Dear Aj,

Once upon a time there was a boy

he was graduating from high school
and it was time for him to

decide
what he wanted to do with his life...
he chose to go to a school called
Bethel
and he was to major in business

This young man was assigned a dorm
room in Edgren Hall where he would
live with his best friend Caleb

It was an exciting time in life
new people to meet, new experiences to have

memories to make

and girls to befriend...

He was an attractive young man
the girls flocked to him due to his
huge heart and warm smile

but there was one lucky girl that caught his eye...

She didn't realize then how much she really liked him
so they became great friends spending almost every
vis hour moment together hanging out...

and making memories

The year flew by rather quickly
a lot faster than they thought it would

as the school year drew to a close
they had time to reflect on the wonderful

memories

they had made together.

It wasn't until that summer
that the girl began to realize
her true feelings

She began to really miss

that special boy...

They spent many summer nights

together again...

making memories.

It was one very special summer night
on the dock of a friend's cabin

...watching shooting stars...

making memories

that the girl realized that she was in love with the boy.

The next few weeks flew by
and the boy and girl were
inseparable.

They were in love...
and soon the boy asked the girl
if they could begin dating

and continue to make

memories...

together.

Time flew by again
as it always seemed to do.

They spent three wonderful years

together at Bethel

making memories

and soon it was time for the boy
to graduate from college

and become a real "man."

The boy had worked very hard
and the girl was very proud of him

very very proud.

The girl knew that God had a plan
for her boy

a wonderful marvelous plan.

And so she smiled knowing they still had a lifetime together

and they would always have

their memories.

If the world were a village of 100 people...

Something to think about...

The village would have

60 Asians, 14 Africans, 12 Europeans, 8 Latin Americans, 5 people from the USA and Canada and 1 person from the South Pacific

51 would be male, 49 would be female

82 would be non-white; 18 white

67 would be non-Christian; 33 would be Christian

80 would live in substandard housing

67 would be unable to read

50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation

33 would lack access to a safe water supply

39 would lack access to improved sanitation

24 would not have electricity (and of the 76 that do have electricity, most would only use it for light at night)

7 people would have access to the internet

1 would have a college education

1 would have HIV

2 would be near birth; 1 near death

5 would control 32% of the entire wealth; all 5 would be US citizens

33 would be receiving and attempting to live on only 3% of the income of "the village"

True Beauty

"The reason the average woman would rather have beauty than brains is because she knows the average man can see better than he can think."
-James Dobson

The question every woman asks: "Do you think I'm beautiful?"

I had the privilege of hearing a sermon on this very topic this last Sunday at Berean Baptist church in Burnsville, MN. Throughout the message I really felt God speaking to my heart. This is a subject that I believe all women wrestle with throughout their lives and because of that I felt compelled to write.

What is beauty? Who decides what is beautiful? What does God say about beauty?

1 Peter 3:3-4

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gently and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

Now I don't know about you but this is one of those verses that has always been some what confusing to me...or at least it is a verse that makes me question the way I live my life. For the first time this past Sunday I realized that this verse is not about judgement, it is about liberation. God is not saying I am going to judge you for spending $140 to get your hair cut, or for loving that diamond necklace, or for wanting that pair of seven jeans. No, instead these are the words of a loving God who is saying you don't need these things to be beautiful.

It is no wonder that the beauty industry is one of the leaders in the business world today. Have you ever stopped to think that what this industry does is use women to sell a look to other women? Let's admit it girls...our men do not know the difference between MAC and L'Oreal. They do not understand the purpose behind buying the $35 designer shampoo, and ladies let's face it...they DO think we are beautiful without our makeup on. We allow our culture to tell us what is beautiful and then we market this idea to each other...
I have found comfort in knowing that what the world deems beautiful is not the same as what God knows as beautiful. How does He know you ask? He knows because He designed it. He created us in His image...we are what we are because He made us this way...beautiful.

1 Timothy 2:10
"For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do."

What makes a woman beautiful in God's eyes...it is not her outward appearance it is that of her inner self and a gentle and quiet spirit. What does this mean? Have you ever met a person and the moment you met them you just knew you were in the presence of a beautiful soul. I believe with all my heart that when you are in love with your Savior and desiring to live your life for Him, He shines through you. That beauty overflows from the inside out. When Gods speaks of a gentle and quiet spirit do not be confused...He does not mean you must be silent and meek to be beautiful. Yet, there is a beauty that comes from a person who is gentle and kind, quick to listen but slow to speak. I believe that these are the attributes that God regards as beautiful.

Do you want to know the BEST part about our "Designer's" beauty, unlike the beauty of this world, true beauty is unfading.

1 Peter 3:5
"Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in."

A beautiful woman is:
responsive
compassionate
enduring
receptive
intuitive
supportive
wise
sensitive
sincere
trusting
graceful
delicate
faithful
pure

Do not give way to fear...our world tells us one thing but take heart God has overcome the world. We are beautiful because He made us and we are fearfully and wonderfully made!
You ARE beautiful.

Definitions...

shab⋅by /ˈʃæbi/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [shab-ee]

1.	impaired by wear, use, etc.; worn

chic /ʃik/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [sheek]

1. elegant and stylish