Steps- Baby Or Otherwise

I recently came across the baby picture of me.

I’m in one of those bouncy things which, I guess, helps with balance and standing up. Anyway, I started thinking about steps. We all start from humble beginnings in this department. And, likewise, we start out small in our relationship with God and discovery of our calling. It’s not an overnight thing. It’s gradual, built on steps, missteps and, thank God, constant intervention, love and guidance from our God. Nothing surprises, intimidates or overwhelms Him. “For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?” Job 14:16 “Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?” Job 31:4 He’s in every step of our lives. “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Jeremiah 10:23 So, let’s step, with confidence. Even with falls and mistakes, God is getting us to where we need to be: with Him and in our lives. Step out today! Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse

Real is the point

One Bad Chapter

As I writer, I’ve worked on numerous book projects. “Thin Enough” was my first major project. I spent a great deal of time mining past experiences from painful eating disorder incidents. And, to look at those situations, it did, indeed, appear that life is truly, truly bad. But, as I worked on, what ultimately became the chapters of that book and other chapters of other book projects since, I’ve come to realize that “bad patches” don’t last forever. They may FEEL like it, but, sooner or later, life moves on. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 Life is filled with all kinds of chapters: love, loss, death, pain, success, failure, joy and learning. But through it all, God has a purpose- and it’s not hopeless. "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.… Isaiah 46:9-11 What’s your chapter lately? Is it “the best of times… or the worst?” Whatever it may be, even if it is a bad chapter, there are more incredible blessings to come. Hang on; the page will be turning soon!

Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse

Such important work...

Put Here

The Most Beautiful People

Most of us have self- image issues. And, beauty is often in the center of them. Indeed, most situations seem to stem from our distorted definition of the word. Its official meaning reads as follows: pleasing and impressive qualities of something: the combination of qualities that make something pleasing and impressive to look at, listen to, touch, smell, or taste pleasing personal appearance: personal physical attractiveness, especially with regard to the use of cosmetics and other methods of enhancing it It’s all external; there’s no mention of soul, spirit, kindness or personality. In fact, the description of an ugly individual is often mentioned as having a “good personality.” Uphill battle, here we go. And, the distorted beauty definitions further single out and exclude. Let’s face it, through fairytales, Barbie dolls, Hollywood or fashion, there is a narrow list of desirable- beautiful- attributes. Mostly, they go as follows: Caucasian Thin Large breasts Slender thighs Upturned nose Blue eyes Blonde hair Full lips Young Yeah, yeah, yeah, we’ve embraced some diverse exception in skin color, body type and features, but the dominant “ideal is the thin, white blue-eyed young blonde.” And, of course, there’s no mention of real life. And real life contains things like defeat, struggle, loss and imperfection. Furthermore, compassion, sensitivity, gentleness and love are nowhere to be found. C’mon, aren’t those things beautiful? Let’s challenge and redefine beauty to cover more than the external, but the often more complex internal characteristics as well!

Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse

It's Mine