self-image
a topic that's cropped up a lot lately in my life. wonder why. maybe, probably because i've been mulling over thoughts like... who am i? and what exactly has God created me to be? to do? what does what i already know about myself tell me about God's plans for me? and much more. thanks, God, dropping so many clues in my path. this past sunday at fbcc 'focus' youth service, the message was about fear of failure, a continuation of a series on self-image. to the side, there was a tall, full-length mirror. at about chest level, it was smashed, jagged fragments still clinging to the frame. before the message, carolyn shared some of her personal testimony and struggles with self-image. those of you who know her, you might ask her about it. she has some great things to share, especially for all you sisters out there =) i've actually ended up saying a lot more than i meant to. it was just supposed to be a one-liner =P so at last...
here's a song i came across today...
I was so unique
Now I feel skin deep
Count on the maker to cover it all.
Crying myself to sleep �cause I can not keep their attention
Thought I could be strong, but it�s killing me.
Does someone hear my cry?
I�m dying for new life.
I wanna be beautiful,
Make you stand in awe.
Look inside my heart.
Be amazed.
I want to hear you say
Who I am is quite enough
I just wanna be worthy of love
Beautiful
Sometimes I wish I was someone
Other than me
Fighting to make the mirror happy
Trying to find whatever is missing
Won�t you help me back to glory?
I wanna be beautiful
Make you stand in awe
Look inside my heart
And be amazed
I want to hear you say
Who I am I quite enough
I just wanna be worthy of love
You make me beautiful
You make me stand in awe
You step inside my heart
And I am amazed
I love to hear you say
Who I am is quite enough
You make me worthy of love
Beautiful
You make me worthy of love
Beautiful
Beautiful
(Beautiful, Bethany Dillon)
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Wednesday, March 10, 2004
warfare
there's a war raging all around us, all the time. we forget that all the time, i think. at least i do. i always forget ... that every day and every moment is a battle. today was a forceful reminder of the truth.
"This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels."
Ephesians 6:12 (MSG)
our enemy may be defeated... but for now he's still on the prowl... just waiting for any opportunity to use his powerful arsenal on those who would seek God. and our enemy knows what he's doing, too. he's got ages of experience. he knows our weaknesses... even our greatest, deepest, secret ones. i felt like, tonight, there were some ambushes. it makes me angry, sad, and hurt... all at the same time. but i'm reminded. there's going to be ambushes and battles... even some lost ones. some terrible ones. but, in the end, we have hope that the war is already won. Jesus won the war already. now... we just have to trust God to help us win these daily battles too. from skirmishes to massacres. for, as strong and crafty as our enemy is, GOD OWNS. thank goodness for an omnipotent God. we are in good hands...
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39
nothing physical (not even death), nothing spiritual (not even the blackest evil), not time, not any earthly power, not space, nor anything else in the universe can compete with God's authority.... with God's love. so pray. and pray hard. Xtreme prayer everyday for this Xtreme warfare we call life.
there's a war raging all around us, all the time. we forget that all the time, i think. at least i do. i always forget ... that every day and every moment is a battle. today was a forceful reminder of the truth.
"This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels."
Ephesians 6:12 (MSG)
our enemy may be defeated... but for now he's still on the prowl... just waiting for any opportunity to use his powerful arsenal on those who would seek God. and our enemy knows what he's doing, too. he's got ages of experience. he knows our weaknesses... even our greatest, deepest, secret ones. i felt like, tonight, there were some ambushes. it makes me angry, sad, and hurt... all at the same time. but i'm reminded. there's going to be ambushes and battles... even some lost ones. some terrible ones. but, in the end, we have hope that the war is already won. Jesus won the war already. now... we just have to trust God to help us win these daily battles too. from skirmishes to massacres. for, as strong and crafty as our enemy is, GOD OWNS. thank goodness for an omnipotent God. we are in good hands...
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39
nothing physical (not even death), nothing spiritual (not even the blackest evil), not time, not any earthly power, not space, nor anything else in the universe can compete with God's authority.... with God's love. so pray. and pray hard. Xtreme prayer everyday for this Xtreme warfare we call life.
