Pure Magazine

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? I know this is a question asked in every “self-image” article, but it’s an important one…so work with me. When you see your reflection, what emotions come to surface? Are you satisfied, neutral, sad, or depressed? Do you think you are a plain Jane? Do you automatically begin pointing out your flaws or do you notice your beautiful smile?

These last few months I have been focusing on my goal to lose weight.  They have not been the easiest few months but I’ve learned a lot. One of the books I began reading to help me along my journey is “Power Thoughts” by Joyce Meyer.  In her book, Joyce explains that our thoughts can control us if we don’t learn to control them. If we think negatively about ourselves, we are bound to be negative people, and therefore struggle to reach our goals. If we think positively, we are bound to be positive people and therefore find it much easier to reach our goals. You would think this simple concept would cure the problems of the world. However, very few people take hold of it and run with it.

Image borrowed from: http://pursuingproverbs31.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/woman-praying-silhoutte.jpg

Tonight I was watching an episode of “What Not to Wear”. It is one of my favorite shows. Stacy and Clinton know what they’re doing. Pretty much every episode inspires me in some way. However, the episode that aired tonight really hit home.  The woman getting the make-over was a recent divorcee, had gained some weight, and due to a health problem considered herself to be a “freak”. She said that no man would ever be interested in her and she felt no need to take care of herself because no one cared. Even as I am writing this, tears are coming to my eyes.

It is so easy to fall into the trap that Satan lays for us.He can plant one thought into our mind and affect our whole life.  He can even use those that are closest to us to say hurtful things that stay with us for years. And for those that are unaware they have power over their thoughts, these lies can turn into a lifestyle and damage what God has created. “What has He created”, you ask? He has created Y.O.U.

Y – Yahweh’s

O – Original

U- Utility

Just like the power utility in your home, you must pay thebills to keep the lights on. To keep your inner light shining, you must “paythe bills” so to speak. I don’t mean opening up your wallet and handing out cash. I mean taking time aside for God and reading His Word, meditating on the truth, and taking care of your body (which is his Holy Temple).

Image borrowed from: http://dezignus.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/flying-girl.jpg

In tonight’s episode of “What Not to Wear”, Stacy asked the troubled young woman to keep repeating these simple words. I wish every girl and woman in the world would repeat them with her (and me).

"I am beautiful and I am going to share my beauty with the world." 

Stacy “What Not to Wear”

And here’s the best part…God agrees.

Philippians 2:14-16

 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life.

We are not meant to hide in our clothes and walk around like dull fuddy dutties that hate life. We are meant to stand out and shine like stars in the sky. Rise up, women and start shining! Let’s look in the mirror and see radiance! Let’s take hold of the truth that we are Yahweh’s Original Utility.

Keep the lights on! Pay the bills! Know that you are beautiful on the inside and out!

Is Fear Controlling You?

Isaiah 41:13

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,Do not fear; I will help you.

Rosanne Cash said, “The key to change…is to let go of fear.”These are simple words with a profound meaning. I don’t know about you, but I find this statement completely true in my own life. Sad to say, the fear of failure can control whether we do or do not do something. It can control how we feel about ourselves, the motivation we possess to make steps toward progress,and how we live our day to day lives. In some cases, this can mean the decision to work out and eat healthy, or to grab the junk food in front of you. If you won’t succeed in losing weight, why even try, right? It can mean the decision to pass along a great job opportunity. If you can’t be perfect at it, why even try, right? Wrong.

Borrowed from http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u45/failure_text.jpg

Fear has the power to control us. When we fear something, it becomes our God.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, forI am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with myrighteous right hand.

Often, I run across women that walk with cement filled boots due to their fear of failure. They cover this up with words like, “Oh, that’snot my kind of thing. Why don’t you have her do it. She would be much better”or “Why would I even try that? I know I wouldn’t do it right.” To be honest, I am sometimes that woman. The very fact that I am writing this article and this magazine is still up and running shows me that it is possible to fight your fears when you have God on your side.

Isaiah 35:4

say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear;your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

I can’t tell you how many times I thought of quitting this Magazine, shutting it down, and moving on. I told myself, “I am not qualified.No one wants to read my articles. What do I know? I am too young, too inexperienced, etc.” I thought of a thousand reasons why I shouldn’t be the one writing these articles. However, there was one important reason why I should. God said so. Right now, this is what God wants me to do, so I am here…but that took a decision. It made me take one step closer to God and one step further from fear.

Psalm 91:5

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

There is a song from JJ Heller called, “Keep You Safe.” It’sone of my favorites and has helped me through countless sleepless nights. Someof the lyrics include: “You’ll have your own battles to fight when you are older. You’ll find yourself frozen inside but always remember if you feel alone, facing the giants and you don’t know what to do….My love is a light driving away all of your fear. So, don’t be afraid. Remember I made a promise to keep you safe.”

Now, of course this is not suggesting that you will have a care-free life. However, it is stating that God’s love can drive out fear.

Borrowed from http://www.landofmysojourn.net/sitebuilder/images/believe2-373x259.jpg

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

My God is a God of love and joy; not of fear. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Our God is a God that helps us move mountains, heals the broken, binds up wounds, and strengthens the weak. He is a God of courageous strength, and He has created us in His image. We were not created to fear the world, but to save it through Jesus Christ.  Ladies, let’s all stand up and make decisions that are led by Christ and not by fear. Let’s examine our thoughts and motives before we take action and fight the enemy with a strong stance of courageous strength.

Hosea 14:4

“I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them"

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Romans 3:24

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

I am sure you've heard of the cliché "Can't Buy Me Love?" It's one of my very favorite sayings. The reason I love it so much is because it is so profoundly true. Four simple words have summed up how God feels about His creation. As the scriptures above indicate, God does not require anything from us in order for Him to love us. He offers his undying, never-ending, unconditional love for free. But, how many of us live the life of a truly loved and accepted woman? How many of us have accepted the love that God so richly gave us?

So many times women feel they need to earn love; from their family, friends, children, husbands, and yes even God. They live their lives as "super moms", "trophy wives", and "ladder climbers" all with the hopes that someone would love them, accept them, and maybe look up to them.

This type of behavior is very common. One of the deepest longings that women possess is the need to be loved and accepted. For some women that don't have God, they have never experienced unconditional love. They are always trying to be thinner, prettier, smarter (in some cases dumber), funnier, etc. just to win the approval of someone (sometimes just anyone).

I wish I could get a loud speaker that traveled across the globe so I could shout one thing: "You cannot buy love! Christ has already paid the price on the cross!" There is nothing we can say, do or think that can ever separate us from the love of Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Image borrowed from: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.stevescottsite.com

You might have guessed why I have chosen to write this article now...in the month of February. Of course, Valentine's Day is coming up very quickly and obviously it can make a person think about love. I have been married almost two years now (on Feb. 20th), and anyone that is married will understand that no human is capable of unconditional love. We can strive for it, but we all have flaws. We are all judgmental to a certain degree whether we like to admit it or not. We all do our best to make compromises and strive to keep our marriages fresh. I love my husband so very much, but one thing I have learned is that he will never love me the way that God loves me...and I should never expect him to.He loves me the best that he can love me.

Whether you are single, married, divorced, widowed, or dating there is one thing I need to say: NO MAN will ever love you the way God does. NO MAN will ever fill the hole in your heart that is meant for God. We were designed to desire a deep never-ending love from our Savior. I am not saying that there isn't a place for your husband (or future husband), but I am saying that God must remain our first love.

It can be so easy to get distracted and to forget about our first love, especially when "Mr. Right" is sitting next to us. It can also be easy to get distracted while looking for "Mr. Right". I remember dreading Valentine's Day when I was single. I felt like everyone had someone but me. The truth is, I was too caught up in waiting for "Mr. Right" and I wasn't spending enough time thanking God for the wonderful gift of singleness. Yes, ladies; it is a gift.

Image borrowed from: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Tn1gkl4OJqU/SwYZMTfF9PI/AAAAAAAAAw8/IVKyvjkfPqQ/s1600/love11.jpg

We all go through different seasons in life. However, one thing that doesn't change, doesn't get blown away by the wind or disappear like leaves in autumn is the love of Christ. It can sound redundant, but it is important. It is the most important lesson you can learn in life.

So, for all you over-achieving work-aholic Christians out there, I am sorry to bust your bubble: You cannot earn it this time. It's already yours.

Accept his love and don't feel guilty for it. Let's all try to live lives that reflect the love of Christ that He has so graciously given us.

Overcoming Negative Thoughts

Image borrowed from http://www.personal-development-is-fun.com/images/perilous-thoughts-negative-self-talk.jpg

Let me ask you a question: How many times a day do you say or think something negative about yourself? Do you ever say things like, "I am not smart enough", "I am not pretty enough, , " I am not good enough"? If your answer is yes, then this article is for you.

2 Corinthians 10:5

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"

Image borrowed from http://clearcutmedia.tv/shop/images/depression.jpg

Taking Thoughts Captive

What does it mean to take your thoughts captive? Well, just as a prisoner is taken captive, so should your thoughts be. Put it behind bars to never again see the light of day. Once a thought comes to your mind, you then must determine if it belongs there. Match it against the Bible, against God's character, and against the truth. And if you happen to have a thought come to mind that doesn't match up, then GET RID OF IT. You are in charge of your emotions. You are in charge of your thoughts....and GOD is in charge of you. Do you think God, your Creator, would like hearing negative things about you, His creation? I highly doubt it.

Psalm 139:23

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts"

The Cause

It is my belief that women think negative things about themselves because it's what they are fed their whole lives through streams of Media. You can be young but not too young, old but not too old, skinny but not too skinny....the list goes on and on. Commercials, TV Shows, Movies, Radio Broadcasts, etc. show an unrealistic image of what a woman should be. Is it any wonder that women all around the world think so poorly of themselves?  According to "Depression Facts and Stats" By Bob Murray, PhD and Alicia Fortinberry, MS "54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness and 41% of depressed women are too embarrassed to seek help." 

Satan rules the Media and the world is his playground. Don't believe what the world says about you. Believe what God says.

Image borrowed from http://www.bripblap.com/uploads/sad1.jpg

Psalm 10:4

In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Know the Truth

BellaOnline: The Voice of Women said, "A marriage counselor, after counseling hundreds of couples who were on the path to divorce, raised the idea of negative self-talk as one potential cause of divorce. This pattern of negative self talk, he contends, is a barrier to a couples happiness, much more than a lack of open communication is."

