Is God Against Physical Beauty?

Sometimes when I read passages like First Peter, chapter 3, where the Bible focuses so much on inner beauty, it almost seems like God doesn't want me to do anything to draw attention to, nor enhance my physical body. But I don't think that's a fair representation of God's desires for His daughters. Yes, He wants my priority to be on the internal, no question about that. But He also created me "fearfully and wonderfully" (Psalm 139:14), inside and out. I think the Lord delights when I care for my body as a precious gift He has handcrafted and chosen to bless me with.

God calls the body of each man or woman who has a personal relationship with Him, a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19). 2 Chronicles 3 details some of God's plans for His actual temple building, probably one of the most beautiful architectural accomplishments in all history! If He ordered such lavish beauty for a building that would represent His presence on earth, I don't think He wants Christians, the living, breathing representation of His Spirit to the world around us, running around only in "sackcloth and ashes" and forsaking any kind of fashion.

Isaiah 61:10 says, "I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels" (NIV). The focus of this verse is inward beauty, having my heart and head in the right place, my focus on God. Yet it also hints to me of God's blessing on the outward. God compares His gift of salvation to being beautifully dressed, of being adorned and jeweled. Would He use such language if He disapproved of these actions? And again in Proverbs 1:8-9, "Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck." Wisdom and obedience are also compared to things that beautify the body.

Revisiting 1 Peter 3:3 I see that the Bible never says we should not have outward adornment, only that our beauty should not come from things such as hairdos, jewelry and fine clothes. Beauty needs to come from the heart, the outward things only reflecting our attitudes of within. A gentle and quiet spirit will have no desire to draw undue attention with "flashy" nor seductive dress, but a gentle woman can still dress the part. Would you expect a “gentleman” to attend a business meeting in anything less than a suit? Why should a gentle woman not dress her best as unto the Lord (1 Cor. 10:31, Col 3:17)? It is a joy to think that how I dress, do my makeup, put on jewelery or fix my hair can all be an act of worship to my Creator!

Proverbs 31:30 tells us that "charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." And in the virtues listed of this same woman the Bible states, "she is clothed in fine linen and purple... She is clothed with strength and dignity... (vs. 22-25). Beautiful character and giving attention to our outward expressions of beauty, truly can both be honoring to God.

And if we need final confirmation that God approves of loveliness in all forms, Philippinas 4:8 is a great reminder, “Finally, brothers [and sisters], whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.”

While everything else is getting more expensive...

Affordable Mineral Makeup™ has just dropped our prices! Come on over to www.InnerBeautyGirls.com and take a look. :)

Contest Winners!

It was fun hosting so many contests in July! Here is a list of winners, but remember, if you didn't win this time, you can still take advantage of a great 15% discount off your entire Affordable Mineral Makeup™ order from http://www.InnerBeautyGirls.com when you use the code 2yranniversary in coupon section at checkout. This special offer is valid through Aug. 7, 2008 (ending at midnight EST this Thursday).

The winner of my Bloggy Carnaval Giveaway is Paige!
Please email me with your mailing address within a week so I can get your books and makeup on the way.

The winner of our Summer Skin Care Give-away is Janet F. of NJ!
You will be hearing directly from May Flowers Naturals about how to claim your prize soon. :)

The winner of my prize package offered in the Christian Work at Home Mom 30-day prize give-away is Jennifer F. of PA.
I contacted you about a week and a half ago, and sent a reminder tonight. Please respond by Aug. 9 with your prize selections.


And in case you try to get ahold of me and I don't reply as quickly as I normally would, I just wanted to let you know that we are in the midst of a family emergency and my internet time may be significantly limited over the next several days. Your prayers for my husband's family are greatly appreciated at this time.

15% Affordable Mineral Makeup™ discount code

This week marks the 2 year anniversary of Affordable Mineral Makeup™ as a company!

Join the celebration by enjoying 15% off your entire order from www.InnerBeautyGirls.com when you use the code 2yranniversary in coupon section at checkout. This special offer is valid Aug. 1, 2008 through Aug. 7, 2008 (ending at midnight EST).

My Birthday, You Get the Gifts! (Bloggy Giveaways Carnival and more.)

I promised you a July full of give-aways. Well, today's my birthday, so I want to give out some gifts! Let's end this month on a really high note, and start out the new one with a bang!!!

First of all, tomorrow marks the 2-year anniversary of Affordable Mineral Makeup™ (click link for 15% discount code!) and my consultant page at www.InnerBeautyGirls.com has undergone a "face lift" so please drop by and take a look. I also want to offer a hearty "Congratulations!" to Tara, our company founder, for starting and growing a wonderful business these past two years. If you would like to join us, today's your last day to get started with Affordable Mineral Makeup™! for just $12 instead of the normal $30 enrollment fee! Deadline for this offer is midnight EST tonight (July 31). To get $18 off your sign up, go to http://affordablemineralmakeup.com/bizopp.html and select the Consultant option, then click the pay now tag and at checkout put the word christmasinjuly in the coupon section. The computer system will automatically take off $18 of your sign up fee. Please list Jenni Saake as your sponsor on the sign up form.



