Never Forget Who You Belong To

Sometimes the enemy of our souls works extra hard to derail us, taunting and tormenting us with lies straight from the pit of his dwelling place -- hell. But we need not fear! Even when our days seem darker than dark, we have something to hold on to -- our Heavenly Father and the FACT the TRUTH that we are indeed His precious and powerful daughters. 

Just remind the devil of where he's headed and who has won the battle. We have defeated him by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. That's something to rejoice over. 

So straighten your crown, tighten your amor, pick up that sword and shield and kick satan's you-know-what with God's Truth.  

Revelation 12:10-11

 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them day and night before our God. 11They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.

Reign Real Now! Your Place is on a throne with a sword.

I want to give credit to the amazing artist who created this, but I cannot find the name. 

Greetings Princess Warriors! I didn’t quite make my seven day posting commitment … but I am close. I’m hoping the following teaser for my upcoming book: Reign Real: Becoming a Princes Warrior for Christ makes up for my lapse! I’d be thrilled to have your thoughts, suggestions, and comments, and I hope you take time to complete the activities at the end of the chapter. I believe they will challenge you and draw you closer to the One True King.

(Please note: The “sidebar” boxes will be on the sidebar in the actual book, not smack dab in the middle of the text. So use your imagination!)

Introduction

Ding-dong! Ding-dong! The doorbell chimed impatiently.

With my overflowing candy bowl in one hand and my Gospel tracts in the other, I courageously opened the door to a crowd of dancing, hopping, and very noisy costumed characters. A kitty-cat, Superman, Batman, and one, two, three…little princesses squirmed anxiously, anticipating more tasty treats to add to their already overflowing buckets, bags, and plastic pumpkins.

“Mom, I wanted to be a princess, too,” the incredibly cute kitty-cat whined at her mother who hovered protectively nearby looking none too pleased by her daughter’s public proclamation. 

Considering the manner in which Miss Kitty-cat was eyeing Disney Princess number three, I thought a hiss and loud meow might be forthcoming. Thank goodness the animal control truck was rounding up critters in another neighborhood! Hurriedly, I handed out candy and the story of salvation to eager hands.

“Thank you,” they all chorused.

As the group scampered down the walkway, Kitty-cat stopped in front of Princess Three. “I wanted your costume because I’m a princess, but my mom said I had to be a kitten this year.” Her shoulders sagged with obvious regret.

To my amazement, the princess offered this fascinating explanation, “I wanted to be a ninja warrior, but my mom said I was a little princess. You can have my crown if you want.” Before her mom could protest, she dramatically removed her sparkling, jeweled treasure and placed it on Kitty-cat’s head, just behind the fuzzy-leopard ears. “There, now we’re both princesses, and I’m a warrior, too,” she added, proudly.

“Me, too.” Princess number two agreed, nodding enthusiastically.

Me too, I thought, still amazed by Princess Three’s generosity. A bit selfish at times, I’m not sure I would have parted with such a prized possession.

Thankfully, though, as a daughter of the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, I am royalty, created to reign forever with my Lord. Just like the delightfully dressed-up-princess, sometimes I reign with a wand and other times I brandish a sword. Living as a Princess Warrior, seated on a Throne of God’s glory, isn’t always easy, but it is the most rewarding and exciting position any woman could possibly have. Really.

Not to mention there are enough crowns for all God’s girls!

So, if you dream of becoming a princess — crown, gown, scepter, and all the royal trimmings — you’re not alone. If you sometimes envision yourself lifting your royal ruffles to launch a swift kick at an unrelenting enemy, or unsheathing your saber instead of your scepter, keep reading.

Ladies, when you belong to the Ultimate King of Heaven and Earth, you truly are a priceless princess and a worthy warrior. Although the two titles may seem decidedly incompatible, please, consider again.

Should you be reading this book with hair rollers dangling from the very lochs they’re supposed to curl, your mascara clumping on areas other than your lashes, and un-matching socks with holes in the heels (don’t ask how I know about this stuff) there is still a throne for you. The King says so!

Indeed much has been written about understanding our position in Christ and how to fight the good fight of faith. But, have we as women accurately embraced our inclusive identity as both princess and warrior?

If not, don’t worry. You can join me as together we discover how to reign real in an increasingly wicked world, accepting the thrones our Heavenly Father fashioned just for us. And remember, in this Kingdom, women with ample behinds (that’s me), messy hair (okay, me again), and a ton of imperfections (need I say more?) fit perfectly on the thrones they've been given.

A hallelujah moment: There’s no need to “get pretty,” lose weight, or visit the hair salon before sitting on your throne, scepter and sword in hand. Jesus Christ has taken care of all the details. It’s simply up to us to believe and hold on to Him.

And remember, because of Jesus, we really can live happily ever after, not like a false, fairytale princess, but as a godly warrior princess. Our happiness will not be fully realized in this world or this lifetime, but by reigning real here and now, we will reap riches and rewards beyond our wildest expectations in our eternal Kingdom to come. After all, the Kingdom we belong to will always exist; and not just in our childhood dreams, but forever and ever (that’s a long, long, time) in the presence of God Almighty.

Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.

                                         Deuteronomy 14:2 NIV 

Chapter 1

Are you a Princess Warrior? No not Zena!

A Princess called Caraboo

Nearly two-hundred years ago in a small English town, a princess appeared. Ta … da! This striking beauty spoke an unrecognizable language, and was found dressed in exotic attire. A number of concerned (a nice word for nosy) and fascinated people attempted to decipher their mysterious visitor’s language, and the whereabouts of her native homeland.

Unfortunately, other than her highly unusual behavior that included sleeping on the floor (ouch), refusing to eat meat, dining on pineapple (fine by me), swimming naked (not fine by me), fencing, practicing archery, and praying to a god she called Allah Tallah, no one knew who she really was, or, where she came from.  She called herself, Caraboo, Princess Caraboo.

Eventually, a Portuguese sailor said he could translate her gibberish. A tale of intrigue unraveled, revealing the exquisite foreigner was actually “Princess Caraboo” and she had been captured by pirates who had kidnapped her from the island of Javasu in the Indian Ocean. Miraculously, Princess Caraboo had somehow managed to escape her tormentors by throwing herself into the channel and swimming ashore. (Is this girl for real?)

