Your Highness

Refining... it's HOT!

2010-04-21T13:22:00.002-04:00

God is in the business of refining us... The Refiner's fire is HOT...It has to be to melt away the impurities. We come out a vessel for the finer because of it. BUT YOW!!! while were in it!

I have written my mission before, I am refining it now... perhaps. I'll be quite honest with you. I don't feel like I have any ability to teach you anything new. My heart's desire is to encourage woman who feel as I do... like valuable to others, but of very little value when I have to think about me... I lack self confidence in what I can do, and in who I am... even though every day I manage a family and job, etc... (you know the list I'm spurting)

I am in a Bible Study right now that is helping me unravel some things in my thinking, and if I can muster the discipline, and apply what I learn I might be able to help myself and encourage others. Regardless... I feel very impelled to continue to tell you all that I love you and want to encourage you... WE ARE CHRIST'S BRIDE... HIS PRINCESS.... WE ARE JOINT HEIRS... which makes us PRINCESSES.... OH YES WE ARE.... and we need to claim it. And Christ has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.... so we can claim it and live it.

L is for Long Enough

2009-12-11T23:03:00.004-05:00

(I am sorry to stop at L... I know some of you were using this... I will work on it again next Christmas 2010... you, be inspired to write your own.... you see where I was going with it, right?)

Luke 2:6 " While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,"...

It is hard to wait. Pregnancy is a determined amount of time, but when time comes close... it is hard to wait because you are so uncomfortable... The Bible is full of places that tell us to wait patiently for what the Lord has planned... and so it had to be with Mary... but when the time came to deliver... what joy and release... for all that she had waited for to now come to pass.

She was not the only one waiting... all of Israel was longing for their Messiah to be born... they just did not realize that this was Him...in the stable. Another word for the waiting they were doing is faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen..."

*Action*- Let's talk about a prayer the Lord has answered and how that came about... Did you wait long for the Lord to answer it? Did you practice faith in your prayers before the answer came?

K is for Kind

2009-12-11T22:26:00.004-05:00

Titus 3:3-5
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing and rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,.."

I slipped kindness in here tonight because I certainly hope that someone paid Mary and Joseph some kindness along their grueling journey.

We have watched a couple of really sweet Christmas specials the past couple of nights... both on this theme of kindness.. The Crippled Lamb, by Max Lucado, shared his wool coat with Baby Jesus, and in Veggie Tales' new Saint Nicholas we learned how to give because of the love you have for the Lord. Both are pulling for the same theme... that it is important to think about how we shall give rather than just receive.

After all, according to these verses... Our state was very empty before Christ came and filled us...we needed to be shown some kindness because of our heart attitudes and helplessness towards good.

Action- Christ has certainly set the example... now, as the song goes on the Veggies', what can we do to "give this Christmas away?" I dare you to do 5 random acts of kindness this Christmas.

J is for Journey to Bethlehem

2009-12-11T22:06:00.003-05:00

J, like H and I, is more for your information than an actual devotional.... but I have had fun studying and learning about what the true first Christmas scene would have looked like.
For J, I looked up on a web-browser information about the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Here is what I found:

A little further information about the census came up... that Joseph had to return to Bethlehem because he quite possibly had family there... The idea being that going back to your ancestral home was for the settling of accounts/inheritance... so then you could be taxed on it. Regardless of reason, this would have not been a journey planned to any great extent... it was a surprise trip.

The distance between the two towns varies upon the individual measuring it... from 70 miles, 80 miles, 92 miles or roughly 100 miles. With this distance, and assuming they traveled 18, or up to 24 miles a day... the journey would have taken anywhere from 4 to 11 days.

Some writers suggested that they would have avoided going through Samaria, because it would have been a hostile pass through. Some believe, logically, that Mary and Joseph would have joined a caravan... however, Rob and I don't see how a lady so pregnant could have kept up with the demands of a caravan... they would have traveled closer to the 24 miles a day mark, and Mary was VERY pregnant...

Regardless of caravan or no... they still would have been able to stop at various towns to rest at night. The evenings were probably chilly and brisk, so protection for Mary from the elements would have been sound thinking.

I keep thinking about how I feel at the end of a long car trip... how I am just exhausted... and sometimes my body still feels like it's riding with the rhythm of the car... can you imagine riding a donkey for 18 to 24 miles a day? for how many days? ... then to deliver your child on top of that?

I think my knowledge has been stretched and my appreciation for Mary and Joseph grown...

