I'm blogging at www.melaniedorsey.com . Please join me there.

May 8, 2011

31 Days Closer to a Cuter You!" Day 8 "Beauty Marks"

Marilyn Monroe (photo from Alfred Eisenstaedt)

Let's face it. Most of us women have issues (at some time or another) with inferiority and insecurity. Sure, there are times when we are not battling these kinds of issues - when they are not on the forefront of our radar screen. 

But until we are called HOME to GLORY I think we will face those matters from time to time.
The key, as far as I'm concerned, is not so much in winning that battle forever (in this flesh) but to recognize when it rears its ugly twin heads. 

And when it comes to our appearance, the ugly twins like to mouth off.

Some seasons of my life my weight has been "up there" and hard to disguise, especially for a shorty like me.
For some seasons of my life my hair has not been quite right ~ a little too dark, a little too brassy, a little too short, a little too layered. Oh, the pictures I could share with you. NOT.
In other seasons, my goal was to camouflage a case of acne that lasted far too long. And now frown lines and crow's feet?


I could go on and address issues that have nothing to do with my appearance that cause me to feel insecure or inferior.


Each of us - no matter our body type, hair issues, skin woes, current weight or any other "stuff" -  could make a list of things we'd like to change about ourselves.


But there is one thing I do not ever want to change. And that is my "beauty mark."

I am marked by the beauty of the Love of Christ. He bore my sins in His body represented by the scars in His hands and feet. I have heard it said that the only scars there will ever be in Heaven are those in the hands and feet of Christ Jesus. 


One day I was thinking of my son, Andrew, and the scars on his body from surgery. I began to cry and then it dawned on me that since He now resides in Heaven, his scars are gone! Gone. Gone!!!


My tears turned to soft laughter as I considered that because of Christ, Andrew's suffering is no longer a part of his life. And that makes my heart happy ~ makes me want to sing!


And it leads my heart to worship.


Psalm 29:2 says, Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship Him in the beauty of holiness."


We worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness in a position and perspective of separation unto God. We are set apart and reserved (saved for) God and His service. 


When Andrew was first diagnosed with brain cancer, I felt led to pray and speak Psalm 27 over him. Psalm 27 became "Andrew's Psalm."
Verses 3 & 4 read: 
"Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple." 

 To behold the beauty of the Lord, goes beyond our physical sight into spiritual vision. We are able to behold His beauty as we dwell in Him. Dwelling occurs as we enter into the things of Christ. When we "enter in," we dwell in Him. When we dwell in Him, we are imbued (saturated) with the ability or empowerment to SEE Him, to gaze upon Him, to behold the beauty of the Lord.


And when He beholds us, it is not our shape, our size, our hair color nor whether we ever get "it" all just right that identifies us as belonging to Him.


He looks for our Beauty Mark ~ the mark of His sacrifice, of His love for us and that is how we are Known by Him.

4 comments:

  1. The timing of your article is perfect. After a week full of external examination, I, too, was thinking about beauty on the inside and how while looking our best is very important, it's the beauty of Christ within us that makes such a difference in people's lives.

    The beauty tips have been wonderful! Thanks for the time you've spent coming up with these.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This. Is. Amazing.

    You have a beautiful heart, Melanie. I'm so glad to join you in this 31 Day journey.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for this. THANK YOU. As Laurie said, it is so very timely, especially for me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is beautiful, Mel!! Just beautiful. I needed to be reminded of this today. That He's not focused on my scars but on my holiness because of His scars.

    Happy Mothers Day. I heart you dear friend!!

    ReplyDelete