I am posting a friend's link today, because her article met me right where I live. I pray it ministers to you as well. Where Does Beauty Come From?
I have moved my stroke updates to their own blog. Today marks six month since my life took such a dramatic change. I would invite you to follow along at Stroke of Grace.
Showing posts with label Christian support. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian support. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
How Do You Feel?
You may know from my other blogs that chronic illness has been a part of my life for my entire adult life, and part of my childhood too. Given my interest in both beauty and in pain and illness support, I wanted to share this article National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week with you:
“You Look So Good!” To Wear Make Up or Not?
It's a thought-provoking look at why we wear makeup and how it makes us feel about ourselves when we do. Yes, it is written to an audience of women living with chronic illness, but it makes me wonder about all of us, our motives, and the emotions tied to the beauty choices we make. What about you? Please share!
“You Look So Good!” To Wear Make Up or Not?
It's a thought-provoking look at why we wear makeup and how it makes us feel about ourselves when we do. Yes, it is written to an audience of women living with chronic illness, but it makes me wonder about all of us, our motives, and the emotions tied to the beauty choices we make. What about you? Please share!
Monday, May 2, 2011
When I Don't Feel Beautiful
I'm not just talking about a "bad hair day" here. I'm talking about that deep dark frustration that I don't measure up. Have you ever been there?
The author of this article knows what I'm saying:
So how can I cope when my body fails my hopes and expectations for myself? Please follow the link above to read Bronlynn Spindler's great reminders!
The author of this article knows what I'm saying:
I recently watched the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Although I enjoyed the pomp and majesty of the surroundings, what struck me most was the couple themselves. They are a stunning couple – physically attractive and in seemingly excellent health. Part of me rejoiced with them and prayed for God’s blessing in their lives. Yet I must admit part of me struggled with envy, not simply for their surroundings, but for their physical health and appearance as well...
So how can I cope when my body fails my hopes and expectations for myself? Please follow the link above to read Bronlynn Spindler's great reminders!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Craving Jesus (+ Mineral Makeup Coupon Code and Gifts)
One of my most widely read articles in the history of this blog was when I got real about Weight Gain and Contentment last summer. It was a hard piece to write, and a harder piece to live out.
But God is so gracious. He created us and calls us beautiful. I believe it is His desire that we not only honor Him with our bodies, but that we trust what He says about us to be true. This is still a learning process for me. I thought you might like to follow me over to Tipping the Scales to see what else God's been doing in my heart (and my body) since last year's post.
I've recently been enjoying the book Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food
and the reminders that God wants my hunger to drive me to Him.
I physically seem to be at a standstill again, not able to get the scales to move in a downward direction past the initial 15-18 pounds that I have lost. But emotionally and spiritually my gains are far outweighing even these physical losses. I'm eating much more healthfully (off refined sugars for nearly a month now - a huge deal for this carb addict!) and I'm getting into clothing that hasn't fit in a long time. Ultimately it's still about doing what I can, to the glory of God, and leaving the rest to Him.
Won't you join me on this journey? Please share how you are learning to see yourself through God's eyes and what steps you are taking to honor Him with the body He has created for you.
----- Affordable Mineral Makeup™ Discount Offer ----------
My heart is in sharing beauty with women, first heart beauty, but also affordable, healthy ways to care for our physical bodies that God calls the "temple" of His Holy Spirit when we allow Him to live within us through grace. To this end I am happy to represent Affordable Mineral Makeup™ as a beauty adviser and to offer this high quality line of pure mineral products to my readers.
For a limited time [if this offer has expired by the time you read this post, please visit "discount codes" to look for current promotions], take 20% off every Affordable Mineral Makeup™ purchase of $19.95 or greater, placed from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com when you use check out using coupon code:
hattiesoscar311
With this code, qualified orders (over $19.95 and properly following instruction for submitting freebie requests) will also receive two free gifts with your purchase! Your gifts are one 10-gram sifter jars with your choice of product (up to a $19.79 value) AND one 5-gram sifter jar with your choice of product (up to $7.79 value). FIRST 50 ORDERS: Your Free Gifts Will Automatically Be DOUBLED - 2 5g jars AND 2 10g jars, so HURRY!
To redeem the free gift offer, please list your requested free product selections in your order comments (not added to your cart!) when you place your order. Promotion items cannot be shipped separately. If you could also leave my name, Jenni Saake, in the comments section, this will help identify me as your consultant when your order is fulfilled.
Please visit http://www.InnerBeautyGirls.com and click on the "shop" link to get started by viewing our catalog. (I greatly appreciate when my return customers remember to always come back and start at my consultant link rather than on the main company page so that the computer knows to credit me for your purchases.) Thank you for your business and support!
But God is so gracious. He created us and calls us beautiful. I believe it is His desire that we not only honor Him with our bodies, but that we trust what He says about us to be true. This is still a learning process for me. I thought you might like to follow me over to Tipping the Scales to see what else God's been doing in my heart (and my body) since last year's post.
I've recently been enjoying the book Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food
and the reminders that God wants my hunger to drive me to Him. I physically seem to be at a standstill again, not able to get the scales to move in a downward direction past the initial 15-18 pounds that I have lost. But emotionally and spiritually my gains are far outweighing even these physical losses. I'm eating much more healthfully (off refined sugars for nearly a month now - a huge deal for this carb addict!) and I'm getting into clothing that hasn't fit in a long time. Ultimately it's still about doing what I can, to the glory of God, and leaving the rest to Him.
Won't you join me on this journey? Please share how you are learning to see yourself through God's eyes and what steps you are taking to honor Him with the body He has created for you.
----- Affordable Mineral Makeup™ Discount Offer ----------
My heart is in sharing beauty with women, first heart beauty, but also affordable, healthy ways to care for our physical bodies that God calls the "temple" of His Holy Spirit when we allow Him to live within us through grace. To this end I am happy to represent Affordable Mineral Makeup™ as a beauty adviser and to offer this high quality line of pure mineral products to my readers.
For a limited time [if this offer has expired by the time you read this post, please visit "discount codes" to look for current promotions], take 20% off every Affordable Mineral Makeup™ purchase of $19.95 or greater, placed from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com when you use check out using coupon code:
hattiesoscar311
With this code, qualified orders (over $19.95 and properly following instruction for submitting freebie requests) will also receive two free gifts with your purchase! Your gifts are one 10-gram sifter jars with your choice of product (up to a $19.79 value) AND one 5-gram sifter jar with your choice of product (up to $7.79 value). FIRST 50 ORDERS: Your Free Gifts Will Automatically Be DOUBLED - 2 5g jars AND 2 10g jars, so HURRY!
To redeem the free gift offer, please list your requested free product selections in your order comments (not added to your cart!) when you place your order. Promotion items cannot be shipped separately. If you could also leave my name, Jenni Saake, in the comments section, this will help identify me as your consultant when your order is fulfilled.
Please visit http://www.InnerBeautyGirls.com and click on the "shop" link to get started by viewing our catalog. (I greatly appreciate when my return customers remember to always come back and start at my consultant link rather than on the main company page so that the computer knows to credit me for your purchases.) Thank you for your business and support!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
What to Wear...Put on Love
One of my favorite online communities is (In)Courage, a "home for the hearts of women." Today Kristen Welch of "We are THAT family" posted a delightful post about Your Basic All Purpose Garment. She writes:
----- Mineral Makeup Discount Code and Sponsorship Message -----
My heart is in sharing beauty with women, first heart beauty, but also affordable, healthy ways to care for our physical bodies that God calls the "temple" of His Holy Spirit when we allow Him to live within us through grace. To this end I am happy to represent Affordable Mineral Makeup™ as a beauty adviser and to offer this high quality line of pure mineral products to my readers.
This week only [if this offer has expired by the time you read this post, please visit "discount codes" to look for current promotions], take 20% off every Affordable Mineral Makeup™ purchase of $19.95 or greater, placed from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com when you use check out using coupon code:
myvalentine211
With this code, qualified orders (over $19.95 and properly following instruction for submitting freebie requests) will also receive two free gifts with your purchase! Your gifts are one 10-gram sifter jars with your choice of product (up to a $19.79 value) AND one 5-gram sifter jar with your choice of product (up to $7.79 value). To redeem the free gift offer, please list your requested free product selections in your order comments (not added to your cart!) when you place your order. Promotion items cannot be shipped separately. If you could also leave my name, Jenni Saake, in the comments section, this will help identify me as your consultant when your order is fulfilled.
Please visit http://www.InnerBeautyGirls.com and click on the "shop" link to get started by viewing our catalog. (I greatly appreciate when my return customers remember to always come back and start at my consultant link rather than on the main company page so that the computer knows to credit me for your purchases.) Thank you for your business and support!
Before Jesus, we wore ill-fitted, dirty clothes. (Basically a bad episode of WHAT NOT TO WEAR).Read the rest and be refreshed over at (In)Courage today!
After meeting Jesus, we’ve been dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item, custom-made to fit us perfectly, by The Master Tailor. We wear His label. And we look fine, I might add.
But then we have a bad day. The alarm doesn’t go off, we wake up late, we’re rushing around. We go for convenience and ease and slip on our old clothes: impatience, unkindness and judgment. We layer up in jealousy, gossip and low self esteem...
----- Mineral Makeup Discount Code and Sponsorship Message -----
My heart is in sharing beauty with women, first heart beauty, but also affordable, healthy ways to care for our physical bodies that God calls the "temple" of His Holy Spirit when we allow Him to live within us through grace. To this end I am happy to represent Affordable Mineral Makeup™ as a beauty adviser and to offer this high quality line of pure mineral products to my readers.
This week only [if this offer has expired by the time you read this post, please visit "discount codes" to look for current promotions], take 20% off every Affordable Mineral Makeup™ purchase of $19.95 or greater, placed from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com when you use check out using coupon code:
myvalentine211
With this code, qualified orders (over $19.95 and properly following instruction for submitting freebie requests) will also receive two free gifts with your purchase! Your gifts are one 10-gram sifter jars with your choice of product (up to a $19.79 value) AND one 5-gram sifter jar with your choice of product (up to $7.79 value). To redeem the free gift offer, please list your requested free product selections in your order comments (not added to your cart!) when you place your order. Promotion items cannot be shipped separately. If you could also leave my name, Jenni Saake, in the comments section, this will help identify me as your consultant when your order is fulfilled.
Please visit http://www.InnerBeautyGirls.com and click on the "shop" link to get started by viewing our catalog. (I greatly appreciate when my return customers remember to always come back and start at my consultant link rather than on the main company page so that the computer knows to credit me for your purchases.) Thank you for your business and support!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Loveliness
I'm guest blogging on the topic of Inner Beauty as a monthly columnist over at Glory and Strength. For the next nine months we will be looking together at characteristics that set a woman apart as a Christian, as found in Galatians 5:22-23.
Drop by Glory and Strength and click on "Growing in Glory" to find my latest reflections. This month we are talking about love - not the roll-your-eyes mushy, romantic kind, but the real down-to-earth, loving-in-the-midst-of-life's-messes kind. Here's a little taste to get you started. (And don't forget to keep reading to the bottom of this post to grab a great discount code for Affordable Mineral Makeup too!)
