Beauty Before Brittany

This devotional study guide is designed to be a workbook where you can record your thoughts and respond to what you've read. Each devotional section includes questions and pages where you can write down your initial thoughts as well as notes. What does a broken girl need to become whole and free in Jesus? For most, the answer is not "just pray" or "go to church." It's not a "simple fix" although women are always interested in how to improve themselves. What women want to know is "how do I do it?" Specifically, women want to know how to change, identify who they really are on the inside, increase their faith and confidence, and improve their lives. The world is changing the hearts of people, not only with media but also with voices and noise drawing us into lifestyles and circumstances that appear too glamorous, but often leave women defeated, abused and unloved. The rules are changing, but there is one who remains the same; yesterday, today, and forever- our God. "and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." Isaiah 61:3 NIV. All hurting women are asking the same questions: Am I really valuable? Will my life ever change? Does God love me? Am I too far gone for God's love? How did I end up here? Why am I so broken? Can I be fixed? Am I beautiful? Beauty Before Brittany is designed to answer these questions, and more. It is divided into four sections that correspond with the way most women "experience" their lives: Unlocking the Pain (exploration), Unlocking their Passion (using experiences to gain perspective), Unlocking their Purpose (establishing their foundation for wholeness) and Opening the Door to Destiny (confidence for the future). Each chapter highlights a particular aspect of the woman's pain experience and how that aspect has affected (and can be improved) by trusting God for His design and purpose for her life. Women will find the Resource Appendix particularly useful. This appendix doesn't simply list resources by name, but divides them into categories and provides a brief description of each one. It focuses upon the use of "tools" - websites, books, music, women's health agencies and more that provide links to help a woman on her journey to maintaining her "whole" life. Visit LionsBeautyQueens.org for other resources including pregnancy crisis and more that can help while still on the journey. If a woman can really be helped by music, resources are shared. If a different woman needs help with kicking old habits, tips are provided on "how to" break addictions. Beauty Before Brittany is written from the perspective of a woman whose been abused; by life, by people and by the world. It asks the questions hurting women ask, and answers them with the love women need to improve their lives through a relationship with Christ. It dispels many of the myths that have surrounded broken women and demonstrates a host of new opportunities for wholeness in Christ. Dana McCartney Candillo takes women through the process of revealing their pain to discovering their passion and igniting their purpose for 21st century living, God's way. Armed with personal stories, blog entries, and questions that require the courage to dig deep; every woman finds herself restored to their place of Beauty Before Brittany.