Bird Poop

You Want Me To Put Bird Poop… WHERE?

That’s it! Sister, that is when you know we have finally lost our marbles as women! Straight up, Chicks are laying down over $200 a hit for Bird Poop facials! You can’t make stuff like this up.

I recently watched a web video talking about beauty essentials and those luxuries or treatments that could be given up in order to save a buck or two. No joke, the Commentator talked about these little poop treats for your face, its proposed exfoliating properties and ability to “brighten the skin.” Seriously, anything would look brighter once the bird poop was washed off! Anyway, Bird Poop facials made the “give up” list (this alone should attest that there is a God) because they were found to be no more effective than cheaper (less poopy?) options. Heavens to Mergatroid! You don’t say? How’s about I help ya put that facial out on the rose bushes, garden patch or in the compost pile?!

I guess what grabbed me most, about this whole idea, is how far our focus and thoughts have traveled as a society, in the quest for beauty and youth. We have rambled so far down this ridiculous road that we have somehow forgotten that poop belongs on the ground, in a hole or otherwise flushed… NOT on our faces. But then, what a perfect metaphor, don’t you think? You know that old saying, “Here’s to mud in your eye!” That phrase is thought to have risen out of the horse racing world, and was a playful nudge from the winner to the loser (who would most likely be spattered with mud from following the winner). Well girls, we are falling behind in the race to see more of Jesus in this life and some of us don’t even recognize that instead, we are playing the part of the dirty looser – not with mud in our eye, but with poop on our faces!

When we get so sucked into the idea that youth and beauty determining our worth, we loose sight of life’s joys as God intended. We willingly smear bird poop on our faces (literally and figuratively) in attempt to be what the world says is special. Doesn’t that strike you as nuts? Romans 8:5 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Our hearts can be so deceptive, and lead us down fruitless and dead end roads. Jeremiah 17:9 tell us that, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” So we must intentionally keep our thoughts on the things of God and what really matters for eternity. (Philippians 4:8)

No, maybe you don’t spend that much on crazy concoctions and potions for the promise of glorious skin or smooth thighs. Maybe you don’t stuff your bra with gel balloons, or look to see what you can improve about yourself surgically. Maybe you don’t spend hours upon hours at the salon each month on hair or nails. I am not suggesting these things are wrong; they are just smoke and mirrors. What I do want you to ask yourself is this: Does your appearance or what others think of you outweigh in your heart who God says you are? The Word of God asserts this question through Paul in Galatians 1:8, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Who we aim to please, plainly says who we serve.

Despite the wrinkles, crinkles and gravity dimples; God says you are His beloved daughter with a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) With or without the extra pounds, you are His beautiful creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) You are lovely to the Lord, even with the scars, stretch marks and tracks of your life traveled. God rejoices over you, whether you dress like a diva or wear dime store duds. (Proverbs 31:25, Zephaniah 3:17) Even if you have lost parts of yourself or have been disfigured because of cancer, disease, or accident; your Father in Heaven says you are complete. (Colossians 2:9-10) You are His true love, the one He gave His life for, and He will pursue you until you turn and give all of your heart to Him. Those who have received Him as their Lord and Savior are His beautiful bride, without stain or mark, washed by the blood of the Lamb. (Isaiah 62:5, Ephesians 5:27) Dear Sister, you are so special, exactly the way you are! YOU are an expression of the life of Christ! (Colossians 3:4)

Yes, these bodies of ours are God’s temple and we are to care for them. (1Corinthians 3:16, 6:19) But we are to keep in perspective that these temples are a temporary dwelling, they are not eternal. That fact is obvious when we glimpse ourselves naked in a full length mirror! These imperfect earthly bodies are meant to simply be a vehicle to carry our spirits and souls, meant for the Lord’s work. (Ephesians 2:10)

Sister, if we resolve to do anything in the coming year, let it be a resolution to learn to like ourselves, even love ourselves, just the way God made us. If we learn to be content and happy in who we are, then we can be an example to our children and those around us. Don’t you ever look at your dear friends and daughters and wish they could see how lovely they really are? Don’t you think your God and Creator wants the same for you? He does! He wants you to know His unconditional love and acceptance, and to be a living testimony of this blessing to others. Knowing who you really are in Christ is true beauty magnified by God’s love through you. He is ready to transform your heart with this beauty make-over if you will allow Him. No appointment necessary! Oh, and Girl, He is running an eternal special, it doesn’t cost a thing! He is able!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

All Scriptures NIV 2010

Giver or a Taker?

One Sunday not too long ago, a friend of ours
approached me and gave me a hug. She said she had been thinking of us often and
wondered how we were doing.  This dear Sister has been privy to some of
the heavy things on our proverbial "plate" of life.  So in
response, I immediately set about telling her all that was going on, never once
really coming up for air.  You know what I mean, monologue style,
rehashing every last uncomfortable detail... Throwing in a, "but God is so
good," and a "despite it all, I feel so blessed" here and there for
a good measure of Church Speak. 

