We recently went on a sweet little family vacation to the beach. My children have always loved the sand and the water. They have their Daddy’s dark complexion, and their skin just turns so brown under the sun’s warm kiss each summer.
On the day we arrived, the beach was absolutely covered in sea shells after a recent storm. It was almost like walking on a beach made of shells! It was something remarkable to see, but true to her little wild hearted self, my daughter was enamored! We had packed two tote bags for them to collect special shells from the beach, and she started filling hers up!
I stopped her and pointed out that many of the shells were broken or had holes or other damage to them. “Just throw those back and save the pretty ones,” I told her, like the reasonable adult that I am. And that’s when God spoke to me, once again, through the voice of my child. “But Mama, they are all pretty! I can use the broken ones together to make something bigger, and I can use the ones with holes in them to make beautiful jewelry!”
Right then and there, I was reminded of how God loves us just like that. We are broken and have shattered pieces. We have holes where there was once completeness. Some things have happened to us, and some of our scars are by our own choices. But the good news is that our perfect, sovereign God doesn’t care about any of it. He loves you just as you are and right where you are! He can take our broken pieces and use them together for something even more beautiful! He can take the holes and scars and use them as a powerful message in a dark world.
It is said that Ernest Hemingway wrote, “We are all broken; that’s how the light gets in.” I truly believe that all things work together for our good. Even when you feel that something is so broken it can never be repaired, God can make it new again. This doesn’t mean we won’t feel the pain, that we won’t cry. We will. Life will be painful. But life is not just about what we get out of it. It is also about what we give to others. When we are broken, and we let God’s light in, He can heal us and use us as an instrument to help others. That’s where the meaning and purpose of life lies.
So don’t be ashamed, friends, of those scars. Use your experiences, and your healing through God’s grace, to help someone else. Don’t be afraid to share your story and your experiences with others, because someone may need your hand to hold. And if you find yourself lying in that bed of ashes, call out to the God who loves you just as you are. He has never left you, and He wants nothing more than to bring beauty and wholeness into your life once again.
As my daughter continued to fill her shell bag with as many pieces as she could pick up and carry, I talked to her a little about how God loves her unconditionally. That no matter how many mistakes she makes in life her Mama and her heavenly Father would always love her. She looked up, smiling, and said, “I know that, Mama.” I think this is what Jesus meant when He said that the Kingdom of Heaven was for such as these. What a sweet, innocent trust and acceptance! I pray her heart always trusts Him so completely. And I pray we all open our eyes to see the beauty He brings from our ashes.
God bless, Allison Key, MD
The Newest Member of our 3:16 Family!
Our first son was so much fun, God couldn`t wait to bless us with another one!!
Erika and Ryan Smith, along with big brother Cole, would like to welcome the newest addition to their family, Maddox James Smith. Maddox was born on June 9, 2018 at 10:48 am. Weighing in at 6 pounds and 14 oz and measuring 19.6 inches long. He has beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes. Maddox is happy, healthy and eager to meet everyone! Please hold him in your hearts and prayers!
“Every good and perfect gift is from above…” James 1:17
BTL Exilis: Skin Tightening & Body Contouring
On average women will incur 80% of their sun damage prior to turning 20. At 20, collagen production will decline by 1% per year and skin thickness will decrease roughly 7% every 10 years. The Exilis treatment is ideal for any patient between the ages of 21 and 70+ looking for cosmetic improvement on their face and body. Common areas of treatment include the eye area, around the mouth, chin area, jaw line, décolleté, arms, legs, knees, ankles and buttocks, abdomen, love handles, and the intimate areas. A simultaneous delivery of radiofrequency and ultrasound provides patients with a more affordable and clinically effective treatment to tighten skin, minimize wrinkles and fine lines, and increase collagen production. Exilis meets strict safety standards. The embedded Energy Flow Control system ensures that the exact amount of energy is delivered during the treatment. The integrated cooling allows your provider to target heat to proper skin depth to achieve the best results, while maintaning patient comfort. The safety and efficacy of the therapy have been thoroughly tested in several clinical studies. Patients in many clinical studies have reported outstanding clinical body shaping and tightening outcomes, and patients report minimal to no discomfort. You can literally resume exercising or return to work immediately post the therapy. We will tailor the best treatment plan based on your individual needs, but most patients undergo between 2 to 4 treatments scheduled on a weekly basis. Each treatment of a specific body part usually takes between 15 to 30 minutes. This can vary depending on the treated area, treated indication, and other factors. The whole Exilis procedure is non-invasive and requires no recovery time. You can easily have the treatment during your lunch break and return to your daily activities immediately. How quickly you will see results very much depends on the treated area, its condition and other factors. You may see visible improvements after a single session. Results will typically continue to improve over a 3-month follow up period.
Workout of the Month
Always check with your healthcare provider before starting any exercise regimen. The workout provided below should be done to your own comfort level.
Beach Butt Work-Out Do this workout daily for a beach-ready bottom!
Warm Up with 10 Minute Walk/Jog, Then:
20 Squats 20 Plie Squats 20 Donkey Kicks (per leg) 20 Fire Hydrants (per leg) 20 Circling Donkey Kicks (per leg) 30 Alternating Sliders 30 Hip Lifts 30 Lunge Kicks (per leg)
Cool Down & Stretch!
Healthy & Easy Recipe: Turkey & Bean Tostadas with Tomato-Avocado Salsa
Baked tortillas hold the same appeal as their fried counterparts in this tostada recipe—crunchy and delicious!
5 Servings
Salsa Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped tomatoes (about 2 medium tomatoes)
- 1 medium avocado (halved, pitted, diced)
- 1 large ear of corn, husks and silk discarded, and kernels removed from the cobOR
- 1 cup frozen whole-kernel corn (thawed, drained)
- 1-2 medium fresh jalapeño peppers (seeds and ribs discarded, finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Tostada Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 5 6-inch corn tortillas
- 8 ounces ground, skinless turkey breast
- 1, 15.5-ounce can no-salt-added black beans (rinsed, drained)
- 2 tablespoons water
Directions
- In a small bowl, stir together all the salsa ingredients. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lightly spray the foil with cooking spray.
- Place the tortillas on the baking sheet. Lightly spray the tortillas with cooking spray. Using a fork, pierce the tortillas a few times to prevent them from filling with air. Bake for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
- Meanwhile, in a medium nonstick saucepan, cook the turkey over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until no longer pink, stirring occasionally to turn and break up the turkey. Transfer the turkey to a plate.
- In a large nonstick saucepan, cook the beans and water over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, or until heated through. Using a potato masher, coarsely mash the beans until they’re the consistency of refried beans. Remove from the heat. Stir in the ground turkey.
- 6To assemble the tostadas, spread the bean and turkey mixture over each tortilla. Spoon the salsa over all.
Copyright © 2018 American Heart Association, Healthy For GoodTM, heart.org/healthyforgood