1. Our lesson focuses on one of the most successful Kings of the Southern Kingdom. His name literally means “Jehovah is strength” and his life illustrates the meaning of his name. Uzziah became Judah’s eleventh King at age 16 and held the second longest tenure as Judah’s monarchy (52 years). NOTE: He is called “Azariah” in the historical record of 2 Kings.
a. Early in his career he was victorious over all enemies. He strengthened his
kingdom and improved the economic status of his nation.
b. An interesting fact about Uzziah is revealed in 2 Chron 26:15. The King was
an intelligent military tactician. He was able to conceive and construct
weapons. He became famous for these inventions.
c. He was a superb organizer and his fame spread even to the Egyptian
Dynasty.
d. During his monarchy the nation enjoyed a bright spot in the world’s history.
e. There cannot be a better success story than King Uzziah. Tragically his
biography does not end on the note of success but of failure. Instead of
being buried in the sepulcher of the Kings in Jerusalem, he was buried in a
field outside of the city. It is this ironic twist in Uzziah’s career that
deserves our concentration. One would expect a marvelous accolade to be
chiseled into the grave marker of Uzziah. However, the eulogy is stated
with four simple words, “He is a leper.”
f. Consider the history of this “successful failure.”
2. Uzziah in his YOUTH (2 Chron 26:1-5).
a. His early years were marked by the significant influences surrounding him.
1) His father was King Amaziah (2 Chron 26:4). The inspired historian
notes that Amaziah “did right in the sight of the Lord” (2 Chron 25:2).
He was a father who was concerned with what God commanded. He
would thus be a father whose example would be influential in guiding
his son in God’s will. “Right” refers to one recognizing that God’s
commands must be followed. An interesting illustration of this decision
to follow God’s will is found in 2 Chron 25:6-9. Amaziah had organized
a military expedition against Edom. He had gathered a large army from
Judah but had also hired 100,000 Israeli mercenaries. God’s prophet
confronted Amaziah about this fellowship and bluntly told him it was
unacceptable to God (25:7). The King dismissed those whom God
refused to recognize (this situation is a valuable lesson itself and
deserves study).
Amaziah’s influence upon young Uzziah was important. However, there
is a somber footnote to Amaziah’s dedication to God – “yet not with a
whole heart.” Even though he knew that God expected wholehearted
devotion, he did not offer such to the Almighty. This inconsistency
revealed that Amaziah did not recognize God’s total sovereignty and
this would have a drastic impact upon his son. NOTE: How many
fathers since Amaziah have also admitted the need to “do right in the
sight of the Lord” BUT they have not done so with their whole heart?
Consequently their children have been impacted for the worse!
Historical tragedies are often repeated by those who refuse to learn.
(Cf. Dt 6:5). Fathers, have you allowed God’s sovereignty to control all
of your life?
2) His respect for God’s messenger (2 Chron 26:5).
A key to Uzziah’s success is his desire to seek God. It seems that the
influence for this is attributable to a prophet or priest named
“Zachariah.” This unknown prophet was able to know, understand, and
explain God’s will so the King (and others) would understand and obey.
b. As long as Uzziah was influenced by these forces to follow God’s will,
he knew success and happiness. It was a good time for Judah!
3. Uzziah in his role as STATESMAN (2 Chron 26:6-15).
No politician could dream of a better tenure as a chief executive of a nation. Prosperity was enjoyed in all areas of life.
a. POLITICALLY Uzziah’s leadership resulted in amazing successes. His armies
were victorious (v. 6-8). His projects and programs were successful (v. 9-
10). He could do nothing wrong! What an enviable position he had!
b. MILITARILY Uzziah’s leadership was superb (v. 11-15). He was an amazing
military mind – organized, prepared, and inventive. Everyone studied his
maneuvers and learned brilliant strategies of warfare.
c. PERSONALLY Uzziah’s fame spread throughout then entire known world. He
was famous and recognized. His “strength” was envied by other Kings (v.
