What God Declares As Beauty

       Just me :)

My 6-year-old son has asked me a very good question a few times.  It's a question I have had a difficult time answering.

"Mom, why do you put on make-up?"  
"Well.... It's just something I like to do sometimes."  
"But why?"  
"Ummm....."

That's a good question.  

To give you a clear picture, most days I do not wear any make-up.  I only wear it may be 3 days a week - at best.  I usually go to the store without "painting" my face, and don't think twice about it.  Bet even then, my first thoughts to his question?  They are thoughts I would never tell my son.  But they are the thoughts I show him with my actions:  Because I like the way I look with make-up on better than the way I look without it.  Because I don't look good if I don't wear it.  Because I want Jordan to think I'm REALLY pretty.  (Which, by the way, my hubby has told me many times that he thinks I'm pretty without any make-up on at all.  He is a gem!)  Because.....  The truth of the matter is, I'm not content with the way God made me in my own skin.  That is the truth for most people, don't you agree?  Because our culture declares that our greatest worth is only skin deep.  

I think about the different glamour magazines that sit in the check-out lanes.  A number of times the covers have read something along the lines of "Celebrities Without Make-up:  What They Really Look Like".  The before pictures are usually of the celebrities in their pajamas, with total bed head, having weird expressions on their faces.  NOT one that truly shows what they look like on an every day basis (besides when they first wake up may be :) ).  I mean, come on, they've gotta show how drastically "ugly" theses celebs look in comparison to the other picture where make-up artists, hair stylists, and fashion designers have completely altered their raw beauty - not to mention the photo shop technicians who digitally fix the noses that are "too long", the stomach that is "sticking out a bit too much", the cheeks that have "too many freckles", etc....  These "fixed" pictures are what we want to strive for.  Right?  We should be something other than ourselves.  Right?

What a sad lie to pass down to our children.  What does God, the creator of our inmost being, the one who says we are fearfully and wonderfully made, have to say???


1 Peter 3:3-4

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."

Proverbs 31:25-30

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

This is what I get to pass down to my children.   This is the truth that I want them to believe.  Not the lies of our materialistic and fleshly world.  The wives my sons seek out someday should have this kind of beauty.  I pray this is what they desire.

---

Just to be clear, I do not believe that wearing make-up is wrong.  But the strong emphasis that is placed on it, is wrong.  The WORTH that people find it, is wrong.  The heart that is often behind it, is wrong.  The downplay on what truly makes a person beautiful, is wrong.

What Does Motherhood Mean?

Motherhood is not all roses.  No mother is perfect.  But God made us, knows our flaws, and He made us mothers.  He has entrusted our children to us... to love them, comfort them, laugh with them, correct them, encourage and help them, and to grow them in the Lord.  Sometimes this feels like a tall order.  Sometimes I feel like I fail miserably.  But God is so faithful and merciful.  And my kids are more gracious than I deserve.  I am thankful.


Motherhood means cleaning up throw-up at 2:00 a.m.  It means doing load number 5 of laundry today because the boys were being boys, and nothing stays clean for very long.  It means reading the same book to my child that I've already read 50 times.... Just because he loves it.  It means wearing holes through the knees of my jeans because all that my boys want is for me to be on the floor playing animals and superheroes with them.  It means crawling into a blanket fort, a space much too small to be comfortable, because it is the coolest "top secret" place EVER! :) It means putting my child in time-out for the 10th time today because I want him to learn right from wrong.  It means keeping my cool so I can lovingly explain, yet again, why he is in time-out.  And it means being humble, asking forgiveness when I do it wrong.  It means being okay with very little privacy as small fingers reach through the crack underneath the bathroom floor, and I hear, "Mom? Moooom....." even though they really have nothing to say.  They just want to be near... Motherhood means laughing at the jokes my 6-year-old tries to create, even when they make absolutely no sense.  It means getting off the phone, the iPad, the computer... to just be there. Sometimes it means being a referee between the siblings all day long.  It means a messy kitchen and clothes as I try to let them help cook.  It means snuggles and giggles just because.
It means many tears will be shed.  Some for the times I know I fail.  Some for the times I see my children fail.... And all I can do is let them.


