~~FEMININE MATTERS~~

~~TRIED AND TRUE~~

TNT is her name.  Tried and True is her blog.  She is my friend.  And she speaks to me.  Sometimes in gentle encouragement.  Sometimes in exhorting reproof.  And while most times she is tempered with meekness, I never underestimate the TNT she can deliver when necessary.

The manifestation of the Lord flows through her fingertips in her writing.  As she shares her heart you will see the humility which overflows in her search to be all Christ wants her to be.  She takes me on a journey with her as she walks with the Saviour.  And, even though her words draw you into deep waters, in time you'll find the absolute joy and humor in her heart.  She sees things others do not; and her words paint pictures without a brush.  She's gifted.

I met TNT many many years ago.  She was just a child; I was her youth director--my husband, her pastor.  Her love for the Lord was evident even then.  Through the years she has grown into one of the finest Christian women I know. 

Her love for writing is only surpassed by her love for the Lord, her family and friends.  As she takes her first steps into the writing world of "Blogland", I ask you to welcome her and know that I love her dearly.  Her compassion for people--all people, flows from a heart that is humble and filled with the fruit of the Spirit of God.

I am thrilled to introduce TNT to you as a Christian writer.  I'm privileged and honored she calls me "friend".  Read TRIED AND TRUE today.  Then let her know you'll be stopping in for a visit often.  Her hospitality is a special quality in her so I'm sure you'll feel welcome. [selahVtoday,copyrighted,2007] 

JUST THINKING

So I'm in the shower today and the Lord gives me this great idea.  I knew it had to be from the Lord because I'm no creator of ideas.  He plops them in my brain and then I'm suppose to flesh them out.  Sometimes I get way out in left field putting skin on them.  But ultimately, if in fact God has spoken to me, the ideas always bring glory to Him in the end.

Here's my idea:  I'd like to have as many ladies as you know (who enjoy writing about their observations of the Lord in their lives and the lessons they learn from listening to Him speak to them) to write me.

All I want is ladies who like to write about God.  I'm depending on you and your input.  It will determine the next step in my idea.  I think there are a lot of Godly women who have wonderful testimonies of the Lord at work in them who could bless all of us with their stories.  But most women who are creative thinkers don't like to try and figure out the blogworld and how to design a blog.  That's where I come in.  I want to do that for Christian women who'd like to write but for whatever reason: time, technology intimidation--whatever--keep procrastinating because they don't have a blogsite.

It's a joy of mine to play with designs and put them together and even name them.  So, if you know of someone who'd like to talk about Jesus to the world, give her this blog and I'll get her started.  Then the rest will be up to the Lord and her.  Come on, ladies.  Let's chat. SelahV

GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU

CALLING ALL MOMMIES, DADDIES AND GRANDPARENTS! This little book is precious.

A mere 20 pages in this board book gently coaxes the reader into a contest of love between Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare.  As the little hare tries his best to express his love to the big hare, the big hare's love proves far greater an expression than Little Nutbrown Hare can meet or even conceive possible. 

The content easily serves as a conversation starter between parent and child on the dimensions of love.  The love described between the covers can even promote a comparable discussion on God's surpassing love to each of His children. 

The illustrations are simple and visually show the height and depth of immeasurable love.  In one illustration Big Nutbrown Hare extends his arms outward to express how much he loves Little Nutbrown Hare.   

Having read this to my 5 year-old and 9-year-old granddaughters, I might personally add that they love hearing it as their bedtime story.  I rarely finish it before they are in slumberland dreaming of the love they have for me and I for them.

I highly recommend it.  If your local bookstore doesn't have it you can order one by clicking on the publisher's link below.  It's well worth the money.  SelahV 

A priceless little book entitled GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.  Written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram.   Printed first in 1994 and later in 1996 in Board Book Edition.  Publisher is Candlewick Press.  It sells for $6.99 U.S. and $9.99 in Canada. 

Just As I Am

Okay.  Here's my photo of October 2006.  I have to confess.  I was trying to get a picture of me for the profile page.  Didn't want to do it.  Thought about having a professional do one.  You know?  One of those glamour shots that takes away all the wrinkles, enhances your features, distorts the size of your cheeks?  Yeah, one of those.

But changed my mind.  (A woman's perogative, right?)  Can't remember what color my hair was in this photo.  My camera doesn't get a really good color-copy.  I think I was Clairol 43.  Today I'm a very dark auburn.  Mostly brown with dark red highlights (and a few gray ones).  Would take a new picture but I kinda wanted to go with this one.  I felt it important as a woman that you should see me without any makeup.  In this photo, I am between size 8 and 10.  I'd lost over 100 pounds since May of 2005.  Today I'm creeping back up to a size 12.  Not out in the garden enough.  Been sick and laying around like fat cat in the noonday sun.  (I took this of myself in my bathroom last year).  Didn't care what I looked like especially.  Knew the image wouldn't be detailed enough to show all my flaws.

I said that to say this.  Every snapshot of our lives as women is different.  Though we have similar needs, desires and dreams, we are all individuals.  We are all created to be who we are--not someone else.  I come to you today wondering what significance I have to this space in time called life.  It really doesn't matter whether I had makeup on or not.  It doesn't matter what color my hair is or how much I weigh.  What does matter is that I can be me wherever I am, with whomever I'm with, whenever I'm present.  This is a gift I've given myself.  So what you see in this space today is just me--just as I am on most any given day.

But really?  It's not what I look like on the outside that's important.  It's the me I see when I look into God's Word.  It's the me who kneels by the bed and asks God to examine my thoughts, my motives, my intentions.  It's the me that comes just as I am before Him and says, make me more like Jesus, Father.

I know I'm far from perfect.  I know God has His hands full with me.  I know that He must spend more time on me than any other woman.  For this I apologize to you.  I'm trying hard to be more generous with God's time.  In this blog I hope we can help each other.  Maybe that can free the Lord up for others as we share our burdens with one another.  Pray for one another.  Encourage one another.  Join me today.  Feel free to comment on what matters to you.   Come visit, just as you are.  No makeup needed.  SelahV