The Lotus Flower

I've spent the day working on this blog. First I wanted a template that "matched" my intentions for the blog. I hope you like what I've come up with. It is a work in progress, much like the girls at Mercy Ministries.

I've chosen the LOTUS flower to represent this blog because of it's symbolism and how it reminds me of the journey the Mercy girls experience. Lotus blossoms represent BEAUTY and SUCCESS!

Lotus flowers start off as a seed in the bottom of a pond, in the smelly MUCK and the MUD. Yet they grow. As they grow, they eventually make their way OUT of the mucky, smelly bottom of the pond, through the water and to the TOP where they become a BEAUTIFUL, SUCCESSFUL flower.

This metaphor struck me.

You can be born into the worst possible situation, much like the lotus, but with considerable growth and determination, you can get to the top of the "pond" and become something more than what you were born into.

YOU can become the BEAUTIFUL, SUCCESSFUL "flower" at the top of the pond!

When I attend Mercy graduations, I see "beautiful flowers" that have grown while at Mercy, with great spirit, determination, purpose and empowered by their relationship with Jesus Christ.

...Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire...they saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Daniel 3:25-27

Thank you, Jesus, that when the heat is on in our lives, You get in the fire with us and are faithful to those who are faithful to You.

Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com
615-400-3019

It's Thanksgiving week and I cannot believe how this month has flown by! I am so thankful for the relationship I have developed with Mercy Ministries via my business partner, Teresa Bennett. 

Mercy has helped me to think "outside" of  myself; I hope that my involvement will leave the world a little bit of a better place. I am personally blessed each and every class and graduation that I attend at Mercy. The "Mercy Girls" work so hard at moving forward, day by day, into their new lives. I admire their strength. 

Some of our activities for November have included:

• November 6th: 5 graduates BLESSED with gifts from Makeovers for Mercy. Please pray for Lauren, Jama, Abbey, Tabitha and Hannah as they begin this new phase of their lives. 

• November 14th: Teresa hosted a fabulous "Styles of the Season" party attended by 40+ wonderfully supportive women! We were treated to fashion and makeup tips for the upcoming holiday season by Dawn D. Totty, owner of "The Head to Toe Woman"; we also were blessed with the musical offerings of Michelle Gold. It was a fabulous evening, great networking, visiting with old and new friends, awareness and money raised for the Mercy girls to boot! 

• November 18th: Mickie Howell of Keller Williams Realty - Murfreesboro hosted a "Beach Party". We spent several hours pampering the women of the M'boro office with foot spa treatments, facials, paraffin hand treatments and a wonderful beach themed visualization exercise. All designed to pamper and relieve stress. The additional benefit? Money raised to purchase products for future graduates of Mercy Ministries. 

I've just received word that the next graduation is set for December 9th; 6 girls are scheduled to graduate.  The gifts we are able to Bless the girls with, thanks to ALL of your generosity, are valued at $250.00. The need is great to continue to raise funds. 

Special thanks this month to Teresa Bennett, Mickie Howell, KW Murfreesboro, Dawn D. Totty and Michelle Gold. 

Makeovers for Mercy Events are FUN and can be tailored to your group!

Please let me know if you'd like to help...in addition to fundraising, we need your prayers for our mission, for the girls at Mercy, for the staff of Mercy and the work they are doing.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving wherever you may be. 

Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com

jan.orga@mac.com
615-400-3019