You have probably heard the saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Take artistic impression as an example, we all have different opinions of ‘what type of art is beautiful’, but can we agree on a definition of beauty that transcends the human eye?

We live in a culture where there is so much emphasis is on external beauty. The fashion and beauty industry encourages people to strive to be thin, well dressed, with perfect hair and make-up but the Word of God teaches us this: “I want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” 1 Timothy 2: 9-10

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Many women seeking to fulfill the world’s definition of beauty starve themselves to be thin. This has led to eating disorders and a medical condition known as ‘anorexia’. This illness has affected many families including mine. I remember holding my young, sick teenage daughter praying for God’s healing. She was emaciated, her spine was protruding through her back like an exposed coil. We were praying without ceasing and I never stopped hoping that God would answer us and He did. One day my young girl became filled with a desire to heal and conquer her illness. She entered an anorexia treatment program and through the grace of God and with the help of doctors, nutritionists and psychologists she is now healthy and strong, but one of the young women in her treatment program was not so fortunate and she committed suicide. May she rest in peace with you Jesus.

Courage is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It enables us to accomplish what otherwise might seem impossible. One of my favorite Christian evangelists in the world today is Nick Vujicic. Nick was born without arms and legs. He travels the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he is an inspiration to all who meet him or read his books. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, Nick brings hope everywhere and that’s beautiful! “According to Nick, the victory over his struggles, as well as his strength and passion for life today, can be credited to his faith in God. His family, friends and the many people he has encountered along the journey have inspired him to carry on, as well. Nick says, “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!” Source: https://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/about-nick/bio/

The question is are you willing?

Are you willing to be God’s hands and feet in the world?

Are you will to make some sacrifices so that Jesus can be better known and loved?

In our fast paced world of instant communications, patience is a beautiful virtue that is often in short supply. People become enraged in traffic, irritable with one another and quick to anger, and in the midst of this patient people stand out like a beacon of hope.

“Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered…” James 5:11-12

So many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing persecution for their faith in Jesus. “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10

God teaches us that beautiful souls have faith, hope and trust in God, courage, patience, perseverance, mercy and love. Blessed and beautiful are those that are always striving to be charitable and kind, each and every day of their lives.

“Today six million people are at risk of starvation in Somalia, and another fourteen million in South Sudan, Nigeria, and Yemen. It is the gravest emergency since the Second World War, according to the United Nations.” Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/opinion/a-fierce-famine-stalks-africa.html?_r=0  This famine is not just caused by drought, it is also caused by terrorism forcing people to leave their homes to seek safety. I don’t know which humanitarian agencies are in a best position to help, but I made a financial contribution hoping that aid will get to the people in need.

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Proverbs 19:17

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.” Deuteronomy 15:10

People are starving and they are praying for help and we must strive to be part of the solution!  May God help all the humanitarian agencies and governments who are trying to address this terrible famine. Helping people in need –that’s beautiful!

Long before Jesus Christ came on earth, God made a promise to His people.

The ancient promise was this:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36: 25-26

Jesus died so that this promise could be fulfilled. By dying for our sins, Jesus allows us to receive ‘a new beautiful heart – filled with His Holy Spirit’.

If we want a make the world a more beautiful place, then we need more beautiful hearts, more generous, compassionate, loving, merciful hearts. We need to heal the divisions between people, silence evil and find ways to equalize our wealth.

God’s designs are to make each human being BEAUTIFUL. This beautiful transformation occurs gradually as we give our lives to God for His Holy Will to be done. As we give ourselves to God for His glory, God begins to effect a beautiful transformation in us as we change from being self-centered to God-centered, from impatient to patient, from cowardly to courageous, from stingy to generous and from vengeful to merciful and forgiving.

Smile and allow people to see your beauty!

Give to someone in need!  “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.” Proverbs 14:21

Be thankful to God for all good things come from Him!  “Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”  Psalm 106:1  An attitude of gratitude is a beautiful human disposition.

Let us recognize Jesus in our fellow human being for it is God’s will that we do.

Let’s treat one another as we would like to be treated and notice how that loving kindness breeds true beauty in our fellow man.

“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

TRUE BEAUTY MUST BE CULTIVATED!

Like a garden that grows slowly from a seed into seedling and ultimately into a large plant that yields fruit, so too must we strive to grow in love by building our relationship with Jesus. God will do all the heavy lifting, but we must consent to His Holy Will and seek His Grace.

LOOK AT TRUE BEAUTY BY STANDING @ THE FOOT OF THE CROSS OF JESUS EVERY DAY!

To fulfill the ancient promise and enable us to receive a new heart filled with the Spirit of God, Jesus had to die a brutal, agonizing death. He was tortured for our sins and the Scriptures say Jesus was so terribly disfigured that He scarcely looked human.

“But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.” Isaiah 52:14

Look at Jesus on the Cross so disfigured for your sins, my sins and the sins of all mankind and you will see the GREATEST BEAUTY OF ALL, THE BEAUTY OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST GIVING HIS LIFE SO THAT WE CAN BE REDEEMED AND RECEIVE A NEW HEART FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT OF LOVE!

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

I invite you to join Christians all over the world that are praying for the mercy and love of Jesus Christ to restore our world to the beauty God had in His mind when He created us. We are stopping @ The Time Jesus died for us, 3pm (in our local time zones) to remember the Passion of Christ and pray for God’s mercy upon all.  Let us pray for a beautiful transformation of all mankind so we can all turn away from sin and seek peace and love through the grace of Our Beautiful Holy Lord Jesus Christ.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”   Romans 12:12-16