Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ SCRIPTURE REFERENCE - 2 Timothy 2:3,19-26 ~ ~ ~ Last week, a post went up in hopes that someone, somewhere would make a decision for Jesus. This week, I'd like to focus on those of us who have made a decision, but we've strayed. In today's passage, Paul is addressing a young man by the name of Timothy. We can probably assume Timothy was rather new in the faith, but Paul's encouragement and instructions can be applied to Christians today. There are a few things we should be re-evaluating regularly to make sure we stay in fellowship with God. 1) Is there any unconfessed sin in your life? Often we forget that unconfessed sin will drive us out of fellowship with God; it won't make us lose salvation, but blessings will not come if we aren't obedient. 2) How's that Bible reading plan coming along? If you've been letting your Bible gather dust on the shelf, it might be time to open it up. Spending time in God's Word is a sure-fire way to get your Christian life back to where it needs to be. 3) Prayer is vital. Communing with the Lord through prayer isn't merely saying grace at the table before a meal. It's bringing concerns and situations to His feet and submitting them, and yourself, to His perfect will. God always hears our prayers and we can be assured that He will answer in His time. 4) Getting right with our friends and loved ones is also important. If they've hurt you in some way, forgive them. If you've hurt them, make sure to clear it before God and them. 5) Be active in church. There are two ways you can do this; both are equally needful. - Active listening. Take notes and pay attention to the sermon and Sunday School lessons. - Active ministry. Find a ministry in your church that you can take part in; music, children, specific groups like the women or the men. There are usually several to choose from, and be prayerful about it. Consider your spiritual gifts and talents. ~ ~ ~ If you are in ministry at your church, what do you do? Let me know!
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Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay. ~ ~ ~ So you wanna be a blogger? Fortunately, you can! These days, anyone can have an online presence. However, if you want to get any attention, you have to stand out in your own unique way. Thing about your favorite bloggers and the explosion of the Youtube community. What do they all have in common? They have a unique approach to their niche. Some are experts in marketing while others go in-depth with beauty tutorials. Whatever the case may be, I have some tips that will help you begin your journey in the blogging world. FIND YOUR NICHE As mentioned above, it's important to find what your message is. Do you have a product you can sell? Do you have tips that will improve someone's lives? For me, I have two niches; beauty and Christian lifestyle. START SIMPLE If you're just starting out, flashy and in-your-face may not be the best route to go. Whether you're choosing a platform or designing, (yes I know this sounds cliche`) but less is more. Be sure your blog is responsive and it has an easy navigation system (nobody likes a cluttered menu). LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION When it comes to choosing a platform, there are a few things you need to consider. 1) Cost. Will it save you money in the long run? Is what you're getting worth your money? 2) Ease of use. If you're not familiar with coding or web design, it may be wise to consider hosts that offer drag-and-drop features. Other bloggers like to gravitate towards WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get), but sometimes they aren't the best for beginners due to the overwhelming amount of options. 3) Time-saving. This kind of ties in with the last point. If it's easy to use, it could save you a lot of time. For instance, drag-and-drop features will save you time if you don't want to take a crash course in coding. If you don't know how to design a logo or template, many platforms already have them pre-made. INSPIRATION Once you've established your niche and built your blog, it's time to get inspired. Let me tell you this; Pinterest will be your best friend when it comes to inspiration. If your niche is in the beauty industry, go to Pinterest and type in "beauty blog ideas" and you'll have tons of things to write about. Use every-day life to drive your content. Make it interesting and relatable to your audience. GET NOTICED When you've gotten a few blog posts published, it's time to get your name out there. It won't happen overnight but there are a few things you should do to speed up the process. 1) Word-of-mouth. Just like running a business, sometimes the best way to draw attention to your brand is to physically tell someone about it. 2) Social media. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are all great tools to use to advertise your blog. Post about upcoming entries, products you may be selling, or a day-in-the-life. Keep it relatable and relevant. Share work from other bloggers too! 3) SEO. Yikes, this sounds complicated. Also known as search engine optimization, it's simply a way to make sure your keywords are searched for and seen. When properly done, your blog will begin to find its way to the top of search engines. ~ ~ ~ If you are a Christian lifestyle blogger or beauty enthusiast, feel free to browse Southern Grace And Beauty for your inspiration needs. Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ So you want to be a Christian. Well, I'm glad you're here because this is by far the most important decision you'll make in your life. Yep, above who you'll marry, what college you choose, or what outfit you'll wear to the job interview. Coming to know Jesus is a wonderful thing. Why? Because it's not about religion. It's not about rules and regulations. It's being in a relationship with the God of the universe. It's knowing Him personally through prayer and His Word. If you'd like to know more, keep reading. ~ ~ ~ If you grew up in church, you most likely attended some sort of Bible camp or vacation Bible school. While you were there, you probably heard the ABCs of salvation. But is it relevant? Is It true? Absolutely! It's just as simple as child-like faith, which is what Jesus requires of us. So what are the ABCs of salvation? Well first, you have to admit that you're a sinner. Let's stop and assume that you, the person reading this, are an adult; perhaps over 18 years of age. Let's get real for a moment and say that as adults, we can find it very difficult to admit when we're wrong. We like to blame other people right? We like to point fingers. When it comes to the things of God, pointing fingers isn't the wisest of things to do because we are all sinners. When we come to the realization that we've all fallen short by the help of the Holy Spirit, then we can believe in the One who can restore us. Believing is more than head knowledge. Believing takes more than the mind. It takes your entire being. It seems absolutely ridiculous to believe in something or someone that we can't see, but that's where faith comes in. The Bible says the just walk by faith. Faith pleases God. Belief and faith go hand-in-hand. But don't just believe in the person of Jesus. Believe in what He can do for you. Believe that He can change you from the inside out and give you a testimony for others to see! The last thing you have to do is confess that Jesus is Lord of your life. You are giving Him complete control of your life. You are surrendering your right to the driver's seat, so to speak. If you are ready to give your life to the Lord, I want you to get a Bible or find one on a computer or phone. Since I am not there physically to show these verses to you, I trust that you'll look them up with this blog post. Meditate on these four verses: John 3:16 Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 Romans 10:9 Think on these passages. If you feel the nudging of the Spirit in your heart, don't ignore it. The plan of salvation is laid out so simply. God wanted everyone to be able to understand it. It's our problem if we choose not to understand. If you want to know Jesus, just say this prayer...keep in mind that there is no magic prayer. It's the faith and belief that Jesus hears your prayer. Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I realize that I've fallen short of your plan for my life. But I believe You can change me. I confess you as Lord of my life, and I give up the things of this world to follow you. Thank you for your plan of salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen. ~ ~ ~ If you followed through and prayed, feel free to let me know! I'd love to hear your story. Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ Every year about this time, hundreds of aspiring estheticians have registered for their state exam. If you're one of them, here are some tips on how to survive and ace the exam. Good luck!!! ~ ~ ~ 1) Review important points. The majority of esthetics classes will drill hygiene into your head, as well as skin conditions and contraindications. Pay attention to anything that is repeated. 2) Test yourself. If you're still struggling with certain subjects, it would be wise to revise (cute little rhyme there). 3) Before the practical exam, find a willing friend or family member that would allow you to practice on them. If your local cosmetology school has extra dummy heads, ask if you can borrow it for exam purposes. If you were provided one in your class supplies at the beginning of the school year, you can use that too. 4) Make flashcards. If you're creative, you can make them out of index cards. Another simple but effective way is to use Quizlet; your particular exam may already be on there so keep an eye out! If you have someone driving you to the exam location, take the commute time to look over your cards. If you are driving yourself, take off early so you have time to sit in the parking lot to study. 5) This may sound cliche` and basic, but be sure you have your brain foods. Eating right will improve your memory and score tremendously. Afterwards, reward yourself for a job well done with whatever you'd like. Sleep is important too! 6) Dress appropriately. Wear what your school required of you or dress as if you were going in for an interview. ~ ~ ~ If you've already taken your exam or have had your license for a while, share your tips!!! |
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