How do we find true beauty?
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1 Peter 3:3-4
The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.1 Samuel 16:7
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.Proverbs 31:30
I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.1 Timothy 2:9
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.Psalm 139:13-14
A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.Proverbs 11:22
God has made everything beautiful for its own time.Ecclesiastes 3:11
Thursday, August 13, 2009
REBECCA ST. JAMES: TRUE BEAUTY
By Rebecca St. James
CBN.com – Follow these secrets for health and beauty that won’t wrinkle or go out of style!
Rebecca Says: Since you were a little girl, the quest to be beautiful has bombarded you at every turn. From children’s stories such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Ugly Duckling” that you read to the Barbie dolls that you played with to the comments such as “She’s darling” or “What a pretty little girl you are” that you heard—face it, beauty has become an all-consuming priority! Now that you are a teen, you are under even more pressure to be beautiful. TV, movies, and music tell you that if you want to be beautiful you have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, and have a certain type of body.
I have played the comparison game too. This is an embarrassing confession, but once I recall tearing out a magazine ad that pictured a girl standing beside a car. She looked like what I thought I wanted to look like. She had toned arms, a slim figure, and beautiful, full hair. I kept this picture with me to supposedly help me achieve my goal. But I realized pretty quickly that this was only negative, that it was making me feel even more discontented with the unique way God created me. Basically, I was coveting what someone else had—which amounts to breaking one of the Ten Commandments. The other problem with comparing ourselves to other people—especially people in magazines—is that often these images aren’t even realistic. With today’s technology, most pictures are doctored to erase flaws or even shave off inches. And most models weigh less than what is considered healthy for their height.
Beauty Jail
We’ve all looked in the mirror only to see a face that didn’t measure up to the current standards of beauty, and we’ve ended up feeling discouraged.
Can you think of anything or any THINGS to fill in this blank?“I hate my _____________!”
Sometimes you need to take a closer look to see just how extreme your discontent and dislike of your physical body has become.
Are you obsessing about your looks? Take our Beauty Quiz and find out.
Beauty by the Book
The Bible was way ahead of us in exposing the beauty myth for what it is. It points out the vanity, danger, and temporary quality of mere personal attractions and instead calls attention to the higher and more permanent beauties of mind, character, and personality.
It’s called outward versus inward beauty. The Book puts it this way:
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within. 1 Peter 3:3-4
Yeah, But . . .
• I won’t be accepted for who I am.
• I will still be compared to others and not measure up.
• People judge me by how I look before they get to know me.
• Other: ________________________
We know you’ve heard this talk about the inside package versus the outside package before. But our guess is that none of it has yet to change your beauty response. And we know you’re probably thinking, Inside beauty? Try telling that to the guys. They avoid describing us on the outside by saying we’ve “got a great personality” or we’re “really nice.”
The Bible is not saying that the outer appearance doesn’t matter. It’s saying:
Don’t be concerned about the outer beauty.
Don’t let it define you. Don’t let it cause you undue stress. Don’t make it your most important priority. Don’t let it replace the more important parts of your life. Outer beauty is nothing more than packaging. And unless the inner content is good, too, the outer display won’t make any lasting difference.
Do be known for the inner beauty.
Outer beauty is the first impression someone gets of you; inner beauty is the second and lasting impression. We call it holistic beauty, and it’s real, honest, and lasting. It reveals the contents on the inside of the package that enhance the outer. You can’t fake holistic beauty—it’s the way women look, feel, think, and act. It’s the whole beauty shebang!
Get Personal
Yesterday, approximately how many minutes did you spend on your appearance (outer beauty)?
Yesterday, approximately how many minutes did you spend on your relationship with God and with other people (inner beauty)?
Rebecca Says: I once read this article in an Australian devotional, which says a lot about real beauty:
A beauty product company once asked people in a large city to send pictures, along with brief letters, describing the most beautiful woman they knew. Within weeks, thousands of letters came in.
One letter caught the attention of the employees and was soon passed on to the company president. It was written by a boy from a broken home, who lived in a run-down neighborhood. With lots of spelling corrections, an excerpt from his letter read: “A beautiful woman lives down the street from me. I visit her every day. She makes me feel like the most important kid in the world. We play checkers and she listens to my problems. She understands me. When I leave she always yells out the door that she’s proud of me.” The boy ended his letter saying, “This picture shows you that she is the most beautiful woman in the world, and one day I hope I have a wife as pretty as her.”
