My Life through God’s Eyes

A row of books, a comfy chair, and solitude. Pen poised, journal open, I settle in for what I expect will be a wonderful, though long overdue, time with my God. Enveloped by the silence of the library, I pose my questions to Him and await His reply.

What is God's view of who I am? A few months ago, I doubt I could have answered this question completely. I only knew in part who I was and how God saw me. But now, God has revealed this mystery to me and with surety I can say that He sees me as perfect, holy, and without blemish. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that I have been "made the righteousness of God in Him (Christ)."

When God sees me, He sees His own righteousness. He sees me as whole and complete. John wrote to believers in 3 John 1:4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth". I believe that, like John, God has no greater joy than to know that His children are walking in His truth. There is nothing that brings God more joy than seeing me just starting to live out of the truth that I am perfect and complete in Christ!

I am made in God's image and I am perfect and beautiful in His sight. I am His beloved and the desire of His heart. I am a princess of the Most High King, and everything that belongs to the King also belongs to me.

Why am I here? I am here to bring God more glory. He made me and sanctified me because He can live through me in a way that He cannot live through anyone else. He has created in me a love for truth and now THE Truth is alive in me. I am here to proclaim truth to those captives that have been freed and do not yet realize it.

God wants me to know Him and He wants others to see Christ living out of me. Jesus is my source of life; He is the Life. For "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

Women in Leadership

The TV reporters checked and rechecked their equipment, going over their list of questions one more time. Every camera was fixed on the podium; every eye was fixed on the fluttering behind the curtains. As the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, stepped up to the microphone, she was greeted by the flashes of a hundred different cameras. As I sat watching the TV screen, I admired this lady's courage and calm. She knew what she was talking about, and she knew whom she represented.

Should a woman be in a leadership position? Thousands of books and sermons have been written on this subject, and there are a million individual points of view. The real issue at the heart of this question is whether a woman should hold a position of authority over a man. In 1 Timothy 2:12, Paul does forbid women to teach men and to "usurp authority over the man" in the church. "Usurp authority over" basically means to dominate and take over by force that to which you have no right.

A queen has authority over her subjects. A woman that has a hired hand or a butler has authority over them as Mistress of the house. A woman who runs a business has authority over her employees. A woman elected to public office has been given that jurisdiction by the ones that elected her. It is their right to that authority and they have been given that jurisdiction.

Women can, and should, be leaders. Most people automatically associate leadership with authority but in Webster's Dictionary of American English, the word lead is defined: To guide and conduct by showing the way, to go before, to direct. A leader can hold complete authority or simply guide, without controlling and commanding. Deborah, one of the judges of Israel, is an example of a woman in leadership who did not overstep the jurisdiction that had been given to her; she led without taking over Barak's jurisdiction as a man and as the leader of Israel's army.

This is not an issue with an easy answer. God has given clear instructions on the role of women within the family and the church and these should be followed. He has not given clear instructions, but principles regarding women's roles outside of family and church. Women were designed to be helpers and a woman can carry out that role even in a position of authority or leadership over men, when they adorn themselves with "a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price (1 Peter 3:4)".

20 Things That Make Me Happy

1. Drinking coffee out of those cute little coffee mugs that cost $9.00 at Starbucks

2. Sittting on a boat and watching fireworks over the lake

3. The color brown

4. The view from the top of a mountain

5. Sweaters

6. Flip-flops

7. Going for a walk on the beach at midnight and trying to avoid stepping on all the little crabs in the dark

8. Horses

9. Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia

10. Taking out my frustrations on the piano and realizing that I started out playing The Chase by Cornelius Gurlitt and am now playing Rocket to the Moon by Jim Brickman

11. Tirimisu

12. Dark chocolate

13. Watching the news

14. Walking through the Pottery Barn and visualizing beautiful rooms in my mind

15. Curling up in a blanket in front of a fireplace with a good book on a rainy day

16. Hardwood floors

17. Visiting museums, battlefields, and historical places

18. Hugs

19. Sleeping in

20. Taking pictures with a small depth of field