"I'm A Liberated 'Glitter Girl'"

(FYI: This is my opening post to help explain what the Glitter Girl Liberation is all about. New posts are added under this one.)

glit·ter (gl t r) n. 1. A sparkling or glistening light. 2. Brilliant or showy, often superficial attractiveness. 3. Small pieces of light-reflecting decorative material.
glit·ter [glit-er] v. 1.to reflect light with a brilliant, sparkling luster; sparkle with reflected light. 2. To make a brilliant show.

Welcome to my blog. At first glance you may be wondering what this little corner of the web is about- maybe you’ve figured it out?

If you’d like to find out go put on your fuzzy slippers, get a cup of coffee, ice tea, or whatever your preference is- and let’s talk for a while.

We all know that things aren’t always as they appear. Take these two rings, for example, they both appear to be diamonds, but one isn’t. The difference is not in the size, or the shape or the color of the ring. The difference is in the “quality”. One has great value and the other is just for show. It’s hard to tell the real from the fake unless you give it a closer inspection and you know what you are looking for in order to spot the difference. The genuine diamond shines all the way through. The fake one only shines on the surface. It sparkles (glitters) but only gives an illusion to make you think that it is something that it is not. It’s showy but has a superficial attractiveness.

Have you figured out what this space is about yet? If you think it’s going to be filled with a lot of “bling” and “show”, guess again. It may appear that way but it’s not. It’s a blog to help “liberate” women- liberate them from worldly philosophies, social peer pressures, opinions of man founded in unrealistic perceptions, the misnomer about true beauty and womanhood, and religious nonsense that has kept women from truly being everything that God has destined them (you) to be. These forces will try to tell you that this is what makes you “shine” (glitter). They try to tell you that you are a “nobody” and of no value if you don’t follow suit and conform to their mode.

Women can be compared to these two rings. The one that was fake (“glittered”) best fits the first definition- it has only superficial beauty but no real value, even though it is prized by the wearer. This describes so many women in our society. They are perceived as “glitter” (attractive) because of their social status, because they follow the crowd, because they are politically correct, have the same values as everyone else in society or because of their outward beauty. The other ring “glittered” because it was the real thing- nothing superficial about it- genuine through and through. This describes a true “glitter” girl. She doesn’t have a facade, has beauty on the inside even if she doesn’t have it on the outside. Her beauty is not just “skin deep”. As a matter of fact, it may not be obvious who she is when they look upon her outside, but upon a closer inspection the difference is quiet obvious.

If we think we are something when we are nothing, we deceive ourselves. (Galatians 6:3) But the truth sets us free. (John 8:32) There is a deception that so many women have fallen into that says who you are and your value is determined by your appearance, popularity, wealth, material possessions, what you do, who you know, what your status in life is, etc. If that’s you this little space is here to help liberate you from that deceptive mindset so that who you are is not just “superficial” but the real thing.

Like the real diamond ring there are real “glitter girls”. They are more like the second definition. They “sparkle” with the light of Jesus because they are a refection of Him in the world. But many of these glitter girls need liberation too. They feel intimidated because they bought into the lie of the world’s definition as the true one and don’t feel they measure up. As a result they have hid their lights under a basket. Because they believe this they are being held captive. But the good news is… Jesus came to set the captive free (Luke 4:18). He came to liberate us!

Let the liberation begin!

"HATS... HATS...HATS!!!"

I have always loved hats. I loved them so much that my best friend bought me a box full of antique hats at an auction once and surprised me with them because she knew I liked them so well. Yes, I actually wore many of them! Some of the hats were wide brimmed, some were velvet, some had that fine black netting that came down over your face… they were sooo cute.

I don’t know why I liked wearing hats so much maybe it’s because of the way they made me “feel”. I would feel “pretty” when I had on a certain hat. Another would make me feel “glamorous”, or “sophisticated”, or even “playful”.

I chose which hat to wear according to where I was going and what I was doing… had to have them match everything else. I haven’t worn a hat in a while now, not one that you can see anyways. The hats I wear now days are invisible to the naked eye, but I am still sporting them nevertheless. (As are most of you.)

My hats include the “mother’s hat”, the “grandmother’s hat”, the “wife’s”, the “sister”, the “daughter”, the “friend”, the “listener”, the “confidant”, the “encourager”, the “teacher”, the “minister”, the “servant” and a host of other hats.

Like the hats I used to wear… I love these all too. I love them because I know each one is a “designer original”. Each hat that I wear has been designed for me by God… and fits me to a “t”.

Do I have a favorite? While I love them all, I guess my favorite is the “God’s daughter hat”. When I have that one on- which is all the time, never take it off- I feel “special”, I feel “loved”, I feel “important”. It also makes me feel that I want to “look my best” while wearing it because it’s a reflection of Him as well. How does that “hat” make you feel?

Thanks, Samantha, for reminding me what a "God's daughter's hat" looks like!!!!