I’m choosing to address the next two chapters in my book in the same blog. Being a Lady of Purity and Lady of Security go hand in hand in my opinion and lead to one another.
We all know what the word purity means but I decided to look it up anyway. Here is the definition online from dictionary.com:
Purity-
1. The condition or quality of being pure; freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes, etc
2. Freedom of any admixture or modifying addiction
3. Ceremonial or ritual cleanness
4. Freedom from guilt or evil; innocence
5. Physical chastity; virginity
6. Freedom from foreign or inappropriate elements; careful correctness
7. The chroma, saturation, or degree of freedom of white of a given color
8. Cleanness or spotlessness, as of garments
The word that jumped out at me in all the multitudes of definitions was the word freedom. We all know that being a Lady of Purity would mostly relate to the 5th definition. But in reading all the others; I found it interesting that purity could mean freedom of many things. In today’s world being a Lady of Purity is seen as a confinement, a limitation in life; when in fact it’s the direct opposite—it’s freedom. I encourage you to think about how being a Lady (or man) of Purity could be a freedom and provide freedom of so many negative things, thoughts, and feelings in our lives. Really think about it!
1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has seized you expect what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
Leading into being a Lady of Security, I think everyone would agree that some girls and women think that getting the guys and perhaps not being a lady of purity will get them the acceptance and love they crave. But as the author of Lady in Waiting asks, “Why do women tend to “go after the guys”? Why do women experience difficulty being still and waiting for the man to initiate and develop the relationship? You find the answer in one word: insecurity. An insecure woman has her world centered on something (marriage) or someone (Mr. Right) that can be lost or taken away. Insecurity keeps a woman from experiencing consistent joy even within a relationship because a man cannot provide security, only God can.”
When a woman wrote into an advice column and asked “What can I do to get him to notice me?” This was the advice given:
“My answer is ‘nothing.’ That is, nothing toward the man.
Don’t call him. Don’t write a little note with a smiley face or a flower or a fish under the signature or put it in his campus mailbox. Don’t slide up to him in the hall and gasp, ‘I’ve just got to talk to you!’ Don’t look woebegone, don’t ignore him, don’t pursue him, don’t do him favors, don’t talk about him to a nine carefully selected listeners.
There is one thing you can do: turn the whole business over to God. If he’s the man God has for you, ‘No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly’ (Ps. 84:11). Direct your energies to obedience, not to nailing the man. God has His own methods of getting the two of you together. He doesn’t need any help or advice from you.”
This is not saying to never do nice things for a man, EVER! It’s simply warning you to check your motives. A woman with selfish motivation mentally plots the next maneuver to capture the attention of the man of her dreams. As the author calls it, do a little “heart flossing” asking the Lord to remove any impure motives before you act. Manipulation and maneuvering can be deadly. If you maneuver to get a man, you will have to maneuver to keep him. So next time you find yourself bending over backwards to do something nice for a guy (or girl for my male readers), ask yourself what your motives are. Would you do the same thing for a friend who you’re not “going after?” Check yo self! That is “Motive Check” yo self!
Trust in the lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord trust in him and he will do this; he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. – Psalm 37: 4-7
To be a Lady of Security and Lady of Purity is to experience all the joy God provides for you and trusting in him TO provide that Joy and love. My prayer for you (and myself) is that you be secure in his words and your knowledge of his teaching, that he will provide the desires of your heart.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Lady of Devotion
The Single Gift
How blessed you are, you single one,
Don’t talk of care and woes.
You’ve got too much to be thankful for.
Oh what, you’d like to know.
It’s no mistake, no misdirection
Of God’s perfect plan
That you’ve not found your special lady
Or you, that certain man.
God loves you so and has much more
To give than you’ve ever received.
That He’s giving His best to you right now,
You really must believe.
His best is Himself, do you have it in full
Or only a bit on the side.
No man can meet your needs like God,
Nor can a lovely bride.
If your life’s not complete, you know that Jesus is
And your life He will fill
If you’ll only put Him first each day
And live to do His will.
He’s gifted you for undistracted
Devotion to the Lord.
There should be nothing that can interfere
With Him and prayer and the World.
Unless you let down the guard of your heart
And let others take His place,
Then you’ll lack joy and peace and hope
And not experience his grace.
So give your heart right back to God,
Let Him keep it safe for you.
And when it’s better than His best,
He’ll make your one into two.
Donna L. Mihura
Many seek God, but only for His hand. They don’t want God as much as they want something from God, such as a man, happiness, or a family. This impure search for God is limited to what you can get. It is more of a self-love than a God-love. This seeking will end is misery, not in the union of love you desire. God cannot be used like your credit card. He knows your motives. To grow in your knowledge of God, you must seek God correctly, which means you must also seek God with a pure heart.
God has given you a precious privileged time. Don’t waste a day of it! You will never have it again. These days can be treasure-finding days in your Kingly Father’s chambers. As you linger at the window ledge searching for a glimmer of your knight’s shining armor, don’t miss the jewels your Father has for you to adorn yourself. Will you grow cold and bitter at the window still, or will you hold your royal head high, glowing in your Father’s love and attention. The choice remains with you, dear princess. Your Father will not force you to turn from the window, but He longs to fellowship with you. Come into His chambers, delight in His Presence. May you be found in Him—a Lady of Devotion.
How blessed you are, you single one,
Don’t talk of care and woes.
You’ve got too much to be thankful for.
Oh what, you’d like to know.
It’s no mistake, no misdirection
Of God’s perfect plan
That you’ve not found your special lady
Or you, that certain man.
God loves you so and has much more
To give than you’ve ever received.
That He’s giving His best to you right now,
You really must believe.
His best is Himself, do you have it in full
Or only a bit on the side.
No man can meet your needs like God,
Nor can a lovely bride.
If your life’s not complete, you know that Jesus is
And your life He will fill
If you’ll only put Him first each day
And live to do His will.
He’s gifted you for undistracted
Devotion to the Lord.
There should be nothing that can interfere
With Him and prayer and the World.
Unless you let down the guard of your heart
And let others take His place,
Then you’ll lack joy and peace and hope
And not experience his grace.
So give your heart right back to God,
Let Him keep it safe for you.
And when it’s better than His best,
He’ll make your one into two.
Donna L. Mihura
Many seek God, but only for His hand. They don’t want God as much as they want something from God, such as a man, happiness, or a family. This impure search for God is limited to what you can get. It is more of a self-love than a God-love. This seeking will end is misery, not in the union of love you desire. God cannot be used like your credit card. He knows your motives. To grow in your knowledge of God, you must seek God correctly, which means you must also seek God with a pure heart.
God has given you a precious privileged time. Don’t waste a day of it! You will never have it again. These days can be treasure-finding days in your Kingly Father’s chambers. As you linger at the window ledge searching for a glimmer of your knight’s shining armor, don’t miss the jewels your Father has for you to adorn yourself. Will you grow cold and bitter at the window still, or will you hold your royal head high, glowing in your Father’s love and attention. The choice remains with you, dear princess. Your Father will not force you to turn from the window, but He longs to fellowship with you. Come into His chambers, delight in His Presence. May you be found in Him—a Lady of Devotion.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Lady of Virtue
How in the world can I try to write a blog after the season finale of The Bachelor a.k.a The Jerk. I haven’t even kept up the entire season I’ve just watched an episode here and there and the Finale of course but…seriously? Did he just do that on after the final rose? Wow. Sometimes I guess you just never know which way things are going to go and no sure thing is ever a sure thing! (But really, do those relationships ever work out, we’re on season 13 and one out of 13 have worked out so not good odds)
Let’s talk about being a Lady of Virtue, which I believe Melissa was by the way. He he. Ok I’ll drop the bachelor references at least to make it through being a Lady of Virtue.
As the weekend was coming to a close and I spent some GREAT time with a great friend having great conversation, I decided to read the next chapter of my book. I wasn’t surprised at all that it was exactly the same thing me and my friend had been talking about just minutes before! My very dear friend and I have been going through an almost identical situation and luckily we have each other to go through it with. We talked about the fact that sometimes we can get caught up in our situations that swirl around us in life that sometimes we lose sight of who we are and who we pride ourselves on being; a lady of virtue.
The chapter beings by describing the journey of a pearl. We all know that pearls are made from a grain of sand trapped in an oyster shell so I’m not going to go into the detail about it other than the grain of sand is irritated by the rubbing of the tissue and so on. The author continues to show that many single women view themselves as the ugly oyster shell as opposed to the piece inside of us, our heart, which creates who we really are through the trials and tribulations of singleness (our piece of sand that is being made into a perfect pearl). There are many examples through the bible that can show us that it’s the inner character that matters most, and we’ve all heard our parents and advisors say the same thing too, so this is not news!
Something to keep in mind, the way that we view a situation and ourselves differ from the way God views it. “An ugly oyster shell is an unlikely place to find a lovely gem, but Isaiah 55:8 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways…” You may see an ugly shell, but God sees the beauty He is creating in you. Are the sands of singleness causing you bitterness right now, or are you allowing these trials to change you into a pearl? The Lord wants you to be a Lady of Virtue-a costly, beautiful pearl for all to admire.”
Today’s society teaches us that it is looks that get the guy but God shows us that true beauty is wisdom, kindness, and godliness. “Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:4 The author poses the question of what characteristics a true godly man is looking for-think about if he should be after your looks which fade or your heart which continues to grow and be made into a pearl with virtuous qualities. What kind of guy do you want and what do you want him to be after? We all want our prince, right?
I can’t help but think about the classic prince and princess stories that are read to us as children and still pressed into our minds as adults. How do you become a princess? What makes a princess a true princess?
“To marry a prince, you must first become a princess. To marry into royalty, you must be appropriately prepared. A princess has to learn how to properly act, dress, and speak so she would honor the royal family. Is it any wonder that a heavenly princess must prepare inwardly for the calling to which she will give her life? As you set your attention on developing godly character, Christ will change you into the beautiful princess He created you to be.”
Ok so how to prepare, what to strive for? The author provides a list of qualities that a Lady of Virtue would encompass or strive for: A person to whom all people are attracted (friendly), seeking God first, Interesting-with goals for yourself personally, becoming the lady God wants you to be, realistic, truly interested in the person you date and his best interests, one who is spiritually challenging, one who gives friendship, communicates verbally, committed to trusting God, prepared for lasting friendships, open to other friendships, secure in the Lord, building positive qualities in yourself, trusting God, and patiently waiting. These qualities would truly make for a princess. I truly believe that these are not hard qualities to possess, AS LONG as the Lord is in your heart and mind in what you think and do. I can’t help but think back to my conversation with my friend and we talked about these qualities and how sometimes we drop one or two or more of them because we get so wrapped up in…junk! As long as we remember who is at the top of our list of priorities (God) and we strive to grow in him and keep him on top, we can all be princesses! Isn’t that what everyone told us in the first place when we were little girls? Well good news is its true!
