An Image that Teaches Lies

“Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak." Habbakuk 2:18

an image that teaches lies

One such image sprang to the forefront of my thoughts, society's definition of what it means to be beautiful. It's an image that has spread like wildfire throughtout most of the world.

Plastered on just about every billboard and seen constantly on tv is what this world considers a beautiful person.

The message being recieved by millions is that if you don't look like this then you are not beautiful

What a load of crap.

I have personally struggled with my self image for YEARS. I have the highly sought after hourglass figure but it was the bigger version and not a smaller one. I have the beautiful curly hair but it's curls are crazy and unpredictable not soft and perfect. I have a cute face but it's only cute when I smile.

Why did I, and sometimes still do, believe this? I believed those lies that the devil surrounds me with. I would see the photos and shows and ads and tune my ear to that whispering of "you're not good enough"

They're wrong and WAY off base. I AM beautiful and so are you. It's not our physical attributes that define our beauty but who we are on the inside. And what is inside radiates out causing breathtaking beauty. We are like stained glass windows, our true beauty is not ignited until we radiate from the inside out.

We were considered sheep to be slaughtered

Ever have those moments when passages in the bible suddenly make sense and you sit there dumbfounded and mouth gaping.....

('O')

welcome to right now.

I'm doing a study on Paul and his heart for Jesus by Kay Arthur (high recommend her)

I read this verse "Just as it is written, 'For your sake we are being put to death all day long, we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered" Romans 8:36

and then I kept reading...not truly knowing the gravity of the first verse

ok...yeah...being put to death all day, More of Christ, less of me. Carry my cross, put my sinful nature to death

ok.

"We were considered sheep to be slaughtered"

Have you every HEARD a sheep being slaughtered?

No?

You won't. They don't make a sound. You hear a pig being slaughtered a mile away, but you will not hear a sound from a sheep.

And that is how we should be. Trials come, life downpours on us and we are tempted at every turn, but that is why Jesus tells us to place our burdens upon him.

The world will see us go through this life and it's troubles and wonder why we're different. Our trials are no better than theirs, we aren't superhuman, so WHY are we reacting so weirdly? The world should look at us and see that which is not in the world.

Everything is for God's sake and once that is put into a reality in our lives we can gladly bear it because of the love we have for him and the even greater love he has for us.

Do I do this? Not even a little. The phones go crazy at work and I'm the first one huffing and puffing. But that needs to stop.

I pray that day by day, myself and you who are reading this, sees life from a eternal perspective, to see that everything good and bad is for the glory of Christ. And when asked what sets you apart that you have the courage to say

 "My Savior"

sidenote: HOW IN THE HECK DID I MISS THIS IN MY ROMANS 8 STUDY!

geez...

further proof that you can read the bible a million times and get something different and life altering each time

Being a True Christian

“A nominal Christian is content with proving the way of salvation by a crucified Redeemer. But the true Christian loves it, delights in it, glories in it, and shudders at the very thought of glorying in anything else.… Let all your joys flow from the contemplation of his cross.”

— Charles Simeon, quoted by John Piper in
The Roots of Endurance

I strive to be a true Christian. To love God as I should and delight in him every day

Making Magic

Find the drops from your wrung-out day. Launch a relentless pursuit of the art.

 

Write for 30 minutes. It is not a waste of time.

Take a walk with your camera and see what you can find.

Dare to believe you have something to say but remember it’s because He said it first.

Sit in the quiet just because. A lot more may happen there than you might think.

Savor the moments to talk through the dreams, to sift through the disappointment, to pray for the miracle.

Do the work you love when the early morning lifts up her head with a smile and a high-pitched song.

Sit at the table and make your art when the evening sky fills up the yard right outside your window.

Don’t do it because you have to. Do it because you can.

 

Then? Open wide your eyes and see what happens. It may be the littlest things that change a life, and the magic is in the details.
Chatting at the Sky by Emily Freeman

 

 

 

Perfectly Placed

Tonight has just been another one of those nights when I am again reminded of what I don't have.
It's not fun, just so you know. Not even a little. And when I get in this mindset it's hard to focus on what I DO have (mainly because if I had someone special in my life to share it with it would be that much better)
BUT....
the Holy Spirit always reminds me of the Letter to the Exiles, a letter that resonates with me.
You probably know it as "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord...." but I know it as SO much more.
"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:  “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the LORD. This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:4-15

Build houses, raise families, plant crops. You are going to be here for a while, settle in. These people had dreams, exile probably never entered their minds. They had plans in Jerusalem and lives there.
But God had other plans. God WANTED them in exile, the exile into which he carried them. He asks them to pray for and seek peace and prosperity which to me implies a significant lack in such things.
But the bedrock of the truth is TRUST. He wants them to trust Him with their lives. He knows what he's doing, he knows the effect it will have. God has me where he wants me. I'm perfectly placed. I may not do what he wants all the time (or most of the time) but he still uses me in ways I don't even see. My station in life (and love life) is what God wants.
AND...I'm done trying to find this "Mr. Right" We are not playing some big game of hide and seek. He has not entered my life yet and I'm thankful because although I may be in denial about it (and maybe him as well) I'm not ready or he's not ready. He's out there, i know this BUT I don't want him until he's ready for me. I don't want him until I'm perfect for him.

Sprirtual Epiphanies Don't Mind the Time



Eowyn daughter of King Theoden.



Sometimes I think of God at the oddest times. Showers and driving are the most frequent. Today it happened while going down to my office. I had just showered and felt so clean and loved starting my day fresh ( LITERALLY!)

Then the idea of a fresh start with God came to mind. I should feel this freshness with God every day. A new day, another gift from God. Another day to experience His love and majesty.

Like washing away the dirt of the day before I should wash me of myself and bathe in the Spirit. Each day to be lived for God, not myself.

As Paul says we should die to ourselves DAILY. Get up in the morning and rid ourselves of our sinful nature and put on the armor of God to battle this crazy situation called life.

Two forces are at war around and within us, we just have to be aware and KNOW who we're dealing with and who's side we're on.

We are not only sons and daughters of God but we are WARRIORS.

Naked and full of shame

Adam and Eve faced temptation about a tree in a bright, sunny garden, a paradise with no pressure. But Christ faced temptation about a tree in a dark garden, a garden given the name that meant ‘oil press,’ and certainly he felt squeezed like an olive in a press on that dark night, to the point that his sweat was like drops of blood.

If Adam and Eve obeyed God about the tree, they would live. If Jesus obeyed God about the tree, he would die.Jesus obeyed. And through his obedience he gained for us far more than Adam lost for us through his disobedience.
Adam lost for us the beautiful ‘naked and not ashamed’ of the garden. But at the cross, Christ hung naked and full of shame. It wasn’t his own shame. It was your shame and my shame. He ‘endured the cross, despising the shame’ (Heb. 12:2) so that ‘everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame’ (Rom. 10:11).”
— Nancy Guthrie

The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis