It took me a very long time to look at my husband with respect and honor. The hurt he seemed to inflict came so frequently, I felt as if I were constantly forgiving him and trying to start fresh in our marriage. I gave him lash after lash with my thoughts...

Woman Beautiful, pg. 39

Jeopardy

Sometimes the lies we believe put us in jeopardy: double-trouble, accident, risk, danger, peril; you get the picture. My favorite synonym for jeopardy is "unexpected undertaking." Sadly, lies can be told to us by people we love and care about. Such lies include, "you'll never amount to anything," "you can't do anything right," "it's your fault," and the list goes on. These lies produce fruit in every person that will, years later, cause each of us to undertake behavior that we did not ask for, want to embrace or really ever expect. An example of this unexpected undertaking of behavior can be found in a young adolescent woman who constantly hears ridicule about her appearance, immaturity, or way of thinking. As the years role by, if she is not loved, accepted and encouraged she will be awakened, very rudely, as an adult with baggage that is detrimental to both her and the people she loves. That baggage can look like anger, low esteem for herself, life, God, her purpose and the people around her. She can, and often does, turn to food and promiscueity, as well as drinking large quantities of alcohol, for comfort and relief. Other young women turn to a very destructive behavior known as "cutting" to help ease the pain of the ridicule that still haunts their mind and emotions. What we often fail to see in other women is the deep, deep hurt they carry because of the lies of the past they continue to carry.

During the month of August we are focusing on relationship at the Woman Beautiful blogspot so, my question to you today is: How are you speaking to and relating with the Woman Beautifuls in your life? Are you building them up with kind words of love and acceptance or are you placing them in "jeopardy?"

Beauty Tip: Consider your words and actions today, make them reflective of the Savior who lives within you. Love somebody "well" today; let your words and your actions toward them say, "You are valuable."

Greater love has no Woman Beautiful than this, that she lay down her life for her friends. John 15:13

Love and Blessings,

Amanda

The New House

I am really begining to take hold of Haggai, the little book in the Bible between Zephaniah and Zechariah. Although it's talking about the House of the Lord, Woman Beautiful can apply it to her own house (her inner woman and her family) and trust God to raise up a new and improved house that is better than her house(s) was previously. Because we are the place, house, in which the Living God dwells, we too should be building up this house. So, my question to you today is, "What shape is your house in?" Is it in need of maintenance? Have you nelected it by neglecting your time with the Lord?

Haggai 2:6-9 "For thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. 'And I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations; and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord of hosts. The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' declares the Lord of hosts. The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts, 'and in this place I shall give peace,' declares the Lord of hosts."

Obey the Lord, build up His house and watch him bring peace to all that concerns you. Selah and Hallelujah and Amen!

Bible Fact: Haggai is found between the only two "Zs" in the Bible.

Persecution

Woman Beautiful, be confident of this, "all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Woman Beautiful, what kind of persecution did you endure today? God's purpose for that persecution is "good." Your good, the good of those involved and the good of His kingdom coming, here on earth, just as it is in heaven.

Pastor Duane Sheriff has an excellent 4 CD teaching series on persecution that is yours free for the asking. You can call 580-920-1791 or email tapes@dsheriff.org and ask for the CD series Persecution, Knowing What It Is, and Know How to Deal With It. All of his teaching CDs are Free. No shipping, no handling, not cost. If you can give to help off-set the expense to produce, handle and ship the CDs that' great but, if not, the CDs are yours anyway. Duane Sheriff Ministries has given away some 7 million teaching audio and video tapes and now CDs over the past 20 plus years. All for the Kingdom and glory of God.

Becoming Others Centered

"Relationships make Woman Beautiful tick. Those relationships rich with the qualities of trust, acceptance, approval, and value move her into a mode of willful change and betterment. She desires to become all that God created her to be, and she knows that this change is better and different than she is today. With the right heart-attitude and mindset she will far exceed anything man has expected and even demanded that she try to be."

An excerpt from the book.