Use Your Body the Way God Designed It by Whitney Hopler

Our culture is constantly bombarding women with messages that tell them their appearance is what matters most. But God made bodies for much more than simply being viewed. Bodies are meant to be used in all sorts of wonderful ways to love God and other people.
As a woman, it's freeing to look beyond our culture's shallow view of your body and start using your body the way God designed it.

Here's how:
Replace lies with the truth. Recognize that the pressure you feel to conform to a certain image of what our culture considers beautiful is based on the lie that you're not valuable unless you look a certain way. Replace that lie with the biblical truth that your value isn't based on your appearance, but on the fact that you're one of God's beloved creations. Stop striving to make your body appear a certain way, and rest in the knowledge that God is willing to bless you no matter what your body looks like. Embrace the truth that you're worthy simply because God says you are.

Accept your body in its natural state. Don't worry about the ways your body might not fit our culture's standard of beauty - from a nose that's too big to breasts that are too small. Instead, embrace the fact that God sees every person He has created as good and accept the natural way He has made your body rather than trying to change it to fit a cultural standard. Let the way you express yourself through your body - the way you dress and carry yourself with posture and mannerism - send others the message that you really like who God has made you to be.
Overcome temptations with trust. You can overcome your body's struggles with cravings and addictions by trusting God to satisfy your needs instead of trying to use quick fixes to try to satisfy them yourself. Realize that nothing you do to your body - from eating sweets or drinking alcohol to try to find peace during stress to dieting to try to feel loved because you're thin - will ultimately fulfill you. Only God has the power to truly satisfy your needs, so turn to Him through prayer when you feel tempted to seek fulfillment through your body.
Stop judging. Be aware of judgmental thoughts that enter your mind when you see people who don't fit our culture's idea of what's attractive. Stop them by reminding yourself not to assign people a value that's any less than the value God has assigned them. Ask God to give you the confidence to make decisions free from the pressure of considering what other people will think of you.

Say "enough is enough." Resist the temptation to satisfy every bodily impulse the way our culture pushes you to do, from eating unhealthy snacks you don't need to buying extra clothes on impulse. As you break free of gluttonous consumption, you'll also break free from a crippling preoccupation with yourself. Then you'll notice other people's needs more often, and be able to respond to them by sharing what you have.

Embrace uniqueness. Stop trying to fit yourself and other people into our culture's mold of what's considered beautiful. Instead, thank God that He didn't create us all the same and ask Him to help you recognize and appreciate distinctive qualities in yourself and in others you meet. Realize that God made people unique because they're worth recognizing.

Look beyond appearance to function. Remember that God's purpose for your body isn't to appear attractive to others; it's to perform useful functions that help you love Him and others. So rather than worrying about what your legs look like, use them to kneel in prayer often, and instead of comparing your hands to someone else with graceful fingers and manicured nails, use your hands to do volunteer work to help others in your community.

Be marked by love. Jesus' body was marked by love because He used it to perform loving actions in the world - including the ultimate loving act, dying on the Cross to save people, which physically marked His body with scars. As one of Jesus' followers, do all you can to mark your own body with love, from giving blood or even an organ like a kidney to someone in need, to cutting your hair to be used for wigs for cancer patients who are going through chemotherapy. A lifestyle of self-giving love will transform you more and more into Jesus' likeness, so that others will recognize Him through your life and be drawn to Him.

Touch others with love. Use your body to express love to others through physical touch whenever you can, from hugging a friend to carrying your kids to bed. Use your facial expression to show others unconditional love and acceptance.


