Friday, April 30, 2010

An Invitation

Ever remember the stories we read in the books and in the cute movies we watched as little girls? Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast...?? How she was tormented in the beginning or had to go through the hardest of times to get to her 'ever after'? After everything she had to go through, its a wonder they ever made it out alive so much as even with a smile on her face and a song on her tongue. I don't know about you, but when I was a little girl I certainly re-enacted most of those princesses in my playtime. I wanted to be the princess. Why? Every girls' young heart intuitively wants to know that they are lovely. Not only that, but I wanted to marry my hansome prince and live happily ever after! But as I got a bit older (and wiser) the storybook ending became much deeper than just what they tell you in the story itself. There's so much more to it than that...

It isn't just about makeup and dresses. It's about recognizing that a woman yearns to be seen and to be thought of as 'captivating'. We truly desire to possess a beauty that is worth pursuing, worth fighting for, and a beauty that is core to who we truly are. God gave us desires in our heart that are there for a reason. They are the key to revealing the secret of who we really are and the purpose in life that we were meant to live out - a purpose meant for you and you alone. He didn't place these desires in your heart to torment you - they were placed in your heart to guide and draw you into discovering the woman he made you to be, and the life he created you to live.

'Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart'
Psalm 37:4

I invite you to embrance the feminine heart inside you and ask God to reveal the beauty and purpose in you.

My love, mel

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Can't buy me love

Everytime I watch one of those movies that we women all love.... chick flicks, I'm always left fantasizing about the romancy part of the movie. Where the guy always seems to either be what it seems to be as just plain dumb - 'how does he not know that she's in love with him' or he's got it down pat from the beginning and it's the girl who is playing hard to get. But in the end, he always says and does the right things and the female is completely romanced and swept off her feet. Sigh....  you know exactly what I'm talking about don't you.  THEN, we find ourselves fantasizing and wishing the male in our lives would do those things or be just as romantic as the guy in the movie. Or, if you are a single gal, you're wondering 'when will that knight in shining armor come rescue me and take me in his arms? '
Yes, I've been there too. Why do we do that? As if life should be just like a movie? Everything perfect and being completely in love. If only it were that perfect. The truth is, we're looking for love in the wrong places. Let me explain.

In the book, 'Your Captivating Heart' by Stacy Eldredge, she writes 'Look at the games that little girls play, and if you can, remember what you dreamed of as a little girl. Look at the movies women love. Listen to your own heart and the hearts of the women you know. What is it that a woman wants? What does she dream of? Every woman in her heart of hearts longs for three things: to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, and to unveil beauty. That's what makes a woman come alive. That's what the fairy tales were trying to tell us.'
Makes sense doesn't it? God created us with a heart that longs for romance and love. For adventure and for beauty. How amazing is that. What's even more amazing is that God created romance. He created our beauty. He is the author of adventure. Best yet..... he IS love. 
It took me many years to finally grasp the next thing I'm about to tell you.... God is the ultimate source for love and validation. Our boyfriends, fiance', and husbands can only provide so much to us - they're only human! But the love of Christ is the ultimate. If we look to him for our fullest romancing and love.... he unveils our truest beauty and then some.
You are a woman to your soul, to the very core of your being. Let God reveal the true beauty you are and love you beyond your wildest dreams!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

If I had a Million Dollars

Yesterday my son and I finally got out of the house for a little while after what seemed like WWIII for naptime. It's interesting, my husband and I live for naps and well... sleep. Our little angel, does not. How in the world did that ever happen I'll never know. It's  like pulling teeth to get him to fall asleep, stay asleep and then to actually lay him in his crib without him waking up two seconds later wailing to get out. Sometimes I wonder if he is behind all the little gray hairs popping out of my hair.
So, I decide to go to the store and buy our much needed lightbulbs(so that we finally have some light when we eat dinner as a family) and then to Mc D's for my much deserved Frappe' that I had a free coupon for (even more of a treat when you don't have to pay for it, I might add)... I decided to take a joy ride in the beautiful sunny and WARM weather we were having. I hit the 'seek' button on the radio and what do you think comes up first on the radio dial..... yep, you guessed it. 'If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a house...'. I had my little moment of going down memory lane listening to it and even singing along for a little bit. Gosh, I remember hearing that on the radio as a kid and belting out all the 'wishes and dreams' in that song. It was fun. My husband even says once in a while, 'if only we'd win the lottery...'. Doesn't everyone think that? I don't know, maybe we're just weird.

