REDEFINING BEAUTIFUL

Basic Premise WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL GOD! God gave us beauty! God created us uniquely but beautifully! God chose beauty!

GROUNDING Gen 1:26, 31 With what two qualities did God make mankind? – He made us in his image – He said that what he had made was good.

GROUNDING Psalm 139:13-16 What does this scripture say about Gods involvement in creating us? – God is hands on. God is actively engaged in his creation. God loves who and what he makes.

GROUNDING Ecclesiastes 3:11-14 How many things has God made beautiful? – Everything

The Value of Inward Beauty Outward beauty is not all there is to life. When we spend our time and money chasing that and not tending to our souls we have gotten our priorities out of line.

True Beauty! We exist within whatever radiates from our soul. It is what is within our heart that radiates from us, and it is what is within our heart that we project to the world as who we are, because what is within our heart is who we are. We need only to allow ourselves to see the beauty around us so that the process of beautification begins.

True Beauty! Proverbs 31:30 & 1 Samuel 16:6-7 The proverbs say there is something more lasting and substantial than outward beauty. God gave us a clearer picture of what that is when he selected David to be king. When the people selected a king they picked Saul because of his physical characteristics (he was head and shoulders above the rest). When God picked a king what was he looking at? – The inner personthe heart, soul, and character.

Secret! Believe that you are beautiful! If we focus on our difficulties, our misfortune, and insecurities, whether these are real or imagined, they become the centre of our being; they are what radiates from within us and in the end, what we reflect to the world. If we can change our focus from the 'ugliness' to 'beauty' we can turn our life around!

1 Peter 3:3-4 Beauty is not skin deep. As we already saw outward beauty fades. What type of beauty does Peter say never fades? – Beauty that comes from a gentle and quiet spirit. God puts a great value on that.

Looking Through the Eyes of Love… We can start small by looking for one new thing of beauty in our world each day and very soon we will begin to see beauty wherever we look, and we will begin to reflect the beauty that we see.

Heart of Gratitude The firt step to having a heart of gratitude: Decide to be a grateful person because it will remind you of the positive things in your life Beauty and gratitude are soul foods. When you choose to open your heart to gratitude, you extend an invitation to love, relationship and joy.

Living a Life of Gratitude Practice a daily gratitude session Dont forget to say the magic words thank you. Give thanks for negative things in your life. Learn a gratitude prayer

A Trusting Heart A stressful heart indeed is a heart that doesnt trust in God, in humanity, in personal goals and ambitions By letting go of pain from past relationships and other emotional clutter, you can once again make your heart trustworthy, honest and free. We have to take note that if our heart is bruised, if it is angry, if it is bitter, that is not a heart you can trust.

WALKING BOLDLY AND CONFIDENTLY You must have confidence in yourself first to earn the confidence and respect of others.

WALKING BOLDLY AND CONFIDENTLY Dont forget to take care of your body. Groom yourself. Think positive Act Positive Stand Tall Smile Empower Yourself with Knowledge

FORGIVE-ABILITY If you allow negative feelings to crowd out positive feelings, you may find yourself swallowed up by your own bitterness or sense of injustice. Forgiveness is a path to freedom. Your life may become so wrapped up in the wrong that you can't enjoy the present. You may lose valuable and enriching connectedness with others

PRACTICE THE ART OF GIVING AND SHARING At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.Mother Theresa of Calcutta

PRACTICE THE ART OF GIVING AND SHARING Be generous to yourselfaffirm your skills, your abilities, and your whole self! And of course, complete the puzzle by affirming others as well.

The following are quotes from Audrey Hepburn when she was asked to share her beauty secrets. There was something in her smile, in her eyes, in her timeless and natural elegance.

For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness.

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.

For a slim figure, always share your food with the hungry.

To have beautiful hair, let a little boy or girl stroke it at least once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, its at the end of your arm. As you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second one is to help others. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, its at the end of your arm. As you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second one is to help others.

"It's that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so 'don't fuss, dear; get on with it.'"

A womans true beauty is not in her figure, in the way she dresses, in the clothes she wears, or in the way she does her hair. A womans beauty is seen in her eyes, because they are the window to her soul, the place where love dwells. A womans true beauty is not in her figure, in the way she dresses, in the clothes she wears, or in the way she does her hair. A womans beauty is seen in her eyes, because they are the window to her soul, the place where love dwells.

A womans true beauty increases with years.

The beauty of a woman is not in superficial fashions. A womans true beauty is reflected in her soul. In her kindness and loving care, and in the passion she shows.

YOU ARE UNIQUE! YOU ARE UNIQUE! He loves you the way He made you, and youre beautiful in His eyes. Were all unique and special. In His eyes there is no ugliness, no matter what you look like.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY! PRAYER FOR THE DAY! You could have made me perfect by my standards or someone elses, Jesus, but You didnt. Instead, You made me just the way You wanted me – perfect according to Your standard. To doubt that is to doubt your love, but to realize that is to find perfect peace, security, and rest in Your love. Take me now, just as I am, into your heart of hearts. Amen.