Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Campaign

So through bzzagent.com I joined the Burt's Bees sensitive skin campaign. I got this amazing package in the mail full of coupons, samples, and 2 full sized products! I was surprised to receive that many items in one box and just for joining the campaign. So I tried it and was pleasantly surprised to find that my skin acutally felt good after using their products. I have very sensitive skin and have even gone so far as to read the ingredients in products before I buy them because I have learned of a few allergies I have that some products contain those ingredients in them. But I didn't find any of these allergies in the Burt's Bees products and when I used it my skin acutally felt good. A lot of times I use products and my skin hurts, breaks out in rashes, tingles, burns, etc. But Burt's Bees didn't do those things, instead it felt great and more calm. I'm excited about this product and can't wait to go buy some more of their skin care line.

Here are some photos of the contents of the box that I received from them! Isn't it amazing?!!

Preparing Against The Wiles Of The Devil

Ephesians 6: 10-18

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

This passage to me tells me that we are not in a physical battle where we can always see our enemies and fight them. But we are in a Spiritual battle where our enemy is satan and sometimes it may be difficult for us to tell where he is and what snares he's trying to throw in our way. So we must be in prayer and our spirit must agree with the spirit of God, so that we will be ready for any kind of distress or persecution the enemy may bring upon us.

Recyclebank

Recyclebank.com is a neat place to go. If you join you can earn points and then redeem your points for coupons. It can be helpful when you go coupon shopping.

If interested sign up here:


Recyclebank

Faith To Move Mountains

In the Bible book of Mark chapter 11 verses 22-26 talks about having faith in God. It reads:

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

This passage is special to me. All parts of the Bible are special. But this passage has been one of the rules that I have lived my life by. See growing up I had so many problems that caused me to be made fun of and have more pain and sorrow. It is only now looking back I see what those problems were from. I was diagnosed with a rare genetic blood disease. And I have lived with it all my life. It can manifest itself in many different ways, ranging from mental, such as anxiety, emotional stress, panic attacks, etc to skin rashes, to extreme pain, to the worst kind of pain you could imagine. I was always sickly as a child. And I would have times that I would get so sick I felt as if I were going to die. I had to find some way to get strength. So I turned to God. In him I found great faith, I learned that God can do anything, if I just believe and he wills it he can heal me of this disease. I have been healed many times by God. I would like for the disease to just go away, but I understand that sometimes it has to be left there for God to remind me of what I came from. But when it gets out of control God always brings me back. Faith has been a great part of my life. I learned to lean on someone I couldn't see, but spent many hours in prayer. Someone I could only feel and sometimes hear the voice of God in my heart. Faith so great that can move mountains is what will get your life to a spiritual strong place in God. Without God I wouldn't be here today. I've said it before and I will continue saying it till the day I die, for the final time! God has healed me, spared my life, brought me back from the dead when I died in my sleep one night that I will never forget. When you face death you don't forget it. You don't forget that sting of fate that left you. It remains with you always. And I am constantly reminded that God is a ever present presence in my life. He is my sole existence. My life has always revolved around him and I will pledge that the rest of my life will still revolve around him. Faith to move mountains is the only way to live your spiritual life. I don't know what I'd do without faith. Faith is the start of something great. God will move if we let him and believe that he's got the power to do ANYTHING!

Heat Stroke

Small poem I wrote about the insane heat wave that's going on here!

Living in a heat wave.
Feeling trapped like a animal in a cage.
Brian stuck in a hazy daze.
Ready to scream out in an angry rage.

As temperature rise I feel like I'm going insane.
This heat is getting me down inside.
I don't think I can take much more so I pray for rain.
Just want to find a giant pool to go in and hide.

Bondage

To have people look into their souls and turn around their deeds of woe.

To make amends with things of the past.

To turn to God and for his help to ask.

These things may seem difficult to some, but not to me because God has become my best friend over the years.

My early life brought me pain, sorrow, and tears, but in this time of utter distress I turned to God and found rest.

I found a place where I could go, where I wouldn’t be judged based on the fashion of my clothes, or what hair do I had that day, or even the sickness that tried to take my life away.

None of these things did God judge me on, though humans had high standards for me.

Standards I couldn’t understand or see, standards I couldn’t measure up to, so I found I had to leave.

But God has been my strong rock of faith and rest. Though the others mocked and said I couldn’t have God in my new life away from their nest of vipers and lies.

But early on in life I promised God that in a moment of fright to let me live that night and to see daylight, and if he did, I promised I would be good.

Since then a goodness has become me. Even when I’m bad I feel guilty. Even though some others would disagree.

They say I’m bad because I choose not to follow their rules. Their rules, manmade sanitations that no one could follow.

Only the vipers’ prey upon the mice, only the snake sees with his rotten eye.

So God through his mighty wisdom showed me greater things then these.

And in dreams and visions he did let me see. A better world that I could live in and be happy.

A sadness left me when I left them; something fell off our lives since then.

Bondage is a strong word most don’t understand.

Bondage can be anything small or big. It can overcome your life.

It brings out the spirit of a man and crushes him down to size.

Is this the life you want to lead? Is this what God has called his children to be?

A people bound and not free? I think not, I know God died to set us free.

Freedom is easy to understand, it’s simple to get, just hold out your hand.

Learn to grab onto God’s grace and goodness.

And learn to turn and walk away from a nest of vipers and their lies.

Learn to stand strong in Christ, hold your head up high.

Man doesn’t set rules not in the word of God.

Man doesn’t add to or take away from the word of God.

God is the potter and we are the clay.

What will you choose today?

To live bound or to live free?

My choice is made, how about thee?

Olay $20 Rebate!

Wow this is awesome. When you spend $50 on certain Olay products you can send in to get a $20 rebate from them. Ends 9/2. So hurray up and save your receipts!

http://www.olay.com/publishingimages/offers/rebate/july152011/crossbrandpg/20_olay.pdf