FATTY, FATTY, 2 X 4 . . .
Today, July 26, 2023, I was set free from a negative body image I’ve dealt with all my life. When I received this picture from my dear sister in Christ, Kathi Frye (taken at Jesus Culture Sacramento), I immediately said to myself, “you look like an old, fat lady with a perm!”
Was I smiling? YES! Do I enjoy greeting people at Jesus Culture? YES!
I love people and enjoy meeting and greeting people with a smile; possibly being that first impression or representation of the love of God. Sometimes I see the broken hearted, hurting, precious ones walking through the doors. Many are looking for hope and an answer to life’s challenges. If I’m hurting inside, it will only be a mask they see. When I realized how I saw myself, how could I honestly help or love others unconditionally when I was unloving and judging myself.
Mark 12:30 – 31 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
With the prayer support of my adopted sister, Pattie, we addressed that “little girl (me)” who had been judged and taunted for being overweight. [“Fatty, fatty, two by four; can’t get through the bathroom door . . . .” It’s actually on the internet. ]
We released “her” to appreciate how God made “her” and uses “her”. She looks just like “her” Father (don’t you think?). The very spitting image! [Genesis 1:26 – We, (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) will make them after our image and likeness.]
Can you see Him in “her”? Do you see Him in yourself?
She is the delight of “her” Father. Created to have intimacy with Him in a physical body that was created to host both soul (mind, will and emotions) and spirit where only they exist as one (thank you Julie Miller AFF). God invites us through the cross to be one with Him. It’s not size, mental intellect, or any external attributes that make us acceptable. We are created by Him, unique and perfect in His eyes, accepted by Him. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Ephesians 1:3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
I invite you to do a “heart check” and look at yourself in the mirror. What do you see? What do you want to say about yourself that no one else can hear but the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? How would you describe yourself? Are you saying what God says about you or what the world or others have told you?
God loves you. Like me, you may not realize the judgments you have placed on yourself until you are confronted with them through “sudden” thoughts or memories.
I invite you to pray with me:
“Father, I have judged myself (physically? emotionally? spiritually? mentally?) as being deficient and not measuring up to a standard that was set for me or that I perceived myself to be.
I give you my life and thank you that you accept me just the way I am. I invite you to be not just a guest in my house (mind), but the partner who talks with me in my thoughts, encourages me, challenges me, stays in conversation with me even when I want to quit. I can only love you, because you first loved me. Teach me how to receive that unconditional love. Amen”
As a side note: I shared this with Kathi and this was her response:
“Thank you for sharing. When I saw this picture of you the words that came to mind: Unconditional love, Kindness, Compassion, Welcoming, Jesus heart, Inspiring, Faithful, Strong, Beautiful.
I am glad you are able to see what truly is in the picture and break old lies off – because it is an amazing reflection of our Father right there!!!”
12 Replies to “FATTY, FATTY, 2 X 4 . . .”
You are beautiful inside and out.
The image of your Father God.
Thank you my friend. So are you in every way.
Hi Beth you are beautiful kind hearted person I know. As in Cholesterol is from fatty food you are the HDL good cholesterol High Density Level. May God keep you and enlarge your territory.if you still remember you thought me the prayer of Jabez . . Take care always
Thank you. You have been on this journey with me.
Glory be to our Father God, who reigns in Heaven
that he would reach out and touch his gorgeous daughter’s heart that he formed before she was even in her mother’s womb.
The very DNA of her created body, is created body by the Father God in the heavens.
That she would open up the deepest parts of her heart and share with what the Lord has done and is doing in her Heart and life.
She is such a faithful daughter that she is willing to share her deepest secrets that crack open every day in her heart and keep her wounded
until she finally rose up and said no more.
The Lord spoke to me the other day and said, Remove the sludge, the wounds that you have carried all of your life that keep your light Dim with sludge coated over it.
As Beth and I were talking about the picture that Kathy sent her and the effect it had on her, The Lord showed her the sludge of her identity that the enemy was trying to steal, kill and destroy.
It is imperative that when we look in the mirror which we should make ourselves Do often and tell ourselves who do we see
if we see something that we have in our heart that we want to turn away from the mirror, we must remember that Jesus lives inside of us, and it is his image that we must see and the image he created us to be. And not allow the enemy to steal our identity.
So let us all push forward to remove any sludge in our life So that the light that we were created to be in the beginning can shine bright in this dark dark world.
Thank you Beth, for opening up your heart And sharing with us. You are such a loyal daughter to the God above.
I appreciate all that you bring on our journey. It has been easier to be more open as I have watched and listened to you share. I believe, soon, you will be sharing.
Just yesterday why looking in the mirror I said something negative and I stopped and said “No I am made in God’s image and He loves me!” Every time you share it seems to be something God has already been teaching me about. You always make me smile. When I look at your picture I see a bit of Jesus shining through you.
Thank you for sharing. You corrected it. I’m so proud of you.
What a beautiful reminder to love ourselves for who our Heavenly Father created us to be. You are a blessing to me. Thank you for sharing your experience, strength and hope.
Thank you. I’m so glad you were blessed by it.
Love this Beth – this is so sweet!
Thank you for responding. I can tell the difference in my internal reactions to others and how I perceive myself. God is so good. Thank you for all that you do for Jesus Culture. I love seeing you there. Bless you!