I haven't written in awhile...mainly because I have soooo many thoughts rolling around in my head that I don't know which to write about! So, I've decided to begin with the first thought that occurred during Christmas! As we continue with the fabulous year...it seems fitting to reflect on Christmas!
Santa...did you know that Santa and Satan are just the same letters reassembled? So...let's think about this concept for a mome. Santa is from the secular world...to be embraced and revered. We focus our children on being good or Santa won't bring them gifts! Children work very hard...the WHOLE month of December to be good! After all... Santa has a list of who is naughty or nice! Children...and so do we...want LOTS of presents! We even cook cookies to set out for the coming of Santa and his journey down our chimney!
On the other hand...we have Jesus! Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of His birth! Last time I had a birthday...I received birthday gifts. Shouldn't we shift the focus of Jesus's birthday from US...to Jesus? Shouldn't He receive gifts...and not gifts for our own self? What gift could Jesus actually receive from us..since He isn't here? I can think of a few...celebration of Jesus and His life...worship. The gift of giving of our time to those that need it the most...service. The gift of family....and sharing that spirit with those that have lost a loved one or have no family...love.
God has a naughty or nice list that we should focus our children on...as well as ourselves. This list is far more important than Santa's list. We have to work to be on the nice list 365 days a year...every year. Not just the month of December. If we make the good list...we receive the greatest gift we could ever receive...eternal life. If we make Santa's good list...we receive material gifts. We receive these whether we give a gift or not. To receive God's greatest gift...we must give of ourselves. We leave cookies out and wait for Santa to arrive...anticipating what he has for us! What do we do in anticipation of Jesus returning? If He came right this second...would you be happy to see Him and welcome Him? Or would you have regrets? Do we think of regrets when waiting for Santa? Why don't we set out proverbial cookies in anticipation of Jesus returning?
So...Santa is Satan's way of refocusing every one of us away from what Christmas is really all about and what we, as Christians, should be doing to celebrate! We need to put the focus back on Jesus...and not on our own self. Mid-January...is an appropriate time to reflect on Christmas and begin to make changes within ourselves so that we throw the very best birthday party for Jesus this next Christmas!! I think He deserves an over the top celebration...after all...He did live and die so that I will receive the best gift ever...eternal life! I can't thank Santa for that...but, I can thank the one who doesn't give me a lump of coal when I am bad at times...but gives me forgiveness so that I will remain on the good list! Thank you, Jesus!
May the light of God and His peace be with you this day...and every day.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Friday, December 23, 2011
Women... we are FABULOUS!
And... so... I've stepped away from my blog to observe and continue to ponder the question of why women can't join hands together in sincere friendship. I have no answers... but, wish with all of my might that girls and women could learn to be friends... to love each other and accept each other unconditionally. The power we would gain from this... is mind boggling. By power, remember, I mean... the power to change the world.
If we women would look at the man's world for just a mome. Men are not emotional beings, persay... but, yet, they are capable of deep friendships with one another. They accept each other at face value and unconditionally. I don't believe I have ever heard a man say "he is so fat" or "he really needs a face lift" or "did he look in the mirror before he left home"! Nor have I ever heard another man put down a man's decision to become a stay at home dad, or another man's opinion, or another man's bank account. Men are capable of just accepting men for who they are. If... for some reason they can't... I guarantee that there is a female behind the collapse of that friendship.
In the same breath... I have heard men put women down for gaining weight or looking old or for her opinions. Why could that possibly be? Why do men bond together as one gender... and turn and put down the other gender? Women are the opposites... we put our own gender down and turn our backs on each other and then... accept what men say about us. Hummmmm!!! This is just not acceptable to me. But, yet... by turning our backs on each other, putting each other down, not celebrating each other's successes and by not accepting each other unconditionally... we give men the permission to continue to silence us, to put us down, and to treat us no better than second rate citizens. We are so much better than that. We were designed to bring harmony to a world that is unsettled. But, until we find harmony within our own gender... we will never bring harmony to our families, to our communities, to our churches, and most definitely... not to our world.
