Dear Friends,

I'm stil not sure what  want to do with my blogging.  It is difficult to diversify posts and yet make it easy to read.  And not everyone has children or homeschools, some aren't even old enough to be married yet.  With all my heart I want to help a many women and girls as i possibly can.   

Right now I doubt that there is any simple solution to my dilemna, and I will jsut have to continue searching it out.

In the meantime,  I will be posting here and on my other blogs. I'll put the links up for you in case you are interested in seeing my other blogs etc.

Thanks for your support and all your prayers

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While researching another topic I was surprised to learn that ladies of by gone eras were taught to speak in a soft, high pitched voice. 

In another book the author noted that women who speak softly are better able to keep the attention of their husbands when they speak because the man must lean close to or be near her and purpose to listen to hear what she is saying. In a way endearing herself to him and he to her. Just the nearness of him listening is an intimate moment that will prepare both for more intimacy later on.

Girls and Women of the victorian era would often train their voices to be melodic and sweet. 

Have you ever stopped to listen to the womens voices in your church? At the mall? In a factory? 

Many a woman these days speaks in tones, and uses phases and wording that many of our grandmothers would be ashamed to hear.  Some would shame our granddads too. 

Ruth Beechick, in one of her books has documented that our voice, physically, passes is or generated through our heart. It gives much more meaning to the words of Christ "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" 

What does this mean to us?  Well, I suppose if we have a meek and quiet spirit, and our heart is righ twith the LORD, if we have embraced who we are in Christ, and how God has made us, if we are thankful to be women-created so by the Father, them our words and tone will reflect that. 

Have you ever noticed how someone's voice changes when they are angry?  How about a mom or dad with their new baby? 

Perhaps we need to practice some of the graces that were once commonplace but have lost their appeal with the rise of feminism.

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If you were to ask your husband, or your father, or your brother, or almost any man on the street, or in your church, what makes a woman feminine, what do you think he'd say? Aside from clothing that is, what makes a women feminine? 

It is how she represents and presents herself to others. By this I mean her appearance and demeanor. There is nothing feminine about a woman who doesn't take care of herself physically. Mind you I am not talking about weight, though that might very well be a factor for some (I am one of those).  Aside from weight, women need to take care of their hair and skin. 

It tickles me when my husband comments on the softness of my skin. I don't use alot of lotions or potions, but what little I do, helps keep my husband attracted to me.

On the road to modesty so many have thrown what makes us feminine out the window. Certainly there are scriptures about painted eyes, and NOT adorning the outward woman, but am I the only one who believes that the context was putting a premium on the outward was the reason.

Ladies, we too are ambassadors of our Saviour Jesus Christ. While modesty is important, so is presenting ourselves to the world in a way that does not make people look at us and think we look weird. If you were an executive for a big company, I doubt that you would wear your dress all wrinkly and stained, to a board meeting. It goes without saying that you'd have every hair inplace, and every blemish covered. 

As representative for Jesus, we should try to look our best all the time. Yes, even when scrubbing a floor, but I think God understands that.  One thing that sets women apart from men, besided biology, and dresses, is the use of makeup, fragrances, etc.

I've noticed that when I wear pretty clothes, put on a little mascara, slather on some foundation to even our my skin tone, and spritz myself with some sweet smelling stuff, I FEEL MORE Feminine.  And when I feel more feminine, I carry myself in a more feminine way, I am more aware of my tone of voice and mannerism.  We can be modest and feminine, and that doesn't mean we have to throw away all the little things that make us feel girly, younge, and pretty.

It has taken me a long time to figure this out. I have gone the opposite extreme for a long time--no makeup or jewelry at all...and nothing pretty....just durable and modest.  But my husband misses the womanlyness of makeup, perfume, and jewelry. He likes me adorned with a modest PRETTY dress, but also some cheap pearls and a little color here and there to bring out my natural highlights makes him stop and stare at ME..not the woman walking down the street in her slinky dress and overpainted eyes! I want him to keep looking at me, and being attracted to me. In fact I don't know what I wouldn't do, within reason, to keep his attention. 

That being said, I am putting a link to our AVON store here http://www.youravon.com/dleib  You will see my sons name on the website but that is because he is helping us with this on the money side.  Avon has expanded their products from cosmetics and fragrances to clothing-including lingerie, jewlery, health items, home decor, etc.  Take a peek please.  Please don't be offended by this post. If you are not a makeup type a gal, that is fine by me.

