Wednesday's Word: Look to the Heart

The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.”

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.”
Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the LORD chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
1 Samuel 16:1, 6-12 (NIV)

Our society focuses so much on the outward appearance. Some people judge merely off of how someone appears. Samuel did this when he went searching for Israel's king. He focused on the outward qualities of Jesse's sons. Yet God was searching their hearts.

These same tall, strapping men cowered in the face of adversity. Later on, when they were challenged by the giant Goliath, not one of them stepped up to defend Israel. It was their youngest brother, David, who answered the call. He wasn't even old enough or even trained to fight! Yet, David knew the God that he served.

God sees your insides. He knows your heart. Despite how other people may judge you, the Lord knows your true worth. Don't allow the superficial judgments of others keep you from answering God's call. And, make sure you take time to get to know someone before you make a snap judgment. Look to their heart. You probably will change your mind.

Wednesday's Word: Amazing God!

O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds,

and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air,

and the fish of the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8

Have you considered the greatness of God lately? Have you taken time to pause and look around at the majesty of creation? Have you thought about how intricately you have been put together?

The world is a witness of the greatness of God. He is high and mighty! He is creative beyond our mental capacity! He reigns in great splendor!

Yet, He chose us to rule over His grand creation. He chose us to be the caretakers of His display of power. He chose us to be crowned with the glory and honor of His deep love.

God is truly amazing!

God's Creative Splendor

I'm not really a nature girl. I don't hike or bird watch or visit forest preserves or anything like that. I can't stand being outside if it's too hot or too cold, and bugs will clear me away from any area.

Yet there is something about God's creation that you can't ignore.

Just looking at a simple flower or considering that that tiny bug is a working little organism that can carry ten times what it weighs... Seeing how the dew sparkles on the grass in the early morning or watching the sky turn beautiful pastel colors at sunset... Feeling a breeze on your neck or listening to the birds sing their song...

God really is a Master Designer.

He created a world full of splendor and mystery. With all of our technology and insight, we're still discovering secrets about our planet every day.

This world has been spinning for years and God has it all working together in perfect harmony. It's amazing how plants, animals, the weather, the seas, and the land itself are all connected to each other.

The creatures that He fashioned shows the depth of His creativity and wisdom. Even the landscape gives testament to His awesome work.

When was the last time that you paused to take in the natural beauty of our world? How often do you stop and marvel at God's glorious creation?

Take some time today to slow down and take a look at the natural beauty of the world. Some of us may have to really search to find something natural in our highly "developed" surroundings, but make some effort to find something. God created that animal, plant, cloud, or breeze...

Isn't God amazing?!

Verse of the Day: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm 8:3, 4

God Loves the Beauty Beyond the Marks

Most of us don't leave out of the house until we make sure that we are putting our best foot forward. We spend time cleaning, dressing, primping, and scenting ourselves to make sure that the world sees us in the best possible light. We want others to see us as beautiful, put-together beings.

We use makeup to cover up our blemishes, heels to accentuate our legs, fashionable clothes to reflect our sense of style... There are laundry lists of tweaks that we endure just to be perceived favorably by others. We just want to be loved.

Yet there is One who sees us when we first awake in the morning. He knows how our morning breath smells and sees the crust in our eyes. He watches us pop our pimples and brush our teeth. He sees the cover-ups we employ and knows every imperfection by heart.

On top of that, He sees every shortcoming of our insides as well. He knows every error of our heart. He hears each sinful thought.

Still, His love remains the same. He loves us in spite of our sins. In fact, He sees the covering blood of His Son Jesus more than He recognizes our sin.

Our Heavenly Father doesn't care that we are imperfect beings. He just cares for us.

No cover-ups needed. No special tweaks to apply.

All He asks for is a heart that's turned toward Him, and He will shower us with His affections. He just wants to be loved.

Just like us.

Verse of the Day: The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

True Beauty

It's been beautiful here in Chicagoland. Yesterday we had 90 degree weather and sunshine, and today looks like it's going to keep up the new trend. Maybe God is blessing us for the extended cold and wet season we've endured.

Moving on to today's topic... Beauty is a relative term. When you ask a person what makes them feel beautiful, you'll get answers ranging from getting their hair done, a certain outfit, being their perfect weight, or the love they receive from another. We all hold different views on beauty and act along those standards.

God, however, holds the true definition of beauty. He looks past all of the superficial things and gets to what really makes humanity beautiful: their reflection of His glory. How we display God's love in the earth is what establishes our beauty to Him.

God told Samuel that He doesn't look at man's outward shell, but instead looks at His heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) Your heart is part of what God originally created before He placed you in your physical shell. How much does your heart reflect God's original pure creation? Have you allowed the cares of this world to mar God's handiwork? Have the trials of life caused you to pen up your heart with barriers and blockades?

God can see through all of your exterior facades. He knows the intimacies of your being. He can see directly into your heart. When God sees a love for Him beating deep within, He sees your true beauty.

So, as much as you may be styling in your new 'do and outfit, no matter who is staring you down as you do your model walk, trust that your true beauty is only shown as you showcase your Father's love. Have you shown anyone your True Beauty lately? Let's make today a True Beauty Day!

Verse of the Day: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7