Sunday, September 7, 2008

Beauty

When I read "Captivating" on vacation a couple of weeks ago, I learned the deep and profound significance of beauty. I have never contemplated it before, but I was delighted to read how valuable beauty is to God. I am a visual learner. If you have ever heard about learning styles...some learn through experience, some hearing, and some-like me, observing.

I love things looking beautiful and orderly. I want my yard and garden to be pretty. Discheveled places cause me to feel depressed.

As I was reading about God's beauty, His creation, and how it allures us to Him. I found myself meditating on how we desire to interact with beauty. When I see the sunlight dancing on the water, I can sit near it and enjoy it, but there is something in me that longs for more. Or when I see the clouds I long to touch them or experience closer contact with them somehow. When I see a beautiful garden, I want to walk through it, inhale the fragrance, take photos. When I see a baby I long to hold them and kiss their cheeks! When my inlaws used to raise sheep and they would have their babies, I would want to hold them. Of course all they wanted to do was play "king of the hill" with each other, but it was beautiful to watch them.

One of the most beautiful things in life, after meeting Jesus and knowing His love, is the family of God loving one another. When I read stories on blogs of the hands and feet of Jesus, I am allured by His beauty in my sisters in Christ. Tonight I read this by Genny about Jesus prompting her to visit a stranger. Beautiful.

Our small group met together tonight. We interacted. We ate (of course:)), we went out on the pontoon, and pulled the boys around (girls get too cold this time of year!). Some of them went jet skiing. The girls later put on a magic show for us. We prayed together. Sharing life and joy and pain all with thanksgiving and hope...Beautiful!!

Just curious...what part of God's beauty allures you? When do you long to interact with God's beauty? Do you have a beautiful story?

2 comments:

Starr LaPradd said...

I have to agree with you on the baby thing. I cannot look at a baby without smiling and wanting to cuddle it for awhile. They are truly a miracle of God and proof of His love for us.

Also, I adore the ocean. Every time I go there, I just sense God's presence in the waves and the sand. How He controls where the water stops and where the sand starts. That amazes me.
God's beauty is all around us. All we have to do is look for it.
Love ya,
Starr

Tea with Tiffany said...

We are twins in this area. I live for beauty. I loved the book Captivating.

When I had a life coach, I learned that one of my life values was "appreciation for beauty in people, music, art, nature." That's part of who God made me to be. I pause for beauty. I take too many pictures, trying to capture it. I long to experience more and more of His beauty. I can't imagine what heaven will be like when beauty is unveiled without limits. Beauty on earth already takes my breath away!

Loved this post. And loved how you found beauty in your small group recently. God is good. So creative.

Thanks for posting.

Hugs from Colorado Springs,

Tiffany

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