Are you sure that's a real mirror? -- How to tell

This will be something you will remember to do whenever you are in a public washroom, hotels, etc.

 HOW TO TELL IF IT IS A TWO WAY MIRROR

2-Way Glass Image

PROPER MIRROR IMAGE WITH A GAP

A Mirror or a 2-Way Glass?

How can you tell when you are in a room, restroom, motel etc. with a mirror or a 2-way glass?

Here's how: I thought it was quite interesting! And I know in about 30 seconds you're going to do what I did and find the nearest mirror.

Do you know how to determine if a mirror is 2-way or not?

A policewoman who travels all over the US and gives seminars and techniques for businesswomen passed this on.
When we visit toilets, bathrooms, hotel rooms, changing rooms, etc., how many of you know for sure that the seemingly ordinary mirror hanging on the wall is a real mirror, or actually a 2-way mirror (I.e., they can see you, but you can't see them)? There have been many cases of people installing 2-way mirrors in female changing rooms. It is very difficult to positively identify the surface by looking at it.

So, how do we determine with any amount of certainty what type of mirror we are looking at?

Just conduct this simple test: Place the tip of your fingernail against the reflective surface and if there is a GAP between your fingernail and the image of the nail, then it is GENUINE mirror. However, if your fingernail DIRECTLY TOUCHES the image of your nail, then BEWARE! IT IS A 2-WAY MIRROR!

"No Space, Leave the Place"
So remember, every time you see a mirror, do the "fingernail test." It doesn't cost you anything.

REMEMBER No Space, Leave the Place:
Ladies: Share this with your girlfriends, sisters, daughters, etc.
Men: Share this with your wives, daughters, daughters-in-law, mothers, girlfriends and/or friends.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you have a great weekend with family and eat lots of turkey/stuffing/salad/cransauce/pie.

Honey--Beauty Secrets from the Hive

Beauty Secrets from the hive
by Jamie Otto
(taken from Sunflower Market's magazine August 2010)

Honey's appeal is well earned. Delectable and versatile, it's also amazingly safe: No other unprocessed food can sit on a pantry self for decades and still be eaten. So it's no surprise that this luscious and inherently antimicrobial food has been tapped for its healthful properties for centuries. Legend holds that Cleopatra bathed in milk & honey to augment her youthful allure, and Queen Anne of England layered her locks with honey and oil to keep then lustrous and thick. Today, many beauty products use honey, as well as hive-produced royal jelly and beeswax, with lovely results. Discover how nature's perfect ingredients can work wonders for you.

Honey for healing and hydration
Sweet honey is a versatile healing agent. "Honey has antimicrobial properties and helps your skin retain moisture, making it appealing for many skin types," says Christopher Watt, a licensed aesthetician and owner of Christopher Watt Esthetics in West Hollywood, California. For this reason, Watt recommended washing acne-prone skin with a honey based cleanser twice weekly. Honey is particularly effective on dry skin and hair, says Frederique Keller, LAc, MH, president of the American Apitherapy Society, a New York-based organization that promotes using bee products for natural healing. "Honey is hydrophilic, meaning it's a natural humectant that attracts and holds skin's moisture," says Keller. Plus, it's a natural preservative. "It doesn't spoil or require synthetic preservatives, which are skin irritants at best, carcinogens at worst," he says.

Where can you find it?:
1. Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion 
2. Kiss My Face Olive & Honey Bar Soap.

Royal Jelly for Rejuvenation
Worker bees create fatty acid-rich royal jelly as a food for larvae. The jelly is creamier and more like a serum than rich honey, according to Keller. In addition to lending products a decadent texture, royal jelly promotes cellular rejuvenation, making skin brighter and firmer. A study published in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology found that royal jelly contains soothing pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), a nutrient vital to adrenal gland function, which promotes clear, healthy skin.

Like honey, royal jelly also fights inflammation and aging with its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, making it a great remedy for redness from hives, psoriasis, and eczema. Stella Metsovas, CN, a nutritionist in Laguna Beach, California, recommends using royal jelly to maintain skin's youthful look. "It's a nutrient powerhouse," she says. Metsovas, who has studied foods' chemical properties for 15yrears, says royal jelly can also reduce or eliminate breakouts.

Where can you find it?:
1. Burt's Bees Radiance Day Creme Moisturizer
2. Kiss My Face Lip Balms
3. Burt's Bees Royal Jelly Eye Creme

Beeswax as a Barrier
Bees use wax to safeguard and seal honey in the honeycomb. "Beeswax has the same health properties as honey and royal jelly, but to a lesser degree," says Keller. In beauty products, beeswax hold ingredients together and thickens the final products, beeswax holds ingredients together and thickens the final product. As an emulsifier, it is a stellar nontoxic stand-in for petrolatum, a potentially harmful and nonrenewable petroleum-based chemical used in cosmetics.

"Beeswax is the most sustainable of the hive products because bees constantly produce it," says Keller. The Mayo Clinic ranks beeswax among the most effective ingredients in lip protection because it forms a protective barrier between your skin and the environment. It's also a key ingredient in natural waterproof sunblock because of its ability to repel water.

Where can you find it?:
1. Burt's Bees Sun Protecting Lip Balm SPF8
2. Alba Un-Petroleum Multi-Purpose Jelly

A Pure Generation

A PURE GENERATION
This is a cool website to refer to if you want some encouragement... http://www.apuregeneration.com/

Purity: "Happily Ever After"

What is "purity"?
According to Merriam-Webster, it is the quality or state of being pure.
According to Dictionary.com it is...
      –noun

1. the condition or quality of being pure; freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes, etc.: the purity of drinking water.
2. freedom from any admixture or modifying addition.
3. ceremonial or ritual cleanness.
4. freedom from guilt or evil; innocence.
5. physical chastity; virginity.
6. freedom from foreign or inappropriate elements; careful correctness: purity of expression.
7. Optics. the chroma, saturation, or degree of freedom from white of a given color.
8. cleanness or spotlessness, as of garments.

  

What is "pure"?
According to Merriam-Webster, it is...

• unmixed with any other matter <pure gold>
• free from dust, dirt, or taint <pure springwater>
• spotless, stainless; free from harshness or roughness and being in tune —used of a musical tone
• of a vowel : characterized by no appreciable alteration of articulation during utterance
• being thus and no other : sheer, unmitigated <pure folly>
• abstract, theoretical <pure research>
• a priori <pure mechanics>
• not directed toward exposition of reality or solution of practical problems <pure literature>
• being nonobjective and to be appraised on formal and technical qualities only <pure form>
• free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes
• containing nothing that does not properly belong
• free from moral fault or guilt 
• marked by chastity : continent
• of pure blood and unmixed ancestry
• homozygous in and breeding true for one or more characters
• ritually clean
• having exactly the talents or skills needed for a particular role <a pure shooter in basketball>

 According to Dictionary.com it is...
–adjective, pur·er, pur·est.

1. free from anything of a different, inferior, or contaminating kind; free from extraneous matter: pure gold; pure water.
2. unmodified by an admixture; simple or homogeneous.
3. of unmixed descent or ancestry: a pure breed of dog.
4. free from foreign or inappropriate elements: pure Attic Greek.
5. clear; free from blemishes: pure skin.
6. (of literary style) straightforward; unaffected.
7. abstract or theoretical (opposed to applied): pure science.
8. without any discordant quality; clear and true: pure tones in music.
9. absolute; utter; sheer: to sing for pure joy.
10. being that and nothing else; mere: a pure accident.
11. clean, spotless, or unsullied: pure hands.
12. untainted with evil; innocent: pure in heart.
13. physically chaste; virgin.
14. ceremonially or ritually clean.
15. free of or without guilt; guiltless.
16. independent of sense or experience: pure knowledge.
17. Biology, Genetics.
1. homozygous.
2. containing only one characteristic for a trait.
18. Phonetics. monophthongal. 

