BACK TO BASICS

Fashion and vanity crave only one thing: BEAUTY. The problem is, worldly fashion overemphasizes physical beauty. And so , no matter how much you try to beautify your external appearance, you will always fall short. Because, fact is, TRUE BEAUTY begins inside.

 The affection of an elaborate hairdress, the wearing of golden jewelry, or the donning  of rich robes is not for you. Your adornment is rather the hidden character of the heart, expressed in the unfading beauty of a clam and gentle disposition.
(1 Peter 3:3-4)
 I have always said that inner beauty is more attractive than external beauty. Ask any man. Ask an husband. They have surely been totally won over by the gentleness and kindness of a woman. Much more than just her pretty face. I n fact, Proverbs 11:22 holds that “Like a golden ring in a swine’s snout is a beautiful woman with a rebellious disposition.” A fine external appearance matched with an ugly guy disposition is repulsive, to say the least. But “ A gracious woman- tender , polite, calm- “wins esteem”
(Proverbs 11:16) Interestingly, that verse didn’t even bother to describe how the woman looks. All it says is that graciousness always turns out to be the big winner!
 Now that we’re all convinced that we must give more attention to building a good Christian character, are we still as interested in giving “ excessive attention to our appearance?” No way! Good. But lest we go the extreme and be neglectful, let me give you some good advice in so far as  physical is concerned.
 
 
 

HYGIENE, NEATNESS & GROOMING

 Just remember three things: Hygiene, neatness and grooming. Hygiene means being sanitary and healthy. Takes a bath, brush your teeth, use deodorant and foot powder, wash your face, keep your hair healthy and shiny. This also includes  a good diet and … exercise! Yes, exercise!
 Neatness means being tidy and orderly comb your hair, iron your clothes, fix the things inside your bag. Shine your shoes, wash your white sneakers. Organize your things. Make sure things are in their proper order.
 Grooming refers to an overall personal appearance that’s neat and simple. Clean hair . well –scrubbed cheeks, fresh clothes ,clean fingernails. A well- groomed lady always looks good and smells good.
 Personally, I think these guidelines are enough to maintain an attractive personal appearance. It’s all I follow. I also go by the advice of  St. Peter and said good-bye to fancy  hairstyle, jewelry and make- up. Amazingly, old friends think I look better now than when I was preoccupied with all there affections.
 
 

THE  NOSE KNOWS 
A word on cosmetic surgery
By the KERYGMA Staff
Why do you want a perfectly-shaped nose? If the operation would help you breathe easier or make you smell better, or would give you any other medical benefit, then we suppose that’s fine. But if it’s just because you think you’ll look better …hmmm. Check your motives and pray about it before getting that nose job. God will show you the way.
                   (The same applies to face lifts, eye tucks, lyposuction, breast implants…)
 
 
 
 

ORIGINAL SOURCE OF BEAUTY

 In  the end, if it’s  beauty you want, there’s no better way than to go to the “original source of beauty” (Wisdom 13:3). Psalm 34:6 says. “ Look to him That you may be radiant with joy.” Moses, no doubt, experience this for “ the skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the Lord “ (Exodus 34:29).
 The US survey revealed that consumers wanted to see “ real women in real-life situations.” The repetition of the world “real” seem to suggest a wearing for the fake and fraudulent. People are sick and tired of having to wear masks to catch up with what the world considers acceptable. Once and for all, allow the truth to set you free. God says to you , “You are precious in my eyes and … I love you” (Isaiah 43:4). Nothing else matters.
 
 
 

DO YOU STILL WANT GOD’S BEST?

 What are you seeking in your life? 
 Sometimes, what God want isn’t what you want for yourself.
 How many do you  know have wished to live in States in search of greener pastures, for example, hoping that God will permit them to do so, but not really sure if this is what He wants for them? Or perhaps you know of someone who left his job thinking that the one he would be moving to has better pay, only to find out a few months later that the new company was closing because of bankruptcy.  Or maybe you’ve prayed for healing of a certain ailment but this has not come about? 
 God’s best. Have you sought it ?
 Or maybe you don’t wish to seek it for fear of finding out that what He wants isn’t what He wants? Perhaps you still haven’t realized that what He wants is never second best.
 Two passengers which I pray will reassure you of this :
  “… the Lord, the Most High, the awesome,… He chooses for us our inheritance the glory of Jacob, whom he loves.” (Ps. 47:3 and 6)
  “...if  you continue to heed the voice of the Lord, your god, and are careful to observe all his commandments…,the Lord … will raise you high above all the nations of the earth. When you heartjen to the voice of the Lord, your God, all these blessings will come upon you and overwhelm you.” (Deuteronomy 38:1-2)
 

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

  Will God then withhold material blessings and success from those who seek his best? Don’t worry, He won’t. He promised to add these things to those who seek His kingdom first, didn’t He ?
 But even if He doesn’t, that’s alright. Those things are still only second best.
 Having Jesus in our hearts , having experience the contentment and peace He can give in spite of difficult circumstances, having been convinced that we are living the best life possible here on earth by living in God’s kingdom, we at Shepherd‘s Voice are committed to bringing others to experience God’s best.
 To Share Jesus
 That’s our battle cry. We bring it with us wherever we go. Sharing Jesus goes beyond what we print. We strive to be His witness with our very lives, in our relationship , in every move that we make. We want to share the best with the whole world!
 That has become our mission. We hope it will become yours. Too.