Beyond Skin Deep...

The girl with the smile plastered on her face seems to have it all together. She's calm and collected. However, there is a battle raging on the inside and she is secretly fighting back tears wrought from a broken home life. She bites her lip slightly to keep her eyes from watering; to keep from giving in to the tears and puts that smile back on her face even though she doesn't feel like it. As people pass by, they see her and think they see a girl who must have a wonderful life and is just so happy she smiles almost all the time. Only those who really know her know that she smiles to hide the pain and the questions and the stares that would come with letting her true emotions show. 

That is just one scenario showing how quick we are to judge others based on just appearances. We may spout off that we don't judge people, but we do. And it starts with that first look. The first time we glance at a person we make some sort of judgment about them based on what we see. When we see someone full of tattoos and piercings we think wow that must be a troubled person. Those types of people could actually be more put together than the pretty blonde with lots of friends. Yes we judge, but as Christians we need to stop our judgment in its tracks instead of letting it take us down a very dangerous street. Judging is one thing; we all do it. However, letting the judgment grow where we start to stereotype the person is another things. We need to remember that while we look at the outward appearance, the Lord looks at the heart as it says in 1 Samuel 16:7. Certainly "The Lord does not look at things man looks at" as it states earlier in that same verse. We are so quick to judge by appearances and let that judgment become full-grown to where we might reject the person if they don't fit into our plan of the types of people we should talk to. However, God has called us to tell everyone the good news and to show love to everyone, not just the people we think fit into our group. We have to remember God died for the person with the piercings and the tattoos all over their body too. He didn't just die for us- somewhat "perfect" Christians who are unblemished on the outside. No one is unblemished on the inside though- we all sin and that sin leads to death without Jesus. Through the one who can truly peer into the heart and beyond our skin comes salvation and true healing. 

Next time you start to judge someone based on what you see just remember that there is so much more than meets the eye. The Lord knows the heart of each and every person, while we do not. We only see the outside, but we need to look through the appearance of a person and try to see them the way Jesus sees them. Someone He loved so much, He died for them. Not just a person with a pretty face or a messed up face, but someone who has hopes, dreams, and fears. Someone who is searching for someone to love them. Will you show them that unconditional love only found in Jesus? Are you willing to look beyond skin deep?

Homeward Bound

Today my mom and I reached our final destination when we pulled my small 2005 white dodge neon into our driveway in the sunny state of Florida. After a year of being away at school, I was finally home for the summer. The anticipation was building every mile of the drive back home and the joy in reaching our final destination brought a smile to my face. We were greeted with hugs from the family and jumping from my anxious beagle-mix Peanut. A certain 5 year old girl was so excited to see both me and my mom that she literally jumped up and down with excitement and kept exclaiming "You're here!" The fact I had been looking forward to this moment of returning home for the summer all semester just got me to thinking of how on this earth, as Christians, we are just passing through and on a journey to our final destination: Heaven. We are all homeward bound as we work our way to the gates of glory through the journey of this life. And just as me and my mom were greeted with excitement and hugs from family, I can just imagine how excited Jesus is going to be when we step into those pearly gates and right into His arms for a warm embrace. 


As we go through this life we should have a healthy sort of anticipation for when we reach our final destination and one day touch our feet on those golden shores; when we step foot into our real home- a home with Jesus in Heaven. As we go through this life, we should never forget that this is not our home and this world is only temporary. We are merely passing through, sort of pilgrims making our way to our homeland. This sure gives one a new perspective on life and helps to remind us that what is done for eternity is what will last- things done for this world are temporary and fleeting. The trophies, houses, cars, and other possessions will one day turn to dust and fade into the distance. Only that which is done for eternity will last and so we should store up our treasures in heaven and not on the earth. Living for Christ everyday and living in such a manner that the next breath could be our last is one way to make sure that when we do reach our final destination we can willingly run into the Father's arms with no regrets and no fears. 


And so I am merely passing through this earth on a journey to my homeland. I, along with many other believers, are simply homeward bound. I pray that I can make the journey worthwhile so when one day I reach those golden shores I can run up to the Father unashamed and content with the way I have lived my life on earth. Living in such a way that is worthy of my eternal home. 

The Face of Love

Love has many different faces. For some- it can be in the face of fortune and a face of fame. As for me- love comes in the face of something much grander than money could ever buy. As for me, one of love's faces happens to rest with the dimpled cheeks of a woman with blue-green eyes. A woman who has endured hardship and come out stronger, one who has clung to the Lord with all she had even during the tough times, and through it all showed me what love really means. How many other women can you say went through tough times where they were treated like dirt and yet they pressed on and clung to their faith in Christ through everything? Or who repaid hatred and evil with love and kindness? Well I can say that a thousand times over about one very special woman in my life- the one in whom I see the face of love every single day. That woman is none other than my mom.


My Mom raised me up teaching me the precepts of the Lord and how to follow in His ways. Even when she was going through heartbreak and a divorce, she clung to the Lord and tried to be strong for me and my brother. She was a single mom with two children who would give anything for her children, even her own life if she had to and she acted this love out everyday. When the money was tight, the bills were overflowing, and when it didn't seem that groceries were going to be a possibility for that week- she just pressed on and did whatever she had to to keep us going. She was humble enough to accept help when it was offered her and she served regularly in the church, helping to give back to the Lord all the blessings He had bestowed on her. She taught me so much of how to really live life and live it well to the glory of God. She maintained a face of calm and strength for me day after day, no matter what was going on.  I knew she cried in the bedroom sometimes at night when she thought she was all alone and no one could hear her. Yet each morning she was ready to tackle a new day, get me ready and off to school, get herself to work, get dinner on the table, work with me at nights with school work or memory verses for church, then get me ready and put me to bed. I don't know how she did it day after day no matter what was going on except for the fact I know she relied on the Lord's strength to get her through. This kind of self-sacrifice on my mom's part to put forth her best for us no matter what was going on and her relying on Christ through it all showed me what love really means. Love isn't buying someone extravagant gifts, or saying sweet words that sound nice to hear. Love can certainly be expressed in these ways, but love to me is portrayed the best with actions. Love is that kind touch putting a cool cloth to your forehead when you are burning up with fever, or taking the time to help you with your homework, playing with you, and spending time with you. 


For some the face of love may be in money or in things, but to me one of the most important faces of love will forever be in my mom. No amount of money or stuff in this world can buy or take that kind of love away. That's the face of love.