BEAUTY. A word used in every culture and yet can hold different meanings based on the cultures you are in. Take a second and think. What does beauty look like to you? What about in your own current culture?
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In America, beauty can mean vastly different things to the beholder. In general, beauty is often assessed by the outward expression of a person’s personality, in the fashion trends one displays, in the possessions owned, the confidence exuded by a person, or by the way one is accepted by others in their spheres of influence.
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Coming into Guatemalan culture, I knew it would be different. And at the same time, I didn’t know what it would look like. With the hardships and difficult life circumstances experienced by many here, to an American (or insert your idyllic nationality here) it’s easy to think that in some way beauty in other countries is measured on a lesser scale, or it’s even tempting to pity other cultures signifying in some way American culture is “true beauty” and other countries have missed the mark. I will admit that I didn’t quite know how to process the culture shock when I came to Guatemala. So many of my preconceived notions of beauty, “good” living conditions, strong faith, and hospitality (just to name a few) have been blown out of the water and I’m beginning to see a glimpse into God’s heart for HIS definitions of these things. The Word of God is clear on this topic:
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“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”
(1 Samuel 16:7)
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On Monday, my team and one of our ministry hosts, Jota, were tasked to ask the Lord about where He wanted us to go that morning for ministry. The vision for that morning was to visit homes and go to the people God wanted us to encounter. Each of us received different things from God once we prayed. There was one picture that came to Jota’s mind: it was this picture of a distorted piece of laminate material. Random, you may think…
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Until we passed by a man working in this small field adjacent to his home. Jota recognized the distorted piece of laminate material that was positioned above the entrance to his humble home… this was exactly what Jota saw in his mind’s eye when he asked the Lord about where we should go that morning. This led us to strike up a conversation with *P* about his life (*P* inserted for the sweet man’s name, hidden for privacy). He is a man in his 70’s. When we stopped to talk, he was cutting down food in this overgrown grassy patch with his machete. He had a shriveled hand and other physical ailments that prevented him from sustaining work, causing him to depend on his father for his necessities and source of provision. Eventually, he explained that these physical struggles were imputed to him by robbers and other thieves who had beaten him when they stole many of his possessions. He so graciously invited us into his home after we talked for a while out in his garden.
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Approaching the entrance to his home and walking through the narrow dirt lined path, he reminded us of how badly he wished he could give us something to welcome us, but he said he had nothing to offer. For someone on the outside looking in, his home would not have met the standard of beauty that culture often defines as such. My heart broke as we stood in his kitchen, with sticks for a stove and make-shift walls built from various materials. I truly felt that all I had to offer was my prayer for him, as I’m sure many of my team felt as well. We surrounded him in prayer; asking for God’s healing, provision, and protection, as well as God’s presence to invade His place. He has a heart for the Lord and with open hands, he prayed his own prayer to the Lord.
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There’s so much of what we experienced with *P* that broke our hearts and yet this moment will forever be a time where my comfortable definition of beauty was uprooted, and the expression of God’s heart for this fearfully and wonderfully created man struck me as a deeper beauty than anything he could have on this Earth. He was beautiful!
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I write this blog to challenge you to think about what you have accepted as truth the entirety of your life, that maybe God wants to redefine. What is God’s version of beauty?
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We find those answers in the Bible! God reminds us, time and time again that our identity is never rooted in our appearance, our material possessions, stature, approval from family or friends, our own striving to be “the best person,” cultural standards, our amazing experiences, or even in the abundance of what we can give back to others, or even to God. Remember the widow in the bible who only had two small copper coins to give back to the Lord? And yet God valued her offering over the abundance of others because she gave out of her destitution.
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God looks at the heart. In your lack, are you giving him your whole heart? What about in your abundance?
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We all have different life stories, and not everyone’s story may look “beautiful” on the outside. But, let me introduce you to someone who is the mender of brokenness and restorer of beauty in ALL things!
