Saturday, July 16, 2011

The Beautiful Truth

My sweet husband informed me he didn’t like the title of this blog, ”because” he said “you’re already beautiful.” (good man) I know I am beautiful.  Not because I feel beautiful or because my husband tells me all the time but because God says I am. And I am who He says I am (thank you Beth Moore). I believe I am both currently beautiful and being made beautiful.  I haven’t always believed this but two years ago God spoke to my heart and there was no arguing. Here’s the story… 
I was at church, we were singing the song “You Are Beautiful MySweet, Sweet Song”.  I was praising God and began to pray, “You are beautiful Lord and everything you touch is beautiful.” Pictures started flashing through my mind of breathtaking landscapes and animals. “You are Beautiful Creator, all you have made is beautiful, the mountains, the ocean, the animals…” Then I hear him whisper “and you, I have made you and you are beautiful.” I stood there in awe. It was like He spoke directly to my heart, like it was fact, and instantly I knew it was true.  I still didn’t feel beautiful but somehow I knew I was. A few weeks later I started attending a bible study called “Do YouThink I’m Beautiful” by Angela Thomas. When the leader asked me if I felt that I was loved by God and seen as beautiful I said yes. I went on to explain however that I felt the only thing lovable or beautiful about me was Jesus in me and that I was really like filthy rags. She gently reminded me that He says it is my righteousness that is like filthy rags (Isaiah64:6), not me and even those who don’t know Christ as Savior are still loved by God, still seen as beautiful. I learned then and continue to believe that we are deeply loved by God and seen as beautiful for no other reason than He made us. I am loved by God not for what I do, how clever I am or how good, not for how I look but because He made me and I belong to Him. This is a truth that I have said many times but now I am finally knowing and believing.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Attitude

I teach an AMAZING group of 11th grade girls at our church. One of my favorite lessons this year was on the importance of having an Attitude of Gratitude…that’s right, I said it, with finger snaps and everything.  I am aware of how not cool I am but we are still laughing about it so I guess it worked. It’s cheesy but it’s TRUE. I believe an attitude of gratitude leads to a heart of worship. That is what I desire more than anything, for my heart to be turned toward Him, Jesus The One and Only in complete adoration. It’s what I desire for you too.
Psalm 100
 1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
 2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 
 his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

 Sometimes I just need to practice what I preach! I started my gratitude list a few weeks ago (inspired by Ann Voskamp).  Here are my recent additions…
61. Precious time with heart sisters
62. Thai Peppers Mango Curry
63. Husband's homecoming
64. Young lives forever changed, forever saved
65. Loud celebrations of freedom
66. Waving baby
67. Beach days
68. Playing pirates with my favorite 4 yr old
69. Peace from obedience
70. Wise, servant husband loving like Jesus