True Beauty

The cool crisp morning air, vividly bright blue sky with white cotton ball  puffs sporadically placed in the sky.
Fresh air flowing through my nostrils and beauty through my eyes....
Jolted in a split second by a disgruntled child, hurried husband, and a clock...
I quickly load the car and turn on the ignition.
Driving along the cold, hard black pavement, maneuvering around potholes
I am captured once again by the beauty of the sky, the cleanliness, neatness, and precise
positioning of the clouds.

Beauty.
Captivating.
Intriguing.
Breath taking.
Relieving...

My mind is racing about this word -beauty.
Yes, God made the creation and in my eyes this morning, I was taken back by its beauty.
What then, is beauty, really?

Beauty is defined as the qualities that give pleasure to the senses.

In essence, beauty looks, tastes, smells, sounds and feels pleasurable.
I think for many of us, we limit beauty to some of our senses and we do not open all of our senses.  The definition clearly says senses - plural.

We may see something that catches our eye and we think wow that is beautiful (this can be a person or thing).
After it catches our eye, we may pursue it, find out more about it.... only to find that it doesn't taste, smell, feel or sound beautiful!

When we look at our life, we need to think about what our beauty looks like and make sure that it is balanced.  We can't take so much time, energy and effort to adorn our outside appearance to look beautiful, that we neglect to groom our words and gestures in loving other people - which can leave us tasting bitter, sour and ugly.  What do people that you encounter everyday in all different circumstances take away with their 5 senses?  What smell or aroma are you leaving?  An inviting perfume that is intriguing (smell), a flavorful taste that makes their appetite church to want to be around you more (taste)?  Warm embraces (touch as in hugs, handshakes, pat on the back)?  What sounds will they repeat in their mind... did you leave words of encouragement, joy, laughter?

As a follower of Jesus Christ, it is important that  I groom myself inwardly and outwardly.  As Paul states,  "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.  For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves." 1 Peter3:3-5


Matthew says that we are here to be "salt seasoning" which brings out Godly flavors.... if we lose our saltiness how can people taste godliness? (Matthew 5:13, The Message)


Here's the reality...
What is on the outside doesn't make us beautiful.
The inward beauty is what shows outwardly that makes us beautiful and attractive.


So as you put on your lipstick ask God to help you speak words that will be tasteful, flavorful and encouraging.  As you listen to the radio, television or conversations at work, ask God to help you filter out the garbage and take only the treasures and to give you the strength to walk away from unhealthy conversations or turn the channel from music that fills our ears with dirt and filth that clogs that pathway for true beauty.... And may people when they leave our presence have a sweet smell, that resonates with them that makes them think about and lead them closer to Jesus.


Let's give our 5 senses a makeover and by doing so, become the beautiful daughter of the most high king!