Things to come.

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." ~Micah 6:8 (NIV). Happy September 1st! It doesn't feel like August should be over with already and we should be in the month when the seasons change and fall is fast approaching. But we are. I'm a Summer girl myself. I love hot weather, tank tops, flip-flops, long days, warm nights, and the bright colors. But, I'm ready to embrace fall and consume all of the pumpkin flavored things that I can!

I wanted to let you know what would be coming up on the blog for the month of September. First, I need to let you know that Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky's book The Chase: Trusting God with your Happily Ever After is out in stores and online today! If you got to their website kyleandkelsey.com you can see the release party video, it is definitely worth watching! Speaking of The Chase, I will be reviewing and writing about the book on here! I'm so excited!

Now on September 5th I will be posting my first post dedicated entirely to The Chase. On September 12th I will be posting another installment of my Other Women in the Bible series. On September 19th I will be posting another installment of my See You Soon Cinderella series. I will be writing about Bethany Jett's book The Cinderella Rule. Finally, on September 26th I will be posting another installment of my Proverbs 31 Women of the Bible series.

I can't wait to dive into these examples of Christian women and Christian dating this month with you! See you Saturday!

Here's the post order one more time:

• September 5th: The Chase
• September 12th: Other Women of the Bible
• September 19th: The Cinderella Rule
• September 26th: Proverbs 31 Women of the Bible.

Singing Cinderella themed movies (Chapter Three)

"A dream is a wish your heart makes" ~Cinderella

A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song: Katie doesn't want to lose the money her father left her. She's going to use that money to better her life and chase her dreams of becoming a singer. She does what her stepmother wants so that her stepmother will not use her money. Katie doesn't plan on falling in love, but she does and he helps her achieve her dreams. What makes this movie different than all the rest, to me, is the fact that Katie has a very young stepbrother who has never been shown love until Katie. He tries to make her life hard, but she loves him through all of that. This movie teaches us that no matter how bad our situation we can help someone else in need!

Another Cinderella Story: Mary wants to be a dancer like her mother. Her mother is dead and the lady her mother use to work for takes her in. Of course with this being Cinderella, Mary is mistreated by her stepmother and two stepsisters. Mary still goes after her dreams. Her stepmother tries to put a stop to Mary's dreams, but thanks to her best friend and her new love interest, she overcomes her hardships and gets to go after her dreams. This movie teaches us that God will bring someone to walk along side you through the hard times in the perfect time. (Selena Gomez is in this movie and she is a big supporter of Uheros who work to put a stop to human trafficking).

Elle: A Modern Day Cinderella Tale: Elle grew up with "Country Roots". She wants to be a singer/songwriter, but puts her dreams on hold because of guilt over the fact that her parents died in a car crash on the way to see her perform. She moves in with her adoptive uncle and works at his record label. Meeting a talented singer named Ty Parker helps her overcome her guilt and follow her dreams. This movie is different because it shows "Cinderella" with guilt and facing other problems in life than finding ways to follow her dreams.

Cinderella themed movies: Chapter Two

"Even miracles take a little time." ~Fairy Godmother

So here is chapter two of the See you soon Cinderella series. There are so many lessons to learn from the different adaptions of the Cinderella fairy tale. I really enjoy re-watching these movies and finding the treasures of the bigger picture in each one. I hope you enjoy it too.

Ella Enchanted: I love this movie because of the twist on the Cinderella tale. Ella doesn't go looking for a guy, once Cinderella doesn't ether. Ella doesn't want to get dressed up and go to a ball. Ella wants her freedom back. She sets out to find her Fairy Godmother so she can undo a gift she gave Ella. Ella has dreams she wants to achieve and she doesn't even like Prince Charles when she meets him! Charles just pushes his way in and stays with her. They grow to like each other and they each fight for the other. I feel this movie teaches a person about chasing their dreams and stumbling into love, the way God means for it to be!

A Cinderella Story: I can relate to this movie a lot. Samantha is focusing on her writing and getting into her dream college. Yes, she is talking to a guy on the internet, but she isn't "chasing" him. When she finds out that she is talking to Adam, the most popular guy at school, she tries to cut all ties with him. This is when his character really grows and becomes the prince every girl deserves. He finally makes the choice of who he is going to be and what is really important to him. I love the lesson that "class" and "status" doesn't matter and that you can do what you set your mind to. (Side note: Hilary Duff is a big supporter in helping put a stop to human trafficking).

After the Ball: Kate wants to be a fashion designer but no one will hire her. She goes home to stay with her godmother and work for her father and stepmother in the "family" fashion business. The problem is that Kate and her father have grown apart and he doesn't believe her when her stepsisters get her fired for leaking information. So Kate disguises herself and goes back into the company. She uncovers a secret about her stepmother and finally shows her dad what she can do. Plus she falls for the handsome shoe designer as a bonus. I like how this movie turned "Cinderella" into the princess, instead of there being a prince to rescue her, and showed the important relationship between father and daughter.

Ever After: I love this movie! Danielle is "Cinderella" and Henry is the Prince. Danielle is a different "Cinderella" because she is not the damsel in distress. She is smart and she tricks her master into freeing her just seconds before the prince shows up to rescue her. She also speaks her mind even though she knows she may be punished. She also looks out for other people that are in her house. For example, she goes to buy back a family servant instead of leaving her stepmother and sisters. The same lessons can be learned from this movie as in other movies. That being kind to the people that hurt you is what God wants. For example, Danielle tells her stepmother and stepsister she forgives them even when they do not ask for it and speaks up to save them. Another lesson that can be learned form this movie comes from one of the stepsisters. She shows Danielle kindness in privet but does not stand up for Danielle in front of her mother and sister. I think the lesson to be learned is to not judge people because of who they hang out with. I think the reason this stepsister did not stand up fr Danielle in public was because she feared her family. But in the end she was rewarded for her kindness when Danielle asked her to be her lady-in-waiting.
Sorry for the delay on this post. I was in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday and Friday. I needed my computer to finish doing the research for this post and didn't have my computer. So I had to finish the research on Saturday. That's why the post is coming to you on Sunday.

A guide to the month of August

        

We have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure. ~Hebrews 6:19
As I am writing this I can hear the relaxing sounds of the waves crashing on the shore. This moment makes me feel the closest to God. When I am in awe at the masterpiece He has given me to enjoy and then I realize He has given it to me to enjoy because I am His greastest Masterpiece in His eyes! Wow!

My family and I left late Tuesday night to head to the beach. The car ride was uneventful. But tge first hotel we went to, the one we booked, was not a good hotel and it was obveous we could not stay there. It was two in the morrning and the man working the desk was very kind and helped us fined another hotel. By the time we got settled and could go to sleep it was four in the morning, but God provided for us.

My cousin, who is only four months older than I, came down the next day. I was happy just being with my mom and dad, but i havent seen my cousin in months! I was happy that I would get to spenlld some time with her. We all have pretty much been poolside this whole trip. I would sit and read "Summer" by Karen Kingsbury and when I got to hot I'd get in the pool for awhile. We've walked along the beach and took tons of pictures. My cousin even cut my hair short, once is a drastic change for me. 

We've made memories that will last a life time. And in every memory I have seen God's hand at work. It's amazing! I had to share my thoughts on this trip. And now I'm ready to let all of you know what is to come this month.

On August 8th I will be posting the second chapter in the "See You Soon Cinderella" series. In this post I will be writing about the life lessons I think a person can learn from the movies "Cinderella Man", "Ella Enchanted", "Ever After", "A Cinderella Story", and "After The Ball." 

On August 15th I will be posting about some more women in the Bible and what we can learn from them. We will be starting on tge New Testment women on this day.

On August 22nd I will be posting about some more Cinderella themed movies and tge life lessons each ond has to offer. These will all be the singing movies and all of this is leading up to the book and actual Disney Cinderella movies.

On August 29th I will be posting about some more women in the New Testament of tge Bible and what they teach us. I just love studying these women and seeing how Gkd is working in all their lives!

