We Are His

If you've read our about page, you've probably seen this sentence before:

The purpose of this blog is to encourage girls in their faith and remind them that their beauty is found in Christ alone. 

Today I'd been hit hard with that sentence. I really, really struggle with my self-image. As much as I try to believe the theme of this blog - that I'm beautiful in Christ - I don't always think that way. I feel fat, and wonder how anyone could ever love me.

What I need to remember when that nagging doubt starts creeping in is that Someone already does love me.

Today was such a bad day. I was depressed. Satan was throwing lies at me in every possible way. I didn't want to eat, because I felt so horrible about myself.

Then I got online. And somehow, I found myself on Beautiful in Christ. I was reading over some of our posts, and they encouraged me. They uplifted me and reminded me of the message that I blog about every week on BIC.

WE ARE BEAUTIFUL.

It's not because of what we've done. It's because of Jesus.

Plain and simple, we are His.

There is nothing I can do that can make me look better in his sight. He loves me just the way I am.

And he's the only reason that I breathe.

In Christ alone, my hope is found.




In Christ alone, my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My comforter, my all-in-all

Here in the love of Christ I stand

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Beautiful Art

“I grew up hearing everyone tell me 'God loves you'. I would say 'big deal, God loves everybody. That don't make me special! That just proves that God ain't got no taste.' And, I don't think He does. Thank God! Because He takes the junk of our lives and makes the most beautiful art.”

—Rich Mullins

Why "Beautiful in Christ"?

Beautiful in Christ (BIC) is founded on the idea that everyone is beautiful. It sounds cliche, but it's true. You are beautiful.

I've had many days where I don't believe that I'm beautiful. It's hard to feel that way in our culture today, where everywhere we're bombarded by "fake" beauty. So what's a girl to do?

We have to listen to what God says. That's the foundation of everything else. Once we listen to God's voice and hear what He says, our thoughts will begin to follow. We have to believe we're beautiful.

Why?

Because Jesus says so.

We may not be perfect. But Jesus is, so we don't have to be. I once came across a blog. The URL was misspelled as "inperfection" rather than "imperfection." Upon further inspection, I noticed that someone had left a comment. This person commented and said, "I know you probably meant to type 'imperfection' in your blog URL. But I think the way you typed it is really cool, because we're in Jesus, and that means we're in perfection."

Jesus is beautiful. His love, his grace, and his mercy are beautiful. Christ has made us new creations, and therefore, we are beautiful.


That's the point of this blog. You are beautiful. Why? Because Jesus says so.

More Beautiful You

One song that has spoken to me greatly as I've gotten older and faced the struggles that so many girls face is Jonny Diaz's song, More Beautiful You. I appreciate this song from a guy's perspective, encouraging girls that the way they are is beautiful, and not to settle for lies from Satan and the world telling them they're not good enough. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, with a poignant message that I believe every young woman needs to hear.

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine

Says she wants to look that way

But her hair isn’t straight, her body isn’t fake

And she’s always felt overweight

Well, little girl fourteen I wish that you could see

That beauty is within your heart

And you were made with such care, your skin your body and your hair

Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don’t buy the lies, disguises, and hoops they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you



I'd encourage you to hit play on the video, sit back, close your eyes, and let the words sink into your heart. Remember that God is amazed by you. He died just so He could be with you...and He loves you more than words can describe.






So turn around you’re not too far
To back away be who you are
To change your path go another way
It’s not too late you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear they can all be washed away
By the One who’s strong can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light He will show you truth
And again you’ll see through the eyes of a little girl



If there's one thing you take away from this part, I want it to be this:
God made you to fill a purpose that only you could do...
...so there could never be a more beautiful you.


~Kylie

Jesus Saves

Kylie and I had been talking about ideas for our devotionals - and this one came up a while back. I'm sorry I wasn't able to post this yesterday, but by the time that I had gotten a chance to get on the blog - it was late, and I didn't have a lot of time to think about how and what I was going to say.

I grew up in a Christian home - where I went to church every week, and learned all the things I could about my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I asked Jesus into my heart, when I was five, but didn't understand fully what He had done for me, until I was older - and able to more fully comprehend why He did these things for me. I still am not sure that I can understand WHY He did what He did - I just know that He loves us more than we can ever even imagine. 

I'm sure you are all familiar with the verse:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."John 3:16

I learned this verse when I was really young - and have used it a lot. It's definitely one of my favorite verses. 

This verse is pretty much the salvation message wrapped up in one sentence. But the whole situation is WAY more than that. 

God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth, so that HE could save everyone from their sins. Anyone who wants to be saved - can be, because of God's great grace.

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" John 1:12

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

~Ashley

How He Loves

This is my all time favorite song ever, and I thought it was really suiting to talk about God's absolutely amazing love!!! 