8b, 15b).
4. Uzziah as a REBEL (2 Chron 26:16-18).
One would expect King Uzziah’s biography to continue with listing amazing accomplishments and citing renown achievements. What else would we expect from one with such an amazing beginning? But it would not be!
a. The slippery slope of decline began when Uzziah allowed his father’s “heart
problem” to interfere with his devotion to God. What happened? The King’s
eyes were taken from God and placed on self. Maybe Zechariah died and
the godly instruction ceased. Whatever initiated the problem the result is
one cited by ancient history (cf Dt 8:11-18a). Prosperity and success blurred
the King’s vision and he failed to see that God was the Cause for success.
Uzziah began to think he was personally responsible!
b. The tragedy is stated in 26:15b – “until” is the point of apostasy. The King
lost consciousness that Jehovah God was responsible for his success. The
King’s pride blinded him to the need of humility (v. 16a).
c. What caused him to enter into the Temple and offer incense? (v. 16b). We
are not told and it is not necessary to know. What we do know is that the
King knew he was doing wrong. The priests knew the King was doing wrong.
The entire nation knew their King was doing wrong. Pride could not make a
wrong action “right”!
1) All of his godly obedience was erased! All of his successes were eclipsed
by folly!
2) Why? Because he thought he could modify God’s expressed commands!
He thought he was superior to God in deciding how the worship was to be
conducted.
3) It was all due to his PRIDE! “It was through Pride that the devil became
the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God
state of mind . . . As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A
proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course,
as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above
you” C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity).
4) Great successes, world renown, fantastic prosperity all were lost because
Uzziah refused to follow God’s commands!
5. Uzziah as a LEPER (2 Chron 26:19-23).
a. Uzziah believed himself to be bigger than God. God was fashioned in the
King’s mind to be a convenient object, not the controlling focus!
b. And so his eulogy does not read of success, prosperity, military genius, or
one who followed God’s commands. It is short – “He is a leper.”
c. His pride prevented him from being buried with the previous Kings of Judah.
6. What does King Uzziah’s biography mean for modern believers?
a. True Success is found in following God’s commands.
b. Genuine Success comes from the Almighty God, not the “almighty dollar.”
c. Lasting Success comes to those who refuse to compromise God’s clear
commands.
d. Blessed Success can be lost by the subtle sin of pride, self-sufficiency, and
self-willed religion.
e. Godly Success can be sacrificed for Self and eternity be spent in a miserable
destiny.
7. What instruction from God will prevent us from ruining success as King
Uzziah did?
Joshua 1:7-8. Notice how repulsed our Father in Heaven is by arrogant pride
(cf Pr 6:16-19).
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
WISE WORDS - REBECCA ST. JAMES
How do we find true beauty?
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1 Peter 3:3-4
The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.1 Samuel 16:7
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.Proverbs 31:30
I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.1 Timothy 2:9
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.Psalm 139:13-14
A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.Proverbs 11:22
God has made everything beautiful for its own time.Ecclesiastes 3:11
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1 Peter 3:3-4
The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.1 Samuel 16:7
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.Proverbs 31:30
I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.1 Timothy 2:9
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.Psalm 139:13-14
A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.Proverbs 11:22
God has made everything beautiful for its own time.Ecclesiastes 3:11
REBECCA ST. JAMES: TRUE BEAUTY
By Rebecca St. James
CBN.com – Follow these secrets for health and beauty that won’t wrinkle or go out of style!
Rebecca Says: Since you were a little girl, the quest to be beautiful has bombarded you at every turn. From children’s stories such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Ugly Duckling” that you read to the Barbie dolls that you played with to the comments such as “She’s darling” or “What a pretty little girl you are” that you heard—face it, beauty has become an all-consuming priority! Now that you are a teen, you are under even more pressure to be beautiful. TV, movies, and music tell you that if you want to be beautiful you have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, and have a certain type of body.
