An open letter to the person battling anxiety

An open letter to the person battling with anxiety:

You are going to get through this and you will win.

You wake up to a new day and you feel fine. You go about your normal routine and you’re read to face the day.

But then, out of nowhere, you feel like you can get nothing accomplished and the day doesn’t look so bright and promising anymore.

You feel depressed, like you just want to curl up in a ball and tune out the rest of the world. Like you want to turn off all of your emotions and escape to something else (the TV, reading, self-harm, drugs, alcohol, all of these can be a person’s escape when anxiety sets in.)

You just cry for, what you think is, no reason. But maybe your subconsciously crying for help or because you’re upset at everything anxiety has taken from you today. Whatever the reason, it’s okay to cry.

Then you get overwhelmed over doing the simplest things. Maybe it’s writing a paper or cleaning house. Maybe it’s going to the grocery store or, even, taking that next step to achieve your dreams. Sometimes, when the overwhelmed part kicks in, you wonder if you just want to see yourself self-destruct because everything might not be as bad as you think it is in this moment. I’m here to tell you that NO! You are not doing this to self-destruct, you’re just having to go to war with your anxiety today.

Finally, the anger sets in. You want to throw things. You want to run away from all of these problems looming over you. You’re mad at yourself for not being able to handle these simple things. You’re mad that your hands are shaking making even the simplest of jobs, like carrying a cup of tea, difficult. Maybe you’re mad at other people and think that they are adding to your anxiety. Maybe you’re even upset with God and wonder why He lets you struggle with this on a daily basis.

Anxiety sucks! And it comes in many forms. But, anxiety can NOT beat you! Anxiety can make you feel like crap for a while, but it makes you stronger. You are a warrior and you’re battling with anxiety. But, I’m here to tell you that anxiety doesn’t win. YOU win! Did you get up this morning? That’s a victory! Did you press on and do your best? That’s a victory! Did you not turn to your escape? That’s a victory! There are people in your life who care for you and will walk beside you during this. That’s a victory! There is a God Who loves you and is watching out for you. He has amazing plans for you and He is with you every step of the way. That’s a HUGE victory!

To the person battling anxiety, you’re going to make it through this and you are going to beat anxiety. I believe in you and I know you can do this because I’m battling anxiety too. But, WE are going to win, everything is going to work out, you’ll see. So, for now, keep on fighting!

Sincerely,

A person who is battling anxiety along with you.

Other Women of the Bible: part 7

1. Damaris: Acts 17:1-34 really introduces us to Damaris. She was a Greek and she was blessed to get to hear Paul preach about God. She believed Paul and followed him to learn more about God. I can't imagen what it must have been like for her to leave everything she knew for the Truth. But she did and she is a great example of a person trusting God.
2. Drusilla: In Acts 24:24 we learn that Drusilla is a Jew who is married to Felix, a Roman Governor. She listened to what Paul had to say while he was on trial (he told them about Jesus). From what Acts 24:27 says, I don't think she accepted Paul's teachings about Jesus. Drusilla is a very big historical figure and a lot can be found on her. I stumbled upon an interesting fact about her from Women in the Scriptures. It says; "Drusilla and her son Agrippa are several of the few historical figures documented as perishing in Pompeii during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. ( Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, xx.7.2)".
3. Pontius Pilate's Wife: God spoke to her about Jesus through dreams. She told her husband that she believed Jesus was the Messiah and not to kill Him. God used her as a part of a great story, even though wickedness was around her. (Matthew 27:19).
4. Rhoda: She was possibly a servant. She was living in the house of Mary, mother of John Mark. She was the girl who forgot to open the door, because she was so overjoyed, when Peter knocked after being released from prison. She had been a part of the people praying for Peter, and God let her see a big miracle because of her small act of faith. By the way, God still works like that today. (Acts 12:12-15).
5. Sapphira: This woman let greed get the better of her and she died because of that. A person can look at her as an example of the fact that everyone is human and messes up and that greed is wrong. (Acts 5).
6. Tryphena: A lady from Rome who, along with Tryphosa, worked hard to bring the news of the gospel to many people. (Romans 16:12).
7. Tryphosa: A lady from Rome who, along with Tryphena, worked hard to bring the news of the gospel to many people. (Romans 16:12).
8. Claudia: Some people think this person could have been Pontius Pilate's wife. I don't know, but this is what I have found out about this woman; she was with Paul in Rome. Paul was in prison in Rome waiting for a trial in front of Nero. She was one of the few who had not abandoned Paul and possibly a big part of the mission work being done. (2 Timothy 4:21).

