Thursday, September 17, 2009

Thankful Thursday


Hello my sweet friends, and welcome to another thankful Thursday post. Wow, satan is attacking so many of us recently, in various ways. He is stirring up the pot of bad stew, and wants to pour it all over us. How many of you feel like that? With me, he has been attacking me physically, and messing with my self worth. The bloggers retreat is coming up in just a few weeks, in October. I have been so looking forward to it for months now, but as it is getting closer to being a reality, satan is really trying to bring me down. Every time I am near a mirror, I refuse to look in it. I have been feeling very down about my no hair situation, thinking about how lovely all the ladies are that will be at the retreat, and then, there is me!! I feel so different from all of them, like a sore thumb standing out in the crowd. It scares me, and makes me not want to go. I feel like I am not good enough to be among all of them. But, then, I hear that still, small voice, that I love so very, very much. My Father speaking to me once again, He reminds me that I belong to Him, He molded me to be who I am, and more importantly, to be Whose I am. He tells me not to worry about this outward package, but gaze into my inner chambers. That is where my worth comes from. In my Father's eyes, I am beautiful, and that is all that matters to me. So, I am going to Florida to the bloggers retreat, and I am going to shine as brightly as I can for my father. I will be the one standing out from the crowd, with hardly any hair, but look who is standing right there beside me, my Father with His arms around me, loving me completely, because I am His daughter.

33 comments:

becky aka theRAV said...

This is another beautiful post Denise. It matters not what other people think.

JLaine said...

amen!!.. Men look at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.. You have a beautiful heart Sweet Denise.

Lalaine's World
From Asia and Beyond
Day to Day Miracles
Trying to be Fit
Not a Shopaholic

Anonymous said...

Oh, Amen! God created us and we are beautiful! The eyes that see us in the worldly mirrors are so often shrouded with fear, anger, etc., all placed there by satan himself.
We are beautiful in God's eyes. He knows our hearts. he knows our strengths. He knows!
With love and care this day, ~ linda

Leaon Mary said...

Oh Denise, that stinkin ole devil sure can mess with our minds.
I know you read how I'd gotten a haircut I didn't like and I shared how I "felt" about it. thee ole devil wants to beat Gods people DOWN. he loves to make us feel LESS THAN, because then he can get our focus off God. Lets' kick his sorry snakeskin back to hades.
You are WONDERFULLY MADE Denise.
You are a beautiful daughter "warrior" of THE KING! Hair is just hair.
I LOVE ya honey,
Liiiiiiiike: an awesome time at the bloggers retreat surrounded by SISTERS who LOVE you, and a FATHER who adores you. Oh how I wish I could go too and wrap my arms around you with a great BIG BEAR HUG.

Happy Thankful Thursday,
Hallelujah Jesus!!!!!!!!!!

Karen said...

All of God's masterpieces are beautiful...inside and out...you are a blessing, sister....

Cathy said...

Just don't listen to that old devil, Denise. Your mind stays on Jesus. You know God loves you and so do all your blogging sisters in Christ. You are loved, dear sister and will get plenty of hugs!
You know, when I went to my high school reunion, most all my friends had dyed hair. But I do not care at all, because His Word says Gray hair is a crown of glory.

Saleslady371 said...

You are not only beautiful in God's eyes, but in the eyes of your friends. I, for one, tear up on this blog than any other. I only see your heart, not your hair. Any woman in her right mind would praise the Lord for your friendship. Masterpiece you are!

rcubes said...

Shine for Jesus sister Denise! Don't listen to that defeated enemy! May the Lord protect all who will be a part of this beautiful fellowship for the Lord. Blessings to you sister.

Tanya said...

It truly doesn't matter what other people think,you are a true inspiration and it isn't because of your outside beauty but because you have a beautiful heart you are warm kind and caring.You are a very rare gem!!!

Heather said...

That's right you keep listening to him! Do not let Satan keep you from going. Those women need you as much as you need them. Think of how many hearts you will break if you don't go. We all love you for you, it doesn't matter if you have little hair or 10 feet of bright blue hair!

LAURIE said...

What a beautiful post, straight from your heart. Nobody will be able to get past your loving and giving spirit. Happy TT!

More Than Words said...

Oh Denise..I will be praying for ya, friend. Don't let the enemy steal your joy about going to the convention!! I'm sure so many women are looking forward to meeting you!

Talk..to..Grams said...

Hey, I agree with Lea! You are so beautiful!
I love you!! Hugs, Grams

bp said...

You are a masterpiece! I can't wait to hear about the wonderful time you have at the retreat.

Thank you for your encouragement.

Beth Cotell said...

Beautiful post Denise! (And beautiful YOU!)

Bernadine said...

So happy that you can hear the sweet, loving voice of our Heavenly Father speaking to you.

I wish I could be at the blogger's retreat. I'd love to meet you in person.

Grace said...

I really hope I can join this blogger retreat in Florida, since we will be moving down there first week of October. Please help me pray for that.
Happy TT. :)

Rita T. said...

Great thoughts. So glad that God looks on the inside and not on the outside. I'd fail miserably if I were judged by my appearance. Hope you're having a good evening.

