Purely Beautiful

Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. (Ecclesiastes 11:9 NLT)

"Live everyday to its fullest" we hear this saying a lot. I agree with it. Each day is a gift and we should enjoy it. Joyce Meyer's ministry is all about Enjoying Everyday Life. I love that! I believe that as believers we shouldn't live life sad and boring, but rather happy and full of fun!

Here's the catch though. At the last part of this verse it says we must give an account for what we do. So when you ‘take it all in,’ know that you must have fun according to the Word of God. This type of fun doesn't leave you with a guilty feeling at the end of the day.

For example, it may seem or 'look' fun to go to the club on Friday night or the school dance. But, when it's all over and you go home, and the guilt sets in from how you acted and what you did, the fun of it fades.

In 10th grade I went to my first high school dance and I was so excited about it. I got all dressed up and went with my friends. When I got there I started dancing the way everyone else was. During it I got convicted that I shouldn't be dancing like that, but I didn't stop I just pushed the ‘still small voice’ away.

My friends and I had a great time. But when I got home, this sickening feeling came over me. I was so convicted by the Holy Spirit that I danced that way. Bumping and grinding or ‘dirty dancing’ whatever you want to call it is sexual sin. Think about it… You are moving your body sexually on others. That stirs up emotions and desires that are intended for marriage. (Parents of teens: this type of dancing is happening at your teen’s high school) Even the ‘world’ is calling this “stimulated sex” read this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35339424/ns/health-childrens_health/t/when-teens-grind-schools-freak/#.T4cBgJpSRac

I went to a couple of these dances throughout high school and every time the Holy Spirit convicted me and every time I said I wouldn't do it again. Until the last time because I said to myself “why do I feel as if it's ok to do this.” I was so pure in every other area of my life (i.e. never had a boyfriend, never went to parties, never kissed, never watched bad movies…etc.) But I just loved to dance and so I gave myself a million justifications why it was ok. When frankly it wasn't. I asked for God’s forgiveness and I finally got real with myself and said that it was wrong and sin. I hated that I sinned against the lord.

Here is the next part of the verse above: Therefore remove [the lusts that end in] sorrow and vexation from your heart and mind and put away evil from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity [transitory, idle, empty, and devoid of truth]. (Ecclesiastes 11:10 AMP)

I removed it and I want to encourage you to remove it also. Just don't go to the dances if it's that much of a temptation when you are there. Deny the flesh, because we are judged. We will have to give an account for everything we do on this earth. Also, remember that you will have to tell your spouse one day what you did before you met them.

Good News: If you go to God and ask for His forgiveness and turn from your ways then He will forgive. His love for us is soooo great! Strive to be completely pure in every area of your life.

Love you and believing for a generation to rise up and take stand for purity!

Alyssa Shull

Proverbs 11:22 (MSG)

“Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful face on an empty head.”

A beautiful gold earring does not belong on a pig. Just like beauty and filth do not fit together… let me explain.

I remember being in high school and there where these girls who were hot as the guys would call them. But when these girls would open their mouths trash would come out. For me it took away from their outward beauty.

It would frustrate me in high school when most of the guys wanted these hot girls. These guys only saw their bodies. Now this scene I witnessed in high school doesn’t just play out in high school but all throughout our culture.

Let’s take for example the actress Megan Fox. She played as the ‘sex object’ in the first two Transformers movies. Sure Megan is pretty on the outside, but she reminds me of those girls from high school. The moment she opens her mouth on some interview or at an award show, all that flows out is ugliness. For me that takes away her beauty. In fact, her ugly attitude was so bad that she was cut from the third Transformers movie.

If Megan would change her language and discover the most amazing thing in this life, a relationship with the Lord, I believe she would blossom into a beautiful person. You see, Megan is currently using her beauty to seduce, lure, and hold a false power over others. But as women of God we should desire to use our beauty to bring honor to God!

Make a decision in your heart to let your inward beauty shine. Respect yourself and respect your body. Love you and believing for a generation of young women to rise up and stand for purity!

Alyssa Shull

info@thepinklid.com

Let’s start by going in order of my title here.

Cleavage:

It says in 1 Corinthians 10:32, “Don't cause others to stumble, whether they are Jewish, Greek, or members of God's church.” (GWT)

I take that passage to mean this; do your part to help someone NOT fall into sin. As a woman I strive to not portray my body in a way that would cause someone to lust. How do you do this? It starts with how I dress.

When a female is wearing a shirt that shows off her cleavage, people usually look. I believe when a woman purposefully shows her cleavage it sends out the message; Hey here are my boobs, I want you to notice I have them. If our goal is to get men to notice our body then our affection is in the wrong direction. We are not acting in love. We are acting in selfishness and our attempt is to bring attention to ourselves and not to God. As a believer we shouldn’t want to cause our brothers in Christ to lust over us. Especially when the Bible says we shouldn’t.

If you didn’t know this already, MEN ARE VERY VISUAL. It is the way God made them. Men are more visual and women are more emotional. Let’s as women of God make a conscience choice to not cause our brothers in Christ to stumble. Let’s not show off our breasts. Those are for your husband’s eyes only. Even if you’re not married yet they are for your future husband.

So, if you have a shirt that is low cut, put a tank top on underneath. I have tank tops in a bunch of different colors, and practically wear them with every outfit. I like to be extra careful, so I don’t have to worry if my shirt goes too low, I will already have a tank top on underneath. I ‘m not saying to wear turtlenecks, I’m just saying to make sure no crack in the front or the back is showing.

Bikinis:

Would you walk into an apartment complex and strip down to your bra and panties? Probably not. So then why do we think it’s ok to wear bikinis in front of people? It shows the same exact amount of skin, it’s just made out of a different material.