That should tell you that negative thoughts/speech affect not only your life, but the lives of those you love. No husband or wife wants to constantly hear you say negative things about yourself. After all, they married you for your positive qualities and they don't want to hear negative things about the person they love.

The truth of the matter is that God loves you too. Every thought He has of you is one of love.He knows you are good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, and talented enough to accomplish what He has set out for you to do.

You want to know a great way to replace negative thoughts? Replace them with thoughts of Jesus.

Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

When your thoughts are on God and you are trying to emulate Him, I can guarantee that the last thing on your mind will be negativity.

Change your thoughts and you change your world.

Norman Vincent Peale

Image borrowed from http://www.herradar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/positive-way-588x400.jpg

Conclusion

In life, we are guaranteed to have trouble. We will have fleeting thoughts from time to time that we are not good enough. The truth is that we have a loving God in heaven that thinks the world of us. He wants us to think the same. Let's all try to take every thought captive to make it obedient to God.

Femininity:

An archaic concept or a lost treasure?

In today's society, it is very hard to be a lady. It's even harder to be a Christian lady. Dr. James Dobson said in his book Bringing Up Girls that the Media considers girls to be "Far too passive, frilly, compliant, and'motherly'." The Media says, "They [girls] needed to be taught to be aggressive, tough, tomboyish, unemotional, and yes, much more masculine."

As a parent, how does this sound to you? Do you want your daughter raised thinking that she needs to be more masculine to fit the world's standards? Of course,not! But, when confronted with the idea that femininity is considered "frilly" or that "motherly" is a bad thing, how will your daughter respond? How will you respond? Most importantly, what does the Bible say about women and femininity?

Dr. Dobson suggests “parents have become far too distracted, overworked, and stressed out to care much about teaching morals and manners to children.” He goes on to say, “mothers, it is your job to acculturate your daughters and to help them become ladies. Does that sound chauvinistic in our high-tech world? I suppose it does, but even so, it makes sense.”

Now, before someone jumps on me and says, “How can you say these things when women have come so far? Are you trying to make us go back to the stone ages here?” Let me make one thing clear. I do not claim that women should give up their rights. However, I do have a theory. When women become ladies, they use the strengths that God gave them. They use their mind, their emotions, and their sympathetic ear. There is nothing weak about being a woman. There is nothing weak about femininity. When we begin to see ourselves as God does, our whole essence changes and people notice that too. As Dobson says, “It is their sensitivity and tenderness that are so charming. They feel everything intensely and make a habit of hugging those they love.”

Titus 2:3-5 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine.They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

It is not an easy thing to go up against the Media & worldly viewpoints. As a Christian woman, you are on a battlefield, not only fighting for yourself, but for your daughters as well.The battlefield has gotten bloodier and bloodier with the Media’s fangs ripping into women’s hearts. Dr. Dobson makes this point very clear by quoting columnist Michelle Malkin’s powerful excerpt:

“When conservative women say,‘Have some self respect,’ Liberals in the Media call us self-righteous. When conservative women say promiscuity is degrading and self-destructive, women in the Media call us prudes. When Liberal women raise their voices, they are praised as ‘passionate.’ When conservative women raise their voices, we are condemned as ‘shrill.’

The advice from Malkin?

“Be ‘prudes.’ Be ‘rude.’ Be‘shrill.’” And never ever feel ashamed for asking out loud, ‘Have you no shame?’”

1 Timothy 2:9 “Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,”

Proverbs 11:22 “Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.”

What to do?

To be frank, manners start at home. If you aren’t taking the time at home to teach manners to your children, you are doing them an injustice. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Good manners are made up of small sacrifices.” May I suggest that some of these small sacrifices may mean giving up your favorite show to teach your daughter to cook a meal or to sit at the table with the family for dinner.Often parents don’t see that their children emulate what they see. If you are rude, crude, loud, and abrasive, your daughter will most likely act the same. If you say a prayer before each meal, most likely your children will follow.

Rick Santorum said on a “Focus on the Family” radio broadcast, “America today is a me-centered culture. It is about doing whatever a person wants to do,regardless of how it affects other people. Manners convey just the opposite.They show respect for others, especially looking out for their interests,whether it’s opening the door or waiting in line or just saying a kind word.These social graces reflect an entirely different worldview. But unless parentsare consciously working to instill those values and behaviors in their children, the culture will stamp its own perspectives on them.”

Santorum is absolutely right. If you don’t talk to your daughter about waiting until marriage to have sex, she will hear from her friends that it’s fine…it’s liberating. If you don’t talk to her about drugs, she may experiment with them. Most importantly, if you don’t talk to her about God and his love for her, she may never fully know her worth and value. For, there is no feeling of worth like that when you know an all-powerful God uniquely created you for a divine purpose.

Mothers, let’s pick up the pace and make sure we are teaching our daughters how to be ladies. Let’s equip them to go out into the world and show them the woman God has created. Let’s equip them to fight with the feminine strengths that God has

given them.

I end this article with a "love story from God" taken from Sheri Rose Shepherd's book His Princess: Girl Talk With God.

