Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Embrace who you are
It's officially spring, but we'll blink and summer will be here. And that means, we'll be cleaning off the barbies for hot dogs and burgers. We'll be lathering on loads of sunscreen, blending smoothies, and wiping off watermelon from our kids' faces. Some of you (over-achievers) are already thinking ahead to Fourth of July parties, summer vacations, and a ton of fun family picnics. Baseball fans are getting out there gloves as well, ready for an exciting MLB season to begin.
But let's be honest, some of us are freaking out about every swimsuit sale in our inboxes. We love the pool but we're beginning to realize that our New Year's diet plan has not been quite as successful as we'd hoped. The truth is, we're gonna have to put on a swimsuit sooner than we'd like because the kids will be begging us to jump into the pool; plus, it's gonna be hotter than Hades here in the IE before we know it.
Maybe you're not a pool person, so a bathing suit hunt isn't bugging you. For you, it's those cute floral shorts you were hoping to squeeze into, finally. But they're still a little bit tighter than you remembered them from last summer. Or that little black dress that zips up to your lower waist with the cute ribbon at the end of the zipper, remember that one?
But don't despair cuz I'm here to encourage you! I've recently lost a little weight without following any kind of New Year's resolution. I care about the issue of body image in terms of health, but it doesn't run my life (do you know what I mean?). I haven't owned a scale for the past fifteen years; nor have I counted calories. I simply don't obsess about how much I weigh because my goal is muscle mass and fat reduction instead of a silly three digit number.
I think our culture totally overdoes the body image myth most of the time. First off, they tell you that you'll be happier if you're so skinny that you can't eat any of the foods you actually love. That just doesn't make sense. Second, most ads tell you that you can be a mom and wear a size one, which isn't usually the case either. Don't you find it refreshing when an advertisement uses a mom who actually looks like she's had a few kids?
So here's my secret: I like to keep it super simple. Let me explain with three basic steps. First, moderate the amount of food that you eat. Don't ditch the ones you looooooove. Just eat half as much of them. If you crave steak and mashed potatoes, eat half of the amount of buttery potatoes (try for low-fat butter and use less salt too). And go for steamed carrots or broccoli as an additional side so you feel full.
Snack on the good stuff between meals. Grab some lightly salted almonds or a handful of craisins instead of chips. Then reward yourself with frozen yogurt at the end of the day and make tasty protein-filled smoothies after workouts. If you crave a candy bar, split it into thirds and share with a few friends instead of eating the whole thing yourself. This way, you never feel starved. And you don't feel deprived of the good stuff either.
Second, be reasonable! Try to exercise five times per week but don't overdo it. I like to record my workouts every month so I can look back and see my progress (jog, cycle, walk, step class, etc). I see so much consistency that I want to do more the following month. But here's my main advice about moderation: let it all count! Go for a ten minute jog and record it on your calendar. And write down the fun stuff too, like fifteen minutes out on the trampoline with the kiddos or twenty minutes of soccer in the backyard.
I used to think a work-out only counted if it was an hour or two at the gym. But then I'd skip working out altogether, since I didn't have enough time. And that's where most people despair. They start out strong, like "I'm gonna exercise for ninety minutes every day for the next three months." But when shin splints set in two weeks later and sore muscles aren't recovered, they give up their unrealistic goals. Instead, shoot for ten minutes of moderate exercise five days per week for a couple of weeks. Then up it to twenty the following week.
Third, know who you are! No matter your age, weight, or skin color, you're gonna have to declare your self worth from the inside out. Some people actually feel they aren't pretty enough, tall enough, tan enough or something else "enough" to be lovable. And it boggles my mind that many top models are included in that depressed category. So many of us need a new identity! And that starts with the surrender of your heart, body, and mind to a new voice of hope and acceptance.
You may feel like you're not good enough, but the truth is, you are really great the way you are. It's not wrong to aim for balanced health goals, but make sure you're doing it for yourself and not for someone else who might never be impressed anyways. That's the wrong objective! Change who you are because you want to embody a healthier lifestyle and a happier you! You don't owe that to anyone else. Once you feel worthy enough, the changes will come naturally.