I have played the comparison game too. This is an embarrassing confession, but once I recall tearing out a magazine ad that pictured a girl standing beside a car. She looked like what I thought I wanted to look like. She had toned arms, a slim figure, and beautiful, full hair. I kept this picture with me to supposedly help me achieve my goal. But I realized pretty quickly that this was only negative, that it was making me feel even more discontented with the unique way God created me. Basically, I was coveting what someone else had—which amounts to breaking one of the Ten Commandments. The other problem with comparing ourselves to other people—especially people in magazines—is that often these images aren’t even realistic. With today’s technology, most pictures are doctored to erase flaws or even shave off inches. And most models weigh less than what is considered healthy for their height.
Beauty Jail
We’ve all looked in the mirror only to see a face that didn’t measure up to the current standards of beauty, and we’ve ended up feeling discouraged.
Can you think of anything or any THINGS to fill in this blank?“I hate my _____________!”
Sometimes you need to take a closer look to see just how extreme your discontent and dislike of your physical body has become.
Are you obsessing about your looks? Take our Beauty Quiz and find out.
Beauty by the Book
The Bible was way ahead of us in exposing the beauty myth for what it is. It points out the vanity, danger, and temporary quality of mere personal attractions and instead calls attention to the higher and more permanent beauties of mind, character, and personality.
It’s called outward versus inward beauty. The Book puts it this way:
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within. 1 Peter 3:3-4
Yeah, But . . .
• I won’t be accepted for who I am.
• I will still be compared to others and not measure up.
• People judge me by how I look before they get to know me.
• Other: ________________________
We know you’ve heard this talk about the inside package versus the outside package before. But our guess is that none of it has yet to change your beauty response. And we know you’re probably thinking, Inside beauty? Try telling that to the guys. They avoid describing us on the outside by saying we’ve “got a great personality” or we’re “really nice.”
The Bible is not saying that the outer appearance doesn’t matter. It’s saying:
Don’t be concerned about the outer beauty.
Don’t let it define you. Don’t let it cause you undue stress. Don’t make it your most important priority. Don’t let it replace the more important parts of your life. Outer beauty is nothing more than packaging. And unless the inner content is good, too, the outer display won’t make any lasting difference.
Do be known for the inner beauty.
Outer beauty is the first impression someone gets of you; inner beauty is the second and lasting impression. We call it holistic beauty, and it’s real, honest, and lasting. It reveals the contents on the inside of the package that enhance the outer. You can’t fake holistic beauty—it’s the way women look, feel, think, and act. It’s the whole beauty shebang!
Get Personal
Yesterday, approximately how many minutes did you spend on your appearance (outer beauty)?
Yesterday, approximately how many minutes did you spend on your relationship with God and with other people (inner beauty)?
Rebecca Says: I once read this article in an Australian devotional, which says a lot about real beauty:
A beauty product company once asked people in a large city to send pictures, along with brief letters, describing the most beautiful woman they knew. Within weeks, thousands of letters came in.
One letter caught the attention of the employees and was soon passed on to the company president. It was written by a boy from a broken home, who lived in a run-down neighborhood. With lots of spelling corrections, an excerpt from his letter read: “A beautiful woman lives down the street from me. I visit her every day. She makes me feel like the most important kid in the world. We play checkers and she listens to my problems. She understands me. When I leave she always yells out the door that she’s proud of me.” The boy ended his letter saying, “This picture shows you that she is the most beautiful woman in the world, and one day I hope I have a wife as pretty as her.”
Intrigued by the letter, the president asked to see the woman’s picture. His secretary handed him the photograph of a smiling, toothless woman, well advanced in years, sitting in a wheelchair. Sparse gray hair was pulled back in a bun. The wrinkles that formed deep furrows on her face were somehow diminished by the twinkle in her eyes.
“We can’t use this woman,” exclaimed this president, smiling. “She would show the world that our products aren’t necessary to be beautiful.”
