Wednesday, November 4, 2009

My little faith, My big storm, & My Bigger God!

Lord, today I come as I always do, completely unworthy, just a beggar of grace. Today You've come as you often do, and completely amazed me. Your graciousness to me is overwhelming. You've healed, sustained, delivered…my circumstances tested You and once again You've proven Yourself faithful. Giver of joy, Father of hope, Creator of Life…You have not forgotten me. You owe me nothing, yet I owe you everything. How many times Lord, have I approached Your throne about this very subject, knowing that you hear me, but not really ready to receive your response, in case it's not what I want to hear. I should have trusted Your heart for me, and remembered that Your promises are Yes and Amen. So many times I've stood in this very place with no words for You, only groans and sobs, and I trust that you not only heard, but felt each one with me. Today I stand in this refuge, but today I have words, oodles of them actually, and a song…because You have restored hope to me. How do I thank you enough, how do I show you the gratitude of my heart, yes Lord, even my very soul? Yet here in the midst of great joy, and great gratitude, great fear attempts to overtake me. I'm refusing it Lord, but it's a daily, sometimes hourly struggle. Truth calms me, but then memories assault me and remind me that the very worst can and does happen. But truth says that You carried me, and that You will carry me again. Speak Your perfect peace over me. I am yours, Your miracle, Your project from beginning to end. I didn't initiate it, I didn't manipulate it, Lord I wasn't even asking you for your grace when You decided to give it. You knew I would be afraid just as You know the rivers of fear You are now asking me to cross. Just help us to make it safely Father, all of us. Oh God, show us Your favor. We are praying and believing. So are others. Not just for our faith, but for theirs Lord, show Yourself in power and glory. They need to see it, a fresh work, a new move, and I know that You who delights in the impossible, to You, this is but a small thing. Please Lord, for those who need it so desperately, Do this! Father finish what You started in me, and do what You do best, bringing this to perfect completion. I don't know how successful we've been, but we have tried desperately to give you honor and glory in the midst one of my darkest valleys. Now Lord, give us this blessing and watch how we will dance on the mountain top!

Monday, November 2, 2009

You are Beautiful!

The following for me was inspired by Robbin, beautiful friend I have. I want to be like her. Beautiful inside and out. Even though she is beautiful on the outside, Her inner beauty is more than I can put into words.....

Be Beautiful
There is no beauty in makeup. Expensive clothes will not make you beautiful. The secret lies in being an alive, awake woman with something to offer the world. Namely, yourself. Beauty is less about your face and more about your smile. Less about the shape of your eyebrows, more about the light in your eyes. Less about the length of your legs, more about the bounce in your step. Real beauty is being a viable, vital human being. As you participate in your life with a warm smile and a generous spirit, you are beautiful.

Living your life will bring out the beauty in you because it is uncovering you. It is revealing more of the authentic you that is beautiful. Because life is a living, breathing work of art, you are a painting as you go. Be a masterpiece. Drink in life. Laugh too loud. Compliment others constantly.

Cultivate beauty all around you. Plant a garden. Embrace beauty wherever you find it—in the fall leaves, in the spring flowers. This will help you embrace it in yourself. When you appreciate a sunset or your child’s clay candlestick or a beautiful piece of music, you are saying yes to beauty. You are saying yes to God.

Thank you to my friend, Robbin, for being beautiful! I am so thankful that God allowed me to meet and have such a beautiful friend!

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” –Proverbs 31:30 NIV