When the history of the world is finally told rightly-- one of the great joys when we reach the Wedding Feast of the Lamb-- it will be as clear as day that women have been essential to every great move of God upon this Earth.
I wanted to say, "nearly every great move," not wanting to over-state a crucial point and recognizing that there are moments when men have led the way. But Stasi chimed in and said, "Those men had mothers, didn't they?!" I was thinking of Moses who seemed to lead the Exodus, but it quickly dawned on me that it was his mother who saved his life as a baby (at the risk of her own life, and the lives of her entire family). It was his sister who stayed with the babe and suggested a nursemaid when Pharaoh's daughter took him for her own (That nurse would be, of course, his mother). Okay. I concede. Women have been essential to every great move of God.
Certainly there are those amazing moments in the Old Testament like the story of Rahab, who secured the Hebrews' successful military launch into the Promised Land. And Esther, who saved her people from genocide and secured the future of Israel... and of the world. It's clear that women supported the ministry of Jesus, financially and emotionally, and women were the ones who stayed with him when nearly all the men hightailed it and ran. As we read the story of the spreading gospel and the birth of the church in the New Testament, we encounter women like Lydia, whose home became the staging point for the evangelism of Thyatira and Philippi; women like Nympha and Apphia, who hosted the emerging church in their homes--again, at great risk to themselves and their loved ones. There is Priscilla, who risked her life to help Paul spread the gospel, and Junias, who was with Paul when he was in prison and whom he called, "outstanding among the apostles" (Romans 16:7).
And of course, the salvation of mankind rested on the courage of a woman, a teenage girl. What if she had said no? What if any of them had said no?
To try and give honor to women in the sweep of history is impossible here. It would be easier to think of any of the great or small turning point's in God's rescue of mankind and try to find one where women were not irreplaceable. From the beginning, Eve was God's gift to the world-- His ezer kenegdo (help mate) for us. History is still unfolding, and your existence on this Earth as a woman is proof that you have an irreplaceable role to play. You are a woman, are you not? An ezer kenegdo to your core. Your lingering disbelief (may it be fading away) that anything important hangs on your life is only evidence of the long assault on your heart by the one who knows who you could be, and fears you.
There is much life saving that needs to be done yet, and someone needs to do it. Not in a pressure filled, You'd better get to it kind of way. Rather, an invitation. Your feminine heart is an invitation by your Creator. To what? To play an irreplaceable role in his Story. Isn't that what your Lover wrote there? Some dream, some desire, something so core to who you are, it almost hurts to think of it. The very longing is such a part of your being it's scary to even give it a voice. You may not know the dream itself yet. But you know the longing to play an irreplaceable part. That is a good beginning.
Ezer is woven into the fabric of your feminine heart. You must live this out. What lives, what destinies are hanging on your yes to God?
Excerpt taken from "Captivating" by John and Stasi Eldredge.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
The Master Potter
A couple went into an antique shop and saw a beautiful, magnificant teacup
sitting high on a shelf, and they just fell in love with it. They said, "We have
got to have that teacup." They began to admire the teacup, and all of the
sudden, it began to talk to them. It said, "You know, I've not always been like
this. There was a time when nobody would have wanted me. There was a time when I
was not attractive at all. There was a time in my life when I was just an old,
hard, gray lump of clay. The master potter came and picked me up one day, and
began to pat me, and shape me, and I said, "Leave me alone! What are you doing?
That hurts! Just leave me alone!" And he simply looked at me and said, "Not
yet."
And then he put me on this wheel, and began to spin me around, and around, and around, and I just got so dizzy that I couldn't even see where I was going anymore. I just felt like I was losing it. Everything was spinning, and I felt sick to my stomach, and I said, "Let me off of here!" And he just said, "Not yet."
