Mum, we love you!!

It's that time of the year where shops are full of flowers coming and going... Those bundles of Chocolates are walking off the shelf and overpriced cards are for sale. It's that time of the year where the whole world takes time to acknowledge and celebrate the mother in their life. It's mothers day!!!

 It's one of those days to step back from our business and say thanks for all the amazing things our mums have done for us. I know for me personally, there's not enough "Thank you" in the world that could even compare to what my mum has done and continues to do for me. Mums are amazing and I admire each one! So thank you mothers, for the impact you have made on our lives. For loving us even when we broke your heart, caring for us even when we were contagious and for just being there everytime we needed someone to talk to. You are beyond amazing!!



Here's a fun little video to acknowladge how amazing mums are. Happy mothers day!!!

Happy Mothers day mum!!! I love you more than words can say!!!

This life is a battle and it's one worth fighting for......

It seems life has just become one busy rollercoaster ride going 120 kilometres per hour and I'm just hanging on. Balancing study, life and other priorities, blogging has unfortunately been something that's been left to the side. I wish I could write more and more, but being a full time student studying 2 courses, it's a little bit of a struggle. Yet I'm trying my best...
As I sit here at my kitchen table, I feel an excitement about blogging again. I've missed it! I've missed being able to connect to those who read and write what God has placed on my heart.
So lets begin.....

 

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The enemy knows when we keep our focus on ourselves we can focus on those around us and more importantly, God. When we are to fixed on what's going on in our lives and what we may be struggling with, the enemy uses that has his opportunity to take glory from God. He know that when we are unhappy with whatever it is in our lives, we become very single minded. Whether that's relationship wise, insecurities, financial or whatever it may be. Satan uses that to bring down Gods work, to bring down glory and honor that's all for God. Satan brings one worry at a time, trying to take focus off from God on to ourselves.

I encourage you to take a moment now to find the places where Satan has been trying to steal your joy. As it's not flesh and blood we battle against but what is going on spiritually. Praying into situations is so important, but the most important thing is not taking God off the throne. Whenever you may be struggle with things, always speak out truth and thankfulness.   My Great Grandpa would always say "through everything, always be thankful". It's true! Being thankful focuses our eyes on God! This life is a battle and it's one worth fighting for when it's with God.

God Bless,
Sara-Jayne

Quotes to live by

Below I have a list of my favourite quotes! Save them, remember them so that you can look back and be encouraged....

Share with your friends!!! Click below to do so!!

What if you really believed that you are loved...

I love this tesimony by Alyssa Bethke. Evey word spoken in this video is the truth and every girl needs to hear this!!

"What if you really believed that you were loved, valued and cherished?" 

What if you truly knew and believed that?! Maybe the way you saw yourself and portray yourself would be different. Maybe you would look at yourself in the mirror knowing that you are a princess and that you are so unbelievably beautiful. You would know that you are loved, living in freedom, knowing that you are wanted. It's time to acctully believe who God says you are!!!


God Bless,
Sara Jayne

These are a few of my Favourite things.... February 2015

"It's March.... Wait, what!?! It's March already??! It was just Christmas, I swear."

I can't believe how quickly the year is already going. It just keeps going faster and faster!! Now it's time to tell you guys what I've been loving this past month and what I can't get enough of...... 

Another Cookbook.... Nourish by of course Lorna Jane... This new book by Lorna Jane is so simple filled with over 120 recipes, a shopping list from fruit and vegetables to seasoning and dressings, to tips and tricks to eating clean. Recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, snacks, smoothies and juices. It's become my beautiful go-to cookbook, reminding me to Move, Nourish and Believe.

 Coconut oil.... is my number 1 must have for not just this month but all year around. Coconut oil isn't just good for baking and cooking goodies, but it's also perfect for your skin and hair. (Blog post coming soon!!) I use it everyday to either moisturise or to cleanse face.

Eating Grapes.... Yep that's pretty much all I've been eating this past month. I'm always changing what I am loving when it comes to food. And when I find my new love I just seem to eat them non-stop. Warm weather and fresh grapes have been what I've been obsessed with.
   