Fall Break 2015

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." ~Romans 15:13 (NIV)
My mom and I went to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for my Fall Break. I'm writing this "review" post of the places we went to. I'm not writing this to brag about what I got to do. I'm writing this to inform people about great things that people can do in another state. There are pictures on the blog's Facebook page and on my Instagram page (@itsbrandirose).
The first thing we did was go to the Island in Pigeon Forge, TN. This place is amazing! It has everything from an arcade to a Margaritaville restaurant. Some family friends met us at the Island and we played on the tight-ropes course for a good two or three hours. It was so much fun and we made a lot of good memories. We also rode the Smokey Mountain Wheel during sunset and it was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen! The shopping was fun and the buildings were beautiful! I suggest everyone, who can, goes to the Island in Pigeon Forge.
The next day, Mom and I found a pancake house we had never been to. We ate brunch there and the food was amazing! The waitresses were so nice and made sure everything was good. The pancake house was small and had a homey feel to it. The inside of the pancake house reminded one of a log cabin. The funny thing is, the pancake house is called Log Cabin Pancake House. This is a place to eat breakfast at if you're in Pigeon Forge!
We went to the Book-Warehouse next. This store has the Moonpie General store in it. There are tons of books for a cheaper price than what you would pay in another bookstore. I bought three books for about twenty-six dollars and got another book for free. Two of those books were Karen Kingsbury books too! A person can find great, original Smokey Mountain keepsakes.
Finally, Mom and I went to a dinner show at the Biblical Times Theater. We watched the show "The Days of Elijah." The food and service were great. The acting and singing were amazing and the play followed the Bible. The play also helped me understand parts of the Bible better! I suggest everyone go see a show at this theater!
Last but not least, Mom and I went to The Christmas Place. They have great ornaments and it's like you've been transported to a Christmas Wonderland! It is worth just walking around in.
I hope that this "review" of places in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee helps you if you ever want to take a vacation there. It's a great place and is still a family-friendly place.

Proverbs 31 Women: Part 9

It's been awhile since I've wrote about the women in the Bible. I have been diving into the New Testament and studying. I'm not the most qualified person to be writing about things like this. But, these are my thoughts along with what the Bible tells us and I do believe with all of my heart that we can learn valuable everyday life lessons form all these women.

1. Tabitha/Dorcus: Proverbs 31 describes a woman who works hard and brings blessings to her husband and children. We don't know if Tabitha had a husband or children. But, because of Acts 9:36, we do know she was a hard working woman and a disciple of Christ. Tabitha died, but her death resulted in many people coming to know God. Tabitha didn't stay dead long though, God used Peter to raise her from the dead! (Acts 9:36-43).
2. Phebe: This woman carried a letter from Paul to the Roman church. She had to be a woman of high and noble character to even be trusted with Paul's letter. The Bible tells us that she was a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. My Bible says, in the notes section, "the word deacon refers here to a Christian designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Philippians 1:1 and 1 Timothy 3:8,12." Now I know I'm talking about the women in the New Testament, but that was still during a time in which women did not have much of a say so or leadership role. I believe that the fact that Phebe was in charge of handing a letter over, that would one day be a part of the Bible, and that she was publicly known as a deacon of the church, means that she was defiantly a Proverbs 31 woman that we can all learn form in today's world. (Romans 16:1-2).
3. The Devout, Honorable, and Chief Women of the Jews and Greeks: To read about these women, check out Acts 13:50 and Acts 17:4,12. The best place to read about these women is at Women in the Scriptures. But what I found interesting is that the Jewish women did not want to accept Paul's teachings and they helped run him out of town. But the women in Greece helped Paul to get the citizens to listen to him. The women in Greece played a very important role in helping bring salvation to many peoples' lives. The fact that the Jewish and Greek women were of high society speak volumes about them in general.
4. The Lady who revived one of the letters from John: We do not know her name or where she is from. We do know that she has raised her children right and most of them believe in God and are honorable people. We also know that her sister's children believe in God and want to wish her well. We know she and John know each other and they have talked. We know that she welcomes people into her home. Maybe John stayed with her awhile. We also know she is the only woman in the whole Bible to have a "book" or letter dedicated to her. I truly think this woman was a Princess Warrior for Christ and that makes her a Proverbs 31 Woman! Her story is in 2 John.
5. Widow of Nain: Luke 7:11-17 tells us that Jesus saw this woman as her dead son was being brought out of her house. He was her only son and the Bible tells us that Jesus' heart went out to this woman. He told her not to cry and then raised her son from the dead. We don't know what this woman did or who she really was. But Jesus loved her and we can learn from her story that there is always hope and Jesus is always with us!
6. Woman with the Bleeding Issue: I put this special woman in the category of a Proverbs 31 woman because of her great faith. In Matthew 9:20-22 we learn that the woman had been bleeding for twelve years. In Mark 5:25-34 we read that the woman had spent all of her money on doctors trying to get healed, but to no success. In Luke 8:43-48 the woman explains to Jesus that she knew that if she could just touch Jesus' robes she would be healed. Jesus knew that some of His power went out from Him and He told the woman, in front of a crowed of people, that her faith was rewarded. I think this woman is a Proverbs 31 woman for keeping her faith in such a difficult situation!

