Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

                                 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WnAq0o2Xl8&feature=related



Beautiful.  Who determines what is beautiful?  Is it society...who show us through films, advertisements, and television what is considered lovely?  Maybe it is the judges who chose the woman that's wearing the crown in a beauty pageant.  Maybe it is the proud parent who KNOWS that their child is the most gorgeous child that ever lived.  Or the newly smitten boy/girl who is sure that their new sweetheart is the most heavenly thing on the face of the earth.  People can make us feel beautiful.

There is another side to that coin.  What if you don't have anyone around to remind you how beautiful you are?  What if no one ever told you that you were pretty...or handsome?  What if no one has ever noticed what a radiant smile you had...because they had never seen you smile?  There are individuals who have only been criticised and ridiculed their entire life.  They believe they are anything but beautiul. People can also make us feel ugly.

Humans judge the beauty or worth of someone based upon their outward appearance.  But let's look at it a little deeper.  How does God see us?  What does He think when He looks at us?

The Bible says that Samuel was looking for God's anointed one that was to be king.  He was looking at all of these rugged, strong men.  Surely God's man was among them!  God told him, " "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them.  People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)  God led Samuel not to the rugged warriors...but to the lowly shepherd boy, David.  He was to be the leader of God's people.  God knew David's heart.  He knew that although he didn't look strong and wise on the outside, he was a man after God's own Heart.  The Lord knew what Samuel...or even David, didn't.  He judged what man could not see. 

Don't judge a book by it's cover.  The veneer could fool you.  It could be a gorgeous leather bound edition with gold trim, and the inside of the volume could be filthy and unreadable.  Then, you could have an old, tattered cover that houses within it's binding, a valuable treasure. I don't know if I agree with the phrase, "Beauty is only skin deep."  I believe it's much deeper than that.  Beauty radiates from within.  Many people may outwardly look lovely, but have ugliness at their core. Their hateful heart makes them offensive to everyone.  Then, there are others who might not seem becoming in other's eyes, who have the most gorgeous hearts that beat within their chest. 

We are like that tattered book.  To God, we are the treasure.  He sees us as magnificent masterpieces that He created in His own Image.  He knows everything about us, and doesn't judge us as others do.  He knows every fascinating cell in our body.  He loves us as we are.  Even when we think we aren't worth anything...He proves us wrong.  When we believe what others told us, that we do not matter...He proves them wrong.  For God thought we were beautiful enough...worthy enough to send His Son to die for our sins, because He wanted us to be able to live with Him forever.  Nothing ugly could ever enter Heaven.  No matter what color my eyes are...or how my nose is shaped...He loves me and you because He sees what no one else can.  He sees the real us.  Purify your heart today.  Give your life over to the God who made you and loves you like no one else can.  He's knocking at the door of your heart.  Let Him in.

---

            

When Things Aren't What They Seem To Be

                                                                


Jacob had met the girl of his dreams.  He loved Rachel so much.   She loved him back, too.  He had met her when he had began to work for her father, Laban.  He had fallen in love with that shepherd girl at first sight. Isaac had grown so fond of her whole family.  Rachel had an older sister named Leah.  Poor Leah would have a hard time ever finding a husband.  She was anything but beautiful.  She had what they called 'weak eyes'.  It must have been a birth defect...they didn't look like everyone else's eyes.  It definitely had an effect on her looks.  It made him shudder to think of it. 
But all he had to do was look at his lovely Rachel.  She took his breath away with her beauty.  He had undertook a contract with Laban.  He would work hard for him for a total of seven years.  His payment would be his beautiful Rachel for a wife.  He could hardly wait!  The wedding was finally here!!
Jacob's stomach began to jump as he saw his beloved being brought in next to him.  Her eyes were downcast and her face draped in soft silk scarves. 
The two of them listened carefully to the rabbi, as he went through the ceremony.  Jacob could hardly bring himself to look over at Rachel.  In order to steady his nerves, he concentrated on the teacher, before them.
After they were pronounced man and wife, Jacob's heart leapt for joy!  As was the custom, the father of the bride was the one to deliver the bride to her husband on the wedding night.
The next morning, to Jacob's dismay, he found that he had not married Rachel, as he had thought...it was her sister Leah!
He ran to Laban and demanded he be told why he was deceived.  Laban told Jacob that in his country, the youngest sister could not be married before the oldest.  He told Jacob to go on his honeymoon, and then when he returned, he would be given Rachel as a bride, also...but he was obligated to work for him for seven additional years.  Jacob agreed, so as to be able to marry the woman he truly loved.
(Story found in Genesis 29)

