I haven’t actually shared the verses before, just the references. Today, I’m going to change that.
God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the LORD looks at the heart. –1 Samuel 16:7
God sees us with the eyes of a Father. He sees our defects, errors, and blemishes. But he also sees our value.
What did Jesus know that enabled him to do what he did?
Here’s part of the answer. He knew the value of people. He knew that each human being is a treasure. And because he did, people were not a source of stress but a source of joy. In the Eye of the Storm
This reminded me of a couple of songs that I know and enjoy.
And then this happened last night on my personal Tumblr:
Tumblr
I added the text at the bottom when I reblogged the photo.
Also this one:
gorgeous
And also this one:
17mag
And then this one:
envy
Those are just a few of the things I come across on Tumblr that deal with wanting to be someone else, or not being satisfied with who you are. And it makes me sad. I get that envy sometimes, too, but I’m learning to be happy with who God created me me to be. Which is the whole reason I started this blog. When I fall into that comparison trap, I have to remind myself that I am amazing just the way I am. There is no one else on Earth quite like me.
I think I spent more time in my Bible yesterday than I have in a long time.
That’s kind of sad, but at least I’m getting back into it!!
And what I read yesterday seems to fit in rather well with the poem(s) I posted recently.
Yesterday I went through my More Beautiful You book.
(No copyright infringement intended with any of the quotes, or anything like that. Not mine; not claiming it’s mine. Please nobody sue me. I’m a poor college kid.)
I read through 11 of the 12 chapters yesterday.
I’d gone through some of them before, specifically lesson 7 (on love) for my night of leading the small group girls.
Yesterday morning I had the time, and decided to go through most of the book.
There are spaces to write down answers to questions, which I did.
I didn’t answer every question, but a good chunk of them.
What stuck out to me yesterday morning while reading through were some of the things that Jonny’s mother, Gwen, wrote.
(This is where “no copyright infringement intended” & don’t sue me come in–someone else’s book; I’m just borrowing the words and crediting them.)
These are things I marked yesterday that stuck out to me, starting with lesson 1 and going on through:
…there are no particular criteria for outward beauty that we are commanded to achieve.
(About girls in China having surgeries to make themselves taller; referencing the ancient practice of foot-binding) But if making feet smaller is wrong, is making breasts larger, noses shapelier, or legs longer really any different?
Never in the Bible did God expect anyone to serve Him with anything more than what He had already given them. He never said, “Take what I have given you, make it more acceptable, and then use it to serve me.” No! He said, “Give Me what you have, and watch me use it to do amazing things.”
People will see a different in the way we look and dress.
He [God] knew that with every sexual encounter we give away a part of ourselves we can never get back—and we take away a piece of someone else we can never return.
(About the book of Haggai, and the people trying to rebuild the temple): He wanted them to honor and obey Him with what He had given them instead of pouting because they wished they had more.
The glory would come, not from building’s outward appearance, but from God’s presence.
When we accept the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross … God’s Spirit immediately comes to live inside each of us.
Although it may be difficult to accept, injuring our bodies by starving them, cutting them, over-feeding them, over-exercising them, or abusing them with drugs and alcohol is a way of focusing on ourselves—on our desires and our needs—instead of giving God the right to help us and heal our disappointments and hurts, which brings Him joy and glory.
But most importantly, we need to stop comparing ourselves with others around us. God could have given us any body in the world, but He chose the one we have for a specific purpose. It’s the one He wants to use to reflect His glory.
Then in verses 4 through 7, he describes all of the gleaming characteristics that make up true love. It is far more than an emotion—it is characterized by a series of choices we must make.
This may come as a surprise, but “thin” has not always been “in.” For centuries, women were not considered attractive unless they were shapely, soft, and round. All the models who posed for the great masters like Michelangelo and Leonarda da Vinci were full-figured. As a matter of fact, curves were an essential aspect of beauty throughout most of history. Just half a century ago Marilyn Monroe was considered the ultimate icon of beauty, but today she would have a difficult [time] landing a media job—except maybe as a plus-sized model on a shopping network. However, due to health issues that are now emerging and markets that are currently dwindling, it probably won’t be long before the fashion industry changes its standards and full-figures will be back in vogue.