For several months, the lovely princess resided with a prominent and wealthy family who flaunted her exotic royalty to the local bigwigs, only to discover later that their infamous houseguest was actually a cobbler’s daughter named Mary Baker.

Sidebar box: Royal Reminder: Hiding doesn’t work! In a game of hide and seek even the best “hider” is eventually found. For whatever we do in the dark eventually comes out in the light. So, why bother trying?

Miss Baker had created her own royal personage and a language derived from gypsy words and her imagination. Following this untimely disclosure, Miss Baker continued her façade, traveling to Spain, France, and ultimately back to England when her act finally proved unsuccessful. Many years later, after becoming a “saleswoman” and selling leeches (the blood-sucking kind) to local hospitals, she died as a lonely, old woman buried in an unmarked grave.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

After first reading this tantalizing, and somewhat scandalous tale, I was intrigued (nosy), shocked, and then somewhat depressed. Why would a beautiful young woman go to such extreme lengths to “be” a princess? Why would someone reinvent their whole identity?

Instead of allowing myself to pass judgment on this haunting figure, I took an extended look in the mirror of my own life.

Sidebar box: Royal Reminder: Shining the light of God’s truth in your heart is like pointing your flashlight under a bed; you can no longer ignore the dirt.

There I discovered what many of you already know ― sometimes, oftentimes, we don’t believe we are worthy. We don’t believe we’re enough. We feel hopeless, helpless, hostile, and even hateful. We fantasize about what our lives would be like if only we had the perfect fulfilling career and lived in a luxurious castle, married to the perfect prince, with a perfect nanny and servants to help us raise our almost-perfect children. Did I forget the — if only I had the perfectly sculpted, toned, tanned, figure without having to work for it and all would be well syndrome? 

Sidebar box: Royal Reminder: If only: The two words that best describe dissatisfaction. How often do you utter the terrible two? Tell the truth, girls!

Some of us have taken our own dissatisfaction a step further and determined to become somebody different. In fact, as a young teenager, I had already survived several years of relentless teasing from a group of girls on my swim team. I’m not talking about a few unkind words here and there; rather, I was assaulted with menacing words, not only by my female teammates, but by several team moms as well. During this time, my vocabulary expanded with words that even a seasoned sailor might find offensive.

Why this attack started, I can only guess. I assume it was triggered by some sudden swimming improvements on my side of the pool, and the fact that a previous swimming-princess was dethroned, while I became the number one seated ten-year-old.

You’ve all read about the “cheerleader mom syndrome,” right? Well, unfortunately, I’d become a target of one such mother. As I entered my tender teenage years, I developed a strong sense of dissatisfaction with who I was. So as I sought approval from others who didn’t know me, I’d often change my name, my age, and behave in a way that was not properly suited for a young girl of thirteen. Needless to say, this “identity” led me down some paths I wish I’d never traveled.

I remember later in life, one brave therapist asked that I bring my photo albums to one of our sessions. Although I found this request rather odd, I complied. As we carefully explored the worn photos, page by page, something fascinating was revealed. The therapist, looking closely at my sixth grade picture asked, “What happened at this point in hour life?” (yes, I was ten) He went on to explain that my eyes had changed. The twinkle was gone.

Are you with me, ladies?

That was the very same time the swim team debacle had started. Hiding our pain isn’t as easy as we might believe. That camera sure captured it. Our hearts sure feel it.

Perhaps you haven’t taken on a whole new identity like Princess Caraboo, or pretended to be someone else as I did, but I suspect somewhere in the painful valleys of your life, you, too, have sought a mask or two, or three … to hide behind.

Maybe we no longer fit into those frilly princess costumes of days past, but with excruciating efforts we can force ourselves to squeeze into identities not created for us. Yet, why would we do such a thing when right now, this very moment, an eternal King has unlimited royalty positions open, enough thrones to go around, and heavenly real-estate priced at the all-time, rock-bottom, no-hidden-fees or gimmicks price of ― free. Yes, free! 

Sidebar box: Royal Reminder: Put away that checkbook! Heavenly real-estate prices and percentages never change. They are permanently secured at zero. No hidden fees to pay, no annual percentage rate increases, no late charges, ever. Jesus Christ covered the cost. With His life, He paid the price.

Ladies, when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Heavenly King, we wear the robes of royalty. Our whole identity changes for the better. Not only do we finally find a real prince charming, but we also become destiny-filled, priceless princesses and worthy warriors who are able to reign real from thrones of grace. Hope is restored, and God redeems us and sets us free … indeed.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Galatians 5:1a NIV

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

Xena, Xena, she’s not our gal

Before we go any further, we’ve got to talk about you know who — Xena “warrior princess.” Gorgeous brunette, curvy figure, leather attire, and an array of skin-slicing weapons with an unforgettable battle cry, yep, that’s the one. Please, don’t try the battle cry; it hurts.

I know; I shouldn’t have brought it up. So, if you’re curious (I can practically hear you begging me for more information about that notorious screech) go to handy dandy YouTube and do a Xena search. Just type in “Xena war cry.” After you’ve screamed like a banshee once or twice, hurry back to this page. Don’t tarry!

Now that you’ve returned, erase her image from your mind, most of it anyway. Certainly, we can find some parallels to our royal cause, but, quite frankly, a majority of the time, this captivating heroine stayed stuck in the warrior mode, and like Princess Caraboo, she was worshipping the wrong entity — herself.

For those of you who don’t know, Xena Warrior Princess was an American television series airing from 1995 to 2001. The show continues to have a cult-like following and anxious fans eagerly await Xena’s reappearance on the Big Screen someday. Like Star Trek’s infamous “to boldly go where no man has gone before” opening, the Xena voiceover proudly proclaimed its own unique message:  “In a time of ancient gods, warlords and kings...A land in turmoil cried out for a hero. She was Xena, a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle. The power...the passion...the danger...Her courage will change the world.”

Ah … can you sense the excitement, the danger, the adventure? Surely there were some defining moments as Xena fought to overcome her hateful and dark past. I’m certain many of you can somehow relate to that process. However, Xena went about it all wrong. Her mission, to save so-called “innocents” from harm and redeem herself sounds noble, but it’s a lost cause. She bravely fought a long list of villains during the show’s 134 episode run (not to mention her appearances on Hercules) in an attempt to find the redemption she so desperately desired — redemption she could never earn.

Sidebar box: Royal Reminder: A sexy, leather-clad Xena may be worthy of a theme song, but it doesn’t make her deserving of a Throne. Real royalty is lifted from the ashes of sin and born again by the grace and glory of God.

Ladies, we cannot liberate ourselves. No one, not even Warrior Princess – Xena can perform enough harrowing rescues or good deeds to obtain salvation. No matter how many toilets we scrub, noses we wipe, business meetings we attend, church committees we’re on, no matter what we “do,” we will never measure up … without God’s grace.

This book isn’t about powering through life in thigh-high boots, with a baby on one hip and a sword strapped to the other. Although, that makes an interesting picture, it doesn’t make sense, nor is it God’s desire.

Rather, in the following chapters we will discover what a godly, princess warrior does from her throne and the protocol that allows her live faithfully as her King’s daughter. I think you’ll be surprised to discover she spends a great deal of time helping others find their thrones, while eliminating those things that try to topple her from her own.

Royal Decree: The position of Princess Warrior is open to every woman who believes and belongs to Jesus Christ. If you have not yet accepted His gift of eternal life, please, don’t wait another moment. For we are not snooty princesses or ruthless warriors, we are the real deal, and reigning real only makes sense when you’ve been crowned as part of His royal court, God’s family. Dear sister, your throne waits …

Sidebar box: Royal Reminder: All of Heaven applauds your decision to wear the Crown of Christ. Go ahead girlfriend … put it on!

Right now, I’d like to pray for you.

    Dear Heavenly Father, my mighty King and valiant Savior, I ask that you reach deep into the heart of my sister. As she reads this prayer and the words from Your love letters, the Holy Bible, may she find hope for her situation, and may she drink from Your living water in order never to thirst again. Allow her to see Your truth and the amazing fact that You died a horrible death on a filthy Roman cross to save her. Had it been only her, You still would have died to set her free from sin and death. Give her the courage to reach for You, Jesus. May she ask for your healing, forgiveness, and grace. In Your name, Jesus, we pray, amen.               

If you already belong to the King, hallelujah! I’d like to invite you also to pray the above prayer, inserting the name of any friend, coworker, or family member that does not yet know the King of Kings.

From the King’s Desk…God’s Love Letters to His Princess Warriors:

I will call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:3 Amplified Bible

Jesus is "the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone. Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one." Acts 4:11-12 The Message

God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

 Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT

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.

 Romans 12:9 KJV

From the pen of a princess:

At the end of each chapter, you will find several questions or activities specifically designed to help you further embrace God’s truths and will for your life. Take time to explore and share what you are learning. Feel free to use these activities for small group discussion.

·         When you were a little girl, did you want to be a princess, or envision yourself as a warrior? If so, please explain.

·         Was there a time in your life when you, like Princess Caraboo, pretended to be someone else? What circumstances or feelings led you to take on a different identity?  What type of “masks” have you hidden behind?

·         What about Xena? Is there anything about her that you find appealing? If so, what? and why? If not, please explain.

Timeless Truth:

God loves His daughters with an everlasting, unceasing love. As a Princess Warrior there is no need to hide your face, ever, for you are free indeed.

Enter His Throne Room and Bring your Blunders:

All right girls, now is the time to lay it on the line, to air the dirty laundry, to take out the trash. Are you ready? A key to reigning effectively is the ability to confess our sins to God and one another. I call it “telling on myself.” When we keep secrets we become weighted down. One popular cliché states that we’re only as sick as our secrets. So … let’s lighten our load and stay spiritually fit.

·         Share at least one way that you have acted phony or fake in relation to others this past week. For example, have you been dishonest, devious? Do you pretend to agree when you really disagree? Are you pretending to be okay when you’re really not?  Let’s check our honesty levels, ladies. The truth will set us free.

Dear Holy King,

Thank you for loving me with an everlasting love. Your grace is truly amazing. Thank you for Your compassion, for You pursued me with love even when I tried to hide from You. Today, in this moment, I choose to lay aside any dishonest statements, actions, false identities, or useless masks, and instead put on the robes of royalty, a heavenly crown, and the powerful armor You have provided so generously for me. You have saved me from the law of sin and death. I am willing to serve You and reign real in this world, helping others see Your love shining through me. May I be Your light in the darkness, Your voice in the desert, and Your hope for the hopeless. I love You, my King, Jesus. Amen.

Thank you for taking time to read the introduction and first Chapter in my upcoming book. Again, I welcome (would love to have) your feedback. This book is for you. I will be posting chapters two and three as well. I hope God spoke to you and touched you in some small (or big, mighty) way. Blessings to you, my sister in Christ. You are indeed a Daughter of the King.

Put on the Armour of God (prayer format)

Putting on the Armor of God Prayer

Dear Lord, I come before you today to put on the spiritual armor that You have so generously provided for your Princess Warriors, and that means me. 

First, I put on the Belt of Truth, buckled securely around my waist, for it is Your truth that sets me free. I then put on the Breastplate of Righteousness that covers my heart and emotions and shows I am in right standing with You. My feet are shod in the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, and I take those feet and tread on serpents and scorpions, while bringing peace and love, not anger and discord wherever I may travel this day. I firmly take hold of the Shield of Faith, and use it to quench every fiery arrow the devil may fire at me, and I take the Sword of the Spirit, which is Your precious and powerful Word, and I use it to pierce through the enemy’s wicked plans. For Your Word states, all I must do is submit myself to You, Lord, and tell the devil to flee, and he must go. So, be gone. devil, in the NAME OF JESUS! 

I choose to follow my Heavenly King this day. May I serve You with joy and perseverance, living boldly and lovingly as Your Princess Warrior. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, I pray, Amen. 

Don't forget The Armor

Ladies, I think this picture and prayer are the perfect reminders of how we as Princess Warriors for Christ need to dress for danger and prepare with prayer before waltzing out into the world, unaware of the devil's diabolical plans to derail us from doing what's right. 

