Dear Depression

Dear Depression,

  You are a lie. A lie that slips out of the mouth of the accuser into the hearts and minds of the children of God that whispers "be sad, be defeated, have a heavy heart, just because." You bring your friends fear and anxiety to step in and make everything worse. They cripple our hearts, bodies, and minds from going, from doing, from being, from loving. Our hearts become a restless pit of questions and emptiness. We become numb and weak, feeling as if there is no reason to fight. You cripple our dreams and passions and say "no." You kill, steal, and destroy. But not anymore. For God refuses to let the enemy shout in triumph over us. (Psalm 30:1). And depression is the enemy. I have watched you enter into my life slowly and silently. I have listened to your lies that cloud my vision from the truth. I remember those times you used to take away my appetite, my sleep, my passion. But I serve a victorious God who promises to take back everything that the enemy has stolen. And that is exactly what He has done for me through Jesus. The blood of Jesus has redeemed my mind back from the pit. His sufficient grace has proven to be strong in my weakness. His Word that is full of promises for my life has out shouted your screams. One night that I'm sure you're very familiar with, I was sitting in my friends bathroom crying out because I had let you hurt me so much, and with the power of the Holy Spirit the words "Depression you can't have me," came out of my mouth and I felt a release. In that moment I felt the hands of depression let go of my neck in fear as if I had just pulled a weapon on it. Because I did. You like to silence our voice so that we can not proclaim victory with our mouths. But Jesus did not die on the cross for us to be swallowed up in defeat and for our mouths to be silenced. His love casts out all fear. When Jesus was nailed to the cross He took our depression on Him. For those agonizing hours that He was on the cross He felt the weight of our depression, He felt the crushing emptiness of its attacks. But when He rose from the grave He threw of the weight of depression. So today I stand with confidence that as depression tries to defeat me, tempt me, and cloud my vision it will only end up shrinking back in fear at the blood of Jesus that covers my mind and my life. Depression you have been defeated.

I wrote this to speak to the hearts of those that have been battling depression. It is real but it is also a lie and I wanted your hearts to know that Jesus has come to set you free and that depression does not have to win or take mastery over your everyday life as it tires to do. I know that it is a fight but you are not alone. God sees you and knows you and has come to part the waves of your depression as you victoriously walk through them and turn to see your enemy swallowed by the waves. Praying that every lie of the enemy is silenced and that your mind is healed in Jesus' Name. "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10

  -Sofia

You Are Life

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10

Happy Saturday everyone! Today I just wanted to take a minute and share these amazing photos taken with my best friend in the whole wide world! Shonda and I are obsessed with the ministry/clothing line/song...called You Are Life. Founded by Taylor Madu (who we are also obsessed with) this amazing ministry literally screams the amazing restoration and redemption of Jesus Christ. Jesus is life guys and He has given it to us freely. Seriously when I wear this shirt I am reminded that I'm not just here but that I am revived by the resurrection power of my savior and that no matter what I go through or what hardships I face I am alive because Jesus lives in me. I highly reccomend that each and everyone of you visit taylormadu.com to get more information on this amazing minstry, read her testimony (it will levae you on your knees) and check oput the amazing merchandise that Shonda and I are rocking in these pictures! Join the You Are Life movement why? Because it's a Jesus movement and there's nothing better to be apart of!  Thanks so much to Shonda's cousin Orien Henry for taking this awesome pictures!! Oh and another thing, Black is beautiful, White is beautiful, biracial is beautiful, EVERY ethnicity is beautiful. Life is beautiful. Just thought I should add that in there. - Love Sofia.

Outfit Details:
Me: Shirt- You Are Life white v-neck
      Skirt- Forever 21
      Shoes: Converse
Shonda: Shirt: You Are Life black and gold
            Skirt: Forever 21
            Shoes: Target
            Hat: Forever 21

