You Make a Beautiful Difference

Sweet "in your face" (literally) reminders of the beauty we have and beauty we can give in the Ladies' restrooms in the school where the kids' Speech and Debate tournament was held this weekend. I loved it and just had to take photos of them. Oh, that women of all ages had these reminders daily. Maybe it would mean less time having to conceal the flaws and less time disliking what we see in the mirror and more time given to "making a beautiful difference".

My granddaughter, Alexia, gave an incredibly inspiring speech at the tournament this weekend -- so much so that she achieved a 6th place overall award (there were probably well over 60 speakers in that category). If I were the only one that said it, you'd say I was biased because she's my granddaughter, but when other women came up to Staci and I and told us they wished her talk had been heard by their daughter or granddaughter, we knew it was a relevant and needed message.

Alexia spoke about how girls feel the need to fit in, look a certain way, or have specific clothes just to feel loved by the peers around them. She talked about how some of the girls in her world have eating disorders and experience depression because of a poor self image. She talked about the icons that influence them right from an early age -- like their Barbie dolls who are slim, perfect hair, skin and perfect clothes, but in her speech she said these words "Barbie isn’t the only icon that influences unrealistic expectations. There's the photoshopped models and flawless actresses we see in print and film, the many mobile apps that influence us to remove all blemishes and create an image of perfection. We have lost God's view of what beauty is really all about. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, 'It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from inside you -- the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear.”

Alexia's speech resonated with me, because how many grown and even mature women like me have those same image concerns. As much as I say "I've earned these wrinkles and I'm okay with them", there are still those times I look in the mirror and think "Who are you and what did you do with Donna?" LOL! That's why going to the place where encouragement comes from -- God's Word -- is the best place to change our views about ourselves.

If we profess to be God's beloved daughters, we should know how He takes pleasure in us. He doesn’t simply accept us, forgive us and put up with us. He delights in us. He even celebrates us. I love this scripture from Isaiah 62:5 "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you".

Want some more good news? The Lord says we are beautiful. Not just slightly attractive or marginally appealing. Beautiful. We are lovely to look at because "God created mankind in his own image" (Genesis 1:27). And that includes you and me. He is beautiful, so WE ARE BEAUTIFUL.

God does not compare. Each of us is a unique work of His creation. We are God’s definition of beautiful and if we're ready to see ourselves as God sees us, then I suggest we put the words that were in the Girls' restroom on our mirrors.

The answer for young girls, teenagers, and women of all ages is to realize when the light of Christ shines through us, we are utterly transformed and we become beautiful and we make a beautiful difference in our world. My Mom always said to me "Pretty is as pretty does." Those are words to live by. That last photo says "You create beauty with your attitude, your behavior, your actions." May we be imitators of our Creator and rather than the desire to BE beautiful....that we desire to create His beauty everywhere WE ARE and everywhere WE GO!

We're Thoroughbreds in the Making

Each of us have our own assignment to fulfill and we were created, individually and uniquely, to run our OWN race.

We might think, "If I just had their good looks, or money, or their skills, or their talent -- I could be successful." Bottom line -- God's sovereign hand of blessing is on OUR lives -- for OUR personal, God-given assignments.

My granddaughter re-ignited my love for horses when she became an equestrian rider. Horses are such stately, graceful, beautiful creatures. I know God made them for specific reasons -- providing transportation, pulling heavy loads, devoted companions to their owners, but, when I hear about the ones (thoroughbreds) that have sold for over $14 million because of their racing abilities, I am amazed. Even horses were created on purpose by their Creator.

And, God created us as Thoroughbreds (bred from the best bloodline -- in His image and from His lineage). There's something to be said for Thoroughbreds. Thoroughbred horses are known for their agility, speed and spirit. When they run, they wear blinders to keep their eyes focused straight ahead with no distractions from the other horses. They run their own race.

That's what you and I have been created to do. No need to compare ourselves with others. We just need to run our own race with sheer focus, determination, agility, speed and spirit! Now let's giddy-up and RUN OUR RACE to the Finish Line!