When I speak at retreats, I always take the opportunity to present a drama that describes, in detail, what a woman's day "looks like" without the armor in place, and then follow it up with a depiction of how we can live victoriously by keeping our armor on and intact. Illustrations like this serve as solid reminders that we are indeed at war, but, thankfully, our Commander provides the perfect arsenal of weapons. It's up to us to use them.

We wouldn't traipse into an earthly war zone without protection, yet many of us charge out our doors with no spiritual protection, and then wonder what happened to our good intentions. We question how we managed to drift so far from our desires and dreams for the day.

It doesn't have to be this way. We can take the time get "prayed up" and "dressed up" for our day. In the end, we will be glad we did!

Redemption: Is it real?

For my Easter article visit: http://powertochange.com/discover/faith/goodfriday/

The next "Alice in Wonderland" study is coming soon. Have a blessed Easter, Princess Warriors.

Secret Sins Saturating Society

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. —Proverbs 28:13

The old cliche' "You're only as sick as your secrets," has more merit than you might believe.

You need only glance at the face of a child who is hiding something ... Scrunched features. Mumbling. No eye contact. Cocked head. Silly smile. They each have their own cues that inform us that they have a secret that needs sharing.

Just this evening, I was watching an evening television show with my daughter. It was absolutely fascinating. Ask me the name of the program and I won't be able to tell you. Sorry! Anyway, it was all about a group of seasoned law enforcement and military personnel whose jobs included using specialized interrogation techniques and getting a person to confess his or her crime.

They showcased taped interrogations and provided commentary while the conversations were taking place. For those who ended up confessing, their whole demeanor and body language shifted once the truth was out on the table. Suddenly, all their protective strategies were discarded and the tension left their bodies. They actually appeared to be relieved despite the fact that a life in prison, or, in one case, the death penalty were the rewards for their disclosures. Apparently, though, confessing their crimes provided relief from some of their guilt. I think we all know that pretending takes a lot of energy. It's stressful to keep a secret.

What led me to this challenging topic? The recent Internet stories about Tiger Woods and his alleged affairs. He has admitted to hurting his family with his actions. The truth is out now. Unfortunately, for his family, the whole world knows about his secrets.

The Bible explains in clear language that if we chose to conceal our transgressions we will not prosper. But, thankfully, for believers, we have something (Someone) the rest of the world doesn't -- complete forgiveness available through Christ Jesus.

We all fall short and sin. We all make mistakes. We've all kept secrets. God doesn't want us bound up by lies and secrecy. He wants us free to be all we can as His Princess Warriors. It's more than a little difficult to reign real when we're covering our faces in shame. Secrets cause shame. And I've discovered over the years, no matter how hard we try to keep something hidden it eventually gets found. After all, whatever goes on in the dark is eventually illuminated by the Light.

God is already well aware of our secret sins. We live in a society riddled with wounded women who are cowering away from confession, afraid to reveal their secret thoughts, actions, or words. I know when I was a young wild child, I used to get confused because I couldn't quite keep track of all my secrets. I considered myself a pretty adept liar. I know. Something to be proud of ... not even! Today, I've invited the Holy Spirit into my life and have asked that He shine the light of truth brightly on any secret sins I might be concealing. His conviction leads to confession, which leads to freedom.

Are you burdened by a secret sin? Is it time for you to turn to Jesus for forgiveness? I love the explanation of this process written by Dr. Robert Luginbill:

Cleansing from Sin: As believers, we have already been "washed" clean of our sins, that is, forgiven and pronounced holy by Christ's work when we accept that work by faith (Eph.2:5-9). But although we are clean and pure "in Christ" (1Cor.6:11), it is still possible for our feet to pick up a bit of dirt as we walk about in the devil's world. God has given us the status of "holy people", but we are still imperfect and still capable of sin.

We must therefore be alert to the fact that as long as we sojourn on this earth we shall always be vulnerable to personal sin, and we must be ready to confess it whenever we become entangled in the "sin which so easily besets us" (Heb.12:1). This is the point Jesus made when He washed the disciples' feet before the last supper (Jn.13:1-17).

Peter was unwilling to allow Jesus to wash his feet along with the other disciples. But when Jesus told him that without the washing of his feet, Peter could have "no share" in Him, Peter demanded that the Lord wash his body also. Jesus replied, "One who has had a bath needs only to have his feet washed, otherwise he is completely clean" (v.10). Our Lord was telling us that we are in need of only one release from the bondage of sin which has held all mankind under condemnation since Adam, and that this release or "redemption" was provided by His death in our place and appropriated by us through our faith in Him (Col.2:13-14).

This is the "bath" or cleansing from sin which has already been accomplished and need never be repeated. We do, however, continue to commit acts of personal sin as believers, and when we do, we are in need of "foot washing", that is, of the forgiveness and restoration which comes to us when we confess our sins to God. We need to be washed from sin only once. We need to cleansed of our sins as often as we commit them.

I hope this entry has prompted you to stay current on confession. God isn't here to interrogate us, but to love and forgive us. Why don't we let Him?

Protection Made Perfect: The Belt of Truth

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with the truth

Thank you Lord for Your truth as described in your Bible. You are truth and You alone set me free from sin and lies. Today, I choose to believe Your truth and about who You are and who I am as Your child. Holy Spirit, lead and guide my thoughts in Your path of truth. Help me to make wise decisions today based on Your Word. Help me to speak the truth in love to myself and others. Let Your truth prevail in all things. Jamee Rae, sharefaith writer

So the belt goes first? Why?

I've discovered that God provides clear directions, including the order of the armor. Putting on the Belt of Truth must come first because all the other pieces are quite useless if we don't believe The Truth. Should we doubt, for any reason, who God is and in what He says, why would we choose to put our faith in Him? Would we dare to raise the Sword of the Spirit without understanding the power of truth?

God's Truth is foundational to our walk as Christian women. The Bible clearly defines our enemy, satan, as the father of lies. Being the exact opposite of God, satan represents everything we must turn from.

Lately, God has been challenging me (again) about the importance of absolute truth. Meaning I can't simply ignore the fact that there are times when I lie by ommission, and other situations where I've been known to fib. See how I want to minimize by using fib rather than lie? Maybe you can relate.