Age with grace. Don't fight the aging process that naturally causes your body to become frail and your hair to turn gray. Instead of trying to hold onto fleeting physical beauty, turn your attention away from yourself and toward others - and in the process, you'll find that God will meet your need for love more than you could ever get it met through looking beautiful.
Exercise wisely. Rather than exercising simply to look good, exercise in order to express love for God and others. For example, run around a park with a single mother's children to give her a break and enjoy God's creation instead of just running on a treadmill by yourself in a gym.
Eat wisely. Millions of people struggle with obesity, while millions more struggle with hunger. Ask God to help you keep a sense of justice in mind when you decide what and how much to eat every day. Don't buy food you don't need, and don't eat when you're not hungry.
Dress wisely. Choose clothes that are modest so you don't invite others to disrespect your body. Instead of buying new clothes every new season, buy clothes only when you need them and buy used clothing whenever you can, to avoid wasting too much money on clothes.
Find a body buddy. Get together with a friend each week to encourage, support, and hold each other accountable in a mutual quest to use your bodies in healthy ways that please God.
Adapted from Unsqueezed: Springing Free from Skinny Jeans, Nose Jobs, Highlights, and Stilettos, copyright 2010 by Margot Starbuck. Published by IVP Books, a division of InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Ill., www.ivpress.com.
Margot Starbuck is a popular speaker at conferences and retreats and on college campuses. She has an M.Div. from Princeton Seminary and is also the author of The Girl in the Orange Dress: Searching for a Father Who Does Not Fail (InterVarsity Press, 2009).

BOOK REVIEW: Experience the Power of the Resurrection Every Day

The resurrection is more than just an event that happened once in history. It's the source of the power you can experience in your own life, every day. The same power that resurrected Jesus from death to life is available to you, and if you tap into it, you'll see amazing transformation in your own life, too.

Here's how you can experience resurrection power every day:
Use the power now, not just in heaven. Your hope of the resurrection isn't just for the future when you physically die and go to heaven; it's also for now, while you're living on earth and struggling with sin. Make use of that God-given power to help you overcome sin right now, and every day you're alive. Regularly confess your sins, repent of them, and embrace the forgiveness and grace God offers you to keep growing.

Trade religion for relationship. Instead of pursuing hope through performing religious rituals, believing right doctrines, or doing good deeds, realize that those things are valuable yet can't produce hope. Place your hope in a dynamic relationship with Jesus. As you live for Him, relying on His resurrection power at work in your life, you'll experience the fulfillment of all God's good purposes for you. Instead of focusing on what you can do for God, focus on what God can do through you.

Set eternal priorities. Ask God to help you see your life from His perspective. Look beyond the world's values (which are only temporary) to what has eternal value. Base your decisions -- for all aspects of your life -- on what matters most in eternity. Make the most of your time here on earth, keeping in mind that it will soon be over and you'll be accountable to God for how you used your time here.

Die to self. Remember that death must always precede resurrection. Be willing to sacrifice whatever selfish desires and agendas you have that conflict with God's purposes for your life. Decide to crucify your selfish attitudes and behaviors, so God will raise you to new life by transforming your attitudes and behaviors into healthy ones that will help you grow to be more like Jesus. Understand that, physically, you're born and live until you die, progressing toward physical death. But spiritually, you're dead until you're made alive through a relationship with Jesus, progressing toward eternal life.

Expect the impossible. Just as the resurrection itself was impossible for anyone but God, the power behind the resurrection will take you into situations that are impossible for you to deal successfully with on your own. Expect God to challenge your faith when you ask for His resurrection power in your life, but know that if you trust Him, you'll experience greater adventures than you can imagine.
Experience resurrection peace. You don't have to live with guilt and shame because of the resurrection's power to forgive your sins. Ask God to flood your soul with the peace of knowing that you're in a right relationship with Him. Recognize that if you're deliberately sinning against God, you can't be in a right relationship with Him, so deal with your sin so it doesn't block the peace God wants you to experience. If you want to experience the peace Jesus offers, you must come to Him on His terms, being willing to live the way He leads you to live -- the way that's best for you. Every day, repent of your sins, so you can enjoy true peace.

Experience resurrection joy. The freedom from sin and hope in Jesus that the resurrection produced brings great joy into your life. If you allow your constantly changing circumstances to control your life, you can easily lose your happiness. But if you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, you'll experience joy, which will remain constant despite your circumstances. Unlike happiness, joy is more than an emotion -- it's the ability to see beyond your circumstances to the God who has ultimate control over them, and always acts according to what's best for you.