"My Beautiful Girl,

I know that your true identity is under great attack every day. Voices all around you tell you to become like the world and surrender who you really are. Don't let anyone define you but Me, your Daddy in heaven. You are a daughter of the King, and you don't have to become someone you don't want to be. You will never find your true identity looking at idols of this world. Don't allow these lies to control your confidence anymore. I created you in My image. My daughter does not have to bow down to man-made images in magazines. How you feel about yourself does not change the truth that you are My treasured daughter. .You are called to be a light in the dark and to help your friends find their worth in Me.
Love, your Daddy in heaven"

"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall"

We all know the age-old story of Snow White. The seven dworfs whistle away at their work and Snow White finds her prince. But, not many people spend a lot of time talking about the Queen.

The beautiful Queen spent most of her time saying, "Mirror, Mirror on the wall, Who is the fairest one of all?" Then the mirror would reply, "Thou, O Queen, art the fairest of all." And that was all fine and dandy with her.

But here comes the problem: Snow White.

When Snow White was around 7 years old, she grew more and more beautiful. Soon, she became more beautiful than even the Queen. Now, when the Queen asks her most famous question, the mirror responds with a different answer.

"O Lady Queen, though fair ye be, Snow-White is fairer far to see."

She was horrified to hear that someone else could possibly be more beautiful than her, so she ordered the huntsmen to take her into the woods and kill her.

Of course, we know that Snow White escapes and it's a happy ending. But, let's take some time talking about the Queen.

Who is your Mirror?

How do you know that you are beautiful? Is it something that you just know? Do you compare yourself to others around you? Possibly the Media are speaking to you. But how often do you go to God’s word to find your beauty?

As women, it almost seems that we contain an innate ability to compare ourselves to others. Whether we are in a group full of women or watching T.V. there will always be someone we secretly wish we could be or wish we could look like.

I don't know about you, but one of the times I dread most is trying on clothes. Nothing ever fits right, the dressing room is usually hot and sweaty, and usually I leave feeling depressed. Recently, I went shopping with my sister. As I tried things on, I said, "I hate trying things on! It's like my body is awkwardly shaped or something!" I had a bit of a reality check when my sister said, "You shouldn't say those things about yourself." I realized that I write all of these blogs about inner beauty and loving yourself the way you are, but the moment I see how I look in front of the mirror I find nothing but flaws.

The Words You Speak

"Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character: it becomes your destiny."

Frank Outlaw

One thing I wondered when I read this quote is, "How many women could have been saved from eating disorders if they only understood this?" Another thought I had was, "How many of us say and think negative things about ourselves, not knowing that it may eventually lead to something more destructive?"

God has uniquely designed each and every one of us. Yet, we all seem to have at least one thing we would change about ourselves. It could be big feet, freckles on your nose, frizzy hair, small breasts, etc. But one thing we all need to know is that God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't create flaws. He created us in his image. Don't you think that if He is going to claim something as His and say that it looks like Him that He would make it look pretty dang good?

We are human so we naturally think like humans. But, I challenge you to try thinking like God. Try seeing yourself the way that God created you.

Let God become your mirror. Before you walk outside to start your day, read God's promises in your Bible. Maybe even put a scripture on your mirror to remind you that you were fearfully and wonderfully made. God designed us to be a mirror of his son. Isn't that an incredible honor?

1 Corinthians 13:12 (New International Version) 12Now we see but apoor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now Iknow in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

What exactly is Beauty?

In my Communications Course, of all places, we were discussing beauty. My professor said that all around the world, there are different perceptions of what beauty is. The image above is a "beauty queen" from America...but what about the rest of the world? More importantly, if God were to be the judge, who would win the tiarra?

In my research, I came accross the website for the Oprah show. I don't normally watch her show in General, but found one episode to be fascinating. Oprah had a woman on her show that had conducted a study about Beauty around the world. What she discovered was that most women are willing to do just about anything to be seen as beautiful...and not just in America.

In Japan, for example, women truly value having smooth, white, porcelain skin. And, they go through great lengths to get it. Some Japanese women believe that by eating colagin-infused food, they are able to make their skin more smooth. This is of course contrary to the idea of injecting the colagin into your skin directly.

The Japanese also came up with the idea that you need to have a slim face to be seen as beautiful. They even invented a contraption commonly known as the face belt, that is designed to make your face sweat and become slimmer.

In Burma, women are seen as beautiful when they have elongated necks. The theory is the more rings a woman can fit on her neck, the more beautiful she becomes. Oprah's show quoted a woman saying that she wouldn't feel as beautiful if someone were to take the rings away from her. Her show also said that some of these rings can weigh up to 22 pounds. That sure is a lot of weight to carry for the sake of beauty.

Before I continue with more "Beauty Tips" (as Oprah describes them), I want you to ask yourself a few questons:

1) Would I do any of the things listed above in order for people to see me as beautiful?

2) Am I currently putting my body through similar things to improve my self-esteem?

3) Why do you think these women are changing their bodies so drastically?

And we continue....

The Maori tribes in New Zealand think women are beautiful when they tattoo their lips blue and tattoo their chins.

In Ethiopia, women are forced from a young age to allow their elders to cut their stomachs in order to make scars. The theory is that the more scars a woman has, the more beautiful she is. Once she has the correct amount of scars, she is able to marry and have children.

