In a society where feminism runs rampant, what is a Christian lady to do? How are we to conduct ourselves in everyday life? Fortunately, God wrote a user manual for life, or we would be completely lost! So what character traits are we, as women, supposed to have?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5:22-23

     That’s simple enough! In this entry, let’s take a look at what the Bible says about love...

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” ~1 Corinthians 13:4-8

     Okay, so it’s simple, but not necessarily easy. Let’s get one thing straight: Love is a choice. Yes, you can feel love. And no, love isn’t just an action. Feeling and acting go hand-in-hand where love is concerned. However, this passage of Scripture addresses the action side of love (though it’s not uncommon to feel things like humility, trust, and hope, at the same time). Though this verse is meant for everyone, I’m just going to address my fellow ladies. Let’s start with patience. Choosing to be patient is not always easy, especially when your younger brother spills his drink all over a basketful of clean clothes, or when you just finished mopping the floor and someone comes through with muddy shoes. It might be easy the first time it happens, but what about the days where those kinds of things seem to occur constantly? Let me paint a picture for the few of you who DON’T understand what I mean...

     Ann reads the grocery list to her husband who is on the other end of the phone. Reading off the last item, she does her best to try and remember if there was something she had forgotten to add. At that moment, her five-year-old son James runs into the room chasing the cat (who was supposed to be outside) with the vacuum. The dog runs in after them, barking loudly at the unwanted houseguest. Having just been outside, he had mud all over his paws, and dirtied up the kitchen floor that had just been cleaned. Amy, the baby, wakes up from her nap in the nursery and begins screaming for a diaper change. Ann gives up on trying to remember any last-minute grocery items, and after thanking her husband, quickly hangs up the phone and hurries to attend to Amy. During the middle of the diaper changing session (the fifth one of the day), James comes in with crocodile tears because the cat scratched his finger. He wants a bandage, so Ann quickly finishes with Amy.
     With the baby in one arm, she takes James by the hand and goes to the medicine cabinet. Opening the door, she suddenly remembers how badly it needs organizing. Adding it to her mental to-do list, she digs through the cabinet in search of a bandage for James. Finally she found it, and moves to the living room to put Amy in the Pack n’ Play. With her arms finally free, she tends to the scratch on James’ finger. Ann returns to the kitchen to start dinner, and notices the dishes from lunch stacked up in the sink, and the newly muddied floor. She quickly loads the dishwasher and brings out the mop once again (putting the dog outside first, of course). The kitchen is finally clean again, so she starts dinner preparations. But before she can begin, James runs to her, saying that he dropped his gum in Amy’s hair...

     For some of us, this type of chaos is a regular occurrence, so it’s no surprise when patience flies out the window. Thankfully, we don’t have to rely on our own strength.

     “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” ~Philippians 4:13

     Isn’t it great that God doesn’t just give us commands, then leave us to figure them out for ourselves? Okay, the next word: kindness. That’s an easy one...at least when you wake up on the right side of the bed in the morning, come in contact ONLY with friendly people, and when everything goes exactly as you planned. It’s NOT easy, however, when someone cuts you off while you’re driving, or when a family member is in a sour mood, or when you DIDN’T wake up on the right side of the bed. The same verse in Philippians 4:13 can be used for this word, and all of the other words that are used to describe love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Responding to rudeness, boastfulness, or any other unpleasant thing, should be done with kindness.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” ~Proverbs 15:1

     A gentle answer is not always what we want to give. In fact, we probably think of many other words we could say as a response, and most of them are not so kind. As Christians, we are called to set an example (Titus 2:7, 1 Timothy 4:12) for our fellow believers, and to put off the old things of the flesh (Ephesians 4:22-27). So, it’s very important that we seek to display these characteristics in our lives. By doing this, we not only show our fellow believers how love in action is supposed to look, but we also show the rest of the world that there’s a different - and better - way to live. They will see a reflection of Christ in our lives.
     As for the other key words that describe love in action, they can be examined in the same way that we’ve examined patience and kindness, and I’m going to let you do the rest yourself. Whenever you are uncertain about whether or not you’re displaying love to others, recite 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 aloud, replacing the word “love” with your name. Whenever I do this, I know instantly if I’ve upheld the standard of love or not. If I haven’t, then I am made aware of it, and I can then confess my failings to the Lord. Whenever you’re overwhelmed, or feel like love in action can’t be accomplished, don’t forget the truth of Philippians 4:13!

Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to get married and have children. I've always adored stories like Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, but my most favorite is probably Beauty and the Beast. I love what Belle says when she's sitting on the fountain in town with her favorite book: "Here's where she [the princess in the book] meets Prince Charming! But she won't discover that it's him 'till chapter 3." I've often wondered if I've met my Prince already, but that I just have to get to a different chapter before I will "discover that it's him." I know that the Lord has someone amazing for me, because I've known some pretty amazing young men. They'll be the perfect prince for another princess someday, I'm just not her. That's okay though, because I'm excited by the future, and I'm equally excited about the present. Sometimes I'm tempted to get depressed, because I get tired of waiting for my knight to come, but then I remember that each day I don't have my prince with me is one more day I can prepare to be his wife. It's funny how looking at things a little differently can change your mood. It's all in your perspective.

But there's some days where I just can't be comforted. I've been waiting for almost nineteen years and there's still no prince in sight! As I sit, pouting and grumbling, I feel a gentle nudge in my heart. My True Prince whispers: "Don't forget about me. I'm your Knight, and I'm like no other Knight there has ever been or ever will be again! I'm here right now. I love you more than anyone in the world ever could, and I know you better than you know yourself. Just wait a little longer, and you'll see what the Father has in store...you won't be sorry, it's amazing!" It's at those moments when I realize how silly and selfish I'm being, and I remember that my Prince has already come! He's here with me, loving me, comforting me, and guiding me gently. He's so good to me! Just writing about Him excites my heart, He's so loving and kind. But He also has a plan that I know nothing about, and He's good enough to discipline me if I stray from His will, because He knows what I would miss out on if He let me go. I'm so glad I have a Knight in Shining Armor who is perfect, who never fails, who is always there, who is infinitely wise, and infinitely good. He has promised to never leave me or forsake me, and that all things - good and bad - are being worked together for my good.

So to my fellow princesses, ladies in waiting, and fair maidens who are still waiting for their prince, don't forget your First Love. God loved you so much, that He paid the penalty for our sin. We've all sinned (Romans 3:23), so we're all condemned to die for that sin. But God in His mercy sent His Son Jesus Christ to die in our place, so that we could live, and have a relationship with Him. Jesus is all the prince we need, and if He has an earthly prince in store, He'll bring Him to us at the perfect time. Let Him write your love story, and in the meantime (and forever), enjoy the daily unfolding love story that you can have with Him...your Prince, your Savior...your Lord.

This is a great blog entry that I read by Alex and Brett Harris, founders of The Rebelution. I just thought I would share it with everyone. :)

http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2009/04/when-ordinary-becomes-extraordinary/