Is God Pushing?

I like how you brought up Isaiah. ("He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him..." Isaiah 53:2). I think it comforts us to think of Jesus as a highly attractive person. He is/was highly attractive, but just not in the way our culture defines it.

Speaking of our culture...that brings me to the swine flu. I admit, I couldn't sleep last night so I turned on the computer and did a little research. This morning I learned the first U.S. fatality has resulted from the swine flu. I wonder if this will make Americans take notice even more than we already have been...you know the whole, once it hits home and affects me, it becomes more important. This is an extremely natural way to think. I wonder if God is constantly pushing against the natural in us?

Set the sad outcomes from the swine flu against the thousands of starving children in Africa...in America, even. Why are we so resistant to become involved unless we are directly affected? I ask this with my own share of conviction on this topic.

To Beauty or Not to Beauty?

I think the hoopla about Susan Boyle is an insightful one. I think she is having all this publicity because she represents people who have ever felt marginalized by their quirks and outwardly appearance. I think western society is so hungry for genuine acceptance and love that watching Susan Boyle sparked something inside them that said, "If people only took the time to get to know me without judging me first based on my looks, they would discover that I am likable and worth it." I personally felt sad when people snickered and thought she was foolish for thinking she was better than she looked. I am guessing that most of us want to be taken seriously by others and given the opportunity to prove ourselves before being judged.

This past week as I was reading, I was reminded of the verse in Isaiah that talked about Jesus' appearance. It said that he was not "attractive" and that he did not have physical traits that we would, in general, find desirable. Oh my! We're not talking about just an ordinary person here on the street corner, we are talking about The Redeemer, Our Savior, the One who gives us life and yet he wasn't this being who was considered "handsome" in his society. Could this suggest that perhaps God is more interested in who we are than what we look like? That just maybe our hearts matter most to Him than our faces or bodies?

I've often heard the saying that "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." I think it's absolutely true! Our Creator didn't make a mistake when he made you. You are who you are. To Him, you are beautiful and precious...isn't that worth anything?

Beauty Is In...What?

Okay, so I still can't articulate all the things I feel about the whole explosion that is...Susan Boyle. I'm hoping you can gather some words together and formulate something "pretty" about it all.

On another topic or extending somehow off the same topic I wasn't able to assemble my thoughts on...let's broach the topic of beauty. I've spent my day blogging about it on my blog and as a guest blogger and now I want your thoughts (but of course). How has our culture twisted the definition of beauty? I sometimes think the more airbrushed or plastic someone appears, the more kudos they get for being beautiful. Scary, huh?

Maybe I'm just wired strangely, or perhaps my faith really is wearing off on me, but I find Mother Theresa stunning. I came across some photos of her the other day holding a baby and she blew me away with beauty. My favorite thing about those pictures was the expression her face held. I'm speechless thinking about it.

Your thoughts?

Most Inspirational

I would have to say that there are no coincidences in life. The people that are placed in our paths whether they be family, friends or strangers, are there for a reason (though it may not necessarily be a positive one all the time). Life is going to happen regardless of our circumstance and it has been such a relief to know that there is always something to learn from each experience. Granted, there are several times where I find myself wondering what the heck is happening when chaos and drama are present (ugh!), but then I think about what God is trying to teach me through these times.

Oh! Oh! Oh! Okay, here's another inspirational saying to chew on ---God is more interested in our character than our comfort--yes, I know, I cringe too when I am reminded of this. Who doesn't like comfort or being comfortable? I have found lately that if I am comfortable, I'd better not get too comfortable. I mean I don't want to be complacent in my life. Secure, yes, but not complacent. How can we grow if we don't move forward with Him inspite of the obstacles we face? Remember, life is life and it's just going to continue on with or without our permission.

Most Inspirational Thing

You have such a wonderful way of wording things. I'm proud to call you friend.

My new thought today is--what do you think is the most inspirational thing you could say to someone?

It might be different for everyone but if I were to come up with a "flat saying" that's not at all "flat" but filled with bloated potential it would be..."There's a reason you are here."

What do you think the most inspirational thing to say to someone is?