I'm often asked when I'm going to write my next book. In reality I've been in the process of writing a book on the life of Paul as encouragement for living with chronic pain and illness for probably close to 5 years now. Since Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage & Adoption Loss took me about 10 years to write, that may not be such exciting news because it tells you I still have a very long way to go!

What I hope is more exciting, what I would like to ask you to partner with me in prayer about as God continues to unfold His plan, is that two of my other blogs, both this one here on beauty and (now that I've gained more focus for what I want to do with this project) specifically Harvesting Hope from Heartache™, have becoming a launching pads for what I feel God is turning into my "next" book.

Yes, I'm continuing to work on the Given Me a Thorn too, but over the past year God has me focusing more on an exploration of the Fruit of the Spirit (a passage written by none other than Paul himself) through a series of articles I've been writing for Glory and Strength and my InnerBeautyGirlz blog. I've been working on a Bible study related to what He's teaching me and I've written much more than could be presented only in my articles, so I think God's growing a book out of all of this! :)

How does the Fruit of the Spirit tie in with Harvesting Hope from Heartache? I'm glad you asked. ;) It all has to do with sowing seeds, gathering fruit, and ultimately what Source my hope springs from. What better time to look to the Lord for help than in the midst of trials? I'm very excited to see how God is tying so many themes together in my life as He's teaching me through Galatians 5 this year! I pray that this book will be as much of a blessing to you as the journey has been to me.

It is my current goal to have enough of this study written and ready to present to publishers that I can begin the query process around the end of the year or in the very early part of 2012. Will you join me in specific prayer that God will give me His words to write and that this project will unfold according to His will and in His perfect timing?

If you would like to stay updated about my progress, I've just opened a new Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/HarvestingHope and would love to have you "like" me over there. :) If you don't do Facebook or would rather get updates via feeds, please follow my long-standing Harvesting Hope from Heartache blog directly. Feel free to pass these link along to your friends as well.

Save 20% on Mineral Makeup + GIFT!

Place any Affordable Mineral Makeup™ (AMM) order of $10 or more from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com from now through November 5, 2010 and take 20% OFF your entire purchase when you use coupon code eggme1110 at checkout!

But wait, that's not all! (Can't you just hear my infomercial voice?) With every order placed using this special promotional code, you will also receive a FREE Mini Kabuki brush with a retail value of $6.49! :)

No limits or restrictions. No exclusions. 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 and enter eggme1110 in the coupon code field when you checkout. Enjoy!!!

When you take advantage of this great deal, if you would be so kind as to be sure you are always entering the AMM website directly through the "shop" button on my consultant page at InnerBeautyGirls.com and that you leave my name, Jenni Saake, in the comments section when you make your purchase, I would greatly appreciate it. This will help assure that your order is credited to my account and that I am able to continue servicing your Affordable Mineral Makeup needs in the future. Thank you so much! :)

DIVAS of the Divine

I was recently given a copy of the book Divas of the Divine - How to Live as a Designer Original in a Knock-Off World and asked to offer my honest review for this blog. This is a large workbook with a cute cover and fun feel to it, but not "fluffy" when it comes down to content. Scriptural context is very important to me and there were times I felt that the authors, Donna McCrary and Sherri Holbert, could have selected stronger support passages for the points they were making, but overall I found the book to be Biblically grounded and the points about living a Christ-centered life to be spot on.

Something delightful about the book format is how the authors take turns sharing pieces of their own lives, intertwining their personal stories by turn, into the rhythms of the book. I loved the contrast in the author's viewpoints - one a tomboy, the other girlie; one a busy mom, the other finding fulfillment outside motherhood;  one outspoken in personality, the other more reserved - and that I could find something to personally relate to in one or the other's experience in nearly every issue they addressed.


It is my understanding that this workbook is only one portion of a larger ministry, and while it was a delightful study on its own, I wouldn't consider it truly "stand-alone" as there were occasional mentions of group activity events (I'm presuming as presented in a leader's guide) that I did not have access to. In these cases I found myself craving the companionship of a small group I could share the study with and feeling a bit "left out" that I didn't fully understand the activity being referenced. I don't know that this is a bad thing as the book is intended to draw women together into accountability relationships ranging from one-on-one partnerships, to mentorship and topical or situational small group needs (based on my own history, I can imagine an infertility support group fitting nicely here).

