Mother knows best

NOTHING can ever surpass the love a mother has for her Son.

..which is why we should always seek out Mama Mary in the things we pray for/about. What better guide to have than the woman who bore the Almighty? Human as she was, she was still able to carry out the life that God wanted for her. At only fourteen years old she already allowed the Lord to take over her life. She gave up her own life so that her desires would only reflect what His desires were. She never complained. A gentle woman with faith that literally moved heaven & earth. How profound her love for us is, that she will definitely see us through everything we do.

Think about your own mothers right now.

How many ways has she provided you with the things you not only needed but also wanted? How many sleepless nights this woman has spent in her WHOLE enitre life just so that she could cater to me! And by that I don't just mean my childhood days. In my older age I have thrown tantrums and shed an ocean worth of tears and she still knows how to soothe me, to calm me down. You know those days when you just feel really crappy and nothing absolutely nothing else in the world can "cure" you but a homemade dish or a nice big hug. Mothers are such a beautiful gift. We all came from one and we all lived inside their bellies. It warms my heart to know just how careful my mom was when she was pregnant with me. Their job doesn't end when we're out and about! It's a 24/7 thing even when we ourselves reach our 30's, 40's, 50's etc. No one knows us better than our own mothers, because we will always share an indescribable link with them. For the first 9 months of our lives, we were literally a PART of them.

Full of grace. Blessed are you amongst women, and blessed is the FRUIT of your womb, Jesus. 

So if our human mothers can provide us with nothing but the best, how much more for our Mother Mary who was the purest of the pure! Golden that lady was. Crowned in perfection.

She is the prime example that it IS indeed possible to proclaim the greatness of the Lord with nothing but kindness and humility. The Lord was the stronghold of her life.

So as we continue to live out our daily lives, let us allow her to journey with us through our discernment. Let us ask her to intercede for us.

She really does know best.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

One thing I've started to rediscover during my trip here in the Philippines is my essence as a woman. What in the world do I need to be in order to be respected, to be treasured and most importantly to be loved? Like me, so many of the women today are confused. They are confused because of the way that our societies have chosen to define what and how a woman should be. She should be kind, generous, caring and loving. But then she should also be fearless, aggressive, strong, and the most commonly used definition lately:  independent. 

Apparently that's the most IMPORTANT part: In order to be a "REAL" woman, you need to realize that you do not need a man in your life. Heck, it's all about flower power. You're a woman? So what! You can make your own money, own your own house, drive your own luxury car and climb that career ladder of yours! You're just as great as the next man across from you. Go ahead, tell all the men in your life you're so much better than them.

But that's not why the Lord made us.

"The essence of a man is Strength. A man is meant to be the incarnation- our experience in human form- of our Warrior God. A God who comes through for us." 

Women today strive to be something they are not. We were never made to be like our male counterparts. We will never be like the men in our life, nor should we want to be. Now before I share with you what a woman should offer the world, let me first ask you a simple question.

What was the LAST thing the Lord created on this Earth?

Think about it....

The last thing our God made was woman. 

Has it hit you yet? The profoundness of that very fact? If we see value and beauty in His creations like the mountains, the seas and the animals then why is it so hard for us to see our value and our beauty as a woman? 

WE ARE HIS MASTERPIECE. 

We are the crowning glory. 

We are the cherry on top of that sundae.

So now I can tell you that, "the essence of a woman is beauty. She is meant to be the incarnation- our experience in human form- of a Captivating God."

When I read that in Captivating I was blown away. It took a moment to register. My goodness how was I so blind these past 23 years? How could I let my society devalue me? How did I let so many people tell me I was worth nothing, that I wasn't worth it? That was when I started to not only see but accept what the Lord wanted me to claim this whole time: that as a woman, I am precious.

Lord, grabe ka talaga! You know me and the needs of my heart. You have found a way for me to physically experience Your love...I mean, what better way to affirm my essence as a woman & my worth as Your daughter than to send me such STRONG brotherly companionship here in the Philippines? He has blessed me with so many male counterparts to guide, protect and to walk with me as I grow in my faith journey with Him halfway around the world. What are the chances that I'd have so many of my CANADIAN brothers join me?! First Miguel, Timothy, and Cj. Pretty soon I'll be joined by Julius. And right on time for my birthday, the Biaco brothers Paul & Mitch. These brothers and their presence in my life has been God's reminder to me: that I am His princess.

A man, if he is of God, should help you to discover your beauty as a woman. He will treasure your heart. He will seek out your presence and fight for your love.

So as a woman, yes I do believe we need a man in our life.