Tea for 2??!? Tea2... This brand is absolutely amazing with it's organic delicious tea. Enough said!!



Pumping out to..... I love discovering new artist and it makes it even better when they are passionate for God. Moriah Peters is a christian Artist who auditioned for American Idol. I love her new album!! It's pumpy, alive and a whole lot of fun. It's definitely worth the listen. It's now become my jam session for when I do my workouts.

Thanks for reading!!!
Sara-Jayne

I want to know Gods heart

Quiet times are probably my favourite time of the day. Setting that time aside to spend with God and just be in His pressence is the best way to start the day. Firstly acknowladgeijng God is so important! Thanking Him for another day, becasue this is the day the Lord has made!!!

"This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

I just finished reading the book of Nehemiah in my quiet time this morning. It's been the chapter that I've really been digging into for the past week.  God spoke to me in every one of those chapters in Nehemiah.

But today I really wanted to talk about Nehemiahs heart. In the first chapter Nehemiah is told about Jerusalem walls being in ruined and about the people being in great trouble. When Nehemiah finds out about Jerusalem his heart is broken, the bible says "When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven".

When I read this I could see Nehemiah knew the things of God and I believe he was feeling the way God was towards the city and His people. Nehemiah had the heart of God. He was broken for Gods people.
I'm reminded of a famous song that says "Break my heart for what breaks yours". That's what I want! I want to be like Nehemiah and know Gods heart. I want to feel His heart when He is joyful and brake the same way He does.

That has been my prayer! I want to be so close to God and quiet times I find to be the best way to do that. Reading His word and listening to His voice for what He want's to say to me.

God Bless,
Sara-Jayne

Homemade Facial Scrubs #SarasNatureCare

I've decided to do a new serious of blog post talking about all things skin and hair related. I'm calling it Sara's Nature Care!!

I love using natural ingredients when it comes to my body as it's not just good for me, my skin benefits from it also. Yet in the past when I've tried to find natural face products I always found them to be either really expensive, or they had some sort of a chemical that I did not feel comfortable using on my skin. As my skin is really sensitive and dry many of the products I've used have just either stung my face or have left it looking worse.  And since I'm a student I can't afford all these expense brands. So I've been learning to make my own skin care using natural ingredients... And the best thing is, you probably have all the ingredients on hand right now.

My top Facial scrubs

Honey and oil scrub

I've been using this scrub a lot lately as I have found leaves my skin feeling so smooth. I've also struggled a lot with dry skin, but now using this scrub, it has helped all those dry spots disappear.

What you need:

• 1 Tbs of Honey
• 1 Tbs olive or even coconut oil (I do prefer olive oil for my scrubs) 
• 2 Table spoons of Sugar
• A squeeze of lemon

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and then just simply apply to face. Leave for a couple of minutes to help soak into your face, and then scrub that baby right off.  This scrub is also perfect for you lips if you're struggling with dry lips.

Note: If you don't use it all that night. You can store it in a airtight container to use in the next couple of nights. 

The Magic baking soda scrub

Baking soda would have to be my number one used item in my cupboard. You can use it for anything. Seriously!!! But one of my favourite ways would have to be in a scrub. What baking soda does to your skin is removes all the dead skin cells and yes ladies, it even helps with those nasty pimples on your face.This recipe is my most simplest recipe and quickest scrub to make.

What you need:

• 1 Tbs of Baking soda
• Splash of Water

When mixing it together you want to get a consistency perfect for spreading where those pimples are. After a good 5 minutes of scrubbing those areas, wash it straight off.

Brown Sugar and Honey Scrub

This is another supper easy two ingredient scrub. Brown sugar is perfect for you skin as it has small particles which means its gental and safer on your skin. It's also perfect for scrubbing away dead skin cells and creating healthy, glowing skin. All you need is well whats in the title...

