Our Self Image as Women

I started reading this book called "Fearless Daughters of the Bible" by J. Lee Grady. He writes about women "who challenged tradition, fought injustice and dared to lead". I just read the introduction where he talks about raising his own daughters and he talked about how the kind of fathers we had can influence our self image, but some things were brought to my mind. I hope I am not too "all over the map" with this.  

Last Sunday in church the speaker said that this world is full of bad news. However, my thought was that it is not full of JUST bad news. It is just that we have not trained ourself to look at the good news. We have not challenged ourselves to rise above soaking in only what the media tells is. The truth is: there is good news in this world! For example, it is sad that "sometimes" in the church women are treated as second class citizens. It is sad that women are told they have no honor once they are raped. It is sad that little girls are mutilated in parts of the globe. But there is good news out there!

1. There a people like J. Lee Grady who are standing for women's empowerment. We have often mistaken men for being the enemy. They are not the enemies. The system that has excluded women and kept them oppressed, however, is. Truth is there are women and men who challenge the notion of women as "second class citizens." They want the women free. Free to do their part in the kingdom of God, influence society, and teach what they have learned! 

2. There are women and men in various cultures who are standing up for what honor truly is. Honor is not being immune to being victims of violence like rape or sexual exploitation. Honor is the ability to overcome it and help others do the same. Honor is transforming from a victim to a survivor!

3. There are communities who have decided they will not practice female genital mutilation. Education brings awareness, which brings change. They say you cannot change an age old tradition. Well, yes you can! With God all things are possible. 

4. God loves us. In Christ, there is no male or female. I did not grow up with a father who built me up. I still struggle with self-esteem, depression, and fear. Many times I forget how much God himself loves me. 
"See how great a love the father bestows upon us that we would be called children of God; that we are..." (first part of 1 John 3:1). If I was conscious of how much Jesus and the Father love me, what would life look like for me? How would it influence my confidence? What might I do with my life?....How about you?

I believe this was a prayer one of the apostles prayed for the church and let this  be our prayer: that we would comprehend the height, the width, and the depth of God's love for us."