The Captivating Woman

Designed with purpose.

Meet Christine Errington

Have you heard of The Hipster Housewife on Instagram? I couldn’t tell you how I found her. Actually, I believe I was going through the hashtag #shereadstruth and I found her profile. First of all, I love the aesthetic of her Instagram. I also loved the pieces of work she was creating. Christine Errington is the lady behind The Hipster Housewife. Her Etsy shop contains lettering work of scripture, prayer journals, and greeting cards. She is extremely talented. She emailed us a few months ago and I was in shock because I had been fan-girling for quite awhile. We are excited for her to share her story with all of you! We all know that you will be a fan!

Question: Where do you live & how old are you?
Answer: I live in Sharon, MA, a smallish suburb south of Boston, and I am 32 years old.

Q: Can you give us a day in the life of Christine?
A: Hmmmm, every day is different! I guess a pretty standard day involves getting up at 6 and getting my 3 kids ready for school. Once the bus picks them up I’m at my desk having my devotional and prayer time. I’m super into She Reads Truth and their mission to be ‘women in the word of God, every day’. That’s my goal. With my schedule, it is super important that I start my day in The Word – unfortunately otherwise I know it will get lost in the shuffle. Then I map out my day in my Day Designer, that planner is pretty crucial to the smooth running of my life! I usually start by answering emails and Etsy convos, and then work on prayer journals until it’s time to pick up my youngest from half day kindergarten. Once I have her it is a balance of mom and business owner – not easy. We’ll go to the post office, my printers, and run any other errands (including Starbucks!). I pick up my older two at 3:30, then it’s homework, snacks, and dinner prep. I try to sneak out to yoga any night that I can after my husband is home! If I can’t, I’ll be back at my desk working until I’ve got nothing left. Then sweet sweet bedtime!!!

Q: What three words describe you?
A: Creative, passionate, Jesus-freak (ok, that’s two words).

Q: How did you get The Hipster Housewife name?
A: When I first got married it was a little joke between my husband and myself, that I was not your typical Christian housewife. I am a proud feminist, I speak my mind, and I have a really hard time with the word ‘submission’ (which I’ve since come to a better understanding of, but I still don’t love it!). I really AM a ‘hipster’ housewife!

Q: Do you believe that your Instagram and Etsy shop has become a little ministry incorporated into a job?
A: Absolutely! I have connected with so many incredible women of God via this work and it is 100% a ministry for me. To be able to speak into your lives is such a privilege and a honor. I think it is so important that we are frank and honest in our struggles and our faith – that is what speaks to people, not some whitewashed, I’ve got it all together, I say all the right ‘Christian’ things, and I don’t capital ’S’ Sin, sort of thing. I’m just being myself and sharing my faith, for better or worse, and other people are responding to that. Which is crazy and awesome. I’m building His Kingdom, not my own.

Q: What is the favorite thing about your job?
A: My day revolves around scripture – reading it, writing it, sharing it. It’s awesome! I also love that I can be home with my kids and have the flexibility to volunteer at their schools during the day. I set my own schedule, so if I need yoga at 9am, I go!

Q: Favorite verse?
A:Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord, through your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow.”

Q: What makes a Captivating Woman?
A: She is all in for Jesus and everything she does, every word she speaks, stems from that. She is defined by her love for her Lord. She’s not perfect, and frankly, she isn’t trying to be! Because grace. Because love. Because hope.

Q: Favorite story in the Bible?
A: Oh definitely the resurrection story! I love when Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene in the garden and she doesn’t recognize him. And then she does. Can you imagine? Could you imagine watching your Lord crucified, thinking he was gone, and then seeing him standing there before you! I’ve often imagined her heart in the moment. Her joy. What that moment of realization felt like for her. I identify with her and her story more than any other in the bible. I understand her love and devotion to the One who saved her, because he saved me from my sin too. My sin that was killing me, as hers was killing her.

Q: Who are some Captivating Women in your life that we need to know about?
A: Oh definitely the women running Christina’s House, a non profit I’ve been involved with for a couple of years now. They provide a home for women and children in need, but it is more than just shelter. It is the gospel in action and it is beautiful. These women have huge hearts for ‘the least of these’. The work they are doing for the Kingdom is incredible and I’m honored to be a part of it! Linda and Shannon Mumblo and my dear friend Melissa Manion run the house along with a missionary family who lives there full time providing support and a sense of normalcy to women and children who desperately need it. Check out the work they are doing at www.christinashouse.org!

Source: Prayer Journal on Etsy Shop

Want to find Christine online?
Twitter: @thehipsterwife
Instagram: @thehipsterhousewife
Facebook: The Hipster Housewife
Etsy Shop: www.thehipsterhousewife.etsy.com
Blog: www.thegraceletters.com

Settling For Normal

“I know that you aren’t fearless, but the fact that you routinely set your sights on things that are big and a little bit outlandish, even when they scare you, is one of the things I love most about you. It’s one of the traits that I’m most proud of you for.”

So said my mother last week. It may have been the very best compliment I’ve received from anyone, ever.

Bravery is so hard. It gets even harder when we give fear more power in our lives than we should. Fear is one of those things that multiplies when left alone in the dark, and takes root much more broadly than it first appears. Kind of like mint. Mint is delicious, and I love having fresh mint on hand for things, but if you put it in the ground, you had better be vigilant about making sure that sucker doesn’t spread. It has these creeper vines that just move outward from where it’s planted, and when you see those vines spreading, you can bet they’ve already put down roots to wherever they’ve gone. And from there it keeps getting bigger, and taking over more space and sending out even more vines that set down roots until every available amount of space is covered – both above and below ground.

