ROSE OF SHARON: INNER BEAUTY...

ROSE OF SHARON:
                                     INNER BEAUTY...:                                      INNER BEAUTY ON FLEEK??? As a young lady in our time, if you do not take time to develop a relati...

                                     INNER BEAUTY ON FLEEK???

As a young lady in our time, if you do not take time to develop a relationship with God, you will just be like everyone else. Putting so much focus on things that would not last no matter how many plastic surgeries one gets. If you do not look deep to discover all that God has placed inside of you. you will be so focused on your outward look, and who is trying to look better than you. Your life is a lot more than just a pretty face and lovely figure. But there is a beauty inside that is ageless and only gets better with time and you need to be connected to God to access it. So stop taking your ques from the world, this world is not going to last for ever. Invest in eternal things. With that said there is nothing wrong with looking good. Take it seriously, but also make sure you take your inward growth and improvement seriously. I always used to wonder why some older women and just women in general go through so much stress, and plastic surgeries to change how they look, or try to cheat nature. One answer came to my mind one day when I was busy worrying about getting older.

You see what you invest in becomes of more value to you. So if outward beauty is the only thing you ever discover about yourself, if it is what you solely rely on, if you spend so much time getting dressed to be admired on the outside but not really for what is inside, when that beauty begins to fade, or a younger woman emerges with young beauty, you will be threatened and do just about any thing to hold on to your looks because that is the only thing you invested in. At first I wondered why women would want bigger, butts, boobs and spend so much on make up. But now I understand. Yes exercise, and do what you can to look good, but do not limit your beauty to how you look on the outside or what the world says is the standard for beauty. Create your own world and make the rules!!  Do not measure how beautiful you are or compare yourself to another woman. Is that not the reason we have people cutting themselves up thinking a bigger butt or boobs will make them happier. You should admire Gods beauty and even compliment it, but you should be content. When I look in the mirror I see God's perfection. Even when my mind wants to tell me I am not good enough, or my make up is not on fleek enough, I remind myself that these things are someones standard of what beauty is but I choose a higher standard. And by that standard I am perfect. So on the days when I have makeup on and the days I don't, I know I am beautiful. On the days I get complimented and the days I don't I know I am beautiful. If kim decides to break the internet or if she doesn;t I know I am beautiful. If I cant afford a mac I wont kill myself to get it because, I know I am beautiful with or without it.

If you create a balance, where you are working on your inner beauty as well as your character, your discipline and self control, your talents, your social skills, your spiritual growth and maturity, your self worth and so much more, you will be doing yourself a favor. You see every woman  has a unique type of outward beauty, but there a few who look even more beautiful outwardly because their inner beauty shines forth from the inside as well. What is the point of a pretty face, when your character is ugly? When you have a sharp and rude tongue?  God has deposited so much in you to only stay focused on just your outward container. You need to make sure that the content in your container is of good quality and that you keep improving like fine wine. Beauty is in different stages, my mum looks older now but she is more beautiful to me now than I ever remember, And I pray one day someone can look beyond my appearance and say you are beautiful. Do not be afraid of the stages, grow and learn and be happy you get to experience a new stage.

When you attain a certain level of maturity and wisdom, you wont see other women as competition, you will appreciate the differences in your body structures, and embrace what you consider flaws.. Yes what you consider flaws because God thinks you are perfect and to die for, that's why we have the cross to remind us. Oh yes I love to look good, but I always remind myself that looking good goes beyond how I look on the outside. And compliments do not define me and neither does negativity. I get my validation from the word of God. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and so are you.  And please do not be so careless with how you look on the outside. That s why I spoke about a balance. Look neat, put your hair together properly, Apply make up if you choose to, let everything be done decently and moderately

What do you have apart from your outward beauty? Has your inner beauty improved? Be more than just a pretty face!! PEOPLE WHO SHINE FROM WITHIN DONT NEED THE SPOT LIGHT, THEY ARE THE SPOT LIGHT!! SHINE SHINE SHINE!!

ROSE OF SHARON: DOUBLE LIFE STANDARDS. ...

ROSE OF SHARON:                         DOUBLE  LIFE  STANDARDS.
...:                          DOUBLE   LIFE  STANDARDS.            A lot of people carry the title "CHRISTIAN" But are not wil...

                        DOUBLE  LIFE  STANDARDS.
 

