Beauty

Source: Pinterest

Again I write on appearance. It's something I struggle with. I find myself thinking far too often if only I had so and so's nose or so and so's eyes, then I'd be beautiful. But honestly beauty is not just on the outside. You can't measure it. You can't buy it. There is no definition or equation that makes somebody necessarily beautiful on the outside.

I keep coming to grips with the truth. Beauty is more than skin deep. And most importantly, God creates true beauty. 

 Battling the lies of false beauty

1. God created me and you. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Even my freckles, eyebrows and nose. Beautifully made outside and inside. My heart, my lungs. The breath I just took. Who but God could create something so complex as humans?

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14

2. Beauty is more than lipstick and eyeshadow. It's a quiet spirit, a humble spirit. It's inward. It's selfless. Beauty is pure. No matter how hard we try to dress up our appearance, a grimy, neglected heart can't hide.

Only by cultivating our inward spirit, our heart, and our relationship with God can we find real beauty.

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3: 3-4

3. Why do we feel inadequate, not pretty enough, and maybe a little ugly?

Well, it stems from sin. We're selfish---I'm selfish. We want to feel good enough and worthy. We want praise and acceptance... for the wrong reasons. Instead of being sufficient in Christ, we've taken it upon ourselves to try and feel accepted. But without Christ we can't be adequate. We fail. Then we may try and blame it on things that can't be changed, like appearance. (And if you think about it, we're really blaming God for making us the way He did) So instead of trying to stand out by ourselves, we need to lean on Christ, examine our hearts, and take a step backward from our sinful motives.

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As a side note, I do not have anything against makeup or looking pretty. I am merely pointing out that we can get caught up on only the outward. Thanks for reading!

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What does beauty mean to you? What are your thoughts?

Content In A Greater Plan

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

I can never focus too much on contentment. Being content is an important part of my life. It's something I'm working on; something I am continually trying to be. Not just being content with the blessings God gives me, but striving for it in the hard times of life. While moving, while waiting. Being content.
Often I think too much about the future. Ten years from now... where will I be? What will I be doing? How can I prepare for the future without knowing where God will be leading me in the future?
My mind races with thoughts...when God clearly says to trust in Him. Not to worry.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:34

To be content in Him.Christ will provide! His plan is far greater than any plan I could create.

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
   that can succeed against the LORD. 
Proverbs 21:30

 And that should be something to be content in. God's word is such a comfort. 

 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Your thoughts?

Musings

  
"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition."
- Martha Washington

 Our attitude is so significant in each situation. I discover this daily.
I am always amazed how my attitude effects a problem.
If I become angry or frustrated it makes it a lot more difficult to handle the circumstance.
Even if we are feeling emotions that we can't stop we can at least hide our mood and pray that God would gives a better attitude.

But if I truly want to be happy I need to first be content and delight in the Lord... :-)

Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.

            Psalm 37:4

Health and Contentment

 Thank you again for all your prayers and sweet well wishes. Every one in my family is doing much better! :-)

One blessing that I always find after being sick is a greater appreciation for health. I am so blessed with an abundance of health. And yet sometimes I find myself struggling with discontentment even with so much to be thankful for. I always seem to be waiting for something to happen and expecting something to make me really happy. Maybe a trip to the craft store to get more stuff, maybe anticipating a visit with friends, maybe waiting for an illness to subside, maybe waiting for an event to come or a package or letter to arrive in the mail. At any example, expectations seem to get in the way of my joy. But what I need to be doing is standing in each moment, and being happy in life right now, loving God in my life minute by minute. No matter the time, the trials, the circumstances, the expectations, "This time" is the time to be content and enjoy life.
Because God is with me next month, next week, tomorrow and now. Christ is the one where all blessings flow. How can I not be thankful with an awesome, loving, father like Christ?...

What are you thankful for?