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This posting will be brief, but I wanted to let everyone who stops by that I haven't forgotten you. Life in our family seems to be always blooming and growing and space (or time) for pursuits after daily chores are done is in short supply. 

Since it has been such a long time, I do want to let you know that I am praying about combining all my various blogs into one. At the moment, I am trying to keep up 4, and failing miserably. If you happen to know how this could be done with ease, let me know.

Our 2 weeks away from home, and having company on our schedule at various intervals the next few weeks has turned our usual routine into a memory. 

Now my son is here so I must dash off. 

Til next time!

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My Dear Friends,

Just a little thank you for those who come by faithfully to read my thoughts on womanhood and the feminine spirit. 

I am working to make strides that will allow me time to be faithful to this endeavor, instead of my haphazard postings at irregular intervals.  

My promised posts on feminine apparel will be coming soon. 

PS: at the end of July until Mid-Aug. I won't have internet access, and in Sept Missionaries are coming to visit us for the first time. They are on furlough from Sicily. Pray for the Galiotos and their ministry there and as they travel. They have been in Sicily for a long time. 

PPS:  For those who are interested I will be started another blog where I can post interesting items and articles that don't relate directly to femininity. BUT I wholeheartedly believe that the problem within the body of Christ today is Women who do not realize that the way they live, act, dress, speak, etc is not feminine or at best is a feminized version of manliness.  Eeek..that sounds awfully close to SIN doesn't it.  That statement is not intended to be unkind. In fact, I think women today have been done a great disservice by many of their mothers and teachers, pastors, and peers. They have been convinced that the HAVE to be be tough to survive, and if they don't men will let them down. This is a HUGE misnomer. Only by women being womanly--soft, feminine, gentle and yet strong in spirit to withstand the trials of life, CAN THE MAN/MEN take up their roles and be MANLY MEN.  Like many ills of society that we as christians look upon with disgust in our eyes and hearts, people don't know better, no-one has taught them this or that is really wrong, no-one has ever told them NO you can't do.....  They have not idea what it means to have self control and to deny themselves immediate gratification-whether that is food, things, or pleasure. 

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In past posts I have tried to challenge you into thinking about years gone by when women and men wore distinctly different garments all the time.  50 years ago, or less, respectable women wore dresses. The level of modesty was, from a Biblical standpoint, always challenged by the local Pastors, and the older folks of each era.  But  from undergarments to swimsuits, dresses to pants, all the clothing from yesteryears of not so long ago, were, generally speaking, MORE modest than what we see today. 

Even advertising was different. It wasn't until the 70's that LIVE models were allowed to parade their wares on TV. Catalogs which sold undergarments were usually just a picture of the necessary body area. The models were bodyless, and faceless. Many advertisers saved money using black and white photos on either a mannequin torso or chest. Mind you that men's underwear was modelled the same way. 

After the burn your bra revolution of the 60's, the 70's was the time when women became liberated, and wanted to be taken seriously. They wanted equal rights, and desired to be seen as more than just a plaything for their husbands. Odd isn't it -they wanted to be respected for their brains but began to make bare more and more of their bodies, and crying out against all looks, comments, whistles, or stares that their new found FREEDOM incited!

This is one thing we have to take into consideration when selecting garments. Whether we are buying them from a high end shop or the local thrift store, regardless of them being a gift, or sewn with our own two hands, we must learn to examine them from all the angles any MAN might see us.  I'm sure your husband will gladly assist with this. If not, have a trusted friend join you for a day of cleaning your closets and drawers, and ask her to be brutally honest about your clothing, even if it means getting rid of 99% of your current wardrobe. The LORD will bless you for it, and provide your need, plus many a man, maybe including your husband will thank you for your desire to keep yourself chaste in attire. 

Aside from modesty, let us also remember that  God does not expect nor require us to gad about in a drab colors, drib styles, and shapeless sacks. There is not scriptural support for us to look gawdy or gawky. In fact, in I Timothy 2:9-11, the verses that many people use to present modesty as a Biblical mandate, ok...let's look at the verses together.

"In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (WHICH BECOMETH WOMEN PROFESSING GODLINESS) with good works. "[emphasis added. ]

That sure sounds like God doesn't expect us to be frumpy in our attire. Part of being modest is not drawing attention to yourself, or your "danger zones". One gal said it was "being able to go to the store, check-out while chatting with the cashier, and he/she wouldn't remember what you were wearing".  I like that definition, but in todays world where almost all women wear JEANS, the most generic dresses stand out in stark contrast. 