Picture our dear sister in Christ, Maria (name changed to protect the not-so-innocent) who is terrified of hurting other people's feelings. That belief seems noble enough. She doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. She cares about people and wants them to feel good about themselves. But is that the whole truth? Actually, Maria really wants people to feel good about her. She's deeply uncomfortable with the idea of others not approving of her. (We've all been Maria a time or two) Her friend continually asks her to babysit. She really wants to attend a weekly Bible study and believes that God has called her to join this particular group. Her husband has encouraged her to take time to fill up on God's Word with other supportive women.

You can probably see where this is going. If Maria tells her friend she needs a day off from babysitting she might inconvenience her friend and earn her disaproval. So rather than being faithful to God, herself, and honoring her husband's wishes, she continues to lie (yes, lie) when her friend asks if she can babysit. The conversation goes something like this.

"Hey, Maria. I really appreciate you babysitting. I've got a ton of errands this week, do you mind keeping the kids again?"

Maria's guts are churning. She is becoming resentful by her friend's ongoing requests and mad at herself for choosing "man" over God and His plan for her. She replies dutifully, "Of course, I'll do it. I love babysitting your children." Lie. Lie. Lie. Maria is completely disnhonest about her feelings and desires.

Next time her friend asks the same question, still to scared to speak the truth, she tries another dishonest route. "I'm so sorry. I can't do it this week, my mom's coming to stay with us and I have so much to do." Lie. Lie. Lie. She makes up an excuse rather than letting her yes's be yes and her no's be no.

Let's rewind the clock and watch Maria stand on the Truth with love.

"I'm not going to be able to babysit on Tuesdays anymore. I'm starting a new Bible study."

That's it. Plain and simple.

I'm so blessed be in a friendship where we don't feel the need to explain ourselves. What freedom! I can call her and she can say, "Can't talk now. Can I call you back?" No explanation or drawn out reason. Simply: I can't talk now. The even better part -- I can do the same with her. We have faith in God and in each other. There is no need to seek approval from each other by being dishonest. We can rest in Christ and the truth that we love and care for each other no matter what.

The reason I'm focussing on these seemingly "little untruths" is that I've heard countless women share their fears in relation to simple truth telling. My concern is how can we possibly stand against the BIG BIG lies of this world, if we are unable to tell the truth in basic daily life with family, friends, coworkers, and even other Christians?

Ladies, as princess warriors, we're not in a popularity contest. Granted we want to be grace-filled, loving, kind, and encouraging, but if we're tossing the Belt of Truth aside so we can lie, we're missing the mark.

Today, when you put on the Belt of Truth, take a minute to focuss on God's amazing truths found in His Word. Then, ask the Holy Spirit to nudge you (in my case maybe shove) when you start to speak an untruth. Ask God to fill you with His truth in every situation and relationship. Ask Him for the courage to seek His approval before the approval of others. After all, it's His approval that truly matters.

Are you keeping up on confession?

Greetings Princess Warriors!

Are you as close to God as you'd like? Do you feel connected to Him? Or is a seemingly insurmountable wall keeping you from drawing closer to your King?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may want to make sure that you are "current" with confession.

Let me explain! So often, we hurry through our lives and on some days we fail to confess our sins to Him. If too many days add up, the Holy Spirit prompts us to get busy and get confessing. Imagine if you failed to brush your teeth. After a few days, your mouth would feel more than a little disgusting and gross. You'd hopefully get busy brushing. So it is with sin, but on a much more serious level. When we fail to awknowledge and release our mishaps to God, we start to feel guilty and out-of-balance. Our enemy, the devil, is quick to shoot his fiery darts our way when we fail to let go of our secrets.

For some of us, we have secrets we've held on to for months, years, even decades. Like a splinter buried beneath your flesh, these secrets will fester if left unattended and unremoved.

God's Word gives us example after example of men and women who have confessed their sin and returned to right standing with their King. Jesus Christ sacrificed His life in order for us to be free from sin and death. Yet, for some reason, we still cling to sour emotions and sinful secrets, refusing to release them into our Savior's capable hands. Believe me, I've done this more than once. (More than a few times)

Sisters, please don't wait another moment. Turn to God and share everything with HIm. After all, His Word says the following:

If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 1 John 1:9

People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Finally I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD ." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. Psalm 32:1-6

The Big 5,000!

Precious Readers, thank you for visiting this site. I just happened to notice that I've had over 5,000 visitors since April.

Visitors as far away as Israel, India, China, and Russia, have stumbled onto this site. My prayer is that God would use my words to encourage, inspire, and challenge women around the globe. He is certainly answering that request.

Please, if you like this site and if it helps you in your walk with Christ as a Princess Warrior, refer others. Sign on as a Princess Warrior partner/follower.


Remember to thank God in all things, for He is the Provider of every blessing we receive. God bless you all! I'm looking forward to sharing more Princess Warrior helps in 2009.

A Princess Warrior's Words

Don't let Satan hijack your words (tongue)!

I know. The picture is REALLY unsettling. But I feel like God is REALLY trying to get my attention and maybe yours, too. I suspect this disgusting picture did just that.

However, it makes a powerful statement, doesn't it? Sometimes, maybe more than we'd care to admit, what comes out of our mouths is just as disgusting. The book of James talks about that one little organ -- our tongue -- causing so many problems. What we say cannot be erased ... ever. Once said, always said. Certainly, we can apologize for our misspoken words and confess, yet the consequences may remain far into the future as scars on another person's heart.

This time of year, for a number of reasons, people tend to get more stressed. Holidays can bring out the worst in some folks. Maybe, for whatever reason, it brings out some ickiness in you. For me, my finances are tighter than most years. I vacillate between trusting God as my Provider and attempting to figure money stuff out on my own. You can probably guess that on my own, I don't do so well. Stress can quickly escalate into words that seem to pop (or as in the above picture) slither out of our mouths. For what resides inside seems to spill into the world around us.

At church this past weekend, our pastor, Mr. Creative, himself, walked around the room with a big canvass bag. He asked us unsuspecting church goers to stick our hands in and see if we could figure out what lay inside. Well, being a daring Princess Warrior, I took the "feel" challenge. Ew-w-w-e! A nasty slimy blob resided in that bag. Please Note: He did provide a squirt of hand sanitizer following each person's turn.