I’m not going to go into much of my personal life with this one but I will admit that due to recent stressful situations I have slacked off on becoming the princess I want to be. The thing about dropping a quality or two (i.e. being friendly etc.) of becoming a princess is quite dramatic actually and can have further effects you may not have considered. It’s noticed by many people who expect all these qualities of you, it’s what attracted them to you in the first place, and when you drop them, it makes you less attractive to them; this could turn into a vicious cycle if you think about it! A situation causing you to drop a quality hence losing “support” hence being discouraged and dropping another quality and so on! I want to encourage whoever needs some encouragement (as I think we all could use it) to not lose sight of becoming a princess and becoming who God intends for us to be; a pearl. Remember your value to the Lord and to those around you.
I am so grateful for my wonderful friend and her insight and friendship! But she brought this (paragraph above) to my attention and gave me insight and advice to become that person again who people were attracted to and fell in love with and not to let the situations I face change who I am, because that will only make the situation worse. I shall continue and strive to be a lady of Virtue! Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone be happy all the time and never have a negative thought or feeling EVER! Emotions are real and there are bad ones too and they are meant to be felt! They are not meant to run our lives and dictate who we are though. Trust me there are bad emotions, such as the emotions I share with Melissa on Jason’s actions tonight on The Bachelor! Still shocked. But if you’re reading this remember that no matter how rough you get rubbed, you’re the pearl in the making.
I feel like this blog was somewhat jumpy and not as well put together as others but, It’s getting late! Goodnight!
Let’s talk about being a Lady of Virtue, which I believe Melissa was by the way. He he. Ok I’ll drop the bachelor references at least to make it through being a Lady of Virtue.
As the weekend was coming to a close and I spent some GREAT time with a great friend having great conversation, I decided to read the next chapter of my book. I wasn’t surprised at all that it was exactly the same thing me and my friend had been talking about just minutes before! My very dear friend and I have been going through an almost identical situation and luckily we have each other to go through it with. We talked about the fact that sometimes we can get caught up in our situations that swirl around us in life that sometimes we lose sight of who we are and who we pride ourselves on being; a lady of virtue.
The chapter beings by describing the journey of a pearl. We all know that pearls are made from a grain of sand trapped in an oyster shell so I’m not going to go into the detail about it other than the grain of sand is irritated by the rubbing of the tissue and so on. The author continues to show that many single women view themselves as the ugly oyster shell as opposed to the piece inside of us, our heart, which creates who we really are through the trials and tribulations of singleness (our piece of sand that is being made into a perfect pearl). There are many examples through the bible that can show us that it’s the inner character that matters most, and we’ve all heard our parents and advisors say the same thing too, so this is not news!
Something to keep in mind, the way that we view a situation and ourselves differ from the way God views it. “An ugly oyster shell is an unlikely place to find a lovely gem, but Isaiah 55:8 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways…” You may see an ugly shell, but God sees the beauty He is creating in you. Are the sands of singleness causing you bitterness right now, or are you allowing these trials to change you into a pearl? The Lord wants you to be a Lady of Virtue-a costly, beautiful pearl for all to admire.”
Today’s society teaches us that it is looks that get the guy but God shows us that true beauty is wisdom, kindness, and godliness. “Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:4 The author poses the question of what characteristics a true godly man is looking for-think about if he should be after your looks which fade or your heart which continues to grow and be made into a pearl with virtuous qualities. What kind of guy do you want and what do you want him to be after? We all want our prince, right?
I can’t help but think about the classic prince and princess stories that are read to us as children and still pressed into our minds as adults. How do you become a princess? What makes a princess a true princess?
“To marry a prince, you must first become a princess. To marry into royalty, you must be appropriately prepared. A princess has to learn how to properly act, dress, and speak so she would honor the royal family. Is it any wonder that a heavenly princess must prepare inwardly for the calling to which she will give her life? As you set your attention on developing godly character, Christ will change you into the beautiful princess He created you to be.”
Ok so how to prepare, what to strive for? The author provides a list of qualities that a Lady of Virtue would encompass or strive for: A person to whom all people are attracted (friendly), seeking God first, Interesting-with goals for yourself personally, becoming the lady God wants you to be, realistic, truly interested in the person you date and his best interests, one who is spiritually challenging, one who gives friendship, communicates verbally, committed to trusting God, prepared for lasting friendships, open to other friendships, secure in the Lord, building positive qualities in yourself, trusting God, and patiently waiting. These qualities would truly make for a princess. I truly believe that these are not hard qualities to possess, AS LONG as the Lord is in your heart and mind in what you think and do. I can’t help but think back to my conversation with my friend and we talked about these qualities and how sometimes we drop one or two or more of them because we get so wrapped up in…junk! As long as we remember who is at the top of our list of priorities (God) and we strive to grow in him and keep him on top, we can all be princesses! Isn’t that what everyone told us in the first place when we were little girls? Well good news is its true!
