It is time for a new Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge and this week it is my turn to host. I was pretty nervous about this, but through prayer of some amazing friends and God's timing, not mine, it all came together.
The first part of this devotional is not by me, but inspired me so much that I wanted to share with you all.
For my scripture of inspiration I chose Ecclesiastes 3:11 a
“God makes all things beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3: 11
“Only five more minutes,” I whispered to my daughter who was giggling with another girl on the playground. The girl she was playing with was a strikingly beautiful child. Long curly hair with fanciful eyelashes and a bright smile!! As the child’s mother approached we began to chat. I told her how beautiful I thought her daughter was. “I wish she thought that about herself” the mother replied as tears streamed down her face. She then began to tell me of how much money she has spent on trying to make her daughter “feel” beautiful. The dresses, shoes, hair accessories, and much more were purchased with an intent to make her daughter feel more beautiful. The Mother explained how her Daddy, friends, and Grandma, continually tried to reaffirm her daughter. She confessed it was all to no avail for in all she tried she felt her daughter did not seem any happier with herself or life. In all she tried to do, she could not convince her daughter of this beauty. The Mother repeated over and over how she felt it was VERY important that her daughter “feel” beautiful. When I asked her why, she paused for what seemed like forever then said, “I don’t know, I guess I want her to have a strong self-esteem and to always know how valued she is.”
With the best of intentions this mother’s concept of self-esteem and value was building insecurity in her daughter. We can never find true beauty in and of ourselves. You see, when our value is measured by outward beauty or by the ability to “Be someone”, we begin to exchange character for the superficial. A child need not know how beautiful they are outwardly to feel valued, rather the beauty our children must find is through the gift of valuing others.
Are you beautiful…do you FEEL beautiful? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “Why do we care so much about how beautiful we look?” When what really matters is where I find my beauty. We must remember in Ecclesiastes 3: 11 it says “God makes all things beautiful in its time.” God is the key word, for it is HE that makes beauty possible. In this Scripture this word beautiful is translated as “appropriate.” The next time you look in a mirror or question your beauty, ask yourself this, “Is this appropriate?” If it is NOT an appropriate way to look…if it is NOT something appropriate to say… if it is NOT appropriate to wear…. if it is NOT an appropriate place to be… according to the scriptures it is counterfeit beauty. From such deceptions hide and make the beauty of HIS holiness your portion.
For the beauty of Christ is where we can find true beauty in place of what once may have been ash.
As I was reading this devotional I started thinking on all the things that GOD has created. After all, he has created the heaven and the earth!!
Just the other day my girls and I were in our backyard pulling weeds and cleaning up what the wind had blown into our yard, when all of the sudden my 5 y.o. said: “mommy, mommy, look at this cute birdie!” She was pointing to a tiny bird, just a little bigger than a hummingbird, who was sitting on one of the weeds we were about to pull. It was for sure a beautiful bird and I had never seen one like it before. I turned back to my daughter and told her that GOD makes all things beautiful. My 9 y.o came over and said: “Yeah, just look at all of those beautiful butterflies we saw when went to Butterfly Garden. “
Sometimes I truly wish we all would see things like God has intended for us to see them. God had and has a plan that we focus on him to see all the beauty around us. Yes, we think money can buy beauty and all things beautiful, but we have to realize that GOD already provided it all for us, we just have to put him first and see through his eyes.
I am sorry that I was a little long winded today, just wanted to remind us all, that includes me, to keep our eyes on GOD and not on things. We all are beautiful in our own way. Beauty does not always come in appearance, sometimes the love and heart that people show is more beautiful than anything else and that is what it is all about. GOD had it all planned out!
Here is the card I made using all things beautiful ;D
Recipe:
Paper: DCWV textured cs in white, PTI Ripe Avocado, textured cs in beige, Pink Paislee Buterfly Garden
Stamps: ODBD Scripture Collection 6
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories: Wilton paper doily, Spellbinders Labels 18, Wild Orchid Crafts flowers, Prima Cameo Roses Poppy Field, handmade stick pin, white lace, Dusty Olive seam binding, Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Accents, Recollections butterfly, Studio 112 half pearls
This weeks sponsor is
Simon Says Stamp
Make sure you'll head on over to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Blog to see all of the details.
Thank for stopping by today and have a blessed day!!
Hugs,
