The Beauty of Ladies ~ Guest Post by DJWilson

Women know everything. At least (coming from a man with experience) that's what it looks like. Maybe they have good 'poker faces,' and we the males are simply oblivious to it. That wouldn't be the first time women have fooled us. We are quite slow-witted at times. Of course with all this said, women are NOT perfect either. But really? Who is perfect in this world? No one! But does that mean we shouldn't try to climb to greater heights? 

I did a post on my blog about being a gentleman. The reactions in the comments I got were varied. Some thought that the standards I had set for being a gentleman were too high - even for any person to achieve. They thought you would have to be "super-human." Others (ladies), commented and said they wouldn't want a guy following rules to impress them. The point is, quite a number of the comments were very unladylike and ungentlemanly-like in my opinion. 

Now before you publish that hateful comment, you must know that I am not simply a teenager with a strong ego. I follow by faith what the Bible teaches. Maybe not always perfectly, but I've been a Christian all my life and I've had it drilled into my head from sermons and Sunday school classes since before I could walk. That doesn't mean much, it just means I've heard a lot of things over and over again. So sit down, stop writing that comment, and listen. 

What does it mean to be a lady? And for that matter, a gentleman? Well I asked my father this: "Does being a gentleman or a lady simply mean being a God-fearing Christian?" And he responded, "Yes, that's exactly
what it means."

There, you have it. Does that then mean only Christians can be gentlemen or ladies? No! Any non-believer can be a perfectly proper gentlemen. Yet they will never, and I repeat, NEVER fully understand what being a gentleman or a lady is. And basically, both believers and non-believers alike are still equally fallen (sinful) creatures of God, so neither can perform without error. The difference between the two is that Christians are given knowledge (the Bible) of how to be a gentleman or a lady. Not to mention they believe the Bible and have faith they will be saved, if it is God's Will. Non-believers choose to not listen to what we say or what the Bible says, so it's their own fault.

Now that we have it down that (1) men and women are neither better than the other or the reverse, and (2) believers and non-believers are equally incapable of avoiding sin and imperfections, let us move on to what it means to be a lady (since I have already posted on my blog about being a gentleman). 

I was originally going to do a list for this segment, but the lovely Miss Raquel has already done one. And since people tend to freak when they see a list - instantly translating it into a LAW BOOK - I'll just chat with you casually. But I won't get into precise details. If you want depth, read Miss Raquel's post about it. I think she did an excellent job in that area. Plus I'm a guy, so you ladies might not trust me. 

A lady should never lead a guy on. Whether intentionally or not. Yes, guys are irritating like that. They're hard to understand. If 'you give them an inch, they swim all over.' It's dumb and unfair to ladies, but it's how men work. Women need to understand that men are an entirely different breed of "brain." If that makes sense. So a lady realizes this and ACTS appropriately. She doesn't flaunt herself around men, dress inappropriately, or give extra attention to one or many men. It's all about promise. If a woman promises affection to a man by giving him attention, then she lies to him if her actions are not genuine. What do I mean by 'genuine'? I mean she has no intention of marrying the man. She is being a flirt, in other words. A true lady will wait until she is old enough and until a man who can support for her and care for her comes around. Not to mention, who is old enough and mature enough to love her. 

A lady needs patience. It sucks to wait for the right man. But if you have faith in God to bring you a man, you will be blessed with one. Even if that man is a friend you know, you will know he is the right one by how long he waits to finally tell you his affections for you. If he tries to do this before he can support and love you, then he is a fool and is probably not the man God intended for you.

Of course, there are exceptions to that. Love does strange things and brings people together before they're ready for the actual marriage. Thus a lady must restrict herself from being 'too close' to her new-found lover. She belongs to God still. And just importantly, she belongs to her earthly father. Her body is not the man's property until they are married. And if he's a real gentleman, he'll keep his fat fingers off her and let her breath a bit. A lady should recognize when a guy is trying to undermine her father's protective "shield" around her to get close to her.

A lady works hard. 

Coming from a guy, ladies might be offended with me saying that. But just as a man supports the family through his work, a lady needs to support the family through her work; whether it's an outside job, or a job at home. She is responsible and can be relied upon to get things done. But this is for the married woman, and I'd rather not get into that area too much.
Once a lady reaches their teen years, it should be expected of them to BE MATURE. Guys are idiots. We're really immature and stupid. We don't know any better. You have to feed us food to make us obey (basically dogs). But girls can be just as immature. And like men, they can also be oblivious to their actions. Maturity isn't something you buy at the grocery market, you get it with time. A young lady must learn to deny themselves things. Basically 'self-infliction', if you understand my meaning, which few of you will.

I *would* keep talking, but I think I've been on Miss Raquel's blog for long enough. The last thing I want women to hear is this: being a lady means having confidence and love. Be confident in who you are: men find it attractive. Love your neighbor and be friendly. It's not attractive when a woman hates men being gentlemen. The same is true of men: we find it attractive when a girl acts like a lady. Not only does it build respect and honor for either parties, but it's simply Christian to do so. Which is the main point of this post: bring Christian. It's not about who's doing what right or wrong. If you proclaim to be a Christian, don't sit around chewing your fingernails thinking about rainbows, go out and SHOW you are a Christian. Not because you want to 'show-off', but because God commands you to reveal HIM to the world. So it's not about you, and never will
be. Get that thought out of your head.



To all the ladies of the world: you are beautiful when you reveal God in you.

Not About Me

So many times our lives can distract us from Who should be distracting us.

So many times I feel that I forget Who this blog was originally dedicated to.

So many times we must stop and focus and give God the attention, reverence and time that He wants and deserves from us...

This post is dedicated to Him.

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God's Daughter isn't about the Daughter.

It's about the Father.

This ^ is currently my iPad background... ♥

{All photos taken from Miss Raquel's 'Quote Collection'}

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PS:  Who's going to be at the Christian Heritage Conference in Washington this weekend?? ;)  Shall I see you there?  

Be sure to try to find me and stop and say hello!! :)

Something Greater ~ Guest Post by Maya

Hey, My name is Maya and I was thrilled to be able to guest post here. Miss Raquel has a beautiful  blog I just adore:)

 

Life is a path for us take. With bumps, twists, easy exits, and other paths, but always in life we are searching for one thing. The glorious destination. The beautiful ending. We spend our lives searching, wasting, and dying in order to find this right path to the end. Whoever we are we all are searching for something more then we have. Something greater.

We all try to find this something greater. Some try to find it in money or relationships. But no one can deny all human beings spend their lives searching for an answer. In modern days sometimes we try to find it in science or the thought we are perhaps smarter than God. Humans search for the meaning of life because there is this mindset in all our minds that there is something greater.


Most people believe there is an afterlife. They want to know the details. They want to figure it out. Because we all know life is more than what it seems. This path has an ending. A final destination. People have a purpose but what is it? Where are we going? Why are we here?

There is one answer to all our questions. All our wonderings about who we are, where we are going, and why we are here. It's Our God. He is our glorious ending. Our something greater.

One day all men will confess God is the Lord of all, as said in revelation. Even those who were not called. This is a awe-ing thought. Even those who reject God all their lives and go to eternal suffering...even those people are going to confess God as the ruler of all. They will then understand the purpose of our short lives on earth. Our lives are meant to bring glory to God. He is our purpose.

A lot of times, if you have grown up in the church, the concept of the gospel is not new. You've heard it and it just makes sense because...that's all you've ever been taught. But there comes a time we get older, and all have wandering hearts and idols lead us astray. The road gets rough. But the ones who stay on until the end with the help of Christ...they will be saved.


As Christians we choose to take the narrow path. See what Jesus said:

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

(Matthew 7:13-14 ESV)

I can never tell what's next on this road. I can never tell who I will meet. I don't when it's going to rain and when it's going to shine. But uncertainty makes it exciting. Makes it thrilling. It makes your road hard and joyful.


This road won't be an easy one. But there is a promise that there is a glorious ending. This hard road leads to life. There is something greater out there. We have a God who sent his son to die as a payment for all sins and then rise again. That is our something greater.

