Showing posts with label women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women. Show all posts

Thursday, April 30, 2009

"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!

Monday, October 13, 2008

"I Love Lucy"

I grew up watching television shows like “Lassie”, “Leave It To Beaver”, “The Andy Griffith Show” and “I Love Lucy”. I am sure most of you did too- or have at least seen them. Their reruns are still being aired.

The show “I Love Lucy” was certainly titled correctly- after all- we all love Lucy. She was a very funny lady. Her mad cap antics kept us in stitches. She could get herself, her side-kick Ethel, Fred and Ricky into the most predicaments.

Lucy was a “go getter”. If she wanted it, she went after it. She didn’t let her husband’s “no’s” stand in the way. She always found a way to “finagle” her way around him through one of her “hair brained” schemes. She would plot and plan trying to manipulate Ricky to say “yes” and let her have her way. While we loved laughing at and with Lucy (I am strictly referring to the character- not the actress Lucille Ball herself), it is one thing to watch on a television screen her insistent pursuit to have her way, it is another to adopt her methods and use them as a guideline in real life to get what you want.

Her example of manipulation (and, yes, that’s exactly what it was) is not a good example to follow. As a follower of Jesus Christ I have learned that getting my way through manipulation is never the best choice- or the “God” choice. The Bible is clear that manipulation is witchcraft, and witchcraft has no part in the Christian life.

Do I always get my way? No. Do I always need to get my way? No. Is it always in my best interest to have my way? No. But if it is in my best interest and it’s God’s will for me but my husband is not willing to let me have it, or do it, I don’t have to manipulate him or the situation in order for it to go in my favor. I have a Heavenly Father that I can go to in prayer about the situation. He knows how to orchestrate, change and turn things around so that they work together for my good because I love Him and am called according to His purpose.

Lucy often discovered that when she finally did get her way, she wished she hadn’t. She also discovered that if she had waited and been a little more patient Ricky had already changed his mind. I don’t have to fight my own battles- with anyone- if I turn them over to God He will do it for me—if it is in accordance to His plan for my life. So I’ll wait and let Him do it! "The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." (Exodus 14:14)

"Glitter Girls" know that it is always in our best interest to wait patiently for God to move on our behalf and not try to manipulate the situation ourselves.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

"Yes, Jesus Loves Me"

Everyone knows the song, “Jesus Loves Me”, but most don’t know that there are several verses to it- some of the verses have been made up by individuals or children’s church groups that were not the original. One such verse that we used to sing at our church went like this: “Jesus, love me when I’m good, and I do the things I should. Jesus loves me when I’m bad, though it makes Him very sad. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.”

“Glitter Girls” love Jesus and don’t want to do anything that will hurt Him, disappoint Him, make Him sad, bring shame or reproach to His name, or cause others not to desire to know Him. But the fact is that sometimes we do. Sometimes it’s not always wittingly, sometimes it’s innocently, sometimes we do it ignorantly.

Because I have been “liberated”, I know I don’t have to stay in the guilt and condemnation of my failure, short comings or sin. I know that Jesus still loves me and will forgive me when I repent and turn to Him. Even though I may have made Him sad, He doesn’t stop loving me.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39