Beau-Tea [Part 1]

We all wish we had it,

try to get it, 

and move mountains 

to preserve 

what we think 

we have of it, 

but what is beauty? 

It has been redefined over and over throughout the centuries and across continents. I still chuckle a little at the chieftains Mary Slessor worked with in Calabar, Africa who fattened their wives to make them beautiful. Why do we laugh? It's not our culture. American culture tells us skinny is much more desirable than fat.
     And we believe it.
     We girls seem to be born with a compulsive attraction to beauty... many of us could lisp 'pwetty' before we could toddle.
     As Christian girls, we either shrug our shoulders and defy the cultural definition altogether, or agree with, wish we were like, and skimp and primp to match the cultural ideal.
    Have you ever asked yourself "Why do I put myself through this 'beauty making process' anyway?" 
"Am I truly beautiful after all of that?" or even "Is it ok to want to be beautiful?"

 Who's definition of beauty are we fighting to be anyway?
I did some hunting the other day, and my search began with a couple dictionary definitions:

 : the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit:.

:the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations such as shape, color, and sound, a meaningful design or pattern, or something else such as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest.:.

And I found some interesting surveys which stated that America has changed it's mind again on what it thinks is beautiful... America has traded in the flawless skinned, perfect make-up, unproportionate, blond n' blue eyed Barbie for the provocative, reclusive, sarcastic, athletic, even less clothed, dark haired, dark eyed, 'babe'.
This is how our culture describes beauty. But what does our source of Truth and Right say?

What is  scriptural beauty?

and

Why does it magnetize,

Invigorate, and frustrate
all of Womankind?

PART 1-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

God made you in His image, to look like Him!  And God doesn't make junk! Every person is unique and you are his perfect "masterpiece." He wants you to "know that full well."
When your emotions are falling apart, you still are wonderfully made.
When you're criticized, God loves you just the way you are.
When your hair gets cut funny... God still loves you and always will.
God cares when you get hurt. But he allows it, not to be mean, but to make you beautiful in attitude, spirit and heart.
The bigger the struggle, the more beautifully Jesus will shine through you when He's done!
He wants to make you beautiful where it counts for all eternity, not just this year's fashion.
And then, sometimes, God gives us a choice... if we would let Him do it the easy way, we wouldn't have to do it the hard way.

Don't waste your struggles girls! Let God teach you now!

You are a work of art,
The child of His heart,
He made each part
Of you.

God's not 'mean' to do so. No.
He plans good not woe,
Through this trouble will flow
Good.

Though you can't see it now
If only you will allow,
Through this He'll show you how
to help others 

Hear My Cry

     "Oh righteous and holy Sovereign, in whose hand is my life and whose are all my ways,
keep me from fluttering about religion. Fix me firm in it for I am wavering; my decisions are smoke and vapor, and I do not glorify You or behave according to Your will. Do not cut me off before my thoughts grow to be responses, for You are forbearing and good, patient and kind.
     Save me from myself, from the artifices and deceits of sin, from the treachery of my perverse nature, from denying your charges against my offences. Save me from a life in continual rebellion against You and from wrong principles, views, and ends, for I know that all my thoughts, affections, desires and pursuits are alienated from You. 
     I have acted as if I hate You, though You are Love itself. I have contrived to tempt You to the uttermost to wear out Your patience. I have lived evilly in word and action. Had I been a prince, I would have long ago crushed such a rebel. Had I been a father, I would have long since rejected such a child.
     Oh Father of my spirit, King of my life, do not cast me into destruction or drive me from your presence, but wound my heart that it may be healed; break it with your own hand that you may make it whole." [Puritan Prayers and Devotions]

How do you describe the yearning of a soul?
I wish I had the desires and heart to pen these words!
God give me a love for you!
Burn your passion inside me.
Give me an unquenchable, unsquelchable, untiring, undiscourageable desire to know You.
To be known by You.
To be yours.