Beautiful....

...in it's time. I have been learning so much about true beauty...and I must say that I am excited! In an ever changing world full of disappointment and turmoil-the Holy Spirit within us empowers us to bring beauty- His beauty to EVERY situation and/or circumstance. Sometimes, when I am exhausted and up to my ears in whining complaining sick children and Brian is working the weekend...again... I think,...what could POSSIBLY be beautiful about this situation?! LOL...do you know what the answer was? My reaction could be beautiful...and by the Grace of God- supernatural. I had to put a smile on my face, take a deep breath..., pull out my shield of faith and my sword -some timely scripture...ok ALOT of scripture and REACT IN A GOD HONORING WAY. I realized- that would be beautiful in God's sight...it was so difficult for me the first time I deliberately did it. As a matter of fact, I told the girls I was having a rough time and that the Lord was going to help me through if I let Him...we prayed, I explained about how Scripture-the Living Word is all-powerful against the evil one, and I forced a smile on my face...and waited..with my mouth shut. My mouth loses the battle for me time after time- Psalm 141:3 "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." has defeated many a fiery dart. And then... "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint." Isa 40:31 ...it was over. This old flesh was writhing but it wearied and gave up...peace flooded my heart as the Lord met me there. It was as if I could feel His warmth shining on me...

I know the battles will not end as long as I am here on this earth, and this little trial is nothing compared to what most of you go through I am sure. However, PTL, I have found yet another treasure to be excited about...something that cannot be taken away- the Eternal beauty of the Lord and seeing all that He desires to become beautiful in His time.

The sorrows of the world do not control us..those chains fell off when we accepted Christ as our Savior. Bitterness over the past must be repented of and those chains will fall away as well... that is a tricky one that I find hiding in my heart at times- keeping me from enjoying the full beauty of a life in Christ. The devastations will come, we can be sure of that, but they don't have to be devastating.

I am so thankful that I have a God whose Grace and beauty ABOUNDS to chasten, forgive, comfort, and empower me towards better things. Ecc 3:11 "He hath made every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." When we consistently react in a beautiful way to an unpleasant or even hideous circumstance, imagine how much glory that brings to God...that is truly beautiful! I am not at all saying there is not a time to sorrow or grieve a loss...Jesus wept..that is still a "beautiful" response to a loved one we have lost and will miss or to be sickened by sin or harm done to others- those are appropriate responses, of course. I hope I conveyed my thoughts well in this...sometimes the things I get so excited about I have a hard time getting the words that express ....anyway.. I am sorry I went on and on, and by no means do I excel at this, but I am excited about it :) God bless you...my beautiful friends. Thank you to

In His Image.org for the use of the graphics