The Proverbs 31 Enigma: She is me!

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

Love her, hate her, don't understand her, can't be bothered about her? The Proverbs 31 woman has got to be one of the most talked about and yet still misunderstood characters in the Bible. Men want to marry her, women wonder if they can ever be her. Often regarded as the 'Superwoman' of the Bible, the question is as women, can we ever meet up and match her skills, talents and achievements. I must confess I'd never really seen myself having much in common with her, the opening summary about her starts with the word 'wife' which I'm not. It talks about her artistry with the needle, I prick holes in my fingers. A version of the Bible talks about her gardening skills, I'm a professional weed tender! Lol! So how do I even think of keeping up? I would just gloss over the verses nodding but never really seeing Believer on those pages.

Step in Holy Spirit, the Illuminator of the Word. He asked me why I always focused on what she did as opposed to who she was. The caption above says 'The Wife of Noble Character,' not the 'The Wife of Noble Doings' or 'The Wife of Great Acts' because at the end of the day our character is who we are which then influences what we do. So many times we get it twisted, we want to 'do' differently instead of working on the inside at 'being' different. He also reminded me that God calls those things that be not as though they were, when He created me, He put the anointing of a wife inside of me as well and even though I haven't manifested that area of my life yet, it didn't preclude me from being one anyway! The Holy Spirit is so charming, isn't He? Also, note that no name was ascribed to this woman, so you can conveniently put your name there, the Proverbs 31 woman is me!

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

Proverbs 13: 10-15

Strive to be the best where you are with what you have

If I had to caption the essence of what being a Proverbs 31 woman was, this would be it. It's quite interesting to note that no reference was made to her personal wardrobe, or to her shoe collection, or to her 'always on point' accesories. I know she wasn't a shabby woman, she clothed her household in scarlet but there was much more to her than just being a pretty face or looking good. Woman of God, you are worth far more than rubies. Always remember that no matter what life throws your way. Her husband had full confidence in her, like me you may still be single but do the people in your life have full confidence in you? Do you add value to their lives? Do you bring them good and not harm? That my dears, is the character of a Proverbs 31 woman. Our character is our essence, its our atmosphere, like a signature perfume that lingers on your loved ones long after you've left the room, this is what we should be working on. She is not an idle woman. It's not enough to be, after that we must go out and do something. Also, she really isn't Superwoman, for she had servant girls! She is wise enough to know to enlist help because she can't be everywhere, doing everything at every time. She is a manager, she is a leader. The Proverbs 31 woman is me.

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff  and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 

v 16-19

Show me the money!

Financial independence, yay! Women, we need to wake up and smell the coffee. I personally believe every believer should have a stream of income aside from your JOB and yes this includes women. We must learn to mind our own 'business'. She even tells us how to do it, first she bought a field (asset), out of her profits, she makes her asset even more profitable by planting a vineyard. Vineyard produces wine and she still owned the landed property. I'm not sure every woman should go into real estate but we must acquire assets. There are a number to pick from, just pick something!  Proverbs 31 women aim to increase the size of their asset column and shrink the size of their liabilities! How much of your money is really working for you. Or is it paycheck to Macy's, paycheck to Selfridges and paycheck to The Palms? Women of God, we need to wake up. Sort out your finances.  Don't plunge your husband or yourself into unnecessary debt, we bring good and not harm to the people connected to us. Show me the money! Start small, she started with a field and then made it a vineyard. Trade and God will strengthen your arms to ensure that it is profitable. He is your God and He will teach you how to make wealth. The Proverbs 31 woman is me.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

v.20-22

Making a contribution

"Life is more than the acquisition of stuff, its about what we have done, whom we have served and why we will be remembered when we leave" (ZoeB). Its quite obvious that this woman was adept with the needle, but maybe you're not. Maybe you have been equipped with the voice of encouragement, have been anointed to intercede, maybe you can cook egusi in a way that makes one forget their sorrows or you're good with children. She could sew, yes but what can you do? How can we open our arms to the hurting in our world. How can I share the gifts I have been endowed with. Everyone has something, life is about recognising what that something is and making the best of it. The Proverbs 31 woman is me.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate

v. 25-31

Wadrobe check

Reminds me of the verse, don't let your beauty be merely from outward adornment. Its about what's within. This we cannot do without wisdom. Wisdom we cannot have without the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord we cannot have without a relationshop with Him. Its not about being up from dusk to dawn, rushing from one activity to the other. It's not about being Alpha Mum or a Yummy Mummy, its about being the best you, where you are and with what you have. The grace of God is sufficient to strengthen you for the tasks that He himself has called you to be. Single, married, parent, employee, employer, woman or man, its all the same to Him. He uses those who are available and willing to be used by Him. You don't live to seek the praise of men, your works will bring you praise. So keep stepping. The Proverbs 31 woman is you.

