Beauty

Funny Story: I bought new make-up recently and it all came in last night.  I seriously have never bought a ton of make-up for myself, I usually just buy a little here and there to get by.  I've never worn lipstick and I rarely wear full foundation with powder and blush.  Lately I've wanted to do better at my make-up as odd as that sounds.  I've thought a lot about how it could definitely use improvement.  So I've looked and searched and I finally came up with a wish list including lipstick, 2 new powders, blush, and lots of other things.  I showed the list to Ryan thinking I was crazy - it was very expensive and just not necessary.  And he totally caught me off-guard.  My dear sweet husband told me I needed to get every item on my make-up wish list as I'd never really spent money like that on make-up for myself before!  I was thinking he would agree that it was a waste and that I should just get the two things I really needed - I've always just felt like I should put my money towards other things - like, I haven't had a haircut in ages and it's been almost 3 years since I highlighted my hair!  Anway - he gave me the green light, and so I splurged.  And it was really, really fun - and I loved getting ready for work this morning!  Then!  I am reading my devotions I'm ready for 1 Peter 3 and this is what I read this morning:

Braiding your hair doesn't make you beautiful.
Wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes doesn't make you beautiful.
Instead, your beauty comes from inside you.
It is the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.
Beauty like that doesn't fade away.  God places great value on it.


And so I just can't stop laughing - of course, the one day that I get up early excited to look beautiful and I actually put on lipstick - I would read this passage!  Ha, ha.  Beauty isn't about makeup or hair or jewelry or nice clothes - it's about what's in my heart.  True beauty comes from within - and God places great value on those that cultivate inner beauty and seek to have a gentle and quiet spirit.  I want to be beautiful on the inside - and as I've felt before, what's on the outside really doesn't matter.

Suffering

Some words I am chewing on...


Christ suffered for you.  He left you an example.
He expects you to follow in his steps.
You too were chosen to suffer.
Scripture says, "He didn't commit any sin,
No lies ever came out of his mouth."  (Isaiah 53:9)
People shouted at him and made fun of him.
But he didn't do the same back to them.
He suffered.  But he didn't say that bad things would happen to them.
Instead, he trusted in the One who judges fairly.
He himself carried our sins in his body on the cross.
He did it so that we would die as far as sins are concerned.
Then we would lead godly lives.
His wounds have made you whole.


Wow.  He expects me to follow in his steps.  I was chosen to suffer.  I should do as he did.  I shouldn't shout back or make fun back or wish bad back upon those who hurt me.  I should trust in the One who judges fairly.  I should sacrifice and give of myself to those that hurt me as this is what Christ did.  I should lead a godly life and stop sinning.  His wounds made me whole.  I am expected to follow in his steps and expected to suffer.  Wow.  This is hard stuff.