The funniest compliment I have ever received was from my son. At four, he had trouble with his "k" sound. It magically came out as an "h" sound. He would say, "Mom, where's my superman hape?" or  "Han I heep it?" You can laugh. We did.

One morning, I made his favorite breakfast. With a sweet, thankful heart, my son said, "Mom. You are the best hooker!"  Yep.

If you are like most women, you do not receive compliments well. Receiving means believing, right? Someone may say, "you're beautiful." If we don't believe we are beautiful, the compliment is not received, it's questioned. We wonder if that person wants something from us or if they just need glasses. It couldn't be true, right? 

I'm not beautiful. I'm not talented. I'm not organized. I'm not gifted. I'm not funny. Right? 

Ever looked into one of those fun house mirrors as a fair, the ones that make you look super tall and skinny or two feet tall and five feet wide? Not a true reflection, huh? Those mirrors are designed to distort images. I believe most are seeing a fun house version of ourselves, and it isn't so funny.

When truth is distorted, stretched, and twisted, it is no longer truth. It is now a lie. There are no versions of the truth or shades of truth. If I search for truth in this culture, this world I live in, I may not find it. Even my own mind can resemble a carnival mirror. Real truth is found in Christ. If I receive him, I receive the truth he speaks about me. His compliments.

Truth says you are made in his image. Truth says he is "enthralled by your beauty." Truth says you are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Truth says you are complete in Christ. The truth is that you are a daughter of the King who has been gifted to fulfill her role. Whatever else you see in the mirror, it's a distortion.

I read this in a book last week, "We need to stop apologizing for using our gifts and start apologizing for not using them." 

Who are you? Your identity is not who you say you are. Your true reflection is found in the one who made you. Own it!

Seeing what God has created in you is not pride or arrogance, because you didn't have anything to do with it! Right? When you embrace the gifts, talents, and skills that are yours, you are bringing praise to your creator. Those qualities that are uniquely you are there to reflect him. Denying them is not a humble thing to do. Denying them is selfish. He created you to love the world around you in a way that only you can.

Our enemy wants to twist your true image. He is the inventor of the fun house mirror. The father of lies. We are in a battle for truth. For freedom. Time to crack the fun house mirror, and just say "thank you." We never have to question God's compliments. He has no ulterior motives. Let's start receiving compliments by believing who we really are. Fight like a ninja!

Give some compliments to your sisters out there! Encourage the gifts you see in someone today! You just might help someone see their true self!

Do not neglect the gift you have.  1 Timothy 4:14