HerStory: There Has Never Been a Moment When You Have Not Been Loved

I have been so blown away to see how over the past five years God has faithfully continued to hook His ministry up with such a phenomenal team of authentic, encouraging, inspiring and FUN women who selflessly pour their heart and time. As many of you know, Christie Myers is a member of our Executive Volunteer Team for Wonderfully Made. Christie has a big, beautiful heart and serves as our Regional Chapter Director for our Westmont chapter where she absolutely loves pouring into girls' lives.


This is "HerStory" - the story of God's transformative work in her life. She has a tear-jerking, powerful story of forgiveness, healing and redemption. Her life is an inspiring example of how God turns ashes into beauty!

Here is a link to Christie's HerStory video: http://wonderfullymadeblog.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

We love you Christie!
Allie, Kayla, & Natalie

Babble On in Babylon

by Natalie Lynn Borton

As I wrote about a few weeks ago, we are living in a modern-day Babylonian culture. Beauty, youth, intelligence, and possessions are our culture's values and thus they allure us to pursue them. The Book of Revelation compares Babylon to a prostitute, who intoxicates those around her with luxury and wealth. Sound familiar? The following poem is one that Beth Moore shares in one of her video sessions for the Daniel bible study. It is written by a woman who was part of the study and it speaks to the Babylonian mentality, “I am, and there is none besides me.” (Isaiah 47:8)

Babble On in Babylon
by Lynn Parker

Brimming closets, shoe racks bulge, one in every color, I’ll just indulge. My wildest whim will oft be met, bigger, faster, give me, get. Travel on in Babylon.

May I go first? Knew you’d not care, for my time’s precious. You’ve lots to spare. I’ll slip in front and off I’ll go. See, I’m quite fast and well, you’re quite slow. I and me fast friends, life-long. Prattle on in Babylon.

Nip it here, just there a lift. I just turned forty, it was a gift. The eyes, the lips, the bosoms do, sculptured, lasered, injected, too. No wrinkles left, the tummy’s gone. Journey on in Babylon.

Enough of me, how do you view me? You get one, but give me three. I couldn’t bare to just say no, it’s my desire and rightly so. Add another and on and on. Shuffle on in Babylon.

No end in sight that I can see, today is blocked by the mirror in front of me. A wreck, a death, tsunami tide, it mildly stirs me, I must confide. TV claims tens of thousands gone. Oh well, let’s see what else is on. Numb to the stunning sight of each new dawn, Sinking fast in Babylon.

Like a lobster in a pot who begins to like the water hot, I’ve been duped, been tricked, been had, convinced that truth was somehow bad. Evil, coddled and cooed and purred, and beckoned me and called and lured. Now in a place with the lights turned on, I’m racing home from Babylon. I’m racing home from Babylon.

Have you ever fallen into the Babylonian mentality? How so?

Truth for Your HEAL Journey: What Does Freedom Feel Like?

One of Oprah’s famous quotes, is “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.” While there’s some wisdom to be gleaned from this for those of us who struggle with overeating, I disagree with her claim. I know girls who may be thin (especially those who are unhealthily thin), but they don’t feel “good.” They feel lifeless, cold and chained. Rather I believe:

No number on the scale feels as good as FREEDOM.

I once believed that a particular, low three-digit number on the scale equaled peace, perfection and happiness ever-after. The dangerous temptation this little lie brings can still sneak up on me today, as I continue on my HEAL Journey, asking God to continually transform me within.

On my journey, I’ve learned that freedom isn’t a number on the scale. It’s not even a certain size in designer jeans. It’s a state of being –a fluid place of health, strength and reconciliation with my body that naturally results from eating and living the way I believe God intends me to.

