From the heart.

Beauty that flows from the heart makes the entire person beautiful inside and out. Beauty is not defined by the outward appearance of a person but rather a mixture of qualities that bless other people. Asymmetry of features, beautiful hair, shiny nails, glossy lips, soft skin and the like mixed with contention and hatred do not a beautiful combination make. A countenance that shines with the light of peace, humility, compassion, joy and love is much more to be desired. Yet, these qualities that pour forth from the heart are not to be obtained by the natural man. We do not have the ability to quell the dissensions within our souls. It is not within our power to end the lusts, jealousies, hatreds and disgusts we have for such things as the wicked desire for another person, the aggravating success of a neighbor, the wounds of a friend who became an enemy, or the quirks of a parent or sibling who drives us crazy.

The video I show gives a good description of what must take place within us. We must be given the capability to reveal true beauty from a heart that has so often been lost in self-doubt and pity. Whereas the video shows the beautification of a the outward appearance, the need for a reformation of our heart is much more difficult and necessary. Who among you can point to your heart and successfully say, "Heart, I don't like the way you've been acting so you will change this instant"? We cannot remake the heart that so often strives against what is right. The truth is that it must be remade for us by One who is able to transform the soul.



WARNING (FOR MEN): The video is meant primarily for women who happen to read this post. Most guys don't care about their outward appearance so much since they fart, scratch and belch in public. For a man to be told that "there could never be a more beautiful you" would be far too sappy to acknowledge. I would encourage any man who thinks of watching this to have a daughter or a close relationship with a beloved female! Only then will you have the wisdom necessary for understanding!

Regardless of gender, the Gospel is this: God made us His children and cared for us from the womb. He fed and clothed us and protected us and yet we turned our hearts from Him (Deut. 32:1-18). Being holy, He turned His face from us and pronounced a curse upon mankind that we would bear the wounds of our sins and face judgment (Deut. 32:19-26). Yet, He did not deal with us according to our iniquities. He called us His inheritance and His portion and, according to His everlasting kindness, claimed Himself as the atonement for our sins so that He could have the glory in leading us away from our captivity to wickedness and death (Deut. 32:43). All of this He did by coming in the form of a man and living the only perfect life of any person on earth, in accordance with the law. He gave Himself up to suffer an unjust death to take our sins upon Himself so that the Scripture would be proven in Revelation 5 where it is written:

¹Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. ²And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" ³But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

⁶Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. ⁸And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
¹⁰You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."

¹¹Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹²In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"

¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!" ¹⁴The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Protection of money or life?

I found the picture for my blog here: http://mediocracy.us/category/hypocrisy/

In a macabre display of worldly hypocrisy I watched the Brinks armored car pull up to the school today. Out came an armed security guard carrying his money bag inside while the armed driver kept a close watch. Apparently, they weren't told that our school is a "gun-free zone" as are all public school in California.

There I was in the front of the school with a badge clearly stating "security" on it and a small self-defense pepper sprayer on my hip. My jaw went slack for a moment as I realized the implications of what I was seeing. Here I was as a security guard at a school in charge of protecting hundreds of students and, though I am qualified to own a gun, I was not allowed, by law, to keep it on my person outside of the home. So why can someone in charge of hundreds of thousands of dollars in actual money pack heat to protect the greenbacks in his possession?

This small act proved to me that society, as a whole, believes that money is worth more than the people who eventually produce the capital to make it. We potentially sacrifice our future growth and prosperity by not adequately defending our children while we simultaneously protect something that is worth far less. Money's worth is found only in the strength of the government promise that backs it. A person has worth invested in them by others who sacrifice of themselves to build them up.

We should not have the expectation of making a sacrifice of death to uphold life especially when it is within our ability to provide safety. A few people wanting to burying their heads in the sand and calling a place "gun-free" does not a "gun-free" place make. It just means that those who have the guns and the desire to use them nefariously will detect no threat in bringing them into the gun-free zone. At that point, the badge on my arm will no longer mean "security" but instead "shoot me first." It is a sacrifice I will hopefully be willing to make if I am called to do so and, by God's grace, I will be allowed to defend the lives of those students who have been entrusted into my care.

I am grateful that at the end of the day I do not have to worry about such things as death. My God invested me with great worth that will never perish. It was granted to me by the incorruptible blood of Christ that washed away my sins. I have gained worth from the sacrifice of Christ and if I am able to sacrifice of myself to prove to others that they too have worth then I will be thankful for the opportunity. My hope is found in these words and I encourage you to read them carefully and meditate upon them:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls."