ever ballet show! It was truly a dream come true! 🥹🩰🤍

In the show, I performed a “fan dance” from the famous ballet, “La Bayadère”, set in Royal India, and I performed as one of the flowers from the classic children’s tale, “Peter and the Wolf.” 🩰🌻✨

Overall, I am very happy to say that I survived my first ballet performances, and that I practiced a lot behind the scenes to give the best performances that I could. 🥲🩰🎼

Before the show, I learned and experienced a variety of things. For instance, I learned a lot about what happens backstage, I experienced getting fitted for costumes, I participated in constant rehearsals, I asked questions to my teachers and dancers when I needed help, I initiated practices, I became comfortable with performing in front of people, I dealt with unnecessary dance drama, I experienced getting my hair and makeup done for dress rehearsal and the show, and overall I witnessed and experienced all of the hard work that was involved behind the scenes for the show.

I thank my family for helping me bring my ballet dream into a reality and for coming out to support me and watch me do my first ballet show. I was so happy to be able to notice my family in the audience and make eye contact with them while performing, for it only fueled my motivation to give them a good performance. At the end of the show, my father handed me some beautiful red roses, and one of my aunts came down to see me and surprise me, and she handed me some pretty soft pink roses. 😄🌹💕

Overall, I thank everyone who encouraged me and supported me, whether they could make it to the show or not. 🙏🩰💕

I thank my teachers for taking the time to teach me and encourage me, and for giving me the opportunity to perform. It is just so surreal for me to finally be a part of their dance school that I always respected and admired from afar for so long. 🙏🩰🤍

Most of all, thank you to God who gave me the ability and dream to even do ballet in the first place and dance for His glory. 🙏🩰✨

Overall, reader, I just feel so motivated and determined to work even harder at ballet and give my absolute best in every performance that I do as a ballerina in the future. 💪🩰🤍

I am very determined to advance to the next level in ballet and be en pointe next summer, or even before next summer. In the meantime, I will continue my training at home, as well as prepare for the ballet school year. 🩰✨

In light of this, I remind myself (and you, reader) of the Scripture verse, Colossians 3:23 (NLT), which says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” ✨

On a different note, unfortunately, I cannot share videos of the show/performances, but in the future, I will be posting reels/videos of me ballet dancing to different songs and music, so look forward to that, reader! 🩰🎼🤍

Here is a carousel of some pictures of me on the day of the show down below. 👇🏼

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Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section down below. I would love to hear from you! 🤗🤍

Also, I encourage you to like and subscribe to my blog, P.I.M & PINK, because I would love for you to be a part of this journey with me, and so you do not miss out on new blog posts, videos, and content in the future. 🩰✨

For more content, you can also follow my blog, P.I.M & PINK, on the social media accounts listed down below:

🩰 Official Pinterest – P.I.M & PINK

🩰 Official Instagram – P.I.M & PINK

🩰 Official Twitter – P.I.M & PINK

May God bless you and protect you, and I pray that you are safe and healthy always. 🙏🤍

Your P.I.M PAL,

Selene

Categories
ballet blog encouragement

To My Late Bloomers… Dreams Come True

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Hi, P.I.M PALS! (🎀o^-^o)/ 🤍

Welcome to today’s blog post about ballet! 🩰🤍🎼

Two years ago, I wrote a blog post called, “To My Late Bloomers“. In that blog post, I encouraged late bloomers to have the courage to still pursue their dreams, even if they are pursuing them much later in life.

As a late bloomer myself, I shared my own experience of taking ballet lessons at the age of sixteen, which I consider to be a late start in the ballet world.

Furthermore, in that blog post, I covered my experience at the dance school and how I was being received by the other ballerinas.

In that blog post, I expressed how happy I was to finally see myself have the courage to live my ballet dream, even if it meant feeling like a “giraffe in the room”🦒. Eventually, however, I did leave that dance school for a variety of reasons, primarily due to not receiving the feedback that I was looking for from the ballet teacher and being mistreated by some of the other dancers there.