Intrigued by the letter, the president asked to see the woman’s picture. His secretary handed him the photograph of a smiling, toothless woman, well advanced in years, sitting in a wheelchair. Sparse gray hair was pulled back in a bun. The wrinkles that formed deep furrows on her face were somehow diminished by the twinkle in her eyes.
“We can’t use this woman,” exclaimed this president, smiling. “She would show the world that our products aren’t necessary to be beautiful.”
The Lie: If you’re not supermodel beautiful, then you don’t measure up—you are not enough.
The Truth: You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
God’s Temple
The problem with trying to measure up to the images we see on TV and in movies is that often girls do harmful things to their body. Too many young women are starving themselves or making themselves throw up to try to achieve the look they want. Others cut themselves to get attention, express hurt, or just to feel something. If you or someone you know is dealing with any of these issues, remember that if you are a Christian, your body belongs to God—it is not your own (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). When you hurt yourself, you hurt him too. During those times when you’re feeling particularly low about your self-image, remind myself that you should be focusing on your God-worth, not your self-worth. You are his treasure, his princes!
SHEism: A truly beautiful SHE is a girl who sees her value as the whole package—through her inward as well as her outward beauty.
CBN.com – Follow these secrets for health and beauty that won’t wrinkle or go out of style!
Rebecca Says: Since you were a little girl, the quest to be beautiful has bombarded you at every turn. From children’s stories such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Ugly Duckling” that you read to the Barbie dolls that you played with to the comments such as “She’s darling” or “What a pretty little girl you are” that you heard—face it, beauty has become an all-consuming priority! Now that you are a teen, you are under even more pressure to be beautiful. TV, movies, and music tell you that if you want to be beautiful you have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, and have a certain type of body.
I have played the comparison game too. This is an embarrassing confession, but once I recall tearing out a magazine ad that pictured a girl standing beside a car. She looked like what I thought I wanted to look like. She had toned arms, a slim figure, and beautiful, full hair. I kept this picture with me to supposedly help me achieve my goal. But I realized pretty quickly that this was only negative, that it was making me feel even more discontented with the unique way God created me. Basically, I was coveting what someone else had—which amounts to breaking one of the Ten Commandments. The other problem with comparing ourselves to other people—especially people in magazines—is that often these images aren’t even realistic. With today’s technology, most pictures are doctored to erase flaws or even shave off inches. And most models weigh less than what is considered healthy for their height.
Beauty Jail
We’ve all looked in the mirror only to see a face that didn’t measure up to the current standards of beauty, and we’ve ended up feeling discouraged.
Can you think of anything or any THINGS to fill in this blank?“I hate my _____________!”
Sometimes you need to take a closer look to see just how extreme your discontent and dislike of your physical body has become.
Are you obsessing about your looks? Take our Beauty Quiz and find out.
Beauty by the Book
The Bible was way ahead of us in exposing the beauty myth for what it is. It points out the vanity, danger, and temporary quality of mere personal attractions and instead calls attention to the higher and more permanent beauties of mind, character, and personality.
It’s called outward versus inward beauty. The Book puts it this way:
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within. 1 Peter 3:3-4
Yeah, But . . .
• I won’t be accepted for who I am.
• I will still be compared to others and not measure up.
• People judge me by how I look before they get to know me.
• Other: ________________________
We know you’ve heard this talk about the inside package versus the outside package before. But our guess is that none of it has yet to change your beauty response. And we know you’re probably thinking, Inside beauty? Try telling that to the guys. They avoid describing us on the outside by saying we’ve “got a great personality” or we’re “really nice.”
The Bible is not saying that the outer appearance doesn’t matter. It’s saying:
Don’t be concerned about the outer beauty.
Don’t let it define you. Don’t let it cause you undue stress. Don’t make it your most important priority. Don’t let it replace the more important parts of your life. Outer beauty is nothing more than packaging. And unless the inner content is good, too, the outer display won’t make any lasting difference.
Do be known for the inner beauty.
Outer beauty is the first impression someone gets of you; inner beauty is the second and lasting impression. We call it holistic beauty, and it’s real, honest, and lasting. It reveals the contents on the inside of the package that enhance the outer. You can’t fake holistic beauty—it’s the way women look, feel, think, and act. It’s the whole beauty shebang!
Get Personal
Yesterday, approximately how many minutes did you spend on your appearance (outer beauty)?
Yesterday, approximately how many minutes did you spend on your relationship with God and with other people (inner beauty)?
Rebecca Says: I once read this article in an Australian devotional, which says a lot about real beauty:
A beauty product company once asked people in a large city to send pictures, along with brief letters, describing the most beautiful woman they knew. Within weeks, thousands of letters came in.
