You and I have the freedom to choose how we want to live our lives, and based on that, I choose to live a life of purity.
Purity is the quality or state of being pure. To be pure means to be perfectly free from sin and corruption. ๐ค
Nowadays, purity is not popular because it is seen as a โrestrictiveโ lifestyle. For those of you who think that, you are right, it is. However, purity is only restrictive if you are trying to live opposite of it.
If you are doing things that you think are enjoyable, but those same things are actually sinful and against God Who calls us to live pure lives, then naturally you will be opposed to purity because it condemns the things that you think are okay.
In short, if the things you enjoy doing that you think are โgoodโ, โnaturalโ, or even โrightโ are actually sinful, and therefore impure, then like many people in this world, you will view purity as โtoxicโ and โboringโ and those who promote and encourage purity as โcontrollingโ, including God.
Furthermore, not only is purity seen as restrictive but it is also seen as a difficult lifestyle to maintain. This is also true as such a lifestyle requires purity in all aspects of our lives. In order to be truly pure, our hearts, minds, bodies, spirits, words, actions, and character must all be pure, amongst other things. And considering that we are all plagued with sinful desires, maintaining a pure lifestyle is impossible, but that is only if we try to do it alone.
The only way we can hope to live a life of purity is by trusting in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who sacrificed Himself so that all of us can be freed from the bondage of sin and impurity and receive eternal life in heaven with God. By trusting in Jesus, He will guide us to live a life free from sin and the pain and suffering that accompanies sin. Jesus makes a pure life possible. โจ
In this way, you can see how a life of purity actually gives you the ultimate freedom: freedom from sin. And not only is it freeing, but it also brings true joy. When you start living a pure life, you will find yourself starting to desire the things of God and rejecting sinful things, including those sinful things that you enjoyed doing before. Once that happens, you will see that purity is anything but โboringโ or โunfulfillingโ.
Purity is fulfilling and freeing! And it is possible when you have Jesus guiding you. ๐ค
You have the freedom to choose purity. Like everyone else who says, “I do what I want”, you can also say that when it comes to purity. The difference between you and everyone else, however, is that you will be choosing purity, not just because you are free to choose how you want to live, but also because you know it is the right way to live. โจ
I encourage you to choose purity, and to be just as strong in your choice as everyone else who is strong in theirs. You may be mocked and criticized for your choice, but do not be discouraged, because God is by your side.
God will help you to stand firm in your choice to live purely, and He will help you to respond to those mockers, not with mockery of your own, but with encouragement to make the same choice.
โจ Ezekiel 3:8-9 (NIV) โจ in the Bible says, โBut I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.โ
Therefore, know that God will make you just as stone-faced as anyone else with a strong stance, and He will strengthen you and embolden you in your choice to live a pure life that is free from sin and sinful desires. ๐ช๐คโจ
๐ค
I hope that you found this post to be valuable and encouraging, and if it resonated with you, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section down below. I would love to hear from you! You can also share this post with a friend who may need to read it as well. ๐ค
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. โจ
For more content, follow my blog, P.I.M & PINK, on the social media accounts listed down below:
Welcome to today’s very special blog post of me celebrating my three-year anniversary (also known as “blogiversary”) of my blog, P.I.M & PINK! ๐ค ๐
In celebration of my blog’s three-year anniversary, I posted a video of me (the blogger behind) on my blog’s official Instagram account, thanking all of you, my dear P.I.M PALS, for supporting my blog for three years. ๐๐\(o^-^o)/๐๐
You can watch the video down below! ๐
May God bless you all, and let us continue this journey together with God by our side. ๐๐ค
โจ Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) โจ says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Welcome to today’s video about the power of prayer. โจ
On my blog’s official Instagram account, I posted a reel of me (the blogger behind) discussing the power of prayer. In this reel, I share with you an experience I had involving a loved one who was healed by God through prayer. ๐
You can watch the reel down below! I hope that it encourages you to always keep praying and trusting in Godโs power and love. ๐๐โจ
If you got some people you want me to pray for, just give me their name, and I will pray for them. ๐
In this post, I also wanted to share with you some additional healing Scripture verses for you to read and meditate on to further encourage you and remind you of the power of prayer and that God is a healing God. ๐โจ
Here is a list of the Scripture verses down below:
โจ James 5:15 (NIV) โจ
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”
โจ Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV) โจ
“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”
โจ Psalm 103:2-5 (NIV) โจ
“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
โจ Jeremiah 33:6 (NIV) โจ
“‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
โจ Isaiah 40:29 (NIV) โจ
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
โจ Psalm 147:3 (NIV) โจ
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
โจ Psalm 146:8 (NIV) โจ
“The Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.”
โจ Psalm 41:3 (NIV) โจ
“The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.”