Example... if women of all races, colors, and creeds... and bank accounts... would have gathered together and celebrated Lizzie Jennings in 1854, Irene Morgan in 1946 and Rosa Parks in 1955... civil rights could have... and would have ended in 1854!!! From 1854 to 1955? REALLY??? And do you see... one female in 1854, 1946, and I do believe there were actually 3 in 1955!! That was one female... with a dream... a need to make the world a better place. To eliminate the injustice. Take a mome... and imagine... if females would have put their voices with the one voice... how very, very powerful it would have been. We do have a voice... and we want to be heard. Only... it's because we don't celebrate each other's voice and join it that we are silenced. We allow men to squelch our voice... because there is no other woman to support what we have to say. Why is that? Why is this so hard for us to do???
I, for one... believe ALL women are FABULOUS!!! We are unique, complicated... and have this undeniable heart that can put to rest all of the world's unrest. If we would celebrate one another unconditionally... we just may find ourselves with a woman as President. After all, we can multi-task, solve problems, we have a backbone and can stand firm in our convictions, we do have the ability to listen when we aren't self-involved, we can be feminine... and as strong as steel. It's our time, ladies... but, we have work to do within our own gender. We need to turn to the Bible and hear what God is asking of us. Don't get wrapped up in the Adam and Eve story... as the devil worked through Eve. But... God won because Mary bore His Son. Focus on that story... as that is the heart of what God is asking of us. Celebrate each other... remember the fruits of the spirit... and nurture those fruits. Our hearts... are fabulous!
"I may not be perfect, you should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." 1Peter 3:4
If we women would look at the man's world for just a mome. Men are not emotional beings, persay... but, yet, they are capable of deep friendships with one another. They accept each other at face value and unconditionally. I don't believe I have ever heard a man say "he is so fat" or "he really needs a face lift" or "did he look in the mirror before he left home"! Nor have I ever heard another man put down a man's decision to become a stay at home dad, or another man's opinion, or another man's bank account. Men are capable of just accepting men for who they are. If... for some reason they can't... I guarantee that there is a female behind the collapse of that friendship.
In the same breath... I have heard men put women down for gaining weight or looking old or for her opinions. Why could that possibly be? Why do men bond together as one gender... and turn and put down the other gender? Women are the opposites... we put our own gender down and turn our backs on each other and then... accept what men say about us. Hummmmm!!! This is just not acceptable to me. But, yet... by turning our backs on each other, putting each other down, not celebrating each other's successes and by not accepting each other unconditionally... we give men the permission to continue to silence us, to put us down, and to treat us no better than second rate citizens. We are so much better than that. We were designed to bring harmony to a world that is unsettled. But, until we find harmony within our own gender... we will never bring harmony to our families, to our communities, to our churches, and most definitely... not to our world.
Example... if women of all races, colors, and creeds... and bank accounts... would have gathered together and celebrated Lizzie Jennings in 1854, Irene Morgan in 1946 and Rosa Parks in 1955... civil rights could have... and would have ended in 1854!!! From 1854 to 1955? REALLY??? And do you see... one female in 1854, 1946, and I do believe there were actually 3 in 1955!! That was one female... with a dream... a need to make the world a better place. To eliminate the injustice. Take a mome... and imagine... if females would have put their voices with the one voice... how very, very powerful it would have been. We do have a voice... and we want to be heard. Only... it's because we don't celebrate each other's voice and join it that we are silenced. We allow men to squelch our voice... because there is no other woman to support what we have to say. Why is that? Why is this so hard for us to do???