God First: the Chase

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else...and He will give you everything you need." ~Matthew 6:33 NLT  As I'm sitting here drinking my Orange Pumpkin Pie Spice tea and listening to "Priceless" by for King and Country, I decided to reread chapter one of The Chase by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky.

The title of the first chapter is "God First" and that is the perfect title for this blog post that is somewhat a review of chapter one of this book.

The book starts out with Kelsey sharing a time in her life when she put a boyfriend before God even though she knew he was not the one God had planned for her. She opens up about her heartbreak from the experience and realizing she needed to get back to God being the One in her life.  As she says "God's plans are always far better than our own", she shows the proof in that statement by telling how when she and Kyle met they were happy being single and not looking for a relationship. At the end of her part of this chapter she gives great advice for growing closer to God.

"None of us are ready for a romantic relationship until we chase God." This quote sticks out to me as the chapter changes to Kyle's story and he tells about his first relationship out of high school and how he cared more about the status of the relationship than the relationship itself and was not putting God first. Kyle tells about a friend who stood up for his faith through purity and how that friend was an example to him. This part of Kyle's story is evidence that what you do in your life affects others and you have a chance to be a great role model and mouth piece for God. Kyle ends with telling how God blessed him by keeping him single and opening up many doors in his career. Then, out of the blue, he met his future wife in the most unlikely place and time. I like how he words it in the book: "On March 8, time froze. Everything stood still when I was introduced to a girl backstage. Her name was Kelsey." The chapter ends with questions to think about from Kyle and Kelsey.

Wow! Who could write anything better? God is the Ultimate Author of Fairytales because He loves us so much and is so involved in our lives. No one knows us better!

God First!!! "Let the chase begin!" ~ from The Chase.

Hello October

                                                         

As I'm sitting here watching "Castle" after a really bad day at school, I realize I have been MIA for almost a month! I'm sorry I have not kept up with my posts in the month of September. School has been insane, crazy and last month I could not find one free moment to write! But, I'm going to make it up to my lovely readers!

There will be eight posts this month. I will be writing the three that I missed in September on Mondays this month. On Saturdays I will be posting my regular updates.

Here is the schedule for the month of October:

• October 3rd: The Chase by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky, chapter one.
• October 10th: Proverbs 31 Women of the Bible
• October 12th: Other Women of the Bible
• October 17th: The Cinderella Rule by Bethany Jett
• October 19th: Another Proverbs 31 Women of the Bible
• October 24th: Another Other Women of the Bible
• October 26th: Another The Cinderella Rule by Bethany Jett
• October 31st: A Halloween Special and another The Chase by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky, chapter 2.
• November 2nd: Another The Chase by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky, chapter 3 and an update on what is to come.

The Chase: Who are you chasing?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." ~Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
question to think about and a question from the book: Who are you chasing?
The Chase: Trusting God with your Happily Ever After is by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky. Kyle is a recording Christian artist and Kelsey is a talented actress who has been in the movies The Heart of Christmas and War Room. She also has a greeting card and gift line out, with her mother Karen Kingsbury, called Possibilities.
I had the pleasure of meeting Kelsey, Kyle, Karen, and a lot of their friends on a cruise in March of 2012. They were so sweet and Kyle and Kelsey set a great example of a engaged couple chasing after God.
I want to share what people are saying about their book The Chase.
“My friend Kelsey and her husband Kyle have written an inspiring and encouraging book about relationships called The Chase. Filled with stories from their own love story as well as their journey toward it, this book is informative and fun too! A must-read for single girls looking for a God-honoring relationship!” - Rebecca St. James, Grammy and Dove Award-winning recording artist and author of One Last Thing

“Kyle and Kelsey are a joy to know. They are genuine, sharp, fun-loving, and committed to chasing after God! They choose to live courageously in this generation. I encourage you to get to know them too through their inspiring story.” -Pam Tebow, speaker and mother of Tim Tebow.

