Thursday, January 21, 2016
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Are You Doing Your Spiritual Press Ups?
Featured in
January 20th’s Christians In Recovery, Cruse explores the importance of doing
those things which are tedious, but necessary, to our recovery processes.
Stop Debating
With the
recent opening of the long-awaited film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” actress,
Carrie Fisher, who portrays the famous character, Princess Leia, opened up
about her experiences with confining image in the filmmaking process. This is
even as the seasoned actress of over forty years.
She openly
discusses how, as she made this recent installment of the franchise,
Hollywood’s pressure was still there, encouraging her to achieve a thin, ergo,
beautiful, body.
And, as a
woman in Hollywood, as a woman “of a particular age,” she made this bold
statement which speaks to the blood sport we can make of judging a female’s
beauty, especially as it relates to age and weight...
“Please stop debating about whether
or not I aged well. Youth and beauty are not accomplishments, they’re the
temporary happy by-products of time and/or DNA. Don’t hold your breath for
either.”
There’s a
sentiment out there which goes something like...
“Men are judged by what they do;
women are judged for how they look.”
This is
especially amplified within our western culture. It goes back to what we value:
image, youth and results.
Therefore,
when it comes to image, food and body issues, we often regard a certain
aesthetic as an accomplishment. Check out the diet and fitness industries, the
fashion magazines and the weight-loss reality television shows. As much as we
may declare “diversity of beauty,” still, when it comes to a “bankable”
aesthetic, we seem to default to young and thin.
So, the
discussion continues, if not a full debate.
And it is
here, again, where the Proverbs 31 Woman emerges as a pro-female
weapon in the value debate.
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above
rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall
have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her
life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is
like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also
while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her
maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands
she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth
her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out
by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to
the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her
household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry;
her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he
sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it;
and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honor are her clothing;
and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and
in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her
household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and
call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have
done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favor is deceitful, and beauty is
vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the
fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
As noted in verses
10-31, I’ve frequently turned to this portrait to see God’s viewpoint
of a woman. She is a multi-faceted human being. She flourishes personally and
in business. She is loved and respected for the unique individual she is. She
possesses such attributes as kindness, wisdom and strength.
And, when I read
Carrie Fisher’s comment, what first sprang to mind was the following...
“...Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain...”
Yes, Fisher
has often been viewed as the sex object of the film franchise. Her “Slave Leia”
incarnation, from “Return of the Jedi,” showcases her provocative bikini top
and scarf-like skirt costume.
This image has also produced merchandise,
including toy figures and life-size cardboard cut outs of the Star Wars
character. Indeed, “Slave Leia” has stimulated many a male fantasy.
Empirically,
Fisher is beautiful. But her image, expressed through her portrayal of the
character, has been the most discussed thing. There’s not as much discussion
about Leia’s intellect, wisdom or integrity throughout the unfolding of the
films. Instead it’s the all-important question of “how hot-or-not-hot-is-
Princess- Leia- a/k/a/ Carrie Fisher?”
For let us
never forget there is a real woman
portraying this fictitious character. Carrie Fisher is more than Princess Leia.
She is not only accomplished in film (including “Shampoo,” and “When Harry Met
Sally”), she is also an accomplished writer as well (including “Postcards From
the Edge” and “Delusions of Grandma”).
And, adding
to those impressive accomplishments, she has most recently emerged as an
advocate/activist for mental illness, openly discussing her own battle with the
issue. That facet of her being is a positive statement for millions and of
course, an empowering role model for her own daughter.
Still, with
this astounding resume, we still keep focusing on Fisher’s appearance.
And now, in
the context of the latest film, there emerges the question, “How has she aged?”
There are different things you can read into that.
Is she ugly?
Is she fat? Is she appealing enough to be in a movie?
Again, the
sentiment...
“Men are judged by what they do;
women are judged for how they look.”
In and of
itself, there is nothing wrong with beauty. God creates it, including
humanity’s beauty (see Song of
Solomon 1:15; 2:14; 4:7; Psalm 139:14). But there is far more going on.
Unfortunately,
human beings often cannot get past appearance...
