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.

You've been crazy but you've been good... Twenty Fourteen!

If there's one thing I've learned in 2014 that is trust. Trusting God in the times when I'm in the great unknown and trusting him with even the little things in my life. All through my studies at YWAM, God was teaching me that he just wants relationship with me. He doesn't just want to be involved with the 'big' dramas that happen in my life, but he also wants to be involved with the little things, because he cares. Little things like going to get a cold drink on a hot summers day, even while I'm with my friends to even just watching a movie. By me realising how great His love is for me, I've become so much more closer to God.  My relationship has become stronger and now I know I can talk to Him all the time. Seriously! It's great!! I can have this constant conversation with God about absolutely anything.

But the biggest thing over 2014, especially over the last three months is my heart. My heart has grown so much towards God's children. I've seen God give me the heart to love those whom most people would just find it easier to walk past. God really relieved my heart one night as I was walking with a group of friends and we passed a homeless girl on the street. She looked my age which broke my heart. As I walked past her I really felt a tug on my heart. To walk back and give the food we had to her. So I did just that! I walked up to her and when she noticed that I was about to give her the food, the biggest yet most gentle smile was on her face. I sat with her for a few minutes. I really just felt to bless her and pray for her, so I did just that. By me just taking that step out from the crowd and turning back to where people were just passing this 19 year old girl by. I stopped and took time to show her the love of God. 

In that moment, that moment of just giving my attention to this beautiful girl, God started to do something in my heart (I also believe she was touched and continue to pray for her). It was then that God told me this was my destiny. To help those who society pushes to side. To be that encourager to girls and young women. To stand against the crowd, against the 'flow of life' and start to make a change. 

Now that twenty fifteen is just around the corner, I want to challenge myself to continue to dig deeper into God everyday. Because where I find God I find true love and it's God's love that this world needs. This life I'm living, I'm living for God and with Him. So bring on 2015!! I can't wait to see where God will take me next. 

I encourage you! Yes you! The one who is reading this. To live life with God and grow in the love God has for others. 

Sara-Jayne x

Stop comparing! Full stop!

You're scrolling through instagram,  Facebook or flicking through the latest issue of your favorite magazine. You enjoy looking at everyone's latest post, until you stop on that one photo and you start thinking thoughts like 'why can't I be like her' 'look at her, she's so skinny and I'm not' 'she always looks pretty and here I am trying to fix my hair'.

Sounds familiar?

As teenagers we're always comparing ourselves and it isn't good! As I've said in my previous posts, you are fearfully and wonderfully made! 

I believe it's time to stop this cycle of comparison. I tell you the truth!! Someone's always going to seem better in your eyes and in someone else's eyes you're going to seem better. So it's time we stop!  Be yourself!  You are an amazing individual and there's no point comparing yourself to someone who was designed to be different.  I mean did you ever have to do project in school comparing something that was totally different.  Of course not!  I mean how could you compare it if they aren't even the same thing in the first place??!

Find your identity and worth in God!  Not in this material, never lasting society that will tell you,  you need to meet their 'standards'. You will never be that girl in the magazine or on instagram because you are you. Full stop!

Why I Eat Healthy!!!

If you haven't noticed by now from all the healthy recipes on my blog, I eat quite healthy (or at least I try to). I enjoy it! When I started my healthy journey and made the choice to do it all, I chose to do it with God. I didn't want to do this without Him, because I've learnt the hard way when you try to do something by yourself.. You never fully succeed!

So many people have given me weird looks on what I'm eating or have constantly asked "are you on a diet?" hahah.... Oh the amount of times I've had to explain why I am eating a salad instead of chips.

I never chose to live a healthy lifestyle because I thought it would make me better or people would like me more or that I would even love myself more.

Before my journey I told myself I had to make sure I made the choice to love myself. Not just on the days I feel like it or have eaten well.... But even on the days I'm having a 'fat day' or have stuffed up continuously.  

Every morning I've made the choice to get up, look in the mirror and tell myself that I am beautiful the way I am. As dorky as that might be..... It reminds me that I don't need to be someone I'm not. God made me, me and there will never be a better me! So I don't need to strive to have a 'skinny' body or even strive to be so called 'perfect. Life's not about that!

I've learnt in the past being focused on wanting to be skinny, I was only hurting myself. It's not about being skinny, it's not even out being healthy. It's about living your life for God. Making Him your number 1 in EVERYTHING!!!

He is the reason I live, the reason I sing. And the reason why I eat healthy! I want to look after the body God has given me. I want to be healthy and fit, to be the best person I can possibly be. I nourish my body with delicious, healthy, whole foods. While also looking after my body by trying to get my body moving when I can.


I believe that it is important to look after your body, but I also believe in treats and having treats now and than. I'm not on some sort of a diet or have body image 'problems'. I've chosen to live a healthy lifestyle! It's a lifestyle, not a diet with an expiry date.  It's about looking after my body and wanting to be a better me. Because striving to be a better you is fine. It's like the talents you have been given! You're responsibility is to either just look at your gifting or choose to work on it. The same with your body. It is a temple of God! It's the only body you have and the only one you'll ever have. Make the choice to look after and love your body.

Being skinny, bigger, taller, shorter doesn't change the fact that God made you beautiful. Yes it's easy to find flaws in how you look, but always remember to love yourself. You don't need to try and be something you were never called to be. Enjoy this life you live and learn to love yourself!

You Are Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

Imagine you just painted the most beautiful and amazing picture EVER. It was the best painting you have ever seen! It couldn't get any better! You absolutely positively love it! It's beyond beautiful!

But there's a person that keeps poking out it's flaws, comparing it to other paintings. Saying "It's not good and doesn't look any like this".

How would you feel? 

I mean... You planned this painting! You spent time painting every little detail! You knew it was so beautiful and nothing could compare! 

Here's the reality!!! God is the painter and He's given you this amazing, beautiful picture. And it breaks God heart every time you compare yourself and say that YOU are ugly, fat or stupid. Because God has made YOU perfectly, amazingly beautiful. 

You are His perfect painting! You are His pride and joy, who He loves so so much. He spent time knitting you together in your mothers womb (Psalm 139:13).

You are treasured, precious and absolutely beyond beautiful! Believe it and own it!

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14 (ESV)

Quick post and Modesty

Ok so.. wow!! This is embarrassing!! haha.. It seems I haven't posted anything for a couple of weeks and I feel terrible for that!! I really need to try and stay constant with it!! I mean I love blogging but lately school and life has just been getting hectic and I can't seem to find anytime to sit down and write.

I honestly do miss blogging and hope to try blog more!! Although the next few months might be busy with school so it might not be as constant! So if you come across and wondering why there isn't any new post, it's most likely because I'm studying. :)

So lately with my girls bible study group we have been talking about modesty, why it's important to be modest and what the bible says on this topic! We have had great discussions on this topic, disusing what each one has to say... It's been great!!

This week we talked more on what guys think about on this topic and also, we had a discussion about the bikini... Yes! I talked about the history and what guys think when they see girls in different amounts of clothing.

Today I thought I'd just do a quick post and show you this awesome video that talks about the bikini. It's a must watch video for all girls!!

Hope you enjoyed!
Sara-Jayne <3

P.S. I shall blog more about modesty later on down the track!!

Random acts of kindness… on Wednesday!! #RandomWednesday

Hey guys!! So I've noticed I haven't posted for a while as I totally forgot about Random Wednesday last week.... :-/  But I'm back for another week of Random Wednesday!! haha.. So here’s just a fun quick post!!! :D

‘Random acts of kindness’ is something I've been thinking about a lot. I’m always trying to find fun ideas to bless others, so I’ve put together a list of ideas. I love seeing people reactions and the love that they show when they receive something out of the blue.  

John 13:34-35 says:

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Note: If you going to do any of these ideas, include a written message on a sticky-note such as, “Just a little something to bless your day” “You are loved” etc…

1.      Pay for someone’s coffee

2.      Leave change on the vending machine

3.      Pay for someone’s meal behind you in the drive through

4.      Bless someone that’s working or works at your favourite place to eat with a gift (A little chocolate) and a note.

5.      Help the elderly clean or even just with a visit, as that always blesses them.

6.      Let someone go in front of you in the line.

7.      Smile and say hi to a stranger

8.      Leave a note of encouragement

9.      Give someone a hug

10.  Encourage a co-worker 

11.  Slip paper hearts that say “It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day! Have a great day! Pass it on!” under the windshield wipers of parked cars.

