Tattoo's- The Painful After Effects

I wanted to share an article that I wrote about tattooing for a newsletter created by my pastor and other saints from my congregation. I wrote this article because I am seeing first hand the after effects of a phenomenon that is hundreds of years old, but is growing into a increasingly large mega trend among mine and the younger generation that is following. I decided to share my article because it is something that I did as a young rebellious woman, and now that I am older and about to be married, the damaging consequences are amplified more than ever. I was blessed though that my tattoo is small enough to have surgically removed before my wedding. However, I am being buffed about for my own faults, because as with all sin, it comes with a price, a whopping $650 price tag.

I don't mind sharing my story. I have told my FDH as much as I could tell while still being expedient and not painting a picture. I had to tell him, that I have an ungodly tattoo on my body that I feel would be an embarrassment for him to see once we get married. I told him that while I didn't feel led to go into details of my tattoo (i.e place, type, etc..) it wasn't something that I felt would be beneficial to our marriage. I mean, of course he knows that God cleaned me up from a miserable sinful life, and while I know he loves me unconditionally it still doesn't mean that I want my past to be advertised on my body for the rest of my future. So I sought out a board certified dermatologist and he explained the simple procedure. A small incision will be made on the tattoo, and a small portion of it will be removed from the top layer of skin, and the skin will sewn back together. Simple as stitching a deep flesh wound. Yes I will have a small scar, but to look at a scar versus looking at a constant reminder of a piece of me that was so opposite to who God has made me today is so much more worth it. To be able to feel completely free about that part of my sins being physically removed from me is very liberating. I feel a lot less embarrassed about myself. Don't get me wrong, while my self esteem doesn't suffer, the constant reminder of my sinful stupidity tends to be a thorn in my side.
I am sharing this because I don't want other young women to go through this. While explaining this may seem simple, its very costly financially, emotionally, and not to mention the physical pain I will endure, because I didn't mention that I can't afford anesthesia so this will be a deadening of the skin w/local anesthetic type thing. The price of sin is a great cost, and it's a cost that can be easily avoided by just serving God from the days of your youth. I encourage all young girls to just hold on and serve God, there is no temptation, peer pressure, fad or trend that you won't later regret and pay a price for. Below is the article I wrote.

Tattoos: The Devil’s Advertising

Tattooing for my generation and those younger is almost considered a rite of passage. According to statistics taken from a 2006 a study done by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 24% of Americans between 18 and 50 are tattooed; that's almost one in four. And the survey showed that about 36% of Americans age 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo!

Now I know that this may not seem very interesting or relevant, but as a human resource professional with one of the largest hospitals in the state, I see all to well the regret that comes with what the world calls art. I see applicants during interviews that can’t focus on the interview because they are worried about the impression and perception that they are giving when they have exposed tattoos. I see business men and doctors who will never wear short sleeves because of the unprofessional stigma that is tied to visible tattoos in corporate America. I see women who have a harder time achieving their professional goals because they are exposed with disgraceful highly visible tattoos that are frowned upon in management. With all that being said, I won’t even get into all the health risks that are associated with getting tattoos.

Unfortunately my generation and the generations behind me seem to think that tattooing is a form of artful expression, or as I said earlier a rite of passage. It has gone from discreetly hidden to blatantly portrayed, there are even those who use their faces as a canvas to display the colorful, permanent, and hideous display of what I call the devil’s advertising. The devil tricks you that it’s cool, and turns you into a permanent walking advertising billboard.

I don’t mean to sound judgmental, I admit I deal with the shame of this every day because when I was in my sin, I thought it was cool to get not one, but two tattoos. Even though I am now saved, my sins are forgiven, and I have on a new garment of a new man, when I see what I did to my body I feel regret. Yes, God has delivered me, but the stamp of Satan serves as a constant reminder of what he delivered me from.

You can have tattoos removed, but the costs are high and painful as with all sin. That one moment of pleasure costs you more that its worth in the long run. My message is simple, your body is not yours but the Lord’s (I Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?). One day you will get older, and you will desire a career, family and all those other things that are associated with becoming settled. Don’t let the devil’s advertising stand in your way. Don’t run the risk of having to explain to your children how it’s not good to get tattoos all the while as you constantly walk around displaying yours.

Thanks for reading and be blessed and stay encouraged! smfg

Falling In Love God's Way

I shared with you in my Frugal Friday post how my FDH and I like to spend time eating nice romantic dinners on my balcony while still maintaining our godly standards. Well on Monday while taking advantage of Hobby Lobby's 50% off all Bridal sale, I found this cute little tea set that was also 50% off. I ran home to set up the table to surprise him with dinner after he got off work and his first response was, "You should take a picture to put on your blog!" So here goes our simple, godly romantic meal. I took a package of beef smoked sausage, sauteed them with french fried onions and put them on french bread that was baked with garlic spread and pepper jack cheese, throw on some nice spinach and add ramen noodles as a side and you have the perfect frugal but manly man meal.

See my nice little tea set, so cute to me!!!

beef smoked sausage sandwiches n ramen noodles very frugal and filling!

