beauty – Amy Linnea

Shopping for More

Published on October 11, 2025October 11, 2025 by amylinneaLeave a comment

For in Him we live, and move, and have our being. Acts 17:28

Where are you gathering your identity?

Are you shopping at Walmart when you should be selecting items at the most expensive store?

You might reply you cannot possibly afford the most expensive store.

Remember, I’m not talking about material goods.

I’m talking about your worth. Your identity. Your very core.

When you surrender your life to God, He steps in, scooping out the ugly, replacing it with beauty.

Jesus’ death on the cross provides the transaction removing sin. The sin we were born with. The sin we chose. Our heredity. God’s power removes all of it, replacing it with redemption.

When redeemed, we have God’s power. His life. His disposition.

Acts reminds us we live and move and literally are within God.

Your identity is God’s.

Your worth is God’s.

When we live from within God’s power, we have everything.

When our being is literally from God, our worth is immeasurable.

It’s time to stop shopping for your worth at the thrift store.

Time to stop settling for your used former self.

Instead, select God’s equisite self. His perfection wanting to shine through you.

Start living as if God is speaking through you.

Start living as if God is working through you.

Start living as if God is moving through you.

Because when you live and move and have your being in God, He’s already here.

Photos by Tem Rysh, Lucrezia Carnelos, Markus Spiske, & Joel Muniz on Unsplash

In the Light

Published on May 5, 2018June 8, 2023 by amylinnea1 Comment

But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. Psalm 77:11-12

Live in light of the best moments.

Live with the memory of God’s provision fresh in your mind.

Live as the daughter of the King of Kings.

A valuable favored princess.

His princess.

Live as the son of the Lord of Lords.

A honored warrior prince.

His prince.

Live each moment as if you were high on the mountain of life.

As if all is well.

Because it is.

Even if you cannot see, God is at work.

He is shedding light on the dark spots, guiding your every step.

In the grey days of life, live like it’s a bright sunny day.

Because it is.

God is still on the throne.

He loves you and has your best interests in mind.

Remember Whose power remains in you.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.

You!

So when you’re on a mountain top, thank Him for the view.

And when you’re down in the valley of life, remember.

And live like you’re still mountain high.

Because you are.

Why?

Because of Whose you are.

Photos by Alexandru Tudorache ,Danka & Peter , & Joshua Sharf on Unsplash

Sprinkles on Ice-cream

Published on July 12, 2015June 6, 2023 by amylinneaLeave a comment

We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” Psalm 126:2

Why not?

Have sprinkles on your ice cream?

It’s way funner.

Ok, more fun.

Or how about using your grandmother’s dishes every day instead of only on special occasions?

These are mine.

Life is meant to be lived.

Not watched from the sidelines.

Put on that cute dress as you waltz through Target.

Dance to car tunes as you wait in the carpool lane.

Serve fresh chocolate chip pancakes to your sweet daughters on their last day of school.

Buy some amazing flowered to adorn your table.

For your regular everyday dinner.

And for heavens sake put sprinkles on your ice cream.

Full disclosure: we eat our sprinkles outside

as I abhor finding sprinkles on my floor

as you all know most of them never land inside the bowl

or find their way into the mouth of the child

who wants those sprinkles.

I call it sprinkle sanity.

Perfect balance.

Photos by Alexander Grey, Glen Carrie, & Karolina Bobek on Unsplash

Stuck at the Cross

Published on May 27, 2015December 2, 2017 by amylinnea4 Comments

(This guest post is my sweet daughter Linnea’s senior legacy paper)

When thinking about how to sum up what I’ve learned in high school, I struggle to find the words. There’s so much I’ve learned. Really, there are like ten different things I could talk about. But when thinking about what to say, it kind of hit me. My experiences – everything I’ve gone through in high school – it doesn’t really matter. It’s not the point.

Everyone has their stories. I have mine. I could go on and on about how my depression, self-harm, and parent’s divorce affected me and what God has taught me through all of it; but honestly – that’s not the point. God has brought me through so much. He’s slowly shaping me to be the person He created me to be. He’s preparing me for the next life. In the end, everything that we’ve done on earth isn’t going to matter. There will be a day where the only thing that matters is whether or not you know and accept Jesus Christ. High school drama will be completely forgotten.

