Thanks for visiting Obedient Beauty. Please use this site as a reference site. Unfortunately, we may not be adding any new posts but feel free to browse. Due to Kath being pregnant and becoming super busy and Amy and her husband starting a new ministry, they have become very busy and needed to cut back. Though, If they feel the Lord press something on their hearts, they will write. Thanks for your encouragement.

Check out http://www.thedioproject.org for Amy and Jared’s new ministry.

Do you believe God will provide for you? So many of us today may say that we believe it, but don’t actually live it out. We say we believe it but still get worried about money or our safety. Isn’t God ultimately in control of all the money? Can’t he provide protection when we need it most?

My husband should have died about a dozen times before he became an adult. He has been in terrible car wrecks coming millimeters from objects that could have killed him…literally. He has been, smashed, crashed, and rolled in cars. But God’s hand was on him.

I should have died when I was 12 after getting stung by a bee. When we showed up at the hospital my throat and eyes were swelled shut. But God’s hand was one me. A week after I had Isaiah, in 2006, I began to lose massive amounts of blood. (I was passing blood clots the size of grapefruits…sorry for the visual). I passed out. But God’s arms were around me.

When we first become missionaries in 2006, we were making $200 a month. How could we survive, right? School, gas, food for 3 people including a pregnant wife? God always provided the food, gas money and tuition; whether by donations or people coming to our aid. God provided.

Worrying about our provisions can damage our marriages, our relationships with our family, and our health. How many of our fights with our spouses or our stress comes from worry that would be completely unnecessary if we chose to trust God?  The scripture is very clear- ‘be anxious about nothing’ (Philippians 4:6). I am not saying bad circumstances will never arise but trust that if they do, God will get you through it. When financial burdens arise, a stressful situation occurs, or sickness in the family happens, God can use those things to grow you and refine you, if you let Him.

How silly would it be for my young kids to worry about us having enough money, or food, or clothes to wear? What if they felt like they needed to go to work to make money so they could have ‘more things’ or ‘nicer things’ or ‘put food on the table’? I would say, “No. God has made Daddy the provider and you don’t need to worry about that. Even if we have a hard month or two or three God will provide. Let’s just rest in knowing He will provide for us and focus on our roles and character. Me, a mom and wife, and you, sons and daughters. God is our Father and we are His children. Don’t worry. God is in control and can work things out for good.”

-Amy

For married ladies:

1.)    Text your husband an ‘I love you’ text. (You could even add something about a ‘surprise’ later.)

2.)    If you can’t go out, spend a little extra time and make a special dinner. Put the kids down early and have an ‘at home date’.

3.)    Do yourself up. Freshen up before your husband arrives home from work and greet him with a kiss.

4.)    Write him a letter. Fill it with things that you appreciate and love about him. You could even add a few sentences on why you first fell in love with him. Don’t just buy him a card from the store.

5.)    Do something that he likes. A walk, game, movie, or just bum on the couch.

 

For non-married ladies (married ones too, I guess)

1.)    Treat a friend to Starbucks or something fun during the day.

2.)    Give an encouraging letter. Write a letter to a friend or just someone in your church and send it; letting them know God loves them and how special they are.

3.)    Visit someone at a nursing home. A lot of times the elderly in senior centers are left with no one. Go talk or play chess with someone (But call ahead first.)

4.)    Baby-sit for free. Sometimes married couples don’t have the funds to pay for a sitter and dinner or a movie. Offer to watch someone’s kids for free.

5.)    Send a gift of chocolates (or something cute) to someone who has lost their spouse. They may be feeling extra lonely on this day.

 

Have fun everyone! Happy Valentine’s Day.

 

-Amy

When you are feeling crabby, what do you usually run too? Food? Exercise? Self Pity? Or do you just stay crabby? These may give quick satisfaction but usually we will feel the same or even worse after we do them.  Here are a few things that I’ve found can brighten your day.

 

1.) Play the thankful game: When you’re feeling down, think of a list of 20 things you’re thankful for. (Ex: Water, God’s love, toilet paper, food, heat in the winter, car, etc) When you think about things God has blessed you with, it’s hard to have a bad attitude. A thankful heart is a happy heart.

 

2.) Take 5 minutes and spend it in a worship song, favorite Bible passage, or prayer. If you are in the middle of making dinner or mowing the lawn just stop and take time to focus on Jesus. When you do this, focus on the act of worship. Don’t continue to focus on your task or trouble. Sing and talk out loud.

 

3.) Get out into nature. This may seem silly but sometimes the stresses of life can be relieved by God’s Artwork in nature. Take a walk out at a local State Park, or a place that you can get lost in God’s Beauty away from cars and city noises.

 

4.) Do something you enjoy: Sometimes we run here and there and everywhere and ‘don’t have time’ to do things that we like. Sometimes when I am crabby and can’t find any release I will do something I like to do. Watch a Jane Austen movie (at night), take my kids for a date (for ice cream), knit (Kath taught me!), or color (I know, I’m just a big kid) etc…

 

5.) Share and talk with a friend: Getting things off our chest can lift great burdens. If you have a friend who is a follower of Christ and is able to lift your spirits and encouraging you, call them up. Just be careful that you are not always running to a friend instead of Jesus.

 

Feel free to add some of your own ideas!  Thanks!

 

-Amy