True Inspiration and Beauty

It's funny how God can change your view on life.  It changes your view of the people around you.  I used to think I knew what beauty was.  I used to be able to see the beauty of most people, physical beauty that is.  Suddenly God has shown me a beauty that shines from the heart.  The picture above is of two inspiring ladies: Beckah Shae and Corrie ten Boom.  These women have been through tough times and have come out with hearts that shine true inspiration.

Beckah Shae is a singer that glorifies God with her beautiful voice.  Her journey wasn't easy and involved as stated in her "About" of her website, "A self-proclaimed "conformist," during her unstable teenage years were a barrage of raves, Tijuana and Vegas, fake I.D.s, experimental drugs and eating disorders leading to depression, anxiety and low self-esteem."  One of my favorite quotes to think about it that she said, "The enemy had me confused.  I was considered the 'good' one in the bad environments I found myself in, so I really didn't realize how lost I was, or who I was."  She now is a singer working on her fifth album and is known for her support of the A21 Campaign and Kids Alive International.  Her heart and amazing faith radiates from her when she speaks and sings.

Corrie ten Boom and her family's home was a refuge for hiding fugitives and those hunted by the Nazis. She risked her life and at the same time showing the heart that God gave her.  She has a very inspiring book called "The Hiding Place."  It is well worth checking out if you haven't done so already.  I can't begin to explain in a short amount of writing the true inspiration she is.

I encourage you to look further into these women's stories. They are great examples of God's love shining on earth.

Beckah Shae: http://www.beckahshae.com/about/
Corrie ten Boom: http://www.corrietenboom.com/history.htm

Mark 5:34

I know the verse and I know the promise that God is giving me. But so often I'm too busy feeling undeserving of it to actually enjoy it. The confusion and hurt doesn't seem to lessen after reading these words. Right now, they feel more like salt on a wound. They are just a reminder of the pain.  Before I was perfectly capable of hiding it somewhere I could forget about it.  Every time I think I've gotten past it all, I'm reminded that I've simply just gotten good at ignoring it, but I haven't actually let myself heal.  I want that peace. I want to stop feeling insecure because of it.  So all I can do right now is pray and wait for that day that God will ease the pain in my heart.

Beckah Shae

This video is an interview with a girl named Beckah Shae.  I have used her videos before, and talked about her song "Hephzibah."  This video shows her personal feelings and has her talk about her relationship with God.  She has an inspirational faith and I personally look to her as a role model.  I can only hope and pray that I grow a strong faith like her... "To carry the likeness of God."

I also needed to hear her words about compromising and hiding instead of taking a stand.  People will tear you down and eat you alive.  So true... But as she points out in the end, it's about knowing God and He knows you.  Those people don't matter.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10


If you'd like to hear more about Beckah and her music, I put a link to her website! God Bless! Hope she inspires you the way she did me :)


http://www.beckahshae.com/

God Provides

God provides.  Two simple words that seem like an obvious statement, but yet why is it when life gets difficult we often forget them.  I was going through my finances the other day and looking at my pile of debt I've accumulated while in school.  With 5 months until graduation, the pressure is on to get everything paid off so I can move after school.  At one point my shoulders just kind of dropped and I felt like I was in a hopeless situation when I had to charge a hospital bill to my only emergency credit card that wasn't maxed out.  The longer I looked at the situation the longer I realized I had no hope of making that much money in that short amount of time.  I started running through scenarios in my head; ones of me stuck working at my factory job past graduation and then student loans coming in and then my debt pile just getting deeper... I was deeply discouraged.  When suddenly I realized, God provides.

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust
Psalm 25:1

God's plan for me was so much bigger than my debt.  If he wanted me to move by graduation he will make it possible. I often think to go to God with emotional problems, health problems, or relationship problems.  But it doesn't cross my mind to go to him about money as often.  So instead of getting discouraged I'm going to get on my knees in prayer.  I didn't work this hard in school for God to leave me in a factory. I know God has bigger plans for me, so why not trust him to provide the resources to get to them?

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus 
Philippians 4:19