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If you want to know about Jesus more, PLEASE reach out to me! Or, continue to follow along my blogs- and even other World Racer blogs! I would LOVE to call you, text you, pray with you, cry with you, laugh with you, and listen with you. He is my everything! But I want you to be able to taste and see for YOURSELF that He is more than a historic God or one you just talk about on Easter and Christmas. He is real AND alive, and He wants to speak to you and walk with you through life’s ups and downs.
Will you let Him redefine your definitions today?
PRAYER REQUESTS:
– Continued protection and guidance over my team (Chameleons): Samantha (Squad Leader), Abigail, Carol, Ruthie, Victoria, and myself as we share the Gospel and love on people in Guatemala! Also, prayer for the other teams as well: Lawn Chair Crisis, Gloria A Dios, 2.4.7, Whale Team 6- that God would guide them, protect them, and give them fresh hunger for Him daily!
– For *P* that God would restore his heart to the fullness of joy and that we would be able to love him well in the coming days!
– Prayer for Glad Tidings Church, Savannah Community Church, and First United Methodist Church- all churches that have supported me prayerfully and financially! That they would have fruitful ministries and hear the voice of God for direction in their own communities!
– That God would soften hearts here in Guate to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior!
THANK YOU for following along! Please give me feedback about maybe what you would like to hear about in my posts! You are in my prayers!
It’s so good to hear that everything in Guatemala is continuing to go well. I couldn’t be any more prouder of you and your team for spreading the Good Word in an environment that’s very much different than America. I can defiantly relate when it comes to experiencing culture shock for the first time. When I was in Israel for 10 days 6 years ago, I too had a similar situation being awestruck on how the rest of the world operated. It taught me humility and to care more about a person’s heart rather than their status or looks. I will continue to pray not only for a hedge of protection, but for wisdom to the teams, churches, and “P”.
If you and the others can continue to pray for me to not only find a new job during the day, but also to be more consistent in reading the Word and to strive for a more healthier lifestyle in nutrition and exercise.
Thank you for the replies and prayers. I look forward to hearing more updates in the near future. God Bless!
P.S.
If there’s any way to send a care package let me know. I would love to send over my famous chocolate chip cookies!
Verse(s) of the Day:
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. – Romans 10:8-10
This reminds me of “The Parable of the Lost Sheep”. Jesus didn’t care what the sheep looked like, what baggage they carried. He cared for all of them equally. He loved them equally. What an awesome blog!
Amen! Love your post and how God has given you His eyes so you can see the beauty in them no matter their situation.
Visiting people’s homes is sad and their stories are impacting but beautiful that God is allowing us to minister them. God still has so much more for your team and will use ya for glory & honor of his name!
You definitely can relate to the sentiment of this blog post, thank you for sharing about your experiences in Israel. I know that was an opportunity that shaped you for God’s glory!
Thank you for sharing your prayer request with my team! I will bring it up to my team and we will pray for your job and lifestyle patterns as you seek to honor Him in those ways- that’s wonderful!
Sadly, I cannot receive care packages on the field 🙁 BUT I really appreciate your generosity! I’ll just have to think about Sip N’ Study to get my chocolate chip cookies haha
Brother, thank you for your encouragement!!
AMEN, what a great parable to remember. God’s compassion and love leads me to repentance, praise God for that!
Kevin, thank you for the way you always seek to build up the body of Christ. May God continue to provide for you in ABUNDANCE as He uses you for His Kingdom’s purposes!
Katherine, your words gave me such a clear picture in my mind of how beautiful people really are to God, even in our brokenness. Thank you for putting His love into words!
Wow! Katherine…I am speechless. You have an incredible way with words! You portrayed that time with him in such a beautiful way! Thank you for sharing and showing God’s love in your words.
Thanks for the beautiful blog post Miss. Porzi! I think it’s really cool that in addition to being in a different country sharing the gospel, you also have a wonderful opportunity to reach out to friends and family reading your blog posts who are interested in knowing Jesus. I appreciate that last part of your post so much! Cody and I are praying for you and your team, we love you all, have a good night!!!!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this story, Katherine! Such a good reminder about beauty. You remind me of Jesus because you see the world and people through His eyes. It’s incredible. Praying for your team, for P, and for your ministry. xoxox, Kara
Absolutely eye opening! As I read, I felt like I was there with you seeing the beauty and value of this man! What a true gift to receive him fully as he is and embrace the worthiness Jesus places on him. Wow. Thank you for sharing and thank you for your humility Katherine. We all have so much to learn about what the Father sees compared to what our flesh immediately might see. Even someone who is blind can know beauty because it comes from GOD and comes from WITHIN! While humans look at the appearance, God looks at the heart ??
Sorry that was a heart emoji at the end that turned into question marks haha
Thank you for sharing the special moment with us!
As I was reading, I was reminded of a similar experience and can so distinctively remember God teaching me about His beauty and what He considers lovely. By His spirit and sacrifice, each of us can be redeemed and restored to that intended beauty He had in mind for us at creation because He makes us beautiful. I love your heart and know that God will continue to open your eyes to fresh and life-giving truths that will greatly impact so many sons & daughters. We love you and are praying! ??
Tks Katherine,
What a powerful and encouraging reminder that a little Ruddy youngest boy in the family named David, a broken sinner but a man after gods own heart was very different than Israel’s first king that the Israelites swooned over because of his outward appearance and stature.
If there’s anything I’ve learned in my 58 years, it’s that the 5% of America’s population in the world, in the American dream, is highly overrated, money is highly overrated, our definition of success is highly overrated, etc. etc. etc.
mr. P, if now, or when he is “in Christ“, has more than the top 1% “outside of Christ “.
“He who has Christ for his treasure, has all things in one. “ AW Tozer
Keep connecting with this brother or potential brother. Great share Katherine
I love this! Your ask God approach to ministry is exactly what we need. It sounds like y’all are killing it! So excited to hear more 🙂 Much love!
Katherine, I loved reading this. I love how you challenge your reader so many times – to think more like Christ, to spread the kingdom of God like Christ and to PRAY like Christ. In your writing I see the gentleness and the adoring eye of Jesus. Wowza.
The line below challenges me today as I focus on the renovations of this new house stuck on the idea that it has to look a certain way to feel hospitable to the community of missionaries I am hoping to serve. Your words remind me, its the holy spirit in its occupants that will do that more than anything! I’m happy for that push.
Love you sister!
I write this blog to challenge you to think about what you have accepted as truth the entirety of your life, that maybe God wants to redefine. What is God’s version of beauty?
Thank you mom for this comment. I am so glad that what I was able to convey the sweetness of Jesus’ compassion toward us. I have reread your comment multiple times, love you mom!
Toria!! Thank you for this encouragement, especially because it is coming from someone who has such wonderful ways of portraying and expressing God’s love!
Ughh, I love you Laurelley! I am so appreciative of you and Cody’s prayers. Your support means so much and I look forward to continuing to update you on how the Lord is working and answering YOUR prayers all the way across the world!
Wow, Cady. What life giving words that you just shared. Thank you for speaking such true identity! It is an honor to have you walking alongside of me for the Gospel’s sake! May you know how appreciated you are and that you and Cam are lifted up in my prayer.
Thank you so much for this comment, Matt! I SO appreciate your connection to the Word- how David had more than most, simply by having Christ. May we see the desperation of man’s state without Jesus, and meet people with LOVE and TRUTH!
You’re a blessing to this squad, Matt!
Jaden, it’s so good to hear from you! I appreciate your words and I know that you and your team are killin it out there as well. Thank you for being you!
Lindsey! Thank you for being such an interactive reader and active part of our walks with the Lord and ministry here in Guate. You are so essential for this squad. You consistently encourage your brothers and sisters to continue seeking Christ, so thank you! I appreciate you sharing that about your home and I look forward to seeing the fruits of the Holy Spirit residing in your new home!
Love this reminder of our powerful encounter with P that first day. God’s presence was thick in the room and I knew he was moving. Thank you for sharing how the Lord was and is redefining beauty for you!
A strong reminder that God is beautiful and the beauty we see comes from Him and not this world. The beauty we see is His providence and love and I’m so thankful that you would share that with us and remind us in a world that constantly pushes us in the opposite direction.