         A lot of people carry the title "CHRISTIAN" But are not willing enough to bear the burden of what it really truly means to be "CHRIST LIKE". I have noticed that most times, people will rather just have the title and leave the work that follows alone because it takes so much to really be like Christ, especially in the sinful world we live in today. So many people live double lives. They go to church, listen to what the preacher says, and then they leave church saying the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, may God have mercy and may his grace cover us. They choose to be lazy over working hard to die to their flesh.

        People hide their flaws and struggles for the fear of being judged. No one wants to admit that they are battling with pornography, no one wants to admit that they have fallen into fornication, no one wants to admit that they struggling with lust. No one testifies about God delivering them from masturbation, no one says God saved me from a bad relationship that was leading me straight to hell. Everyone comes around with a mask hiding who they really are. Too proud to admit that they need help, too scared to talk about their sinful nature for fear of being judged, too weak to fight the battle alone, too broken to try to pick up the pieces. The preacher is not telling them how to deal with the evil going on in their hearts. How can I win this battle over my sinful nature? The shackles of sin seem stronger than the power of God to deliver, so they stay silent.

        They put on their masks and quietly live a double life. We smile, we worship, we testify about things that have no deep meaning. While deep down we are crying SOMEBODY PLEASE SAVE ME!!! I CANNOT DO THIS ON MY OWN!!  People are so weak they would rather sit comfortably in sin than fight. It is easier to put up a front as blessed and sanctified than to open up and say I am a sinner I need your help lord. You need to SAVE ME FROM MY SELF.

        Just like many of you, I struggled, I wanted to be the best girl God wants me to be. And just like many of you I stumbled to the point where I was broken. I thought I would never climb out. I thought I would never be able to win. But unlike many of you, I never stopped crying out to God. One day while reading my bible, I stumbled upon the phrase "THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE". God already knew I was a sinner, he already knew my struggles, he knew my flaws, he knew I would mess up. But instead of being honest with God, myself and the people around me, I was putting up a front. I was too ashamed to let them see the real me, I was too afraid to disappoint those who felt I was so spiritual I would never fall into sin or make mistakes like many other people. I was too scared to cry out for help. But here I was in my room reporting myself to God again, asking for forgiveness again, being sick and tired of being sick and tired. I cried out Lord!!! SAVE ME FROM MYSELF!!! DRAG ME IF YOU NEED TO BUT DO NOT LET ME DIE IN SIN!! And those words rang in my head THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE. It was the most difficult thing for me to do, to stand in front of the whole church and tell them I was struggling with porn but God will deliver me and anyone else who is struggling. After the words came out, I was like prize why the heck did you just say that, but I needed to say the truth. It did not matter who would look down on me, who would think I am no longer born again, who would point fingers at me. I needed my Freedom and the TRUTH, was the first step to getting it. I told my friend my struggle and where I needed help to get out of my sinful and dysfunctional relationship. I needed to breathe again. I left the choir because I realized God was more interested in my OBEDIENCE THAN MY SACRIFICE. I was looked at funny for leaving the choir. I felt I was mocking God with my double life. And it was time for me to be set free. My pride was not going to get in the way, my fears and worries were not going to get in the way, my feelings and my flesh were not going to get in the way. People’s opinions were also not going to hold me back. It was time for me to be set free!!! Thank God for bold Christian’s like Heather Lindsey who put out their stories and testimonies! Real testimonies of the struggles of the average youths. Struggles of a sinner like me and you. People who are speaking the truth without sugar coating it. Or just spelling out rules and regulations without telling us that they struggled too or how they struggled.

         I would love to tell you it was a smooth process, but it was absolutely not!! I felt God dragging me and beating me up because I asked him to do that if that was what I needed to get out of sin. I had to fight everyday with all I had. I had to give up a lot of friendships that were affecting my walk with God, I had to fight every day. I still fight every day. I had to get to a point where I loved God more than I loved my sin. I got to a point where I really understood how my sins made God feel. I had to understand that in as much as God is a loving and forgiving God, He is a consuming fire who should be feared and reverenced. God worked on me and I was also willing and still willing to put in the work. I wake up ready to fight my flesh daily. It does not matter who thinks you are blessed and sanctified. To men you may be the anointed man or woman of God with a title, but God see's what no one else can see. You may succeed in deceiving your church, your family, and even yourself, but you can never deceive God!! Like me many of you need to take off those masks!! Now!! Cause tomorrow is not promised! You cannot afford to die in your sin!! I have been wanting to do a write up on purity but this has been on my heart. I felt God needed me to put this story out even if it’s so hard for me to. But I know God knows that this would touch the girl, or the boy who thinks purity is impossible.  I made all these silly mistakes, but it’s not about how hard I fell, it’s about how hard I was willing to fight, to get back up. I refused to stay beaten down and defeated. So before I even attempt to tell you purity is possible, I need you to know that I understand the shackles can be broken. But you must cry out in truth to be set free!! And you must be so desperate to die to your flesh. With God it is possible. You will not even understand the amount of peace and joy and God's unending blessings I have been experiencing since I decided to die to my flesh. I am a work in progress claiming my victory every day. YOU NEED TO DECIDE IF YOU ARE READY TO TAKE OF THAT MASK!! AND YES THE TRUTH DID SET ME FREE!!  AND IT WILL ALSO SET YOU FREE!! Feel free to leave comments and questions below. I will answer them. God bless you peeps. J     

                                             

                          SWEET MELODIES!!

The stars seem to be shinning brighter,

The clouds have given way to new rays of sun shine.

You remind me of the rainbow colors after the rain.

Every new day brings new smiles and reasons to laugh.

All because you bring sweet melodies to my heart.

I move and dance to the rhythm of these new found melodies.  

Every step bringing me closer to you, Close enough to see my heart.

With you life is better, and my days are sweeter.

Just because God decided to bless me with the amazing gift which is you.

With you life is a beautiful picture, framed perfectly.

I don't know what tomorrow holds,

But I am grateful for today because I have you in it

Thank you for being an amazing friend.

 Cheers to Godly friendships that last.

By prize abimbola arowolo 

                      BEAUTY IS WHAT I SEE WHEN I SEE YOU!!

It is common knowledge that girls are under a lot of pressure to look a certain way, or dress a certain way to look and feel like they are beautiful. I have never really fallen into this trap, but I have seen a lot of my friends and acquaintances fall into this trap. Where they feel they are not slim enough, are not tall enough, are not light enough, and are not good enough.  No one can make you feel a certain way without your permission.

The painful part is the media makes this worse by portraying a certain type of image to be the ultimate example of what beauty really is. And if you fall short of that, well you have to work hard to become that image. The most amazing part is this image changes with time. And you find people constantly changing themselves to fit into what that image should look like.

When it comes to beauty, I believe we have different unique shapes and flavors. But the huge problem is, most ladies look at themselves from the outside- in instead of looking from the inside-out. What do I mean by this? Let me explain it to you. Your outward appearance is just one segment or one part of what makes you beautiful. And if you focus only on that, while neglecting the inner beauty, and your character and many other traits you should work on such as your confidence, you will always find yourself trying to do more to keep the outward beauty.  The most disappointing part of it is the outward beauty is the one that fades away the fastest with time and age.  And that is why you find women who are so desperate to cheat nature because all they ever really invested in was the outward beauty.

Now inward beauty is also as important as the outward beauty but not so many people know this. The truth is, if you have a bunch of insecurities on your inside, low self-esteem, anger, jealousy, pride, malice, and unhealthy competition, no amount of outward make up or work out will cover that up. It will find its way out. If you are not satisfied with yourself on the inside, you won’t be satisfied on the outside. You will always be in search of more. I have come across so many ladies who are intimidated by the shade and color of another woman’s beauty. And the reason for this is because they have not gone inside to discover all the different shades of beauty God has deposited in them. They are just focused on what beauty looks like on the outside. Insecurity is born out of selfishness. It is a force that wishes it has more of what has been given to someone else by God. You find people insecure about their legs, their hair, their eyes, their size, their color and a lot more. But the truth is if they could focus their energy on the things that are going well for them, like the fact that they have two legs, their skin type is okay, their hair is available and not falling out because of cancer or some other ailment they would realize how beautiful they are.   And how grateful they should be for their portion instead of trying to be or look like someone else.