We know sin can never affect our relationship with God once we are His [children]. … But it can affect our fellowship with Him. It’s just like your relationship with your parents. You will always and forever be their [child]. Nothing can change that fact regardless of what takes place in your life or either of theirs. What can change is your rapport with each other and how much you enjoy being around each other.
~*~
There were a few parts from lesson 7, Our Longing to be Loved, that I highlighted for my night with the girls that I want to share, too.
One of the greatest fears a human heart can harbor is the fear of not being loved.
Society wants us to believe beauty is the primary requirement to find acceptance and love. And one of our greatest fears is not being loved.
The fear of not being loved is one of the most devestating emotions we can experience. Satan loves to cloud our judgment and convince us we need to change—we need to concentrate on fixing our “flaws” or lowering our standards in order to attract love. Fear causes us to do things we wouldn’t ordinarily do or to participate in events we would ordinarily avoid. And, worst of all, fear keeps us from receiving many blessings God has ready for us.
God created us with a space in our souls that can only be filled by Him. He intended for us to seek His love about everything else. No one else’s love can fill that space. … When we serve God, He promises to meet our needs and fulfill our desires. That includes the need to be appreciated and loved by a man. God knows exactly the right person who can fulfill our hopes, our dreams, and our needs. I once heard a Christian teacher say, “Don’t keep looking around for the right person to fall in love with. Run hard after God, and when you her footsteps beside you, look over to see who is running along beside you. He will probably be the person God has chosen for you to spend the rest of your life with—the one who will fulfill your need for human companionship and love.” Until we conquer our fear of being solitary in a binary world, we will continue to be manipulated by society’s deceit. We need to give that fear to God and trust Him to fill our lives with His unlimited and ultimate blessings.
~*~
Did you know? Gwen says that according to a study, 8-to-12-year-old girls spend over $40 million a month on beauty products, and teenage girls spend another $100 million.
It breaks my heart to read another sentence further, that “the number of cosmetic surgery procedures performed on girls 18 and younger have nearly doubled over the past decade (Diaz 12).”
~*~
I went through and marked a few verses/passages in my Bible yesterday. Perhaps you’d like a peek?
I know a bunch of those are about sin and immorality, not necessarily beauty. But Gwen does a great job of combining them and making everything flow. She explains the sin parts in relation to things that connect to society and standards of beauty in a way that I probably never could. I want to meet her and thank her for all the time and effort and prayer and everything she put into this book, I believe at her son’s request. I’m glad she agreed!! And I would definitely recommend More Beautiful You: A Study in True Beauty to women of any age! The song has impacted not only pre-teens, but grandmothers, too! If you can get your hands on a copy of the book, it’s worth the read!
Um, last night was Prom night, which meant Momma spent practically all day in our kitchen doing a couple of girls’ hair.
This is pretty close to what my sister’s dress looked like:
Dress!
Except I think my sister’s was a little brighter, more turquoise colored.
She looked very nice. My mom bought a little bit of fabric (blue, almost the color of the dress; and silver) and we made it into a headband. It was really cool.
Our exchange student, J, said she looked like Anne Hathaway from Princess Diaries. I think mostly because of the hair… Now that I think of it, she kind of did… 🙂
Pretty!
Anyway.
While they were getting their hair done, J asked if I regretted not going to Prom when I was in high school.
Absolutely not. I would not have had any fun.
And now today I found out from Sis that Prom was pretty boring, and that it started to get more fun at After-Prom when the hypnotist got on stage.
So, no. I don’t regret not going.
I saved a bunch of money, not to mention my nerves and sanity, by not going.
It’s too much stress for one night. The dress, the hair, the tickets, where you’re going to eat, what car you’re going to drive… They take the entire day of Prom, not to mention hours (sometimes days or weeks) to pick out the dress and stuff.
This is probably just my school’s Prom, though. Ours is one of the only schools that has Grand March outside. Which really is stupid, because it’s become tradition that it’s yucky weather on our Prom night. They really ought to have figured that out by now.
I know that some schools (like at least one of the schools that has Prom tonight) has their dinner at the school, catered in. Our school, however, does not provide dinner. Hence, each couple (or group) has to find a home or restaurant to get to before Prom. Grand March starts at 6:30, but the line up (outside. In cars.) starts an hour prior. That meant that yesterday, my sister and J (aned everyone else) ate dinner at THREE. Momma came over at 10 to start on hair, and it was 2:30 before Sis’s boyfriend showed up (15 minutes late) and then Mom insisted on taking a few pictures and then they headed to a friend’s house for dinner. At THREE O’CLOCK. They munched on fruits and veggies from 10 to 2, and then ate a bunch at 3, and then went to the school for the rest of the night.
Because, of course, Post-Prom begins at midnight in a building that is not our high school.
So, it’s a busy day.
Not worth it, in my opinion.
But that’s just me.
I’m not a fancy, girly, get-dressed-up kind of girl. I don’t spend any more time than is absolutely necessary getting ready in the morning. Get up, shower if I feel like it/need to, get dressed, and go. That’s my routine. I don’t even do anything to my hair other than brush it. I let it dry on its own (which usually results in an annoying curl at the ends, but I live with it).
I’m very low-maintenance. Throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and I’m good.
I rarely wear skirts or dresses. I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress. I only own two.
Nope, that’s a lie. I wore a dress around a month ago, to church.
I own two skirts (one of which I don’t wear) and the last time I wore one of them was last week or the week before to church. I think it was probably Palm Sunday.
But before that, I think the last time I’d worn a dress was maybe to my graduation party.
I might be wearing a skirt to church tomorrow—-no, scratch that. I’m not. I have to sit practically all morning because I’m running screen. Never mind, I’m wearing pants.
But anyway.
Yesterday was interesting, I’ll just say.
And it sort of fit in with Flawless Friday, because while hair and makeup was being done, we rediscovered a self-esteem issue of sorts.
The people who are doing the bullying have probably been bullied themselves. Or they have no real friends or people they feel they can turn to for love.
Momma knew a girl in high school who threatened to beat her (Momma) up. Finally, Momma figured out that this girl had no friends, and that’s why she was so mean to others.
And my dad keeps saying that all it takes to get a bully (one bigger than you) to leave you alone is one swift pop in the face. Because typically they’re cowards and pick on people they believe won’t defend themselves.
If you’re ever being bullied, for goodness sake, STICK UP FOR YOURSELF. Chances are pretty good that that bully will eventually leave you alone because they know you’re not afraid of them.
I was thinking I could go back to the photo-a-day idea (that I kind of failed at before…) for Lent, take a photo a day. I don’t know if I’d do self-portraits or if I’d just do a photo of something I find pretty, or what (maybe both?), but I’ve got a year to think about it… 🙂
I also wrote about it in another post, but I don’t remember which one and I don’t feel like lookign it up right now.
I need to just type and let things out.
Also, please excuse typos.
Today, for some reason, I decided to look at a few blogs of people who are suffering from EDs—Eating Disorders.
Girls (the ones I’ve been reading) who feel like they are “too fat” or something.
Girls who are starving themselves or throwing up or over-exercising or taking laxatives or ALL OF THE ABOVE in order to get to their “goal weight” — which for many of them is probably a relatively unhealthy weight.
What really got me today was that one of the girls mentioned “thinspo”, as in “thin-spiration”. As in inspiration to get thinner.
Please. Tell me you know that those photos are re-touched.
And not just the faces. The entire photo is re-touched. That photo that you’re looking at in that magazine? Chances are that’s not what that person actually looks like.
Shopped!
(Though according to the website, which you can get to by clicking on the image, Britney allowed the photos to be shown side-by-side. Go Britney?)
Just Google-image-search “photoshopped pictures before and after” and the stuff you get is CRAZY.
And check out this post by Caitlin for some more facts and thoughts.
I wrote a paper for Intercultural Comm about three different cultures’ views on something. I chose beauty. I wrote about the Thin Ideal and a few other things that affect people’s perceptions of beauty.
I’ve left a few of them next to light switches, a few on the insides of stalls, and a couple on mirrors. I haven’t put all of them up yet, but I plan to!