Finally, the day had come where I took another shape. All that patting, and molding, and pinching gave me another shape. And I thought, "Ah, finally!" But then, he put me in this furnace. It was called the 'First Firing.' And it was so hot in there. I couldn't believe how hot it was, and I thought, "I can't stand this. I'm going to die. Just get me out of here! Don't you love me? Why are you leaving me here?" The oven door had a little glass piece in it, and the master would look through the glass, and just smile. He had a certain look in his eyes, but he would not let me out! He was watching over me. He never took his eyes off of me, but just wouldn't let me out. He would just smile at me and say, "Not yet."
Finally, the oven door opened, and he took me out, and sat me on a shelf. And I thought, "Man, thank God that is over!" But then he began to paint me all over with this stinky paint, changing my color from gray to this pretty blue that I am now. And I said, "This stuff stinks. It's choking me. I do not like this smell. Just stop it!" And he would just look at me with that look, and say, "Not yet."
Then he put me back in the oven a second time, and it was twice as hot as the first time. I sure didn't expect to be in there again. I thought, "I know for sure that I am going to die in here! This is the end of me! This will finish me off! Get me out of here, God, I can't stand it!" But he would just look through the glass, and say, "Not yet."
Then once the door finally opened, and he took me out, and sat me on a shelf and let me cool off. And after I cooled off, he came by and let me look in a mirror. I looked at myself and I just could not believe how beautiful I was. I could not believe how I had changed. Why I didn't look anything like that old, gray, lump of clay that I started out being so long ago. Back then, nobody wanted me, nobody liked me, nobody paid any attention to me. They just kicked me around and walked all over me like I was a piece of trash. But now, I'm special! But I wasn't always this way.
You may be in any of those stages, but God will NEVER take His eyes off of you. Let Him make you into the person He wants you to be... Even if it means going through the fire. You will never be the same.
And then he put me on this wheel, and began to spin me around, and around, and around, and I just got so dizzy that I couldn't even see where I was going anymore. I just felt like I was losing it. Everything was spinning, and I felt sick to my stomach, and I said, "Let me off of here!" And he just said, "Not yet."
Finally, the day had come where I took another shape. All that patting, and molding, and pinching gave me another shape. And I thought, "Ah, finally!" But then, he put me in this furnace. It was called the 'First Firing.' And it was so hot in there. I couldn't believe how hot it was, and I thought, "I can't stand this. I'm going to die. Just get me out of here! Don't you love me? Why are you leaving me here?" The oven door had a little glass piece in it, and the master would look through the glass, and just smile. He had a certain look in his eyes, but he would not let me out! He was watching over me. He never took his eyes off of me, but just wouldn't let me out. He would just smile at me and say, "Not yet."
Finally, the oven door opened, and he took me out, and sat me on a shelf. And I thought, "Man, thank God that is over!" But then he began to paint me all over with this stinky paint, changing my color from gray to this pretty blue that I am now. And I said, "This stuff stinks. It's choking me. I do not like this smell. Just stop it!" And he would just look at me with that look, and say, "Not yet."
Then he put me back in the oven a second time, and it was twice as hot as the first time. I sure didn't expect to be in there again. I thought, "I know for sure that I am going to die in here! This is the end of me! This will finish me off! Get me out of here, God, I can't stand it!" But he would just look through the glass, and say, "Not yet."
Then once the door finally opened, and he took me out, and sat me on a shelf and let me cool off. And after I cooled off, he came by and let me look in a mirror. I looked at myself and I just could not believe how beautiful I was. I could not believe how I had changed. Why I didn't look anything like that old, gray, lump of clay that I started out being so long ago. Back then, nobody wanted me, nobody liked me, nobody paid any attention to me. They just kicked me around and walked all over me like I was a piece of trash. But now, I'm special! But I wasn't always this way.
You may be in any of those stages, but God will NEVER take His eyes off of you. Let Him make you into the person He wants you to be... Even if it means going through the fire. You will never be the same.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Amanda's Testimony
Hey, everyone. I want to share a beautiful testimony from a dear friend of mine. Amanda is 24 years old, and truly understands the love of God, because she, like so many others, has a story of forgiveness and healing. I pray that you find healing for yourself also through her testimony. You are not alone. No matter what situation you may be facing.