H is for Higher Taxes and I is for Insist

2009-12-09T14:19:00.001-05:00

Today's study is FYI (For your information)... but isn't it amazing how God works His plan around what man's plans are...

In Luke 2:1 & 2, the Bible tells us that a census was decreed by Caesar Augustus, the first census while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

A census is a counting of the people. Our country is getting ready to take a census in 2010.

Caesar Augustus ordered the census for 3 reasons:
1. To see if his world was growing
2. To tax people
3. To keep track of how many males were available for service in the army.

Each person had to return to their family's home to be counted.

And this was not if you felt like it... You had to do it!!!

G is for God, our ultimate Father

2009-12-09T14:12:00.001-05:00

Tonight is action night because we are going to have a "sword drill". The Bible is called a two-edged sword because the truth in it cuts out all that is a lie... so a sword drill then is where you take your Bible and look up passages as quickly as you can. All of tonight's passages will be about God our Father in Heaven and who He is and what He is like. Ready, Set...Go:

John 5:26 (All of Life lives in the Father and the Son)

Isaiah 64:8 (We are the work of His hands)

Matthew 7:11 (He gives good gifts)

Luke 6:35 & 36 (He is merciful)

Good drill... and I hope you learned a lot about the Father from this little study. John 3:16 says "For God (that's the Father) so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". Sending Jesus was all His idea and plan... Thank you Father.

F is for Family

2009-12-09T14:02:00.003-05:00

Family is very important.

God established the family when He created Eve for Adam. Scripture tells us that from that time a man shall LEAVE his father and mother... which means to not let them make his decisions for him anymore, but to be his own man and make decisions for this new family... and CLEAVE or cling to his wife... which means to value his wife and her needs and opinions.

We have talked now about how Joseph was going to divorce Mary, but listened to the angel and had faith that he was supposed to stay with her... even though this would cause him and Mary to be excluded. He was a righteous man for doing what God said... and here, he sets the example of leaving and cleaving to his wife and their new family.

Another aspect of Joseph's leadership over his family is that Jesus was known as Joseph's son and as a carpenter by trade... just like Joseph. This tells me that Joseph was a good father to Jesus, and people could see that THAT was true.

*Action*- Let's practice cleaving... show value for the needs and feelings of a family member this week by doing something nice for them... or for part of your week, give each family member a day.

E is for Excluded

2009-12-09T13:52:00.003-05:00

Exclude means to leave out!
*Action question- Why would people exclude Mary and Joseph?

What they were actually doing was denying the miracle... Jesus.

*Action question- Was Jesus excluded? By whom?

Ultimately, we excluded Jesus (at one time) too- Even His father turned His face away when the weight of all our sin was on Him. But, now Jesus' work is finished and by faith we can come to Him and He will not exclude one who comes in faith.

*Action question- Is there anyone you exclude? Why? Now, what would Jesus do?

D is for Dreams

2009-12-09T13:43:00.003-05:00

Matthew 1:18 is the state in which Joseph finds Mary and his mind is reeling. Mary has everything figured out (sort of): Faith in god for this miracle is her only solution... Remember, she went and visited with Elizabeth and their meeting gave her great encouragement.

But Joseph has not been enlightened and he is a just man... so, Matthew 1:19 says he was thinking about divorcing her quietly. He did not wish to have her stoned/killed, but he would not stay engaged to a cheat. This is where the angel appears to him in a dream and encourages him that Mary's baby is actually Messiah- God's Son and God's plan goes forward. Joseph loved Mary and God.

*Action*- Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11 say that "the just shall live by faith". We will never be just enough without faith... another words, good works are not enough to save us. Let's talk about what builds our faith:

C is for Cousin Elizabeth

2009-12-03T12:29:00.002-05:00

It is so nice when you are going through a new experience, for someone to come along side you and say "I've been there too". Although no one quite could experience what Mary went through, Elizabeth came close.

Elizabeth was past the age of having children when she became pregnant with John. She hid the pregnancy from folk for 5 months. I wonder if it was just so she could try to figure things out.

Mary was told by the angel that she would conceive a son, even though she had never been with a man. Mary was engaged to be married. This would not look good. She would be God's handmaid, but she needed time too... to think about all that was happening.

These two ladies, then find each other... and what a joyful meeting. What blessings Elizabeth experienced in having John leap within her. The Holy Spirit was at work announcing Jesus' mommy to her. Meeting Elizabeth this way, I am sure, encouraged Mary to praise the Lord for this amazing privilege.

This is what Church does for us... We build each other's faith by attending and worshiping and learning together. Think about this this Sunday.