Though I was still fine with leaving that particular dance school, I still desired to do ballet, which made leaving that dance school a bittersweet experience. After leaving, I stopped going to in-person ballet classes for a long time, and instead, I focused on my studies, finishing high school, and preparing for college. 📚✍🏼🏫

However, even after I left that dance school, I still continued to teach myself ballet at home with the intent to one day return to in-person classes for ballet.

Little did I know, in 2023, for my 21st birthday, my parents had a special present for me. Along with a trip to Washington D.C. to see the Japanese cherry blossoms in the spring (which you can read more about in my “Begin to Blossom” blog post), my parents also surprised me with a private ballet lesson from the owner of a professional dance school that I always dreamed of being enrolled to.

Upon hearing the news, I cried tears of joy and excitement as I felt like this was the start of a new chapter in my life. However, I also felt very nervous because I heard that the owner of the dance school was a very strict ballet instructor, and I feared that my current level of ballet would not impress her. Thankfully though, my parents alleviated my concerns by constantly reminding me throughout the week that this private ballet lesson was to help me grow in my ballet skills and capabilities and that I did not have to be perfect or try to impress the ballet instructor. 😅

The day finally came on Friday, May 12, 2023, when I had my first private ballet lesson with the owner of the ballet school of my dreams! I could not help but smile throughout the entire time she instructed me. My mother basically filmed the entire lesson! 😄🩰🤍

During the private ballet lesson, the owner asked me why I wanted to do ballet, and my response to her was that I always loved ballet, and I always had a desire to do it. Additionally, I mentioned to her that over the years, I have watched many ballet shows from her dance school, and it inspired me to learn ballet and perform gracefully and beautifully on stage one day. 🩰✨

Throughout the private ballet lesson, the owner was impressed with me. For one, she said that I was very smart and that I follow along fast. She even addressed my insecurity about my age (I was twenty years old at the time) by telling and reassuring me that my age was an advantage because, in her words, “The older you are, the faster you learn.” And therefore, she said that I will advance very quickly in ballet. Overall, the owner gave me very helpful feedback throughout the entire private ballet lesson, which I needed and appreciated so much. 🙏🤍

After the private ballet lesson was over, the owner’s husband pointed out to me several beautiful black and white photos of professional ballet dancers who graduated from their dance school. For one, he pointed out to me a photo of a successful male ballet dancer who started dancing at nineteen years old. He also pointed out to me photos of professional ballet dancers who are also professional figure skaters and even hockey players, which further inspired me as someone who has also been taking figure skating lessons and aspires to perform on ice one day (which you can read more about in my “Introducing New Series…Prove it to Yourself” blog post). ⛸️❄️

While at the dance school, I also met several wonderful ballet dancers that welcomed me with courtesy and gave me encouragement. For instance, I met a ballerina who is in her fifties and is currently taking beginner-level ballet classes at the dance school, which further served to mitigate my insecurity relating to my age. I also met an eighteen-year-old boy at the dance school who has only been doing ballet for two years and has competed in professional ballet competitions and received several ballet school scholarships. Seeing him showed me how someone my age (or close to my age) can excel so quickly at something they are passionate about, which further motivated me to work hard at ballet. 🩰✨

Overall, the private ballet lesson was a truly wonderful experience, in which I learned so much and became more motivated and inspired to continue practicing ballet. One notable experience that touched me was a quote I saw that was written on a brochure that my father pointed out to me in the dance school. The quote said, “Dance because you are beautiful.” Soon enough, I enrolled in the dance school and started taking regular ballet classes the next week on Saturday, May 20, 2023, and on that same day, I even watched a beautiful in-studio show at the dance school for the first time, which served to further inspire me! 🩰🤍

For the summer, I even decided to join a ballet summer intensive program on June 21, 2023, that is offered at the dance school that I am currently enrolled in. My father, who is a Marine, likes to call the ballet summer intensive program, “ballet boot camp”, because it is very intense, but it is still very exciting because I will be a part of ballet shows that I always dreamed of being in and I will be performing a solo in front of the owner and the advanced level ballerinas. So, stay tuned for that, reader, because I will be launching a new blog post about my first-ever ballet performances in the near future and I would love for you to be a part of this journey with me. 🩰✨