(If you would like to share your testimony of hope and God's love, or any other message that you feel God has laid on your heart to share, feel free to email me at heathermountjoy@yahoo.com)
My Testimony ...
I grew up in church, my parents were Sunday school teachers and i accepted Christ when I was 10 years old. My parents sheltered me growing and i was a very active member in the youth group through out middle and high school. I was in leadership classes 8th grade thru my senior year of high school. I always got the most christ-like award every time my youth group went on a retreat. I was a girl after God's own heart and always eager and excited to share God with everyone I met. My senior year is when it started go down hill. I had started dating this guy that had graduated a year before me. I had the idea to save myself for marriage and only three months into the relationship he started to pressure me for sex. He threw out all the classic lines and back then I was the type who thought I always had to have some sort of male companionship to satisfy me. i got comfortable in the relationship and told myself I couldn't find anyone better and gave in for the fear of having him leave me. Come to find out being in that relationship and given in to his desire didn't satisfy me, it only added to my emptiness. My life just continued to get worse. Being shelter for most of life i decided to do it all on my own when I turned 21. I got involved in the wrong crowds, partied, did drugs, and gave in to more guys. At the time I believed that was the only a guy would ever accept me, because having them accept for who I was never worked out too well. After all that I'd always end up single and broken hearted with a little more added to my emptiness. In the midst of this journey I would always run back to God then always run away. I wish I could tell you after all that had happened previously that it got better but it didnt. My freshman year of community college I got a job working at Bi-Lo and met a guy there that I was working with. We started dating and Like all the times before a red flag would go up giving me the que to leave but I didnt. I was this guys first girl friend and telling him my past and then that I gave it all up to Christ I thought he'd be understanding but the only thing he was was just anothe rdesriring guy. I tried and tried to bring him closer to God and every time Id grow closer to the Lord he grew more angry. This I just could not understand. Well he also started preasuring me and what I should've done was run but I stayed and ended up giving in all over again. I wrestled with that regret for the whole three years we dated. wish I could tell you that our relationship got better but it didnt. The whole three years of that realtionship I prayed and prayed That God would change him and that he would see the light I had with in me and be drawn to that. Only to realize the light I had wasnt so bright anymore because he had dimmed it so much. Finally I had enough and just prayed to God that he would move or move me and thats exactly what he did. Jacob ended up breaking up with me and in was one the roughest and toughest breakups ever. I literally went crazy and drove myself insane thinking about it constantly. I turned against God and told him That Id much rather have jacob back than follow Him again becasue the pain of being without jacob was more than I could handle. I told God I didnt need his help and I didnt want his help because i have messed up so bad and disappointed him so much and it would be unfair for me to ask for his help. I ended up going into a deep and dark depression for half a yr. I had reached the lowest I would ever go, I even thought of harming myself so I could leave this world and be in pain no more. Until one day, I had enough of feeling so awful I fell to my face and told God I give up, I couldnt do this alone any more and couldn't handle the pain on my own. that was the day i told myself from that point on I was never going to let any man, any one or anything ever bring me down that low agian. if anything bothered me I was just going laugh about it, shrug it off, keep my heead up, keep smiling and keep moving foward. Today I can tell you that God reveals to me every day how much he loves me and that he is always here. I dont worry about finding a guy to satisfy the whole in my heart and my loneliness. because that spot has been filled by a pretty important guy already ... God! God has called me into the ministry of missions and working with the youth. I tell everyone i still get lonely but now IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL! I am perfectly fine if God doesnt have a special someone for me and if its not in his plans for me to get married and have a fmaily because the joy I'd would get from witnessing to others and helping orphans would be infinately greater than the joy of having a family! I look back on that day when I thought I couldn't make anymore and just look up, smile and thank God for making stronger than I could ever have imagined! Because of the pain, disappointments and emptiness I went through. After overcoming that, God laid on my heart to start a mentoring group for young teenage girls, called "STILL THAT GIRL" based on Britt Nicole's song. Its for girls like me who have and had that passions to change the world but got lost along the way. You're still that girl! Dont let your trials and pain hinder, hide and ever take away that passion. Its still in you, Remember God doesn't hate you, he'll ALWAYS love you just the same as he did before you fell! He may hate where you're at, so listen to his voice, he's calling you by name, speaking to your heart to pull you out of the darkness and tell you of better things to come! AND BELIEVE ME THERE ARE BETTER THINGS TO COME! Our God is not a God of comdemnation! He's a God of love with a sweet voice!
