Jireh D.

Today, Jireh speaks to us about how she is here with us today because her mother refused a suggested abortion, her personal ministry focused on beauty and modesty, and how trials make us victors and not victims.

Jireh

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: I always seem to reflect back on this Scripture when I am in a season of waiting as well as when my faith is being tested like I am now. It’s James 1:2,-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may ne mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I love how James gives a perspective on what trials and challenges can do to actually help us for our own betterment. We grow and they build our character. Because of hardships we learn to see them as an opportunity to know we can overcome them by fully depending on God. Trials do not have to make us out to be victims, but instead, victors!

“Trials do not have to make us out to be victims, but instead, victors!”

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: Focusing on God Himself than trying to overanalyze and stress out about what His plan for my life is. The quote, “Stop frantically searching for the will of God; start frantically searching for God Himself” by Priscilla Shirer really inspired this because after reading it, I felt totally convicted! I had to do a heart check and really ask myself “Am I focusing on my life’s plans or am I focusing on the One who gives and directs me towards those plans?”

“I had to do a heart check and really ask myself ‘Am I focusing on my life’s plans or am I focusing on the One who gives and directs me towards those plans?’”

Profession: Currently, I am helping my parents start their business in the Philippines! So I guess you could say I’m in the construction industry!

A one sentence bio of yourself: Christ ambassador and faith and fashion blogger at fashionmeetsGod.com; encouraging women to creatively express themselves through personal style while freely expressing their love for Jesus Christ.

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? My first encounter with God was at a very young age. I was in Michigan at the time in my bedroom. My mom was sharing the Gospel with me and later asked if I would like to accept Jesus into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior. I said yes, and even though I was a young girl, I felt such peace and joy in me that I knew only came from Him.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Being more intentional on listening to podcasts and videos of my favorite pastors. I really enjoy listening to Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church. The way he communicates his messages allows me to do some self-reflection and evaluation. By feeding my mind with more than just a sermon on Sundays and my quiet times, I am constantly encouraged and at peace that God truly has my back and my best interests always.

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): I just read True Beauty by Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Whitacre. It talks about both the inner and outer appearance and how God views beauty on a WHOLE other level. They really dive deep into what modesty means (that it’s more of a heart matter than just not showing skin), the influence that fashion and style has on us, and that God judges our inner appearance first before what He sees on the outside. I wish there were more books like this!

Top three essentials: Water; I drink ALL the time! I have about 3 liters of water a day. Hand sanitizer; I am lowkey a germaphobe. My phone; we connect with the world on it!

How did God speak to you recently? It kind of relates back to question #2, but He reminded me that I need to focus on Him more than the plans I think He has for me. I overthink EVERYTHING which also leads to worrying and stress. This revealed that my faith was low, and I wasn’t trusting God with my life– the very life He Himself gave me. I feel like we can get caught up with the motions of life. What’s on our agenda tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, etc. We plan, plan, plan, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, we shift our planning from God-centered to me-centered. I for one want my plans to be God-centered because I know He has my best interests at heart!

Hobby: I don’t really have any to be honest! Before I would say “blogging” but my mindset on “fashion meets God” has shifted from “hobby” to “mission.” I do enjoy spending time with my family and going shopping- does that count?

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: First, prayer. I know it’s cliché and is always the go-to answer, but without it we lose our communication with God. He is the best source for direction, guidance, and wisdom. Along with that, praying in FAITH is important. Believing and trusting that God will actually answer you in some way or form; you’re not just speaking to air!

Secondly, read His love letter. The Bible. I am not perfect at this; I have my days where I don’t, but when I do, God reveals SO much to me. Not only that, but it gives me peace! When I’m feeling down, I dive into Psalms or Proverbs or even Job knowing that if God got Job through EVERYTHING he went through, surely He can do the same for me!

Lastly, surround yourself with other believers who will uplift and encourage you. People who you can do life with and grow together with!

Favorite person in scripture? Ohh, this is hard. There’s so many! But because I’ve been reading a lot of his letters lately, I’d have to say the Apostle Paul. He did everything ungodly before he knew the Lord, and when he finally did, He turned from his old life into the new unashamed. He even encouraged his brothers and sisters about the goodness of God and His love from behind bars! And he didn’t let his past define him. What faith!

“He didn’t let his past define him. What faith!”

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? Love. And that no matter what life may throw at me, they will see a woman of God at peace, content, and blooming for the Lord.

Favorite season? Summer, hands down! I love the sun and the heat. I’ll take that over snow and cold, any day.

Favorite holiday? Christmas! It’s the most wonderful time of the year, after all.

A dream you have? Creating “fashion meets God” to be a full-time ministry. My goal is to take it outside of the Internet realm and create faith and fashion based events where people can actually meet, connect, and have fellowship face-to-face.

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: It’s not too much of a special tradition (we don’t really have any) but what we do like to do is actually sit down together as a family for most meals. We’re very traditional in that sense; we call each other down for dinner, everyone sits down, we pray, and then we dive in. I love it and hope to do that with my family in the future.

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? “How’d I do?”

Thing you want to raise awareness about: Good question, I’ve never been asked this before! I’d have to say choosing Pro-Life. This is such a sensitive topic in our society today, but one that’s also very close to my heart. My mom had the chicken pox while she was pregnant with me and when she went into labor, the doctors suggested that she get an abortion because they believed I would have abnormalities and deformities. She refused and told them she would accept me either way. She got everyone she knew to pray for us and when they delivered me they said, “She’s perfect!” Today, I am your regular 20-something-year-old with dreams, goals, and a full life ahead of me. I am incredibly grateful my mom didn’t lose hope.

“I am incredibly grateful my mom didn’t lose hope.”

What do you usually do before 9 a.m.? I usually wake up between 7-7:30 a.m., have my quiet time with a devotional and journal, pray, get dressed and ready for the day, have breakfast and coffee (coffee’s, a must!), then get to the office by 9 a.m. Luckily, our office is about a two minute walk!

What is on your nightstand? A liter of water, my iPad, two books (True Beauty by Carolyn Mahaney and Nicole Whitacre and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie), my Bible, two journals, a pen, a highlighter, and my charging station.

Define Christianity in a sentence: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall never die but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

For more Jireh:

Blog: fashionmeetsGod.com

Instagram: @jirehdejose (https://www.instagram.com/jirehdejose/)

Facebook: @FashionMeetsGod (https://www.facebook.com/FashionMeetsGod/)

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XOXO