Loving Father,
Awaken in me a pure desire to be a woman of emotional, physical and spiritual health. Teach me to enjoy the process of tending to, nourishing, and renewing my body. Awaken me to the sight, smell, and taste of foods and nutrients which can provide me with the energy and health to accomplish your will for my life. I rebuke any selfish, insecure or vain desire to match up to the false standard of beauty set before me by this world. Test me God, and know my thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in my relationship with food or my body. Teach me the meaning and fullness of your grace in this area of my life. Lord, I choose to live a life of health, freedom and true beauty for your glory.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
The Comparison Game - To Complete not Compete
I recently came across the results of a survey which asked women which area of their lives they are most competitive with their friends. 80% of respondents said they are most competitive with their girlfriends about their weight.
My secret comparison game started back in Junior High, when with my feet dangling off the edge of our pool I stared at the tan naked thighs of my two best friends, back to my own, and back to theirs' again. Seeing that my upper thighs were much wider in circumference, I automatically concluded that in the body department I didn't quite measure up.
As women, comparing one another has become like a survival game for our sense of self-worth. We constantly feel less than, not pretty enough, not stylish enough, not worthy enough. We simply don't stack up against that model in the magazine, that girl in our class, or that hot mom on the treadmill, and so to keep from coming undone, we discount others who maybe the world says do not stack up to us in a certain department.
I can't believe she's eating that. I'm so much "healthier" than her.
She has such a great figure, but she's not that pretty.
I wish I had her legs, but at least I have a smaller waist.
Pretty sad, isn't it?
I imagine it hurts God to tears when His daughters fire invisible arrows at one another, hiding behind false smiles and kind words. "I love you the same," He wants to scream. "You are beautiful just the way you are. You are all equal in my eyes. Don't speak to my daughter that way...I made her. She is fearfully and wonderfully made - and so are you my child."
What comparison games do you entertain with the women around you? With strangers, your friends, your sisters? Behind our smiles, our kind words, our self-assuredness or insecurity we are all fragile. We are all wanting the same thing - to be found beautiful, desirable, understood, accepted, and worthy of fighting for. And so let us disrobe our spirit of competitiveness and put on a spirit of love - a desire to complete one another with genuine words of affirmation giving praise to God for the radiant beauty in others, giving grace generously as our Father does us.
Here are some words of truth to live by:
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. -Colossians 3:11-13
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. -Romans 12:3
My secret comparison game started back in Junior High, when with my feet dangling off the edge of our pool I stared at the tan naked thighs of my two best friends, back to my own, and back to theirs' again. Seeing that my upper thighs were much wider in circumference, I automatically concluded that in the body department I didn't quite measure up.
As women, comparing one another has become like a survival game for our sense of self-worth. We constantly feel less than, not pretty enough, not stylish enough, not worthy enough. We simply don't stack up against that model in the magazine, that girl in our class, or that hot mom on the treadmill, and so to keep from coming undone, we discount others who maybe the world says do not stack up to us in a certain department.
I can't believe she's eating that. I'm so much "healthier" than her.
She has such a great figure, but she's not that pretty.
I wish I had her legs, but at least I have a smaller waist.
Pretty sad, isn't it?
I imagine it hurts God to tears when His daughters fire invisible arrows at one another, hiding behind false smiles and kind words. "I love you the same," He wants to scream. "You are beautiful just the way you are. You are all equal in my eyes. Don't speak to my daughter that way...I made her. She is fearfully and wonderfully made - and so are you my child."
What comparison games do you entertain with the women around you? With strangers, your friends, your sisters? Behind our smiles, our kind words, our self-assuredness or insecurity we are all fragile. We are all wanting the same thing - to be found beautiful, desirable, understood, accepted, and worthy of fighting for. And so let us disrobe our spirit of competitiveness and put on a spirit of love - a desire to complete one another with genuine words of affirmation giving praise to God for the radiant beauty in others, giving grace generously as our Father does us.
Here are some words of truth to live by:
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. -Colossians 3:11-13
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. -Romans 12:3
Friday, August 8, 2008
A Random Blog...
