When Bonne Bell Doesn't Cut It

I've tried many different make-up doo-dads. From Mary Kay to Maybelline. From Bonne Bell to Arbonne. Usually, I find something in everything that I like. Right now I'm hooked on the Bare Minerals gig and I love it! But, I love Mary Kay mascara, Jane lipstick, Jane Bronzer and Arbonne wash. I'm a bit of an eclectic face keeper.

I jokingly say that I'm pretty Irish (which I am), but have a tiny amount of Cherokee blood. Not to mention I'm Scottish...and French. Needless to say, the European blood tends to outweigh the Cherokee by a buffalo! So, being Irish, I'm pretty fair with natural pink cheeks that look kinda like I've been slapped instead of kissed by a ray of sunshine. So, I like to find make-up that can blend my skin into one pretty palette and then I can say where the pink will go. Which brings me to Bare Minerals. Did I say I love them!

With a swish and a puff, I can cover my blemishes pretty darn good, (or is it well?) Anyway, I can look like a new woman in a matter of minutes. I thought about doing a before and after shot, but you see, I'm already dolled up for the day and I don't want to go re-do. So, maybe another time.

My make-up. Ahh, just the sound of it makes me smile. I've often thought if I ever landed on a deserted island, I would definitely need mascara and lipstick...and the bible...and food...and shoes…and a phone. But, seeing as how I'm not on an island, we'll keep it in real time on a real continent with no water around me, save for the puddle in my garden.

I need my make-up. I need to cover those things I find odd, dominant, and ugly. I need my forehead to actually sport eyebrows. I need mascara to make my eyes at least look like they are bigger than peas.

Anyone?

Make-up can cover a host of blemishes. Problem is they're still there at the end of the day when I take the make-up off. That's why it's called make. up. We make up our face to be something that it isn't naturally all by its onesie.

Sometimes my toiletry bag of life can be just inches from my mind. I have the amazing ability to go from nearly popping my kids heads clean off their darling shoulders to answering the phone in the voice of an angel. I just stuck my hand in my imaginary make-up bag and slapped on "I'm Perfect Powder"!!

"Girls! I said stop yelling at each other!"

"Girls! Please turn off your lights!"

"Girls! How many times do I have to say it? Hang your swim suits up for cryin' out loud!"

Riiiiing....

"Ahem, Hello? This is Mrs. Perfect. How can I make your day wonderful?"

What is that? Why do I do that? Why do I make-up some false front?

I know, I know, we want to look good and come off like we have it all together. We don't want to have Mrs. Grump answer the phone. No one likes her.

Sometimes I have a hard time in public. I'll throw on an "In control face" when I leave the house and struggle to keep it on when my Irish roots are banging at my door to "let me at 'em!"

Let me just say right here, I'm not an angry woman, I can just get a little touchy if I'm not fed regularly. You understand. Still, I was talking to God about those Irish roots and how my quick temper can get the best of me. It's my "blemish" on my good Godly woman/wife/mom face. I actually told Him that it's just my make-up, it's in my blood. There's nothing we can do about it.

The Lord said gently said to me, "May I remind you, I bought you with mine. You have my blood running through your veins now."

Ouch.

My "natural" blemished Irish face just got washed in the blood of the Lamb. He reminded me that who I am is now a person filled with the SUPERnatural Spirit who kills my natural self. As long as I let Him operate, it's His face I wear.

You...are controlled not by the sinful nature, but by the Spirit... Romans 8:9

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 6:11

With God, we don't have to pretend we're something we're not. We can go to Him with every blemish and wart and zit and He will give us new, SUPERnatural things. We can dump our toiletry bag of "Happy Face Zit Cream," and "I'm Fine! False Eye Lashes." Give Him the "I'm In Control Cover-up stick," and "Super Christian Lip Gloss."

Let Him replace all those weaknesses, all those insecurities, all those excuses with His Son and all His Son has to offer you!

For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. Romans 8:29

I want to be the same person at home that I am when I'm at the grocery store, the library, church, or parties. I don't want to be one way with my kids at home and another way in public. I want to honor my husband at home they way I do in public. If I give out compliments to perfect strangers, I better be drowning my family in them.

I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus will take every ugly blemish and every false cover-up I have and replace them with beauty and truth. Bonne Bell won't cut it when I need to have my soul made over. Only Jesus can come in and give me a real, life make-over. Now, that's one I'll take any day!

Let me leave you with one of my most favorite verses in the entire B-I-B-L-E:

Now, the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17,18

• Are there any false faces you put on that need to be washed off by the Spirit of Jesus?

Now, where did I put my lipstick?


Natalie @


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