Seeing our Blessings

“We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost – also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”—Numbers 11:5–6

The Torah portion for this week is Behaalotecha, from Numbers 8:1–12:16 and the Haftorah from Zechariah 2:14–4:7.

The manna that fell from heaven was miraculous. It fell daily, with the exception of the Sabbath, when no work was permitted. There was exactly enough, even on Friday, when two times the amount needed fell so that there would be enough for the Sabbath. The Sages teach that the manna tasted exactly like the person eating it wanted it to taste.
Pretty amazing! So how is it possible that the Israelites complained about it?

Chloe : Green Herb

Scripture Reference—1 Corinthians 1:10, 11

Name Meaning — Green herb

We are not told anything about the background of this Corinthian matron and head of a Christian household. 

Evidently she was well-known to the Corinthians by her personal name which means “green herb,” and in the Greek represents the first green shoot of plants. 

Chloe is therefore emblematic of fruitful grace and beauty. It was while he was benefiting from the hospitality of her home that Paul received information of strife among leaders in the Early Church and which he sought to deal with in this first chapter of First Corinthians. 

The Church at Corinth gave Paul a good deal of concern and heartache because of its low spirituality.

Wounded Healer: A great victory looks at first like defeat

Today's reading: Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53:3: He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

In at least ten places, New Testament writers identify Jesus as the suffering servant. In one instance, Philip corrects an Ethiopian official who wonders if the servant refers to an ancient prophet (see Acts 8:26-35). Isaiah 49-55 includes vivid scenes of the servant's sufferings, predictions that find their fulfillment in Jesus' death on the cross.

Indeed this chapter reads almost like an eyewitness account of Jesus' last days on Earth, even though it was composed centuries before Christ's death ... The physical description-the Bible contains no other physical description of Jesus-is shocking. The servant "had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him" (Isaiah 53:2); he was "like one from whom people hide their faces." (Isaiah 53:3).

Bonsai Christians?

Written by Marilyn Ehle

Take today’s next step: If your faith feels smaller than you’d like it to, take a deep breath and jump into the 35 Day Challenge. You’ll see your faith expand in no time.

“[M]ake every effort to add to your faith goodness…knowledge…self-control…perseverance…godliness…mutual affection…love. If you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8)

Have you ever seen the beauty of a bonsai tree? These trees are specially cultivated plants that remain in miniature form through pruning, root reduction, potting, defoliation, and grafting to produce small trees that mimic the shape and style of mature, full-size trees. They are not intended for production of food or medicine, or for creating large gardens or landscapes. Instead, they are to please the eye of the beholder.

Chaos Now For Beauty Later

Written by Claire Colvin

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19, NLT)

I am in the midst of a kitchen reno and my house looks like a disaster zone. The simplest tasks are complicated and frustrating. The kettle is in the en suite bathroom, the tea bags are on the coach, the mugs are somewhere in the living room. Everything takes longer. Nothing looks familiar.
Even when it’s time to rest it’s hard to relax in a room that is literally stacked to the ceiling. The other day I stood on the bare concrete floor and thought about the beautiful kitchen that is going in. I remembered all the years I had prayed for a place of my own and I took a deep breath. “It’s chaos now for beauty later,” I said to my roommate and I heard a whisper in my heart. Oh, there’s a lesson in that.

Rachel : The Woman in Whom Romance and Tragedy Were Blended

Scripture References—Genesis 29; 30;31; 33:1, 2, 7; 35:16-26; 46:19, 22, 25;48:7; Ruth 4:11; 1 Samuel 10:2;Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18

Name Meaning—Rachel was the first person in the Bible to have a proper name derived from the brute creation. Wilkinson remarks, “that, for the most part, the formation of a human name from that of an animal is traceable to some peculiarity either observed or desired in an individual, which would thus be most intelligently expressed in a rude and simple age.” Rachel, the name of Jacob’s beloved wife means “ewe,” employed more or less as a title of endearment, just as the word “lamb” is among ourselves. Laban, accustomed to tenderly nursing the weak ewes as they were born, thought “ewe” to be a fitting name for his second daughter.

The Woman in Whom Romance and Tragedy Were Blended

Does Sexy Lingerie Promote a Perverted View of Beauty?

Another Monday, another reader question. Today's topic is introduced by an anonymous reader and involves sexy lingerie. Here's his story:

J – My wife and I have been married for three years now. During that time I have given her various gifts of lingerie around holidays, birthdays, random days… I love it when my wife gets dressed up in anticipation of sex. To me, a very visual man, it’s her way of inviting me to be intimate with her, kind of my version of foreplay. Just like when I bring her flowers, prepare a romantic dinner date, spend time holding her and kissing the nape of her neck. When she gets “dressed up,” she’s telling me she’s interested in pleasing me (she knows I’m visual), wants to look her best and have me devour her with my eyes (because my eyes are only for her), she wants to seduce/pursue me (and I want to be seduced/pursued).