I think it is interesting that scars show that a woman is ready to marry. Do you think God would need that from you in order to become his bride?

In India, women are beautiful if they have "glowing skin", so they make mixtures of lemon and honey to rub all over their bodies.

In Oman (Middle East), the more colorful something is, the more beautiful it is (But they make women wear a dark cloak to hide their bodies).

Brazil is one of the worst in my opinion. They concentrate on being sexy and having large breasts. They are one of the largest diet-pill-consumers in the world. In Brazil, a woman is considered overweight if she is above 120 pounds. The last time I was that weight, I was in Junior High. Even at my best, I am above that. To a woman in Brazil, you are nothing if you are not pretty.

Are we starting to see a trend?

You are not good enough if...

You are not Desirable if...

You will be pretty if...

Where is the IF in the Bible?

Have you ever read a scripture that said,

"God loves you if..." or

"God thinks you're beautiful if..."?

The answer is NO. God has no if's. He only has absolutes.

He loves you.

He thinks you are beautiful.

He Desires You.

If you aren't getting the picture yet, let's look at a few more places in this world...

In Indonesia, if a woman has a baby, they tie a 45 foot long fabric around her stomach and bind her so she can gain her shape back.

In Iran, women are beautiful if they have small noses. Hence, why it is the nose job capital of the world.

In Mauritania (West Africa), a woman is considered beautiful if she is plump. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there is such a place. But, regardless of what you may think, it is not a good thing. Women are overfed from infancy, therefore resulting in obese women with many health problems. Many of them cannot walk and therefore cannot work....ALL FOR THE SAKE OF BEAUTY.

In China, women must have small feet to be seen as beautiful, so from infancy, the child's mother binds her daughter's feet (basically crushing the bones in the foot) in order to stop their growth. Many chinese women are crippled because of this act.

Who wants feet like that? Apparently, many women in China do...or DO THEY?

In Paris, most stores only carry up to a size 12. You are seen as sexy when you are slim and it's okay to grow old in France, as long as you are a sexy old lady.

In Africa, some tribes put plates in the lips of their women. The idea is that the larger the plate, the more beautiful you are.

I could go on and on about the many ways women can mutilate their bodies to fit an image. But, where do we stand in America? We can look at these images and find great disgust, but what does God see when He looks at our actions?

How many of us struggle with our body image because we do not fit into (fill in the blank) size of pants or don't wear (fill in the blank) size of bra? How many of us have considered getting plastic surgery or taking diet pills? How many people won't leave the house without make-up on?

This can be a serious motivation to examine our hearts and to determine what we are willing to do for the sake of beauty.

Proverbs 31:30

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

1Peter 3:3

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful."

What is beautiful to you? When God takes his place as Judge and will make his decision, is your heart in the right place? Are you trying to beautify your life from the inside out, or the outside in?

Let's stop this horrible trend of destroying God's creation. We are already beautiful because we were created in the image of a beautiful Creator. Please, let God do a work in your heart and understand that you are BEAUTIFUL just the way you are.

Sexism in the Media

Have you ever been on the "Strip" in Las Vegas? Well as a resident, I can tell you that if you want an example of sexism in the media, this is the place to be. Everywhere you look, there are images of boobs, butts, abs, thighs, seductive eyes, and girls licking their lips. They can be found on trucks, cars, billboards, posters, fliers, and even in person as you walk through a casino. I guess the saying fits that "Sex sells".

Now what is the problem with this? The answer is that there are MANY problems caused by sexism in the media. One of my largest concerns is that both men and women end up feeling extremely confused about who they are and who they SHOULD BE or NEED TO BE.

Take a look at these images.

What do these images say to you? So far, only one photo even shows the woman's face, and really that isn't the main thing one looks at anyway. So far, with these four photos alone, these women are known as "Bikini Girl", "Booby nurse lady", "Burger King Slut", and "Bootilicious Levi girl". Do these women have names? Do they have a full, complete body? Yes! Are we seeing that? No!

According to "Sexism in the Media", written by Karen Harper, "Magazines often show only pieces of a woman, such as her legs, or torso so that women are seen as pieces of a human being, reduced to only body parts, which are usually hyper sexualized for male stimulation."

Is that true? Is the media really stooping to such a level as to reduce women to only body parts? You be the judge. Let's look at some more photos found in the media.

"Booby Lady" and "Leggy Girl" are back! Are you starting to see a pattern here? Karen Harper noted "Webster’s Dictionary defines sexism as 'attitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of sexual roles' or 'discrimination or devaluation based on a person’s sex." Are women only good to look at? Are they only good for sex?

What About Men?

One thing that most men would find insulting about the idea of Sexism in the Media is that most critics are women and most often fail to note the false portrayal of men in the media as well. They too have been wrongly discriminated against. Take a look at most popular T.V. shows that have a married couple as the main characters. For example, in "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "King of Queens", the husband is portrayed as incredibly stupid and insensitive. Raymond can't seem to tie his shoes without Deborah's permission and/or instruction and Doug always seems to mess things up in every episode and has to fix it before Carey finds out.

