Beauty

As you may know, I am a big fan of the book "Captivating" because it has completely changed how I view myself and has really encouraged my wounded heart. One of the authors, Stasi Eldridge, apparently has a ministry that she is a part of called "Ransomed Heart" and as I was wondering if she has authored any other books, I ran across this website and this blog from Stasi. It always amazes me how God brings the exact thing we need to us in exactly the way we need to hear it.



Beauty
Some things can be measured scientifically. Weight. Height. Even the fact that infants respond more to a woman's smile than a man's...All kinds of things can be measured.

But how do you measure the fragrance of a woman? The beauty of a comforting touch? Tears of empathy? Eyes that welcome, accept...love? How can you quantify the sound of a laugh that makes you feel to your bones that all is right with the world? How can you possibly dissect beauty?

That would be like pinning a dead butterfly to a board. What would you know of its flight or what is drawn from the human heart while watching it move?

We know it when we see it. We truly see it when we experience it. We experience it when that part of us that is most truly us sighs in our soul's deepest recesses and connects with the heart of our God in rest. In thankfulness. In joy.

Outward beauty is a thing that can be measured only when we accept the standards of measurement. Youth passes - so youthful beauty fades. Wrinkles are around my eyes. Yours too most likely. Laugh lines are earned! Gravity takes its toll but who wants to live in a cage; fearful of the ravages of time? Life is to be lived. Beauty, true beauty INCREASES! It increases as it is offered, shared and spent on others. It increases as our eyes open to the beauty surrounding us in God's creation and in each and every one of his image bearers. It grows as Jesus captures more of our hearts and we are transformed into his very likeness.

Who can measure the beauty of a sunset? Of a nursing mother? Of the Living God? Of you?
No one. Beauty is a mystery to be embraced and enjoyed and received and owned.
God says you are beautiful. More beautiful than any other thing in all creation. And, well, he ought to know."

Anyway

People say this quote is from Mother Teresa, but I think the original author is actually unknown. It was quoted in a book that my Growth Group is reading called, "Authentic Relationships: Discover the Art of One Anothering." Great Book!


Anyway

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centred;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.