GENESIS 3:11 - Who Told You?
I've been thinking how I was going to write this to go with the release for my painting and print for weeks now. I haven't come up with an awesome way but I'm just going to spill my guts and tears to you and I hope and pray you'll walk away with a new perspective...
Growing up with the last name "Wieners" I got made fun of a lot. A whole lot! I remember the first time it happened I was in First grade. That was the first time I ever felt different for something I had absolutely no control over. Someone made a joke about my name and everyone else laughed at me. That was the first time I remember feeling shame.
I remember in Third grade my teacher told me in front of the whole class at story time that my teeth were yellow. I didn't like smiling after that day.
I remember my Freshman year when the kids in my art class would make fun of my size. I stopped eating after that.
I remember when my Dad got mad at me for crying. I stopped showing emotion after that.
I remember when my body was used as an object against my will. I stopped caring after that.
I remember every comment made about my appearance. I remember every time you tell me I look pretty and every time you tell me I look healthy and every time you tell me I look skinny and every time you tell me my legs are big. I remember every magazine that tells me I'm overweight and every news channel that tells me I need to try out this new diet. I remember every conversation that tells me I need to learn how to put on makeup because guys want someone who can look like a lady. I remember every diet pill and cellulite remover. I remember every comment that talks down about someone's looks. I remember. And I can't forget them. I can't un-see or un-hear or unread those things. They are with me and sometimes I let them fester inside of me and I start believing that I am worthless, and used, and fat, and look like a boy, and ugly, and shameful, and addicted, and I'll never be capable of love.
Then I remember Genesis 3:11...."Who told you that you were naked?"
Adam and Eve are in the garden and they have fallen. They are full of shame because Satan told them they were naked after they sinned. They then starting covering themselves up. I imagine layers and layers of leaves because they don't want anything real to show. I imagine Eve is trying to hide her thunder thighs and cellulite (my words of course). Then God says with some hurt in his voice like a loving father when his child feels sad, "Who told you that you were naked?"
In other words,
Who told you that you were ugly?
Who told you that you were too much?
Who told you that you couldn't do that?
Who told you that you were the problem?
Who told you that you weren't pretty?
Who told you that you were fat?
Who told you that you weren't a good mom?
Who told you that you'll never amount to anything?
Who told you that you'll never be loved?
.
Who told you? Who?!
Not God, not Jesus.
Because I know that He IS and always will be for us. Over and over we see how He has rescued us and how He loves us!
He tells me that I am a MASTERPIECE.
He tells me that I am FEARFULLY & WONDERFULLY MADE.
He tells me that I am a NEW CREATION.
He tells me that I am an ORIGINAL.
He tells me that I am MADE FOR A PURPOSE.
He tells me I am ENOUGH.
He tells me I am BEAUTIFUL.
He tells me all these things daily! The hardest part is stopping long enough to listen to Him and to stop listening to what the world tells me I should be. Romans 12:2 reminds me not to conform to what the world is doing but let my mind be changed and transformed, made new.
That means I have to quit all this negative self-talk and stop letting all the comments of the world bother me. I know what my God says about me and that's all that matters! I've had to write this verse everywhere and say it out loud several times a day and even inside my head hundreds of times a day. Anytime you feel like you don't measure up in one way or another, I hope that you will softly say to yourself, "who told you?" --- in my experience it changes my outlook and I have to think that it was not someone who was on my side.
Jesus wins and I believe what he tells me..... His child, His beautiful daughter.
ON THE CALENDAR:
September 19st from 9-4 pm
Bring your own supplies for your favorite hobby
(scrapbooking, card making, knitting, etc.) and come work on them
alongside other ladies from WFA. You can come and go at anytime
throughout the day. For more information, please contact Maggie Scherr
at maggiescherr@yahoo.com.
*1ST FRIENDS PLAYDATES
September 3rd at 10 am
Join us for our last 1st FRIENDS play date of the year at Sunset Park. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch. Check the sidebar for directions.
*1st SISTERHOOD NIGHTS
September 21st at 7:00 pm
September 21st at 7:00 pm
Our theme is New Beginnings. Please join us for a night of refreshing worship and an anointed message. We look forward to seeing you!
*LITTLE BLESSINGS
September 24th at 7:00 pm
A message from Amy Prebil, the leader of Little Blessings: "Little
blessings is a group of women with young children. It started out for
women who were pregnant up to babies a year old. We quickly found we
needed continued support and encouragement and opened it to all moms
with young children. My passion is for mothers and young children, and I
love meeting with these amazing women. We meet the 4th Thursday of
every month in the cafe. Our group is full of laughter, encouragement,
support, and prayer. God is the center of this group, and He has
blessed us all with such great relationships and compassion for each
other. We love seeing this group continue to grow and flourish. Please
call me if you are interested in joining us (262-422-7516.)"
*NURSERY VOLUNTEERS
Tot's Tree house is looking for volunteers for 1 service a month. Please contact Amy Prebil (amyprebil@gmail.com) if you can help.
*FOOD PANTRY AND SOLES FOR JESUS COLLECTIONS
In case you weren't aware, we have a collection point in the foyer for
the Waukesha Food Pantry, and one in Uptown for shoes to be donated to
Soles for Jesus. We collect all year for these ministries. In the month
of August the Food Pantry is collecting lunch box items (mayonaise,
jelly, granola bars, applesauce, etc). Dropping an item in the bin every
week is an easy way to teach our kids the value of helping others.
Our
church family is growing! Many babies have come and will be coming in
the next few weeks/months. We would love to bless our new moms with a
gift bag filled with newborn items (diapers, wipes, baby bath items,
onesies, gowns, or swaddlers). Amy Prebil organizes this and has set up
a Treasure Chest back in our nursery area to accept item donations.
Please also contact her if you are interested in donating any handmade
items.
