God Turns Things Around

God often turns things around in amazing ways.  Perhaps that’s why He’s rightfully called the “God of Hope.”

Recently I listened to a young woman share how three years of frustrating, unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant suddenly turned around. I also observed an elderly divorced woman enjoy a rich, satisfying life after suffering several years in an abusive marriage. God can often turn miserable situations around to glorify himself and bless His children.

The same is true for Esther. Although the name of God appears nowhere in the book of Esther, He is not absent. He’s there! He’s waiting to turn things around in amazing ways.

How Do You Love When You Don't Feel Like It?

God says that we should love one another because He first loved us. (1 John 4:7-11).  Raising five children, and caring for my pastor-husband, while also meeting needs among our church flock, I thought, was “loving” enough! Additionally, shy people, like me, simply don’t reach beyond their comfort zone into other people’s lives. Certainly, Jesus would understand. And…well, did Jesus really mean love everyone? My excuses to exclude myself from this command seemed reasonable.

My excuses to pick and choose who I wanted to love began to unravel. Meditating upon God’s love for me, oftentimes made me weep.

Do You Think You Are Beautiful?

Recently I read “only 4 percent of women worldwide find themselves attractive.” I believe it’s because our culture fixates on the exterior, and therefore defines beautiful as a bronzed, toned body with white teeth, full lips and long, voluminous eyelashes. To be honest, if I’m focusing on my outer appearance, it’s difficult to believe I’m beautiful!

I’m not suggesting we ignore style and exterior beauty. I eat healthy, exercise, color my hair, and wear jewelry and make-up! But we must beware! When we believe our culture’s definition of beauty, we end up with a bag full of illusions.  

Beauty was marred when sin entered the world. God made Adam and Eve, in His image. They were beautiful! After they ate from the tree of knowledge, forbidden by God, they hid from God and no longer felt beautiful. Instead, they felt shame, guilt, and condemnation--ageless beauty stealers. So they covered themselves with fig leaves.

We also cover ourselves.