If you are looking for a tool to build a close one-on-one accountability relationship with a friend, want  to jump start a women's ministry for your church, or have a study need somewhere in between, this is a book you may want to take some time to investigate for yourself. Want to win a copy? Please leave me a comment by Thursday night (along with your email address so I can notify you if you win) and I'll select one commenter to enter into the blog carnival final drawing.
 

Asking a Favor

This post has little to do with "beauty," thought it is beautiful news to my ears. My book, Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage & Adoption Loss has been nominated by the oldest, and one of the largest, infertility support networks in the nation, as one of the top four "best" infertility books for 2010. Their selections are now open for public vote and I would so appreciate if if you would take a moment and visit www.resolve.org/vote to cast a vote for Hannah's Hope in the "best book" category. Thank you so very much!!!

Woman's Health Hero

I was blessed to be nominated as a Woman's Health Hero and I need your help! (Head's up to my friends who are sensitive to mentions of pregnancy, the sponsors of this award do promote pregnancy-related books on their website, so please be for-warned before following this link.) Out of all entries, just 20 names will be inducted into a Health Hall of Fame. Two Hall-of-Fame selections will receive special honors as either Staff Pick or Audience Choice award determined by the public (that's you!).



You will be allowed to vote on all entries between now and May 14 (extended one week from the prior May 7 deadline), 2010. The entry that receives the highest overall ranking will win the Audience Choice award. Last year's Audience Choice winner was my dear friend Lisa Copen from Rest Ministries. I would be delighted to add a similar honor to my "resume" as I continue working on writing my book on the life of Paul as encouragement for living with chronic pain/illness.

Will you please help me by heading to www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2010/05/comforting-those-with-fertility-challenges-jenni-saake and selecting the "thumbs up" voting button at the bottom of my profile? Thank you so much! :)

Rain on Me Book Give-Away

If you participated in my Virtual Spa Weekend in May, you may remember Holley Gerth's post, God thinks You're Beautiful. Holley has also recently released the book Rain on Me: Devotions of Hope and Encouragement for Difficult Times and she's giving away a copy on one of my other blogs, Harvesting Hope from Heartache™. Drop by and leave a comment there before July 31 to be entered for this drawing. :)

Free Book July 10 only

Order Skinny by Laura L Smith for FREE today only from the Nav Press website, using coupon code H20E1M3Y4. This is a book about teenage girls and eating issues. Enter your coupon code at the top of your cart before you head to check out. Shipping is also free and no tax!

If you are looking for another title to add to your cart, Nav is my publisher for Hannah's Hope. ;) I was pleasantly surprised that the free shipping extended to the other item I placed in my cart today (still had to pay tax, but I'm fine with that) and when my order confirmation came through, that email included a discount code for 25% off my next order from the Nav Press website! Great deal all the way around!!!

If Tomorrow Never Comes

Welcome to the final morning of our Virtual Spa Weekend. All contest remain open until midnight to night, so please help keep spreading the word today.

Last month I posted a delightful interview with Marlo Schalesky on my "InfertilityMom" blog. Marlo is the author of seven books including the wonderful resource Empty Womb, Aching Heart: Hope and Help for Those Struggling With Infertility and several fiction titles including her newest release If Tomorrow Never Comes.

For a chance to win an autographed copy of this new title, please post a comment here. You may earn additional entries by helping promote Marlo's book and linking to this blog entry from your own website or blog or telling all your friends on Twitter, Facebook, Shoutlife of other social networks to stop by as well. Each time you post about this give-away, come back here and leave another new message for an additional entry!

Agape

Rachelle, a member of Hannah's Prayer, really wanted to participate in our Virtual Spa Weekend. But as she owns a landscaping compnay in Canada, she couldn't think of anyting related to her business to offer as a prize. So she generously decided to gift a copy of the book The Way of Agape, Understanding God's Love by Nancy Missler to one InnerBeautyGirlz reader. To be entered to win this book, please leave a comment on this thread, including a working email address or other means of getting in touch with you should you win. For additional entries, please post this link to your website, blog or through social media outlets such as Twitter or Facebook, then come back and leave me a new comment with a link to each place you have helped spread the word about Rachelle's give-away.

Of The Way of Agape Rachelle writes, "The information in this book has absolutely changed my life and i hope whoever wins it will be touched just as deeply as i have been. In it Nancy tells us what God revealed to her from the Bible about how we can be cleansed vessels, allowing God's love, which is already in every believer in Christ, to flow through us continually. How we can give our hurts and bitterness to God permanently, and be filled with his unconditional love for people. We've probably all heard somebody say, 'Just give it to God.' and still wonder how we are really supposed to do that in a practical way in our lives. This book explains it well. I can't recommend it enough. It's changed my walk with Jesus, my marriage and relationships forever. I pray that for whoever receives it, it blesses their socks off!"

Beauty Secrets of the Bible

I have mentioned this book many times before, and the link to the author's website is in my sidebar, but given that this Virtual Spa Weekend idea was born out of the desire to provide a fun weekend for women who could not attend the Hannah's Prayer Ministries retreat in Ohio this weekend, I think Ginger Garrett and her book Beauty Secrets of the Bible deserve another spotlight today! Ginger is the keynote speaker at the Hannah's Prayer retreat and I am so sad that I am not meeting her in person right now! But I know she will be a blessing to all the ladies at the retreat and if you take the time to explore her website, her resources will be a delight to you as well. :)

Different Kind of Makeover

I recently learned the story of Candy Wood Lindley, author of Face of Faith: Discovering a Different Kind of Makeover, through a post on Rest Ministries (chronic pain and illness encouragement ministry). I hope to share more about her story and books at some future date, but I am so moved by the little I do know of her so far that I wanted to go ahead and repost what I learned from Rest Ministries here during our Virtual Spa Weekend, even though I haven't yet had a chance to personally review her book yet. (For those dealing with inferitlity or loss, please be aware that children are briefly mentioned in this article.)

In a world obsessed with perfection of the outer appearance and makeovers of every kind, Candy discovered a different kind of makeover—one that lasts—a makeover of the heart.
Candy’s life seemed to have fallen into place. Blessed with an idyllic childhood and loving parents who doted on their precocious only child with a mind of her own, she grew up with grace and charm in the Old South of the 1950s and ’60s.
As a speech and drama major at the University of Alabama, vivacious, petite Candy channeled her boundless energy and passion to be “on stage.” Marriage, blessed with two darling children, followed … and then the diagnosis at age 30 that changed her life and her looks forever.
Her only chance at survival was a surgery so drastic that, according to her doctors, she would lose the greater portion of her face including the right eye and possibly the left, leaving her severely deformed. Candy awoke with a new face on the outside and a renewed commitment to her Lord on the inside.
On life’s stage, Candy chose to surrender to a different kind of makeover by the Master’s hands.
In her book, Face of Faith, Candy tells her amazing story—a true medical miracle—as she set out to discover who she was apart from her physical looks.
When doctors told Candy Wood Lindley that she had six months to live, she prayed that God would allow her to see her two young children grow up. That was 1982.
Candy was diagnosed with a baseball-sized tumor in the center of her head. Eight surgeries and several years later, she was left facially disfigured but determined to make the most of what she had. In 1987, she was one of twenty-five recipients of Clairol’s national “Take Charge Award,” given to women who have overcome obstacles and turned their lives around after the age of thirty.
This was awarded to her for the production of two nationally released videos, together called Let’s Face It. One dealt with makeup techniques for the facially disfigured and the other with wig and scarf applications for hair loss patients.
In 1997, she was given the Life Inspiration Award by the American Cancer Society. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons gave Candy their “Patients of Courage Award” in 2004, and she accepted the 2005 Legacy of Courage Award from Alabama’s For the Cause.
The co-author of the book is Kathi Macias, a popular speaker and prolific author. She has published twenty-two books and hundreds of articles.
Whether keyboarding her latest book, keynoting a conference, or riding on the back of her husband’s Harley, Kathi is a lady on a mission to communicate God’s vision. Her insightful words—filled with passion, humor, and soul nourishment—refresh audiences from all walks of life, and her Spanish devotionals, “Desde el Corazon del Padre” (with English translations), can be found on www.Crosswalk.com each Monday.
Her newest book, Beyond Me: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World, was released in July 2008 from New Hope Publishers and was named “top pick” in the Christian Living category by Christian Retailing Magazine.