My husband, likely noticing my friend's eyes glazing over, stepped into the
conversation and asked her how things were going for her at school (she has
gone back to take some college courses).  I was immediately embarrassed,
realizing how focused I was on my own problems.  I had chosen to forget
that those around me have their own lives and things to work through.  She
gratefully smiled in response to his concern and said that she loved her
classes and so the long commute was worth it.  However, the day before, as
she was driving to school, she had been in a pretty bad car accident. 
UGH!  She had suffered a significant scare and set back.  If my
husband hadn't asked, I would have continued on about myself, never knowing
what she had been through.  Even more convicting was her faith. 
There was no complaint of, "Why me?" or fear of, "What shall I
do?"  She was trusting God in the details and sincerely grateful that
she was not injured or worse.  

I realized that I had again let myself sink into the arms of self
absorption.  Believing that my time, my life, my problems are most
important and imperative.  There in that self-wallowing place, we are less
sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His call to minister.  There in the mire
of our hearts, we are unable to love and sympathize with others since our
interest is tied up in our own problems, paralyzed by selfish
preoccupation.  We miss the blessing of loving others, encouraging others
- the very thing that will swiftly lighten the load of our own struggles.

Years ago, a dear friend of mine had lovingly committed to praying for me
and my family.  We were going through a pretty wide and dry desert at the
time, and I was so grateful for her listening ear and willingness to
pray.  However, my fears and flesh began to slowly suck the blessing out
of the love this Sister offered.  I began to see the relationship as a way
to dump all my problems, describe all my woes, and explain every wretched detail
of my troubles.  I chose to ignore that this friend was also living a life
mottled by problems, speed bumps, and grief.  I was so wrapped up in my
need to be heard, why I thought my life sucked so bad, and wanting to explain
why I needed prayer and how I wanted God to answer, that I forgot to be a
friend to the one who was taking so much time for me.  Worse yet, I had
forgotten that we are to thank Him even in the midst of our troubles, and the
sweet assurance that His perfect plan will bring all things good AND bad to
beautiful fruition in Christ. (Romans 8:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, James 1:2)

Finally, after many woes-me letters and phone calls.  My dear Sister
lovingly and courageously told me to shove it.  OK, not exactly, she was
much gentler than that.  In fact, as I look back, I can't believe how kind
she was.  She spent time relaying to me how God loves us and would take
care of us.  Then came the sentence that
hung in my mind for months, well actually, years.  She wrote, "It is
time to become a giver, and stop living as a taker."  She told me how
God had things for me to do that would bring Him glory.  Those good works
He prepared in advance for me to do! (Ephesians 2:10)  She assured me that
as I trusted Him, gave, and let Him use me as a vessel to pour out, I would be
abundantly blessed in unexpected ways.

She was right.  I began to take every
thought captive to the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:5) and find things to thank Him
for even in the days where it seemed difficult to simply function. (1
Thessalonians 5:18)  As God gently retrains my mind and heart’s
perspective (Isaiah 64:8, Romans 12:2), my thoughts are less likely to hovering
over the troubles I was experience.  When worries, fears, or complaints
come to mind, I am better able to see through an eternal perspective and
realize that they are no where near as weighty as I would like to believe.
(Isaiah 55:8-9)  It is amazing how self absorption throws reality out of
whack and causes us to believe we are suffering far more than we really are, or
that our problems are more important than someone else's.  I don't know
why it is so easy to slip into a proclivity of doom.  I haven't the
foggiest why self pity feels so darn warm and cozy, vindicating and right...
Because it isn't, and we must take caution to avoid that lie that only leads to
an ineffective and powerless frame of mind.

In no way do I intend to belittle problems you face.  Instead, I want
to encourage you to ask God to help you view these things through His eyes.
Nor would I suggest that you stop talking to godly counsel about your problems,
this is so important and the Bible tells us to bear one another's burdens
(Galatians 6:2).  But the verse says, "bear one another's," not
"dump your troubles and run."  Sure, it isn't going to always be
a fifty-fifty deal, but the intention is not to take advantage, spill or heap
our burden on others, or assume our needs are greater; instead, we are to give,
and share the load.

So... reality check for me.  Yes, hell or high water may come, but it
is nothing that our mighty God cannot handle if we only open our hearts and
lives to Him and surrender it all.  God is greater! (Genesis 18:14,
Matthew 19:26)  No sense in pretending anymore, dear Sister, we have never
been nor will we ever be in control.  So, why not let the Almighty take
the helm and enjoy the opportunity to be used of Him and witness, first hand,
the work of the Lord?  Being a ready and open vessel is the ultimate
drown-er and squash-er of troubles, it is a divinely appointed remedy for
woes.  No, those trials will likely not vanish, but your choice to focus
on something or someone else will help you to keep things in perspective, help
keep you from reacting out of emotion, and help alleviate the stress and strain
on your spirit and physical body that comes with worry.  The best part is,
our heavenly Father is patiently waiting for us to ask Him to do this work in
us!  The Word says, I can do all this through Him who gives me strength!
(Philippians 4:13)  He is ABLE!