"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1

Inner Beauty AND Being a Masterpiece

Yesterday, in my post, I talked about divine set-ups. I like to think that God is always setting us up for divine appointments. Knowing that, we should be keeping our eyes, ears and hearts open to the possibility of those times. He sure has a way of surprising me in the middle of a routine day, with another "aha" moment. My post included the topic of "inner beauty". Then, when I looked at my Facebook "On This Day" posting from years before on my timeline, I had one of those "aha" moments because it confirmed the discussion of "inner beauty".

How appropriate for me to see that post on this day. Here's why! Have you ever started to take a photo with your cell phone and you accidentally pushed "selfie" mode and it flipped around and you got the "up close and personal" view of yourself? Whoa! I did! Who was that ole' gal looking back at me? It couldn't have been me. After all, I dolled this girl up this morning and when I looked in the mirror, it revealed only a "slightly mature" woman, but that selfie was MY mother!!! Okay, God, I get it. You wanted me to see this post because it talked about being YOUR masterpiece. It went like this:

This world will always try to make us think “we're too young or too old; not pretty enough or handsome enough; not rich enough; not thin enough; not talented enough; not smart enough!!: It's time for us to STOP listening to what the world thinks and says. There is only one voice that truly speaks truth, and that ONE is the voice of our Creator Who made us on purpose and in His image.

And He says: "You are my MASTERPIECE -- and I made you JUST RIGHT -- right for the special purposes only you can fulfill! You ARE exactly who I made you to BE! Don't look for the approval of others. I approve you, and that’s all that matters! When you look in the mirror...look at the BEAUTY I made you to be! Now, go make your Dad proud as you take your BEAUTY and make a difference in this world!!"
"You are so beautiful to Me!" -- Love, God

I like to think that when He shows up, it's up to me to give Him the recognition and the honor for the inspiration. So, today, I do, and I thank You, Father, for reminding me that I AM beautiful....inside AND out!

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised." Proverbs 31:30

You are a Thoroughbred. Run Your Race.

Each of us have our own assignment to fulfill and we were created, individually and uniquely, to run our OWN race.

We might think, "If I just had their good looks, or money, or their skills, or their talents -- I could be successful." Bottom line -- God's generous hand of blessing is on OUR lives -- for OUR personal, God-given assignments.

My granddaughter re-ignited my love for horses when she became an equestrian rider. Horses are such graceful and beautiful creatures. God made them for specific reasons -- providing transportation, pulling heavy loads, devoted companions to their owners, but, it staggers me when I hear about the ones (Thoroughbreds) that sold for over $16 million because of their racing abilities. They're known for their agility, speed and spirit. When they run, they wear blinders to keep their eyes focused straight ahead with no distractions from the other horses. They run their own race.

And, God created us as Thoroughbreds (bred from the best bloodline -- in His image and from His lineage). There's no need to compare ourselves with others. And the price He paid for us? His Son's very own life. And what do we do to repay all He's done for us? We just need to run our own race with sheer focus, determination, agility, speed and spirit -- undaunted by the distractions of others, obstacles and deterrents. Now let's giddy-up and RUN OUR RACE to the Finish Line -- it's the very least we can do -- after all -- we are Thoroughbreds!

"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1

You Are My Masterpiece

This world will always try to make us think “we're too young or too old; not pretty enough or handsome enough; not rich enough; not thin enough; not talented enough; not smart enough!! It's time for us to STOP listening to what the world thinks and says. There is only one voice that truly speaks truth, and that ONE is the voice of our Creator Who made us on purpose and in His image.

And He says: "You are my MASTERPIECE -- and I made you JUST RIGHT -- right for the special purposes only you can fulfill! You ARE exactly who I made you to BE! Don't look for the approval of others. I approve you, and that’s all that matters! When you look in the mirror...look at the BEAUTY I made you to be! Now, go make your Dad proud as you take your BEAUTY and make a difference in this world!!"

"You are so beautiful to Me!" -- Love, God