Be In Awe of Beauty

I Stand in Awe LYRICS

Item #  M4030-05-58

By Mark Altrogge

These lyrics accompany the song I Stand In Awe from the I Stand In Awe album.

Lyrics

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above

And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God, to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

You are beautiful beyond description
Yet God crushed You for my sin
In agony and deep affliction
Cut off that I might enter in
Who can grasp such tender compassion?
Who can fathom this mercy so free?
You are beautiful beyond description
Lamb of God who died for me

© 1986 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

Remember the Turtle

Carefully I move the framed photos and cards off my dresser. Dust flies everywhere - I hadn't touched these items in awhile, admittedly - as I make space for a large crystal lamp. As I lift the heavy object up onto my dresser, the hanging crystals gently clink together and create music. Music to my ears.

Now that the lamp is situated, I can return the cards and photos to their places. As I dust each item and put it back, one of them catches my eye. It's a beautiful mahogany music box SHE left me. There's a layer of dust on the lid - a twinge of guilt hits me - she wouldn't like to see it sitting unused on a shelf.

I clean the dust off and feel nostalgic. It's been three years - but still, I miss her. As I open the lid, memories flood back. She used to say "Oh dear" after laughing at something. Sometimes I got to ride in the car next to her, in between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat. She was always a smart dresser. She loved her husband. She once told my sister her shoes were "sexy."

It's nearly midnight and I don't want to disturb the people on the other side of the wall, but I really want to see if the music box still plays. I turn it over to find the wind-up... and another memory hits me like a ton of bricks.

We visited their apartment often for an afternoon of swimming in the pool, watching golf on TV, and playing Norwegian poker. At some point during every visit, normally when Grandpa fell asleep in his chair, I would end up in their bedroom gazing down at a tiny turtle statuette on their side table.

I loved that trinket. If you could wind it up, the turtle would move, but my fingers were too little and weak to do it. I would bring her into their room and point at the turtle, begging her to wind it for me, which she almost always did. One day I remember she wound it so many times, a small dent appeared in her thumb.

Grandma was a woman of faith. She loved her family, went to church faithfully, and was a wonderful companion to her husband. I think of Titus 2 when I think of her.

Speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine... that the older women be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. (v. 1-3)

 My grandmother to a tee. She taught that family was important, that fellowship with believers was crucial, that it was good to laugh.

I wind the music box and listen to the melody of a Schubert piece fill my bedroom. I weep. I tell myself I'll see her again soon.

Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes - and for me, for nineteen years, it came in the form of a tiny white-haired woman named Marian.

- Grace Marita

Haiyophi

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

Let's dissect, shall we?

Proverbs 31:30. Very well-known within the church, to be sure. I'd venture most women my age have this verse written on a notecare and taped to their mirror. I don't, but after doing some reading from http://studylight.org/, maybe I should. Here's what Adam Clark wrote in his commentary regarding Prov. 31:30.

Charm is deceptive...

"1. Favour, chen, grace of manner may be deceitful, many a fair appearance of this kind is put on, assumed for certain secular or more unworthy purposes; it is learned by painful drilling in polished seminaries, and, being the effect of mere physical discipline, it continues while the restraint lasts; but it is sheker, a lie, a mere semblance, an outward varnish. It is not the effect of internal moral regulation; it is an outside, at which the inside murmurs; and which, because not ingenuous, is a burden to itself. "

And beauty is fleeting...

"2. Beauty, haiyophi, elegance of shape, symmetry of features, dignity of mien, and beauty of countenance, are all hebel, vanity; sickness impairs them, suffering deranges them, and death destroys them."

But a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

"3. 'But a woman that feareth the Lord,' that possesses true religion, has that grace that harmonizes the soul, that purifies and refines all the tempers and passions, and that ornament of beauty, a meek and quiet mind, which in the sight of God is of great price-

She shall be praised.
This is the lasting grace, the unfading beauty."

WOW. There's a lot here, but let me just focus on a few key points.

 - A woman who fears the LORD possesses true religion. See James 1:27.
 - Physical beauty, referred to here as haiyophi, also includes symmetrical features. The very thing that I sought after is the very thing that will fade with time.. meaning even if I achieved symmetry it would be gone in a matter of decades.
 - Clark writes that charm can be deceptive because it's often put on for "secular or more unworthy purposes." As women, we don't always seek to manipulate with our charm. But other times our need to control rises up and combines with our fear of God not coming through for us, and we use it for "more unworthy purposes." That's why it's deceiving! Because sometimes it's manipulative, and sometimes it's not!

Here's what being a Proverbs 31 woman comes down to. Are we fueled by joy in our own fleeting haiyophi - or in God's?

- Grace Marita

Do You See It?

"Do you see it, honey? Do you see the rainbow?"

It had been pouring rain for the last half hour or so. When that happens, people tend to stay away from the Recycling Zone. The idea of standing in the rain unloading pesticides and computers from your car doesn't sit well with most customers, and today was no different.

Finally there was a break in the clouds, and bright sunbeams came in through the windows. I stepped outside in my uniform and leaned against a post to get some fresh air. That's when I saw it - a beautiful vibrant display of the promise of God spread across the eastern sky. I smiled, remembering the words of YHWH from Genesis.

I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth... and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. - 9:13, 16

A few hundred feet away, a man was unloading chemicals from his car while his daughter stood by the car. I watched as he stopped suddenly, knelt next to his little girl and pointed towards the sky, saying, "Do you see it, honey? Do you see the rainbow?" 

This father took time to show his daughter the beauty of the world God created; otherwise she might have missed it. It made me smile and thank God in that moment. Our heavenly Father does that too; when we are too worried or distracted to see the beauty in everyday life, He'll kneel beside us and whisper, Do you see it, honey? Do you see the rainbow?

Pray that God will open your eyes to His wonders. And this Father's Day weekend, I pray that you'll thank our Heavenly Father for your earthly one.

How have you seen the rainbow this week?


- Grace Marita

Eyes to See

It was a strange sense of deja vu to be in a theater I'd performed in for years, this time being an audience member. The crusty blue seats had been replaced with plush red ones, but other than that nothing had changed. There was still the distinct scent; the red curtain was still there, and the expectant friends and family were finding their seats or standing and chatting with other parents. I found an aisle seat, feeling slightly out of place. It had been four years since I graduated from high school... what in the world was I doing back here?

High school had its fun and awesome moments, to be sure, but there was a constant sense of competition when it came to girls and beauty. High school girls are infamous for their drama and cattiness, and being back in the old building I felt all the old insecurities and fear rushing back. All these girls I knew, all the pretty and flirtatious girls... I wondered what they would think of me after four years... would they be judging me?... I had a fleeting urge to get up and leave.

Suddenly the lights dimmed and the first choir took the stage. It was the freshman womens' choir - I had been standing there eight years prior. They filed up onto the risers and began their first piece.

As they sang, something strange happened. I was scanning the faces of these young girls, some fidgeting, most with deadpan expressions, and a thought came into my mind: These girls are so beautiful. I blinked a few times and looked again. It was true - every girl up there, regardless of body type, height, whether she was wearing makeup or not - was truly beautiful.

When I was in high school, there was a small collection of girls who always seemed to stand out as being more beautiful than the rest - better hair, nicer smiles, better bodies. Had girls just gotten prettier since I graduated? Or was God giving me eyes in that moment to see that these girls - these women - were imagebearers of Him and so were incredibly beautiful? I couldn't believe it. I think I almost started to cry. During those teen years, beauty always seemed so far away to me, something to be chased down and grasped firmly lest it fly away at the first sign of a pimple or a pound gained.

In 1 Samuel 16:7, God tells the prophet Samuel that "man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." The Hebrew for "look" is the word ra'ah, meaning to see, perceive, or gaze at. God alone is capable of gazing at our heart while at the same time gazing at our outward appearance. He sees what we look like, both physically and spiritually. Beauty in His imagebearers, yet marred by sin. Only Christ can make us spiritually beautiful.

That night He gave me a glimpse past the superficial American standards of beauty, and I was able to see His mark on each woman standing on that stage. It was a privilege.

How has He opened your eyes to the beauty surrounding you?

- Grace Marita

Heart of God Booklist

As I write this, there are many things in my life right now that display the beauty of God. My brand-new baby niece, who (praise God) is growing up thirty feet from this blogging couch. She is a medical miracle, and a gift from the Lord of life. The ominous storms we've heard the last two days have finally blown over, revealing brilliant blue sky and streaks of sunlight coming in through the window. I listened to a sermon at church this morning on John 9, God's inescapable glory displayed in disability. And I have a family who loves me, and whom I love. Beauty.

One of my purposes in writing this blog is to seek to minister to others, women especially but men as well, who struggle with the concept of physical beauty as I have (and still do). In order to do this, I've created a Heart of God booklist that I'll add to weekly. Each book on this list was chosen prayerfully. The authors may write from different angles and time periods, but all of them address beauty, God's and ours. I pray that each book might serve to open your eyes to the exceptional beauty of our Creator and the beauty with which He sculpted you.

**Note: I'd be remiss not to say that the Bible should be the first place we go for insights into beauty. This list should really start with number 2.... Thus, it will :) **

2. Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge.

3. Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers.

4. God's Passion For His Glory, by Jonathan Edwards. (This link is to a book/commentary on this essay written by Dr. John Piper, but you see the Edwards text as well. It's meaty. It's wonderful.)


The books that will be put on this list are books that I have read and can wholeheartedly recommend to you. I will not put any resources on this blog that I don't support myself either theologically or stylistically.

Enjoy. Drink deep. Worship.

~Grace Marita

Isaiah 52, Bandaged Feet Seeking Wisdom

My black dress heels have been in poor shape for some time. Scuff marks around the toes, scratches along the sides. The stiletto heels look like they've been munched on by a tiny dog (which may well have been the case), and the metal spike in one heel has long since worn through the rubber on the bottom. For weeks I had a very distinctive stride around the office - tap click tap click tap click... it was impossible to mistake me for someone else.

The time finally came when I decided to replace them. After searching two or three stores, I found a pair that seemed to suit me. They were very similar to my previous pair - black patent leather, slightly pointed toe - and a whopping four inch heel.

I was a little hesitant to try to work the heel, but I thought it would be okay.

Oy.

This morning I put them on in my usual rush to get out the door while trying to walk the dogs, fill their dishes, put them in kennels, and grab a lunch for myself. By the time I got out to the car a sense of foreboding was spreading over me... I knew it was a bad idea to buy these dreadful black things but it was too late to turn back.

Needless to say, my day was spent baby-stepping along the hallways of the office while co-workers gaped at my sky-high purchase. Beauty is pain? No. Our idea of beauty is pain.

The most interesting reactions came from some of the men I work with. They cast a look at my feet, shook their head, and sighed while remarking, "I don't know why women kill themselves wearing those things."

Isaiah 52:7 reads, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news!" Whether we choose to wear heels, sandals, or just go barefoot in life, it's not what's on our feet that makes us beautiful. It's the message we bear while on our feet, the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Our beauty is wrapped up in completely knowing that we are His, and that we are sent. We put Band-Aids on our blisters and walk through life proclaiming, "Jesus! Yeshua! Messiah!" The life of Christ.

(Side-note: If your call is to go trekking across the mountains to tell people about the saving work of Christ, don't plan to wear 4-inch patent heels.)

-Grace Marita