Songwriters: Diaz, Jonny; York, Kate;
Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight, her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight
Well, little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care, your skin, your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are
There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
Little girl twenty one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but He's got another plan
Only wants what you will do instead
Well, little girl twenty one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And He'll treat you like the jewel you are
There could never be a more beautiful you
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/jonny-diaz-lyrics/more-beautiful-you-lyrics.html ]
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you, more beautiful you
So turn around you're not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It's not too late, you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear, they can all be washed away
By the one who's strong, can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry, all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light, He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl
That there could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
There could never be a more beautiful you
Do You Take Care of Your Tent?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
New International Version (NIV)
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
As clichéd as it sounds our body is a temple. God is within us. Our body is a tent. A temporary dwelling place that God resides in.
The Tent/Tabernacle is where the Children of Israel worshiped God while they were wandering in the desert and when they arrived in the Promised Land until the Temple was built. It visibly showed God’s presence with them.
The tabernacle was a moveable “tent” that could be paced up and moved from place to place until they reached the promise land. Our body is our tent. We move it from place to place, situation to situation until we finally get to our permanent place, heaven.
Tents are not a permanent home; they are a temporary dwelling place, just like our bodies. A lot of people are focused on their tent. They diet, get plastic surgery and worry about what society thinks as “beautiful”. They fail to remember that your tent is temporary; you cannot neglect your inner-self.
Other people focus on the occupant, your inner beauty. Though as counselors we want you to be able to respect and love who you are, it is important to not neglect our tent either. Respecting your body is very important because it is the only one you have.
As Christian counselors we are interested in the material and immaterial- however we are more focused on the occupant, the inner body where God dwells.
The devil will and does use media and self esteem to work for him. We as counselors need to learn how to consult people to respect and love not just the inside, but the outside too. Both are important God wants us to respect all.
It is really a good reminder to know that our bodys are not no longer ours but are ransomed by Chrsit. Because Holy Spirit lives inside of us, we shall be more aware of what we think and do and bring glory to His name. As for me, instead of focusing on how I look and how people think of me, I shall learn to focus more on seeking God's righteousness and love, so that when I meet Christ in the future, my inner self would not be so scary but pleasing to His eyes. Thank you for posting your artical!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Especially when society demands a standard of beauty that is almost impossible, it's good to remember that the inside is what matters most. You are right in saying you have to take care of you body because it is a Temple of the Holy Spirit and the only one you have. Unfortunately, some people focus so much on the outside that they end up destroying their tents in an effort to make them acceptable to society and meet unrealistic standards of beauty. In trying to enhance their bodies, they end up destroying them by starvation and too much exercise because that is the only way to be "beautiful" in our society. A few posts ago Leah Morgan Anderson wrote about Christians taking back the sexual revolution, I think taking back beauty should be next on the list.
ReplyDeleteThis was such a great post! I agree with your proposal that Christians take back the concept of beauty from the world. We are more than just our looks. However, appearance is important--to an extent. God meant for us to be attracted to our spouse and enjoy that beauty (Prov 5:19). Much of the Song of Solomon consists of the couple admiring the physical attributes of each other. But note that this admiration of appearance occurs within the loving relationship of marriage, where it belongs. When the world places that young girl on a pedastal, they do not love her. They do not even care for her but to feed their lustful eyes. Her worth is only in her perfection, and each flaw is hated and criticized. However, in the loving marriage relationship discussed in the Song of Solomon, Solomon's wife is described as being darkened by the sun (which was seen as a flaw in appearance). Yet, Solomon fell in love with her and found her to be very beautiful! In marriage you are not found attractive despite your flaws, but including your flaws. Unfortunately, couples sometimes allow the world's view of beauty to infect their attraction to each other.
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