No Makeup Challenge: #ThisIsMyFace

Today we're about to put the spotlight on my flaws. Over the past year I've developed a dependency on makeup. So much so that I didn't feel pretty or complete without at least tinted moisturizer covering my face. I specifically remember sleeping in makeup for the last two weeks of my relationship with my ex-boyfriend because I wasn't even comfortable with my bed-time and morning face...both of which people normally make allowances for and a state he'd seen me in many times. Why is it that I felt like I had to put a makeup brush on what God had perfectly painted with his brush? The answer is simple: my perception of beauty was thwarted.

The demise of my relationship was the final catalyst that ignited my full and total commitment to a relationship with Jesus Christ. The last three months have been beautiful and so enriching; however, while I have developed my inner beauty, my outer beauty - in my opinion - seems to have faded. The pinguecula (yellowing and tissue growth) on my right eye has gotten worse and my cheeks have broken out in a way I have never before witnessed. I did my best to remedy the situation with makeup and big hair, an altered diet and face washing routine...all to no avail. It just got worse.

Pinguecula in my right eye.

Imagine me so confused: 

"Lord, shouldn't I look beautiful so that people may see your glory on me?Why is my face looking like this? Lord, why did you cause the worst breakout on my cute side? Jesus Christ, please not my cute side!" 

See the pattern here? It's all so carnal...which is the total opposite of who I'm trying to be. I know that "charm is deceptive and beauty fades" (Proverbs 31:30) yet I became so caught up in vanity...all to boast that God was with me...because I was pretty. *insert side glances here*

Before mediating on all of this, my scientist mind began a series of mental experiments. I slowly observed that wearing makeup made my breakouts worse. Likewise, wearing my hair on my face (with or without hair products) made my cheeks flare up. Reluctantly, I began to wear my hair up and expose the acne. Reluctantly, I went out without makeup (or stayed home lol). I thought that was it, thinking God was saying: "Zemi stop the make-up. You are beautiful to me. You don't need to cover up because I love you just as you are." If only that was it. But seeing as God wants the best for his children, of course he wanted more...he wanted to take this one step further.

Over and over I kept seeing the verse 1 Samuel 16: 7 (emphasis added):

The Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him." The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Of course upon reading this my carnal-minded self began thinking, "God doesn't want me to date tall and handsome?" *insert second side glance and eye roll* I began praying for God to reveal to me the hearts of the men approaching me. All that's good and great - to get to know people better and pray for discernment - but that wasn't the point. So again and again (three times in fact) I'm seeing this verse. Finally I decided to dig deeper and by did deeper (in this case) I mean google the verse. I came across an article by Kelli Mahoney which specifically talks about focusing on inner beauty (not weeding out mates!): "God is not going to look at what we wear, how much we weigh, if our acne is cleared up, or if our braces are off...etc. Instead God is going to look more closely at what's in our hearts." She goes on to mention character and specifically notes that "character matters". So here we are (again!) - it's not about my looks, it's about my CHARACTER. 

Just to confirm that this is the message God was sending I read the second Google-recommended article by The Christian Network. That's when things really became clear. The article specifically highlighted 1 Peter 3: 3-4 (emphasis added):

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and in 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.

Okay so nowwww it's clear as day! *insert "duhhhh" and head shake* My focus has been on vanity, carnality and fleeting beauty - things that don't matter at all to God. I don't know how many times he has to tell me "character, character, character!!" for me to get it, but I promise I do now. No, makeup, beautiful hairstyles, accessories and great fashion sense are not wrong, what is wrong is focusing so much on them that we (you and I) forget about and neglect what truly matters to our King.

So what was my next step? You got it...I needed more knowledge so I went to my Bible, dug up these verses and their context, and then went back to Google. I found a great article on 1 Peter 3: 3-4 entitled "Do I Have a Quiet and Gentle Spirit?" You can find the article here. The writer, Erin Davis, notes:

Physical charm, physical beauty - those things are an illusion. They're fleeting. They're momentary. They can lure, but they can't last. The thing that lasts is a relationship with God.

