Tag Archives: Beauty

Jan3

DAY 3 (2015)

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God the ultimate artist

God the ultimate artist

So today I discovered a new thing… something that I am sure other people who live in cold weather knew existed. But I have recently discovered is real, today it rained… ice. Yup, ice. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight, because living in Florida I had never been privy to this great mystery. Freezing rain is actually really pretty, as it coats all that comes in contact with it in a layer of ice. I couldn’t help but thank God for His awesome creativity, who but God could make it rain ice, heck who but God could make it rain at all. I love that God is so infinite that we even now we are still discovering new parts of His character, new beauty in the world He has created for us. I am thankful for freezing rain, for days when the trees are coated with white snow. I am thankful for sunshine and slow breezy days. Because everyday is a picture of God’s love for us. Everyday is a chance to be grateful for what we do have and not focus on what we don’t.

“For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm” (Palm 33:9).

So what am I thankful for today? Ice rain and a creative God.

Jul12

DAY 193 (2014)

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Look into the mirror and understand, we are NOT what others say we are. We are who God created us to be.

Look into the mirror and understand, we are NOT what others say we are. We are who God created us to be.

I saw the music video to the song, Try, today. It is by Grammy award winning artist Colbie Caillat. The video, I have to be honest, brought me to tears. Not because it was sad, but because it was beautiful and honest. I am a female and the standards that I am judged by many times are harsher and more critical than say, the standards my brother is judged by. Not because I am less somehow, but because while my brother will be judged on his abilities. Many times before people ever find out what I am capable of, I am judged by my looks.  Am I slim enough, pretty enough? These are questions that many times plague the female population. The lyrics of the song lead to a very important question: “Get your sexy on. Don’t be shy, girl. Take it off. This is what you want, to belong, so they like you. Do you like you?” Do YOU like you? Such a simply question, yet so profound. Why? Because many times we can’t answer. We have become so busy trying to become what society thinks we should be, that we don’t know who we are ourselves. So how could we even begin to know if we like ourselves? It took me a while to like me, and I can honestly say that I do. I may not be the prettiest girl out there, but I am loved by the people in my world. I like my laughter (I love to laugh). I like my personality (stubborn, nerdy, and funny… it’s an awesome combination). We are created in God’s image, each of us has a purpose and I can guarantee that purpose is NOT to fit into society’s cookie cutter standard of  “cool”. So stop trying so hard. Be who you are. We weren’t made to fit in, we were created to STAND OUT!

“So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).

So what’s the plan? Be me. Because I like me.

Here’s the link to the video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXoZLPSw8U8&feature=kp). Enjoy!

Jun28

DAY 179 (2014)

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Beauty is NOT the physical. It is the HEART. (Picture by Rose Starr)

Beauty is NOT the physical. It is the HEART.
(Picture by Rose Starr)

I haven’t posted a “DAY” for a while. Not for lack of inspiration or learning, but mostly because I felt what I have been learning lately is something that God is doing in me (not that it won’t be shared later, but for now it is between God and I). However, today I was perusing my FB page and saw a letter that my friend Rose posted. The letter is written by Rose’s 13 year old daughter Hope, who recently came back from a missions trip to Haiti. I found Hope’s view of what true beauty is to be refreshing and very God centered. Her very simply and straight forward point of view, made me realize that God’s view of beauty is truly NOT the physical, but the heart. Here is Hope’s perspective (I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed me):

Haiti was not what I expected… Everyone told me how beautiful it was, and yes, parts of Haiti were visually pleasing, but the streets of Port-Au-Prince were not very pretty at all. Dirt, trash, and people did not just line, but filled the hot “pavement.” And oh, the smell! Everyone we saw seemed so poor and I wanted to help them. Haiti IS beautiful, but not visually – Haiti is beautiful in the people. The sweet spirits of the children, who just want to be loved, made Haiti beautiful. And the love the caretakers have for their children. The miraculous work God is doing in Haiti, and His unstoppable, never-ending love for every single person there was wonderful to see. It was amazing to hear unbelievable stories from missionaries living in Haiti. And I loved spending time with the children and doing VBS. Our team was spectacular, and each member has such a strong calling to help people and spread Jesus’ love, which is so inspiring. I love them all so much! Leaving Haiti, I feel sad, as if I’m leaving home, but I know that the experience is one I’ll remember all my life, and Haiti will always be in my heart and prayers. Haiti is a beautiful, yet broken country that needs help. So please pray that the country will be healed. Haiti wasn’t what I expected, it was better. Thank you to everyone on the team!
~Hope Starr

“‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked Him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read from the lips of children and infants You, Lord, have called forth Your praise'” (Matthew 21:16).

So what’s the plan? Child like faith.