Our Distorted Perception

Our perception of beauty is distorted.

We have accepted the world's standard of beauty that is portrayed and valued by the media, and rejected what God has called real beauty. "...that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God's sight." (1Peter 3:4 NIV) It is disheartening that the media (world) has set the bar for what we view as "attractive", "pretty", and "beautiful", and we have cast aside what GOD is telling us real beauty is and where it is found.

80% of women say that the images of women on television and in movies, fashion magazines, and advertising makes them feel insecure with their bodies. We have accepted what the world prizes - the outer rather than the inner. Instead of clinging to our Creator and believing and trusting His Words, we turned our shoulder from His protective presence and reached out in friendship to the world and it's lies like an adulteress wife lusting for something more, leaving behind all we ever needed.

Unless we reject this world's standard of distorted beauty, we will continue to live with our insecurities and the constant turmoil of trying to be something and someone we aren't. If we surrender to our Maker and run to His accepting and transforming presence, we will find the beauty we desire and the lasting true love we crave.

God is the Maker of our bodies: height, hair color, eye color, nose, face, ears, feet, body build, skin color - everything! And He can create in us a beauty that will never fade, never grow old, and never go gray. It can last forever. He knows where true beauty comes from - not from skilled make-up artists and expensive editing software's - but from a heart that is fully and unconditionally devoted and surrendered to Him. He can remove the scales off our eyes to see true beauty the way He does: it is the spirit of a woman that is quiet and gentle, living a life of purity and reverence. (1 Peter 3:2)

May we fall at our Master's feet and ask for beauty that He views as precious and unfading.

Alabaster Heart: Sylvia

I am so excited and pleased to introduce you to a new friend of mine! Her name is Sylvia and she lives in Kampala, Uganda. She is 26 years old and lives and works in Kampala. Her church is there as well, but her family lives in Budaka (eastern Uganda). She is God’s warrior and her life has been a life of war. She wants to live and stand for the truth, and she knows the future is bright. She wants to glorify God in everything she does.

 

1) How and when did you first come to know Jesus as your Lord?

 

I knew about Jesus and that He died and rose again, but I guess I was living a double life. It was in Feb. 2003 at my University at an abstinence rally that I committed my life to Jesus completely and said “Jesus take the wheel!” From then to now my life has never been the same, and I am forever grateful!

 

2) What has been the biggest change in your life as a result of salvation?

 

There are so many changes in my life, but the biggest change of all is that I now live life with purpose. Before, I was just living like everyone else. Right now, I know there is someone who loves me (JESUS), and that there is eternal life after this life where I will go to meet the King of kings. Basically everything about me has changed.

 

3) What is your favorite thing about Jesus?

 

My favorite thing about Jesus is His humility and boldness. He was God and had all the power to do everything, yet He lived such a simple life and chose to die for me - me who is soo rebellious and ungrateful! I want to be like Jesus!

 

4) What do you feel God’s purpose for your life is?

 

To do His will, to live a life that pleases Him. And to pray for the Nations that they will come to acknowledge that He is King.

 

5) What is the hardest thing for you to live out as a set apart woman?

 

It is hard to live a set apart life, especially in a world where there is so much sin around me. But, I have come to learn that I am not to please the world, but that, as a set apart woman, I am to please God. It may be hard, but at the end of it all I glorify God.

 

6) What woman has impacted your walk with God more than anyone else?

 

One of the leaders in our church, she’s called Hadassah. She has so much zeal for the Lord! And when she talks about the Lord it is very real. Also her life testimony is so amazing. She shares her struggles and how she has overcome them, and this helps me deal with mine.

 

7) In your daily walk with God, what are a few things that you do to remain renewed and focused on God?

 

God’s Word helps me a lot, and I am so open with God. I talk to Him about whatever am going through. Also short prayers help, like for example “I know You are with me”.

 

 If you could say one thing to other Christian girls what would you say?

 

They are princesses and Jesus loves them the way they are. And that they should work on their inner beauty more than the outside. Dress modestly, and honor the temple of the Holy Spirit.

 

9) What do you do to entertain yourself?

I watch Christian movies, and read and listen to music.

 

10) What are some of your favorite books?

 

“Brokenness”, “The Purity Principle”, the “Left Behind Series” and of course the Bible - my life guide!

 

11) What is one of your favorite things to do in the course of a day?

 

Talking to my friends after work.

 

12) What is your favorite bible verse?

 

Jeremiah 29:11. When I feel like all is not making sense, it speaks to me. But every time I read it, I get new revelations about many verses.

 

13) As far as music goes, who is your favorite artist and why? (Also name a couple of your favorite songs)

Huh…….this is hard, I have many! Mark Schultz, I love His passion for God. I like the song “He will carry me” and many more.

 

14) Can you describe yourself in one word?

 

What?………..I can’t! I need to think about this one.

 

15) What is your favorite quote? (From someone other than Christ)

 

“When I say am not proud, I am already proud.” - Joy

 

16) What is your favorite thing about this blog?

 

I like the name Alabaster Box………..speaks a lot to us as women and our love for Jesus. And what Kaysie is doing for the young women is really great.