The nice thing is that when we are old, we can sit back and laugh at how during our courtship we found creative ways to enjoy each other's company that did not cross the will and word of God. It's so much easier to fall more and more in love with a person that you know was created for you for God and by God. There's no stress, no insecurities, no pressure just plain old enjoying the freedom of a love that was and is directly from the finger of God.

I am finding it refreshing to know that I am not alone in my belief about a pure path to happiness. I think about all of the wasted time and energy that goes into the creative ways of worldly dating. A man spends an average of $50-$100 for dinner and entertainment just to impress a girl on a first date, which leads to more dates that are just as costly. Eventually he realizes that he has made an investment in this particular young woman and she senses it. Suddenly there is this unspoken, sometimes spoken pressure to get a return on his investment by sleeping with each other. One or two, maybe three things happens.... he either doesn't respect or call her again, he falls in lust with her and sees long term relationship potential, or he enjoys the for now moments and rides it out to see how long it will last. I'm not putting all of the blame on the guys either, women now days are just as bold and brassy. Some women feel that they have to give a return on the first date investment. She may get halfway into the date and become mesmerized by the possibility of a potential future and feels she needs to show her worth now, to reserve her spot in his heart. Other women feel like, Hey, I just want to enjoy the moment and see what happens. Either way it goes, there is little or no really getting to know a person. No truthful talking, no soul searching, no honestly showing yourself to a person. But then again, how could there be. The relationship isn't even close to being on a Godly level.

Matter of factly speaking, its a relationship, not a courtship so that in itself explains the reason behind all the heartaches, and confusion. I was trying to explain the difference to a person and I wanted to share with you what I shared with them. Some may already know and some may not. Either way I hope I share one thing with one person that will change their point of view away from worldly dating, and seek to share in the beauty of a Godly courtship and engagement. It's the only way. I just thank God that I am able to experience this blessing in my lifetime, and look forward to preparing my daughters for this blessed way.

Webster's definition of relationship is:
relationship: the state of affairs existing between those having relations or dealings. b: a romantic or passionate attachment.

Now lets look at Webster's definition of courtship:
courtship: to seek the affections of; especially to seek to win a pledge of marriage from. b: to engage in social activities leading to engagement and marriage.

In a courtship there is no pressure to snag a husband, or race to the alter because when God sends you that special someone, he will be your husband, not your boyfriend. It's not a romantic or passionate attachment as given in the relationship. He will approach you marriage already in mind, and best of all, as long as your heart is hid in Christ, you will have full confidence that he has been proved worthy to find you, because he had to go through Christ to FIND you! It's not a romantic or passionate attachment as given in the relationship. It's forever, its final, the beginning of togetherness. Have a blessed day and stay encouraged!

Making Your Home a Haven Challenge- I NEED YOUR HELP!!

pink bedroom graphic from art.com

I was reading through blog land today and came across Crystal's Making Your Home A Haven Challenge. The theme this week is Spring Cleaning The Master Bedroom. I thought I would join the challenge as I haven't participated in a while. Also , being that I have to de-clutter and re-organize to make room for my FDH in the next few months I want to solicit advice because I have never had a two adult bedroom. We both figured that my apartment was larger so we would stay there for a year and plan for a house.

The first thing I know I have to tackle is my closet. The next being my outrageous shoe collection and the third being my multi-use bathroom. I am a walking women's cliche', I absolutely adore shoes. They are my weakness. I am also an avid consignment shopper plus as I mentioned in an earlier post, because of my size I always get the pickings from those kind folks who down size their wardrobes. And my bathroom is a multi purpose room, I don't even know why the girls have a bathroom because they seem to be so attracted to mine! To top it all off, my FDH is also just as much as ,if not more of a consignment junkie than I am so his closet will also need to be pared down, ( unbeknownst to him!)

When I envision my master bedroom as a married woman vs a single mom, I don't even know where to begin. Maybe you can help me. I am so used to my room being an end all be all for me and my girls. Everything starts and stops in mommy's room. So the concept of a two adult bedroom is very new to me. I know what I like but then I guess I have to let him add a little bit of his style and ideas to our room. All and all I need help with small room organization. I don't want a messy bedroom, but what do you do with limited space?? Storage is out of the question for me because I feel that if you put clothes away in storage for a while, then you may as well give them away because you aren't wearing them anyway.

I know I want a peaceful haven of relaxation, happiness, oneness, openness and feminine beauty in my master bedroom. I want it to be the place that we both look forward to spending quality time in. No not just for the physical, but for the complete oneness of our relationship. I want it to be holy and peaceful and fun. So I guess I will start by minimizing the clutter of my closest, and getting rid of all of the outfits that I haven't worn in like two full seasons. Maybe brighten it up and make it look cheerful. Take the bathroom and separate the hair bows, and half-empty bottles of all the different lotions and sprays that I have. I don't know where to start but I know I don't have much time, so I am soliciting advice from anyone who's willing to help!!!!! What minimum cost methods have you used for maximizing space and organization. ( besides rubbermaid bins ;), also what kind of decorating tips can you offer that blend both personalities in one room.