Use your resurrection authority. Make full use the authority you have as a Christian to lead other people to eternal life. The greatest power on earth is to see a person become born again. So, as valuable as it is to minister to people's physical needs, don't stop there. Share the Gospel message with other people as often as you can. By doing so, you'll be helping to release God's resurrection power into their lives. Stay closely connected to God so your life as a Christian will reflect the kind of character and obedience it should. Do your best to live faithfully to represent Jesus well. As other people see God at work in your life, they'll be attracted to Him. Every day, continue to pursue God passionately, and your passion for Him will spark the interest of others around you who can pursue Him themselves.

Experience resurrection confidence. Since God is on your side, you can be absolutely confident in His love and you don't need to be afraid of what the future holds. Whenever you encounter trouble in this fallen world, trust God to lead you through it and accomplish a good purpose in the process. Don't place your trust in anything lesser than God -- like your family, your health, your job, your talents, or your money. Give your allegiance wholeheartedly to God, and you'll experience confidence that can't be shaken by changing circumstances.

Experience resurrection hope. Your salvation means that you don't need to fear death. Expect God to fulfill all the promises He makes in the Bible, and trust those promises in your own life. Don't little life's petty annoyances weigh you down; realize that they're irrelevant compared to your eternal reward in heaven. Live with heaven in mind -- pursuing eternal values -- and rejoice in the hope you can experience every day.

Adapted from Experiencing the Resurrection: The Everyday Encounter that Changes Your Life, copyright 2007 by Henry T. Blackaby and Melvin D. Blackaby. Published by Multnomah Books, a division of Random House, Inc., Colorado Springs, Co., www.randomhouse.com/waterbrook.

Henry Blackaby, Ph. D., president emeritus of Blackaby Ministries, is the author of more than a dozen books, including the best-selling classic Experiencing God. He has spent his life in ministry, serving as a music director and as a senior pastor for churches in California and Canada. Today he provides consultative leadership on prayer for revival and spiritual awakening on a global level. He and his wife make their home in Atlanta, Ga. Mel Blackaby, Ph.D., coauthored with his father, Henry Blackaby, the Gold Medallion winner Experiencing God Together. He travels extensively as a conference speaker. He and his wife and their three children live in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, where he serves as senior pastor of Bow Valley Baptist Church.

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are called "spiritual" because they come from the Spirit of God. In his letters, Paul provided three lists of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-31, Romans 12:3-8; Eph. 4:11). Since the lists are not identical, they appear as examples, not comprehensive lists of spiritual gifts.
Though we might ask how spiritual gifts differ from natural talents, Paul was probably unconcerned about distinguishing between physical and spiritual abilities. To him all gifts, "natural" or "supernatural," came from God. The central issue for Paul was people using their abilities to build up and strengthen the church. No wonder he was upset to learn that the Corinthians were misusing their spiritual gifts. Instead of building the church, they were destroying it (1 Cor. 3:3, 16-17).

Paul probably recognized all abilities that strengthened the church as being spiritual gifts—even those that might be based on "natural" talent and developed by training. He speaks of gifts (teaching and hospitality, for instance) that can be based on innate abilities and can be improved through practice. Nevertheless, Paul also recognized supernatural gifts given extraordinarily and suddenly.

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul
By: John Eldredge, Stasi Eldredge
Thomas Nelson / 2007 / Paperback

Product Description

Rediscover your feminine heart! As a young girl did you want to be a beautiful princess, rescued on a horse by a dashing prince charming, or step into the pages of a fascinating adventure? This new paperback edition of Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul encourages women to connect with their deepest feminine desires and learn to see God as their ultimate lover and hero.

Publisher's Description

Every little girl has dreams of being swept up into a great adventure, of being the beautiful princess. Sadly, when women grow up, they are often swept up into a life filled merely with duty and demands. Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the pressure to be a "good servant," a nurturing caregiver, or a capable home manager.

What Wild at Heart did for men, Captivating can do for women. This groundbreaking book shows readers the glorious design of women before the fall, describes how the feminine heart can be restored, and casts a vision for the power, freedom, and beauty of a woman released to be all she was meant to be. By revealing the core desires every woman shares-to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a grand adventure, and to unveil beauty-John and Stasi Eldredge invite women to recover their feminine hearts, created in the image of an intimate and passionate God. Further, they encourage men to discover the secret of a woman’s soul and to delight in the beauty and strength women were created to offer.

