~ Feminity ~

Hmm.. Is this a strange word for us christian gals or is it just me? I'm intrigued by the fact that this word can have so many interpretations! Somehow, lots of the ppl I know seem to think that

feminine = pink, girly, long fingernails, always pretty, sweet, long curly hair, motherly, etc etc..

So.. what should the Christian view be?

I found this post here on the "Makings of a True Woman".

It appears that most ppl nowadays (including blur little ole me) often get confused on the true meaning of being a woman according to God. :)

Femininity, they reckon is an attitude of receptiveness, responsiveness, the heart that respects authority, softness, purity.

Which the bible says is (1 Pet 3:1) :

• The Bible says those things are powerful
  
• Those things can change the world.
• They can change the heart of a wayward husband.
• They can change the heart of an unbelieving husband.
• The respect and the womanliness of our behavior is a powerful thing.

SO, "wanting to control" which God did mention is something we females will get up to one day (Gen 3:16) is simply one word.. UN-feminine.. Not God's design!

I remember one wise lady once told a group of us (and several other different ladies told me personally in different occasions) that we as women find it HARD to be submissive and let the guy take the lead.. Particularly when we feel "right".. (PS: is it just me, or do other ladies feel this way as well?)

The article I read did say that when this lady tried to be the "head" in her marriage, it just didn't work out. God HAD to be the head.. *gosh* this is SO true for me too! haha.. anyways, I'm not married yet, but even in my relationship now, I still find it hard to submit to the guy's lead and surrender all to God!

More often than not, when something strikes me as "wrong" in my fiance, I (in all my KESOMBONGAN) don't pray FIRST and ask God what to do.. But rather, try and resolve it myself.. How? easy! have a chat with him about the issue..

Err.... Wrong answer!! more often than not, he's got a really huge unwillingness to listen.. despite my method of delivery.. I can wrap things up in the sweetest words and let him know in the nicest way, but errrr... NOT getting through!

BUT now when I jog my memory.. I recall, when I DO pray to God first and let Him know my concern and ask Him what I should do before talking to my fiance.. God will remind him either thru his quiet time, bible reading, a trusted friend, or when I try to let him know my concerns, he's VERY receptive of it despite me using "blunt" words (must be God working, I can't explain why otherwise)

Somehow I get this "feminine" label at times, but I'm really reminded of just how God's version of femininity is more heart than looks! I'm REALLY reminded of how "unfeminine" (i.e. controlling) I can be at times!! Just reminds me of how sinful I am and just how much I'll need to depend on God to get through the rest of my life! Especially to make this alliance-partnership I'll be signing on in about a year work and deliver resultssss :)

PS: I'm an engineering consultants, so my definition of an alliance =
"huge projects where SOMEONE needs to lead and set direction, EVERYONE wants to have a say and demands a lot, the whole project demanding a lot of work and effort from everyone, to deliver something of *usually* tremendous worth and profit - although it does comes with a huge liability involved if you don't carry through till the end."

- relationship stuff -

Hello hello...

hmmm.. haven't been writing much in my blog lately.. but i stumbled upon this article in the news (US one), and I was so terharuuu bacanya! its about married life and the true realization of the depths of wedding vows. NOT to be taken lightly!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/04/AR2008030402498.html?sid=ST2008030603276

truly reminds me of just how much Jesus did for us on the cross.. and how a husband-wife relationship should reflect Christ's relationship with His jemaat.. *watery eyes*

:: All praise be to God ::

Psalms 16:5-11

5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, ^[c]
nor will you let your Holy One ^[d] see decay.

11 You have made ^[e] known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Hohoho.. I haven't actually written anything on my blog eh?? I've been really slack in keeping up with my journals and bloggies.. but oh well, at least I'm writing stuff now rite? ^^

Geez, 2007 is so GONE, and almost a month of 2008 has past!! time sure flies quickly.. This truly reminds me that, well, all human life is truly nothing in light of eternity!! in the blink of an eye, a year's past.. in my mind's eyes, it seems like I just started high school yesterday.. but lo and behold, i've finished uni and even starting work in 2 weeks time.. *glek* gone are my student days, and hellooooo working life.

Speaking about life and eternity, just a couple of days ago, (even till today) the media is rampant with news of Heath Ledger's passing.. He was only 28y.o.!! The saddest thing about it is the legacy he left behind.. It just makes me think of my own life, and gosh, I DO wonder, what will ppl say about me when I do pass on from this life?? Sober reminder to truly live my life for God's glory, so when I do go back to Him, hopefully my legacy isn't an empty and fruitless one :)

On a lighter note, thanking God for His many blessings in the past year!! For....
- His guidance, provision, help and blessings all throughout my life...
- finishing uni!!! FINALLY, am done with it for now!! woohooo!!
- the love and support of my family, spc. my beloved dad n sis.. missing mom heaps, but hey, will see her eventually so its all good ^_^
- the blessing of koko in my life, am truly grateful to God for him..
- the many SiC that I've been blessed with.. they're truly the bestest friends (and siblings in christ) ever (after God of course)!!
- the many opportunities to serve and witness Christ that I've been given.. I'm no perfect person and I do stuff up many times, but God still gives me opportunities to witness Him :)
- the job that I've been entrusted with.. thanking God that
- etc..etc..etc.. there's too many to mention!!! ^__________^

Specifically, hohoho.. if u didn't notice that I had some bible verses up on top.. please avert ur eyes and scroll to the top, read, then come back here... I'd like to share a bit on that ^_^ wohohoho.. for my dearest friends who've been with me all this time and who've heard about my search for work.. they would've seen my slowly but surely going a bit frantic and stressed signs.. well, u see, truth be told, I've been applying for jobs since jan or feb last YEAR.. but I haven't seen any signs of me getting a job all throughout 2007!! Honestly, at first I had to admit that I was rather conceited.. I thought oh heck, it'll be a snap (after seeing most of my friends get their jobs after the 2nd or 3rd interview)... but the truth is, it's NOT easy! geez, keep getting similar feedback, sometimes it's the "no residency" thing, sometimes it's the "lack of enthusiasm" part, sometimes it's other things.. they all give me feedback saying i'm a strong candidate, but always not strong ENOUGH.. also, since my residency is STILL pending for now.. it seems that nothing is going as planned.. worries started kicking in, but I've been reminded that by worrying, I'm showing that I doubt God and that I so lack faith!

I was having my quiet time with God, and it was on Psalms 16.. Verses 5 to 11 just leapt out of the page and spoke to me.. God graciously reminded me that He's got His wonderful plans for me.. that despite how bleak things may seem, God has mapped out my life, and that even in my sleep God is guiding me in His way and that God will provide..

Well, well.. a while later.. I got an interview for a position I even forgot I applied for.. oh yeah, and the ad actually stated that only people with residency can apply!! turns out that this position was bingo! This was a position that I've been searching for all the time - my "ideal position" !! it's for an environmental consulting company, doing consulting work which concentrates mainly on design, process optimisation, and is similar to what I've been doing during my temp job as a RA at uni.. And, only by God's graciousness, I was offered the job!! woohooo!! God is GOOD!!

Just a word of encouragement, to NEVER stop trusting in God's plans.. His plans for those whom He loves are perfect down to the very little detail!! Blessings!! ^_______^