The Beauty Challenge-Day Fourteen

                I am so proud of you all for doing this challenge!!  I hope all of you are looking at yourselves differently now.  

                All of you are precious:  Diamonds in the rough. Even though it doesn't feel like that's true at all, we need to remind ourselves of that truth.  We are beautiful because we were fearfully and wonderfully made by The loving creative God!  I'm beginning to take that truth in and believe it.  God has you here for a purpose.  God made you a woman for a purpose and God made you Beautiful for a purpose. 

               A book that I just started reading called Captivating is amazing!!  All of you need to read this.  I have never felt so happy to be a woman in my entire life!

                                                                 

                   

           In  this book Stasi and her husband John reveals why God made women the way they are. It will captivate you!

                    God saw all that He had made,  and it was very good.

                                                                                                   Genesis 1:31 

The Beauty Challenge-Day Thirteen

                    Weight, calories, numbers, blah blah blah.  That alone is an obsession!  As women we want to always look good;  and when we don't we either starve ourselves or we stuff ourselves. 

                    Over the years, weight can steadily creep up on you.  Sometimes its even spiritual weight.  Spiritual weight is more emotional.  Me and my sisters have had that and when we acknowledged the load we carried(like fear or guilt) and talked to God about it.  Then the weight came off more easily.

                     All over the world,  but mostly in America, our beauty and worth is in the size of pants you fit, the number on the scale,  how healthy you can eat,  etc.  That is not who you are, but if the Doctor tells you to lose weight because your life is at risk or if God even tells you to shed some pounds,  you need to take that seriously.  

         Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit,  who is in you,  whom you have received from God?  You are not your own;  you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.
                                                1 Corinthians 6:19-20

                    You are beautiful.  Yes I'm talking about the outside!  God made all woman lovely.  That is what women are, beautiful!  So, it's good to take care of yourselves. If you are God's temple you need to remember that you are valuable.  Treat your self as such, dear precious princess.   

The Beauty Challenge-Day Twelve

       Everyone is thinking about their hair in one way or another.  Either you're obsessed over keeping it nice and neat,  or you hate your hair and you don't do anything with it, or you're in between and you aren't sure what to think about your hair.  If you are none of the above and you love your hair; great!

      Just listen for a moment.  Your hair is beautiful the way it is.  It may be to thin, thick, curly or whatever!  You can find a million excuses.  The hair that you have been given is a gift and meant to be taken care of.  But; don't let that be your meaning of beauty. 

    Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair...

                                                                                                                     1 Peter 3:3

       All woman are beautiful and your hair is extravagant.  It doesn't matter what it looks like!  Don't obsess over it.  God doesn't want your hair to become an idol.  You can ask God to show you His perspective on why your hair is beautiful in it's unique way.  I did.

      I never really liked my hair. It was always poofy and frizzy.  I cut it off at the age of fourteen. I had an afro.  I liked it.  At eighteen I cut it all off and was bald. I loved it!! Through the years, I experimented with a buzz cut, bleached short hair, a Mohawk.  The works.  It still seemed like something was missing.  Finally a year ago I cut off my purple Mohawk and decided to grow it out.  The thing that was missing was that I didn't ever face that I believed that I was never truly beautiful. I was running from what God was whispering to me. I believed I  had to have long hair to be beautiful. And lets face it; when I had long hair it was gross. I told God that I wanted long hair but I didn't believe that I was worthy of it.  Now it's been a year and my hair is so curly (no frizz or poof)!!  I love it.  God taught me through my sisters and curly hair tricks on how to take care of my delicate tresses. I have never felt so at peace with my hair in years.

   I dare you to talk to God about your hair.  Listen patiently for his answer.    

            

The Beauty Challenge-Day Eleven

         Today we will talk about clothing.  Most people would say your clothing defines who you are.  If you are fashionable and always changing for the seasons,  you must feel a need to fit in and keeping up your appearance and reputation.  If all you wear is over sized t shirts and sweat pants,  you're lazy and frumpy.  Oh come on!  Ladies, the clothing does not say who we are but  it can be a reflection of how we value ourselves. 

         The Bible is full of warnings and instructions about our attire. 

              I also want women to dress modestly,  with decency and propriety.

                                                                                                                   1 Timothy 2:9

        You don't want the whole world to see your body!  Or part of it.  You are precious and valuable.  Like what we talked about last week.  Your character is what's important.  Even if you have a lovely form it doesn't mean you should show it off.  Talk to God and celebrate it with him; and then one day (or now) with your husband.

            She is clothed in fine linen and purple.

                                                                     Proverbs 31:22

       I talked about this in another post awhile back.  Women of royalty during Bible times wore purple.  That was the rich men's color.  Think about it,  you're a princess!  Treat yourself as such.  You don't have to wear extravagant clothing all the time.  

       Remember Your clothing doesn't define you,  it shows what's in your heart.            

The Beauty Challenge-Day Ten

            Make up!  It is so wonderful.  You can cover up things you don't want people to see.  You can define your beauty even more and it can even change your face!  

            Make-up isn't a bad thing.  Just like yesterday; accessories aren't a bad thing.  It depends on if that's what you base your worth and beauty on.  You need to stop and think for a minute.

               Charm is deceptive,  and beauty is fleeting;  but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

                      Proverbs 31:30

           Make-up can be a charm used to fool people.  We won't be young forever (that's still a little scary to me)  but,  our character is what's going to last.  Remember that God made your face just the way He wanted it to be.  You don't want to cover it in shame and make it look like someone else.  

            Today is the the last challenge within a challenge.  I challenge you to not wear any make-up today!  At the end of the day I want you to ask yourself these questions.

       1. How did I feel?

        2. Was I hoping to get some sort of attention?

        3. Why do I want attention? 

                          

The Beauty Challenge-Day Nine

                     I believe that all women have some sort of accessory they like to wear.  Whether it be rings, a necklace,  earrings, nose-rings, bracelets, hats, scarves etc.  Is that what you place your beauty and worth in?  

                           Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
              1 Peter 3:3-4

                    For the first seven days of the challenge we looked into inner beauty. The thing is;  that is what will truly last.  

                    Jewelry is fine but,  if you can't go out of your house believing that you have to wear some sort of jewelry (besides your wedding ring) I think there might be something off there.  

                  Here's our first challenge within a challenge! Today do not wear any jewelry.  I repeat jewelry off for today. I have to admit, I put on some bracelets and earrings. Then I saw what I was supposed to write for today and I was like, "Ah, man!" I was going to push it back to do it for tomorrow for myself.  Hey!  That would have been cheating!!  I took them off. I'm beginning to wonder if I believe that lie.

                At the end of the day ask yourself these three questions...

1. How did I feel the whole day?
2. Was I hoping to get some sort of attention?
3. Why do I want attention?

               We're in this together ladies!  Lets look past the adornments to define our beauty and focus on gaining a gentle and quite spirit.        

The Beauty Challenge-Day Eight

              This week we will focus on our physical appearance.  Read Genesis 2:21-23.

              God chose a specific place from Adam's body (his rib) and created a woman out of it.  It is the same for us.  God chose every single thing about us to be just the way it should be.  It's difficult to accept that.  

             Right now I'm going through a tough time with an "unnatural" birth defect.  It can be corrected easily but I never knew where to find the right tools (I don't need surgery).  For years I've struggled with this and I felt less like a woman.  God showed me and is still reminding me that there is nothing about me that makes me less of me.  God made me to the exactly the way He wanted.  

                  But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?  Shall what is formed  say to Him who formed it,  why did you make me like this?

                                                                          Romans 9:20

                Why are we so hard on ourselves and most of all, to God about the way we are?  It's because of sin.  Woman are made to spread beauty to the world.  We can't do that without fully knowing that God made the curve of our hip, the mole on our face the lack of, or "too much of" for a reason.

                   You are not a mistake. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)     

The Beauty Challenge- Day Seven

                       How are you doing so far?  Is your view of yourself looking different?  I'm starting to look at myself differently.  

                      Today I want you to think of others.  Is there anyone around you who needs help?  Physically,  emotionally or both?  Reach out to them.

