When I look around me I see beautiful women made in the image of Christ. No matter what country or area you are born into God loves you and sees you as beautiful.
In this culture alone women are seen as “objects” and not seen as beautiful. Men like them to be larger in size instead of skinny. The women do a lot of the work around the land. They are often seen carrying gallons of water on their heads. They care for the children all day long. Even young girls are carrying their baby siblings on their back. Many women are beaten in this culture and that is seen as “normal”. I wanted to cry when I heard that. Alot of the younger women are forced into marriage by their parents and pastors. They don’t have a lot of choice.
My heart was prompted to speak to these women about their beauty and God’s love for them. I want to speak to them about their bodies being fearfully and wonderfully made. I want to emphasize they are Christ’s bride and he is waiting for them with open arms at the alter. I hear there is a lot of jealousy amongst the women. They also need to hear about purity as alot of women get pregnant at early ages. They are then child mothers. Not uncommon at all. I wonder what kind of messages they get through all of this. Not good ones that’s for sure.
I am going to show them what they look like in a mirror as most of them have never seen themselves as they don’t have mirrors here. I want to show them their beauty and talk about what God’s word says about it. I am also going to share my story and of how I have grown in the past few years by realizing my beauty through Christ. I pray that this willl be encouraging for them.
So a few weeks ago I talked to our contact and told him where my heart was. I told him my heart was for the youth and older women. So with some help and encouragement I have prepared my first beauty workshop. I am nervous but also excited about what God will do. I am doing my first one on Monday for the women, and another on Tuesday with a younger group of girls.
Please continue to pray for me as I prepare this and present it next week. Pray it will be impacting and powerful to the women.
Some passages on beauty:
1 Peter 3:3-4…” Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Ps 139:14…”I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
