Catherine Wood (Marshall) gave this speech in an old 1950's film called "A Man Called Peter". This speech is as relevant today as it was back then. May these words help you reflect on the woman that God created you to be and not what society has molded you into. 

“And now if you’ll let me, I’d like to talk as a girl, to the girls here this afternoon. I know if you boys will listen, they’ll listen, too. And I’m just as sure that the only reason they’ve been just as rude and silly as you’ve been, is because they have the mistaken idea that you wanted them to be.”
    “I never thought much about being a girl, until two years ago, when I learned from a man what a wonderful thing it is to be a woman. Until that Sunday morning, I considered myself lucky to be living in the twentieth century, the century of progress and emancipation. The century when, supposedly, we women came into our own. But, I’d forgotten that the emancipation of woman really began with Christianity, when a girl, a very young girl, received the greatest honor in history. She was chosen to be the mother of the Savior of the World. And when her Son grew up, and began to teach His way of life, He ushered woman into a new place in human relations. He accorded her a dignity she’d never known before, and crowned her with such glory, that down through the ages, she was revered, protected, and loved. Men wanted to think of her as different from them-selves; better; made of finer, more delicate clay.”
    “It remained for the twentieth century, the century of progress, to pull her down from her throne. She wanted equality-for 1900 years she had not been equal, she had been superior. To stand equal with men, naturally she had to step down. Now, being equal with men, she has won all their rights and privileges; the right to get drunk; the right to swear; the right to smoke; the right to work like a man. To think like a man, to act like a man-we’ve won all this, but how can we feel so triumphant, when men no longer feel as romantic about us, as they did about our grandmothers? When we’ve lost something sweet and mysterious, something as hard to describe as the haunting, wistful fragrance of violets. Of course, these aren’t my original thoughts, they’re the thoughts I heard that Sunday morning. But, from them, some thoughts of my own were born, and the conclusion reached, that somewhere along the line, we women got off the track.”
    “Poets have become immortal by remembering on paper, a girl’s smile. But I’ve never read a poem rhapsodizing over a girl’s giggles at a smutty joke; or I’ve never heard a man brag that his sweetheart or his wife could drink just as much as he, and become just as intoxicated. I’ve never heard a man say that a girl’s mouth was prettier with a cigarette hanging out of it. Or that her hair smelled divinely of stale tobacco.”

God created woman differently than man. She is not better nor is she less important. She was wonderfully and fearfully made by God. In today's society there has been much confusion on this subject. I pray that the image of "woman" the way God created her would be restored. In Jesus name!

"The good God does not need years to accomplish His work of love in a soul; one ray from His Heart can, in an instant, make His flower bloom for eternity."-Therese of Lisieux

You shall be Holy...

 “Be happy when you are blamed and accused wrongly, for then you have the chance to see all the bitter, hostile or self-pitying responses that your sinful soul wants to spew out – as if these puny things could in any way defend you! Watch and see if any of these poisons come out of you when your spirit is pricked by an accusation. Only then can you see yourself as you are, and confess thy sin that is within you and forsake yourself again into the Lord’s care.”
-Teresa of Avila, Majestic is Your Name

Renewing of the mind!

Excerpts from "Pursuit of the Holy"

Excerpts from: "Pursuit of the Holy" by Corey Russel

"I believe the greatest hindrance to our having real revelation of Christ is living on what others have told us about Him, instead of pursuing personal revelation of Him. Most of us base our thoughts and ideas of God on what our parents, siblings, friends, pastors, youth leaders, or Sunday school teachers said about Him, instead of pursuing personal revelation of Him." pg. 21

"To know Christ is to love Christ. We are cold in our affections, our sacrifices and our devotion because we lack the true revelation of Christ. When Jesus is truly revealed to us, we are awakened to love-love that causes us to forsake all the fleeting pleasures of this temporal age and throw ourselves into eternal things, into the age to come."pg. 24

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,  redeeming the time, because the days are evil."-Ephesians 5:15-16

Definitions:

• Circumspect- careful to consider all circumstances and possible consequences. (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
• Redeem-to rescue from loss, making the most. (Strong's Greek Dictionary)

     As women of God we understand that there is more to life then what meets the eye. To some degree or another we understand that our physical bodies, our possessions, our time here on earth is temporal. Hebrews 11 speaks of men and women who lived their lives in light of eternity. Verses 13-15 says, "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."


These men and women lived with eternity set before them. Although we understand this truth, it's easy to get caught up in worldly affairs. These things may not necessarily be bad. Maybe it's a new job or school. Or maybe it's a new relationship, or a wedding ; ) Truth is there are many things in this life that can cause us to take our eyes off Jesus. In fact, this is exactly what the enemy wants. Paul  exhorts the Ephesian believers to live carefully. The word circumspectly used in this verse means to consider all circumstances and possible consequences.  As I read this scripture I'm challenged to question what I say and do before I do them. Are the words that come out of my mouth tearing people down or are they building people up? Does my lifestyle line up with the Word of God? Am I causing people to stumble by my actions? Am I pointing people to Christ or turning them away from Him? 

We are to walk and live our lives with wisdom not foolishly. A little easier said then done but praise God we have the Holy Spirit. When we listen, obey and let Him lead us He makes it possible for us. But in all honesty this may not always be easy. We may find ourselves struggling with our flesh to do what the spirit desires. I encourage you sisters...don't fight it and trust the Lord.

... redeeming the time (making the most) because the days are evil. 
     
Ladies,  DO NOT sleep we are at war.  The days are evil. This year has been filled with some amazing highs but at the same time I've experienced some crippling lows. It wasn't until recent that I realized I've been in a midst of a war completely unprepared. 

Paul tells the Ephesians to put on the full armor of God, so that they can stand against the devils schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:11-12

Let us make most of our time because we're living in a world that opposes cross. As we work out our salvation be aware there is an enemy waiting for the opportune time to attack. Let us be awake and live wisely.

You represent Christ to a world who does not know Him. You are a light in darkness. Shine!

Father,
   I lift of my sisters to you and pray that they would abide in you and yield to your Holy Spirit. Give them a greater reality of eternity. Fill them with wisdom as they make decisions everyday and give them the grace to live circumspectly. I pray that their lives will bring you Glory. In Jesus name! Amen!

 

     It's been on my mind for a while now to start blogging again. However, I'm changing things up a bit. I'd like my blog to be geared toward women. I've been so blessed to be discipled by some amazing women of God. What they have poured into me I'd like to share it with others. At the same time I realize that there is still a lot to learn, so I highly encourage your input. I hope to make this blog a place of encouragement where we can build one another up. A place of restoration...a breathe of fresh air.

With that I'd like to leave you all with some scripture to meditate on.

 Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

Walk in Wisdom 

 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

 Ephesians 5:14-21

                                                        Arise Daughter and Shine!

Check out Sam and my new blog site...

http://samandnat.wordpress.com/