:: Women :: Significance :: More Beautiful You ::

I believe that God has given me a zeal for women- more specifically- teenage and young adult women. That’s a little bit unusual considering some of this group is my peers. However, I have a heart to see the women of my generation reach their full potential in Christ. I’m not saying this having figured everything out but as a woman who is on the same journey and has been through quite a bit in her life. The past 6-7 years of my life, God has moved in amazing ways. I have gone from a not being connected to Christ, to playing the “church” game, to working out my salvation daily. During this time, I have struggled on different levels with different sins and still continue to struggle with certain sin in my life. I know, however, that God has called me to be “set apart”. Now, if you know me well at all or have known me for a while you probably know this about me, just look at my email or screen names. Sadly, I haven’t always lived up to my calling to be “set apart” but through out my walk with Christ, I have always heard a small voice in my heart that says, “I created you for something different than this world”.

I think it’s time for me to live up to my calling and also encourage you.

I want you to know that you are a person of great worth and potential. You were designed by God and desired by God. Rewind.. you are DEISRED by God. God craves a personal relationship with you. He created you to be YOU! He didn’t create you to be someone else. So, I don’t want to hear anymore “I’m not good enough”s because you are basically slapping God in the face and putting down his creation. NO MORE LADIES! But you also need to realize that you are a work in progress. This life isn’t a destination but progress. You live, you make mistakes, you learn (hopefully) and you live some more, and you make more mistakes, and you learn more (hopefully). I am sick and tired of hearing the women that I love put themselves down for the mistakes they’ve made. I am fed up! And the reason I am fed up is because I have been there. For the longest time in my life, I have put myself down and have been so hard on myself on so many different levels. I’ve had to deal with a lot of issues in my life and I am still dealing with some of them. However, I think the point is that we have to rerecord the tapes that are in our heads. If your tape is saying “You are not good enough” Rewind that tape and hit record on some scripture. Start with Psalm 139. I think the root of this issue is that we are trying to find our significance in something (or someone) other than Christ. What if God was the thing that we were seeking more than anything? What would our relationships look like? What would our conversations sound like? What would our jobs look like? We would act differently? YOU BET!

I guess the question then is- Is the pedal down on the floor board of your life wanting Jesus more than anything? Or are you seeking your significance in other things (or people)?

The reason I say “people” is because WARNING! I am getting on my soap box God isn’t preoccupied with you having a boyfriend.. He is preoccupied with how far you are on the journey to becoming the person he dreamed you up to be. I’m not saying that God isn’t concerned with that part of your life (because He is) but He isn’t as preoccupied with you having a guy in your life as most of you are. (BBC girls- does this sound familiar? Haha..) The key to life is to become someone not find someone. A lot of people are preoccupied with finding someone but I believe we need to start spending our energy talking to God about becoming someone and his purpose for our lives.

I like the way Louie Giglio says it, “Life story TRUMPS love story.” If you aren’t the person you are supposed to be in Christ and you are looking to “get in” on some guys story so you can have significance, STOP!

Relationships are hard work.. they aren’t always lovey dovey. There will be times where the feelings aren’t happening anymore. If you don’t have a life story that drew you together- I don’t think you will have a love story that will draw you all the way to the end. Through the seasons of life and the “feelings” of love- your life stories will be the things that get you through. I believe the sole purpose of a relationship is that two little lives are making the biggest impact possible for the glory of Christ. If you and Bobby Joe aren’t doing that- then what’s the point? Is it possible that the only reason you want a relationship is to feel significant? Ouch. Anyway, this isn’t intended to be about “dating” but about finding your significance in Christ and CHRIST ALONE!

I guess this is meant to serve as a challenge to you and to myself. What is currently sitting on the throne of your life? If it isn’t God then you are settling for WAY LESS than the best. I hope you are encouraged.

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P.S. This is an AMAZING song by Jonny Diaz (for all you Braves fans.. that would be Matt Diaz's brother!) You can listen to it here: http://www.imeem.com/popmusic26/music/IY45bORf/jonny-diaz-more-beautiful-you/

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

Little girl twenty-one the things that you’ve already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you’ve got a man but he’s got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead

Well little girl twenty-one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there’s a man whose love is true
And he’ll treat you like the jewel you are

So turn around you’re not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It’s not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the one who’s strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you’ll see through the eyes of a little girl