Time Tested Beauty Tips

Time-Tested Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

--Sam Levenson

1 Peter 3:3-4

New Living Translation (NLT)

³ Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. ⁴ You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Today Is From My Loving Father

Today I was struck by the Psalm 118:24 verse. I know this verse inside and out, I sing it to my kids throughout the day. But today God hit me with a profound part of this verse that I knew but never took note of. I always took the verse as I rejoice in the day b/c God made it. But today I also realized that I'm rejoicing and I'm also supposed to be glad. And there are no pre-qualifications on it. It is not dependent on how well my day is going. I am glad and rejoicing, no matter what! 

How in the world is it possible to do this on those days when Bella is whining and playing selfishly. Caiden is crawling after me whining all day and Ada is yelling out and screaming because she is angry. And I still have all the house work to do? This is what I learned also:


1. This day was brought to me by my loving Father. He didn't forget me and my needs and accidentally handed me a hard day. He knows what I need and when I need it.


2.He also doesn't leave me on my own to figure it out. Like Phil. 4:13 said, It is CHRIST who helps me through my day. I tell Bella this ALL day, after she has been disciplined, is having a complaining spirit, does not want to share, etc. I tell her ask Jesus to help you. He loves you and wants to help you do the hard things. Wow if I only told MYSELF that more often!

Speak their Language

Ok so this was in my mailbox today, so I am literally just copying and pasting.  But I thought this was such a valuable idea, that even though I am not there yet for my kids, I want to do this when we get there.  I want to encourage those of you who are, PLEASE don't forget your kids, no matter their age!  You show them you love them and your love them for who they are by doing things like this.

May 18, 2012 Speaking Their Language By Melissa Taylor

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 (NIV 1984)


"I'm not joining Facebook and I'm not texting you. Don't text message me either. If you want to tell me something, you'll have to speak to me! You kids don't know how to have conversations anymore."


"But Grandpa, you are missing out on so much in my life."


The grandpa's scowl said it all: "I don't care."


This conversation, which I overheard, haunted me for days. I bet Grandpa did care. He just didn't know how to relate to his granddaughter, and new technology probably scared him. I admit it scared me at first too. I'm not fond of change.


When my children were younger, breakfast time consisted of a meal, devotion, and Bible-reading together. I didn't work outside the home like I do now, so I had more time in the morning.


Now I have to make sure the kids are ready, and I am too! There are six people running around, fighting for two bathrooms, grabbing a quick bite to eat, and racing out the door. I miss the intentional time spent teaching my children what I consider most important: God's Word.
Watching my now-teenaged son text message at lightning speed on his cell phone one evening, I wondered: Would it make a difference if I texted my kids a Bible verse each day? I dismissed the thought, thinking it silly to send a text when they should be reading God's Word for themselves.


Then I thought of Grandpa, his refusal to his granddaughter, and her reply. I didn't want to miss out like he was.


Texting my kids a verse each day may not radically change their lives, but then again it might. I wondered, would Jesus text if He were here today?


While on earth, Jesus used language that His audience understood, depending on where He was and the culture of that area. His purpose and message did not change, but His delivery and presentation sometimes did. Jesus reached people where they were. He walked, rode, sailed, and taught at homes, hillsides, banquets, and dinner tables.


It's been a year now since I've started texting Bible verses to my children. Usually I get a response like "thanks" or no response at all, but sometimes I'll receive a verse back. I send them the same verse so, if the opportunity arises, we can talk about it together.


Texting connects with my children because I'm speaking their language. The message hasn't changed, but for the purpose of effectiveness the delivery has, for me and my kids. And much to my delight, sometimes they forward the verse to a friend or two.


Texting may not be my favorite way to communicate, but if it ministers to my children, I don't want to miss it. It's just one more way I can continue to "train up" my children.


This week, let's be on the lookout for new ways we can share God's Word by speaking our kids language.


Dear Lord, change is hard for me, but if there is a way You'd like for me to change for the sake of another, then I will try. With Your help all things are possible. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
Building a Bridge to Your Child's Heart (CD) by Lynn Cowell
Visit Melissa's blog and find out how you can receive Melissa's "Top 10 Ways to Connect with Your Children."
Reflect and Respond:
Think of one way you can better connect with someone in your life.
Are you stubborn like Grandpa or willing like Jesus?
Power Verses:
Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (NIV)
Proverbs 31:28-29, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.'" (NIV)

© 2012 by Melissa Taylor. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org

Training in Grace

Recently I have been convicted and somewhat confused as to what it meant to give grace to your children.  I was thinking, young children don't need grace, they need discipline.  Otherwise its sends confusing messages to them as to when they need to obey and when its ok to do what they are doing.  So I thought, well I guess grace comes later.

