I want you to answer a question for me. Ready, think of something beautiful... do you have it in your mind? Focus on it. Now decide what made it beautiful to you.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Isaiah 16:7 (NIV Italics mine)
I think I trapped you with the above question, sorry for that. But I wanted to point out how visual we are. When I think of something beautiful it's usually a serene outdoor scene vibrant with light, color, gentle breezes and even certain smells. It's just how we see beauty - with our five senses.
Now lets consider the kind of beauty God sees - beauty of the heart. If someone does something with the right motive, love, and has no prideful thoughts in the process how would that look to us? We just might miss it! If it doesn't involve our five senses, it isn't something we pick up on very easily.
God does give us a way to view someone's heart - by getting to know them. He is a relational God and we are supposed to be relational people! The only true way to know if someone's heart is beautiful, is to be in a relationship with them. Time will reveal their true heart.
God never intended us to walk through this life alone. He wants us to be in relationship with other believers and then we are called, The Body of Christ.
Now, think of someone you know who is beautiful on the inside and tell us about them!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Support One Another
Proverbs 17:17a (NIV) "A friend loves at all times."
Proverbs 27:9 (NIV) "Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel."
Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NIV) "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"
John 15:13 (NIV) "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
What is a friend? From the scriptures above, a friend loves always, a friend gives good counsel, a friend helps friends up, and a friend will lay down their life for another friend.
That's a tall order - but the benefits of having good friends is priceless!
I recently went with one of my BFF's (Kelly Combs) to see her speak at a ladies retreat in North Carolina. While she was thankful for my support, I benefited by being at the retreat, and spending time with my BFF. Both people benefit in a friendship.
Having friends will take time, and effort, and the ability to trust. Take the time to call your friends or email them today.
Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Proverbs 27:9 (NIV) "Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel."
Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NIV) "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"
John 15:13 (NIV) "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
What is a friend? From the scriptures above, a friend loves always, a friend gives good counsel, a friend helps friends up, and a friend will lay down their life for another friend.
That's a tall order - but the benefits of having good friends is priceless!
Having friends will take time, and effort, and the ability to trust. Take the time to call your friends or email them today.
Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Monday, April 19, 2010
Step Aside
Parenting is a lifelong commitment. When you have your first baby, they don't give you a manual. But rest assured, that everyone you know (whether parents or not) will offer you their version of parenting advice to help you along the way.
Even with all of the sage advice you will receive, parenting will have many different challenges along the way. Just when you begin to feel comfortable with one age or stage of parenting, your child/children will surely outgrow that stage and you are both back to square one!
To read the rest of the story, jump over to Titus 2 In Action.
Even with all of the sage advice you will receive, parenting will have many different challenges along the way. Just when you begin to feel comfortable with one age or stage of parenting, your child/children will surely outgrow that stage and you are both back to square one!
To read the rest of the story, jump over to Titus 2 In Action.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Expectations
Isn't it amazing how helpless a newborn baby is. At first they can only eat, sleep, wiggle, and a few other not so pleasant things. Next they learn to use their limbs to reach for things, and they begin to smile and cry in order to communicate with us. Before long they are sitting up, crawling, then taking those first coveted steps - WooHoo!
Just last week I was remembering when my clan were all young babies, so helpless and innocent. Now my children are maturing and certainly more self sufficient. So why was there a gum wrapper on the steps for 4 days?!?
To continue reading this post, hop on over to Titus 2 In Action.
Just last week I was remembering when my clan were all young babies, so helpless and innocent. Now my children are maturing and certainly more self sufficient. So why was there a gum wrapper on the steps for 4 days?!?
To continue reading this post, hop on over to Titus 2 In Action.
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