| Look Out for the Ugly Finder - article by Joel Hempel When our sons were young, I played a game with them called “Ugly v Pretty Finder.” We would be on the couch, and I’d say: Look out, the ugly finder is after you. I then used my right hand to slowly reach for their face, But just in time, the pretty finder, my left hand, would grab the wrist of the right hand (ugly finder), and they would wrestle with the ugly finder coming dangerously close to their face. But after a death-defying struggle, the pretty finder would defeat the ugly finder, and without fail, the pretty finder found their face. So, to this very day, Aaron and Nathan have the pretty finder to thank for their good looks! Has the pretty finder found you? I suppose some will say prettiness is found in the eyes of the beholder. Others will say there is one universal standard against which all would-be beauty is measured. But God says: The Lord sees not as people see; people look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). And what does the Lord see in your heart? He sees the wonder of his creation (see Psalm 139:13-14); he sees his children clothed with Christ (see Galatians 3:27)! Since we are wonderfully made and clothed with Christ, I ask you, how pretty is our Savior? See Psalm 27:4. It was a sad day in the Hempel household – or at least in the Joel part of the house – when I realized my pecs had fallen, and they couldn’t get up! It’s a hard reality that befalls all of us sooner or later. As much as some of us fight it, our bodies begin deteriorating. But beauty is not about perfect pecs or fabulous figures. Lasting beauty is about looking in the mirror of God’s grace and seeing Jesus. Prettiness is about others looking at us and seeing a reflection of God’s love. That is what our prayer needs to be: Not that God gives us the strength and discipline to have great-looking bodies, but rather that he gives us the commitment to work toward having healthy bodies so we can serve him faithfully and care for the people he places in our way (see Romans 12:1). So, I ask you again. How good-looking are you? I’ll tell you what I think or more importantly, what God thinks. You have been found by THE Pretty Finder, and you are looking good! For further study, see 1 Peter 3:4; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Genesis 1:27; and Philippians 4:8. | 
