Ever heard the common saying, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder?”
In Armenia, I looked all around me in absolute awe of creation, the snowy mountains and beautiful scenery. God was consistently saying to me to ‘behold the beauty’.
There have been places and moments on the race that I hope forever stay in my memory.
Spitak was one of those places.
While in Armenia we had the opportunity to visit this small village outside of Yerevan. It is a place that was devastated by an earthquake in 1988 and they never rebuilt. Instead some Italians donated portable housing for them to live in (similar but better insulated that shipping containers). The community is nestled away, surrounded by stunning mountains. However, the community contains many single families, children with disabilities and a lot of wounds. Many men have left due to lack of work and a variety of other reasons.
We met a contact at the international church and the door was opened for us to host a beauty for ashes event for women in this community. Team Mosaic and I prayed about and prepared what we wanted to share with these women. We organized gifts, decorations, food, kids activities and even did some prophetic artwork. We committed the women coming in prayer and were expectant for God to move.
Each person on the team was challenged in this preparation process to step out of their comfort zone in new ways. The Lord took me on a journey of removing another lie around my voice and gifts and even had me lead worship at the event with Gina Marie. The Lord loves to display His power through us and never looks at our limitations the way we do.
For the event we wanted to focus on healing and worth. From the beginning, just in the explanation of beauty for ashes, women were already crying. One of my squad mates shared her powerful and raw testimony, which opened the door for many women to share and be encouraged that freedom and healing comes from the Lord. As she was sharing, a lady who graciously welcomed us in when we arrived was sobbing in the kitchen. My squad mates testimony resonated with parts of her own and it was so beautiful seeing this connection blossom over the short time we were there. We were so privileged to be able to pour into this woman, who we believe is a strong Godly leader in this community that will draw other women to know Christ.
After the team shared a story from the Bible and a ‘what’s my worth’ activity, women shared their pictures of worth that the Lord had given them. It was so beautiful as the Lord revealed His truth and showed them their true worth. One lady shared a picture of how she had previously seen herself as a wilting flower, face down and discouraged and then the picture the Lord gave her around her worth of a blooming flower, able to offer so many things to those around her.
We prayed over women who were struggling and needed a fresh touch from Him. We prayed for the community and are believing that each woman walked away with a sense of hope, the invitation to freedom and healing and a strong awareness of their worth.
After the event, I walked outside and watched as the moon reflected a beautiful light onto the surrounding mountains and I was again in awe. No picture can contain the beauty or the moments that occurred that day.
Our new found friend led us into this underground cellar, where there were jars and jars of pickles, juices and potatoes. She wanted to bless us with a meal and graciously pulled from their winter supply of food. I felt like I was in a story book that transported me back in time. We enjoyed a delicious feast of potatoes, while conversing with her and her children. Our hearts were refreshed and thankful as we sat in one of the portable homes.
God is stirring up revival in this village, with many families coming to know Christ and we were privileged to be such a small part of God’s bigger picture. My heart is so thankful that He takes us on wild adventures to share His heart in little pockets of the world, with those who are in need.
Just as we were seeking to reveal worth in these women we went to visit, God reminded me that He is the ultimate beholder of beauty. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then the person who is observing gets to decide what is beautiful.
God determines beauty. He determines worth. Because He created us, He validates us.
May we each see ourselves through the eyes of our Heavenly Father and not turn to other things or people to determine our worth or beauty.
“God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He validated it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.”
GENESIS 1:31 AMP
“Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful…”
The Song of Solomon 1:15 ESV