The point of me sharing with you my ballet journey so far though, reader, is to further reinforce the message to not let your age stop you from pursuing your dreams like it did mine for so long, especially when your dreams come from God. Did you know that some of your dreams come from God, reader? If you have a desire or desires gifted to you from God and it aligns with God’s will, have the courage to start working towards it, because it will manifest one day. ✨

Ballet is just one of my God-given desires, but I can say now that I am truly living out that desire as I am now training at a professional dance institution to become a professional ballerina. I even received confirmation of this desire from the Holy Spirit who took the time to speak to me through my father to tell me that I will soon be dancing at the professional apprentice level like the professional ballerinas in the ballet schools in New York and Europe. Furthermore, the owner of my dance school told me that one day I can be her apprentice, which aligned with what the Holy Spirit told me. All of this assured me that my desire to be a ballet dancer came from God and that He gifted me with it. 🩰✨

I am so excited about what awaits me as I pursue ballet. But no matter what, when I dance, I will be dancing for the Lord. I will be dancing from my heart for His glory, for He is the One who gave me this desire to dance in the first place. For that, I will always be grateful and bold to praise Him. 🩰🤍

Therefore, reader, if you have God-given desires, but you are holding yourself back because you think you are too old or too young or you missed your opportunity, go to God and trust Him with a plan to help manifest your desires and work towards them and He will guide you. As the Scripture verse, Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV) says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”

Psalm 145:16 (ESV) says, “You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.”

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Deuteronomy 31:6-8 (NIV) says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

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So, reader, what is your God-given desire? ✨

I hope that you found this post to be valuable and inspiring, reader, and if it resonated with you, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. I would love to hear from you. Thank you so much for reading! 🤍

Also, make sure to like and subscribe to my blog, P.I.M & PINK, so you do not miss out on new blog posts, videos, and content in the future. ✨

You can also find P.I.M & PINK on the following social media accounts:

🩰 Official Pinterest – P.I.M & PINK

🩰 Official Instagram – P.I.M & PINK

🩰 Official Twitter – P.I.M & PINK

May God grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans, reader, as it says in Psalm 20:4 (ESV). May God bless you and protect you always, and I pray that you are safe and healthy always. 🙏🤍

Your P.I.M PAL,

Selene

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Categories
blog encouragement purity Video

Just my late night thoughts on purity and impurity.

Hi, P.I.M PALS! (o^-^o)/ 🤍

Welcome to today’s video about purity and impurity.

On my blog’s official Instagram account, I posted a reel of me (the blogger behind) sharing some of my late night thoughts on purity and impurity. ☁️🌙☁️

You can watch the reel down below here! 👇

☁️🌙☁️

I hope that you found this post to be valuable, and if it resonated with you, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section down below. 🤗

Also, make sure to like and subscribe to my blog, P.I.M & PINK, so you do not miss out on new blog posts, videos, and content in the future! ✨

You can also find P.I.M & PINK on the following social media accounts:

🤍 Official Pinterest – P.I.M & PINK

🤍 Official Instagram – P.I.M & PINK

🤍 Official Twitter – P.I.M & PINK

May God bless you and protect you, and I pray that you are safe and healthy always. 🙏🤍

Your P.I.M PAL,

Selene

Categories
blog encouragement spring

Begin to Blossom 🌸

🌸

Hi, P.I.M PALS! (/( ்̓˟்̓)\) 🌸 🤍

Spring is here, my absolute favorite season! I hope that you are doing well and enjoying a lovely spring day today. 😊 🙏 💕

If you did not already know, last spring I wrote a blog post called “Blossom“. In that post, I talked about not letting anyone or anything stop you from blossoming into the person you are called to be in Christ. Also, I shared a picture of peach blossoms that I would pass by everyday. But this year, I share with you my first experience being showered with cherry blossoms in Washington D.C.! 😄 🌸

I have always dreamed of seeing the cherry blossoms, for they are my favorite flower. 🌸 💕

The day finally came on March 31, 2023, when my family and I took a trip to Washington D.C., and saw the cherry blossom trees in peak bloom! 🌸 ✨