I, for one... believe ALL women are FABULOUS!!! We are unique, complicated... and have this undeniable heart that can put to rest all of the world's unrest. If we would celebrate one another unconditionally... we just may find ourselves with a woman as President. After all, we can multi-task, solve problems, we have a backbone and can stand firm in our convictions, we do have the ability to listen when we aren't self-involved, we can be feminine... and as strong as steel. It's our time, ladies... but, we have work to do within our own gender. We need to turn to the Bible and hear what God is asking of us. Don't get wrapped up in the Adam and Eve story... as the devil worked through Eve. But... God won because Mary bore His Son. Focus on that story... as that is the heart of what God is asking of us. Celebrate each other... remember the fruits of the spirit... and nurture those fruits. Our hearts... are fabulous!
"I may not be perfect, you should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." 1Peter 3:4
Monday, December 5, 2011
Chapter 2: The Oppressed and the Fruits of the Spirit
I have often wondered why women of all color, sizes, shapes and walks of life don't join in unity... to bring this world back to God, to end child abuse, to end war, to end crime, to end the immense unhappiness that surrounds us. After all, we are the emotional glue that is supposed to keep our families together, to calm the storm within the hearts of our children... to just understand. Men and women are so very different... and God made us that way by design. He made women to be the emotional strength and to bring to light the emotion within the Holy Spirit. After a life of observing human nature... I understand that women don't join together in unity... because we are actually at war with our own gender. We are not at war with men... as the women libbers have convinced us that we are. We have equal pay... but, we are still so very oppressed.
Women... girls... females... have no voice. We are invisible. Why is that?? Because... there is another woman telling us that we are wrong every time we open our mouth, or "one upping" us, or making us feel we aren't good enough or the conversation becomes "me, me, me"... just to make her own self feel better. We do not allow females to grow, flourish, or lead... because we become jealous. We are so very critical of one another. No matter what the subject is... too skinny, too fat, too many wrinkles, not enough, staying at home to raise your children, to work in the workplace and put your children in childcare, too much money, not enough money, blond hair, black hair and the list goes on and on. If we were really honest with our self... we do not love and accept our own selves... so, how can we love and accept another? How can we "love" outside our circle? "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control: and here there is no conflict with the law". Galatians 5: 22-23. The greatest of all of these gifts is... love. To honestly love someone... you must first know God. God is love. We have to really know and accept God... to fully understand how He intends us to love.
"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him". I Corinthians 13: 4-7 In today's world... we women are jealous, envious, we boast, we are haughty, selfish and rude. We demand our own way, we are irritable, we hold grudges and judge others, we talk about injustices... but, do nothing about them, we are not loyal to one another, we do not believe in each other and we certainly don't want one of our sisters to do better than us... and we most certainly do not defend our sisters... but, hang her out to dry every single time. These are some tough words and thoughts... but... they are true.
Think about the power (and by this... I do not mean overtake men) we women would have... if no matter the color of our skin, size, shape, or walk in life...if we would accept our own self... and each other, join hands and never let go, bow our heads in prayer and pray for the fruits of the spirit for each one of us!!! Imagine how the world would begin to look!!! Imagine... no war! Imagine... all children held safely!! Imagine... no hunger!! Imagine... a world... in peace... because God would be at the very center of the circle women joined together and made!! Unrealistic... I don't think so! A change is needed... all around the world! God is trying to get our attention... so, why not begin with those that are the emotional glue? One woman at a time! Why don't we quit competing with each other... and just celebrate each other! We all have our own strengths and gifts... and joined together in celebration... AMAZING!!
I may not be perfect... but, Jesus thinks I'm too die for! Internalize this thought... it's powerful. Learn to love... and join hands! We will make a better world.
Women... girls... females... have no voice. We are invisible. Why is that?? Because... there is another woman telling us that we are wrong every time we open our mouth, or "one upping" us, or making us feel we aren't good enough or the conversation becomes "me, me, me"... just to make her own self feel better. We do not allow females to grow, flourish, or lead... because we become jealous. We are so very critical of one another. No matter what the subject is... too skinny, too fat, too many wrinkles, not enough, staying at home to raise your children, to work in the workplace and put your children in childcare, too much money, not enough money, blond hair, black hair and the list goes on and on. If we were really honest with our self... we do not love and accept our own selves... so, how can we love and accept another? How can we "love" outside our circle? "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control: and here there is no conflict with the law". Galatians 5: 22-23. The greatest of all of these gifts is... love. To honestly love someone... you must first know God. God is love. We have to really know and accept God... to fully understand how He intends us to love.
