Part 2...
The beginning part of this section talked about not being noticed. Again, I look to the book cover, and see a beautiful lady... not noticed my foot. LOL. It does matter to be noticed... God wants us to know that He notices us. "Maybe no one has ever really noticed you either. And you've learned to pretend that it's okay. IT'S NOT OKAY! You were made to be seen and known and loved deeply. And it's okay to want what you were made for." The was so liberating.We hear all the time (usually from some parental, or mentor figure) "You are beautiful and its okay that you want someone notice"... but I think this goes much deeper. It's okay to want this... because God put this desire in us. But ultimately, he wants to fill the longing there. No human can ever do it.
"...I believe God meant for life to take our breath away, sometimes because of the sheer joy of it all and sometimes because of the severe pain. To CHOOSE living over pretending means we will know both." So many of us need to quit pretending to live... me included. We need to go out there and live like we mean it. We must choose to live life...
"I am supposed to have a passionate heart that does not have to be squelched. I am supposed to yearn for beauty and long to be known deeply. I came wired like this." This is the way God created me. Why does today's culture tell us that if we feel like this, as women, we are less? Our culture tells us we need to be strong... and I am not saying we should be weak and not have thoughts of our own. A passionate heart allows that... passions that run deep... a Passion for the Word of God and his mission. To yearn for beauty.. true beauty and not just what this world deems as beautiful... beauty of the inside... where you really have to get to know a person to know thier beauty. That is to be known deeply. Below the surface. God put me togehter that way. THere is nothing wrong with it!
"Who will fight for me? Who will be my hero? Who will call me beautiful?" These words were taken from Wild at Heart. God really sees me as I am... and He wants to fight for me. He wants to prepare me daily for battle, and has even given me his sword. He is my hero, conquering sin and death, and every sin temptation known to man.. and daily he wants to help me do that same. And even more personally, he calls me Beautiful. He sees the me that no one else sees... vunerable, passions, desires, dreams... the true me. Behind the facade. "God, do you see me in all this mess and still think I am beautiful?" The amazing answer to this is YES!
"Every once in a while, a woman walks into a room and you know that she knowns that God calls her beautiful. There is peace and strength and energy that comes from belonging to Him. There is a confidence that is captivating. I want to be that woman. Everything inside me wants to be a woman who moves in that kinda of grace and assurance." Amazing. That has been the prayer of my heart, written in words. For so long now, I have been trying to figure it all out... what were the words I really wanted to say to God. I know he knows the desires of my heart... but I wanted to say it. And thats it. I want to live a life where people know that I have a very real God who is daily changing me. I want them to see his beauty through my life... not because of legalistic rules... but because I choose to live a set apart life. I want the peace that comes from God alone and giving him EVERY aspect of my life. And look... living a life like that brings strength... and isnt that what modern women are looking for? To be a strong woman?
(Psa 45:11 KJV) So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty:
Amazing. God desires my beauty. I am leaving with this last quote from the book, " The God who slung the stars across the heavens... the same One who shaped the mountains and valleys with the palm of his hand...the God whose very breath gives you life... that God, the King, has ALWAYS been taken with you. You have been noticed. He thinks you're beautiful. The glass slipper fits. the music is playing, and he is asking you to dance."
Beautiful... simply put... (sorry for those of you who feel like you must read this... I hope it encourages you to some point...)
