All to him I owe

Once again revisiting when I wrote to women in my life asking them for advice that they would give one thing that was said is forgiveness, and acceptance. Knowing and living as though you are forgiven and pardoned from all of your sin. That when there are more things in my life that God shows us that he wants, it is a joyful thing because he has already forgiven us everything and now wants to draw us closer to himself. So many times we go before God with our shame and guilt or we do not go before him at all because of our shame and guilt. He is never searching out more things that we are doing wrong instead he is looking inside of us to find more ways he can draw us closer to himself.

When we hold onto grudges or refuse to forgive others it  breeds bitterness and hurts you a lot more than it can ever hurt the other person. This is something that we are told as Christians but it is also something that we rarely really hear. We think that the people saying that to us can never understand what we have gone through or are going through. They do not know what has happened to you, they do not know how insecure or small or worthless that other person has made you feel, or continues to make you feel. The truth is you are right they have no idea. They might try to relate and share what they have gone through and it might help but it might not. What they can understand and what I do know it that forgiveness always feels good. It is freeing and allows you to be so much closer to Jesus. Because you can not possible understand what he went through. His own father allowing him to die the most painful death, his friends all betraying and deserting him. But he forgave it all and he forgave you so when we forgive we are more like Christ and can draw closer to him. In him is all security and beauty and you know you are worth it all when you are near him. I do not know or understand what anyone else has gone through and I am old enough to know it does not do much good to pretend that you do.

So forgive others and yourself because Christ forgave you and draw closer to him through that.

"Thinspiration" inspiration

So today I ventured into the internet world of thinspiration and have emerged wiser and more saddened than I will ever be able to communicate.

After reading blog after blog on these girls weight loss plans, journeys and goals I came to the conclusion that this world needs Jesus. Which might make you pause and say "well duh" to yourself it is the one thing that I just kept thinking.

One of the bloggers wrote that the desire to be skinny or thin is looked down upon as a disease and telling someone they need to gain weight is fine but, telling a obese person to loose weight is frowned upon. And while I do not know that I would totally agree with that, how many chubby kids or girls in school are made fun of. How many mom's have told an overweight daughter to go on a diet. Extremes of either one are no good and there are people on both sides defending their lifestyles and making excuses for it. In the end it comes down to this desire to be comfortable in their own skin.
These are quotes from 2 different blogs.

this was written as a consequence to slacking on the diet plan this girl had:
"Hate myself, loathe the mirror and be stuck in this body I feel holds some of my personality back"
I read this and it broke my heart. This is not w weight loss problem. This is not about whether these girls are doing this in a way that is healthy for their body. This is a heart issue. I am all about healthy lifestyle changes and losing weight in a healthy way. My criticism, my question is where are the hearts and minds of these girls. My question for both sides is why are they doing it?

"My goal is ultimately just to feel comfortable in my own skin, to be able to walk throughout my day without my own weight suffocating my bones."

This desire, this need in each woman is what leads to these dangerous behaviors. These un healthy coping mechanisms to try and accomplish something that is only possible with Jesus. Truly being confident, secure and comfortable in your own skin. We can manipulate it but ultimately he created it so only he knows how we can be comfortable in it.

The last quote that popped out at me throughout my reading was this
"you couldn't understand even if you tried because you don't know what it is like to cut, to puke and starve. To hate every inch of yourself.

One of the biggest lessons I learned a while back was no matter how much you can relate to another person, no matter how similair your expiriences are. You will never understand another person. That is why we have to rely on God for his words and guidance in what to say because again he created that skin that they long to be comfortable in.

Throughout my time online I saw girls bashing each other and their views. I saw the big and beautiful community rip on the skinny girls. The skinny girls call the fat girls cows. The healthy girls say who are the people who started this, who do they think they are?, what good do they think they are doing?.

As I read all I kept seeing was the question that they were all asking
"I want to be comfortable in my own skin, has anyone actually figured out how to do that?"

Shameless plug. If you read this and do your own research or even just read this and think. Man i want to tell girls that the designer of their skin can show them how to wear it comfortably then the Refined Beauty DTS might be the place for you. check us out at www.ywampittsburgh.org

Gal Pals

So I have been reading through the stories of women in the bible lately and I just wanted to talk about the story of Hagar and Sarai for a minute today. Now some of this reflection is purely my speculation, this isn't meant to be scholarly as much as my reflections.

So a few weeks ago we went to a Youth Group and after the service we were talking to girls in small groups. I had a group and three of them were friends who hung out all of the time except when they were fighting. I asked them what they fought about and they said "boys". Shocker I know. The thing is we sit here and laugh to ourselves and think of course middle school girls what else would it be. But the fact is this continually is what comes between friendships, when our contentment is not completely founded in Christ. When we do not trust him for our every need. We allow our insecurities to take over and allow boys to come between us. 

I think this is what happened with Sarai and Hagar. Hagar was her servant but I think they were friends or at least close if Sarai was willing to allow her to bear her husband a son I don't think she would choose just any maid for that. Maybe I am wrong but I think also that is why it hurt Sarai so badly when Hagar started to treat her with contempt. Hagar who had never had something her mistress did not was in a position of having something Sarai wanted. It was a relationship shift, one that neither handled well. I believe because there were boys involved both Abram and the son Hagar carried. They changed the dynamic of who these two women were and what they had before. Sarai let her insecurity rule, rather than placing all of her trust in him and seeking him on what she should do.