Essentail Oils and Infertility Support

I just signed up as an affiliate with Mountain Rose Herbs. I actually haven't even tried their products yet, but I'm drawn to the site for several reasons including that I look out my window at "Mt. Rose" everyday (OK, probably not the one the company was named for, but a mountain that I think is very beautiful). "My" Mt. Rose plays an important part in one of the fiction books I hope to some day write. So even just at the name, this company already had my attention!

They have come highly recommended to me by Leon of the Glowing Diva message boards, a woman I trust for helpful, natural beauty advice. She loves the products, so I'm giving them a try. If anyone else wants to make a purchase, I earn a small commission on any orders placed by entering their website through my referral link at http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/cgi-bin/Main.pl?AID=101123&BID=30 or any of the button/banner links to the site found along my sidebar or in my posts on this blog.

I think my first order will be Lemon Flavoring Extract ($2.97 for 2 ounces) from April's Specials along with both some Tea Tree Essential Oil and some Peppermint Oil to mix in shampoo. I'm so excited to try these!

While we are on the topic of beautiful scents, don't forget to register for the Hannah's Prayer Ministries infertility and miscarriage retreat, Beautiful In His Sight, to be held May 1-3, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The guest speaker will be Ginger Garrett, author of several books including Beauty Secrets of the Bible and Moments for Couples Who Long for Children. Along with many wonderful beauty secrets, Ginger is an expert on essential oils and fragrances that can enrich your beauty regimen, so her book is a great resource if you are interested in essential oils but wondering how to use them! The retreat registration deadline has been extended to this Wednesday, April 15, so if you or someone you love could use some support and encouragement in the areas of infertility or pregnancy loss, please visit http://www.Hannah.org for details right away!

My Birthday, You Get the Gifts! (Bloggy Giveaways Carnival and more.)

I promised you a July full of give-aways. Well, today's my birthday, so I want to give out some gifts! Let's end this month on a really high note, and start out the new one with a bang!!!

First of all, tomorrow marks the 2-year anniversary of Affordable Mineral Makeup™ (click link for 15% discount code!) and my consultant page at www.InnerBeautyGirls.com has undergone a "face lift" so please drop by and take a look. I also want to offer a hearty "Congratulations!" to Tara, our company founder, for starting and growing a wonderful business these past two years. If you would like to join us, today's your last day to get started with Affordable Mineral Makeup™! for just $12 instead of the normal $30 enrollment fee! Deadline for this offer is midnight EST tonight (July 31). To get $18 off your sign up, go to http://affordablemineralmakeup.com/bizopp.html and select the Consultant option, then click the pay now tag and at checkout put the word christmasinjuly in the coupon section. The computer system will automatically take off $18 of your sign up fee. Please list Jenni Saake as your sponsor on the sign up form.



Have you seen the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Giveaway Carnival yet? It's an amazing gathering of nearly 1,000 bloggers, all giving away free stuff through today and tomorrow (some even into next week). Much is parenting related, several jewlery companies, some web designes offering blog make-overs and much more. If you like contests and freebies, check them out.

For my own gifts in the Bloggy Giveaway, I'm offering gently read copies of:

1. Vonda Skelton's Seeking Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe, and

2. Tricia Goyer's My Life Unscripted.

"Who Put a Stop Payment on My Reality Check?" and "I checked my Bible concordance... 'easy' and 'fair' are not there." are phrases that describe Vonda's book, while Trica writes a "play script" for teen girls.

3. I will also throw in a couple of samples of Affordable Mineral Makeup™!

To enter, all I need is a comment left here on my blog, US mailing addresses only please. Be sure to leave me an email address to get ahold of you if you win. I'll be drawing my winner on Monday morning, so you have until midnight (Pacific time) Sunday night to enter. Winner will have 1 week to respond with mailing address in order to claim prize.

While you are here, don't forget to check out the links to other great drawings and contests I've offered this month:

Book of Names contest for FREE Wii or iPod

Summer Skin Care Give-Away

Win a FREE Wii™ System, iPod™ Nanos or signed Book of Names

(If you are reading this via email and can't view the video, be sure to drop by the Inner Beauty Blog to see this amazing video for yourself.)