Certainly God doesn't want us to present ourselves as ambassadors for Him in clothing that is unattractive to us. He had Paul say which becometh women! He wants us to look becoming. T he only color tied to anyone/anything sinful is red-connected with harlotry. Historically, the wearing of black was a sign of being in mourning over a loved ones death, and purple was only allowed to be worn by royalty. Today, while you may want to shy away from red for your own personal reasons, there is no New Testament prohibition on colors. There is a program "color me beautiful" that helps women determine what colors bring out their natural beauty and color. As "daughters of the King" we should look our best with what we have.  

Look quickly with me at I Cor. 7:31. Here Paul is  talking to the Corinthian believers about marriage and how to treat one another, and especially virgins. But vs. 31 says, "And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away."  Yes, I know that I am taking this out of context, but think about it. There are sects of Christian who believe ALL fashion except a few specific styles are sinful. But in a round about way, might Paul be saying, USE the fashion of the world, but don't abuse it. Let me restate it like this: It's ok to BUY clothes from Walmart or Bloomingdales or Macys, and even to wear stylish trendy clothes, just don't cross the line of modesty in the process. 

While many will differ with me, I do not believe that Paul was prohibiting women from wearing jewelry either. Look at the time in history in which Paul live, and wrote this chapter. There was no electricity, gasoline engines, or computers to assist in mining operation or refining processes. Obtaining precious metals and gems was an extremely laborious process, and only the rich or elite could afford to have gold, and pearls. 

There was not driving your camel to the Bethlehem Mall and picking up a new wardrobe.  Getting a new robe in that day and age took quite some time. First, if you wanted wool, some sheep needed to be sheared (which is done only once a year), the wool then had to be washed, combed, spun, dyed, and woven into cloth. Then someone was ready to first begin to make the robe. Many garments in this time period were draped on the body and not cut and sewed because of the work needed. This is another reason why "costly array" might be silk, or be a printed fabric, or even embroidered or have fringe or other embellishments that the ordinary work-a-day person would never wear due to cost and practicallity.

A Feminine woman knows and wears the styles and colors  that "becometh women professing Godliness. 

**Next time -- sexy vx. feminine

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In past posts I have tried to challenge you into thinking about years gone by when women and men wore distinctly different garments all the time.  50 years ago, or less, respectable women wore dresses. The level of modesty was, from a Biblical standpoint, always challenged by the local Pastors, and the older folks of each era.  But  from undergarments to swimsuits, dresses to pants, all the clothing from yesteryears of not so long ago, were, generally speaking, MORE modest than what we see today. 

Even advertising was different. It wasn't until the 70's that LIVE models were allowed to parade their wares on TV. Catalogs which sold undergarments were usually just a picture of the necessary body area. The models were bodyless, and faceless. Many advertisers saved money using black and white photos on either a mannequin torso or chest. Mind you that men's underwear was modelled the same way. 

After the burn your bra revolution of the 60's, the 70's was the time when women became liberated, and wanted to be taken seriously. They wanted equal rights, and desired to be seen as more than just a plaything for their husbands. Odd isn't it -they wanted to be respected for their brains but began to make bare more and more of their bodies, and crying out against all looks, comments, whistles, or stares that their new found FREEDOM incited!

This is one thing we have to take into consideration when selecting garments. Whether we are buying them from a high end shop or the local thrift store, regardless of them being a gift, or sewn with our own two hands, we must learn to examine them from all the angles any MAN might see us.  I'm sure your husband will gladly assist with this. If not, have a trusted friend join you for a day of cleaning your closets and drawers, and ask her to be brutally honest about your clothing, even if it means getting rid of 99% of your current wardrobe. The LORD will bless you for it, and provide your need, plus many a man, maybe including your husband will thank you for your desire to keep yourself chaste in attire. 

Aside from modesty, let us also remember that  God does not expect nor require us to gad about in a drab colors, drib styles, and shapeless sacks. There is not scriptural support for us to look gawdy or gawky. In fact, in I Timothy 2:9-11, the verses that many people use to present modesty as a Biblical mandate, ok...let's look at the verses together.