            She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

                                                                                                                       Proverbs 31:20

                     A woman, a truly beautiful woman can look at what is going to last forever. God and People. 

                            "But the word of the Lord stands forever."

                                                                                           1 Peter 1:25

                    Sure there's always going to be possessions to buy, sites to see and food to eat. But you're not always going to have the people you know around you.  Our souls will last forever but we do have to depart for a time when a loved one passes on and the rest stay behind. 

                    Will you invest your time in the people you love? And the people God loves?      

The Beauty Challenge-Day Six

              Today's challenge of building our beauty of character is trust.

              A woman of beauty characteristically can trust God.  One of the traits of God's love is trust.

                   It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

                                                                                       1 Corinthians 13:7-8

            Our natural instinct is to trust what we can see,  hear,  smell and feel.  Following God requires the opposite of that.  He calls us to have faith and believe what we cannot see.  He wants us to dive head first in His word and to take Him by it. Just like the Proverbs 31 woman.

                           But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

                                                                                            Proverbs 31:30

             Usually when we trust someone we give them our  attention and respect.  Is it like that with you and God?  Is He like a father that you love deeply and give your undivided attention too?  You trust that whatever He says and does is best?    

The Beauty Challenge-Day Five

              Having a character full of beauty should include something very important;  an ear that is keen on listening.  

             You know how it is.  When someone gives you advice, sometimes its fine and other times it just gets on your nerves.  As for me,  I would ask my sister for drawing advice and I would become snappy and irritable as soon as the first word came out.  I was (and still am) quick to talk and ask, and slow to listen. Just like what this verse says;

                           Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage a war,  obtain guidance.

                                                                                                                       Proverbs 20:18

            In a way we are in a war.  A war against the world,  Satan and ourselves (the sin within us)! 

                         My dear brothers,  take note of this:  Everyone should be quick to listen,  slow to speak and slow to be angry.

                                              James 1:19

           We must ask advice of spiritual matters that bother us or that we're curious about.  Don't let fear or pride keep you from gaining more knowledge about anything!  Don't worry ladies, this is going to be a life long process but, it will be worth it.

The Beauty Challenge-Day Four

              How can we be ourselves in such a twisted, cruel world?  

                         Therefore since we have been justified through faith,  we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                       Romans 5:1

           If you accept Jesus, (or if you already have,)  He will give you peace to feel free to be yourself!  Of course when you're being yourself you will still have rough times.  Read Romans 5:3-5 carefully.  It's through the hard times that your character is built.  Think of rocks that go through terrible storms or even rocks in caves going through a process of water constantly dripping on them. Or even rocks that are worn away by the wind and rain.  Those are the most beautiful and exquisite kind.    

         I guarantee you will have hard times.  The thing is, will you choose to seek God through it and let Him shape your character, or will you choose to take it on yourself and worry and fret?  So;  be yourself through the good and bad times because, that's the thing that will last.  

The Beauty Challenge- Day Three

        On Monday we read Genesis 1.  Now I want you to read Genesis 2:15-23.

        Have you ever heard of the phrase "save the best for last?"  Adam and Eve were the last of God's creativity.  Ladies, when was the last time you told you told a friend, mother, sister, daughter or cousin that she looked beautiful or pretty?  Now when was the last time you told yourself that you were beautiful or pretty?  Next week we'll focus on the outward appearance.  For now think of this verse.

              Search me, O God, and know my  heart;  test me and know my anxious thoughts.

                                                                                                Psalm 139:23

         If you don't believe you're worthy or special,  you are!  No matter what happened in your past, no matter what lies you believe.  That's what they are; lies!  You are a wonderful creation.  Open up your Bible (or your Bible app) and read this passage carefully. Romans 3:21-26.

         Jesus Christ died for you so you could be justified in God's presence through faith in Christ!!  Do you understand that God did not mess up with you?  Prove that you believe it!  I'm saying this to myself just as much as I'm saying this to you.  God's grace is sufficient for you.  You are now worthy to experience God's joy, peace, and many other blessing.  