I'm stepping a bit outside my usual offering with this one, but the prizes (a FREE Wii™ System!, an iPod™ Nanos, and signed copies of THE BOOK OF NAMES, by D. Barkley Briggs of http://hiddenlands.net where you will find contest details) are just too big to ignore. So I emailed the author and asked if his book touched on true beauty in any ways. Here's Mr. Briggs' reply, along with a short passage from his book.

"The central theme of my book is about the power of identity, and where true identity originates. While the tone is geared more towards boys, I've heard from plenty of girls about how much they love the fantasy genre (as well as from their moms and grandmas who are buying it for them)."

The following scene involves Hadyn, the older brother, being captured by the Nameless. He is being hauled away in the hold of a ship along with many other Nameless/Lost, on their way to the island of the sorceress Nemesia. They go to her to forget themselves and their pain:

"I don't know what Kyra means. I just know I don't like it. I never have."
"Why? It's very pretty."
"That is why. I am not nearly so pretty as my name."
Hadyn, taken aback, quickly realized he needed to be careful. He did not want to risk offending whatever new friend or ally he had just gained. Kyra had smooth skin and bright eyes flecked with mischief not yet lost to Nemesia. Like all the Lost, she was dirty and worn, but most anyone seeing her would have thought her attractive. Not beautiful, but cute. And feminine, with a girlish, fluttering voice.
"I don't much like being a girl," she said, as if reading his thoughts. "Always guessing what other people think about me. I grew up watching the Revlon Cirque in Portaferry. Now those are women! So beautiful and graceful, with those huge feathers in their long, twirling hair."
"I'm sorry. I don't know what that is."
"The Cirque? Are you even from here? You talk funny."
"To be honest, I don't know how to tell you where I'm from."
"Well, everyone here loves the Revlon Cirque," Kyra smirked. "They are the most marvelous carnivale in all the world. Men desire them. Women envy them. Paintings of them hang in the streets. They are rich and famous." She lowered her eyes. "I do not have their shape, their face, or their fame. I never will. When I told a friend once how I wished I could be a Revlon, she laughed at me."
Hadyn spoke gently. "Not much of a friend, I'd say."
Kyra was unmoved. She pulled out a small round mirror from the folds of her gown. It fit in the palm of her hand. She gazed into it sadly. "That is only because you do not see what I see every day in the looking glass."

- from THE BOOK OF NAMES, by D. Barkley Briggs. Used by permission from NavPress. Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. www.navpress.com


So I leave you with this simple question... What do you see every day in your looking glass?

As a general rule I strive to keep this blog relatively "child-free" in my talk. I do this specifically because of our many years of infertility and remembering how it hurt to run into "kid talk" everywhere when I wanted nothing more than motherhood. If you are struggling with the longing for a child (infertility or loss) and want to skip today's post, I won't be offended. Feel free to check out my infertility blog at HannahsHopeBook.com instead.

But for those for whom stories about my kids won't bother, today I'm going to break my own rule and mention my little miracles because my kids and I are celebrating a big landmark - the last week of our homeschool year! We have had an amazing year Exploring Countries and Cultures and I have been moved and challenged to watch my kids grow with a heart for sharing Jesus with the world. A series of missionary biographies opened our eyes so much to all the blessings we have and all that others have sacrificed.

Our final memory verse for the year sums up what we have learned. Jesus, speaking to his desciples, say, "All aurhority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20). Isn't that amazing? Wherever I go, wherever He sends my children, He will be with us to the very end!

Changind gears here, but keeping a big world focus in mind, did you know that Affordable Mineral Makeup™ ships to all of USA, APO Addresses (Military), Puerto Rico, Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and The United Kingdom? So if you have frineds or family in these countries, please be sure to tell them about this blog too. (And even if you have friends in countries my business doesn't service yet, I would love to welcome them as readers for beauty hits, tricks, tips and insights!)