"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him". I Corinthians 13: 4-7 In today's world... we women are jealous, envious, we boast, we are haughty, selfish and rude. We demand our own way, we are irritable, we hold grudges and judge others, we talk about injustices... but, do nothing about them, we are not loyal to one another, we do not believe in each other and we certainly don't want one of our sisters to do better than us... and we most certainly do not defend our sisters... but, hang her out to dry every single time. These are some tough words and thoughts... but... they are true.
Think about the power (and by this... I do not mean overtake men) we women would have... if no matter the color of our skin, size, shape, or walk in life...if we would accept our own self... and each other, join hands and never let go, bow our heads in prayer and pray for the fruits of the spirit for each one of us!!! Imagine how the world would begin to look!!! Imagine... no war! Imagine... all children held safely!! Imagine... no hunger!! Imagine... a world... in peace... because God would be at the very center of the circle women joined together and made!! Unrealistic... I don't think so! A change is needed... all around the world! God is trying to get our attention... so, why not begin with those that are the emotional glue? One woman at a time! Why don't we quit competing with each other... and just celebrate each other! We all have our own strengths and gifts... and joined together in celebration... AMAZING!!
I may not be perfect... but, Jesus thinks I'm too die for! Internalize this thought... it's powerful. Learn to love... and join hands! We will make a better world.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Cinderella, Snow White, God and Unjust Oppression
I find it very interesting... and perhaps very disturbing/troubling... that even though the story of Cinderella can be traced as far back as 1bc... it could have very easily been written in 2011. Snow White was written in 1937... and it too... could have been written in 2011. Cinderella was a myth, of sorts, written for the element of unjust oppression and triumph over the oppression. Do you hear that??? Unjust oppression!!!!! REALLY????? Unjust oppression! Isn't that what the suffergates and women's libbers have been screaming about for absolutely ever???
I am not a "woman's libber"... in the sense in which it was created. I am, however, an advocate of women. We are able to vote and for the most part... our salaries are equal to men (except in some areas). I am grateful for these major accomplishments... but, yet...we are still not "free". We are still oppressed. I feel... more now than ever. And... ladies... it's not the men causing this. We are doing it to ourselves and to each other. If the women's movement had begun with a strong foundation... and with God as the focus... we would not be in the same place as we obviously were in 1 BC. It seems to me... if we would celebrate each other's successes, accept each other for all our faults, support each other when we are down and out, be each other's sister and unconditional friend... we would experience the freedom we fight for each and every day... and the happiness we so richly deserve. I will, of course, explore this in later blogs. As my mom says, "not to worry"! I just love that!!
There is a correlation between Cinderella, Snow White and God. He needs us to keep the balance of the world, to witness to others, and carry out the emotional and nurturing part of His word. Clearly, that is lacking in both stories. Both Cinderella and Snow White mirror exactly what we are focused on instead of God... even as far back as 1 BC. We are the wicked step sisters and the evil step mother. Ouch! That is hard to not only to type... but internalize the concept. We squelch the kind and gentle spirit of "Cinderella and Snow White". I include all women in this... because we are all guilty from time to time... if not all the time. We are still so involved in the outer beauty, comparing our beauty to others, and condemning other women if they don't measure up. We would rather "trample" on another female to keep her from succeeding than emotionally support her as she spreads her wings and takes a risk. We are so involved in the earthly things... including finding a handsome mate because maybe that will make us happy. Not to mention that there is so much pressure from society to be in a relationship. Society... by the way... is defined as "all women". We are so involved in what really doesn't matter... that we can't, won't and haven't been carrying out God's will for us. We haven't been listening to what He has been trying to tell us.
Everywhere Christianity has gone, the status of women has improved. What a novel idea!! Women's faith and prayers are vital to the growth of the church and our nation.
