Thursday, December 24, 2009

Mary Did You Know?


Hello everyone! After a long hiatus of no blogging, I am happy to return in time before Christmas to share with you what special meaning Christmas truly holds for me as a woman. If you have noticed, I love the topic of femininity and it's just a beautiful God-given gift to every woman that should be exclaimed over!
As Christmas approaches with all it's splendor and excitement, I go back to the story of Mary and her amazing example that she left on the pages of the Bible for us ladies to read and put into practice.
Here's an excerpt from Elizabeth Elliot's book The Essence of Femininity: A Personal Perspective. comparing two opposite women Eve and Mary. One was lured with a selfish idea that she can be happiest being like a god, while the other humbly and faithfully accepted her calling to be the mother of Christ. While Eve brought sin into the world, Mary was the bearer of Christ our Saviour who came into this world to save us from sin.

The gospel story begins with the Mystery of Charity. A young woman is visited by an angel, given a stunning piece of news about becoming the mother of the Son of God. Unlike Eve, whose response to God was calculating and self-serving, the virgin Mary’s answer holds no hesitation about risks or losses or the interruption of her own plans. It is an utter and unconditional self-giving: “I am the Lord’s servant. . . . May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). This is what I understand to be the essence of femininity. It means surrender. The gentle and quiet spirit of which Peter speaks, calling it “of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:4), is the true femininity, which found its epitome in Mary, the willingness to be only a vessel, hidden, unknown, except as Somebody’s mother. This is the true mother-spirit, true maternity, so absent, it seems to me, in all the annals of feminism. “The holier a woman is,” wrote Leon Bloy, “the more she is a woman.” Femininity receives. It says, “May it be to me as you have said.” It takes what God gives—a special place, a special honor, a special function and glory, different from that of masculinity, meant to be a help. In other words, it is for us women to receive the given as Mary did, not to insist on the not-given, as Eve did. (Elizabeth Elliot "The Essence of Femininity A Personal Perspective Ch. 25)

It is hard to humbly and obediently say yes to a decision which will change your life. It is scary to not know what lies ahead of you. Neverthelss, with a full faith in God and a “May it be to me as you have said” on our lips, we will know that God is in control and He knows what He is doing. As a woman, remember Christmas as a special time to surrender to God what is unknown and use your feminine beauty for Christ's glory. With an obedient, humble and meek spirit, remember Mary's example and most of all glorify Christ as the true meaning of Christmas! May you and your family have a Merry Christmas!!! God bless!

Monday, December 14, 2009

{FEAR THE LORD}

Today God showed me that He wants me to TRUST Him...without questions, challenges, requests of clarification, explanation, reasons...or anything! God searches for my unconditional obedience and dependence on Him alone. When the Bible says "fear the Lord" (i heard on the radio) it means submitting yourself unconditionally to the Will of God.

I want to be able to Love Him to the point that I can trust Him alone and Obey Him all the way. No one else but HIM 100%...so that I may fear Him as He wants me to..through my obedience.

"Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of israel. There was no one like him among al lthe kings of Judah,either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lordin everythin gand he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord has given..."2 Kings, 18: 5

Friday, December 11, 2009

Praise Him

12-11-09

Today was especially challenging at work but God helped me get through it all...and my patients were doing better. I prayed for them...and feel that God is healing them, both inside and out.

From ACTS 20:24
My Life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--The work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

That should be every believers 'purpose in life'! That is what I want to feel and do! I want to be that committed and excited to spread His word and do the work He has prepared, or even assigned to me...

also in the 33rd verse quotes Jesus "It is more blessed to give than to receive"
a motto I want to add to my daily life.I want to Give joy, blessings, love and that which God provided so I can be a vessel, a tool in His hands.

"Praise the Lord!" shouts David in verse 14 chapter 148. and my heart does just that. For He alone is worthy of all praise.