Friends, I have to say that learning all about this blogging thing is all so new. I am not all about writing everyday and I tend to not do things out of obligation any more. That seems to be my new motto this year. Listening to God’s direction is much more fun and adventurous!
I have noticed after Monday’s post that once I start writing posts they tend to get too long. I say I am sorry hesitantly because I think this blogging is something God is teaching me…to let His words flow and not mine. Not that He is long-winded on anything! 🙂
I have to say that my 3.2 seconds of “stardom” from being mentioned on the Made To Crave Webcast has been something I will never forget! EVER! THANK YOU LYSA!
The blessings that have been poured out today from seeing you beautiful women of God comment on the scriptures that keep you going has been SO ENCOURAGING! If you haven’t had a chance – glance through the comments from Monday’s post and be ready to have your notebook handy because you will want to write down some of these “go-to” scriptures!
If you have read more than one of my posts then you know Christian music drives me! So today I have a song that I found over the weekend that has captured my heart. It is totally related to Monday’s post but I figured I would “spread the love” all week with this teaching of how God sees us.
He certainly sees us differently than we sometimes see ourselves! You gals showed that to me even more through your scriptures! 🙂
1 Samuel 16:7 “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Watch this video but please be sure to come back so we can discuss – “More Beautiful You” by Jonny Diaz
Isn’t that amazing how in that video those make-up artists can take a 14-year-old and a 21-year-old girls and transform them into something that doesn’t even resemble who they are. I am going to use this video to remind my daughters how so many times how they see actresses on the movie screen, TV or even in magazines – lots of these pictures aren’t the finished product….more changes have been added to deceive our eyes. To think that they are actually something else.
Here are some of the words that spoke to me from the beginning of that song.
“Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn’t straight her body isn’t fake
And she’s always felt overweight
Well little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care your skin your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are
There could never be a more beautiful you
Don’t buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you”
These were so powerful for me to hear! You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do!
Oh how I remember being that girl looking through the magazine! Good Grief! I can still do it today to most of the catalogs that come through my mailbox! We are all deceived in some way through the way our culture communicates to us at how we are supposed to look, act like and even achieve!
I just finished up a 9 week study with 12 middle school girls with the book “Lies Young Women Believe” by Danna Gresh and Nancy Leigh DeMoss. This book blew me out of the water! It was totally straight forward toward young girls at what the world would want them to believe is important about their bodies, their dreams and even reality. This book taught us so much about the scriptures that we need to know to fight the war of what the world would want us to believe is acceptable.
There is also “Lies Women Believe” for “big girls”. I would highly recommend this book!
I never knew that I had fallen for so many of those lies myself. The hoops that we try to jump through. It is hard to believe that I am 40 years old and just now realizing these lies too! Or at least subconsciously! God is healing me daily of this and opening my eyes as well! Praise the Lord!
These same teachings along with Lysa’s book “Made to Crave” has gotten this little red wagon of mine back on course with learning not to be deceived by the world. The world wants to dictate what I deem as important; rather I need to be looking at God’s Word for the TRUTH.
Romans 12:2 says, ” Do not conform any longer to the patter of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
I had to be transformed by my mind not to what my eyes were seeing through the media. Instead, I had to learn to focus on what God says he looks for in a woman’s heart. If this transforming your mind to Christ is all I was able to teach those young girls during those 9 weeks then all my efforts were worth it!
This same mindset teaching God used to get my attention right towards the beginning of my journey to lose those needed pounds. This was not just a physical issue I was battling but a spiritual one as well.
I needed to know that God loved me and was over the top for me on the inside and not just on the outside. I learned that I needed to change my mindset and this was the first place I needed to start. I had to do it with learning scriptures and posting these scriptures in very visible places.
Speaking of scriptures…I now have many of the scriptures you guys commented on now written down on index cards and posted all over my house! My family thanks you! I hope you will do the same and that these Words of Truth will take you far in your journey to changing your mindset for Christ.
Here are our winners of the “MADE TO CRAVE” BOOK GIVE AWAY! Drum-roll please…..
Tracy Jones, Casey Griffin, Susan, Lisa Smith, and Carolynn!
WAHOO! I just love give aways! This was fun!
Please, you ladies email me (amyking1@me.com) your address and I will get these books off to you in the mail lickety-split!
Have a Blessed Wednesday!
Strong Tower 
The first time I heard that song, my heart sank. Raising two girls, and being a woman myself, it is so easy to fall prey to how the “world” views you as beautiful. How can you not at least think about it, when every magazine in the check out line at the grocery store pertains to “outward beauty”? I sometimes wonder how well a magazine would sell titled “BEAUTIFUL…In God’s Eyes”… Our only role model should be Jesus Christ, however, if we must look to “earthly” women…I try to go back and look to women in scripture…such as “Esther”. Although my personal favorite is the Proverbs 31 woman….”charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Here’s one that really keeps it in perspective. 1 Peter 3:3-4 states “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or other fine clothes. Rather, 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.”
Thanks for sharing the link. I’d always liked that song but had never seen the video. I don’t think there’s anyone that the world would actually think is good enough. Couldn’t be. That is the whole definition of what the world is–never satisfied, empty, always looking for what’s next, what’s better that just might satisfy. But nothing ever does. It’s not supposed to. Only God can do that. And I find it so interesting that the closer I grow to God, the less I care what the world thinks of me. And the more confident I am just to be myself. What a blessing that the young ladies in your study are learning that early.
Hey Amy! Thanks so much for your prayers for tomorrow. We are back in V-town! (not sure for how long but happy to be back! )I would love to get together and do lunch or cofee one day soon. Love your blog!
Wow, I just came back to visit your blog again and find that I am a winner of ‘Made to Crave’!! That’s so cool, thanks so much!
I also love Contemporary Christian music! My current favorite is ‘Lead Me’ by Sanctus Real. The message in that song is just amazing…have you heard it yet?
I really love the song ‘More Beautiful You’..I’m a part time teacher, and every day I see how young children are believing the lie. Thanks for recommending the book, “Lies Young Women Believe”, I could definitely use a book like this. It breaks my heart to see how they are looking for fulfillment in physical things instead of spiritual things. But the Truth is powerful and I can continue to teach it with the help of God, so all is not lost!
I really liked that song the first time I heard it too. I’m such a music person as well- I’m always playing music, and have a hard time being without it!