When You're Feeling Small (Guest Post by Chrissy Conway)

Today's guest blog comes from Chrissy Conway, a phenomenal wmGirl with a huge heart for young women. She also loves all things Disney! We invite you to hop on over to check out Chrissy's blog.Everyone has a dream…

Something they want most in the world, something they want to be or do. What’s your something? Are you doing it? Maybe you’re waiting for a break to come or you’re almost there.

As you think about your dream and how close you may or may not be to accomplishing it, what do you feel?

Discouragement?

Excitement?

Contentment?

Faithful?

Faithless?

Every time I think about dreams I always think about Cinderella…

“Have faith in your dreams and someday,

your rainbow will come smiling through,

no matter how your heart is grieving,

if you keep on believing,

the dream that you wish will come true…”

It’s hard to have faith in your dreams. I once heard someone say,

“There is a reason God places certain passions and dreams in each person…”

I believe that.

If you truly know God has called you to something and it is a dream of yours to accomplish it, I believe that He will guide you to it. Sometimes the road is long and hard. Sometimes you wonder if you’re making the right turns or if you’re even on the right path.

“A dream is a wish your heart makes,

when you’re feeling small,

alone in the night you whisper,

thinking no one can hear you at all…”

As Christians we know that God hears us but we have no way of knowing God’s timeline. But don’t be discouraged….every time you are, imagine God singing this to you:

“Don’t let your heart be filled with sorrow,

for all you know tomorrow,

the dream that you wish will come true…”

Wonderfully Made - Short Film

In case you haven't already had a chance to view our new short film, we thought we'd post it via youtube so it's easy for you to share with your friends. Stop by our website for the background story and extras.

What sort of thoughts and emotions does this video stir up in you? Which verses in particular speak to you?

Wonderfully Made Short Film Debut!

Hey Girls!

It's time to debut our new short film! Stop by our website to check it out and see pictures from behind the scenes. We invite you to post the video on your FB and share it with those in your sphere of influence. Our hope is that this video will reach thousands of girls across the world and that it will be a creative avenue through which they begin to discover, strengthen or reclaim their true value and worth in Christ. You'll also able to share it on your FB, blog or twitter via YouTube or Vimeo. If you'd like to purchase the high-definition version to show at your school, church or event, email us at info@wonderfullymade.org. Thanks for your support girls. Now hold your head up high and walk in your true value today as a beloved daughter of God.

With Love & Hugs,

Allie

Pumpkin Spice Victory

by Natalie Lynn Horne

Me: "I hate how I know how many calories are in everything. It's so frustrating. It sucks the joy out of eating."

Erin: "I know! Sometimes I just want to get a muffin or a pumpkin spice latte and fully enjoy it."

Me: "Agreed. In fact, I've never even gotten a pumpkin spice latte for that exact reason."

This is a snapshot of a conversation Erin and I had over breakfast one morning, and that final statement I made about never having a pumpkin spice latte before has remained true since then. Until this morning, that is.

When I showed up for work today, I was greeted with two beautiful orchids, birthday cards from the girls on the marketing team, and a tasty little coffee beverage from my dear friend and co-worker Ashley. Yep, you guessed it--it was a pumpkin spice latte.

I'll admit, even after all of the years of healing I've experienced and the freedom from calorie restriction I now live in, I second-guessed whether I would drink it. Maybe I shouldn't have it. Maybe I should only drink half of it. Or, maybe I should just leave the past where it belongs, and enjoy the delicious treat on my desk.

I'm thankful to say, I decided on the latter option. I told that little voice in the back of my head to be quiet, and reminded him that he had no place to speak into my life anymore. And then, I took a sip. It was scary, I'll admit, but it was absolutely worth it. Then I took another sip, and another, and 30 minutes later I found myself finishing off the very last drop.

Little did Ashley know, this morning she would give me far more than just a birthday coffee. Instead, she became a vehicle for God to declare freedom in yet another area of my life. As I said before, there has been so much healing from bondage to perfectionist eating that has taken place over the past few years, yet every once in a while I come across a food or drink that I realize is still on my "unsafe" food list. And when that happens, I take a bite or a sip and it's so much more than nourishment for my body; it's nourishment for my soul, because it's one more taste of freedom that comes from the Lord alone.

Praise you, God, for the freedom you give us from the bondage of the sin of this world. Thank you for being a God that brings things full-circle, and who makes good things from nasty little things in our past. Thank you for working through Ashley and pumpkin spice lattes. Thank you for victory through your Cross.

The original blog post can be found here.

HerStory: Rachel Johnson

Today's blog is by a friend of mine so dear to me, she is like a sister. She is a passionate, comical, adventurous girl with a caring heart that inspires me every day. When she's not traveling, writing or exploring, she's helping save the world as the Director of Project Development for Touch A Life Foundation. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Rach!


I love you, girl!
Natalie

Photo by Nancy Borowick, www.nancyborowick.com

I need Africa more than Africa needs me.