Are you wondering what this was? I sure was. Our pastor used to be a youth pastor so he is very adept at using highly visual and impacting illustrations to make a point. Okay, okay ... it was a cow tongue. Seriously. Well-washed and cleaned up, but still a big, gross, ugly tongue. Can you guess what he was talking about? Uh huh ... the harm a tongue can cause. He waved that thing around and we all had a very powerful reminder of what a tongue can do. So powerful, I'm still sharing about it.

The lesson was good, though. We have got to stop wounding others with our words. Praise God if you don't have an issue with this. If that's the case, I challenge you to pray for those of us that do. Although, considering this was a topic God saw fit to include in the Bible, I suspect most of us struggle with it now and again.

So, what do we do?

Even though it sometimes feels like words just explode from our mouths without a sane thought on our part, there is always a preceding thought and time to make a choice. I know in the heat of the battle it can be difficult to push the PAUSE BUTTON. But that is exactly what we need to do.

My daughter came home this summer from church camp wearing a pin-on-button that said PAUSE. This button was to serve as a reminder for her to think before acting. Friends, we all need a pause button. If purchasing a button helps ... do it. After all, Jesus tells us to cut off our hand if it causes us to sin. Personally, I'd prefer wearing a button over loosing my tongue.

All humor aside. We've all been wounded by words and we've all injured others. Keeping our mouths clean is a must for every Princess Warrior for Christ.

Practical Tips:

1. Pray for God's supernatural help and strength to help you pause before speaking.

2. If you have to, cover your mouth with your hand and/or walk away rather than blurting out something unsavory.

3. Ask if what you plan to say would glorify God.

4. Make sure everything that comes out of your mouth is encouraging to others.

5. Ask if you'd say that if you were face to face with Jesus. (Ouch!)

6. Manage your stress ahead of time by spending time in prayer, worship, and talking with others about your problems. By alleviating stress you will be better equipped to converse calmly without anxiety and worry tainting your words.

7. When you mess up. (Not if, when) Admit your mistake, immediately. Ask God for forgiveness and repent. Turn again from your sin and move forward, making restitution for any harm caused.

I've fallen short a lot in this area, lately. My daughter is really good at pushing buttons other than the Pause Button, if you know what I mean. She is experienced at pushing my personal buttons. It's time for me to disengage those buttons and respond as Christ would, with love and truth, balanced and in harmony with each other.

We belong to a royal priesthood, a holy nation of God. Our words matter. We can use our mouths to bless or curse. Let's choose to bless. Amen?!

Happy early Thanksgiving.

Hear the Battle Cry!

http://sermoncentral.sermonspice.com/videos/1144/battle-cry

Please watch the above video clip.

I think sometimes we forget the warrior part of our identity. We forget that sometimes as Princess Warriors for Christ we have get tough and fight for our King's truth. What we believe may not be popular. What we say may not be well-received. What we do may be ridiculed. We are not of this world. We belong to another. Yet, so often, we spend our time overwhelmed by what's happening around us, instead of fighting the good fight, we get stuck feeling like we have no power and that we must accept the world as it is. So not true!

Friends, we serve a mighty God. His power is accessible to us. He gives us a sword -- His Word -- to defeat darkness.

Jesus faced the devil in a historic showdown in the desert when he was hungry (starving) and exhausted. The enemy tempted him with everything the world had to offer, yet, Jesus was able to defeat temptation from the master tempter by wielding the ultimate weapon -- God's powerful and eternal Word. The spoken Word of God forced the enemy to flee.

Yes, we are to love, but that doesn't mean we aren't supposed to fight. We can stand against our true enemy -- satan. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and dark powers of this age.

Is it time for a Armor check up? We make sure (well, most of the time) that our cars are fuelled and have received their 3,000 mile oil change. If our brakes aren't working, we get them repaired.

As this world continues to spiral into chaos, it is more important than ever that our Armor is battle ready. Is yours polished? Ready for battle? More importantly, are you putting it on? Every day?

I'd like to share the following prayer that has helped me visualize putting on the Armor of God. These are not words to simply say, but to believe ... to live by.

Dear Lord, I come before you today to put on the spiritual armor that you have so graciously provided for your Princess Warriors. First, I put on the Belt of Truth, buckled securely around my waist, for it is Your truth that sets me free. I then put on the Breastplate of Righteousness that covers my heart and emotions and shows I am in right standing with You. My feet are shod in the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, and I take those feet and I bring peace and love, not anger and discord where I tread this day. I grasp the Shield of Faith and use it to quench every fiery arrow the devil may fire at me, and I take the Sword of the Spirit, which is your precious and powerful Word and I use it to pierce through the enemy’s wicked plans. For Your Word states, all I must do is submit myself to You, and tell the devil to flee, and he must go. I choose to follow You this day, my Heavenly King. May I serve You with joy and perseverance, living boldly and lovingly as Your Princess Warrior. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, I pray, Amen.

Ladies, we can be victorious. Let's us raise our swords and stand for our King.

Princess Warrior turned Road Warrior

I just posted this article on my other blog, but it came out all goofy and messy. I hope you enjoy the message and are challenged to become a Praying Road Warrior.

Becoming A Praying Road Warrior

Carol Van Atta

It was fifteen minutes before 8:00 AM.

My turn signal clicked impatiently. Why couldn’t these other drivers understand that I was late — again?

Finally, I merged into the right lane, boldly advancing toward my exit. Out of nowhere, another driver raced up beside me shaking his fist.

No —! Not another incident of road rage.

I wanted to scream. Unfortunately, I had not taken time out of my chaotic morning routine to pray and prepare for the commute that seemed to be growing increasingly stressful each day. I knew all the proper ways to pray. I just needed to set the alarm for earlier, find a peaceful place, and talk to the Lord before venturing outside the security of my home.

For me, this lofty ideal was not working no matter how hard I tried. Yet, I knew, without a doubt, as I watched the rear-end of the fist-shaking-driver’s car vanish around the bend, I could choose to pray for the angry driver or I could fantasize about kicking a rear, and it definitely would not be the backside of a car!