You might think that your thighs are unseemly because they're too big after three kids or that those stretch marks need to be forever covered up with a one piece suit. But I'm here to remind you that you're awesome the way you are because you brought little precious babies into this world. That's a huge accomplishment.
You are incredibly valuable and you matter to God and to me. You aren't too ugly, too fat, too skinny, or too odd-looking to find peace and happiness. I know I can't prove that to you unless you first choose to believe it from the inside of your heart. But when you do, you'll start to see a different person in the mirror as well. And I believe you'll begin to embrace health with more enthusiasm along the way. With a few mindset adjustments, we'll all be longing for summer instead of dreading its arrival.
Remember that your self worth doesn't have to come from other people's accolades of your physical beauty. Let them see your emotional and spiritual strengths as well, which are based upon things that really matter, like the values inside your heart. Keeping it real. We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts here. :)
But let's be honest, some of us are freaking out about every swimsuit sale in our inboxes. We love the pool but we're beginning to realize that our New Year's diet plan has not been quite as successful as we'd hoped. The truth is, we're gonna have to put on a swimsuit sooner than we'd like because the kids will be begging us to jump into the pool; plus, it's gonna be hotter than Hades here in the IE before we know it.
Maybe you're not a pool person, so a bathing suit hunt isn't bugging you. For you, it's those cute floral shorts you were hoping to squeeze into, finally. But they're still a little bit tighter than you remembered them from last summer. Or that little black dress that zips up to your lower waist with the cute ribbon at the end of the zipper, remember that one?
But don't despair cuz I'm here to encourage you! I've recently lost a little weight without following any kind of New Year's resolution. I care about the issue of body image in terms of health, but it doesn't run my life (do you know what I mean?). I haven't owned a scale for the past fifteen years; nor have I counted calories. I simply don't obsess about how much I weigh because my goal is muscle mass and fat reduction instead of a silly three digit number.
I think our culture totally overdoes the body image myth most of the time. First off, they tell you that you'll be happier if you're so skinny that you can't eat any of the foods you actually love. That just doesn't make sense. Second, most ads tell you that you can be a mom and wear a size one, which isn't usually the case either. Don't you find it refreshing when an advertisement uses a mom who actually looks like she's had a few kids?
So here's my secret: I like to keep it super simple. Let me explain with three basic steps. First, moderate the amount of food that you eat. Don't ditch the ones you looooooove. Just eat half as much of them. If you crave steak and mashed potatoes, eat half of the amount of buttery potatoes (try for low-fat butter and use less salt too). And go for steamed carrots or broccoli as an additional side so you feel full.
Snack on the good stuff between meals. Grab some lightly salted almonds or a handful of craisins instead of chips. Then reward yourself with frozen yogurt at the end of the day and make tasty protein-filled smoothies after workouts. If you crave a candy bar, split it into thirds and share with a few friends instead of eating the whole thing yourself. This way, you never feel starved. And you don't feel deprived of the good stuff either.
Second, be reasonable! Try to exercise five times per week but don't overdo it. I like to record my workouts every month so I can look back and see my progress (jog, cycle, walk, step class, etc). I see so much consistency that I want to do more the following month. But here's my main advice about moderation: let it all count! Go for a ten minute jog and record it on your calendar. And write down the fun stuff too, like fifteen minutes out on the trampoline with the kiddos or twenty minutes of soccer in the backyard.
I used to think a work-out only counted if it was an hour or two at the gym. But then I'd skip working out altogether, since I didn't have enough time. And that's where most people despair. They start out strong, like "I'm gonna exercise for ninety minutes every day for the next three months." But when shin splints set in two weeks later and sore muscles aren't recovered, they give up their unrealistic goals. Instead, shoot for ten minutes of moderate exercise five days per week for a couple of weeks. Then up it to twenty the following week.
Third, know who you are! No matter your age, weight, or skin color, you're gonna have to declare your self worth from the inside out. Some people actually feel they aren't pretty enough, tall enough, tan enough or something else "enough" to be lovable. And it boggles my mind that many top models are included in that depressed category. So many of us need a new identity! And that starts with the surrender of your heart, body, and mind to a new voice of hope and acceptance.