Listening to His Word

“Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.
But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

As I begin to write this on my handy clipboard, my family and I are driving home after spending Thanksgiving with our extended family in Mississippi. After leaving the warm fellowship with very full tummies, we began our journey home, adjusting to the quietness of the car.
I pulled out my Bible and opened to Luke and read the verses above. These are some of my favorite verses because we find the examples of two women who were very close to Jesus in His ministry.
I slowly read the story and then stared out the window in thought.
“What was the “good part” that Christ was talking about when He praised Mary?” I wondered.
I looked back at the verses for a contrast in Mary and Martha.
These two words stuck out to me: listening and distracted.

I think these two words add greater clarity to this story, and greater and deeper application to our lives.
Mary was sitting at the feet of Christ, listening to His Word.
Martha was distracted from His Word with all her preparations.
One thing was necessary, and Mary had chose the right thing - to listen to His Word.

Thinking back over these past few days, have I become distracted from God’s Word with my many preparations - or did I make time to listen to Jesus by spending time in His Word?
And as another special holiday approaches, will I be pulled away by the long list of preparations and shopping - or will I be diligent to listen to God and remain focused by spending time in His Word?

These are hard questions to answer, but our Master gives us such encouragement to not become distracted: “Only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

How I long to be the one who listens to His Word, not becoming distracted, but staying focused and fixed on Christ!

“…Let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” Heb. 12:1-2

I encourage you to listen to His Word daily, diligently, and faithfully - and let us not become entangled or distracted. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, looking up into His beautiful face as we sit at His feet with a listening heart.

Only then will we posses the “good part” which will never be taken away from us.

A Thankful Prayer

Our Father who dwells in heaven,

Thank You for the awesome privilege to come to You as our Father, knowing and experiencing daily Your abundant love and fellowship, being held in Your strong arms of protection and gentleness.

Thank You for adopting us as Your very own beloved children, and letting us be called by Your name, and giving us and inheritance and a heritage that we can hardly comprehend.

Thank You for sending to us Your only Son to die for our sins, reconciling us to Yourself through His perfect life and painful death.

Thank You that You raised Him from the dead to demonstrate Your power in His life and in ours today, and for giving us eternal and abundant life with You.

Thank You for bringing us near to You through the blood of Jesus, which You allowed to satisfy Your just wrath against us.

Thank You for giving us the example of holiness and humility through Your Own Son Jesus, and teaching us to learn from Him.

Thank You for Your indwelling Spirit in our hearts, the Spirit of truth, who instructs our hearts in righteousness and discerns our motives.

Thank You that He helps us obey Your commandments and empowers us to reveal to the world who You are.

Thank You that the Helper teaches us all things and brings to our remembrance all the Words You have spoken to us.

O Father, our hearts are overflowing with sincere thankfulness that You are God and there is no other.

You are real and we believe in You.

Father, we ask for more of You in our lives. Continue to pour Yourself into our hearts and minds. Make us truly grateful for every gift that comes from You.

Help us to abide in You, O God, for without You we are nothing.

Thank You Father.

In Christ’s name, our Savior and spotless Lamb. Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Alabaster Heart: Camille

I am very pleased to introduce you to a dear friend of mine. Her name is Camille and she currently lives with her family in TN. She is twelve years old and hopes to eventually raise a family, be a missionary, or/and an author - just whatever the Lord wants for her.

1) How and when did you first come to know Jesus as your Lord?

I was around 7 years old when I accepted Jesus Christ into my life. I had “prayed the prayer” many times before, but it was when I was alone kneeling in my room when He truly came into my life.

2) What has been the biggest change in your life as a result of salvation?

I don’t know! I mean, everything in my life has changed! Well… the biggest thing (and not so much the best thing) is that since I am a Christian, I need to live my life according to God’s Word. Even when that may be difficult, I still have to make hard decisions - really hard ones! I have to live my life for Christ no matter what.

3) What is your favorite thing about Jesus? 

This is hard!  Probably the fact that He is always awake…He’s always present. He knows what you are going to say before you say it, and He knows what my desires are before I do. So I guess my favorite thing about Jesus (or God) is that He is always there for me.

4) What do you feel God’s purpose for your life is?

Hmm… I think God’s purpose in my life is for me to have a family and to help other people come to know the Lord.

5) What is the hardest thing for you to live out as a set apart woman?

Like question number two, it’s the fact that I am set apart. No matter what other people may be doing, no matter how hard it is, I have say and do things that normally I wouldn’t want to do, like letting someone know about my faith even when it might seem “embarrassing”.

6) What woman has impacted your walk with God more than anyone else?

That would have to be my Mom and you, Kaysie.

7) In your daily walk with God, what are a few things that you do to remain renewed and focused on God? 

Pray. That usually opens a door to my heart for God to speak into. When I am upset, happy, or just wanting talk to God - praying to Him always lifts my spirit.

 If you could say one thing to other Christian girls what would you say? 

That life is about Jesus. And that life isn’t just a party for us to have fun in… it’s serious. We have to live our lives for Him and do what He wants us to do. If you stay focused on Christ, everything will work out according to His plan.

9) What do you do to entertain yourself? 