Right, let me backtrack. I'm a Chicago-born-and-bred-kid-turned-Malibu-resident-at-heart who now lives, loves, and laughs deep in the heart of Texas (Dallas, that is). I work for the Touch A Life Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to eradicate human trafficking and empower children in crisis. I love my work and I also appreciate everything travel-related, the Chicago Bears, cupcakes for breakfast, Space 8 at the Malibu/Point Dume Trailer Park, marathon training, the work of aspiring photographers, Will Ferrell movies, pumpkin-flavored anything, and Chris Brown's "Forever" on repeat.

Oh, and also: I'm a woman who, like so many others, has battled with image issues. These issues didn't materialize until recently. Growing up, I was blessed with a family who consistently made me feel loved, blessed, and beautiful. I played soccer in high school and appreciated that my body was able to successfully perform slide tackles. While in college, I ran a marathon in Rome, and a half in Long Beach. I had my weak moments of insecurity here and there but overall, I felt confident.

And then I had knee surgery, unexpectedly and suddenly, two months after I moved to Dallas. I was eating emotionally because I missed my life in Malibu. I was spending more time in restaurants as I attempted to make new friends, and less in the gym or out on runs due to my knee's recovery process. As my body changed, I realized how much worth and value I had put into my body's ability to run and play. When I thought that my athleticism had been stripped from me, I no longer felt quite as valuable or beautiful. My identity, seemingly, had partially been rooted in my athletic abilities. If I wasn't a runner/soccer player/gym enthusiast, then who was I?

I struggled. And struggled. And struggled some more. A few months after my surgery, I went on a work trip to Ghana, West Africa. There I spent time with the children in Touch A Life's programs, kids who were former child slaves on Lake Volta, a body of water in northern Ghana. They are now happy, healthy, and free. As I ran around playing soccer with the kids (achy and creaky, but running nonetheless), a thought hit me like the cliched ton of bricks: knee surgery or not, I am blessed with health, family, community, and so many other of life's greatest joys. I am a resident of a country where I am free to pursue my dreams, live where I please, meet friends for coffee, cast a vote in an election, and praise the God who made me in His own image. In His image. To think I am not worthy would be to criticize His creation. The beautiful children continued running around me, screaming and laughing. They had suffered so much; it was almost difficult to reconcile the joy on their faces with the details of the past. Yet there they were, smiling, loving, happy, joyful. And I, I was feeling a few pounds too heavy, cringing over the thought of buying a larger size of jeans, whining about therapy appointments.

I had been to Ghana many times, and I never ceased to be amazed by the beautiful, thankful spirits of these children. But on this particular trip, I realized the gravity of their situations and of mine. Those children remind me of all that I am blessed to have, including a body that is healthy and strong and made in the image of the divine Creator. As they always do, the children reminded me that I need Africa more than Africa needs me. And above all, they reminded me that each and every one of us was made in the image of a God who wants to be the source of our value and worth, if only we let Him.

Good Girls Don't Get Fat

This morning, Kayla shared this powerful video with the Wonderfully Made team and I absolutely had to share it with all of you. While I haven't read the "Good Girls Don't Get Fat" book yet, this video makes me want to pick one up on Amazon.com right now!



QUESTION: How have you experienced this "good girls don't get fat" mentality in your life? What have you done or are you doing to overcome it?

More Than You Can Ask or Imagine: The Making of the "Wonderfully Made" Short Film

I love how we each have dreams hidden in our hearts. Sometimes they are God-breathed dreams. Other times they are of our own making. Often they will appear for a while, only to fade into forgotten hopes.

It's rare, however, and far in-between when surfaced dreams actually unfold into something real. But when they do, it's magical. Especially when they are God-breathed dreams.

Over a year ago I had an idea for Wonderfully Made - to create a poetic, image-rich video of Psalm 139. It was the Psalm that forever changed my life when I was 18, and continues to change countless more. Monday, God took this dream, made it a reality and stamped it with His fingerprints. The surprising thing isn't that the video is a reality, but that it is more beautiful and amazing than my own mind could have ever imagined.

Here's why:

• Our cinematographer was our dear friend Nic McLean of Tight Productions. The hilarious, fun and talented man behind the lovely, equally talented and sweet-as-ever Jessica McLean - one of my dearest friends (and favorite singer/songwriter).
• It turned out more beautiful, professional, dreamy and artistic than I thought possible.
• We filmed it at very special, pristine and private location which happens to be one of my favorite places in the world and one of the most sought after, hard-to-access spots on the coast.
• We captured all the shots in one day and completed it this morning at 1:38am.
• We got access to unreleased music by the legendary artist Josh Garrels, who is a pure musical genuis and just so happens to be one of my most favorite singers (and friends of Nic & Jess).
• We concluded our production day with big belly laughs, a tasty meal and hot apple crisp.
• My friends Kate and Elizabeth were featured in the project. Elizabeth was the fearless stunt girl and cowgirl (she's legit) and Kate was the natural beauty we follow in the film.
• Last night our Westmont College chapter hosted a private, intimate concert with Jessica where she shared some of her new songs with us. Her next album is goign to be epic!

What dreams has God put in your heart? How can you honor Him with them?

Love you girls,

Allie

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20.