19
March
2007
By Barbara
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s . . . The last of the Ten Commandments, it s in no way the least of the commandments. So hard to obey – but it so very important.
I am delighted to tell you all that my oldest daughter’s writing has been selected twice recently. The first time was for a Writers Night competition. The second time was for a highly acclaimed college publication.
Interestingly, my offered work was not selected either time. Interestingly, I had to literally force her to enter the first (all entrants to the first were entered into the second – something we didn’t know until today.) In fact, I hand delivered her entry to that competition.
All together now – what a good mama!
Not so fast my friends. As dearly as I love my daughter – and as proud of her as I am – and for as smitten as I am with her writing – there has been just that tiniest, niggling, bone of jealousy. (and me with blue eyes, not green)
Why was her writing better than mine? Why her writing chosen when mine was was not? Why?
Pretty juvenile, isn’t it? Sounds like sibling rivalry. Almost.
What it really is – is sin. It is coveteousness. And it is offensive to my Lord.
I have congratulated her – and I have done it sincerely. I will likely purchase a couple of extra copies of the publication when it is printed.
All that aside, I need to ask my Lord for forgiveness and pray that I can be a bit more like Him the next time she and I enter such a contest – and she is recognized and I am not. You see – that is likely to happen more and more as she grows in her craft. She is an accomplished writer and I am thankful for her gift
Written By: barbara
Posted under: On Being a Parent, Women's Voices . 
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14
March
2007
By Pattie
There is a praise song, the chorus of which is:
God of wonders beyond our galaxy, You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty, You are holy, holy
Lord of Heaven and Earth
My ten-year-old was singing at the top of her voice,
God of wonders, beyond our wildest dreams, You are holy, holy
I said, “Did you know the real words are…” and I told her. She shrugged and said, “I like my way better.”
I think I do, too.
Written By: Pattie
Posted under: On Being a Parent . Email This Post
10
March
2007
By Meredith Efken
As an author and freelance editor, I’m somewhat in the public view. My picture is posted on both my websites and in the back of my books. I do some speaking and the occasional (sparsely attended) book signing. So it’s only natural that I want to look my best, instead of looking like a candidate for What Not To Wear.
Problem is, I didn’t grow up in a family that had money to spare for things like fashion or keeping up with trends. I never learned how to shop or how to choose clothes that looked good on me. My method for dealing with the whole clothing issue was to wait until I couldn’t put it off any more, and then do a panic shopping trip. I’d bring home my new outfits, put them on, stand in front of the mirror…
And realize they looked hideous on me!
Adding to that, I’ve always struggled with self-image issues and trying to accept myself for who I am. I’m learning that there’s a fine balance between wanting to look one’s best and wanting to be someone you’re not. It’s not an easy line to walk. And for someone like me who had never had any guidance, it’s hard to even locate the line!
I don’t know how many of you can relate to these struggles. Probably quite a few. And you might be thinking that it doesn’t really matter anyway because you’re not in the public view. Maybe you’re pretty much a home body. So you think that your own appearance isn’t all that important. Or maybe you’ve been taught that it’s wrong to care how you look–because true beauty is what’s inside.
I have been through all that. And what I’ve found is that how you treat the outside of your body is usually a reflection of what you think of yourself inside. When I felt ashamed of my body, or when I lacked self-confidence, I tended to choose baggy, sloppy clothes that allowed me to hide. When I went shopping, I tended to choose clothing that reminded me of something that made me feel good, or that I admired on someone else.
Even the colors–I liked colors that made me feel like I didn’t stand out, that helped me recede.
Notice–nothing that I’ve described had anything to do with what actually looked good on ME. And that’s why when I got home from a shopping trip, I would invariably be disappointed.