It was the first time I got to see the cherry blossom trees up close and really appreciate their beauty. 🌸 💕

I also got very excited seeing and meeting new people who spoke different languages and traveled from all around the world just to see the cherry blossoms in peak bloom as well. 😄 🌸

There were many kind people who offered to take pictures of my family and me together with the cherry blossoms. Many of these people had years of experience taking photos of the cherry blossoms, so the pictures came out absolutely amazing! 😄 📷 🌸 💕

It was also very cute to see many students and young and old couples taking pictures together with the cherry blossoms. 🎒 📚 🌸 💕

Also, I saw many people having picnics under cherry blossom trees, which is something that I would love to do one day with my family and friends. 🌸 💕

As expected, my family and I took lots and lots of pictures to capture the beauty of the cherry blossoms. 📷 🌸

There was even a moment when soft jazz music was playing in the background while everyone was walking and sightseeing the cherry blossom trees that were by the water. The live music truly enhanced the experience for all of us. 🌸 🎶

Eventually, I sat underneath a cherry blossom tree and I noticed all of the adorable pink and white petals scattered all over the ground and the water. 🌸

There were also many historical museums and art galleries in the area that I hope to visit the next time my family and I visit Washington D.C.! 🖼️ 🎨

Overall, I consider cherry blossoms to be my favorite flower, not just because they are pink, but because they mark the ending of winter and represent the beginning of spring. 🌸

The cherry blossoms also represent a time of renewal and optimism, which I think that many of us as people need and want in our lives. 🌸 ✨

For instance, personally, I am finally starting to come out of a “winter season” in my life when I was weighed down with fear and anxiety of losing my own life because of a tragic experience that happened to me.

I thank God that I am finally starting to enter a new spring season in my life of letting go of the fear, anxiety, worry, and pain that could have kept me from blossoming into the person I am called to be in Christ.

After my family and I prayed together, God gave me a dream reminding me of Genesis 3:15 (NIV) in His Word that the enemy, Satan, is under my heel, and I have crushed his head because he has no power over my life or anybody else’s life.

Do not, reader, allow the enemy to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10 (NIV)) the joy and beauty of your time and the moment when you should be blossoming or allowing yourself to enjoy the new beginnings of the spring season or any season, whether it is a new job you love, a new hobby you enjoy, or any new gifts, talents, or skills that you are passionate about and aspire to do, etc.

Something as simple as a cherry blossom showering over me gives me pure joy and a feeling and assurance that God is with me and He is with you also. 🌸 ✨

While I was sightseeing the cherry blossoms, the following two Scripture verses also came to mind:

🌸 Song of Songs 2:12 (NCV) 🌸

“Blossoms appear through all the land. The time has come to sing; the cooing of doves is heard in our land.”

🌸 Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV) 🌸

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.”

Therefore, reader, as you can see, God compares us to the trees in His Word. Just as the cherry blossom trees blossom in the spring, so will you in God’s divine timing. So, do not compare yourself to someone else’s “peak bloom”. 🌸 ✨

And to those of you who are currently in a rut, I encourage you to step outside and surround yourself with nothing but God’s beautiful creation. 🌸

If you are reading this, mother and father, thank you for bringing me to see my favorite flower. It was a beautiful early birthday present! 🌸 🙏 💕

I thank God that my family and I were able to see the cherry blossoms in peak bloom and enjoy such a lovely, serene, and healing spring day together. 🌸 🙏 🤍

One day, I hope to also see the beautiful cherry blossoms, also known as Sakura, in Japan and go to my first cherry blossom festival there with family and friends. 🌸 ⛩️ 🗼

To bring this post to a close, I wanted to share with you, this special little reel of my trip to Washington D.C., where I saw the cherry blossom trees. 🌸 🎬 ✨

I encourage you to visit one day and experience the beauty of the cherry blossoms as I did. 🌸 💕

🌸

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section down below, as well as share this post with others. I would love to hear from you! 🤗 ✨

Also, make sure to like and subscribe to my blog, P.I.M & PINK, so you do not miss out on new blog posts, videos, and content in the near future! Thank you so much for reading and watching! 😄 💕

You can also find P.I.M & PINK on the following social media accounts!