Motherhood entails so very many things.  In the end, this is my goal:  To love them deeply, to share Jesus unceasingly.


Being a mother is a gift, not just an obligation.  This world has begun to view it quite distortedly.  Let's rise up together and be the mothers God has called us to be.  Let us commit to putting away the business that can wait so that our children have mothers who are there for them.... so that our children know they are cherished and loved.

Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

I sit here in my quiet time reading the story of Kind Saul and his downfall (1 Samuel 15:1-16:23).  Saul, through Samuel the prophet, was given instructions to destroy the entire Amalekite nation - all people, cattle, sheep, goats, etc...  Saul mobilized his army.  All the people were slaughtered - except Agag, the Amalekite king.  And all animals were destroyed - except the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs.  They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.

"Then the Lord said to Samuel, 'I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.' " (vs. 10 -11)

After being confronted by Samuel, Saul tried to say that those animals were only kept so that they could be sacrificed to the Lord.  But God rejected Saul as king that day.  It wasn't what the Lord had asked for.  I love Samuel's thoughts on this in verse 22:

"What is more pleasing to the Lord, your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice?  Listen!  

Obedience is better than sacrifice, 

and submission is better than offering the fat of rams."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzWyZxlwGKI  This is the link to a song by Keith Green, "To Obey is Better Than Sacrifice."  It's a live recording of him, and he has some great things to say.  I realized after writing this that this song was written because of this scripture.  What a cool tie!

I truly wonder how much I am like Saul... I am probably a lot more like him than I would like to think.  How often does the Lord say to 'go here' or 'do this' or 'say this', and I only meet him half way?  God does not ask me or you to do more than we are able.  Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." If he calls us to do something, he will see us through it.  I don't need to alter his plans.  Taking things into my own hands is never a good idea.

Going outside of God's will, I am only in the enemy's playground.

Send me!

Isaiah 6:8
'Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I.  Send me!" '

James 5:12
"Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven, or by earth or by anything else.  Let your 'Yes' be yes, and your 'No' be no, or you will be condemned."

Hebrews 12:1-3
"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

I want to be used by God.  I want to be the one to say, "Here I am.  Send me!"  Remove my selfishness that is keeping from being used, Lord.

Being a Mary

Luke 10:38-42

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

How easy it is to hit the floor running.  We have a go, go, go, mentality so often.  But what good is it if we do not sit at the feet of Jesus?  

"Be still and know that I am God."  

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind."  

To dig into His Word on a regular basis; to kneel in prayer and sing praise in sweet communion with the Creator of Heaven and Earth - It's the most important thing we can do.  The rest, the 'good works', will fall into place if our hearts are where they're supposed to be. 

I want to sit with Jesus and know Him intimately.  How much greater my life will be if each day is spent with him.

A Beautiful Legacy

Kari Renee Bouchie Luoma

            Kari was one of the most beautiful people I have ever known.  Memories flood my mind.  Christmas and Thanksgiving get-togethers at Grandma’s house, New Year’s Eve at my parent’s place, sleepovers in her bear-filled bedroom, birthday parties, wedding showers, walking around Target, coloring pretty pictures, sitting at the piano together, singing in the car as we drove around town, long conversations, and so many more… they are memories I will cherish forever.  I was beyond blessed to grow up knowing her in such a special way! 

            I was blessed to watch her graduate from college and receive her diploma.  I was blessed to serve as her personal attendant at her wedding, and blessed to have her as mine for my wedding.  When I was pregnant with my first child I spent many weeks on strict bed rest.  Kari came and spent a day with me.  She brought me a purse she had knitted and painted my nails.  She pampered me with love. 

            If I were to choose one word to describe Kari it would be: loving.

            Kari loved to sing and she loved to laugh!  Whether it was something silly, serious, or a burst of praise to the Lord, she always had a song.  Kari was full of joy.  She had a great laugh that would pull you in.  Oftentimes she’d laugh so hard she’d cry.  She was so much fun!  I can just imagine her singing and dancing with the angels in heaven! 