For me, this is freedom:

· Being able to surf till sunset and not get tired

· Feeling beautiful, comfortable and confident in my skin

· A state of being where I see my body as the temple it is and the vehicle through which God privileges me to love, serve and tackle beautiful adventures

· Being able to don spandex, hop on my road bike and feel strong and sexy

· Being able to fall asleep next to my husband and not fear what he’ll grab a hold of when he wraps his strong arms around my stomach

· The unceasing desire to praise God for my body

· Giving my body the sustenance it needs; no more & no less (eating within hunger & satisfaction)

· Willingly making beneficial food choices while still enjoying a girl's inanimate best friend (chocolate)

For me, bondage is:

· Counting calories or points, weighing or measuring food & being obsessed with every particle of edible matter I put in my mouth

· A self-consuming preoccupation with my physical appearance

· Addictively comparing myself to every other woman - with or without wrinkles

· An irresistible compulsion to hop on and off the scale

· Ceaseless striving to a fit a certain mold media images convince me I need to conform to

· Eating well beyond my body’s physical needs and not giving my body the physical movement it craves

Like I tweeted the other day, “Forget skinny. I’d rather be healthy and strong. I have mountains to climb, waves to surf, horses to ride and beautiful adventures to tackle. I want to be free.”

“What does freedom feel like for you?”

Help Us Help Girls Know Their Value

Dear Girls,

Some exciting things are happening here at Wonderfully Made, and we want to invite you to be a part of all God is doing in the lives of His girls!

We want to take this opportunity on today's blog to invite you to join us in helping young women know their TRUE VALUE! If you have personally been touched by Wonderfully Made, believe in what we're doing or happen to have as little as 10 extra bucks a month (or heck, few spare G's) we want to invite to join us by investing in the lives of thousands of women here. You are the reason we do what we do. Our greatest desire is for you to know how wholy and dearly loved you are by your Creator and to not only know, but to walk in an understanding of your true value and worth in Christ.

Since we started back in 2005, it's been our goal to offer our college chapters, conferences and resources for free or very little dinero. This week we will submit our 501c3 application to be an official non-profit oganization & as we spread our wings and fly we are trusting God who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine to provide for Wonderfully Made.

What can you bless the ministry of Wonderfully Made with each month? Every penny is tax-deductible & will further our mission to help girls know their value. Become a monthly investor here!

Thank you for you constant authenticity, support & encouragement.

With Love & Gratitude,

Allie

HerStory: Freedom in Faith

This week's "HerStory" feature comes from Caitlin Cury - one of our very own WM student leaders at the new Pepperdine University chapter. She has a kind heart, sweet spirit, and contagious smile. We hope that her story offers you encouragement today!

How would I have known that I was lost

Had you not searched and found me?

How would I have known that I was blind

Had you not made me see?

How would I have known my bleeding

`Til you bound Your love around me?

How would I have groaned my slavery

Until You set me free?

-Beth Moore

College: a land full of freedom, opportunities, and choices. Once free from the restrictive realm of high school, college students are overwhelmed with the freedom to choose a major, class schedule, and even whether to go to class or not. They have the opportunity to get involved with groups that share one’s interests or pursue unfettered intellectual access. They experience unparalleled independence with the freedom to choose to party more, to have more boyfriends or girlfriends, and to dress however one likes. While I have experienced many of these ‘college freedoms,’ what I did not expect to find in college was freedom in Christ. It was only after I entered into a personal relationship with Christ that I came to understand how the love of Christ can transform my life and allow me to live in freedom from emotions, feelings, and insecurities that once held me captive.

I grew up in a Christian home; I went to a Christian preschool, attended Bible School and other Christian groups until middle school. Middle school and high school was a time that I strayed away from going to church. It wasn’t that I was turned off by the idea, but I started seeing the cliques that were forming among the youth groups and I didn’t feel like I fit in, so I stayed away. Though my family was “Christian,” we didn’t go to church regularly and I didn’t have a real relationship with God at this point. It wasn’t until God was calling me to find him at Pepperdine that I really began to own my faith.

After joining a sorority, God brought a person into my life that was a true example of what it means to live a life free in Christ. This person became my “big sis” and she brought me to University Ministry (UM). My big sis was strong in her faith and she served as a constant mentor guiding me towards my faith, but never pushing the issue. I still did not feel completely comfortable in this new environment, but I was learning to let go of my conceptions of the church. I was finding peace with issues that I had yet to reconcile and going to UM was a time to focus on me and find the answers I had been searching for. This searching process began a gradual progression, but it wasn’t until second semester that I really started praying often and developing a relationship with God.

During this time, I had become really good friends with a boy and we greatly enjoyed spending time together. It was purely an emotional relationship as we mainly spent hours on end divulging to each other about our pasts, worries, goals, and hopes for the future. I had found in my mind the ultimate companion, for unlike other boys, this one was actually interested in what I had to say. The more I became invested in our friendship, the larger my hopes grew that it would become a real relationship before school was over. However, there came a point when these hopes were dashed and my wants and desires were not reciprocated. I no longer had the freedom to choose whether I wanted a relationship with this boy, for the decision was made for me. It wasn’t until I was really struggling with letting go of this cherished relationship that God began to fill my life with what I thought I was losing. I truly had no idea I was in captivity until God began to set me free. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1).

I had placed this relationship on a pedestal and I had used it as a means to fill me up. It was a source of comfort, happiness, and joy, but also sadness and anxiety. The day to day happenings in this undefined rollercoaster relationship would rule my emotions, good or bad. I allowed this relationship to define me and felt like I lost control over my feelings. When this relationship ended without any say on my side, I was crushed and lost. The independent and strong girl was gone and in her place was her empty shell. At this point I had no other choice but to turn to God. In my brokenness, I knew I needed to be set free and find the true source of joy. At the end of this search, God was waiting for me to find him. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

From then on, I began to take a serious look at myself and the person I was becoming and how I could better trust in God. God brought unexpected people into my life to uplift me and help me actively pursue my faith and never once did he forsake me. I was learning how to pray and I couldn’t keep my hands off any literature that had to do with faith, Christianity, and God.

During this time I clung to Proverbs 3:5-6 as I learned to relinquish my control and trust God. He revealed my misconception of relying on human relationships to fulfill me, for if I have a relationship with him I will never be alone. He showed me the happiness and freedom that comes from pursuing him alone. However, while I understood that a boy can not complete me, I continued to struggle with the fact that this knowledge did not calm the desires.

Over time I have come to understand that God places desires in our hearts for a reason. Psalm 37 says delight yourself in the Lord and he will bring you the desires of your heart. While we are waiting, God is doing. But first God wants us to trust him completely and most importantly with (all), but especially this area of our lives. This was one of the things I had found that I continued to hold onto in my life and tell God, no worries I have this (relationships) under control. God must have laughed at my stubbornness. God wants to direct the entire ship, but so often we close certain doors to him rather consciously or subconsciously and hold on to the key to these doors. The thing is he is the only author of true love stories and my love story must first begin with him. Freedom no longer meant the ability to make a choice or a decision, but it came to represent the truly amazing supernatural sense of peace that surrounded me when I allowed the creator to rule my life.

The freedom that comes from being a disciple of Christ has only continued to flourish in all aspects of my life. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”(John 8:31-32). While I still struggle with my own insecurities and emotions, I now have a place to go and someone to turn to. So often, we turn to human relationships when we are in trouble, hurt, or devastated, in hopes that another person will be able to fix us. However, the only person that holds the key to and is truly able to free us from any situation is the creator. When I am stressed over finding time to study for exams and stay true to my commitments, I turn to God. When I am faced with a decision that will affect my future, I turn to God. When I am overcome with my obsessive tendencies to always achieve perfection, I turn to God to set me free. When we walk in this new freedom, we allow God’s spirit to transform us step by step. We are able to find purpose in this world and are able to love deeper. In the end having a real and intimate relationship with God has allowed me to make freedom in Christ a reality in my life. My freedom no longer comes from choosing to live how I wish, but it comes from choosing to live a life in service to God.