Insecurity not the man himself is what destroys the relationship. One of the two wanting what the other has, and the other not being sensitive to where the other is in life. Far too often we treat others insecurities with contempt instead of empathy, prayer and encouragement. When our gal pals have a new male relationship in their life how do we take it? Do we take these emotions to God? Do we immediately begin judging this boyfriend as unfit for our friend? Do we talk amongst our other girlfriends about how she has abandoned us? I will admit at different points in my life with different friendships I have reacted in all of these ways. In the end security in Christ is the place we need to operate out of. It is central to everything we do and every relationship we have. Although we are always told getting married doesn't fix everything, it isn't the answer. Many times we single girls still think it will solve some things right? In the end though I look at this story and have a fresh revelation that security in Christ is where it is at.

So now my plug if you want to hear some amazing speakers with much wisdom and insight about relationships with people and your relationship with Jesus and if you want to make some amazing new gal pals check out the refined beauty DTS at www.ywampittsburgh.com 

Conditioner Success and Whipped Cream Failure

Hello all so today I want to talk to you about success and failure, with my semi-curly hair.

I have semi- curly hair and about a month and a half ago my housemate introduced me to this book called Curly Girl. It is by a woman who had devoted herself to cutting, styling and passing on her wisdom, knowledge and experience with curly hair. 

So my success from this book is that I no longer use shampoo, only conditioner. When I first read this I was like won't I feel dirty but the truth is no you just scrub your scalp well with the conditioner rinse all of that out apply conditioner to just your hair rinse most of it out leave some in and voila! My hair looks pretty good and it isn't nearly as dry and poofy

The failure happened when I turned to a page about some home remedies for curly hair. It said for a dry scalp you can use redi whip and put it on your head let it sit and rinse it out with warm water.

Well I did this... or I attempted this.

I thought I rinsed it out really well but the next day when my hair smelled like milk that had been left out I thought maybe I didn't. Not only did my hair smell but it was greasy. Not only did it smell and was it greasy but my scalp looked worse. Needless to say I would not recommend this and although I still had the redi-whip in my fridge and from time to time thought about trying it again. In the end I am scarred and instead decided to make crepes with fruit and redi- whip.

All of this to say that things do not always work out the way you want them to. When this happens it can leave a scar. What we do with that scar and that experience is what matters. It is cliche but true. I could have scrapped the whole thing and tossed out the whipped cream and pretended that I had never done something like that. Or I could have tried again and rinsed better and shared a success story. Instead I decided to share my failure with you. Just in case you thought I was a brilliant home remedy person that this stuff always worked for, now you know that I win some and I loose some, also to use it as a teachable moment. Not of if at first you don't succeed try, try again. But if at first you don't succeed  use your failure to warn others against the same mistake and then make crepes!

No quite as catchy but you get the drift. The whole idea behind the Refined Beauty DTS and ministry is that we have all made mistakes and had misconceptions of what beauty is and who Jesus is and how he views us. The challenge is are you willing to give it all up to him. To allow him to show you that all of those failures he wants to turn into successes. Maybe in a way you never would have thought of on your own. When my head first smelled like sour milk the last thing I was thinking of was eating that whipped cream. However if that whipped cream hadn't have been in my fridge I never would have thought of making crepes and it was a delightful Saturday morning treat!

So Shameless plug time. If you have curly hair and want more direction on using only conditioner shoot me an email. If you too have a home remedy horror story email me or comment here get some conversation going. But more importantly if you think that giving 5 months of your life and dedicating it to Jesus so he can turn you sour milk moments into Saturday morning Crepes email me here or visit www.ywampittsburgh.org. Thanks so much

Intimacy with Christ

So as I said before I asked many of the women in my life if they had one piece of advice to give young women today what would it be.

One of the posts was intimacy with Christ and the importance and necessity of healing.

This is something that is near and dear to my heart. When we hear the word intimacy often it is an uncomfortable word. It is a level of closeness and transparency that says all of me is for you to see.  Many of us have been hurt. By family, friends or boyfriends in one way or another that makes it hard for us to have a healthy view of God because he is our father, friend and lover. But he is perfect he won't hurt you, he wants to heal you. Through an intimacy with him he shows you how much he desires you, all of you.

I am 24 and I have never had a boyfriend so while I have never been hurt I had my own insecurities. I struggled with thinking that God was going to one day find something that he didn't like in me and then we wouldn't be as close or that he would find someone that he liked better and wanted to be closer to and I would somehow loose touch with him. It was a fear that I couldn't put words to or understand until after he showed it to me, and began the healing process. Through that healing I know that everything he sees and shows me, everything I obey him in is only going to draw me closer because he already sees everything I am. was and will be and desires to be intimate with me not simply in spite of it all but because of it all.
 
I think I wrote a similar blog earlier but decided to reflect on this thought again because it was brilliant advice. Be intimate with Jesus no matter how uncomfortable it will only make your life richer and relationships deeper. He desires to heal you because he desires you.

Pass the Petroleum Jelly Please.

Today is time for a much over due beauty tip. Today's topic is petroleum jelly and the 2 things that I have used it for although there are so many uses you can find on the internet the two things that i use it on are my lips and nails.

So First is the lips. I read this trick in a magazine a while ago and have been using it ever since when my lips need a little TLC
Step 1 exfoliate. If you haven't figured it out by now I am a huge advocate of off with the old on with the new. So there are a few options on how to go about this.
Option 1 go to the store and pick up a lip exfoliant. My personal favorite is Bath and Body works sugar scrub but you can use any your heart desires.
Option 2 use some sugar and olive oil and rub it circles on your lips for about a min.
Option 3 take your tooth brush get it wet and then rub it in a circular motion on your lips for about a min.
Then rinse and dry your lips wiping away all of those dead skin cells.

Step 2 take your petroleum Jelly and coat your lips in it using it like a lip mask. Leave them be for 10 min. Then take a tissue and dab it off of your lips and then apply whatever lip balm, chap stick, lip gloss or lipstick your heart desires. You will love your lips!

The Second thing I like to use Petroleum Jelly for is my nails and cuticles. I learned this from the women in Thailand. Many of them have strong beautiful nails, now part of this is the climate and food because my nails improved while I was there. However one day I was giving a manicure to a woman and I told her she had beautiful nails and that mine chipped and broke and were weak and she told me to rub petroleum Jelly on my nails in between painting them and so I started and it worked!! Plus it is good for the cuticles too.

So for this just rub a generous amount of petroleum jelly on your nails and cuticles and let is sit for as long as you have time for. It is best to do this before bed but if you are in a hurry or wanting to paint your nails before bed let it sit for 15 min. Then push back and/or cut your cuticles. rub more of the Jelly into your nail. Then if you are going to paint them use a little nail polish remover o each nail to get rid of the oils and paint away.

Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. This is true with beauty tips and tricks. I was looking in the magazine and found the lip mask idea. I told a girl in Thailand she had nice nails and mine were terrible and she shared her trick with me. A lot of the time we look at women with a better complexion or prettier hands or lips than us and we get insecure or intimidated. We think that they are so much prettier than us and so they would never share with us how. Or if they do it is going to be something that there is no way we can do that. When the truth is it could be as simple as petroleum jelly. The kingdom of God is the same way. Sometimes we get intimidated by people who seem so holy or a God who is so perfection. We think I am so messed up how could he care about my inquiry or my problem. The truth is it is as simple as receiving a free gift.

The reality is he is not only dying to share his tips, tricks and answers with us, he did Die to be our answer.

So if you have your own tips and tricks share them in the comments section or email them to me and I will make a blog post out of them. If you have read this and other entries and would like more information send me an email at refinedbeautyywam@gmail.com or check out our website
www.ywampittsburgh.org
Thanks for reading!

Holy Fitness!

Hey all this is a blog post from one of our accepted DTS students for the March 2013 Refined Beauty DTS Mallery. As you will see she has a passion for fitness as well as for women and girls to really know who they are in Christ. I am so pumped to have my very first guest blogger Enjoy!!!

About 4 months ago the Lord called me to YWAM Pittsburgh. 

I remember walking off the campus "base" thinking " Lord, I am way too old, I am self employed and I have responsibilities" 

How could this happen? Fear of sacrifice played in my mind and I said nope it's not Gods will. 

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT" 

I then said ok Lord, open up opportunities for local ministry. Where do you want me? USE ME JESUS! 

While serving at local churches and ministries in my area, God kept tugging at my hear saying "Are you ALL IN" 

I thought I was, I was reading the word daily, taking biblical classes, and praying every chance I got! 

This scripture below came to my mind, read carefully.. 

Matt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 

HE SAID TO ME "NO MALLERY, SURRENDER IT ALL, ARE YOU GOING TO DO MY WILL OR YOURS?"

Now, let me share a a bit of my heart with you. I am 26 (27 Feb 11th) enjoy working out, giving animals/friends/family love, shopping, fellowship and some down time to read the word. Let's just say that list is not in the correct order but yes that sums Mallery up. My daily routine consist of about 1 to 2 hours of strength training, running (outside if it's nice) and stretching. I am very set on doing this daily. Working out is my passion. 

There are more than 4 reason why...  Can I share with you my top FOUR? 

1. You are what you eat 1 Corinthians 10:31 

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

2. Endorphins (I call them happy cells) this scripture always comes to my mind after a workout.. 

  Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

3. Look great on the outside to match what's on the outside  Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

4. Strive to be the best that I can, continue to run4Jesus! 

1 Corinthians Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Ok. Now that you know a bit about me and my passion for fitness. The Lord really dealt with me a few months ago when he said SURRENDER! Think about this, what does that word mean to you? Give up everything? Right? So, obviously I was on the defense side and cautious that I might be misinterpreting the Lords guiding. I continued to pray because really that was all I could do. I said if this is your will, how can this possibly happen? He then placed this scripture right in-front of me Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  

BAM! God is good. I then picked up the phone and started reaching out to YWAM. I sat in on a lecture class in the a.m, fellowed with the staff, went on an outreach and all I have to say is this ministry is amazing! 

April and Courtney (Staff leaders for the Refined Beauty) have such a heart for Christ and use cosmetology as a platform to share Gods love. 

