The "Who-Cares" Bod

Recently, my Facebook timeline has been filled with media about a male body type being dubbed by college girls everywhere as "The Dad Bod." My first encounter with this topic was an article written in The Odyssey by a girl on March 30, 2015 (Link below) I suggest reading this article when you have a quick minute.
http://theodysseyonline.com/clemson/dad-bod/97484

At first, I found this idea and the nickname absolutely hysterical. I was laughing out loud as my roommate was probably thinking I'd gone mad. However, more pictures, stories and jokes started appearing on my timeline every day. This morning I was scrolling through and found an article that was titled "It doesn't go both ways: Why women need to stop accepting the dad bod." (link below) HOLD THE PHONE.
http://elitedaily.com/women/stop-accepting-dad-bod/1025403/

I spent way longer than I should have reading this second article because in the end I came to realize, it is preposterous. The original was meant to be funny and light-hearted and was aimed to entertain girls everywhere with a true realization of the Dad Bod. And yes, I still find it absolutely hilarious. However, what does the response of the article from The Elite Daily say about our love culture?

What are we valuing? What standards are we putting on our relationships? The physical look of someone's body or the quality of their character? The truth is-people are going to love who they are going to love whether they have a "dad bod," a "mom bod," an "I still haven't grown hips" bod or a "Victoria's Secret Angel Bod."

I get the joke, I laughed, a lot of people laughed and joked and that's all fun. But when people take it and retaliate, then what have we come to? I may not find the Dad Bod all that attractive, but a lot of girls do, and they should.

In my opinion, it's time we get over someone's physical appearance as what "should" or "should not" be "accepted" by the opposite sex. I'm all for being in shape and healthy but in the end, that's me and my preference and I'll accept and love my friends and family for what and whoever they choose to love. The body shaming needed to stop yesterday.

I just had a discovery...kind of

Okay I am so excited about something today. I have been for a while but I finally found the right words to put it into. A few weeks ago I was home for a weekend and sat down to read my bible for the night and read Mark 3:28 which says this:
"I can guarantee this truth: People will be forgiven for any sin or curse. But whoever curses the holy spirit will never be forgiven."
I ran downstairs to tell my parents because I hadn't been excited over something in quite some time.

What I am getting at is that we sit in church or youth group or read a devotional and we read about God's Mercy, God's forgiveness, Christ giving his life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. But it took me reading the word to finally get it. Guys, he forgives ANY sin! ANY SIN. That screams love right in my face every time I think about it.

For us it's hard to forgive a friend who talked to someone we don't like. Here is God forgiving people for things like adultery and stealing and killing other children of God. I know, it's extreme and you're thinking "He would never forgive someone for that." For the sake of those who are thinking this, I'll show the verse again:

"I can guarantee this truth: People will be forgiven for any sin or curse. But whoever curses the holy spirit will never be forgiven." -Mark 3:28

That should have done the trick.

I know what you're thinking...that doesn't mean you can sin whenever you want! That doesn't mean you can give in to all temptation just because you know you're going to be forgiven! Stop using God's love that way!

I'm not steering that direction I promise. What I am saying is that I have finally realized how much he loves me, how much he loves us.

I saw a compliment to this just a few days ago reading Mark 9:23 which reads:
"As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes."

Love beyond measure, everlasting mercy. All for believing the guy. Do you think it gets any better than that?
(P.S. The answer is that is doesn't get any better.)

Find a way to connect with The Lord that speaks to you. Whether it be listening to your pastor on Sunday morning, worshiping in song or reading the word everyday like I do. Find that medium and use that to your advantage. Whatever it takes to understand and feel that love and to BELIEVE in him whole-heartedly, do that. Do it everyday.

Thanks for reading and God Bless.