In that moment, I realized that I needed a plan, a plan that I could implement from my car during my hectic morning commute to work. A method of prayer that would allow me move over to the passenger’s seat in my life and surrender to God’s control behind the wheel. Thus began my quest of becoming a focused, dynamic, Praying Road Warrior.

Wherever we are prayer is appropriate. Even in the car! Our Lord told us to pray without ceasing. I understand that commandment to mean that we are to pray all the time, whenever and wherever possible. I also realized, as I prayed for myself, my family, my friends, and my church, there were a large number of hurting, angry, and very impatient people roaring by me on the road — people who looked pretty gloomy about their own freeway circumstances.

I started right then listening more closely to God. Now, when I see a car whiz past and I hear the loving voice of my Father say, “Pray for that woman. She is hurting.” I do. I have learned to start off my daily road trips in the presence of the Lord.

Over time, a new prayer pattern emerged. This simple method that I used to rise above “road madness” and draw closer to my Savior was really starting to work.

Breaking down the word WARRIOR provides a simple, yet very thorough process of prayer. It can be used behind the wheel or wherever else we desire to enter the Throne Room of God.

WARRIOR:

W-Worship — It is always appropriate to enter God’s presence in worship. Worship provides a certain element of holiness that nothing else can. When done with complete abandonment and with Christ as our sole focus, we discover freedom and insight on a deeper level. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found the solution to a problem in the midst of praise and worship. However, I offer a warning: Do not close your eyes and raise both hands in a posture of worship while driving. Not because you look weird, that’s okay, but we want to be a blessing while praying, not causing accidents!

Psalm 68:4 (NLT): Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.His name is the Lord—rejoice in his presence!

A-Adore — I have discovered that adoring God immediately following worship is a natural act. We can speak words of love and praise to Him. For he is worthy, incredible, creative, forgiving, loving, merciful, kind, just, all-powerful, perfect, and so much more. You may find this portion of your prayer time hard to stop. Fantastic!

We will become totally energized when we learn to take the focus off of ourselves and place it where it belongs — on our Lord and King. He alone is truly is worthy of all adoration. We can never honor Him too much.

Psalm 88:15 (NLT): But you, O Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to get angry, full of unfailing love and truth.

R-Repent — Before we go any further, it is time to do business with God. He already paid the price for our sins, didn’t He? I don’t like that feeling when I know I’ve sinned and I’m trying to hide from the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He knows it all! Hiding isn’t possible — ever.

This is an opportunity to remove any unbearable, sin-caused, weight we’ve been carting around, giving it to the Only One who can handle our burdens — Jesus Christ. In prayer, we can chose to start our day fresh and free or under the enemy’s thumb. I don’t know about you, but I want freedom and forgiveness, forget the thumb!

Acts 3:17 (NLT): Thankfully, that is what our God wants for us too. Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sin

R-Repeat — Now is the time to repeat God’s word. Are you working on a memory verse? Have you ever tried praying scripture aloud and in prayer form? If not, this is the perfect opportunity to start. Here we can fill our minds, in prayer, with God’s truth found only in His Word.

Through memorization of God’s word, and praying familiar scriptures back to God, we arm ourselves with the belt of truth. We need this truth in order to live successfully in a deceitful and dangerous world. This is the perfect time to pray through the Armor of God found in Ephesians, Chapter 6. We have a responsibility in our prayer time to take our thoughts captive and replace the enemy’s lies with God’s incredible truth. Let’s do it!

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT): All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

I-Invite — Now we should make time for specific requests and talk about our concerns, our fears, and our hopes, inviting Him to partner in every area of our lives.

I know when I pray in this manner my day just seems to flow so much easier. Not perfectly, because this is a fallen world, but certainly a whole lot better.

I also invite Him to speak to me. It is crucial for me to be silent for a few moments and seek God’s plan. I ask Him to show me anyone on the road, in the traffic jam, or even in a building close by that I should be praying for. God always responds to my request for divine appointments. He is waiting for our invitation. The good news, God always shows up where He is invited!

Proverbs 8:17 (NLT): I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me.

O-Obey — It’s time to obey and actually do what He has revealed to us during worship, while we were repenting or repeating His word. He may have shown us someone to pray for, or something specific we need to do. It is now up to us to follow through.

Just the other day, I drove past an extremely disheveled young man sitting on an overstuffed duffel bag at the side of the freeway entrance. He was holding up a piece of cardboard with “I am hungry” scrawled across the front. On this particular occaision, I felt compelled to drive back and pick up a meal at a fast food restaurant. I was very nervous about the whole thing. I mean, what if he was faking it?

I heard God’s word clearly in my mind, “Feed my sheep.” Now that was hard to ignore. It was not up to me to judge this man, just to bless him in a simple way. I added a five-dollar bill to his lunch bag, stopping nearby while other drivers watched me in obvious shock. I let this man know that the care-package was a gift from God.

Do I do this all the time? No. But this day, I knew it was my duty. So, I obeyed. I can’t even begin to describe the joy I felt in my heart from such a simple act of obedience. I simply had to rejoice!

Jeremiah 7:23 (NLT) This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Only do as I say, and all will be well!’

R-Rejoice — Finally, as we pull into that parking spot, or return to our driveway, we should now be rejoicing. We have just spent the duration of our drive in the presence of God. It is time to rejoice. Rejoice for He is good. He longs to spend time with each one of us. We can approach His thrown with freedom and confidence. Let us celebrate the good news that we never have drive anywhere alone. We have the best driving partner ever, don’t we? We have Jesus.

Next time you get in your car and realize you have not said your morning prayers, don’t fret. God is waiting for you. So are all those people in the world who are hungry for life, hungry for God.

When we become a Praying Road Warrior, we impact our world and our own lives in powerful and unexpected ways. With God driving and us praying, our commute will never be the same again!

Revelation 19: 7a (NLT): Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him

FINAL NOTE: Don’t stop just because the car does! After we park the car, heading to our daily destinations, we often leave God back in the car. Maybe we should invite Him to join us for the rest of the day?

We don’t ever want to leave our dependence on Him for the road trip only. Let’s invite Him to stay with us every minute of everyday. Amen!

The Seductive Mask

If you are a regular visitor to this Blog, or plan to return, why not sign on as a Princess Partner. You can join by clicking on the "become a follower" link on the right sidebar. It's a great way to stay connected.

