Just the title brings a melody to mind. "To everything... turn, turn, turn. There is a season...." As I post to SHINE for the first time in over a year, these words come immediately to heart. If you have followed SHINE in the past, you know that I have been very open and honest about the joys, sorrows, triumphs, and struggles of my spiritual life. Abandoning SHINE or the ministry I know God has for me in it, has never been my intention. But of course, as Satan is the supreme accuser...my first thought would be of guilt and shame that I could not be consistent throughout this past year with SHINE. Thus, the song running through my head: "To everything.... there is a season."
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Friday, February 17, 2012
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Beautiful Christian Woman
I got an email this morning and it so encompassed what I believe we want to portray at SHINE, that I thought I would share it with you.
We are all at different places in our walk, but one thing women need to realize is that we are ALL beautiful to God. This is really great! I hope you not only consider what it says about your own life; but think about it as you are examining the lives of those around you. Sometimes we get so caught up in what people AREN'T doing that they are supposed to, that we forget to realize we have the exact same tendencies.
We are all at different places in our walk, but one thing women need to realize is that we are ALL beautiful to God. This is really great! I hope you not only consider what it says about your own life; but think about it as you are examining the lives of those around you. Sometimes we get so caught up in what people AREN'T doing that they are supposed to, that we forget to realize we have the exact same tendencies.A Beautiful Christian Woman
When I say that I am a Christian,
I am not shouting that I am clean living.
I'm whispering,
"I was lost, but now I'm found and forgiven."
When I say that I am a Christian,
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and I need Christ to be my guide.
When I say that I am a Christian,
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and need His strength to carry on.
When I say that I am a Christian,
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
I have my share of headaches,
so I call upon His name.
When I say that I am a Christian,
I am not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
who received God's good grace, somehow!
Pretty is as Pretty does,
but Beautiful is just plain Beautiful.
but Beautiful is just plain Beautiful.
What a wonderful way to look at our testimony. Unfortunately so many times these days when someone says they are a Christian, we look for perfection in the person, rather than the reflection of Christ and what He has truly accomplished in their lives.
Have a wonderful day today.. and be beautiful!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Created with a Purpose
Well, it looks like my consistancy for blogging has averaged out to about once a month. I will be honest with you all. I really have no idea what to write today, but feel God is prompting me to post something. Maybe what He wants me to do is just exactly what I said SHINE is all about. It is about being real.
If you don't know me... I am FAR from perfect. I have a messy house, am overweight, tend to be a procrastinator, STAY tired, get stressed way too easily, overanalyze EVERYTHING... I could go on and on. But what God has been showing me lately is that it isn't all those things that define me. We are our own worst critic. Many of us will complain about our mothers or husbands, our bosses or coworkers... we complain about everyone who has criticism about us. Yet.... we put ourselves down more than ANY of those people.
God has been showing me lately that it is MY attitude that makes a difference in my day. It is MY perspective about myself that makes me proud or makes me depressed. And most importantly... it is GOD who defines who I am. He is the one in whom I find my value. He is the one who defines me. He is the one that decides whether I am worthless or not... and guess what?!?! NONE OF US are worthless in His eyes.
I think sometimes we forget to grasp onto the reality of God's love and purpose for us. He NEVER inteneded for us to sit and put ourselves down. YES... He wants us to always strive to be better, but He NEVER intended for us to drag ourselves down. God is not s God of shame. He convicts us, yes. But we can never accomplish our true purpose while living in shame.
Think of it this way. Would God want us to be ashamed of something HE created? Do you think when He looked at the earth He created and said it was good that He had any intention of us putting it down? Would you stand there before God as He created you and said, "Yeah God I know you made this beautiful creation, but that little pudge that haunts me in the mirror every morning.. well God, you could have done better." God did HIS BEST when He created you.
If we could just get our minds around the fact that each and every one of us were created for our own SPECIFIC GOD GIVEN PURPOSE. If we were not EXACTLY the way we are, it could never be fulfilled. I am not saying don't strive to be better. But start embracing ever aspect of who you are and who God made you to be. I guarantee you that once you start taking the attitude of being a beautiful creation of God, you will start to see the true beauty He wants you to see within yourself.
Be who God wants you to be today and be PROUD of the creation He made in YOU!
If you don't know me... I am FAR from perfect. I have a messy house, am overweight, tend to be a procrastinator, STAY tired, get stressed way too easily, overanalyze EVERYTHING... I could go on and on. But what God has been showing me lately is that it isn't all those things that define me. We are our own worst critic. Many of us will complain about our mothers or husbands, our bosses or coworkers... we complain about everyone who has criticism about us. Yet.... we put ourselves down more than ANY of those people.
