Nov. 2, 2006 - A mind-blower!
Psalm 45:11 says, "The King is enthralled with your beauty." Wow! The King of Kings and Lord of Lords thinks I am beautiful! The One who tossed the stars into the sky and made them stick is enthralled by ME! That really is a mind-blower!!
The Lord and I have been on an interesting journey lately. Do you ever feel like you’re just cruising along, minding your own business and all of a sudden the Lord grabs your hand and says, “Come on, let’s go!” Before long your hair is blowing in the breeze and you are being whisked along on a journey you never asked to go on, whose destination you are very unsure of, but you know Who you are traveling with so it is sort of okay. That’s how it’s been for me.
Our friend, Mac Powell, has a CD coming out soon on which are a lot of songs that he has written based on specific passages in scripture. One of them is based on Zeph.
Zeph. 3:17
"The Lord your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will quiet you in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
It’s an awesome song and I find myself listening to it over and over.
Well, recently I had the privilege of meeting a woman named Tania whose son plays on Benji’s football team. About 8 months ago, Tania’s husband left her and they just recently got divorced. It has been a rough road for Tania, but she has felt the Lord sustaining her and loving her in ways she never has before. She has been a beautiful example in my life of God’s grace and how a woman can be radiant even in the midst of great struggle!
One night we were on the way home from BS and Tim had to make a phone call. I was singing a praise song to myself and I started praying for Tania. I was telling the Lord how neat it was to see the way Tania really wanted Him to be glorified in her life and how she wanted others to see His power evidenced in her life. All of a sudden I heard the Lord say in a quiet voice, “But she needs to know that I rejoice over HER with singing, too!”
I got so excited that I wanted to call Tania when I got home, but it was too late. She works so I was going to have to wait till she got home from school to call her, but I never had to. The Lord wanted her to have this message so badly that SHE called ME for the first time ever the next afternoon. I shared what the Lord had laid on my heart and Tania started to cry softly. It was a special moment for both of us.
I was so excited that the Lord loved Tania so much that He would go to such lengths to affirm His love for her. How cool, is that? But you know what? He wasn’t done!
Before I knew it, He was asking me a question, directly at ME, not on anyone else’s behalf. He asked me, “Barb, do you believe that I rejoice over YOU with singing, too?”
“Me? Really?” I mean, I believe it for others, but I don’t know if I can truly wrap my mind around it for myself! I know He loves me, He sent His Son to die for me and He will always care for me as only He can. The whole “rejoicing over me with singing” stuff really blows my mind, though.
At the same time He is dropping this bomb on me *wink*, He had me pull out a book that I had bought a while ago to preview (I thought) as a study for my BS girls. It is called, Do You Think I Am Beautiful and He used it to continue to disrupt what (I again “thought”) was my peaceful existence. How I could have considered it peaceful, when I have struggled so much with those “counterfeit voices” in my life is beyond me, though.
You see, I struggle with body image. I struggle with insecurity about how I look and can become preoccupied with it if I let myself. Part of it is probably because I minister to girls with Barbie-doll bodies, but that really is no excuse. I hate it because it’s pride. Tim shared this truth with me one day and I have to admit I didn’t receive it very well at first. After my righteous indignation died down and I allowed the truth of it to sink in, I had to agree. Pride is not JUST arrogance. Pride is pre-occupation with self and I certainly was! I was beating myself up for all my perceived imperfections and I was living a defeated life in areas.
Reading this book was so eye-opening for me, though. This is where I first became aware that the King is truly enthralled with me!
Wow! Doesn’t that kind of make your skin tingle! “The King is enthralled with my beauty!” Isn’t that all that really matters in the big scheme of things? I can try all I want to look good, live up to other’s expectations and make sure I do everything just right, but someone will always be disappointed. If I do all that I do for the benefit of One, then the pressure is relieved and I can walk in freedom like He meant me to all along.
I work on a homeschool message board and I noticed last week that one of my friends had Zeph. 3:17 in her signature line. I let out a small gasp and did a double take and realized that this is a message that I think the Lord really wants me to get. I asked why she had that scripture there and this is what she said…
I love having my hair played with. I find it very comforting and relaxing. When I meditate on that verse, I keep getting this picture of me laying in Jesus' lap, feeling totally calm, and loved and quiet, and He is playing with my hair and singing quietly. Not because I've been wounded or just returned from some harrowing journey or because I asked him to...but just because He delights in me.
When I read Do You Think I'm Beautiful?, one of the pieces that stuck out to me the most was when Angela talks about how so many women live in a world where they are always feeling both "too much and not enough." That is so me!
Living in that purgatory of self-image is exhausting. God tells me I'm enough! And when I'm wrestling with belief, He doesn't stand on the other side of the abyss, waiting for me to "Get it" and then He'll talk to me.
Comments
Nov. 2, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by KindredHeart
Thank you for sharing these profound, mind-boggling truths! I feel almost giddy as I think about reflecting on and studying these verses over the coming days. Oh, that I would find my identity and security in Him!
The Lord my God is in my midst;
a mighty one who will save;
He will rejoice over me with gladness;
He will quiet me by His love;
He will exult over me with loud singing.
Wow ~ I'm awed and overwhelmed at that kind of God!
Nov. 2, 2006 - Such a good reminder
Posted by Tracy Bunch
Hey Barb,
Thank you so much for your post today! I can't tell you how much it meant to me as I struggle with this same issue (in other words, my pride is a constant enemy!) . My dear friend Paulette and I have talked many times about the Zephaniah 3:17 passage and I do so long to take God at His word on this.
I miss you sweet friend and love that I can come here and have God speak to me through your ministry even if I'm not in a study with you right now!!!
Much love to you and Tim and your sweet family!
Nov. 16, 2006 - thank you!!
Posted by Amanda C.
Thank you, Mrs. Cash, for posting this. It really spoke to my heart, as I've grown up (I'm 17) among the "perfect" girls, and it doesn't help that my guy friends enjoy commenting -to me- how gorgeous they are, etc, etc. I've struggled with body image, and, though my self-image has somewhat improved, it's always nice to have a reminder that my Jesus thinks I'm beautiful. :)
In Christ,
Amanda C.
(aka Lynn in Mo from the FIAR board's daughter)
http://www.myspace.com/bible_babe
Feb. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by gal51
WOW!!!! Barb,
This is beautiful, just beautiful. These words resonate deep in my soul tonight and I needed to read them. Thanks so much for sharing.
And by the way, to me you are one of the *the most beautiful* women in the world and I mean that very sincerely and with all my heart!
Blessings!!!!
~Heather
Jul. 31, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by KindredHeart
I awarded you with the Blogger Reflection Award! Thank you so much for your love for Jesus...and for consistently sharing it with others.
(((Hug)))
