Fashion Meets Faith: Shari Braendel

We recently experienced a Faith & Fashion show put on by Shari Braendel.  We learned our body shapes and found out our "color"... the colors that look best on us, and those that we should steer clear of.  We also learned that the way we dress says a lot about our faith.  First impressions are important, and how you dress on the outside, reflects who you are on the inside... at least at first glance!

Shari Braendel's message is this: whatever we highlight (cleavage, bra straps, bellies, butts, etc) attention will be driven there. However, if we choose clothing that highlights our entire being, then who we are and what we have to say will shine.  For example, wearing colors around your face that brighten your skintone, will draw attention to your face and people will see your great smile first!

I was excited to see an article by Shari in Coastal Christian Family Magazine (June 2012) ! In the article there are 10 B's of Fashion.  What to do and what NOT to do!  Shari gives great advice that I think we have to strive to follow in order to become the Proverbs 31 Woman God has called us to be.  In allowing our faith to monitor the way we dress, we set standards for the younger generation, our daughters, granddaughters, neices, etc. 

We also have a duty to our brothers in Christ.  We must not be the cause of their temptation.  Dressing with modesty shows we respect ourselves and seek respect from men as well.  Unless a guy has trained his mind to look elsewhere, he just cannot help but look at what you show him.  Guys are visual creatures.  Shari asks girls and women to look at their outfit and ask "would this trip up a guy?"  If you wear short skirts or shorts, you are going to get the wrong kind of attention from the wrong kind of guy.  The good guys, have trained themselves to not look, buy you wouldn't want to tempt the good guy right?

About Shari Braendel:Shari Braendel has become the nation's most sought-after Christian speaker on the topic of fashion, beauty and modesty. As a successful image consultant, she saw firsthand that women didn't recognize the beauty that God gave them and lacked the knowledge of how to dress themselves with confidence so their outside appearance represented who they were on the inside.

In the summer of 2010, Zondervan released Shari's newest book, Good Girls don't have to Dress Bad which is a full color style guide for every woman. Not only will you learn about the best haircut and makeup for you, but you'll discover the most flattering jeans and swimsuit. All this and your very own shopping guide leading you to the right stores and brands just for you, based on your specific body type.

Portraying Joy

♪♪ I got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!  Where?
Down in my heart!♫

 I’m sure that most of you have heard this song at some point in your life, but are you portraying this joy the song speaks of or do you walk around like the “worldly”… defeated, depressed, hurt or angry?

 Jesus says in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the fullest, until it overflows).  Are you enjoying your life?  I hope so, because there are people watching you every day to see if this “Jesus thing” is real or not.

Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.  Joy is in us, but we need to do what we can to cultivate it: laughing more, being thankful and content, keeping things simple and simply trusting God.  Did you know that you can even sing for joy?  Yes!  It says so in Psalm 33.

 We have Jesus Christ, God Almighty in us. When we begin to meditate on who He is and what He’s done and will continue to do, we can’t help but be overwhelmed with JOY!!

Nehemiah 8:10 says “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy is a weapon to be used against the devil!
Jesus On You = JOY!

Let us sing for joy to God who is our Strength!  When we remain joyful and strong in the midst of the good times and the bad, we are portraying an awesome witness for Jesus.  So let your Joy Light shine…shine on Women of Joy!!

 

Rise and Shine Women of Joy

It's a new year!  Many of us have made our New Year's Resolutions...lose weight, spend less money, spend more time with family.  What have your resolved to do as far as your Faith goes?  Your Walk? Your service? 

This year, let's challenge each other and hold one another accountable to being made radiant with the Glory of God.

Isaiah 60 tells us to arise and shine, for the light has come and the Glory of the Lord rises upon us.  Darkness shall cover the earth, but the Lord shall arise upon us and His glory will be seen on us.  Nations shall come to the light, and kings to the brightness of our rising. 

In 2012, WOMEN OF JOY will SHINE or be enlightened, illuminated so that the world can see our light and come to know the source of such a light like that of the sun rising on a dark world.   

We've started this blog in an effort to stay in constant contact with you, encouraging you, leading you, blessing you.  Bookmark this site for easy reference.  If you haven't joined the Women of Joy @ Beachside Fellowship Facebook page, please Like us there!  As the year progresses we will have guest posts, member posts, Letters from our Pastors and more.  The goal here is to see a multitude of victorious lives arise and shine, stepping into the blessings God has for each of us.