We are Special!!!

Just a little reminder that as Women we are special in God's eyes and we should feel special everyday, all day!  These verses are for anyone....wife, girlfriend, sister, friend.


What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition.
 Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.

1 Peter 3:3-4  Message Bible

Proverbs 31:25

The Message (MSG)

Hymn to a Good Wife

^10-31 A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!

Three Days Later...

"...There is nothing to fear here.  I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said."  Matthew 28:5-6

HE HAS RISEN!  HE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!   Hope everyone has a very blessed Easter! 

Love In Christ,

Alicia

Jesus Paid It All

"It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three, because the sun's light failed.  The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle and Jesus called out in a loud voice, 'Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.'  Saying this, He breathed His last."

Happy Good Friday Everyone!  Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us!  Never committing a sin, He took all of ours upon Him, so that we may be forgiven and have eternal life!

Matthew 27:35

The Message (MSG)

^35-40 After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come down from that cross!”

Love In Christ,

Alicia

Guest Post(Dr. Gene Wilkes) : Operation Beautiful

Today at Plano Senior High School the girls are taking a risk to be themselves by not wearing makeup. As a father of two grown daughters and pastor of a local church, I know the struggle girls face throughout their lives to look a certain way. I don't have to tell you the disorders and personal pain that follow a pursuit of an image you were not created to be.

My wonderful wife, who is a teacher there, is joining the girls today! This is the first time I ever remember her intentionally going into public without makeup except to workout. Her love for the girls and her support of this value motivated her to join the experience.

Here she is this morning without makeup!!! I remember the first time my heart jumped when I saw her. She was walking across campus coming from a PE class without makeup.

I respect her for caring enough to look nice when she leaves the house, but I love her for the face she wears in her sleep.

The Bible makes it clear that outward beauty is not the benchmark of worth or beauty. Here's just one example:

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 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. (1 Peter 3:3-4, NLT)

Let the girls know you appreciate their efforts. "Like" their video. Forward the message. Have a talk with your child. Let beauty from who we are not what we wear be our message today.

 

This post comes from Dr. Gene Wilkes.  I had to share it on the blog!  You can follow him on his own blog site: http://drgdub2.blogspot.com/   I wish more schools would do this!

 

Love In Christ,

Alicia

Reflection

I believe I have mentioned on this blog before that my husband and I are fostering two little girls.  We hope to be able to adopt them when the time comes and if it's God's will.  The oldest one, who is only 3, has a hard time just being herself.  She likes to copy everything that my son does(which he is older, so part of it is a younger sibling looking up to an older sibling), and when you ask her a question she gives you the answer that she thinks you would like to hear.  She does  not form her own opinions, rather just goes along with whatever opinion was put out there.  She is definitely a people pleaser!  One day I was talking to her about being her own person.  Granted, she is three, so my conversation was based on a 3 yr old level and hoping that she grasped some of what I was telling her.  I was trying to explain to her that she can have her own thoughts, likes and dislikes and that is Ok!  Also, that there is only ONE of her!  All of the sudden I got this feeling inside of me, like an "Ah Ha" moment.  I was talking to myself!!  I used to be her as a kid.  It was like looking in a mirror.  I am still very much a people pleaser in my adult life, but not like I was as a child.  I can remember as a child agreeing with certain things just to please others.  I now know that I can form and state my own opinions.  I have come along way, but it hasn't been easy.  I still find myself trying to please people, but I also can now stand up and give my own opinion without feeling guilty or worrying about what others will think.  I know that God has placed these 2 precious girls in our home for a reason.  I also know that it is important that I try and teach them both to be their own person.  I have made this one of my missions!

God made all of us in his image!  There is no one person alike!  Even our fingerprints are different! So, if we conform to others opinions and thoughts and actions, then we are masking our true individuality that God created!  I am still learning this.  I hope that if you struggle with being a "people pleaser", then you pray for God to help you unveil the true YOU!

Genesis 1:27New International Version (NIV)

²⁷ So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

 

Genesis 2:5-7 The Message(MSG)

 

^5-7 At the time God made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground—God hadn’t yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)—God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul!

