My Favorite Day

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

In case you haven’t noticed, I have a thing for Sundays. It has always been—and will always be—my favorite day of the week. So, naturally, I am drawn to any shirt that says “Sunday” on it… Especially one that advocates for “less Mondays and more Sundays.” Hello. That is something I could absolutely agree with today. This afternoon, I literally looked up to my co-workers at recess and said, “Wait, is it really only Monday?”

There is one day a week where I usually feel right on track. It’s a day where I don’t feel like I have to be someone else or prove something to anyone. It’s a day where I am excused from the pressures of society and friendships and get to reset my focus on Jesus. It’s on Sundays that I feel whole, worthy, normal(ish), and unstoppable. At church, I am reminded of His love the second the music vibrates through my heart. I am reassured of His plan the moment I hear the message. And my soul is reminded of His grace as soon as I am hugged and loved by His children. I love Sunday. Not only because it is the Lord’s day, but also because it is our day. Mine and Jesus’s.

I realized a long time ago that it wasn’t the activities of the day that make it my favorite. While I leave with “that Sunday feeling” whenever I physically attend church, I also experience it even when I don’t set foot in the building. (Thanks be to God for the online campus at Cross Point Church. Amen!). Further, I feel reconnected with Jesus when I get to connect with His children. And that can happen any day of the week. 

I want to experience the feelings I have on Sunday every day of the week. I want to be the Sunday version of myself on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…you get the picture. I know that whenever I become that person, I will do a better job of delivering the Lord’s love no matter the day on the calendar.
 
My prayer for you today is that you will be the best version of yourself everyday of the week. I know the best me is on Sunday but that might not be the case for you. It might be a time of day or a season of the year where you are at your best. Or, maybe you are still searching for that moment; if so, I am praying that you find it. Because it is there, friend. Whatever it is that you want to be, you should know that God is ready to celebrate that moment with you. And know that you are capable of being an example of His love no matter what. 

Printed

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson || Top: VICI

I love a good print, but when it comes to shopping, nine times out of ten I am going to go with the solid color option. However, this shirt from VICI just screamed fall to me. So, I went for it. Bring on the printed shirts… Especially one with colors and patterns that carry that strong “the leaves are changing colors” kind of feeling. I also love how this necklace from Laura Crawford Designs goes perfectly with the top. The single feather is the perfect compliment to this flowy fall shirt. 

While shirts and dresses can be covered in prints, our hearts are imprinted with many different desires. Desires that you can’t shake because they control your every thought and direct your every step. They are your passions and your push to become what your heart is calling you to be. Whatever your heart’s desire may be, it is not put there by accident. There is a reason why you keep yearning towards that one particular thing.
 
Sometimes, those desires can feel next to impossible to achieve. So, we ignore them. We push them away because they seem so far out of reach. Even though that feeling in the pit of our stomach keeps coming back day-after-day, we choose not to listen. We choose to remain comfortable in our current place instead of stepping out into God’s space… His space where He transforms your heart and mind by unfolding the unbelievable plan He has for you. But we must embrace His plan for our lives in order to ever fulfil our heart’s desires. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 

What desires are imprinted on your heart? Have you stopped to listen to what He might be calling you to do? Are you ready to hear where you need to go next? Or, are you too scared to hear the answer to that question?
 
Some days, I really want to ignore my desires. It seems like it would be easier. But, luckily, Jesus always seems to point me back in the right direction. Today, I pray that you take the next step in chasing the desire that God has placed on your heart.  Instead of pushing away, I pray that you inch a little closer to Him so that you can embrace the plan that He has in store for your life.

Not Today

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson || Sweater: Nordstrom

I am already obsessed with two things this fall: sweaters and lace-ups. This little number just so happens to be a combination of both. It’s the perfect amount of warmth with just enough detail. I will immediately bust out this sweater the second the temperature becomes even the slightest bit appropriate. While we were not there today, this sweater’s day will come soon enough. And I can guarantee that once it does, a trip to Starbucks will come with it.  
 
Speaking of Starbucks, I could have used about twelve cups of coffee to get through this day. From the moment I woke up, to the moment I returned home, absolutely nothing has gone as planned. I could go through the list, but I am sure that y’all have had similar days and know exactly what I mean. Today, I have been constantly reminded of the phrase, “Today is not my day.” 

By the time I arrived at my workout class this evening, I was ready to put the negative effects of the day behind me. Brush off the worries while sweating through some hot yoga. I was excited for a good workout that would refocus my mind. I quickly found out, however, that my class—my avenue for refocusing—wasn’t going to go as planned either. In fact, it wasn’t going to happen at all. AWESOME. Just my luck. So, to attempt to make the best of the situation, I went to the gym for a quick run instead… Only to find out that I didn’t have my headphones. And you can guess what followed next: a loud, “Today is NOT my day.” 

At that point, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt like God whispered in my ear, “You’re right. It’s not your day. It’s my day.” Through all the hustle and disappointments, I realized that I hadn’t once considered what God’s plan might have been for my day. Even worse, I didn’t thank Him for the good moments. Sometimes in life, the greatest blessings are mixed in with the moments we don’t plan for. These are blessings we don’t want to miss simply because we are having a bad day.
 
Today and every day is God’s day. He created each day for you to live out his plans for you and those around you. So, as you set out today, I pray you will remember that “this is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice.” – Psalm 118:24