Finally, on September 5th I will post another "list" of sorts about wha g is to come that month.

See all of you next Saturday! God bless!

Other Women of the Bible- part 6

                                              

(picture is from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC)

Today I finish writing about the women of the Old Testament in the Bible. There are thirteen here I had missed, who I think are important to talk about. Some of these women have long stories in the Bible and others only have a verse or two. But each one can teach us something and were important to God.

• Milkah: Wife of Nahor. She would have been Abraham's sister-in-law. She must have been a woman of Godly character because the Bible always listed her when listing Rebekah's family lineage. (Genesis 24:28-61).
• Judith: She was a Hittite and the first wife of Esau. She is mentioned in an interesting place in the book of Genesis. She is mentioned while Esau and Jacob are fighting. Rebekah mentions how miserable she is with her daughter-in-law. I think she is mentioned here to show that when you marry someone you marry their family too.
• Basemath: She was a Hittite and the second wife of Esau. She is mentioned in an interesting place in the book of Genesis. She is mentioned while Esau and Jacob are fighting. Rebekah mentions how miserable she is with her daughter-in-law. I think she is mentioned here to show that when you marry someone you marry their family too.
• Mahalath: She was Ishmael's daughter. She was the granddaughter of Abraham. She isn't mentioned much in the Bible, but she is mentioned during a time when Esau had heard that his parents were not happy with his Hittite (Canaanite) wives. Esau went to Ishmael and asked to marry Mahalath. I think her small story is a way for God to show us that when we marry a person we marry their family and we need to be on the same page. (Genesis 28:6-9).
• Asenath: She was an Egyptian and her father was the priest of On (Heliopolis), the chief centre of Ra the sun god. I always wondered about her faith. She grew up worshiping these gods and goddesses that could not help her and her father was a priest. Yet she marries a man, Joseph, who fears and worships the One True God. Her husband is a living testimony of how God works in His childrens' lives and that He is real. I wonder if she accepted the True God because of her husband and that's why they raised their children knowing God. (Genesis 41:45, 50-52).
• Elisheba: The daughter of Amminadab, which puts her in the family tree with Ruth (Ruth 4:20). She married Aaron and I wonder if she helped in the "ministry" of the "church" with Aaron. (Exodus 6:23).
• Shelomit: Her son blasphemed God and he was brought to Moses. Shelomit did the right thing by bringing her son to Moses, but I wonder if her son blasphemed God because he had heard her do so or she didn't teach him that it was wrong. I think we can learn that it is tough being a parent by knowing her story. (Leviticus 24:11).
• Cozbi: She was a woman of corruption. The Israelites were suffering form a plague and one of the men bring her into the camp in front of everyone. While he is sleeping with her, one of Aaron's sons kills both the man and Cozbi. The plague stops. I don't know why Cozbi had to die. But I do know she was showing great disrespect to God by coming into the camp at all, but especially being there while the people were grieving. She was a woman who did not fear the Lord. (Numbers 25:6-9)
• Abishag: She comes into the story during a horrible family feud. King David is an old man who is about to die. His son Adonijah is disrespecting him by deciding that he is going to be king next and he starts acting like a king before David is dead. David planned on making Solomon king though. David is also in a fragile state where he can not keep warm. So his attendants pretty much find a nurse for him. That nurse is Abishag and she apparently did her job, of keeping the king comfortable during his last days, very well. David did not have a sexual relationship with her. She was just his nurse and I think that speaks highly of her character. (1 Kings 1:1-4).
• Zeruiah and Abigail: These two women are the sisters of King David. Zeruiah's sons fought in David's army and Abigail's son was part Ishmaelite. They are mentioned in the family line of Judah. (1 Chronicles 2:16-17).
• Sheerah: This woman is mentioned in one verse in the Bible. But it is the placement of where she is mentioned at that gets my attention. She is from the tribe of Ephraim and her father was ether Ephraim himself or Beriah. She is mentioned in the family line as being the person who built three towns, Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah. She was a working woman and important to Israel's growth. (1 Chronicles 7:24).
• Zeresh: She was Haman's wife. She advised him to make a pole to hang Mordecai on and supported him on his plan to wipe out the Jews. She was obviously a wicked woman and I think we can learn about what a heart that doesn't have God, but hate in it looks like. (Esther 5:14; 6:13-14).
• Lo-Ruhamah: She was the daughter of the prophet Hosea and his wife, who was a prostitute, Gomer. God told Hosea what to name her and her name meant "not loved". God chose this name not because He didn't love Lo-Ruhamah, He did love her, but because her name was proof that God meant what He said to the Israelites as a whole about not showing love to them anymore and forgiving them. God used her to show that names have a special meaning behind them. I don't know who she grew up to be, a woman like her mother or a woman who followed God like her father showed her. I can't imagine what it was like for her knowing what her mother did for a living. But I do know God loved her and gave her the perfect name. (Hosea 1:6-8).