(If you would like to share your testimony of hope and God's love, or any other message that you feel God has laid on your heart to share, feel free to email me at heathermountjoy@yahoo.com)
Amanda Lowery:
Age. 24
My Testimony ...
I grew up in church, my parents were Sunday school teachers and i accepted Christ when I was 10 years old. My parents sheltered me growing and i was a very active member in the youth group through out middle and high school. I was in leadership classes 8th grade thru my senior year of high school. I always got the most christ-like award every time my youth group went on a retreat. I was a girl after God's own heart and always eager and excited to share God with everyone I met. My senior year is when it started go down hill. I had started dating this guy that had graduated a year before me. I had the idea to save myself for marriage and only three months into the relationship he started to pressure me for sex. He threw out all the classic lines and back then I was the type who thought I always had to have some sort of male companionship to satisfy me. i got comfortable in the relationship and told myself I couldn't find anyone better and gave in for the fear of having him leave me. Come to find out being in that relationship and given in to his desire didn't satisfy me, it only added to my emptiness. My life just continued to get worse. Being shelter for most of life i decided to do it all on my own when I turned 21. I got involved in the wrong crowds, partied, did drugs, and gave in to more guys. At the time I believed that was the only a guy would ever accept me, because having them accept for who I was never worked out too well. After all that I'd always end up single and broken hearted with a little more added to my emptiness. In the midst of this journey I would always run back to God then always run away. I wish I could tell you after all that had happened previously that it got better but it didnt. My freshman year of community college I got a job working at Bi-Lo and met a guy there that I was working with. We started dating and Like all the times before a red flag would go up giving me the que to leave but I didnt. I was this guys first girl friend and telling him my past and then that I gave it all up to Christ I thought he'd be understanding but the only thing he was was just anothe rdesriring guy. I tried and tried to bring him closer to God and every time Id grow closer to the Lord he grew more angry. This I just could not understand. Well he also started preasuring me and what I should've done was run but I stayed and ended up giving in all over again. I wrestled with that regret for the whole three years we dated. wish I could tell you that our relationship got better but it didnt. The whole three years of that realtionship I prayed and prayed That God would change him and that he would see the light I had with in me and be drawn to that. Only to realize the light I had wasnt so bright anymore because he had dimmed it so much. Finally I had enough and just prayed to God that he would move or move me and thats exactly what he did. Jacob ended up breaking up with me and in was one the roughest and toughest breakups ever. I literally went crazy and drove myself insane thinking about it constantly. I turned against God and told him That Id much rather have jacob back than follow Him again becasue the pain of being without jacob was more than I could handle. I told God I didnt need his help and I didnt want his help because i have messed up so bad and disappointed him so much and it would be unfair for me to ask for his help. I ended up going into a deep and dark depression for half a yr. I had reached the lowest I would ever go, I even thought of harming myself so I could leave this world and be in pain no more. Until one day, I had enough of feeling so awful I fell to my face and told God I give up, I couldnt do this alone any more and couldn't handle the pain on my own. that was the day i told myself from that point on I was never going to let any man, any one or anything ever bring me down that low agian. if anything bothered me I was just going laugh about it, shrug it off, keep my heead up, keep smiling and keep moving foward. Today I can tell you that God reveals to me every day how much he loves me and that he is always here. I dont worry about finding a guy to satisfy the whole in my heart and my loneliness. because that spot has been filled by a pretty important guy already ... God! God has called me into the ministry of missions and working with the youth. I tell everyone i still get lonely but now IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL! I am perfectly fine if God doesnt have a special someone for me and if its not in his plans for me to get married and have a fmaily because the joy I'd would get from witnessing to others and helping orphans would be infinately greater than the joy of having a family! I look back on that day when I thought I couldn't make anymore and just look up, smile and thank God for making stronger than I could ever have imagined! Because of the pain, disappointments and emptiness I went through. After overcoming that, God laid on my heart to start a mentoring group for young teenage girls, called "STILL THAT GIRL" based on Britt Nicole's song. Its for girls like me who have and had that passions to change the world but got lost along the way. You're still that girl! Dont let your trials and pain hinder, hide and ever take away that passion. Its still in you, Remember God doesn't hate you, he'll ALWAYS love you just the same as he did before you fell! He may hate where you're at, so listen to his voice, he's calling you by name, speaking to your heart to pull you out of the darkness and tell you of better things to come! AND BELIEVE ME THERE ARE BETTER THINGS TO COME! Our God is not a God of comdemnation! He's a God of love with a sweet voice!
