Beauty Is in the Heart of the Beholder

Deb DeArmond often focuses on families in her writing. In this Biblical Thinking UPGRADE, she focuses on the family of God and how our Father in Heaven sees His beloved children.

“Beauty is found where you choose to see it,” Deb says. “Sounds a lot like our life in Christ. At least, that’s my personal experience.”

God recently reminded me (Dawn) that He was taking my brokenness and creating something of beauty. My "scars" are being transformed! It's a little like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where the artist "sees" beauty when he or she accents cracks in broken pottery with pure gold (see photo below).

Consider what God sees.

Deb continues . . .

Do you know what a picker is? A picker is someone who finds value in what most of us might easily discard.

It’s become America’s new obsession, with TV shows and magazines dedicated to reclaiming and recreating something grand from broken and discarded items.

Weekend warriors haunt estate auctions, Salvation Army stores, garage sales, and even the dump. I once saw a man pick up a love seat my neighbor had taken to the curb for the garbage pickup. I’m certain the picker had a vision of what it could be.

Some might consider these items junk, even trash. Pickers find treasures in every old garage and country barn.

Seems beauty comes in many forms.

My sister-in-law and her husband were the first pickers I ever met, and they were active long before these guys on TV. Not long ago my brother-in-law posted a photo online of a trunk he found in the trash at work. He took it home, cleaned it up and handed the trunk off to his wife. She worked her magic with a little paint and flair and, voila!

A treasure emerged—resurrected from the garbage heap.

Beauty is found where you choose to see it.

Sounds a lot like our life in Christ. At least, that’s my personal experience.

Jesus picked me. He saw in me a treasure, someone of value.

In His eyes, I was priceless, beautiful—though I’m certain it wasn’t obvious to the world around me.

I never considered myself extraordinary for a single minute. I never imagined that out of my existence could come a life of joy, peace, and abundance, far greater than anything I deserved.

I was ignorant of the true appraisal of my worth. The life I lived had little purpose or vision to guide me.

But God.

God valued me as precious, of significance so great, He would send His perfect Son to purchase my life. He viewed me with His heart and saw the life of Christ, alive in me.

He didn’t just clean me up. Through his precious blood, He lovingly restored me to the original He had in mind when He created me.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good works he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).

And unlike an earthly picker's trash to treasure, I will never again be available for sale. He bought me, straight out, to keep as his own.

How is it possible?

Like the picker’s prize, God has a vision of what we can be. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" (Psalm 139:14).

Today’s Tips and Challenges:

• Spend some time today to gain greater insight as to how God sees you as His beloved son or daughter. Start with the verses listed below.
• Notate or highlight the words He uses to describe the characteristics, qualities, and descriptions of His children, and any promises He’s made to us.
• Then go to Him in prayer. Ask Him to adjust the lens of your heart to allow you to see yourself as He sees you.

Scriptures to Consider

1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

James 1:24 - "...and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

Jeremiah 29:11 - "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

John 1:12-13 - "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

Galatians 4:7 - "Since you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."

Ephesians 1:13-14 - "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory."

Remember, God views you with His heart and sees the life of Christ alive in you!

As you reflect on the vision God has for you, do you need to make some adjustments in your thinking?

Deb DeArmond’s passion is family—not just her own, but the relationship dynamics within families in general. Her books focus on the joys—and challenges—of those connections—from in-law issues to constructively managing marital conflict. Her most recent book, Bumper Sticker Be-Attitudes is a light-hearted quick-read devotional with deep spiritual messages for the busy believer. For more about Deb, visit her website "Family Matters" at deb.dearmond.com.

Graphic #1 adapted, courtesy of BRRT at Pixabay.

Graphic #2 - the Japanese art of Kintsugi.

How to Encourage Your Friends in Dark Times

Elizabeth Van Tassel cares about people who’ve faced loss, and wants to help individuals and families who are walking in the midst of turbulent times. And she has a big soft spot for teens and tweens. In this Spiritual Lifestyle UPGRADE, she focuses on helping ourselves or friends in the midst of a season of change.

