Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay. Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. I personally reached out to Eminence Organics and they were kind enough to help me recommend the skincare products mentioned. Brrr! It's getting chilly outside. Time to pull out the blankets and the warm drinks. But seriously, winter is my favorite time of the year because it gives me an excuse to just sit back and take care of myself a little more. Below are some of my favorite ways to warm up and get comfy! Bodily Health I have stressed this so many times before; drink plenty of water! Not only does it help keep hydration in your body, it also helps with getting your body to wake up in the mornings. Get a cold glass of water (yes, cold) and allow it to sink it before making a beeline for the coffee machine. Don't like the taste of regular water? Drop some lemon slices or use some flavor. Let's face it...who wants to go for a run when it's freezing out there? I have found that yoga is a very effective and calming form of exercise. Indoor exercising is pretty popular this time of year. Think about it; you don't really have an excuse not to exercise if you don't have to leave the comfort of your own home. Indulge in your favorite comfort foods. Personally, I could live off of a crock pot full of stews and soups. Pastas and even chocolate cake are great ways to wind down. On the weekends, I like to curl up in my bed with a mug of hot chocolate and a good movie (Tolkien anyone?). Skin Health It's that dreaded time of year when our skin can get dry and irritated! Thankfully, Eminence Organics helped me choose some of their best skincare products to care for your skin. The Chamomile Toner was an absolute favorite of mine when I was working on the clinic floor in beauty school. I enjoyed using it on clients, as well as myself. Chamomile has soothing and healing properties that will satisfy parched skin, and is safe for sensitive skin types. On their blog post on beauty blogger favorites, Eminence offers their Coconut Cream Masque. It's very cooling to the touch, and it feelings amazing once it's removed. It's main benefit is hydration. We can't complete any skincare routine without a good moisturizer. Eminence recommends the Rosehip and Lemongrass Soothing Hydrator. This product will calm, soothe, and hydrate even the most fussy of skin types. That is all for now, and I hope you can use some of these tips! If you'd like, check out Eminence! They do a wonderful job making the best quality products for everyone. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to share or send a message to say hello!
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Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
Scripture Reference - Ecclesiastes 5:1; James 1:19 Ever wonder why you might not be hearing from God like you should? Or why you might not be getting anything out of the services you attend at church? The Bible gives us guidance into things we should avoid and things to focus on so we can always be ready to hear. Having our minds on other things really kills our spiritual growth. Our reference in Ecclesiastes says "...keep THY foot..." "Thy" basically means "your". So it's essentially saying, keep your foot. Mind your own business. Stop worrying about what Mrs. Susie is wearing or the latest gossip from Mr. Smith's study group. God is holding you accountable for the things YOU do. The next point kind of ties in with the first and it goes along with the Scripture in James. When we see a fellow believer, or even unbeliever, engaged in sinful behavior, God tells us to rebuke them. BUT, we shouldn't be so quick to focus on what they are doing all the time; instead gently, show them the right way. Let's not get frustrated or angry if they don't understand or misapply. You'd be surprised at how much your words can impact you, and another fellow believer in worship. Are we using insincere or empty words? Often when we think of empty words, we think about Christian groups that kneel in repetitive prayer, but it's so much more than that. Take the following for instance: 1) We tell someone, "Trust God". But on Monday morning we wake up and worry about the day's tasks. 2) "So and so sin is wrong and the Bible says so". And we go out the next week and do the same thing we just finished condemning. 3) We pray, "God I surrender...", then get up from the altar and carry the burden back with us. 4) Maybe we're singing "Amazing grace how sweet the sound..." but not really thinking about what the words mean. James tells us to be SWIFT to hear, SLOW to speak, and SLOW to anger. When these things happen, you will certainly be ready to hear from God. Welcome back lovelies! I hope all of you are having a fantastic Monday so far! I've got some pretty exciting news.