Holy Spirit Power

             "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Acts 1:8

    A few weeks ago my pastor did this really cool demonstration. He took a bottle of lotion and squeezed some out onto his skin. He then said "this is how some people live/view the Holy Spirit. They think it's just something that we put on and can easily take off. They allow the Holy Spirit to just gently brush them and not really take effect. The minute they leave church they think the Holy Spirit has left them and they go back to living according to the flesh and world." He then took the lotion and rubbed it into his skin. "Now this is how we should be receiving the Holy Ghost. Not as just a mere thing that comes upon you, but as The Spirit of God that fills you and gives you power and produces fruit in your life." This message really opened my eyes to how I used to view the Holy Spirit. I was squeezing on the lotion and not rubbing it in. Basically I was unaware of who the Holy Spirit truly is and what he does. But God began to deal with me and  open my heart to not just merely knowing about the Holy Spirit but to being filled, empowered, and overflowing with him. Being filled with the Holy Spirit and living in constant communion with him will change your life. The Holy Spirit will empower you, lead you, comfort you, pray through you, convict you, and speak things through you and to you. When we walk in the power of the Holy Ghost we are no longer operating in the natural but we are operating in the supernatural. So much power is manifested in the works of the Spirit. Healing, prophecy, miracles, breakthroughs. This Sunday at my church  a woman was brought back to life!! Literally! This isn't the work of man, these kind of things only happen with an out pour of the Spirit. These kind of things didn't just happen when Jesus was walking the earth. They happen now! That's why Jesus promised and gave the Holy Spirit. We have the same Spirit with us that enabled healing and was poured out on Jesus and the early church. It's amazing. Right before Jesus was lead into the desert to be tempted by the devil and go without food for forty days and forty nights the bible says he was "full of the Holy Spirit." (Luke 4:1). The Spirit enabled Jesus to fight temptation, hunger, and have victory over Satan. The Holy Spirit empowered Him. That truth remains the same today. The Holy Spirit empowers. So many people are playing patty cake with The Spirit. They don't realize the extreme power that is held in being filled with Him. The truth is it's time to stop playing patty cake and time to start seeking the face of God and asking for a hunger that can only be satisfied by the Spirit. Jesus told the disciples in the book of Acts that they "will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you." (Acts 1:8). Not just any kind of power, but the power to call things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17), to shutdown the evil works of Satan, to bring healing, prophecy, deliverance, to produce fruit (Galatians 5:22), to edify oneself with speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:4) , and the list goes on. The Holy Spirit is active. Jesus said "and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) the Holy Spirit empowers us to preach the gospel. Life is all about glorifying God and sharing the love of Jesus Christ everywhere we go. The Holy Spirit enables us to go into the world and proclaim the glorious and life changing news of Jesus. How beautiful is that!? God cares so much about us that he gives us His Spirit to fill and dwell within us so that we don't have to walk in defeat but we can walk in victory and grace and lead others into that same truth. I am so thankful for these revelations that have taken place in my life. I pray that we stop neglecting the Holy Spirit in our churches and personal lives but that we realize the importance and power that comes from being filled with Him and fully embrace everything He has come to do in our lives. My encouragement to you is to pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you, lead you, and change your heart to walk in harmony with Him. I promise that when you start living attentive to and according to the Spirit your life will never be the same.

                             ~Sofia  

Inspiration is everywhere.

  Hey everyone! I hope you all have had a great week so far. Finally the weekend has arrived! I am always looking for inspiration and tend to find it in everything, as Chanel once said "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." Here are some of my inspirations from the week. Be inspired! 

                                                              Love,
                                                                  Sofia

The smell, sound, and life. The ocean has greatly inspired a big project I've been working on this week. It's one of my favorite places in the world. 

One of my favorite fashion designers, Zac Posen, inspires me always, but especially this week because he keeps posting pictures on instagram of his pre fall 2014 collection and it looks absolutely wonderful. He is a genius.

I haven't sewed in so long and it's one of my favorite hobbies. This picture I came across on Pinterest has got me wanting to get back to it!

A Million Suns ~ Hillsong United  (This song is beautiful and fills me with beams of hope)

Sophia Bush (we don't have the same name)  is an amazing actress and activist. Her passion to make this world a better place has inspired me so much and encourages me to do big things. Something she said this week on instagram really got to me "Some people say that educating every child on earth is impossible. Those people are wrong. It is possible to change the world. Don't just dream about it. Do it. Impossible Is Nothing."

 Chiara Ferragni, aka The Blonde Salad is a  walking piece of art. Everything she wears, designs, and writes is a inspiration. Her style is so unique and artistic. I will literally sit on her blog for hours scrolling through hundreds of pictures of her outfits. Now I just need to figure out how to get into her closet...

So this week I started reading The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S Lewis. First of all it's one of the best book series ever and one of my absolute favorites. With it's wonder, magic, and the wonderful Aslan this series has inspired my heart this week. God is everywhere.  

Music to my ears and style to my eyes. This amazing music group Haim not only has wonderful songs but a great sense of style.  I love these dark colors, biker jackets, tights, and combat boots. The perfect combination for a perfect winter outfit.

A Light in the darkness.

  What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out.-John 1:3-5 (MSG)

    Sometimes in life we can feel so blind. Like we're trapped in a dark room and can't find our way around. It can be so frustrating to be stuck in this constant darkness of fear and doubt, to be held in chains that drain us and cause us to worry and stray from peace. The darkness that we can sometimes experience can be so draining that we feel lifeless. Well there is some great news for anyone experiencing this. Jesus is life. He is light. In the midst of our darkest nights we can experience the light that comes from Christ. When we are in darkness and experiencing tough times turning to Jesus makes the light come on. How? Well just like the verse above says "The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out." The darkness in your life is no match for the blazing light that Jesus holds! When you turn to Christ for comfort know that He is going to show up. Your situation might not change instantly but Jesus gives you light and life when you are in such a draining and dark place. Know this, Jesus has so much in-store for your life. So much grace, love, peace, and light! And it's all free! All we have to do is except it. Today I encourage you to seek the marvelous light that Jesus holds. Turn to the Life that is truly Life and watch in amazement as the grace of Jesus pours out over your life. 

                                                           Love,
                                                              Sofia