            Kari loved kids! She had a passion for all the little ones she worked with at church over the years, the girls she counseled at camp, and the neighborhood kids around her.  The last time we talked, about two weeks before she died, we were talking about Vacation Bible School.  She was telling me about the summer she had a little mini VBS at her house with five kids from her neighborhood, and how fun it was.  Kids brought her joy.  Kari wanted to be a mom so badly and was really excited about the adoption process that they were in.  But now, she’ll be my baby’s mommy in heaven.  And that is a special thought to me!

            Kari loved her family!  She bubbled over with love and excitement at getting to be with her loved ones.  You’d walk in and she would hurry over with a huge smile on her face and her arms up in the air ready to give you the biggest hug!  You could count on it. The last year of Grandma Vivian’s life Kari spent a weekend every month with her.  What a gift!  She cared so much about people….

Kari loved Jeremiah!  They have a beautiful love that will never die.  Jeremiah is a gift to our family.  Kari and I never had a conversation that didn’t include something sweet about her wonderful husband.  Their wedding was beautiful.  Jeremiah was the luckiest man that day! 

            Most of all, Kari loved God.  Through everything - heart surgery, brain cancer, losing her dad, etc… Kari persevered.  While shedding a tear was pretty normal for her tender heart, she would find the good in any situation.  She clung to the Lord and praised His name.  She loved Him dearly and she knew who she was in Christ – a daughter of the King, His beloved, His child, His servant.  There was never a phone call that ended without her asking how she could pray for me; Never a conversation that didn’t include what the Lord was doing in our lives.  Kari was inspiring!  She leaves behind an amazing testimony and legacy!  The last post she made on Facebook spoke amazingly of who she was.  She wrote this: 

            If you’re looking for God’s will for your life check out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

            16 Be joyful always;

            17 Pray continually;

            18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

            My beautiful Kari, I can just imagine you hearing, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  Thank you for serving the Lord, loving others unconditionally, and persevering in this life.  Thank you for your big Care-Bear hugs and smiles that never ceased to brighten my day.  I will miss you so very, very much.  But the next time I see you will be a wonderful joyous day before the Lord.  I love you…..

                                                                        Love, Kelsey

A Charge to Parents

Deuteronomy 11:18-20  "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."

This is the example of how we are to lead, guide, and teach our children.  The Word of God is not meant to be something spoke about only on Sundays or Wednesday nights at church.  It's not just a simple prayer before meal time.  It's a continual fixation on the goodness of God.  It's a realization of our need, reliance, and desire for the Word.  That without our lives will never flourish.  It must be ingrained in us.  

When the Lord is at the forefront of our lives in our homes and the places that others don't see, it will show through to all those we come into contact with as we enter the battle field of this world.  Scripture should pop out at us in times of struggle.  Bowing our hearts in prayer should be a natural response.  The counsel we give should be from the Lord, wise, discerning and loving.  When we aren't in a daily obedience to Christ, it also will show to be true.  

Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Matthew 12:34 "For whatever is in your heart determines what you say."

I was thinking about the legacy I will leave my children.  Do I want them to say, "Mom was a hard worker. She always kept our house clean.  She did what needed doing, and she did it well."  Sure, that would be nice.  Or how about, "Wow, I was able to skip a grade in school because my mom was such a good teacher.  She helped me so that I would be successful in life."  But how much greater would it be to hear, "Mom loved us so much.  My life will be successful because she taught me the importance of living for the Lord.  Everything she did, she did as unto the Lord (Col. 3:23).  Whenever hard things came up, she was on her knees.  I know what the Word says because she was diligent in teaching it to us."  I want to be the mom that my boys look at and say, "She always thanking the Lord.  She's always praising him.  I want that joy!" 
1 Thes. 5:18 "...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  THAT is the legacy I want to leave.

His Provision- Do We Remember

Deuteronomy 8:1-5, 10-18
1Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. 2Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

Amazing how the Lord took care of them in such a dry, desolate land.  They didn't even see the provision.  So often they forgot.

10When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Nothing we do is of our own making or abilities.  We are nothing without God.  All we have is his.  It was given to us that we might honor him with it.

