Isaiah 33:17 Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.

Sometimes, when I am down and feel like the whole world stands against me, this kind of verse helps me. Specially this most famous part helps a lot. It is also a reminder, that defines beauty differently from what man considers beautiful. To put those words into my life is relief and challenge at the same time. It shows the true beauty, the beauty "underneath". Often beauty in this world fades quickly away or fades when watched very closely. But the kind of beauty God prefers blossoms hidden and will only be discovered through a close up. Sometimes it is never seen. That hurts, it hurts when people say mean things, more so when they are not true. To trust, that God knows the heart and its reasons is sometimes so far away, when somebody longs for a kind word. But it is God who will give rewards, much more then any kind word can be, even though in a time of need this is easily forgotten. But take good heart. God does not forget us. may his ways be very different, he will not let his child carry more than it can bear, but with the challenge he will give tools to stand firm. Mt 5: Jesus said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1 Peter 3:4 ... the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit ...

What worth has a gentle and quiet spirit in todays world? I don't need to answer that, do I? It may even lead to parents wondering what is wrong with their daughter, more so with a son, if they show a gentle and quiet spirit. Being introvert is not really an option in todays society. The verse goes on saying: 1 Peter3:4 ...it is of great worth in God’s sight. Speaking of godly women, here. Now, a gentle and quiet spirit has one big advantage over any other spirit. It can rejoice in beauty. It can see beauty in his surroundings and enjoy it. Nothing as bad as beauty wasted on a constantly bickering spirit. Sure, everybody can name a couple of these people and sometimes it is I responsible for the bickering. Being able to grasp the beauty around needs a calm spirit who is able to direct its attention towards the other, not towards the self. Seeing the beauty in somebody or something is of great value. It is of such great value, that it is part of the true riches someone can find. What good is a comfortable car, if all that is in there is miserable time? Of course it is still a nice thing to be had. But without the spirit to enjoy it, the best car will fall short at some point. 1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. Being content, without being lazy, but knowing that the life is in God's hand and be content with what he bestows is priceless. Proverbs 3:13-14 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. Wisdom will yield a better return. But it will probably not be in silver or in gold, and it may not come very quickly. Life will be brighter and happier. Which is kind of forbidden in this society. To be content without a certain material status achieved is nearly punishable. Not yet punishable by law, but by many people around. Still, wisdom will bring a much richer life than anything else. The joy of seeing things God's ways. With a gentle and quiet spirit, finding acceptance before God. Which is in any case to be preferred to anything else. Just try....

1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

Those last days I have realized, that sometimes, to please people I overstepped God's word. To protect somebody I lied. To be accepted, I stole chocolate (long ago), to be loved I had a boyfriend ( long ago, too.) I didn't know God as I do know. Though only he knows many mistakes I am still making. I thought, I did these things out of love for those around me. God's word says that love is only love if it is molded after God's love. Of course, I would love to blame it on peer-pressure. And mostly, I had no joy coming out of it, which is a really bad part in it. This now is my point. I did these things to please and protect and be accepted. But they brought me no joy. On the contrary, I feel even today ashamed about it, so many years after the events. Knowing, that under heavy pressure I might fail Jesus again. But he loves me. Paitently, like making friends with this cat or with a dog or a horse, he loves me and teaches me to be loved. This is no easy part, to let love form and transform me. Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. This verse says, love is seen in action. It cannot remain hidden for long. Actions will tell the tale. If there is love, it will show in what is done. Though I may have been searching for God even in those days, I didn't love him, for my actions were evil. I harmed those I tried to protect, probably. I didn't stand up for what I knew was right. God's word is right. To mould the life after God's word is to love him. 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. His love has covered my sins. Now, I am called to love. Like you all, like everybody else. There is no true love outside of God. Motives may vary, but man is in himself unable to love and do a truly good thing outside of God's grace. So, please, let yourselves be loved by God and love one another with a holy love. Ephesians 5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.

Habakkuk 3:4 His splendor was like the sunrise;

Habakuk writes, that God's splendor was like the sunrise. That power came like the sun's rays from his hands. Now, the first part sounds very pretty and beautiful. We have a God full of splendor and majesty. Habakuk 3:3 His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. 4 His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden. 5 Plague went before him; pestilence followed his steps. This is the day of the Lord, when he will avenge his children. His radiance, like sun in a desert, will scorch those, who have not found refuge in him. This is Old Testament saying, of course. And I wouldn't want anybody to experience God's wrath. But this speaks about the power of God. Power that is often forgotten, when helplessly his children raise their hands to the skies in half unbelief that he will hear or help. God's power is greater than the sun's power, but this image may help to understand what happens, when somebody enters God's presence unprotected. This is why nobody can see God and live, without the protection Jesus gives. God cannot be other. Like the sun in the desert at noon, he will scorch all that is. This is a reminder of his power, of his might, of being wise enough to take refuge on time. Before the high noon hits. It will hit. Sooner or later. And it is marvellous to serve such a God. Splendor and glory accompany him. He deserves full service. Nothing less will do. There is a song that says, though in completely different context: "But if you've got no other choice, you know you can follow my voice....". (from: Wicked Little Town) Sometimes it needs this "no other choice", it needs the knowledge, that the sun will be burning all living things at noon, to get up and go to God. Sometimes it is his Grace that brings this point about, to bring home his beloved. Habakuk writes about those in verse 3:19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. Are you wise enough to be safe?