And it’s a start.
Being vocal (or…well, visual) about beauty—how it should be—is fun! And you never know how many people it’s affecting. Hopefully I’m making at least a little bit of an impact on the people at school. Maybe somebody’s checked out OB because of my notes. That would be awesome.
You never know what kind of an impact you’re making, but every little bit helps. It may not be today or tomorrow or even this year, but eventually my leaving OB notes is going to change someone’s life. In a good way.
Okay, first off, when I checked HTP this morning, I got a surprise.
Check THIS out!
Now, I’m not a huge fan of GaGa, but this is pretty freaking impressive.
AND…
(wait for it)
I’M IN IT!
Watch the top left at about a minute and 48 seconds and see if you recognize anything. 😉
Anyway. I love Operation Beautiful, and I even had the chance to mention it to my small group last night!! I was in charge of the lesson for the night, and decided I was going to talk about love and boys and wanting to be noticed. One of the things I read to them was about how girls can lose themselves by trying too hard to be noticed by boys, and how society tells we have to look a certain way to be considered beautiful. So toward the end of our night, I mentioned OB, and hopefully they’ll check it out!
Anyway, go check out the video! And help it go viral! Tweet it, Facebook it, whatever. 🙂
**
Mkay, now to make this post super-long…
Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself. Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for. Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for. Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do. Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like ****.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.
When I started thinking about each of the month’s posts for this 30 Days thing, I’d typed “Jesus. Or Morgan.”
But now I’m thinking I might have to change my mind and say my JH and Freshmen girls.
Getting “I love you”s and hearing these girls thank God for me (seriously, they do; it makes me grin every time)… it’s so awesome. I never in my life thought that anyone would be so appreciative of me. You know? I’ve always been kind of a behind-the-scenes person, the quiet one who doesn’t speak up all that often. So to have five teenage girls enjoy something I wrote up, and to have most of (or maybe it was all; I can’t remember) them say thank you in their closing prayers really made my night. And getting cute Valentines from a couple of the JH girls was awesome, too!
Last night, like I already mentioned, I was in charge of the lesson.
I decided to cut some stuff out due to time, but what I shared with them boiled down to the fact that yes, we’re attracted to boys; but no, we don’t need them to be beautiful.
I shared this song with them, and then posted the following video on Facebook. I checked right before I posted the video, and one of my girls’ status said she loved “More Beautiful You.” I “liked” it. 🙂
Check out the official MBY video, too! It’s pretty crazy.
So, to actually answer today’s “question” properly: my small group girls make my life worth living. Without them actively (and randomly!) saying “thank you” to and for me, I’m not sure I’d be where I am right now. They are blessings, each and every one of them. Knowing that what I say is impacting them, even in a small way, makes me smile and want to keep pressing on.
I know I already posted today. Not very long ago. But I was going through my files and found this and thought it worth sharing. It is not mine. I don’t know who wrote it. I found it on a friend’s Facebook page; she had gotten it from another friend’s page.
“This one’s for the girls,” as Martina McBride sings it…
**
My Dearest Daughter,
I see your loneliness and fear. I know your hurt and your heartaches. In a special bottle I am storing each and every one of your tears. I see you searching for love, for happiness, for fulfillment. As much as I hate to see your pain, as much as it grieves me to see you struggle, all this must be, in order for you to totally and completely come to the end of your own understanding: only then can you fully hear my voice. Listen very carefully. Amidst the noise of the world, I’m calling. My voice is in the midst of your worst fears tenderly beseeching you to trust me, in the pain of your loneliness. If you hold real still, you can feel my arms encircling you and hear my soothing words of comfort. Yes, that still, small voice within you is mine. Yes, that gentle touch is me. Give me your pain- yes, all of it, and I will give you my peace. Give me your sorrow and I will give you joy unspeakable.
