Tag Archives: relationships

How Critiques and Crowds Build Confidence

August 6, 2015Confidence, Faith, Lifeconfidence, confidence conflicts, peace, relationshipsCatrina

I love hanging out with teenagers. You may think I’m crazy, but you’ve got to know the kind of kids I’m hanging with.

Youth groups from all over America have traveled to Orlando to participate in a National Fine Arts Festival and I’ve had the privilege of witnessing their amazing talents. There are ten thousand kids here who are stepping out of their comfort zones, using their gifts and abilities and encouraging each other to do the same. During a time when so many teens in our society are defeated and discouraged, it has been rather refreshing to see so many of them excited and enthusiastic.

But this isn’t a utopia. I’m sure that when these kids separate from each other they will be back to stressing and striving, but without a doubt, this week has strengthened their character.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

We become like the people we hang around and although this powerful truth is sometimes quite devastating to a person’s character, it is also one of the greatest keys to building confidence.

One of my favorite parts of being here is walking through the halls of the convention center where the various artists are warming up for their turn on stage. It is an amazing comparison to the crowded streets of Downtown Disney where we spent some time last night. Both places offer entertainment with the pause in your walk but the atmosphere in the convention halls is very different then the beautiful, waterfront streets where the “magic happens.” Don’t get me wrong; Disney also offers good, healthy fun. But the dream that is inspired there is really Walt’s, more than his patrons. At this National Fine Arts Festival, the kids are building their own dreams.

I feel so blessed that two of my own kids are here having the flames in their hearts fanned by the approval and inspiration of their peers as well as the critiques of their judges. Of course I wish their performances were rated as perfection, but I know that the judgment and advice given them will help them continue to develop their gifts because they are witnessing success and failure all around them.

They know that they are not alone.

It’s often said, “When iron sharpens iron, sparks fly.” For the performers receiving
their rating, the sparks may be tears of disappointment, but that’s part of the character-building. Tears make their experience real and lasting because they refine the dream.

The desire to do better is only proof of the value of that dream to that person.

I am impressed with the courage these kids have to stand before their peers and offer their hearts. I know many grown men and women who lack the confidence to share their talent around a campfire at night, yet these kids, during their most sensitive years, step out in front of each other and risk it all. And their courage becomes confidence wether they rate “superior” or not because there is a camaraderie being built amongst them as they cheer each other on and they are learning that they have something to offer this world and it doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective.

Witnessing others achieve a dream creates confidence that you can too.

Our society is full of people (myself included) with hurts, hang-ups and habits that have destroyed the dreams within us. Perhaps there’s something we all could learn from hanging out with teens who still believe they can do anything.

If you, or someone you love, is feeling defeated or discouraged, I encourage you to reconnect with your dreams by practicing the gifts and talents inside of you and then risking your heart by sharing it with someone who just might be encouraged by it.

No One Should Experience Devastation Feeling Invisible

July 29, 2015Faith, LifeGrief, peace, relationships, scriptureCatrina

Every one of us has felt invisible at some point in our lives or another. Whether it was at a party full of strangers, in the middle of the grocery store or in the privacy of our own home when our brothers got all the attention or our husband is distracted.Our lives may center around our needs and desires but not everyone else’s does and unfortunately that can be a difficult reality.

We all want to be seen, but it’s not just about image.

We feel invisible when our words, works or worth is not perceived as valuable. Which, of course, is complicated because our perception is filtered by our love language. For example, if we desire words of affirmation yet no one speaks up, we may feel worthless even if we are given a gift of gratitude.

Allow me to go back to the example of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb (last week’s blog). When John tells this story in chapter 20, he doesn’t mention the other women who were with her. The other gospels do. I can’t help but wonder if Mary’s friends were invisible to John?

Consider this with me:

John must have been a sensitive man. His gospel is full of stories about relationships and the heart of the people involved. Do you think that perhaps John references only Mary because she was the one he connected with? Maybe they spoke the same love language. Maybe they were both sensitive. Maybe John just couldn’t relate to the other women. Perhaps they stuffed their feelings and he wasn’t even aware of how much of what he was going through was affecting them too.