I’m not going to go into much of my personal life with this one but I will admit that due to recent stressful situations I have slacked off on becoming the princess I want to be. The thing about dropping a quality or two (i.e. being friendly etc.) of becoming a princess is quite dramatic actually and can have further effects you may not have considered. It’s noticed by many people who expect all these qualities of you, it’s what attracted them to you in the first place, and when you drop them, it makes you less attractive to them; this could turn into a vicious cycle if you think about it! A situation causing you to drop a quality hence losing “support” hence being discouraged and dropping another quality and so on! I want to encourage whoever needs some encouragement (as I think we all could use it) to not lose sight of becoming a princess and becoming who God intends for us to be; a pearl. Remember your value to the Lord and to those around you.
I am so grateful for my wonderful friend and her insight and friendship! But she brought this (paragraph above) to my attention and gave me insight and advice to become that person again who people were attracted to and fell in love with and not to let the situations I face change who I am, because that will only make the situation worse. I shall continue and strive to be a lady of Virtue! Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone be happy all the time and never have a negative thought or feeling EVER! Emotions are real and there are bad ones too and they are meant to be felt! They are not meant to run our lives and dictate who we are though. Trust me there are bad emotions, such as the emotions I share with Melissa on Jason’s actions tonight on The Bachelor! Still shocked. But if you’re reading this remember that no matter how rough you get rubbed, you’re the pearl in the making.
I feel like this blog was somewhat jumpy and not as well put together as others but, It’s getting late! Goodnight!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Lady Of Faith
It has been a while since I updated but I have not shirked on my readings! I have been very busy lately though so I’ll do a quick synopsis before getting into the most recent chapter of Lady in Waiting.
First off, I finished all four books in the Twilight series. (Yay me!!) All in all I really liked the series and I don’t think I’ve read that much my entire life! My favorite books were the first one, Twilight, and the third one, Eclipse. I love the Cullen’s, enough said.
The next chapter in the book Lady in Waiting I’ve been reading is about being a Lady of Faith. I don’t have a whole lot to say about this chapter, it wasn’t that long but the message was pretty strong and clear. The author talks about spouse-hunting and how women try to place themselves in the path of where Mr. Right may be. I have to say I agree that girls, myself included, do this and are constantly looking for a new place to meet someone or make things go our way. In doing so we are undermining Gods will and cluttering our vision with fear and doubt that God will provide a spouse for us! All unintentionally of course! I trust God to provide what I need and that he knows best (whether that means marrying or not), so why am I and other women trying to help him out by placing ourselves in “hot spots”? We’re scared he’s forgotten about us and our love story that he wrote. We need to remind ourselves that he has it under control, not us. What we as single women think is right and what he knows is right are sometimes different. If we keep our eyes clear of doubt and fear and focus on our faith in him, he will provide what he knows we need. There’s no need to keep strategically placing yourself in the path you may think Mr. Right may be! In doing so, we may be going in the wrong direction completely because we’re not focused on the right Mr. Right.
Think about it!
Ok I wanted to wrap things up in expressing my excitement, joy, and thankfulness to the Lord about my church’s new sanctuary being finished!!! It has been years in the making and is beautiful and a blessing from God! I’m bummed I’m sick tonight and not at the dedication ceremony but I’m excited about the Silent Auction fundraiser tomorrow night and services on Sunday(I’m determined to be feeling better for these events). I’ll post pictures of the new sanctuary as soon as I get some! Praise him! WE have much to be thankful for.
I left last Thursday, heading to Dallas to join and help my mom and her boyfriend Joey, in taking care of his two granddaughters. We hit up the zoo and the aquarium; the weekend was packed and exhausting! Here are a few pictures and video!
I had a great time but on the last day I started to feel crummy. I started taking meds which held off the illness for a few days, I suppose. I felt very sick Tuesday night, toughed it out Wednesday and woke up Thursday feeling like a train had run me over!! I went to the doctor who informed me that I had a bacterial infection that was causing me to feel so bad! I was terribly achy, headache, couch, sore throat, you name it! Anyway, I stayed home trying to sleep of the illness (with the help of my prescriptions) for a few days and I’m still trying to recover. Blah! But as I said this hasn’t stopped me from my readings!
First off, I finished all four books in the Twilight series. (Yay me!!) All in all I really liked the series and I don’t think I’ve read that much my entire life! My favorite books were the first one, Twilight, and the third one, Eclipse. I love the Cullen’s, enough said.
The next chapter in the book Lady in Waiting I’ve been reading is about being a Lady of Faith. I don’t have a whole lot to say about this chapter, it wasn’t that long but the message was pretty strong and clear. The author talks about spouse-hunting and how women try to place themselves in the path of where Mr. Right may be. I have to say I agree that girls, myself included, do this and are constantly looking for a new place to meet someone or make things go our way. In doing so we are undermining Gods will and cluttering our vision with fear and doubt that God will provide a spouse for us! All unintentionally of course! I trust God to provide what I need and that he knows best (whether that means marrying or not), so why am I and other women trying to help him out by placing ourselves in “hot spots”? We’re scared he’s forgotten about us and our love story that he wrote. We need to remind ourselves that he has it under control, not us. What we as single women think is right and what he knows is right are sometimes different. If we keep our eyes clear of doubt and fear and focus on our faith in him, he will provide what he knows we need. There’s no need to keep strategically placing yourself in the path you may think Mr. Right may be! In doing so, we may be going in the wrong direction completely because we’re not focused on the right Mr. Right.
Think about it!
Ok I wanted to wrap things up in expressing my excitement, joy, and thankfulness to the Lord about my church’s new sanctuary being finished!!! It has been years in the making and is beautiful and a blessing from God! I’m bummed I’m sick tonight and not at the dedication ceremony but I’m excited about the Silent Auction fundraiser tomorrow night and services on Sunday(I’m determined to be feeling better for these events). I’ll post pictures of the new sanctuary as soon as I get some! Praise him! WE have much to be thankful for.