Please come read more about love at Love Fruit then tune in again next month to reflect with me on how we can find true joy. :)
For more thoughts on love by By Ida Mundell of "Eat Drink and Be Jesus," check out Love is a Sacrifice on (In)Courage. :)
------- Sponsorship Message and Coupon Code -------
My heart is in sharing beauty with women, first heart beauty, but also affordable, healthy ways to care for our physical bodies that God calls the "temple" of His Holy Spirit when we allow Him to live within us through grace. To this end I am happy to represent Affordable Mineral Makeup™ as a beauty adviser and to offer this high quality line of pure mineral products to my readers.
For a limited time [this offer expired 2/5/2010 - please visit "discount codes" to look for current promotions], take 20% off every Affordable Mineral Makeup™ purchase of $19.95 or greater, placed from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com when you use check out using coupon code:
shadow211
With this code, qualified orders (over $19.95 and properly following instruction for submitting freebie requests) will also receive three free gifts with your purchase! Your gifts are one 5-gram sifter jar with your choice of product (up to a $7.79 value) AND two mineral samples of your choice (valued at $2.49 each). To redeem the free gift offer, please list your requested free product selections in your order comments (not added to your cart!) when you place your order. Promotion items cannot be shipped separately.
Please visit http://www.InnerBeautyGirls.com and click on the "shop" link to get started by viewing our catalog. (I greatly appreciate when my return customers remember to always come back and start at my consultant link so that the computer knows to credit me for your purchases.) Thank you for your business and support!
Drop by Glory and Strength and click on "Growing in Glory" to find my latest reflections. This month we are talking about love - not the roll-your-eyes mushy, romantic kind, but the real down-to-earth, loving-in-the-midst-of-life's-messes kind. Here's a little taste to get you started. (And don't forget to keep reading to the bottom of this post to grab a great discount code for Affordable Mineral Makeup too!)
Love goes beyond “live and let live,” but takes the next step. When I’ve been wronged (I’m not talking about abuse here, but the daily messes of living life with imperfect people), I can show my friend God’s love by not waiting for her to make the first move. I can offer forgiveness even before she apologizes... Laying down my life for someone means I am actively on the lookout for my friend’s best interest.
Galatians 5:22-23 calls these times when I allow God to lead my decisions, attitudes and actions, the fruit or evidence of God’s Spirit in me... I’m not going to do a perfect job at showing God’s love each time I have the chance. The goal is to keep practicing, keep striving to bloom with time and practice... I can ask God to help me see opportunities to offer love to others because of Him, and then lean on Him for the strength to love even when it’s hard.
Please come read more about love at Love Fruit then tune in again next month to reflect with me on how we can find true joy. :)
For more thoughts on love by By Ida Mundell of "Eat Drink and Be Jesus," check out Love is a Sacrifice on (In)Courage. :)
------- Sponsorship Message and Coupon Code -------
My heart is in sharing beauty with women, first heart beauty, but also affordable, healthy ways to care for our physical bodies that God calls the "temple" of His Holy Spirit when we allow Him to live within us through grace. To this end I am happy to represent Affordable Mineral Makeup™ as a beauty adviser and to offer this high quality line of pure mineral products to my readers.
For a limited time [this offer expired 2/5/2010 - please visit "discount codes" to look for current promotions], take 20% off every Affordable Mineral Makeup™ purchase of $19.95 or greater, placed from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com when you use check out using coupon code:
shadow211
With this code, qualified orders (over $19.95 and properly following instruction for submitting freebie requests) will also receive three free gifts with your purchase! Your gifts are one 5-gram sifter jar with your choice of product (up to a $7.79 value) AND two mineral samples of your choice (valued at $2.49 each). To redeem the free gift offer, please list your requested free product selections in your order comments (not added to your cart!) when you place your order. Promotion items cannot be shipped separately.
Please visit http://www.InnerBeautyGirls.com and click on the "shop" link to get started by viewing our catalog. (I greatly appreciate when my return customers remember to always come back and start at my consultant link so that the computer knows to credit me for your purchases.) Thank you for your business and support!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
New You
Yup, it's that time of year again, the time when everyone starts saying goodbye to the past year and preparing for a "fresh start," piling up New Years' resolutions that will mostly be shattered before February even gets here. We hope to wipe away past failures and replace them with victories, but my friend, in our own strength, we can never find lasting change.
I know this blog has gotten a little soft in content the past year or so, mostly being a collection of advertising and sales links. I've been rather "burned out" on beauty blogging the past year, focusing on many health issues. Recently I've gotten excited about this blog again and want to breath new life into my posts here. I'm not promising anything spectacular or earth shattering, but I am hoping to refresh my efforts at deeper content this next year. I'm starting by taking this moment to really bring us back to the original heart purpose of this blog, my desire to bring glory to God as we celebrate the beauty He sees in us as His handwork.
As we revel in the joys of womanhood, what real change can we seek in the new year? If anyone reading does not know with certainty where you would spend eternity if you were to die today, let's start right there. This week we have celebrated Christmas, the coming of God to earth as a fragile Baby. If that were the whole story, it would be a sweet tradition and nothing more. Thankfully that Baby came with a purpose. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). Do you ever feel lost? He came to bring purpose to your life, and to mine!
Over 2,000 years since His birth, there is still more factual, historical evidence for the person of Jesus Christ than even remains many United States presidents. There is no question that He was (and is!) a real person, the question is what you believe about who He is? If you say He was a "good man" or a "good teacher" then I must challenge your beliefs. He claimed to be God! With this claim there are only three options:
- He either is who He claims to be (and thus, so much more than just a prophet or another good teacher)
- or He was delusional, truly believing Himself to be God and so deceiving not only His followers but Himself (and thus certainly not a "good teacher" I would choose to follow)
- or He was intentionally lying about Himself (and absolutely knocked out of the "good man" category).