GodsOwn/Bernice said...

Denise ...i had to comment and agree so with the ladies above...YOU ARE SO SPECIAL.....YOUR HEART is what touches me over and over in your blogs ,in your comments.......And that is what counts and stays and makes our father smile when He looks at us.......

I pray for you and myself that we see ourselfse as how He sees us!
Love you
( BTW i still wish i could come to the retreat but financiallyi can't work it out to pay the flight and arrange everything for the kids who have school leave arround that time!)

Alleluiabelle said...

Hi My Sweet Friend,

I love you!!!!

Keep your mind, heart and soul absolutely, positively all in Him. I know how that slime ball of a thing tries to steal our joy, but you are never alone. Jesus is always with you and...you have all of us to blanket you warmly with our prayers. There is no space for that thing to ever get near you.

As for hair, I've never seen you but I know you from your heart writings and that is all that matters. There was a time in my life when I was so stressed that I lost the middle section of my top eyelashes on both eyes and right now I keep losing a little bit of my hair each time I wash it. As Lea said, "You are WONDERFULLY MADE Denise. You are a beautiful daughter "warrior" of THE KING! Hair is just hair."

I've learned a lot and can even now go out of the house without makeup on...now that's a major feat in itself for me.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!! SMILE AND BE HAPPY YOU GORGEOUS WOMAN OF GOD!

Love you so much,
Alleluiabelle

Anne Lang Bundy said...

Denise, if I bumped into you, I'm thinking the inner beauty which comes through in your words would be showing all over you.

i said...

Denise, I've not met you in person but from what I've seen of you so far, you are absolutely beautiful, inside and out! You are! Have a great weekend! A big hug from me! Happy sends her wags and licks!

Laureen said...

Amen!What matters most is what God thinks about you.Oh,dear!you are definitely so beautiful in God sight for you are His creation.He loves you so much..Romans 8:35"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?Shall tribulation,or distress,or persecution,or famine,or nakedness,or peril,or sword?
I can see the truth of this verse in your life.I'm so blessed of your honesty to God and to us how you feel but the best thing is you are holding on to God.You are truly an encouragement.I will continually pray for you...

April said...

Denise...you go to that retreat and hold your head up high! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!

GranthamLynn said...

Oh Denise what a sweet Thankful post. I am so glad I got a chance to come by today. I love the new look on the blog btw. I am praying for you. You wrote a beautiful heartfilled post yesterday. And what a lovely way to end it reminding us all who is standing beside us. Have an amazing Friday and a Blessed Weekend.
Hugs,
Sherry

Grace on the Narrow Path said...

I am so glad you are going my friend. My prayers are with you all. YOU are beautiful to me.
Your sister in Christ,
Bren

Gretchen said...

Hey beautiful, lurve you! Man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart.

Oops, I see that someone already posted that. Well, I'm leaving mine, too b/c it's true. Love your heart.

Marsha said...

Sweet friend! {{{HUGS}}} I'm sorry I didn't get over here earlier, but Thursday was a bad health day for me so I'm just getting around here this evening to check on you because you haven't been by today.

You are so beautiful my friend! I can't wait for us to take our road trip together to the retreat! Hair, no hair, scarf or no scarf, it doesn't matter! You are going to be surrounded by dear friends who LOVE YOU for who you are...our dear, precious sister in the Lord.

We need to be lifting one another up and keeping Satan at bay. He has not been invited to this retreat and he is not welcome to even think about crashin' our precious time together.

I love you dearly! Praying for you.

Pam D said...

Oh, Denise.. it breaks my heart to think that you see yourself as anything less than perfectly made. Your inner beauty shines through SO brightly; I have to believe that the people who will be that retreat have hearts like yours and will just love you. satan, I rebuke you; stay away from my sweet sister, and do not return. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are standing guard around her, and you may NOT claim a victory over her mind or heart. Be gone.
Jesus.. fill Denise's heart with the sure knowledge that she is a daughter of the King and absolutely beautiful. She loves you, and you love her. And that, dear Lord, is enough.. it is MORE than enough. Let her feel complete in you and to find joy when she looks in the mirror.
I love you, my friend, even on the days when I am absent. You are beautiful...

Debbie said...

Here are two verses that have helped me to remember what God is looking for:

1 Peter 3:3-4
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

I do believe God is delighted when He looks at you for He sees the beauty within!

And so do I!

Go and enjoy the retreat - wish I were going :-)

Shelby said...

Oh Denise! You are so completely awesome. Satan IS trying to stir up a big pot of nasty stew to dump all over us, for sure. I am SO GLAD that you, through the Father, have triumphed over the insecurities the old dirtbag is trying to lay on you because you are truly one of the most beautiful people I have ever (never!) met.

Cheptoek said...

I've been away for a while because of precisely what you are talking about here, attacks of satan. Thank you for this wonderful post. You are an amazing woman of God and extremely beautiful in so many ways. He is the King, my King, our King! Blessings and love to you Denise.

Great-Granny Grandma said...

A beautiful post, Denise.