4 Skin Care Mistakes You DON'T Want to Make!

1. Forgetting about your neck:

Most people think of the face when you mention anti-aging products, but neglecting your neck is a sure-fire way to show your age before you're ready. The fragile skin on your neck and décolletage has different needs from the skin of your face, and if not protected and nourished appropriately can lose hydration and look flabby. 

2. Not Eating Correctly:

In addition to topical creams and serums, the optimum anti-aging skin care regimen includes nourishing the skin from within. Many dermatologists recommend a diet high in Vitmims A, E, and C as well as Fish Oils and other antioxidants. Unfortunately most of us do not eat exactly right 100% of the time. Try a daily multi-vitamin supplement that provides super balanced internal nutrition if your diet isn't perfect.

3. Skimping on the Sunscreen:

You've heard it many times before: no single product can do more to prevent the signs of aging than sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. The truth is most of us do not apply enough as often as we should. Experts recommend applying about 1 ounce of sunscreen —enough to fill a shot glass— 15 to 30 minutes before heading out. Reapply sunscreen  every 2 hours and after sweating or swimming. An ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure when it comes  to sunscreens. If you are outside even briefly use a broad-spectrum, moisturizing sunscreen.


4. Ignoring Your Hands:

Next to your face, your hands are probably the most visible parts of your body and will show the earliest signs of aging. They're always in contact with the elements, household chemicals and extreme temperatures causing sun damage, dryness, chapped skin and age spots. Despite this our hands are often left off the list when it comes to anti-aging skin care needs. To soften and protect your hands try use a well balanced moisturizer.

Are You Successful ?

How God Measures Success

What is success? Most people define success in terms of  achieving  goals, acquiring wealth, and having prestige, favor, status, and  power.  "Successful" people enjoy the "good life" - being financially  secure,  emotionally secure, being surrounded by admirers, and enjoying the  fruits of their labor. Their example is emulated and their  accomplishments are noticed. Most people's definitions of success only  deal with the "here and now" of this life. Even in many churches today  the definition of success is in terms of numbers, size, dollars and prestige.    

                  

But success is measured and defined differently by God. God's measure of success involves our obedience and faithfulness to Him, regardless of opposition and personal cost. His measure of success is whether or not we are being loyal to Him in our personal relationship with Him and in our life, and whether we are accomplishing His goals & purposes for our life. Some examples in the Bible:

Jeremiah was an absolute failure when judged by people's definition of success. For 40 years he served as God's spokesman, but when he spoke no one listened and responded. He was rejected by his neighbors, his family, the priests and prophets, friends, his audiences, and the kings. He was poor and underwent severe deprivation to deliver God's messages. He was thrown into prison and into a cistern. But in God's eyes he was a success. He faithfully and courageously proclaimed God's word and His messages, and he was obedient to his calling.

  Jesus was also a failure, if you measure his life here on earth by people's  measure of success. He had little in material possessions, and did not  even own a home. He was rejected by most people, and was even hated  by some. The religious leaders of the time despised him. Even his friends  and those closest to him deserted him. He was accused and found guilty  of things he did not do. He was beaten, spit on, cursed, mocked, and he  suffered terribly and died the most horrible kind of death known to man at  that time, death on the cross. Measure him by the way most of us  measure success, and he was a failure. But in God's eyes, the redemption and salvation of all of mankind was accomplished through His son Jesus. By God's grace and great love for you and I, He sent Jesus to pay for our sins, and now the gift of a restored personal relationship with God and eternal life can be ours - all because of Jesus Christ.

10 Everyday Beauty Tips

Simple, easy, inexpensive. What more could you ask for?

1. Vibrant visage: Smooth on a tinted moisturizer. It acts like foundation, giving you a polished look, and protects your skin from the sun at the same time. Look for one with SPF 15 or higher. And don’t forget to thoroughly clean your face at the end of the day.

2. Bright eyes: Feeling tired? Brush on two coats of curl-enhancing mascara. Long, curled lashes open up eyes and help you look awake in seconds.

3. Chic cheeks: A light wash of color will make you look fresh-faced all day. Use your fingers to swirl creamy blush directly on the apples of your cheeks. Or try a bronzing blush for a sun-kissed look.

4. Glossy lips: Keep a tube of tinted lip gloss in your purse. It's a no-fuss alternative to lipstick and looks good even when it fades.  

5. Luscious locks: For sleek hair, use a smoothing cream to get rid of frizz. Look for a product that goes on both wet and dry hair, so you can use it after the shower and for daytime touch-ups. With curly locks, scrunch a curl-enhancing mousse into wet hair for defined curls that don't need to be blow-dried.
 
6. Modern mane: Upgrade your ponytail to a braided bun. Loosely braid hair and twist it into a low chignon at the nape of the neck. Secure with bobby pins.

7. Decorated do: Ditch the scrunchies and try a wide headband or a scarf to decorate your do instead.

8. Spa shower: Use a moisture-rich body wash. Also look for products with aloe and vitamin E, which will hydrate your skin. Or opt for an invigorating scent — for example, citrus — to boost your energy.

9. Healthy hands: No time for a manicure? Help prevent chapped hands and ragged cuticles with a nongreasy hand lotion. Carry a travel-size bottle in your purse and apply throughout the day.

10. All-day fresh: Feel fresh and confident all day with an antiperspirant that keeps you cool and dry. Try an anti-perspirant that goes on clear. It goes on smooth and alleviates white marks on your good clothes.

You don't need to spend the money on spa treatments when the local Mary Kay consultant, or the local drugstore, has everything you need! :)

Fruit of the Spirit - Part 5. Patience

KINDNESS
1. Good will; benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants or alleviating their distresses; benignity of nature. Kindness ever accompanies love.
2. Act of good will; beneficence; any act of benevolence which promotes the happiness or welfare of others. Charity, hospitality, attentions to the wants of others, &c., are deemed acts of kindness, or kindnesses. Acts.28.

Some people have mastered the art of kindness. I remember traveling to my Grandmother's house in Chicago and upon arrival, she took us kids to the kitchen where she promptly made us strawberry milk; a delight that wasn't enjoyed at home! She showered us with delicious meals and sent us home with loads of food for the long road ahead.  It was not only to her family that she shows this kindness. She was acknowledged everywhere as a wonderful hostess and woman of God.

When thinking of kindness, I also recall the story of the Good Samaritan in the Bible. In the parable told by Jesus in Luke 10,  a Jewish traveler is severely beaten by bandits. A priest and temple assistant both passed by the man and did nothing. Finally, a Samaritan man came to him, bandaged the wounds and arranged for rest and recovery at a local inn. Jesus tells us that the Samaritan man was a neighbor to the Jewish man and to be the ones to show others mercy.

There is great significance in the story of the Good Samaritan. We are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. In the time Jesus told his story, religious leaders were so wrapped up in "The Law" that they had set aside their compassion for others. Jesus reminded us that compassion and mercy are valuable traits. Samaritans at the time were not liked, and often mistreated, by Jews. The Good Samaritan showed a great deal of kindness for the Jew by being willing to put revenge or contempt aside to help a hurting man.

Kindness is a fruit we can build on, and a fruit that takes a lot of work. We can easily get caught up in the hassles and demands of everyday life, that we forget how to be kind to one another. We are born selfish. Even in our earliest days, we begged to be served and provided for. We love kindness when it is bestowed upon us, but how quickly do we return that favor or pay it forward?

Hebrews 7:7 - "And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed."

Fruit of the Spirit - Part 5. Patience

Romans 8:25 - "But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently." 