โจ Matthew 19:26 (NIV) โจ
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
And lastly, โจ Revelation 21:4 (NIV) โจ in the Bible, which says, ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” This specific verse, reader, refers to what is ultimately waiting for you when you spend eternal life in heaven with God, freedom from all suffering. ๐ ๐
โจ
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. I would love to hear from you. You can also share this post with a friend who may need to hear it as well. Thank you so much for reading and watching! ๐ค๐
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. โจ
For more content, you can follow my blog, P.I.M & PINK, on the social media accounts listed down below: ๐
Welcome to todayโs blog post about ending your evening with God. โ๏ธ๐โ๏ธ
Picture by Selene Washington on pimandpink.com
Previously, I launched a blog post called, “Start Your Morning With God“, where I shared some scripture verses as well as some aspects of my morning routine that I spend with God. Similar to my morning routine, in my night routine, I thank God for another day, I talk and pray to Him, I read Godโs Word, as well as Christian books and devotionals, and I sing and play praise and worship music. I also sometimes write for my blog, if I am not too tired after everything else. ๐ด
Spending my evenings with God is a very important part of my life, not just because it is something everyone should do, but also because it personally helps me. Ever since I was young, I always struggled with fear, which made it hard for me to fall asleep. I remember feeling so scared and worried about something bad or life-threatening happening to me, my family, the neighborhood I live in, and even the world in general while I sleep!
To ease my fears before bed, I would oftentimes, play classical music and lullabies from my radio as well as sometimes have a night light on. Though this helped bring some comfort, ultimately it was not the sole solution to my issue. This is because things such as classical music, lullabies, and night lights only helped alleviate my own personal fear but did little to remove the fear brought upon by the devil.
It is true, reader, that the devil will even try to torment us through the night when we sleep with a spirit of fear. This is just one of the ways he tries to steal our peace and make us doubt Godโs protection by attacking us during our time of rest, making us feel tired and miserable the next day.
Once I recognized this strategy of the devil, I made the decision to turn to Jesus, who is also known as the Prince of Peace. By spending time with God in my evenings and entrusting Him with my rest, I have felt His presence in my room and a divine peace that I could not understand. โจ
Since giving my nights to God, I can say for sure that my fears have dissipated. Even in times where I lay alone in the dark and my fears attempt to control me, God reminds me that He is the light shining through the darkness, and that He is with me, holding me in His arms, like cuddling a teddy bear. ๐งธ๐โ๏ธ
I encourage you, reader, to give your nights to God and fill your mind with things of God before you sleep rather than fill your mind with things that will only make you more restless. Let God banish all anxiety from your heart and let the peace of God that surpasses all understanding overtake you. โจ
To end this post, I will share with you, reader, some Scripture verses that helped me overcome my fear at night. I encourage you to read and meditate on these verses, not just at night, but also throughout the day, so that you can always be reminded of Godโs everlasting love, peace, and protection! ๐ค
โญ๏ธ
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
โ๏ธ { Psalm 4:8 NIV } โ๏ธ
โญ๏ธ
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”
โ๏ธ { Deuteronomy 33:12 NIV } โ๏ธ
โญ๏ธ
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
โ๏ธ { John 14:27 NIV } โ๏ธ
โญ๏ธ
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
โ๏ธ { Philippians 4:7 NIV } โ๏ธ
โญ๏ธ
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.”
โ๏ธ { Psalm 145:8-9 NIV } โ๏ธ
โญ๏ธ
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
โ๏ธ { Colossians 3:15 NIV } โ๏ธ
โญ๏ธ
“If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
โ๏ธ { Psalm 139:11-12 NIV } โ๏ธ
โญ๏ธ
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
โ๏ธ { 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV } โ๏ธ
โญ๏ธ
I hope you found this post to be valuable and the Scripture verses to be helpful, reader, and that it inspires you to spend time with God in the evenings. If it resonated with you, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section down below. I would love to hear from you. Thank you so much for reading! ๐ซ
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. โจ
For more content, you can also follow my blog, P.I.M & PINK, on the social media accounts listed down below:
The God of peace be with you (Romans 15:33 (NIV)), reader, for God is the starlight who will protect you through the night until the morning light. May God bless you, and I pray that you are safe and healthy always. ๐๐โ๏ธ
Welcome to todayโs blog post about starting your morning with God. โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
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. โ๏ธ
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. โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
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. โจ
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. โฌโฌ๐โ๏ธ
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.” ๐ค
After praying, I start reading the Bible, Godโs 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 โspiritual foodโ that I am feeding myself, which is described to be sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103 (KJV)). It is essential to meditate on Godโs 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). ๐ฏ๐ณโจ
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). โ๏ธโจ
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. ๐โจ
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.” ๐ถ๐
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 personโs 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.” โ๐ผ๐ฃ๏ธโจ
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.”๐โจ
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.” โจ
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 Godโs 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. ๐ฆถโจ
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.” โ๏ธ๐ค
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). โจ