What you need:

• 1 Tbs Honey
• 1 Tbs Brown Sugar

Like all the other recipes you just want to mix it all in and then start to apply it to your face. Wash face well and then apply to face, scrubbing all over. You honestly only need 1/2 tsp for this scrub, so store the rest of it in an airtight container to use again. Rinse of well and pat your face dry.





Let me know if you want me to post more natural beauty tips like these. I love using these scrubs. They are so inexpensive and also extremely good for your face.

God bless,
Sara-Jayne

You Are His (Video)

I was recently remind of a video that we had the opportunity to show  in the Philippines. I came across this video again on youtube and wanted to share it here on my blog. That night we showed the video to around 30 youth, we saw God move in that place and touch each one of His children. So I encourage you, If you have a few minutes sit down and watch it. Even share it with your friends, it might just encourage someone.

You are His!! Remeber that and KNOW that!! You are loved, you are seated in heavenly places, a candle that can NOT be hidden. You are secured in christ, healed by his strips and covered by his blood. With christ you can do all things!! You can never be seperated from christ!!

Walk in your authority knowing that You Are HIS!!!  

Enjoy the right now!

How was everyones Valentines day?

I've never been the one to celebrate valentines day, but that's just another way of me saying "I'm single"... haha... Yet even though Saturday was just like another Saturday for me, I did spend it the same way I always do on Valentines day... And that was spending the evening with a good group of girlfriends, watching movies and eating chocolate.

Over the week God's been talking to me about His love and his grace upon each one off His children. How His love is greater than any other, is constant and never runs out. Don't you just love God?! 


Todays quote I came across said:

"Stop waiting for Mondays, and stop waiting for summers, and stop waiting for someone to fall in love with you, because those things will happen. But in the meantime, enjoy right now!"

I recently just posted on Instagram a photo of myself saying how much God's love is constantly over me. "I just can't contain it within me". Which is true! The more I get in to God's word the more I am left feeling His joy over me. A Joy that I can't contain. It's that feeling of when you're madly in love and no matter what you do you can't wipe that smile off your face. Maybe because I am in love. In love with a God who first loved me! The bible has the best love story in it and that is the only way I'm going to find my everything. And as I'm currently in this season of waiting for my prince charming, I'm learning to enjoy the right now. To make sure I have God as my number 1 over my life.

In this season of waiting I want to encourage you girls to draw closer to God. Enjoy life being single while it lasts and let God pour his love out on you. 

#smilealways

A few of my favorite Instagrammers

Instagram!! Probably the most exciting thing yet most if I had to be honest, it's one of my most used apps on my phone, besides pinterest... haha But Let's talk instagram for a bit... This photo sharing, liking 15 second video app is one I easily get distracted by. This app is an easy way to share whats happening in your life just by a click of the button.

When it comes to following people, it's important to follow those who inspire you with every photo they post. If your left with people who are continuously posting negative feed, stop following them!!! You don't want people in your life to drag you down, so don't have them on your feed. Don't follow those who make you feel insecure either! Instead find those who continue to make you smile every time you open that double tapping heart app. Look for accounts to follow who encourage, challenge, inspire, are fun and make you smile.


Here are some of my faves!!!


Chantelle Ellem (@fatmumslim)

She has quirky photos and she's also the lady who runs the #fmsphotoaday challenge, which I have done in the past and planning to do it again in February. So join me for the challenge of posting a photo everyday for a month?!
capture



Alyssum Williams (@alyssumjade)

This girl is one of my good friends who makes me smile every time she posts on the world of instagram. She's an amazing photographer who's extremely talented... Her spontaneous and beautiful spirit leads her to amazing adventures that we get glimpse of through her camera lens.



Lidia (@lidiagulyas)

Speaking about inspiration... This lady is perfect definition of inspiration on instagram. Amazingly gifted with drawing, this coffee lover has people loving her quotes and messages. With just a few words on a blank piece of white paper... Lidia has a way of snapping a image with her papers everywhere she goes.



Sophie Gray (@wayofgray)

Sophie Gray is a nutritionist and a personal trainer who is a food/fitness blogger. She always has something inspiring to say. Teaching girls to love, improve and value their bodies. She post loads of delicious recipes and inspiring quotes. Never failing to make me smile on a cloudy day, she's an inspiration for many young girls.



Lauren Conrad (@laurenconrad)

This famous blogger/author/actress is well famous for being classy. She has a way of capturing the little things in life and turning it into something effortlessly beautiful. She's a girl who just loves life and everything in it. From posting photos of flowers to posting images of her cute dogs. She's someone who continues to remind me to love life. 



Lorna Jane (@ljclarkson)

What can I say?! This lady is an inspiration just by hearing her name. From her gorgeous shop, to her website, to her personal instagram account. She's an inspiration for all girls, inspiring me to live a healthy life.



Follow me on instagram @itssarajayne

Leave a list below of who you love following in the insta world!!!

God is the excitement of loving life!!! #howtobehappy

 ^"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

John 10:10 

There's a desire to find happiness in everyone but these days I see so many people striving for happiness in so many areas of life except God. I know from experience, you're never going to be happy unless you look to God. You can try and think you'll only be happy if you have new clothes, the latest gadget or even when you reach your weight loss goal. The truth is... If you keep thinking the only way you'll be happy is when you're the next size down, you're never going to be. Because when you reach that goal there will always be a new aim, trust me..

I had to learn just that. I had to learn that no matter how hard I try to reach happiness, I'll only be making myself miserable by trying to reach something that isn't of God. I was so focused on reaching my goal, I lost focus on my one true aim, getting closer to God. As my focus shifted from God I was finding myself in a place of confusion and feeling unhappy.

The enemy comes to try to "steal and kill and destroy". The main aim for the devil is to steal, to steal  us away from having a relationship with God. To kill our focus from God to anything else but Him. To also destroy the purpose God has for us.

I thought I was fine, I was going to church, doing everything a "good" christian girl does, but slowly and surely my focus was being shifted from God. Without me realising I was getting further and further from God. I was starting to question myself, wondering why I was feeling this way. Yet it wasn't till later on, I realised I was trying to find my happiness by the way I looked. Striving to look specific way.

These days I see so many girls who have eating disorders, depression, living with hatred and so many more struggles. Thinking that the only way they will find happiness is if they have a flat stomach or a thigh gap. But living that way you're just going to make yourself miserable. When you don't love the person you are now, how are you going to love the person you will be in the future? And if you don't love the life you are living now, how are you going to love life in the future? Now is what will make your future! So if you keep striving to be something, you will never be happy.  

I love going on Jesus Dates!! Just a time where I go to a cafe (One of my favourite things to do) and spend time with God. I get to relax, get into the word, to also look over my life and see where I am with God. Spending time with God and talking to Him gets everything in perspective. It's one way I love to spend my days. I find those fun things I like to do and do them.

I'm writing this post because I want to tell you young ladies to enjoy life. Enjoy the years you are living. Every moment be thankful and look for the fun in everything you do. Be more spontaneous and go out, create those moments that you will never forget. Live your life to the fullest, live while your young, live it for God staying fixed on Him. I encourage you to have a Jesus date and go to your favourite place and just spend time with God.

Stop striving to find happiness in other things!! We need to know that our excitement comes from God! Joy comes from God and when we live life for Him alone we discover our purpose. We are called to be a light, to shine God's love and to live this life he has given to you. Live it to the fullest! Delight yourself in God! It's through Him that you'll find your joy. So enjoy life, enjoy it because this is living now!!

"God is the excitement of loving life"

I'm happier then I've ever been... Because of God. Because I've come to realise more and more over the years that this life is a blessing. I'm blessed to be so free and have so many wonderful friends who also love Jesus. So why shouldn't I enjoy it??!? Why do I need to keep striving when Jesus already gave me a way to to find happiness by just getting closer to God.

So enjoy life! I enjoy life! I really do! I enjoy every aspect of life, the good and yes, even the days that just aren't working out for me. I mean it's not the end of the world if those favourite pair of shoes brake. 
So I encourage you to just laugh, dust those shoulder and walk in the joy of the Lord.