“Living with intentionality after a loss is really critical for finding a successful path that not only leaves your family secure, but really gives you a sense of strength that exists despite our circumstances,” Elizabeth says.

“Whether you’re a writer, a busy mom, or a caring friend, it often takes time to really give yourself room to heal and find lasting joy again.”

It’s been a few months since some of the recent natural disasters, and I (Dawn) agree that it’s important we remain sensitive to what our friends—or we and our relationships—may need as time moves on. Perhaps we’re proceeding at a slower rate of healing.

Elizabeth continues . . .

This week I was at a writer’s conference in San Francisco, California, and met a lot of interesting people. I spoke with some survivors of the wildfires in Santa Rosa, Napa and Sonoma, and my heart was tender to where they are in their recovery process.

This year marked our own ten-year anniversary for losing our home in a wildfire in Southern California.   

It was almost like I could finish their sentences while we visited.

Me: Where are you in the process?

Them: Inventory purgatory. (Picture high stacks of paper around a desk.) Tears at having to relive losses so often, researching what’s gone.

Me: I know it’s more about memories than stuff.

Them: Yes, things that belonged to generations are now dust in the wind.

Me: What are you struggling with the most?

Them: Staying encouraged and realizing there is life beyond the constant insurance paperwork.

Me: What does your community need?

Them: Hope beyond circumstances.

Since there are so many areas of the country that were affected by devastating situations like floods and hurricanes as well as fires, I thought the UPGRADE we may all benefit from is how to find that encouragement in dark times.

The Psalmist is very intentional about focus during trials:

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber (Psalm 121:1-4, NASB).

Where we focus, or what we focus on, we give power to.

I can choose to focus on little things in the midst of my challenge or trial to keep a flicker of hope alive.

The Psalmist continues:

The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever (Psalm 121:5-8).

Although we wish the Lord would rescue us from adversity, sometimes in the midst of that weariness we can glimpse special moments of the depths of His love.

We may not be able to explain why something is happening, but just knowing He loves us, and focusing on that, is a balm and leads us deeper into relationship somehow.

Here are some practical points to apply if you—or a friend—is recovering:

1. Be sure to take time out of your surroundings, giving yourself a visual break from damaged areas.

Staring at loss constantly is very draining, so make times for a picnic or something RESTFUL to focus on.

2. Dwell on beauty.

It could be a pretty flower arrangement or driving by spring blooms in an area, but get a watchful mindset for something that brings BEAUTY to the forefront for a while.

It will give you a vision beyond yourself and your current set of challenges.

3. Play games with kids.

This may sound silly, but getting in touch with your child-heart is so dear and can REGENERATE your sense of wellbeing.

4. Offer to help with practical things like getting groceries, childcare or planning an outing.

People in recovery have been haunted by many levels of decision making and often just run out of “gas” for planning things.

Just the gift of planning something pretty or taking them out is really a RELIEF.

5. Sit with them while they make their inventory.

There’s nothing more lonely than dwelling all day on things that are gone.

A FRIEND helped type into a spreadsheet while I imagined each room. There was much coffee and tissues involved, but we’d laugh and take a break now and then.

It was super helpful to have her organizing while I recalled the details my insurance company required.

6. Plan a birthday outing, or other kind of celebration.

It will seem like every holiday should just stop and slink away, but what you’ll regret later is not taking each day’s joy and making the most of it.

One of the biggest losses is time—time away from kids if you’re writing for insurance, time from projects and dreams washed away, time from growing relationships and being thoughtful is spent on just surviving and getting by.

MAKE TIME for important things and relationships, too.

Which of these areas would help your friends or even yourself today?

Elizabeth Van Tassel writes compelling middle-grade fantasy and nonfiction to spark hope after loss. She brings her knowledge and expertise in the field of gemology to the page and infuses her love of folklore into modern adventures filled with mystery. A wildfire survivor who lost every possession and her home in the 2007 Witch Creek Wildfire, Elizabeth understands both the power of loss and the power of hope. She shares her story of resilience, and provides tools for rebuilding at public speaking events and on her blog. Learn more at Live a Resilient Life.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Geralt at Pixabay.