Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Summer Reading - Captivating - Chapter 2

What Eve Alone Can Tell

God created the earth in a crescendo. Earth, plants, animals, man. Then the bible says that something is not good. Everything before was good.

Gen 2:18 "...It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."

Creation was not finished without Eve. Woman fills a place that nothing else can fill. What does that tell us about the nature of God?

Loneliness

Women are relational. God yearns for a relationship with us.

Isa 49:14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
Isa 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.Jer 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

Consider how fiercely devoted a mother is to her children. God loves us all the more. Women are tender, inviting, passionate, alluring. This is what God is speaking to His creation through women.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Summer Reading - Captivating - Chapter 1

The Heart of a Woman

This book begins with an adventure. The authors think that in a woman’s heart she would like to be “an irreplaceable role in a great adventure”. I wasn’t sure that I felt that way. Maybe I was "adventured out" before I got married and was ready to settle down. Or maybe since I have 5 children everyday seems like an adventure to me.

Then they listed some adventures – “horses or white water rafting, going to a foreign country, performing on stage, having children, starting a business, or diving ever more deeply into the heart of God” Okay, now I get it. Canoeing did not sound like an adventure to me. Diving ever more deeply into the heart of God – yes, that sounds exciting to me. Are you wanting adventure in your life?

Quote

“God created man in his own image…male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27)
Whatever it means to bear God’s image, you do it as a woman. Female. That’s how and where you bear his image. Your feminine heart has been created…as a reflection of God’s own heart.


That changes the way I feel about myself as a woman. I ask myself - Do I reflect God's heart? I want to. He made me to.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Graduates 2009

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11

Monday, May 18, 2009

my piano.jpg

Music calms the soul and lifts the spirit...
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Summer Reading - Captivating - Introduction

This book Captivating reaches into the mystery of the feminine heart, the deep waters of a woman’s soul, and the treasure in the heart. These are the reasons that you are captivating. Each woman is individual and precious like a rare jewel. One thing that makes a woman so valuable is her uniqueness. So when you read this book it might hit you totally different than someone else and that’s okay. God is so incredible that way – He knows every detail of our heart, He loves us anyway, and He deals with us in a personal and loving manner.

Just look at the sunsets. The sky is different every morning and every evening everywhere in the world. And wherever you stand, it is beautiful and magnificent boasting His undeniable greatness and glory.

God also made woman a beauty in His creation. Not just in outward appearance but in the inward beauty of who you are.

This book will help you see yourself as God sees you. And realize that you are worth finding out the treasures of your heart and worth fixing the hurts.

…I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord is drawing you unto Himself. God wants to take your sorrows and give you the oil of gladness.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Summer Reading

This Summer we are reading the book Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Women's Soul by John & Stasi Eldredge. Just the name alone encourages me. And I find that my sisters in Christ are captivating, when I take the time to get to know them.

So follow along if you dare, dive deep into the heart of woman - God's beautiful creation.

Have you already read this book? Let us know what you think!