The next time I write about women in the Bible it will be about the women of the New Testament. I can't wait to dive in and learn the lessons these women can teach us! A Cinderella post will be up next Saturday!

See you soon Cinderella (Chapter One)

 "She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come."
        ~Proverbs 31:25 

                                  

Cinderella is one of the most popular Disney Princesses there has been. The story of Cinderella was taken from Charles Perrault and his story Cendrillon (1697). But, Cinderella has been around longer than that. The first written record of Cinderella was in 7 BC! Cinderella has also been in Pentamerone (1634), Grimms' Fairy Tales (1812), and many others. Cinderella is also known in many different countries. She may have a different name in these countries, but her story is the same.
The first Disney movie of Cinderella came out on March 4th, 1950. After Cinderella two more movies followed. Cinderella II: Dreams Come True came out on February 26th, 2002 and Cinderella III: A Twist in Time came out on February 14th, 2008. These are not the only Cinderella movies however. thirty-seven movies have been released with the Cinderella theme, but there are countless movies that might not follow a girl loosing her shoe, but does follow a girl who patiently waits for her freedom to come. The most recent Cinderella movie is Disney's new live-action movie Cinderella (2015).
Plus, let's not forget the Broadway show of Cinderella. Then there are hundreds of books based on Cinderella and her story! I'm reading The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson right now and it is a great book. Then there is the dating book that has started all of my Cinderella research, The Cinderella Rule: A Young Woman's Guide To Happily Ever After by Bethany Jett.
So why am I bringing all of this up again? Because I have realized that my Cinderella posts are going to take longer than I thought. Why have I named this post "See you soon Cinderella"? Because I am going to be writing about a handful of the Cinderella themed movies, The Disney Cinderella movies themselves, and the two books I have listed in this post. All of this started out as a simple idea to share about a Christian dating book and one of the most loving Disney Princesses. But it has turned into a series based on Cinderella and each post is like a chapter in a book that has the best ending. In the ending we will finally get to meet Cinderella.
So before I end this post, here are some fun facts about Cinderella and Disney amusement parks. Cinderella's castle is the main castle at Magic Kingdom and opened on October 1st, 1971 (just 21 years after the movie). Cinderella's castle is the main castle at Tokyo Disneyland and opened on April 15th, 1983 (just 33 years after the movie). Disneyland Paris has a restaurant based off of Cinderella and it is called L'Auberge de Cendrillon. It opened on April 12th, 1992 (42 years after the movie). Magic Kingdom opened a ride on October 1st, 1971 that is Cinderella and Prince Charming's Carrousel. Tokyo Disneyland opened the same ride on April 15h, 1983. Finally, Hon Kong Disneyland opened the same ride on September 12th, 2005.

Hello There!

   

"We start by holding on...To each other. To this moment. To every day God gives us." ~From Return by Karen Kingsbury.