“I'm so excited to read this book by my sweet friends Kelsey and Kyle. Their love story is beautiful, and their relationship is an inspiration of what it means to truly cherish each other!” -Francesca Battistelli, Grammy-nominated Christian music superstar

“Kyle and Kelsey have been friends of mine for several years. I love their passion for God, for family, and for young people. I believe this book will bring truth and light to readers and remind them of God's perfect plan for life.” -Britt Nicole, Grammy-nominated artist

“I have watched Kyle and Kelsey chase after God and I have seen His plans for them unfold like the most beautiful story. Now it’s your turn! If you get one book for your daughter this year, get The Chase!” -Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author.

Okay, now I want to give you my thoughts on part of The Chase. The Foreword in the book is by Karen Kingsbury and I had the privilege of hear some of the stories she shared in person. The part that really shows me that God is in the center of every love story is when she shares that, while on her honeymoon, she and her husband prayed for their future children and their spouses. They prayed this on August 1, 1988 and on that day Kyle Kupecky was born! WOW!

In the Prologue we read about what lead to both Kyle and Kelsey writing letters to their future spouses when they were thirteen. The answer? Godly people and parents in their lives. We also get a glimpse of what life was like for each of them growing up during their teenage years. Finally, we get  glimpse of the day they met and what they want us to take from this book, that Jesus is the only one worth chasing after!

I can't wait to discuss more of this book with you in the following weeks. But until then, I'll leave you with the question asked in the Prologue again: Who are you chasing?

To order your copy of The Chase: Trusting God with your Happily Ever After and to learn more about Kyle and Kelsey, visit their website here.

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.

Under Construction: college life

took this while the sun was rising on the way to school.

        

I should've known that I would end up writing a "back to school" post. I have written a post about my college experience every time classes start back since I've had this blog. I didn't think I would this year, but here I am again, three days late, writing about my classes.

First, let me tell you what I am taking this semester.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I take English 112. It's pretty much a class that teaches you to interpret literature and write about your thoughts with facts to back up said thoughts. My first paper is on why The Crucible should be taught in Sociology. It's the next step in becoming a writer for me.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I take Physics, which is a class I am surprisingly enjoying and I have a great teacher in. I'm so thankful for the help that my teacher gives me and that he cares whether or not I truly learn Physics! I also take a Humanities class called Human Values and Meaning. I find the class interesting, but my teacher does not believe Christians should be allowed to give their opinions. Every religion is important but Christianity in her eyes. I have a Bible verse that comes to mind every time I'm in that class. It's Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." (NIV).
I'm still working at the pregnancy center. I still love the work that I do and I am so thankful everyday that God put the opportunity to work there in front of me. I have another great opportunity that I get to share with you! I was picked to be a part of the Street Team for a book called The Chase: trusting God with your Happily Ever After by Kyle and Kelsey Kupecky. My book came in the mail today and I can not wait to start reading this book and to write about it on this blog! If you want more information on this book visit Kyle and Kelsey's website.

Kyle and Kelsey's book

Finally, the last thing I want to share with you is how this blog post got its title. Every morning on the way to school, and sometimes on the way home, I have to wait in the worse road construction traffic I have ever seen. Today I realized how that road construction compares to my life right now. I'm in a chapter of my life where I am still under construction. I'm having to realize what's important to me and how to stand up for my beliefs but still be a godly Christian woman. There are days when it is hard, but I'm so thankful that I am "under construction".

Proverbs 31 Women of the Bible- part 8

This is my grandmother who's a good example of a Proverbs 31 woman in my life.