*Action* - Starting today... give a gift to someone each day... the gift of encouragement. Let's plan out the first chance we have to practice this together...

B is for Baby

2009-12-03T12:14:00.002-05:00

We brainstormed last night about alot of babies in the Bible. I was so surprised that Baby Jesus was not one that was mentioned , but we did bring Him in last.

Hannah wanted a child so badly... and the Lord blessed her with Samuel. Elizabeth and Sarah were much the same. They were barren all their lives until the Lord blessed them with boys. Their longing for a child matched Israel's longing for Messiah.

We mentioned the women Solomon had to judge. How one woman's baby died and both claimed the remaining child as their own. Solomon knew the real mother would protect her child even if it meant having to give her baby up... and that is what happened. I tried to parallel this story with the love the Father had for Jesus, but also for us... that he would give up His only son so that we could live.

Christmas ABC's

2009-11-30T07:02:00.003-05:00

I have a Christmas advent calendar that I keep for my children. For the past few years we have had what is called "Tree Time" where we sit each night and do a small devotion around the tree. I write the devotions for this time. This year I'm taking a letter each day and talking about the Christmas story through it. I thought I would post my devotions. I hope they will bless you and your families:

A is for Angel:

Gabriel is the angel who came to Mary and told her she would give birth to Jesus.
Angels are amazing BECAUSE God has made them that way and given them their jobs to do. An angel's ultimate job is to glorify God... same as ours. Some specific jobs angels do are: 1. Like Gabriel, they announce God's news. 2. They protect God's people and plans. 3. They punish who God tells them to punish. 4. They guard every Christian around the clock. 5. They praise God.

We must understand that angels are not to be worshiped by us (Col. 2:18).
Everything finds it's purpose in Christ. Jesus holds all things together. (Col. 1:15)

* Action*- Let's join with the angels, right now, in praise of Jesus. We can sing praise through Christmas songs. What song has He laid on your heart?

How do we impact our culture?

2009-10-20T14:07:00.003-04:00

My Dear One,

This morning, we spoke about how our culture can be rude... and not very Christ-like... I want you to know that I can see the Spirit's touch in your life... and am impressed with the things that you pick up on.

You challenge me... because, what should our response be to these things? Are they God-honoring? No... Foul language was our discussion and how it is prevalent even in family shows. Don't they realize kids are watching? My response was that the networks figure they can speak that way because that kind of language is prevalent in the average American home... which, to some extent would not be far off... but we live by a higher standard, don't we? I know that we don't swear, and we are not going to stop others from swearing just by telling them not to... So, how do we impact our culture?

I think this is an important topic girlfriend... because it is not just about language... but a number of other things as well. Family values... living by the scriptures...music choices... etc., etc. Honestly, I don't think we can demand anything. We are not responsible for them. The Lord has made you responsible for you, and me for me. Are you living Christ out in your life? and I in mine? I know that the issue that bothers you is "Do we have to be numb to their sin? Do we just overlook it?" I don't think we should because then that will start to affect how we live? But we can't live in a cocoon either. So, how do we do this? We need to be scouring the scriptures for our answers. SCOURING...

Being a princess is hard work... I love you sooo much. You are a true beauty. Hold onto that purity. Defend it! You are being used by the Lord to enlighten my heart. Thank you deary.

Love , Cath

Oh, how He loves us... Oh...

2009-10-06T19:16:00.002-04:00

This is for my dear, dear friend... going through a really hard time.
I don't know what to say to you... really and truly... don't. I praise the Lord that I have never gone through the situations He has brought you through and WILL bring you through. I don't know if I could.

I will tell you some things I have been learning from Beth Moore... and hope it helps. We are studying Daniel... and last week we read chapter 3. It was about Daniel's friends standing up to Nebuchadnezzar and getting thrown into the fiery furnace... She paralleled that to the fiery trials that we sometimes face, and there are 3 ways that God chooses to deliver his own in those situations. 1. He may deliver you from the trial... which will build your faith for sure. 2. He may deliver you through the trial, which will refine your faith... burning away the dross and leaving a purer product. or 3. He may deliver you into his arms which perfects your faith because you will get to see Him as He is. I hope this encourages you... I believe you are already onto what God is doing through this... to me, it seems as if you are going to come out as a vessel for the finer... Don't you think?

