Stolen Identity

Ever since I wrote first blog entry I went blank... what do i write about?  what do i say to help these women be “confident” in the way God made them, and not consumed with our outward appearance?  How do I follow up the first entry with an equally purposeful next?

I was at church this past Sunday when an elderly lady spoke at our church and she mentioned the verse:

1 Peter 1 :18-19

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 

As soon as she said this, it felt like a spiritual slap in the face, or an awakening.  “This is it!!!” the Holy Spirit nudged me...  

In my efforts to turn from what the world tells me: “Your identity is in your looks, job, etc”  I turned only to find some other non-fulfilling “christiany” identity. You know, looking something that would make us all feel good about ourselves, by looking at what unique physical, mental and spiritual characteristics we have.  But the whole time I was searching, the answer was right in scripture: Our identity is in Christ!!!  Do NOT take that phrase lightly.  What i am trying to say is: when he washed away our disgusting sins with the precious blood of Christ, it is no longer us that live, BUT Christ in is.  He bought our name/ sins with a price!... Our identity is no longer our own.  It is His name and glory that we should become passionate to promote, not our own.  Weather we ever discover our self esteem or awareness is no longer necessary when we are washed over with the blood of Christ.

A Quote from “Taste and See” by John Piper:

The biblical goal of a woman’s life is not to find the ultimate expression the self (neither “body” nor “character”).  The biblical goal in life is to express the all-satisfying greatness and trustworthiness of God.  Expressing God, not self, is what a godly woman wants to do.  Excessive preoccupation with figure and hair and complexion is a sign that self, not God has moved to the center.  With God at the center- like the “sun,” satisfying a woman’s longings for beauty and greatness and truth and love-all the “planet” of food and dress and exercise and cosmetics and posture and countenance will stay in their proper orbit