You Are Beautiful

This week I was scrolling through my twitter feed and saw a picture of what I saw as a beautiful model in a cute swimsuit. When I looked at the caption it said, “Looking Good: Plus-Size Supermodel Robyn Lawley Models Her Own Swimwear”. For those of you that haven’t seen it or don’t know about it, the picture is below.

 



If you’re like me then you might be thinking “WHAT? This girl isn’t plus-size?” But sadly enough in the modern world she is deemed “of a size larger than the normal range”.  I did some digging and discovered that Robyn Lawley used to be a “regular” size model, but she chose her health and eating as she pleases over modeling in the mainstream world. You go girl! I can’t help but view her as an inspiration to many people struggling to see beauty in their size.

If you’re reading this, I ask you to please take care of your body. Don’t let the modern, anorexic models that define our culture be your inspiration. Stay healthy, fit, and happy. Love your body the way God loves it. You were created in the image of God, and God knew what He is doing when He made you! God sees you as a masterpiece; and when you look in the mirror, He wants you to "know that full well." Do not let anyone tell you that you aren’t beautiful.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)

 

 

Don't Worry

 
Worry. Google defines it as "giving way to anxiety or unease; allowing one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles". It's a stupid concept when you look at the definition, but it gets to all of us.

From time to time I find myself anxiously worrying. I tend to obsess over things I’ve done, things that have happened, things that could happen, etc. I worry about the future. I worry about my friends. I worry about my parents. I even worry about the past.

Worry is a mighty tool used by the Devil to confuse us all. His goal is to reduce our life down to the thing or the object that we are worrying about. He wants worry to grab hold of our soul and choke the life out of us. He wants us to waste our life.

Take a stand against the Devil with me today! There will always be something new that we can worry about, but let's give it to God and trust Him to take care of the rest. Find peace in the Lord and live a life worthy of a King.  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) 

The Roots of Life

I spent the weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains of TN. I’ve been to Gatlinburg many times, so it was nothing new to me. I didn’t expect any magical moment, but life continues to surprise me.

We stayed in a cozy cabin and had a relaxing trip to get away from the business of everyday life. The first night we toured the actual downtown part of Gatlinburg and it was extremely fun! We bought candy apples, rode a sky lift, and shopped around. The second day we spent at Dollywood.  If you don’t know, Dollywood is a theme park owned by the entertainer Dolly Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment. It is a beautiful park located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and it is a top destination for family vacations in Tennessee.

Our Dollywood trip was definitely not as expected. As soon as our tram made it to the entrance of the park, it started raining cats and dogs outside. Naturally, we ran to the emporium store and bought a poncho (along with everyone else I might add. The park had to have made over $1000 in poncho sales. Lol.) We did the best we could with the rain and ended up having a fun-filled day of riding rides with no lines which is always a plus.

The one attraction that really caught my eye was one of the park’s newest rides, Wild Eagle. The Wild Eagle doesn’t follow the theme for most roller coasters. As you enter into the line for the ride, there is a large plaque of Isaiah 40:31.

 

 

Dolly Parton or Herschend Family Entertainment or someone used this verse as inspiration for the ride. I was shocked that a huge park like Dollywood would take the risk of incorporating such a biblical element into the new ride. Dollywood does not conform to the patterns of most theme parks around the world. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) I could feel the Christian environment all around the park. My whole family felt it. God is clearly rooted in the theme park of Dollywood.  

This got me thinking… what is my life rooted in? Can people see and feel the under rooting elements in my life? Am I conforming to the patterns of this world? I challenge you today to take a hard look at your life (as I did also) and ask yourself “what is my life rooted in?” If you realize your life is rooted in something that you are not proud of, use this time to make a change. It’s never too late to trust in the Lord and start rooting your life in Christ! "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside waters, that stretches out its roots to the stream. It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green. In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit." (Jer. 17:7-9)

Living in a sin filled world makes being rooted in Christ complicated. Fortunately enough, we have a God who is ready and willing to be the roots in our lives at any time, as long as we accept and receive him. “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

So I’ll ask again, where are your roots?