Today's lesson was about how Nebuchadnezzar got caught up in himself and Babylon and the Lord cut him down... he actually dreamed of a tree that was enormous and God cut it back to a stump... but because it had roots, the Lord grew the tree back, in His time... and until that time came He surrounded and covered the stump with iron and bronze so no one else could touch it. You may feel as if you are cut back to that stump... but also know and have faith that God is in it, and He has covered that stump with bronze and iron so no one can touch you girlfriend... until he regrows you.

You are the apple of His eye... I will be praying for you... love you... Cath

2009-09-26T05:35:00.003-04:00

" There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:1

As a Princess, I would like to think I am practical, but really I think I am pampered and don't want to admit it. In previous posts I spoke of the duties of a royal. They are not easy things to do. Live by a strict code of discipline... and give my life for the King's agenda. I have covered the ground that as Christians, we are not our own... we are Christ's. These are not easy things to do. Last Friday, I told you my major weakness... it felt like after talking so much about responsibility, the Lord said "Okay, now let's see some from you"... Ugh... He's right. BUT... I don't know how! I mean, I know how to diet, and walk, and... etc., but I don't know how to stick to those things for a lifetime and make them work to sustain a proper weight. I always fail. Do you know the kind of guilt that causes for me? Have you ever failed at something you knew you were supposed be succeeding at? It's miserable because then the deceiver and accuser of the brethren (Satan) comes at you mercilessly, "You are SOME princess! What business do you have to even write this? You'll never figure out how to be successful! You're ugly!" Torment.

I want you to know that Jesus is stronger, and when I started laying it all at His feet (which I am still doing... I don't have all the answers) He has begun to feed me what I need to grow in this area. The verse above... Romans 8:1... I claim it. I am not condemned when Christ has given me his salvation. He has also given me the Spirit. If He expects me to walk in the spirit, then isn't it wonderful that He has given it to me? I am indwelt with the Holy Spirit!.. What a blessing. Which makes it all that much easier to turn from the flesh of over indulgent eating, etc.

Royalty, here on earth is sworn into a covenant relationship with their people... just as there is a covenant relationship between God and his children. Sometimes I forget I am not the princess of Cathy, but the princess of God. I made a promise and I must learn how to sacrifice my will daily to His. It is not easy to make the adjustments necessary to honor this covenant, but He has reminded me... #1, that I am not condemned... #2, that His Spirit is within me to help me... and #3, that He is right by my side...

I'm still working on the rest... more later. Just be encouraged by 1 - 3... We serve an awesome God!

What's in a name?

2009-09-21T21:57:00.004-04:00

My name means Pure One. My mom and dad did not pick it for it's meaning, but I believe God had a hand in that. Mom and Dad picked it because they had never known a Cathy (that Dad had taught) that they didn't like. Isn't that funny? It is interesting how we get our names. There are cultures where what you are named still matters a whole lot. Since it doesn't necessarily mean much to us, we will use the name princess as a common name for all of us in this post.

As God's children... we are royalty and as ladies, princesses. What is in that name to you?
Do you believe that this title really describes YOU? because as God's child... it really does. Allow yourself to be called princess, but think about what it really means.

Applying it

2009-09-18T21:26:00.003-04:00

I have so many good things going on in my mind to write... but am having trouble writing them down. I have had trouble coming here all week. I really believe the Lord wants to use Your Highness to touch hearts, but more than anyone else... The Lord is using this to touch me right now. Oh my.
I believe that because of the love Jesus has for me, I should be inspired by His love and grace and share it with others... but I don't let it penetrate to the deepest places in my heart always. There is a stronghold I have to deal with in my walk with the Lord. It has hounded me for over 12 years... and I am at my wits end to know what to do with it... I am overweight. I feel like a Biggest Loser contestant... and I don't feel pretty .. accept when I think of myself as the Lord's princess...
I really like Beth Moore... and this Daniel bible study is gonna be so good. She parallels the Babylon that Daniel lived in to the attitudes of our western society... "It's all about me" and "Beauty is King" and "indulgent living"... which is so true of this culture... and I, unfortunately... we all do... buy into the culture more than we should. I will not blame culture for my problems totally... I know that I have made many indulgent choices that have led to my problem... so much so that I have been ashamed this week to look up into my Redeemer's face at times. Beth Moore said something in the daily study today that was just a spark to me though and we'll see where it leads... 1 Timothy 8 says: "⁸ For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come." for me, I'm focusing there on the word exercise... and the verse before says to exercise godliness too... I think weight loss is a shear act of the will and I need to set up some exercises in godliness... mantras/scriptures/prayers to hone the will... more than physical excursion... :) Love you all... pray for me... Cath

Are you happy?