Have you seen the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Giveaway Carnival yet? It's an amazing gathering of nearly 1,000 bloggers, all giving away free stuff through today and tomorrow (some even into next week). Much is parenting related, several jewlery companies, some web designes offering blog make-overs and much more. If you like contests and freebies, check them out.

For my own gifts in the Bloggy Giveaway, I'm offering gently read copies of:

1. Vonda Skelton's Seeking Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe, and

2. Tricia Goyer's My Life Unscripted.

"Who Put a Stop Payment on My Reality Check?" and "I checked my Bible concordance... 'easy' and 'fair' are not there." are phrases that describe Vonda's book, while Trica writes a "play script" for teen girls.

3. I will also throw in a couple of samples of Affordable Mineral Makeup™!

To enter, all I need is a comment left here on my blog, US mailing addresses only please. Be sure to leave me an email address to get ahold of you if you win. I'll be drawing my winner on Monday morning, so you have until midnight (Pacific time) Sunday night to enter. Winner will have 1 week to respond with mailing address in order to claim prize.

While you are here, don't forget to check out the links to other great drawings and contests I've offered this month:

Book of Names contest for FREE Wii or iPod

Summer Skin Care Give-Away

Win a FREE Wii™ System, iPod™ Nanos or signed Book of Names

(If you are reading this via email and can't view the video, be sure to drop by the Inner Beauty Blog to see this amazing video for yourself.)

I'm stepping a bit outside my usual offering with this one, but the prizes (a FREE Wii™ System!, an iPod™ Nanos, and signed copies of THE BOOK OF NAMES, by D. Barkley Briggs of http://hiddenlands.net where you will find contest details) are just too big to ignore. So I emailed the author and asked if his book touched on true beauty in any ways. Here's Mr. Briggs' reply, along with a short passage from his book.

"The central theme of my book is about the power of identity, and where true identity originates. While the tone is geared more towards boys, I've heard from plenty of girls about how much they love the fantasy genre (as well as from their moms and grandmas who are buying it for them)."

The following scene involves Hadyn, the older brother, being captured by the Nameless. He is being hauled away in the hold of a ship along with many other Nameless/Lost, on their way to the island of the sorceress Nemesia. They go to her to forget themselves and their pain:

"I don't know what Kyra means. I just know I don't like it. I never have."
"Why? It's very pretty."
"That is why. I am not nearly so pretty as my name."
Hadyn, taken aback, quickly realized he needed to be careful. He did not want to risk offending whatever new friend or ally he had just gained. Kyra had smooth skin and bright eyes flecked with mischief not yet lost to Nemesia. Like all the Lost, she was dirty and worn, but most anyone seeing her would have thought her attractive. Not beautiful, but cute. And feminine, with a girlish, fluttering voice.
"I don't much like being a girl," she said, as if reading his thoughts. "Always guessing what other people think about me. I grew up watching the Revlon Cirque in Portaferry. Now those are women! So beautiful and graceful, with those huge feathers in their long, twirling hair."
"I'm sorry. I don't know what that is."
"The Cirque? Are you even from here? You talk funny."
"To be honest, I don't know how to tell you where I'm from."
"Well, everyone here loves the Revlon Cirque," Kyra smirked. "They are the most marvelous carnivale in all the world. Men desire them. Women envy them. Paintings of them hang in the streets. They are rich and famous." She lowered her eyes. "I do not have their shape, their face, or their fame. I never will. When I told a friend once how I wished I could be a Revlon, she laughed at me."
Hadyn spoke gently. "Not much of a friend, I'd say."
Kyra was unmoved. She pulled out a small round mirror from the folds of her gown. It fit in the palm of her hand. She gazed into it sadly. "That is only because you do not see what I see every day in the looking glass."

- from THE BOOK OF NAMES, by D. Barkley Briggs. Used by permission from NavPress. Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. www.navpress.com


So I leave you with this simple question... What do you see every day in your looking glass?

Tweeting on Twitter

If you have a Twitter account, feel free to follow me there at http://twitter.com/InfertilityMom.

Don't know what Twitter is? Neither did I until my dear hubby introduced me to this "mini-blogging" network where users post messages of no more than 140 characters at a time. Great way to keep up with friends without being bogged down in long posts. And for long-winded writers like me, a fun challenge to get to the point quickly and creatively. :)

I'll be posting a really exciting book promotional tomorrow or Thursday, with an amazing grand prize, so you'll want to be on the lookout for that. And if you haven't entered our Summer Skin Care give-away be sure to do so before it's too late! In fact, most of the specials, discounts and promotions that have been posted this month end within the next day or two, so be sure to check them out!