I leave you with a picture I couldnt help but post! It's of my KidsRHis class Wednesday night, it has my 4 little blonde girls who asked if we could all put the peace sign up in the picture "because it's cool" I wish you could see their peace signs clearer but..I thought it was funny! They are totally in with the times! hehe
God Bless!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Lady of Diligence
It’s been two days since I read the next Chapter in my book Lady in Waiting; thoughts gathered and ready to go!
When I read the chapter about being a Lady of Diligence I was so excited to be listening to the first sounds of spring! A thunderstorm blessed the south plains that night and the thunder excited me! I couldn’t help but let my thoughts drift to Vampires playing baseball, I’ll confess. Since I already mentioned the Vampires of Twilight, I’ll let everyone know yes I finished the first book…and the second. I couldn’t resist buying it when I saw it at Target- 20% off!! I am making myself be patient to buy the third…until tomorrow.
Ok so Lady of Diligence; what does Diligence mean? I kind of knew…kind of. Dictionary.com says “dil-i-gence” is defined as: constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind. Some synonyms of the word include: conscientiousness, thoroughness, attentiveness, carefulness. Being a Lady of Diligence according to the author in this chapter is being seen as making the most of the time you’ve been given- being attentive, careful and conscious about your decisions. The coordinating bible verse is as follows:
Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is.
When I first read this verse I couldn’t help but stop at the last group of words “understand what the Lord’s will is.” Well what is the Lords will? I’m all up for making the most of an opportunity but here’s the thing: I have control issues. Some of you are reading this saying, “Laura? Control issues? NO WAY!” But those of you who know me well are nodding your head aren’t you? I wish I knew the Lords will and grand plan for me; my life story that he wrote when he created me, I want to know! I try to figure out his plan like a guessing game, always analyzing everything I do trying to piece things together and possible ways everything could go depending on what I do. That’s another part of me, analyzing. This takes up a lot of my time and I should work on not doing it so much if that’s possible. I have a degree in Psychology; what could you expect? I’ve been taught to analyze even more than I already did on my own!
Anyway getting back on track, the chapter discussed being single and making the most of my time. If I stopped analyzing and worrying so much I could do this more and I believe I will put forth an earnest effort to do so, so I can do just that, make the most of my time. Let’s see what kind of guidance the author gives on this:
“The single woman can be involved in the Lord’s work on a level that a married woman cannot because of the distractions and responsibilities of being a wife and mother. Ironically, some single women can be so distressed by their single state they become emotionally more distracted than a wife and mother of four children.”
Interesting point huh? I will admit I have let my “singularity” get the best of me at times and was not using my time wisely-making the most of things. Let’s face it; I’ve got more than enough time on my hands at times. I don’t have kids or a husband to tend to….so why not do things that benefit others in the name of Jesus-- Being a Lady of Diligence. How can I be diligent with my time? The chapter discussed many ways to be a Lady of diligence some being through the ministry of teaching, ministry of encouragement, ministry of prayer, ministry of serving, ministry of writing, ministry of listening, ministry of hospitality and the ministry of helps. As I read the details on each of the aspects I couldn’t help but think fond of myself in some of the areas thinking, “I do that!” Is that bad? I don’t think it is, it’s nice to be able to pat yourself on the back every once in a while for doing good things. I teach the kids at church about Jesus in many ways, through Children’s church, VBS, and KidsRhis; I encourage people every day through my work to the families I work with-which also goes with the ministry of listening as there is plenty of that happening as well not only with my families at work but also personal friends and family. I will admit I don’t do all of these things happily all the time though. That’s where the patting of the back stops. Sometimes I’m not happy to do them at all for various reasons (let’s make it clear that I do love it most times though). Even though I do things in these area’s that would represent being a Lady of Diligence I would like to not only go through the motions of being just that, but become it inside as well as outside; by changing the way I look at the time I’m spending doing them-more as a blessing less as a burden. Seeing being single and having time as a positive thing instead of a negative, my time will come when I can be a busy wife and mother! But for the time being, why shouldn’t I make the most of it.
As for the other areas of diligence mentioned; I’ve taken suggestions the book said about each and ideas of things to do and here’s my plan to enhance the things I’m already doing. There’s always room for improvement! As for the ministry of prayer-find a prayer partner; a friend to pray for and who is praying for you. I’ve got a friend in mind to do this with but I would GLADLY have more than one and am offering to be a prayer partner to anyone who is reading this! Seriously let me know! As for the ministry of service I decided to “adopt” my brother’s troop who is in Afghanistan, I told him I elected myself as their “room mother”. I’m proud to report I’ve already assembled Valentines goody bags for each person in the troop and will get them in the mail ASAP. (I do know it will take weeks for the packages to get there and Valentine’s Day will be in the past but they can still be my Valentine, after all they are defending our country!) I plan on sending little goody bags and encouraging words over every 2-3 weeks. As for the ministry of writing- I feel I write fairly well when I’m blogging and I can only hope that what I say or discuss touches whoever is reading it- that is one of the reasons I decided to discuss the aspects of this book online as opposed to writing a personal journal. I am very excited about the possibilities posed for the ministry of hospitality. Some of you know I have a passion for cooking. I’ve decided to put my name out there to those in need (through the church and to family and friends and anyone put in contact with me) who have just had a baby, or are grieving, or any other circumstance where a warm casserole or having something sweet around the house can be a comfort and lessen their worries. On that note if you know anyone, give me a name and phone number and I will do what I can to get things set up and in motion!
I realize this blog is getting somewhat lengthy but I have another related topic to get into! It’s about getting out there, not only doing things for others but also for yourself, myself. The author of Lady in Waiting says, “Countless single women stay home rather than travel alone into the unknown. (That’s me!!!!) They not only miss out on being encouraged by others, but also are not exposed to new relationships when they remain at home tied up by cords of fear and feeling sorry for themselves. Some singles see the lack of a mate as God denying them something for a more “Nobel purpose”-a cross to bear!”
I’ve already discussed what I’m going to do for others but what about myself. I find so much comfort in reading this verse over and over again:
Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
I have been very brokenhearted and crushed in spirit for too long I believe. I need to put the fire back in my eyes and my heart so to say. Here’s a thought how: It’s called the “Paper Plate Mentality” described in the book which hit home…hard. Check it:
“Someone asked a single woman what helped her to be so satisfied as a single woman. “A full place setting,” was her response. She explained that she had spent many years of using her paper plates while she had good china and flatware that was stored in a hope chest. Then the lord showed her that she did not have to wait for a “mate” to bring beauty to her private world. She unpacked the china and silver to entertain others but also daily for herself.”
Ok, I know some of the people who read this blog, one of them being my mom, who has helped me the most in my own accumulation of things for a “hope chest.” I put everything in a room at my Dad’s house waiting for the right time to use the things, some of them being decorative plates which I love. They are plates for almost every holiday, none of which I have used because I was saving them. Saving them for what though? Ok in my defense I really don’t have room in my new kitchen for all the stuff. But should that stop me from using my Valentines plates? Lucky for me I will be out of town Valentine’s Day but I think the next holiday I will treat myself to St. Patrick’s Day plates or something. I love collecting new dishes anyway and don’t have any for St. Patrick’s Day. I need to bring beauty into my daily life to make it more enjoyable for myself.
Final notes for myself: Let go of things that are holding me back and embrace the time I have for others and myself.
I feel good about this.
When I read the chapter about being a Lady of Diligence I was so excited to be listening to the first sounds of spring! A thunderstorm blessed the south plains that night and the thunder excited me! I couldn’t help but let my thoughts drift to Vampires playing baseball, I’ll confess. Since I already mentioned the Vampires of Twilight, I’ll let everyone know yes I finished the first book…and the second. I couldn’t resist buying it when I saw it at Target- 20% off!! I am making myself be patient to buy the third…until tomorrow.
Ok so Lady of Diligence; what does Diligence mean? I kind of knew…kind of. Dictionary.com says “dil-i-gence” is defined as: constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind. Some synonyms of the word include: conscientiousness, thoroughness, attentiveness, carefulness. Being a Lady of Diligence according to the author in this chapter is being seen as making the most of the time you’ve been given- being attentive, careful and conscious about your decisions. The coordinating bible verse is as follows:
Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is.
When I first read this verse I couldn’t help but stop at the last group of words “understand what the Lord’s will is.” Well what is the Lords will? I’m all up for making the most of an opportunity but here’s the thing: I have control issues. Some of you are reading this saying, “Laura? Control issues? NO WAY!” But those of you who know me well are nodding your head aren’t you? I wish I knew the Lords will and grand plan for me; my life story that he wrote when he created me, I want to know! I try to figure out his plan like a guessing game, always analyzing everything I do trying to piece things together and possible ways everything could go depending on what I do. That’s another part of me, analyzing. This takes up a lot of my time and I should work on not doing it so much if that’s possible. I have a degree in Psychology; what could you expect? I’ve been taught to analyze even more than I already did on my own!
Anyway getting back on track, the chapter discussed being single and making the most of my time. If I stopped analyzing and worrying so much I could do this more and I believe I will put forth an earnest effort to do so, so I can do just that, make the most of my time. Let’s see what kind of guidance the author gives on this:
“The single woman can be involved in the Lord’s work on a level that a married woman cannot because of the distractions and responsibilities of being a wife and mother. Ironically, some single women can be so distressed by their single state they become emotionally more distracted than a wife and mother of four children.”
Interesting point huh? I will admit I have let my “singularity” get the best of me at times and was not using my time wisely-making the most of things. Let’s face it; I’ve got more than enough time on my hands at times. I don’t have kids or a husband to tend to….so why not do things that benefit others in the name of Jesus-- Being a Lady of Diligence. How can I be diligent with my time? The chapter discussed many ways to be a Lady of diligence some being through the ministry of teaching, ministry of encouragement, ministry of prayer, ministry of serving, ministry of writing, ministry of listening, ministry of hospitality and the ministry of helps. As I read the details on each of the aspects I couldn’t help but think fond of myself in some of the areas thinking, “I do that!” Is that bad? I don’t think it is, it’s nice to be able to pat yourself on the back every once in a while for doing good things. I teach the kids at church about Jesus in many ways, through Children’s church, VBS, and KidsRhis; I encourage people every day through my work to the families I work with-which also goes with the ministry of listening as there is plenty of that happening as well not only with my families at work but also personal friends and family. I will admit I don’t do all of these things happily all the time though. That’s where the patting of the back stops. Sometimes I’m not happy to do them at all for various reasons (let’s make it clear that I do love it most times though). Even though I do things in these area’s that would represent being a Lady of Diligence I would like to not only go through the motions of being just that, but become it inside as well as outside; by changing the way I look at the time I’m spending doing them-more as a blessing less as a burden. Seeing being single and having time as a positive thing instead of a negative, my time will come when I can be a busy wife and mother! But for the time being, why shouldn’t I make the most of it.
As for the other areas of diligence mentioned; I’ve taken suggestions the book said about each and ideas of things to do and here’s my plan to enhance the things I’m already doing. There’s always room for improvement! As for the ministry of prayer-find a prayer partner; a friend to pray for and who is praying for you. I’ve got a friend in mind to do this with but I would GLADLY have more than one and am offering to be a prayer partner to anyone who is reading this! Seriously let me know! As for the ministry of service I decided to “adopt” my brother’s troop who is in Afghanistan, I told him I elected myself as their “room mother”. I’m proud to report I’ve already assembled Valentines goody bags for each person in the troop and will get them in the mail ASAP. (I do know it will take weeks for the packages to get there and Valentine’s Day will be in the past but they can still be my Valentine, after all they are defending our country!) I plan on sending little goody bags and encouraging words over every 2-3 weeks. As for the ministry of writing- I feel I write fairly well when I’m blogging and I can only hope that what I say or discuss touches whoever is reading it- that is one of the reasons I decided to discuss the aspects of this book online as opposed to writing a personal journal. I am very excited about the possibilities posed for the ministry of hospitality. Some of you know I have a passion for cooking. I’ve decided to put my name out there to those in need (through the church and to family and friends and anyone put in contact with me) who have just had a baby, or are grieving, or any other circumstance where a warm casserole or having something sweet around the house can be a comfort and lessen their worries. On that note if you know anyone, give me a name and phone number and I will do what I can to get things set up and in motion!
I realize this blog is getting somewhat lengthy but I have another related topic to get into! It’s about getting out there, not only doing things for others but also for yourself, myself. The author of Lady in Waiting says, “Countless single women stay home rather than travel alone into the unknown. (That’s me!!!!) They not only miss out on being encouraged by others, but also are not exposed to new relationships when they remain at home tied up by cords of fear and feeling sorry for themselves. Some singles see the lack of a mate as God denying them something for a more “Nobel purpose”-a cross to bear!”
I’ve already discussed what I’m going to do for others but what about myself. I find so much comfort in reading this verse over and over again:
Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
I have been very brokenhearted and crushed in spirit for too long I believe. I need to put the fire back in my eyes and my heart so to say. Here’s a thought how: It’s called the “Paper Plate Mentality” described in the book which hit home…hard. Check it:
“Someone asked a single woman what helped her to be so satisfied as a single woman. “A full place setting,” was her response. She explained that she had spent many years of using her paper plates while she had good china and flatware that was stored in a hope chest. Then the lord showed her that she did not have to wait for a “mate” to bring beauty to her private world. She unpacked the china and silver to entertain others but also daily for herself.”
Ok, I know some of the people who read this blog, one of them being my mom, who has helped me the most in my own accumulation of things for a “hope chest.” I put everything in a room at my Dad’s house waiting for the right time to use the things, some of them being decorative plates which I love. They are plates for almost every holiday, none of which I have used because I was saving them. Saving them for what though? Ok in my defense I really don’t have room in my new kitchen for all the stuff. But should that stop me from using my Valentines plates? Lucky for me I will be out of town Valentine’s Day but I think the next holiday I will treat myself to St. Patrick’s Day plates or something. I love collecting new dishes anyway and don’t have any for St. Patrick’s Day. I need to bring beauty into my daily life to make it more enjoyable for myself.
Final notes for myself: Let go of things that are holding me back and embrace the time I have for others and myself.
I feel good about this.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Confession
I have a confession to make. I, along with a million other girls and women in America, am in love with a fictional character. Edward Cullen.
O.M.G
I was missing out on the Twilight craze, but now, I'm so in.
:)
O.M.G
I was missing out on the Twilight craze, but now, I'm so in.
:)
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Lady in Waiting: Lady of Reckless Abandonment
Lady of Reckless Abandonment
What an odd name for a chapter right?! This book is going to tell me to abandon everything recklessly?? Sort of. As I began to read the first page I began to get the message of what the author means by Reckless Abandonment.
“A woman becomes a woman when she becomes what God wants her to be. This priceless truth can help keep your perspective clear in relation to true fulfillment in life. Too many Christian women think that the inner longings of their heart relate only to love, marriage, and motherhood. Look a little closer and see if that longing isn’t ultimately for Jesus. Gary Chapman once remarked, “I feel very strongly that marriage is not a higher calling than the single state. Happy indeed are those people, married or single, who have discovered that happiness is not found in marriage but in a right relationship with God. Fulfillment for a Christian woman begins with the Lordship of Christ in every area of her life….No one, not even the man you will marry one day, can make you ultimately happy—only Jesus can.”
Ok so what we’re recklessly abandoning are societal views and pressures that have been placed on women. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say yes most women do think that happiness comes from marriage, love, and motherhood. I’m one of them who think that! I get such joy and happiness out of working with children and developing relationships with friends’ family and loved ones. It makes me happy. But what if I had all of that, and did not have Jesus? I do believe that I would be longing for something more because ULATIMATE happiness comes from Jesus. Sure other things in our lives can make us happy but for how long until we are wanting more? And how long can Jesus make you happy? Think about that!