I feel like I have a long way to go in learning how to first see myself the way God sees me, and then reflect that view in the way I treat my body. But my friend, Christine, helped me a lot. She’s an image coach. She helps both men and women learn how to choose clothes and accessories (like make-up or hairstyles) that bring out the best in that person. She also helps people learn to accept themselves and appreciate who they are as people. I like to think of it as she helps us recognize our inner beauty by teaching us how to reflect it on the outside.
I’d like to encourage all of you–whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a career woman, or even one of the few guys that I’m sure lurks here (even though they don’t comment)–to take a look at Integrity Works and read Christine’s information there. I think you’ll find it encouraging and informative.
We all need to feel beautiful, don’t you think? 
Written By: Meredith Efken
Posted under: Stay At Home Parents, Women's Voices . Email This Post
9
March
2007
By Vasthi Acosta
I love to read and write. To me words carry power because through them ideas are expressed, and ideas can shake, even alter, our world.
Ideas expressed in the written form make them more acceptable, credible. They allow the idea to go beyond the limits of the speaker, out into the vast world — to touch, change and impact others.
The Holy Bible is the most obvious written method God uses to speak to us. For we have all experienced that moment when you read a verse and it feels as if the words jump off the page and sear themselves to your heart. Words that correct, teach, comfort, even dramatically change us. After all, it is the LIVING word of God.
But our God uses other writing, as well, to speak to us. The writings of our predecessors: Martin Luther, John of the Cross, Brother Lawrence, Teresa de Avila, George MacDonald and C. S. Lewis (a few that have taught me). We are also blessed to have contemporaries that examine their lives, seek God, and share their insights with us. In that manner, they allow God to speak to us through their words.
As a lover of fiction, I’ve heard God’s voice in novels too. When I become immersed in the struggles of the fictional characters, I’ve been challenged to know what is right and choose God’s path. In observing love lived out, I’ve yearned to do the same. And every now and then, a story opens a window into the spiritual realm and I catch a glimpse of that dimension.
God speak in many languages, the written word is probably the most pendantic, and yet, I would call it an honor, a privilege, to have the Lord use my written words for His glory.
God speaks to us through His written word the Holy Bible. But be on the look out because you might hear His voice in other writings too.
Written By: Vasthi Acosta
Posted under: Women's Voices . Email This Post
8
March
2007
by Meredith Efken
I’m trying something new–participating in a blog carnival. I’ve belonged to CrazyHipBlogMamas almost since I started Violet Voices, but I want to get more involved. Their weekly Carnival of the CrazyHipMamas seems like a good place to start.
The question for this week is “What was your favorite TV show as a kid?”
I blush to answer because the answer also reveals my first celebrity crush…
Knight Rider.
Alas, ’tis true. My little friend and I (we were about upper elementary at the time) thought David Hasselhoff was the most fabulous thing God ever created. Although, I must say…I think I was equally in love with K.I.T.T., the car. I joined the fan club, even! Got the signed photo and everything. Oh my goodness, my parents must have been despairing of my good taste.
Hmm…Well, at least K.I.T.T. was worth swooning over.
Okay, ‘fess up, all. What were your favorite shows?
(Thanks to The Knight Rider Archive for this terrific shot of my main squeeze.)
Written By: Meredith Efken
Posted under: Women's Voices . Email This Post
7
March
2007
by Meredith Efken
Anybody been following this bizarre story? A group of five bone boxes have been found in Israel, bearing inscriptions that have lead a couple of researchers to conclude they are the bones of the Virgin Mary, Mary of Magdalene, Jesus Christ, and his son Judah, as well as the disciple Matthew.
My friend, Randy Ingermanson, who has a PhD in theoretical physics as well as being an all-around brilliant math guy (and a fabulous novelist, to boot!) has done a really fascinating statistical analysis of the likelihood of these bones belonging to the people that the researchers claim they belong to. It’s definitely worth a look–and don’t worry, if you’re not a math person (I’m not) you’ll still be able to follow the argument.
Written By: Meredith Efken
Posted under: Women's Voices . Email This Post
