Pretty Feet --- Guest Post by Schlyer

The ladies in my family like to keep their toenails polished and maintained. All of my friends do too. We paint our toenails all the colors of the rainbow. I grew up painting my great grandmothers toenails and to this very day when I see her they are always polished. It is not just my family and friends. America likes pretty feet. Watching commercials will further prove this. We have the Ped-Egg which removes dry skin and Dr.Scholl's has a variety of gel pads to take pressure off of the feet and prevent corns and bunions. We have a 20 billion-dollar a year manicure/nail care industry in the United States. The Bible describes beautiful feet to us in Romans 10:

"14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

For our feet to be truly beautiful in God's eyes we have to spread the good news and tell others about Him. In Biblical times, lots of traveling was done by foot and many of Jesus' disciples' feet were likely to be cracked, split, and have an array of other issues. In God's eyes their feet would look a whole lot better than many of our "polished piggies" right now because they constantly made their feet into tools for spreading His word. Use today to take the first step (no pun intended) towards making your feet a little more beautiful and share God's word with someone.

--Schy

http://southernschy.blogspot.com/

Psalm Thoughs -- Guest Post

~ Psalm Thoughts ~

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. " {Psalm 107:8-9}

     Isn't this an amazing passage?! If it doesn't seem like much to you, let me just share a few thoughts I had, while reading it, with you.

     The Psalmist obviously thought people didn't praise that Lord enough, because starting out a sentence with the word "Oh" is like starting out with an exclaimation point~ "Oh"! Read it with a strong emphasis on that word.

      David wanted us to remember to praise the Lord, not simply because it's a good habit to get into (although it certainly is), but because the Lord is so good to us!! We should be praising Him because we are aware of His wonderful works and are grateful for them. If you are truly grateful for something, you will show your gratitude~ one of the ways to show gratitude is praise.

      For example, when someone does something really nice for me, I will brag on them to other people~ I will say how say how sweet and considerate they are, or I will simply say how much I love them. Bragging on the Lord and telling others how much we love Him is a form of praise! How come it is that when a human being does something nice for us, we praise them, but, sadly, we lack in how often we praise the Lord for all the wonderful things He has done for us?!

     The next verse reminds us that whatever we long for, can be found in the Lord. It doesn't say that "...he might satisfy the longing soul..."~ it says, "...he satisfieth the longing soul..."!!! If we long for something, turn to the Lord~ He will satisfy it!!! (It just might not be in the way you think He will! *smiles*)

     The last part says the Lord fills the hungry soul. I like to think that if I am craving hope, joy, love, or faith, the Lord will satisfy that craving. Do any of you know what it's like to really, really crave a certain food?!?! And then what a satisfied feeling you have upon eating that food?!?! This is what the Lord desires to do for us...tell the Lord what you are hungering for, and then allow Him to fill it!

    Lastly, our Father doesn't just fill that hunger with any old thing!!! In His amazing love and grace, He fills it with His goodness! Imagine being filled with His goodness for a minute...what comes to mind? For me, when I imagine such a thing, I am filled with all things lovely and desirable.

     Are you still reading that verse in the same light?! *smiles*


~Bekah W. http://www.fsatatpress.webs.com/

Falling in Love {Part Two}

{Be sure to read Part One first.}

I believe that one of the biggest problems with the concept of purity is that it always goes hand-in-hand with waiting. So many times, when I am talking with friends on the subject, the term “I am waiting for my Prince…” is exchanged.

I too have used these words for a very long time, thinking it was a beautiful concept. But recently, the Lord has convicted me of what they really meant. What the word 'waiting' really meant. Here is one definition—

Waiting—

Do nothing expecting something to happen -- to stay in one place or do nothing for a period of time until something happens or in the expectation or hope that something will happen.

For so long, I was trapped in the mindset of thinking that waiting was the only road to purity. But in fact, waiting is the surest way to stumble on your journey of the heart. Each one of us is designed with feminine desires. Desires that must be filled. For so long, I thought that I could suppress these desires, assuming that I could wait. I kept on telling myself “I am going to wait for my Prince”. -- And each time I told myself that, I felt as if I was failing.

Failing because I still desired fulfillment, but I didn't know where to find it. All I had ever read on the subject of purity said that waiting was the only way.

One beautiful afternoon, a few weeks ago, I found that I had a few quiet moments to myself in our backyard. I was sitting on our swing, just swaying back and forth. And at that moment, I felt the need to open up in prayer – “Lord…. Why is this becoming so hard? All I have ever known is waiting. It seems that is what every Christian young woman {I know} is set on doing. Why am I finding it so hard to just wait?”

It was then, that I received the answer that I think so many young woman hunger for. It was at that very moment part one of ‘Falling in Love’ was inspired within my heart. It was at that very moment when I realized that the Lord didn't design us to wait. He didn't create us to “Do nothing, expecting something to happen.” He didn't design our hearts to be empty spaces. He designed us with the desire to be loved and cherished. And He designed us to fall in love.

Ladies, I believe that so many of us are so focused on waiting, that we are missing out on the bigger plans the Lord had for these single years. For so long, I thought waiting was what the Lord was calling all of His daughters to do. But, now I believe otherwise. I think it is so important to realize that He is not calling us the impossible task of waiting, rather, He is giving us the opportunity to experience the most fulfilling relationship, and the loveliest romance of all time – that of falling in love with Jesus Christ.