“‘…For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”
1 Samuel 16:7
So, I
suppose, the onus is on us to know our value and to not be talked out of it. We need to arm ourselves with
the truth of our incredible selves.
Our worth is
NOT up for debate!
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
Psalm 139:14
Copyright © 2016 by
Sheryle Cruse
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Keep Going (While Going Through Hell)
Featured in
the January 18th Christians In Recovery, Cruse discusses the role of
perseverance in recovery, inspired by a famous Winston Churchill quote.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Sunday, January 17, 2016
I Think You Are Wonderful
I recently came
across this child’s drawing once sent to the legendary Marilyn Monroe.
Children
often get right to the truthful point.
“I think you are wonderful.”
What an
astounding thought. Yet, how many of us experience
that sentiment?
Yeah.
Most of us
struggle with this positive self-image thing. We may have had negative people
and experiences in which we were told- and believed-
the exact opposite. Coping with that pain, therefore, it’s no surprise some of
us have turned to our addictions, disorders and any number of “comforting”
vices. We want to feel we are wonderful. And the drug, the drink, the food or
any other object of our desire supposedly tells us precisely that.
Meanwhile,
however, we completely lose sight of a Truth, if we ever knew about it in the first place. God already thinks we’re
wonderful.
He thinks
that…about us… right now. And God isn’t short on these kinds of thoughts…
“How precious also are thy
thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
when I awake, I am still with thee.”
Psalm
139:17-18
However, how
much time, how many negative, self-destructive and toxic thoughts do each of us
spend, draining ourselves, dragging ourselves down and engaging in
self-destructive choices?
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...”
Proverbs 23:7
And then,
what if we have the audacity to believe these
negative thoughts are actually God’s
thoughts? Things like...
God hates
us...
God wants to
punish us...
God doesn’t
care...
God can’t do
anything for us; it’s hopeless...
You can see
how motivating these kinds of thoughts are in promoting a happy and healthy
life and recovery.
Yes, we need
to remember there’s a difference when it comes to the area of thoughts. Our
negative self-image does not equal God’s perspective about us…
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my
ways, says the Lord. For as the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My
thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
Some
examples of those higher thoughts include…
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go:
I will guide you with My eye.”
Psalm 32:8
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the
Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made
perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
Yep, that’s already over our heads, isn’t it?
But wait, God’s just getting warmed up. We haven’t
even gotten to the love stuff yet.
“Since you were precious in my sight… I have loved you…”
Isaiah 43:4
“…‘Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting
love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.’”
Jeremiah 31:3
“The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty
One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with
His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
Whew! He sounds like a love struck Romeo, doesn’t
He?
But that’s the point. He is besotted with love for us; He just can’t help Himself.
Can anyone say Song of Solomon?
“If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way
forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds'
tents.”
Song of Solomon 1:8
“Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves'
eyes.”
Song of Solomon 1:15
“Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou
hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear
from mount Gilead.”
Song of Solomon 4:1
“Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”
Song of Solomon 4:7
And I’m just citing the tamer verses here. Song of Solomon, known as the most
erotic book of the Bible, symbolizes the passionate love between God and us.
Depicting the chatty commentary of two young lovers, this book has some pretty
steamy pages. “Fifty Shades of Grey” has nothing
on His love!
And, as if that
wasn’t enough of a love fest, proving how much God is “into us,” check out these
next two ditties:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.”
John 3:16
These aren’t just some random musings here.
Jesus.
God’s Son.
Died
for us.
Still feel unlovable?
Need more?
All right, let’s truck on over to Genesis, the beginning of the whole
shebang.
“So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them…
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them…
God saw all that he had made, and it was very
good...”
Genesis 1:27; 31
God, from
the start, created us to be glorious “mini me’s” of Himself...
“And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...’”
Genesis 1:26
From the beginning, He thought we were wonderful.
Why can’t we then?
“…I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
Psalm 139:14
Why should
that wonderful thought be any more difficult to believe than any negative,
insulting thought we entertain in our daily lives?
“I think you are wonderful.”
Let’s endeavor to start thinking that way about ourselves. God already does.
Copyright © 2016 by
Sheryle Cruse
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