🌸 Official Pinterest – P.I.M & PINK

🌸 Official Instagram – P.I.M & PINK

🌸 Official Twitter – P.I.M & PINK

May God bless you and protect you, and I pray that you are safe and healthy always. 🙏 🤍

Your P.I.M PAL,

Selene

🌸

Categories
blog encouragement spring

Happy Easter!

Hi, P.I.M PALS! (/( ்̓˟்̓)\) 💕

Picture by Selene Washington on pimandpink.com

I hope that you had a lovely Easter filled with joy and peace. ✨

Typically on Easter, we see many people going to church, all dressed up in their Sunday best, taking pictures, listening to a sermon, or seeing an Easter play.

While these things I mentioned above are very good, they can just be another check on the block for some people on Easter. ✅

However, God can use that. ✨

I encourage you, reader, to have fellowship with your family and friends on Easter. Let this be a time to share with people about Christ who normally do not go to church and do not know Christ.

Acts 2:42 (NIV) says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Acts 2:46 (NIV) also says, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,”

Remember, reader, that God can move in your own home – the same walls you see every day. 🏡

Whoever you invite to your home for Easter dinner can come in and out of your home blessed, for that is what God wants. ✨

Deuteronomy 28:6 (NIV) says, “You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.”

Let this be an opportunity to show the love of Christ and understand the true meaning of Easter, which is when Jesus showed His love for us and gave us the gift of eternal life in heaven through His death on the cross for our sins and His resurrection. ❤️

Romans 6:23 (NIV) says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Therefore, reader, all we are talking about here is one day – one day that could impact your life as well as someone else’s life for the better. ✨

Overall, I encourage you to thank and praise God and His Son, Jesus, for giving us the gift of eternal life, for He is to be celebrated every day, not just Easter. 🙌 💕

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I hope that you found this post to be valuable, and if it resonated with you, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section down below, as well as share this post with others. Thank you so much for reading! 🤗✨

May God bless you and protect you, reader, and I pray that you are safe and healthy always. 🙏🤍

Your P.I.M PAL,

Selene

Categories
blog encouragement love

Happy Valentine’s Day!

♡

Valentine’s Day is a day we celebrate the people we love and embrace the people who love us. Unfortunately, there are many people who may not or feel like they don’t have people to love and people who love them. For those of you like this, I want to point you to Jesus and remind you that He loves you deeply. If you feel lonely this Valentine’s Day (or any day for that matter), run to Jesus’s open arms and live in His love.

1 John 4:16 (NIV) states, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

Happy Valentine’s Day, P.I.M PALS. ♡

May God bless you and protect you.

ʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ ~ hugs fෆr yෆu

Sincerely your P.I.M PAL,

Selene

♡

Picture by Selene Washington on pimandpink.com
Categories
blog celebration encouragement

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, P.I.M PALS! 🥳

I hope that wherever you are in the world, you are safe and healthy and enjoying the start of the new year. ✨

Video by Selene Washington on pimandpink.com

The beginning of the new year is a grand event celebrated by almost everyone. But for some, this event can breed uncertainty amongst those who are anxious about what might take place during the new year. During multiple New Year’s celebrations, I can recall being concerned about the trials and troubles I or my family might experience during the year. Additionally, as many of you could relate, my concern for the upcoming year was further heightened this past New Year’s by the suffering I endured during 2022. Specifically, all of the fear, anxiety, physical discomfort, etc., that I experienced in 2022 put me in a constant struggle to find even the smallest amount of peace within myself.

Despite these concerns, however, on the morning of New Year’s Eve, I felt a strong sense of peace, while in my room. I found myself saying in my head, “Wow, I feel so peaceful, where is this feeling of peace coming from?” I wasn’t looking at anything that could bring me this level of peace, and I didn’t hear any good news or do any fun or peaceful activities such as reading or drinking tea. After all, I had just woken up from sleeping! However, it did not take me long to know that this “wave” of indescribable peace didn’t come out of nowhere, but instead came from God.