The Lie: If you’re not supermodel beautiful, then you don’t measure up—you are not enough.
The Truth: You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
God’s Temple
The problem with trying to measure up to the images we see on TV and in movies is that often girls do harmful things to their body. Too many young women are starving themselves or making themselves throw up to try to achieve the look they want. Others cut themselves to get attention, express hurt, or just to feel something. If you or someone you know is dealing with any of these issues, remember that if you are a Christian, your body belongs to God—it is not your own (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). When you hurt yourself, you hurt him too. During those times when you’re feeling particularly low about your self-image, remind myself that you should be focusing on your God-worth, not your self-worth. You are his treasure, his princes!
SHEism: A truly beautiful SHE is a girl who sees her value as the whole package—through her inward as well as her outward beauty.
CBN.com – Follow these secrets for health and beauty that won’t wrinkle or go out of style!
Rebecca Says: Since you were a little girl, the quest to be beautiful has bombarded you at every turn. From children’s stories such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Ugly Duckling” that you read to the Barbie dolls that you played with to the comments such as “She’s darling” or “What a pretty little girl you are” that you heard—face it, beauty has become an all-consuming priority! Now that you are a teen, you are under even more pressure to be beautiful. TV, movies, and music tell you that if you want to be beautiful you have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, and have a certain type of body.
I have played the comparison game too. This is an embarrassing confession, but once I recall tearing out a magazine ad that pictured a girl standing beside a car. She looked like what I thought I wanted to look like. She had toned arms, a slim figure, and beautiful, full hair. I kept this picture with me to supposedly help me achieve my goal. But I realized pretty quickly that this was only negative, that it was making me feel even more discontented with the unique way God created me. Basically, I was coveting what someone else had—which amounts to breaking one of the Ten Commandments. The other problem with comparing ourselves to other people—especially people in magazines—is that often these images aren’t even realistic. With today’s technology, most pictures are doctored to erase flaws or even shave off inches. And most models weigh less than what is considered healthy for their height.
Beauty Jail
We’ve all looked in the mirror only to see a face that didn’t measure up to the current standards of beauty, and we’ve ended up feeling discouraged.
Can you think of anything or any THINGS to fill in this blank?“I hate my _____________!”
Sometimes you need to take a closer look to see just how extreme your discontent and dislike of your physical body has become.
Are you obsessing about your looks? Take our Beauty Quiz and find out.
Beauty by the Book
The Bible was way ahead of us in exposing the beauty myth for what it is. It points out the vanity, danger, and temporary quality of mere personal attractions and instead calls attention to the higher and more permanent beauties of mind, character, and personality.
It’s called outward versus inward beauty. The Book puts it this way:
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within. 1 Peter 3:3-4
Yeah, But . . .
• I won’t be accepted for who I am.
• I will still be compared to others and not measure up.
• People judge me by how I look before they get to know me.
• Other: ________________________
We know you’ve heard this talk about the inside package versus the outside package before. But our guess is that none of it has yet to change your beauty response. And we know you’re probably thinking, Inside beauty? Try telling that to the guys. They avoid describing us on the outside by saying we’ve “got a great personality” or we’re “really nice.”
The Bible is not saying that the outer appearance doesn’t matter. It’s saying:
Don’t be concerned about the outer beauty.
Don’t let it define you. Don’t let it cause you undue stress. Don’t make it your most important priority. Don’t let it replace the more important parts of your life. Outer beauty is nothing more than packaging. And unless the inner content is good, too, the outer display won’t make any lasting difference.
Do be known for the inner beauty.
Outer beauty is the first impression someone gets of you; inner beauty is the second and lasting impression. We call it holistic beauty, and it’s real, honest, and lasting. It reveals the contents on the inside of the package that enhance the outer. You can’t fake holistic beauty—it’s the way women look, feel, think, and act. It’s the whole beauty shebang!
Get Personal
Yesterday, approximately how many minutes did you spend on your appearance (outer beauty)?
