"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
Psalm 139:14
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| Myself and two of my favorite ladies, Kendall and Alaina |
My last blog post about Fresh Face February has reached nearly 800 views! Which is INSANE because I have never received that many on a blog post! The facebook page for this journey has over 100 ladies who are participating, not only at our school and in our area, but in different states all over the U.S. across thousands of miles!
I am so encouraged and inspired by all the beautiful women around me... Its really hit me these past two days, as I start my own personal journey of finding my identity in Christ alone and not my outward appearance, of how many naturally beautiful women surround me. As I see women around me participating in this "leap of faith" if you will, I realize how much our society has shamed inward beauty, or "natural" beauty. So much of our generation is focused on these ideals of "perfect beauty." What breaks my heart is who is deciding what "perfect beauty" is today? It isn't Christ. It isn't God's Word that should be the foundation of our lives. It's the sinful world contradicting scriptures and scrutinizing women (and men -- don't worry, even though this is a makeup-based post, the same principles can be applied to you and your manhood) that we are not good enough as we are. And while that is true, its not because of our outward appearance. What matters is our heart. What matters is what, more specifically who, we believe in. So here's to the month of of finding the truth.
"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry,
or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."
1 Peter 3:3-4
For those of you who are gentlemen, or ladies who are not participating in the makeup-free part, you can still be apart of this! The purpose is to replant our lives, to refocus on the purpose. I know for me, makeup is something that is a priority in the morning. I realize that everyday I have to put on makeup before I leave the house, but there are many days that I go without reading my bible or having my quiet time because this isn't my priority. So I challenge you to look into your life, and find the thing that is holding you back from your faith and your time with the Lord - for we all need to spend more time with him. Or maybe you don't have faith in Christ. Maybe you don't want to (though I pray that isn't true) or maybe you just aren't really sure. We have all been at that point. The world is a difficult place to live in, especially if we think that we are alone in it. Know that you are never alone. Whether through your faith journey, your makeup free month journey, or the journey of life... There will always be someone in your life, walking every step with you, and that person is Christ.
You've probably read this before, but if not, this is the encouragement I shall end with today:
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
‘You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?’
The Lord replied,
‘The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.’
-Mary Stevenson
