Beauty

What us the definition of beauty? Write a definition for “beauty,” and provide examples to illustrate your meaning.

Beauty in this world is skinny, muscular, big boobs, nice complexion-none of which I have. Maybe this is why I feel so hard on myself. I strive for the beauty of this world, when ultimately it means nothing.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

-Proverbs 31:30

How can I make my heart know what my mind already possesses: There is more to me, more to life, than having "Hollywood" beauty. I am beautiful-I just haven't convinced myself of that yet.

I want your life

I have missed writing so much and its absence in my life is my own doing. Now the question what to write about?

Life seems in a quiet chaos right now. I feel like I have no direction and nothing to strive for. Goals are obsolete, I think for fear of failing. I don't want this life, I want a life that is alive and vibrant.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

-John 10:10

The Return of Happies

Steps for Increasing Positive Emotions:

So originally I was going to give you all the technical worksheet language that prompted me to write this blog. Then I thought better of it.

The point-I need some more happy thoughts running through my head. To accomplish that I need to focus on the happies I have in my life. Enter blog here. This is originally why I resurfaced this blog and so I am I trying once again to jump back on the wagon.

Leisurely reading

Reading a classic-Native Son by Richard Wright

Listening to Paramore-you should too, here is what I am listening to at the moment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-MaaxgdUT4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgJ8BZi3vTA

Canvas Group

Being able to go to Canvas Group

Getting an extra day to turn in an art assignment

Drinking a pop

Not being rained on today

My Rainbow Brite blanket

It being cool enough that I don't have to have my A/C on

My parents' helping me out

Hugs

A new phone

Romans 8: 38-39

Enjoying and fully understanding personal and family financial planning

Not needing the things I didn't go to wal-mart to get

Going to McDavid

Seeing old friends

Getting excited about fibers

Planned for God's Pleasure

The Purpose Driven Life

Purpose #1: You Were Planned for God's Pleasure

Day 8:

-The moment you were born into the world, God was there as an unseen witness, smiling at your birth. He wanted you alive, and your arrival gave him great pleasure.

-Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life. When you fully understand this truth, you will never have a problem with feeling insignificant. It proves your worth.

-The reason you are able to enjoy pleasure is that God made you in his image.

Bringing pleasure to God is called "worship"

-Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship. Like a diamond, worship is multifaceted.

-Worship is a lifestyle.

Worship is far more than music

-If it is offered to God in spirit and truth, it is an act of worship.

-But God likes variety and enjoys it all.

Worship is not for your benefit

-When we worship, our goal is to bring pleasure to God, not ourselves.

-If you have ever said, "I didn't get anything out of worship today," you worshiped for the wrong reason.

-"These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."

Worship is not a part of your life; it is your life

-Praise should be the first activity when you open your eyes in the morning and the last activity when you close them at night.

-Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory, and pleasure of God.

-"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

-How is it possible to do everything to the glory of God? By doing everything as if you were doing if for Jesus and by carrying on a continual conversation with him while you do it.

-"Take your everyday, ordinary life---your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life---and place it before God as an offering."

-This is what real worship is all about-falling in love with Jesus.

Point to Ponder: I was planned for God's pleasure.

Verse to Remember: "The Lord takes pleasure in his people." -Psalm 149:4a (TEV)

Question to Consider: What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus?

For DBT I am currently focusing on sleep so that will be my goal-to sleep for God. Please help me. Currently my sleep is all over the place and continual-help me find a consistent pattern, but more importantly bring you pleasure.

Teach me how to bring you pleasure, especially in the simple things.

The Reason for Everything

The Purpose Driven Life

Day 7:

-It's all for him.

-Everything created by God reflects his glory in some way.

-"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light."

-In the entire universe, only two of God's creations fail to bring glory to him: fallen angels (demons) and us (people). All sin, at its root, is failing to give God glory.

-When anything in creation fulfills its purpose, it brings glory to God.

-St. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is a human being fully alive!"

-We bring glory to God by:

-Worshiping him

-When you use your life for God's glory, everything you do can become an act of worship.

-Loving other believers

-Becoming like Christ

-Serving others with our gifts

-"God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you...Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory."

-Telling others about him

-What will we live for?

-It will sometimes mean choosing a difficult path instead of an easy one.

-"Anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go,... you'll have it forever, real and eternal."

-God will give you what you need if you will just make the choice to live for him.

-Believe God loves you and made you for his purposes.

-Believe that no matter what you've done, God wants to forgive you.

-Receive his Spirit, who will give you the power to fulfill your life purpose.

Point to Ponder: It's all for him.

Verse to Remember: "For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory." -Romans 11:36 (LB)

Question to Consider: Where in my daily routine can I become more aware of God's glory?

I don't really have a routine at the moment so obtaining one is one way to build in awareness. The way that would probably be most beneficial to me is becoming more aware of God's glory in little ways of taking care of myself. I currently don't take care of myself and if I became aware of how it brought glory to God I think that would change things drastically.

Ready for the Frontlines

Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

-Micah 7:8

The Christian home is in battle with satan, just as the individual believer is. The enemy will use any device for dividing us, for destroying our peace, for breaking down our communication, for leading us away from God. When he defeats us personally in any way...he gets his foot in the door of our homes. We are in spiritual battle every day of our lives; we must recognize it for what it is!

We must be armed. We must know what God has to say about us. Equipped with that knowledge, protection, and strength, we won't need to fall victim to satan's assaults on our self-esteem, designed to perpetuate our self-focus. We no longer need to feel unloved or unworthy or inadequate.

God loves you, just as you are, with an everlasting love. Do you accept that fact? Do you believe him?

Christ does not reject you. Christ has never mocked you or laughed at you. Keeping that fact in mind, you can conquer a negative self-image. By deliberately de-emphasizing the world's values and dwelling on the values of Christ, you can develop healthy, biblical self-esteem-and reach out to build it in others. You, too, can share God's anyhow love, his total, unconditional acceptance.

-Norma Kvindlog and Esther Lindgren Anderson

Life is a Temporary Assignment

The Purpose Driven Life

Day 6:

-You won't be here long, so don't get too attached. Ask God to help you see life on earth as he sees it.

-In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life-longings that will never be fulfilled on this side of eternity.

-"We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

-In God's eye's, the greatest heroes of faith are not those who achieve prosperity, success, and power in this life, but those who treat this life as a temporary assignment and serve faithfully, expecting their promised reward in eternity.

-Your time on earth is not the complete story of your life. You must wait until heaven for the rest chapters. It takes faith to live on earth as a foreigner.

-When life gets tough, when you're overwhelmed with doubt, or when you wonder if living for Christ is worth the effort, remember that you are not home yet.

Point to Ponder: This world is not my home.

Verse to Remember: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." -2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

Question to Consider: How should the fact that life on earth is just a temporary assignment change the way I am living right now?

Living without fear, trusting God, obeying without hesitation