"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that come from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1Peter 3:4
I am not a "woman's libber"... in the sense in which it was created. I am, however, an advocate of women. We are able to vote and for the most part... our salaries are equal to men (except in some areas). I am grateful for these major accomplishments... but, yet...we are still not "free". We are still oppressed. I feel... more now than ever. And... ladies... it's not the men causing this. We are doing it to ourselves and to each other. If the women's movement had begun with a strong foundation... and with God as the focus... we would not be in the same place as we obviously were in 1 BC. It seems to me... if we would celebrate each other's successes, accept each other for all our faults, support each other when we are down and out, be each other's sister and unconditional friend... we would experience the freedom we fight for each and every day... and the happiness we so richly deserve. I will, of course, explore this in later blogs. As my mom says, "not to worry"! I just love that!!
There is a correlation between Cinderella, Snow White and God. He needs us to keep the balance of the world, to witness to others, and carry out the emotional and nurturing part of His word. Clearly, that is lacking in both stories. Both Cinderella and Snow White mirror exactly what we are focused on instead of God... even as far back as 1 BC. We are the wicked step sisters and the evil step mother. Ouch! That is hard to not only to type... but internalize the concept. We squelch the kind and gentle spirit of "Cinderella and Snow White". I include all women in this... because we are all guilty from time to time... if not all the time. We are still so involved in the outer beauty, comparing our beauty to others, and condemning other women if they don't measure up. We would rather "trample" on another female to keep her from succeeding than emotionally support her as she spreads her wings and takes a risk. We are so involved in the earthly things... including finding a handsome mate because maybe that will make us happy. Not to mention that there is so much pressure from society to be in a relationship. Society... by the way... is defined as "all women". We are so involved in what really doesn't matter... that we can't, won't and haven't been carrying out God's will for us. We haven't been listening to what He has been trying to tell us.
Everywhere Christianity has gone, the status of women has improved. What a novel idea!! Women's faith and prayers are vital to the growth of the church and our nation.
"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that come from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1Peter 3:4
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Oooh... THE Prince!
OOOOH...THE Prince! sigh! He is gorgeous...everything I've ever dreamed of! He wears those tights and OH MY...that ever so fabulous poofy shirt! The absolute swoon of it all!! Can you see me drooling? The Prince! If only I could be his Princess...and live happily ever!
BLEAH! REALLY? Has anyone noticed that in fairy tales...the author goes to great lengths to depict the females as either drop dead gorgeous with a gentle spirit or haggerdly ugly with a cruel and evil spirit? How is the Prince portrayed? Drop dead gorgeous...and we all assume...rich. What about his character? His heart and soul? What do we know about it? Absolutely NOTHING! We do not know that he is REALLY the best partner choice for sweet, precious Cinderella or Snow White! We don't know that he will treat either one as they deserve to be treated! All we know is they live "happily ever after".
Here is what we know about the Prince... He falls in love with Cinderella...as the person she was at the ball. Well... apparently... he fell in love with her dainty foot. Maybe a foot fettish! He was attracted to her physically...but, he had no clue about her true inner beauty. To be fair...he probably was impressed with her dancing skills. Lets face it...she spent an insane amount of time dancing with the birds and her broom. Other than that...he didn't know a thing about Cinderella. All he cared about was the dainty foot fitting in the glass slipper. Bottom line...he fell in love with someone who was not herself. Someone who was pretending to be someone she wasn't. Can happily ever after really be a reality...when reality of day in and day out settles in? Would he still love her if she preferred to wear the more comfortable rags?
Don't get me started on Snow White!! Again...the Prince is attracted to outward beauty. He knows nothing about Snow White's heart and soul. But, the 7 dwarfs do...and care so deeply about what happens to their precious Snow White! We even know the heart and soul of each dwarf...but know nothing about the Prince. What we know about him is...The Prince gallops into the fairy tale...looking all gorgeous in his tights and poofy shirt...and kisses Snow White. He does so without her permission! She wakes up and with one look at the poofy shirt...another happily ever after is declared. Again I ponder...how can happily ever after be a
reality when the Prince cares about only physical beauty? In his favor... he doesn't care about morning breath! Remember that Snow White has been asleep for a hundred years! Just thought it was worth mentioning!
The character of the Prince becomes evident...loud and clear! This is not the character of someone who puts God first in His life...only himself. When physical beauty is all that matters...the kind and gentle spirit's voice will never be heard by the Prince! Cinderella and Snow White are "arm candy"...their voice is not going to be valued and treasured. Which means...their heart and soul will slowly get snuffed out. The Prince only cares about how the princess makes him look. Now... I ask..is THIS happily ever after? Is this worthy of a
princess? Truth be known... the dwarfs are more of a Prince... as they cared about Snow White for who she was on the inside.
Is any of this the Prince's fault? No... it's the author's fault. This is what molds little girl's view of relationships. All that happened to make a happily ever after... was never defined. Like Julia Roberts... I, too want the whole fairy tale! I still believe in fairy tales... happily ever after. Only... I want God's fairy tale. His happily ever after.
"All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever".
I Corinthians 13: 8
BLEAH! REALLY? Has anyone noticed that in fairy tales...the author goes to great lengths to depict the females as either drop dead gorgeous with a gentle spirit or haggerdly ugly with a cruel and evil spirit? How is the Prince portrayed? Drop dead gorgeous...and we all assume...rich. What about his character? His heart and soul? What do we know about it? Absolutely NOTHING! We do not know that he is REALLY the best partner choice for sweet, precious Cinderella or Snow White! We don't know that he will treat either one as they deserve to be treated! All we know is they live "happily ever after".
Here is what we know about the Prince... He falls in love with Cinderella...as the person she was at the ball. Well... apparently... he fell in love with her dainty foot. Maybe a foot fettish! He was attracted to her physically...but, he had no clue about her true inner beauty. To be fair...he probably was impressed with her dancing skills. Lets face it...she spent an insane amount of time dancing with the birds and her broom. Other than that...he didn't know a thing about Cinderella. All he cared about was the dainty foot fitting in the glass slipper. Bottom line...he fell in love with someone who was not herself. Someone who was pretending to be someone she wasn't. Can happily ever after really be a reality...when reality of day in and day out settles in? Would he still love her if she preferred to wear the more comfortable rags?
Don't get me started on Snow White!! Again...the Prince is attracted to outward beauty. He knows nothing about Snow White's heart and soul. But, the 7 dwarfs do...and care so deeply about what happens to their precious Snow White! We even know the heart and soul of each dwarf...but know nothing about the Prince. What we know about him is...The Prince gallops into the fairy tale...looking all gorgeous in his tights and poofy shirt...and kisses Snow White. He does so without her permission! She wakes up and with one look at the poofy shirt...another happily ever after is declared. Again I ponder...how can happily ever after be a
reality when the Prince cares about only physical beauty? In his favor... he doesn't care about morning breath! Remember that Snow White has been asleep for a hundred years! Just thought it was worth mentioning!
The character of the Prince becomes evident...loud and clear! This is not the character of someone who puts God first in His life...only himself. When physical beauty is all that matters...the kind and gentle spirit's voice will never be heard by the Prince! Cinderella and Snow White are "arm candy"...their voice is not going to be valued and treasured. Which means...their heart and soul will slowly get snuffed out. The Prince only cares about how the princess makes him look. Now... I ask..is THIS happily ever after? Is this worthy of a
princess? Truth be known... the dwarfs are more of a Prince... as they cared about Snow White for who she was on the inside.
Is any of this the Prince's fault? No... it's the author's fault. This is what molds little girl's view of relationships. All that happened to make a happily ever after... was never defined. Like Julia Roberts... I, too want the whole fairy tale! I still believe in fairy tales... happily ever after. Only... I want God's fairy tale. His happily ever after.
"All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever".