I may have been naive in my assumption, but I never thought of myself as a fearful person. Sure, social interaction when I don’t know at least 3 people in the room freaked me out, public speaking, anything where people can weigh in on my performance and by default my ability, singing the melody freaked me out if I’m flying solo, having too many people look at me, being alone in the dark, being vulnerable and having my attempts at connection rejected, failure in general, letting down the people I care about, giving bad advice…and probably a good amount more.

I think for a long time I avoided as many of the above situations as humanly possible, I kept the “mint” as contained as I thought I could, but I missed out on the fact that there was an entire network system under the surface that was alive and well. I am part of a generation that often wears anxiety disorders and insecurity like a badge of honor, and it becomes so much easier to write it off as normal, rather than address the fact that it may not be healthy. I was plenty brave in the things I was willing to let Jesus into, but kept a tight grip on the parts I’d rather not deal with. It became something I didn’t even need to pray about really, unless I was in the thick of an extremely difficult situation, because it was my normal. Normal and healthy are not interchangeable. Normalcy is not the same thing as wholeness. And I wonder if, like me, many Christians settle for their “normal” rather than running to Jesus to be made whole.

If that is the case, I have news for you friends: Jesus doesn’t call us to things that don’t scare us. It’s just not the way He operates. Frankly, it should scare us, because we can’t do it properly when we do it by ourselves, and relinquishing control is always a scary thing.

I want a life that is so much bigger than just me, but that won’t happen if I keep letting my fear convince me that Jesus smaller than He is. When has He ever cut and run, leaving me to deal with it myself? Never. When has He ever let a situation break me? Never. When has He ever asked me to let go of something that didn’t ultimately benefit me? Never.

So why do I instinctively respond as if He has? Why do I resort to such a pitiful attempt at self-protection that all I end up doing is hiding from things that I know I’ve been called to do? I want to live bravely, and be known as one who did things that scared her, even if they sometimes crashed and burned along the way. I want to respond with trust in the fact that Jesus routinely calls us out on the water, even though it’s weird, hard, scary and uncomfortable when we are in the thick of it.

Lord, make me braver than I feel right now. Even if the fear never fully dissipates, let me trust You enough to step out of the boat anyway. I trade my normal for your wholeness. Call me to scary things, and teach me to respond with trust before I have a chance to freak out about the details. Put me in situations where I have to talk about what you’re doing, even though I can’t fully explain it or my role in it. Make this life about so much more than just me, draw me deeper and reveal more of yourself to me. Let me be overwhelmed with thankfulness, quick to repent, quick to forgive and firm in my faith in you.

March Favorites: Jamie Edition

I feel so old saying this, but SERIOUSLY? How is 2016 already 25% done? The year seems to be flying by for me personally, at work and in ministry. I have had so many favorite things (saying this out loud makes me feel like Oprah a little). Here are five of my favorites from March:

  1. “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster. Our staff uses space at my church for our offices, and each week the two staff teams meet on Thursday morning for devotions. We’ve been going through this book, chapter by chapter, and discussing it each week. Man, let me tell you, each page has so many margin notes and highlights. The chapter rocking my world so far is on Meditation. It is a word I don’t often associate with Christianity, but it something that is vital to our experience and connection with God. I won’t give too much away, you need to experience it for yourself.
  2. Iced Coffee. Being a California girl, March means two things: dresses without tights and coffee with ice. The best trick for making iced coffee at home is to put coffee in ice cube trays and freeze it, that way your cold coffee isn’t all watered down. I love my iced coffee with vanilla flavored almond milk, or from Starbucks with soy and toffee nut. However you choose to indulge, iced coffee is here to stay (until October that is).
  3. March Madness. If you follow my personal account on Twitter, you know that I am a sports junkie. I will watch any sport on television, and March Madness is no exception. This year, I had three different brackets. That’s right, three. And all of them were busted after the first round thanks to Michigan State. Still, I have watched nearly every game from various locations. I love the chaos of the tournament, and it is the perfect thing to hold me over until my true love (baseball) begins.
  4. Rescue. This year, my church’s theme for Easter was Rescue. We spent the whole month talking about stories of Rescue, from the Bible and from within our church body. It was a great reminder to me that everyone has a story, and God is faithful to Rescue all who call on His name.
  5. My final favorite for March is the latest Hillsong Young & Free album, “Youth Revival.” It is equal parts worship and EDM, equal parts hype and depth. The sophomore album from the next generation of Hillsong does not disappoint. While their first album was all about finding their sound and being as different from Hillsong United as they could be, “Youth Revival” is about them are settling in. I promise this album has a little something for everyone, definitely check it out.

 

Now, what should have made my list, but didn’t? Let me know in the comments or by tagging me on social media. I want new things to make the list for me in April.

Passion Week: Resurrection Sunday

Passion Week (noun): the week between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday. Also known as Holy Week. 

“Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” – Hebrews 12:2

Matthew 28:1-20

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today. Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

John 20:11-23

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Passion Week: Holy Saturday

Passion Week (noun): the week between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday. Also known as Holy Week. 

“Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” – Hebrews 12:2

John 19:38-42

Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Romans 6:22-23

But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 53:9-12

He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

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