How to Look Gorgeous...ALL the Time

April 23, 2020

We all want to look our best. And we do our best to achieve it.

And if you're like me, you've tried various products, hoping that the promise on the bottle will prove true.

The latest one I tried had this instruction: "The best time to apply skin care products is when you are fresh out of a warm shower or bath. Not only is your skin clean, but it is also thoroughly moist and will better absorb anything you apply to it."

I followed this instruction. But blushing a bit, I confess I failed to do the same when it comes to my life. When spots of insecurities appeared, when blotches of worry and blemishes of resentment, past sin, guilt and unfulfilled dreams remained, life wasn't pretty.

A clean-up job was begging. But instead, I covered it with the busyness of life. Hoping no one would notice the blemishes that stained inside.

But God noticed.

He had the washcloth of His unconditional love and the lotion of His grace to wipe away any unsightly blemish in my heart, all the dirty of past mistakes, the nagging regrets and the self-doubt.

And when in front of the mirror, I saw it all. I took a deep breath, drew in courage and confessed to Him, "I'm in Your presence as I acknowledge all I see. I will be still for you to clean all that keeps my heart, my attitude, and my thoughts from radiating the beauty You know I should have."

One by one He wiped away, leaving my heart fresh and free. And He added the perfume of His instruction:

"Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22 NIV).

Let's Pray: Father, it's a pure heart I pursue and it's a clean life I long for. Help me to be still as You use Your supernatural cleanser that I still need. In Jesus' name, amen.

What needs to be removed to make your life beautiful again?

Janet Eckles

If this message resonated with you, please visit Janet's cyberspace home for more inspiration.

Announcements

Saturday, April 25, is ANZAC Day for our many friends in the southern Hemisphere, and although this isn't celebrated in most of the norther Hemisphere, we would all do well to stop more often to honor the lives that have been slain in the defense of freedom. Please be blessed by the following ANZAC Day address, written by Nugget author, Elizabeth Price:

ANZAC DAY BETHANGA 2020

We come together with deep love to commemorate the ANZACS but we also gather with deep love to commemorate the fire fighters and the volunteers, and all others, who also fought and died to save others.

Jesus said 'you must love one another as I have loved you,' and He gave his life to save us.  
So we say the Lord's prayer regularly because Jesus taught us to do so but this morning I want us to think about our prayer.  Firstly we begin with our Father which art in heaven because we acknowledge the Lord's residence.  

Then we say 'hallowed be thy name,' and to hallow a name means to make it a holy name, or to venerate it or consecrate it.  Yet how often we hear it used almost like a swear word or merely as a common exclamation.  

Next we make a claim that we want our Father's kingdom to come but again I question our reality when we say so.  Ask yourself:  Do I really, truly want to live in a world where there is total peace, total commitment to the Lord, and no more greed or grabbing opportunities, or self-aggrandisement?

Then we claim we really want everything done in the world as in heaven.  We claim we want to give ourselves and our desires entirely into His care and keeping.   And we follow it by asking only for the day's necessities to be given to us.  Just what we actually need, not what we want, just our necessities.  Is that what you ask for?  Or do you give the Lord a list of your wants?

What do you ask forgiveness for?  Are we in debt to God?  We are all in deep debt to Jesus for His forgiveness of ALL our wrong doings and for ALL our sinfulness.  In other words, I know I am a total mess and yet God forgives me because Jesus has put His arm around me.  Is that how you feel too?  I pray it is.

Then we ask not to be led into places that will tempt us to do wrong, but to be delivered from such places.  I cannot count how many times over the years I have been kept safe in spite of myself.  Over and over, I have been 'delivered from evil.'  Why?  Because I, in my humble and trite way, give my world to Him because His is the power and the glory.  I am the thief on the cross who said to Jesus, 'Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.'  And His reply was, 'thou shalt be with me in paradise.'

So now let us say together --

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen

Elizabeth Price
Australia