Okay, so I’m sitting in my over-heated apartment working away. I just acted upon what my senses sensed as a “good thing” and dove into a freshly-baked pan of banana bread I made this morning. Not to mislead you - I’m no Betty Crocker. I just read the directions and thankfully pulled it out before it caught on fire.
I wasn’t hungry for it - at all, but I ate it anyway. I just wanted to be “filled up.” Fully acknowledging that I was hungrier for more than what banana bread could feed me, I immediately heard what I call a God-whisper - some inaudible, but very real voice inviting me to “hang out” and just be still with my Maker. Not now God, I’m blatantly told Him as I worked away - I want to get this done!
Sometimes (okay, a lot of times), I’d rather do stuff for God than set aside time to be with Him, or let some lesser pleasure like banana bread try to fill me up. It’s this crazy paradox because what I’m working so hard at is to help young women know their value and to know where it really lies. I want them to know it doesn’t come from the clothes they wear, the shape of their body, their socioeconomic status, external beauty, or what they do. I want them to know who they truly are and who they belong to.
Coming from a family of over-achievers it’s natural for me to search for worth in the work I do - in what I produce and have to place before the world. Achievement (or beauty or personality or I’ll let you fill in the blank) seems to give significance to our seemingly insignificant lives. But my story of brokenness and God’s intervention in the midst of it has taught me better than that. Having been hospitalized for severe depression at age eighteen, I was unexpectedly stripped away of everything I had or appeared to be that the world deemed valuable. Brokenness stripped away my pride, sanity, personality, physical beauty and all I had placed my hope in: college on the east coast, Friday night football games, fraternity parties, and true happiness - someday.
But in being stripped away of everything I had gotten my worth from, I was free to receive my TRUE value. The God that was always there, but I never really knew met me supernaturally and began to free me with a true sense of my value and worth as His daughter. I was introduced to His truth, His living word - the mysterious book we had on our family bookshelf but never opened and the one I studied in my religion class, but never really listened to for myself.
Today, I joyfully walk in the truth of who I am; beloved, redeemed, forgiven, heaven-bound, blessed and made to glorify my Maker and Savior Jesus Christ. Reflecting on my season of utter brokenness, I am gently reminded that our worth comes from Him alone. So I can just relax, stop striving and just be. I think I’ll go do that now. =)
I wasn’t hungry for it - at all, but I ate it anyway. I just wanted to be “filled up.” Fully acknowledging that I was hungrier for more than what banana bread could feed me, I immediately heard what I call a God-whisper - some inaudible, but very real voice inviting me to “hang out” and just be still with my Maker. Not now God, I’m blatantly told Him as I worked away - I want to get this done!
Sometimes (okay, a lot of times), I’d rather do stuff for God than set aside time to be with Him, or let some lesser pleasure like banana bread try to fill me up. It’s this crazy paradox because what I’m working so hard at is to help young women know their value and to know where it really lies. I want them to know it doesn’t come from the clothes they wear, the shape of their body, their socioeconomic status, external beauty, or what they do. I want them to know who they truly are and who they belong to.
Coming from a family of over-achievers it’s natural for me to search for worth in the work I do - in what I produce and have to place before the world. Achievement (or beauty or personality or I’ll let you fill in the blank) seems to give significance to our seemingly insignificant lives. But my story of brokenness and God’s intervention in the midst of it has taught me better than that. Having been hospitalized for severe depression at age eighteen, I was unexpectedly stripped away of everything I had or appeared to be that the world deemed valuable. Brokenness stripped away my pride, sanity, personality, physical beauty and all I had placed my hope in: college on the east coast, Friday night football games, fraternity parties, and true happiness - someday.
But in being stripped away of everything I had gotten my worth from, I was free to receive my TRUE value. The God that was always there, but I never really knew met me supernaturally and began to free me with a true sense of my value and worth as His daughter. I was introduced to His truth, His living word - the mysterious book we had on our family bookshelf but never opened and the one I studied in my religion class, but never really listened to for myself.