I knew after meeting these two Godly ladies and seeing how YWAM operated I was ALL in! Yes, I am stepping out in full faith that God will provide. In life I want to be a Christ follower, change lives and help people to grow in their relationship with Christ! When times get tough, PUSH THROUGH knowing God's got me. My prayer is to be challenged & stretched. 

I am truly honored and excited to be a part of the first DTS Refined Beauty! Hey, who knows I might just have to add some fitness classes at the Pittsburgh location. Ok... After reading this let's sum it all up for you..  

- IF YOU WANT TO GROW A DEEPER MORE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS 

- LEARN MANY GREAT BEAUTY TIPS :) 

- GET IN PHENOMENAL SHAPE 

Then YWAM Refined Beauty is for you! BAM, just what you needed confirmation...

You can contact me (Mallery Schaffer) directly at Inspiremefitness@gmail.com  LOVE YOU SISTA!!! 

Experimental Baking

I love to bake, and I love to eat the things that I bake, its a problem. I don't really use recipes or at least I don't follow them to the letter because well I think that is boring. This might say something about a lack of taking direction but it also results in some pretty fabulous creations, and large messes I then I have to clean up.

A friend of mine shared a recipe for cake batter puppy chow with me. For those of you who do not know me this could not have been more exciting news. Puppy chow is one of the things in this world that I sit and eat until I am sick every time it is in front of me and I still love it and think it is worth it, and eat eat cake batter by the spoon full. Now for all of you who are not completely grossed out I want to share a red velvet puppy chow recipe I came up with.

1/2 cup cream cheese frosting
1/4 cup cream cheese
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 t vanilla
9 cups Chex
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups red velvet cake mix

So you melt the chocolate chips and cream cheese and frosting together over the stove or in the microwave. Then add the vanilla

In a separate bowl mix your powdered sugar and cake mix together.

Then pour your melted mixture over the chex and mix until they are all evenly coated.
Put your coated chex in a large tupperware or gallon plastic bag pour in the cake mix and shake it all up until they are all evenly coated then enjoy!

The thing about this is when we do things our own way we make a mess that we have to clean up I had cake mix from one end of the kitchen to the other and all over myself. I burnt chocolate chips and had frosting all over the table and the microwave. It was a hot mess. Although it ended in something I can share with you, had I just known my measurements and exactly what I would need I could have been much neater about everything.

While I will never stop expiramental baking I think far too often I take this approach in my own life and walk with the Lord as well. I read the bible or I know what is right or what he wants from me but I make my own plan thinking it will be better than whatever it is he had and will get the same if not better results. I wind up making a hot mess out of everything and then I have to clean it all up or rather I turn to Jesus and say How on earth am I going to clean this up?
He is faithful to show me every time, and then the next time I listen to him more I add less and less of my own tweaks to his perfection. Because if we love him,if we truly choose him every single day whether we feel like it or not. Whether it sounds like it is going to be fun or exciting or turn out the way we think it should. We will follow his commands and his plan. Unlike experimental baking, experimental living is never better than the original perfect recipe.

Shameless plug if you think experimental baking with me sounds like a blast you should come to this school because I will be here all day everyday! But in all seriousness if you read this and thought sounds like fun check out the first blog entry to hear what it is all about. Or just shoot me an email at refinedbeautyywam@gmail.com.

Captivating

So I recently made the choice to share some other women's thoughts and advice to women everywhere. So I did what any savvy girl would do and sent out one of those annoying mass facebook messages that asked if there was one piece of advice you would give girls today what would it be. The first woman to respond back said that it would be to read the book Captivating.

This is a good book about who we are as women and how God created us. There are parts of it I personally struggled through and other parts I will admit I have forgotten but there was one thing that really stood out to me.

It said that the bible talks about satan as a beautiful angel, more beautiful that the rest. This is why it is something that he preys on in women. We were created the fairer sex that shows off the beauty of God and Satan doesn't like that so he goes after it. He knows how to make us feel fat, ugly and insecure and we bow to his pressure so often. When the truth that he knows full well is that we show off the beauty of God's creating more than anything else in the world. So I would encourage you to think about that the next day you look in the mirror sigh and say well its a fat day or a bad hair day or whatever else you say to yourself after you sigh at the mirror. Even at your worst you are God's beautiful best. Also I would encourage you to read the whole book something else might stick out to you more.

Shameless plug, if you are interested in more information about the Refined Beauty DTS check out the very first blog entry and/or send me an email at refinedbeautyywam@bgmail.com thanks so much.

Writing.

For the past few days all I have been doing is writing. Writing about who Youth with a Mission Pittsburgh is and all of our programs. Writing about the Refined Beauty DTS and what it is and why we are doing it. Writing, writing, writing. 

So today as I sit down to write about women's ministry and Refined Beauty and fashion or whatever else I thought would connect all I can think about is Psalm 3:5 I lay down and sleep yet I awake in safety for the Lord is watching over me. 

I can write all about who God is and what he is doing, who ywam is and what they are doing and who Refined Beauty is and what we are doing but if I do not live as though the only reason I wake up in the morning is Jesus then what's the point?

God created us, he made us in his image, he made us perfect and he made us for relationship. First and foremost a relationship with him. We are completely dependent people. The goal of Refined Beauty is to raise up women leaders who know who they are. The mantra of our society for women has been respect me I am independent, there are songs, books and posters that communicate this message. The message we want to communicate is Love me I am completely dependent. That is really all I have to say today I don't want to justify that statement, or explain it just think about it, pray about it, ask me about it.

Love me I am completely dependent.

Shameless plug time if you are interested in Refined Beauty at all even just to ask some questions about anything written here. Write to me refinedbeautyywam@gmail.com. Share this blog get some internet buzz going. Thanks so much!

Blending

Today I want to spend some time talking about a very important concept in beauty technique both in makeup and in hair cutting it is called blending. This is something that we do so that there is no line in whatever we are doing. So the body in your hair looks as though it is natural and not put in there with how you cut your hair. So that the porceline skin look that your foundation has acheived looks as though it is natural and there is no line.

The first hair cut that I gave in Thailand was quite an expirience. The women there do not want any trace of a line left in their hair, they do not want in known that the volume sleek smooth look that looks as though it is that natural beautiful Thai girl hair was achieved by a strategic hair cut and then a process of brushing and then flat ironing the crap out of their hair. I cut it and blended it but she could still see some ends so she wanted it blended even further.
So I spent another 15 min blending in all of the ends I could see, but in her eyes there were still more, so I went back a third time blended the heck out of every end I could see and some that I couldn't but she said were there. I then Had her look in the mirror thinking yes it is finished. But no in this case the 4th time was the charm. Went back blended in every where because at this point I didn't even know what I was blending. She looked at it with a big smile and said it was the best hair cut she had ever had.

In contrast there was a girl I went to school with who had a hardcore makeup line along her jaw. So that her  makeup looked as though it was a mask that she painted in every morning. There was a distinct difference between her face and neck, you knew that she had put work in to get the look on her face she was going for.

Blending is something that while it is key and something that needs to be done in makeup artistry and hair design, it is something that should not be a part of our walk with the Lord. We should  not be trying to blend the world into our faith. There should be a distinct line, people should be able to see the layers in who we are that are in contrast to the rest of the world. We should know and be able to see for ourselves who we are in contrast to the rest of the world.

Far too often I find myself trying to blend. Because it is easier and it looks better and then people do not notice who I am. They do not question why I believe what I believe because they cannot see that it is different from them.
But then the question remains is what I believe different. Do I really believe those things. Is that really who I am. Do I really desire to follow Jesus with all that I am if I spend more time trying to blend and less time defending the character and the word of God.

Check us out at www.ywampittsburgh.org tell your friends Blend your makeup, blend your hair, don't blend your faith.

Do you want your Nails done?

Well seeing as how this blog is an attempt to get you to come to a dts that uses cosmetology for ministry I figure I should probably show you what I mean.

The past 11 months nail polish has been my weapon of choice.

You see I have a rather extensive nail polish collection and I have used it to get to know people to minister to people and to encourage them. This might sound crazy but I feel like most of the ideas that God gives you seem that way.

It all started with me giving practice manicures to friends and family while I was in school as well as just giving manicures to the clients that came in to the cosmetology school I attended. Giving a manicure or pedicure (mainly pedicure) is one of the most humbling things I have ever done. The interesting thing is that many people open up while you are doing this, I think because you are serving them in such a way that pampers them. Now I believe this is true of every part of cosmetology manicuring is the most portable. It is that connection and service that you know you are going to leave feeling better, more beautiful and so why not really leave feeling better and unload a little bit on this person that you find yourself now connected to.

So I would tote my nail polish collection with me all over it basically lived in my car. People knew I had it and so I was asked to help out with spa days at church and give manicures before weddings. Then I went to Thailand and once again brought my nail polish. I used it to get to know the students I was living with. To get to know the other volunteers at the base I was working with. Then to minister to Thai women in the villages that we went to.

I came on staff in Pittsburgh and we did free manicures at a coffee shop and got to talk to a couple of girls and their mom about what we do. We also brought the nail polish to a neighborhood where we were going to do outreach and used it to get some girls to stick around to hear watch the drama and hear the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

In the story of how Moses was called he is asked what is in your hand?
A staff is what he had because he was a Shepard at the time.
God asked me the same thing while I was in Thailand
What is in your Hand?
At the time I was painting my nails and I tend to answer literally even when people are not expecting literal answers from me. So I looked at my hand chuckled and answered Nail polish.
As I responded in my head that way I felt as though God was saying exactly. Just as God transformed that staff and used it to do miracles. God has transformed nail polish into my weapon of choice that opens the doors and makes away for his people to be free from sin.

So What is in Your Hands?

Once again Come to the Refined Beauty DTS check us out at www.ywampittsburgh.org send an email.

Come away with me

"Come Away with Me"

One of the most romantic songs and just phrases ever. In my humble opinion.
Just think about it for a minute.
Who doesn't want to be alone with the person that they love. To go away with them somewhere that there is no distraction or temptation of distraction. For you or the one you love.

Jesus calls to us come away with me. He is jealous for us. He desires to spend time with us. He desires us.

When I listen to that song and think of the jealousy, desire and true I chose you kind of love Jesus has for me. I get dreamy, and I am reminded that I am a woman in love.