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About Me:

 Hey, there! I blog over at Efflorescence. My name is Maya and I am a blooming flower. Blooming into the
women of Christ that I am meant to be. I am lover of all things musical, rustic designs, the beach and anything about the ocean, and have a great passion for missions and sharing the gospel.  I suffer
with slight sleeping disorders, love black converse shoes and speak fluently in movie quotes.

I'm a christian saved by the blood of Christ and He is my life.

His Love ~ Guest Post by Jessica

When Raquel asked me to guest-post, I was so excited and honored. I'm going to try and do her beautiful blog justice by talking about something that has been touching my heart lately.

Our God is amazing. He knows exactly what we need, and He loves us so much, that He wants to give us everything our heart desires, (as long as it's not bad for us.) He's a good King, amen? But we don't always show our gratitude very well. I know at least for myself, that I don't spend near enough time thanking him for the things He has given me and my family.

He has given me six, wonderful siblings, and two, loving parents. He has given me good food, clean water, clothes, and so many other possessions that I don't even need, for the past 18 years. And even now, He is blessing my jewelry business in ways I had not even imagined. 

I am in awe of His love, and often ashamed at how I can so easily sweep Him under the rug.

That is where His Grace and forgiveness comes in. Another luxury I do not deserve is that no matter how often I stumble or drift away, He always helps me find my way back to His perfect path. And when I come back, covered in the muck and mud of the world, His arms are open wide to take me in, and He washes me clean with the blood of the Lamb.

There is no greater love than His. A God who loves His people so much that He sent his only, perfect  Son to die a gruesome, painful death, so that His children would not have to suffer the eternal consequences of their mistakes. Nowhere in any other religion or faith is there a God like that, because He is the One, True God.

I was feeling so ashamed of myself just the other day. I have not been spending much time with him, or talking about Him, near enough. I prayed, and I asked for His forgiveness. And when I opened my Bible, this is the first thing I read:

If you have strayed from Him, know that He is waiting for you with open arms. He is willing and ready -- anxious, even -- to forgive you, and shower you with his love.

xoxo,

Jessica

__________________________________________________________________________

taken from my blog

About the Authoress

Hi, I'm Jessica. I'm eighteen, and the oldest of eight. I am a bookaholic who is not looking for treatment. Some call me an artist. I  blog, play the guitar, and design jewelry. A few of my favorite things include photography, poetry, chocolate, dogs, roller coasters, friends, laughter and rain. Yeshua is my Intended, my Saviour, and my King. To Him be the glory in all that I do.

Find me here:

Blog

Etsy Shop

Looking for Mr. Darcy ~ A Guest Post by Sarah Elizabeth

{image via pinterest}

Sigh. I remember writing poems about my Mr. Darcy and future romance once upon a time, though it was all but a dream. Even though I wanted desperately to believe otherwise. Little did I know back then about the true depths and uniqueness that there was to romance. You see, I thought romance was all crimson colored rose petals and candle lit dinners under the stars and bold exclamations of ardent love, shouted aloud from rooftops for all the birds of the world to hear, just to make a girl like me swoon and fall to pieces. But love isn't always filled with the super romantic happenings and gushings that we've built up in our imaginations after all.


Gasp. I know. I feel like I just shattered something completely priceless, but please bear with me for a little while longer, okay? It's not that I hate romance or Mr. Darcy, on the contrary, I love both actually. It's just that I don't particularly like how a girl's preconceived notions of love and romance can ruin her chances of seeing what true romance and love really are when they are shown to her one day.


Now I'll go out on a limb and be completely honest right here and right now... I used to think "Mr. Darcy" would be my guy. I thought that I'd find the "perfect man" who was tall, mysterious, had his life all sorted out and said the most perfect words to me all of the time. Seriously, I had my "Mr. Darcy" and my life plans all mapped out textbook style. My love was gonna be like the world's most romantic movie ever. Simply perfection in my eyes. Yes, I was going to have a love like that! And then one Summer day in July of '09 (after I had sworn off love entirely) I did meet a guy, after twenty years of waiting for him mind you, who is somewhat tall, pretty mysterious at times and can write words, on occasion, that are perfect for me, though they would not be seen as so perfect to some others' eyes. I met my Mr. Right and So-Not-Mr-Darcy-Guy.

