Dove's #BeautyIs Campaign

 

 

Well, here is! I have bared myself for the Dove #BeautyIs campaign. I am just getting into taking 'selfies', let alone taking ones without make-up on, so this is WAY out of my comfort zone. But I have learned a lot about true beauty lately, and more about judging others. 

As a society we are great at point out flaws in everything. Like the acne broken out all over my face, or the crazy hair that I didn't do anything with for the day. However that is not at all what most people see, and certainly not what they will remember you by.

 

I was recently in a situation where I judged someone just based on first impression, from what they looked like from across a room. I thought that this person didn't fit who I wanted to include in my life just purely based off of what she looked like. Well, God had a different plan, and He used my own judgment to show me His grace.

The person I was judging showed me nothing but grace despite the judgment I showed her. She prayed for me and truly loves me because I am a child of God, not because of how I look or dress. And now I can't imagine my life without this amazing person, and has truly been a blessing in my life. She showed my just how powerful God's grace is. I certainly did not deserve grace from this person, I deserved judgment, just as I showed to her, but that is not at all what I received from her. She showed me that God does that same thing for everyone.  I do not deserve His grace and love, I deserve His judgment. But yet He still loves me, and sent His only Son to die for my sins, and judgments, just as he does for everyone.

 

What people will remember about you is certainly not the acne, hair or any other physical ailment. But they will remember the grace and love that you showed to them in whatever situation they meet you through.  Whether it is a clerk at the grocery store, a classmate or co-worker, they will remember your attitude and your actions, and through that you have the power to touch someone with God's underserved Grace.

The way in which you show God's Grace to others is what True Beauty is to me.

Friday Coffee Date

Once again it is Friday!  This time I am writing from four hours away from home.  My husband has a meeting down here in Madison (Wisconsin), at the college for the John Deere Ag Technician program, and we get to tag along for some fun.  The hotel we are staying at has a waterpark, so that's where you will find the Gustafson girls for the weekend!

This week has been one of those weeks where God has shown me that he has plans for me, and they are certainly not the plans that I have had for myself. He has opened many doors for me this week. As I said in last weeks coffee date, I gave a speech at a get together for my UEC weekend.  This speech was very out of my normal, as I was asked to pour my heart out and speak about my journey with Christ. I was so nervous, shaking uncontrollably, as I haven't given a speech is over ten years and only ever for a speech class. But I got up there and did it! I poured my heart out. My husband said that there were people crying and laughing, and praising the Lord during my speech but most of all my message was heard. I spoke about my personal journey with Christ, but I also wanted everyone to know that we need to open our hearts completely to Him and trust Him to lead us in the plans that He has for us. Here is a blurp from the ending of my speech that might help with some insight:
"God says in Isaiah 43:1 “Do not fear for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name and you are mine.” We are truly His now with opened hearts, His to execute His plans and trusting him to lead us just as he said in Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have in mind for you declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.” And that is what we have, plans for a hopeful future overflowing with God’s Grace."
I have had so much encouragement from my message, and have even had several pastors calling and asking to either use me and my speech in their sermons or asking me to come and speak. Not in a million years did I think this is what God would be calling me to do!
In this same way God is also telling me to continue with the direction that I thought my life would be going. I have been working hard at making a successful quilting business out of my home the last couple of years and this week I have had booming business.

Well, we are off to do some more splashing around, have a great week.