How about men's body image? How many magazines show men that have gone "Soft" in the midsection or have lost some hair? Not too many, if any at all. Most Magazines show men as lean, mean, fighting (and sexing) machines. Young men that look at those images want to be like those images so women will love them.

 On another note, this problem makes it more difficult for men to even relate to women. According to Harper's article, "From boyhood, men are sent the message that women are here for their pleasure and that they are primarily commodities for their consumption. If this idea is completely internalized, it makes men unable to connect with women in any but the most superficial way, and cuts them off from a deeper understanding of both themselves and women."

It is not fair to assume that women are the only victims here. However, the statistics show that women are affected on a much deeper level.

What are the Results?

According to Karen Harper's article, "Up to 80% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance. Much of the marketing of the ideal woman is targeted at women directly. Women’s magazines, both in articles and advertisements (and it is often difficult to distinguish the two) carry a lot of ideas about the ideal woman. In addition 1 out of every 3.8 television commercials carries some sort of “attractiveness message. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that 82% of all cosmetic surgical procedures are performed on women. The most common procedures are liposuction, breast augmentation, nose reshaping and eyelid surgery. In the years from 1992 to 2003 total cosmetic surgical procedures increased by 192% with breast augmentation increasing by 657% and liposuction by 412%.Some 81% of ten year-old girls are afraid of being fat and 51% of 9 and 10 year-olds feel better about themselves if they are on a diet. Of normal dieters, about 5-6% will progress to partial or full syndrome eating disorders. Eating disorders often start for women in their teen and pre-teen years, and represent an extreme attempt to control one's body. It may not seem such a distorted priority to young girls to achieve the perfect body through self-punishing starvation or vomiting when record numbers of adult women are voluntarily subjecting themselves to invasive surgeries. Now this process is being accelerated and normalized through TV shows such as Extreme Makeovers and The Swan. Here, mostly women are shown going through a series of major cosmetic surgeries. In The Swan a prize goes to the best makeover." I felt the need to use such a large quote, because it is so powerful. There is no way I can use these statistics in any better way.

Think of a ten-year-old girl. Imagine what is going through her mind when she is AFRAID of being FAT. Honestly, there are the few ten-year-olds that are obese from over-eating and not being active. But, the majority of ten-year-old girls are skinny as a rail (NATURALLY) because that is the way God made them.

There are people that think that sexism in the media is over-exaggerated and taken out of context. But, how can you argue such powerful statistics? Does it matter that you sell your cologne by showing a half naked girl if you've created an eating disorder in another one?

What does God think?

Obviously, the purpose of this Magazine is to show what God does think about us. And as you would guess, He thinks we are beautiful because He was the one that created us. There is no mystery in how He feels about us.

Psalm 139:14 (New International Version)

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

Ephesians 5

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

2 Corinthians 6:18 (New International Version)

18"I will be a Father to you,

and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."[a]

It is obvious by the images show above and the statistics that have been revealed that the Media is trying to destroy what God has created. A prime example (though a little artistic and vague in form) is the video on this website, entitled "Doll Face". We strive for something that is out of reach and end up hurting ourselves in the end.

I challenge you to re-evaluate how you look at men and women and to understand where you are forming your opinions. Are you studying the Word of God to understand who you are, or are you believing the lies that Satan has implanted into the media?

Please allow God to change your mind. Be open to something new and be willing to let him heal your heart of wounds created by the Media.

If you would like to read the article written by Karen Harper, visit the website listed below:

http://www.laborsmilitantvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=67

A Generation of Witchcraft

                    Before you begin reading this article, I would like you to ponder a few things. Obviously, the reason I write about certain topics is because I have a passion for them. For the most part, I write because I feel a conviction in my heart that someone needs to read what I am writing. It is my firm belief that each person in this world is searching for something. They are searching for love, fulfillment, and the feeling that they belong. I challenge you to read this article with an open mind. Consider the fact that maybe, just maybe, you were meant to read this and maybe God is the answer to your longings.

Twilight and Beyond

                     After my last blog on Twilight, I was intrigued to find out how many teens not only have read the books and watched the movie, but also that the majority of teen books, movies, and teen TV. Shows have one theme in common: witchcraft. I recently read in an article "Heresy in the Hood: Teen Witchcraft in America (Linda P. Harvey)" that "Witchcraft is the fastest-growing religion in America today." It is no surprise with the amount of witchcraft found in the media. Movies like, "Blair Witch Project, The Craft, and Practical Magic" started in the 1990's. How about ABC's popular TV show, "Sabrina: The Teenage Witch", where they portrayed her as a good witch? Then more recently, WB's show "Charmed", where according to Harvey, Shannon Doherty has made Wicca seem like just another hobby.

                    And it doesn't even stop there. How about one of the most popular events in the 1990's within American youth, "The Lilith Fair, which has played to packed audiences of students throughout the US and Canada for three summers (Harvey)." In this event, Sarah McLachlan chose the name "Lilith" for her "all-women concert tour that she founded." Why would she name it that, you ask? According to the article, "Lilith was the first wife of Adam before Eve. Lilith left the Garden in a huff when she couldn't share dominion with Adam. Modern feminism identifies Lilith with the Serpent of Genesis." In the Bible (Isaiah 34:14), it says "Also, the night creature (Lilith) shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest." Harvey says that it is in "reference to the wasteland of the world once God has inflicted His judgment" Lilith stands as an example of rebellion against God. This Fair features all-women performers and the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), Planned Parenthood (giving out free condoms), and the Columbus AIDS Task Force. This is an event held in the 1990's but is coming back for a Revival tour in 2010 in Great Britain and Europe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith_Fair). Oh, and take a look at the lyrics to a song written by Sarah McLachlan.

