Sunday, August 10, 2008

This one's for the girls...

Proverbs 31:29-30 (New International Version)

29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.



This was taken at the North Texas Arboretum in Athens, TX.


This was taken at the Greenville Heritage Botanical Garden in Greenville TX.


This was taken in my backyard at my old house in Greenville, TX.

To my sisters in the Lord...

There comes a time in every woman's life when she has to take a close look at herself. Not at her circumstance, not at what she did, not how unfair life is, or at who made you do it. She has to just look at herself in all her glory and imperfection. Have you ever admired a woman who has been through changes in her life? Or have you made up in your mind that she is just messed up. Before you make this mistake, take a closer look. A woman who has endured the most unusual life is someone of wisdom, someone who has been chosen by God to go through things that have made her stronger.

Think of all the great women in the Bible: Mary Magdalene , Ruth and Naomi, the woman with an issue of blood, and Esther, to name a few. Mary was a prostitute, a very uneasy woman. But by the time Jesus was done with her, she was His closest follower. Esther was unfortunate in marrying an abusive man, but by the time God was done with her, she had married one of the wealthiest men in the land.

Women are so quick to beat the next one down instead of trying to hold her up. Before you wonder, ' What's up with her?' ask yourself, 'What's up with me?' That woman could be my mother, sister, aunt, in-law, stepmother, niece, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, friend, or co-worker, etc. That woman could be ME.

Women are the carriers of life, not the channels of death. Let's build and encourage each other, as did Ruth and Naomi. Pass this to all the women in your life. Encourage and love, forgive and forget, and trust that the woman that receives this will be touched in some way.

May the peace and love of Christ be upon you!


4 comments:

Berit T said...

OOOOH!! SO beautiful all of them!!

Lynette said...

Thank you for the beautiful photos and the insightful words, Laurie.

PJ said...

We've been working on this point of view in our prayer group. What's up with me should be my motto!

D said...

Lovely pictures and one of my favorite verses. I used to have it posted near my mirror as a reminder of what is really important!