Real WOMEN Real FAITH - Rebekah

Rebekah
Rejecting Stereotypes -
Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

- Day 3 -

Stereotypes and More.....

The word stereotype means that you drop individual differences and narrow down information to form an opinion. Then this opinion becomes a standard that one should adapt to.  Do stereotypes become an authority in our lives?

In May 2010, a survey was done among 8.600 European women.  A sociologist commented on the results that showed women are influenced more than ever by social norms, fashion, and advertisement.  Many women said that they do not go out without makeup.  The women expressed a desire to make their own rules about beauty but their actions show they conformed to the stereotypes that are now the same around the world.  The result from the study showed 92% of women in France turn to the Internet to gather information.  For women who wear makeup, mascara turned out to be number one:  in France 36% of women have to put on mascara before they go out the door.....Oh, but that is France!  Au contraire - the numbers are higher in other countries: Italy 43%; Germany 39%; and England 43%.

Why do I at some point abandon my opinion, my taste, my reason and possibly common sense and turn to a magazine or the Internet to find out what is trendy?  What am I looking for?  Could it be beauty?  Acceptance?  Respect?  Love?

The Original Beauty Source

Genesis 1:1, 27  & 31

In the BEGINNING GOD created the heavens and the earth......So GOD CREATED MANKIND in his own image, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD he created them; male and female he created them......God saw all that he had made, and it was VERY GOOD.

Who was the first beauty source?  God
What was His final creation?  Man and Woman
Who did they look like?  God
What was the result?  VERY good!

Genesis 5:3

When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.

Genesis 3:20

Adam named his wife Eve because she would be the mother of all the living.

Are there any descendants of Eve who are specifically described in the Bible as being beautiful?  Check out Genesis 12:11 and Genesis 24:16.

Do you see a pattern here?  According to the Original Beauty Source are you beautiful?

PRAY - Invite God into your struggle of seeing yourself as beautiful.  Is there a beauty or image goal you're striving for? Can you relinquish control over to God and His plan for you and His Kingdom?

SHARE - Who was or is your beauty icon?  What makes her beautiful in your eyes?