Dear God

 Dear God,

Don't know if you noticed, but...

Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book

Us crazy humans wrote it,

You should take a look

And all the people that are made in your image

Still believing that junk is true

Well I know it ain't and so do you...

 If there's one thing I don't believe in

It's you

Dear God

Original Lyrics by XTC, Copyright 1986

Is this rebellious icon really the example we want for our young women of today?

Let's pray against these things.

 Is it just the Teenagers?

If you think that teenagers are the only ones susceptible to witchcraft, think again. Children are one of the largest targets as well. With their minds so open to learning new things, they become almost a larger prey than the teenagers. According to Harvey, "Children are being lovingly primed to embrace paganism by movies, games, TV and countless sorcery-friendly books. On library shelves everywhere are stories like The Christmas Witch, The War of the Wizards, In the Land of Winter (where a single mother wiccan and her child have to fend off the bad Christians), So You Want to be a Wizard, Wizard's Hall, and many more." Then of course, there is "Harry Potter" which needs no further explanation except to say that poor Harry's problems were solved by going to school to become a witch. Right...?

What's the Harm?

"For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangles in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning (2 Peter 2:20)"

I have heard from numerous people (even Christians) that these books, movies, and shows have no deeper purpose than entertainment. But, don't you think that evil exists just as boldly as goodness? It is hard for me to paint this picture, and I have been told I am too extreme for thinking this, but we are at a spiritual war right now and the generations after us will pay the price for our desensitized worldly viewpoints. According to a study found in the Washington Post called, "Most Americans Believe in Higher Power, Poll Finds" by Jacqueline L. Salmon, "92 percent of Americans believe in God or a universal spirit -- including one in five of those who call themselves atheists." If so many people believe in God (even some atheists), why is it so hard to believe that Satan and evil exist? In an article posted on www.ReligiousTolerance.Org  they found that only "27% of Americans strongly believe that Satan exists (2001)." How is this possible?

Is it merely that we as humans want to believe in the good and forget the bad? The truth is that earth is Satan's playground and the fact that most of us don't think he exists is his greatest accomplishment. We all follow him around like puppies, not even knowing it. If Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, don't you think he would do the same in our media? Think about how many forms of media mock Christianity, God, and truth.

I pulled up the top ten books read by teens today, and 8/10 of them involved witchcraft. 6/8 of those disguised evil for good. For example, authors portray a witch, vampire, or demon as a good character or hero. Or even some books show angels and God as evil.

 Isaiah 5:20 (New International Version) 20 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."

Ravenwolf, a popular author for young girls, told a Christian radio station from Columbus, OH that, "Witchcraft is a nature-based, life-affirming religion that follows a moral code and seeks to build harmony among people, and empower the self and others. If you think about it, we could use that statement for almost any positive religion couldn't we? (Harvey)." What is her purpose in saying the words, "positive religion?" Linda Harvey thinks that it is her attempt to "demonize biblical Christianity". Isn't that exactly what the scripture above warns us about? Ravenwolf has sold numerous books to teenage girls, instructing them how to become witches. Some of her major books have been, To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft, Llewellyn (St. Paul, MN), 1993, Beneath a Mountain Moon (novel), Llewellyn (St. Paul, MN), 1995, To Stir a Magick Cauldron: A Witch's Guide to Casting and Conjuring, Llewellyn (St. Paul, MN), 1995, and HexCraft: Dutch Country Pow-Wow Magick, Llewellyn (St. Paul, MN), 1995, just to name a few. The one I find fascinating is, Angels: Companions in Magick, Llewellyn (St. Paul, MN), 1996. I haven't read this book, but by the title, I am assuming she is turning God's angels in to demons by including them in evil magic.

Read more: http://biography.jrank.org/pages/1033/RavenWolf-Silver-1956.html#ixzz0NzPnPjIq

Witchcraft and Abortion?

If getting deceived into following Satan isn't enough for you to flee from witchcraft, take a look at this: In the 1992 book called "The Sacrament of Abortion" by Ginette Paris, the author speaks of the goddess Artemis that justifies taking human life (Harvey). The author says, "Abortion is a necessary yet sacred sacrifice to the 'goddess' and until women have power over both life and death, they don't really have power." The feminists flee to witchcraft as an answer for empowerment. The irony to me, is that once they are involved they become a slave to Satan and have no power at all.

What is the attraction?

A lot of young people think that witchcraft will solve all of their problems. They think that if they light a candle, chant, and bow to their "alter", that their problems with school, relationships, family, etc. will be solved. However, as I mentioned before the answer is not in witchcraft. The answer is in God. There is nothing weak about following God. As a matter of fact, it is his wish that we are empowered. He gave us a sound mind, able to discern right from wrong. He says that if we pray in his name, evil spirits must flee. Now how great is Satan if he FLEES like a coward at just the name of Christ? Sound like an all powerful self-empowering master to you?