{image via pinterest}

Sometimes focusing on looking for the "Mr. Darcy" type of romance in a current or future love-filled relationship can hinder you in ways that seem unclear to us ladies, at first. I mean it's not like Mr. Darcy was perfection itself, but we do seem to label him that way, don't we? Lizzy and Darcy: The World's Most Perfect Romance. Um, I think we forgot about the hotheadedness and the quarrelling between the both of them throughout the original novel and various film versions, didn't we? They weren't perfect at all, and their romance was completely unique. That said, why compare romance to fictional characters' or even someone else's romance in real life when we could have our own unique romance? Can I get an Amen!?

Here's the scoop ladies: Guys are pretty much clueless on how to romance us at times, mostly because they are afraid to even try because of the possibility of failure. Yes, they are afraid! Afraid that they'll never live up to our idolization of Mr. Darcy and his various other romantical cohorts' (insert various other names from movies and lit here) glistening perfection. This all kind of shocked me too when I realized this a while back, but I know it's completely true because romance, at least in my relationship, has been anything but "by the textbook" or even predictable. There have been times when I was looking for a "Mr. Darcy Moment" and was let down because I had dreamed about how it was "supposed to be" for so long that when my guy tried romancing me I cast it aside because I thought it wasn't "right" or "good enough." But then there were also other times in my relationship where my Mr. Fisher romanced me in very subtle and unique ways all his own, that spoke volumes of his sincere love for me.

It was in looking for Mr. Darcy within my own Mr. Fisher that I became discouraged for a time, because I wasn't receiving rooftop ballads or brilliantly written sonnets or roses on every special occasion. Now, I will say that my love does do extremely romantic things for me, you know, like the ones that are "textbook accurate" and romance novel-ish and completely predictable at times, but I actually have come to love his own unique ways of romancing me too.

{image via pinterest} 

I only wished that I had seen romance in a different, non nonsensical, light sooner rather than later. I'm sure my love would've thanked me for not dissing his romance style had I done so earlier on, but... I didn't. I had to learn the hard way...through trials and error upon error...that every man is not Mr. Darcy after all. Romance can be just like a fairy tale, ladies, but it can also come masquerading as it's own unique brand of love sweetly shown. This is obviously true when in comes to my love. My Mr. Fisher is nothing like "Mr. Darcy", but he is "Mr. Right" in my eyes because he has shattered every preconceived notion I ever had of what romance and love would really be like. We are our own completely unique couple and therefore we have our own completely unique romance.

You know, love and romance sometimes come quietly and unexpectedly, and sometimes it woos a woman in ways she'd never imagined possible before. Sometimes romance comes through the blunder of well intended words turned into a disastrous wreckage that teaches us more about love than the perfect words ever could. Sometimes romance is found in the smaller moments, like the brushing of an eyelash off of your face ever so delicately, that are just as meaningful as the bigger moments, but are often overlooked because they aren't dime-store romance novel-like or movie-like or grand-gesture-like enough for us ladies.


Each man is completely different and the way in which your future love will romance you will be completely different from any novel or movie character you've ever drooled over or any way you've ever dreamed of being romanced before.

And here's where I'm gonna step off of my romantic suds-covered soapbox now. I pray that you've truly seen my heart on this, and that you'll be able to kindly take to heart what I've learned over the past 2.5 years through so much trial and error within my own romantic relationship. "Remember to never compare your romance to those you watch in the movies, because they're written by scriptwriters, and yours is written by God."