Who do you say Jesus is? I say He is my Lord and Savior. The one and only Living God, who was tempted in every way as I am, yet lived a sinless life, being crucified to pay the death penalty for my own sins. Again, if that's the end of the story, it's a sad one indeed, but as promised from the beginning of time when Adam and Eve first made a choice for sin, He has power over life and death and the grave could not hold Him! It is in His resurrection that I find true hope and peace.
Still questioning? Then here's a realistic New Year's resolution for you. Challenge God to make Himself real to you in 2011! He promises, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).
If you are looking for real, lasting change for 2011 and beyond, here's your answer. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here" (2 Corinthians 5:17)!
-------------------------------
That's the heart of what this blog is all about ladies, the kind of content I want to bring you more of in the coming year! To keep this blog live, I do have to pay the bills too. So, here's a "word from our sponsor". ;)
This is a great one you won't want to miss. In a nutshell, you spend $16, take 25% off that total AND receive an additional $14 in free gifts! Keep reading for details. :)
Place any Affordable Mineral Makeup™ order of $15.95 or greater from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com from now through December 31, 2010 and receive 25% OFF your entire order AND Get *TWO FREE GIFTS* when you use COUPON CODE:
newyou1210
Free Gifts (while supplies last):
*New sleek black Mini Kabuki brush ($6.49 value) AND
*5g Sifter Jar with YOUR CHOICE** OF PRODUCT (Up to a $7.49 value)
(**Indicate your choice of product in your order comments.)
Use the coupon as many times as you like! Share the coupon with your friends and family on Facebook and email! Simply place your order through my website at www.InnerBeautyGirls.com and enter newyou1210 in the coupon code field when you checkout. Offer valid through 12/31/2010. Enjoy! :)
I know this blog has gotten a little soft in content the past year or so, mostly being a collection of advertising and sales links. I've been rather "burned out" on beauty blogging the past year, focusing on many health issues. Recently I've gotten excited about this blog again and want to breath new life into my posts here. I'm not promising anything spectacular or earth shattering, but I am hoping to refresh my efforts at deeper content this next year. I'm starting by taking this moment to really bring us back to the original heart purpose of this blog, my desire to bring glory to God as we celebrate the beauty He sees in us as His handwork.
As we revel in the joys of womanhood, what real change can we seek in the new year? If anyone reading does not know with certainty where you would spend eternity if you were to die today, let's start right there. This week we have celebrated Christmas, the coming of God to earth as a fragile Baby. If that were the whole story, it would be a sweet tradition and nothing more. Thankfully that Baby came with a purpose. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). Do you ever feel lost? He came to bring purpose to your life, and to mine!
Over 2,000 years since His birth, there is still more factual, historical evidence for the person of Jesus Christ than even remains many United States presidents. There is no question that He was (and is!) a real person, the question is what you believe about who He is? If you say He was a "good man" or a "good teacher" then I must challenge your beliefs. He claimed to be God! With this claim there are only three options:
- He either is who He claims to be (and thus, so much more than just a prophet or another good teacher)
- or He was delusional, truly believing Himself to be God and so deceiving not only His followers but Himself (and thus certainly not a "good teacher" I would choose to follow)
- or He was intentionally lying about Himself (and absolutely knocked out of the "good man" category).
Who do you say Jesus is? I say He is my Lord and Savior. The one and only Living God, who was tempted in every way as I am, yet lived a sinless life, being crucified to pay the death penalty for my own sins. Again, if that's the end of the story, it's a sad one indeed, but as promised from the beginning of time when Adam and Eve first made a choice for sin, He has power over life and death and the grave could not hold Him! It is in His resurrection that I find true hope and peace.
Still questioning? Then here's a realistic New Year's resolution for you. Challenge God to make Himself real to you in 2011! He promises, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).
If you are looking for real, lasting change for 2011 and beyond, here's your answer. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here" (2 Corinthians 5:17)!
-------------------------------
That's the heart of what this blog is all about ladies, the kind of content I want to bring you more of in the coming year! To keep this blog live, I do have to pay the bills too. So, here's a "word from our sponsor". ;)
This is a great one you won't want to miss. In a nutshell, you spend $16, take 25% off that total AND receive an additional $14 in free gifts! Keep reading for details. :)
Place any Affordable Mineral Makeup™ order of $15.95 or greater from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com from now through December 31, 2010 and receive 25% OFF your entire order AND Get *TWO FREE GIFTS* when you use COUPON CODE:
newyou1210
Free Gifts (while supplies last):
*New sleek black Mini Kabuki brush ($6.49 value) AND
*5g Sifter Jar with YOUR CHOICE** OF PRODUCT (Up to a $7.49 value)
(**Indicate your choice of product in your order comments.)
Use the coupon as many times as you like! Share the coupon with your friends and family on Facebook and email! Simply place your order through my website at www.InnerBeautyGirls.com and enter newyou1210 in the coupon code field when you checkout. Offer valid through 12/31/2010. Enjoy! :)
Friday, January 15, 2010
Help Haiti, Win Makeup
Haiti. It's all over the headlines. It feels overwhelming, a world away and yet too-close for comfort. And we feel helpless. What can one person do in the face of so much anguish?
Jenny from Simply Delightful Designs knows that while just one person may not be able to do a lot, when we band together we can become a strong force. On her Hope for Haiti blog, many wonderful women and companies are donating items and services to this online raffle for proceeds to go to Red Cross and Compassion International. Raffle tickets are only $1 per entry and some of the prizes are valued at several hundred dollars! Along with my offer of $30 dollars worth of your choice of Affordable Mineral Makeup™ products the raffle items include everything from blogging conference tickets to photography sessions, books, jewelry and art. Such a great selection of prizes, and all going to a wonderful cause!
Together we can make a difference! Please visit Hope-For-Haiti.blogspot.com and share what you can. Every dollar helps, and you might win a great prize too! Thank you for helping bring a sliver of beauty to a part of our world filled with such pain today.
Jenny from Simply Delightful Designs knows that while just one person may not be able to do a lot, when we band together we can become a strong force. On her Hope for Haiti blog, many wonderful women and companies are donating items and services to this online raffle for proceeds to go to Red Cross and Compassion International. Raffle tickets are only $1 per entry and some of the prizes are valued at several hundred dollars! Along with my offer of $30 dollars worth of your choice of Affordable Mineral Makeup™ products the raffle items include everything from blogging conference tickets to photography sessions, books, jewelry and art. Such a great selection of prizes, and all going to a wonderful cause!
Together we can make a difference! Please visit Hope-For-Haiti.blogspot.com and share what you can. Every dollar helps, and you might win a great prize too! Thank you for helping bring a sliver of beauty to a part of our world filled with such pain today.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Women of Faith
Do you want to win 2 tickets to a Women of Faith conference near you? Visit womenoffaith.com/contests/1-11-10.html by Jan. 14 to register!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Vetran's Day Sale
From now until midnight (EST) on Friday the 13th, place an order of $30 or more and get 11% off your entire Affordable Mineral Makeup™ order at http://www.InnerBeautyGirls.com by using coupon code: vetsday
Additionally, Affordable Mineral Makeup™ is donating 11% to USO to support our troops. :)
A heartfelt thank you to all who serve for our country, both past and present! If you or someone you know is affiliated with the military in any way, please drop by Cadence.org for Christ-centered support and encouragement all year long. (This is the ministry my parents have served with for over 37 years.)
Additionally, Affordable Mineral Makeup™ is donating 11% to USO to support our troops. :)
A heartfelt thank you to all who serve for our country, both past and present! If you or someone you know is affiliated with the military in any way, please drop by Cadence.org for Christ-centered support and encouragement all year long. (This is the ministry my parents have served with for over 37 years.)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Beauty in the Shadows
Have you ever heard someone describe a time of trial as, “living under the shadow of [xyz]”? My shadows have included infertility, grief, depression, chronic illness and more. I'm sure you can plug in your own "xyz"s; maybe cancer, abuse, loneliness…
Job and the Psalmist talk of “the valley of the shadow of death.” Shadows impress a dark picture of gloom and heaviness in my mind.
Hope demands I give shadows another look... [To read the remainder of this article, please visit (In)Courage where you can also enter to win a copy of my book, Hannah's Hope.]
Keep scrolling here for a great list of verses that reflect God's sheltering shadows in my life.
-----------------
One way God seems to work in my life is through “theme word seasons,” specific life lessons He wants to drive home with me and situations that bring those themes to light over and over until I finally begin to grasp a small portion of what He longs to teach me. Wait resounded in our hearts through the loss of our business and the struggle for my husband to find a new career that truly fit, all in the midst of infertility's endless cycles of hoping and hurting, wanting and worrying, coping and crying.
Waiting has given way to new horizons, a series of theme seasons too numerous to list here, but with one of the most recent being Hope. And then to Hope, God’s spent this year adding the active pursuit of Joy to my life as well. Here are some of my favorite resources from these three themes:
Wait:
- Hannah’s Prayer Ministries offers support through fertility challenges, including infertility or the death of a baby at any time from conception through early infancy.
- A Graceful Waiting by Jan Frank
- The Wait Poem by Russell Kelfer (Truly beautiful book, with a written message even more powerful than the photos! This poem was life-changing for me and has been impactful in many lives.)
Hope:
- Out of the Valley Ministries, Inc. Postpartum Depression Support
- Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg
- Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage, and Adoption Loss by me, Jennifer Saake :)
Joy:
- Rest Ministries provides support in the face of chronic pain and illness, including National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week each Sept.
- Rain on Me: Devotions of Hope and Encouragement for Difficult Times by Holley Gerth
- The book of Philippians, written by the apostle Paul.
-----------------------------
Verses that reflect God's sheltering shadows in my life:
“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” Isaiah 45:3. (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" Micah 7:7. (NIV)
"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God..." Psalm 40:1-2, (NIV)
Job and the Psalmist talk of “the valley of the shadow of death.” Shadows impress a dark picture of gloom and heaviness in my mind.
Hope demands I give shadows another look... [To read the remainder of this article, please visit (In)Courage where you can also enter to win a copy of my book, Hannah's Hope.]
Keep scrolling here for a great list of verses that reflect God's sheltering shadows in my life.
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One way God seems to work in my life is through “theme word seasons,” specific life lessons He wants to drive home with me and situations that bring those themes to light over and over until I finally begin to grasp a small portion of what He longs to teach me. Wait resounded in our hearts through the loss of our business and the struggle for my husband to find a new career that truly fit, all in the midst of infertility's endless cycles of hoping and hurting, wanting and worrying, coping and crying.
Waiting has given way to new horizons, a series of theme seasons too numerous to list here, but with one of the most recent being Hope. And then to Hope, God’s spent this year adding the active pursuit of Joy to my life as well. Here are some of my favorite resources from these three themes:
Wait:
- Hannah’s Prayer Ministries offers support through fertility challenges, including infertility or the death of a baby at any time from conception through early infancy.
- A Graceful Waiting by Jan Frank
- The Wait Poem by Russell Kelfer (Truly beautiful book, with a written message even more powerful than the photos! This poem was life-changing for me and has been impactful in many lives.)
Hope:
- Out of the Valley Ministries, Inc. Postpartum Depression Support
- Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg
- Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage, and Adoption Loss by me, Jennifer Saake :)
Joy:
- Rest Ministries provides support in the face of chronic pain and illness, including National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week each Sept.
- Rain on Me: Devotions of Hope and Encouragement for Difficult Times by Holley Gerth
- The book of Philippians, written by the apostle Paul.
"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies” Philippians 4:8-9. (MSG)
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Verses that reflect God's sheltering shadows in my life:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” James 1:17. (NIV)
“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” Isaiah 45:3. (NIV)
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” Isaiah 9:2. (NIV)
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" Isaiah 40:31. (NIV)
"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me" Micah 7:7. (NIV)
"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield" Psalm 33:20. (NIV)
"I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God..." Psalm 40:1-2, (NIV)
“I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.
He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness rather than light…
“He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship.
He has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead…
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness…
“For men are not cast off by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love…
“You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’
O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life…”
- from Lamentations 3 (NIV)
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Save 10 Give 10
From now until midnight (EST) Labor Day Monday, Sept 7, 2009, you can get 10% off your entire order of Affordable Mineral Makeup™ at www.InnerBeautyGirls.com by using coupon code laborday09 at checkout. But the good news doesn't stop there!
You may or may not know that Affordable Mineral Makeup™ donates at least 10% of all profits to a variety of organizations and causes. Typically it is up to the company owner, Tara Burner, to decide where she will direct these donations, but for this special sale she will allow you to specify where the donations from your sale go, from among a pre-selected group of charities, simply by writing the name of the organization you have chosen in the comments section when you place your order.
It's a win-win with a 10% savings for you AND a 10% donation given to the charity you select. Your organization choises are:
Way FM ~ Christian radio
Compassion International ~ releasing children from poverty
Heifer.org ~ helping end hunger
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital ~ finding cures, saving children
In review, go to www.InnerBeautyGirls.com where you will "Shop" through the link toward the bottom of the page. Once you have everything in your shopping cart, head to check out and use coupon code laborday09 to get your 10% off, then in the comments section type in the name of one of the above organizations so they will receive the same amount you just saved as a donation from Affordable Mineral Makeup™! (If you don’t list one of these companies, Tara will pick one and still donate on your behalf.) If you get a chance to drop me an email at InnerBeauty @ AffordableMineralMakeup .com or leave me a note here, I would love to hear what charity you selected when you placed your order as well. :)
So go, shop, save and help now! :)
You may or may not know that Affordable Mineral Makeup™ donates at least 10% of all profits to a variety of organizations and causes. Typically it is up to the company owner, Tara Burner, to decide where she will direct these donations, but for this special sale she will allow you to specify where the donations from your sale go, from among a pre-selected group of charities, simply by writing the name of the organization you have chosen in the comments section when you place your order.
It's a win-win with a 10% savings for you AND a 10% donation given to the charity you select. Your organization choises are:
Way FM ~ Christian radio
Compassion International ~ releasing children from poverty
Heifer.org ~ helping end hunger
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital ~ finding cures, saving children
In review, go to www.InnerBeautyGirls.com where you will "Shop" through the link toward the bottom of the page. Once you have everything in your shopping cart, head to check out and use coupon code laborday09 to get your 10% off, then in the comments section type in the name of one of the above organizations so they will receive the same amount you just saved as a donation from Affordable Mineral Makeup™! (If you don’t list one of these companies, Tara will pick one and still donate on your behalf.) If you get a chance to drop me an email at InnerBeauty @ AffordableMineralMakeup .com or leave me a note here, I would love to hear what charity you selected when you placed your order as well. :)
So go, shop, save and help now! :)
Friday, May 1, 2009
Welcome to Virtual Spa Weekend!
What an exciting weekend ahead of us! I pray that this Virtual Spa Weekend will be a blessing to everyone who visits and that you will be encouraged and refreshed. We have over 20 posts scheduled over the next 50 hours, including books, chocolate, jewelry, video clips, beauty tips, and lots of great give-aways! In between all that blog reading, I challenge you to find some quiet time this weekend to draw a warm bath, light some candles, grab your Bible or a good book, and curl up for some self-parmpering. I'll do my part in encouraging your "spa experience" by posting a series of give-aways, beauty tips and devotional reflections from now through Sunday afternoon. (The give-aways will all remain open for comments/entries until midnight Sunday and prize winners will be announced by Wednesday or sooner.)
Some of you already know me, so you are welcome to skip this introduction and just scroll down to my embarrasing video at the end of the post (but you might want to read the paragraph directly above it for context). ;) For those who are new to InnerBeautyGirlz, please allow me a moment to share a little about myself before we get this Weekend rolling.
My name is Jennifer (Jenni) Saake, also know around the internet (check Shoutlife, Twitter, Facebook, and a slew of message boards) as InfertilityMom. I'm 36 years old and coming up on my 17th wedding anniversary this summer. After a long infertilty journey, Rick and I are the blessed parents of 13 children, 3 of whom we are very thankful to share our daily lives with, 7 whom we will always carry in our hearts though they never officially joined our family through adoption as we had prayed they would, and 3 more who await us in Heaven after their physical deaths in my womb. Through this journey we were able to help establish Hannah's Prayer Ministires nearly 15 years ago and my first book, Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage & Adoption Loss was published by NavPress in 2005.
I have struggled with health challenges since I was about 8 years old, including Endometriosis and Fibromyalgia in my early teen years. My freshman year of college I faced the dramatic onset of CFIDS (chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome), leaving me almost totally bedridden for about 2 years and facing an uphill battle ever since. My health has become progressively more fragile again over the past few years with my immune system now functioning at only about 5% and the possible diagnosis of a-typical MS on the horizon. The next book I hope to write will be about the life of Paul and his "thorn in the flesh," a book of encouragement to those living with chronic pain and illness. In the meantime I'm keeping a blog called Harvesting Hope from Heartache™, offering hope and resources for a variety of life's challenge and losses (loved ones, health, jobs, marriages, depression...)
In order to live and stay as healthy as possible, I am constantly looking to make wise choices from everything as basic as the air I breath and the water I drink to the food I eat and the cosmetic products I apply to my body. This quest has opened up an amazing world of natural beauty alternatives that I am excited to pass on to InnerBeautyGirlz readers. I am an affiliate with Mountain Rose Herbs and a consultant with both Affordable Mineral Makeup™ and Gurrlie Girl™ Christian Jewerly.
So now that you know a little bit about me, let me get the personal humilation out of the way and kick off our Weekend with this YouTube message I recorded from my bathroom just last week. This video was created specifically for the ladies of Hannah's Prayer Ministries who are gathered in Ohio this weekend for an infertility and pregnancy loss support retreat, so as you think of them I ask that you would lift them in prayer this weekend. But I pray the message of the video will give you a reason to smile, maybe even make you laugh as you see me with no makeup, unbrushed hair and sitting on the side of my tub in a bathrobe, or be an encouragement to you in whatever season of life you find yourself tonight.
Click here to tour the entire Virtual Spa Weekend (so far) or go directly to InnerBeautyGirlz.com to view all resources available through this blog. :) Even after the Weekend officially ends at midnight on Sunday, May 3, the Spa resources will remain here to offer you encouragement and information. Check back on May 6 for our Weekend give-away winner's list and subscribe or "follow" me now in order to receive future updates.
Some of you already know me, so you are welcome to skip this introduction and just scroll down to my embarrasing video at the end of the post (but you might want to read the paragraph directly above it for context). ;) For those who are new to InnerBeautyGirlz, please allow me a moment to share a little about myself before we get this Weekend rolling.
My name is Jennifer (Jenni) Saake, also know around the internet (check Shoutlife, Twitter, Facebook, and a slew of message boards) as InfertilityMom. I'm 36 years old and coming up on my 17th wedding anniversary this summer. After a long infertilty journey, Rick and I are the blessed parents of 13 children, 3 of whom we are very thankful to share our daily lives with, 7 whom we will always carry in our hearts though they never officially joined our family through adoption as we had prayed they would, and 3 more who await us in Heaven after their physical deaths in my womb. Through this journey we were able to help establish Hannah's Prayer Ministires nearly 15 years ago and my first book, Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage & Adoption Loss was published by NavPress in 2005.
I have struggled with health challenges since I was about 8 years old, including Endometriosis and Fibromyalgia in my early teen years. My freshman year of college I faced the dramatic onset of CFIDS (chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome), leaving me almost totally bedridden for about 2 years and facing an uphill battle ever since. My health has become progressively more fragile again over the past few years with my immune system now functioning at only about 5% and the possible diagnosis of a-typical MS on the horizon. The next book I hope to write will be about the life of Paul and his "thorn in the flesh," a book of encouragement to those living with chronic pain and illness. In the meantime I'm keeping a blog called Harvesting Hope from Heartache™, offering hope and resources for a variety of life's challenge and losses (loved ones, health, jobs, marriages, depression...)
In order to live and stay as healthy as possible, I am constantly looking to make wise choices from everything as basic as the air I breath and the water I drink to the food I eat and the cosmetic products I apply to my body. This quest has opened up an amazing world of natural beauty alternatives that I am excited to pass on to InnerBeautyGirlz readers. I am an affiliate with Mountain Rose Herbs and a consultant with both Affordable Mineral Makeup™ and Gurrlie Girl™ Christian Jewerly.
So now that you know a little bit about me, let me get the personal humilation out of the way and kick off our Weekend with this YouTube message I recorded from my bathroom just last week. This video was created specifically for the ladies of Hannah's Prayer Ministries who are gathered in Ohio this weekend for an infertility and pregnancy loss support retreat, so as you think of them I ask that you would lift them in prayer this weekend. But I pray the message of the video will give you a reason to smile, maybe even make you laugh as you see me with no makeup, unbrushed hair and sitting on the side of my tub in a bathrobe, or be an encouragement to you in whatever season of life you find yourself tonight.
Click here to tour the entire Virtual Spa Weekend (so far) or go directly to InnerBeautyGirlz.com to view all resources available through this blog. :) Even after the Weekend officially ends at midnight on Sunday, May 3, the Spa resources will remain here to offer you encouragement and information. Check back on May 6 for our Weekend give-away winner's list and subscribe or "follow" me now in order to receive future updates.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Virtual Spa Weekend!
The first weekend in May, Hannah's Prayer Ministires (Christian infertility and pregnancy loss support ministry I helped launch nearly 15 years ago) will be holding a retreat in OH. There will be about 40 ladies gathered to encourage and support one another. The theme of the weekend will be "Beautiful In His Sight" and the guest speaker is Ginger Garrett, author of Beauty Secrets of the Bible (as well as a devotional book on infertility and several award-winning Christian fiction titles). I know it will be a wonderful, blessed weekend for all who attend!
Unfortunately, there are hundreds of women who are regular participants on the Hannah's Prayer Community Forums who are unable to attend for a variety of reasons (mostly, the prohibitive cost of travel) but would really love to be there. As the excitement builds on our Forums for the ladies who will be attending, the disappointment for those who cannot is growing as well. And so I'm going to be hosting a Virtual Spa Weekend here on my InnerBeautyGirlz blog from May 1-3.
