Daughters of God

She wept and laughed with all her heart.
She owned her mistakes & continued to walk steadily down the path laid before her.
She had power & command, yet she never allowed it to strip her of compassion.
She had a great sense of humor.
She had clear direction and purpose.
She refused to negotiate with the enemy.


These are character traits worthy of every women's attention & development.


daughters are filled with love, beauty, hope and tenderness.
a daughter smiles, hugs and laughs.
she is a seeker of the truth and asks many questions.
longing to know who she is.
she is a friend, and a comfort.
a daughter is a precious pearl.


Daughters of God.


we are connected, us daughters.
we do not need to be related by blood, we are related by Jesus.
anyone who does the will of my father in heaven, is my brother & sister and mother.
matthew 12:50
sometimes we recognize our spiritual DNA inside of someone else.
we feel connected to them, somehow.
soul sisters and brothers and mothers...
we find those people who teach us something about ourselves.
we see ourselves in them.
they serve a purpose, maybe for a few months, years,
maybe for a lifetime.


Let your past be your teacher, let your future be your friend.


when I met with her, she always encouraged & nurtured the gift of God in my life.
each time I saw her she spoke words of reassurance and wisdom.
she dropped such things as precious jewels into my lap.
lessons she learned through hardship and suffering she offered freely to me.
and she was honest.
the greatest gift she ever gave me was her belief in the calling on my life.
she saw something in me.
maybe it was her own self she saw in me, for that season.
heaven only knows, but she loved me so well.


So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is worthless.


We all want to feel noticed, acknowledged, touched and drawn in.
In light of this, the house of God is where we should feel embraced, warm, safe & sound.
amongst other Christians we are filled up.
but our nurture should not be confined to the Christian realm.
we must then take it out into the world.
we must reach out and touch others everywhere we go.
so many daughters are out there waiting to be noticed.

what to do when the roof caves in

When it all caves in...
We must ask ourselves,  is a cave-in really happening?
We need to avoid "awful-izing" what is happening to us.
Level headed thinking.
What we think can totally skew what reality really is.


As Christians we think calamities should not happen to us.
It messes with our minds.
Our faith in God should prevent devastation from happening to us..
Right?
We allow small calamities, but never the big stuff.
We begin to question God.
Is he indifferent to the suffering of his children?
Does he not love us?


When our life caves in, many times the solution requires us to think outside the box.
And many times, our problems can be solved simply by changing our way of thinking.
Sometimes changing your way of thinking wont make the problem disappear,
but it can change the way we respond to it, and how defeated we allow ourselves to feel by it.
Is your reaction to one of life's problems based on what you truly believe.?
If you're a Christian who responds with doubt in God, is that truly what you believe?
Where is your faith?
Sometimes we respond to calamity in a way that is out of our character.
In those cases, we must stop and reevaluate ourselves.


To think is to apply reason to a situation.
To believe is to have faith in a situation.


But don't get me wrong,
there are some cave-ins that are out of our control.
When devastation occurs, we have two choices.
We can pull ourselves out from under the rubble,
or we can curl up and lie there,  in hopes to die.
Sometimes we feel such pain that our faith alters, or we lose it all together.
and sometimes we have no idea how to fix this loss of faith & doubt in God.


"I'll never fully understand evil, and why it hits some,  skips others,  or totally buries a few "


What I do know is this.
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, the universe fell under the weight of that sin.
And we have lived under the rubble of that cave-in ever since.
God did not will for devastation to fall upon us.
To sin was a human choice,
We were meant to live in a world devoid of "cave-ins"
To sin was a human choice, and God allowed that human choice.
But now,  as we sit in the disastrous consequence of that choice,
God promises to bring good out of the bad.
That is his sovereign intent.

As hard as it may be,  we must believe that God will bring beauty from ashes.
That there will be beauty from pain.
God will work everything together for the good of those who love him..
We must believe that there are treasures found in darkness.
It may not be possible to see the good in the midst of the bad,
but we must believe that it will be revealed to us someday.
There is wealth for our souls hidden in the mess of those cave-ins.
And this wealth for our souls is the kind that can only be found in darkness.
In darkness, we discover God's abundant love.
it is a love that never fails, no matter what the circumstance.
Nothing can separate us from God's love.


Some cave-ins can be prevented,  others not so much.
In the beginning,  humans chose to sin, to go against God.
now we live in that consequence.
We choose to sin, others choose to sin against us.
this world is filled with good, and evil.
we will never fully understand evil, or why certain things happen.
but we mustn't blame God for devastation.
God loves us, and he always will.
he is the only constant,  good,  sovereign thing we have in this world.
Nothing will take his love away from us. Not a thing.
and even though our trials are unwanted,  unnecessary, & unbearable,
GOD WILL WORK ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD.

and that is a promise.
rest in him.
let him carry you.
held in his arms.





to be continued...
Natalie

Rare girl // hope like an ocean

The truth will set you free

Recognize your utter dependence on God.