James 4:7 (New International Version) 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

2 Samuel 5:10 (New International Version) 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.

Luke 10:19 (New International Version) 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Acts 19:17, 19 (NKJV) "And fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified? Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all."

Summing Up

 If you or someone you know is involved in witchcraft or the occult in any way, I beg and plead with you to get out of it now. Satan is not your friend. He is your enemy and he wants to kill you. He wants your soul, and he doesn't care about you. However, he will tell you that he does. He will tell you that witchcraft is the answer to all of your problems. But, the answer is God. He is the one that created you, loves you, and wants to give you a fulfilling life. If you would like more information on how to start your life with God, please feel free to email me at marcemellow@hotmail.com

 or post a forum or comment on the website. I would be happy to pray for you or anyone you know that is involved in witchcraft. You can find the article by Linda Harvey at http://www.leaderu.com/theology/teenwitchcraft-original.html

"From Easy Bake to Easy Virtue (Time Magazine)"

I don't know about you, but I have noticed a growing trend among young women today. The younger a girl is the "sexier" or "trashier" she seems to dress. Sometimes as I drive down the street, I see a group of girls walking to school or to the bus stop and I think to myself, "Did you forget to dress yourself this morning?" The second thought I usually come upon is, "Why do you feel you need to dress that way?"

Recently, I have been trying to get to the bottom of why young girls and women feel that they need to show skin to gain acceptance or love. What I found is that the media not only persuades young girls to dress sexier, but they also show them how.

In Time Magazine's article "The Truth About Teen Girls", written by Belinda Luscombe, the author says, "Girlhood sexiness seems to be everywhere: on TV shows and in movies, in advertising, in teen magazines and all over the Internet. Most disturbingly, it seems to be coming from the girls themselves: the way they dress, the way they text, the way they present themselves on Facebook and oh, mercy, what they get up to at parties." Luscombe goes on to say, "In one generation, girls seem to have moved from Easy-Bake to easy virtue."

Easy virtue? Is this the generation today? Is this the generation that is going to change this world for the better? The answer is yes- we were meant to change this world. But, it cannot be done if we are acting, dressing, and talking like women that have lost their sense of virtue.

Why has this happened to our young women, you ask? My answer is simple. The media is the largest influence on a girl's life today. According to Girls Incorporated, on average, a girl will spend a little over eight hours a day using some form of media (i.e., television, movies, video games, print, radio, recorded music, computer and Internet). Think about that for a moment. Eight hours is a typical work day for most employed adults. Girls are spending 40 hours a week using some form of media. No wonder we have problems with this generation! Look at what the media is speaking to them.

Compare that statistic with a few others. According to Girls Incorporated, "38% of young women classify themselves as overweight, while only 10% actually were. Also, 21% of young women find their source for fashion ideas through advertising and 12% through magazines." Oh, and here's a shocking fact: "100% of the Directors of Photography in the 2000-2001 TV season were men, 85% of the Editors were men, 80% of the Creators were men, 70% of the writers were men, and 65% of the producers were men."

I have nothing against men working in the media. The problem I do have is when a young girl watches TV, looks at a magazine, or goes on a website and feels that she is not matching up to an unrealistic standard, and never will. According to the Media Awareness Network, "Seventeen" Magazine "only reinforces the cultural expectations that an adolescent woman should be more concerned with her appearance, her relations with other people and her ability to win approval from men than with her own ideas or her expectations for herself." The same article says that "only 29% of teenage girls said that they "felt happy the way I am" as opposed to 60% of nin-year-old girls? Why the sudden drop in self-esteem? What happens between the ages of 9 and 10? Isn't that about the time that an adolescent woman starts forming opinions about herself? Where is the positive influence coming from? Some young women have none. All she has is an image of a woman that she will never be and a million voices telling her that she needs to be.

Luscombe said it best in her article when she said, "The real problems arise when the media unanimously suggest that hotness is the only identity worth trying on. And when they venerate physical desirability in young women without explaining how to use it responsibly. And when they define desirability in such a narrow fashion that many girls feel they have to amp up their sexual signals to measure up." She concludes by saying,  "The way a agirl sees herself is more powerful than what she sees in magazines. But here's the rub: What she sees in the media does affect that self-image, especially in terms of her body.? So what's the solution? How in the world are we to face a giant like the media? How as women will we be able to fight the insecurities we have inside and replace them with confidence?

I have an answer, and his name is God. It sounds cliché, but He does love us just as we are. After all, He created us the way we are. He gave us those freckles, he gave us the nose we have, the height we are, the size of shoes we wear, the glasses we wear and the way we laugh. He gave YOU your personality. He gave YOU your body. He gave YOU the life you have. Why do we continue to allow some vague, faceless, critical entity (known as the media) control the way we feel about our bodies and who we are?

You are the only one that can change the way you feel about YOU. Sure, we all know that none of us are perfect. But here?s the catch: God focuses on the good. He created you for good. There is a reason He put you on this earth.

Ephesians 2:10 (New International Version)

10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

He also said:

1 Corinthians 6:19 (New International Version)

19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

Let's begin to see ourselves the way God intended us to: beautiful, pure, righteous, and FULL of purpose.