Reflections of Chapters 2 and 3

When I was reading chapters 2 and 3, I almost felt that chapter 3 led into chapter 2...where Chapter three addressed that a major fear of woman was not having a "beauty to unveil" and chapter two talked about the beauty we DO have to give.  I feel like I definitely gained some insight to myself and understanding why sometimes I react or do the things I do.

It's so crazy how Satan has a way with distorting things.  I feel so uncomfortable being delighted in.  If I wanted to share something, I was "being too proud" or would question myself and think, "it's not good enough."  If I felt good about myself on a certain day it was, "you are conceited "  or "fooling yourself."  No matter what, I really could not win.  On top of that there is the whole perception of beauty the world has so I was pretty much set up for failure.  I really enjoyed how these two chapters showed that there is no shame in wanting and desiring beauty, in fact, we are designed for it.  It extends beyond the physical as well, showing in your character, talents, and relationships that you have.  It has been about a little over a week so my thoughts aren't as fresh as they were back when I initially read these chapters, but I have definitely felt encouraged and there is a sudden and drastic change in the way I see myself and the way I feel when I interact with others.  Not to say that I don't ever second guess myself or feel insecure, but I definitely feel like I can recognize lies when they are being told and am stronger and more aware to not believe them.  My desire for myself and for all of us reading this together is to discover what we really look like in the eyes of Christ.  We all look at ourselves in the mirror and often times only see where we fall short.  Whether we think we are too much of something, or not enough of another, nothing is good enough.  But that is simply not the case.  I want to know what God knows about me and be able to look in the mirror and see things the way he does.  I am tired of seeing what I think I am and feeling like it is all I will ever be.  I want to know my true identity and I feel like we are on our way!

Monica's Dream List

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Dreams
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Passions
::::::::::::::::::::Goals
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Desires of the Heart

•I want to be an artist.  Whether that is through photography, decorations, crafts, writing, cooking...I want to be able to express myself often in creativity.

•I want to be a traveler.  I want to be able to go see and experience different cultures and places.

•I want to encourage.  Whether that be as a wife, as a mom, sibling, daughter, or friend; I want to pour into people and help them grow.

•I don't want to take life too seriously.  I feel like sometimes, I can get so focused on not failing that I forget to have fun and just enjoy life.

•I want to be free of the fear of failing.  Which would lead me to say that I want to be confident in myself, my abilities and passions and have the courage to go after them.

•I want to be adventurous.  I want to learn to take risks and trust that God has great plans for me.

•I to live a purposeful life.  Take advantage of every moment and feel freedom in God.

Katie's Dream List

For next week, we decided to make dream lists of our desires, passions, and ideas about who we want to be and things we want to do. From this, we can see the possibilities and parts of who we are, build our strengths, and confront our weaknesses. We can talk about whether these parts really capture essences of our selves, or are misconceptions and may prevent us from reaching our full potential as women of God. Other questions we may think about and discuss next week may include how to overcome our insecurities and change our thinking about our misconceptions.

Desires, Passions, & Ideas of Who I Want To Be and Things I Want to Do

• I want to share music with people. I want to make it accessible to them. I want people to be musicians. This is why I want to teach music, to start helping people understand music to empower them through their ears.
• I want to be someone who people listen to and respect. Go to to seek counsel.
• To travel to Colorado
• To travel to Germany, Scotland, and Italy
• I desire to be in relationship with a good, godly man. I want to share life with him. I want him to protect me physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and socially. I want to be deeply in love.
• I want to be known and understood. I want to be comforted and brought into a safe place. 
• I want to be brave, and to have courage to be who God has made me.
•  

For future self development: http://freeology.com/wp-content/files/iampoem.pdf

Chapter 2: What Eve Alone Can Tell

God is relational

God's Heart for Relationship

"Not only does God long for us, but he longs to be loved by us."

Essential Qualities to a Relationship

1. Inviting
2. Vulnerable
3. Tender
4. Embodies Mercy
5. Fierce and 
6. Fiercely devoted
7. Intimate
8. Alluring

How do I approach God as a romantic figure in my life? 

Are there any qualities that I desire in a relationship that are not what God desires with us?

What should a passionate romantic relationship look like, using our relationship with God as a model?

Adventure

Ezer kenegdo

• Helper
• Companion
• Help meet
• Sustainer beside him

That longing in the heart of a woman to share life together as a great adventure---that comes straight from the heart of God, who also longs for this. He does not want to be an option in our lives. He does not want to be an appendage, a tagalong. Neither does any woman. God is essential. He wants us to need him---desperately (33).

So we have these feelings of wanting to be desperately needed: is it okay for us as women of God to have these feelings toward a man, and not God alone? What is a good context for this or some areas in which to be wary?

Beauty to Unveil

Beauty is the essence of God found in:

• Nature, God's creation in it glory
• John's description of God is beautiful beyond description
• Women's form and spirit

Beauty Matters because beauty:

• Speaks, "All will be well"
• Invites
• Nourishes
• Comforts
• Inspires
• Transcends, draws us to God

A woman knows, down in her soul, that she longs to bring beauty to the world. She may be mistaken on how (something every woman struggles with), but she longs for beauty to unveil...This is not just culture, or the need to 'get a man.' This is in her heart, part of her design (41).

In what ways to we long to bring beauty to the world?