SONGS – You’re Beautiful
You can listen to You’re Beautiful on my music player in the right sidebar.
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After reading, please go over to Sarah Markley’s site. Sarah is a gifted storyteller with a brave, unique voice. She has written about beauty and has some wonderful, insightful guest posts up this week. Next week, she will be compiling a posts from her community of readers, who have shared their thoughts on beauty.
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As a Mom of a preteen daughter, I really wanted a song that would address what I think is a devastatingly large issue – negative messages. I wanted an anthem for girls (young and old) that reminds us to guard our minds against all the messages that can beat us down. The images we see in magazines and on TV and in movies, are all so overwhelming and impossible to live up to – and let’s be real, most of them are altered anyway.
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I remember being a teenager and feeling very insecure. I let the wrong people tell me the wrong things and I didn’t have the affirmation from God’s word to keep me filled up and my head on straight. I took it all to heart and for a long time, I believed I wasn’t pretty enough, good enough, smart enough . . . worthy enough.
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Truth be told, there are days when I buy into those lies all over again. Okay – probably moments in every single day.
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That’s why it’s important … no – IMPERATIVE that we use our words to build others up … that we change our perception of beauty.
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I want young girls, in particular, to discover, celebrate and rejoice in their BEAUTY – the beauty that is God loving them and them loving others in return. God loves you and NO ONE can take that away – not a classmate, a teacher, a boyfriend, the image of an air-brushed model. The messages, overt or not, that get in, are often overpowering. It’s hard to counteract them once they’ve been heard and internalized. Without God and a strong belief in His word, it’s very easy to believe what you hear from every which way.
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Let’s face it – even with God, it’s tough. The enemy is prowling around like a roaring lion – a ROARING LION, people – not sitting quietly in the corner. Talk about a weak spot – insecurity is like a bright, shiny, red BULLSEYE to the devil. He hits it time and time again with his lies.
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That’s why we must be diligent – we must listen, really listen to what God would have to say. We must let the peace of God begin to open up our eyes. We must read the Word and speak positively to and about ourselves (and others).
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I know I was given various, unique abilities that make me “me” and no one can take my place here. I know that having joy and peace and hope in Christ on the inside, will allow me to shine on the outside – better and more magnificently than any makeup or new accessory. Beauty isn’t measured in popularity or pounds. Beauty – true beauty – is seen when we love others like God loved us.
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But, it took me more than 25 years to come to this realization. I pray my daughter “gets it” much sooner.
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Speak favor, love, hope, peace and joy over those around you. Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you. Tell someone what makes them beautiful to you.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
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Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Hi Mela!
Your song is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us. And i know what you mean – i have two daughters and i worry often about their sense of beauty/ self-worth, etc.
thank you so much for posting. =)
Hi, Mela,
I loved you song..
I also loved what you wrote.. Beauty is not what others see on our outside, it’s the beauty of the One who created beauty inside us. I am constantly blown away by the fact the “The King is enthralled with my beauty” (Psalms) The fact that He places beauty in me and then calls me beautiful is stunning!
I have a pre-teen, plus 2 adult daughters… I know exactly what you are talking about. I desire the same thing for these young girls to know what true beauty is. Thanks for sharing your heart!
What a beautiful post and a beautiful song! Thanks so much for sharing!
As mother of two daughters, I am constantly trying to give them a biblical understanding of true beauty.
What God showed me after the birth of my first girl was that it all started in my own heart… He’s been doing the work ever since. I have come a long way.
Like you, I hope the “get it” a lot sooner then I did.
By His Grace!
I found your blog thanks to Sarah’s blog train and am so glad I did. I always have struggled with self-image and have tried to help my daughters overcome the false images constantly barraging women on a daily basis. You are so right that we must understand the beauty within each one of us through God’s word. Thank you for such wonderful reminder.
Thanks, Sarah! What a great message you’re helping get out there – love hearing everyone’s perspective on this … we all need to be encouraged, no matter our age or image issues.
Thanks, Julie – I’m with you “blown away” at his acceptance & grace – love how you put that … “He places beauty in me and then calls me beautiful” – awesome! Be blessed!
Thanks, Chrissy! I appreciate the feedback. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks, Manda for your perspective. Yes, it does start in our own hearts, doesn’t it?! … with all those sharp edges and torn pieces. So glad through His Word, He fits those tattered pieces together and helps us to see our beauty. So glad you’ve come to realize your worth & beauty through Him and can pass it onto your daughters. Blessings to you!
Thanks, Kristine – so glad you stopped by as well. I’ve found so much encouragement through Sarah’s blog and her writing is filled with insight and depth. I’m grateful she put this together – it is so vital. As Moms of daughters, we have a challenging road ahead, but I’m confident with lots of prayer, healthy communication, Biblical instruction and love, He’ll get us where we need to be for our girls.
I’m here from Sarah’s blogh…if you’re interested, my post is: http://onegirl-itjusttakesone.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-is-beauty.html
Nice post. I hope if I have daughters some day, they’ll ‘get it’ sooner than I did. And nice song, by the way.
Oh yes… the peace of God can open our eyes… that is beautiful! You said it perfectly… no one can take away God’s love for us.
Your music is wonderful!
Here from Sarah’s beauty link list!
~Jennifer
Thanks, Jennifer for the kind words – it took me a while to realize my own beauty and the gift of music. I’m still in awe that God used me in this way, while I was still unsure if I could do it.
Loved your post – beauty definitely is in the hoping and the letting go and for sure, Beauty is God. When we follow more closely to Him and walk more in His ways, we show our true beauty that comes from Him. Thanks for stopping here and for the kind words. Bless your day!