Relax and Play the Piano

You're Beautiful

What is it with women wanting to be beautiful? Why is it something I worry about and desire so much - that people would think I'm beautiful... and then I compare myself. I used to fight against doing this - I have become lax in my fighting and have given in more to thinking "I wish I had her hair" or "I'm sure I'd look much uglier that her in that t-shirt" or "If only I could lose a few more kg, I'd feel so different and pretty and be worth so much more" I don't actually think that last one in those exact words, but in the end, that is the jist of my thoughts - if I take them to their logical end, that is the intent behind my thoughts.

"Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewellery, or the clothing you wear -  but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious."
- 1 Peter 3:3-4

Lord, may the beauty I seek and work towards and put effort into be this kind of beauty - the lasting kind, the kind that matters.

The days will come when you don't have the strength
When all you hear is you're not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart they'd see too much

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are made so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful

I'm praying that you have the heart to find
Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight
For all the lies you've held inside so long
And they are nothing in the shadow of the cross

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are made so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful 

-Beautiful, MercyMe.

[this moment]

A single image capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember. 

Little Garra Rufa fish working away.

Slave by John MacArthur

A book review.

I just finished reading this book, which deals with a relationship that is often under-emphasised or misunderstood: the one between believers as slaves and Christ as our master. John MacArthur suggests that this truth has been covered up by our English Bibles, using words such as 'servant' instead of 'slave' and wrote the book to explain the real meaning of slave and what our role is as such. Belonging to Christ in this way is a biblical command, and an important facet of our relationship with God. MacArthur explains this biblically and clearly and reminds us that being the slave of a perfect master is in fact totally freeing.
This was not a new concept to me, the word doulos has been explained to me before, but MacArthur has some refreshing reminders and some encouraging and very challenging examples scattered about this book. It is very easy to read and quite short, but made me think about just how seriously I (don't) take obeying God. It was also hugely helpful to be reminded of my position as a slave, in that my owner who gives me my name imposes my very identity. I have been bought with a price from the sin I was enslaved to. Because slavery has been abolished in this country for a number of years now, all the truths that were conveyed by such a term are lost on this generation. Though a little repetitive at first, the book then develops and expands well on many areas of the relationship we have with God, our Lord (this name alone clearly acknowledges His as sole master and owner). I would recommend this book - it puts you back in your place, reminding you that though you are God's child (and thus extremely precious and unique) you are also His slave (and thus completely expected to do just as He asks without expectations or desire for reward).  

*I was provided this book for free through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program in exchange for my unbiased review.

Giving Challenge

“I do not believe one can settle on how much we ought to give.  I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.  In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little.  If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.  There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.” - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity