Love Defined

Love.

One might say it is naive to love
too easily

True,
it may be naive
to believe
that all are good,
that you will always get back what you have given
and be valued as dear.

That is naive.

But when was love to be contingent upon what one deserved?

Held, and
rationed out according to
measured
worthiness?

Is the definition of love then not defeated?

Wasn't
Love defined
the day He gave all
despite
our unworthiness?
unhindered,
determined by
who He is rather than
what was deserved?

It is not naive.
By definition it is
the only way
it is meant to be given.

*This is Love
Not that we loved God
but that He loved us
For God so loved
that He gave.

Love.
Love easily.

*1 John 4:10, John 3:16

Unwritten Pages

To every girl who has ever dreamed:
Because you are girls...you have.

Remember when we were teenagers; painting our nails, chewing gum, and talking about how our latest crush would top off our happily-ever-afters. Bliss was, of course, our fate, and we were excited to open the epic novel that awaited us.  It was, at that point, rare one would slip in "...and then he'll break my heart and crush my dreams" part of the story.  But, unfortunately, many of our chapters have not ended the way we originally supposed.  Prince Charming fell off his horse, the palace has only 2 bedrooms/1 bath, and the humdrum of the everyday makes us want to close the pages of this disappointing fairy tale and, of course, never dream again.

And so, we go on, move on, relying on the girls, now, for a good laugh, coarse joke, and anything we can find to get over the foolish fantasies of our young hearts. We force ourselves to live at the level of our "realities", and are praised for doing so.  We call it contentment.  Acceptance. And, really, all that can be expected.

But then I question, has our "acceptance" mentality caused some of us to live instead by default, allowing disappointment to created our life's overall plumb line?

Have we gotten comfortable in these shadows and let our stories fade into just getting by? And though I realize at times it is easier to stay tangibly "safe"  in these than to open hope again, we cannot flat line here. We were never intended to.

The Author of our story is not done yet.

There are still pages to be written, and He is waiting to co-write the script.  He is also the One who is able to take the smeary messes of our disappointed lines and revise, redo, and wipe them with His hand.  Isaiah 54: 11 says, "O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires."   Revelations 21:5b says, "Behold, I make all things new."  He is not afraid of where we have been. He is only afraid we won't believe again.

So, will you trust Him with your unwritten pages?

To every woman who has forgotten her dreams:
Please Dream Again.




"Behold, I make all things new." Revelations 21:5b

Give and Take

Beauty, in its very nature, gives.  Think about this in terms of creation: iridescent sunsets create awe, an ocean breeze refreshes, and a magnificent mountaintop reminds us of the wonder of life.  If this is true, then I am afraid there is a paradox taking place. This is a paradox so unnoticed, unidentified, and so "normal" one would even question if it is a problem.  It is in the nature of a woman. Now, I am not saying women themselves are the paradox (though some men may disagree). It lies in the fact that beauty, in and of itself, is supposed to give, and a woman is the very essence or escalation of the definition of beauty; so why then is she, of all the beautiful creations, the one that uses this nature so often as a means to...take?

It is true, our beauty has the ability to draw men, inspire others, and make us feel "alive".  The world is in awe of a beautiful woman. Who would disagree life itself is enriched because of what we hold?  But when is this "gift" we possess used as a means for our own gain?  Though beauty draws men, do we use it to seduce them and fill a need? Has it been our avenue to gain approval from others or show a false security? Women, your beauty is powerful.  With it you can give or you can take.

In Proverbs you will find two women who display this principle.  Proverbs 7, reveals a woman who used her dress (vs.10), attitude (vs. 13), and words (vs. 3) to entice and take.  Though, with her actions, she seems to want to "give" (vs. 14 "I have peace offerings with me."), all her actions were for her own pleasure.  But, the famous Proverbs 31 woman unfolds a very different woman.  Though, we do not hear much about her outer beauty, the very essence she carries as a woman reveals great beauty from within. Proverbs 31:10b says, "...her worth is far above rubies." What woman wouldn't want that said of them? Every verse in this chapter reveals a woman that uses her womanhood as a means to give to others.  Her life enriches and enhances others. And verse 30b says, "...she shall be praised."  (Hmm...maybe approval doesn't come from trying to get it from others but from giving to them.)

So ladies, this is our beauty challenge.  Who will you be this week?  With each action... will you give or will you take?

Already

"Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" or so says a Disney Queen and so we, as young women, say as we stare into the critiquing glass, hoping that maybe this time I'll be just a little prettier, thinner, or more acceptable than before.  Will the one staring back ever match that flawless plastic cover model?  I am disgusted to realize that I have fallen terribly short...again.  My cheekbones will never quite be high enough, waist small enough, and the "Perfection" powder failed to cover like it promised.  How many young women have experienced this moment, only to shut off the lights to ever truly feeling beautiful.

But I question, why does the grocery store aisle model get to define the beauty plumb line?  Why are we mesmerized by a woman who only points out our flaws?  And I would even venture to wonder if this is all a part of the enemy's plan to blind women from their true identity.  If I am consumed by what I am not and never measuring up, then how can I walk in the fullness of who I was created to be?  Cause maybe, just maybe, we've looked to the wrong source all along to define who we are.  Psalm 139:13-17 says, "For you formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother's womb.  I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Marvelous are your works and that my soul knows very well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Your eyes saw my substance, yet being unformed.  And in your book they were all written, the days fashioned for me, when yet there were none of them.  How precious to me are your thoughts, Oh God.  How great is the sum of them."

So there you were on the Potter's Wheel...waiting.  and then He, the Creator, walked in, and sitting down next to you, He began to dream.  With His hands He fashioned, carefully picking out your eye color, personality and weaving together every intricate aspect that would make you, you.  The writer of this passage described that day using words like "wonderfully," "skillfully," and "marvelous".  You were never intended to be a carbon copy of an imitation woman.  So when the last stroke was made, He placed His brush down, stepped back and spoke, "Perfect...don't change a thing."

How it must break God's heart as He watches His young women working so hard to undo and change everything He tried to perfect.  With every alteration, we dim, losing more of who we were intended to be.  He wants to make you come alive.  But ladies, you will never know who you are until you learn to go to the One who created you, until you realized you were defined on the day you were created.  Remember what He said...He said you were already perfect.