WOMEN TO WOMEN #3

Well it's time to do the monthly Woman to Woman topic hosted by Morning Glory, here.

And co-hosted by My Many Colored Days, here.

Go to either of these web sites to find out more about it and to sign up with Mr. Linky.

The topic this month is Share an important quote and what it means to you. I knew I had to get in on this one when I heard the topic because I love words.

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work

in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Phillippians 1:6

I cannot remember when the above verse (or Biblical quote) became my life verse. I think it was in 1966 when I first began my first bible memory course. You can go here to read about it. So for the past 40 years I have studied about, meditated on and given much thought to what this verse means to me.

#1 - I AM CONFIDENT - first I am totally confident in God being THE supreme being. Yes, there are many "gods" in this world but I am confident in THE One True God. I am confident that Jesus the Christ is the Son of God. I am confident that I have put my faith and trust in Jesus, and Jesus alone as not only my Savior (a lot of people have him there kind of like a "fire escape") but my LORD. I am confident that the Bible is the Living Word of God. Not just a dead book written years ago, as some believe, but a book that is alive and speaks to us individually, as well as collectively. A book that even though I've read through it time and time again, and studied it deeply, will suddenly speak to me about a verse with a new depth or insight that I'd never seen before. I am confident that this verse, as all the verses, is speaking to me and giving me this promise.

#2 - HE HAS BEGUN THE WORK - He began this work in me on September 24, 1956 when I first believed that the atoning work of Jesus the Christ was a finished work. He put a new heart in me that very moment at that little altar in a church. He raised me up from that altar a new creation. Oh yes, I was just as much an infant in the Spirit on that day as I was an infant in the flesh on December 25, 1937. I was just as much a baby in Christ, then an adolescent in Christ, then a young adult in Christ. It was and is a progression. Sanctification.

#3 - HE WILL COMPLETE IT - He will never leave me or forsake me. His Word tells me this. Though I stumble and fall (and oh I do) He will pick me up time and time again, as long as I confess my sin to Him and ask forgiveness. He is the sure rock, the firm foundation and when I die, or when I meet Him in the sky, I will live with Him forever. He will complete what He has begun. He will perform it.

This is what this quote means to me.

When I fully grasped that it was His finished work and His continuing work and He was faithful and would perform all that He has said He would and He would perform it ALL what a freedom and joy it brought to my life. Joy unspeakable and full of glory!!!

PRAISE GOD, FATHER, SON & HOLY GHOST

ONE GOD

AT HIS NAME EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW

AND EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS

THAT JESUS IS LORD

Celebrating Me!

Morning Glory at Seeds From My Garden

is hosting this great idea of Woman to Woman where woman post each month on a different topic. This will be my second one to participate in. I blogged on Inside My Own Skin here. This topic intrigued me the minute I head it announced because I truly believe so many woman do not even know WHO they are and certainly don't VALUE themselves enough to CELEBRATE who God has made THEM to be. I blogged on this in One Flaw In Women here a short time ago..

Celebrating Me!

My celebrating me has to begin with my father. The fact he was born in 1885 and the 19th Amendment, giving woman the right to vote was not passed by Congress until June 4, 1919, and not ratified until a year later on August 18, 1920, most men did not put much value on women. This was especially true when my father was a young man growing up in the late 19th century.

My father was way ahead of his time and had a progressive view about women. He not only valued his wife, he had a high regard for his daughters, and a high esteem for women in general. Being blessed to be his youngest daughter my earliest recollections are his treating me with utmost respect and regard. Because he valued me and demonstrated that to me, day in and day out, I grew up knowing that I was not only loved but had value. Not only as a woman but as a person and as a child of God. I've always said the concept of a Loving Father God was never hard for me to grasp because I had such a godly example in a Loving Earthly Father.

Along with this strong belief in my value was also instilled a high sense of personal responsibility. I was held accountable for everything I did, good or bad, and there was plenty of both! I was taught I was capable. I was taught I could do anything if I set my mind to it and was willing to pay the price for it. There was no pointing fingers at others in my upbringing.

I am a very strong woman. I have faced some difficult situations in my life (haven't we all?). I always knew that I could rise above whatever is thrown at me and have. I am blessed to be an eternal optimist and always see the glass 1/2 full. I love life and to me true humor are the funny things in and about life. Real things and events..

I grew up being taught cleanliness is next to Godliness and have always taken great pride in my home and appearance. I am friendly and genuinely like people. I am very trusting. I rather trust someone and be disappointed than to view everyone with suspicion and caution. I am loyal to a fault. I am totally trustworthy. My word is my honor and I have kept it to my hurt some times.