Yesterday, approximately how many minutes did you spend on your relationship with God and with other people (inner beauty)?
Rebecca Says: I once read this article in an Australian devotional, which says a lot about real beauty:
A beauty product company once asked people in a large city to send pictures, along with brief letters, describing the most beautiful woman they knew. Within weeks, thousands of letters came in.
One letter caught the attention of the employees and was soon passed on to the company president. It was written by a boy from a broken home, who lived in a run-down neighborhood. With lots of spelling corrections, an excerpt from his letter read: “A beautiful woman lives down the street from me. I visit her every day. She makes me feel like the most important kid in the world. We play checkers and she listens to my problems. She understands me. When I leave she always yells out the door that she’s proud of me.” The boy ended his letter saying, “This picture shows you that she is the most beautiful woman in the world, and one day I hope I have a wife as pretty as her.”
Intrigued by the letter, the president asked to see the woman’s picture. His secretary handed him the photograph of a smiling, toothless woman, well advanced in years, sitting in a wheelchair. Sparse gray hair was pulled back in a bun. The wrinkles that formed deep furrows on her face were somehow diminished by the twinkle in her eyes.
“We can’t use this woman,” exclaimed this president, smiling. “She would show the world that our products aren’t necessary to be beautiful.”
The Lie: If you’re not supermodel beautiful, then you don’t measure up—you are not enough.
The Truth: You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
God’s Temple
The problem with trying to measure up to the images we see on TV and in movies is that often girls do harmful things to their body. Too many young women are starving themselves or making themselves throw up to try to achieve the look they want. Others cut themselves to get attention, express hurt, or just to feel something. If you or someone you know is dealing with any of these issues, remember that if you are a Christian, your body belongs to God—it is not your own (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). When you hurt yourself, you hurt him too. During those times when you’re feeling particularly low about your self-image, remind myself that you should be focusing on your God-worth, not your self-worth. You are his treasure, his princes!
SHEism: A truly beautiful SHE is a girl who sees her value as the whole package—through her inward as well as her outward beauty.
GOD'S GLAMOUR GIRL
By Jacqueline J. Overpeck Guest Columnist
CBN.com – A few weeks ago, I was at the supermarket picking up doughnuts for work when Glamour magazine caught my eye. Renee Zellweger was the cover girl. She had on the softest pink dress. Her fair skin melted into the satin. The look was iridescent. She was radiant. I wish I glowed like a star, I whined to myself.
In addition to a feature story on Zellweger, Glamour promised a list of the 50 most glamorous women of 2009. Very interesting, I thought to myself. Who are the 50 most glamorous women of 2009 and how did they qualify? I couldn’t resist, so I bought a copy.
Later that day, I gobbled up my new magazine. I chewed every meaty-morsel from cover to cover. The 50 most glamorous women of 2009 included Reese Witherspoon for her likeability and legs, Jennifer Aniston for her Cali-girl style, Beyonce Knowles for oozing glamour, Gywneth Paltrow for her natural fashion ease, Katie Holmes for being both sophisticated and cool, and 45 other women for being femme fatales.
After reading the article, I closed the magazine and threw it on the floor. I felt empty. I had just feasted on a five-course meal that served up the best of Hollywood, yet I was still starving. Even with all the cream cheese couture, there wasn’t enough ruffley substance to satisfy my appetite. I needed some real food, something that would stick to my ribs.
Reaching for my Bible, I flipped to Matthew 5:6.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled. (King James Version)
“Lord,” I prayed. “I want to be filled with the kind of beauty you admire.”
The Qualities of God’s Glamour Girl
Who is God’s glamour girl and what are her admirable qualities?
According to Scripture, she is:
G – Gorgeous inside and outShe fears the Lord knowing He is the source of all good things.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
L – Laughter
She’s isn’t afraid to laugh out loud and she looks for ways to encourage others.