You may feel like you're not good enough, but the truth is, you are really great the way you are. It's not wrong to aim for balanced health goals, but make sure you're doing it for yourself and not for someone else who might never be impressed anyways. That's the wrong objective! Change who you are because you want to embody a healthier lifestyle and a happier you! You don't owe that to anyone else. Once you feel worthy enough, the changes will come naturally.
You might think that your thighs are unseemly because they're too big after three kids or that those stretch marks need to be forever covered up with a one piece suit. But I'm here to remind you that you're awesome the way you are because you brought little precious babies into this world. That's a huge accomplishment.
You are incredibly valuable and you matter to God and to me. You aren't too ugly, too fat, too skinny, or too odd-looking to find peace and happiness. I know I can't prove that to you unless you first choose to believe it from the inside of your heart. But when you do, you'll start to see a different person in the mirror as well. And I believe you'll begin to embrace health with more enthusiasm along the way. With a few mindset adjustments, we'll all be longing for summer instead of dreading its arrival.
Remember that your self worth doesn't have to come from other people's accolades of your physical beauty. Let them see your emotional and spiritual strengths as well, which are based upon things that really matter, like the values inside your heart. Keeping it real. We'd love to hear from you. Share your thoughts here. :)
Labels: body image, self esteem, summer
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Body Image
Summer is upon us. The fabulous aromas entice our senses: neighborhood barbecues, gently warmed sunscreen, freshly chopped veggies and herbs, and dripping watermelon from our kids' faces. We all look forward to Fourth of July parties, summer vacations, and a plethora of picnics and outdoor family events. The MLB season gets exciting as well with those unexpected trades and a number of surprising upsets (GO PADRES!!!).
But there are some things we dread, like getting into a bathing suit so we can splash around in the pool to avoid the oppressive heat. Or putting on that tight pair of shorts that seemed to be a lot looser last summer. But maybe you're not one of those insecure types; in contrast, you feel incredibly comfortable in your silky smooth skin, which means that your struggle is a bit different. You long for people to notice your sculpted legs and your toned abs. You crave the attention and dress accordingly to show off that new tattoo that decorates your lower back. Or maybe it's that new skin-tight tank that you bought to show off what you've got???
As Christians, we walk a fine line, a tightrope really. Or you could call it a double edged sword. On the one hand, we should be confident in ourselves, certain of who we are in Christ, not caving in to low self esteem. Yet on the other side, we need to be very careful how we express that satisfaction, by representing Christ at all times. If you feel offended so far, please keep reading because God truly does care about the issue of body image in our culture and in our church. So stick with me!
For those who feel depressed because they aren't pretty enough, tall enough, tan enough or whatever else "enough" comes to your mind, you need to rest in your true identity in Christ! You must surrender your heart, body, and mind over to the Lord in order to find immeasurable value from His perfect love. The truth is that Satan wants you to feel like you're a loser. If he can keep you trapped in that lie, then he knows you'll never win. You'll even avoid certain ministry opportunities because you'll think you're inadequate for the job. But remember, you were bought with a price, the one that cost Jesus His life. So don't let the enemy claim that victory. Instead, attack Satan with this Biblical truth:
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made... My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:14-16).
If that passage isn't enough to get you back on track, start right at the beginning of the Bible and read from Genesis:
"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air...' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them... God saw all that he had made, and it was very good..." (from Genesis 1:26, 27, 31).
You are incredibly valuable. You matter to God and you also matter to me and to a ton of other people here at Sandals Church. We care about your heart and not so much about what you look like. You aren't too ugly, too fat, too skinny, or too different looking to worship here with us. We welcome you! We want you here with us!
And for those who feel a bit too confident, you have a job to do as well. Go to the Lord for your sense of self worth as well! Let it be from HIM and not from the attention you receive from others for being physically beautiful. Don't pile on another plastic surgery to your summer's to-do-list. Why not donate vanity's fund to an amazing ministry opportunity instead? I mean seriously, think of the people you could feed in a third world country instead of using it towards another Botox injection or another laser surgery for this or that.
Also, be modest with your attire. You might look like a runway model, but you don't have to dress like one, especially when you're at church. Let your witness draw others to Christ by how you act and ALSO by what you wear. If your "short" shorts don't actually cover your behind, then they're too short. And if your bathing suit covers less than your undies do, then it's too small. Certainly, it's one thing if you're in a friend's backyard with the gals working on a tan, but not if you're at a group event with the guys who WILL struggle with lust because of it.
Keep it practical and decide what your goal is before you even get dressed; if you don't pre-think it, then your human longings will dictate your outfit for you. Temptation will step in like a crisp piece of forbidden fruit and before you know it, you're dressed to flaunt it. Are you wearing that low-cut shirt so that so-and-so will notice you? Or are you choosing to wear the extra tank under that low-cut one so he will have an easier time sitting next to you as he listens to Pastor Matt's sermon?
Make sure you take this challenge seriously because it's a relevant issue in our culture today. And it's one where Christians tend to blend in with the world, especially during the long and hot summer months. Of course we all fall short in this area, whether we're single, engaged, or married. The truth is, we all like to turn a few heads because it makes us feel cool, accepted, and attractive. But when we become deceived by Satan's lies, we need to rethink our mindset.
Our value shouldn't come from other people's accolades of our physical beauty. We should long for spiritual affirmation instead that is based upon our spiritual maturity, our growth in the Lord, and our faithfulness to God's eternal agenda for our lives. By choosing to dress modestly and by getting our acceptance from God instead of from the world, we honor Him and we also protect our fellow believers from stumbling.
Imagine in both cases, how our world would be different if physical beauty wasn't the primary goal in most people's lives. Gals and guys often feel downcast because they don't look good enough on the outside. Ironically, even the "perfectly" figured lucky-ducks often feel like they're STILL inadequate. In both situations, people just want to be loved and accepted for who they are on the inside. I mean, it's pretty messed up when neither group is happy. The truth is that no-one's really content without the Lord in the center of their life. And that means obedience to GOD alone and to HIS agenda for how we live.
Instead of trying to look amazing for the world's favor, let's focus on spiritual pursuits, like the one Paul challenges us with in Ephesians:
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Ephesians 6:10-13).
So then Paul gives a ton of detail about the Believer's attire. He clues us in about the outfit that we all need to wear whether we're the ones who struggle with poor self esteem or those who battle with pride and arrogance. Check it out:
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (verses 14-17).
In closing, remember who you are! Whichever way you slice it, you will struggle. You'll think you're too lame or you'll focus on how you're too amazing. But don't despair! Grab your Bible and get on your knees. Pray!!! Ask the Lord to help you so that you can focus on His plans for your summer. Think about how you can honor the Lord with your time, money, and talents while dressing appropriately to all those barbecues, birthday parties, and baseball games. And just to challenge you with one more awesome passage of Scripture, check out Paul's sobering admonition in Romans:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers (and sisters), in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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" (12: 1+2, my parenthesis added).
But there are some things we dread, like getting into a bathing suit so we can splash around in the pool to avoid the oppressive heat. Or putting on that tight pair of shorts that seemed to be a lot looser last summer. But maybe you're not one of those insecure types; in contrast, you feel incredibly comfortable in your silky smooth skin, which means that your struggle is a bit different. You long for people to notice your sculpted legs and your toned abs. You crave the attention and dress accordingly to show off that new tattoo that decorates your lower back. Or maybe it's that new skin-tight tank that you bought to show off what you've got???
As Christians, we walk a fine line, a tightrope really. Or you could call it a double edged sword. On the one hand, we should be confident in ourselves, certain of who we are in Christ, not caving in to low self esteem. Yet on the other side, we need to be very careful how we express that satisfaction, by representing Christ at all times. If you feel offended so far, please keep reading because God truly does care about the issue of body image in our culture and in our church. So stick with me!
For those who feel depressed because they aren't pretty enough, tall enough, tan enough or whatever else "enough" comes to your mind, you need to rest in your true identity in Christ! You must surrender your heart, body, and mind over to the Lord in order to find immeasurable value from His perfect love. The truth is that Satan wants you to feel like you're a loser. If he can keep you trapped in that lie, then he knows you'll never win. You'll even avoid certain ministry opportunities because you'll think you're inadequate for the job. But remember, you were bought with a price, the one that cost Jesus His life. So don't let the enemy claim that victory. Instead, attack Satan with this Biblical truth:
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made... My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:14-16).