How He Loves Us - David Crowder Band

Verse 1
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane,
I am the tree
Bending beneath,
The weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me.
Chorus
Oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how he loves us,
How he loves us so.
Verse 2:
So we are his portion,
and He is our prize. 
Drawn to grace by the redemption in his eyes.
If love is an ocean we're all sinking.
So heaven meets earth like a loving first kiss,
and my heart turns violently inside of my chest.
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about, the way,

Chorus
That He loves us. 
Oh how He loves us.
Oh how He loves us. 
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves
He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves


-Ashley H

Redefining Christmas

Christmastime is definitely approaching. I can almost smell it in the air. People are gearing up for the busy holiday season, and depending on where you live, you’ve probably had at least one snowfall. Everything is centered around preparing for the arrival of what is probably the biggest and most-anticipated holiday of the year.

Christmas is probably my favorite holiday, but not just because of the general holiday cheer. I enjoy being able to spend time with family, give them gifts, and most of all, celebrate the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ. To me, Christmas is just one more opportunity to really reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made for us. After all, the reason Jesus came to be on earth was so that He could grow up, die, and be resurrected, to take away the sins of the world. This season, I’ve been thinking a lot about Jesus, and the hope that He’s given us. Without Him, Christmas seems so empty. Christ has to remain in Christmas, otherwise it will become meaningless.

As I thought about it, I wanted some way to be able to share this hope with others. I was thrilled this morning when my mom told me we had some money to give. Excitedly, my siblings and I looked at all of our possibilities. We had so much fun choosing who we could bless this Christmas. In the end, we gave to several causes, such as a local pregnancy center, our local shelters, and several organizations that minister to families overseas. I felt so ecstatic that I was making a difference, and helping other Christians bring Jesus’ hope to those in need. This morning I discovered that the old adage rings true—to give is better than to receive. I can’t explain the feeling I got after choosing to give, but it was inexplicably wonderful. I realized what Christmas is really about—it’s about Jesus, and giving others His hope.

This Christmas, I’m going to redefine my focus. I’m going to focus on what I can give rather than what I will be getting. I’m going to focus on the ways that I can bring light to others, even if it’s just smiling at a random person who passes by me. Most of all, I’m going to look for every opportunity I can to remind those around me of Jesus, the real reason for Christmas. Who’s with me?

~Kylie

My Hiding Place

You are my hiding place; 

       you will protect me from trouble

       and surround me with songs of deliverance.

       Selah

- Psalm 32:7

Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

- Isaiah 4:5-6

Corrie ten Boom's faith really amazes and inspires me. I read her story not too long ago, and came away with a strong desire for faith like that. She was such a strong and faith-filled lady that I would have loved to meet.

You only have to read a brief biography of her life to gather that her life wasn't easy. She grew up the daughter of a clockmaker in Haarlem, Holland. When the Holocaust began, Corrie and her father and sister Betsie helped hide the Jews in their house. Sadly, they were betrayed, and Corrie and her family were taken to a concentration camp. Her father and Betsie both died during their imprisonment, but Corrie escaped ten months later with nothing short of a miracle. She then went on to speak to thousands of people about how "there is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still." (quote from Corrie)

When I read Corrie ten Boom's book, The Hiding Place, I was baffled by her joy and hope even in the midst of darkness. I couldn't understand it, until I realized something. "The hiding place" may refer to the secret room in the ten Booms' house that they used to hide the Jews, but I think that it also refers to the source of Corrie's hope as well - Jesus. When things were at their worst, Corrie still ran to her Heavenly Father, the only one who could be her refuge during that time. Corrie learned how to truly rely on God for everything, and how to hide under the shadow of His wings. Below is some of Psalm 91, a passage I thought was fitting.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 

       will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, 

       my God, in whom I trust." ...

He will cover you with his feathers, 

       and under his wings you will find refuge; 

       his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

  You will not fear the terror of night, 

       nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, 

       nor the plague that destroys at midday....

 If you make the Most High your dwelling— 

       even the LORD, who is my refuge-

 then no harm will befall you, 

       no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you 

       to guard you in all your ways;

 they will lift you up in their hands, 

       so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.....

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; 

       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; 

       I will be with him in trouble, 

       I will deliver him and honor him.

 With long life will I satisfy him 

       and show him my salvation."

When things get tough, all we have to do is call on the name of the Lord. He's always listening, and always there to lift us out of any pit. I want to rely on His strength to carry me. No matter what lies ahead or how hard things are, He knows what will happen, and He is there to walk through it with us. He's our refuge, and He will always be our Hiding Place.

~Kylie

P.S. - I found this website interesting, because it contains photos of Corrie's home and Corrie herself. Check it out with your parents' permission! Click here.

How Beautiful is the Body of Christ

Romans 10:15
"How shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things." 

How beautiful, the hands that served the wine and the bread, and the sons of the earth.

  How beautiful, the feet that walked the long dusty roads, and the hill to the cross. How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ. How beautiful, the heart that bled, that took all my sin and bore it instead.

  How beautiful, the tender eyes that choose to forgive and never despise. How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ. And as He laid down His life.  We offer this sacrifice, that we will live, just as He died. Willing to pay, to pay the price, willing to pay the price. How beautiful, the radiant bride, who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes.

  How beautiful, when humble hearts give the fruit of pure lives so that others may live. How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ. How beautiful, the feet that bring the sound of good news, and the love of the King. How beautiful, the hands that serve the wine and the bread, and the sons of the earth. How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful, is the body of Christ. 

                                                                       "How Beautiful" 

                                                                                 ~written by Twila Paris 


~Natalie

                                            

True Beauty

From Zion, perfect in beauty,
       God shines forth. ~Psalm 50:2

One thing I ask of the LORD,
       this is what I seek:
       that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
       all the days of my life,
       to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
       and to seek him in his temple. ~Psalm 27:4

 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;
       God comes in awesome majesty. ~Job 37:22

It's the question that every girl has wondered at some point in their life -- what is true beauty? In the glamourous portrayal of  'beauty' that we get from movie stars and popular culture today, there isn't really a clear answer. As a Christian, I've heard numerous times that true beauty comes from the inside, and that it's your heart that counts. That's a very true concept, but as I thought about this, I wanted to approach this topic from another perspective.

I was fascinated when I read the above verses. I had never really thought about God's beauty before! But as I contemplated it, the more I realized how true it was.

Now, I know this may sound a little odd -- the idea of God being beautiful. But I don't think David, the writer of the Psalms, was referring to God's physical beauty. Rather, God is beautiful in His very nature. He's so perfect, so majestic, so infinite, that beautiful doesn't even begin to describe Him adaquately. He's beautiful not only because of His love, His mercy, and His compassion toward us, but just because He is God.

Here's something else for you to think about. Because we're created in God's image, we have His beauty too. We definitely can't have it on the infinite scale of His beauty, but because we are in Christ, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). That means that we're beautiful too. God's beauty is amazing, majestic, and glorious. It's beauty beyond compare, and beauty that will never pass away. That's something I definitely want to have. What about you?

~Kylie

Rescue

 When Ashley posted her devotional earlier this week about Jesus coming to our rescue, this song immediately came to mind.

You are the source of life

I can't be left behind

No one else will do

I will take hold of You

I need You Jesus, I need You Jesus

My heart is Yours for life

I need Your hand in mine

No one else will do

Lord I put my trust in You

I need You Jesus to come to my rescue

Where else can I go?

There's no other Name by which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow You

My heart is Yours for life

I need Your hand in mine

No one else will do

Lord I put my trust in You

This world has nothing for me (I will follow You)

-- Rescue, by Newsong

My favorite part of this song is the chorus. The part that really stands out to me is the verse where we're asking God to "capture us with grace". As girls, we have an inner desire to be rescued... swept off our feet... captured with grace. Jesus wants to steal our attention completely. He wants us to be totally focused on Him, as our Savior, our Father... and our Hero. Ask God to sweep you off your feet with His beautiful love. You won't be disappointed.


~Kylie

Jesus is my superhero

When I was a little girl, I wanted a superhero, to save me and take me to some faraway land, where he'd keep me safe, and I'd never have to worry about anything.
Now that I'm a little older, and a bit more mature, I know that will never happen. But I do have a superhero. 
"Who?" You ask.

Jesus.

It's as easy as that. Jesus, who lived a sinless life, died on the cross, for all sinner who walk this earth. He loves you enough to be beaten and hung on a cross.
Dying for our sins in something that I find, that's hard to comprehend. Why would Jesus do that for us? Why? Why? Why? 

Because he loves us. 

Jesus saved us from our sins, when we asked him into our lives. And him saving me from my sins, is way better than having a superman. 

Jesus is the only true superhero, because he saved us from eternal life in hell. 

And someday, we'll go to Heaven, and spend eternity with him there. And that's way better than a faraway land. 
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life."

Jesus is my superhero. Is He yours? 


~Ashley


Oh, and soon, we'll have another writer joining us. We'll be adding Natalie to our group of writers ASAP! :)

The Beginning

Welcome to Beautiful in Christ! Our names are Ashley and Kylie, friends living on opposite sides of the United States. We have a heart for encouraging other girls in their walk with Christ and this blog was started for just that purpose. We also want to remind you, our readers, of what true beauty is, and how we are made beautiful -- through Christ.

On this blog we hope to post meaningful articles that make you think and bring you enlightenment, along with some fun stuff along the way. This blog is fully committed to God and we pray that He would speak to you through it. If you come away from this blog with anything, we hope it is this: Jesus loves us so much, and thinks we have value beyond compare.

We'll be getting this site up and running over the next few weeks, so bear with us, but in the meantime you can visit our blogs (Ashley's blog, and Kylie's blog). Or you can shoot us an email at daughtersoftruth [at] gmail [dot] com.

In Christ,
Ashley and Kylie