Previews from a photoshoot yesterday with Liz Le -check out her Instagram: @sealillly
She's a wonderful surfer/model I met a couple years ago...but I didn't know her story till yesterday.
Even the most beautiful people you might meet have some obstacles to overcome. Not every story is as drastic or as dark as the next either. But every one is just as important.

In her words:
 "No one can set a limitation on yourself except yourself -because no-one knows what you're capable of doing sometimes... ...it's amazing what you can do when you start believing because that's all it takes: just that little bit of hope, just that little bit of spark, and it goes a long way"

That's awesome!

This year is a new chapter. I know what I'm doing with it. How about you? What's your story?

What makes you unique? You've probably considered this before. Personalities are like fingerprints. Different by design. Every person a masterpiece painted by the God's hand with beauty and purpose in every brush stroke. The world around is polluted by chaos and confusion -the buying and selling of forms of identity and ways to 'improve' the individual outside of our's Creator's design. They make a cake of frosting and sell it to people -especially young women- starving for the vision of identity and purpose. It fills for only a moment and leaves its victim with a sick stomach, but a craving for more of its wanton lies. All the while Christ sits with arms open saying "come, all you weary and weighed down -and I will give you rest". Come as you are. That's what the Gem Shell Initiative is. That message. Hear it. Take it or leave it. Look in this picture; like that ocean...God's Love is a gift: put your fear at bay and dive in. This is The Gem Shell Inititiative. Welcome! A new chapter has just opened. Follow the journey. Read the stories, accept Hope. Run with it. Become who you were made to be.

Anatomy of a 'Gem' shell necklace

Just like that shell, you are uniquely beautiful.

I never sell these necklaces.

Just like the necklace, you can't be bought. 

You are priceless.

A little scallop grew that shell. In the end, its shell was pierced by a starfish who took the scallop's life. That tiny creature lived its whole life just so its shell could wash up for us to appreciate its beauty. 

In a similar way, our Saviour gave his whole life just so we could know Him and experience His Love for this life, and for eternity. Just like that shell, He was pierced. For you.

But our Saviour, -much like how the sun never dies, but rises again- couldn't be held down by death.

Like the sun, the Son rose again. 

He waits with a smile in his face and a tear in his eye to see anyone run to Him for healing.

I don't wear a cross. I wear one of these myself. It represents the same thing.

"You are priceless. You are treasure."

"You are beautiful."

"You are loved."

Because your Creator loved you first.

Who we are

Welcome. This is The Gem Shell Initiative. What are we about? You. 

TGSI is here to speak truth. Truth about the value and love every human was given from birth by our Creator. God makes no 'mistakes', only people.

You were never a mistake.

Run with that!