November 29, 2009
Helping You Find Your True Beauty!
November 29, 2009
A Peek Inside Today's Issue...
- The Truth About Love
- Masturbation...Not Just a Guy's Problem
- Free Audio: The Rollercoaster of Sex Outside Marriage
- Stories of Hope
- Get Your True Beauty Wallpaper!
- Take the True Beauty Challenge
- True Beauty Audio and Video Podcasts
1. The Truth About Love: Three Important Love Myths
By Sarah Shuling
What love myths exist and what is the truth about love? All of us would have some kind of experience with love. Either we have been in love, or we have been loved by somebody, or both. It is part of life.
When I was growing up, I started to wonder: What is love? Is it just a fuzzy feeling or more than that? Once you fall in love with the “perfect someone”, is it happily ever after? Was love actually designed by God, and if so, then for what purpose? Why has love become a very loose term in which we can say we “love to eat” and we “love God”?
Maybe you have had similar questions going through your mind. I invite you to join me in my journey to discover what is the Truth About Love.
Love Myth # 1: Love is based on feelings
2. Masturbation...Not Just a Guy's Problem by S'ambrosia Curtis
Masturbation for women and teen girls can become an addictive and hidden sin. If you are struggling with this issue, read this article and S'ambrosia's story of finding freedom.
Hidden Sin
A few years ago, I was a member of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship campus ministry at Kansas State University. One evening, one of the guys in our group felt compelled to stand in front of everyone, in a large group meeting, to tell us about his hidden sin. He was addicted to pornography and masturbation.
It was easy to tell that it was hard for him to verbalize his problem in front of a group of his peers, but I couldn't help but admire his courage for being so transparent with us. The response of the group was also very encouraging to my heart, as other guys were able to come forward and admit their own addictions to pornography. It got even better when all of the females in the group gathered around the guys and prayed for them.
After that meeting, the guys decided to meet on a weekly basis to pray for each other and to hold one another accountable. That, to me, was a perfect example of how the Body of Christ should work. We confess our sins to one another and instead of condemnation, we find support, encouragement and love. I believe the fear of condemnation (being looked down upon by others) is one of the biggest reasons we choose not to confess those sins we struggle with the most. Only, confession is the first step towards freedom, so we're only hurting ourselves by keeping quiet.
Confession Bring Freedom
3. Free Audio: The Rollercoaster of Sex Outside Marriage
I recently spoke to a group of high school girls on the topic of sexual purity and shared my testimony. I regret some of the choices I made, but I have found freedom and healing from God. Therefore, I have a burden for teen girls in this area of sexual purity. Download and listen to my audio talk here.
Right click and choose "save as" to save it to your computer.
4. Stories of Hope
Many girls and women share their stories on my website to offer hope. If you need encouragement, read a few of these powerful testimonies today!
Beauty Captures Attention, Personality Captures the Heart
I've Seen Joy and I've Seen Pain, But Through it All, God's Been Faithful
5. Get Your True Beauty Wallpaper
I'm excited about this...we now have free wallpaper for your computer to encourage you in your journey to finding your true beauty. There are two designs and three colors! I even tell you how to do it if you don't know how. So go and add one to your computer now! Get your free wallpaper here
6. Take the True Beauty Challenge In a culture that idolizes perfection in outer beauty, it's time for us girls to take a stand for True Beauty. Therefore, I am asking you to join me and other girls around the world by taking the "True Beauty Challenge."
Amanda is taking the challenge and says, "I have decided to take the True Beauty Challenge because at my age, there's tons of pressure to "be super skinny, act Like your an adult, and " be beautiful " sometimes it really is hard to resist the pressure to buy those shoes or diet and workout like that celebrity. I think that by taking this challenge , I will grow more confident about my appearance!"
Learn More and Sign up for the True Beauty Challenge Here
7. True Beauty Video and Audio Podcasts I have just launched both a video and an audio podcast. And I'm going to be updating them on a regular basis. I want to connect with you and be able to encourage you more often. Plus it's nice to actually hear someone's voice or see their face. So, check them out and sign up for the RSS feeds!
Having a youth retreat or conference?
Bring Shelley to Your Next Event!
Finally...
Has this website encouraged you? Do you have any comments or ideas? If so, I'd love to hear from you. Just reply to this e-mail and tell me what you think!
And help us by spreading the word. Tell your friends to check out www.FindYourTrueBeauty.com and to sign up for this newsletter. In doing so, you'll be giving her a gift...a free PDF copy of my book, "Mirror Mirror Am I Beautiful."
Helping you find your true beauty,
Shelley