True Beauty

Sometimes, I like to think about certain things for a while, like beauty. True beauty.  

While this post is written with women in mind, perhaps some men will be encouraged also. 

As a woman, I love beautiful things. I believe God designed all women this way. In essence, enjoying beauty is part of being a woman. 

Flowers are something all women enjoy, I think. God created flowers in all their glory and beauty. God’s creation is full of tremendous beauty. 

“Queen Anne's Lace” Flower

I know there are men who appreciate beauty too. In truth, both men and women appreciate beauty. 

Women also desire to look beautiful. That is an innate, God given desire, I believe. God put that desire within females. 

As a Christian woman, I desire to dress modestly. God’s Word talks about that. I also desire to dress beautifully. 

I do not believe in dressing plain, and I do not believe God’s Word teaches that. 

In thinking about beauty for a while, a thought came to my mind. 

What is true beauty?

Every culture will give you their own idea of that, particularly for women. 

As stated above, modesty should be foundational for any woman who desires to honor God with her body and her dress. 

Beyond modesty, my mind drifted to the many different styles of clothing out there along with other things that people equate as being beautiful on a woman.

As someone who enjoys beauty, my mind went so many places. 

My personal style? 

I like simplicity along with elegance. 

We are visual creatures. God made us that way. God loves beauty, as seen in His creation. Naturally, people made in God’s image appreciate beauty too. We cannot help but notice beautiful things and beautiful people. 

But what is true beauty? 

God, being the ultimate designer of beauty, is the One Who defines what true beauty is, I believe. 

God made each of us. We did not create ourselves. We did not choose the color of our hair, the color of our eyes, the color of our skin, or our height. God chose those things. 

We do have choices in other areas though. 

We should take care of ourselves. In other words, we should try to be healthy and clean. And we should dress in a manner that honors God. 

When it comes to outward beauty, there are so many different things that are beautiful; God created us to appreciate and enjoy that. 

Beauty is part of the very nature of God, I believe. 

But again, what is true beauty? 

In reading some verses from God’s Word recently, I realized that the things mentioned in these verses are what make someone truly beautiful.  

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, 

holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.” 

Colossians 3:12 

The Bible writer concludes by saying: 

“And above all these things put on charity, 

which is the bond of perfectness.” 

Colossians 3:14

Did you, holy and beloved one, catch all those things to put on?

• bowels of mercies (compassion)

• kindness

• humbleness of mind

• meekness 

• long suffering 

And above all? 

Put on charity, the old English word for love. 

According to God, love is the bond of perfectness. 

These are things that make someone beautiful. The Bible writer used a good choice of words when he said we are to put on (clothe ourselves with) these things.

I’m not diminishing beauty. God created beauty. I desire to be beautiful, inwardly and outwardly. 

But I have come to realize that outward beauty is not what ultimately makes someone beautiful. 
 
A woman could wear beautiful, modest clothing. But if she is mean, rude, inconsiderate, unkind, uncaring, and unloving towards others, that woman is, sadly, very ugly by a choice she made.

 

True beauty comes from within, from the heart of a person. That is a choice we make. 

God’s Word sums up well what true beauty is:

“She openeth her mouth with wisdom; 

and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” 

Proverbs 31:26 

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: 

but a woman that feareth the LORD, 

she shall be praised.” 

Proverbs 31:30 

“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 

1 Peter 3:3-4 

Outward beauty is fleeting. 

Inward beauty, from a woman who loves God and others and has a kind heart, lasts forever. 

That is true beauty. 

Granola Recipe

In my last blog post, I made mention of a favorite granola recipe which I thought I’d share. 

My mom got this recipe a long time ago from a friend. My mom thinks that, originally, this was a “Quaker Oats” recipe. (likely from the 1980’s!) 

Regardless of where it came from, this is a recipe I love (and the only granola recipe I have), hence my reason for sharing it here. 

This is a smaller recipe. For a family, I recommend doubling this recipe.

Honey Nut Granola 

Mix: 

4 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup wheat germ 

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon 

In a separate bowl, mix: 

1/2 cup oil 

1/2 cup honey

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 

After baking, add: (optional) 

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup coconut flakes 

Baking instructions: 

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well. Spread across a baking sheet (or two baking sheets if doubling) and bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour. Remove from oven, stir well, and cool before storing. Store in a container or a ziploc bag. 

A freshly made batch of “Honey Nut” Granola. 

For oil, we use light tasting olive oil. You can also substitute the sliced almonds for sunflower seeds which is what my mom likes. I prefer what the recipe says - sliced almonds.

As stated, the raisins and coconut flakes are optional. Some people (like me) like raisins and coconut, and others do not like them at all. 

You can also bake this granola for longer than an hour to give it more of a “crunch”. My mom used to bake this granola recipe for two hours, stirring it after an hour of baking. But baking this for two hours seemed to be a little too long. Baking this recipe for an hour and a half might be just right if you want a little more “crunch”. 

In the summer time, I almost always have a bowl of cereal for breakfast in the morning. Sometimes, I enjoy fruit with it, especially berries in season. 

Enjoy!

Ready to store in a container.