…the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
A – All about adoration
She’s got a heart for applauding her King. She loves to praise and worship her God.
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness;come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:1-2
M – Mercy
Her heart is full of compassion and her hands are ready to serve.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
O – Original
She’s uniquely herself. She places her whole life in God’s hands--knowing as His creation she already shines like a star.
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… Psalm 139:13-14
U – Understanding
She has a ravenous appetite for wisdom and she loves to read the Bible. She’s thirsty for truth and delights in understanding the mysteries of God.
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4
R – Righteousness
She keeps herself pure. She desires to be an untarnished vessel for God’s anointing to flow through. Nothing is more important to God’s Glamour Girl than establishing heaven’s kingdom on earth.
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long. Psalm 71:14-15
TRUE GLAMOUR
God’s glamour girl is gorgeous inside and out. She’s filled with laughter. She has a song in her heart. Mercy springs from her spirit. She’s totally original. Her Bible is handy. She uses her unique gifts and talents to share the saving message of Jesus with the world.
The Confident Christian Woman
Be encouraged glamour girl! You belong to the Most High God. As His daughter you live by another standard than one Hollywood and the fashion magazines portray. Heaven is your eternal home and you are astounding in unearthly beauty. With your life surrendered to Jesus you sparkle with radiance that Rodeo Drive wishes it had! You are spiritually savvy and God has created you to be exquisite in Him.
The more you sit at His feet, the more His image will be seen in you. He is love. How does anything else compare to that? Seriously, what could be more attractive than love?
The next time you look in the mirror, please don’t compromise your heart by comparing yourself to anyone else. There’s no one like you. Be confident in Christ. He created you to be beautiful beyond Beverly Hills and Sunset Boulevard.
How about a deal? If you stop longing for the life of Anne Hathaway and let heradmire the princess in you, I’ll forget reasoning how I might be like Renee Zellweger and let her admire God’s radiance in me! Agreed?
CBN.com – A few weeks ago, I was at the supermarket picking up doughnuts for work when Glamour magazine caught my eye. Renee Zellweger was the cover girl. She had on the softest pink dress. Her fair skin melted into the satin. The look was iridescent. She was radiant. I wish I glowed like a star, I whined to myself.
In addition to a feature story on Zellweger, Glamour promised a list of the 50 most glamorous women of 2009. Very interesting, I thought to myself. Who are the 50 most glamorous women of 2009 and how did they qualify? I couldn’t resist, so I bought a copy.
Later that day, I gobbled up my new magazine. I chewed every meaty-morsel from cover to cover. The 50 most glamorous women of 2009 included Reese Witherspoon for her likeability and legs, Jennifer Aniston for her Cali-girl style, Beyonce Knowles for oozing glamour, Gywneth Paltrow for her natural fashion ease, Katie Holmes for being both sophisticated and cool, and 45 other women for being femme fatales.
After reading the article, I closed the magazine and threw it on the floor. I felt empty. I had just feasted on a five-course meal that served up the best of Hollywood, yet I was still starving. Even with all the cream cheese couture, there wasn’t enough ruffley substance to satisfy my appetite. I needed some real food, something that would stick to my ribs.
Reaching for my Bible, I flipped to Matthew 5:6.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled. (King James Version)
“Lord,” I prayed. “I want to be filled with the kind of beauty you admire.”
The Qualities of God’s Glamour Girl
Who is God’s glamour girl and what are her admirable qualities?
According to Scripture, she is:
G – Gorgeous inside and outShe fears the Lord knowing He is the source of all good things.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30
L – Laughter
She’s isn’t afraid to laugh out loud and she looks for ways to encourage others.
…the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
A – All about adoration
She’s got a heart for applauding her King. She loves to praise and worship her God.
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness;come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:1-2
M – Mercy
Her heart is full of compassion and her hands are ready to serve.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
O – Original
She’s uniquely herself. She places her whole life in God’s hands--knowing as His creation she already shines like a star.