Another problem is people listen to other peoples voices. And lose their voice in the process. Oh you are too fat, you are too slim, and why is your hair like this? And before you know it you allow these voices drown you. You try to get validation from the media, from a boyfriend, from your family. And when you don't hear them tell you what you want to hear, you feel you have to do more, get slimmer, apply a little more makeup and all of that. But the safest place to get validation is from God. He says you are fearfully and wonderfully made.  He crafted you out perfectly and did not make a mistake. Every time you complain it is like telling God he made a mistake when he created you. There is nothing wrong with trying to look good. If you feel you gained a lot of weight, lose the weight but love yourself in all your forms. Today you are young and beautiful, tomorrow you will be old and gray. Will you throw your old self away?  I spend time in front of my mirror to always remind myself that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My voice is perfect, my height is perfect, my personality is unique, and my color is perfect. And the days when I don't feel like it, I am reminded that God loves me the way I am.  So yes beauty is what I see when I see me, and it is what I see when I see you. Compliment yourself and focus on the positive parts of your life. Work on your weaknesses and let your beauty be to the glory of God. Both on the inside and on the outside.  Your outward beauty is just the cover to the amazing things God has deposited on your inside. Reach down deep inside of you and unleash your inner beauty.

BY PRIZE ABIMBOLA AROWOLO. 

                    GOD BRINGS PURPOSE OUT OF PAIN!!!

          I had a couple of rough times last year and the first half of this year. My family had to go through the painful ordeal of watching our sister Sharon, battle cancer for four years straight. During this period my faith in God wavered. I could not understand how a God who they say is loving will let such a kind hearted girl go through that type of pain. And the most frustrating part is there was nothing we could do to take it away. We prayed, fasted, and spent a lot of money on treatments but it just kept getting worse. It was so difficult to have fun with friends or fully concentrate in school when I knew my sister was in pain fighting every day for dear life. 

          I was so down and this very strong depression came over me. I refused to go to school for my exams, I could not go to church either. I was so angry with God. We were born and raised in a pastors home, and all our lives, we have tried to please God. Yet he keeps letting us go through the fire. So I resolved in my heart that I was done with this whole God thing. I decided to go home for summer in order to help my mum get a little rest while I take care of my sister. To my greatest surprise, her faith in God did not waver. She was still strong and fervent in the lord. And that was when God began to work on my heart again. I did not believe in miracles anymore and I told Sharon that. She replied by letting me know all is well. And when I said a prayer that night, I was reminded that waking up every day is a miracle. Being able to do little things like eat, drink, use the toilet without pain is a gift and a miracle. Sharon's faith in God woke me up and reminded me to trust God in good and in bad times. 

        I returned to school better and stronger in the lord. And in July I received a call from my dad. My friend and I were listening to him on speaker phone. He said a prayer and from the way he prayed I could tell my sister had gone to be with the lord. He eventually broke the news to me, and for hours I could not cry it felt unreal. I thought I was prepared for this but nothing ever prepares you to lose a loved one. I eventually cried and could not stop crying. It was one of the most painful things I have experienced in my life. But it was also the period when God began to clean me up and help me up again. It was such a painful process losing my sister and a lot of other things I cherished all at the same time. And all I could hear from God was trust me. He would lead me to scriptures each day that would give me comfort, and I would share them with my family members and friends on Facebook. 

       Finally I began to learn how to smile again, but God was not done. I felt like God was testing me and making me give up things for his sake that I wanted to keep. But truly when God wants to give you a fresh start, he has to clear out all the cluster and pain from your heart. He has to take you through the fire to prepare you for the task ahead. I spoke about my sister because we both had a dream when we were kids to point girls and women to God with all the gifts he had given us. And finally God has given me a platform. I emerged the winner of the just concluded Miss Nigeria in Russia beauty pageant and I know God was totally behind me. He gave me so much favor, touched the hearts of my friends to help me in ways I can't even repay them. He even made strangers support me. It has been a huge blessing so far and I feel humbled. Why did I narrate this long story someone may ask? Well the reason is this. I know someone is out there who feels like God has shut the door on you, and everything is just going wrong. But the truth is God is with you in all of it. He never leaves nor forsakes his own. Keep trusting the lord and let God know that you love him and will always have faith in his plan even when you don't understand it. Someone once said «A bad day does not really mean a bad week, a bad week does not really mean a bad month, a bad month does not really mean a bad year, and a bad year does not really mean a bad life». So keep holding on to God and do not give up on yourself and your dream. God will bring it to pass.  Sometimes God brings your purpose out from your pain!!