3 Ingredient Paleo Ginger Snaps

 You have an event to go to and no time to bake something for it?? Well here is the perfect recipe for you. It's super easy and 100% paleo, gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free. And wait... It gets even better... It only has 3 ingredients. "Say What??!?" 

Paleo Ginger Snaps

• 1 cup of almonds
• 1 cup of dates
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger

Preheat your oven to 180 (350F) degrees Celcuis. Grab a tray and line it with baking paper.

Place the almonds and dates a food processor and blend until combined. Add the ginger and blend more.

Next scoop a tabblespoon of the mixture into your hands and shape into balls, flattening it as you place it on the tray. You do this as it helps the cookies gain their shape.  Continue to do until mixture is all shaped into small balls. Bake the ginger snaps for 10 minutes. The cookies will come out soft, so just allow them to cool as they will begin to harden over time. Enjoy!!

This recipe can also be "Chocolate cookies" by just replacing the ginger for raw cacao or cocoa with a tsp of rice malt syrup or honey, depending on taste. 

Improve Body Image

I talk a lot about body image on my blog and you know if you ever talk to me face to face, that topic may just arise. This week I thought I'd post some tips and ways on how to feel more confident by boosting your self-esteem.

 

• STOP comparing yourself.... Stop focusing on what others have and what don't you have. No one is alike and as I've stated in others posts (click here to read), no one is the same. We are all different and were created to be no one else but yourself. 

• Focus on what you have... Focus on your blessings. That you do have legs to run in the morning or arms that work perfectly to lift things and to feed yourself. I'm serious!! There are people out there that can't feed themselves, that have lost legs or weren't even born with one. And that leads me onto...

• Start being thankful.... You may be thinking "Sara, how is this going to help?"... But by being thankful to God and for what you have, brings an atmosphere positivity and can help change your mood for the better. Appriciate all that you do have!

• Every morning complement yourself.... One thing that I've found to really help me with body image is to look at myself in the mirror and tell myself "You are beautiful". It may seem "weird", but trust me, It's not until you start telling yourself that you are beautiful, that you start to believe it also. 

• Don't focus on your appearance... In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says 

"Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 

 God cares about our heart. I love the  saying "The best makeup a girl could wear is a smile." - It's so true!!! Finding pure joy in God by seeing things the way God does.

• Go to God... God created you right!?!! And he knows you, he knows how you think and how your body works. So when you start to feel those negative thoughts coming in your mind, give them to God. Get them out of your mind and replace them with God's truth. The only way you're going to get to know God's truth is by getting to know God. 

• Surround yourself with positive people... I know when I have friends who are alwasy encouraging me and are positive in the way they look at life. Then that encourages me to also enjoying life and to love God.

• Stop negativiy... Girls, please please please stop this negative talk. Towards others and espesially towards yourself. Stop putting down who you are. Don't say anything towards yourself that you wouldn't say to your bestfriend! Would you call you best friend fat?

• Love life!!!... Can I ask you a question? Do you love life?? Do you wake up in the morning excited to face the day? With that feeling of just loving who you are and just loving life? You know, it hurts me when I see so many girls hating themselves. They are hating life becasue they have so much self-hatered towards themself.  When you don't love yourself its hard to love life... It's hard to love anoyone for that mater. So... Enjoy being a girl!! Look at life as an adventure, ready for whatever may come.

• Love yourself... This is the number one way to improve your self-esteem and I've said this many, many times here. Love yourself the way you are, not by what or who you could be.

God bless 
Sara-Jayne xx 

You are altogether beautiful, my darling.....

"You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you."

Songs of Solomon 4:7

This bible verse shows how God truly loves us and sees us  flawless as it's through Jesus that our sins have been washed clean. You my dear, are beautiful!!

Listen to this girls amazing voice!!

I came across this girl by listening to her cover of Taylor Swifts blank space/style. Which may I say is absolutely unbelievable!!!  I started watching her videos and now I've seriously become obsessed.