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… Psalm 139:13-14
U – Understanding
She has a ravenous appetite for wisdom and she loves to read the Bible. She’s thirsty for truth and delights in understanding the mysteries of God.
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4
R – Righteousness
She keeps herself pure. She desires to be an untarnished vessel for God’s anointing to flow through. Nothing is more important to God’s Glamour Girl than establishing heaven’s kingdom on earth.
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long. Psalm 71:14-15
TRUE GLAMOUR
God’s glamour girl is gorgeous inside and out. She’s filled with laughter. She has a song in her heart. Mercy springs from her spirit. She’s totally original. Her Bible is handy. She uses her unique gifts and talents to share the saving message of Jesus with the world.
The Confident Christian Woman
Be encouraged glamour girl! You belong to the Most High God. As His daughter you live by another standard than one Hollywood and the fashion magazines portray. Heaven is your eternal home and you are astounding in unearthly beauty. With your life surrendered to Jesus you sparkle with radiance that Rodeo Drive wishes it had! You are spiritually savvy and God has created you to be exquisite in Him.
The more you sit at His feet, the more His image will be seen in you. He is love. How does anything else compare to that? Seriously, what could be more attractive than love?
The next time you look in the mirror, please don’t compromise your heart by comparing yourself to anyone else. There’s no one like you. Be confident in Christ. He created you to be beautiful beyond Beverly Hills and Sunset Boulevard.
How about a deal? If you stop longing for the life of Anne Hathaway and let heradmire the princess in you, I’ll forget reasoning how I might be like Renee Zellweger and let her admire God’s radiance in me! Agreed?
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
DIRECTION, NOT INTENTION
By Milan Ford
This past weekend, my wife and I took our kids on a road trip to Washington D.C. to attend the high school graduation of their uncle. As the parents of two daughters (ages 3 and 2), and a 6 month old baby boy, I'm sure you can imagine just how difficult that road trip was for us.
If it wasn't for our children's godmother (who came along with us), we would have certainly had to check into a psychiatric ward once we got back.
During this trip, I learned a few things about myself that I hope (after reading this) will help radically reshape the way you and I have long perceived the direction and path God may be leading us to follow.
My wife and I go absolutely nowhere without our GPS system. From locating the nearest restaurants and gas stations, to discovering what roads and highways serve as the best shortcuts, our GPS has been like a distant cousin to us both. So much so we gave it a name: Anne.
Although we had been to D.C. a few times before, navigating in and around the city has always been a daunting task. Not only are the multiple Beltway interstates (I-95, I-295, I-395 & I-66) a never ending maze, the number of two-way streets that turn into one-way roads will make your head spin. So needless to say, having Anne around with us on this trip was extremely vital.
On the morning we were set to return, I had the bright idea of stopping through downtown to take some pics of the family in front of a few monuments; been a big fan of them ever since I was a kid.
We packed up the car, fastened all the kids in their seats, and then took our favorite person in the whole wide world (Anne) out of the glove compartment. I turned her on, overwhelmed with joy to begin entering in the addresses for the monuments we wanted to visit before leaving town. But suddenly, my joy quickly turned into shock as Anne uttered these four very frightening words:
Unable To Locate Satellite.
This message from Anne was something (I'll admit) I had seen once or twice before. It happens every time I would forget to charge her up over night. Without a full battery, Anne became useless.
So being the revolutionary man that I am, I decided to take matters in my own hands, and tried to drive downtown without Anne's assistance. (In my mind) I didn't have the time to wait on Anne to charge back up; I wanted to get there by myself.
I'm sure you can just imagine where this story is heading now, right?
It never ceases to amaze me how we as believers find it difficult to wait on the guidance and direction of God concerning our lives. Despite the fact that He has proven time after time that He will never lead us astray, many of us still seek to take the wheel of our lives in our own hands and navigate along certain paths that He may (in many circumstances) never intended for us to take.