May you have the best of luck in love and romance,
from one fellow daydreaming Lizzy to another



Sarah Elizabeth is a bookseller by day and a writer by night. She's a twenty-something She Speaks'11 Graduate, an avid reader, blogger, sci-fi movie watcher and a hopeful romantic who's been in love with her totally unique mister for 2.5 years going strong. When she's not stocking bookshelves and drooling over the newest fiction titles that have been released at work, she can be found nestled in at home, writing on her personal blog Oh, Restless Bird (about her faith-filled restless life), or working on writing her very first novel called The Water Bringer (which she started writing during NaNoWriMo '11.) You can find Sarah Elizabeth on her blog O.R.B. and on Twitter@OhRestlessBird  


A special thank you to Miss Raquel for letting this Restless Bird take over God's Daughter for a day! I really appreciate being able to share my (ever learning) romantic heart with your lovely readers! ALWAYS LOOK FOR GOD TO WRITE YOUR ROMANCE, RAQUEL! ;-) XOXO, Sarah Elizabeth

Music Video Monday!

A lady friend of mine posted this on my wall on Facebook the other day and said this: 'Have you seen this video or heard of these guys?  It made me think of you :)'

Hmmm...I wonder why ;)

Needless to say, I loved it.  And I hope you will too.

A Review of Anthem Lights

 

Can’t Shut Up

A song that gets you all revved up to shout God’s love and light to the world.  We have been touched and saved by an amazing God and we can’t shut up about it.

‘This is why we get up and sing (we can’t shut up)…We’re got everything that we need (we can’t shut up)…Love has come and now we are free…We can’t shut up about it!’

I Wanna Know You Like That

Wanting to know God with everything we are, everything we have.  To become a man after His own heart.  And never give up trying to be more like Him.

Circles

An amazing, painfully true song about how we are sinful human beings who love our sin.  And even when we think we can handle ourselves, we keep going in circles, doing what we ‘hate’ and breaking our hearts.

‘I need Your healing touch.  I’ve had enough…’

Can’t Get Over You

‘Hold me, pull me just a little bit closer.  I don’t wanna lose this moment.  Your love has covered me and now I can’t get over You…there’s nothing I can do…I just can’t get over You.’

One of my favorites songs on this album…

Stranger

I love the piano intro in this song.  Very easy too, actually.  I’m gonna try fiddling around with it on my keyboard.

This song talks about how we are not of this world.  That we are strangers here, just passing through on our way to a better place.  To Heaven.

Outta My Mind

Another favorite of this album.  I love the beat, love the music, love the words.

In this song, they are asking God to keep them focused on Him…not on their own plans and dreams.  But to learn to play the part that God wants them to play.  The part they were designed for.  This should be a prayer from all of us.

Lifeline

This song refers to God as our lifeline.  Our only hope of salvation.  Our way of sustenance.  He is the one who keeps us alive – through any and everything.

Lighthouse

We are called to be lights in this dark world.  It’s up to us to show people that they are not alone.  So we need to shine from our lighthouses to help them find their way Home.

This song has a legit string arrangement.  Definitely another favorite from this album.

Freedom Into Slavery

When I first heard this song, I wasn’t quite sure I grasped the meaning of it…and I’m still not totally sure I understand the message Anthem Lights were trying to get through in it.  But this is what I’m guessing is the best description of it…

I think it’s talking about how we are free in Christ, but we’re slaves to Him.  So in a sense, we’re free to do what we want but most of the time we choose the wrong path…but He always pulls us back to Him.

‘I got all that I need but still I choose to run away.  Just because I’m free, why do I push You away?...’

Oh and I like songs that are…different.  This song has whistling in it:)

Where The Light Is

‘Where the light is, darkness can’t be found.  Where the LORD is, darkness must be bound.’

Spring...so I did

{My birthday tulips from Mama}

{Vibrant Pink Hyacinth}

{My feet :)...I love flipflops}

 

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I was just having an urgency to go outside and take pictures today, so...

I did.

We are having some friends from church over for dinner this afternoon.  And after I had finished getting ready, I felt like I needed to get outside and enjoy the crisp morning, so...

I did.

All the spring flowers and leaves and green captured my eye and Alfonzo and I felt we needed to capture some, so...

I did.

Alfonzo has been feeling a bit neglected lately.  I just haven't really had time to get out and just take some pictures!!  So...

I did.

I hadn't taken any recent self-portraits with Alfonzo and thought my blog called for an updated one, so...

I did.

And then I had this idea about making a blog post with these photos for all my amazing 641 readers, so...

I did.

::hugs::

♥