Truthfully, though, would a million dollars really get you anywhere? Sure you'd pay off a lot of debt, maybe buy a house or pay off your house. Maybe buy a new car, or buy your mom a car I don't know. I think you'd really find out who your real friends are! lol...  it got me to thinking, what happened to contentment? Thankfulness? Appreciating that you are probably very rich already. In the sense that if you have a home, you have a roof over your head. If you have a vehicle, you have something that gets you from point A to point B. If you have a bank account, you have money to buy you some groceries and maybe visit a nice restaurant once in a while. You see, God loves a thankful heart. Not a discontented heart. It doesn't mean that we can't dream, though! Oh no... that's the beauty of it. Our dreaming should be for the things that we are passionate about in our  hearts. The things that draw our hearts and our souls. What have you always wanted to do? I'm guessing that there's something kinda big that has always intrigued you... thinking, 'wow, that would be really incredible to do someday or accomplish someday. Ever seen the movie Patch Adams?? Remember the little old lady that Patch asked, "what have you always wanted to do?" and suddenly, her eyes just sparkled as she replied, "I always wanted to swim in a POOL of NOODLES!"  And do you remember what happened? I get choked up when I think about this........... she got to swim in a pool of noodles!! And the look on her face as she was swimming was pure bliss!  I love it!

Do YOU have a pure bliss dream? I bet you do. That's what it's all about ladies... keep dreaming. And dream BIG. Big dreams partnered with faith are priceless. They are treasures, just like you. It's what makes you unique and valuable. The scripture says, 'Whatsoever you shall ask in my name shall be yours.'  Do you believe that? I do with all my heart. I wouldn't be where I am today in my life if I didn't. It's time to believe.

With Love, mel

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Needy Dog

As I was awoken this morning by the sound of a constant and persistant 'growl' I knew that it meant that either my 'out like a light' husband or me, who I might add was just as sleep deprived, would have to begrudgingly pick ourselves up out of our so cozy bed and take the the mongrel out to do his mighty business. Thankfully, it was my doting husband that made the move. However, the scratchy sound of the dogs claws on the tile floor was what enabled the sound of a waking cry that could only be described as, 'Hey! I heard you.... now come and get me outa here!'. Yes.... that would be our son, who was apprarently very awake and he wasn't going to let me forget it. I was suddenly very aware of how mad at the dog I was.

But you know, this reminded me of something as I was feeding my son breakfast. How often does life present itself in such a way that is completely inconvenient to our own wants or needs, yet, God seems to have a very significant meaning for us at that very time? Regardless if we feel like listening to it or not? At times, it seems as though He speaks to us the loudest in the most vulnerable moments - like when we first wake up and the world has not begun to enter our minds.  It's very much how I didn't want to get out of bed to attend the needs to my son, yet, my son has this reveling affect on me that no matter how tired I am I love love love being near him and seeing his little eyes gaze into mine. Just think how it must be for God. Even for that small moment when we look to him just to say, I love  you, he loves us a million trillion times more!

If we could just get past the initial wake up stage in our lives and simply embrace the things that lie beneath the surface and really take a deeper look at our passions, our desires and what really gives us joy - - could you imagine how your life would change? Not only that, but seek to make a difference in the lives of the women around you. Even if it's simply bringing coffee to your coworker some morning - make her day - with a coffee and a smile.  Or calling that friend that you don't get a chance to talk to often  - just to say 'hello, I was thinking of you today'.  Make the extra effort to love who you are and the ladies in your life. Make Jesus smile.... cause He's more in love with you now than ever before.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Breathtaking Beauty

Who are you? Really - who are you? I often wonder that myself. Knowing full well that I am created with a real image in mind... I have my days, too. lol. But do we women always have a greater sense of knowing, just because we are of the female gender? Honestly, I think I look at us as though we are 'She-woman' or 'SuperWoman' based on all of the things we do in our daily lives. If you're a teen, you're concerned about what you are going to wear to school today or that text that you just recieved from your BFF. Oh, and finals are this week - but then there's that dress you have to find for prom that's only around the corner.
If you're a single young woman, you may be concentrating on meeting your deadlines or finding time to meet up with your best girlfriends. Then, there's the question of meeting that one guy that makes your life complete. Then, there's the moms out there who feel as though they balance the whole world on their shoulders.  Super Woman??  I would say so!

Ladies, truly, we are treasures in every sense of the word. On the inside out.... did you know that? We really are. There's no hiding the fact that society puts so much pressure on our minds, our bodies and our hearts. It can be very hard to take just that one moment to remember that no matter what labels we give ourselves based on all of the pressures of life - beauty is our essence. It is the way God made us. Live in it. Bask in it. Be the breathtaking beauty you truly are.

My love,  mel