Beautiful Adventure

​Every time we flip on the TV or step into a check out line at the grocery store, we are met with the media's depiction of worldly beauty.  To be honest, it sometimes feels to me like the world has done a better job of identifying and enjoying beauty than the church, but since God is the author of real beauty, I thought we could camp out on a few aspects of His definition of beauty.

This marks the first of a 12 picture series that give us an “out of the box” definition of beauty. Each of these ideas coincides with a chapter from my new book, Finding Beautiful, so there's always further reading for those interested!


BEAUTIFUL ADVENTURE
Every one of the heroes of the Bible had one thing in common: they experienced amazing adventures with God. Moses met God in the desert and set a million slaves free, Esther was promoted from exile to queen, Ruth traveled to a foreign land and fell in love, David went from the outcast son to king of Israel... each one was pulled by God outside of their comfort zones to follow His leading into an adventure that rivaled anything they could have imagined.  Many were lauded later in Hebrews 11 as having the faith that pleased God in powerful ways.

I created this photo with the idea of stepping into the unknown without knowing the next step or even where the sea will part in order to move forward. In our world today, we might call it feeling insecure or unstable. In the Bible, it's called faith, and it involves embracing the beauty of God's adventures without always knowing the outcome. This can be a little intimidating, but it can also be exhilarating as we watch God show up and move us forward in amazing ways!  Finding and following His adventure for our lives is a beautiful thing, and we can always be confident of this truth:
 
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2


One young woman I interviewed for Finding Beautiful was Lauren, who planned on living a very normal life until God called her into missions. Eventually this led to a trip around the world, where she simply asked God which nations she was called to serve, and often saw miraculous situations occur as the way opened up before her. Her before/after life makeover shoot looked like this.

What are the places of adventure in your life? Do you feel completely settled and comfortable in your current situation, or are there areas you are stepping into the waves and trusting God to part the waters for? I believe this kind of adventure is so valuable and beautiful to God. Maybe it doesn't mean taking a trip around the world, but it may involve embracing His lead in an area of life you feel unsure or not confident in. How are you watching His adventure unfold in your life? 

Prayer: Father, thank You for promising that You will never leave me.  Show me how to tap into the beautiful adventure You are calling me into!
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