"Lies Women Believe.....

.....and the Truth That Sets Them Free" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

I can't count the number of times I have glanced at this book on shelves of Christian bookstores and libraries.  This past Sunday, I picked it up and flipped through it.  Hmmmmm......I checked it out.  I have read many reviews for this book ~ both for and against.  Some of the criticisms seem quite valid, and some...not so much. 

I've found that through the years, my love of learning, reading, and desiring to grow a closer relationship with God has lead  me to many great books and have discovered  that some of the most argued and disputed can be the best.  I am thankful that God is a personal God and am always amazed at how He meets us where we are and will use the many tools and resources available to us to do so......and am curious about what God will do in ME as I read this one.

As I stood in the library and paged through the introduction, I read this:

...."a large percentage of Christian women today could be described in the following words: frazzled, exhausted, burned-out, overwhelmed, confused, angry, frustrated, discouraged, defeated, depressed, ashamed, emotionally unstable, uptight, insecure, lonely, fearful...."

Unfortunately, several of those adjectives jumped out at me as if in bold print ~ some of them describe ME lately!  I'll keep to myself the ones that do. ; )  These words also describe many women I know.  They describe women I'm related to.  I think they describe women today in general........I desperately don't want to be like that.  Regardless of circumstances, regardless of others' influences, I deeply desire to live a Victorious Christian life & to be the kind of woman that is.......

"......free, joyous, contented, loving, radiant, confident, gracious, peaceful, stable......"

Jesus said in John 10:10:

 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." 

How many of us actually experience that abundant life?  I believe it is possible, but it's a journey.  And all journeys have ups and downs, and through our travels even those of us who KNOW the TRUTH and know better that to fall for the Deceiver's lies sometimes do.  That sin nature.......why won't it leave us alone?!

This blog was originally started for Sweet Diva as a business/creative blog......but has become much more {because there's so much more to me ~ and I have trouble sometimes focusing on just one thing ; ) }.  I didn't anticipate that......I am quite surprised at the number of comments I get when I post (mostly private and off-blogger) and the number of inquiries I get when I don't.  It seems quite a few people can identify with my more personal posts.  I'm going to post on my journey through this book as I seek to expose the lies that I have fallen for and hope to destroy any strongholds Satan has claimed in my life.  Being a very private person in the real world, I'm a bit uncomfortable with this......but have seen firsthand before how the Lord can change and shape us when we are stepping out of our comfort zone if we are willing.

So, here goes......this should be interesting....; )

Linking up with Mom's Mustard Seeds for Mustard Seed Planting.  My verse for the week:

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30





The Beatitudes (for Mothers), Week 2 ~ Mustard Seed Planting

 It's Wednesday!!  Linking up once again with Mom's Mustard Seeds for Mustard Seed Planting, a weekly meme where we link up and encourage one another to memorize and apply God's word in our hearts and lives!

Last week was quite the humdinger and with not feeling well combined with medication making my brain quite fuzzy,  I'm still working on the last scripture I posted, The Beatitudes.  Lately, I find that I greatly need the encouragement and hope found in Matthew 5:3-11.....

Once again, I'm also going to borrow from Glenda Malmin's devotional book for moms, "The Journey of a Mother's Heart" ~ Lessons on motherhood from the life of Mary.

She beautifully paraphrases the Beatitudes to put the blessings of motherhood into perspective:

A Mother's Beatitudes

• Blessed is the mother whose children freely laugh, play and pray, for hers is the kingdom of heaven on earth.
• Blessed is the mother who cries when she needs to but does not lack faith, for she will be comforted
• Blessed is the mother who has a gentle disposition in the midst of the fluctuating emotions of her children, for she will inherit their hearts.
• Blessed is the mother who hungers for a closer walk with God, for she will be nourished and sustained.
• Blessed is the mother who is merciful in moments of contradiction, for she will receive mercy in the days that lie ahead.
• Blessed is the mother who is pure in heart and in spirit, for she will see God and the future in the eyes of her children.
• Blessed is the mother who is a peacemaker in times of storm, for she will be called trustworthy and true.
• Blessed is the mother who is disheartened in the journey, for there is hope and a future for her.
• Blessed is the mother who alone can see her child's potential, for God Himself will be her rear guard.

Also linking up today with: