You are Priceless … You are God’s Beautiful Masterpiece!
Note: Each worship program will coordinate with the monthly birthstone, their meaning, and their color to help with decorating ideas. Each birth stone meaning is linked to our identity in Christ.
August Birthstone: Peridot, Color: Light Green, Meaning: Beauty
Purpose
The purpose of this program is to remind each woman that she is God’s beautiful masterpiece—one of a kind. We are all designer originals!
Decoration
Cover the tables with light green table coverings. Use different types of mirrors for centerpieces. Incorporate small handheld mirrors that will be used in the devotional and then given to the women at the end of the program.
Opening Element
As the women enter the room, invite them to make a fingerprint bookmark. Check Pinterest for simple instructions. Or bookmarks could be pre-made with a scripture verse. Some suggested verses: Psalm 139:14, Ephesians 2:10, Genesis 1:27. The women could add their thumbprint using an ink pad, to make it uniquely theirs.
Activity Options
Beauty Stations
Invite a guest to give a presentation on any of the station activities or demonstrate using one of the women as a model. An alternate idea would be for the women to help each other at the various stations.
- Nail Station: Manicure sets, nail polish.
- Hair Station: curling iron, crimper, brush/combs, hair spray.
- Make-up station: provide a various of sample make up items that the women can apply.
- Skin care station: provide various lotions, skin cleansing products along with face washing tips and instructions on how to apply the products.
- Photo station: Set up a station for the women to have their picture taken following the make overs. Also take a group picture of all the women.
Trivia Game and Fun Facts on Cosmetics, Beauty Tips
You can find many beauty trivia/tips and fun facts on the Internet to turn in to a game. The following are a couple examples.
https://www.funtrivia.com/en/Entertainment/Cosmetics-14814.html
https://blog.bathandunwind.com/2017/09/13/50-beauty-facts/
Word Search Puzzle
Create a word search puzzle using the women’s unique names.
https://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/word-search
Prizes/gifts Suggestions: lotions, manicure sets, brush/comb, facial sheets, make-up items, fingernail polish, mirrors.
A Beautiful Masterpiece
The breastplate of Aaron was adorned with 12 beautiful gemstones. The second gemstone listed in Exodus 28:15-21 is what is known today as the Peridot. It is the birthstone for all those born in the month of August. A quality peridot is a bright shade of light green with hints of yellow. They are often mistaken for emeralds. The Romans called them “evening emeralds” because of the way they reflected the light.
Uniqueness and beauty are words that are used to describe this gemstone. We could use these same words to describe us. God has already declared each one of us beautiful as we are His priceless creations. In Psalm 139:13, 14 we are reminded that God created our inmost being, every little detail that makes us who we are. Scripture also reminds us that we are wonderfully made. We were formed by the same God who created the universe. No two people are alike. At the beginning of the program today, you made a bookmark with your unique fingerprint on it. No one else has the same fingerprint as you do. You are a designer original.
In our modern culture, more emphasis is placed on outward beauty than inner beauty. Despite this emphasis placed on the physical appearance, God looks beyond the outward appearance, and looks into our hearts and intentions. Our beauty should not be measured by worldly standards. But this doesn’t mean that we are not supposed to be beautiful on the outside or that our beauty must be inward only. Many Christian women walk around telling themselves they are not allowed to be beautiful and end up missing out on who God has designed them to be. Our desire for beauty is validated in the Creator not the world.
God has created each of us with unique gifts and qualities. But if you are like me, you may have difficulty recognizing or acknowledging your gifts. You get caught up in looking at the gifts of others and begin questioning your gifts or even if you are good enough to use them. It is important to challenge ourselves to recognize our strengths and abilities. After all, we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:10, NIV). He has created us in His image, yet with our own uniqueness and beauty. Everyone has something from God that He gave to us with His purpose. Through prayer and listening to His voice, we can discover what it is He has prepared for us to do. His plan for our lives will be revealed as we follow Him, giving us the encouragement to embrace our life’s purposes.
Challenge yourself to look through God’s mirror and see the unique beauty that you are. Hold one of the small handheld mirrors that is part of the centerpieces and look at your reflection. Say these words out loud, “I am priceless! I am God’s masterpiece, created in His image. I am a one-of-a-kind beauty!”
Time of Reflection
Use this time as a time of prayer to lead the women to recognize that they are beautiful in God’s eyes. Some of the women may feel they have made a mess of their lives and destroyed God’s creation. Emphasize that there is forgiveness in turning to Jesus. Others may be challenged by the idea of discovering God’s plan and purpose for their life.
Suggested song: Song by Maranatha, “In His Time” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJeNUlNY7Iw