Well God has been showing me on the side how he has been showing me grace on a day to day basis.  I started to realize that He doesn't stop from disciplining me, but he shows me grace in how he disciplines me.  He doesn't give me the full punishment of what I deserve - death.  He doesn't yell or become frustrated with me when for the umpteenth time I've had a complaining spirit (like my daughter, wonder where she got that from!) 

Romans 5:20

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁰ God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.

So I began to realize that that is how I am to be gracious to my children.  Instead of getting annoyed and tired of the complaining or arguing.  I need to respond in love and grace and TRAIN my children in the moment.  There is a difference between teaching and training.  I always new this and have actually been practicing this in our home, but it really was made clear when reading this post from Woman Living Well blog.  As she writes:

Teaching is giving my children the information they need to succeed. 

But training is giving my children the discipline to carry out what they have been taught.

So yes I discipline for disobedience.  But when they are not responding correctly to life situations, I show grace by not becoming angry that he have done it AGAIN.  But instead train them in how they should have responded.

I pray that God will give me just an ounce of the grace that he shows me.

Ephesians 2:7

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Beauty in Everything

1. I am loving watching Caiden crawl.  It has morphed from this belly flop to this crawl where he is up on his hands and knees but he is still only using his upper body to move. haha so his but just wiggles behind lol

2.  I love how Bella is loving learning.  She loves to sit (well she usually stands at the table, but oh well!) and see what I have planned for her that day.  I love this special time with her

3. I am thankful that I am getting to go away (overnight!!!!) with my husband this weekend!  I am so excited to spend some time with just him! and to sleep til however late I want :)

4. I am SOOO thankful for how God is encouraging me.  I have great friends and a sister who always keep me in check.  We also have a Parenting Sunday School going on at church that has been a great encouragement.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

⁹ What do people really get for all their hard work? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. ¹¹ Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. ¹² So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. ¹³ And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

 ¹⁴ And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. ¹⁵ What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Beauty in Everything

So it has been a very crazy week.  And let me tell you, I have failed often!  Thankfully God doesn't leave me there.  So for some of the Beauty in my week.

1. I am thankful for my family.  I am truly blessed with my family and my kids love their grandparents and aunts and uncles.  It is so awesome to see them in love with their family.

2. I am finding beauty in my husbands new job.  He is working further away from home now so he isn't home as much.  And he had an overnight training this week.  Even though its hard for him to be gone more, I am so thankful for this new opportunity.  I love seeing him in a job he loves and wants to do.  I also am thankful for the absence as it makes what time we do have more precious!

3. I am LOVING watching the twins learn new things and seeing their personalities flourish!  They are so different from each other.  Caiden has just finally started to crawl as opposed to belly flop everywhere (but he still mainly uses his upper body)  And Ada is an absolute crack up! Her facial expressions are hysterical.  I love that God has blessed me with them.  It can be very hard at times, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!



Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

⁹ What do people really get for all their hard work? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. ¹¹ Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. ¹² So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. ¹³ And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

 ¹⁴ And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. ¹⁵ What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Reframing

So I got a couple of our pictures printed from our last photo shoot with a lady in our church.  She is wonderful, check out her work here! 

So I had this frame laying around and I personally HATE it lol.  Sorry to all those who like this color wood, but I can't stand it lol.  So, I thought to myself, why not paint it black and put our one BW photo in it?!  So I asked my wonderful mother if I could use some of her black  acrylic paint.  So I used a sponge brush and started painting.  The front did take 2 coats of paint.

  

But I think the finished product is perfect.  I think I shall be buying more "ugly" cheaper frames and painting them to my liking!

So for my next picture project I wanted to make some canvases of the photo session we had done a couple months back.  So I had some canvases laying around and went at it.  So here are my supplies...

So here are the steps:

1. You need some Mod Podge.  Mine was homemade - 1/2 water, 1/2 elmers glue.

2. My pictures are just printed onto paper from my printer  

3.  You cover the canvass with the mixture

4. Lay the picture onto the canvass the cover the print with the mixture

Now this takes some finesse, and it ended up drying like this.....

So then, I rewet it with the mixture and it did lay a little better... but not perfect.  But that's ok, I will explain later.

Now I did experience some smudging in this picture.  I don't  know if you can tell in this picture, but you can't see it in real life anyway so no biggy!

5.  Now paint the edges black.  This is the beauty of this project.  You can cover all your goof ups in your work!  I painted it rough so that you can't really notice the "not so perfect spots"

This is the corner that wasn't laying perfectly.  Can't even tell :)

The finished projects and all hung up on the wall :) I must say, I like it a lot.  Thank you mommy for helping with the arrangement and hanging :)