It is our culture that believes bikinis are socially okay and no big deal. It’s simply what we wear to the pool. I disagree with this thought. There are many beliefs in the world that we as the church should not embrace.

Our bodies are not our own they were bought at a price. It says in 1 Corinthians 6:20 “you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (NIV) This body isn’t something I can just do whatever I want with. I need to be honoring God with everything I do, and that includes the way I dress.

You may be reading this rolling your eyes, and thinking I am totally old school. But for the first 22 years of my life all I wore were bikinis. It wasn’t until he Holy Spirit convicted me 3 years ago that I started wearing bathing suits that had more coverage. So, if you are thinking I’m a crazy lady, take it to prayer, and ask God if a bikini is something you should be wearing or not. I’ll leave you with this thought. My husband and I asked ourselves, “Will there be bikinis in the throne room of God?” Again, we are commanded not to cause someone to sin. The purpose of a bikini is either to look sexy or get a good tan. I don’t think either excuse is a good reason if it keeps men in bondage to lust; something to meditate on ladies.

Facebook:

I am constantly seeing cleavage & bikinis in profile pictures on Facebook. Talk about taking ‘wearing it out in public’ to a whole new level. I am going to say something that may shock you. I fully believe that this is soft porn. Yes porn. Pornography by definition is: writings, pictures, films, etc, designed to stimulate sexual excitement. Pictures of women showing cleavage, in bikinis and other sexual positions are a form of soft porn since your body is in a position that can stimulate men sexually.

One pose that is very popular right now is “The Ho Shot” or “The Prostitute Shot”. This is when a girl takes a picture of herself from above and you get a good look down her shirt. The reason this is called the prostitute shot is because this is how prostitutes take pictures of themselves. It enhances the look of the breasts and because of the position it is taken in (enough said). I’ve seen even 12-year olds taking pictures like this.

In a study of 1000 girl scouts aged 14-17, 74% believe “most girls my age use social networking sites to make themselves look cooler than they really are.” Also, 22% of girls with low self-esteem claim they portray a “sexy” image on social networks. 14% of girls with higher self-esteem said the same. (1)

You will attract what you put out there. If you want someone to honor you and your body then start by honoring and respecting your body. An Oxford professor said, " [when] you can't see or hear other people makes it easier to reveal yourself in a way that you might not be comfortable with. You become less conscious of the individuals involved [including yourself], less inhibited, less embarrassed and less concerned about how you will be evaluated." (2)

Be yourself. Don’t try to be anyone else. You are a beautiful shining woman of God. You don’t have to try to enhance anything. Just smile and be yourself. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14). You are beautiful!

Love you Ladies! Believing for a generation of godly women to rise up and stand for purity!

Alyssa Shull

Sources:

(1) http://www.covenanteyes.com/2011/02/28/girl-scout-study-looks-at-teen-girls-social-networks-and-self-esteem/

(2) http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/feb/24/social-networking-site-changing-childrens-brains

Today, I am going to point out to you some important facts about what God has to say about you! I struggled with my self-image for many years and it wasn’t until I saw myself as God sees me that I knew I was beautiful. Let these three points sink into your heart and unlock the true beautiful woman that you are!

God gives you 3 beauty marks.

# 1 God Created You

“So God created man in His [own] image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Colossians 1:16 (NIV)

“Oh Yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13(MSG)

You are not an accident, no matter how you came to this earth. Whether your parents planned for you or not, that doesn’t matter. God knows you, He created you and He has a plan for your life. You are very important to God!

#2 God Loves You

If you struggle with the feeling of alone and not being loved, read Psalm 139 over and over again.

“How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! How vast in number they are! If I try to count them, there would be more of them than there are grains of sand.” Psalm 139:17-18 (GWT)

He has more thoughts for you than the sand on the seashore! Have you ever held grains of sand between your fingers? There are numerous little grains, and impossible to count, and yet God has more thoughts for you than all those little grains.

All throughout this chapter you will discover that God is obsessed with you, his love for you is so great.

In Luke 12:7 Jesus says this… “Even every hair on your head has been counted. Don't be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows.” (GWT)

If you have a lot of hair like me than you know that’s amazing that every single hair has a number. So God knows when a piece falls out, he values you so immensely! Now I’m head over heels in love with my husband, but I don’t number his hair. God’s love for us goes way beyond what we human’s can love.

“I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made” Psalm 139:14 (GWT)

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;” Psalm 139:14 (KJ)

You are a perfectly crafted creation; no two fingerprints are the same. Even if your physical appearance changes, your fingerprints never change. It’s our uniqueness.

# 3 God Gives You Worth

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her worth is far above rubies. “ Proverbs 31:10

“A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds” Proverbs 31:10 (MSG)

The Hope Diamond which is located in Washington, DC is worth more than $250 Million Dollars. But, the Lord says that you have more worth than even the most expensive/beautiful diamond in our world.

"Do not conform any longer 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 (NIV)

God knows you and He gives you BEAUTY, WORTH & ACCEPTANCE.

If you don’t define beauty for yourself, the world will define if for you.

And the definition I want to give you is that God has put beauty on the inside of you, it has been implanted in you.

God doesn’t want you to walk around with negative thoughts about yourself.

“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.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

Don’t focus on negative thoughts about yourself. If you do, it will destroy your confidence in the woman that you are. Take captive negative thoughts, for example say this aloud, “Insert Negative Thought, you must leave my mind, I will not listen to you, I throw you out, in Jesus Name”

Start speaking these scriptures mentioned above over your life. Begin mediating on these scriptures. Let them sink deep into your heart, until they become part of you. I believe you can get to a place where when you wake up in the morning you know:

First: God created you

Second: God Loves You

Third: God Gives You Worth

I would love to hear from you! You can leave a comment or email me.

Love, Alyssa