If you are wanting to share your story please don't hold back of the fear of judgement! We are here to help and never to judge. Your story is a story of mircale given to you by God, its a gift. Don't let what others think stop you from reaching out!
Psalm 51:17
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, broken heart and contrite heart. O God, you will not despise!"
Psalm 51:17
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, broken heart and contrite heart. O God, you will not despise!"
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Lily Among Thorns
I want to share with you what has been on my mind lately. I came across a scripture the other day that really stood out to me. Song of Solomon 2:2 says, "But Solomon replied, Like the lily among thorns, so are you, my love, among the daughters." (AMP) What exactly does it mean to be a lily among thorns though? I recently read a book that emphasized being a "lily white princess" in the eyes of our Father. Leslie described "lily whiteness" as being washed clean, whiter than snow, and to remove sin's residue from our inner being; to be set apart.
Earlier today, I asked some of my Twitter followers to describe to me what it meant to be a set apart christian. Here are some of their answers:
1.) To be in the world, but not of it.
2.) To be real. Not hypocritical.
3.) Living a Godly lifestyle, without allowing yourself to be persuaded by the world.
My challenge to you is to become one of the few in this generation: a set apart young woman (or man) who allows the passionate intimacy she experiences with her Prince (God) to completely transform every other area of her life. This kind of fairy-tale romance between a young woman and her true Prince does not come without sacrifice. It does not come without pain. But it is the most priceless gift we will ever be offered. And it is the most beautiful, fulfilling existence we could ever know or imagine.
As we seek to live the set apart life, we will not likely be understood or appreciated by the world around us, and often not even the christian world. But we are not on this journey alone. Our heroic Prince is with us. He is tenderly shaping us into His princesses-lilies among thorns in this generation. In His presence is the fullness of joy. Live for His applause alone.
#Captivating
"Trust Me, My child." He says. "Trust Me with a fuller abandon than you ever have before. Trust Me, as minute succeeds minute, every day of your life, for as long as you live. And if you become conscious of anything hindering our relationship, do not hurt Me by turning away from Me. Draw all the closer to Me, come, run to Me. Allow Me to hide you, to protect you, even from yourself. Tell Me your deepest cares, your every trouble. Trust Me to keep my hand upon you. I will never leave you. I will shape you, mold you, and perfect you. Do not fear, O child of My love, do not fear. I love you."
-Amy Carmichael
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Isaiah 61:1-3
Just wanted to share one of my favorite scriptures with you I've found my purpose through this passage. This is what God has called me to do. I pray you find the same.
"The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." -Isaiah 61:1-3 ♥
This is the passage that Jesus pointed to when He began His ministry here on Earth. Of all the scriptures he could have chosen, this is the one He picked on the day He first publicly announced his mission. It must be important to him. It must be central. But what does it mean? It's supposed to be really good news, that's clear. It has something to do with healing hearts, setting someone free. Let me try and state it in words more familiar to us.