2009-09-15T12:29:00.003-04:00

Are you happy? answer me truthfully...
I guess a better question would be, are you at peace? Do you have the happiness that comes with that? (better known as joy)
I would have to say that I am not happy all the time... but I do have peace and joy... because I know that Jesus can't love me any more than He does right now... and He won't love me any less either.

I think that there are a lot of people out there right now who are trying to find happiness in things, situations, people. They don't want to try Jesus because they think that His ways are too pious... too boring. Two loved ones have been in the forefront of my heart today as I write this... and really more than that... and I have to include myself in this at times because I am far more natural man than I want to be.. and far less princess than I wish I could be. We believe lies:

The Lie : I am what my life is all about.
That is the lie of our culture... is it not? Being Christ's princesses and living life to please the King of Kings is a totally foreign concept. I just came home from a new Bible study beginning at church. It is Daniel with Beth Moore. Daniel 1: 5 tells us that Daniel was a young man that was selected to live in the king of Babylon's house and was given provisions from the king's table each day. The things he was offered were not clean meats for a Jew... so let me draw your attention to Daniel 1: 8 "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat..." Only Daniel and his 3 friends stood up and would not be defiled with what was not right for them... none of the other youth taken objected... and we don't know A THING about them... only these 4 made a difference for Christ. Galatians 2:20 says " 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." Maybe for the past week you were hoping I would get off this point.. of duty to the king... but I can't. I can't seem to leave it alone... so there must be someone who needs to hear it... and it might just be me.
You see, God gave His son Jesus for us in that while we were yet sinners... Christ died for us. Another words... while I tried life my own way, before I acknowledged that God was in control of my life... when I may have been to church and heard what was said, and then decided to reject it anyway cause I wanted another sip, or kiss, or puff... THAT is when Jesus allowed the nails to be driven into his hands and feet... when he allowed the blood to flow out of his wounds and he suffered the penalty of death. I say allow, because he certainly did not have to die... Jesus was God even then... but he chose it because our sin had a price... spiritual death for us... The Father could not receive us as sinners... He is holy and perfectly pure. So, through Jesus' death, he paid the price for our sins.
That is such a wonderful gift. Jesus offers us redemption as a gift and all we have to do is choose to accept it. Romans 10: 9 & 10 says " That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Choosing to accept it means our hearts repent of our sin and are changed and we believe that Christ is our Savior and redeemer because of what he has done for us. We don't do the saving, that is even done for us, we just have to decide to accept what is offered. People want salvation to have a stipulation... because they want to be able to control it and do something for it, but it is only through grace... the grace of Jesus Christ and God the Father that you can have this gift. Ephesians 2:8 & 9 says " For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
After writing out this awesome plan that God has for our salvation... wow... my heart is full. Talk about it ALL being for me... Jesus did ALL that for me... and in my heart, then, it becomes less about duty and more about loving on my Daddy and my King. For the peace and joy I have in Him. What can I do to show you my love for you dear Lord? It will never match that love that You have for me, but please let me offer something to you as a sacrifice of praise... and I realize in myself that the only thing I really have that comes close enough (but isn't quite) to being worthy is ... all of me. For I was bought with a price... it is my demonstration of my love for Him... grace inspired obedience and service. And that brings about another whole wave of peace and grace that I am so thankful for... oh so let me serve You some more my sweet, sweet Savior.
Satan will distort the truth (lie) and discourage me in any way possible... if I let him... That is WHY... we need to know the scriptures, and why we need to commit them to memory...
This is the princess life in a nutshell... Love for my Daddy and King... and I am not gonna be thwarted from it. I am going to decide, like Daniel, to not be defiled. I am going to decide to stand against this culture and it's lies by not allowing myself to be defiled. Who's with me? This has helped me so much. I hope it will help my two loved ones as well.

A Work in Progress

2009-09-11T22:29:00.000-04:00

I have had a lot of fun using the computer to help me research... one day I happened upon a dot-com called The Princess Portal. I don't know if the lady is a Christian... and I did not read a lot of her info... the one thing that caught my attention was entitled "The Princess Code"... it was a list of guidelines a princess should live by... If you want to read her version, you will have to go to that site for yourself... but I have taken that as a guideline to write my own (playful yet meaningful) "code" for every princess... I just figured... since the last 2 blogs have been about the position and duties/responsibilities of royalty... this fits right in. Here it is:

A Code for Every Princess

A Princess inspires others to follow the Lord through setting the example.
A Princess is welcoming, loving and gracious, melting the hearts of friends and disarming her enemies.
A Princess has faith which protects her from the opinions and spite that others may hurl at her like fiery darts.
A Princess is beautiful even when she is asleep.
A Princess aims to be like Christ in every step.
A Princess should give up a sacrifice of praise everyday to her Lord.
A Princess grows in recognition and stature in proportion to how much she serves others with humility.
A Princess reflects her inner beauty in her daily choices.
A Princess goes to war against the violence of sin with the weapons of grace and the Word.
A Princess lives each day in Christ being thankful for His provision and treasuring every moment.