12.  Write a thank you note to someone

13.  Pick up litter

14.  Clean your friends room

15.  Take flowers to hospital and give it to someone that hasn’t had any visitors

16.  Discover a person’s potential and encourage them

17.  Open a door for someone else

18.  Write a letter to someone who has made a difference

19.  Cook a meal for a friend

20.  Invite someone for a hot chocolate and pay for them

21.  Leave chocolates on your teachers desk

Now go and bless someones day!!!! <3

Sara-Jayne xx

P.S. Check out my Pinterest for more ideas!!!

The Single Girls to-do List!

Hello blog world! Well I missed Random Wednesday because I was to tired, so I'm doing it on a Thursday...
By the title your probably thinking what!? But This has been something that I've been thinking about for the past few weeks... I have talked to a few of my friends to see if they want to join me and well a few have said "Yes!", the rest have just given me weird looks.... haha... But It's all good!! :)

So what I have decided to do is really enjoy my single life!! Not as if I wasn't doing that before, I was!!! But I just really really want to enjoy it and do random crazy stuff before I have to well 'mature'... haha... And by doing this with a group of girls, I have support and I know I'll really enjoy it!

I've noticed there are so many posts and tips for date ideas, but there's nothing for those that really just want to enjoy life while still being single.. Like me!! So I have decided to come up with a list (plus more spontaneous random ideas) that I will try to complete. I'm going to take you guys along with me.. aka the camera... So that I can also do some fun post on what I've done on Instagram and here on my blog with the hashtag #SingleLifeAndEnjoyingIt

WARNING! Some of the ideas below might be crazy and cause humiliation if there is no confidence ;)

The Single Girls to-do List!! 

(Most of these you can do with a bunch of your girl friends that are also single)

• Breakfast at midnight 
• Go leave notes on magazines telling girls they are beautiful!! 
• Go to an op-shop and find the most girly dress... Wear it, take photos and buy it!
• Do a fun photo shoot with a bunch of girls
• Do an op-shop crawl
• Have a Christmas in July party (This I'm planning on doing soon!!?)
• Do an all nighter!!!!
• Be a superhero for a day (dress up as one) and stop a crime. For example, jaywalking, littering, etc..... 
• Go on picnics and more picnics!(Come up with creative picnic ideas)
• Dress up as a princess and go out for dinner with a group for girls! 
• Knit a scarf
• Have and camera and a pair of gum boots, make a photo-log of a day in the life of the invisible man!
• Have sleepovers
• Go to a restaurant/cafe that you've never been to and order something you've never had or sounds 'interesting'
• Build a fort in the lounge room, watch movies and eat junk food
• Try and visit as many people as you can in one night, and turn as many of their stuff upside-down without them noticing. ;P 
• Go around town and chalk the sidewalks
• Make cupcakes, knock on peoples doors and sell them 
• Walk around town and perform short silent plays in front of security cameras. 
• Rent a movie you've never seen before. Set on mute and improvise dialogue. 
• Pretend to be a little girl again and watch barbie movies 
• Volunteer somewhere!
• Take the first bus and stop somewhere you've never been!
• Put paint in water baloons, put them on canvas and throw darts!!
• Go on a road trip
• Play hide and seek around town
• Drive to a small country town and spend the day there 
• Live life as a musical for a day
• Set up a lemonade stand
• Dress up as a hipster and dance around the street 

I hope you liked these ideas!!?

God bless,
Sara-Jayne 

Happy Mothers Day!!! (A poem and video)

Here is a poem that I wrote for my mum for mothers day!!! :D

You’re the lady with the big heart,

That hugs me when I’m sad

That holds my hand in the dark

And prays for me when I’m mad

You listen to me when I’m confused

And don’t know what I’m trying to say

Even when I have my attitude

You handle it in a perfect way

I love how you treat others with love

Just like Jesus did

When you stand by my side cheering me on

Just as I want to quite

Mum you’re absolutely pretty

and amazing in every single way

you laugh with me when I tell stories

Of things that happened in my day

I know I can be stubborn

But I have learn to love because of you

To look at people with Gods heart

To praise and thank Him with everything I do

I thank you for spending time with me

And going on girly dates

Always saying goodnight to me

And praying together as I lay

Now you’ve brought up a young lady

That is proud to call you my mum

And I now know what I want to be daily 

Just like you, my mum

Also here is a video that my church played today to honor all the mothers!!  Check it out and if you like, why not show it to your mum!!?

Happy Mothers day to all the amazing mothers!!! You're all amazing!!!!