One letter caught the attention of the employees and was soon passed on to the company president. It was written by a boy from a broken home, who lived in a run-down neighborhood. With lots of spelling corrections, an excerpt from his letter read: “A beautiful woman lives down the street from me. I visit her every day. She makes me feel like the most important kid in the world. We play checkers and she listens to my problems. She understands me. When I leave she always yells out the door that she’s proud of me.” The boy ended his letter saying, “This picture shows you that she is the most beautiful woman in the world, and one day I hope I have a wife as pretty as her.”
Intrigued by the letter, the president asked to see the woman’s picture. His secretary handed him the photograph of a smiling, toothless woman, well advanced in years, sitting in a wheelchair. Sparse gray hair was pulled back in a bun. The wrinkles that formed deep furrows on her face were somehow diminished by the twinkle in her eyes.
“We can’t use this woman,” exclaimed this president, smiling. “She would show the world that our products aren’t necessary to be beautiful.”
The Lie: If you’re not supermodel beautiful, then you don’t measure up—you are not enough.
The Truth: You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
God’s Temple
The problem with trying to measure up to the images we see on TV and in movies is that often girls do harmful things to their body. Too many young women are starving themselves or making themselves throw up to try to achieve the look they want. Others cut themselves to get attention, express hurt, or just to feel something. If you or someone you know is dealing with any of these issues, remember that if you are a Christian, your body belongs to God—it is not your own (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). When you hurt yourself, you hurt him too. During those times when you’re feeling particularly low about your self-image, remind myself that you should be focusing on your God-worth, not your self-worth. You are his treasure, his princes!
SHEism: A truly beautiful SHE is a girl who sees her value as the whole package—through her inward as well as her outward beauty.
GOD'S GLAMOUR GIRL
By Jacqueline J. Overpeck Guest Columnist
CBN.com – A few weeks ago, I was at the supermarket picking up doughnuts for work when Glamour magazine caught my eye. Renee Zellweger was the cover girl. She had on the softest pink dress. Her fair skin melted into the satin. The look was iridescent. She was radiant. I wish I glowed like a star, I whined to myself.
In addition to a feature story on Zellweger, Glamour promised a list of the 50 most glamorous women of 2009. Very interesting, I thought to myself. Who are the 50 most glamorous women of 2009 and how did they qualify? I couldn’t resist, so I bought a copy.
Later that day, I gobbled up my new magazine. I chewed every meaty-morsel from cover to cover. The 50 most glamorous women of 2009 included Reese Witherspoon for her likeability and legs, Jennifer Aniston for her Cali-girl style, Beyonce Knowles for oozing glamour, Gywneth Paltrow for her natural fashion ease, Katie Holmes for being both sophisticated and cool, and 45 other women for being femme fatales.
After reading the article, I closed the magazine and threw it on the floor. I felt empty. I had just feasted on a five-course meal that served up the best of Hollywood, yet I was still starving. Even with all the cream cheese couture, there wasn’t enough ruffley substance to satisfy my appetite. I needed some real food, something that would stick to my ribs.
Reaching for my Bible, I flipped to Matthew 5:6.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled. (King James Version)
“Lord,” I prayed. “I want to be filled with the kind of beauty you admire.”
The Qualities of God’s Glamour Girl
Who is God’s glamour girl and what are her admirable qualities?
According to Scripture, she is:
G – Gorgeous inside and outShe fears the Lord knowing He is the source of all good things.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
L – Laughter
She’s isn’t afraid to laugh out loud and she looks for ways to encourage others.
…the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
A – All about adoration
She’s got a heart for applauding her King. She loves to praise and worship her God.
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness;come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:1-2
M – Mercy
Her heart is full of compassion and her hands are ready to serve.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
O – Original
She’s uniquely herself. She places her whole life in God’s hands--knowing as His creation she already shines like a star.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made… Psalm 139:13-14
U – Understanding
She has a ravenous appetite for wisdom and she loves to read the Bible. She’s thirsty for truth and delights in understanding the mysteries of God.
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4
R – Righteousness
She keeps herself pure. She desires to be an untarnished vessel for God’s anointing to flow through. Nothing is more important to God’s Glamour Girl than establishing heaven’s kingdom on earth.
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long. Psalm 71:14-15
TRUE GLAMOUR
God’s glamour girl is gorgeous inside and out. She’s filled with laughter. She has a song in her heart. Mercy springs from her spirit. She’s totally original. Her Bible is handy. She uses her unique gifts and talents to share the saving message of Jesus with the world.