iPray Friday: Becoming a Woman of Noble Character

Dear Lord, I ask for your grace and strength to be that woman you created me to be. Not what Vogue thinks I should be, not what my parents think I should be, not even what my pastor thinks I should be. You created me and you designed me for a specific purpose. Help me on this journey on discovering 'who I be' that I may know 'what I do' in Jesus name. Amen.

iPray: Day 4

A prayer for women offered by Jaycee

Dear Father, we’re here again today to give You all the Praise and glory. There is no one like You, and there will never be anyone who compares to You. The train of Your robe fills our temples, and Your presence, Oh Lord, is deeply comforting. The One who said “Let there be light,” and look, there is light till this very day. The One who told the turbulent seas, “Peace, be still,” and the waters ceased to make havoc. The One who split both the Red Sea and the River Jordan into two so that His people could pass through in the middle, we worship You. El Elyon (God Most High), we glorify Your Name. Words cannot be used to completely describe who You really are; when it boils down to the basics You are indeed INDESCRIBABLE. You’re the One who answers prayers, even when all hope is lost. You’re the one who revives us once more when we’ve almost given up. Thank You, because of who You are.


Father, today we come to you to pray for women. Lord, in the beginning (Genesis) You saw that man needed a helper, and You gave the woman to him. There is never an error with You, Lord: You did it for a great purpose. Thank You for women. Thank You for making women nurturers of both their men and children. Thank You for the anatomy of the woman. Thank You for the wonderful and mysterious ways You’ve made the woman beautiful. There is no higher intelligence that can do what You’ve done, Father. You are the ultimate architect. Teach women to understand who You created them to be: helpers and sustainers. Not to be superior to men, but to be the driving force in helping them to achieve their own destinies while fulfilling ours. Help us to understand that we are not inferior either, but we have a powerful unparalleled mission here on earth.


Lord, I want to pray for insight and wisdom for women. I pray for the ability to be able to decipher logistics, either of our home, our families, or even our businesses. Please give us the spirit of discernment. Open our ears to hear Your voice (Job 33:16), so that we will be able to gauge the affairs of our homes. Help us to know when to go left, or when to go right. Teach us your secrets, so that when people come to us with questions, like they came to Deborah (one of the judges of Israel), we will have the answers ready.


El Roi, the God who sees everything, we ask that You transform the women of today’s society, especially in the Body of Christ, into women of virtue. The literal meaning of a virtuous woman is a woman of valor in the sense of all forms of excellence, a woman who is morally excellent. Father, I pray for the spirit of excellence in the lives of women. You have given us an unusual sense of energy, in that we can do whatever we make up our minds to do. Father, I speak excellence into our homes, our families, our jobs, our businesses (the market places of the world), and into the lives of the people we get into contact with every day. Let the works of our hands be blessed, and cause our children to sit at our feet and obtain the wisdom of God. Let our husbands be known at the gates of the city, because through our excellence we helped them to become great men of valor. Help us to be morally sound now, for if we are not how do we pass virtuosity to future generations? Wherever we go, especially being children of God, let people be able to see Your light because of our distinct moral values.


Oh God, the One who answers prayers, I want to pray for unmarried women. Father, please teach them to understand the importance of their bodies. Teach them that their bodies are to be holy, a concept that is highly misunderstood in today’s society. Father, there is a difference between a married woman and an unmarried woman (I Corinthians 7: 32-35). The unmarried woman is to care more about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit. Please speak to the hearts of women so that they know that their bodies are not to be shared and tossed between many men, but that abstinence is a holy thing to attain before marriage, so that they do not commit a sin against their own bodies. Teach them to know that it is not for Your own benefit Father, but for theirs (1 Corinthians 6:18). Help them to understand that they will not do this by their own power, but that the Holy Spirit will teach them how to do it. In their abstinence teach them to lie at Your feet and bask in Your presence, to study Your instructions and prepare for excellence.


I also want to pray for married women. In the book of Proverbs 31, You gave the descriptions of a virtuous wife. Lord, please grant married women such wisdom so that the hearts of their husbands will safely trust them. Trust is a big issue Father, but I know there is nothing impossible with You. Let there be no arising situations that will disrupt the trust of a husband to his wife. Give women the wisdom to be able to increase the profits of their household (“she considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard”-Proverbs 31:16). Father, help married women to sustain their homes, such that there will always be provision. It takes great planning to do this, so I also ask that You bless women with wisdom to plan for their households. Also teach married women what they need to do to extend their hands to the poor, because great seeds yield great harvests. I pray that children and husbands will rise up and call their mother/wives blessed, because of all these gifts that You will grant to women. And their works will also praise them wherever they go (“…in the gates”).

I pray for strength, honor, wisdom, and the fear of the Lord for all women. “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30).


Thank You Lord, for answering all these prayers. Holy Spirit I pray that You will utter things that were not even prayed in this post, because You already know what we ought to pray. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Jaycee
http://light-her-lamp.blogspot.com/

Why are you crying? What are you looking for?

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" John 20:15

It is the amazing, remarkable ability of a woman to hang on for change. The Syro-Phoneican woman chased after Jesus until her daughter was loosed, she didn't mind the bread was not hers, she would take the crumbs. The woman with the issue of blood pressed on to touch the hem of his garment. Anna stayed in the temple until she saw Jesus. Whoever you are, don't give up, change is coming.

According to John's account in Chapter 20, Mary is first to arrive at the tomb, saw the stone removed and went to tell Peter and John,who came, saw and went home! The Bible tells us that Mary remained at the tomb weeping. Why? I wonder why Mary stood there. Peter and John were part of the 3, the chosen ones closest to Jesus, they were with him in Gethsemane, they were with Him on the mount of transfiguration and yet they went home, maybe their logical minds wanted to ponder on the facts that had been set before them but not Mary, she looked with her heart, He is not here and yet I must see Him, I can't let go of Him yet, I must wait.

I see her in my mind's eye, tears streaming down her face, I imagine what her thoughts are, could it be the very first time she met Jesus, could it be how Jesus had filled every void in her life that she had spent most of her years looking for. And then a man shows up and asks her two important questions!

First, why are you crying? We need to be able to define in words what our needs are, like an onion, we must peel the surface layers of our signs and symptoms and get to the real cracks that lie beneath. What is the hurt? What is the pain you carry? Why am I addicted to things and people that numb the pain, I must look beyond the tears to know the source. In more recent times, I have cried for unfulfilled dreams and desires, unmet needs and expectations and yet Mary was crying because she couldn't find her Lord. Lord, teach me to realise that all I need is you because you own the Master key that keeps every other thing that concerns me in order. Mary didn't realise that although it looked like the love of her life was gone, He wasn't, where she had to go to Him to be with Him, now He was with Her and in Her, she wasn't going to see him physically but He would always be with her. Halleluyah!

Secondly, who is it you are looking for? I'm reminded of a song by U2, 'and I still haven't found what I'm looking for'. Are we looking for a what or a who? Am I looking for a job or a Provider, am I looking for a partner or someone to love me, am I looking for security or freedom, what am I looking for. Nothing on the above list is bad but sometimes it pays to clarify what exactly we are looking for, for how else shall we recognise it when we see it. We should all be looking for Jesus.

Sometimes we look for religion, religion says the tomb is empty, relationship asks "but where is Jesus" and I'm going to wait until I see Him. Easter begins with an empty tomb but more importantly what we celebrate is a Resurrected Christ. So, why are you crying and who is it you are looking for?

Selah!

Compliments of the season to you all. Jesus is enough reason to celebrate! Remember to be a blessing at this time. Thank you so much for taking time to read my musings and for your encouraging comments. I trust that the New Year comes with even greater things in store than we can think or imagine. God bless you.

