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God Makes You Beautiful
by Sonia Brown
 On
August of 2002 my husband and I went to Seattle, Washington to minister. We
were also celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary so we decided
to make it a vacation.
We had such a fabulous time. We took in several of the sites. We strolled
downtown and ate clam chowder at Ivan’s Restaurant while watching others
feed the seagulls.
We got up early on our anniversary, August 13th, and had lunch
on the space needle. It was so romantic. The room slowly rotated so we were
able to see all of Seattle. What a breathtaking view! The food was
outstanding; it ranked as one of my best.
Later we went on the Underground Tour and discovered how Seattle was
founded and learned of its history. It was quite entertaining.
 We
had to hurry though because we wanted to see the Mariners play baseball
against the Boston Red Socks. The game was sold out but we managed to buy
some tickets from some sweet Canadian girls. We thoroughly enjoyed the game
screaming and shouting as we saw the Mariners beat the Red Socks. Yeah!
On another day we took in the Boeing Tour. We saw how they made 747
airplanes as well as many others. It’s a man thing I guess.
One of my favorite days was when we took the Victoria Clipper (a
high-speed boat) to Victoria, Canada. We had tea at the Empress Hotel and
saw the famous Royal Museum. It had many interesting artifacts. I even saw a
dress that Princess Diana had worn. That was a real treat. That was my
girl thing!
 But
the site that stood out to me the most was Butchart Gardens. It’s a sunken
garden in Victoria that is more than 50 acres! It is gorgeous, and it all
started with Robert and his wife Jenny Butchart.
Back in 1904 Robert had a cement business. He had this limestone quarry
that produced the rock that he needed but his wife thought it was so ugly so
she started planting flowers. They were extensive travelers and Jenny picked
up shrubs, flowers, and trees to plant in the quarry from her trips. Well
after 15 years the quarry was depleted and Jenny still had her garden.
Friends, friends of friends, and now thousands of people from around the
world come to see this once ugly quarry.
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a
new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in
the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19)
Like Mrs. Jenny Butchart, God saw the way we were: ugly, dirty, smelly,
stained in sinned and said, " I can change you. I can make you beautiful. So
beautiful that no one will ever believe that you were that person."
People will be in awe to know what a beautiful, clean, sweet-smelling,
and righteous person you can become. Let God change you by allowing him to
plant the seeds of God's Word into your heart. Others will see the change in
you and glorify God in heaven.
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