This morning I finished The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught and have the next book waiting for me, when it is turned in, at the Kenton County Library.
Which leaves me time to read some of the non-fiction that I've chosen for this summer. I'm reading Captivating by John and Staci Eldridge. The book is subtitled "Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul".
John Eldridge wrote the book Wild at Heart about a man's question, "Do I have what it takes?". I recommend this book for those of you out there that really want to understand your man. (I do not understand mine completely, but this book shed some great light on his thinking for me!)
In Captivating the Eldridge's have the idea, which is based from the Bible, that women struggle in their heart to be fully known and that their essential question is Am I lovely?.
I just finished Chapter 5 (sorry Tracy, I got ahead...), which is entitled "A Special Hatred." This chapter talks about how Satan, before falling from heaven, was a most beautiful angel (Ezekiel 28:12-14). Then he became greedy with all he was given (Ezekiel 28:17). After Satan's fall women were created. We hold all beauty according to God. After our own fall through Eve in the Garden of Eden Satan was able to get to us. He has taken every opportunity available to make women feel ugly, lonely, and definitely not beautiful because of his jealousy for us. That's right, Satan is jealous that he is not as gorgeous, both inside and out, as us! He's mad at us because God created something more wonderful than him.
So now we must look to our Savior and see the beauty He has created in each of us. We are lovely. As John and Staci put it:
"You are passionately loved by the God of the universe.
You are passionately hated by his Enemy."
God made us exquisite in his creation. He loves us enough to take the time to know each of our thoughts and the details of our day. He longs to spend time with us. So now we much choose who to believe.
Will we believe the father of lies?
Or will we cling to the One who loves us more than we can imagine; the one who created our inmost being and knows all of our thoughts?
5 comments:
Sounds like a great book. I'm so glad you're having such great time with the Lord! LOVE!
Amen sister! It's hard to not listen to the one that HATES us but be still and hear the one that loves us! As always, great to hear some Psalm 139 to speak truth. Thanks for sharing your heart!
Powerful stuff, Melissa. Satan has made it so easy to believe him. And he must have the media with all their visions of perfection and thinness in his back pocket.
Next time I look in the mirror and grimace, I'll remember chapter 5. (& btw, as a mom of a young impressionable girl, I do NOT do that if I'm aware she's around me)
Thanks for the encouragement, ladies!
D... I love how you are such a wonderful mom. It did not even cross my mind how easy it is for all those around us to hear how we see ourselves and wonder about how they are, especially young girls. Makes me want to think twice before saying anything about myself around anyone. Wow!
That is such a powerful message, and one every woman should hear! Especially our young, impressionable daughters.
It's definitely one I need to remind myself of daily. Thank you!
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