I cherish you, Daughter. I shed my blood so that you could be clean. I want you for my companion, my bride, to love and cherish now and throughout eternity and I plan to dress you in the most beautiful of white garments. As you live out the joy and experience the wonder of being my bride, I will be your gentle tutor conforming you to my image. I must begin by teaching you how to serve and live in submission to me. Let me convince you of your great value so that you may be able to fully share the love I have given you with the one you someday choose to bring to me as your earthly husband. Then, and only then, will you be the kind of wife I would choose for him. Give yourself completely to me. I want you to deny me nothing. I will not hurt you. I will not disappoint you. You can trust me- completely. I keep my promises. Do not be overly critical of yourself or become depressed because you are not perfect in your own eyes. It saddens me greatly to hear you criticize and devalue the one I love so much. Daughter, in me, you are complete and lacking in nothing. What right do you have to criticize the one I treasure? On what grounds do you find fault with what I have so fearfully and wonderfully made? Why do you call what I deem beautiful- ugly? Why do you believe that that one I love enough to die for is not good enough? Daughter, I want you to know who you are in me. I mean who you really are in me- completely loved and totally forgiven. I want you to trust me one step, one day, one second at a time. Dwell in My power and My love and be all that you are in me, in My strength, and in My power. Do not fear what might happen or what the future may bring because my grace is sufficient and I will take care of you. Daughter, I know that you long to give yourself to someone, to have a deep relationship with him, and to be loved thoroughly and exclusively by him. But I must say no. Not until my love is enough. Not until you can see yourself truly complete in me. I love you, my child. Until you discover that your joy and satisfaction can be found in me alone, you will not be capable of handling the problems and disappointments that are part of every relationship. You can never be truly united with another in the way your heart desires, only I can fill that emptiness, only I can supply that need, only I can love you enough. You must be united with me, exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings before you will have the strength to endure the many heart-aches and, yes, even soul-aches of even a seemingly perfect human relationship. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow me to give you my faithfulness, my gentleness, and my self-control. Then, you will need no other. Daughter, I want you to allow me to be enough.
You must keep your eyes on me, expecting the greatest and the best things from me. Keep experiencing the satisfaction of knowing that I am and that you are my child. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. Stay close by my side. Seek my face in the morning, my presence throughout the day, and my comfort at night. I am always there, Daughter. I will never leave you or forsake you. But, you must wait. Don’t be anxious. Do not get in a hurry. Don’t look around and fear or envy the things others have received from me. You must keep from looking off or away. Look up to me or you’ll miss the things I want to show you, and then, when you are ready, I’ll give you the desires I have put in your heart, the strength to endure all things, and the courage to risk your heart.
You see, until you are ready and the one I have for you is ready… I am working even this minute to have you both ready at the same time… until you are both living to, which you will, however imperfectly, reflect your relationship in me. First give me time to heal your wounds, console your heartaches, and ease your disappointments. Find me time to erase the painful memories of the past. Give me time to heal you and make you whole and complete in me.
I want you to experience real “agape” love- not the selfish, false love of the world. I want you to learn love that is patient and always kind. Love that knows no envy and is never boastful or proud. Love that is never rude or self-seeking. Love that is not easily angered or keeps a record of wrong. Love that does not delight in evil but instead rejoices in truth. He love I want for you Daughter, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, never fails. Because this love is of the spirit and not of the flesh, its natural fruit is joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I cannot give this love to you in or even through another except dimly, and then only in a limited capacity- for all will fail and eventually disappoint you. This perfect love, Daughter, can only be found in me.
Let my perfect love flow from you and spill over to all you touch. Be not concerned with yourself; you are my responsibility. I will change you often without you even knowing it. Take your eyes off yourself, look only to me, I lead, I change, I create, but only when you are not striving. You are mine; let me have the joy of making you into my image- only I can do this. Above all else, look to me and me only, never to yourself and never to others. Do not struggle, relax and trust my love. I know what is best and will do it in and through you if you’ll let me. Stop trying to become, and let me transform you from within. I love you Daughter. Will you let my love be enough for you? I’m waiting… will you wait too?
Jesus
**
And this is a poem I received at Bible Camp (during a seminar titled “I Am No Man“) several summers ago that I feel fits with the above letter.
It’s called “Because.”
The first part is the original. The rest was written by my BFF K.
**
Because…
I made her. She is different. She is unique.
