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GOD’S BEAUTY PLAN

You’re too slow-you’re too fast! You’re too old-you’re too young! You’re too fat-you’re too skinny! You’re stupid-worthless-a nobody! Sadly, these are definitions the world gives us each and every day. We might, even be told these things by a parent or grandparent. We believe them to be true-they become engraved into our hearts making us believe these lies that are told to us. Who is actually telling us these lies? Satan. He wiggles into the TV shows we are watching or the magazine covers we are looking at, that portray a woman who is flawless and perfect. Satan wiggles into our minds when we hear harsh words that we should be something else or look a certain way, which is defined by the world. Women, especially, take these visual thoughts and words to heart and let them become truth telling us that we are just a nobody in the midst of this sinful world. This world we live in tries to define the outward beauty, that we are led to believe is the truth. The world has its own beauty plan.

But the truth is: there is a much better beauty plan! God’s beauty plan! 1 Samuel 16:7b “For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” This verse was taking about David, when Samuel was looking for a new king. The scriptures let us know that David was actually a “hunk.” But that was not what God was interested in. God saw the beauty within his heart! Yes, this does tell me that God has created outward beauty. Think about my last post with the beautiful leaves on the tree in the fall, the sunset over the ocean, a rainbow in the cloud, the magnificent eagle, the intricate details of a flower, the smile on my new grandbaby’s face. God gave us these to enjoy. God makes beautiful creations outwardly, but we make the intricate beauty of the heart! Within our hearts we choose to believe God’s viewpoint, rather than mans. Think about yourself. Ladies, when you get ready to go to bed, you take off the makeup that you have worked so hard that morning to put on; which highlights the beauty that God has already given you. Then you look at yourself in the mirror. That is the real you-the one we are alone with-the true person of the heart! Max Lucado said “A woman’s heart should be so hidden in God, that a man has to seek Him just to find her.”

God has told us, in the Bible, who we are to Him. Some of the words that God uses to define us are: chosen-precious-holy priesthood-strong-cherished-heir to the King-adored-loved-worthy-wanted-virtuous-priceless-a daughter of the King. Proverbs 31:30 says “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”

God made you special! God made you unique! God made you loved! God made you-you! When we look in the mirror, we see broken-we see sadness-we see loss-we see ugly-we see useless-we see sinful! When God looks at us, He sees loved-He sees healed-He sees beauty-He sees joy-He sees His daughter-He sees what He has done for us by giving His only Son to die on the cross for our sins to heal all our brokenness! God’s beauty plan is for us to shine brightly from within so others can see Him. God’s beauty plan is for us to be confident -strong and to be able to stand up for Him in the midst of this chaotic world. We must realize how to feel, and put into action, the power that God wants us to have within us to fight whatever Satan tries to make us believe about ourselves.

Don’t listen to the lies of this world, no matter what you have gone through or been told about yourself! We were created to glorify God! We are to be a light into this very dark world! Many years ago, my husband, daughter and I, rode a tram into a cave. At one point, the lights were turned off. They were only off for a second or two, but I felt panic. The tour guide lit a candle. Where do you think all eyes went to? You are correct-right to that light! It made me feel safe and gave me peace! That is what God’s light shining out from us does. That light gives hope and peace in this chaotic, dark world. But in order to have that light shining from within us for others to see, we must realize how valuable we are to God. We must learn that our beauty plan, should be how God sees us, not how the world does. That true beauty plan is “God’s Beauty Plan.”

 (These thoughts were taken from my twelve-week ladies Bible class study called “God’s Beauty Plan.” It will be published the first of 2019. Some of the lessons are: “My Face in the Mirror,” “Cleanser-Forgiveness,” “Lipstick-Mouth,” “Wrinkle Cream-Worry,” “Vitamins-Depression.”)

We are still working on perfecting my blog. So please bear with us as we make changes as we go. My hope is to post a new message about every two weeks. May you find peace and comfort knowing that your God is right by your side every step of the way! God did not promise a life without trials, but rather tells us that this world is full of trial. But what He did promise, was that He will be right by our side, helping us up when we fall and help us to take one step at a time, one minute at a time and one second at a time.

God bless! Till next time!

                                                                       Keela

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SEASONS

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to check out my new blog!


I was sitting out on my patio today and was thinking about the changing seasons. This time of year, is my favorite season-fall. The coolness which quenches the heat and humidity of summer-the beautiful colors that burst out in the trees-the smell of apple cider-the taste of apple cider donuts, yum! These are all tastes-smells-eye “candy” that God so abundantly gives us in the fall. But what I want us to think about today, are the “seasons” in our lives that are just as glorious. Let’s look at them together.


SPRINGTIME-We are young, trying to discover who we are and what we want for our future. We start our families, (oops! Get married first of course), and we have started the course of our lives, making choices that will lead us in a certain direction. Everything is fresh, new and alive!


SUMMER-This is a time when our families are growing. The time when we are so busy. Some women are able to stay home to raise their babies. Others choose or have to work outside the home. Either is within God’s vision for our lives. Either one is so full and busy. There are just not enough hours in the day to be with-do for-or spend quality time with friends and family!


FALL-Many choices during this season, can affect who we are. A time when our children start out on their own and we have all the normal worries that creates. In my life, a time when I started losing those I loved through them moving away or through death.


WINTER-This season of our lives, is a time for reflection. A time to look back at our life and wonder why did I do this or that. A time to thank the Lord for the blessings He has given us through the years. Our muscles and bones ache & we feel like we are “falling apart.” Some just sit back and let time pass them by. It is ok to do some of that, but it is also a time to keep doing service for the Lord. Of course, it might take a little longer and we might have to make a list, because we are forgetful, but we have so much to offer others.


Whatever season you might be in, God has blessed you with many talents that need to be used and shared with others.


Me, personally, I am in between fall and winter. I have been looking back at my life and reflecting on each season. I have not always done what I should or could, but have tried to use what God had given me at that time, in that season, in that trial for His glory.


My dad just, within the last few months, sold his five thousand square foot house and has moved closer to be with family. What a tiring and emotional journey that has been! We found tubs and tubs of pictures and slides! I have taken it upon myself to go through thousands of pictures. (The slides will be for another time.) I am pulling out all of the black and white pictures that I can find of times and people from the past. Relatives from the past who have helped to shape our lives now and for the future. When I look into this memory bank of pictures, I remember all the amazing happy times of joy when my kids were young. Times when my grandparents, my husband and my mother were alive. But in the midst of those happy times, my mind wandered to the times of hard gut-wrenching memories too. There was a time when I feared for my life-when we lost our home to foreclosure and went through bankruptcy-when my husband was in and out of the hospital, at least two to three times a month-when he was in a two year, twenty four seven, deep depression-and then the pain of loosing him in the middle of a surgery that was meant to ease his pain and give him a brighter future-the memories of my mother and all she went through before she passed away.


There are so many joys and sorrows of my life journey, that I want to share with you, my dear friends. Thus, the creation of this blog. I want to share with you to help navigate you through the seasons of your life. I want you to realize that with the hope of an eternal home with God, you will be able to put one step in front of the other when you think it is just too hard. I want you to not listen to all those worldly voices that tell you that you are not good enough-not smart enough-not pretty enough. Because you ARE all of those things! You are a daughter of the one and only King-God. What freedom that gives you to be able to live your life.


2 Corinthians 1:3-4 reads, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” This verse has given me the strength and encouragement to step out in faith to share my life stories with you.


We are all truly the same inside. We seek motivation-we search for love-we want to share our lives with someone who truly cares! Well, guess what! Whether we actually have someone in our lives or not who gives us all of that, we are only one prayer away from someone who motivates, loves and truly cares for us. I am talking about the one and only God! He gives us strength to face a new day. He helps us to realize if we just reach out to others in service to Him, that He will give us confidence to live one more minute, to take one more step and to share with others all He has to give us. We are truly a daughter of the King!


I hope you will visit my blog again. I am just starting this journey and hope you will follow me on this adventure of my life! I am very technologically challenged. (thanks for spell check for that spelling!) The strength and the knowledge from my young friend, Kristin, is the reason I am able to get this going.


Thank you for sharing your precious time with me. My prayer is that you will be motivated, inspired, encouraged through the stories I share about my life experiences, no matter what season of life you are in.
God bless! Till next time!


Keela