"In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (WHICH BECOMETH WOMEN PROFESSING GODLINESS) with good works. "[emphasis added. ]

That sure sounds like God doesn't expect us to be frumpy in our attire. Part of being modest is not drawing attention to yourself, or your "danger zones". One gal said it was "being able to go to the store, check-out while chatting with the cashier, and he/she wouldn't remember what you were wearing".  I like that definition, but in todays world where almost all women wear JEANS, the most generic dresses stand out in stark contrast. 

Certainly God doesn't want us to present ourselves as ambassadors for Him in clothing that is unattractive to us. He had Paul say which becometh women! He wants us to look becoming. T he only color tied to anyone/anything sinful is red-connected with harlotry. Historically, the wearing of black was a sign of being in mourning over a loved ones death, and purple was only allowed to be worn by royalty. Today, while you may want to shy away from red for your own personal reasons, there is no New Testament prohibition on colors. There is a program "color me beautiful" that helps women determine what colors bring out their natural beauty and color. As "daughters of the King" we should look our best with what we have.  

Look quickly with me at I Cor. 7:31. Here Paul is  talking to the Corinthian believers about marriage and how to treat one another, and especially virgins. But vs. 31 says, "And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away."  Yes, I know that I am taking this out of context, but think about it. There are sects of Christian who believe ALL fashion except a few specific styles are sinful. But in a round about way, might Paul be saying, USE the fashion of the world, but don't abuse it. Let me restate it like this: It's ok to BUY clothes from Walmart or Bloomingdales or Macys, and even to wear stylish trendy clothes, just don't cross the line of modesty in the process. 

While many will differ with me, I do not believe that Paul was prohibiting women from wearing jewelry either. Look at the time in history in which Paul live, and wrote this chapter. There was no electricity, gasoline engines, or computers to assist in mining operation or refining processes. Obtaining precious metals and gems was an extremely laborious process, and only the rich or elite could afford to have gold, and pearls. 

There was not driving your camel to the Bethlehem Mall and picking up a new wardrobe.  Getting a new robe in that day and age took quite some time. First, if you wanted wool, some sheep needed to be sheared (which is done only once a year), the wool then had to be washed, combed, spun, dyed, and woven into cloth. Then someone was ready to first begin to make the robe. Many garments in this time period were draped on the body and not cut and sewed because of the work needed. This is another reason why "costly array" might be silk, or be a printed fabric, or even embroidered or have fringe or other embellishments that the ordinary work-a-day person would never wear due to cost and practicallity.

A Feminine woman knows and wears the styles and colors  that "becometh women professing Godliness. 

**Next time -- sexy vx. feminine

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   Unlike some women I am not softspoken. Whether this is due to a lack of training at an early age or genetics I'm not sure.  Right after high school I worked in a nursing home and grew accustomed to practically shouting for my patients to hear me. Perhaps this carried over into my daily life. All I know is that it is a pain to me today. As hard as I have tried, it seems I am at an impasse with it. 
It causes me deep distress due to the fact that I do not see it as being very feminine at all. As a plus size woman, I am already feeling the strain of appearing less than delicate. More like a dandelion than a rose or carnation.  Then again, women need to be hardy to handle the stresses of life, so perhaps being a dandelion is not so bad after all. 

My idea of a feminine sounding woman is one with a soft tone of voice, not so quiet that it is difficult to hear, nor so boisterous it is easily overheard. So What do you do if your voice carries to the next county? 

In earlier times, girls were taught to speak quietly, softly, in preparation for being women. The Bible tells us that we are to have a meek and quiet spirit. Our conversation is to be chaste, as is our life. We should be discreet-including our tongue.  The tongue can no man tame, according to James. What are we to do?

I believe, dear sisters, that we must go to the heart.  What is in our heart comes out of our mouth.  We cannot tame our tongue if our heart is wild.  Contrary to popular thinking, speaking your mind isn't a good thing, and usually you speak you heart. There is a book I wish to get by Ruth Beechick. In this book she has documented medical proof that speech passes through the heart first. I am not sure what the details are so I will go on.  Sisters, do you have trouble with saying hurtful things? You think it is unintentional, and maybe this is true, but if you can keep the hurtful thought from taking root in your heart it will not pass your lips.  Prov. 31 says "in her tongue is the law of kindness".  That is how a feminine woman should sound. Yes a womanly tone and manner is good. A Graciousness should be there, and if you are like me, you like to talk and your voice is loud, you may decide that you need to retrain yourself to refrain from speaking too much and when you choose to talk, control the tone and volume carefully.  Our words should be gracious and kind. Have you ever thought about how one speaks to a baby? Usually we approach a baby, and do that little high pitched voice, or we whisper just loud enough to be heard.  I am not saying that we need to speak to grown-ups that way, but there are few times when a woman is at the height of being feminine without thinking about it.  Usually at her wedding, giving birth, and tending her newborn baby. I can attest to the FACT that as my children outgrew babyhood, my voice, directed at them, grew too-louder, LOUDER and...... So loud in fact, that some nights at bedtime my throat hurt.  