I am a very hard worker and can and do keep up with the best of them. I began working in my fathers office as a pre-teenager and have worked the majority of my married life. I have always done excellent work. My motto has always been "I work as unto the Lord".

My husband and my children have always known they were loved. They have always known they were the most important thing in life to me, next to God. Being raised as basically an only child, and removed from extended family, having a close family was one of my goals and I have achieved that.

I love to entertain and always strive to make people feel not only welcome, but comfortable in our home. I am always ready to give a helping hand I have very many long term friends. Space nor time interfere with my ability to maintain friendships. I care deeply.

I enjoy life and live it to the hilt. I've never wanted to get in a rut (a rut is a grave with the ends kicked out) and never have.

I Celebrate Me because I am becoming the one-of-a-kind me that God designed me to be.

One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men

They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.

They have the compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Added footnote: Several have commented about the picture. It is just a picture that came with this writing. It is not us or anyone I know. Just wanted to make sure everyone understood that.

In This Skin

Morning Glory is hosting a Woman's discussion on various topics each Tuesday. I'm a little late posting this but she said it was okay.

In This Skin is a subject I think I know quite a bit about. I've been in this skin 69 years and am one of the older bloggers I've "seen" on here.

I grew up in an atmosphere where I knew that age really wasn't the issue or didn't matter. The reason for this is because my father was 52 years old when I was born and yet he never seemed "old" because of his young at heart stance on life. My mother, who was 21 years younger and 31 when I was born, always seemed a little older acting than my father.

From a very early age my father use to tell me "Beauty is as beauty does". This instilled in me the fact that beauty of the skin was just that........only skin deep. True beauty emanated from who we truly were in actions and deeds. Being saved at age 18, and being aware I was made a New Creation in Christ, I became more fully aware of developing the "real" me that lived in this skin and peered out of these windows called eyes.

Society has always tried to make a big issue out of age. I remember when I was in my early 20's (the 1950's) one of the leading TV commercials was a face care product advertised "For The Woman Over 25" like that was some type of plague. Advertising like this helped promote the idea that somehow aging was something to be dreaded. I never did.

Don't get me wrong. I think it is very important to take care of ourselves and look nice, pretty and well groomed. After all I want my husband and children to be proud to say "That's my wife" or "That's my mom". For the way I look and the way I act.

I believe the excessive attention being paid to outward appearance in this day and age actually borders on insanity. Plastic surgery, tummy tucks, breast implants, etc., etc. It is totally based on falseness and narcissism (self love as described by Webster). It is one more way in which we dethrone the true King of King's and Lord of Lord's and set ourselves up as God. True idolatry.

I'm even going to broach the subject of dyed hair. (oh-oh I'm already dodging the rocks being thrown at me!!!) Don't get me wrong. I think it is fine to touch up your hair color. Especially during those years when it is beginning to turn gray and is in that awful look stage. I did it myself for a number of years. But having said that, I think it is perfectly ridicules for us that are truly older to be dying our hair. Even the Bible says "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 16:31 I've earned every one of my silver gray hair and I'm very proud of it. You see these older woman with purple hair, bright red hair or pitch black hair and it looks so harsh and out of place. Kind of equates to the bald man that combs his 5 looong hairs around his head!!!

Now to some myths of aging. When I was 45 my husband and I went through a very difficult period in our marriage. During this time I began attending a Woman's Support Group. One night a woman who was 63 made the statement "Now girls if you think you'll have it all together at age 63 I'm here to tell you "you won't". I thought, "Oh no"!! There went yet another burst bubble!!! Well girls, I'm here to tell you, "You won't have it all together at 69 either"!!! Sorry about that, but that's the truth.

What is also the truth is, I'm enjoying life to the max. I've never been more satisfied, content, happy, optimistic, etc. in my life. It's a wonderful time of freedom and joy. My husband and I are both blessed with good health. For that we Praise our God. My husband and I consider ourselves "recycled teenagers". It's nice to finally get to the point in life where you know you're not going to figure it out or control everything so you relax and enjoy the ride.

One other truth.......you don't "feel" as old as you are. It's always a little bit of a shock to me to look in the mirror!!! I remember discussing this one day with a friend of mine and she said, "Of course we don't "feel" any older because our Spirits, the true us, do not age". What truth, our Spirits are going to live forever and in God's realm there is no time. Isn't that wonderful?!!!

I love being in this skin!!