"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."

-1 Corinthians 10:13

"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.
Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.
Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!
Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.”
But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."

-1 Corinthians 6:12-20

(Source: valliegurl)

I feel beautiful today

THE MENTAL & PHYSICAL

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I’m curious, what does it take to make a woman “feel” beautiful? A lot of women are insecure of their bodies because they don’t realize who made them and why. When I was younger I was incredibly insecure about my body. I even hated my hair so much that I pulled it back so tight in a pony tail that I looked like a boy. Why was that so?

I was angry as a child, always looking for a fight and a sarcastic comment ready at bay, but my depression didn’t really hit until I was 16. My face started breaking out and I felt like it was a constant reminder that I was ugly. Then as I started growing, I became awkward and clumsy. I wasn’t graceful like all the other girls my age and they were all so much prettier and looked so put together.
My Grandpa came to live with us around the same time for 3 years and we became great friends. He would tell us stories of him going to the war and always had a joke ready. He was always kind and gave out whatever he had for those in need. Eventually, he died of a heart attack. I became angry at God for taking my Grandpa away and blamed Him for everything bad that had and was happening.

Depression and bitterness eats away at you, not just mentally but also physically. Hebrews12:15 says, See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
I was rotting away. I was depressed, angry at the circumstances in my life. I became fully depressed when I hit the age of 18. I was an insomniac, I barely ever ate, and I was incredibly stressed about community college classes. I didn’t care for my body which wore it down so bad that I got hives quite a bit because my body couldn’t handle all the stress and anger. I went to work at a camp with one of my good friends. During that time I realized I was bitter. It never really dawned on me before that. I couldn’t believe how ungrateful and disrespectful I was to God. I had sinned against Him in holding onto what was an injustice to me.

Romans 12:18-20 -
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
“BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”
I had been taking matters into my own hands instead of giving it to God. I took care of that and it was like a huge weight was lifted off my chest.

Things began to get a little better, but I was still depressed about myself, my life, and everything when I went to college out of state. I wasn’t trusting God and it was evident. I began reading Job, which has become one of my favorite books of the Bible. I saw how he went through so much pain, loss and sorrow. In Job 38:2-7 God said this to Job:
Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
“Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
Who set its measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?
“On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
When the morning stars sang together
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
How could I question and distrust God when He was in complete control of not just my life but the whole universe? How could I be depressed when God was taking care of me, He who sent His Son to die on the cross for me because of my wickedness? He who has saved me from eternal damnation? The least I could do was be humble before God and trust His wisdom for my life. I began to learn how to trust God, slowly but surely.

During my time at college, I gained some unnecessary weight and bad habits. I already had a hard time with school and learning to get along with other people and this made me feel even more awkward, out of place and unattractive. I started exercising and trying to eat better. When I got home during winter break, I didn’t feel any better and the stress of everything made me sick and I couldn’t stand eating.
1 Corinthians 6:189-20 says,
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
I began to see that my body wasn’t mine. My body is God’s temple and I am His slave. It was a pretty bad, unhealthy temple at that and I was dishonoring God in how I was treating it. I did lose the weight and was determined to be more careful in maintaining the right weight. Exercising regularly and eating better helped a ton. I’ve not done an amazing job, but definitely have improved and am still trying to make sure that I take care of God’s property.

THE CONDITION OF MY SOUL

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My pastor’s wife started a women’s Bible class which I joined. We went over the CD’s from Quieting a Noisy Soul by Jim Berg and began learning Biblical truths about right thoughts, about God and our relationship with Him:
Do you realize that everything starts with what you’re thinking. By just a little thought, you can create chaos in your life. You have to ask yourself if those thoughts are true and right? Part of my thinking was that I was discontent with my lot in life; I failed to see just how much God was taking care of me and how much I deserved the opposite. Another one was self-pity. Instead of thinking of others, all I could think of was how awful my life was. How wretched I was!
Romans 3:10-11
as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
Do you know how much we all deserve God’s judgment? We are guilty beyond belief! I am so blessed that God has had mercy upon me, saved me and taken care of me.

Psalm 42:11-12
Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

Part of my lack of security was due to the fact that I was afraid of what other people thought of me, not what God thought of me. If I am pleasing God and glorifying Him through my life than that is good enough. It doesn’t matter what other people think.
God has promised to carry your burden if you come to Him. What can be better than having God give you rest? The one who’s in control of everything?
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

God made us in His image. His! Our bodies are so complex with all the details, it’s just incredible! My body had gone downhill due to lack of not caring for it. I wasn’t exercising properly, eating well, getting enough rest and I wasn’t grateful to God how my body was.
I know a lot of people that others may think aren’t handsome or pretty but to me they are and I know to God they are too because of whom they are and their character. It’s not only the outside that makes one beautiful, it’s inside. How you think, how you act makes a huge difference. Ever heard of the phrase “all bronze, no brains”? Unfortunately it’s true for a lot of people. They focus only on their physical body, not their spiritual and mental.

Even if no one else loves me, I know that God does. No matter how I look, I know I am beautiful. Others may not see it, I may not even feel it sometimes but God made me this way! How can I be so ungrateful and complain about it?
Genesis 1:27
God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

I’ve had to learn to guard my thoughts, to challenge them through a Biblical view.
Acts 24:16
In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.

This has been so incredibly important for me. I know that I would not be in the same place today if God hadn’t helped me through my depression and bitterness. I am so grateful for everything He’s done for me!

(Source: valliegurl)