I am not trying to be weird here or make anyone uncomfortable I just think that sometimes and I am as guilty of this as anyone we keep Jesus to that coffee date level in our lives. You know the lets get to know you I enjoy my time with you for the hour or so I spend at starbucks but then I go about my life. We think we are doing good and loving him. When in reality we just kind of like him but are unsure if we want to go that next step.

Unsure if we want him to consume our thoughts, if we want to feel as though we are going insane because he consumes our thoughts. Unsure if we want to be in that place where when our sin separates us from even a part of who he is we feel his pain, we feel that separation because we are in love. Unsure if we really want to know every part of him because we don't want him to know every part of us, even though he already does. And yet despite our trepidation in this relationship he continues to choose to love us. He continues to desire us. He continues to say
"Come Away with Me."



Once again that time in every entry. Share this with a friend share our link on facebook, share us on twitter. Get the word out there that we Youth with a Mission Pittsburgh are running a Refined Beauty DTS. Check us out online www.ywampittsburgh.org send an email here ask anything about the blog post or the DTS. Thanks so much

Olive Oil

So I know that we all have our own personal quirks when it comes to hair and skin. For many of us over the years we have found our own remedies for each season or products that work for us. My all time favorite beauty ingredient of the winter when my skin and hair are at their driest is olive oil. There are many uses for it but I am going to give you my top three favorite olive oil uses.

The first is as a hot oil treatment. you can make as much of this as you need for the amount of hair you have and how dry it is. The ratio is 1/2 cup olive oil to 2 table spoons Honey. Heat it up in the microwave mix it up put it on your head and put a shower cap or saran wrap over your head and leave it sit for 20 min. Then rinse it out with hot water. Your hair might appear greasy for a day or so but then you will have super soft hair.

Use number 2 is a cuticle softener. Just place some olive oil in a dish heat it up in the microwave then apply it to your cuticles let it sit for a few minutes then take your cuticle pusher or clipper and take care of those cuticles as you see fit. Just a note if you do this and then are going to paint your nails make sure you take some nail polish remover to your nail to get rid of the access oil even if you have no nail polish on to insure that the polish stays where you want it to.

My third and final use is just as a lotion. This should only be done if your skin is really dry. My recamendation is that you shower at night and then apply the olive oil to those dry places (for me in the winter that is everywhere) Then allow the night for it to soak into your skin. It works wonders for me anyways.

My biblical connection today is kind of a stretch by that I mean this entry might seem a little disjointed. The Refined Beauty DTS is going to be run alongside 2 other schools in March, The Urban DTS as well as the Basketball DTS. That is a lot to be going on at the same time. We are going to need prayers to stay united both as the staff of the different schools as well as the students. That our communication would not be confused or missed. That the Lord would be in all that we do. 

Psalm 133: 1-3 

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity. It is like precious oil poured on the head running down on the beard. Running down on Aaron's beard down the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life evermore.

In other translations it says there God commands his blessing. Where there is unity and I don't want to miss out on that blessing. I want this school, all of them to be blessed. So please pray for the unity of these schools, we need it!

And try out these fabulous uses for olive oil!

Also come to DTS in March www.ywampittsburgh,org

Vanity

One thing that tends to be a temptation when it comes to fashion and beauty is vanity and being identified that way. It is something that we pray against that we know is a bad thing but I never really knew why. In my head vanity was finding your worth in your looks or wanting to look better than everyone else. The actual text book definition is that it is worthless or all for nothing. That is the last thing that we want this school to be. However if God is not in it, if everything that we do doesn't point to him and line up with this idea of bringing beauty out of ashes and raising up Oaks of righteousness for his Glory then it truly is all in vain. all for nothing.

It is interesting to me to see how true this definition is, a friend of mine was telling me about a guy friend of hers who asked her the age old question: "why are the prettiest girls the most insecure" Well although I cannot speak for every single insecure girl out there I can say what I have observed. Putting all the normal daddy issues aside I would say it is because that is all that they are praised for. Those girls that we define as the most beautiful are constantly told that is what they are. When in their hearts they know that beauty is vanity, its fleeting and worthless. They are not told how intelligent, funny, interesting or talented they are. They are told how beautiful they are because that is what is staring you in the face. 

I am not saying that girls don't want to be told that they are beautiful, we do. I am not discrediting our whole ministry plan. I am saying that without God's leading without him being in control of it, of us, of each of our students it is all in vain. For nothing. For some girls this means giving up make-up, or shopping, or doing your hair different, embracing the way God created you. For me in my own life all through high school I lived in vanity. I wore sweat pants and pulled my hair back and I was living and doing it all for nothing. I thought there was no hope for me to be beautiful. I thought that this is the only way to do modesty for me. It was all in vain. Then God showed me I was worth it all. I dressed up, went to cosmetology and now I am part of this Refined Beauty DTS. I am redeemed, redefined, Refined.

The prayer is that we will reach women. That they will follow God's leading in picking up or putting down the mascara. Giving everything away, or shopping armed with their new identity in Christ. It is all about him, his leading. How he wants to reach women across the globe beginning with each of us.

Here is the plug. If you are interested in coming to be "pretty" pray harder, search deeper. If you are willing to allow God to work in your heart. To bring out your insecurities and weaknesses transform them and use them for his Glory. Sign up today! check us out at www.ywampittsburgh.org. 