ARE MEN MORE ATTRACTED TO PREGNANT WOMEN?

By Site Manager

Are men truly attracted to pregnant women? The answer is simple; it depends on the man. There’s always two sides to a story and this is no different. Some people believe that men are more attracted to pregnant women because of natural instinct dating back to the cavemen days.

Call it Grace

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Original Air Date: August 22, 2012

With: Lysa TerKeurst

Trusting God

Radio Hostess: Lysa Terkeurst

What do you call it when a woman finds freedom in prison? Hi, I’m LysaTerKeurst for Proverbs 31 Ministries.

I sat in a hushed courtroom, tears rolling down my cheeks, as my dear friend learned she’d be going to prison.Tina had been caught up in a real estate scheme she never fully understood and would pay a steep price. This precious mother of two was now prisoner number 4579942.

But, beauty came from brokenness.

Praise That Fits

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Psalm 33:1

Praise and the upright person go together. It is absolutely impossible to think of one apart from the other. The Lord delights in the praises of His people, and there is a distinct beauty, not only in the form of worship and praise, but also in its transforming qualities in the worshiper's life. Praise with thanksgiving and worship from the heart provide a garment visible on the outside and beauty seen on the inside of a person.

The psalmist declares he has been clothed with gladness (Ps. 30:11). In Isaiah 61:3 we are instructed to put on "the garment of praise." Praise is the customary apparel of the upright! If we stop praising, it is as if we are unclothed.

The King James Version of Psalm 33:1 declares "praise is comely for the upright." Maybe it will just make us a little better looking! That is certainly true in our attitudes and relationships. Praisers do not make good complainers. So continue growing as a praising saint. God loves it and it looks good on you!

http://www.jackhayford.org/articles/devotional.sd

I Want to Be Beautiful

Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13 NIV).

Friend to Friend
I was sitting in a crowded restaurant with my family when she walked by in her full-length white satin ball gown delicately trimmed in lace and studded with tiny “jewels.” Crinoline swished as she moved across the room, a rhinestone tiara sparkled on her head, and pearl studded slippers accentuated her feminine feet. Golden ringlets framed her rosy cheeks and puckered lips glistened with a hint of gloss. She knew she was beautiful and glanced around at the admiring smiles of onlookers as she walked through the crowd. She was three-years-old.

I’m not sure when the dream to be beautiful enters a little girl’s mind, but I do know when the dream ends – when the preacher says, “may she rest in peace.” In my book, Becoming Spiritually Beautiful, I told about my shenanigans as a little girl who wanted to be a grown up beauty.

Wired to Admire

Hard-wired into man's genetic code is a strong desire for beauty. But unrealistic expectations are short-circuiting God's design.

Let's face it, there's just something wired into the male psyche that causes the passionate admiration and pursuit of beauty.

Virtually every man has at least once in his lifetime fantasized about snagging the "perfect woman." And while any gathering of red-blooded males might stir up a healthy argument over which woman deserves the title, author and Christian "sexpert" Doug Rosenau says that most men have a hard time narrowing it down to one person.

"The confusion I see in guys is that they have about three or four different ideas of a perfect woman," Rosenau says. "They're confused as to which one is the one that they really would like."

Arise My Daughter

Written by Barbara Alpert

Is it time to take a step of faith?

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. (Isaiah 60:1)  

My beloved daughter, it is time for you to arise and take your stance in the light of my Son. I, your heavenly Father, am calling you out of darkness. Arise from your affliction for my power within you is greater than your despondency. Healing, restoration, and freedom await but you must have faith. I beckon you to arise to the new things I seek to do within, for, and through you.    

Cleary, you do not perceive that your prison sentence, inner turmoil and suffering, is over. I, the Lord, have removed the chains that bound you. Your shackles are loose, and your prison doors are open. In your darkness, I heard your weeping and now I offer you my joy. Freedom and new life awaits but you must choose to come out of captivity. My precious one, it is time for you to step forward and partake in the new things I set before you. 

Beauty and the Kingdom of God

The Gospel of Matthew: Consider the Lilies

On first glance, this image embodies simplicity. But the painting’s surface actually involves over sixty fine layers of precious minerals and metals (gold, malachite, azurite, and platinum), as well as sumi ink cured for over a century. Seen in person, the complexities and subtle beauty of each layer speak deeply of that which transcends.

Beauty is always around us. Sometimes it emerges on its own and makes itself nearly impossible to ignore, unveiling its glory right in front of our eyes. But more often, beauty is hidden and requires a process of discovery. One way or another, it necessitates knocking on doors and then looking to see what’s on the other side—or even stepping over the thresholds of dark, mysterious rooms that are yet to be illumined.

In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches about a spiritual reality that calls us to live in a completely countercultural, supernatural way. And the image He paints for His audience is deceptively simple. He tells us to consider the lilies—even man’s finest adornments cannot compare with their innate splendor. Fujimura chose the spare beauty of this image to illuminate the first gospel book. “This [is] a crucial step that needs to be taken before we’re able to ‘seek the kingdom of God,’” he says. “These Easter lilies opening up suggest that even the common can be transformed into a post-Resurrection, generative reality.”

http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/beauty_and_the_kingdom_of_god

Theology of Beauty

From Dean Ohlman

I believe the key element in our recovering the lost theology of beauty—a loss that is evident in our often insensitive and utilitarian approach to the natural world—is to recognize that the beauty of the created world is evidence of the Creator himself. It’s significant that in the Genesis creation account the first fact mentioned about the trees of the garden was that they were “pleasing to the eye” (Gen. 2:9). Yes, they were “good for food,” but apparently what was most striking to the new dwellers of Eden was their beauty.

Real-Life Romeos Don’t Compare to Dream Lovers

By BONNIE ROCHMAN

 

If you’ve got a soft spot for the tall, dark and handsome archetype, chances are your real-life partner is short, blond and, well, not so toothsome. Or at least that’s the takeaway from new research published in the journal PLoS ONE, which found that the people we end up pairing off with bear little resemblance to our fantasy lovers.

Researchers at the University of Sheffield in England and the University of Montpellier in France found that our actual mates differ in height, weight and body mass index from the ones we would describe as ideal.

Given their druthers, most guys would prefer thinner women than the ones they’re with. Women aren’t oozing contentment either, though slimness is not always a desired trait. While some women would rather have skinnier partners, others would like their fellas huskier. Women notched the more significant discrepancies between real vs. ideal mates. (More on Time.com: 5 Little-Known Truths About American Sex Lives).

Beauty from the Inside Out

Janet Maccaro, PH.D.,

You’ll need more than cosmetics for great-looking skin and a lovely appearance. You’ll need to understand the health and beauty connection.

Beauty truly does radiate from within. A healthy, vibrant woman defies age. As a testimony and reflection of our self-esteem, inner beauty and vibrancy, true beauty is the result of inner vitality, balance, health and happiness, not vanity.

Optimal nutrition, stress-relieving exercise and a positive frame of mind are requirements you must tote along on your continued journey toward complete balance. A balanced body and a beautiful spirit are better than the very best cosmetic application or surgery.

With proper nutrition, rest, relaxation and exercise, you can keep your body balanced, healthy and youthful throughout your entire life. Your skin can be wrinkle-free and elastic, your eyes can sparkle, your complexion can be smooth, and your face can be firm and tight.

Naomi: Having Hope Through the Famines of Life

And Naomi said, "I went out full, but the Lord has brought me home again empty." ~ Ruth 1:21 (AMP)

Have you ever gone through a famine in your life?

In this Bible study on Naomi, we will look at how God turned one woman's famine into a bountiful harvest. We will learn how, even in her darkest hour, God's plan was working to shine His light on Naomi's life.

Though she felt abandoned, He had in no way forsaken her. In all of her darkness, God had left Naomi a ray of hope.

This is the first of two Bible studies on the Book of Ruth. The next lesson with focus on Ruth herself. But, this Bible study on Naomi is here to give you hope in your life's driest seasons.

So...Why Exactly Did God Make Woman?

by Ameerah Lewis 

(Cincinnati, OH)

What in the world was God thinking when He decided to make women?


I'm not sure if you can relate, but I have spent countless hours of my life asking myself this question. What was the point? Wouldn't it have been easier to just make us all men?

Working on the Inside Out

“Kings and armies flee in haste;

the women at home divide the plunder.” — Psalm 68:12

I recently came across the following cartoon: Two rabbits are standing in a field. The first rabbit is standing next to a small green stem with a few leaves shooting off of it. The second rabbit, larger and more confident-looking than the first, is standing next to a much more elaborate display of greenery. Beneath the surface, the drawing reveals the first rabbit is standing next to a very large carrot – unseen, but about to poke its head out of the ground. The second rabbit is standing proudly next to a weed.

The caption reads “Success; it’s not always what you see.”


We live in a world that is overly focused on what we can see. Power, beauty, wealth, and the like. We often judge success by these outer elements. It’s no wonder that we tend to spend most of our time mastering the superficial arena of our lives. Almost everyone works OUT regularly, but how many of us spend time working IN? In Psalm 68 King David reminds us that our inner space is more important than our outer space.