What Makes a Beautiful Life?
// What makes a beautiful life?
Is it the number of friends you have on Facebook? Or the number of followers on Instagram? Or perhaps the number of subscribers to your blog?
Is it dependent on the size of your house, the size of your bank account, or the successes of your children?
Or is your quality-of-life dependent on the busyness of your social calendar? Or the winning streak of the sports teams you play on?
No, my friends. None of those things can accurately determine whether or not you have a beautiful life? That life-more-abundantly kinda life that you are looking for is so much more than external circumstances.
♥ It’s about having people around you who truly know, love, and accept you.
♥ It’s about having a purpose in getting up each morning, and satisfaction when you lay your head on the pillow at night.
♥ It’s about having a deep understanding that “God sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:6) and you don’t have to figure things out on your own.
♥ It means opening the door to your house… and your heart… and allowing people IN.
I’ve often said over the years that…
Loneliness is best cured by opening your heart to others. Click To Tweet
Yes, it’s scary, but I promise you that it’s worth it.
It means choosing to say every day,
God, I trust YOU enough to walk with people I don’t fully trust yet. Click To Tweet//
So, dear friends, if you are feeling isolated and lonely today, regardless of whether you are locked in your bedroom or surrounded by hundreds of people, do yourself a favour and simply OPEN THE DOOR…
Start a conversation.
Give a sincere compliment to a stranger. It doesn’t have to be flowery or fancy… “I love your shoes!”
Invite an acquaintance out for coffee.
VISIT with someone over soup and bagels, and allow them to get past the protective shell you’ve built up around your heart and soul.
Allow yourself to fully LIVE today.
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So, I have a confession to make… I have written and re-written last week’s Five Minute Friday post about TRUTH three times now. It was the perfect word for the season that I’m in.
Why? Because I’m speaking at the Oasis Women’s Conference this weekend in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and the theme is “Beautiful” – recognizing and embracing the beauty that God has placed in each one of us.
How awesome is that? I can’t wait!
I’ve been meditating for months on all things related to TRUTH and WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT US, but I didn’t want to ‘spill the beans’ for those of you who will be attending the conference tonight.
Thus the radio silence… teehee.
However, I promise that I won’t stay silent forever. I promise to share with the rest of you very soon all the richness of God’s Word that I’ve been chewing on.
In the meantime, please pray for me, that God would speak clearly this weekend and that countless women’s lives would be changed forever!
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Every Friday, I join an inspiring group of writers to write for FIVE MINUTES on a one-word prompt. No editing. No revising. Just WRITE. This week, the prompt word was VISIT.
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For more information on Five Minute Friday, check out Kate Motaung’s site!
Hi Shauna, glad to be your FMF neighbour today! It’s so true that just taking little steps to connect with others and let them in can lead to a much fuller, more beautiful life. Praying that your conference goes well this weekend and that God uses your words. I’m sure you’ll be amazing!
Hi Lesley! I’m finally getting back to reply to everyone. The conference was great! Beautiful women, beautiful worship, and beautiful testimonies of God speaking new life and destiny to tired and discouraged hearts! I love when He does that!
Hope you also had a great weekend! Thanks for visiting
Yes, yes! Being open is the first step in not feeling lonely. A big step, but worth it. May God fill you with his words and grace as you share with others at the conference.
Thanks, Debby! The conference was great! I love it when God uses us to speak new life and identity to people! (You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you?)
Such an incredible privilege!!
Have a great day!
I do pray it goes well.
Thanks, Susan. It went very well. Beautiful women from all walks of life finding common ground and new hope in our Father! I LOVE when He uses us to change and encourage people! Such a privilege!
Thanks so much for visiting this week.
Hey my friend – oh so excited that you are speaking at this “beautiful” conference, may it be so blessed and so anointed in Christ. Yes, he sets the lonely in families amen and amen. Bless you my friend and much lv!! ALiyah (setapartwarrior)
Haha! Yes, yes, yes to all of that! It went so well and the testimonies at the end were both humbling and thrilling! God LOVES to meet with His girls, and it is such a privilege to be part of the process!
Love you right back!
Shauna, congratulations! I know you’ll do a great job. They are so lucky to have you speaking.
For me, what’s making a beautiful life at the moment is knowing when I rise in the morning that this day is gonna hurt, but I’m going to take the affliction and use it as a sharp stick in Satan’s eye.
Ducemus – we lead!
#1 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-dying-spouse-315-victory-fmf.html
Haha, Andrew. You are always so encouraging!
The conference went so well and I was well-received and highly favoured. More than that, these beautiful women went home with full hearts and new words of life from the Father ringing through their minds. God was amazing!
I love your courage and fortitude. Don’t ever change!
Great post, Shauna! Oh, we need to open doors and let life come in! I hope you have a fantastic time speaking today!
Thanks, Katha! It was awesome! Not because I wasn’t nervous, but because God uses ordinary people like us to speak extraordinary things to His beautiful people! I love that! Such a privilege!
Thanks for visiting! Always love to see your comments here.