I hope you've been gleaning insight from the recent mask entries. Today, we're going to focus on a mask that women have worn since the beginning of time, a mask that so many young women (older gals, too) continue to embrace and wear boldly today. Ladies, as daughters of the King of Kings, using our womanly wiles to achieve results is not in anyone's best interest. Unfortunately, everywhere we turn this mask is touted as the one to wear. Remember, we are to be set apart from the world. Just because "everyone else is doing it" doesn't mean we should.

The following entry is adapated from Real Women Don't Wear Masks, Carol Van Atta and Dr. Kathy Rodriguez. (Yet to be published)

Removing the Seductive Mask
A sex symbol becomes a thing.... I just hate to be a thing.
Marilyn Monroe

Just the sight of her husband’s most trusted employee, Joseph, gave Mrs. PT a reason to stop and stare. She wanted Joseph in her bed and under her control.

As the wife a prominent military commander, Mrs. PT had dozens of servants under her authority. Her household was everything she’d dreamt of as a child — well-furnished, clean, stylish, and filled with gorgeous art pieces. As a woman of wealth and influence, she was envied by many in Pharaoh’s court. Her elevated social status coupled with supervising household affairs gave her a comfortable sense of power and confidence.

However, lately, her husband had entrusted all the affairs of their estate to the new, Hebrew heartthrob, Joseph. To Mrs. PT the young man appeared to be just and fair, and more than competent in all his dealings, but to her dismay, he had taken on many of her prior responsibilities as his own. Although she knew he was doing as her husband instructed, she felt slighted, bored, and antsy.

To make matters worse, when not working, her husband, Potiphar, spent long- hours indulging in his first love — eating. Food had become his most cherished lover. Mrs. PT had not been called to his bed chamber for several months. Although he proclaimed his love to her in passing, she felt alone.

One morning, after carefully applying her best cosmetics and perfumed creams, she slipped into a revealing gown of purple silk. The fabric clung snuggly to her form, making a soft swishing sound around her muscular calves as she eagerly prowled the corridors seeking her prey. Yes, prey. She was the hunter — a pleasure hunter.

She could no longer ignore the handsome Hebrew who moved through her treasured household as if it were his own. She would show Joseph who was boss and give them both great pleasures in the process. It had been far too long since she had felt the sensations coursing through her. Seducing this young man would prove she was still an exotic beauty with the insurmountable power of persuasion. Ah, yes, the challenge was intriguing and the capture would taste even sweeter.

“Joseph …” she called huskily. “Come here, please. I need your help.”

Thankfully, our Bible hero, Joseph, did not give into his mistress’ advances. He remained loyal to his earthly master and his God.

For a seductress like Potiphar’s wife, his refusal would have sliced through her heart with the agonizing force of rejection. A woman, who uses the Seductive Mask may do so for many reasons. In this case, control was a primary reason. Although attracted to Joseph, Mrs. PT was a woman likely used to getting what she wanted. Not only would she enjoy the results of the seduction, but also, most likely, she would find the so-called “chase” even more alluring. Using her feminine whiles to enchant and capture a man would be what gave her a renewed sense of control.

The Seductive Mask has been worn since the beginning of time for numerous reasons. We could write an entire book on this particular mask. Although, as Christian women, we may not behave as blatantly as Potiphar’s wife (yet, there are many proclaiming Christians who do) we still struggle with the lies and beliefs in our society that lead us to believe this mask is still somehow worth wearing.

Embracing the Lie

Carrie Anne hurried home as fast as she possibly could with the freezing wind whipping through her open jacket, its icy fingers chilling her. She wished her coat had buttons or a secure zipper like the other children’s. Carrie Anne understood though that her mother had to work extra hard to make ends meet, but, today, her mom’s two jobs were bound to payoff. This year, her mom had promised to have a special gift waiting when Carrie Anne arrived home to celebrate her ninth birthday — just the two of them.

Surprised to see another car in the driveway, Carrie Anne approached the house with cautious anticipation. Visitors were not common in their humble household. Maybe her mom had put together a surprise party. Just the thought of such an extravagant gift caused any lingering chill to flee as her body flushed with new warmth at the thought of such an unprecedented birthday treat. After all, nine was a big year. It was her last single digit birthday.

Playing along with the potential surprise party, Carrie Anne entered the house barely breathing. She could feel her heart pounding wildly. What she saw next startled her more than a room of party guests. In the kitchen, her mom was pressed up against Ray, the nice neighbor down the street. Her mom, normally a conservative dresser was wearing a silky red robe that barely covered her full figure.

“Ray, I promise to pay you back in the next few weeks. This means so much to Carrie Anne. And if the money doesn’t come in, well, I can make sure to pay you back in a way that will more than satisfy.” She trailed her fingers down the side of Ray’s neck.
“I think I might just like that payoff better. Yeah, forget the money. When’s your next day off?” He cupped her face in his hands.

“Mom …?” Carrie Ann questioned unable to remain hidden another second. “What are you doing?”

“Oh! Carrie Ann, your home early. Happy birthday, hon.”

Ray made a quick exit leaving Carrie Anne alone with her mom. Not knowing what to say, Carrie Anne fled to her room.

Later that evening after presenting Carrie Ann with a brand new winter jacket, her mother shared the following with her nine year old daughter.

“Honey, I’m sorry you had to see that. It’s just something that women gotta do when times get tough, or they need something. Men really like to spend time with pretty ladies. We have a gift, you know — the gift of persuasion. You’ll see when you get older. Survival is hard for a woman raising a kid on her own. You just do what you have to in order to make ends meet. Did you like you new coat?”

That image remained with Carrie Anne through grade school, middle school, and eventually, in high school, when her mom couldn’t always afford the things she wanted, Carrie Anne decided to put her mom’s theory to the test. She was amazed that she could actually get what she wanted and needed simply by acting seductively. Sure, she ended up crossing lines that she had promised herself she wouldn’t, but the payoff was worth it; wasn’t it?

Hopefully, you know the answer to that final question Carrie Anne asked. The payoff is never worth the spiritual, emotional, and even physical pricetags we end up paying when we wear the seductive mask.

Join me next time for more about this mask and how to wear Beauty and Modesty instead.