Dearest Sisters, He is asking each one of us for the first dance. He is pleading with you to know, love and trust in Him. He longs to love you, and to care for you. -- If you will only let Him. If you will only know Him as your heavenly Prince. Then, and only then, will your desires be truly filled too the utmost. 

.... As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
So shall your God rejoice over you.

Isaiah 62:5

Ladies, let us never again say we are just waiting. Let us never again fall into the mindset of thinking we are to wait. Instead, let us use these years as a time to build up our love for Jesus. These are some of the most valuable years of our lives, let us use them to strengthen our convictions and faith in the Lord.

Don't think of these years as an endless wait....

but rather an endless romance with your Heavenly Prince.

By http://www.johanna-an-old-fashioned-girl.blogspot.com/

Falling in Love {part one}

The music had begun. The Dance was starting. And I lacked a partner.
Everywhere I looked, I saw giggling girls being swept away in the arms of handsome young men. Each looked like they were having so much fun. They looked like they were enjoying themselves. I heaved a lonely sigh.

My thoughts turned to a conversation that had taken place yesterday, while walking in the garden with one of my dearest friends -- "I am SO excited for tomorrow night, the dance! *sigh* Who do you plan on dancing with.... anyone in mind?" Lillian smirked as she said those last words. I turned to her, and said softly "Lillian, I actually don't... I mean.... well, no, I don't have anyone in mind. You know I have been saving my heart for my Prince, I am trying hard not to dwell on thoughts of young men, as I  want to keep my heart pure." She looked at me, "So, you are just going to wait?" I nodded, "Yes, just wait."

The thoughts of yesterdays conversation were hard to think upon at the moment.... thus, I decided to turn my thoughts away from that scene, and resumed my survey of the ball room. As I looked around, I noticed a young man, also standing without a partner. As I looked into His face, I was startled, for I saw not only was He too, gazing upon me, but was at that moment, making His way through the crowd, towards me! I felt my heart start to race -- within seconds He was at my side. He reached out His hand, and asked in a kind whisper, "Would you accept Me for this dance?" I looked up, again, into His face, I placed my hand in His; gently, He took it, and led me to the dancing floor.

As we began to dance, once more, our eyes met, the music seemed to fade into the background -- along with everything, and everyone else. It was just me.... and Him. The One Who was now holding me, guiding me, looking down upon me. Every moment that passed, our gaze became more unbreakable. With every step we took together, I found that I was falling deeply  in love with Him. 

His eyes were so kind, so humble, so caring. He was so different from any of the other young man whom I had ever met. 

But, as we continued dancing together, I began to understand why. I began to realize Who this young man was -- whom I had fallen so deeply in love with.

It was my Redeemer. My heavenly Prince. My Savior -- Jesus.

Tears began streaming down my cheeks, as I realized just how much He loved me too..... He had taken my hand, and led the way -- when I didn't even know His name. He saw that I was lonely, and needed Him. But, as I put my hands into His, and let Him guide me, my loneliness was shattered, I had found what my feminine desires had been longing for -- True Love.

He lifted His hand to my cheek, and gently wiped away the tears, and whispered "May I claim first place in your heart?"

Without pausing, I said "Yes."

"Will you trust me with it, until I say it is time to give it away?"

"Yes." -- I had faith that He would someday let the perfect young man cut in..... and even if that day never came, I didn't care. I was too in love with Jesus to care now. But I knew for sure that I wouldn't spend one more day just waiting, rather, I would use them to fall more in love with my Heavenly Father; So that one day, if a young man wishes to know me -- he will have to seek Jesus, in order to find Me.

*************

"A woman's heart should be so lost in God

that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her."

-- Author Unknown

*************

Part Two {coming soon}~

In part two of 'Falling in Love' I want to share with you Ladies how important it is to realize that we are not just waiting. So many times we use the term "waiting for our Prince", as if we literally are just sitting, and waiting for him to show up. I believe it is so important to use these years of 'Waiting' instead as years of falling in love -- with Jesus -- Our Heavenly Prince.

by Johanna

Guest Post :: on character and beauty

 Hello Ladies! I am honoured to be able to write here: )
 I want to talk about a woman's character and her beauty.
 I know you all know the verse Proverbs 31:30 as it is on this site, but I wanted to touch more deeply on it, as it is such a beautiful verse!
 "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."
This verse really is helpful to all of us young ladies in Christ.
A woman's beauty and charm can be held so highly in these present days. The world tell us that it is everything to look our best; no one will want us if we look bad ect.
But when we look at what the Bible says, God teaches us that it is not what our outer beauty is like, but rather what our inner beauty is like.
"...But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."
When we live completely for God, and we fear Him, that inner beauty shines through us, and it is incomparable to any other beauty.
Our beauty should be in Christ.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
We need to shine for Christ, that others will see out love for Him and give Him honour, glory and praise.
When we truly are joyous - which can only come from the One who loves us - we will be truly joyous on the outside as well, and radiant. In Christ, we have radiant beauty.
So many girls put a lot of stock into physical beauty/appearance, when all they need is to submit to the Father. Living for Him will make us radiant for Him. By His love we are of radiant beauty.

God bless :)
~Raechel
http://godspeculiartreasurerae.wordpress.com/
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song