I’m not sure why John doesn’t mention Mary Magdalene’s girlfriends, but they were there because Matthew and Mark refer to the “women” of the same story and Luke records the names of some of them.

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

*****

Have you ever been left out of a story or treated as if you were not part of something significant? I have, and it used to bother me a lot until I realized that I do the same thing to others. Just the other day I bought a coffee at a drive-through and as I drove away it dawned on me that I was so pre-occupied in my mind that if someone were to ask me to describe the window server I wouldn’t be able to. Not because the server was invisible, but because I was blinded by my own self-obsessed nature. Most often it’s our own issues that keep us from connecting with others.

We recognize and remember those who we connect with.

When my husband and I lost our daughter we made a conscious effort to allow each other to deal with the grief in our own ways. We had been told that 90% of couples who lose a child end up divorced and with the way our coping mechanisms would fluctuate we realized how hard it is to see each other’s heart when our own is so broken. But dealing with a crisis is enough; how foolish it is to become offended by the people we need so desperately. I believe our decision to BE and LET BE is the reason our marriage not only survived but was also strengthened.

Our connection to one another’s pain not only increased our intimacy, but it also opened our eyes to all the invisible people whose lives were also affected by the loss of our child. It wasn’t all about us.

We were all in this life together and together we can make it through.

If you are in the midst of a crisis, I encourage you to become aware of those around you. It may be obvious that other people are hurting, like you are; connect with them, encourage them and allow them to encourage you. Others may be less demonstrative and may be stuffing their pain or trying to be strong for you; acknowledge them, appreciate them. Allow their strength to sustain you, but also allow them to be weak in a moment when you do have strength and enjoy the experience of true connection.

The Power of an Introduction

July 15, 2015Confidence, Faith, Lifeconfidence, confidence conflicts, peace, relationshipsCatrina

We’ve all been in a situation where we feel uncomfortable.

You arrive at a gathering at a new location and, looking around, you don’t see a single familiar face.

Age does not seem to discriminate against the desire to fit in. Young or old, we all want to belong. We can be completely comfortable with one person, but if person is going to be busy with all her other guests, we are not going to to be comfortable with her friends until we find a common ground with them.

I guess that’s why introductions are one of the most powerful tools for building–and displaying–confidence.

I remember the day my aunt taught me how to introduce my friends to her. She was a teenager sunbathing in my yard when I ran by her with my friends like she wasn’t even there. She called me back and taught me the proper way to do an introduction.

“Auntie, this is my friend, so and so”
“so and so, this is my auntie….”

As much as I appreciated learning this important social skill, it scared me to death! My aunt was obviously insulted by the way I had treated her and I didn’t know what to do with the strong emotion. I felt like a total fool. From that moment in my early childhood until well into my adult years, I would panic whenever I had to make an introduction. A situation would arise where I was the one who knew two parties and the feeling of foolishness would instantly overwhelm me and (of course!) the names would escape me, making it that much more awkward.

I was set free of that stressful feeling the day I was doing haircuts for a family with eleven kids. I was so impressed with the way this amazing mother would bring one child at a time to me and not only tell me the child’s name and tell the child mine, but also stand there with us telling me all about this child as if he or she were her only one, while the other ten played quietly in the other room. After hearing about each child’s gifts, interests and abilities I felt included in her family and I fell in love with them all.

That one experience challenged me in many ways. It made me want to explore the possibility that perhaps the secret to discipling sibling rivalry is to make each child feel as important as she made her kids feel. And it helped me let go of my old fears of feeling foolish giving introductions. Since then I have tried to embraced the challenge of not only sharing my friends’ names, but I also now try to tell something about each person that the other might be interested in. Although I haven’t mastered it yet, I do feel my aunt would be proud to know I now enjoy the powerful moments of helping friends feel acknowledged, included and important in unfamiliar places where they might have otherwise felt uncomfortable and awkward. That’s the power of an introduction and everyone of us has that power should we decide to be confident enough to use it.

Are you Confident they Love You?