I can just imagine the horror in Jacob's heart, when he realized that it was not Rachel that he had truly married.  he had trusted Laban to be true to his word...and he was not.  Now Jacob had to pay the price for somone else's deception. Jacob was not a stranger to deceit.  With his mother's help, he had tricked his father, Isaac into giving him the family birthright...instead of his older twin, Esau.  He no doubt, remembered what it was like to be the wrongdoer...the sinner.

So what did Jacob do?  He paid the price and moved on.  He continued to do what he was asked to do.  He could have said, "Forget it!" and left town.  He could have reacted with violence.  He could have schemed retaliation against Laban.  But he didn't.  He just kept going forward and did as he was asked.  Was it fair?  No.  Did he look foolish in the eyes of others?  Perhaps.  But Jacob didn't focus on these things.  He let his driving force be love.  The love he felt for Rachel.

What do we do when we have been deceived...when someone pulls the rug out from under you, and lies to you?  There are many ways we could handle it.  We could act in retaliation.  We could plot and scheme to 'get them' for what they've done.  We could, depending on how hurtful the deception is, withdraw and not let anyone close to us again, to prevent future hurts.  Or we could respond as Jacob did...with love.
Now that's not to say Jacob acted perfectly.  He did treat Leah different from Rachel.  He showed Rachel more love and concern than he did Leah.  He may have harbored deep resentment toward her for years.  But he tried. He focused on the positive part of the situation.  He had his beloved Rachel.

As a result, God  entrusted Jacob to be the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.  That would have never happened if Jacob had wiped his hands of the whole matter and ran away. Despite his many sins and failures, God blessed him.

When you have been lied to, or deceived  take heart.  Not if...but when.  It is inevitable that it will happen at some point, if you have any connection with the human race.  Remember that you yourself are a sinner.  Forgive that person.  If you hold onto the resenment, it will only wound you further.  Does that mean that you let that person, or others walk all over you?  No.  You stand up for yourself and do what is necessary.  It may take a little bit of 'tough love'.  But try hard to let love be the motivating force behind your actions.  It won't be easy, but God calls us to do so.   If we are acting on our own, it is impossible. Yet, if it were impossible, He would not tell us to do it.  That's why we need the Spirit's help.

It may take a long time to recover from the betrayal.  Take it day by day...minute by minute if necessary.  That's ok.  Keep trying.  You will win out in the end.

