Makeup isn't beauty: You're fearfully and wonderfully made

I'll be the first to admit makeup is pretty awesome. Have you seen that crazy contouring people do or all that intricate eye shadow? How neat, right?! Yes, makeup is super fun and it's great when we want to look extra put together- but we have to make sure our mind is in the right place when we use it. Are we wearing makeup for the fun of it, or because we don't see ourselves as beautiful without it? Are we using makeup as a mask, our source of confidence? Is makeup limiting the beauty we actually possess? In 1 Peter 3:3-4, we are told not to be concerned with our outward beauty, but to clothe ourselves with unfading beauty from within. In Proverbs 31 we learn that we're clothed with strength and dignity. In God's image we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Our true beauty doesn't come from the world. Our beauty stems alone from Christ shown through us. God made you beautiful and perfect AS YOU ARE. And I guarantee you, if you're good enough for the king of kings and the Lord of Lords, you're definitely good enough for anyone else. You are not beautiful because of your makeup or fancy hair and designer clothes. Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Do not let makeup limit your true beauty. Don't be defined by mascara and blush. You are worth greater. Your beauty is more than skin deep. Makeup is great, who doesn't like to dress up or be creative? There's nothing wrong with it one bit, so long as you make sure your perception of yourself isn't determined by it. Don't define your beauty by your makeup.

You only have 15 followers? Jesus had 12.

The Bible tells us faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, but when we look at our lives and our ability to make an impact we see a truth far different. We all want to save the world. We all want to leave a lasting impact and make a difference. Honestly, I don't think many people would deny that to be true if they were given the opportunity. However for most of us, making a difference is left as hopeful thinking, simply a thought left without any action. Why? Because our mission trip for just a week costs $4000. Because our inspiring tweets would only be seen by 15 followers. Because in the realm of things, we don't see how our actions could make any lasting impact at all.

In reality, maybe we've just been flipping this whole "change" thing backwards. Change never starts large scale. Change occurs over time because of multiple smaller changes. If you want to impact an entire nation, you have to start village by village. You only have 15 followers on social media? Jesus had 12. If change across the globe can all stem from Jesus and his 12, imagine the potential you have when He is working with you! You only need to reach one person, and one by one people are influenced by change. Instead of playing the blame game, let's realize that this generation so desperately in need of change is the same generation we are included in. We are not a lost cause, and we are not hopeless. We just need more people to step beyond their comfort of conformity and be an example to their communities. No single human will change the way our entire generation thinks, but every one of us together can reach out to the people near us.

Never go into the world expecting to save all of it. Stay realistic. Make a difference for the people you can. Take advantage of the opportunities where you are now. Whether you point one person towards God or 100,000 people, God rejoices the same. Change no matter how big or how small glorifies Him.

Be fearless in pursuit of The Lord

Imagination. The word for many stops at childhood, pertaining to imaginary friends and youthful creative ignorance. But how many times do our imaginations play a lead role in our lives as adults? From the childlike view of imagination stems a mature version, hardly as innocent. For most of us, imagination now takes the form of a worst case scenario, and it has shaped who we are and the decisions we've made up to this point in our life. Think about times in life where your imagination has steered you wrong. Maybe you failed an exam, and your imagination told you it'll be impossible to get into college now. Maybe you're going on the first date with a girl you really like, how many scenarios are running through your head of stuttering or spilling your food? Is anything good coming from your imagination at these points? The depths of our imagination are unfathomable. One mistake and your immediate response is that the worst can and will happen next. Why so much negativity though, when we have nothing to worry about? Our imaginations are powerful. If we used them in their wholeness to imagine the best case scenarios, or even to realize that one mistake won't contribute to our ruin, can you imagine how much stress, anxiety, and brokenness we would eliminate from our lives? Exodus 15:3 tells us that The Lord is a warrior. Countless times our Bible reminds us to not be afraid, because God is with us and He fights for us. We shouldn't waste our imaginations dreaming of situations that will never come to be, because our God can do the impossible and because he is always faithful in His promises. He protects and shelters, he comforts and rescues, and no weapons formed against you will prosper because you are in the hands of the Lord of all lords. If we trust our faith to God, and we believe Him to be all powerful, why is there any reason to imagine the worst? Spend your time imagining the goodness that can come from situations. Be fearless in pursuit of the Lord and take chances in growing His kingdom. Work wholeheartedly for His name and he'll lift you up in honor.

Just take a second

I'll be honest, writer's block is pretty much a common thing for me. I have all of these ideas but not the words needed to express them, or sometimes I can't seem to organize my thoughts at all. But make no mistake, this blog post is in no way shape or form the product of writer's block, or the absence of any ideas. In fact it's simply to illustrate the most accessible but assumably most forgotten way to worship: appreciation. To be still for even a second. With such busy lives, too often we forget to take a second and realize our God knows each and every star by name. We forget that he creates a new sunset every night for us to see. We forget that he can split the sea into two. We never stop to realize our God designed each and every plant, flower and animal from mighty lions all the way down to sugar ants barely noticeable to the human eye. And too often we even forget that he put the same, if not more, effort into making us. Beautiful and intricate, the same God who can calm waves and still the wind, who can heal the sick and injured, specifically designed us in His image. When you look around, it's easy to let the little things fly right past you. At the same time, taking a second to look at God's creation and realize the value in it is a way for us to grow in our relationship with Him. Just because he's God, it doesn't mean you can't one on one take time to show Him your appreciation and adornment for His creations!

But the greatest of these is love

When we think of the commandments God gives us to follow, it's certainly easy to become overwhelmed. "Do unto your neighbor," "Control your tongue," "Honor your mother and father." The list goes on and on. Throughout the entire Bible, commands are given to us as guidelines for living a life in alignment with God. But in a world feeding us so much information- from classes, to important deadlines, and "I was supposed to pick up the kids at what time?!"- God's reminders to us can quickly leave the forefront of our minds. However, they don't necessarily have to. The long agenda of guidelines can be summed up into one constant thought immovable from our minds and hearts.

"... But the greatest of these is love." Love. The commands given by the Bible can be summed up in this single word, small in size yet powerful in meaning. Love is our call to others. Love was Jesus's effect for us on the cross, and the cause that nailed Him there to begin with. Love gifted us with a Savior... "for God so loved the world, He sent His one and only son." Love is stronger than death, and crushes sin in it's grasp. Love isn't only a feeling, but rather an action. Love brings people together and becomes our unity with God. Love creates hope in us and lights the path before us. Love opens up doors for purpose. Without love, we are nothing. With love, we are God's everything. It's easy to be overcome by the immense amount of commands granted to us, but when you combine them down to a common call to action, love is always the answer. The single command to love indirectly includes all of the other commandments in themselves. For if we truly love, each and every other commandment is redundant. God is love, and we are called to walk along side Him in his mission to love.