Finishing off the week about the duty and position of a princess, let me just touch on the stereo types of a princess... The truth is, the world sees princesses differently than I see princesses... It seems like you either have to be a little girl living the fairytale... or a real blood royal with a mission... or a dirty or diva type to enjoy wearing a tiara... But Christ has given us more... and I want Jesus to be personified through me. I think the Lord is so awesome to give us His rich word that offers example after example of who we are in Christ. We are ambassadors, we are the Father's children, we are ... His... I can identify with this princess idea.. and I think it's because I'm a dreamer... and a romantic... and because I lack confidence and feel weak and need a boost from Jesus sometimes... and this is what He has given me.

2009-09-09T21:09:00.000-04:00

2 Corinthians 10:5 (The Message)

^3-6The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

This passage is so powerful for me... because I can see the demeanor of a princess lived out in the verses. This is the case with royalty... and rightfully so, for they represent what is best about their country. It is their duty to be as upright and dignified as possible. Human kings and royals always have and always will fall morally from time to time because they are human, but Jesus Christ... our King of Kings never has and never will fail to walk uprightly.

I know the Lord gave me this to share with you. Here are some thoughts from Oswald Chamber's devotional "My Utmost for His Highest":

"Sept. 9th-We have a tendency to forget that a person is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation, but is also committed, responsible and accountable to Jesus Christ's view of God, the world, and of sin and the devil. This means that each person must recognize the responsibility to "be transformed by the renewing of [her] mind...(Romans 12:2)"

and "Sept. 8th-The conflict is waged over turning our natural life into a spiritual life. This is never done easily, nor does God intend that it be so. It is accomplished only through a series of moral choices."

All of the above says to me that as Christ's princess, my duty is to represent the interests of the throne. Scripture tells us we are not our own... Jesus, our Redeemer, bought us with His lifeblood... and we are not our own... we are to become more like Christ with each day that passes. This is not an easy task. There are deep-seeded issues in all of our lives that we have to deal with ... plus the daily grind of the culture... these things keep us from being able to focus on living that spiritual life... and that is why we must renew our minds daily by using our God tools (being in the Word... memorizing scripture (even if it takes forever to get down one verse)... being in Bible study and any other ways you can think of... The Israelites tied a blue ribbon into the tassels on their garments ,at God's command, to remind them of their good God who had brought them out of Egypt... tie a piece of blue yarn around a finger... or wear something blue each day... just to help you think on His praises, listen to praise music... the list goes on and on of ways to train our minds) These ideas are the moral choices that, I think, Oswald Chambers was talking about. The God-tools from The Message as well... but they take discipline on our part...

How are you and I walking differently than the world, princess? What is one God-tool we can start using today to help fit us from obedience into spiritual maturity?

A chosen generation

2009-09-08T09:20:00.000-04:00

I'm still only at the starting points of this blog... and so I think it is good to start at the beginning points of a royal reign as well... How does one become chosen as royalty? What are the requirements and guidelines to follow once one is put into this office? Yikes... but our answers are in Deuteronomy 17:

First off- The Lord will do the picking of the king (vs. 15) and he will be a native to his country. Verse 15 actually says DO NOT set a stranger over you, or one that is not your brother. The Lord chose each one of us, who are his, to be His. It was then up to us to receive the gift of salvation. There will not be any strangers in Heaven... we will be related to each other through the precious blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.

2. The king was not to seek to acquire certain things... horses or wives or silver:

Horses, I think, were a status symbol... Follow my line of thinking: Does it not seem that royalty always must have the best things surrounding them? Look down through the ages and kings and queens have always sought to acquire things of great price... At this point in history, it was horses and chariots, like those in Egypt that were sought after... which actually transitions us nicely into the issue with Egypt brought up in correlation with the horses.
God also speaks to the king's motives here... "(The king should not) cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way." vs 16b
So, it was known by all of Israel that they were not to return to Egypt. The Lord would sustain them so they would not need to go back, but He didn't promise the king horses. If the king did not feel that he had enough horses, he was not to convince the people to return to Egypt just so he could get horses. It almost sounds like a father telling his child "no" doesn't it? Sometimes the Lord tells me "no"... and there is always a good reason for it. The reasons here are so clear: He wants to protect the heart of Israel's king from being puffed up with stuff... and He wants to protect His people from returning to the same slavery they just left. It is so awesome that the Lord puts up safeguards for our freedom... because, in our sinful state, we would surely abuse the freedom we have been given.

