What Makes You Pretty?

I looked at myself in the mirror this morning and there I stood with Alice Cooper eyes (smeared mascara), and hair all bunched up to one side. I was too beautiful for words...Lol! I cleaned up and proceeded to the kitchen. I was thinking that I wanted to do something special for a young lady who was going to spend her sick day with me. I decided on Chocolate Chip Muffins. I made them from scratch. They were yum! My little friend was sweet and grateful. I decided my heart was genuine in making her welcome with warm muffins, so maybe that would make my heart pretty.

So what is true beauty? What makes a person pretty? Is it make-up? Probably not. I got a tickle last week when I was sitting with a sweet little girl. I had not took time to put my "face on" when we left for an early appt. I was sitting in the waiting room, putting on some eye make-up. She was studying my every move. I went to put a little powder on her cheeks with a big fluffy brush and she says, "No, my mommy won't like it?" So I continue to put my eye shadow on. She then speaks up "Why do you PAINT your eyes?" I tell her to make my eyes pretty. She declares "My eyes are already pretty!". Wow! She is right. Her eyes are beautiful. They are innocent. They are curious. They are filled with wonder. They are pure and mindfully protected.


Bible Beauty Tips:
1Peter3:3-5
3Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-4rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands.

Ladies I have read this scripture before but as I read it again I see a key point I may have missed. Verse 4 states "...which is precious in the sight of God." Who am I thinking of or what am I thinking of when I go to "make up"? How about you? I usually am thinking I want to spare the public of fright, but then again it's about pleasing someone else. When I do the face, I should be thinking "What does God see in me that is precious?". I don't think he cares that I blend my mineral make up just right, or if my eye liner is on straight. He want's to see that I am working on a gentle and quiet spirit.

The Greek word for quiet is Hesuchiosle. This means tranquil or peaceable. I was a little relieved because I was thinking I am a loud person at times. I laugh loud. I am not quiet in the sense of I like to talk. I do realize though, ladies, that we are beautiful when we are tranquil and peaceable. A free online dictionary defines tranquil as

• Free from commotion or disturbance
• Free from anxiety, tension, or restlessness; composed.
• Steady; even.

How beautiful we are when we find our peace in Jesus. When our lives are filled with strife and trials, we need to reflect composure and calmness that comes with the trust we place in Him and that He is in control. I know this is easier said than done. Truth is, when we spend our time in the Word of God, read about His purposes and plans for us, use the resources He gives us, pray and express gratitude, He puts a shine and glow on us that is truly "pretty".

A Life Story
I have a story about this particular glow I am writing about. I will warn you it has a sad ending, and it is one that you will see how human I am.

When I was in college, I met a girl who was a Christian. Her name is Debbie. She and I shared struggles we had trying to live out our faith in our college community. We were very candid and tried to be supportive to each other. One morning I woke up early and fell to my knees asking the Lord to forgive me for my sins and to help me live for Him. I read the Bible, prayed, and worshiped. I got up, showered, dressed, and carefully put my face on. I was particular then at 18-19 years old. I wanted to LOOK GOOD. This particular morning, I felt such a lightness in my heart. I was smiling. I was aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit. It felt good to be in obedience. I gave God first place in my day. I went to my class where my friend and I sat by one another. It was a big dark auditorium, theatre like. As I sat down, Debbie said, "Anna, you look beautiful." "There is something different about you." "You are GLOWING, what's up?" Now, ladies, I knew in my heart immediately that she saw the peace of Jesus in me. I knew that she recognized it, but what did my BIG ungrateful mouth say? "It probably is the new make up I used." I felt the lightning just miss me...God should of struck me because that would of been merciful . . . I had to live with the sorrow of denying Him in my life. That day I was ugly and no amount of make up could change that.

Back to the Bible
Now I don't want sign off the blog without addressing verse 5. It states the "holy" women (parenthesis mine), who "trusted" in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,. First of all when you read the whole verse, it says in "former times" the holy women...does that exclude me? NOT! Then it proceeds to say the "holy" women...do I want to be "holy"? YES! Then it goes on to say "who trusted in God"...Ouch! I trust...don't I? Hmm. These women of former times adorned themselves with gentle and quiet spirits. These women were holy and they trusted God. They were beautiful or as the Word conveys...very precious in the sight of God. I want to be precious in God's eyes, but then I read they were submissive to their own husbands. I love my "own" husband, but submissive is a word that can be prickly to me. I want God's beauty, and if you do, then we will come to terms with the word submissive. Do you own study. Find the right support resources. It has helped me and I can say "prickly" now as opposed to "outrage". So ladies, again I ask, "What makes you pretty; what makes you beautiful?"

One last thought.
Last night I went to hear a friend preach at a local church. I asked him before preaching if he was going to give us a "beating". This is how I reference his Godly, Biblical counsel and charge for accountability. He proceeded to ask if I was bearing fruit. I said "not lately". Then he said I would probably learn something. I won't go into the whole sermon, but here is a question he posed that is quite applicable to my subject today.

"Do you look like Jesus? Do you act like Jesus?"

Ladies, when you look in the mirror, do you look like Jesus? Are your clothes something Jesus would wear (not literally)? Are your clothes modest, tasteful, and appropriate? Is your make up simple and enhance your natural beauty? And on the flip side, do you wear make up? Do you keep your face clean and you hair combed? Do you represent yourself as Jesus would? Do you care about your physical self? I have seen Christian women drag themselves around with no make up, scruffy hair, and wrinkled clothes. They seem to represent a god who brings them no joy, wears them out and makes them miserable. They don't smile and they basically look like serving Christ is a drag. I have been this woman at times. Consider the scripture above again. How do you adorn yourself? Does God see you as precious? I am asking myself these questions. I will let you know how it goes, but first I must go look in the mirror!

A Secular Quote I love:
Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.
~Sophia Loren