I learned a very valuable lesson nearly two years ago from a message by Pastor Andy Stanley. It serves as the underlining message of his brand new book, The Principle of The Path.
Here it is: Direction, Not Intention, Determines Destination.
No matter how much you and I intend on doing the right things in life, we need to assure that it is God who is directing and guiding our decisions, and not our individual pursuits and desires. More often than not, the paths many of us find ourselves on are driven by how we feel, and what we see, rather than the paths God may have for us, which are never bound or dependent on our senses.
Is there anything wrong with wanting a better job? Absolutely not. Is there anything wrong with wanting a bigger home, or nicer car? Again, not at all. And yes, I realize the timetable you set for getting married has come and passed, but before you try to grab the wheel and make something happen, allow these words to redirect you as they did for me this weekend:
Direction, Not Intention, Determines Destination.
If you're heading down the wrong direction, it doesn't matter what destination you intend on reaching, you will never get there (no matter how hard you try or how hard you pray). God's laws of guidance do not bend towards us. We bend towards them.
Funny thing happened once we finally got downtown to visit one of the monuments (a 45 minute trip that on any other day would have taken less than 10). As soon as I parked the car, Anne (our GPS device) found the satellite and prompted us to enter in our directions.
God is quite the comedian, isn't He? Gotta love Him.
Milan Ford has been a leader (and survivor) of ministry within the local church for most of his life. A lover of Red Vines Licorice and all things pointing North, Milan is scheduled to release his first book, 83 Things I Wish The Black Church Would Stop Doing, later this fall (2009). You can find Milan blogging at ThePewView.com or follow him at Twitter.com/milanford.
Friday, May 29, 2009
GET IN THE SPIRIT AND DREAM
Deshawn Snow
Sometimes you have to get away to pray in the spirit, worship, truly focus on Him and listen. Then, through the Holy Spirit, we can see and hear God's desires more clearly. God's desires become our desires when we are walking closely with Him.
Sometimes, we expect a loud voice to speak directly to us from Heaven. Or perhaps we really are waiting for a vision, a dream, or something. Believe it or not, God will give them to us! When we are in intimacy with God and seeking Him, the desires we begin to feel, and the words we hear, are God given! That is what our father does.
He will begin to whisper and birth desires in our spirit. Sometimes we think we came up with the idea, but it was from Him! And, when He provides the idea, all we have to do is ask! The Bible says you have not because you ask not.
There are many spiritual principals listed all throughout the scriptures, from the Old Testament to New, regarding speaking out loud in faith. If God were to ask you today, "What do you want from me?" what would you tell him?
Remember that God makes the largest, most outrageous things come to pass. When you receive a revelation from Him, you need to write it down, believe through faith what God has told you, and go after it - no matter how outrageous it may seem.
Habakkuk 2:2 says, "Then the LORD answered me and said, 'Record the vision and inscribe it on talents, that the one who read it may run." Do you see how powerful that instruction is? To write it down then RUN. Part of running is to keep going, even when you face obstacles. Don't let one, 10 or 100 small things keep you from running after your destiny. God is faithful!
Genesis 18:14 says, "there is nothing too hard for the Lord! When God told Abraham he would have a child with his wife, Sara, he laughed." Genesis 17:17 says, "Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, shall a child be born to man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear a child?" Romans 4:3 says "God credited Abraham's unwavering faith as righteousness."
That is the type of God we serve - a God who wants to make the desires and dreams in our hearts come true. We need to dream big! When you become intimate with the Lord, you must remember to:
Listen for His voice.
Act upon His leading.
Don't let obstacles stop you.
A motivational speaker, television personality, and philanthropist, DeShawn Snow lives in the metro Atlanta area with her husband-NBA player Eric Snow and three adored sons. A socialite-turned-servant, Deshawn is studying to earn her Master of Divinity degree. For more information about Deshawn, log onto DeShawnSnowEnterprises.com or DeShawnSnow.com/Blog
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