Relationship - that is what matters - relationship. Not how I look in the mirror or how men and judging women perceive me, but my relationship with my Savior; the one who saved me from the pit of pain, frustration and desperation I was in just a few short months ago. Instead of applying makeup and fluffing my hair to amazing heights I should instead focus on cultivating more Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, faithfulness, gentleness, peacefulness, patience, kindness & self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23). I need to walk in the way of righteousness, not turning to the left or to the right, while most importantly walking in humility. Davis further outlines what must be done to display a "gentle and quiet spirit":

- fruit of Character of Christ formed in us
- fruit of our being a blessing to others because Christ is in us
- fruit of children, natural children

Because I am unmarried and without dependents I have an abundance of time to focus on the first two. So here begins my 7 Day No Makeup Challenge. More than not wearing makeup I shall be praying daily:

Lord please renew my spirit and transform my mind. Replace all of my perceptions of beauty and attractiveness with your definitions. Mold and shape me dear Lord. Make me worthy to wear your royal robes, to work and serve you in your royal courts my King. Present me pure and whole, without spot or wrinkle so that my very life may glorify your holy name. Create in me a pure heart. Cultivate within me the fruit of your spirit O God. Teach me your way that I may not depart from it. Teach me how to live out the values of Christ, not just in word but in deed. Lord I declare that I am gentle, I am kind, I am loving, I am peaceful, I am patient, I am joyful, I am faithful and I do have self-control. O how I need you Lord. I am nothing, absolutely nothing, without you. Thank you for saving me and for taking time out to perfect me and make me better. I love you Lord God and shall forever praise your holy name. May you reign forever. May your kingdom expand throughout the earth. May you, Lord, be worshiped in spirit and in truth now and for evermore. Amen.

My sisters, learn from my journey with the Lord. This walk isn't about what you can get; it's about who you can be. The "Prosperity God" you make have been taught about in church is a facade, the true God is a God of truth. He not only wants to bring you blessings, he wants you to be your best self - even if the growth process is long and painful.

Here is my bedtime look. No make-up w/ head cloth and tired eyes.

A close-up of my right cheek.

I'm no longer ashamed of how God made me because my inner being is, and shall be, far more beautiful. #ThisIsMyFace! And I am proud that although I do have acne (at 23!), I am a beautiful creation of the Lord...set apart and chosen to expand his kingdom.

Let's grow together,

Zemi; #KingdomWomen

Song: The Clark Sisters - Livin'

"I like livin' this kinda life...I'm living a blessed life."

It's #FaithFriday ladies. Let us walk in glory. God gave you the power to make your day! Speak to your dreams. Sow into your purpose. And in all ways, praise the King. - Zemi

Song & Message: Hosea's Wife

Love Letter

                                      Written by: Tinashe Muzorewa             

                Dear Yahweh, 

You are love 

You are my love

You are my hope and salvation

My everything

My world

My heart

You are my rock

My foundation

You are my strength

You are my sword

You are my shield 

You are my armor

My one and only

My best friend

My mentor

My guidance

You are my provider

You know me, my heart far beyond one could ever reach

You are my happiness

Your overwhelming love fills me with joy

In you I find peace

In you I find rest

You pick me up when I am down

You catch my tears and wipe them away

You know my troubles

And as my savior, you fight my battles

You have been there from the beginning

You'll be there till the end

I bow down to you

And praise you with all that I am

There would be no me without you

No one can surpass the love I have for you

And lord for you I die

I give my life as a sacrifice

Just as you gave your son as sacrifice to me

My soul yearns for you

Your breath is my heartbeat

In you I find healing

Without you I'm broken

With you I'm complete

Forever entwined will my heart be with yours

And until we meet again, Lord I will love you with all that I am

For you are love

You are my love  

Yours truly,
~ Daughter of Zion

Seek God In Private, Risk It All in Public

Seek God In Private Risk it all in Public - Breakthrough arises in your Darkest Hour

Darkness overwhelms you as you cry out to your father. Your friends no longer are able to stand with you in prayer. You find yourself alone, but not lonely, because you are sure your father, Yahweh, is with you. You know your purpose, you know what you are to do. But still, the weight of your cross seems to be bearing down on your shoulders. 

When the hour came for the purpose and will of God to be completed, Jesus Christ, The Prince of Peace, found his "soul overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (Matthew 26: 38). In private he cried out to his father saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39). 

When you cry out to God, only you know your portion. Only you understand your pain. Your friends, sister or even boyfriend will not understand that darkest hour. When you lay awake - tears rolling down your face, knees aching from kneeling in awe in the presence of your heavenly father - your loved ones lay asleep. Jesus himself found his followers sleeping during his darkest hour. Three times did he come to them and tell them: "What! could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation" (Matthew 26: 40) Indeed, although the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41).