May 13, 2015Confidence, Faith, Lifebalance, confidence, confidence conflicts, peace, relationshipsCatrina

When my little boy was acting up, I would often ask, “Do you need a time-out or a hug?” I was learning the ropes of parenting as a single mom and I was never really sure how to discipline correctly. Sometimes kids act up because they are hungry or lonely. It’s hard to know what they need unless we really study them. After all, sometimes I act up and I don’t even know what I need!

A time-out please. In the tub. Continue reading Are you Confident they Love You? →

Beauty: the Eyes have it!

April 22, 2015Beauty, Confidence, Lifeconfidence, confidence conflicts, image issues, Img.ID, relationshipsCatrina

I’m sure you have heard the well known cliché:

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

How sweet to have a husband, father or friend tell us that we are “beautiful” no matter what we look like but, honestly, sometimes I find this statement a bit appeasing. Don’t get me wrong, I believe it is absolutely true. Beauty is more than skin deep and true love looks into the heart it beholds and if the heart is lovely, the woman is beautiful. Period.

But in reality, Continue reading Beauty: the Eyes have it! →

Our Chaotic Responses to Compliments

January 14, 2015Beauty, Confidence, Lifebeauty battle, confidence, confidence conflicts, image issues, peace, relationshipsCatrina

“YOU are ADORABLE!”

These are the words we hear as little girls. Or new brides. And perhaps again when we are pregnant and “glowing” or dressed up for a special occasion.

“Thank you” would be the proper response, but tell us we look good when we don’t feel lovely and an inner struggle emerges. We may try to act confident–and end up something prideful or arrogant; or we may reject your words rudely… or ever so politely.

I was pregnant and alone when I received the most compliments in my life. Talk about chaotic responses! I desperately wanted to receive the encouragement being offered but, instead, the rejection that had wounded my heart was screaming out words far more believable. “If I were really that adorable, my husband wouldn’t have thrown me away like a used rag.” “They are just saying that because they know I am a pathetic looser.”

I cringe to write those statements, because I now understand that no child of God should bash herself just because someone else’s humanity injured her. No insults or rejections of an imperfect people should have the authority to form our identity! But we let them.

It took me a long time to find my worth after facing broken vows. I still struggle to believe I am valued; who doesn’t? But just as one rejection caused me to throw out the confidence that good parents had instilled in me, it also only took one affirmation to bring it back.

No, it wasn’t my next husband’s.

Although he is a wonderful man and I wouldn’t change him for the world, I have learned (well, am learning) not to give man the authority to form my identity. No human is a good mirror. We were designed to reflect the One who created us and only His opinion has the authority to give us true confidence.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you are longing to move on from the hurts from your past and be released from the struggle for your identity, I encourage you to simply ask God what He thinks of you. If you will watch, wait and listen, He will answer, and when He does, trust His opinion, value it over all others, and allow it to be your source of confidence and beauty.

*****

Catrina Welch is an inspirational author and speaker whose personal experience with overcoming rejection, betrayal and loss–as well as her expertise as a cosmetologist, image consultant and Biblical life-coach–is empowering women to BE and LET BE.

Her latest book, CONFIDENT BEAUTY: Reflecting the One Who Made You, with the Images in your Mirror and in your Soul, is now available in your favorite bookstores. Autographed copies of all her books are available on her website at www.CatrinaWelch.com

Beautiful Garment of Gratitude

November 26, 2014Faith, Lifeconfidence conflicts, peace, relationshipsCatrina

My best friend is one of the happiest people I know. Everyone loves to be around her because her joy and enthusiasm for life is contagious. Many of us go to her when we feel down because she not only listens and cares, but she has a way of finding something funny in our miserable stories and her signature laugh breaks the bonds of any depression. I am so thankful to have a friend like Joann who makes life so much more enjoyable. But I know her well enough to realize that she, too, has difficult days. When you first encounter her cheer, you may think she faces no confidence conflicts, but I know that one of her great challenges is the condemnation she has gotten for being so happy.

Misery loves company–if that company is also miserable. Joyful company to someone who wants to bask in their sorrow is like salt in a wound: It may bring healing, but it hurts. Picture a patient snapping at her nurse as she tries to clean out a cut and that’s what I’ve seen happen to my beautiful friend for greeting someone cheerfully. I’ve done it to her, too.

Like March 1, 1999. I didn’t know it was my last day taking care of my sick baby, I only knew I was weary, worried and wanting my friend to cry with me. She cheerfully told me her day was too full. She’d already sacrificed many days to help me but that day I resented her happiness as she went on with her life when mine was still in turmoil. It takes extreme circumstances for me to be offended by this close friend, because I know her heart and it is good. How foolish I would have been to hold a grudge over something so small when I needed her so desperately to help me deal with something so big.

Strangers may judge a joyful heart as phony or naive. But anyone with insight knows joy accompanies more than happiness. We all need to be more thankful for the people in our lives whose predominate continence is joy. No human is without pain but those with faith that “joy comes in the morning,” who are able to find the good in the midst of the difficult are the ones we all need to be around.

If you find yourself feeling a bit down this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to choose your company well and don’t just go with your first impression. Get to know the heart of your company.

If you are feeling misjudged, or outcast or lonely remember that nothing makes a woman more beautiful than a cheerful (and confident) heart and nothing robs her beauty more than misery. Seek after the joy that gives you strength.

If your life is full of difficulty right now, realize that you are not a phony by being joyful. Would you join me in looking for the good and putting on an attitude of gratitude as if it were a beautiful garment? When we, like Joann, wear joy in the midst of unhappiness, fear or sorrow and we, too, can break the bonds of depression around us.

Isaiah 61: 1b-3

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

*****

Welcome to My Mess

November 8, 2014Confidence, Lifeconfidence, confidence conflicts, relationshipsCatrina

Have you ever held back from saying something because you didn’t want to draw attention to yourself? I did that to you on Wednesday.

I’m sorry.

Untitled6 It’s not the first time I’ve done something like this. In fact, I used to do it all the time–like before I owned my own home. I love to entertain and I wanted to invite my friends over, but I was embarrassed of where I lived so I held back from hosting anything. And if my “humble abode” was a mess–which it often was because I didn’t really appreciate it the way I should have–I wouldn’t even let an unannounced visitor enter the door. Life is different now. I married a builder who has blessed me with a home I not only appreciate but absolutely enjoy. Even when life gets busy and the house gets out of order I am still willing to share my beautiful blessing with others.

I should have had that attitude on Wednesday. But instead, when my website updated itself and became a total chaotic mess of overlapping text, I decided not to write my blog because I didn’t want you to see it. Well, it’s still a work in progress but I have regained my confidence now and am ready to share my mess with you. “I am who I am” and I am going to practice what I preach:

Confidence is what makes a woman (or man!) beautiful. Liking yourself with all your flaws is what is likable. If we are called to love our neighbor as ourself and we do not love ourselves, we cannot obey that commandment very well then, can we? To not accept our faults and failures is to not love ourselves. And if we cannot accept our own shortcomings, how can we honestly accept others’ imperfections?

For me to hold back from giving to you what I have been asked to blog about, simply because I don’t like how I look, is selfish. My need to have my “home” perfect before I let you in isn’t humility; it is pride.

Maybe this is what Jesus meant when He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Some people won’t follow Christ because they think Christianity is no fun and has too many rules but, in reality, this wisdom is very liberating. If I deny my own need to be perfect and carry my shame like Christ did His cross (behind Him, not looking at it but continuing toward His purpose) what really happens is that I am FREE to BE me and LET others BE themselves. I can love others because I love myself.

THAT is what makes life beautiful!

If you, too, find yourself holding back from offering your heart or home (or website!) to others because you know you are a mess, I encourage you to put your confidence in the One who carried His cross for you. You don’t have to be perfect. Will you join me in laying down false humility and picking up the courage to invite others into our mess? Only when we are vulnerable and authentic with each other can we have true and satisfying relationships. I think it’s worth the risk, how about you?

*****

The Catch 22: Self-Talk vs. Feelings

October 18, 2014Beauty, Confidence, Lifeconfidence, confidence conflicts, peace, relationshipsCatrina

One of my favorite things to do is to walk along the shores of Cape Cod with the waves crashing on my feet. I hear this is a great way to detox your body. For me, it’s a great way to detox my spirit. I especially find this time alone with God valuable when I am about to speak to a group of women about the Confidence Conflicts that so easily beset me.

