Image

It has been said that one of the greatest evidences of God is His breathtaking creation.  A sunset over the deep blue waters of the ocean... the smell of a colorful spring flower.... the way the earth glistens after an afternoon rain... All beautiful and all on purpose.  We serve a God who values magnificence.  “The beauty of the cosmos,” one writer penned, “is God’s signature.  He could have made an ugly world and a loathsome universe.  But He is a God of beauty, and we must worship Him in the beauty of His holiness.”

Maybe while you are reading this, you are in front of a mirror.  If not, take a second and find one to stare into.  Stare into the image you see.   You know what?  That face is beautiful.  Exquisite.  Those eyes... hand made and color tinted by God.  The hair... each strand placed (and counted) by the Lord Himself.  Ephesians 2 tells us that the image you are looking at right now is the best work God can do.  He says it Himself...You are His masterpiece...you are loved... and you are more stunning than the brightest star in His sky.  God made you beautifully (and he knows and values beauty!).  Today, if the world tries to make you feel less than exquisite, remember what you see now... and keep in mind that God’s words to describe you are far more accurate than those of your peers.

Breathtaking

It has been said that one of the greatest evidences of God is His breathtaking creation.  A sunset over the deep blue waters of the ocean... the smell of a colorful spring flower.... the way the earth glistens after an afternoon rain... All beautiful and all on purpose.  We serve a God who values magnificence.  “The beauty of the cosmos,” one writer penned, “is God’s signature.  He could have made an ugly world and a loathsome universe.  But He is a God of beauty, and we must worship Him in the beauty of His holiness.”

Maybe while you are reading this, you are in front of a mirror.  If not, take a second and find one to stare into.  Stare into the image you see.   You know what?  That face is beautiful.  Exquisite.  Those eyes... hand made and color tinted by God.  The hair... each strand placed (and counted) by the Lord Himself.  Ephesians 2 tells us that the image you are looking at right now is the best work God can do.  He says it Himself...You are His masterpiece...you are loved... and you are more stunning than the brightest star in His sky.  God made you beautifully (and he knows and values beauty!).  Today, if the world tries to make you feel less than exquisite, remember what you see now... and keep in mind that God’s words to describe you are far more accurate than those of your peers.  

Beautiful Picture

God isn’t done with you yet.  

As Pastor Craig Groeschel says, “If you’re not dead... you’re not done.”

Whatever your past... whatever you see in the mirror... whatever the world has defined you to be....

God sees something greater.  

He’s created you for something that only you can do.

Have you forgotten what your smile looks like?  What hope feels like?  What God’s truth for your life is?

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”  2 Corinthians 5:17

This is reality.  

Take a closer look at yourself.  Not broken you.  Not addicted you.  Not desperate you.  Not financially struggling you.  

You.  Perfected in the love of Christ.  Old life gone... new life begun.

Take today.  This Friday.  Start over.  Start thinking of yourself differently... you aren’t perfect... you’ve made some mistakes... but you are valuable and important in God’s plan for this planet.

Christ came for you.

Christ died for you.

Christ is here for you today.

And as these truths come into focus... as this new picture develops... crumple up the other one.  That was you from yesterday.  That was you that struggled.  That was you that doubted.  That was the old you.  

Today you are new.  

God makes you that way.

And what a beautiful picture you are!

Mirror Image

It has been said that one of the greatest evidences of God is His breathtaking creation.  A sunset over the deep blue waters of the ocean... the smell of a colorful spring flower.... the way the earth glistens after an afternoon rain... All beautiful and all on purpose.  We serve a God who values magnificence.  “The beauty of the cosmos,” one writer penned, “is God’s signature.  He could have made an ugly world and a loathsome universe.  But He is a God of beauty, and we must worship Him in the beauty of His holiness.”

Maybe while you are reading this, you are in front of a mirror.  If not, take a second and find one to stare into.  Stare into the image you see.   You know what?  That face is beautiful.  Exquisite.  Those eyes... hand made and color tinted by God.  The hair... each strand placed (and counted) by the Lord Himself.  Ephesians 2 tells us that the image you are looking at right now is the best work God can do.  He says it Himself...You are His masterpiece...you are loved... and you are more stunning than the brightest star in His sky.  God made you beautifully (and he knows and values beauty!).  Today, if the world tries to make you feel less than exquisite, remember what you see now... and keep in mind that God’s words to describe you are far more accurate than those of your peers.  

Do You Know You're Beautiful?

It has been said that one of the greatest evidences of God is His breathtaking creation.  A sunset over the deep blue waters of the ocean... the smell of a colorful spring flower.... the way the earth glistens after an afternoon rain... All beautiful and all on purpose.  We serve a God who values magnificence.  “The beauty of the cosmos,” one writer penned, “is God’s signature.  He could have made an ugly world and a loathsome universe.  But He is a God of beauty, and we must worship Him in the beauty of His holiness.”

Maybe while you are reading this, you are in front of a mirror.  If not, take a second and find one to stare into.  Stare into the image you see.   You know what?  That face is beautiful.  Exquisite.  Those eyes... hand made and color tinted by God.  The hair... each strand placed (and counted) by the Lord Himself.  Ephesians 2 tells us that the image you are looking at right now is the best work God can do.  He says it Himself...You are His masterpiece...you are loved... and you are more stunning than the brightest star in His sky.  God made you beautifully (and he knows and values beauty!).  Today, if the world tries to make you feel less than exquisite, remember what you see now... and keep in mind that God’s words to describe you are far more accurate than those of your peers.  

Missing the Moon

One afternoon, a Christian journalist was interviewing astronaut James Irwin. Irwin was on Apollo 15 and actually stepped foot on the surface of the moon. As the interview progressed, the writer asked the astronaut, “What did you feel when you stepped out of that capsule and your feet touched the surface of the moon?” Irwin thought a second and said, “it was one of the most profoundly disillusioning moments of my life.” The journalist quickly asked “Why?” James explained that his whole life had been spent dreaming about the moon.. how romantic and mysterious it was... and when he got there... all there was when he reached down was plain gray dirt.

James Irwin was standing miles and miles above his hometown on a giant orbiting rock that took thousands of man hours and millions of dollars to reach and all he saw was gray dust. Have you ever lost perspective like that? Miss the miracle because all you can see is the mundane? Forget the positive because of the problems? Many do. Never forget to be in awe of God and what He is actively doing in your life. He provides, protects, supplies, equips, and loves all of us equally and without a single one of us being worthy of it. When you find yourself tempted to let the uncommon become common... stop... get someplace quiet... and take inventory of the situation. I guarantee you’ll leave that moment reminded of God’s incredible love for you... and that the ground you’re currently standing on is more beautiful than you realize.