I Corinthians 13: 8
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
From God to Fairy Tales
From God to fairy tales? Really? My first blog is the foundation for the journey I am discovering! That means...God is my foundation. I will bring this back to God... And how the puzzle pieces fit together.
Fairy tales have been my nightmare for the greater part of my life...so it is only fitting that I tackle them head on! I did not read a single one to my daughter as she grew up! Why? Because I wanted her to be grounded in the for real life..not filled with the view of life that fairy tales tend to lend themselves to. If only I knew then...what I know now! Of course..my life would not be what it is today if I did! Duh!
We have our Cinderella and Snow white! Ahhh! The fantasy of it all! On closer inspection...not quite a fantasy...but, real life! Huh? Gather around and hear me out! Fascinating stuff! Both have the beautiful princess, an ugly queen, and a handsome prince! Sound like real life yet? No? Okay... So...the queen and ugly step sisters are not physically pretty because their heart and souls are not pretty. All are selfish, self-centered, jealous...so very focused on me, me, me! They all feel they deserve the best in life and want it NOW! These characteristics of a God-less soul...shows up in the physical self. No one wants to be around a negative, out to sabbatoge, and get what you want at any cost type of person.
Are you with me? Cinderella and Snow White are patient, giving, kind... to even the smallest creatures and grumpiest of people, thinks of others long before themselves, and never once say "Woe is me! Poor me"! They both work hard...with a song in their heart. They are thankful for everything they have... even if it's not anything more than a broom and rags! Neither are aware of their glow or their influence just by being themselves. All of these characteristics ARE the spirit of our Lord! Cinderella and Snow White have taken care of their heart and soul, filled them with the fruits from God...which ultimately shows up in the physical self...their glow. Their heart and soul gives them the confidence to hold their head high through all of their circumstances. No matter how tough their journey may be. Which...is a strong part of their beauty. Every creature and person wants to be enveloped in the circle of their glow!
My next blog will deal with the prince and the essence of the fairy tale. For now...absorb and internalize the differences between the queen, step-sisters, and the two princesses. Concentrate on all of their hearts and souls...and realize that what is on the inside is, in fact, on the outside. So... Until next time....don't forget...
"You are the World's light-a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father". Matthew 5: 14-16
Fairy tales have been my nightmare for the greater part of my life...so it is only fitting that I tackle them head on! I did not read a single one to my daughter as she grew up! Why? Because I wanted her to be grounded in the for real life..not filled with the view of life that fairy tales tend to lend themselves to. If only I knew then...what I know now! Of course..my life would not be what it is today if I did! Duh!
We have our Cinderella and Snow white! Ahhh! The fantasy of it all! On closer inspection...not quite a fantasy...but, real life! Huh? Gather around and hear me out! Fascinating stuff! Both have the beautiful princess, an ugly queen, and a handsome prince! Sound like real life yet? No? Okay... So...the queen and ugly step sisters are not physically pretty because their heart and souls are not pretty. All are selfish, self-centered, jealous...so very focused on me, me, me! They all feel they deserve the best in life and want it NOW! These characteristics of a God-less soul...shows up in the physical self. No one wants to be around a negative, out to sabbatoge, and get what you want at any cost type of person.
Are you with me? Cinderella and Snow White are patient, giving, kind... to even the smallest creatures and grumpiest of people, thinks of others long before themselves, and never once say "Woe is me! Poor me"! They both work hard...with a song in their heart. They are thankful for everything they have... even if it's not anything more than a broom and rags! Neither are aware of their glow or their influence just by being themselves. All of these characteristics ARE the spirit of our Lord! Cinderella and Snow White have taken care of their heart and soul, filled them with the fruits from God...which ultimately shows up in the physical self...their glow. Their heart and soul gives them the confidence to hold their head high through all of their circumstances. No matter how tough their journey may be. Which...is a strong part of their beauty. Every creature and person wants to be enveloped in the circle of their glow!