God entered my room right after I woke up and flooded me with His peaceful presence. This was even before I read my daily devotions, play worship music, or even pray to Him. The first thing He wanted me to do to start my day was to feel the peace He was giving me. And as the scriptures say, that peace truly surpassed all of my understanding (Philippians 4:7 (NIV)).

When I experienced the peace of God in my room, I just decided to sit and immerse myself in it. I did not look at anything, read anything, or even play praise and worship music in the background. It was just me and God, and I instantly went into prayer, thanking Him for this incredible feeling of peace that assured me that He is with me throughout my suffering and doubt. God also told me that my family and I will have a peaceful year and that He will always be with us and protect us from harm and danger. 

While praying to Him and thanking Him, I felt like He began to give me instructions and His Will for me for the new year. He gave me instructions about every one of my desires and plans for the new year which gave me a greater sense of peace.

God gave me instruction, not necessarily by speaking directly to me, but through my thoughts. At first, this caused me to question the thoughts I was having on whether they were instructions from God or just my thoughts. However, thanks to wisdom from God, given to me through my father, I was reassured that the thoughts I had while feeling God’s peaceful presence were His instructions, as those thoughts aligned with the Word of God, which holds God’s Will and His instruction. Upon learning this, I was able to confidently heed the Lord’s instructions and become encouraged in Him, just as David did during a time of great distress according to 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV).

Once I shared this experience with my family, they also became encouraged. Additionally, we all became further resolved in trusting in God’s promises for the new year, because at the end of the day, He is all-knowing and He sees all, including that which we don’t know or see ourselves. 

These are also the reasons why my family and I are starting 2023 with Proverbs 16:3 (NIV), which says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans”. Since God knows everything, including our plans for 2023 and beyond, that means He also knows the outcome of each of our plans. This also means that He knows which plans will prove to be fruitful and which won’t. And so, by committing our plans to Him, He will evaluate each plan and determine what plans we should pursue, or in other words, align with His Will.

How this may apply to you, the reader is through a common tradition that many people participate in at the start of each new year: New Year’s resolutions. Many people at the beginning of a new year make “resolutions” or firm decisions to do something that are usually impactful to their own lives or others. Because the new year is in many ways symbolic of a new start, it can serve as a motivator for some people to accomplish certain goals within the upcoming year. This motivation can be pretty strong, and I have seen many accomplish their goals fueled by the start of the new year. However, as almost everybody knows, more often than not people fail to accomplish or maintain their New Year’s resolutions. There are many reasons why people fail to maintain their resolutions, but all of them can be simplified with the following: The adrenaline of the New Year is not a strong enough foundation to build your goals. 

While there is nothing wrong with making New Year resolutions or being motivated by the new year to do something, the adrenaline of the new year can easily and quickly dissipate, especially when considering the small amount of patience and determination people can have when they don’t accomplish their goals right away. Additionally, when filled with the excitement of the new year, many people rashly create plans/resolutions for the year that ultimately prove to be reckless, not achievable, unrealistic, and a waste of time. My point is that although New Year’s resolutions can be great and even feasible, solely creating plans for the year with the sole motivation and foundation being the New Year is not the best strategy.

This is why I say that when creating your plans for the new year, you should do what Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) says to do and commit your plans to God. Compared to the beginning of the new year, God is a better foundation where you can lay your plans, because He knows all and, therefore, knows which plans you should pursue and how you should pursue them.

Additionally, Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) says, “In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” While this verse does acknowledge the path that we want to take as humans, it also tells us that God is the one who ultimately determines and knows the best course of action we should take and how we should live. That is why you can trust that when you commit your plans to God, He will give you the necessary guidance and instruction and that if you heed His instruction and allow Him to guide you, you will be walking the right path. After all, as it says in Proverbs 16:20 (NIV), “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”

So, reader, I encourage you today to go to God and commit to Him your plans. Give Him all of your bright ideas, thoughts, plans, desires, and dreams, and He will guide you on the path you should take. Just take it as if you were going to someone for advice, except that this “someone” is the all-knowing, all-powerful, and benevolent God who knows what’s best for you.

