Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
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Page 36 - shelby shopper & info - 704/484-1047 Through A Woman’s Eyes By Martha Hynson True Beauty ue Beauty Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. --Proverbs 31:30 “It’s a shock every morning when I wake up and look in the mirror and see that I have gray hair because, when I dream, my hair is black!” When my sister told me this, it made me laugh, but isn’t it true that as we grow older on the outside, we imagine ourselves as staying the same? It’s an equal opportunity fact of life. We all get a chance to be young for the same amount of time and, if we live long enough, we all grow old. In spite of this fact, our culture encourages us to fight against it tooth and nail. You can’t turn on the television or pick up a magazine without seeing ads for weight loss plans or anti-wrinkle creams. I’ve been wondering what would happen if we spent that much time and effort and put that much value on making ourselves beautiful on the inside. I believe that is exactly what the 31st chapter of Proverbs, not to mention the rest of God’s Word, is about. Psalm 45:10 says, “Let the King be enthralled by your beauty.” It’s not the things the world tells us will make us beautiful, however, that matter to Him. When I began reading the 31st chapter of Proverbs, I assumed it described a mold for a virtuous woman and that I should aspire to fit that mold but, as I’ve read, studied, and prayed, I’ve found just the opposite to be true. Real beauty is found in allowing God, through Christ, to make me into the unique person He created me to be. It’s beautifully simple, but it’s not easy! I have a DVD that I work out with and the instructor says things like “this is where it counts” and “I want you to feel like you are going to die.” Believe me, I do! So why do I keep on? I stick with it because the results are worth the pain. My desire to be healthy and fit outweighs my desire for comfort. A friend of mine commented recently that the key to sticking with an exercise program is to find something you love. I would love to find something I love that is also going to bring results, but so far I’ve had to settle for finding something I can endure. There may be people in the world who enjoy exercise, but I am not one of them. I do it first thing in the morning so I can get it over with and not have to think about it for the rest of the day. Developing inner beauty seems a lot like exercising. I don’t enjoy it, but I keep going because I want results. Unfortunately, I can’t tuck my spiritual workout into a neat block of time. Opportunities to stretch invisible muscles, such as patience and kindness, crop up throughout my day. These situations are usually uncomfortable and often painful, but they’re where it counts, and every time I choose to act in love, I become stronger on the inside. I Timothy 4:8 says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Unlike physical beauty, inner beauty doesn’t fade. In fact, it will last for eternity. Why, then, is it so easy for us to focus on what the world values and miss what’s most important? A few weeks ago, the media was filled with talk of the royal wedding. There was lots of speculation about what the bride’s dress would look like and how she would wear her hair. I didn’t see the cer- emony, but I did see part of the carriage ride and I thought she looked very beautiful and graceful- just the way I would imagine a princess to be. It didn’t really matter what I thought, though. In fact, the only one whose opinion really mattered was the Prince. I think part of the reason people got so caught up in the royal wedding is that every girl dreams of being a princess. I believe God designed us that way. He placed that dream in our hearts and He longs for us to allow Him to fulfill it. It really doesn’t matter what the world says. Get to know the only One whose opinion really matters… and let the King be enthralled by your beauty. Cedar Dog Food 40lb. Bag Dog Food 40lb. Bag $10 1099 99 Cedar MULCH For Supporting or Supporting Facebook Facebook On On We’re MORE Than Just Print. ollow us on Facebook to get up-to-date information Follow us on on local e l on ocal events and fi nd what’s going on in our area. Sign up to be a fi S gn up to be a fan o ours oday!s today! tan of ourf ents and fi nd what’s going on in our area. Post your thoughts, comments and e ents. ost your thoughts, comments and events. e MORE Than Just Print. acebook to get up-to-date information www.shelbyinfo.com Thursday, June 2-June 8, 2011 Thank ou! Thank You! MULCH$23 WEEKEND BOBCAT SCOOP BOBCAT SCOOP DUMP TRUCK DUMP TRUCK 23 LOADS A AILABLE LOADS AVAILABLE Includes Insect Repellant ncludes Insect Repellant Great for mulch beds near your home Great for mulch beds near your home WEEKEND SALE O SALEN ALL TREES, SHRUBS & FLOWERS ON ALL TREES, SHRUBS & FL WER TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU: 835 COLLEGE AVE. • SHELBY (across from Shelby Airport) 704-487-7720 SHELBY ROAD • KINGS MTN. 704-734-0071 While others retreat, we are moving forward. Some publication’s numbers are falling behind. Your free community paper is moving forward. Readership of free community papers is now higher than paid daily papers, and continues to grow. Rather than being replaced by “instant” media, your local free community paper has become an important part of our neighborhood. Insert Your Logo Here Another sign we’re working for you. Free Papers Working For You 704-484-1047 ©CommunityFirstMedia