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!