Jewelry

Goldstone is my all time favorite "stone" that they put in jewelry. Why, well because it sparkles and it is a copper color which in my world it doesn't get much better. My grandma is the one who first introduced it to me she had a few pieces that her father had given to her as a girl and she would show them to me and tell a the story of how it was made by monks by accident which is what the dealer who her father bought it from told her. I remember being transfixed by all of the sparkles just staring at it and I knew that I wanted something just like it when I grew up.

My mom started and has not stopped buying me goldstone jewelry and I love it. 

I was thinking about my love for it and looked into how it is made. It is a process of the right temperatures so that the copper glitters and doesn't oxidize. Then after that you have to shape it into whatever shape it is you need it to be. 

Copper is valuable it is something that many people find worth stealing out of homes. Which I know is bad but just the thought of it being something worth the risk of stealing. Jesus thought we were worth the risk and I know that he was more taking us back rather than stealing considering the fact that he created us but still. We were worth the risk. copper is used as a conductor. That is what we are to be used for to conduct the plans and purposes of the God who thought we were worth the risk to take back. 

Then under the right circumstances aka when we are living in the perfect will of God and when our lives are completely transparent before him and others we sparkle. The kind of dazzling sparkle in the light of the sun or "son" that others cannot help but be transfixed on. 

Once again my shameless plug. check out the Oaks of righteousness blog entry and pray about coming to our refined Beauty DTS is March. Or pray about telling someone you know about our refined beauty DTS in March it is going to be fabulous!

Acne

So I think one thing that we can all agree on is zits are no good. They are on your face where everyone can see them and when you are in middle school and High school they are like a beacon that says hey please pick on me. They draw negative attention and the moment we get them our first thought is why today and how can I get rid of you in the fastest way possible.

There is no shame in asking people for their best remedies or what they use because although there is cover up for girls you can never completely hide the zits existence so why try. So here are a few home remedies I have heard work for people. None are fool proof but people claim they work.

1) Toothpaste key word here being paste if it has any of that gel in it DON'T I repeat DON'T use it. I did once and there is an unfortunate facebook photo of me with a red splotchy face as a result. You put it on the zit let it sit for about 15 min and then wipe it off with lukewarm water. For me this clears it up in about 3 days.

2) Pepto Bismol apparently you can use this as a spot treatment as well. I have not tried it but if you do let me know how it works!

3) The last method that I want to share with you today is a tomato mask. I have done this during the summer when my face tends to freak out a bit and it works wonders! So you take a tomato cut an X in the top and then run it under hot water. remove the skin, gut out all the seeds. Then use what is left and mash it up into a smooth paste. Put this on your face like a mask leave it on for one hour then rinse it with warm water. I usually do this about once a week during the times when my face is not happy with me.

There are for sure other methods and remedies for acne out there just check the internet I am sure but these are a few I have heard and seen to be effective.

Here is the thing what if we treated our sin the way we treat acne. We hated it and wanted to get rid of it. We saw it is something we cannot hide so why try and sought out the help and advice of other brothers and sisters in Christ. People that you can trust that will challenge you and hold you accountable. We did not just try to deal with it on our own as if no one could see it or knew it was in our hearts. Because while the rest of the world cannot always see what our sin is specifically they do see the fruit of its work in our life. Our stuborness, our excuses, our short tempers, our justifications do just as much good as cover up or concealer, to hide the real issue. Not only that but God the one that we claim we are living to please sees it all, the cause and the effect. This is my challenge to you today. It hit me hard as I was praying and thinking about what to share on here. Deal with your zits. Deal with your sin. GET HELP because normally neither of them just go away on their own. 

Once again shameless plug time. I have no tie in really just you know if this intrigued or challenged you maybe check out some of the other blog entries mainly the first one. If you care interested in more information concerning the Refined Beauty DTS check shoot me an email or check us out at www.ywampittsburgh.com And tell a friend Thanks so much!

Dominate my being oh God keep me reverent your servant draw me near instill in me that fear that purifies.

Dominate my being oh God remove my fear of man protect me from the lies be the lover of my soul so I can love with a heart that is whole.

Dominate my being oh God I know I am scared but I am willing to see the sin you hate in me for what it is God please change me.

Dominate my being oh God let me live in humility give me boldness in who I am a sinnner made clean because your perfection dominated me.

God has been speaking to me a lot about domination. How when something, some place or some one has been dominated it means that they are over powered or overtaken. This is what he desires for our lives he wants to dominate and it is a fight. A fight with the world and our flesh to get it all out so that there is only room for his Spirit.

That is all for today 

Other than my shameless plug. If God is speaking to you through any part of this read a few of the other entries if you have not already see what this is all about and if the Refined Beauty DTS is right for you send an email or check out the website www.ywampittsburgh.com

Perfume

One thing that I have found to be very important to me is smelling good. I know most people like to smell good or at least don't want to be known for smelling bad but I have a passion for smelling good. I am a bath and body works addict why you might ask well because they give you the body wash, lotion, body spray and perfume so you can be certain that the smell you love so much is now a part of who you are.