As I was praying for this women I will be with this weekend, I felt compelled to collect white stones. There weren’t many and of the ones I found:

Some were buried in the sand, just barely showing their beauty.
Others were covered by other stones of different colors.
Some were pushed from the shoreline by the high tide, mingled with the dead crabs and caught in the seaweed.

If I spotted one in the crashing waves, I pursued it. Sometimes it took several attempts to grasp it in my hand because of the strong undertow. I felt a little silly about, but I couldn’t let one be lost. I was thinking of the many women who would be at this retreat and I in that moment, the stones represented their hearts.

Some women feel left out, alone in the dry heat buried in shame, or regret and they don’t know how to get out of the mess they are in.
Others are overwhelmed with everyone else’s responsibilities that have been laid on them. They want to find themselves, but they feel that others deserve more than they do.
Many have been pushed around, or complacency has moved them to unhealthy situations where they feel trapped in rubble, death and depression.
Many are trying to stay clean and pure, but the undercurrent of their lives is pulling them into feeling weak, worn and susceptible to going against their own convictions.

How we feel affects our self-talk. It’s awful hard to be confident when you feel ashamed, frustrated or worn out.

Our self-talk affects how we feel. It is possible to be confident in any situation when you remind yourself you are loved, wanted and valued.

I walked many beaches to collect enough stones for this retreat and as I did, I prayed, “God, remind your people of your unconditional love, help them to believe they are wanted and valued. Make them confident enough to let their heart stand out with beauty in the mist of their dark and dreary situations.”

I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it. Revelations 2:17b

*****

Are You Confident in the Face of Correction?

September 13, 2014Confidence, Lifeconfidence, confidence conflicts, image issues, relationshipsCatrina

“No, no, honey, that’s dangerous.”

You would think my mom had just slapped the kid across the face and yelled at him by the way he burst into heart-wrenching tears. I picked my nephew up, hoping my embrace would reassure him that his grandmother loved him and only wanted to keep him safe.

“You used to be just like him,” mom told me.

No wonder I felt so compelled to try to calm his sobbing; I relate to him.

A child’s tearful response to correction and restriction is understandable–and even adorable–but not all children respond with tears. Some respond with curiosity and a desire to experience the danger, while others respond with rebellion or a determination to do what they want anyway. Some children shut down in fear. Still others learn the lesson with no heightened emotion.

When my mom reminded me of how sensitive I was as a child, I realized not much has changed inside of me. I still feel things deeply. But, like you, I’ve learned what is emotionally appropriate and what is not. We find ways to keep our emotions in line with what we find is acceptable. For some of us, this takes a lot of self-talk.

“She isn’t yelling at me; ’No’ doesn’t mean she doesn’t like me.”

Unfortunately, our self-talk is not always helpful. Sometimes we reinforce our fears and frustrations.

“She hates me! She never lets me have what I want.”

Adults may be more mature with what we are feeling, but deep inside our temperament and our self-talk govern our confidence. Since it is harder for some of us than it is for others–we would be wise to understand that when dealing with each other.

None of my children responded to correction with a broken heart. In fact, if I had picked up my strong-willed child like I did my nephew, he would have been angry at me for coddling him… and then my feelings would have been hurt… but I would have stuffed away my desire to cry over it, because after all, I’m a grown woman now!

“For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:12 NLT

If you find yourself–or someone you love–battling childish emotions, I encourage you to give yourself–or them–grace. We may be grown up now, but we are still human. Emotions should not govern our confidence, but they are still real and it is good to feel. So BE and LET BE.

*****

My Struggle with Confident Beauty

August 30, 2014Beauty, Confidence, Life, Personal Stylebeauty, beauty battle, confidence, confidence conflicts, image issues, Img.ID, peace, relationshipsCatrina

My whole world was rocked the day my first husband left me.

Pregnant and alone, his betrayal made me feel ugly, unwanted and self-conscious.

Before then, even though I was a hairdresser, I never really focused on my own appearance because, honestly, I was afraid of being shallow or vain. Suddenly it was a struggle to stand in front of a mirror all day; I became extremely aware of my image.