God has sent me on a mission.
I have some great news for you.
God has sent me to restore and release something.
And that something is you.
I am here to give you back your heart and set you free.
I am furious at the Enemy who did this to you, and I will fight against Him.
Let me comfort you.
For, dear one, I will bestow beauty upon you, where you have known only devastation.
Joy, in places of your deep sorrow.
And I will robe your heart in thankful praise in exchange for your resignation and despair.
You are the glorious Image Bearer of the Lord Jesus Christ- the crown of His creation. You have been assulted. You have fallen to your own resources. Your enemy has siezed upon your wounds and your sins to pin your heart down. Now the Son of God has come to ransom you, and to heal your broken, wounded, bleeding heart, and to set you free from bondage. He came for the brokenhearted captives. That's me. That's you. He came to restore the glorious creation that you are. And set you free... To be yourself.
#Captivated
"The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." -Isaiah 61:1-3 ♥
This is the passage that Jesus pointed to when He began His ministry here on Earth. Of all the scriptures he could have chosen, this is the one He picked on the day He first publicly announced his mission. It must be important to him. It must be central. But what does it mean? It's supposed to be really good news, that's clear. It has something to do with healing hearts, setting someone free. Let me try and state it in words more familiar to us.
God has sent me on a mission.
I have some great news for you.
God has sent me to restore and release something.
And that something is you.
I am here to give you back your heart and set you free.
I am furious at the Enemy who did this to you, and I will fight against Him.
Let me comfort you.
For, dear one, I will bestow beauty upon you, where you have known only devastation.
Joy, in places of your deep sorrow.
And I will robe your heart in thankful praise in exchange for your resignation and despair.
You are the glorious Image Bearer of the Lord Jesus Christ- the crown of His creation. You have been assulted. You have fallen to your own resources. Your enemy has siezed upon your wounds and your sins to pin your heart down. Now the Son of God has come to ransom you, and to heal your broken, wounded, bleeding heart, and to set you free from bondage. He came for the brokenhearted captives. That's me. That's you. He came to restore the glorious creation that you are. And set you free... To be yourself.
#Captivated
Friday, October 19, 2012
You Are More Than Enough!
Earlier today, I asked my Twitter followers what issues they believed most young women face on a daily basis. The number one answer I received? "Self-Esteem/Self-Worth"
When I received all of these answers from so many girls who were facing this issue every day, my heart broke for each of them. It was only a few months ago that I was in their place. Asking myself over and over again, "What is wrong with me?" And answering my own question with phrases like, "You're not pretty enough. You're not smart enough. You don't have enough friends, or the nicest clothes. And you will probably never amount to much in this life."
It wasn't until God placed three amazing people in my path to teach me a life-changing lesson, that I was able to see myself as being valuable! Each person taught me a different lesson, using different scriptures, which I will share with you later.
Society has completely distorted the mind of young women in our generation! One thing that society taught me, that I allowed myself to believe for years was that if you believed that you were beautiful, or valuable in any way, then you were just conceited and arrogant. But this could not possibly be more wrong! Confidence is beauty! Just last night, I happened to see something that a friend of mine posted on Twitter, and I want to share it with you! She said, "When you see me passing, it ought to make you proud#phenomenalwoman." I can not even describe to you how much I love to see posts like this! I could not possibly agree with her tweet more! This particular woman, is beautiful, inside and out... And she knows it! Not because she is conceited or arrogant, but because she knows who her God is!
To prove my point, I also asked my Twitter followers what society has taught them about physical beauty. Their answers?
1.) Skinny is perfect.
2.) To be what everyone else wants to see & also to show it off
3.) That you have to be unhealthily thin, have straight white teeth, wear skimpy clothes, and be really tan to be "cool."
4.) If you aren't "model" material, you aren't beautiful enough.
Guess what ladies? Society has lied to you!! Proof? Even models aren't "model material!"
True beauty is having confidence in yourself. It's knowing who you are, despite what society tells you about who you should be.
