You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
The event is specifically designed to facilitate mother-daughter interactions. The evening centered around God's love for each one of us and paved the way for candid talk about some of the pitfalls we as "girls" can fall into. I listened to the teaching, which was saturated completely with the Word of God, and felt the burdens grow a little lighter. Here in the midst of a chaotic world with lots of confusing and just plain old wrong teaching, a group of devoted ladies are spurring on the Christian mother to follow God's direction for their life and the life of their daughter! Amazing!
At one point in the evening, one of the leaders came out on stage in a long robe with lots of words stuck onto it. She explained to each of us how we can get "labels" placed on us from a very young age and we then wear them around...especially as women....and that they can be very hurtful. Words like ugly, fat, dumb, weird, clumsy...and the list goes on. I have pondered this all day, because at that point in the event, we were to turn to our daughter and ask them if they had any labels attached to them. To my surprise my daughter shared with me a few she is carrying.
While ironing this afternoon, I dutifully smoothed out a pair of pants with the hot steam. I mindlessly placed the iron on the label of the back pocket. This is one of those that is made of the paint like stuff that you aren't supposed to iron. Guess what? Yep, you guessed it. It melted and I proceeded to smear those markings all over the rest of the pants. That ugly stain melted from one end of the garment to the other. I realized then, that's exactly how it is with these careless names that are applied to our lives.
They stick and smear all over until pretty soon we're completely stuck to them, unable to break free!
The challenge given to us was exactly what today's verse is telling us to do! Listen to who God says you are not who the world says you are! Follow His names for you and allow the blessings to flow! Below are just a few verses that we are planning to print out in bold letters and tape as a border around our mirror, as a simple reminder with each look into the mirror each day, of who we really are in Christ. We will not listen to the world's labels for us!!
Psalm 139:14 (ESV) I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 45:11 (NIV) The king is enthralled by your beauty, honor Him, for He is your Lord.
1Peter3:4 (NIV) Instead, 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.
Father,
It is my prayer tonight that our daughters shall see within us a longing and love for You. May we model a confidence in Your Word and in Christ that is tangible in a world where it is increasingly unpopular to honor Your name.
Praising and loving You tonight.
Amen
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