Titled: You Are Beautiful Too

Everyone has a plan in life. You do, don't you? Some of us have a different plan every time we change our socks. (I bet you thought I was going to say underwear.) It's easy to think of plans, but harder to accomplish them. We can lie in bed and dream of many things, but as soon as we get out of bed that's when reality kicks in. Let me ask you this. Are you one of those people that think of all the bad things that can happen? Or do you think that it's up to other people to make you happy? Maybe when something starts going wrong you give up on everything? Do you talk down about everything and everyone? When things don't go the way you want them... well, do you just quit? Are you discouraged easily and walking around defeated, unable to do anything? Can we say that you believe the lies that you are fed by life's circumstances ... by the devil? Just remember that your life doesn't have to be like any of those mentioned above. God has a different plan for each one of us. He has untapped promises in his word that we can claim and believe will happen. We can use these promises to change our circumstances. We don't have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy good things and have good things happen to us. Zechariah 9:12 says," Come back to this place of safety, all you prisoners, for there is yet hope! I promise this very day that I will repay to you mercies for each of your woes!" There are other places that talk about how God gives back to us for doing His will and what is right. God has a good payback for us. He wants to give back ‘double for our trouble'*(often said by Joyce Meyers). He loves us so much! So, whatever we've been through or have had to put up with, the sacrifices we've made, or what we've given up, He will return with way more. I love what David says in Psalm 28:13. It reads," Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord's goodness while I'm here in the land of the living." It goes on to say in verse 14 "Wait patiently for the Lord, be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." Let's look at the first part of this verse. We don't have to wait! We can believe that God has something good for us right now. Something good can happen today for you and for me! David was convinced of the Lords goodness and there are many more examples of that kind of faith throughout the bible. It still holds true for today. The second part of this verse says that we need to have faith in him, ‘wait patiently for the Lord'... in the Lord. We've set our hope in so many different places ... our education ... other people... our occupations, but we need to set our hope in God! We need to say, 'my faith and my hope is in you, Lord!' Psalm 33:22: "Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone."

Our attitudes play a big part in what happens to us. Other people shouldn't be responsible for our actions and for how we're going to feel during that day! We need to get our attitude right and our mouth needs to get cleaned up ... not just our hearts. Everything about us! If we went by feelings ... most of us wouldn't ever leave the bed or the lazy boy chair. We would stay in bed all day or watch the T.V. or surf the worldwide web. The power of life and death is in ‘The Word'. We as Christians have the power to get things done... to help others... to achieve great things in Jesus' name and for His glory! We have to apply ourselves. We have to say to ourselves...' I won't quit! I won't give up! 'Something good is going to happen to me! Expect favor in our lives and ask for it because you are royalty. You are chosen by your Lord and Savior. You are a Christ follower! Stand up and be determined to never give up and not to quit! We are not alone. God loves us so very much. He will help equip us, change us, transform us, and provide those things in our life that we feel we are not adequate in.

So let's look at our plans and dreams in a different way. Is it God's will? God centered? Then if the answer is yes, then ... go for it! We need to ask God to help. We can't do this on our own. He's waiting! Don't put them off anymore! Jesus said in Matthew, ‘You will do even greater things than I have done.' Wow, pretty cool... right?

A few years ago I made up my mind that I needed a change in my life and I was determined to get God's help. I needed it to happen! I didn't feel good. I didn't feel pretty. I wasn't happy. When I was 22 years old I was in a serious car accident in Syracuse, NY. My husband, Al and I were only married for a few months and our lives changed. I was crippled. . Always having constant pain, multiple surgeries, learning how to walk four times over, not able to do things I could before the accident with my husband. Not being able to carry around my children without help. Not able to play with my children like I wanted to and I'm sure they wanted me to. Always being tired, weak, and overweight was in my future. For over a year God sent me a message, that I was beautiful, as I fought with His help to change my life. It took me awhile to believe it and view myself in a different light. It happened! He blessed me with better health. God helped me ... transformed me into the real me. He gave back to me and my family my life that the enemy tried to steal from us. I'm so thankful to God! My life is transformed. If He did it for me, He can do it for you.

What do you need changed in your life? You have to want to be happy! You have to want God's joy. Then do something about it. It's a process. Stop planning and DO! Put action to your words! Speak the truth and good and positive things!

God gave me this scripture in Ps.51:10-12 "Create in me a clean heart, oh Lord. And renew a right spirit with me. Cast me not away from thy presence Lord. And take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the Joy of my salvation." He will give you peace and a song in your heart.

He wants to do something in your life this very moment. He has ordained a meeting with you right now. Stop and spend a moment just to speak to your creator about your heart's desires. So come on... "Be still know that I am ‘He is' God."Ps.46:10 Let Him move in your life right now. It's between you and God. So I'm going to stop for now... until next time... read it for yourself. DJ