With love I formed her in her mother’s womb.
I fashioned her with great joy!
I remember with pleasure the days I created her.
To Me she is beautiful.
I love her. I love her smile. I love her ways.
To hear her laugh and to see the silly things she does.
She is herself and no one else.
This is how I made her.
I made her pretty, but not beautiful,
Because I know her heart, and I know she would be vain.
I wanted her to search her heart,
And learn that in ME she would be beautiful.
It would be My spirit that would draw people to her.
I made her in such a way that she would need ME.
I made her a little more lonesome than she would like to be,
Because I want her to turn to Me in her loneliness.
I made her dependant so that she would depend on ME.
I know her heart,
I know that if I had not make her like this, she would go her own way,
And forget about Me, her Creator.
I have given her many good and happy things… because I love her.
I have seen her broken heart and the tears she has cried alone.
I have been with her and had a broken heart too.
Many times she has stumbled and fallen
Because she would not take My hand.
She has learned hard lessons because she would not listen to My voice.
So many times I have sadly watched her go on her own way,
Alone.
And now she is Mine again. I made her and then bought her.
I paid a high price for her because I love her.
I have had to reshape and remold her, renewing her for My plan.
It has not been easy for her, or for Me.
I want her to be conformed in My Image…
This is the goal I have set for her because…
I LOVE HER!
Anonymous
Let’s switch this up a little.
Because…
He made me. I am different. I am unique.
With love He formed me in my mother’s womb.
He fashioned me with great joy!
He remembers with pleasure the days He created me.
To Him I am beautiful.
He loves me. He loves my smile. He loves my ways.
To hear me laugh and to see the silly things I do.
I am myself and no one else.
This is how He made me.
He made me pretty, but not beautiful,
Because He knows my heart, and He knows I would be vain.
He wanted me to search my heart,
And learn that in Him I would be beautiful.
It would be His spirit that would draw people to me.
He made me in such a way that I would need Him.
He made me a little more lonesome than I would like to be,
Because He wants me to turn to Him in my loneliness.
He made me dependant so that I would depend on Him.
He knows my heart,
He knows that if He had not make me like this, I would go my own way,
And forget about Him, my Creator.
He has given me many good and happy things… because He loves me.
He has seen my broken heart and the tears I have cried alone.
He has been with me and had a broken heart too.
Many times I have stumbled and fallen
Because I would not take His hand.
I have learned hard lessons because I would not listen to His voice.
So many times He has sadly watched me go on my own way,
Alone.
And now I am His again. He made me and then bought me.
He paid a high price for me because He loves me.
He has had to reshape and remold me, renewing me for His plan.
It has not been easy for me, or for Him.
He wants me to be conformed in His Image…
This is the goal He has set for me because…
HE LOVES ME!
Prayer form
Because…
You made me. I am different. I am unique.
With love You formed me in my mother’s womb.
You fashioned me with great joy!
You remember with pleasure the days You created me.
To You I am beautiful.
You love me. You love my smile. You love my ways.
To hear me laugh and to see the silly things I do.
I am myself and no one else.
This is how You made me.
You made me pretty, but not beautiful,
Because You know my heart, and You know I would be vain.
You wanted me to search my heart,
And learn that in You I would be beautiful.
It would be Your spirit that would draw people to me.
You made me in such a way that I would need You.
You made me a little more lonesome than I would like to be,
Because You want me to turn to You in my loneliness.
You made me dependant so that I would depend on You.
You know my heart,
You know that if You had not make me like this, I would go my own way,
And forget about You, my Creator.
You have given me many good and happy things… because You love me.
You have seen my broken heart and the tears I have cried alone.
You have been with me and had a broken heart too.
Many times I have stumbled and fallen
Because I would not take Your hand.
I have learned hard lessons because I would not listen to Your voice.
So many times You have sadly watched me go on my own way,
Alone.
And now I am Yours again. You made me and then bought me.
You paid a high price for me because You love me.
You have had to reshape and remold me, renewing me for Your plan.
It has not been easy for me, or for You.
You want me to be conformed in Your Image…
This is the goal You have set for me because…
YOU LOVE ME!