Guest Blog with author Camy Tang

Something many of you may not know about me is that I was raised in Japan for seven years of my childhood. So is it especially fun for me to share today's blog with Camy Tang who describes herself as "the loud Asian chick who writes loud Asian chick lit." She used to be a biologist, but now she is a staff worker for her church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service. She also runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels every Monday and Thursday, and she ponders frivolous things like dumb dogs (namely, hers), coffee-geek husbands (no resemblance to her own...), the writing journey, Asiana, and anything else that comes to mind. Visit her website at www.camytang.com for a huge website contest going on right now, giving away five boxes of books and 25 copies of her latest release, ONLY UNI.

Welcome, Camy. Thank you for joining us to share your reflections on beauty!

-----

Thanks for having me here, Jenni!

I love the verse for your Inner Beauty Girlz website, 1 Peter 3: “Beauty should not come from outward adornment... Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.”

It took me a long time to understand my inner beauty and to be happy with who I am. For most of my teenage years and even my twenties, I spent too much time being embarrassed for being awkward, nervous about making a social mistake, shy to put myself forward.

I knew my self-esteem was low, but I thought it was “natural” or that I needed to exert myself more in order to raise it. I knew that my self-esteem ought to be dependent solely on Christ, but I didn’t know how to go about doing that, and couldn’t get what I knew in my head to make an impression on my heart and how I felt.

It wasn’t until I reached my late twenties that I started to understand how to let Christ determine my self-esteem. I’d been under the misapprehension that I needed perfect social graces to be acceptable to other people. That mistakes on my part would make people think of me as strange or odd, and at all costs, I didn’t want to stand out or be thought of as a weirdo.

But slowly I started to understand who I really was, who God had made me. Slowly I started being happier with exactly who God had made me—a bit awkward, with an unusual sense of humor, a bit out of the ordinary.

And that was okay.

I made an effort to stop being nervous about social mistakes I made. I learned to ignore my mistakes or laugh at them. And I discovered that while some people DID think I was odd, I started making friends with people who DIDN’T think I was odd.

God sent me friends who loved who I was—awkward, strange, a bit of a dingbat. He gave me people to be my sisters in Christ, and a husband who completes me in ways I didn’t realize I needed him.

I have found my inner beauty, and realized it was there all the time, the beautiful person God had made me to be. When I could accept who I am, and stopped trying to be who I was not, He drew people to me who also saw my beauty. He helped me see myself as His child.

And because of what He’s done for me, this is my prayer for all my readers, too—that they will co me to see themselves as God made them, and to accept who they are.

Funny Video and Great Prize Package for Vonda Skelton

I am pleased to introduct you to author Vonda Skelton today! Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win Vonda's new book, Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe along with a huge prize package (pictured to the upper left and details listed at the end of this post). Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe is now available at bookstores nationwide, at online bookstores, and on her website where you are welcome to read the first chapter for free.

Please take a moment to enjoy this fun look at "Solomon's Beloved" as presented by Vonda. It starts out a little slow, but stick with it and you will soon be laughing! If you can't view it here, watch it on uTube at Solomon’s Beloved at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEmhI8FL_ZI. Of Solomon's Beloved Vonda writes, "She’s so much fun! (And people think we Christians can’t have fun! A lot they know!)"

(If you are reading this via email and can't view the video, be sure to drop by the Inner Beauty Blog to see this funny, can't miss skit for yourself!)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Seeing through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe

We have been seduced by half-truths and whole lies since time began. Remember the garden? In Seeing Through the Lies, author and speaker Vonda Skelton humorously addresses the disappointments women experience as they search for truth while believing a lie. Each chapter opens with amusing anecdotes from real life and ends with answers and guidance straight from God s Word. Exploring topics such as pride, fear, motherhood, and the busyness of life, this book offers practical steps for peeling away the layers of deceit and finding the joy of living in real truth. Through honesty and humility, Vonda takes women on a hilarious journey through all things female and brings them to a soul-searching point of decision. Readers will identify with both the positive and negative examples of women in the Bible, and will be encouraged by Scripture, as well as quotes from notable men and women. Each chapter ends with five steps for exposing the lie and embracing the truth of God s Word.

Are you striving to be a woman of excellence, but feel you're landing somewhere between mediocre and unfit?
Do you want to be your husband's lover, but feel more like his mother?
Are you convinced that busyness is next to godliness?
Are you trying so hard to be everything to everybody that you feel like you're nobody to anybody?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you're not alone--you've simply fallen victim to the lies of Satan! But you don't have to be seduced by his masquerade any longer. Join the fun as we take a hilarious journey through all things female on our search for real truth in a counterfeit world.

From spider veins and webs of deceit to cartoon characters and feminist funnies, Seeing through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe will help you recognize the lies and take joy in the light of His Truth.The suggested Bible readings, small group discussion questions, and meditations on the very words of Jesus will help you discover not only the lies that bind you, but the keys that set you free.

Listen, girlfriend, it doesn't matter who you are or where you've been or what you've done, God is ready to give you a fresh start on a new life--one that can only come through the acceptance of His unchanging truth.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Vonda Skelton is an entertaining speaker with a heart for women and their families. Her first women's book, Seeing through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe, "takes a hilarious look at all things female as we search for truth in a counterfeit world." Her first two books are part of the Bitsy Mystery Series for children 8-14 years old. The third book in the series, Bitsy and the Mystery at Hilton Head Island, will be released in the spring of 2008.

An RN and freelance writer, Vonda's articles frequently appear in magazines such as HomeLife, Christian Single, Focus on the Family publications, and New Man Magazine. An award-winning playwright and lyricist, her scripts have been performed in churches around the country. She is a frequent instructor at writer's conferences and enjoys mentoring and encouraging new writers.

As one who tries--and often fails--to be like Christ, Vonda is thankful God continues to take her messes and use them for His glory!



Vonda is on a "blog tour" this month. She has asked each blog tour host (that would be me in this case) to collect all the names from the comments left on their sites (that would be this www.InnerBeautyGirlz.blogspot.com) for Vonda's blog tour, and draw one finalist. Vonda will put all the blog tour hosts' names in a hat and draw a finalist as well. Then all of the finalists from the various blog tours and from the blog tour hosts go in the hat one final time and the winner will receive this great gift selected just for you by Vonda. This is a GREAT prize! The drawing will be held April 2, 2008. The winner will receive:



Designer Gift Box (looks like a piece of luggage with the words "Faith, Family, Friends" on the exterior).

One copy each of three books by the author: Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe, Bitsy and the Mystery at Amelia Island, Bitsy and the Mystery at Tybee Island.
A stretchy bracelet with Sterling Silver Beads, Gold Swarovski Pearls, Turquoise and Blue Zircon Swarovski Crystals and Sterling Silver Masquerade Mask Charm.
Bookmark custom-made with Sterling Silver Beads, Gold Swarovski Pearls, Turquoise, Blue Zircon and Clear Swarovski Crystals and Sterling Silver Masquerade Mask Charm on a 4.75 inch Silver Plated Bookmark.
Gold Tri-fold picture frame.

Pewter-colored oval picture frame.

Jeweled decorated cross.

Peanut caramel clusters.

Caramel Truffles.

Mini-Yankee Candle.

Three-pack sample tea bags.

Sample Columbian Supremo Coffee.

Oh My! Itty Bitty Chai Packet.



So please let me a comment today to enter this great drawing!!!

Winner of Beauty Secrets of the Bible is...

Yvonne P. of Alberta, Canada!
I will be emailing you this week to confirm your mailing address and get your copy of Beauty Secrets of the Bible in the mail to you.

Thank you to everyone who entered February's contest. Be looking for our new March give-away to be announced later this week! :)

Beauty Secrets of the Bible

Welcome to the Inner Beauty Blog! I can think of no better way to launch this site than to intoduce you to one of my favorite beauty resources, Ginger Garrett's book, Beauty Secrets of the Bible. In this book, you will discover beauty secrets the cosmetic industry doesn't want you to know, including:

· All-natural cosmetic alternatives that you can create at home

· A twenty-eight day cleansing regimen for your body, mind, and spirit

· Treatments and cures for common skin ailments ranging from acne to wrinkles

· Secrets for glowing skin and shiny hair

· Essential oils and fragrances that can enrich your beauty regimen

· Biblical foods that promote a healthy weight

These timeless products and treatments are soothing, natural, effective, and affordable. In fact, you can save over $1,500 a year by making these simple, healthy choices! Join Ginger in exploring the unique relationship between worshiping our Creator and caring for ourselves. Beauty Secrets of the Bible is not only about rediscovering ancient beauty secrets-it's about rediscovering your own beauty.