This event will be open to everyone, but especially geared toward the ladies of Hannah's Prayer. I am looking for home-spa ideas, beauty treats and suggestions, guest blogger articles on beauty (with fun tips for our bodies, but also a focus on inner beauty), and product donations for drawings and give-aways throughout the weekend. Since my target readers that weekend will all be dealing with infertility or the death of a baby, I need to specifically avoid child-related posts and products (like using examples from motherhood in your stories).
Please share your suggestions for this event! Have a beauty topic you would like to write a guest blog about? Have a product you would like to donate as a give-away (and get your business featured in the process)? Have any creative ideas and suggestions for creating an at-home-spa experience? I would love to hear from you!
For instructions about how to participate in Virtual Spa Weekend and earn contest entries, check out the Early Bird entries post. :)
Unfortunately, there are hundreds of women who are regular participants on the Hannah's Prayer Community Forums who are unable to attend for a variety of reasons (mostly, the prohibitive cost of travel) but would really love to be there. As the excitement builds on our Forums for the ladies who will be attending, the disappointment for those who cannot is growing as well. And so I'm going to be hosting a Virtual Spa Weekend here on my InnerBeautyGirlz blog from May 1-3.
This event will be open to everyone, but especially geared toward the ladies of Hannah's Prayer. I am looking for home-spa ideas, beauty treats and suggestions, guest blogger articles on beauty (with fun tips for our bodies, but also a focus on inner beauty), and product donations for drawings and give-aways throughout the weekend. Since my target readers that weekend will all be dealing with infertility or the death of a baby, I need to specifically avoid child-related posts and products (like using examples from motherhood in your stories).
Please share your suggestions for this event! Have a beauty topic you would like to write a guest blog about? Have a product you would like to donate as a give-away (and get your business featured in the process)? Have any creative ideas and suggestions for creating an at-home-spa experience? I would love to hear from you!
For instructions about how to participate in Virtual Spa Weekend and earn contest entries, check out the Early Bird entries post. :)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Beautiful In His Sight Retreat
Event: Hannah's Prayer Retreat
Date: Fri, May 01, 2009 - Sun, May 03, 2009
Place: Cincinnati, OH
Details: This retreat is for married women who have experienced infertility, pregnancy loss, or infant death. Join other sisters in Christ who know the pain these experiences bring, and be encouraged together to look to Christ for hope and healing.
Location: Sheraton Cincinnati Airport Hotel, 2826 Terminal Drive, Hebron, KY 41048
Cost: $200 per person for event, hotel, and all meals. $65 per person local option for event and Friday dinner only.
Speaker: Ginger Garrett, author of several books, including Moments for Couples Who Long for Children and Beauty Secrets of the Bible (a book that has often been spotlighted on this blog).
The theme is "Beautiful in His Sight." Through worship, prayer, encouraging messages, various workshops, and fun & fellowship, we hope to strengthen our relationship with Christ and one another and be reminded that even though our bodies don't work the way they're "supposed to" and our lives are not turning out as we'd planned, we are precious and beautiful and loved by the Lord, and He has a great plan for our lives, whether He sends us children or not.
God brings beauty from the ashes in our journey!
For more information or to register, please visit Hannah's Prayer Ministries at http://www.Hannah.org
Date: Fri, May 01, 2009 - Sun, May 03, 2009
Place: Cincinnati, OH
Details: This retreat is for married women who have experienced infertility, pregnancy loss, or infant death. Join other sisters in Christ who know the pain these experiences bring, and be encouraged together to look to Christ for hope and healing.
Location: Sheraton Cincinnati Airport Hotel, 2826 Terminal Drive, Hebron, KY 41048
Cost: $200 per person for event, hotel, and all meals. $65 per person local option for event and Friday dinner only.
Speaker: Ginger Garrett, author of several books, including Moments for Couples Who Long for Children and Beauty Secrets of the Bible (a book that has often been spotlighted on this blog).
The theme is "Beautiful in His Sight." Through worship, prayer, encouraging messages, various workshops, and fun & fellowship, we hope to strengthen our relationship with Christ and one another and be reminded that even though our bodies don't work the way they're "supposed to" and our lives are not turning out as we'd planned, we are precious and beautiful and loved by the Lord, and He has a great plan for our lives, whether He sends us children or not.
God brings beauty from the ashes in our journey!
For more information or to register, please visit Hannah's Prayer Ministries at http://www.Hannah.org
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Do you ShoutLife?
Not quite a year ago I was invited to visit a freind's website at ShoutLife. Having never heard of the site before, I had no idea what a treat I was in for! ShoutLife is a social networking community (think "myspace") from a decidedly Christian viewpoint. They offer personal pages for each registered user (yes, registration is free), and also special spotlights for Christian commedians, musicians, authors and organizations. You are also free to sign up for fellowship groups within the site on a range of topics or start new groups if you don't find what you are looking for. I have made so many wonderful friends there and find continual encourgament from this site.
If you haven't had a chance to visit, you are welcome to start at my page at www.Shoutlife.com/InfertilityMom. If you register for or already have a SL page, please shoot me a friends request there. I love making friends and keeping up on the happenings of your life! And yes, leave me a note here at InnerBeautyGirlz.blogspot.com with your SL link and you will earn yet another entry into this month's give away - Beauty Secrets of the Bible (follow the link for more chances to enter) by award-winning author, Ginger Garrett. :)
If you haven't had a chance to visit, you are welcome to start at my page at www.Shoutlife.com/InfertilityMom. If you register for or already have a SL page, please shoot me a friends request there. I love making friends and keeping up on the happenings of your life! And yes, leave me a note here at InnerBeautyGirlz.blogspot.com with your SL link and you will earn yet another entry into this month's give away - Beauty Secrets of the Bible (follow the link for more chances to enter) by award-winning author, Ginger Garrett. :)
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