Today, I joyfully walk in the truth of who I am; beloved, redeemed, forgiven, heaven-bound, blessed and made to glorify my Maker and Savior Jesus Christ. Reflecting on my season of utter brokenness, I am gently reminded that our worth comes from Him alone. So I can just relax, stop striving and just be. I think I’ll go do that now. =)
Monday, July 28, 2008
Hungry for Hope Conference
Hey There -
Just thought I would fill you in about an amazing conference I had the privilege of attending last weekend hosted by Remuda Ranch, a Christian eating disorder treatment center. I attended the conference with my friend Debbie who is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and my mentor Judy Halliday (Thin Within).
The conference consisted of several workshops hosted by Remuda staff and Constance Rhodes (founder of Finding Balance). I was impacted by so many of the sessions, but my 2 favorite sessions were called "Heavenly Bodies" and "Hope and Glory." I walked away more equipped and eager to allow the HOPE we have in Christ to fully invade our present - to invade the way we think about ourselves, our future, our body and the world we live in. God isn't done with us yet and He's not going to give up on His creation. So if you're bent over and broken from life (I know I've been there!), I pray that you can grasp on to the truth that you have a HOPE and a FUTURE. That all that is broken will be redeemed.
I also want to formally tell you about the True Campaign - Constance Rhodes (of Finding Balance) and Travis Stewart (from Remuda) have partnered together in an effort to change the culture and end the crisis. Check out their website for some great encouragement! Constance, Travis, Judy, Debbie and I had a chance to meet for a bit and will be talking about possibilities we can partner together! So we'll keep you posted!
Love & Hugs,
Allie
Just thought I would fill you in about an amazing conference I had the privilege of attending last weekend hosted by Remuda Ranch, a Christian eating disorder treatment center. I attended the conference with my friend Debbie who is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and my mentor Judy Halliday (Thin Within).
The conference consisted of several workshops hosted by Remuda staff and Constance Rhodes (founder of Finding Balance). I was impacted by so many of the sessions, but my 2 favorite sessions were called "Heavenly Bodies" and "Hope and Glory." I walked away more equipped and eager to allow the HOPE we have in Christ to fully invade our present - to invade the way we think about ourselves, our future, our body and the world we live in. God isn't done with us yet and He's not going to give up on His creation. So if you're bent over and broken from life (I know I've been there!), I pray that you can grasp on to the truth that you have a HOPE and a FUTURE. That all that is broken will be redeemed.
I also want to formally tell you about the True Campaign - Constance Rhodes (of Finding Balance) and Travis Stewart (from Remuda) have partnered together in an effort to change the culture and end the crisis. Check out their website for some great encouragement! Constance, Travis, Judy, Debbie and I had a chance to meet for a bit and will be talking about possibilities we can partner together! So we'll keep you posted!
Love & Hugs,
Allie
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Respect Your Body First
We must first learn to love and appreciate our body before we look to someone else to find it beautiful. This awesome appreciation for for our body opens the door for others to find us desirable and worthy of respect. Like a fast-moving virus or a silly laugh, how you feel about your body is contagious. If you carry yourself and your body in a way that communicates confidence, security and contentment, others will get this vibe and reciprocate it. If you are blessed to become a mother or a mentor someday, you will have the opportunity to teach your daughter (or encourage another girl) to be confident in her own skin, even though some of our moms or mentors may not have been able to do that for us.
As a friend, you can model to your girlfriends how to love and find beauty in their own bodies by finding beauty in your own. If you walk and talk like the body beautiful daughter of God you are, you can liberate the women around you from the bondage of negative self-image. How can we expect our boyfriends, husbands, children and friends to cherish us if we don’t see ourselves as worthy? God has already called your body “good”. You are the crown of His creation and He wants you to walk in this truth and communicate it to the world around you. So walk tall and carry your body like the temple of God it is. If we are going to change the ways of this world, it has to start with us.
Let's do it!