God has been showing me lately that it is MY attitude that makes a difference in my day. It is MY perspective about myself that makes me proud or makes me depressed. And most importantly... it is GOD who defines who I am. He is the one in whom I find my value. He is the one who defines me. He is the one that decides whether I am worthless or not... and guess what?!?! NONE OF US are worthless in His eyes.
I think sometimes we forget to grasp onto the reality of God's love and purpose for us. He NEVER inteneded for us to sit and put ourselves down. YES... He wants us to always strive to be better, but He NEVER intended for us to drag ourselves down. God is not s God of shame. He convicts us, yes. But we can never accomplish our true purpose while living in shame.
Think of it this way. Would God want us to be ashamed of something HE created? Do you think when He looked at the earth He created and said it was good that He had any intention of us putting it down? Would you stand there before God as He created you and said, "Yeah God I know you made this beautiful creation, but that little pudge that haunts me in the mirror every morning.. well God, you could have done better." God did HIS BEST when He created you.
If we could just get our minds around the fact that each and every one of us were created for our own SPECIFIC GOD GIVEN PURPOSE. If we were not EXACTLY the way we are, it could never be fulfilled. I am not saying don't strive to be better. But start embracing ever aspect of who you are and who God made you to be. I guarantee you that once you start taking the attitude of being a beautiful creation of God, you will start to see the true beauty He wants you to see within yourself.
Be who God wants you to be today and be PROUD of the creation He made in YOU!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Maintenance Cream
Did you put on your make-up this morning? Did you take time to try to make yourself look beautiful? Did you use that special cream on your face this morning or last night? Was it age defying? Rejuvenating? Revitalizing? Is it supposed to give your skin a lift? Feel refreshing?
As I was laying in bed this morning listening to the falling rain, I decided to take time to listen to God. He spoke to me about my maintenance routine. On my way to work every morning, I make sure I use my special face cream, brush on a little powder, and put on my lipstick. I don't go anywhere without it.
Conviction seeps into my heart this morning. What kind of spiritual maintenance am I so faithful about? Ouch! Think about your own life today. Do you need to be more beautiful in your actions? Do you need rejuvenated? Revitalized? Refreshed? Do you need a lift?
Maybe you and I both need to focus on our spiritual beauty as much as our physical beauty. Maybe we need to use that spiritual preventative cream a little more often. This is my challenge to you. As you put on your make-up every day, let it be a reminder..."Did I put on my spiritual make-up?" If you don't spend any other time with God in the day, take the moments that you are working so hard on your outer beauty and spend that time in prayer. We need our spiritual maintenance cream far more than anything physical. Take time to read and listen to God today...He is the secret to youth, because with Him... we never die!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Is Your Pot Big Enough?
Yesterday I talked about growing pains and growth spurts. As I was getting ready today, I looked over at a plant I have in my bathroom. That plant has grown wonderfully; and it is beautiful. But lately, it is looking a bit rough. As I looked at the plant, I remembered what a friend had told me the other day. “You really need to replant that before it dies.”As I was thinking about that this morning, God gave me some insight to where I have been in my life at times. I have grown to my full potential where I was at. There was nowhere else for me to grow. I came to the point that my roots were on the verge of being root-bound.
I have known for over a month that my plant needed repotted. I have put it off. I like that little pot. It fits perfectly in that little spot where I put it. I don’t want to have to go through the trouble of finding another pot, buying potting soil, repotting it, and finding a new place for it to grow like it has in its current location.
Isn’t that like us? When God has grown us to potential and then decides we are ready to be planted somewhere else… we resist. I like it here God. I know I can grow in this location. I don’t want to have to search for a new pot that I like. I won’t feel as comfortable in a new pot I have to grow into. I don’t like change.
Sometimes we have to make a choice to change. Change isn’t always easy. It means picking up and replanting ourselves. Sometimes it means moving to a new location we aren’t familiar with. Sometimes it means being a little small for the place that gives us room to grow.
Remember, a plan that is root bound won’t grow any more. If God is asking to replant you, let Him do His work. He is the best gardener around. If you haven’t seen any blossoms lately, maybe it is time to be replanted and let God put you where you can have room to take root again.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Pot Holes
I hate pot holes! It never fails when I am in the biggest hurry and paying the least bit of attention, I suddenly find myself jolting myself into a pot hole. I end up smearing my lipstick that I was applying or spilling soda all over me. I guess if I was paying more attention to the road that might not happen.
Not only do pot holes leave me with lipstick across my face and soda dribbling down my shirt, they can also cause some major damage to my car. Little pot holes aren't normally too bad, but the big ones… those can really mess up the alignment. My tires wear quicker and the steering gets all screwed up wanting to pull to the wrong direction. If I would just keep my eyes on the road and swerve around those pot holes, life would be much easier. And, my car would be in better shape - not to mention the money I could save on alignments and tires.
Have you ever thought about the pot holes in life? This week has been full of pot holes on my journey toward what God is calling me. Earlier in the week I read Philippians 2:14 which says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Do you know how much I complained that day? But, I was aware of it and having that verse fresh in my mind kept me so much more aware.
I was able to control my complaining from being as hateful as it could have been. I had to wait for 40 extra minutes at the pharmacy because of someone else’s mistake. I was angry, and I complained, but remembering that verse brought me into check and I was able to swerve from the pot hole of smarting off to the cashier.
Last night I was vulnerable. I have missed the affection and intimacy that goes along with married life. Not only have I gotten communication from an old temptation all week, but someone popped online at my weakest moment last night ready to “take care of my needs” and let me “take care of his”.
Normally, since this is my area of biggest temptation at this point of my life, I may not have been strong. But God is so faithful! I had read Ephesians 4:19-20 that says, “They can’t think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion. But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ.” I had been watching my path and saw the HUGE pot hole Satan was trying to get me to hit dead on.
Pot holes in our life cause destruction. If we don’t keep our eyes focused on God, His Word, and His direction in our life… it doesn’t take but a moment to be distracted. Once distracted, we tend to hit the pot holes dead on. Sometimes it is because we were looking another direction; other times it is cause we are just driving way too fast.
Pot holes cause damage. The jerking causes us to mess up our lipstick (leave visual reminders of the mistake); spill soda down our shirts (leave stains that won’t come out); wear out our tires too soon (make us weary); get our alignment all screwed up (makes steering the right direction so much harder). I am so thankful that I have recently had a new alignment. And, I am thankful that spending time with God made me aware and helped me keep my eyes on the road. If not, things may have turned out differently this week.
Maybe you are in need of a good alignment. Time to make an appointment with the mechanic. Make an appointment with God and ask Him to get you lined up with His purposes again. I guarantee it will make it so much easier to steer straight again.
Not only do pot holes leave me with lipstick across my face and soda dribbling down my shirt, they can also cause some major damage to my car. Little pot holes aren't normally too bad, but the big ones… those can really mess up the alignment. My tires wear quicker and the steering gets all screwed up wanting to pull to the wrong direction. If I would just keep my eyes on the road and swerve around those pot holes, life would be much easier. And, my car would be in better shape - not to mention the money I could save on alignments and tires.Have you ever thought about the pot holes in life? This week has been full of pot holes on my journey toward what God is calling me. Earlier in the week I read Philippians 2:14 which says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Do you know how much I complained that day? But, I was aware of it and having that verse fresh in my mind kept me so much more aware.
I was able to control my complaining from being as hateful as it could have been. I had to wait for 40 extra minutes at the pharmacy because of someone else’s mistake. I was angry, and I complained, but remembering that verse brought me into check and I was able to swerve from the pot hole of smarting off to the cashier.
Last night I was vulnerable. I have missed the affection and intimacy that goes along with married life. Not only have I gotten communication from an old temptation all week, but someone popped online at my weakest moment last night ready to “take care of my needs” and let me “take care of his”.
Normally, since this is my area of biggest temptation at this point of my life, I may not have been strong. But God is so faithful! I had read Ephesians 4:19-20 that says, “They can’t think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion. But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ.” I had been watching my path and saw the HUGE pot hole Satan was trying to get me to hit dead on.
Pot holes in our life cause destruction. If we don’t keep our eyes focused on God, His Word, and His direction in our life… it doesn’t take but a moment to be distracted. Once distracted, we tend to hit the pot holes dead on. Sometimes it is because we were looking another direction; other times it is cause we are just driving way too fast.
Pot holes cause damage. The jerking causes us to mess up our lipstick (leave visual reminders of the mistake); spill soda down our shirts (leave stains that won’t come out); wear out our tires too soon (make us weary); get our alignment all screwed up (makes steering the right direction so much harder). I am so thankful that I have recently had a new alignment. And, I am thankful that spending time with God made me aware and helped me keep my eyes on the road. If not, things may have turned out differently this week.
Maybe you are in need of a good alignment. Time to make an appointment with the mechanic. Make an appointment with God and ask Him to get you lined up with His purposes again. I guarantee it will make it so much easier to steer straight again.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Someone to Complete Me
Bridal gowns, fancy shoes, cakes, flowers, family bustling about, hair dressers, catered food… so much goes into a wedding. It is the celebration of finding that special someone. A person to love and cherish. A person to hold you when you cry and rejoice in your accomplishments. Wedding day is the celebration of finding that special someone that completes you.
This weekend was a bit bittersweet for me as I attended my cousins wedding. She FINALLY, as we all joked, got married. The reason for the length of her single life was not because of any fault of her own. She is extremely picky and knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t willing to settle for anything less. She may have married later than some of us, but she decided she wasn’t going to marry anyone that wouldn’t complete her.
How can that be bittersweet you may ask? As I rejoiced in her happiness, I was reminded of my own failed marriage. I saw the love in her now new hubby’s eyes as she walked down the aisle and longed for someone to love me and look at me the same way. It is only natural for us all to want someone to love us, validate us, and complete us in a way no other can.
At the reception, the normal bouquet and garter toss was followed by a neat way to acknowledge the celebration of marriage. All the married couples were asked to come to the floor for a dance. It was beautiful to see the entire dance floor with couples arm in arm. Some were laughing; some were exchanging stares of endearment; some were being dragged out there by their spouse, but they all were celebrating the fact that they had someone in their life that is supposed to complete them. I am sure they all didn’t quite feel that way about one another, but the symbolism of completeness was beautiful.
As I was thinking about love, I was reminded of the Love Chapter in the bible and decided to read through it again. Love is so beautiful. We all want someone to “complete” us, to love us in the ways stated in Corinthians. We all want a love that “never fails”, “never dies”, a love that “endures all things.
However, this time when I read, I decided to go a little further. I love how the Message states the last idea of this passage:
“We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.” -I Corinthians 13:10
I was thinking about my own search for someone to complete me. I had no idea that my life would end up where it is today. I had no idea that I would still be searching for someone that TRULY completes me. When my cousin found her groom, all those that she dated before, all those that left her feeling incomplete… the thoughts of them were canceled when she joined herself with her groom.
We have one COMPLETE. Jesus is the groom that completes us. When he truly arrives in our lives; when we dedicate our love COMPLETELY to Him and no other; that is when our feeling of being incomplete will be canceled. I know I will still be looking for that man in my life to one day complete me; but maybe what I need to focus on more is to let the Groom, Jesus, complete me. Maybe I should remember that HE “never fails”, “never gives up”, and “endures forever.
I suggest that if you are searching for someone to complete you, you do as I am going to do this week. Pray that God will give you an overwhelming feeling of completeness in Him. Let him cancel all the incompletes in your life. That will be the best love story of all.
This weekend was a bit bittersweet for me as I attended my cousins wedding. She FINALLY, as we all joked, got married. The reason for the length of her single life was not because of any fault of her own. She is extremely picky and knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t willing to settle for anything less. She may have married later than some of us, but she decided she wasn’t going to marry anyone that wouldn’t complete her.
How can that be bittersweet you may ask? As I rejoiced in her happiness, I was reminded of my own failed marriage. I saw the love in her now new hubby’s eyes as she walked down the aisle and longed for someone to love me and look at me the same way. It is only natural for us all to want someone to love us, validate us, and complete us in a way no other can.
At the reception, the normal bouquet and garter toss was followed by a neat way to acknowledge the celebration of marriage. All the married couples were asked to come to the floor for a dance. It was beautiful to see the entire dance floor with couples arm in arm. Some were laughing; some were exchanging stares of endearment; some were being dragged out there by their spouse, but they all were celebrating the fact that they had someone in their life that is supposed to complete them. I am sure they all didn’t quite feel that way about one another, but the symbolism of completeness was beautiful.
As I was thinking about love, I was reminded of the Love Chapter in the bible and decided to read through it again. Love is so beautiful. We all want someone to “complete” us, to love us in the ways stated in Corinthians. We all want a love that “never fails”, “never dies”, a love that “endures all things.
However, this time when I read, I decided to go a little further. I love how the Message states the last idea of this passage:
“We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.” -I Corinthians 13:10
I was thinking about my own search for someone to complete me. I had no idea that my life would end up where it is today. I had no idea that I would still be searching for someone that TRULY completes me. When my cousin found her groom, all those that she dated before, all those that left her feeling incomplete… the thoughts of them were canceled when she joined herself with her groom.
We have one COMPLETE. Jesus is the groom that completes us. When he truly arrives in our lives; when we dedicate our love COMPLETELY to Him and no other; that is when our feeling of being incomplete will be canceled. I know I will still be looking for that man in my life to one day complete me; but maybe what I need to focus on more is to let the Groom, Jesus, complete me. Maybe I should remember that HE “never fails”, “never gives up”, and “endures forever.
I suggest that if you are searching for someone to complete you, you do as I am going to do this week. Pray that God will give you an overwhelming feeling of completeness in Him. Let him cancel all the incompletes in your life. That will be the best love story of all.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Air Brushed Beauty
Flipping through a magazine last night, I was once again reminded of why I am so insecure at times. Every woman was perfect. They had perfect skin, perfect hair, perfect eyes, perfect body, perfect tans and perfect make-up. Even the women who had supposedly just gotten out of the shower looked like they had a fresh coat of perfection sprayed on them. Can a woman really be that perfect? They make it look so easy.
I don’t know about you, but photographs never seem to capture me as the person I see in the mirror. I am always fatter, with three chins showing rather than two. One eye may be squinted. And of course, that zit that I only get once a year…shines like Rudolph’s nose. How can these women have such flawless bodies? They must be towers of confidence.
As I started thinking about all this perfection, I was reminded of an episode of Tyra Banks I watched one day. I found it interesting because I was taking a class in Photoshop and was learning how amazing an airbrush was in photography. I had been having fun turning photos of my less than perfect friends into flawless figures. Tyra had taken a picture from one of her ad campaigns and blown it up for the audience to see. She looked amazing… perfect skin, perfect hair, perfect body, etc. Then she told the audience how important it was for the young girls not to compare themselves with that image.
Why in the world would she do that? Because, that perfect image had been touched by a master in Photoshop. She showed her REAL picture and the audience gasped! Her booty was about 5 inches bigger than the touched up photo. Her hair wasn’t nearly as shiny; and the blemishes on her face were extremely apparent.
As I have read my bible over the past couple of years God has made it personal to me. Every time I read the word “Zion,” it is like God calls me by name his “baby girl.” Psalm 50:2 says, “From Zion (from my baby girls), perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
Isn’t it great to think God sees us as perfect in beauty? He made us, why shouldn’t He? You’ve heard the adage, “God don’t make junk!” Well that is true with His daughters. When we give the flawed photos of our lives, the imperfect relationships, the messed up choices, the scars of life…when we hand those over to the Master; he can do an airbrushing on our lives like no one else. He may not take 5 inches off our booty, but he ads value to ever aspect of our lives. He shines through our imperfections to make us beautiful!
Real beauty comes when we allow God to shine forth in our lives. Start looking through the pages of your life and see how He has turned you in to an object of beauty.
I don’t know about you, but photographs never seem to capture me as the person I see in the mirror. I am always fatter, with three chins showing rather than two. One eye may be squinted. And of course, that zit that I only get once a year…shines like Rudolph’s nose. How can these women have such flawless bodies? They must be towers of confidence.As I started thinking about all this perfection, I was reminded of an episode of Tyra Banks I watched one day. I found it interesting because I was taking a class in Photoshop and was learning how amazing an airbrush was in photography. I had been having fun turning photos of my less than perfect friends into flawless figures. Tyra had taken a picture from one of her ad campaigns and blown it up for the audience to see. She looked amazing… perfect skin, perfect hair, perfect body, etc. Then she told the audience how important it was for the young girls not to compare themselves with that image.
Why in the world would she do that? Because, that perfect image had been touched by a master in Photoshop. She showed her REAL picture and the audience gasped! Her booty was about 5 inches bigger than the touched up photo. Her hair wasn’t nearly as shiny; and the blemishes on her face were extremely apparent.
As I have read my bible over the past couple of years God has made it personal to me. Every time I read the word “Zion,” it is like God calls me by name his “baby girl.” Psalm 50:2 says, “From Zion (from my baby girls), perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
Isn’t it great to think God sees us as perfect in beauty? He made us, why shouldn’t He? You’ve heard the adage, “God don’t make junk!” Well that is true with His daughters. When we give the flawed photos of our lives, the imperfect relationships, the messed up choices, the scars of life…when we hand those over to the Master; he can do an airbrushing on our lives like no one else. He may not take 5 inches off our booty, but he ads value to ever aspect of our lives. He shines through our imperfections to make us beautiful!
Real beauty comes when we allow God to shine forth in our lives. Start looking through the pages of your life and see how He has turned you in to an object of beauty.
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