And as I talked about earlier, if, like me, you are seeking peace for 2023 and the years to come, then go to God and ask Him to give you peace beyond all understanding. There are many people out in the world evoking God during the new year, and as a result, God is moving. So I can say with confidence that if you go to Him for peace, He will provide. In Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV), Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Even during times of trouble and distress, be confident in knowing that when you pray to God, He will guard your heart and mind and fill you with peace. And along with God’s grace, by aligning your thoughts, words, and actions with God’s Word, you can further receive God’s gift of peace this year, and for all the years to follow.

And so, to close out, I say to all who read this post, Happy New Year and, as Romans 15:33 (NIV) says, “The God of peace be with you all. Amen.” ✨

So, reader, do you make New Year’s resolutions? If so, are you committing them to God?

🥳 

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you found this post to be valuable, and if it resonated with you, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. I would love to hear from you. 💕

Also, make sure to like and subscribe to my blog, P.I.M & PINK, so you do not miss out on new blog posts and content! ✨

You can also find P.I.M & PINK on the following social media accounts:

May God bless you and protect you, and I pray that you are safe and healthy always. 🤍🙏

Your P.I.M PAL,

Selene

Photo by Selene Arianna Washington
Categories
blog Christmas comfort encouragement seasonal

Merry Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!

Merry Christmas, P.I.M PALS! \(o^-^o)/ 💕

Video by Selene Washington on pimandpink.com

I hope that you are having a lovely Christmas day today filled with love, joy, and peace. 🎄

Over the years of celebrating Christmas, I have seen how much I have changed. When I was a little girl, I looked forward to receiving gifts. Now that I have gotten older, I look forward to giving gifts, as giving in itself is a gift. When I give gifts to my family and friends, I love seeing their joyous reactions and surprised expressions! To me, giving gifts is a way I can express my love to the people I care about. 🎁

Because of this, I am very thankful to God for giving all of us the greatest gift of them all: salvation through Jesus Christ. Salvation is what Christmas is all about. It was a gift made for all mankind who was plagued by sin and suffering. It is a gift that cannot be earned by any amount of money or any deed but was freely given through the birth, life, and sacrifice of Christ. And so, for all of us plagued by sin, and for those who are broken, downhearted, and lonely, we have been saved by grace. All we have to do is go to Jesus, recognize Him as our Savior and receive His gift of salvation. ✨

According to Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV), Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This is what Jesus is saying to you, reader. If you are burdened by your sins and life’s struggles, then turn to Jesus. He will give you the comfort and relief you need. Our souls and minds can be full of troubles in this life, and there is so much trial and tribulation. However, know that God will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV), and He will give you joy and peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7 NIV). 

So, this Christmas, as you give and receive gifts to and from those you love, remember that we were all given the greatest gift, Jesus Christ, who brought salvation to all mankind. You do not need to buy it, nor work for it. All you have to do is go to Jesus and simply receive it. ✨

🎄

Thank you so much for reading! If this post resonated with you, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section down below. I would love to hear from you. 🤗 💕

Also, make sure to like and subscribe to my blog, P.I.M & PINK, so you do not miss out on new blog posts in the future! ✨

You can also find P.I.M & PINK on the following social media accounts:

🎄Official Pinterest – P.I.M & PINK

🎄Official Instagram – P.I.M & PINK

🎄Official Twitter – P.I.M & PINK

May God bless you and protect you always, reader, and I wish you a very merry Christmas and a safe and healthy holiday! 🙏🎄💕

Your P.I.M PAL,

Selene 💕

Photo by Selene Arianna Washington
Categories
autumn blog encouragement healing Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo by olia danilevich on Pexels.com

Happy Thanksgiving, P.I.M PALS! 🍂🍁 \(o^-^o)/ 🍁🍂

In celebration of the holiday, I want to use this post as an opportunity to thank God for the things He has done in my life as well as all of our lives. ✨

Firstly, I want to thank God for His patience and long suffering. For more than a year, I have been struggling with anxiety and many stress-related issues due to a tragic event. This struggle has plagued me with a daily fear of losing my life and a crippling uncertainty about my own future. Most importantly, my struggle with anxiety and fear created a rift between God and myself, as my struggles caused me to question His goodness and, oftentimes, blame Him for my suffering. However, even in those times when I casted blame and frustration, God had patience with me and reassured me that He heard my cries and was listening to my prayers. Despite my constant doubt, He consistently promised me healing and deliverance from anxiety and fear.