If you have my problem, perhaps a day of whispering, and practicing speaking only words that edify is in order. That is how a feminine woman sounds.  

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Dear Sister,

I am very glad you are here today. This brief post is to let you know that asap I will be adding more content and diversify by adding more pages or linking to other blogs.  In the meantime, please remember that though we do not know one another, in Christ we are Sisters and share a kinship that the world cant' understand.

Lord willing, I'll be able to post more often and get the ball rolling here. 

Just a little thought... have you ever wondered why society has changed their ideal of women, and what is attractive?  My husband was saying just the other day that he doesn't understand how these little skinny gals survive. Our daughter, around is the same size as they are, but she is still a wee girl. His take on this is that it is all part of creating a gender neutral society. A sort of "if we all look alike, dress alike, act alike population, then what does biological gender matter".  That is the way things are headed. Even in the local church you see this happening. More and more often women are being put into leadership roles over men; the taboo of wearing pants to church looks to be but a dim memory of "legalism" to many of the brethren, and the donning of masculine cut suit jackets and high and tight haircuts are becoming the norm.  This will sound terribly judgmental, but it bothers me when I get invitations to attend women's conferences from prominent and large churches and all the women are in business suits and have short hair.  Am I missing something?  It puts me off terribly. Perhaps I am just a narrowminded hypocrite, but if they are proposing to obey Titus 2 and teach good things, shouldn't they model that by dressing as feminine as possible, letting their hair grow long (if possible) and arranging in an attractive way, if it won't grow long-perhaps tie a ribbon on or clip a flower into their hair. Honestly, I do not want to offend anyone. 

As much as we want to say: "I don't think anyone should be judged by what they wear"  we ALL do it everyday.  Don't tell me that if some large burly looking man wearing a leather jacket with a gruff voice, you wouldn't be at least a little cautious in opening the door to him.  I remember when we lived in NYC. There were times when we had to drive up to Harlem, or the Lower East Side, and on occassion we ventured into Brooklyn and the Bronx. Parking in the city is horrid, and my husband would leave us in the car in case it had to be moved. There are many many times when a man or woman came walking down the block and I reached slowly for the lock,just in case. If I had been parked on Wall Street, I probably wouldn't have thought twice, even at night. But in HARLEM or the Bronx, everyone knows they are the rough areas, especially at night, right??  The poor person walking down the block was judged without a trial or a question being asked. Simply because of where we were and how they were dressed or acted, I was intimidated enough to be extra careful.  

There are people who truly don't see these things. They are much more heavenly minded and Godly than I. They are the type of people I need to learn from. God is still working on me, instilling more grace into my heart and mind than I ever thought I would need. At least I am honest about my judgmental attitude. 

On the other hand Jesus told us by their fruit ye shall know them. I don't expect to SEE oranges on grapevines. Which is why I don't expect to see the Pastor go into a bar or exit one in a drunken state, nor do I expect to see a Christian Lady running around dressed like all the women of the world, and taking on the role of a man.  It is pitiful that even in the church, many women when seated could easily be mistaken for men by the cut of their hair.  She is forsaking her GLORY....cutting it off becaue it is too hard to take care of...do you know that many men see their wives as their glory, and wouldn't dream of "cutting them off" ie separating or divorcing. 

I realize I am rambling, but I wanted to give you some food for thought. Our foremothers were taught that women had a place, a role to fill, and certain things were suitible for a man to do and not a woman and vice versa. 

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IT is with deep regret that I find myself not really saying alot in my post. Things are really behind at home and there are going to be some changes taking place that I am not very happy about, but I cannot change them. I can only try to change my mind and attitude about them. 

It is interesting to me that I am learning how even my attitude can be feminine or masculine.  Reactions to spilled milk, broken glass, shocking news, unkind remarks; all these can be inintiators of either a godly womanly nature or ungodly manly reaction. For a MAN a MANLY reaction is not necessarily ungodly; But a MANLY reaction by a woman is ungodly. There I said it and I hope it is clear now.