So I haven't been able to post like I have wanted to on here. I've been busy with trying to get the house in order before I go back to college. I've been trying to figure out what classes I'm going to take this semester.
I've also been working on reading The Cinderella Rule: A Young Woman's Guide To Happily Ever After. I've only got two chapters read, but it is a wonderful book so far. Bethany Jett tells her personal story of meeting her husband and learning to wait on God's timing. There are study guides in the back of the book that you can do after each chapter and they are very helpful. I can't wait to read more of it!
While focusing on Cinderella, I came to the conclusion that another set of books that I am reading go along with the idea of being like Cinderella and being a Princess of God in general. These books are by Sheri Rose and they are called the His Princess books. They are a great devotional.
I will be posting more in July and I am sorry I haven't been posting every week. I hope all of you are having a great summer.

Things to come, (Proverbs 31, dating, Cinderella, & more)

          

Okay a new month is getting ready to start and I'm very excited about the two months of writing plans I have come up with!

First, I am going to be focusing on Disney's Cinderella. I have a book called The Cinderella Rule: A Young Woman's Guide to Happily Ever After by Bethany Jett. I have been reading this book and I want to share with you what I have learned from reading it. The post about what I have read will be up on June 13th and June 27th.

I will be writing about the Disney Cinderella movies, just like I have done with Frozen and Sleeping Beauty. I also suggest reading Courage & Kindness (The New Cinderella Movie). The first Cinderella movie post will be up on July 18th.

Secondly, I will be continuing my Proverbs 31 Women of the Bible and Other Women of the Bible posts. Three of these posts will be up on June 6th, July 11th, and July 25th.

Finally, on June 20th I will be posting a personal post about my life. Then on July 4th I will have a 4th of July post up. I hope you all enjoy these eight posts that I will be working on and bringing to you! Be sure to check out my Facebook page for updates on the Proverbs 31 women and just everyday life things. And remember, God is so good and He loves you! See all of you next Saturday!

Courage & Kindness (the new Cinderella movie)

    

    "Always be courageous and kind." ~mother to Ella.

   "I forgive you." ~Cinderella to her step-mother.

So, yesterday my friend and I went to see the new Disney Cinderella movie. I'll admit I was a little worried I wouldn't like it. I was't a big fan of Maleficent because I felt it changed to much and I was afraid this movie would do the same.

I was wrong. The movie was VERY close to the original Cinderella movie and it was just wonderful. But that's not what I want to write about. I want to write about Cinderella and the step-mother (I'm not going to use the word evil here even though she did do some pretty nasty things.)

Cinderella was the girl all of us grew up with and loved. Kind and compassionate, and being the perfect example of a gentile spirit. The step-mother was just like we remembered, only a little more determined. So why do I want to write about these two characters and not the love between Cinderella and the prince? Simple. Cinderella and the step-mother are two perfect examples of how people choose to act in tough circumstances.

Let's start with the step-mother. In the movie she tells Cinderella she fell madly in love with her first husband and had two beautiful girls. Then her husband died and she was devastated. She married a second time, Cinderella's father, for the well being of her girls but that husband died too. So now she was left alone, having to provide for her two girls on her own, and she would never get a happily ever after. The step-mother can represent someone who has some major storms in her life and instead of turning to God for help, she becomes a bitter person to the very end.

Now let's discuss Cinderella. She's a young girl who's happy and life is good. Then tragedy strikes and she losses her mother. Instead of becoming bitter she continues to be kind. Her step-sisters talk bad about her but she still shows them compassion, her father dies and her step-mother makes her a servant girl in her own house! I don't know about you, but by this point I would be a very bitter and mean person. Cinderella is still kind, and let's be honest, it takes her great courage to get up every morning and be kind with all that has happened to her. Cinderella can represent someone who has major storms in her life, but she clings to God and still shines for Him!

The one thing that I think really got me in this movie was when Cinderella looks at her step-mother and tells her she forgave her. The step-mother didn't ask for it, Cinderella just gave it freely. Now I'm not saying Cinderella is Jesus, but how many times a day does Jesus look at us and says "I forgive you." when we don't ask for it? 

I believe this movie is amazing and has many lessons that everyone can learn. I love the classic Cinderella, but this one really makes you see why the storms of life can't take your light for God away and how they can't last forever because God won't let them. You need to only cling to Him!