Now, wives and silver...
The Lord gives the reason why a king is not to acquire many wives right in verse 17:
"Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away:"
We have been studying I Corinthians 7 in services at Ogletown Baptist Church, and Pastor Curtis Hill explained that when one marries, their heart turns from spiritual things continually, to trying to meet the needs of their spouse so they will be happy... which is really worldly, but necessary... trying to keep one spouse satisfied can be hard at times... can you imagine multiple spouses to satisfy? The Lord makes perfect sense to me with this guideline... amen.
Silver...it is linked to wives, I think, because of what it takes to acquire it... more worldly work and thinking. I also think that maybe the Lord was protecting Israel.. remember when Hezekiah received envoys from Babylon in 2 Kings 20:12 - 19 ? Hezekiah showed off all the kingdom's silver and wealth... and Isaiah had to come to him afterwards and explain to him that Babylon was going to use this knowledge for the demise of Israel... and they did in chapter 25.

3. What should a king think and do then?

He was to copy the law from the Levites and then keep it with him and read it every day... for the rest of his life (vss 18 +19)... Why? Oh... so many reasons:
vs. 19 That he may learn to fear (or reverence) the Lord.
vs. 19 That he would keep all the words of this law and statutes and do them
vs. 20 That he would keep his heart humble before his brethren
vs. 20 That he would walk straight... and not turn away from these commandments
vs. 20 That he would extend his days and be able to pass the throne down to his children (a heritage from the Lord)

When I had researched this and started thinking about it, I had copied out the 10 commandments to carry on my person at all times... but now I'm thinking many things... I think that the 10 commandments are a good thing to keep on my person... and read when I get a chance... but I know that they are not all the Law... The whole Bible could be considered what one needs to keep and read.. but I like how it says that the king was to copy it himself from the Levites... Could that mean I write out a verse and memorize it over a course of time? and then another? and another? My husband has so much scripture memorized and is great at recalling it as the need arises... and I am always inspired by that... Think on this with me... how to incorporate this more into our lives... as required of kings.

These were the instructions ,given by the Lord, for kings. They are wise instructions for princesses as well. May I encourage you today to read Deuteronomy 17: 15-20.

How I am led...

2009-09-04T22:34:00.000-04:00

What started as a way to gear up for work... has become so much more... and I love it.

Mia

If you have ever seen Princess Diaries then you recall when Mia finds out for the first time that she is a princess... She doesn't believe it ... she is floored... is this really happening? I began to understand as I watched that movie a few years ago that God had made me His princess the day I asked Him into my heart. Ooh, I felt as unlovely and uncertain with this realization as Mia with her out of control frizz and magnified glasses. In an attempt to embrace the idea, since it was Biblically sound, I tried to encourage myself with the fact that I was a princess as I would go off to work each day... not a fairy-tale princess but more of a Princess Diana with real duties and purposes.

Esther

The Lord expanded my thinking on this with a Beth Moore study of Esther in Women's Bible study. How awesome is God to take a simple Jewish girl and make her queen of Babylon... the amazing plans He has for each one of us are unknown to us... put precious to our Heavenly Father. We are a royal priesthood.... that we should show forth the praises of ... our King. I knew that THAT is what I wanted to do... be an encouragement and light for my King to others by sharing our Royal inheritance... as we ARE joint heirs with Jesus... So, for some time I researched and wrote and thought about this topic... but did not know how to pursue anything with it...

Julie and Julia

The idea of a blog came from another movie... Julie and Julia... as perhaps for me to just get some of these thoughts out... and while I am hoping that someone will read my blog... I am not really writing for you... I am writing to please Jesus who gives me the insight... and hopefully this glorifies Him...