Jesus Baptized

Luke 3:21-22 "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Okay, how awesome would it be to hear this and see this happen?!  Can you imagine being there among the crowd and witnessing this???  Wow!

John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus.  He loved the Lord from the time he was in Elizabeth's womb and leaped for joy when Mary (who was pregnant with Jesus) spoke as she visited her.  He pointed people to Jesus in turning them away from their old ways and beliefs. 

Luke 3:2-9  "...the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.

Every valley shall be filled in,

every mountain and hill made low.

The crooked roads shall become straight,

the rough ways smooth.

And all people will see God’s salvation.  John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Who your parents are does not matter when it comes to your salvation.  It's your own choice.  These verses align with Matthew 7 also.

A Heart With No Defect

It's been a while since I've blogged.  Life gets busy and I forget to do it, I suppose.  Well, it has been a growing new year for me!  I began reading through a one-year Bible.  Right now I'm in Leviticus in the Old Testament.  There are many rules and guidelines (many of which were set up for sanitary reasons) that encompass this particular book.  Many have to do with the sacrifices given to God.  It makes me very thankful for what Jesus did on the cross.  No longer are we held to the same rules.  Jesus was the final and ultimate sacrifice! We're free from the old law!  Yeah!  :)   

Once again I prayed this morning that my heart would be soft and receive whatever God wanted to show me.  He gave me a neat picture as I read, once again, about what the is an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord.  It must be a male animal with no defects.  That's the gist of it anyway.  We don't sacrifice animals now because we have Jesus, but as I read "with no defects" it pricked something in my heart.  We give sacrifices to the Lord all the time.... our time, our money, our resources, our gifts.... but what is the status of our heart when we give these gifts?

Psalm 51:16 p- 17 "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." 

Mark 12:33 "To love him with all you heart, all your your understanding, and all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Does my heart have no defect?  I'm NOT talking about being sinless.  When we give to the Lord it should be out of joy!  Not because "we're supposed to".  What is my motivation for giving?  Is it because my heart overflows with love for this amazing God - the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the great I Am - and I can think of no other thing I'd rather do than serve Him?  There should be no condemnation or guilt trip pushing us to give and serve.  

2 Corinthians 9:7  "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

I want a heart that has no defect.  God poured out everything for me in love.  Can I do any less?

Love Enough to Be Rejected

Matthew 10:37-39 "If you love your father or mother more than you love me, your are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."

What pedestal do I place those I love upon? God is most important. If I can not love Him more than mere humans, what kind of love for the Savior do I really have? 
Never fear to tell those you love about the Truth. Rejection from them for a time is far more wonderful than to never see them come to the Lord and know their fate lies in ruins. Love them enough to have them despise you. Plant a seed of hope even if it seems to be spewed back in your face.
Do not fear for the words you need.  God promises to supply in the time.  You only need to be faithful to him.

Just Believe To Be Saved

Luke 23:39-43 "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: 'Aren't you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!'  But the other criminal rebuked him.  'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what are deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong.'  Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'  Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'

I can't imagine what it must have been like to be the believing criminal.  To hear the Lord speak such words when you know you are in your final hours must have been amazing!  His hope was in nothing until that point.  I can imagine the self-condemning thought process for someone like him that must have gone on.  And yet, in one way I do know what he was feeling.  Today and tomorrow are not guaranteed.  I had NO hope until I trusted in the Lord and He changed my life.

Another thing I really like about this passage is that it shows the truth about how one is saved and goes to heaven.The man simply had to believe and trust that Jesus was who he said he was and could do what he said he could do.  And now he gets to rejoice in heaven!  How AWESOME!

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, ' I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.' "


Some churches have taught that you must baptize your child (along with other requirements) if that child is going to get into heaven.  Many people struggle with it.  This passage in Luke clearly negates that thought.  The believing criminal never got baptized.  But look what Jesus said to him.

We are to believe and THEN be baptized.  Baptism is only an outward sign of what God has done on the inside.  It's you speaking out and saying to others that you are going to live your life for the Lord because He has changed you and made you new.  Water can't save you.  Being washed by the Holy Spirit and saved by the blood can.