You learn more from pain than you do from pleasure.

His wisdom is greater than ours.

God doesn't change, just because our circumstances do.

"Yes, but my God is in control."

Let this hope be an anchor for your soul.

God doesn't always remove the difficulty and pain.

But he will walk with you through it.

He is faithful.

 

He is constant.

He is only good.

 

He is sovereign.

 

And He will never forsake you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amen.

Nurture

//Nurture//
to give tender care and protection,  to help grow & develop.
to encourage to grow, develop,  thrive.


//The Need For Nurture//
Are we far too busy trying to survive, that we cannot make time to nurture others?
Far too often we are too guarded, wounded, afraid, broken... to open our lives to the
possibility of being nurtured.
Why? Because we have been disappointed in the past. We sought nurture and failed
to receive it.
But without nurture,  how can we ever expect to feel love? In order to receive we must
first give..
Learn to nurture others, wholeheartedly,  despite your past trials & disappointments.
Show love to others, show genuine care. Encourage them, protect them.
Nurture others and receive nurture in return.
God calls us to love one another.  To love our neighbors as ourselves.
To love without expecting anything in return. To be the light in the darkness.
And God will take care of the rest.


//Nurture is Expansive//
Parents, teachers, employers, government,  and churches, seek to meet the basic needs
of people. The every day basic needs of life.
But what about going beyond that.?
Food, water, clothes, shelter, money,...
what about nurture? where is the deeper meaning of life?
Nurture is not expensive,  its expansive.  And it can be freely given & received.
No matter who you are.
Nurture is the difference between simply survivng, and thriving.
We will cease to merely function, going thru the motions,
And we will flourish,  really live.


//Teachers Who Nurture//
This is where my emotions and passion lie.
Being a teacher,  I know I have the blessing of shaping children's lives.
Helping them to believe in themselves, healing their corruption,  their pain.
Reassuring them of their potential.
Showing them tender care.
A student once said "she saw something in me that I didnt even recognize in myself. "
Being that one adult they care look up to. The one person they can trust.
Giving them God's love that they so greatly deserve.
Pointing out their strengths, walking them thru their weaknesses.
Teaching them life skills, helping them be successful in life outside grade school.
Plant seeds, that if nurtured, will lead to thriving. Lead to flourishing.
Lead to them believing in themselves,  discovering hidden talents.
I have the career that shapes children for the rest of their lives.
Going to school each day without nurture in my heart, leaves them empty.
They need care, protection, encouragement and love.
Without nurturing teachers, students learn aimless facts, connected to nothing.
I help them to see the bigger picture, to connect it all to real life, to them.
I make sure they know of my love and compassion for them each and every day.

"The correction and the nurture that sweet, nameless teacher had released into
my life 13 years earlier had reached into my future and spoken to me when i was
ready to hear it. Her words served a purpose, and helped me to thrive. "


"There is something within you that this world so desperately needs."


"Children learn what they live. How you raise them will determine everything.
If mothers do not nurture their children, they will grow up to be self focused,
self contained and disconnected from the world. They will merely function,
meet their basic needs, and go thru the motions. However they will never truly
thrive  and flourish into all they are capable of being."


//We Need Something More//
Our individual souls remain selfish in the absence of a nurturing heart.
It appears that we are all afraid to give too much of ourselves away.
We go through the motions, meeting others needs,  with resentment in
our hearts, holding a grudge all the while.
We check things off our lists, living simply to meet our basic needs and get by.
But is this really living? We need something more.
People do not GROW beyond themselves if they think the world revolves around
them.
Far too often, what people want is contrary to what they need.

"No one gave me the tender encouragement and nurture I needed when I was
young, so it's too late and too difficult for me to give those to others."
//don't believe this for a second. Its a lie.//

With God you are renewed to start again, regardless of your past.
regardless of what others have done to you, God brings healing.
He teaches us how to nurture others,  even if we ourselves have never
experienced it.
There is rebirth, at any age and in any season.
God's word provides nurture and pruning.


//Where  We're Headed//
Where we are and where we've been is not where we are going.
Gods kingdom is not stagnant, we are not at a standstill.
We are constantly growing,  He is constantly pruning.
Life is constantly changing.
And Gods kingdom doesn't stop when we get to Heaven either.
It has only just begun there.
GOD IS LIMITLESS.
He wants us to believe that, and believe in ourselves.
With God all things are possible.
Nurture other's by opening their eyes to the endless possibilities.
Dont weigh them down with your own disappointments.
Don't try to spare them the pain by limiting their view on life.
Don't.
They will either inherit your fears, or God's promises for them.
the disappointment we have seen,  that is our story.
our outlook, not theirs.
Let us nurture others. Love them. Take a genuine interest in them.
Provide them with hope. Encourage them. But not limit them.

I seek to help position them,  but never limit them.
To inspire them, but never designate which way they have to go.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,  but that we are powerful
beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
we ask ourselves,  who am I to be brilliant,  talented, beautiful?
Actually,  who are you not to be?? You are a child of God. Limiting yourself
does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people wont feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
it is in all of us. As we let our light shine, we subconsciously give other's
permission to do the same. As we are liberated from fear, our presence
automatically liberates others."

//Nurture Defined & Applied//

1. Tender Care
Taking a genuine interest and care in others lives. Being gentle 
With the sensitive areas in other's lives. Be tender with one another's
Spirits. There is never a need to be harsh with those whp look up to you.
If you are rough, people will not heal properly.

2. Protection
Don't live in a "mind your own business" type of world. We are called to
Be involved in each other's lives. To share one another's burdens.
If we see someone in harms way, we should intervene. We can protect
One another physically,  mentally, emotionally and spiritually. To protect
Is to prevent one another from harm, or damage,  or pain.

3. Encourage
The most priceless gift. To give courage, hope and confidence.
There is fear everywhere,  hearts failing. For you to simply tell someone
You believe in them is huge. Encouragement is not for your benefit.
Encourage complete strangers, encourage those you love.




More to come.
stay tuned.
God is constant.


Natalie

Fearlessly Single

Snippets from my journal, and the book "Fearlessly Single."

 

 

 

Women give up their morals at times, for the fear of being alone.

We want what it is we don't have.

Live by the world's standards, or live by God's?

God doesn't show favoritism.

Those God loves, He prunes.

It's all about purpose...and growth.

Women start dating ungodly men out of desperation.

Things always look easy when one is looking in from the outside.

God works everything together for our good.

He knew the mistakes we'd make, before we even made them.

And then He loves us until we heal from those mistakes.

Daughters, do not awaken love until it's ready. Song of Solomon 3:5

God works differently for all of us.

Soul ties. We were not made to become attached to anyone & everyone.

That tie is for our future spouse, to save us heartache and pain.

Unevenly yoked, a believer with a non-believer. Don't do it.

Your husband will father your children.

Think about it...

Humans, even if we do the right thing, part of us always questions our decision.

When will it be me?  I want that....

We ask ourselves.

Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. We must learn it.

It's not about getting married as much as finding the right person to marry.

Don't choose in desperation, but in calm, with a clean mind.

We become obsessive & consumed by it. You know, finding the one.

Don't you ever settle.

You will only suffer in the future if you do that.

Don't lose who you are.

Don't compromise who you are for someone else.

Christians still have the same desires as everyone else out there.

Watch out for the two-faced men, the one's who live a double life.

Acting Godly in church, then persuading a woman to compromise who she is.

What she stands for.

Selfishness.

Think about the type of men you gravitate towards.

"I tend to go for the fast ones."

We feel pressure from society.

Don't be lured by beauty, physical attributes. You'll pay the price later.

We long for men because there is something missing in us.

Loneliness tempts us.

But he is nice, and caring, we clique so well... we spend all our time together.

We are like an old married couple, but he is not a Christian...

What I did not realize was that I placed him in God's place.

No man deserves the love that is reserved for God.

We worship non other than God.

God is a jealous one.

Put God back in His rightful place.

The things of this world fade away, but God still remains.

After all, You are constant.

After all, You are only good.

After all, You are sovereign.

Not for a moment, will You forsake me.

New creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17-

Anyone who belongs to Jesus has become a new person.
The old life has gone and a new life has begun.

Form new habits.

When we accept Jesus into our lives,
when we surrender to His power,
when we accept His forgiveness,
when we seek His love,
when we ask for His strength & guidance,
when we find our joy in Him,
when we pursue Him as Lord of our lives,
we are a new creation.
The holy spirit makes its way into our hearts.
We will never be the same.
God has given us a new nature, a new self.
The original self, which He intended for us to be.
We receive so many blessings.
We see the world through new eyes.
Discipline and self-control are ours.
Our old self has washed away, a better version has come.
A sound mind,
one that isn't controlled by emotions, is ours.
This life is so much more fulfilling,
so satisfying.
It's what we were created for.
All it takes is one simple prayer,
asking God to come into your life.
Repenting of our sins and asking Him to move.
And he will NOT HESITATE.
He loves you.

You see, as humans we have a difficulty doing things in moderation.
We go too far,
simple as that.
We act out of emotions, what we feel.
But what we feel isn't always in tune with God.
What we feel isn't always what's best.
So we act out of emotion, we go too far,
and then we regret what we did.
We regret it.
I've learned to do only what is best for me.
Do I still fail at times, yes.
But I look at the big picture,
I look at the end outcome.
Should I find temporary satisfaction,
or long-term joy & peace?
Our earthly selves love being wrapped up in emotion,
but are our emotions leading us in the right direction?
How about we seek GOD FIRST.
Seek His wisdom, ask Him for His plans.
God knows best,
afterall, He created you.

Make the decision to not do what you feel like doing,
unless it's God's Will for your life.
Amen.

Be saved. Ask God into your life.
You'll not be disappointed.
How happy you will be.
I adore Jesus.