WM Spotlight: Christina DiMari on "Ocean Star"

Happy Friday Girls!

I wanted to show this video of Christina DiMari with you so you could see why we adore her and love how she is shining for girls all over the world. We still have a few copies we can giveaway of "Ocean Star" so email us & tell us why you'd like to have her book to give someone or to be encouraged in your own life. Dream big girls and remember that no matter what brokeness you've been through or are in the midst of, God can pick up the pieces and make something beautiful. Just don't lose hope!

Are you going through something in your life right now that makes it hard or nearly impossible to see the light at the other side? I know I've been there. Feel free to share and we will be faithful to pray for you this weekend.

Random Thursday: Bee-Sting Fullness & "Ocean Star" Giveaway!

Happy Random Thursday Girls!

Watch the video to learn more about how you can get "bee-sting" full lips & get a copy of our friend & mentor Christina DiMari's book "Ocean Star."

We can't wait to get your emails & trust God is going to move in the hearts of the girls who get a copy of Christina's book! Check out Christina's website here to learn more about her ministry & gift line.

Here are a few pictures of few of the Santa Clara wmGirls at some of Christina's "Designed to Shine" Beach workshops we've hosted. I can't wait to plan another one with her soon!

HerStory: Renee Johnson

This week's moving HerStory feature comes from our friend Renee – the Devotional Diva and spiritual encourager of the 20-somethings. Through her story of brokenness, Renee lives to spur others forward in their walk with Jesus daily.

I was born into a Christian family. When I was four I told my mom I would be old enough to accept the responsibility of becoming a “Christian” when I turned five. It’s amazing that I’ve known exactly what I want even from a young age. On June 24th, 1987 I accepted the challenge and have been living dangerously ever since.

While growing up, my parents decided to join staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and the Jesus Film Project. It was during the transition that my mother home schooled me and I learned to write, play piano, and create.

The living dangerously part didn’t hit until Junior High when I started to experience severe anxiety. I never wanted to leave the house. I was always afraid. When I was afraid I ate. When I ate I was afraid even more so because I would get fat. It was a vicious cycle I still struggle with.

If that weren’t enough, I began suffering with acute eczema on my skin, which led to even more painful anxiety. I lost the skin off my hands, feet, and face and it took 10 solid years to heal from that. During those painful years I clung to God. No, I stalked him. I read the Word every day. I developed the habit of daily devotions. I sought help from the Lord and He heard my hundreds of thousands of prayers along with the prayers of family, and friends.

My relationship with God flourished and others began noticing the change. My skin healed, and the more God did the more I kept writing. While I was in college I changed my major from math and decided to pursue writing. In pursuing my dreams, I was able to graduate from Biola College Bold program with a degree in Business Organizational Leadership and Management in 2008.

I used my strengths while working at Outreach Events where I represented the Top Christian Speakers & Writers such as Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, John Ortberg & others. It only took eight years to hit it big-time and got discovered on Twitter to publish my first book, “Faithbook of Jesus” one of the first daily devotional for 20-somethings written by a 20-something.

I spend my days doing what I was created to do best: to write and speak with passion, spur others forward, and to serve with a willing spirit.

Timeless Truths for your HEAL Journey

Happy Friday Girls!

If you identify with the 3 out of 4 women who struggle with some sort of food and body images issues, this post is for you! I thought I would share a few of the most powerful truths and verses I fill my mind with as I continue on my HEAL Journey. Whether you struggle with poor body image, restrictive eating, emotional eating, bingeing, obsessive calorie counting or chronic dieting, a clinical eating disorder or just feel negative about your body from time to time, I believe that you will experience major moment-by-moment victories by hiding these truths in your heart and mind. We are told in Ephesians 6 that God's word is the “sword of the Spirit” - our offensive weapon which God has equipped us with to fight spiritual battles. I attribute much of the freedom God has done on my HEAL Journey to having these verses memorized. I challenge you today to do the same!

When faced with the temptation to give into that which will keep you in bondage (whether it's overeat, not eat, etc.):

· “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

When you find your thoughts consumed by worries about what you did or didn’t eat or your body size:

· "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Matthew 6:25

In the face of self-destructive behavior:

· "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12

When tempted by gluttony or laziness:

· “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:10-12

When you’re struggling with negative thoughts about your body or physical appearance:

· “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful Lord, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

· You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"? Isaiah 29:16

Are there any other verses that have been helpful to you on your HEAL Journey! Feel free to share them with us below!

If you want to learn more about how to cultivate a freedom-filled approach to food, you can get the book & join over two thousand women who have embarked on the HEAL Journey! Together we're walking toward freedom and healing in this area of our lives!!

Random Thursday: 25 Things I Hate About Facebook

Hey Girls -

Happy Random Thursday! I hope you appreciated last week's WM fight song Paul penned for you - is he kooky or what (I love it!)? I'm so excited for you to see today's video I can hardly contain myself! I found it genius and absolutely hilarious and think you will too...because it's sooo true!

Some interesting Facebook facts

• If Facebook were a county it would be the world's 4th largest (there are currently more than 400 million active users)
• There are more that 100 million active users currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices.
• People who use Facebook on their mobile devices are twice more active on Facebook than non-mobile users.
• With 48 million images, Facebook houses the world's largest photo collection
• The site has been translated into more than 70 languages from Afrikaans to Zulu

What are some of the things you hate about Facebook? Do you have any crazy Facebook stories? Has it helped your dating life, caused major drama? Do you need to confess that you've been FB stalking your ex or current crush (this is a safe place girls!!!!). LOL...Please share!!!

Breaking Free: Turning Your Moments into Milestones

If you read my most recent post, you know I’m in the midst of doing “Breaking Free,” my first Beth Moore study.

Yesterday as I was faced with the decision to go on a run or eat a cupcake, a simple, long-standing truth became so clear to me. Whether we will remain in bondage or be set free is a moment-by-moment decision. I could eat my cupcake (which I didn’t need of course!) or put on my workout clothes and go for my run. As Beth teaches, we must turn these “moments into milestones.” The moment before we decide to do that which will either free us or bind us is the moment that determines where we will find ourselves - in captivity or freedom. I’ve got to be real and tell you I ended up having my cupcake (I randomly baked…something I rarely do), and then went on my run. Beth, I’m hoping this qualifies as half a milestone?

In order to escape whatever bondage our beautiful, but messy selves fight against, we’ve got to be girls who are in step with God’s spirit, which goes before us and guides us in the paths of righteousness.

What moments do you need to stand firm through in order to turn them into milestones and reap the joy that comes with freedom?

· The moment before you give yourself away to your boyfriend or to some guy whose name you won’t even remember five years from now?

· The moment before a late night binge?

· The moment before you let your eyes see something they shouldn’t?

· The moment before your emotionally-driven purchase?

· The moment before you become little miss gossip girl?

· The moment before you have that drink or take that hit?

My question is (if you’re willing to share) what are you breaking free from? What have you successfully broken free from?

HerStory: "His Love Set Me Free."

This week's moving "HerStory" feature comes from our dear friend Katee - the beautiful face behind the camera that has taken some of the beautiful photographs we feature on our blog. Katee is truly a woman after God's own heart and we hope that HerStory (God's story) of redemption brings you hope and encouragement wherever you are in life.

Growing up in a Christian home, surrounded by songs of scriptures and church gatherings at least twice a week, volunteering my summers to go to third world countries and my school year to serve as Chaplain at my school, I hadn't the slightest idea of the reality of the cross nor of God's love for me nor of His holiness. Finally, my senior year of high school I had had enough - no more fake! I couldn't be fake anymore - I had friends to whom Christ seemed to be real to, but I just wasn't there.

The wrong guys, alcohol, and girlfriends, quickly helped me learn all the right ways to be immoral, but then things progressed from immorality with cute boys to a place where I quickly began continuously using speed. I stayed legal with using speed from the doctor for several years then I discovered crystal meth, by this time I was completely dependent on speed, crystal meth or Adderral - it didn't matter but I had to stay high. Selling my soul, selling my body - I was not my own. I was no longer in control but I continued to try every way possible to gain control of my life. I was losing, but I still was completely uninterested in any kind of brainwashing from the church. But I started dating this guy and we started reading the Bible to prove that God approved of our way of life.

Every morning I started sitting on the front porch for a couple hours reading the Bible and doing this "Search for Significance" workbook that some Christian friends of mine had given me. As I read the Bible and followed scriptures this workbook guided my through, I continued to stay high on speed - but the Lord was bigger. I started consuming mass amounts of alcohol or anxiety pills each evening to offset the extreme high that I was on from speed, this was used by the Lord. Each evening I began passing out listening to this worship music this friend of mine had given me. As I realized what grace was, what it meant that Jesus died for me on the cross and how my rejection of Him and my pride and lack of surrender was equal to whipping and spitting at Jesus, I broke. Days, weeks, months passed and the process continued. Nine months later I was completely off speed and every alcohol form because I was convinced if I was saying Christ was my source for life then He truly had to be. His love set me free, His grace and blood have washed me and brought freedom that the world can never replicate and neither can the best sex or drugs. Jesus is real and He is my life. I love Him so much and didn't deserve to know Him or be rescued or live but He did it anyway!

Mission Self-Forgetfulness: It’s a Wrap

Well, July has arrived which means my 30-day “Mission Self-Forgetfulness” challenge has drawn to a close (which you can read about here).

The kicker that inspired my challenge was a message titled "Blessed Self-Forgetfulness" by Timothy Keller as well as my observation that the most self-forgetful and outward-focused people seem to be the most beautiful and emotionally healthy – you just want to be around them! Their eyes are turned outward more than inward; they are not bogged down by petty insecurities about themselves and aren’t consumed by their own vanities. They are at peace with who they are and “filled up to the brim up” – with joy, wholeness, peace and an authentic interest in and love for people. I want to be them.

There was a day (specifically in high school) when I was the most insecure person I knew. I would often hide out in the bathroom during lunchtime or under my books in the library. I couldn’t sign my credit card receipt at the grocery store without my hand shaking and face turning red. Every night my mind raced with lies that told me how stupid, ugly and un-cool I was. While I may have hid it somewhat decently, I was consumed by the fact that I could not forget about myself – what I thought about me; what my friends thought about me; what strangers thought about me and what everyone who wasn’t thinking about me thought about me!

While I didn’t live up to my challenge perfectly (Perfection & I broke up four years ago – I suggest you dump him too), I went after all my challenges with gusto and make some serious inroads, all of which helped me think of myself less and others more! I looked in the mirror about 75% less, took time to tell people in my life how much I love them through handwritten notes (I still have more to go!), logged off FB (except for a few ministry things), spent my $50 shopping budget on a girl in need (yes, I am being pharisaical by telling you this!), and tried to remember to ask people lots of questions instead of worrying about I was going to say. I challenge you to set your own Mission Self-Forgetfulness challenges!

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself - it's thinking of yourself less." -Unknown

Let's be a generation of outward-focused, "filled up to the brim up" of joyful girls after God's own heart who LOVE (in action, not just words) His children because He first loved us.

Random Thursday: The WM Fight Song by Paul Smith

My Dear Girls!

I want to thank each of you are standing behind me as I continue to try and win Paul over until he allows me to have one of Kayla's puppies. I truly feel he is depriving me of an important calling on my life and although I am suppose to be submissive, I'm not backing down. I now have a small army of people who are standing behind me. Since you got a glimpse of my kooky (but very adorable) husband in last week's Random Thursday post, I thought now would a fitting time to share some more of his antics with you. I hope you are ready. Here he is singing the "WM Fight Song," which he wrote and choreographed himself.