Beauty in your life- change your thoughts for a positive outlook
What are your favorite brands and why?
I usually think brands are a waste of money. But there is one brand of shoes I have found that live up to their reputation and that is Skechers.
I was born with flat feet and now that I’m getting older I feel it more than ever.
I need a shoe with good arch support. The one I’ve found this is the best is Skechers.
List the people you admire and look to for advice…
I seek advice from those who have achieved what I aspire to. Many people have loud opinions, but I want to seek people with proven results.
My pastor comes to mind, and people who have can pray God’s Word from memory.
I always seek advice from the Bible and pray about it.
Paul’s thorn is a great example of how to trust God for strength. It reveals how God works through human weakness.
This is described in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 where Paul writes that he was given a thorn to keep him from being conceited,
“By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me” -2 Corinthians 13:7-8
There are varying ideas that speculate Paul’s thorn was a physical ailment, emotional struggle, or spiritual opposition. But it ailment doesn’t matter, as much as its purpose and God’s response to it.
The purpose of the thorn allowed Paul to remain humble and focus on God’s grace rather than his own accomplishments or visions. This shows us how God can use difficulties to shape our character and deepen our reliance on Him.
Paul’s response after he pleaded with God three times to remove the “thorn,” showed his honest vulnerability. Yet he didn’t become bitter when the thorn remained, he accepted God’s answer which molded his trust in God’s divine wisdom over personal comfort.
God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” This flipped Paul’s perspective -his weakness became a stage for God’s strength. He even boasted about his weaknesses knowing that they showcased Jesus’s power (2 Corinthians 12:9).
The outcome of Paul’s thorn didn’t hinder his purpose, it enhanced it. He continued his mission – preaching, writing, and enduring hardships because God’s grace sustained him. His letters in the Bible reflect a strength that goes beyond human capacity and has impacted many generations.
When we walk with God, understanding the spiritual consequences of sin is vital. Sin at its core, is rebellion against God’s divine law. It not only separates us from Him but also brings spiritual bonds that enslave us, leaving us vulnerable to more disobedience and despair.
The Bible provides profound insights into how sin affects us spiritually, emotionally, and even physically.
Jesus Himself destined sin as a form of bondage. In John 8:34-35, He said,
“Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever.”
This bondage is not merely symbolic, it has real spiritual consequences. Sin creates chains that bind our souls making it harder to walk in righteousness and experience the freedom God desires for us.
Sin is deceptive, it often appears harmless or even desirable at first, but its consequences are far-reaching. James 1:15 warns,
“When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
Disobedience to God allows sin to grow unchecked in our lives, leading to spiritual death. The bond of sin can manifest as guilt, shame, addiction, or even a hardened heart that resists the Holy Spirit.
The weight of Spiritual bondage.
David experienced the crushing weight of sin when he disobeyed God. In Psalm 38:4 he said,
“For my iniquities have gone over my head, like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.”
Sin burdens our souls, robbing us of peace and joy. It creates spiritual chains that affect our ability to connect with God and fulfill His purpose for our lives.
There is deliverance through obedience and repentance.
Thankfully there is good news. God provided a way to break free from the bonds of sin. In Romans 6:22 Paul writes,
“Now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”
Through repentance and obedience to God’s Word, we can experience deliverance. Confession and turning away from sin allow God to cleanse us and restore our spiritual freedom.
The role of Jesus in breaking the bonds.
Jesus is the ultimate chain breaker. Isaiah 61:1 prophecies about Jesus’s mission:
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good things to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”
By Jesus’s death and resurrection, He defeated sin and its power over us. When we surrender to Him, He breaks the chains that bind us and sets us free to live in His light.
We can break free from the chains of sin and walk in the freedom God intended for us.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” -1 Johm 1:9
Strive to obey God daily, living in the freedom and joy that comes from walking in His ways.
Do you vote in political elections?
It is a freedom to vote in America if you’re a citizen.
My political views align with what the Bible says.
These include:
Sanctity of life
Moral values
Integrity and leadership
Religious freedom
While candidates may not fully embody biblical ideals this choice may require some compromise. I choose the closest one.
What gives you direction in life?
The direction in my life comes from my sense of purpose. It stems from my personal values, passions, and goals.
I believe challenges like failure or loss can disrupt direction, but they can also refine it by forcing us to reevaluate our lives.
Ultimately my direction comes from balancing what I control, my choices and my mindset.
My deep faith in God as well as my morals, and values give me direction in life.
A positive light in any situation can be a powerful tool for positive change in healing. Generosity, especially spiritual generosity can be a weapon in warfare, helping to overcome negativity and bring about positive changes. Generosity can become a transformative act that nourishes the soul.
The world is often driven by self interest and material gain, and the practice of giving can take on a profound spiritual significance. Generosity goes beyond the active, giving material possessions, it encompasses a spirit of openheartedness, kindness, and sharing. True generosity arises in the place of abundance, recognizing that we have much to offer -our time, attention, resources, and love. It is a way of acknowledging our interconnectedness and affirming the worth of others. Sadly in today’s society these actions cannot be seen to often due to cultural biases.
Generosity doesn’t just bless -it disarms. It can break down barriers and foster understanding. It can also be a powerful tactic to overcome opposition.
Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?
A quote I live by is: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling but in rising every time we fall” -Nelson Mandela
The core belief of trusting in God to defeat our enemies is having faith that God has divine power, protects us and will provide justice. It is rooted in the idea that God is sovereign, all-powerful, and ultimately is in control of every outcome, even when our human strength or strategies fall short.
When we see God as our deliverer who fights on our behalf when we rely on Him.
We see in scriptures like Psalm 18:2,
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.”
Or Exodus 14:24,
“The Lord will fight for you, you only need to be still.”
Which emphasizes surrendering our fears and conflicts into God’s hands. There are a few key elements that go along with these scriptures:
This boils down to praying for protection, seeking wisdom to navigate our conflicts along with finding peace in the middle of our struggles, rather than taking matters into our own hands. It’s less about the literal battle today and more about the resilience or overcoming adversity through spiritual conviction.
What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?
For years my favorite holiday was Independence Day. It marked the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 that symbolizing the birth of American liberty from British rule.
The beginning of life, liberty, and a pursuit of happiness which lays down the foundation of America’s values.
I love the fireworks, and the barbecues and time spent with my children and husband.
We don’t seem to barbecue much anymore, but I still have the awe of seeing fireworks in my heart.
Our human flaws, vulnerabilities, and struggles shape us. Our little imperfections tie beautifully into trusting in God to help us in our fight to defeat our enemies, if we connect the two, those cracks -our weaknesses, doubts, and broken pieces can be where faith steps in.
Our imperfections aren’t failures but an opening for divine strength. If you think about 2 Corinthians 12:9 when God tells Paul,
My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
The belief here is that God doesn’t just patch over our flaws but works through them, turning what feels like a liability into a conduit for something greater.
On a human level, our cracks might be where we feel most attacked by our external enemies, like hardship or our inner fears. But by trusting in God we can surrender to Him, handing over those fragile, imperfect parts and believing they won’t become our undoing. It’s like how cracked pottery can still hold water or how in the Japanese art of kintsugi where broken ceramics are mended with gold, making them more beautiful than before.
From Pity to Praise