And on those promises, God did keep! This is why I also want to thank God for his divine healing and deliverance. A few days ago, my family and I fasted and prayed over my condition, and God revealed that my anxiety was sourced from a spirit of fear that has been attacking me since last year. In other words, this was a spiritual attack from Satan, which manifested into physical ailments that brought upon additional fear and discomfort even during the happiest or most peaceful times. It was also revealed that the purpose of this attack was to create distrust between God and myself, which would eventually lead to hate for God. However, this demonic plot was thwarted by God, Who ultimately cast out the demonic spirit of fear after we prayed to God for deliverance. As of now, I can confidently say that I have been delivered, as I no longer fear for my life and many of my stress-related ailments have been alleviated.

Lastly, I would like to thank God for the guidance and love that He gives us. Throughout my struggle with anxiety, I wandered in uncertainty as I searched for answers to my issue. Similar to a maze, while desperately searching for a way out of my struggles, I often came across multiple dead-ends that further fed my hopelessness.

Photo by Selene Washington

However, God consistently gave me guidance that has helped put me back on the right path that led to my eventual deliverance. Furthermore, even after delivering me from my struggles, God gave me confirmation of my deliverance. This confirmation came in the form of a dream, in which I crushed the head of a snake with my heel as it was chasing me. This dream was symbolic of Genesis 3:15, where God curses the serpent for deceiving Eve and foretells the defeat of the devil by Jesus Christ, Who, through His sacrifice on the cross, has crushed the devil’s head. Thanks to the interpretation of the dream from my father, I understood that I was already freed from Satan’s attacks and deception through the power of Jesus Christ, Who gave up His life so I could live mine in His name and under His protection. So now, I can say for certain that I am no longer wandering aimlessly while searching for answers, and instead, I am walking in my deliverance down a path guided by God Who is my guiding light.

Photo by Selene Washington

My struggle with anxiety has taught me a lot, including what it means to trust God during and despite my struggles and suffering. As I stated before, my suffering hurt my relationship with God. So even though I am free from my suffering, I must remedy my relationship with God and learn what it means to trust in Him wholeheartedly again. However, I can not do this by myself, which is why I am thankful for God’s love and guidance that He is giving me to help rebuild my trust in Him.

Overall, I am very thankful for everything God has done for me during my darkest and brightest times. I am also thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Who by His blood, has not only cleansed me of my suffering and pain, but of my sins and shortcomings, and has granted me a new life. Additionally, I am thankful for the many other ways He has blessed me, such as with a loving family that has helped me throughout my struggles, this blog, and another Thanksgiving to celebrate all that we ought to be grateful for.

So reader, if there is anything I want you to take away from this post, it’s to remember to be grateful for all the ways God has blessed you. This includes even the simplest things in life that we often take for granted, such as good health, a home, food, family, breathing, etc. But don’t just thank Him for material things, but also for the love, mercy, and patience He has shown us, as well as His wisdom and guidance. And for those who may be struggling with something like I did, I urge you today to turn to God in the midst of your sorrows and trust that Jesus has overcome your suffering through His sacrifice and has delivered you from your suffering and your sins!

🍁

Thank you so much for reading! I hope that you have a blessed Thanksgiving, and may God bless you and protect you always! 🤍🙏

Also, make sure to like and subscribe to my blog, P.I.M & PINK, so you do not miss out on new blog posts and content in the future. ✨

You can also find P.I.M & PINK on the following social media accounts:

🍁 Official Pinterest – P.I.M & PINK

🍂 Official Instagram – P.I.M & PINK

🍁 Official Twitter – P.I.M & PINK

Psalm 50:14-15 (KJV) says, “Offer unto God thanksgiving; And pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” ✨

Your P.I.M PAL,

Selene 🍁

Photo by Stephany Washington