Answers in Genesis has a great article that talks about purity and a program called Happily Ever After. Happily Ever After, started by Julie Hintz, is an educational program designed to inspire students to save sex until marriage and to equip parents to guide and protect them.

The article says, "Purity—it’s much more than just saving sex for marriage. It’s a way of life. In 1 Timothy 4:12–16, the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, the young preacher, to strive for purity in all areas of his life—including speech, conduct, love, and faith—so that Timothy’s ministry would not be despised by his hearers. Today’s generation of young believers desperately needs to be inspired to live pure lives—to be a remnant of purity in their generation and bring glory to their Creator and Savior."

"...purity is the foundation for a God-honoring marriage..."

Biblical stories of reference are

• Cain in Genesis 4 to teach a basic principle of Scripture: If we live life God’s way, we will be blessed, but if we stubbornly insist on living it our own way, sin will have its way with us.
• The story of Esau found in Genesis 25:19–34 and Genesis 27 illustrates the ability to look ahead and anticipate the consequences of our actions.  ...adolescents often “despise their virginity because they do not understand how precious it is until after they have squandered it.
• the story of Joseph found in Genesis 37–50 to show that God blesses patience and obedience. Joseph’s story gives encouragement to the young man who is being called ‘gay’ because he has chosen to exercise sexual restraint. It also encourages the young woman who is dumped by her boyfriend because she will not give him what belongs to her future husband.

Julie Hintz offers the following suggestions to parents:

■Become educated. For many, when it comes to sex, trying to guide our children toward a healthy future is like the blind leading the blind.
■Share the blessings you have received from abstaining or the consequences you have suffered from partaking. If you did partake, ask God to show you why He has placed sex within the protection and exclusivity of marriage. Fully understanding the blessing that obedience brings will motivate you to regain those blessings for your children.
■Have a vision for your child, grandchild, youth group, etc. Paint a picture of a healthy future for him or her. Keep that vision squarely before your eyes and weigh every decision against it. Be strong for your children by developing a reminder such as “Hate me now, thank me later.” They will thank you.
■Speak up against pornography and promiscuity. Speak up for the beauty of sex as God intended. Applaud television shows that promote married, monogamous sex. Turn off television shows that promote unmarried sex.

Read the entire article HERE. Visit the Happily Ever After website for more information HERE.

"I Am Crowned" by Nancy Campbell

I AM CROWNED!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits:

who forgives all your iniquities,

who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from destruction,

who crowns you with loving kindness

and tender mercies." (Psalm 103:1-4).

What a loving, tender-hearted and compassionate God we have.
Every day He crowns me with loving kindnesses. Every day He
crowns you with loving kindnesses.

Do I hear you say, "When was the last time God crowned me?"
Stop and think about it for a moment. God crowns you with His
loving kindnesses through people around you. When your baby
or your little child smiles at you, in fact when anyone smiles at
you, you are crowned with God's loving kindness. Every time
your husband embraces you, you receive another one of God's
loving kindnesses. Every time he helps you with the dishes or
baths the children, it is God's blessing to you. When someone
says an encouraging word to you, it is God's loving kindness to
you. He has not forgotten about you. You are graven on the palms
of His hands. He has forgiven your sins. He has healed you many
times.

When you sit down at your table and eat the bountiful food God
daily provides for you, it is His loving kindness to you. When
you reap the harvest from the garden you have planted, it is His
loving kindness. When you look up at the clouds and are
reminded of His faithfulness, you are crowned. You look at the
mountains, the ocean, the undulating hills and trees and you are
blessed that He has given you all these things to freely enjoy.
And you don't have to pay a cent. The world is yours to enjoy, no
matter how little money you have in your pocket!