One more insight about this tonite is just that I must be on the right track... because this morning I read Numbers 7... and it was about the Princes dedicating the temple for 12 days with sacrifices... if you read it you will get a better glimpse at the whole story... but the insight I want to share is that of a perfect picture of this royal priesthood and who I am in Christ: The "princes" of the story are actually not what I would consider princes... they are the leaders of the Israelite tribes... BUT.. in the King James version they are called princes... they are the leaders of the covenant people of God... In Sunday School we have been finishing the book of Genesis and talking about Jacob... His death and burial were celebrated by the Jews and Egyptians as one who was a king... I think the Lord is communicating something here... that His people are royalty... here are two references to it right here in Genesis and Numbers...it is all through the Bible... ... and what were these princes doing? Bringing sacrifices to the Lord... to dedicate the temple... which is what the Lord has called us to do...

I can't wait to share more with you...

Diary of a day as a princess: Sept. 1, 2009

2009-09-02T21:03:00.000-04:00

As I look back on this day... I feel broken... the Lord has revealed much to me about how lost man truly is...

I have friends dealing with divorce... hurting... because one individual broke it up, or both, for selfish reasons... forgetting that Love is a verb and marriage is a covenant relationship.
Now both individuals are focused on self and lose focus on Christ... who is ultimately what life is about. Father, please have compassion on soured and sore hearts suffering from divorce.

I visited a church today where so many members are struggling with their health and their young pastor and wife are unsure what You are trying to do Lord... I tend to think it is something BIG that Satan wants to stop... but Father, please send healing and send Your very special will for these people to them.

I was there to sing about the deep, deep love of Jesus... an ocean full of blessing in the midst of every test... amen to that.

There is a pastor who has been known to steal from churches... and he had the audacity to come to the meeting that we sang at... and his wife looked miserable... no wonder. I wonder if at one time his heart was on fire for you Lord... and it breaks my heart to see the hardening of this man and woman. Yet, there is hope for all ... Did our singing have any effect on him or her? Oh Father, I hope so...

I worked with a girl at school tonite, who is burnt out... and has many learning disabilities and emotional intensifiers right now... but she comes to school and wants that Diploma... at the age of 50 she comes and tries ... and I think she believes it will happen for her...

I heard a song on my way home with her fresh in my mind : "Our hope endures the worst of conditions, it's more than our optimism. Let the earth quake, our hope is unchanged... Emmanuel, God is with us... El Shaddai, all sufficient..." and though my heart had been weighted down all day with the hurts and cares of the world... I drew strength from these words and this lady's powerful testimony of perseverance...

Perhaps you can relate to the pain of these folk I have mentioned... This hope that endures is for you... It is Emmanuel... He is with us.

My Blood-line to royalty

2009-08-31T13:27:00.000-04:00

"Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." I Peter 2:10

I was not always a princess. I became one at the age of 12 when Jesus Christ became my redeemer. He is my King. If you do not know Jesus as your savior and you are reading this... for clarity, let me break down some of the words I have used already:

Jesus Christ-My King... The one from the Bible... He is God.... Not just my god... there is no god but Him. Man refutes it, but man does not have a leg to stand on. We are not God. The Bible says " For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colosians 1:16 & 17 I cannot refute the complexity of this world, and I do not believe science can explain it all. My faith is that He holds me together... every day He sustains His creation.

By redeemer and savior... Scripture teaches that man sinned, and I know this to be true because I can feel my sin nature inside of me... still there and very real. I have sinned and do sin still. Whether culture recognizes it or not, there are consequences for wrong doing. The Bible says the penalty for sin is death... no exceptions. I may not die physically immediately, but spiritually, sin causes death. Spiritual death is permanent separation from God. Jesus became a man, like us, capable of sin, but did not sin... so then He could pay our consequences and suffer and die in our place. He bought our freedom from sin and death with His life blood so we could be reconciled to God.

I wanted to start with this because, really... you can not be a princess without Him... I once was not a people, but now am the princess of God... who had not obtained mercy, but now have.... and it's because of the price King Jesus paid to adopt me ...

Criteria for my blog:

2009-08-30T13:13:00.000-04:00

Well... getting started, I just want to lay out criteria for myself... it seems pointless to write a journal where everyone can see it if you don't have something worthwhile to say... ya know?
(I really know very little about blogging.... that's what I'm really revealing isn't it?)

Criteria:

I can write on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights... and occasionally at other times.

(I have always liked to journal, so it may become more frequent... but let's start with this)

I will write this blog as a princess... this is my princess project. I feel Lord led to share the praises that Jesus has made me, through His blood... a joint-heir with Him... That means, day to day life will be viewed a little differently.... an exciting challenge. Stay tuned...

My key verse shall be I Peter 2:9 + 10 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."

Now to prepare... It is Sunday... so first REAL post will be tom morrow... :) see ya then