People sensed my lack of confidence, and since it’s easy to tell a pregnant woman she is beautiful–especially when they knew I was rejected by the man I adored–they told me,

“You’re adorable!” But what resounded in my mind was, “they know you are a throw-away-wife.”

I craved their compliments anyway–especially after my status changed to “single mom” and they were silenced because my big belly was no longer “cute”– so, I set out on a mission to prove myself worthy of attention again. After all, I knew all the tricks of the trade, I was a licensed cosmetologist:

the hair
the nails
the makeup and spa treatments.
but nothing changed how I felt about myself on the inside.

I call that time in my life the Beauty Battle.

Every woman faces an emotional battle over how she looks at some point in her life. But I didn’t know that, because not every woman handles her confidence conflicts the same way that I did.

I was striving for beauty, but some women hide under oversized sweatshirts, tattoos, or heavy makeup. Others de-value or laugh-off their pain, still others use stimulants, shut down their hearts, work real hard, or focus on everyone else’s needs but their own.

Some women get stuck in the battle with no weapon to fight. They may be determined, defeated, desolate or desperate but, like me, without confidence no matter how well she does her makeup, it’s not pretty.

Maybe you have someone in your life suffering like that and you wish you understood them?

When that was me, I didn’t even understand myself. But, after becoming a certified image consultant, and learning the six styles of beauty I began to recognize that I wasn’t alone, other women felt rejection as deeply as I did simply because not all women are alike.

Not in their appearance,
Not in their dreams or desires.

Understanding this helped me to stop comparing myself to other women (especially the new wife…) in fact it changed my whole outlook on life–especially how I help my clients. While beauty may be something women will spend a lot of time and money on, when it comes to the deep longing in their heart, “only her hairdresser knows for sure.” It’s a hard topic for women to talk about.

That’s why I wrote about it in Confident Beauty; it’s easier to read.

If you know someone who is caught in the Beauty Battle, would you tell them about my book?

There is hope, and every woman deserves to know there is a power and purpose for HER beauty, no matter which style she is!

This weekend the ebook edition of Confident Beauty is on sale for only $1.99, so be sure to download it onto your favorite electronic reading device before Labor Day Weekend is over.

*****

Are You a Dry Sponge?

August 24, 2014Confidence, Lifeconfidence, confidence conflicts, peace, relationshipsCatrina

I was all ready to walk out the door. I’d taken extra care in choosing my outfit and applying my makeup because I needed to make a good impression at my meeting. With shaking hands, I poured myself a cup of coffee for the road–and missed. As the spill quickly ran toward me, I grabbed a dry sponge to clean up the mess. If you’ve ever been in a situation like this, you know that a dry sponge is not nearly as effective as a damp one. For me, the situation became a teaching moment.

If you only have a dry sponge to work with, you must be patient or you will simply push the spill into a bigger mess.

I only had a dry sponge to work with when I first started to help women. I wanted to be a good mentor and guide others along their way in life but my greatest efforts were more effective in spreading a spill than they were in cleaning them up–especially when it came to building confidence. I could not give others what I had not received myself.

Despite all my efforts to look good, after my divorce I had a very low self-esteem, and until I learned to soak up the help I needed, I could not absorb anyone else’s messes.

Perhaps you are in a situation right now where you are all dressed and ready to go, your desire is to make a good impression somewhere to someone, but there’s a mess in front of you and, try as you may, the efforts you are making just seem to make things worse. Are you feeling dry and empty? Do you need to face your fears, forgive someone (maybe yourself?) or seek counsel? Don’t be afraid to get what you need because when you take care of your own heart you are far more effective in making a difference in your world.

Hebrews 3:12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 15 Remember what it says:

“Today when you hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts
as Israel did when they rebelled.”

*****

Catrina Welch, author, speaker

CONFIDENT BEAUTY Image- and Life-Coaching

Tag Archives: relationships

How Critiques and Crowds Build Confidence

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

No One Should Experience Devastation Feeling Invisible

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

*****

The Power of an Introduction

Are you Confident they Love You?

Beauty: the Eyes have it!

Our Chaotic Responses to Compliments