The Jews in Exodus 32:

"The Hebrews were finally free from Egypt, and they were sitting at the foot of Mount Sinai waiting for Moses to come back down from the mountain. Several of the people became restless and went to Aaron requesting that some gods be created for them to follow. So Aaron took their gold and created a sculpture of a calf. The people began to celebrate in "pagan revelry." The celebration angered the Lord, who told Moses that He was going to destroy the people. Moses prayed for their safety, and the Lord allowed the people to live. Yet, Moses was so angry with their impatience that he ordered that those not on the Lord's side be killed. The Lord then sent a "great plague upon the people because they had worshiped the calf Aaron had made." 

WOW! I'm thinking the next time I'm impatient, I'll wait upon the Lord!

Lesson:

Patience is one of the most difficult fruits of the Spirit to possess. While there are differing degrees of patience in different people, it is a virtue most people wish they possessed in greater amounts. Most of us want things "right now." We live in a society that promotes instant gratification. Yet, there is something to the saying, "great things come to those who wait."
The wait on things can be frustrating. After all, you want that promotion right now. Or you want that new car right now on credit instead of waiting to have cash in hand. Advertising tells us that the "now" matters. Yet, the Bible tells us that God has His own timing. We need to wait on that timing or sometimes our blessings get lost.
Eventually the impatience of those Jews cost them their chance to enter the Promised Land. 40 years went by before their descendants were finally given the land. Sometimes God's timing is the most important, because he has other blessings to bestow. We cannot know all of His ways, so it is important to have trust in the delay. Eventually what will come your way will be better than you ever thought it could be, because it will come with God's blessings.

Fruit of the Spirit - Peace

Peace... what do we really know about it? How do we define it?

We must learn to maintain peace in three important relationships: with God, with our fellow man and with ourselves. We maintain peace with God by believing and trusting in Him. We maintain peace with our fellow man by not allowing strife to be a part of our relationships with other people. We maintain peace with ourselves by refusing to live in guilt or condemnation thus recognizing that God is greater than all our sins.

This kind of peace doesn't come through drugs, alcohol, sex, wealth, or entertainment. It is a supernatural (not worldly) peach that is a gift of God. John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. "

The spiritual fruit of peace results from being justified by faith and loving God's law.  This is a peace that we can not fully understand with our limited human mind. But if we are relying on God's promises and His plan for our lives, we will have peace.

Fruit of the Spirit - Part 3 - Joy

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Galatians 5:22-26

Do you want to be happy? Is there anyone you know who doesn't? I'm not sure there's a single person on earth who doesn't want to live joyfully! There are a few, however, who are so soured on life that it's virtually impossible for them to experience joy or happiness. They express this in their downcast, grumbling and sometimes even snarling, demeanor. I'm sure those who sincerely desire to possess joy is a huge contrast to those who don't express it.

How do you pursue happiness? What is the main source? For some, they seek their joy through entertainment or through the performer they just "love." Some glean it from athletic endeavors, hobbies, travel, fashion, home improvements, wealth, status, alcohol, food and/or drugs. These things may provide a sense of happiness for a time, but it's only a brief period of satisfaction. 

Distress, sorrow, despair and regret are all opposites of joy! Despair limits us like a ball and chain from growth and enjoyment of life because we become consumed with our circumstances. Regret is when we have lost control of our attitude and response. Distress cuts us off from relationships, learning, life experiences and God. Not adding joy in our life leads to depression that cuts us off from seeing hope and purpose and what life and eternity are all about!

James 1:2-5, tell us to, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Our joy comes from God. To be completely filled with joy, not for a period of time, but even during trials and tribulations, We are to glory in God and rejoice in our trials. If life was perfect all the time, wouldn't that get boring? How would we grow in knowledge if we knew every day was going to be without trial? 

The key is for us to look to Christ, not to our situation, and declare our circumstances as joy. We are to be content and satisfied, to face them, and then learn and grow from them. This does not mean to give up and do nothing; it means to refocus our energies into productivity and faith-not questions and bitterness. It is to have our convictions and fulfillment in Christ, not circumstances. So, when something difficult comes our way, we will have  great comfort that God is in control and will not allow us to carry more than we can tolerate. Our joy and purpose is in Christ and our relationship to Him! 

"...Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:10