If that passage isn't enough to get you back on track, start right at the beginning of the Bible and read from Genesis:
"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air...' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them... God saw all that he had made, and it was very good..." (from Genesis 1:26, 27, 31).
You are incredibly valuable. You matter to God and you also matter to me and to a ton of other people here at Sandals Church. We care about your heart and not so much about what you look like. You aren't too ugly, too fat, too skinny, or too different looking to worship here with us. We welcome you! We want you here with us!
And for those who feel a bit too confident, you have a job to do as well. Go to the Lord for your sense of self worth as well! Let it be from HIM and not from the attention you receive from others for being physically beautiful. Don't pile on another plastic surgery to your summer's to-do-list. Why not donate vanity's fund to an amazing ministry opportunity instead? I mean seriously, think of the people you could feed in a third world country instead of using it towards another Botox injection or another laser surgery for this or that.
Also, be modest with your attire. You might look like a runway model, but you don't have to dress like one, especially when you're at church. Let your witness draw others to Christ by how you act and ALSO by what you wear. If your "short" shorts don't actually cover your behind, then they're too short. And if your bathing suit covers less than your undies do, then it's too small. Certainly, it's one thing if you're in a friend's backyard with the gals working on a tan, but not if you're at a group event with the guys who WILL struggle with lust because of it.
Keep it practical and decide what your goal is before you even get dressed; if you don't pre-think it, then your human longings will dictate your outfit for you. Temptation will step in like a crisp piece of forbidden fruit and before you know it, you're dressed to flaunt it. Are you wearing that low-cut shirt so that so-and-so will notice you? Or are you choosing to wear the extra tank under that low-cut one so he will have an easier time sitting next to you as he listens to Pastor Matt's sermon?
Make sure you take this challenge seriously because it's a relevant issue in our culture today. And it's one where Christians tend to blend in with the world, especially during the long and hot summer months. Of course we all fall short in this area, whether we're single, engaged, or married. The truth is, we all like to turn a few heads because it makes us feel cool, accepted, and attractive. But when we become deceived by Satan's lies, we need to rethink our mindset.
Our value shouldn't come from other people's accolades of our physical beauty. We should long for spiritual affirmation instead that is based upon our spiritual maturity, our growth in the Lord, and our faithfulness to God's eternal agenda for our lives. By choosing to dress modestly and by getting our acceptance from God instead of from the world, we honor Him and we also protect our fellow believers from stumbling.
Imagine in both cases, how our world would be different if physical beauty wasn't the primary goal in most people's lives. Gals and guys often feel downcast because they don't look good enough on the outside. Ironically, even the "perfectly" figured lucky-ducks often feel like they're STILL inadequate. In both situations, people just want to be loved and accepted for who they are on the inside. I mean, it's pretty messed up when neither group is happy. The truth is that no-one's really content without the Lord in the center of their life. And that means obedience to GOD alone and to HIS agenda for how we live.
Instead of trying to look amazing for the world's favor, let's focus on spiritual pursuits, like the one Paul challenges us with in Ephesians:
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Ephesians 6:10-13).
So then Paul gives a ton of detail about the Believer's attire. He clues us in about the outfit that we all need to wear whether we're the ones who struggle with poor self esteem or those who battle with pride and arrogance. Check it out:
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (verses 14-17).
In closing, remember who you are! Whichever way you slice it, you will struggle. You'll think you're too lame or you'll focus on how you're too amazing. But don't despair! Grab your Bible and get on your knees. Pray!!! Ask the Lord to help you so that you can focus on His plans for your summer. Think about how you can honor the Lord with your time, money, and talents while dressing appropriately to all those barbecues, birthday parties, and baseball games. And just to challenge you with one more awesome passage of Scripture, check out Paul's sobering admonition in Romans:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers (and sisters), in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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" (12: 1+2, my parenthesis added).
Labels: Bible, body image, Christian
