I'm a Diva!

Today I have my lovely daughter Michaela as the writer for Paper Mache. She is the oldest of our five daughters  (22).  I've learned a lot from this gal, I have grown because of her. She truly is a blessing, I've watched her blossom from a little girl full of life & personality to a fine, beautiful inside & out woman (still with a ton of personality).  The Lord has used her in my life & she truly has a sweet relationship with Him. Thank you for doing this for me, Michaela! ~ Love you <3*

* please take the poll on the right hand side, Id like to better my blog  :) *

Have you ever met a "diva girl"? Of course, we all have. We may even be that diva, occasionally. Every single human being on the face of the earth is tempted to sin, and even the "godliest" (for who is actually godly in Christs eyes?) fall. Growing up in a household of  all girls has enlightened me to all the dramatic, knife twisting, over emotional, catty tendencies of well, women. It started with Eve, after all. Can't wait to meet her someday and give her a good whats for! ;) Not every girl has the same flaws, but there is a continual need, want, and desire for one thing: beauty. It all comes down to that. Our natural tendency (as humans) is to be our own boss--our own authority. That's whats so beautiful about this constant, every day journey with Jesus. I'm not talking nominal Christianity--tottering at the edge of compromise, praying only when the need arises, reading a verse or two out of guilt--but actually seeking His Face in everything. For our contentment. For our daily willingness to wake up with a smile. If we truly know Him as our Savior, living what I've heard called the Romans 12 life and killing the womanly "cat" (I call her Miss Kitty,) we become warrior-women, princesses, helpmeets-in-training.

You choose the title.

The purpose of this article is this; we all know nasty women. How many of you remember walking into Sunday school, decked out in all your churchy finery, only to be met by a "friend"--the pretty person who always came to class with a new doll, ribbons in her bouncy curls? If you were like me, you were friendly. . .but utterly intimidated.

Bullying is different in children--more obvious, less knife twisting. At least we KNEW we were hated. I made the mistake of pining over friendships, wanting popularity. After all, wasn't I a social butterfly? Why couldn't they like me for who I was? (yes, pesky, loud, obnoxious me. ;) ) Thankfully, through much trial, I learned to rely on my family, and later, God, for happiness. These friendships were much more real, much fuller than any Miss Kitty could offer. And yet, there is a chain of command among women. A desire for love, beauty, acceptance. It writhes of insecurity. It causes hate of others, hate of self, bitterness. "Bullying" may be different in adult women--it may not be about dolls, dresses, or pretty hair. But it is there. And the bully. . .may be me or you.

Girls were created beautiful. We were made to please the hearts of men, to be their brides, to become their helpmeets. To be joined together at the side of strong, handsome prince. (and considering every girls definition of masculine beauty is different. . .ugly husbands don't exist. ;) ) Just as men have their God-given roles and talents, women were made to nurture. To be lovely, shining examples of Proverbs 31. And yet. . .when we look into the mirror, compare ourselves to others, become so self-focused we forget Lover and Friend. . .we see ugliness. Too skinny. Too fat. Not pretty enough. No one will ever want ME. All lies from the Father of Lies. Ever meet a Christian woman on-fire for God? She is beautiful. It may not be in the way the world deems--perfect body, perfect personality, sinless, amiable, toting-a-baby-on-one-hip-with-spatula-in-hand. But she is glowing with HE who lives within her. She isn't looking for attention. She doesn't seek malice towards her sister in Christ. She is the rarest of rubies.

How many of us are truly living for the Lord? How many are seeking Him, begging Him on bent knee to fill us, graft us, make us Spirit controlled? In a group of ten. . .maybe one or two. Sounds judgmental? No. Because I admit to be a first rate offender. Ladies, it's time to wake up, stop thinking of Number 1, and most importantly. . .stop worrying about the opinion of others. Of scratching to the top. Throw away the Diva and find Jesus. You may be on the road to GASP self denial. You may cry, wail even, ask God, "why ME?" Embrace the journey. Thank Him, follow Him. Become the radical, set-apart women He created you to be.

Diva girls. Biting, lashing, pretty, popular. She may be dwelling in me and you. Proverbs 27:4 says: "Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous, but who is able to stand before envy?" If pride is a man's cross, envy is without a doubt a woman's. Why do we dress to impress? Fix our hair just so? Wear all the latest trends? For the guys? Not usually. Most guys are accepting. They are easy going. They appreciate us for who we are.  If you are perfectly honest with yourself, if you really think of your motives. . .it has NOTHING to do with guys. Because in the heart of every girl--striving for beauty, wanting love and attention--there's the twisted thought: "Yeah, but maybe he'll like her better." Insecurity is insecurity. With the Lord's help, it can be conquered (because honestly, nothing is uglier than an insecure grandma. DON'T BECOME ONE. :P I. . .I thought. . .I thought you were some young girl. . .until you turned around. :P ) How we cope with our insecurities is choice. "Bullying" in this sense is deceptive, yet just as biting and painful as the face-to-face competition of childhood. It can be found hiding in compliments, candy-coated smiles, flattery. It may be over a guy, (no, Eponine does NOT come to mind, :) ) the rise to popularity, on the internet. . .within your own family. Ultimately, Miss Kitty is a Diva. And she wants the world to know. She will cry from the housetops if need be. She is queen--the most beautiful in the land. Her magic mirror, calling her fairest, hangs on the wall of her heart. When a diva wants something, she will die to get it (now we can think of Eponine.)  She doesn't care who she injures in her path. And she may not. . .hard as it is to admit, care what GOD thinks.

So how do we deal with the diva--in ourselves and others--in this thing we call LIFE? First of all, ingrain a very important fact in your brain: you can only change yourself.  When Kitty's claws are broken, when you are so alone, so mortified by your sin you come crawling to the cross, remember these verses:

"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."  --Mark 11:23-26 

God cannot bless, He must not bless, if there is bitterness in our hearts. Who did the Lord of the universe create YOU to be? You, dear sister, are perfect in His sight. Cast your burdens, whatever insecurities, (also known as sin,) you have, at His feet. Only Christ can redeem. Struggling with a Diva? Go to God. Struggling BEING a Diva? Go to God! Just as He has forgiven us, we must forgive others. We must stop living for self or worrying about earthly, fleeting things. Until we gain a relationship, a true surrender point, we cannot meet God's standard for womanhood.

Remember who you are in Him. Bigger than insecurity. Bigger than bullying. Contentment doesn't come from personal gain, compliments, friendship, or guys. It comes from the Author of beauty and love. Our Spiritual Husband. 

"Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." --Romans 8:39

Michaela is a 22 year old homeschool grad. Her Savior is her passion. Some "likes"? Dark Chocolate. Coffee. Les Miserables. Italian opera. The High Kings. Sushi. Pink. Long Skirts. LIFE. Follow her at Rhapsody in Pink.