Ladies, when we cry out to God in private God is quick to answer our prayers in his due time. God will use his heavenly resources(Matthew 26:53) to come down here on earth and equip you with the courage you will require to risk it all, in public. If our Lord Jesus had to go on his face three times, expressing his fears, worries and distress to God, what more us? Don't give up seeking God. He desires for us to seek him earnestly with our whole heart! Ladies, the Lord has promised us that if we draw near to him, he will draw near to us (James 4:8). We understand that the prayers of the righteous availeth much (James 5:16) so know that your prayers will not fall to the ground without God hearing them.

If we truly understood how precious our cries are to God, we would understand that if we cry out for a legend of angles to come down they will surely descend. When the "angle appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him" Jesus did not stop praying - rather, in his state of agony, he continued to pray earnestly to the point of sweating blood! What ever situation you are passing through, key word PASSING through, God will uses his resources to strengthen you to continue seeking him in private. Further, when you stand in public you will have unspeakable courage to face your persecutors and at the same time, know your identity in Christ. When that hour arrives you will have peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and be able to were your crown of thorns with the hope of glory. 

Truly the flash is weak, but if you push through the flesh and connect with your spirit you will be able to worship God in spirit and in truth in the mist of chaos and calamity.  

I remember when I hit the bottom of the pit. Feelings of emptiness and lack of self worth overwhelmed me. I tried to fill my empty void with people but it left me feeling even more empty. I could not talk to my friends because I knew them enough to know what they would say and how they would react. You know those moments when you know the advice someone will give to you and it just wont cut it? I decided that if God is who he truly says he is, then if I seek him he will draw closer to me. If not, he is a liar. I cut off my little boyfriend, drifted away from my friends and went into complete isolation. I cried earnestly to God and began seeking his face, asking him to reveal who he was to me. I did not have my friends or family to support me; I had to seek God's face for myself. 

When I shattered all of the limitations I had on God and released him from that little claustrophobic box I had placed him in, I finally saw him move in my life. He has completely transformed me into the image of his Son. Because I am an heir to the thrown (Romans 8:17), I am able to have the courage to walk in my destiny and speak to people with supernatural boldness and no fear of reproach. When I call for help (Ephesians 1:3) every single spiritual blessing in Christ is available to me. Dear sister, this same help is available to you as well. Keep fighting the fight for your relationship with Christ Jesus so that he may strengthen you and give you courage. 

~ Shamiso. M

Kingdom Women: An Introduction

Kingdom Women came to life in July 2013. 

We are just four women who seek to expand God's king domain (kingdom) and use our talents and strengths to become warriors for his purpose. God was working on each of us separately, calling us out of various situations: for one it was loneliness and a painful breakup, for another is was a lingering feeling of emptiness, for another it was just a fiery passion to get closer to God. We were pursuing God as best we knew how, but we had one problem: we were alone. We had no one to really talk to about our walk and each prayed for someone to come into our lives to encourage us, love on us and hold us accountable. That's when God's hand really began to move. 

One Facebook post inspired a Facebook message and walah! Zemi and Shamiso were connected. At the same time, Shamiso, Chenai and Solape had been sharing testimonies and scriptures with each other. Then it clicked, we were all facing the same struggles and needed the same things: fellowship, accountability, encouragement and love. These four ladies - moved to find their purpose in God - then joined in together and formed a whatsapp group entitled: Kingdom Women. Shamiso, who was just about to embark on reading "Kingdom Women" by Tony Evans and Crystal Hurst-Evans, found it appropriate to name the group after the book. Kingdom Women - women of God's kingdom - is exactly what we are striving to be. We are all young women under the age of 25 trying to live within the will of God. We fast together, pray together, worship together (from a distance), learn together and love God together. 

Our prayer now is that many others will be joined to our purpose. We welcome you, aspiring Kingdom Woman, to be a part of our togetherness as we share the messages God is giving us and the insights he is placing on our hearts. Share a few of our blog entries with your friends. Do your little part in expanding God's kingdom as we show the world that Christianity is not dead because Christ lives. 

May you be covered by the blood of Jesus and be made spotless and without blemish as he completes the great work he started in you. Welcome...to Becoming Kingdom Women.