Effective Mentoring - Women Leaders

Women Leaders" border="0" height="38" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="167">





OVERVIEW

Women in leadership are presented with opportunities to influence those around them daily. You might spend years in relationship with a mentee, or it could just be a series of brief encounters with a coworker or friend.

This training tool from Gifted for Leadership authors, who understand your unique role as a mentor, helps encourage and direct you as you become an effective mentor to the women around you. And whether the time you spend as a mentor is measured in years or simply in hours, discover that it can be nothing short of life-changing.

The Other Side of the Table
What a mentor taught me about tough times.
by Janine Perry

Why God Made Mentors
Here's what you need to know to have a lasting impact.
by Eric Johnsonheads

Time to Mentor
Do you have what it takes to be a good mentor?
by Lesa Engelthaler

Making a Good Match
Learn the 8 characteristics of a healthy mentoring relationship.
by Fred Smith

Spiritual Mentoring
Discover how a spiritual director can help grow your faith.
by Agnieszka Tennant

Mentor Your Leaders
Use these guidelines to keep your leaders in the game.
from BuildingSmallGroups.com

Resources
Find more places for more help.

The Adulteress: A Stone's Throw from Grace (John 8:1-11)

The Adulteress: A Stone's Throw from Grace (John 8:1-11) by Liz Curtis Higgs

Her story is scandalous, first word to last. And glorious.

At dawn, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees tarried by a nameless woman's door, itching to drag her out of bed and into the temple, where Jesus was teaching. Moments later, half-dressed at best, the woman was forced to "stand before the group" (John 8:3), like Hester Prynne wearing her scarlet letter, cheeks stained with shame.

The words of the Pharisees were harsh, accusatory: "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery" (John 8:4). This woman? Look, she wasn't alone in that bed. Where was her partner in crime? Sleeping in? Reading the Mount Olives Times? Since Mosaic Law insisted "both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death" (Leviticus 20:10), how come they weren't both hauled into the temple?

Sting Operation

Listen, the Pharisees weren't interested in punishing the man or the woman. They were after Jesus. And so they threw words at him, sharper than any rocks: "In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" (John 8:5).

Oh, great. If Jesus told them, "Stick to the Law: Stone her," his grace-filled teachings went out the window. But if he said, "No! Don't stone her," he opposed the Law of Moses, a dangerous move for a rabbi. The Pharisees thought they had him nailed.

Breathless with anticipation, the crowd watched as "Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger" (John 8:6). This is the only place in Scripture where Jesus wrote something, and we don't know what it was. Talk about frustrating! Did he list the Ten Commandments to prove he knew the Law? Write out the many sins of the Pharisees? Or scribble, "Don't go away mad, just go away"?

Written in Stone

Most scholars think the Lord was doodling. Yup, just drawing lines in the shifting sands of the temple floor, sparing the accused woman from his holy gaze, waiting until the crowd was ready to hear his answer. Finally he stood and said, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7).

None in the temple that day qualified, and they knew it. None of us do either.

Only one person in recorded history "has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Only one person could have rightfully condemned her. Only one person could have thrown that first rock.

But he didn't. That's not why he came. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:17). Jesus came to save an adulteress that day in the temple, and he came to save you, beloved.

He bent down again to draw in the sand, giving his words time to sink in. Sure enough, "those who heard began to go away one at a time" (John 8:9). How like Jesus, gently whispering the truth into each ear, convicting each heart, one by one.

The Last One Standing

I'm surprised the woman, who surely was aware of her sins, didn't head for the temple door after her detractors made their exit. Instead, she stood there as if pinned to the ground with hope. Sinner though she was, could she possibly be forgiven?

Jesus straightened up and met her gaze, then asked, "Has no one condemned you?" (John 8:10). Yes, they'd accused her, but they'd not condemned her. Only this innocent man could sentence her to die, yet he held no stones in his hand. Did he plan to punish her with words?