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

What happens, if someone drowns and the only one noticing cannot help? And the one would might be able to help soars high above and doesn't notice anything wrong? How does somebody handle persecution, sorrow, pain? - Can it separate a true believer from the love of God? It can and it cannot. Another paradox. For, many believers stumble, when temptations, sorrow, grief, poverty, sickness, persecution or loneliness come their way. Even Jesus felt forsaken in his darkest hour. Was he separated from God? No, he wasn't. Did he know? No. Did it help him out of the pit? No. What use then has this love of God? What will it do, if the waters are getting higher, if some storm is brewing? God will never forsake his loved ones. But they may not know it. Nothing may happen to solve a difficult solution. And - guess what, we deserve all the bad. Deserve much worse. While wining and complaining, awareness gets lost that man deserves the bad stuff. It is the good stuff that is undeserved grace. Health, ease, friendship and more, they are undeserved goodies. To be able to find God, they may have to go. By accepting that God has every right to do as he pleases, the believer learns to know he will never be separated from God. By faith, not by knowledge or by sight. Romans 9:21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? Trusting God may not take someone where he wants to be, but it will take him where God wants him to be. Even if it is drowning - or a cross.

Luke 6:39 “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Can a blind man lead a blind man? Can I help somebody, when I am deeply in trouble? Amazingly enough, sometimes the question is yes. Even though a blind man cannot lead a blind man to destination, a lame and a blind can help each other. So, I cannot help, where I need help, But I can give help in many other ways. Being clear about my own failures will be a first step towards knowing where this I can help. Or where it needs help, since we all need help in some part of the being. Matthew 15:31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. This is the wonderful thing with Jesus. He gives what a person needs. He gave sight to the blind and made the lame walk straight. God can do that. He can give, what a person truly needs. This may not always be the expected or dreamed of goal. It may be joy or friendship or health or work or patience. What HE considers the biggest need. The thing someone is apt to receive. God is good. Very good. Amazingly and dazzlingly good. But some may remember the old story of the ass and the dog. The ass gave with all his love his hay to the dog. The dog loves his friend so much, that he gave all his best meat and bones to him. With all the love they shared, they were not very happy, for their needs were not met. 8And eventually they will starve to death both if nobody interferes. Not so God. he gives what is needed. Needed for education, needed for growth, needed for holiness. In God, someone may go hungry, but his soul will live. He is the one who sees. He sees all need and he is the one to lead the blind home.

Job 31:26 if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,...

In Italy, Europe, people face a great dilemma. There is a small island, close to Africa but still Italy. Many refugees from Africa try to reach this island to apply for asylum in Italy. Just the other day a boat with 500 refugees went up in flames and at least 150 of the refugees burnt or drowned, for they were still on the water. Many have gone to help and find the survivors. But the situation in itself poses a problem for Italy, for these are illegal immigrants, of course, trying to take advantage of a fairly generous system of help for those in need that is in place in Europe. Many of these refugees come from disastrous political situations and deserve help. Yet Italy, that had a lot of trouble with its own financial situation, cannot help all. And Europe starts to be full of refugees. Most come for legit reasons, some do not. Especially the boats from Africa have been said to be sent by merchants, people buy their places with lots of money, moreover, sometimes more radical people enter Europe that way, as it is supposed to lead relatively surely to be accepted as a refugee. - Like my girl in that picture, I enjoy it when the sun slowly disappears into the sea. It is a very beautiful sight. The shimmering water, the colors of the sun, so much splendor and beauty, before the moon throws a silvery coolness onto that same scenery. I was lucky enough to be in Italy when I was much younger and I loved those hours. But if you are in danger, like those on the boat, or somebody you love, I love, is in danger, all beauty seems to disappear into one moment of black despair. Yet, is the sunset less beautiful? It is in the eye of the onlooker that beauty lies. Of his feeling towards the scenery. Where I go home to a comfy place, this is a very pretty sight. Where a night on endless waters with no supplies is coming up, this may not matter much. - Beauty often lies in the situation, in the well-being of those, watching it. - But, to wrap up a thought, is my need making God less majestic? Is his splendor overshadowed by my grief? Not so. A believer can often feel his glory even in the midst of severe pain (even so Jesus felt completely forlorn at the cross) and when we are with God it will all end in bliss and beauty. This still leaves the question open about what to do with so many exploited and distraught refugees.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12

Have you ever been glad for trouble coming your way? Especially if it were a friend or family member who'd go and say mean things about you? Always considering things are not true, how does it feel if a mother, daughter, brother calls the boss to tell him a lot of bad stuff about his employée? How awkward for the boss, even if he knows it to not be true. To have someone slaughter the good reputation so hardly worked for is not funny. It is not a joke either to heap a lot of gossip or bad stuff on somebody's back. 2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. Paul writes here that slander and gossip are two different things, but both are listed on the very bad side of manners, if the goal is to please God. Words, as has been often stated, have a great power, they can build and they can tear down. And though at times it may be necessary to rebuke somebody, to slander his reputation is never necessary, even more so if it is not true. In these days of social media, where a lot is known about people with or without their consent, no need to add to that by telling lies. Remember always, God is watching. - On the other hand, we have said so many untrue and hurtful things about God, that it is hardly astonishing this should happen to his servants as well. So beware, on whatever side you are standing. May God protect and guide all the words spoken. May they be few and fruitful.