You are enough....
You are a child of God (John 1:12)
You are precious (Psalm 139:17-18, 1Peter 3:3-4, Isaiah 43:4)
You are beautiful (Song of Solomon 4:1)
You are valuable (Proverbs 31:10, Malachi 3:17, Luke 12:7)
You have a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11)
You are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)
You are chosen. (1Peter 2:9)
You are crowned with honor (Psalms 8:3-5)
You are a new creation (2Corinthians 5:17)
You are loved (Psalm 36:5)
When I received all of these answers from so many girls who were facing this issue every day, my heart broke for each of them. It was only a few months ago that I was in their place. Asking myself over and over again, "What is wrong with me?" And answering my own question with phrases like, "You're not pretty enough. You're not smart enough. You don't have enough friends, or the nicest clothes. And you will probably never amount to much in this life."
It wasn't until God placed three amazing people in my path to teach me a life-changing lesson, that I was able to see myself as being valuable! Each person taught me a different lesson, using different scriptures, which I will share with you later.
Society has completely distorted the mind of young women in our generation! One thing that society taught me, that I allowed myself to believe for years was that if you believed that you were beautiful, or valuable in any way, then you were just conceited and arrogant. But this could not possibly be more wrong! Confidence is beauty! Just last night, I happened to see something that a friend of mine posted on Twitter, and I want to share it with you! She said, "When you see me passing, it ought to make you proud
To prove my point, I also asked my Twitter followers what society has taught them about physical beauty. Their answers?
1.) Skinny is perfect.
2.) To be what everyone else wants to see & also to show it off
3.) That you have to be unhealthily thin, have straight white teeth, wear skimpy clothes, and be really tan to be "cool."
4.) If you aren't "model" material, you aren't beautiful enough.
Guess what ladies? Society has lied to you!! Proof? Even models aren't "model material!"
True beauty is having confidence in yourself. It's knowing who you are, despite what society tells you about who you should be.
You are enough....
You are a child of God (John 1:12)
You are precious (Psalm 139:17-18, 1Peter 3:3-4, Isaiah 43:4)
You are beautiful (Song of Solomon 4:1)
You are valuable (Proverbs 31:10, Malachi 3:17, Luke 12:7)
You have a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11)
You are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)
You are chosen. (1Peter 2:9)
You are crowned with honor (Psalms 8:3-5)
You are a new creation (2Corinthians 5:17)
You are loved (Psalm 36:5)
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Ruth, Chapter 1
God has given several beautiful examples of Godly women throughout the Bible. One of my personal favorites is Ruth. She set the perfect example of who we should be as women... Willing to leave everything behind, not worring about who she would marry, but how she could get closer to God, and to the woman that God had placed in her life. She was more worried about God's plan for her life than for her own. If only more women today had the same sense of wreckless abandonment. For those of you who have not yet read the book of Ruth, I have posted the first chapter below (Amplified version). Or, if you would rather read it from your Bible, you can skip to the end for the "points to ponder!"
1IN THE days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons.2The man’s name was Elimelech and his wife’s name was Naomi and his two sons were named Mahlon [invalid] and Chilion [pining]; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They went to the country of Moab and continued there.3But Elimelech, who Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.4And they took wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They dwelt there about ten years;5And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them, so the woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband.6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in Moab how the Lord had visited His people in giving them food.7So she left the place where she was, her two daughters-in-law with her, and they started on the way back to Judah.8But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.9The Lord grant that you may find a home and rest, each in the house of her husband! Then she kissed them and they wept aloud.10And they said to her, No, we will return with you to your people.11But Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that may become your husbands?12Turn back, my daughters, go; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband tonight and should bear sons,13Would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? ((NOTE:sons who could become your husbands: The Old Testament Law stated that if a man died, his brother had to marry the widow to protect her and carry on the family name. Naomi’s comment here (“sons who could grow up to be your husbands”) refers to levirate marriage, the obligation of a dead man’s brother to care for the widow (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). This law kept the widow from poverty and provided a way for the family name of the dead husband to continue.)) No, my daughters; it is far more bitter for me than for you that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.14Then they wept aloud again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law [good-bye], but Ruth clung to her.15And Naomi said, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.16And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.17Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said no more.19So they both went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred about them, and said, Is this Naomi?20And she said to them, Call me not Naomi [pleasant]; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.21I went out full, but the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Points to ponder:
1.) Describe Naomi’s condition after ten years inMoab
NOTE: There was almost nothing worse than being a widow in the ancient world. Widows were taken advantage of or ignored. They would equate to the homeless in American society. They were almost always poverty stricken. God’s law, therefore, provided that the nearest relative of the dead husband should care for the widow; but Naomi had no relatives inMoab Israel
2.) Are you surprised by Ruth's decision to stay with her mother-in-law?