No, he didn't.

Brave soul that she was, she managed to answer his question. "No one, sir" (John 8:10). She gets extra credit for resisting the urge to deny her guilt or blame her bed partner.

"Then, neither do I condemn you," Jesus assured her (John 8:11).

She was a free woman. Free! Still a sinner, but forgiven. Still guilty of adultery, but her death sentence had been quietly lifted, then placed on Jesus' shoulders.

Grace came to the temple that morning.

A Fond Farewell

The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees missed the Lord's final benediction, but you can bet those who remained didn't. They hung on every word. "Go now," Jesus told her—a gentle release, not a harsh rebuke—"and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11).

We hear you, Lord. What a relief to know that because of your grace, we can leave behind the past, as this woman did, and walk in a whole new direction.

Liz Curtis Higgs is the author of 25 books, including Embrace Grace (WaterBrook Press). She lives with her husband and their two teenagers in Kentucky. Visit her website: www.LizCurtisHiggs.com.

Dig deeper

1. If the Pharisees had also dragged the man into the temple, would Jesus have extended grace to him as well? How might Luke 5:32, Romans 3:22-24, and 2 Peter 3:9 help answer that question?

2. Jesus said, "If any one of you is without sin … ." Is anyone ever "without sin," even for a moment? What do Proverbs 20:9 and 1 John 1:8 have to say on the subject? And what's God's solution for sin, found in 2 Corinthians 5:21?

Pathway to Purpose for Women: Connecting Your To-Do List, Your Passions, and God's Purposes for Your Life

God wants to use everything about you - your past, present, hopes, dreams, hurts, and hang-ups - to achieve his ultimate purposes in your life. Filled with practical how-tos and personal stories of women whose lives have been transformed by following these proven principles, Pathway to Purpose for Women is an exciting journey for becoming the woman God created you to be!

Brazelton, who works with Rick Warren as director of women's Bible studies at Saddleback Church, has spent years helping women discover their life purpose. She pours her passion into this book, designed to help women find meaning in life. While each chapter focuses on another stepping stone in the journey to purpose, there are several overarching themes: every daily task is part of God's purpose; ultimate meaning requires obedience and complete surrender to God, and God has a vision for each woman's life. Brazelton's aim is to get every reader to find this vision, this personalized way of leading people from emptiness to surrender to significance in Christ. A vision should be big: a highly amplified life calling and focused destiny. However, Brazelton offers little biblical foundation for the idea that every woman should expected to seek the same kind of vision that Sarah, Deborah or Esther received. Thus, Brazelton may end up creating disillusionment where she hoped to resolve it. However, many readers are sure to enjoy her friendliness and vulnerability, and welcome her advice from years of experience guiding women. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Christian Living - The Hidden Value of Fun

OVERVIEW
Carve out time for some fun! Read the stories of women that push past the busyness of life and make time to enjoy life and the relationships God has given them. In it you will find articles on remaining faithful to quiet time, the importance of a social gathering, and how to pamper yourself. Don�t miss out on the hidden value of fun.
Introduction: Take Time to Titter and Tee-Haw
God took a rest�we should too!
by Dana Wilkerson

Leader�s Guide
How to use �The Hidden Value of Fun� for a group study.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!
Bring excitement and challenge to your life with a new hobby.
by Nia Ricks Davenport

Maybe It�s a Little Bit About Me
Make time for yourself.
by Camerin Courtney

Party Time!
Every year this group of women gather to celebrate their birthdays, friendships, and sense of fun.
by Jane Heitman

How Do You Pamper Yourself?
Women like you share how they give themselves a little TLC.

Sweet Monday
Check out this recipe for no-fuss, all-fun female gatherings.
by Camerin Courtney

A Wild Women Weekend
These women gather twice a year to renew friendships and faith.
by Nancy Rutherford

Getting Away with God
Quiet your soul and renew your faith with a spiritual retreat.
by Brenda Jank.

The Gift of Rest
Embrace the blessings of the Sabbath.
by Lynne M. Baab

Additional Resources
Books to help you further.