The Beauty Challenge: Day Two

       

             How many of you have heard the phrase,  'The inside is more important then the outside?' I've heard that loads of times. Now, how many of you believe that's hogwash?  People say that but then you see hypocrisy all over the place. Beauty magazines, make-up adds, exercise techniques and sex tips!! Seriously, what is true?!

                                        Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise;  you perceive my thoughts from afar.
                                                                                  Psalm 139:1-2

            God knows us; I mean He truly knows who we are.  He can see every joy, curiosity, pain, fear and even the deepest dark secrets we may have. You can open up to God because...

                                       "The Lord does not look at the things that man looks at. Man looks at the  outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
                                                                                        1 Samuel 16:7

              It's true.  The inside is more important. Think about that for a second. God is the only one who knows who we really are.  We don't have to be something were not.  We can be our true selves.  Be yourself with God today. Not because God wants to get to know us but so we can get to know God.   

                   

The Beauty Challenge: Day One

          Hello ladies!  This is something that every single woman struggles with. Even the ones who seem very confident struggle with some aspect of their appearance. The picture I chose above popped out to me. I went to the website beautyredefined.net. That talks about how to take care of yourself and that our worth does not come from our physical appearance. But that would be jumping ahead of my challenge. 

         This will be a fourteen day challenge: Just two weeks! This week we will focus on defining our beauty of character.Come on, I know you're interested. Lets dive in and start with day one right now! (I'll be doing this with you.)

                                                               Day One

        First of all,  lets look at what the word beauty means!

            Beauty- The quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit. 

            Did you notice it said the "quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing?" Let me show you something. 

                                                               

       Alright, these are both pictures I took of sunsets. Which one would you say is more beautiful? I would say neither. Both are exceptionally beautiful in their own way. The aggregate qualities of the top sunset is the light blue fading into dark blue. The pink wispy clouds and the orange yellow peeking at the bottom gives it a magical feeling.  The bottom picture portrays the exceptional beauty of a summer sunset; the harsh sun with the faded blue merging into a dusty golden tint at the horizon lends more of an adventurous mood.

        Both are beautiful in their own ways. Like us, we're all different but our aggregate qualities of kindness, stubbornness, gentleness, boldness, humor, encouragement, and any other combination of qualities you have is what makes you a beautiful collage. 

        God can sharpen the beautiful quality of your character if you let Him. And He can bring out a beauty that you never knew you had.

         Today I want you to ponder Psalm 139:14.

                     I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

                                     

         If we are to know and accept our beauty fully;  we need to understand who the Artist is.  Read Genesis 1:1-31 and 2:1-2.         

Can't we be known by our Faith?

     Many non-believers believe that Christians are judgmental, cruel and angry. We are known for pushing our beliefs on others. (sigh) That is hard to think of that.  It fill my heart with sadness that we are known and labeled for that. Can't we be known for something else? Like our faith?

     The Lord's message rang our from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia- your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it.
                                                                              1 Thessalonians 1:8

     What was America like over 200 years ago?  Was the faith of God's children strong as iron?  Did this nation trust God? Was the the United Sates of America known for it's faith?

       America was started on faith! Those who first stepped foot on the Mayflower had to do so by faith.  They believed God would deliver them to the new land safely.

        The war for freedom was by faith.  They trusted God to help them gain freedom from the British and be their own country.

        The black community took slavery and even racism by faith. Trusting and believing God would make them equal in the eyes of America.

        What about now? What is so different now?

                                                  It's Impossible!!
         And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
                                                                                 Hebrews 11:6

         Why is it hard to put your faith in God? I'm sure there are plenty of reasons.  Believe me, I have a list of my own.  One reason I can say why we all have a hard time putting our faith in God is because none of us have seen God or felt Him physically.  It is scary believing God but, whenever I feel doubt, I remember all the good things God has done in my life, the amazing and miraculous.

        That is what makes us so different from non-believers and even those who claim to be believers.  Our faith in Christ Jesus (and His grace for us) is what sets us apart. 

                But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the law and the prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
                                             Romans 3:21-23

       That is how God can do great things through those who fully surrender to Him.  If you let Him, God can love those who ridicule you or treat you like crap. 

       What do you want to be known by?  Your cruelty, countless other things or...by your faith in Christ?