High school is a very instrumental time in a person’s life because it is then people start discovering themselves. It’s the perfect opportunity for God to wreck your life for Him – and that’s what He did to me. I went from being terrified of anything remotely spiritual, to constantly having my heart broken for those who don’t know Christ. God put this burning desire in my heart to know Him more and share His love with others. It was almost as if I had been blind and now I could see.

But it’s not always that easy. Truly trying to follow God is the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. But it’s so worth it. Satan will do everything he can to distract you. He’ll try to re-open wounds and taunt you with temptations. But don’t be discouraged! John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

One thing I’ve learned is that so many people get stuck at the cross. I know that sounds funny, but let me explain. God wants us to lay ourselves and our burdens down at the cross and receive His grace. But we aren’t supposed to stay there. We are supposed to go forth and spread His news once we’ve been forgiven. Sometimes you’ll have to go back to the cross and lay more burdens down, but you aren’t supposed to live there. Sadly, it seems as if that’s where most Christians are today. They are all about giving their problems to God and being forgiven, but they don’t actually do anything with it.

I believe God has so much more in store for us than just wiping away our sin. He wants us to experience the fullness of His love and be rooted richly in His spiritual blessings. He wants us to go out and share His love with urgency. Going into high school, I had the Great Commission on my mind because I had just gone through confirmation and that’s what I had picked for my verse. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” I wasn’t really sure why I picked that verse, but I knew it felt right. Now I can see that God has been changing my heart and how it is a perfect verse for my life – because it describes the desire He has put inside my being.

If I had to leave one piece of advice, I’d say that no matter what, trust in God with all of your heart. He created you and knows you better than you know yourself. Life is full of unexpected things and you will never be able to go through it all and come out stronger without leaning on God. There’s no time to put God on hold. If you were to die tomorrow, would you be ready?

Worth

Published on February 13, 2014February 19, 2023 by amylinnea2 Comments

You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. Song of Solomon 4:7

If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for you alone.

He loves you that much.

When He created you, He smiled.

He created you exactly as He wanted. And He doesn’t make mistakes.

Don’t like your hair? Your body isn’t just right?

Well, what actually is ‘just right’ anyway?

What standard are you using? The ever changing worldly standard of beauty?

Because the world’s measure of beauty is completely unreliable. It evolves with the changing of the wind.

One minute bangs are in, the next minute everyone is growing them out. Short skirts or long flowing gowns. Skinny jeans or bell bottoms. Flipped out hair or long straight locks.

You must be taller.

Really?

Well, there’s not much a person can do about that.

We can color our hair, slightly alter our bodies through diet and exercise, adorn ourselves with any type of cloth, but we can’t do a darn thing about the height God decided we should have.

Sure we can wear heels, and yes, I do love them! But heels are clothes.

There is absolutely nothing we can do on our own to alter our height. We must accept how tall or short we are.

Are you more worthy of life and love if you are a certain height?

No.

Are you worth more if you are a size 6 vs. size 12?

Absolutely not.

Yes, we must take care of ourselves, but your worth is not measured by the size on your tag or the numbers on a scale.

Don’t believe me? You should.

Your worth is measured by God and He loves you very much. He created you and you are perfect in His eyes.

Beautiful.

Stop comparing your hair or body to others.

From the balcony of heaven it won’t matter what your jean size was.

Why waste a moment with our short time on earth obsessed with things that don’t matter in light of eternity?

Society has bought a lie that our outward appearance is everything.

E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

And we are no different.

We pour our energy into making ourselves look better.

On the outside.

We waste hours and years comparing ourselves to an impossible standard and waste still more years being unhappy with the way we were created.

Completely unhappy.

And why?

We have tricked ourselves into believing our worth is measured in numbers.

Height. Weight. Dress size. Shoe size.

No more.

Take back those years.

Purpose in your mind that you are loved the way God created you and you will no longer allow society to demand you change.

Hold your head high and love yourself the way God loves you.

The way God made you.

After all, God doesn’t make mistakes – His first mistake was not you.

Every time a thought pops into your brain of unworthiness or every time a feeling washes over you causing you to think you are not good enough, thank God for your healthy brain, arms that work, legs that walk.

Thank Him for your painted toenails, soft hair, and eyes that see.

Your curly eyelashes, soft skin, and precious hands.

Focus on how God sees you.

Perfect. Loved. Daughter of the King.

A precious jewel who was worth dying for.

Jesus took care of your eternal life.

Live like that matters.

And smile.

Because you are beautiful.