For instance, how do you usually react to a child spilling milk. Do you simply sop it up with a rag and pour fresh milk into a glass, or do you screech at the person who spilled the milk and rail on them loudly for 10 minutes refusing to give them more?  The reason I am classifying the screeching woman as a MANLY response is because God wants us to exhibit a meek and quiet spirit. If our spirit is truly meek and quiet we wont' react in a way that is not meek and/or quiet.

Men are expected to be loud and rough. Women are expected to be soft and gentle and sweet.  Sort of the opposite of the man. Even in today's world, the old double standards of conduct exist. This is due to them being rooted, for the most part, in the Bible and history. 

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Things here seem to be settling down and LORD willing I will be able to post more often. In the meantime, I wanted to thank all those who support me in your prayers and friendships, and pray God richly blesses you in the coming year. May we be ever watchful for Jesus Return.

Love,

Terry

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I apologize for my long absense from posting here.

As I was thinking about grace, being a woman of grace, 2 Scriptures come to mind. 

Grow in grace and a gracious woman retaineth honor. 

Grace is a work in process, it grows in us, and as we grow in Christ, as our walk with the LORD becomes more faithful and stronger, as we separate ourselves from the world in our daily life we grow in grace.

Trials, triblulations, hardships, disappointments and the like stretch our faith, and somehow is makes grace grow as well.  Like physical exercise strenghthens our muscles of flesh, so to does spiritual testing makes our grace grow. 

Grace is a little like patience. You really don't know how much of it you have until it is tested. 

Prov. says that a gracious woman retaineth honor.  (KJB) It doesn't say she gets honor, but she retains.  She already HAS it!

Gracious is .....Characterized by kindness and warm, unaffected courtesy: affable, hospitable. See kind Characterized by elaborate but usually formal courtesy: chivalrous, courtly, gallant, knightly, stately. See attitude, courtesy

Have you ever met a Christian lady who had this aire of peace and grace about her that defies explanation? Something about her draws you to her, you want to honor her. 

You would climb the hightest mountain, or swim miles just to hear her, or sit in her presence, because it is as if grace and peace have come to sit on earth and you don't want to miss it. You want to bask in it near her.

And you want to honor her.  What do you think it means to honor someone?  Haman, in Esther's day had his idea. He wanted honor but the honor was for another.  Perhaps the best way to honor someone is to consider how you would want to be treated, what would you want done for you or to you, how do you want to be remembered, and then do that for another person. 

Unfortunately we live in a time where grace is seen as weakness or unnecessary. 

To help us gain a better understanding of grace, lets looks at what it is not. Lacking dexterity and grace in physical movement: awkward, clumsy, gawky, inept, lumpish, maladroit, ungainly, ungraceful. Slang: klutzy.

The opposite of gracious is UNgracious--Lacking good manners: discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, impolite, rude, uncivil, unmannerly, unpolished.

A quick reading of what grace is NOT and what UNgracious means or is like, is shocking enough and should cause any Woman who seeks to live a Godly life, and strive for, pray for God to give her the GRACE she needs to be a GRACIOUS woman for God's glory.

Dear Sister, I urge you to take the time and look up the words above. Websters 1828 is a good reference due to it being written during a time when the true meaning of words were not modernized. Copy and paste this link into your browser and it will take you to a searchable dictionary online.  http://65.66.134.201/cgi-bin/webster/webster.exe

Please do not be discouraged if you fall short of what you want to be. All of us are far from where we want to be, or should be.

Like a seed planted in the earth, the seeds of GRACE, take time to germinate, and sprout, and then the growing process begins in earnest.  Seasons of life, trials, blessings, difficulties and smooth travel will all effect the speed at which grace grows in us. We cannot grow in grace apart from Jesus Christ. Like a plant is affected by cold, and heat, drought and flood, the seed of grace in us are also affected.  Don't measure grace by your standard, measure it next to God's Word. Look at not only where you want to go, but don't forget to look back and see how far you've come. Sometimes the road ahead looks long and hard, but the territory that has already been covered is rougher and harder. The LORD doesn't let us travel alone, His Comforter is with us to guide and assist. We have His Holy Word as a Light for the way.

Pray dear sister for the ladies who have been here before and will come after you. We all need divine help to be Gracious Women of God.