Start looking for God's loving kindnesses. They are all around
you. They are happening to you throughout the day. Instead of
focusing on your problems and disappointments, look out for
God's blessings. Learn to be aware of them. Do not forget one of
His benefits. Not one! Gratefully thank the Lord for every tiny
one. I am starting to do this more and more. In fact, when I read
this Scripture about being crowned I was very convicted. I
realized that I had been taking God's blessings for granted. Now
I seek to thank the Lord for crowning me every time I receive a
blessing-a hug, a smile, a word of encouragement, the blessing
of children around me and the joy they give with their antics and
funny things they say. The blessings of God's creation-the
flowers, the birds, the butterflies and the beautiful colors of the
fall which I am beholding as I look out of my window now. It
makes such a difference to your life when you become grateful
for every little crowning from the Lord.

Because God is crowning me through His people (and maybe
even those who are not His people), am I letting Him use me to
be his vehicle through which he can crown others? This is a
challenge for us, isn't it?

Recently my daughter, Serene faced a difficult trial, a little more
difficult because her husband was overseas fulfilling a contract
with the military. In the middle of being weighed down by the
problem, her car ran out of gas in the middle of a busy lane of
traffic. She had all the children in the car and the car wouldn't
budge another inch! She put on her blinkers and decided to call
the police, but her phone suddenly went dead! She was stuck!
She cried out to the Lord. He nudged her to try the car again.
Miraculously it started and she managed, weaving through
traffic, to get to the side of the road. She was still stranded, but
then God showed her His loving kindness. People stopped
their cars to help her. She had more help than she could use.
Some were people she would normally be scared to talk to.

One big burly guy with tattoos all over him drove to a service
station and bought gas for her and filled up her car. She knew
God was sending His angels to her. Not only did she get gas
for her car, but the loving kindness of strangers and this big,
scary tattooed "angel" caused Serene to feel God's loving
kindness pouring all over her. She forgot all her problems and
filled the van with praises the rest of her journey.

We can be used by the Lord to crown our husband, our children
and many others with the loving kindness of the Lord. Let's be
on the offensive to give love-hugs, smiles, affirmation,
encouragement and practical help wherever needed.
What a blessing to be the instrument of God's loving kindness.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL


PRAYER:
"Thank you, dear Father, for constantly crowning me with your loving kindnesses. Help me to be aware of them and full of gratefulness to you. And please anoint me to b a messenger of your loving kindnesses to others around me. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:
I will not forget a single blessing!

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week. If you are printing this devotion and need it to be smaller, highlight and change to a smaller font.



If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions,
you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can
subscribe by sending a blank email to
subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

How to--Make Cute Everyday Hairstyles

There was a lot of information so I'll just give you the link to see for yourself:


http://m.wikihow.com/Make-Cute-Everyday-Hairstyles

Book--Babysitting Activities

Check it OUT! Google has some pages available for viewing from a book called Babysitting Activities: Fun with Kids of All Ages by Wendy Ann Mattox. Click on this link below to see more and order your own copy from AMAZON or HALF.COM (click on the links). You can also look for it or ask for it at your local library. If you ask & they don't have it, they might buy it! It NEVER hurts to ask them.

This is the link to see a preview:

http://books.google.com/books?id=TmSEw67wy3kC&printsec=frontcover&dq=babysitting+activities&source=bl&ots=VCny7DnAob&sig=VZH_y1DP2-4qS3TbtdBUcAI0FV0&hl=en&ei=VnbbTPyoEYGKlwef2ZD9CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

Preparing to be a Help Meet--Chapter 6--Three Types of Women

Read Chapter 5 HERE; Start at the beginning HERE.

[This was an extensive chapter; hence the longer "summary"]

Chapter Summary "Eve (and by extension, every woman) was created to fulfill a need in the man...she was created to be a blessing and help to Adam." To be a good, lovely help meet (one that is easy to love) takes lots of effort.

There are 3 types of women:

• Dreamer Gals
• Servant Girls
• Go-To Gals

Dreamer Gals often like to create, sew, design, paint, or write. They also might get antsy when things don't happen as quickly as they think it should. It is important that these gals don't get caught up in projects that distract them from honoring and helping their husbands. These gals should spend their youth mastering their gifts and skills; so that they can one day bring honor to their husbands through them without taking away from their roles as a help meet to their husband.

The Servant Girl is someone who enjoys being just that--a servant to others. It is important that they maintain their individuality and develop their gifts. Be an Encourager (someone who helps other to better themselves), not an Enabler (doing things for others that they should be doing for themselves). Look for a vision and a purpose that is bigger than yourself for which you can strive towards. Prayer will be important on your journey. Two Scriptural examples of servant-types are Jesus and Ruth.

The Go-to Gal knows her place as a wife, but is also strong, capable, and gives a sense of caring for the greater number of people. They are well at organizing and have strong opinions. Be cautious in your confidence. In Scripture, Deborah of Judges 4 is an example of a Go-to Gal; she was a judge in Israel.

No matter your personal "type", "power struggles still arise [in marriages[ especially when a girl has not been taught what God says concerning honoring her husband."

So why did God put men in charge? Well, He knew what he was doing... [the book explains this further by talking about men's nature and women's nature and how they need to blend together.]

Women were created to help and each woman/girl was created to suit a man's needs. 1 Corinthians 11:8-9 says, "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." The first command God gave to Eve was "Your desire shall be unto your husband, and he shall rule over you." (Genesis 3:16) Want to know more about the role of a woman in relation to her husband? Read 1 Corinthians 11:3, 7-9 and Ephesians 5:23, 32-33.

Debi Pearl says, "A wife's position under her husband is where God put her for her own spiritual, emotional, and physical safety." [Ladies, I have experienced needing my husband for ALL of these; some more than others.]

Two genders were created to create the complete picture of the person God wants us to be and to bring balance as a couple in the struggles of life. It is no mystery that "opposites attract". Debi Pearl goes on to talk about how to spot a Prophet-type man, a Priest-type man, and a Kingly-type man. You will have to read the book for yourself to know about that.

"In the end it is not so much what type you are as whether or not you are willing to place his talents and ambitions first and then utilize your gifts to assist him...a good woman serving him will bring out the MAN in him."

Moral of the Story

Learn and live well.

Caution!!

Stubbornness shuts the door on understanding.

Your Treasure Chest

• Could you serve a King?
• Seek God for the wisdom you will need to help him be all that God would have him be.
• Write these verses in your notebook and on the pages of your heart: 1 Peter 3:1-8.
• Explain what "let it be the hidden man of the heart" means.

My Challenge to You

• Rather than pray for what you need or want in a man, pray that the Lord will help you to become the type of woman that a good man will need to help him in all things.
• Do you know what type of man your father is (Prophet, Priest, King)?
• What type are you?
• Do you have a friend that is a Dreamer?
• Have you ever been irritated at some other girl because of her type?
• From what you have read [in the book], what type of man would you compliment the most with your gifts? [This is not talking about the type of man you dream or wish to marry.]
•  If you are a Servant Girl who marries a King, what must you learn to do in order to have a heavenly marriage? Read about Queen Esther in the Bible; a Servant Girl who married a King [for real & his type]
• If you are a Go-To Gal or Dreamer Gal who marries a King-type, what must you learn to do in order to have a heavenly marriage?
• Depending on the type of person you are, think about what you would need to learn in order to marry a Prophet-type or Priest-type man.
• Remember that the goal is to honor your husband and to live the role God has designed for you as a wife.
• Read 1 Timothy 4:12
• Look around at different couples that you see who are happily raising a family and ministering to other people. What are their types? How do they function as a team? Learn from their success. Notice how they respond to each other and other little things about them that bring forth good fruit.
• Look at couples who don't seem to have good balance. Learn what you don't want from them.
• Do a word study on the word knowledge.

Quote--Integrity

"Integrity is one of several paths. It distinguishes itself from the others because it is the right path and the only one upon which you will never get lost."


- M.H. McKee