The Healing Power of Sharing

                                                    　
     The sounds and lights of the ambulance and hospital were frightening. My mother and grandmother were crying. Doctors and nurses were speaking in whispers. Waves of pain began to cease as the medication began to take effect on my nine year old body.
      I had just been hit by a car. It was my own fault. My two cousins and I were returning from the store and I tried to cross the street. I didn’t look both ways beforehand, and ran out in front of a car. The poor driver had no chance to stop. My cousins had tried to grab me, but I was too quick. Now I was lying in the hospital with a broken thigh bone and minor internal injuries.
My dad was an interstate truck driver, and the family had to try and contact him. This was 1969, and there were no cell phones to make communication easier.
That afternoon I was wheeled into surgery. They reset the bone, placed two pins in my leg, and put me in traction. My leg was totally covered in a cast and bandages. I drifted in and out of consciousness.
     The next morning, I woke up and my dad was there. He told me that he brought someone who missed me and wanted to see me. Then he handed me my beloved Mrs. Beasley doll. This doll became famous around 1967 because of the hit TV show, Family Affair. Mrs. Beasley looked different, however. Although her glasses were long ago lost, she still had the same smile and blonde hair. Her blue and white polka dot clothes looked the same, but there was one difference. Her right leg was wrapped from top to bottom in white medical tape. My dad made sure she had something in common with me!
     Mrs. Beasley made that first night much better. In those days, parents were not allowed to stay overnight at the hospital. My mother was there every day, for as long as she could be. She also had to care for my younger brother. My dad was there when he was able to, due to his work schedule. My doll became good company.
     In the pediatric ward many rooms, like mine, were dormitory style. Four patients shared a room. A lot of the other children were in for tonsillectomies and appendectomies. After I had been there about a week, a little girl named Alice was moved into the bed next to mine. She was scheduled for a tonsillectomy the next morning. As night fell, her parents left and she was alone. You could tell she was scared. My parents were getting ready to leave, and my dad asked me if I thought Mrs. Beasley could sleep with Alice that night. It might make her feel better. I was a little apprehensive, as the doll was very important to me, but I offered her to Alice. The little girl nodded, with big, tear-filled eyes. She snuggled down for the night, with my dear friend in her arms and went to sleep.
     The next morning, before she was wheeled to surgery, she returned the doll, with a sleepy “Thank you”. After that, when a new child would come into our room, I always offered Mrs. Beasley for a first night sleepover friend. Her painted on smile gave many children over the course of that month, a measure of comfort and love.
     Each time I shared my stuffed friend, it helped reinforce character traits in me, of empathy and compassion. It taught me put myself in others’ shoes, to imagine how they might feel and put others‘ needs before my own. I am blessed to carry those traits in me, today. I will forever be grateful for the lessons that I learned from my dad and Mrs. Beasley.

Loving the Unlovely

                                                              

     What makes a person considered lovable?  Is it their personality?  Their attitude? Their looks?  Some people just have that aura about them, that everyone seems to connect with them.  Wherever they go, they seem to have people smile at them and nod.  Maybe it's not anything they do...it's just in how they are perceived.
     To look at their life, you may consider their life blessed.  All things seem to fall into place for them.  Everything they touch turns to gold.
     What makes a person considered un-lovable?  Is it their personality?  Their attitude?  Their looks?  Some people just have that aura about them, that everyone seems to disconnect with them.  Wherever they go, they seem to have people shy away from them and look away.  Maybe it's not anything they do...it's just in how they are perceived.
     To look at their life you might  may consider their life cursed.  Nothing seems to go right.  Whatever they touch seems to fall apart.
     In reality, everyone is a mixture of both of these people.  No one is all bad...and no one is all good.  It is up to us to determine what we see in someone else.
     It takes two to love.  The lover and the....lovee.  The recipient of that love.  The recipient doesn't have much choice in the matter...but the lover does.
     Love is a choice.  We choose each day, whether or not we want to love the people in our lives.  We choose whether or not we want to look for the good in the people we meet....or focus on the unlovely part of them.
     Therein lies a problem.  What if an 'unlovable' person we meet only comes across people who choose not to love them?  What if no one chooses to look at the good within them?  What tends to happen is that the person begins to BELIEVE that they are in fact, unlovable.  Are they?  Of course not.  But they believe it, because if you are told something often enough, you begin to regard it as truth. 
     Since they think that no one cares, they may become withdrawn and skeptical.  Others may try so hard to find someone who will like them, that they develop unusual behaviors that can cause others to think they are strange.  Still others will look for acceptance in the wrong places...and with the wrong people.
      At the core of our being, God gave us an innate sense of needing to be loved.  Loved for who we are as a person.  We are all created with the same desire for connecting with other humans.  When we choose not to love another person because of how they look or act, we are depriving them of that connection.  If we feel that we are too good to love that individual that society has chosen to label "unlovable" we are only fooling ourselves if we think we are better than them.
     God tells us to love one another.  He doesn't put conditions on it...just to love.  He doesn't say "only if they are pretty, or smart, or just like you".  He said to love...because He loved. 
     He even summed up the Commandments into two catagories:  Love God and Love others as yourself.  He said that there are no commandments greater than these.  (Mark 12:28-31)
     I think I know why God made this such a top priority.  Because if we loved others as He wants us to...there would be a lot less unlovable people in the world.  The need that He created in each of us would be filled. 
     We are His Hands to reach out to those who need love. It's our responsibility to lead them to the One that Loved them first.  The One that created them to be the unique individuals that they are.  The One that is waiting for them to turn to Him for the Love that will never end.
       It's your choice.