โ๏ธโ๏ธโ๏ธ
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. ๐ค
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! โจ
For more content, you can follow my blog, P.I.M & PINK, on the social media accounts listed down below:
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. ๐๐ค๐ถ
As I mentioned in my previous ballet-related blog post called, “To My Late Bloomersโฆ 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 todayโs blog post about my first-ever ballet performances! ๐ฉฐ ๐ผ โจ
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! ๐ฅน๐ฉฐ๐ค
In the show, I performed a “fan dance” from the famous ballet, “La Bayadรจre”, set in Royal India, and I performed as one of the flowers from the classic childrenโs tale, “Peter and the Wolf.” ๐ฉฐ๐ปโจ
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. ๐ฅฒ๐ฉฐ๐ผ
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. ๐๐น๐
Overall, I thank everyone who encouraged me and supported me, whether they could make it to the show or not. ๐๐ฉฐ๐
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. ๐๐ฉฐ๐ค
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. ๐๐ฉฐโจ
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. ๐ช๐ฉฐ๐ค
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. ๐ฉฐโจ
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.” โจ
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! ๐ฉฐ๐ผ๐ค
Here is a carousel of some pictures of me on the day of the show down below. ๐๐ผ
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! ๐ค๐ค
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. ๐ฉฐโจ
For more content, you can also follow my blog, P.I.M & PINK, on the social media accounts listed down below:
Welcome to todayโs blog post about ballet! ๐ฉฐ๐ค๐ผ
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”๐ฆ. 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. ๐โ๐ผ๐ซ
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. ๐
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! ๐๐ฉฐ๐ค
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. ๐ฉฐโจ
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. ๐๐ค
After the private ballet lesson was over, the ownerโs 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 SeriesโฆProve it to Yourself” blog post). โธ๏ธโ๏ธ
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. ๐ฉฐโจ
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, โDance because you are beautiful.โ 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! ๐ฉฐ๐ค
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. ๐ฉฐโจ
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 Godโs will, have the courage to start working towards it, because it will manifest one day. โจ
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. ๐ฉฐโจ
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. ๐ฉฐ๐ค
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.”
๐ฉฐ
So, reader, what is your God-given desire? โจ
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! ๐ค
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. โจ
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May God grant you your heartโs 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. ๐๐ค
Welcome to todayโs video about purity and impurity.
On my blogโs official Instagram account, I posted a reel of me (the blogger behind) sharing some of my late night thoughts on purity and impurity. โ๏ธ๐โ๏ธ
Spring is here, my absolute favorite season! I hope that you are doing well and enjoying a lovely spring day today. ๐ ๐ ๐
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.! ๐ ๐ธ
I have always dreamed of seeing the cherry blossoms, for they are my favorite flower. ๐ธ ๐
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! ๐ธ โจ
It was the first time I got to see the cherry blossom trees up close and really appreciate their beauty. ๐ธ ๐
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. ๐ ๐ธ
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! ๐ ๐ท ๐ธ ๐
It was also very cute to see many students and young and old couples taking pictures together with the cherry blossoms. ๐ ๐ ๐ธ ๐
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. ๐ธ ๐
As expected, my family and I took lots and lots of pictures to capture the beauty of the cherry blossoms. ๐ท ๐ธ
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. ๐ธ ๐ถ
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. ๐ธ
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.! ๐ผ๏ธ ๐จ
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. ๐ธ
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. ๐ธ โจ
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 elseโs 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. ๐ธ โจ
While I was sightseeing the cherry blossoms, the following two Scripture verses also came to mind:
๐ธ Song of Songs 2:12 (NCV) ๐ธ
โBlossoms appear through all the land. The time has come to sing; the cooing of doves is heard in our land.โ
๐ธ Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV) ๐ธ
โBlessed 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 โ whatever they do prospers.โ
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 Godโs divine timing. So, do not compare yourself to someone elseโs โpeak bloomโ. ๐ธ โจ
And to those of you who are currently in a rut, I encourage you to step outside and surround yourself with nothing but Godโs beautiful creation. ๐ธ
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! ๐ธ ๐ ๐
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. ๐ธ ๐ ๐ค
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. ๐ธ โฉ๏ธ ๐ผ
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. ๐ธ ๐ฌ โจ
I encourage you to visit one day and experience the beauty of the cherry blossoms as I did. ๐ธ ๐
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! ๐ค โจ
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! ๐ ๐
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I hope that you had a lovely Easter filled with joy and peace. โจ
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. โ
However, God can use that. โจ
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. ๐ก
Whoever you invite to your home for Easter dinner can come in and out of your home blessed, for that is what God wants. โจ
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. โค๏ธ
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 elseโs life for the better. โจ
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. ๐ ๐
โจ
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! ๐คโจ
May God bless you and protect you, reader, and I pray that you are safe and healthy always. ๐๐ค
P.I.M & PINK 