                          

• Peter's Mother-in-law: Not much is said about this woman other than the fact that when Jesus met her she had a fever and was so sick she had to stay in bed. What speaks volumes of her character is the fact that family members beg Jesus to heal her and Jesus does. Also, as soon as she is healed she gets up and starts waiting on the people in her house! I think that is a Proverbs 31 woman if there ever was one! (Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:30-31; Luke 4:38-39).
• Lydia: This woman listened to Paul and Silas who were sitting in the streets talking about God to anyone who would listen. Lydia already worshiped God and God opened up her heart and she received the salvation message. Her and her household were baptized and she invited Paul and Silas to stay with her family. Then when Paul and Silas got out of prison, Lydia held church in her house so they could continue to preach. (Acts 16:14-15, 40).
• Lois: Grandmother of Timothy, who was a young man who did mission work with Peter. Lois passed on her Christian faith to Timothy and helped mold him spiritually. Lois was a spiritual mentor and, through Timothy, she impacted tons of lives. I don't think this woman set out to bring glory to herself. I think she just wanted her grandson and other young people of the faith to be on fire for God so she spent time with them to train them and love them! That's a Proverbs 31 woman! (2 Timothy 1:5).
• Eunice: She was Timothy's mother. She was the daughter of Lois. She passed on her Christian faith and helped mold him spiritually too. In Acts it tells us Eunice was from Lystra and that she was Jewish but her husband was Greek. The fact that her husband was Greek is a big deal because back in this time, the Greeks did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah so God really did use Eunice and Lois to teach Timothy about Him. What a great honor! (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:5).
• Anna: She was a prophetess who lost her husband after seven years of marriage. Instead of being bitter towards God, Anna went and served at the Temple. The Bible tells us that she was faithful to God and worshiped the Lord night and day and fasted and prayed. When Anna was 84 she got to see Jesus as a little baby when Mary and Joseph came to the temple to sacrifice. God allowed Anna to know that this little baby was the Messiah and Savior. This woman was a Proverbs 31 woman when it came to worshiping God. (Luke 2:36-38).
• Elisabeth: She was a descendant of Aaron, the High Priest, and her husband Zechariah served as a priest in the temple of Jerusalem. One day her husband came home not able to speak and Elisabeth found out it was because the angel Gabriel appeared to him and gave the news that Elisabeth would have a son n her old age and he would grow up to be the man to prepare the way for the Messiah. The Bible says that Elisabeth and Zechariah were righteous people in the Lord's eyes because they stayed faithful to Him even in the hard times. (Luke 1:5-25, 39-80).

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!

Chapter Two: Stay

      "I'm hanging on to a hope I don't remember. I'm 21 and life still hasn't come together. Stay, stay with me. Don't leave me all alone picking up the pieces. My heart can't bear you leaving. Just another night of feeling so alone. There's nothing for me without you. Where was I before I knew you? I AM YOURS!" ~"Stay" by Lexi Elisha.

                                    

Well, the first chapter to this story is Chapter One: My feet are bruised but they'll follow where You lead. This is the second chapter of my story. Over the summer I have forgotten about the dream God has placed in my heart to help others. I haven't done my volunteer work like I normally do. And though I have traveled many places this summer, I haven't had the courage to tell others about God on my trips.

To be completely honest, I've gone what some would call "lukewarm" in my Christian walk. The Bible says "So, because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth." ~Revelation 3:16. I don't want to be this kind of Christian and I don't want to be a disappointment to God. I had to get to a low point in my life to realize I needed that fire in me to be blazing again.

The Bible says "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans." ~Psalm 118:8 and "Do not put your trust on princes, in human beings, who cannot save." ~Psalm 146:3. Yesterday, on the way home from Tennessee, I realized I had been putting my faith in people close to me instead of God. Needless to say, these people let me down one by one until I felt completely alone. I don't think these people meant to let me down, but I think it was all a part of God's plan to get me attention. The Bible does say that God will take away what we worship instead o Him. Sometimes a relationship can turn into what we are worshiping instead of God.

I'm getting back into my routine of spending time with God, my heart is slowly being mended back together and the fire in my soul is starting to blaze again.

I haven't set out and conquered the world yet. But I am still a work in progress and, Thank God, He is still working on me. More "chapters" of my life story will be shared with you as they are revealed to me. God's timing is PERFECT!!

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.

Freedom

     

I hope you all had a great 4th of July weekend! Mine was good. Mom and I watched a movie on Friday and I packed for a trip. Saturday I went to my best friend's house and we left for Greeneville, Tennessee. We went to a concert that had a couple of live bands who played country music. The fireworks were great and we just talked and had a good time. Sunday we went sight-seeing and went to Andrew Johnson's house and museum. We even visited his cemetery in the rain! We did a little shopping after that and drove around for awhile. Then we came home and went to church. After church we rented movies and watched Gone Girl while eating pizza and ice cream. It was a great 4th of July weekend!

