Rebecca checked her face in the mirror one more time. Her make-up was perfect, her hair smooth and styled just the way she liked it. She turned her head—the right side . . . great. The left side?

She sighed. The scar that ran from her hairline to her jaw still flared out like neon, red and angry. It made her feel ugly and unwanted. Since the accident, she’d stayed in the house, but Rebecca couldn’t stand it one day longer. She had to get out, even if the world stared and condemned her. She’d start with church and see what happened. “Lord, help me,” she whispered.

In a world where an unachievable standard of physical beauty is in front of us almost every day, Rebecca’s hesitation is understandable. At times like these, remembering that God sees within, that we are called to be beautiful from within because of Him, is never easy.

Worldly standards of beauty change; God’s standards never do. It is not our make-up but what we are made of that lets our true beauty shine.

Lord, help me remember that I may be the only “scripture” some people ever see. Let my heart and manner represent you as best I can. Amen.

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Today’s Devotional is adapted from Whispers of Wisdom for Busy Women, Barbour, Day 222.

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To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Change is a regular part of modern life, as routine as an afternoon thunderstorm in the tropics—and often just as messy. Jobs shift or disappear. Friends move. Babies are born and husbands retire. Children graduate and marry. On top of lives already crammed to the rim with responsibilities and stress, change comes to all of us.

Only one thing in our lives never changes: God. When our world swirls and threatens to shift out of control, we can know that God is never surprised, never caught off guard by anything that happens.

Just as He guided David through dark nights and Joseph through his time in prison, God can show us a secure way through any difficulty. He can turn the roughest times to good. Just as He supported His servants in times past, He will always be with us, watching and loving.

During this season of hustle and bustle, ribbons and bows, parties and gifts, stress and anxieity, take a bit of time to close your eyes and feel His loving and secure hand on your shoulder.

Lord, help me remember your love and guidance when my life turns upside down. Grant me wisdom for the journey and a hope for the future. Amen.

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Today’s Devotional is adapted from Whispers of Wisdom for Busy Women, Barbour, Day 71.

Thanks, again, to everyone who’s written about either the books (yeah!), the contest, or Rachel. We’re going on 3-4 weeks now with her congestion issues, and each day brings a different challenge. We went to the doctor on Friday, and we’re trying two new meds. This weekend saw the greatest improvements so far – so that I’m no longer worried about her wearing herself out or needing a hospital stay. She’s not WELL yet, but closer than before. We appreciate all the prayers.

Now . . . back to the books.

If you’ve taken a gander at my books page, you’ll see a few devotionals down below. I often submit ideas for books of devotionals to Barbour, but I’m also on their list of folks they ask to submit contributions to larger books. There are two new ones on the market: 365 Daily Whispers of Wisdom for Busy Women and 365 Daily Whispers of Wisdom for Single Moms. The official publication date for both is December 1, but Amazon already lists them as being in stock.

Yes, I contributed, but there are a lot of writers involved in both books, including some of the best devotional authors in the country. These would make great Christmas gifts for any woman in your life. If Barbour gives me permission, I’m going to publish a few excerpts between now and Christmas, so you can get an idea of how genuine and inspirational the devotionals are.

Finally, in the midst of all the financial cacophony in the news lately, Mike Hyatt posted a really nice alternate perspective on his blog recently. Maybe it’s because I love the outdoors and I have a passion for “blessings counting” (it gets me through most days), I wanted to link it here.

Prayers for you all. And many blessings to count.