The Confident Christian Woman
Be encouraged glamour girl! You belong to the Most High God. As His daughter you live by another standard than one Hollywood and the fashion magazines portray. Heaven is your eternal home and you are astounding in unearthly beauty. With your life surrendered to Jesus you sparkle with radiance that Rodeo Drive wishes it had! You are spiritually savvy and God has created you to be exquisite in Him.
The more you sit at His feet, the more His image will be seen in you. He is love. How does anything else compare to that? Seriously, what could be more attractive than love?
The next time you look in the mirror, please don’t compromise your heart by comparing yourself to anyone else. There’s no one like you. Be confident in Christ. He created you to be beautiful beyond Beverly Hills and Sunset Boulevard.
How about a deal? If you stop longing for the life of Anne Hathaway and let heradmire the princess in you, I’ll forget reasoning how I might be like Renee Zellweger and let her admire God’s radiance in me! Agreed?
CBN.com – A few weeks ago, I was at the supermarket picking up doughnuts for work when Glamour magazine caught my eye. Renee Zellweger was the cover girl. She had on the softest pink dress. Her fair skin melted into the satin. The look was iridescent. She was radiant. I wish I glowed like a star, I whined to myself.
In addition to a feature story on Zellweger, Glamour promised a list of the 50 most glamorous women of 2009. Very interesting, I thought to myself. Who are the 50 most glamorous women of 2009 and how did they qualify? I couldn’t resist, so I bought a copy.
Later that day, I gobbled up my new magazine. I chewed every meaty-morsel from cover to cover. The 50 most glamorous women of 2009 included Reese Witherspoon for her likeability and legs, Jennifer Aniston for her Cali-girl style, Beyonce Knowles for oozing glamour, Gywneth Paltrow for her natural fashion ease, Katie Holmes for being both sophisticated and cool, and 45 other women for being femme fatales.
After reading the article, I closed the magazine and threw it on the floor. I felt empty. I had just feasted on a five-course meal that served up the best of Hollywood, yet I was still starving. Even with all the cream cheese couture, there wasn’t enough ruffley substance to satisfy my appetite. I needed some real food, something that would stick to my ribs.
Reaching for my Bible, I flipped to Matthew 5:6.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled. (King James Version)
“Lord,” I prayed. “I want to be filled with the kind of beauty you admire.”
The Qualities of God’s Glamour Girl
Who is God’s glamour girl and what are her admirable qualities?
According to Scripture, she is:
G – Gorgeous inside and outShe fears the Lord knowing He is the source of all good things.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
L – Laughter
She’s isn’t afraid to laugh out loud and she looks for ways to encourage others.
…the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
A – All about adoration
She’s got a heart for applauding her King. She loves to praise and worship her God.
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness;come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:1-2
M – Mercy
Her heart is full of compassion and her hands are ready to serve.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
O – Original
She’s uniquely herself. She places her whole life in God’s hands--knowing as His creation she already shines like a star.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made… Psalm 139:13-14
U – Understanding
She has a ravenous appetite for wisdom and she loves to read the Bible. She’s thirsty for truth and delights in understanding the mysteries of God.
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4
R – Righteousness
She keeps herself pure. She desires to be an untarnished vessel for God’s anointing to flow through. Nothing is more important to God’s Glamour Girl than establishing heaven’s kingdom on earth.
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long. Psalm 71:14-15
TRUE GLAMOUR
God’s glamour girl is gorgeous inside and out. She’s filled with laughter. She has a song in her heart. Mercy springs from her spirit. She’s totally original. Her Bible is handy. She uses her unique gifts and talents to share the saving message of Jesus with the world.
The Confident Christian Woman
Be encouraged glamour girl! You belong to the Most High God. As His daughter you live by another standard than one Hollywood and the fashion magazines portray. Heaven is your eternal home and you are astounding in unearthly beauty. With your life surrendered to Jesus you sparkle with radiance that Rodeo Drive wishes it had! You are spiritually savvy and God has created you to be exquisite in Him.
The more you sit at His feet, the more His image will be seen in you. He is love. How does anything else compare to that? Seriously, what could be more attractive than love?
The next time you look in the mirror, please don’t compromise your heart by comparing yourself to anyone else. There’s no one like you. Be confident in Christ. He created you to be beautiful beyond Beverly Hills and Sunset Boulevard.
How about a deal? If you stop longing for the life of Anne Hathaway and let heradmire the princess in you, I’ll forget reasoning how I might be like Renee Zellweger and let her admire God’s radiance in me! Agreed?
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