TRUE BEAUTY IS TO THE BONE

I have heard that "beauty is only skin deep," but true beauty comes from a place that much deeper within. "Our deepest beauty comes from our heart."

If we would draw from the beauty we have that cannot be touched with makeup or the hand of a plastic surgeon, we would then be better able to accept ourselves, live with ourselves, and in turn, accept others and live with others. Much of our lives are spent trying to improve on the natural beauty we were born with. Trying to re-invent the wheel is fruitless. Enhancing the positives we already have in our lives is much less painstaking, andprobably less expensive. Strengthening those things that we call negatives or weaknesses will give us a better outlook on life.

Start today, trying to smile more, and make an effort to see the positive. Look for the silver lining. This does not mean that you areliving in a fantasy world, but there is something to learn from every situation and circumstance in life. There is a reason why, and if we look farther than where we can physically see, we just might find somethingworthwhile.

Remembering back to my childhood, that same saying, "beauty is only skindeep," had another part. It said "and ugliness, to the bone." You know, it takes much more energy to be an ugly person, than to be a beautiful person. I am still talking about true beauty. You really have to think and plan to be and act ugly. Ultimately, however, it takes its toll, and combined with old age, it's just like a cancer to our lives.

So, strive to be beautiful from the inside out. I promise, the resultswill be longer lasting, and the benefits along the way will be greatly rewarding.


emailed and shared by Joe Gatuslao
Bacolod City, Philippines, Fri, 11 Nov 2005 23:54:19 +0800

THE JOURNEY OF FAITH

The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people, and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." (Genesis 12:1) It seems to me that the journey of faith is not such an easy to follow map.

It is a one-step-at-a-time kind of experience. When God called Abraham to leave his hometown and follow Him, Abraham was given no map, no set of directions. He didn't even know his destination. God just said, "Get up and go to a land that I will show you."
Abraham was expected to go where God led him, a step at a time, a day at a time. There were no guarantees that the journey would be easy. He had a lot of heartache along the way, his share of danger, and the painful introspection of living with postponed hopes.
Yet he is living as a man of faith.

God doesn't promise us a life of mountain top experiences. There will be valleys to go through, too. Dark valleys. Disorienting valleys. Valleys of depression and despair. What He promises is not a road map that will give us a detour around those valleys, but that He will walk through those valleys with us.

When we emerge from those experiences, we look back and realize that that's where the growth is. It isn't on the mountaintops, above the timberline; it's in the valleys.

** DEAR LORD, You never promised me a rose garden; you never said that this world would be easy. But you have promised me that in times of joy and in times of difficulty you will always be with me. As I pass through the valley of adversity in my life, please grant me the faith and strength to face them. Take away all my fears, and let me just hold Your hand as I continue my journey of faith. Thank You, Lord

THE EYE OF GOD

Can you imagine looking through a telescope into space and God is looking back in the other end of the telescope?

NASA calls it "THE EYE OF GOD." This is a real picture.......

This picture NASA took with the HUBBLE TELESCOPE. It was too awesome to delete. I thought its worth sharing!

THE FERN AND THE BAMBOO

One day I decided to quit? I quit my job, myrelationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God."God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not toquit?" His answer surprised me..."Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied. "When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I tookvery good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said."In the third year, there was still nothing from thebamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. "I would not quit." He said."Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.

I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots""I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.""Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will risehigh!" "How high should I rise?" I asked."How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return."As high as it can?" I questioned."Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

THE REAL MEANING OF PEACE

There once was a king who offered a prize to theartist who would paint the best picture of Peace. Many artists tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it.Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that itwas a perfect picture of peace. The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the king looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock.In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest in perfect peace. Which picture do you think won the prize?

The king chose the second picture. Do you know why? "Because," explained the king, "Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, orhard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

Author Unknown: If you are having trouble in your life and don't feelthe peace of God in your heart, then I encourage youto ponder on Proverbs 3:5-8 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine ownunderstanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall behealth to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."

To the Moms Out There

The Burned Hut

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a> small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for GOD to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. "GOD, how could you do this to me?" he cried. Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" Asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because GOD is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain, and suffering. Remember that, the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of GOD.

You May Want To Consider Passing This On, because You Never Know Who Feels Like Their Hut Is On Fire

Today........