As far as Bible stories go, Esther has always been one of my favorites. A young girl is plucked from the masses as the next queen. She gets a year of spa treatments and then a chance to win a king's affection. How glamorous and exciting! And, how totally random that...
Beauty
A Christian Makeover Story: Christine’s Amazing Transformation
I love makeover shows. I'll admit: There's something amazing about watching people transform. Secretly, I always thought it would be awesome to have a professional stylist pick me out of a crowd as her next target. The makeover would go like this. First, she'd choose...
How To Look Great in a Swimsuit: Believe the Gospel?
I watched an episode of the Doctor Oz show a few years ago that was dedicated to helping women look good in a swimsuit. Every woman in the audience looked beach-ready, wearing only her bathing suit (no cover ups allowed). The good doctor talked about all things...
Culture Says I Need Thigh Gap, the Bible Says I Need Jesus Meme
Our culture tells us we need to look a certain way to be accepted, valued and loved. But the truth is, we don't need thigh gap, better clothes, shinier hair, flawless skin or even flat abs to be valuable, accepted and worthy of love. Do we really need a better body to...
Just a Little More Beauty, Lord: A Poem
"Just a Little More Beauty, Lord," is an original poem! My first, in fact. It may not be Emily Dickinson but I hope these words will still touch you and (maybe) make you smile as you reflect on the truth about our desires and our body image struggles . . . Just a...
Why I Struggled to Believe in ‘Fearfully and Wonderfully Made’
Taking a one day break from our "one word" series to share with you this great and timely (for Easter) piece from my friend Brittany at Devotion Everyday. You really need to read this and then check out her blog. Great words! (And pretty pictures too, she's a...
Exposed:: What Kim Kardashian Really Wants You To See
Though I'm still struggling to figure out how someone taking their clothes off in front of a camera makes front page news in 2016, Kim Kardashian has done it again. She's stripped down and monopolized our news feeds with her bare assets. Some respond with anger and I...
Identity: Can I Be Free From Culture’s Standard of Beauty?
I taught a homeschool co-op class today. In geography, I asked my class of seven and eight-year-olds a question I thought would be easy. Me: "What country do we live in?" Kids: "Texas!!!" Me: "No, kids...not our state...our country! What country do we live in?" Kids:...
Is it Time to Stop Blaming Barbie?
"Finally, Barbie will look more like us!" The radio DJ exclaimed. "This will help little girls feel better about themselves. It's so great for them." She gushed. But is it true? Will the new, curvier Barbies--or their darker skin or shorter stature...
Should I Let My Daughter Wear MakeUp?
Our "Questions" series continues with this one: Dear Heather: My daughter is only eleven years old but she's begging to wear make-up. I try to tell her that she doesn't need make-up to be pretty, but she says the other girls in her class wear it and then points to the...