My next blog will deal with the prince and the essence of the fairy tale. For now...absorb and internalize the differences between the queen, step-sisters, and the two princesses. Concentrate on all of their hearts and souls...and realize that what is on the inside is, in fact, on the outside. So... Until next time....don't forget...
"You are the World's light-a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father". Matthew 5: 14-16
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Chapter 1: What did we miss?
So... as I always do... I ask questions. Deep questions that sometimes don't find an answer. I have been raised going to church but never understood some of the very basics and how it relates to my life. I asked many questions... over the years... with the same response by my mom, "You just have to have faith". That response was not a satisfactory one for someone who is always looking behind every single nook and cranny in life... trying to figure out the "why" and the "how". I know there is so much more than what meets the eye. I never let most of the questions of life go. I have spent my life trying to find the answers. This first question... is one that hopefully will help everyone take their first step to happiness. Or... is it freedom?
The most basic question I had was... if we were made in the image of God... then whose image is the correct one? There are white, black and brown people, yellow and red people. Some even say... there are green people (do Martians count as people?). There are people with brown, black, yellow, and grey hair. There are people with long, short, and no hair. People are fat, skinny and medium weights. There are rich people and poor people...which can determine our physical self. There are differences in gender. There are infants, young people and old people. The list is endless to all the physical differences in people... so, which one is the image of God?
God brought me to my answer. Every single person in this whole entire world (not sure about the Martians)...are in the image of God. It's our hearts and souls that were made in the image of God. Our physical being... is merely the way to transport the precious cargo. Our hearts and souls... are the image of God. Adam and Eve... are the reason we can see our physical selves. God can't see our physical selves... nor is He interested in it. Our physical self... is God's temple because it houses our hearts and souls. God intended us to take care of our physical self... so that we could carry out His will. But, God did not intend for us to get so wrapped up in our physical selves that we neglected our hearts and souls. The most important part of each one of us... is not how we physically look... but, the very core of us and how that looks to God.
Interesting!! The photo I chose for this blog... has some critical elements and thoughts in the background! I didn't realize it... until I was editing this blog. The words "journey", "putting it together..", and Mary Tyler's signature song at the foundation of the statue... "Who can turn the world on with her smile"? These are the elements within this blog!! Especially... the signature song. The smile... is from the heart and soul. It's the foundation for each one of us. If you can turn the world on with your smile... you have God's Spirit beaming from within you. God is touching every person! That's something for me to remember the next time I smile... or choose not to smile.
The most basic question I had was... if we were made in the image of God... then whose image is the correct one? There are white, black and brown people, yellow and red people. Some even say... there are green people (do Martians count as people?). There are people with brown, black, yellow, and grey hair. There are people with long, short, and no hair. People are fat, skinny and medium weights. There are rich people and poor people...which can determine our physical self. There are differences in gender. There are infants, young people and old people. The list is endless to all the physical differences in people... so, which one is the image of God?
God brought me to my answer. Every single person in this whole entire world (not sure about the Martians)...are in the image of God. It's our hearts and souls that were made in the image of God. Our physical being... is merely the way to transport the precious cargo. Our hearts and souls... are the image of God. Adam and Eve... are the reason we can see our physical selves. God can't see our physical selves... nor is He interested in it. Our physical self... is God's temple because it houses our hearts and souls. God intended us to take care of our physical self... so that we could carry out His will. But, God did not intend for us to get so wrapped up in our physical selves that we neglected our hearts and souls. The most important part of each one of us... is not how we physically look... but, the very core of us and how that looks to God.
Interesting!! The photo I chose for this blog... has some critical elements and thoughts in the background! I didn't realize it... until I was editing this blog. The words "journey", "putting it together..", and Mary Tyler's signature song at the foundation of the statue... "Who can turn the world on with her smile"? These are the elements within this blog!! Especially... the signature song. The smile... is from the heart and soul. It's the foundation for each one of us. If you can turn the world on with your smile... you have God's Spirit beaming from within you. God is touching every person! That's something for me to remember the next time I smile... or choose not to smile.
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