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1. COMFORTER » See GOD, GRACE OF
2. ELECTION » OF GRACE ( John 15:16;17:6; Ephesians 1:4;2:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
3. FAVOR » See GOD, GRACE OF
4. GLORIFYING GOD » Grace to others (Acts 11:18; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Galatians 1:24)
5. GRACE OF GOD » See GOD, GRACE OF
6. MERIT » See GRACE
7. SELF-CONTROL » See GRACES, CHRISTIAN
8. ASSURANCE » SAINTS PRIVILEGED TO HAVE » Continuance in grace (Philippians 1:6)
9. FOUNTAIN » FIGURATIVE » Of divine grace (Psalms 36:9; Jeremiah 2:13)
10. GIFTS FROM GOD » SPIRITUAL » Grace (James 4:6)

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Think for a minute of the most feminine woman you've ever seen. It doesn't matter if it was a photograph, on TV, in a movie or magazine, on the newspaper, or in a store or on the sidewalk walking by you.   Keep thinking.  What was it about her that really made you take notice that she was all girl? (Not in a harlot-like sense)

Was it her clothes? Her hair? Make-up? Jewelry? Shoes?  What?

Many great women have possessed this characteristic. It is called....grace. Every step they take, every move they make, oozes grace. They seem to be ballet dancing without the toe shoes and tutu's. These women make scrubbing the floor look like a pleasureWatching them stir a bowl of cookie dough is a sight of beauty to behold.

The delightful ladies grace goes deeper than just physical dynamics. Even their emotions are full of grace. One of the most well-known women who possessed this characteristic was Jackie Kennedy (Jackie O. in later years).  In every photo of Mrs. Kennedy immediately after JFK was shot, during the funeral and years after when she was better recognized as Jackie O, seen yet unseeable in each one is her grace. (Forgive me if using her as an example offends you.) 

Of all the women through history, time and space, who should posses grace, it is us. Not as a result of the era in which we live, but because of who we are.  We are Christians, bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. His GRACE was extended to us, freely. He GIVES us grace to live by and we are commanded to GROW in GRACE. If anyone should exude grace it's us.  Precious Sisters, we need to let GRACE ooze from every pore and corpusle of our body. GRACE should be like a fountain of sweet water, refreshment to the heart and soul, of all who come in contact with us day by day. The question is-Does it? 

How is your attitude when things don't go as planned-loss of a job, car accident, expectations fall short, etc?  Be honest with yourself. 

In the face of emergencies or tradgedy, what do you think, say and do?

As we delve into GRACE, may I remind you Dear Ladies, that GRACE is feminine trait. (The male 'version' is masculine)

We are to walk, move, live, speak, think, and hear wiht GRACE.

Literally walking with GRACE sets us apart from the guys. It says, "Thank You Lord for making me a woman".  Mind you, a feminine walk and a harlot walk are NOT the same thing. They are as different as a waltz is from disco.

To be feminine means we must root out the feminIST ideaology that has infiltrated our hearts and minds. To LOVE your FEMININITY will fly in the face of the world. To do that, you must repent of all the anti-feminine, feminIST ideas, thoughts, that you believe, (for some, this might include giving up pursuits of manly habits, hobbies etc.)

Sisters, Oh Sisters, God made us WOMEN. He created us in a special way. We are different from the menfolk, beyond simple biology and physical appearnce.

Precious Ladies, if you are in search of peace and fulfillment and haven't found it yet, if you tried so many other things, perhaps the root problem is accepting yourself just as you are, as God made you.  He made us to be WOMEN.

Accepting ourselves, our minds, hearts, souls, bodies-shape, size, hormones, etc are just the first step.  We should celelbrate womenhood and love how God made us. Then we can begin to practice walking with grace as well as growing in it.

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Femininity is one of those attributes that has been lost with the rise of feminism, ERA, women's rights, and the like.

Once a bastian of a girls upbringing, femininity has been relegated to a form of bondage. 

Girls, Women, were taught to be soft, gentle, kind, submissive and to be content to do the womanly tasks the LORD built them to do. 

What is femininity? 

According to Websters 1828

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My life, your life, is a work in progress.

A True artist may spend decades, yeah, a lifetime on one masterpiece. When acquiring a granite block, a sculptor doesn't rush for his chisel and haphazardly chip away hoping to simply uncover a hidden figure in the center, as if on an archaeological dig. A painter reaches for a chair on which to sit and gaze at the blank canvas before his eyes. Before commencing to create a "work of art" the creator must have a vision for his finished work.  It may takes weeks, months, or years for him to envision what he will paint or sculpt. Money and time mean nothing in comparison to seeing  his/her dream become a reality, to be thing of beauty that will endure for generations to come.

