I just read an article this morning in the NY Times about the Brazilian Blow-Out with its extreme negative effects it has not only on the customers but the stylist applying the product to the hair. These stylist are suffering from nose bleeds, breathing problems, and eye irritations. They literally have to wear a mask in order to apply the chemical to the scalp. Man, what is it doing to the scalp, the brain? Not to mention it costs $125 to $300. It states that the treatment can go as high as $700 in some salons. Ouch! Yes, we pay for poisons, hmmmm but we justify it by saying, "Beauty has a cost."
Why do we go to such great extremes to "look-good?"
If we are to be conformed to the image of God, them why do we take such extreme measures to "beautiful" the outer man or woman with compromising the inner man or woman that is eternal?
If the bible says, "we are fearfully and wonderfully made," then why do we continue to subscribe to an industry that promotes the production of products that possibly have the potential to harm us?
Is beauty truly worth sacrificing our health for? Is beauty worth the risk of endangering our young daughters scalps and as we stroll down the street to the corner salon as you both await the application of a perm?
Let us admit today that we do so out of convenience. We do so out of not having to deal with the "hassle" of doing our children's hair let alone our own.
Will we continue to apply the creamy crack while enduring the scabs and bleeding because we "know" in the end there will be a head of flowing locks void of "kinks"?
Well, in the end, with your hair fried and dyed....when the bridegroom returns will you be standing there before Him with "oil" in your lamp or a container of your favorite relaxer? Oh, this message is for me too especially now the new growth is settling in, lol.
We really don't know the effects of the "no-lye" relaxers but it's the lie that we believe because it does burn, right?
If when we believe that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in the eye of all that is beautiful, GOD then can we shed off societies views of beauty and its so-called remedies for beautifying God's creation that God already deemed fearfully and wonderfully made!
It starts off with the perm, but then if we had the means we would augment our face and our bodies with plastic surgery, botox, etc. What God has deemed as beautiful, we choose to accept the philosophy of the world and patch up what He made perfectly. We call it cosmetic surgery and pay for someone acting as God to "correct" what the Potter had already formed and said was good.
Sell that which you have bought into that led you to believe how God has created you is not enough and buy into the truth of His word that says, everything that God created was good. If you were a gift, or rather when we receive a gift do we tend to alter them, no....we accept them and are grateful for them or at least we should be.
Look at yourself in the mirror of God's holy word and see Him as He righteously sees you. He fashioned you when you were knitted together in your mother's womb. You are a gift in it of itself. Accept yourself for who God created you to be whether a dark-skinned African queen or if you have skin as milky white or as creamy custard.
No longer buy into the lies that God is withholding something good from you. Start praying and asking God to help you see the beauty that He sees. Ask Him to give you a converted pair of eyes that see as He sees.
God has promised that He would not withhold any good thing from us especially when it comes to conforming us into the image of His Son which is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
You want a make over?
You want to look beautiful?
Would you like to enhance your beauty?
Try this make-up on for size, lol.
You won't find it in Sephora, Macy's, etc. I guarantee that you won't find it because it's eternal. The world cannot manufacture it because it comes from God.
Apply love in your heart, and while you are at it, get some kindness and patience. Self-control will keep you from messing up that beautiful face in a tussle with a sister or brother. No need for vasoline or pulling out your sneakers because you know that the weapons of this warfare are not carnal. Pick up your Word and pray. These are the most effective tools of warfare especially when society tells you that the image you see in the mirror needs some work or is not pretty enough.
Try some peace, joy, faithfulness, goodness and longsuffering. Girl, it's one size fits all. No need for alterations. God promised to preserve us if we see beauty in His eyes. The beauty is in the truth of His Word by which we apply to our lives and reflect that marvelous light--the beauty for the world to see.
We will be a sweet-smelling savor to the Lord.....beautiful, huh.
A sweet smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God for it is only the eyes of God that matter. The eyes of God that we ought to measure true beauty for it is in his holiness where we find it is described as beautiful. This is the highest measuring rod of beauty we can attest to in my opinion.
I am well aware that this particular scripture is taken out of context but for this particular article, I do want to lift up the portion that speaks to "Don't let your beauty be simply outward--arranging the hair,wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel. (This could apply to men as well). The scripture further exhorts us to rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:3-4)
Sounds like all we need are our white robes, lol!
Love you and Writing With Christ In Mind!
No comments:
Post a Comment