3.) What was Ruth giving up by choosing to stay with Naomi?
APPLICATION FOR DAILY LIVING:
1.) When her sons died, Naomi believed that God had turned against her and Ruth (chapter 1). Why did she feel so desperate? Have you ever felt this desperate or have you known anyone who felt bitter like Naomi? If so, what caused these feelings and how did you or your friend get through this difficult period?
2.) What did Ruth do to help Naomi when they got to Bethlehem in Judah? (2:1-18). What seem to have been the risks for women who did this kind of work? How could the fact that Ruth was a foreigner (from Moab) have made the situation even more difficult Are there people with different cultural or religious backgrounds living in your community? If so, how are they treated?
1IN THE days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem of Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons.2The man’s name was Elimelech and his wife’s name was Naomi and his two sons were named Mahlon [invalid] and Chilion [pining]; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They went to the country of Moab and continued there.3But Elimelech, who Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.4And they took wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They dwelt there about ten years;5And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them, so the woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband.6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in Moab how the Lord had visited His people in giving them food.7So she left the place where she was, her two daughters-in-law with her, and they started on the way back to Judah.8But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.9The Lord grant that you may find a home and rest, each in the house of her husband! Then she kissed them and they wept aloud.10And they said to her, No, we will return with you to your people.11But Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that may become your husbands?12Turn back, my daughters, go; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband tonight and should bear sons,13Would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? ((NOTE:sons who could become your husbands: The Old Testament Law stated that if a man died, his brother had to marry the widow to protect her and carry on the family name. Naomi’s comment here (“sons who could grow up to be your husbands”) refers to levirate marriage, the obligation of a dead man’s brother to care for the widow (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). This law kept the widow from poverty and provided a way for the family name of the dead husband to continue.)) No, my daughters; it is far more bitter for me than for you that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.14Then they wept aloud again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law [good-bye], but Ruth clung to her.15And Naomi said, See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.16And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.17Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said no more.19So they both went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred about them, and said, Is this Naomi?20And she said to them, Call me not Naomi [pleasant]; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.21I went out full, but the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Points to ponder:
1.) Describe Naomi’s condition after ten years in
NOTE: There was almost nothing worse than being a widow in the ancient world. Widows were taken advantage of or ignored. They would equate to the homeless in American society. They were almost always poverty stricken. God’s law, therefore, provided that the nearest relative of the dead husband should care for the widow; but Naomi had no relatives in
2.) Are you surprised by Ruth's decision to stay with her mother-in-law?
3.) What was Ruth giving up by choosing to stay with Naomi?
APPLICATION FOR DAILY LIVING:
1.) When her sons died, Naomi believed that God had turned against her and Ruth (chapter 1). Why did she feel so desperate? Have you ever felt this desperate or have you known anyone who felt bitter like Naomi? If so, what caused these feelings and how did you or your friend get through this difficult period?
2.) What did Ruth do to help Naomi when they got to Bethlehem in Judah? (2:1-18). What seem to have been the risks for women who did this kind of work? How could the fact that Ruth was a foreigner (from Moab) have made the situation even more difficult Are there people with different cultural or religious backgrounds living in your community? If so, how are they treated?
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