Now as with many things in life I could take the whole smelling good thing a few different directions be it how we are supposed to be a fragrant offering pleasing to the Lord. Or just like body wash cannot cover up BO doing good things does not cover up doing bad you have to take a shower and become clean before your good works can be good.

However I just want to take a moment and talk about anointing. More specifically Jesus' anointing. When the woman came to dinner and poured expensive perfume over Jesus' feet washing them with her tears and kissing them. It showed so much devotion, so much love. She poured out all she had to give which anointed Jesus it prepared him for what he had to do. I think that is what anointing does. God gives us all he has for us and anoints us for a task for the jobs that he has created us to do. All of the people that come into your life that challenge, teach, diciple, encourage and just pour into your life they are anointing you to walk out in all that God has for you. They leave their "perfume" on you if you will.

Jesus and his calling for your life are not just something that you have, or something that you have recived it is a part of who you are. I am going to go one step further and say it is who you are. Too much of the time we just spritz on our Jesus body spray or throw a little lotion on when we really need it. God created you for his purpose and leads you in his ways so his light, his fragrance, his anointing is who you are. Him working in and through you.

So once again it is that time again. My shameless plug if you like smelling good and encouraging others to do the same. Or and more importantly if you want to do more than spritz on Jesus perfume if you want his scent to be your scent then the refined Beauty DTS might be for you so you can email us here or check out www.ywampittsburgh.com

Exfoliation

Several years ago a room mate of mine shared this recipe with me and I have introduced it to everyone I know because it is that good. So now I am sharing it with all of you. Although I am sure that if you searched the web you would probably find it and many of you might already know it.

Literally all it is, is equal parts sugar and hair conditioner any kind although I prefer Suave Naturals.

Mix them together take a healthy portion and rub it on your feet, hands, elbows, knees and wherever else you could use a little extra TLC and moisture. Then rinse with warm water and apply a lotion of your choosing. Ta Da!!

A week ago we were all set to do a youth group service at a church in the area. As we prayed about what to share with them this whole idea of exfoliation and off with the old to make room for the new came to mind.

This exfoliation is a great picture of who God is and what he does in our lives. You hear this and you think it sounds too simple to be that good. It also sounds sticky and slimy and messy. Not to mention when we remove the callouses we cause our hands be softer, yes but also more venerable which can lead to pain. Much like when people hear the message of the gospel it sounds good but also too simple. It also sounds messy and hard and painful, there is too much of a risk. We don't want to give up the callouses that we have developed in areas of our lives over time. Even though the reward be it softer hands or eternal life is so worth it! (not that I am saying those 2 things are on the same level at all)

The other part of it is when I was told about this and experienced its amazing benefits at so little a cost to me I wanted to tell EVERYONE. And I have from MN to PA to Thailand most people in my life have heard about the amazing sugar and conditioner scrub. That should be our attitude about Jesus. Not only that our lives are being lived out to show him to others but that we are telling them the recipe so that they too can experience his awesome love!

So I encourage you to try out the recipe its amazing and then share it with someone you know. But more importantly share Jesus with someone that you know cliche and a bit cheesy I know but far too often in my own life I find myself sharing things that are trivial more than I share the one thing that is eternal.
Also if you are reading this and have no clue what the gospel message is shoot me and email, I will be more than willing to tell you.

And now comes the time for my shameless plug. If all of this sounds like "wow that is awesome" or "I want to use exfoliation methods to further the gospel". Then the YWAM Pittsburgh Refined Beauty DTS might be the place for you! so you can email the address connected to this blog or check us out at www.ywampittsburgh.com

Oaks of Righteousness

This is going to be a blog of thoughts, beauty secrets and do it yourself spa treatments. It is a branch off of Youth with a Mission's Refined Beauty DTS beginning in March if you have any questions about what that is or want more information on that please email the address affiliated with this blog or post a comment.

The vision behind all of this came out of Isaiah 61:1-3
The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that the captives will be released and the prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come and with it, the the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel he will give a crown of beauty for ashes a joyous blessing instead of mourning. festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that the lord has planted for his own glory.

Through doing things like manicures, haircuts and makeovers we want to use outward beauty to then allow Jesus to reveal the inward beauty to these women that has been there all along but the world and all of its lies as well as our own flesh and all of its insecurity has prevented us from seeing. In essence we want to bring freedom to captives and beauty from ashes.

The part that I want to focus on today however; is where its says that "In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory."

That is what we want the women who come through our DTS to be. I spent 5 months in Thailand working with women who were being prostituted by their own choice or family pressure. Day in and day out I saw the vastness of this problem and had to constantly remind myself that every single woman mattered and I was making a difference although it all seemed hopeless.
I remembered that Youth with a Mission Pittsburgh was starting this school and knew I was called to join.

The goal is to impart this heart of serving women communicating the grace of God through the beauty he has created each of us to be. The dream the hope is to raise up a mobile forest of oaks to   display God's beauty and Glory in every place and in every way imaginable. The goal is not to have highly trained professionals making people more beautiful. The vision is that women will catch a hold of this heart this desire to be a Beautiful Oak of righteousness spreading and planting God's seed across the globe.

So it is now time for the shameless plug portion of this blog if you or anyone you know might possible be interested in a school like this send them our way either they can email or check out www.ywampittsburgh.com thanks so much and keep us in your prayers and keep reading!