Archive for April, 2019

True Beauty

Posted in Life and Ministry, True Beauty, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on April 10, 2019| Leave a Comment »

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A little about Allana’s online Ministry for Women, True Beauty.

I recently asked my True Beauty members to give me words to describe True Beauty – this picture shows those words. Want to know more about True Beauty? Then keep reading…

In July 2014, a year after my cancer fight, I shared on Facebook that I wanted to get healthy – physically, emotionally, spiritually, and even relationally. Many women commented that they were in the same place. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge my heart to start a Facebook Group for women of all ages to have a safe place to find accountability, support and prayer as they were on their journey to grow healthier in every area of their life. I can’t believe that we will celebrate our 4th year in July!

True Beauty has two private Facebook Groups. One is for those who are in the Michigan and Ohio area. The other TB group is for women spread throughout the US. We have ladies who live in Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Texas, Florida, Missouri, and Indiana. I don’t let either group have more than 25 members in it because I believe that we grow best in small groups. We have ladies in all different seasons… some are married, some are divorced, and some have never been married. We have some that are young mothers, some that are dealing with teenagers, some that have adult children, and some that do not have any children. We have members who work in the home and some that work outside of their home. We have members who have followed Jesus for years and years, and others who are just starting out on their spiritual journey. All women are welcome.

Aside from the two True Beauty groups, we also have two side groups that all the True Beauty members are able to join – One is called Saturate – that is our Bible Study group for those who really want to dig into God’s Word. Right now we are studying Hebrews 11 and digging in deep with all the ‘heroes of faith’. We also have True Beauty Fit, which is a group that is focused on the physical aspect of our lives. It is very encouraging and motivating as we make healthy choices for our body.

True Beauty might be for you if:
• You are looking for accountability in your walk with God
• You enjoy praying and encouraging other women while
they are on their own walk of life
• You love Jesus and you want to grow closer to Him
• You want to be encouraged in your physical, emotional
and spiritual health
• You desire to be in a safe group with authentic Christ-
followers
• You want a place where you can take off the mask and
just be real
• You visit Facebook multiple times a week

Here are four statements from a few of our Beauties that I want to share with you because they tell the heart of True Beauty.

“True Beauty is my safe haven. I know that I can open up and reveal vulnerability and feel nothing but love, support, and uplifting encouragement in return. Not only can I rely and count on prayer warriors lifting me up in my time of need but the love and acceptance with open arms is one that surpasses any group I have been a part of. These ladies are imperfect and flawed just like me and there is no judgement when any of us talk about our shortcomings or falling short of the glory of God. They love you and help you out of that battle you are fighting. This place is close to my heart” Member since 2014

“True Beauty came to me during a time of brokenness in my life, the Lord sent His comfort, strength and encouragement to me through this special group of women and I will always treasure them for their sensitivity, love and grace. True Beauty is a safe haven for growth, unconditional love and fellowship for women in Christ, no matter what stage of life you are in!” Member since 2015

“I love TB as it has helped me make real spiritual connections with people and loving relationships. I feel safe being able to express my needs and thoughts here. I’m so thankful God brought me here.” Member since 2016

“I love True Beauty because I know that no matter what, there is always someone there to talk to about anything at all. I love that no matter what stage of life we are in, we have support.” Member since 2017

Thanks for reading! True Beauty has become so much more than I ever dreamed of in the beginning. I had no idea that it would become such a meaningful and powerful group filled with friendships that would encourage my life with such richness that I really can’t even really put into words.
If you are interested in joining, please private message me and I will give you more info.

(FB:  Allana Belrose Guidry)

 

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Health

Posted in Life and Ministry on April 5, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Behold, I will bring them health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.

Jeremiah 33:6

 

2018 was an incredible year of highs and lows.  2018 brought one of the best vacations, spending time with all my children and grandchildren in the beautiful landscape of Tennessee.  2018 brought the passing of one of the most influential and important people of my life, my mother.  The suddenness and speed of her decline and death were only matched by the incredible presence of the Holy Spirit and the wonderful times of fellowship that I had with my siblings and their families.

2018 brought the five year anniversary of Allana’s bone marrow transplant and the frustrations of all the little things that are our new normal.  Still if I were to characterize 2018 it was a year of healing and recovery.  It brought us into new ministry as a family and really for the first time since the Leukemia had us looking to our futures in service of our Lord.  Still the truth is that we were living in a state of un-health.  It was towards the latter part of the year (the fourth quarter of madness as anyone who works for a non-profit will tell you) that God began to speak to me about the healing that he had for me, for Allana and for our family.  I really didn’t understand at first. “We are doing quite well”, I said to myself. “Look at all the things that we are doing.” I certainly felt healthy.  I was inspired to lose weight after our wonderful vacation and dropped 30 lbs before Christmas, that is healthy right? I even read Emotionally Healthy Spirituality this year! So what was the deal. I was living the Hupomone life….

There are times in our lives where the situations of life force us into living in un-health.  This is not in itself a physical state but it is a spiritual reflection of a physical state.  I had been focused on Allana’s leukemia for five years.  I regularly thanked God for his miraculous interventions and for the blessing of life that have become a part of our story.  Yet still I was focused on the leukemia and the ensuing “new normal”.  Un-health had become woven into the tapestry of my world view.  This is a normal reaction to crisis.  I thought that as the crisis subsided I had slowly released the un-health that was my focus but the reality is that it became much more sublime and squeezed out sideways into our lives and decisions.  It became so much a part of us that it simply felt like health.  I unknowingly edited every decision, every move through the lens of illness and called it wisdom.  This impacted every area of our lives.

The great thing with God is there is no judgement.  His call to a year of health was not shaded with disappointment or anger.  It was simply a statement that the time had come for a change.  It was not a condemnation of the way that Allana and I had lived for the past 6 years.  It was recognition that we had passed through the wilderness and it was time to move into the Promised Land, oh and by the way, giants live there…but that’s OK. Think of it like athletes playing sports.  They play baseball through the summer season, carrying a bat and a glove.  When the season is over and they move to football, if they stay in their baseball uniforms and carry bats it is going to be a problem.  We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and its leading into the seasons of our lives.  We need to be prepared to lay down the bat and the glove and pick up the pads or strip down to shorts and jerseys to make the quick runs up and down the courts of life.

I don’t honestly know what this season of health has in store for the Guidrys but we are excited about the little bit that he has shown us already!

Blessings,

Sam

 

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