How Do you Like Your Coffee?

As I ordered my coffee this morning - I thought wow - now, wouldn't that be nice to be described just like me coffee?

Tall Skinny Cinnamon Dolce!

TALL --- SKINNY -- CINNAMON Colored HAIR? --- & DOLCE (Dolce means "sweet" in Italian)

I know, I had to laugh at the thought. I imagined myself TALL (of which I am not - I am 5'2") and SKINNY (of which I am currently not - working towards that goal though!) and oh, I would love to have long beautiful cinnamon colored hair -with bouncy curls (why not?) and DOLCE? Well, I think I have that covered - I think most people would consider me sweet.

So... 1 out of 4 -- I am almost to the point of being like this:



I just love Amy Adams! She is just DAWLING! Giselle, anyone?? (My girls heart this movie)












Sooo..... THEN..... I thought even more about this coffee drink that I am holding in my hands and most likely overly thinking about trying to make some great life lesson out of it. I consider my looks. God really knows how to nudge me, right? Even if it is nudging through my skinny latte.

I think about beauty. What does God think of me and beauty? Does HE really think I am beautiful?

Realistically, ALL women desire for beauty.... and in the face of this desire and as a mom and a woman, I need to seek God’s standard of beauty because culture perverts it. Every culture is different in how they define beauty. Because different cultures say different things are beautiful we see that the way culture defines beauty is arbitrary. It is not arbitrary with God. As a mom to daughters - (Four BEAUTIFUL daughters) - I am one to point out lies of culture and continually reminding our daughters of God's definition of beauty (virtue ).

These few verses came to mind when thinking about beauty and as wisdom for when defining beauty with my girls - but also within myself.

1 Peter 3:3-4

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

What it means: Beauty is not skin deep. Outward beauty fades. What type of beauty does Peter say never fades? · Beauty that comes from a gentle and quiet spirit. · God puts a great value on that. God sees past all the outward adornment straight into our hearts.

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

What it means: We are created in the image of God! Like a snowflake, every person is unique. No two are the same. God sees us as a masterpiece; and when we look in the mirror, He wants you to "know that full well."

So, with these few thoughts in mind (beauty can be an extensive top to delve into - we have just touched part of the deep understandings of God's beauty) : I asked myself this question? I ask you this question?

How Do you Like Your Coffee?

Is it important that you have J-Lo bootie, Angelina Jolie lips, a small number on the scale, tall? Skinny? Cinnamon colored hair?

Or

Is your desire that your heart be of a quiet and gentle spirit?



My "outward" coffee might be ordered like this: SHORT CHUBBY CURRY (blonde) DOLCE - but, inside I am hot with a passion to serve my Jesus and become beautiful in the ways HE requires of me.


(some references from focus on family article)