Dark but still beautiful? by Rebecca Leslie

 
Hi,

Some one called me 'dark but still beautiful' today. You might think I'd be delighted at this comment but sadly I wasn't. No, no…..Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of the I-don't-like-compliments type it's just that the words 'but still' worry me a lot. This one sentence has had me thinking all afternoon. I could have been called beautiful. But no, it had to be noted that I am dark 'but still' beautiful. I am so stirred up; I could write a book about this. But trust me, I will keep this short! 
Why should someone EVER be called dark 'but still' beautiful? Is being 'dark skinned' usually something that isn't associated with beauty? Is it so distant from beauty that it has to 'noted' when the two are together? Which leads me to my next question, is beauty associated with fairness? 
I've never heard anyone say, 'She's fair but still beautiful'! 
Racism is often rooted deep within us and we fail to realize that beauty is in everything that God created. It doesn’t depend on the color of your skin.
The Bible clearly says in
Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Let's start loving each other putting aside things that matter little like the color of our skins. Let's stop judging people for the way the look or make fun of them because of their appearances. 
We all have an image of what 'beauty' or 'perfection' is, in our heads. Lets not judge people who don't fit these images. Let's not point out to people that they are dark because IT'S NOT A CRIME TO BE DARK SKINNED. The Bible says ALL were created in the image of God and no where is it said that fair skin is beautiful. 
To conclude quickly as I said I would, I want to challenge each and every one who reads this mail to think about any racist ideas that we may have and lay them at the feet of Jesus. Also, let's repent if we have made fun of people's looks or appearances. Jesus only feels immense love when He looks into each of our faces.
God bless you all.
Dark but ever loved by Him,
Rebecca.

In actuality, there is only one race - the human race.
Within the human race is a great amount of diversity in skin color and other physical characteristics.
~Pastor Owen~

Family~School of Patience

 

Hi…
Life sure is not a bed of roses. As mothers most of our lives is spent pressing on, believing, holding on in faith, praying, paying bills, making beds, fixing breakfast and lunch, helping kids with home work etc.
Marriage sure is not a life long date, nor bringing up kids all fun.
There are times of joy and times of tears.
There will be ups and downs.
There will be times of endless talking and times of long silence.
But when we hold on together through the pushes and pulls of life the end is rewarding.
It's a joy to see kids grow, its satisfying to see relationship with kids and spouse be strengthened through years.
Looking back we can thank God not just for good times but also for the storms and thorns because it's the tough times that has made us stronger and so it is worth it all.
And God makes everything work for our best and binds us with cords of love that cannot be broken!

Family sure is a school of patience. Success of a family depends on having the right attitude, tolerance, acceptance and unconditional love.

Let's thank God for our families and for the good and bad times, for the roses and thorns, for times of plenty and times of want. Our Lord is faithful to see us through and bring us victorious!
Let's pray a hedge of protection around our families. There are people we know whose hearts are breaking, who are stressed out and on the verge of giving up. 
It's time to pray and command God's blessings on our family and rebuke and destroy the enemy's work.
May God's hedge of protection be around us and our families.
Job 1:10“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land."
YSIC
Julia

Do not judge the book by it's cover

Hi ....

Greetings from India.

There's a saying "Don't judge the book by it's cover."

Is so easy to look at the outward appearance of people and judge, but that's not how we should see people. We need to see their hearts.

I think only Jesus Christ our Lord & Savior really knows us, as we really are. The Holy Spirit who lives within us knows every thing about us.

People may fail to see our hearts, misunderstand us, misjudge us, but ONLY GOD really knows you as you are so don't feel upset when people fail to see your heart.

If people label before reading the book it's ok, it's not what people say we are that matters, it's WHAT GOD THINKS ABOUT US THAT REALLY DOES MATTER!!!

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."We are not on earth to win any popularity show, but to live a life that pleases our Heavenly Father.

Our life is surely an open Book before God.

Nothing is hidden from HIM.

Here's a poem that blessed me this day.

Have a blessed day

YSIC,

Julia

LIFE'S AN OPEN BOOK "

(A poem...)

My life to You God is as an open book.
My ways are ever before You so take a look.
To You there is no cover, all is open and bare.
You know my wants, desires, motives and cares.

How could I think I could keep anything from You?
The pages being transparent, You see right through.
As others read, they think they know the storyline.
Only You oh God can proofread these pages of mine.

At times I get weary and want to put this book on a shelf.
Caringly you read every line, loving me more than I love myself.
Lord help me to write this book for I am not skilled.
Let it be written and established in accordance to Your will.

Lord be my editor and make all the corrections.
Rewriting the story of my life as You give direction.
Tell me how it should read, knowing You are a true friend.
Even before I write it, You know the beginning to the end.

Lord help me to rip off the cover, let there be no disguise.
And let the book of my life be a bestseller in your eyes... (unknown)

Children obey and love your parents....

Hi...
❤Children, in turn, need to learn to love and respect their parents.
❤The Bible warns that children will disobey their parents in the last days.
¸.•*¨*✿2 Timothy 3:2 says, "People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy..."
❤But still, God's word teaches children to "obey parents in the Lord".
¸.•*¨*✿Ephesians 6:1 says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right".
❤Ask not what your parents can do for you but what you can do for them.
❤Be helpful at home, run errands for them cheerfully and not out of compulsion.
❤You can accompany mom to the bazaar, help dad to fix things at home.
❤Look out for ways to make them happy. Remember their birthdays and anniversaries, give them cards or gifts—or a surprise party!
❤Don't expect to get all you want. Be prepared to accept a 'NO'. Look at the less fortunate kids around you and you'll be satisfied with what you have. (That's what my mom always told me and my sisters.)
❤Never do anything to betray their trust. When your parents loose faith in you, you've lost a lot.
❤We also read in
¸.•*¨*✿Leviticus 19:32, "Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD".
❤Respect aged parents and care for them. You are their crowns in their old age, and take pride in them.
Children, know that old age is a second childhood and just as you take care of your children, the same attention and same care must to be given to your old parents and elders.
❤Parents are not with you forever—give them your best time and care.
❤Even after you get married, stay in touch with them and visit them regularly. If they are sick look after them, take them to the hospital.
❤ Dear parents and children,
will you commit to renew your relationship with each other? If 'YES' then the Holy Spirit will help you draw close to each other and narrow the generation gap.
❤Abba Father wants to restore this vital relationship. 

¸.•*¨*✿Malachi 4: 5 says, "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse".
God bless,
YSIC
Julia

Kids are God's gift to us...

Hi..
Adam and Eve lived in a home called the 'Garden of Eden'. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28). Abba Father enjoyed a daily fellowship with Adam and Eve; He loved to walk and talk with them. God is the beginner of marriage, children, family and home. Children are a gift to us from God.
✿"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward" (Psalm 127:3).
They need to be treasured. Quality family times together are important. Parent and children relationship is a very vital relationship, so need to do all we can to keep it going. We need to daily ask God to fill your hearts with His love so that you can see our kids the way Jesus sees them.
❤ Satan is all out to destroy this beautiful institution God created called 'family'. It's sad to see kids turn away and walk in disobedience to their parents. 
❤ The best protection our kids can have in these last days is to keep them bound by cords of love. We, as parents, need to spend more time with them.
❤  Let's learn to see a child as a child, and handle them with care. Even when they are young, let's clearly differentiate between mischief and sin. Little kids are mischievous. But,'sin' must be explained, warned and punished for. 
❤  The Bible says,
✿"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
❤ We also need to daily cover our children with prayers. Remember, they often don't understand the unseen forces that are coming against them. 
❤  So, it's our responsibility to stand against those forces on their behalf. 
❤  No matter what the circumstance, we are to raise them up in the fear and admonition of our Lord.
Happy Parenting....
God bless..
Julia

God cares for the old....

♥Psalm 71:9
Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
♥Psalm 71:18
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.
♥Psalm 37:25
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
♥Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
♥Psalm 92:14
They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,
♥Jeremiah 31:13
Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
♥Joel 2:28
[ The Day of the LORD ] "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.