A post to think about..from LYWB.

The Real Deal: What True Womanhood Is All About

Have you ever thought about what it means to be a young woman? I'm not talking about a young woman the way the world defines it, but the way God does. After all, He created women, so He should know!
This summer I spent a weekend searching God's Word for the answer, as I'd been asked to give a talk to some teens on "biblical womanhood." Last week I shared part of that message with you—how true womanhood is not being a Mix & Match Girl, Marathon Girl, or Monument Girl.
Today, I'd like to share with you what a true woman is. These are the three bottom-line answers I arrived at. For starters, let's get this clear: true biblical womanhood is about so much more than the length of your shorts or how long you had your quiet time this morning or the way you interact with guys. Don't get me wrong—dressing modestly and reading the Bible and interacting with guys with purity are all important—but it's possible to do all these things and miss the main point entirely.

1. Biblical womanhood starts in the heart. I remember the day, years ago, when this truth hit me. I wrote in my journal:
I wonder if my most precious possession is my heart. I have never really considered that. God is always talking about Israel's hearts as the thing He desires them to obey Him in and to surrender to Him. And in Proverbs 4:23 it says, "Guard your heart, for out of it flow the wellsprings of life." And God says love Me with all your heart in Deuteronomy 6:5. God most definitely wants my heart. I don't think I've ever given Him my heart: my emotions and longings.
How about you? Would God say about you, "She honors me with her lips, but her heart is far from me"? If so, would you give Him your heart today? That most precious part of you?
Something I've learned the hard way is that God won't be satisfied with part of us or most of us. He wants all of us, beginning with our heart. And biblical womanhood doesn't start on the outside, but works from the inside out.

2. True biblical womanhood flows out of a personal, growing relationship with King Jesus.
Second Corinthians 3:18 tells us that the way we change is by looking at Jesus:We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
So the important question is, how do we look at Jesus? Simple. In His Word, the Bible. I love it when Jesus says to the uber-religious guys, "You search the Scriptures because in them you think you have life, but you do not know that they point to me." And in Luke 24:27, Jesus is on the road with two men and it says, "And beginning with Moses [the author of the first five books of the Bible] and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself."
So the question is, are you spending time every day looking at Jesus in His Word? Listening to His voice? Building a relationship with Him—like you would with anyone else—by spending time with Him, just you two? He is the only one with the power to transform you from the inside out into a fully alive woman.

3. A biblical woman says, "Yes, Lord" in every area of her life.
How can a woman say "no" to her self and "yes" to the Spirit of God? That's hard! There's really only one way: because she knows Him, so she trusts Him.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is a great example of this. Did you know she was probably just a young teen when she said, "Yes, Lord"? You may know the story. An angel appeared to Mary and told her she would have a son—while she was still a virgin!—and that he would be the Son of God.
Her response: "How will this be, since I am a virgin? . . . Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." It was a very scary assignment that meant moving away from those she loved, having her reputation tainted, and having "the sword of sorrow" pierce her heart when her beloved Son died on the cross. But it was also the most exciting, greatest honor. Yes, one that would mean "death" to her in so many ways, but one that would ultimately bring life to billions!
What has the Lord assigned to you right now? Are you resisting Him or saying, "Yes, Lord"?
Okay, now it's your turn. How would you describe what it looks like to be the kind of young woman God designed you to be?

The web link to this post: http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/index.php?id=1845

Youth Retreat #1

Just two days ago me and my siblings came back from a youth retreat. We had an amazing time and we even have pictures to prove that! God really met us this year. We had lessons on Revival and prayer (I'll write more on the lessons sometime soon).

~ This is a link that show pictures that were taken (scroll down till you see the links under "Youth Retreat") : http://www.pilgrimcamp.org/2012/2012_index.html

~ A bit of camp history and such (just click ENTER) : http://www.pilgrimcamp.org/

This song was the unofficial theme song of the retreat. We were always singing it, even when we weren't in meeting. What a blessing it was to all of us. May it bless you too. 

Forgiveness ~ Sometimes it's doing the impossible

FORGIVENESS!

  This video was brought to my attention this afternoon by my beloved twin sister, and it's been on my heart to share it with all those who look at or follow my blog. May we all forgive even the worst of people, who like this man killed a daughter and sister. 

A trip to "Lies Young Women Believe"...

   The recent topic on L.Y.W.B. has been very interesting. And I don't just mean the actual post, but the comments too.  I am going to put three links below, for the latest three posts. You may have a look and feel free to comment! May the Lord bless you..
    ~ http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/index.php?id=1834 
    ~ http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/index.php?id=1835
    ~ http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/index.php?id=1836

Healing Rain ~ Let us Pray for it!

   This is the worst drought in the USA since the mid-50's. Over 50% of the country is in drought conditions and the rest is considered "unusually dry." I live in New York, so I haven't been hit with drought conditions, but I still pray for rain. This morning on Klove Radio the three hosts stopped the music they had been playing and took a minute or so to have everyone close their eyes (unless you were driving) and they prayed for the people who needed rain, mostly central USA. It felt so good praying for hundreds who I didn't know, but had one thing in common.
    1 Samuel 12:18 says: "Then Samuel called on the Lord, and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel." Let us all pray that today is the end of the drought. And if not today, then let us keep praying each and every day. God Bless All!

The heat!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. The beginning of July is always busy because our moms birthday is on the third and then we celebrate with family on the fourth. The heat wave has also taken time. We have to water the flowers everyday more than usual. Thanks for being patient!

Flag Day ~ June 14, 2012

  

The Star Spangled Banner  By: Francis Scott Key (1814)

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Oh! Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

  

     I didn't get to post anything yesterday, but I don't want to forget to post something for flag day (which was yesterday). Usually I only hear the first verse or so when someone sings the national anthem, but I decided to post all four verses. We have the full song in our church hymn book because we do sing the national anthem the Sunday after the 4th of July. We should all keep praying for our nation, for we all need prayer!

Joyfulness with a side of Laughter...

    There are rarely days in which I don't laugh. I smile all the time, with happiness in my wake. The rest of my family may not be as bubbly as me, but they do know how to laugh and smile too. 
    It is a rainy day here in West Hempstead and it's not going to get better, for there is a storm predicted. At three pm we all gather together at the dinning room table to have a drink and a small snack, which is usually a piece of fruit. Today my mom and brother were at the table doing some logic puzzles from a puzzle book. Before five minutes had passed everyone was involved in helping them finish. Everyone was smiling. It was so delightful to look around and see them so happy. The weather could be as downcast as it wanted to be, but the happy mood could not be broken. 
    The Lord has been so gracious and good to everyone in my family this past year. It's been great being eighteen (what a blessing to live another year...)! The Lord has been with me in the past year and I am glad that I have been able to grow more like him.