Each one of us is a work of art. Our Creator-Father has invested His heart is shaping and moulding us daily.  Time doesn't matter. He has all the resources He needs at His disposal. As we yield our heart, mind and will to Him, He can then begin to work on making us into a thing of beauty that will endure for generations to come. 

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The sculptor with chisel in hand, hammers away the excess stone. The "rough work" has begun. It might take innumerable hours of chiseling, chipping away, shaping the rock.

Our Heavenly Father uses the hammer of His Word to purge from our hearts and minds, and life, all the excesses that are needless or useless to Him. The time for this  is dependent upon the vision God has for us; and how soft we are to the chiselling process, and just how much must be chiseled away. 

Engraving a name and date on a gravestone is nothing compared to releasing a lion from it's prison of marble. 

Next is the refinement of the rough cut.  The basic form is there, and it is time to shape it to more closely resemble the finished work.

The LORD, after the work of casting off the unusable stuff, takes us in His loving hands and begins shaping us. At first the marble cast away might have been some blatant sin, but now it is those questionable things in our lives-friends, activities, books, clothes, movies,....  These are smaller pieces to get rid of but must be removed if the desired result is to be achieved.

Now the tedious work begins. Hours pass by as a blink of the eye when trying to get it "just right".

 The Master Sculptor knows no time. He will keep right on working on the trouble spots to get them just right. He will keep on working on us until we are finished.

Last of all is the polishing. Lovingly, gently, firmly, the stone is rubbed, and scrubbed, and buffed, and polished until it gleams and sparkles in the sunlight. Then the artist is satisfied with his work and proclaim voila'!

Our Sculptor has to polish us as well. He lovingly, gently and firmly rubs, scrubs, buffs and polishes us until we gleam and sparkle too. He wants us to shine in the light of His Dear Son, Jesus Christ.

His vision for us is to conform us to the image of Jesus. How does He accomplish this?  Each trial, hardship, calamity, broken dream, shattered hope; each joy, blessing, hope fulfilled; is part of the process. The more we resiste the longer it takes, but to Him that is nothing. Time is for us, not Him. Often life is like the blink of an eye. We feel so young inside, and yet the calendar reminds us that time is fleeting....a vapour that vanished away. 

Oh dear Sisters, will you yield yourself to the Artist and His Vision for you?  Will you submit to the pain as He cuts away the junk?  Will you be still and know He is God as He smoothes and refines those areas that need work?  Can you linger long enough to wait for Him to take you into His Hands and Lovingly polish, buff, and soothe your weary, aching soul and heart? 

Sisters, is the price to high?  Too often I've heard ladies saying, "He's still working on me." and they've used it as an excuse to sin. Sister, oh dear Sisters, is He really working on YOU?  Have you laid on the altar YOUR ALL for Him to conform you to the image of Christ?  Have you fought against the chisel, and pulled away from the polishing cloth? 

When God speaks to you about giving up some thing or endeavor or ministry, do you cry out "anything Lord but not THAT"? 

Today is Resurection Sunday. Sisters, Jesus gave it all for us. He left His Royal Perfect Abode in Heaven; He left the Praise and Glory that surrounded Him Eternally, He submitted to the Will of the Father and humbled Himself to become flesh and blood, to feel pain, and sorrow; to be shamed and hated; to be rejected and suffer grief beyond all human comprehending; He GAVE, He GAVE, He GAVE it all, for US!  Imagine being Perfect and Powerful and Righteous forever, and one day, you aren't. Jesus did that for us.  Jesus was suddenly placed in time and space, and in a shell that limited His power. On the cross, He took all our sin on himself.  Imagine being perfect and not knowing what sin felt like and having the weight of it on you...it might well be likened to always being thin and waking up weighing hundreds of pounds more for other people.  That is what God did for us.

Can you still honestly say "it is too much to ask" when God knock on yoru heart or asks you to give up this, or to do that? 

Your life, and mine, are works in progress. Only when we are put on display in Heavens Museum of Art will we know how perfect or imperfect we are. The only one we can blame for the imperfect or unfinishedness of our life is ourselves.  God does all things well. He finishes what He starts if we yield ourselves to the Potters hand. 

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