I was very thankful, and more aware, for the firefighters and police who worked on July 4th just to make sure people were safe celebrating our freedom and the men and women who are fighting to keep us free. I'm also appreciative of the men and women who worked in restaurants on July 4th to make sure people had food.

Also, July kicks off Hope for Justice's 31 Days of Freedom campaign. If you go to the website you will see ways to help spread the word about Human Trafficking and other ways to help! Sevenly is another website that has a different charity each week. So be on the look out for the Human Trafficking charity or just any charity that you want to help. Some other resources for bringing awareness about Human Trafficking are The A21 Campaign and Polaris. We get to celebrate freedom everyday. Let's work together and make it possible for others to celebrate it too!

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.

A letter from a 21-year-old "Good Girl..."

        

Today should be a post about a book I am reading. But because I have been busy and have been traveling, today's post is going to be a personal letter from me to you. I hope you enjoy.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.'" ~Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV).

This has been my favorite Bible verse for years. But I am just now starting to understand what it truly means. Today I want to share about what it's like to be 21, because it's different than being 13, 16, 18, or 20.

At 21 there are more doors opened for you. You are an adult at 18. But 18 is like having a driver's permit, there are things you still can't do. 21 is like you have your driver's license. You can do everything like get a cabin on a cruise ship, get a hotel room, and, what is most associated with being 21, you can drink.

I feel like now that I am 21 I should know where I'm going in life and what I want. When I was little I thought I would have been dating a guy for a year or two by now and we'd be talking about marriage. I thought I'd be done with college and working at the job I always wanted. Not still working in my associates degree and still single.

I never thought I'd get to travel and see as much as I have. And to be so close to my family. Plus only having one friend I can really rely on.

I know where I stand about drinking. It's wrong to drink if you're not of age because the Bible tells us to obey authority unless the authority goes against God (Romans 13:1 and Acts 5:29). The drinking age is not going against God. When you are 21 it's okay to have one drink here and there. Just don't use drinking as a crutch to get away from life. Don't get drunk because the Bible tells us to be of sober mind (1 Peter 5:8) and to not be a drunkered (Ephesians 5:18).

I learned quickly that no matter how strong you are the world, and the devil, can try to influence you and take over your life. Just like with a new driver that has their license, it's so cool to let people know that you're 21 and to be able to do all these things you couldn't before. But you have to stay connected to God or your life will snow ball out of control.

Also, a lot of people my age are getting married or engaged. Some people have kids and are starting families. It's really hard not to compare yourself to the people around you. I've often wondered if I should be worried about the fact that I'm not thinking about marriage and starting a family right now.  But then I remember that all of that is what society says you should do and that each person is different.

I have prayed to God and asked Him to not let the desire of wanting a boyfriend and relationship take center stage in my life. I've even prayed not to have feelings for a guy until God is ready for me to settle down and be with my future husband.

It's okay to be single and independent at 21. After all, each person is different and God's plans are not our plans (Isaiah 55:8). God's plans are 100 times better!

Proverbs 31 Women of the Bible- part 7

      

There is one woman of the Old Testament that I forgot to mention.

Pharaoh's Daughter: Her story can be read in Exodus 5:2-10. 

She was a young girl of royal lineage. 

She was probably pretty young too. 

She had gone to the Nile just to bathe and came home with a baby boy, who was Moses. 

She took a great risk in seeking permission to keep the child. 

After all, her father was in the middle of killing the Hebrew babies and people were probably thinking the baby Pharaoh's daughter found was a Hebrew baby. 

Pharaoh's daughter showed great courage and compassion in raising the child and loving him. 

Women of the Bible says that Pharaoh's daughter might have been named Bithiah and that she was banished for bringing Moses into her father's house. 

Also, that when the Israelites left Egypt she went with them. 

The proof of this is in 1 Chronicles 4:17-18. One line in these verses is "These were the children of Pharaoh's Daughter Bithiah, whom Mered had married."

The life lesson from her part in history is this: "We can't see how our choices today may impact others in the future. Make a bold decision and watch God guide the outcome." (Women of the Bible.)

In my opinion, Bithiah, Pharaoh's Daughter is a Proverbs 31 Woman for what she did and for coming to know the One True God!

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!