The month of October is going to be VERY busy for yours truly. I started a brand new job about two weeks ago as a content creator (been praying hard for that job). Not only that, but I am in the process of planning out a "series" starting on November 13, 2017. The "series" will involve things like the Law, intertestamental history, etc... I thought it'd be a nice change and it would be informative and educational to those who may not have the ability to sit in a Bible class or may not have the know-how in studying in depth. I'm hoping that the studies will give you a better look at who God is, and how He brought the Bible together to fit His plan for us. ALSO, my lifestyle posts will start back up on November 17. I stalled on those so I could get used to balancing several projects at once, and I think I'll be able to get the hang of it. Speaking of lifestyle posts, on October 18th, be on the lookout for a special post. I am going to be talking about one of my favorite high-end skincare brands that I have known and loved since I went to beauty school. As always, please feel free to share my blog with your friends and family. Thank you so much for those of you who have supported my blog thus far. It's truly been a pleasure to work on these projects for my readers. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestion, don't hesitate to drop me a message on the Contact page or email me at [email protected] Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
Scripture Reference: Luke 12:34 When we observe someone spending large amounts of time on a project or anything in life, we can safely assume that this person treasures it. It means something. We can also say that they've put their heart into it. In today's verse, Jesus tells us to be careful what we put our heart into. It can easily lead us into sin and draw us away from Him. That is why He encourages us, as He did, to have a quiet time. This is our time set apart to commune with Almighty God, and come before Him with our thoughts, our needs, and our lives. This is the moment that we open ourselves to Him and say, "God, here I am. Take me and use me. Here are my plans; let Your will be done." What should our goals be when we have our quiet time? 1) Deepening our relationship with God. 2) Receive instruction from His Word. 3)Relax...yep, God wants us to relax. No need to stress. 4) Expanding our prayer life. Now that we know what our goals should be, let's focus on what God wants. What does He have in mind when we come before His throne? 1) To teach and mold us. 2) To convict us when we stray. 3) To strengthen us when we are weary. 4) To comfort us when things go wrong. The next time you spend your time with God, remember that He wants us to enjoy every waking moment with him. He wants to be our Friend, our Guide, and our Teacher. What are some things that you do in your quiet time? What helps you know that you are in the presence of the Lord? Feel free to download and use a template I created for the book of James! Let me know if you enjoy it and if you'd like to see one for more books.
Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
Have you wanted to start a blog, but you weren't sure where to start? Does it look complicated and time-consuming? As a friend once told me, anything hard is usually worth doing. Yes, blogging is a task that requires hard work and dedication, but it's not impossible. I'm going to give you some pointers on how to start your own blog, and who knows? Maybe you'll become the next big thing! First, you have to find your voice. What is your blog going to be about? Some people have specifics in mind like photography, art, or their writing. If you're not sure, there are tons of blog topic generators out there. Write what you know about; write about what you love. After you know your topic, find your platform. There are free options available, as well as paid subscriptions that offer more. Free options include Weebly, Blogger, and Wordpress. Wordpress and Weebly both offer paid access, but if you just want to start out basic, just stick with the free version. Note: This blog is on the Weebly platform. When you choose your platform and you want to get started, find inspiration. Most of my inspiration comes from reading devotionals and things I hear at church. Other times it's simply going for a walk and listening to God's voice. Other people find inspiration on things like Pinterest or a song. Lastly, find your audience. When you make your first post, sharing your blog is the most critical part of the whole thing. Share it on as many social media sites as you can get your hands on. Tell people by mouth. Do whatever you do best. I will share more tips about blogging on my Facebook page, Southern Grace And Beauty. See ya there! Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Today's Scripture shows us a beautiful picture of what the Bible really is. It's not just a book; it's THE book. So what does it say about itself? God-inspired. The Bible is God's Word sent directly to us from Him. Of course, He inspired the men who penned it, but the words still come from Almighty God. Source of sound doctrine. We can read theology books and recite prayers from a church-book, but many times those things are flawed. Why? Because they were written by man. We can't go by man's word. The Bible can be trusted to give us sound doctrine no matter what our question may be. Reproves, rebukes, and corrects. Ever read a verse that just seemed like it cut to the core of your sinful being? The Bible is a two-edged sword, so of course it's going to hurt. Conviction is part of God's plan. But after it hurts, God always gives us encouragement and let's us know that He loves us. Instructs in righteousness. I've often heard that life is an open-book test. The Bible is our textbook. Textbooks in school are meant to instruct us right? Pay attention and learn when you open the Word of God. Remember what you're holding in your hand. What is the result of all of this? The Scripture says all of this comes from the Word of God "...that the man of God may be perfect..." Perfect means to be complete. It doesn't mean we will be sinless; it just simply means that we are being molded daily to be what God intends for us to be. But how can we know what He wants us to be if we never open the Bible? What's a verse that has really stood out to you recently? How can you apply it to your life? Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
Scripture Reference: 1 Timothy 2:11-12 Ruth, Deborah, Mary, Philip's daughter...these are just but a few names from the Bible of great women that obeyed the call of God and followed His standards. Nowadays, there's so much confusion about a woman's role, especially in the church. God's Word clearly outlines those roles. Let's take a look at them. One of the obvious ones is to teach the younger generation. If you want to be a true model of a Christian woman, your job is to make sure your children and grandchildren know about the Lord. Teach them to read the Bible. Show them that prayer is essential. "Train a child in the way that he should go...". A second role is to be holy and godly. The Proverbs 31 woman is a wonderful example. She doesn't allow other things to get in the way of her and God. She shows her family, as states before, what it means to follow God. Thirdly, a godly woman must be sober. When the word sober comes to mind, people often think of abstaining from alcohol. While that is certainly true, it can also mean to be right-minded and not to become "drunken" with the things of this world. A sober woman also discerns truth from error. Modesty is kind of an "old-fashioned" term, but it's still biblical. This doesn't mean you have to cover your ankles or make sure you're not showing your collarbone. It just means to dress reverently. The Bible says we are God's ambassadors. Would a country's ambassador show up to a U.N. meeting wearing baggy clothes and unkempt hair, or a top that doesn't leave a man to his imagination? It's also important to note that modesty includes, not only what we wear, but how we act. Pridefulness is not in the godly woman's code of conduct. The last one is kind of a touchy subject for more than one reason, but it's still God's Word. A biblical woman will submit to her husband, if she is married. That doesn't mean that she will allow him to beat her, walk all over her, or let him belittle her. Submission means respect, just as we respect and revere God Himself. What other godly examples can you think of in the Bible? How can you follow through? Thanks for stopping by! Image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
Reference: Mark 8:11-12 About two months ago, the United States saw one of the most incredible, once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipses. As I was observing God's handiwork on display, the Holy Spirit brought to my attention that sometimes Satan can block the Son from our view. Let's use scientific terminology for a moment. In order for an eclipse to happen and create partial or total darkness, the moon has to move between the earth and the sun. Imagine for a moment that you are the earth, and Jesus is the sun (Son). Since the moon is associated with night and darkness, we are going to imagine Satan and sin as the moon. If we allow Satan and sin to move between us and the Son, we have given in to darkness. The Bible says to move into the light. There are three "moons" that can hinder us from being fully in the light. 1) Faithlessness. Jesus rebuked folks constantly for their lack of faith. Why? Because a lack of faith is detrimental to our spiritual lives. When we lack faith, even for a moment, the devil can get a foothold in so many things. Before you know it, you're going down a slippery slope you probably didn't even see coming. 2) Religion and rules. Like the Pharisees in today's Scripture reference, so many people today would rather conform to religion and rules. They'd rather rely on the latest theology best-seller or what their denominational leader says to do. Then they turn around and make the Bible say what they want it to say, and then force it onto a congregation that is hungry for the true Word of God. 3) Pride. This one is a toughie. It's one of the things on God's "I hate" list. When we get caught up in doing things for ourselves and not relying on the Holy Spirit, we can easily get snatched up in the pride trap. Pride is what sent the devil falling from the presence of Almighty God. Pride is what sent Peter and Judas down the wrong path so many times. Pride is what can allow the devil, if we aren't careful, to get between us and the light of God. What is blocking the Son in your life? Can you name anything that has blocked Him in the past? How can you ask God to move your "moons" in the future? Thanks for stopping by! As always, feel free to share my posts with your friends and family. Come say hello in the Contact section or you can reach me by email. God bless! |
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