Day 19 - Right Motives

It's Tough Being A Woman.  (I'm actually quoting Beth Moore - that is the theme of our Bible Study).

The things spoken of tonight though, remind me how things have not changed for centuries.  Women want to be thought of as beautiful, and we will often go through a lot of punishment on our way 'there'... if we ever reach it.    I know for me, things have gotten confusing (and defeating) when I've gotten my motives mixed up.  Sure it is good to want to be attractive for my love and for my Lord.  It's when I place more emphasis on the exterior than the interior that I get into trouble.  All those times I tried to 'diet' because I wanted to look good, or show that "I" could do it, or other similar goals focused on me led to quite a roller-coaster lifestyle.  Every time I found out that I couldn't do stick to a diet or live without ...whatever, emotions swung so very low.  It took a long time to figure out why - because I was pulling out all the stops of MY strength and will and had to face it wasn't enough.  Not only that, I found I would feel intimidated by those who did appear to have that beauty issue conquered.  What I have had to learn over and over is that true beauty is not the outward, but often times the outward will reveal the inward beauty.  Without the right motives I am not only doing a disservice to my body (as the Lord's temple), but, bowing to the world's standards for beauty, or being intimidated by it threatens my inward peace as well.  Without the confidence that God gives,  I could not do what Matt. 22:39 says -  ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself', because my unselfishly loving others only comes from the realization and acceptance of myself as being truly and completely loved by the creator.  (I may be the only one, but when I feel particularly un-beautiful I tend to treat others the way I feel or to hide out from them when they need me.)  Knowing that God created me in His likeness - assures me there is beauty I could never create - and it is already there.  Developing and revealing that beauty needs to remain my most basic motive that drives all other goals.

Breakfast:  Kashi oatmeal with pecans

Lunch:  Running late - grabbed a few unsalted Sweet Potato Chips and picked up Wendy's 5 piece chicken nuggets (half eaten when I remembered to take a picture!)  Waiting at home was the Tomato filled with Italian-marinated peas and colby-cheese sticks. (cut with Xyliss cheese slicer - one of the best kitchen tools ever.)




Dinner:  Hamburger, finish the Sweet Potato Chips, Brocolli soup