 

 

 

 

Hijacked

Have you ever felt like your dreams were hijacked?  You wake up after a dream confused and asking yourself, "where in the world did that come from?" 

I have had 3 dreams in the last couple of weeks that have left me with the feelings of fear, doubt and worry when I awoke from the dreams.  These feelings that I experienced can only come from the devil, himself.  The devil hijacked my dreams!!

I will paint you a little picture of each of my dreams, so you can see what I am talking about.  The setting of all 3 of my dreams either took place at night or on a cloudy, evening. The house that the 3 dreams took place in or around was a 2 story, old, white house.  Shutters were falling off and doors creaked when they were opened.  The stairs were very narrow and the stairs creaked with each step that you took.  Yes, I dream in vivid detail and sometimes that is a disadvantaged. 

My first dream was about me loosing a baby.  We are fostering a 3 yr old and a 3 month old right now and for some reason I kept loosing the baby in the house.  Every time I found her, I would loose her again.  Panic is an understatement.  What I felt was sheer terror! When I woke up I was thankful it was only a dream, but the feeling of fear was still running through my body.  I know I would never loose this precious baby, but the devil wanted to create fear in me to try and break me down.

My second dream consisted of both girls that we are fostering.  They have weekly visits with their parents in reality, but in my dream we kept getting questioned about how we parented the girls and the bio-parents kept saying what a horrible job we were doing.  The negativity went on and on.  The devil was trying to create doubt in my ability to parent these kids.  My husband and I went through extensive training in order to foster kids, not to mention that fact that we would never do anything to harm these kids, so I know in reality I am totally capable  of taking care of these two precious children.  If we weren't, we would not have been licensed by the state, and therefore, entrusted to take care of kids in need.

My third dream was two nights ago.  The thing that I worry about most is my family.  It's not a constant worry, but more of a concern, hope everyone is doing well sort of worry.  They cross my mind at least once a day.  I dreamed that my brother got jumped by a group of guys.  They were outside the little white house.  I was yelling for them to stop, and asking my husband and friends to go help him.  Fortunately I woke up!  Thankfully, once again it was all a dream.

I am thankful that all three of these scenarios were dreams.  The devil will try to get to you anyway that he can.  He tried to get to me through my dreams.  He used my dreams to try and create worry, fear, and doubt.  I could have allowed all those negative emotions to control me, allowing the devil to "hijack" me, but through the power of prayer I was able to overcome each emotion and allow God to provide me with peace. Giving me positive, real thoughts instead of the negative thoughts that the dreams had created.

Everyday, the battle between good and evil rages on.  The devil wants to "hijack" your thoughts and emotions so bad that he will try anything, and I mean anything to get his way.  You do have a choice, you can choose to prevail over him by praying and asking God for help or you can become a prisoner to your negative thoughts and emotions.

I know which one I chose; the one that gave me peace and happiness.  God will always prevail over the devil!!!

2 Timothy 1:7

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

P.S. Just FYI, God allows the devil to try and get to us.  So, in other words the devil had to ask permission from God, to "hijack" my dreams.  This is for another blog that will be posted in the near future!

Love In Christ,
Alicia

Resolution

It's the new year, and for most people, that means making a new resolutions!  I personally did not make any new year's resolutions for 2013!  I used to make resolutions in the past, but never seemed to keep them.

I am so glad that with God we always get a chance to start over at any point that we ask for forgivness!  When we accept Jesus as our persoanl Lord and Savior, we are given the great gift of enternal life and the fact that we can ask for forgivness whenever we mess up or do something wrong.

Our slates become clean again and we are given another chance to show God's love and do right in the world.  This is the best resolution that I can think of!  I am so thankful that God loves me so much that He gave his son to die on the cross, that I can have my sins washed away and I can become "white as snow" again.  Thank you Jesus, for the best resolution!

The Lord says, "Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool. "  Isaiah 1:18

And yet, I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am. I will not hold your sins against you." Isaiah 43:25

Love In Christ,
Alicia