No Makeup March!!

One of these pictures is a photo of me without makeup. The other one not only has makeup, but is professionally touched up.

One of these pictures was taken this morning, in front of my bathroom mirror. The other was taken a couple of years ago in a photography studio.

Yet, they are both of me. Robbie Iobst, overweight and beautiful woman. Normal middle age gal with normal middle age gal insecurities.

A week ago, my sister-in-law Kasey told me about some young women at her high school. She is a teacher of philosophy and Bible. She told me that a group of these girls have taken a stand in declaring a NO MAKEUP MARCH.  They go to school each day this month with no makeup on their faces. They are simply saying, "I am beautiful just as I am, with or without makeup on my face." This is a huge feat for junior and senior girls. But in many ways, it would be just as big a feat for women my age.

Is it true that each of us are beautiful with or without makeup? Well, it depends on who you believe. If you believe society and what it seems to preach in the media, a woman without makeup is just not that attractive. If you believe God and His Word, a woman is beautiful  simply because God created her feminine and lovely.

But don't we have a part in showing the beauty that God gave us as women?

1 Peter 3: 3-4 says

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."

Peter says that beauty comes from within not on the outside. I agree with that, but I also believe that taking care of oneself is a way to glorify God with your body. Like it says in Romans 12:1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."

Taking care of yourself means eating right, exercising and making decisions that honor your body.

And for many women, taking the time to put on makeup honors the body and therefore, glorifies God. But in our society, putting on makeup can become a form of vanity and even a way to hide our true selves. I've met women who feel ashamed of their looks if they don't have makeup on. I don't agree with this. God made us, ladies. And if we receive His love, the light of Jesus will make our countenance gorgeous, lushious lashes or not.

It's probably easier for me to say this than many, since I am not a woman who wears makeup every day.

But the temptation to be insecure about my weight is just as strong as any women's insecurity about a face with no foundation or blush. What's at the heart of this? Simply put: Acceptance. Accepting who we are as God's lovely creations, made in His image, purposed to glorify Him in all we do.

So I salute those gals at Hope High School in Albuquerque and any other women who take this stand.

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!  Believe this. Accept this. Thank God for this.

And then with or without Covergirl, He will cover You girl, with His presence and security!