The Rescue Project – Stories From the Streets

#31DaysofFreedom

21 Days of Never-the-Same – Day 9

I learned through the years that life isn’t always easy. But if you’re always looking at the bad, you will miss the good.

I have come to realize though, that just like when finding the silver lining, there is a beauty in the storms.  You have to embrace them. They are a blessing in disguise.

How would you know the morning if you didn’t know the midnight?

 

Earlier this summer I came home one day and it was pouring down rain…and I mean POURING. Somehow, rain is the last thing you want when you’re focused on you, and how you look, and what other people might think of you, and how inconvenient being wet can be…once again, this is when you are focused on you. I put aside those thoughts and went out and danced in the downpour. I am not sure how long I was out there, but it was long enough to be drenched when I was done, and long enough to lose myself in the freedom of being released to the storm.

I think God allows the storms in our lives to get our eyes off of ourselves. It is in desperation that we realize how much we need Him. When we keep Him as our focus, even when storms come, and we learn to dance no matter what is surrounding us and no matter what our circumstances might be we grow. And when the storm passes, somehow the dripping-wet clothes we’re wearing don’t matter anymore. Somehow, the hair being drenched and make-up running don’t matter anymore. Somehow you lose yourself when you embrace what comes at you, and it makes you who you’re becoming to be.

21 Days of Never-the-Same – Day 7

A few years ago my Aunt Mimi took me to Emerald Isle for my graduation. It was an incredible week, ocean-view, falling asleep and waking up to the sound of the waves crashing and the smell of the sweet, salt air. You might be wondering how this would be life-changing in any way…but for me it was.

This is what captured me.

Every day I woke up to this I was completely awestruck by the beauty of the place. The thoughts that ran through my mind were constantly, “Lord, I’m amazed by you…”

This trip restored to me the awe of the Lord and the beauty of His creation — a reflection of the master craftsman Himself. It allowed me to experience God in deeper way.

Thank you, Mimi for taking me! This was one of the best trips I’ve taken and my favorite destination! The time spent with you was blessed and beautiful! Love you! Blessings and favor! ❤

Beauty that Lasts

Today I am excited to be sharing a guest post by a sweet friend of mine, Shannon Meiers!

Shannon is a home-schooled senior in highschool, and lover of God, family, music, french, and blue jeans. She is learning to depend on the Lord’s plans for her life, and not her own, and blogs about the daily journey at lifewithoutplans.blogspot.com

~~~~~

Have you ever realized that the word ‘beautiful’ means different things to different people? To older women who are forever crooning over small children, beauty seems to mean the innocence and newness of youth, while little kids think beauty is flowers and puppies and rainbows.

As we age, though, society forces its warped view into our impressionable heads and we begin to think that beautiful means fake –made up — photoshopped. It’s not real. And it doesn’t last any longer than a coat of makeup or hairspray.
Contrast this to the unmistakable glow some girls have. Their faces seem to always be lit up, and their joy for the Lord makes them stand out. They are beautiful. But where do they find this kind of beauty? We’ve already determined that it can’t be found from the world. Let’s see what the Bible says.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

‘Transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ Changed inside and out by God’s presence in your life. Then you will find God’s will. Sounds good. But easier said than done, because the pattern of this world doesn’t take kindly to nonconformists.
Let’s check out Proverbs 31, verse 30. The NIV version says this:

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (NIV)

Here’s the bottom line — Charm can be faked.

What you see isn’t always you get.  But let’s take it a step further. Beauty is fleeting. It doesn’t last.

Now, watch what happens when we add another translation of the same verse into the mix.

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (ESV)

Beauty is vain. Prideful. But If we combine the two different translations, couldn’t we say that Beauty Is both vain, and in vain?

So how do we secure the kind of beauty that lasts? Well, take a look at what Proverbs 14:26 says: “He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.”

Fear in this instance doesn’t mean ‘to be afraid of’, it means to have a respectful awe for. Likewise, ‘praise’ doesn’t always mean ‘to worship’.  Taken in context, it means to ’commend the worth of’. So if we put everything together and reword it a bit, here’s what we end up with:

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who has a respectful awe of the Lord, will have a secure fortress, and her community will commend her worth.” 

Now that’s beauty that lasts. The perfect kind to have while in your single season, because it is the kind that will attract the guy God has for you, the Prince Charming to your Cinderella.  Beauty that will never fade, or tarnish, because it is found in Christ, the Everlasting King.

Another Thought on the Topic of Seeing Beauty…

In the last post we talked about seeing beauty in the single season. I have a few more thoughts on seeing beauty however. Sometimes beauty is hard to find; especially when considering circumstances. But something to remember is that beauty isn’t based on the circumstances we see. It is based on what God can bring out of them.

I have learned personally just how situations and circumstances have a beauty in them that we often miss when we are looking at them in the face. I have learned, especially over the last year that God really does orchestrate everything so beautifully! We can’t always see the beauty in what He is working through until it is passed and we can look back on what took place. Just knowing that there is purpose in our circumstances, I believe there is a beauty in that. All life has a purpose. There is beauty in everything – you just need to learn to see it. And if you can’t find it, just hold on to the knowledge that God really does orchestrate everything in such a way that we cannot fathom the good that will come from it. Beauty from ashes. Broken to beautiful. The Lord works in amazing ways!

Learn to see the beauty that God puts in our lives, in the little unexpected places that we may call trials.

In what ways has God brought about something beautiful in your life out of a tough situation? Please share in the comment box! 🙂

Also check out Mandisa’s “Stronger” ❤