CAPTIVATING 2

Chapter 2 (summarized)

What Eve Alone Can Tell

"Eve is the crescendo, the final astonishing work of God. Woman. She is the Master's finishing touch." Every woman should remind herself that "the whole, vast world is incomplete with out me. Creation reached its zenith in me." Eve is created because things were not right with out her.

Women are relational to their core. This tells us of God's desire and capacity for intimate relationship, yearns for relationship with us. God longs to be loved by you. God yearns to share a life of beauty, intimacy and adventure with us.

God's mission to Adam and Eve to be fruitful and conquer (Gen 1: 26-28) shows we are to live this adventure of life together. Eve is his "ezer kenegdo" helper, companion, help meet, sustainer beside him, lifesaver alongside. This reflects God's plan to be the lifesaver alongside his created beings, to share in the adventure alongside, not in the sidelines.

Beauty. The created world is filled with the glory of God. The reason why a woman asks, Do you delight in me? is because God does as well. God id captivating beauty.

Beauty speaks. In nature there is rest. That is what it is like to be with a woman at rest. a woman comfortable with her feminine beauty.

Beauty invites. Beauty nourishes and offers life. Beauty comforts and soothes the soul. Beauty inspires. Beauty is transcendent and is sometimes so deep it pierces us with a longing. Beauty draws us to the creator, to God. One of the deepest ways a woman bears the image of God is in her "mystery"- something to be explored. God wants to be known and sought after by those who would know him.

CAPTIVATING

Most of you know how much I enjoy reading a good book. How many of you have read "Captivating" By John and Stasi Eldridge? If you have read it again and comment, and if you haven't, read it. I am only on chapter 5 and I am reading it slowly. I am doing something I never do as well, which is taking notes and journaling on my self reflections. It is a lovely experience.

Chapter 1 (summarized)

A Woman's Heart

A woman's heart desires to be romanced. We love feeling wanted and fought for.

A woman's heart desires a irreplaceable role in a great adventure. a woman is a warrior too.

A woman's heart desires beauty to unveil. To be beautiful, feel beautiful and recognized as beautiful. She has a desire to be captivating in the depths of who she is. In the beauty of your heart, and depth of spirit.

embracing the cold

It is here again so abruptly. cold days. from 85 to 60 degrees to 40 degrees in no time at all. It is funny how when winter turns to spring 50 degrees feels glorious and warm and you don't need a jacket anymore. But. But, when summer turns to fall and quickly to winter after a blissful 80 degrees 50 feels so COLD. What a wimp I have become and how quickly I forget.

I love the colors the leaves turn and how crisp and fresh the air feels and smells. There are piles of leaves, but no Solomon and Benjamin to burry in and laugh.

I am deciding to embrace the fall with all of the glorious pumpkin, root vegetable and squash recipes I can find. In doing so I am loving all of the cinnamon, nutmeg and clove and trying to be careful not to gain back the 15 pounds I worked so hard at getting off of my body. I must keep moving in all of my desire to curl up in a blanket and read all of the time mentality. As I walked up the stairs to get to the computer my muscles reminded me of how hard they are working for me after yesterday's workout. Must keep moving and not bake too many goodies and keep drinking tea instead of longing for hot chocolate.