Hang around my friends, and my brother Corey! They’re always doing something funny!

10) What are some of your favorite books? 

Hmm… this is sure a hard one! NOT!  My favorite book is (drum roll) THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA! Go C.S. Lewis, yeah! (sorry!)

11) What is one of your favorite things to do in the course of a day?

Read and maybe listen to music.

12) What is your favorite bible verse?

Romans 10:9.

13) As far as music goes, who is your favorite artist and why? (Also name a couple of your favorite songs) 

Andrew Peterson! I love what he sings about. It glorifies God and it always builds me up. My favorite song is “Far Country”, and I like “Shadowlands” by Rebecca St. James.

14) Can you describe yourself in one word?

Crazy.

15) What is your favorite quote? (From someone other than Christ)

I don’t really have a favorite quote. There are so many lines from movies and books, and verses from songs that I love. So, I will just name a sentence in a book that just stood out to me. It was said by ‘Allfather’, (who portrays “God” in the story) he was talking about the main evil guy (who, guess what, portrays satan) who was about to try to take over the world.
Allfather said, “Be strong! For though he may triumph for a day, he does not know that all tomorrows are mine.”
I just thought it was a cool quote. It can definitely give us strength when we are afraid. All tomorrows are God’s. Cool.

16) What is your favorite thing about this blog?

It gives me a chance to hear all of Kaysie’s great thoughts, and we can leave comments to share something about what she said too.

Thanksgiving in the Life of a Believer

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5:16-18

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I have been asking God to prepare my heart for this season. Yesterday, I opened God’s Word and began looking up all the places He uses the words “thanksgiving”, “give thanks”, “thankful”, etc., and He began to teach me that “thanksgiving” is not merely something we should do on this holiday. Based on Scripture, like the one above, believers are to have thanksgiving everyday!

Here are a few verses I found just in the book of Colossians:

In our hearts we are to be thankful. (Col. 3:15)
In our songs we are to be thankful. (Col. 3:16)
In our words and in our deeds we are to be thankful. (Col. 3:17)
In our prayers we are to be thankful. (Col. 4:2)

We are to be very thankful people!

As God’s Word began to slowly sink deeper in my mind, I was convicted of having an attitude of ungratefulness. I am ashamed to say that many, many times instead of giving thanks, I complain and grumble. I have looked at the negative, instead of dwelling of the faithfulness of God through it all. I have focused on the things that went wrong, rather than staying focused on all the amazing things God has done.

This saddens me, not only because I am disobeying God’s word and saddening His heart, but because when I complain and dwell on the negative I do not appear to the world as a child of God.

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…” Phil. 2:14-16

We live in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, but we have a responsibility: we are to shine as lights in the world (Matt. 5:16) and we can do that by being thankful in everything and not complaining. When we chose to give thanks in everything, whether easy or hard, we prove to the world that we are God’s children - that there is something very different about us.

And truly, we who are God’s children have so much to be thankful for. We are the ones who know Jesus, we have abundant life and eternal life, we have a loving Father who watches over us and blesses our lives. We should never cease in giving thanks! We hold fast and hold forth the word of life, for others to see and take hold of for themselves.

Can you believe so much can be done by just being thankful?!

I encourage you to let God use this Thanksgiving season to refocus your heart and mind on the blessings, abundant life, and calling He has given you, and that He would supply the power for us to be thankful in everything and everyday - not just on Thanksgiving.

Let your light shine. Be thankful.

A Modest Heart

“Your adornment must not be merely external - braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a quiet and gentle spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

The world has distorted the meaning of “modesty” in our minds. Modesty is considered as “old fashioned” and “out of style”. I think many people would be rather astonished to find what the true meaning of modesty really is. Noah Webster defines “modesty” in his 1828 Dictionary as:
a) a lowly temper which accompanies a moderate estimate of one’s own worth and importance
b) moderation; decency
c) synonymous with chastity or purity of manners - modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of her honor.

I find here more of an emphasis on a woman’s character of heart, rather than her outward adornment. Our minds have corrupted by the world from realizing the true and pure beauty of modesty, and has distracted us from it’s priceless worth. Women have, for centuries, been deceived on what true beauty is - it is not measured by how much skin you are able to show, but what lies under that skin: a modest heart that lives in humility, realizing what it was and what it is becoming.

The real problem with immodesty is not the clothes (or lack thereof) on our bodies, it is the condition of our hearts. Immodesty is a direct result of a prideful heart, and a “look at me” attitude.
When we view ourselves more highly than we ought (pride), we take our eyes off Christ and find enjoyment in distracting other people to take their eyes off Christ as well. We think our bodies are for us to do with as we please.

But this should not be!

We who are God’s children were bought with a price! And because we were bought, we belong. Not to ourselves, but to Jesus. We now live for Him, to bring Him glory, and to direct the eyes of others to rest on Him and not us. For when a woman focuses on glorifying God with her body, she considers carefully what she puts on that body, and her modest heart dictates her wardrobe and appearance.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor. 6:19-20 [emphasis added]

God finds the women with modest hearts precious and beautiful in His sight.
Won’t you be one of them?