*Excerpt from HEAL: Healthy Eating & Abundant Living by Allie Marie Smith & Judy Halliday (Coming December 2008)
As a friend, you can model to your girlfriends how to love and find beauty in their own bodies by finding beauty in your own. If you walk and talk like the body beautiful daughter of God you are, you can liberate the women around you from the bondage of negative self-image. How can we expect our boyfriends, husbands, children and friends to cherish us if we don’t see ourselves as worthy? God has already called your body “good”. You are the crown of His creation and He wants you to walk in this truth and communicate it to the world around you. So walk tall and carry your body like the temple of God it is. If we are going to change the ways of this world, it has to start with us.
Let's do it!
*Excerpt from HEAL: Healthy Eating & Abundant Living by Allie Marie Smith & Judy Halliday (Coming December 2008)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Inner Beauty Exercise!
I think I was around the age of twelve when I started visualizing my ideal body. It resembled the tall, lean and rock hard physique of Gabrielle Reece (minus about four inches in height). I remember cutting her out of a magazine and coveting those tan legs, washboard abs and lean biceps as my own. Twelve years later (yes, I’m a very stubborn, slow learner!) I’ve realized that this hasn’t gotten me anywhere. As far as I know, my physique hasn’t yet been compared to Laird’s bride and the color of my skin can be more likened to a bar of ivory soap.
I recently came across one of her ads and admit that I felt pretty envious of her statuesque frame. And while I was tempted to run about five miles and do a plyo-metric workout in the sand in addition to the exercise I'd already done for the day, I felt God's gentle touch convincing me to do otherwise. So, I did something new! I closed my eyes and imagined myself more beautiful within than ever before. And as I did I couldn't really make out what I looked like, but I "saw" or "felt" a radiant glow that overpowered my external beauty. I felt alive, whole, and eager to love others. During this "inner beauty workout" as I called it I was so focused on filling others up because my heart was filled to the brim with God's love. "We love because He first loved us." My spirit of striving subsided and I was able to rest secure in God's presence.
So God has been teaching me, and slowly I've been listening. While I still have an affinity for fitness and sports (confession: I daydream about being on American Gladiators someday!) I'm realizing that envying other women's bodies for my own isn't going to get me anywhere. Rather, as I allow God through His Holy Spirit to refine me from within I am transformed into the person He desires me to be (in body, mind and spirit) for HIS GLORY, not my own!
Have you gotten your inner beauty exercise today?
I recently came across one of her ads and admit that I felt pretty envious of her statuesque frame. And while I was tempted to run about five miles and do a plyo-metric workout in the sand in addition to the exercise I'd already done for the day, I felt God's gentle touch convincing me to do otherwise. So, I did something new! I closed my eyes and imagined myself more beautiful within than ever before. And as I did I couldn't really make out what I looked like, but I "saw" or "felt" a radiant glow that overpowered my external beauty. I felt alive, whole, and eager to love others. During this "inner beauty workout" as I called it I was so focused on filling others up because my heart was filled to the brim with God's love. "We love because He first loved us." My spirit of striving subsided and I was able to rest secure in God's presence.
So God has been teaching me, and slowly I've been listening. While I still have an affinity for fitness and sports (confession: I daydream about being on American Gladiators someday!) I'm realizing that envying other women's bodies for my own isn't going to get me anywhere. Rather, as I allow God through His Holy Spirit to refine me from within I am transformed into the person He desires me to be (in body, mind and spirit) for HIS GLORY, not my own!
Have you gotten your inner beauty exercise today?
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Facebook Ads Driving You Up the Wall?
Okay, so I'm getting really fired up (not in a good way) about all the ads that flash in front of me everytime I'm on facebook. I'm so fired up that I almost created a whole facebook group called "Facebook: Take down Your Diet Ads!" or something with a little more pizazz. I mean that's what our generation does when we want to change the world, right? We make a facebook group! Haha...
I know fb has way too much information on all of us, but is our BMI index one of them? Have weight-loss companies gone so far that they've resorted to the "muffin-top" ad campaign. Come on people!
Gggrrrrrrr......
I know fb has way too much information on all of us, but is our BMI index one of them? Have weight-loss companies gone so far that they've resorted to the "muffin-top" ad campaign. Come on people!
Gggrrrrrrr......
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