God bless <3 br="">

I'm not 'skinny'

She awakes every morning ready to face the day. 
Yet as she awakes feelings of doubt dismay
Feelings of hatred towards herself and confidence only depending on how she looks.
Ignoring the knowledge of the writer of the big book
As she walks, she sees herself in the reflection of what was staring at her the night before.
And what is constantly haunting her every thought
Again she looks deeply at the person that she once saw
and knew as her worth was something more.
More than her mornings that would always start off the same. 
"Am I skinny yet?" "Has my body changed?"
The girl in the mirror told her that she was heavy
And if only she change, she will be happy 
But it wasn't until her thoughts were consumed 
that she started to see what she believed, wasn't true 
She was in fact made with such care and love
that her beauty and design was from above 

Poem by Sara-Jayne

I wrote this little short poem to simply describe the way I use to live and the way so many girls live today. It's honestly sad when I think about it. The lies the enemy plants in our minds. The belief of thinking that we will never truly be happy unless we look a certain way. Waking up in the morning constantly thinking of ways to get 'skinnier'.To get to this false belief that health is what skinny is. Where that is most definitely not true!

So many of my days were wasted looking at myself in the mirror, trying to see if my stomach was flat. To see if my tummy has shrunk and if I'm looking anything like the girls I followed on instagram. I was in this trap of staring at myself in the mirror every morning. Judging myself by the way I looked and by what I ate. That if I ate something I believed as 'unhealthy' I would instantly think I am not good enough. I'd look at the mirror and let that dictate the way I felt about myself.

One thing I needed had to learn was that everyones body is different! No one is the same!! We were all made to be different and not one of us are the same, look the same or will ever be the same. In Psalm 139 tells me that I was made with such love and detail. I am wonderfully made by a God who loves me and took time to create me. I am his creation and so are you! So why do we keep comparing ourselves when we were born to be different?! 

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."

Psalm 139:13

Above everything else we need to learn to love our bodies the way they are. To number 1, STOP comparing yourself to everyone else. You were made to be different! To be the best amazing you that you can be! This belief that this world lives in, that we need to try to be skinny, is a lie.We don't need to try to be anything more, becasue you are more than enough. No matter how much I try, I will never reach a skinny goal that will make me happy. Because as cliche as it is, happiness is not found  by the way you look or things of this world. True happiness is found when you start loving the person that God made you to be. The source of my happiness? All comes from God! As when I spend time with God I know the truth of who I am because He tells me.

She awakes every morning ready to face the day. 

The feelings of doubt she tells to go away!!!

DIY Memory Jars #twentyfifteen

Happy New Year!!!! It's now 2015 and 2014 has now passed.

Last year (Wow I can now say "twenty fourteen last year") I wrote down a bit of a resolution slash prayer. A resolution saying all I want to be, to be more loving, inspiring, generous, hardworking, kind, selfless, patient, compassionate, joyful, faithful, fearless and perseverance young women of God. Now looking over all I listed, I can now see the areas I have grown in by just getting closer to God. I prayed that my heart would become more like Ruths in the way of serving. Just like Ruth served Naomi, I want to serve God and others with that kind of selfless heart. I'm so grateful for how much growing and learning I have walked through over 2014.

This year I've decided I'm going to create a memory jar. I'm so excited as I've seen so many people create their own memory jars all over pininterest and instagram. I want to remember this year and what perfect way then to write it down.

Why not put together a jar that you can look back on. A jar where you can write down the joy and the amazing moments that made you smile in 2015. 

How to create a memory jar:

Step 1... Firstly find yourself a cute jar and why not decorate it!?!
Step 2... Place the jar, blank paper and pens ready to do step 3
Step 3... Every week or even everyday write down the best moment from that week/day. You can even add a little momentum to the jar, something you found that day.

Pin and share!!!

By reflecting over the week you'll realise how grateful and blessed you'll become. Taking a moment to list your favourite memories from that week you see the positive in your life. Even listing what God does in your life you will later see how much you have grown.

So why not take that moment in life to write down your memories?! To appreciate those little things in life and take a snapshot by writing down your memories.