Xxxxxx

Believer

Double WoW!

Hi everyone,

I trust that you are blessed and highly favoured. You are blessed not because everything is working just the way you want it to or you are where you want to be, you are blessed because.....(insert drumroll!!) you are blessed because GOD SAID SO. So believe it and that settles it. Joeseph was blessed, in his father's house, in the pit, as a slave, in prison and as a prime minister. His blessing did not start in Pharoah's palace, it had been within him all along so be encouraged. Thank you Jesus for this word. I really needed it.

Please can you take the time to visit Double WoW, that's a new mini-project, there are some questions there that I would like us to take the time to ponder on.

Remain blessed and highly favoured. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONIES as we have been EMPOWERED TO PROSPER.

A little note on gratitude...
Things may not be the way you want
But no matter how bad things seem
there is always something to be grateful for
if you are reading this say thank you God
for the littlest things
today i thanked Him
for the fact that
when I wear a dress for the first time
I'm usually the first person to have worn it
because if truth be told
it hasn't always been that way
Thank you Jesus

Have a blessed week!

I am Woman

I am woman
Soft yet strong
Curves in just the right places
Intuitive
Discerning
Multi-tasking
Able to change my mind, no apologies

I am woman
Lover, wife
Mother, sister
Friend and daughter
I nurture
I Influence
Able to cry in public, no apologies

I am woman
From bedroom to boardroom
From homemaker to CEO
I learn, I teach
I listen, I speak
I encourage and build
Able to live the dream, no apologies

I am woman
And I am complete
Whether single or married
I am whole
Because I walk in my purpose
I run with the vision
I am a DIVA, no apologies

I am woman
Created from man
Equal yet different
Taking him to the next level
His seed becomes a child
His house a home
Able to turn things around, no apologies

I am woman
I am secure in who God made me
So I celebrate my sisters
Their gifts and talents
United we stand
A three fold cord not easily broken
Working together, no apologies

I am woman
Created by God
Who I worship
With all of me
Who I love with all my heart
In Him
I am free to be ME

Sisters isn't it wonderful to be us!

The daughter's inheritance

SY, I don't know what is happening to me o, since our last conversation He has been bombarding me with stuff for the girls!! It is well.

This one is for the DIVAs in the house!


in·her·it·ance /ɪnˈhɛrɪtəns/ noun 1. something that is or may be inherited; property passing at the owner's death to the heir or those entitled to succeed; legacy.
2. the genetic characters transmitted from parent to offspring, taken collectively.
3. something, as a quality, characteristic, or other immaterial possession, received from progenitors or predecessors as if by succession: an inheritance of family pride.
4. portion; birthright; heritage: Absolute rule was considered the inheritance of kings. (Dictionary.com)

One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?" She replied, "Do me a special favour. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs. Joshua 15:18-19

Why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives." So Moses brought their case before the Lord and the Lord said to him, "What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must CERTAINLY give them PROPERTY as an INHERITANCE among their father's relatives and give their father's inheritance over to them". Numbers 27:4-7

The Lord dropped this into my spirit during my quiet time. He said as a daughter there is an inheritance for you. When I read about Joshua's daughter Acsah, I was surprised that she went to her father for property although she was married. I felt the Holy Spirit say..yes you may be married but your Father remains your source. Sisters, please I want to keep it real. Yes, the man may be the provider but He is not our source. Rachel told Jacob "Give me children or I die", Jacob's reply to her was "Am I in the place of God?" (Genesis 30:1). I had to ask myself where I had been going for the things I had required, who or what I had been putting in the place of God! He said, "Never look to a man, job or anyone to be your source or financial security. I am God who never sleeps or slumbers, who knows the end from the beginning, the one to whom the cattle on a thousand hills belongs to, the One who teaches you how to make wealth. It is my desire that you enjoy all that the 'earth' has to offer. It is my desire that you use what I have blessed you with to expand my Kingdom."

These days I get the general idea that quite a number of women refuse to put their financial lives in order because of this idea that when they get married all will be well and good. I know I'm not talking about you! Well, I have decided to be a good thing in the life of my husband not additional debt or financial worries so I'm learning to take money and money matters quite seriously! I recommend all women read Rich Woman by Kim Kiyosaki wife of Robert Kiyosaki author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. It's a great read and is thought provoking. I think it's also interesting that when the Proverbs 31 woman was described, not much reference was made to her husband's contribution to her finances!

An inheritance is never totally about material things however, looking at the definition we see it is a quality or characteristic passed from parent to offspring. God is our father and He has an inheritance for us. When we gave our lives to Him, He reGENErated us. We basically got new genes, our spiritual genetic make up is like our father and that qualifies us for the inheritance. Why did Jesus die? Because, inheritance occurs at death. The great thing about Jesus death was that He died but He rose again so we could enjoy the inheritance together! I believe this inheritance consists of divine health and wealth, peace unspeakable, joy indescribable, the nothing broken, nothing missing blessing of God, that ability to stand through the storms of life.

It is well, these days I'm so glad that I am Woman. I secretly think sometimes that God loves us more o... It is well. Remain blessed and highly favoured. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONIES.

I am a DIVA!

Hi all,

I trust that you are all well and standing strong in the Lord. I've been reading The Diva Principle by Michelle Mckinney Hammond. I'm really loving it! The way I see it we are all supposed to be divas because we are daughters of the King of Kings. Although the word is not always used in a positive way, this is my own spin on it from what i am learning from the book.


I am a DIVA. I am DIVINELY INSPIRED to live with a VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE

A DIVA is secure in who God made her to be. She knows that she is fearfully and wonderfully made. She takes time to assess both areas of strengths and weakness in her life. She develops her strengths and is proactive about working on weaknesses even when it stretches her beyond her comfort zone.

A DIVA is gracious, oh yes there are some aggravating people out there but a DIVA knows that between stimulus and response there is the power to choose. She knows that a gentle answer turns away wrath and that it is the glory of the wise to overlook an insult. No unwholesome talk proceeds from her mouth but her speech is always with grace as seasoned with salt.

A DIVA is hospitable, you always feel at home in her prescence. She makes you feel that you are the most important person on earth because she genuinely puts you there.

A DIVA is a woman of integrity. If she says she'll be there she will, at the time she said she said. Sure, life is not always black and white but if she won't be there or will be late she'll let you know so you can make other arrangements.

A DIVA is a servant. Her life's purpose is to serve. To serve her God and humanity. For her, life is not the accumulation of things but the opportunity to be a blessing in service to those God has brought her way.

A DIVA is a woman of vision. She knows that there is more to life than the immeadiate present, that the vision God has given her is for an appointed time and will speak so she waits on the Lord to show her where He wants her to be and asks His guidance in getting there.

A DIVA is a lover. She loves her God, totally without any inhibitions or apologies. She is not ashamed to lie prostrate in His presence irrespective of designer wear..Lol! She is not ashamed to to cry in His prescence or jump up and down giving undignified praise because she knows that He is the ultimate lover of her soul and if it had not been for Him she would be nothing. A DIVA loves others unconditionally and sacrificially from a GENUINE heart.

A DIVA is beautiful both within and without. She realises that her body is a temple of God so she must be careful about both what goes in and what goes out of it. She knows that like a car's engine is only as productive as the quality of petrol and maintenance that it gets, she takes time to eat well, exercise, rest, recharge and restore. She know's she not superwoman so she says no to the good so she can focus on the best.

A DIVA relates. She knows no woman is an island and that life is all about relationships. She maintains a 360 degree relational cycle, mentoring those coming behind her, encouraging and affirming those on the same level as her and being mentored by those that have gone before her.

A DIVA has a VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE. She knows that life is not a bed of roses but she is building her house on the rock so that when the storms of life come, by the grace of God she is able to bear it. She knows that failure is not an event but a mentality and that even though the righteous may fall seven times, the Lord will raise her up. She is able to admit her mistakes and move on because she is humble enough to admit that she is not perfect and it is only by the grace of God that she is who she is!

Wow! I guess there is more..feel free to share your thoughts. Looking at these, I know there are so many areas where growth is needed but I still thank God. By His grace, I know we can get there.

Remain blessed and highly favoured. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONY!

Boaz is coming!

And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me go now to the field and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go my daughter. And she went and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light (as it turned out) on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz who was of the kindred of Elimelech. And, behold, Boaz CAME...Ruth 2:1-4a (KJV) Brackets (NIV)..Capitals mine

This one is for the single sisters'. Do I hear a halleluyah? For the sassy, single and satisfised sisters' who are still trusting God for a mate. During worship this morning, I felt I heard the Lord say "Believer, be encouraged and encourage your sisters that Boaz is coming". I began to laugh until I saw verse 3 of the 2nd chapter of Ruth in the King James Version...that Boaz came.

I recalled a recent conversation I had with a friend of mine and she said that God will not give you a man that you have to manage because every good and perfect gift comes from above. Not that the man will be perfect but he will be a good gift. An analogy that comes to mind is when you are desperately searching for an item at the supermarket right before closing, you get to the shelf and realise that there's only one left. It looks a little damaged but the shop staff are giving you the evil eye and you really, really want it so you say "Well, I can just manage this, if I chop off a bit here or there I guess it can really work".

This might be an ok mentality for grocery or even clothes shopping but I don't think it is God's plan for us concerning a future partner. I asked God, "why did you say Boaz is coming? Why not another name in the Bible?" He said "Go back and read that book again, the characteristics of the man for you are found in Boaz"

A son in the house (from the clan of Elimelech)Ruth 2:1
A strong man Ruth 2:9
A generous man Ruth 2:14
An understanding man Ruth 2:15
A man of integrity Ruth 3:18
A self-less man Ruth 4:10

So if you are waiting on the Lord, wait like Ruth. Don't allow depression to set in. Wait like Ruth. Don't sit at home and reminisce on how the good 'ole days were in Moab and don't even consider going back to the world. Go into the fields and glean. To glean was not a choice occupation, basically you were gathering left overs. I'm sure when people passed and saw those that gleaned they shook their heads in pity. I'm sure some may have said a few unkind comments. Just the way they do today. "Haba, don't you want to get married, you're not getting any younger o!" or "You're too choosy, all men are the same, just marry one and be done with it"! My encouragement to all this pertains to is to rejoice because Boaz is coming! My question to you is... Where will he find you? At home, depressed, unfulfilled and angry at God, or gleaning in the field. To glean in the field is to stay in your assignment, to stay in that purpose that the Lord has for you, to serve Him with all that you have.

Do me a favour this week, praise God, worship Him, praise Him just as if the answer to your prayers was right in front of you.

Rejoice and again I say rejoice because BOAZ IS COMING!

Reflections

I PRAISE you because I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made; your WORKS are WONDERFUL, I know that full well Psalm 139:14 (NIV: Capitals mine)

won.der.ful: Excellent, great, marvelous, of a sort that causes or arouses wonder, amazing, astonishing (http://dictionary.reference.com/)

Synonyms 1. awesome, wondrous, miraculous, prodigious, astonishing, amazing, astounding, phenomenal, unique, curious, strange.


I'm looking through the windows
looking at the little girl
shy and quiet
desperately wanting to be accepted
by the 'in crowd'
but always left on the outside
looking in

I'm watching the little girl
quickly transforming into a young woman
very much aware
of her changing body
and desperately praying for it to stop
as she becomes the butt of jokes from the girls
and is treated as an object by the boys


I am looking at the young woman
hiding behind oversize clothes
never able to make eye contact
as her eyes are always downcast
not able to look in the mirror
as all she sees are her flaws


I am looking at the young woman
staring at herself in the same mirror
as if seeing herself for the very first time
realising that although her body is not perfect
it is her's
her's to love and accept
her's to cherish and pamper
her's to change if she wants to
she sees herself
and she knows she is beautiful

I am looking at her
and I am smiling
because it was not an easy journey
for the shy little girl who is growing into a young confident woman is
ME

This was inspired by Daddy's Girl's carnival, a celebration of our bodies. We celebrate not because we have 'perfect' bodies (whatever perfection may mean!) but because we have been WONDERFULLY made. I love the synonyms of this word...I am created AMAZING. Halleluyah! Lord I thank you for my body. It houses my spirit and my soul, gets me to where I need to be. Yes, it's limited to time and space, yes it gets tired, yes there are some things that need to be tightened (LOL!!) but I still thank you for all of it. From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, it's all wonderful!