     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGUKWiw7Wk

Why Bother?

                                                                

     While watching my granddaughters today, we were watching "Olivia", a children's cartoon about a little girl (pig) who has two younger siblings.  Olivia was bemoaning her lot in life, at how she had to put up with her little brother, whom she called her little "bother".
     When A.(3) woke up from her nap, she looked down at her little sister who was still asleep.  She informed me that J. was a "bother".  She was always "bothering her".  A. told me that J. was always following her around, and messing with her.  She would bug her when she was putting her puzzles together, and grab the pieces.
     I had to smile, as memories of Gabe complaining about the same issues with their father, Tim flooded my brain.  I asked her if she knew why J. did that.  She didn't know, so I told her.  "J. does it because she loves you.  She wants to be like you, and do the same things you do.  J. thinks she is as big as you are.  She doesn't do it to be mean...she thinks she is playing with you. (I was kind of hoping that last statement was true...)  She loves you." 
     "I love her, too!", she said.
     Isn't that how it is?  They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.  Those that we admire, we try to be like, and conform to how they act and think.
     There are those who say, "I don't imitate anyone!  I am comfortable in who I am.  I don't HAVE to act like someone else!!"
     While that is true, it does not pertain to believing Christians.  The Bible states many times that we should "be like Christ".  That's where the word 'Christian' comes from...'little Christ's'.  We should adapt our lives to live as Christ did. 
     In our day to day life we should think of the decisions we make in the light of what Christ would do.  In the 1990's, Dan Seaborn came up with the term W.W.J.D.  What Would Jesus Do?  It became a grassroots sensation that spread worldwide. It almost became a flip saying.  In actuality, it is a real question.  What WOULD Jesus do in the situation you are in? 
     If we love Jesus, we would want to be like Him..to make the same decisions that He would.  Do we have to?  Is it that important?  I believe it is.  For Christ's Love to be spread to others, it can only be done through human hands...and hearts.  Who will help the brokenhearted?  Who will bring aid to the helpless?  Who will love the unlovable?  If we don't do it...who will?
     Why should we bother?  Because that's what Jesus would do.

All Mine

     Yesterday morning I went to babysit two of my granddaughters for the day.  I arrived around 7 a m, and A. (3) was laying down watching the royal wedding on tv. 
     I cuddled up next to her and asked her if she had seen the new princess.  She said she had, and then proceeded to ask a lot of questions about what was on the television.  I told her to look for the Queen, that she was wearing a yellow hat and dress.  When she saw her, I pointed out that she was the prince's grandmother.  "She is his grandma.  You know how you have a grandma?  Well, she is his."
     "And YOU are MY grandma!!" She said, with a huge sleepy smile.
     "Yes, I am!", I said, kissing her head with a lump in my throat.


