Blog: Beauty from the Inside Out
Posted: February 8, 2010
I know we all want to be nice so that people will like us. Sadly, there are days when our feet hit the floor and we can’t wait to rip someone’s head off and let them know, “they made you so mad!” What makes us mean? I believe that many people are mean because they have been hurt, or use it for power to control people and events. They feel threatened or are too afraid to stand up for themselves and it makes them angry and resentful. Then they become mean. Lynne Hybels is the author of Nice Girls Don’t Change the World, and she became mean to herself by bottling up her pain. Lynne was so nice that she tried to become everything to her husband, children, her church and whatever else the world wanted her to be. As a matter of fat, she was so nice that it made…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Expectations, Resentment
Read More
Posted: December 21, 2009
Your very own “Broom Tree” Once your “Merry Christmas Train” has arrived at the designated station, been unpacked, untangled, re-organized and cleaned up; it’s time to start looking around for your very own broom tree. You deserve it; and it guarantees to bring the sparkle back into your eyes. When I see the furrowed brows on women’s faces during the harried Christmas Season, I often wonder if some of us feel like Elijah. Elijah, a prophet in the Bible, had been working very hard for God. He had been busy performing miracles, winning wars, overcoming relationship struggles and being obedient to what was expected of him. (Does any of this resonate?) Now he was worn out, hungry, feeling overlooked, and a tad depressed. He felt depleted and done. I can visualize him sighing deeply and then flopping under the nearest broom tree. I wonder if he was muttering like some…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Freedom from Busyness, Overwhelmed and Undervalued
Read More
Posted: November 8, 2009
“‘I’m Pulling in My Paddles and Floating Down stream.” A young, tired woman came to me for and asked for some wisdom. I responded by singing to her this nursery rhyme. Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream. Her mouth fell open and I quickly went on to explain my versionof this simple little song. I gave her the, “no smarter than a third grader” advice and told her it had to do with one ugly word – should. When women hear the word should , it has almost the same effect as saying “sic’um” to a dog. Immediately we feel the heavy responsibility of what we should do. Then it evokes our subconscious to respond by feeling obligated – not invigorated. It is as though we are struggling, using excess energy to paddle our boat UP the stream. Absolutely…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Obligations and Offenses
Read More
Posted: October 18, 2009
There is a story about a man who ran across the United States – from coast to coast. At the end of his historic journey he was surrounded by the media and they bombarded him with these questions: “What were some the greatest obstacles you faced as you ran day after day. What is the extreme heat or cold?” The man replied, “No.” “Was is the fatigue and the constant pounding of your feet against the ground?” Again, the man replied, “No.” “Was it the loneliness and same routine day after day?” Again the man replied, “No, that wasn’t it? Puzzled, the media asked one last question, “Well, what was it?” The man replied, “It was the sand in my shoes.” I can certainly relate to what this man was talking about. Each us can find ways to overcome those huge obstacles in our life – we pray, plan, or share our struggles with our friends….
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Overcoming Stuggles
Read More
Posted: September 14, 2009
The Drive-Inn Movie Theatre in Prince George leaves a lasting legacy in my mind. I can still see Charles Heston as Moses with his cane, handsome face and flowing robes, in the “Ten Commandments” approaching Pharaoh and telling the king to “Let God’s people go!” After God changed all the water into blood, sent locusts, turned rods into snakes…and then came the frogs. The bible says that the frogs were everywhere! In the ovens, in the kneading troughs, and in the palace bed. Here is the astonishing part. Moses specifically told Pharaoh that he would pray and ask God to remove the frogs whenever the King wanted them removed. Our dear King Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow!” When we read that we throw up our hands and exclaim, “Why in the world would anyone want to live with pesky frogs any longer than you have to?” In fact, we all do. Many of…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Beauty Unleashed
Read More
Posted: August 14, 2009
“Lingering and Loving it – in Poland” Last night I lingered with friends in a coffee shop. Surprisingly I stayed longer than I anticipated; I didn’t want to leave because we were talking about the joys and struggles of relationships. I’ve noticed that when we start talking about relationships at a “heart connection” level, it is a story without end. When we finally stop the surface conversations about the weather, lousy economics, toilet training, “busy” activities or the price of gas – we get down to what matters – issues of the heart. If I really want to know someone, be aware of God’s magnificent creation, or discover a treasure that God has placed in my path in that moment, I have to learn to linger. I discovered this necessary but gorgeous concept on my overseas trip to Poland where I taught lectures on “Spiritual Transformation”. When I heard a comment like,…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Beauty Unleashed
Read More