This chapter uses the example of the Alabaster Box (similar to a woman’s dowry back in the day- a box of oils given and broken at the feet of a worthy man) which is mentioned in the Bible to drive the message across. It talks about a woman who broke her alabaster box at the feet of Jesus and poured the oils on him, because he’s the only one, truly worthy. Now…I would feel bad for pouring oil over someone in this day and age but metaphorically speaking I’m going to “break my alabaster box for Jesus.” Sounds funny to say right? We don’t really use terms like that anymore but therefore I’m putting Jesus back at number one in my life to demonstrate his worthiness, breaking that box, shaking things back up to get them in the right spot, where they belong! Things can get a little messy in life and let him slip down and even out of people’s lives but I invite you to recklessly abandon those societal hopes, dreams and superficial things with me and know that, he will provide all that is needed in life! In my earlier blog I informed everyone to pick up and move down on my list of priorities, kicking everyone down a notch, because Jesus is back on top! Sorry bout-cha!
Personal thoughts and commentary on the issue: I think that where I live and society today does put pressure on a young woman to be married ASAP and have kids and if you don’t, man something is wrong!! This is drilled into women’s subconscious day in and day out. I think it will be a struggle to recklessly abandon all of that because it’s forced in our lives through all sorts of mediums: TV, Radio, friends, family, books, movies, you name it. To help myself (and maybe you) I’ll leave you with this quote about the matter of marriage and relationships:
“You were not created to complete another, but to complement. Completion is Jesus’ responsibility and complementing is a woman’s privilege. A woman not complete in Jesus will be a drain on her husband. Such a woman will expect her husband to fill the gap that only Jesus can fill.”
As long as I can keep the first part of that quote in my head especially, I think I can be a lady of reckless abandonment. Join me! It sounds bad but it’s a good thing! (Maybe since both the words have negative connotation they equal a positive thing? Just a random thought.)
Ask yourself: Have you let Jesus slip down a bit on your list of priorities or perhaps slip out of your life? If so…consider reckless abandonment it may not be so reckless after all.
What an odd name for a chapter right?! This book is going to tell me to abandon everything recklessly?? Sort of. As I began to read the first page I began to get the message of what the author means by Reckless Abandonment.
“A woman becomes a woman when she becomes what God wants her to be. This priceless truth can help keep your perspective clear in relation to true fulfillment in life. Too many Christian women think that the inner longings of their heart relate only to love, marriage, and motherhood. Look a little closer and see if that longing isn’t ultimately for Jesus. Gary Chapman once remarked, “I feel very strongly that marriage is not a higher calling than the single state. Happy indeed are those people, married or single, who have discovered that happiness is not found in marriage but in a right relationship with God. Fulfillment for a Christian woman begins with the Lordship of Christ in every area of her life….No one, not even the man you will marry one day, can make you ultimately happy—only Jesus can.”
Ok so what we’re recklessly abandoning are societal views and pressures that have been placed on women. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say yes most women do think that happiness comes from marriage, love, and motherhood. I’m one of them who think that! I get such joy and happiness out of working with children and developing relationships with friends’ family and loved ones. It makes me happy. But what if I had all of that, and did not have Jesus? I do believe that I would be longing for something more because ULATIMATE happiness comes from Jesus. Sure other things in our lives can make us happy but for how long until we are wanting more? And how long can Jesus make you happy? Think about that!
This chapter uses the example of the Alabaster Box (similar to a woman’s dowry back in the day- a box of oils given and broken at the feet of a worthy man) which is mentioned in the Bible to drive the message across. It talks about a woman who broke her alabaster box at the feet of Jesus and poured the oils on him, because he’s the only one, truly worthy. Now…I would feel bad for pouring oil over someone in this day and age but metaphorically speaking I’m going to “break my alabaster box for Jesus.” Sounds funny to say right? We don’t really use terms like that anymore but therefore I’m putting Jesus back at number one in my life to demonstrate his worthiness, breaking that box, shaking things back up to get them in the right spot, where they belong! Things can get a little messy in life and let him slip down and even out of people’s lives but I invite you to recklessly abandon those societal hopes, dreams and superficial things with me and know that, he will provide all that is needed in life! In my earlier blog I informed everyone to pick up and move down on my list of priorities, kicking everyone down a notch, because Jesus is back on top! Sorry bout-cha!
Personal thoughts and commentary on the issue: I think that where I live and society today does put pressure on a young woman to be married ASAP and have kids and if you don’t, man something is wrong!! This is drilled into women’s subconscious day in and day out. I think it will be a struggle to recklessly abandon all of that because it’s forced in our lives through all sorts of mediums: TV, Radio, friends, family, books, movies, you name it. To help myself (and maybe you) I’ll leave you with this quote about the matter of marriage and relationships:
“You were not created to complete another, but to complement. Completion is Jesus’ responsibility and complementing is a woman’s privilege. A woman not complete in Jesus will be a drain on her husband. Such a woman will expect her husband to fill the gap that only Jesus can fill.”
As long as I can keep the first part of that quote in my head especially, I think I can be a lady of reckless abandonment. Join me! It sounds bad but it’s a good thing! (Maybe since both the words have negative connotation they equal a positive thing? Just a random thought.)
Ask yourself: Have you let Jesus slip down a bit on your list of priorities or perhaps slip out of your life? If so…consider reckless abandonment it may not be so reckless after all.
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