     Mine.  That little word means so much.  It claims ownership and worth.  It is something valuable that attaches us to the possession by heartstrings.  It takes time for us to learn what is ours, and what is not.  From an early age, we begin learning this lesson. 
     A.'s sister, J. is beginning to learn it.  She is only 1, and as far as she is concerned...EVERYTHING is hers!!  "Mine, Mine, Mine!"  She's in the process of learning that everything is not hers.
     For those of us who are believers, we have to learn that lesson, also.  In actuality, NOTHING belongs to us.  Everything belongs to God.  In, Psalm 50:12 God declares, "The world is mine, and all that is in it." Although we are not one year old, we tend to think of our possessions as , "Mine, Mine, Mine!"    It is really owned by God, but given to us to be caretaker of. 
     Anything we have, is a gift from God.  The Bible declares in  "Every good and perfect gift comes from heaven."  How do we treat those gifts that we have?  Do we treat them like something to be treasured, or after the 'new' wears off forget about them? 
     The gifts we have include the people that God has placed in our life.  Do we treasure them, or after the 'new' wears off, do we take them for granted? 
   Our friends and family don't "belong" to us, but God has placed them in our lives for a reason.  They are given to us, to enrich and bless our lives.  Do we wonder about whether or not they are a 'gift' sometimes?  Probably!  Coexisting with them, we discover the lessons we need to learn. Many times it is all in our point of view. It's one thing to see them as people...quite another in looking at them as a personal gift from God.
     Thank you, God for the gifts in my life.




         Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

For everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all (1 Chronicles 29:11).

The Reason

                                                            
     "Peculiar"
     "Odd"
     "Strange!"
     How often have we heard (or said) that about a person that we meet?  Some people are just plain different!  How do you treat them?  When you see them coming, do you duck out of the way, hoping they won't see you?  Or do you greet them as you would one of your closest friends?
     At times we may wonder, "Why are they so "different"?   Why doesn't God make all people like....me?!"
     What makes a person the way they are?  Sometimes the issues are medically caused but many times the reason is...life.
     Human beings are naturally made to interact with one another.  That can be a positive experience, or a negative one.  Childhood is obviously very significant in how we learn to view the world and other people.  The daily ins and outs of our life, as a child help shape the kind of adult we become.   
     For example, I know of an elderly person who was always aloof and reserved.  He never seemed to get close to anyone.  Later, I found out that he had been basically abandoned as a child, and never was allowed to be close to his parents.  He never had a mother's love. That would definitely explain things.  No wonder he would be 'unlovable".  He was never shown love.  He didn't know how to love.  What a sad thing...to go through your whole life never knowing the love of another person.  He would only meet people who treated him like he treated them.  And as a result...he was a lonely, bitter old man.
     There are reasons why everyone acts the way they do.  Usually it is because of something someone has done to them, or experiences they have encountered.  If they act in an unconventional way, and others shy away from them, or treat them accordingly it can possibly only add to their feelings of loneliness.  What if they were shown some kindness?  Perhaps it would make a difference in their lives.

     Could you be the one to make that difference?  Instead, of avoiding someone that may seem eccentric, say hello with a smile.  Remember that there is a reason why they are the way they are.  Also, remember that there is a reason why you are the way you are.  They are no different than you.  They crave respect and love, just as you do. Give that gift to someone else today.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.   Matthew 7:12

