Artwork used by permission from Jen at BettyandMaude
Prescription for the blues:
Read this scripture several times out loud.
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zepheniah 3:17
Memorize it.
Sing it.
Shout it.
Laugh about how much your God delights in you, his child.
Yes, you fail at times, yes you mess up, but He loves you, still.
Artwork used by permission from Jen at BettyandMaude
Joyful - Patient - Faithful...
three wonderful words. Words that we want to describe us, but when I look at what's between those words-at WHEN we are supposed to be joyful, patient and faithful, my face gets a little red.
I'm supposed to be joyful in hope. When I think about what it means to be "in hope," I realize that the only time we are in hope is when we don't have something we long for...when we're hoping that we get it or that our circumstances will change. It's hard to be joyful when we are longing for things to be made right.
Likewise, being patient in affliction (pain & suffering). What? I'm supposed to be patient when I'm in pain? When I'm suffering? Patient? I just want it over as soon as possible!
And finally, faithful in prayer. I pray. A lot. But my prayers do tend to slack off when everything is going well or when I've prayed about something several times and not received an answer yet.
Looks like the Lord and I have some more work to do on me!
Artwork used by permission from Jen at BettyandMaude
True confession time – I used to hate that Proverbs 31 chick. I mean, honestly – who can measure up to her?
A friend and I were discussing this lady of perfection one day. As I
expressed my dislike for this unattainable ideal, my friend said that
she had once had a conversation with her father, who is a Pastor about
the Proverbs 31 lady. She pointed out to her father that the only way
that woman was able to accomplish all that she did was because she had MAIDS!
Her Dad laughed and explained that this passage of scripture is a list of all the things that a virtuous woman might do, not a check list of all the things we must to do in order to be a good woman.
I love the focus verse of the artwork above…
She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future. Proverbs 31:25
This doesn’t sound like a woman stressed out with all she has to do.
It sounds like someone who has learned to walk with lightness in her
steps, knowing that they are ordered by the Lord. Someone who doesn’t
fret about what’s coming tomorrow, because she has learned to trust that
whatever may come, God is with her and will strengthen her for the
journey. She sounds like a gal that is comfortable in her own skin and
in her relationship with God.
I seldom wear makeup because I’m allergic to most cosmetics.
One time my employer asked why I don’t wear makeup and I popped off with, “I figure, why mess with perfection!”
I was joking, of course, but as I was driving home today I heard a song on the radio assuring girls and women that they are beautiful just as they are – to which I say a hardy Amen!
God says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
He says we were made in his image. (Genesis 1:27)
While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with enhancing our appearance,
no one should ever be made to feel that they are unattractive just as
they are. Perhaps if we valued ourselves exactly as God created us there
would be less depression, starvation diets and low self-esteem. We
could start by thanking the Father for the incredibly intricate body
he’s given us. A body that’s able to heal itself when wounded, for skin
that’s able to stretch and cover us whether we’re 2 foot tall or 6 foot
tall, for lungs that take in oxygen and deliver it through an intricate
web of arteries and veins to wherever it’s needed. For a digestive
system that’s able to take in food and convert it into energy.
We could thank him for giving us emotions so that we could experience
joy and excitement, pleasure and peace. Yes, we also experience sorrow
and disappointment, anger and jealousy, but then, so did Jesus.
We could thank him for our minds, which store unbelievable amounts of
information throughout the entire span of our lives. Minds that are
capable of solving life’s most intricate problems, inventing
life-enhancing, life-saving devices and cures for devastating diseases.
We could thank him for a spirit, like his spirit, that reaches out
for him even before we are aware of our need for him – an innate longing
for a relationship with our Creator. Oh, there are so many wonderful
things about the way each of us were created, that we could thank him
forever. Instead, we spend way too much time whining about trivial
things like our hair, our height, our too thin lips or too full
backside.
So, tomorrow morning when you look yourself in the mirror, before you
put on your makeup and do your hair, take just a moment to say, “Lord, I
praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I have been
created in your image.”
UPDATE 7/12/14 - I just saw this video on that totally underscores the idea of being happy with the way God made you rather than chasing after some cultural "norm" which in reality is not normal at all. Girl, you are beautiful just the way God made you!
