Scripture for Today:  I 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.”

In my family there was always a lot of interest in jewelry.  My Father and eldest brother loved working with stones and making beautiful pieces for the women in the family to wear.  Pictured here are a few of those pieces.

I can feel beautiful or I can feel grungy depending on what I wear.  I think that is true for most women.  Who has not lived through changing outfits five times in a morning and still not feeling satisfied!  Whether it is a piece of jewelry, a fresh haircut or a new outfit, what is worn on the outside can make us feel beautiful.

In our verse today, there is no injunction against these beauty aids.  However, there is a beauty spoken of that has nothing to do with what is worn on the outside.  This is a beauty that does not fade and is precious in God’s sight; a gentle and quiet spirit.

A gentle and quiet spirit does not mean that one cannot be loud, boisterous and outgoing.  What it does mean is that one is not anxious or wrought up.  Those who have a gentle and quiet spirit are those whose faith and confidence in the Lord is strong and unshakeable.  It is the absence of worrying or fretting.

Women with these qualities have a calming influence on others.  They are truly beautiful.  May I be one of them today!

Scripture for Today:  Psalms 139:13-14  “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful.  I know that full well.”

In looking at these first pictures of my grandchild, I knew there was a wonderful work in progress!  I knew it was a boy but the rest would remain a mystery until his birth.  I fervently prayed for a normal grandson without huge physical problems.  Our daughter works with the hearing impaired and I am sure it crossed her mind  to utter those prayers as well.  God was gracious in blessing our family with a healthy boy with all his fingers and toes!  He is the most wonderful, strong, handsome baby in the world, of course!!

It is a comfort to know that every birth is a miracle and not random chance.  Our wonderful Creator has a plan for every life.  His original plan was not marred by the sin that entered our world.  In the original scheme of things there was no sin, sickness, deformity or death.  But even in our fallen state, the miracle of birth is breathtaking and points to the Almighty.  His works are full of wonder!

We are made in His image.  We are the work of His hands.  That is why each life is precious and worth preserving.  The Lord uses each and every detail of our bodies, our limitations, and our strengths for His  purposes.

We may look at our bodies or our weaknesses and think, what’s so wonderful??  But God never says, “oops!”  There is reason and purpose behind why I am made the way I am.  I can say with the Psalmist, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!!”