The Royal Treatment

                                                                
     The entertainment and news shows are abuzz with excitement.  The royal wedding of William and Kate is only weeks away.  The guest list is slowly being revealed.  People everywhere are watching with voyeuristic curiosity.
     It's amazing how intrigued the world is with the royal family.  Their weddings, births, and funerals find crowds of people from all over the world lining the streets to get a glimpse of them.  Emotions run high, and you see people of all ages weep with sadness and joy.  The royals, for the most part, are treated with preferred respect and devotion.  They seem to deserve special consideration.
     When I think of royalty kings and queens come to mind.  There is one King who was not treated like most.  The King of kings...Jesus.  He was overlooked by most people.  They didn't recognize him for the monarch that He was.  He was born of a peasant woman, Mary.  His supposed father, Joseph was a carpenter.  Not exactly throne material. 
     Jesus waited until he was almost middle aged to begin his ministry.  Until then, everyone thought He was Joseph's son, a chip off the old block.  There was probably a lot of talk around town about the young woodworker.  Whispers that began even before His birth.  People knew that Mary was pregnant before she and Joseph were formally married.  She was even sent away for a time.  Some people had heard that there was a crazy story about an angel visiting her!  Sure there was.  That's a nice clean explanation for it, all right.  She didn't do ANYTHING wrong.  Hmph.  Claiming that the baby was sent from GOD!!  The nerve of the wench!!  He ended up being born in a BARN for goodness sakes!  God's Son...he didn't even look like royalty.  He had wood chips in his hair and beard, and old leather sandals.  Divine Being, indeed!!  Oh yes, there was plenty of gossip. 
     That's what people like to do, isn't it?  If they hear something that is negative about a person, that's the thing to talk about.  I mean, other people have a right to know, don't they?  Isn't it our JOB to inform them?  It doesn't matter if they have the story exactly right...I mean, what's the difference in a few details?  Sometimes the story can be a bit boring...a little embellishment here and there makes the story more interesting.  Knowing something about someone else makes us look smart and intellegent.  I read the other day that a gossip tells more about him/herself than it does about the person they're discussing.
     Back to our story...as Jesus became more and more famous, people began to treat Him differently.  He could provide a service for them...He could heal the sick, and raise the dead!  And word got around about the free meals!  Heyyy!!  This is different!!  People wanted to know Him now!  It was a cool thing to be with this Jesus of Nazareth!  They treated Him with more respect.  He was invited to wealthy peoples' homes, and crowds followed His every move.  Jesus noticed the difference in how people treated Him, and how they treated their friends and family.  And how they acted toward the poor and sick?  It was obvious they didn't count.  After all, they were below society's standards.
     One of the last things Jesus taught His disciples was the parable of the sheep and the goats.  It is found in Matthew 25:

The Sheep and the Goats

 ^31-33"When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
 ^34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

   I was hungry and you fed me,
   I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
   I was homeless and you gave me a room,
   I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
   I was sick and you stopped to visit,
   I was in prison and you came to me.'
 ^37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'
 ^41-43"Then he will turn to the 'goats,' the ones on his left, and say, 'Get out, worthless goats! You're good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

   I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
   I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
   I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
   I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
   Sick and in prison, and you never visited.'
 ⁴⁴"Then those 'goats' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn't help?'
 ⁴⁵"He will answer them, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.'
 ⁴⁶"Then those 'goats' will be herded to their eternal doom, but the 'sheep' to their eternal reward."

     Jesus was keenly aware of how people are treated differently.  He treated all people the same.  That is not to say that He consented to bad behavior.  He did not.  Jesus very firmly let those who were stubborn in their sin, know that He didn't approve.  He didn't hate the sinner...He hated the sin.
     The Lord knew that people tended to look down on others that are different from them.  Those who were infirmed had a difficult row to hoe.  Those people who were quirky or had odd ways were left to their own devices.  No one wanted to associate with them.  No one, that is, but Jesus.  The difference in how He treated them, was that He treated everyone with respect.  What is respect?  It is the "esteem of, or sense of worth of a person".  Jesus considered all people worth something...they were worthy of love.
     How do we treat others?  I'm not talking about our friends and family...those we don't know.  How do we treat those who are different from us?  Do we slyly avoid them, or greet them as we would someone that was noteworthy.  Do we have patience with those who are mentally challenged, or walk away in disgust?  What about the homeless and impoverished?  How would we treat Jesus if we met Him face to face?  If the answer is different from any of the above scenarios, we may have to rethink things.
     Respect.  All people crave it...all people deserve it.  Here is an acronym for the word:
                                     Resolve
                                     Everyday (to)
                                     Show
                                     Pity
                                     Enough (to)
                                     Create
                                     Thankfulness
     Give those who come into our path a little bit of kindness and compassion.  You could unknowingly change their life.  You could be the only Jesus they meet.  Mercy and grace are given to us every day.  We need to pass it on.  Treat others as we would treat Jesus.  Give them the royal treatment.