Do You Think I'm Beautiful?: The Question Every Woman Asks

This is an outstanding book that is truly beneficial for your heart.

It has the power to touch your soul and bring about a profound sense of inner peace and well-being.

The words within its pages are like gentle whispers that guide you towards a more positive and fulfilling life.

As you turn each page, you will find yourself immersed in a world of inspiration and motivation.

This book offers valuable insights and practical advice on how to cultivate love, kindness, and compassion in your daily life.

It teaches you to let go of grudges and negative emotions, and to embrace the beauty and joy that surrounds you.

Whether you are facing challenges or simply seeking to enhance your spiritual growth, this book is a must-read.

It will leave you feeling uplifted, enlightened, and ready to take on the world with a newfound sense of purpose and determination.

So, don't hesitate to pick up this amazing book and let it work its magic on your heart.

An in-depth examination of the wounds and brokenness that prevent us from wholeheartedly accepting God's love for us. I envision that this could potentially be a healing and extremely powerful book for certain women. However, on a personal note, I gradually grew somewhat tired of the unceasingly emotional and sentimental content.

Although there are numerous and significant precedents in the Christian tradition for the use of mystical marriage language, I discovered that Thomas's portrayal of a romantic relationship with God was rather limiting and not overly resonant with me. The metaphor of God as the Bridegroom is indeed profound, yet it is not the sole metaphor at our disposal. By relying too intensively on it, we continue to uphold our perception of God as unwaveringly masculine, and thereby restrict ourselves with a correspondingly abbreviated view of our own gender.

In real life, there are often situations that question a woman's beauty. For example, a woman may long to be asked to dance at a party, hoping to be the center of attention and picked first. However, it may not always happen as she desires.

This can lead to feelings of self-doubt and insecurity. But we should remember that God thinks we are beautiful.

We don't have to rely on the validation of others to feel good about ourselves. Instead, we need only to look to Him.

He sees our inner beauty and loves us unconditionally.

We should trust in His perception of us and not let the opinions of others define our worth.

By focusing on our relationship with God, we can find true confidence and contentment in our own skin.

Book on my shelf I had to read to pass along.

Memorable quotes and ideas:

“Realize that you may have to call for help. I am absolutely the worst at doing this… don’t want to inconvenience anyone. Don’t want them to hesitate when I ask. Don’t want to be needy or helpless or weak. A friend said, “I know that you think that you are strong. Maybe you really are. But if there was ever a time in life where you needed someone beside you, it would be now. This is not a stand up and prove you can do it time. This is a bear one another’s burdens time. This is a get on an airplane and come and stand with you time. This is the time to ask your friends to hold you up.” When it was time to walk through my clutter, I had mistakenly decided that God would be my only strength and I could prove that by standing alone. It was a misguided attempt at being spiritual and depending on God. I don’t have to do this alone. I don’t have to walk alone. Oh, thank you God. Being a part of a community of believers is about relationships. We were not made to do it alone. God never intended for us to fly solo through life. And when it comes to the clutter of our souls, we may have to call in some help. Asking for help means being vulnerable. It is risky. It is embarrassing. We choose to let someone inside and show them the things we’ve been hiding. I don’t know if you need a good friend, a pastor, or a trained counselor but I can assure you that the journey should be shared. Moses’ arms were held up in his weakness. Paul’s letters reflect a strength that came from knowing that other believers shared his journey. You and I have been given to the body of Christ so that they may be the arms of God to hold us, the feet of God to guide, and the heart of God to love us.”

[Regarding the return of the Prodigal son parable]

He ran to his son, threw His arms around him, and kissed him…not only does He watch expectedly, God runs to us. He sees the repentant heart and the empty hands. He sees His child full of shame over lost riches and stupid choices. He sees the scars of our consequences. And He runs anyways. He covers the distance between us with His own strength. Scooped up into the arms of God. Can you imagine that? Collapsed from exhaustion, strong arms underneath us, crying into His shoulders, the sobs that come from shame, the whaling that grieves our choices and the tears that come from relief, caressed, kissed, and soothed in the arms of Our Father. He brushed the hair from our eyes. He takes our face in His hands. He calms our cries and speaks gentle words over us. Forgiven. Redeemed. Accepted. Loved. Beautiful. Have you made some prodigal choices? Do you want to go home? Then make up your mind to turn in that direction. Prodigals go home empty. It’s okay. Prodigals go home without options or resources. It’s okay. Prodigals go home embarrassed and ashamed. It’s still okay. In your returning, you will receive the blessing of God’s running towards you. His compassion and His kisses. It is incomprehensible grace to be Prodigal who is held by God again. But keep listening, there’s more. The son said to him, father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. No longer worthy! (Story of prodigal son). He was lost and is found. Let’s just nail something down right now. We are not worthy. We never could be even when we hope we might. We are not able on our own. We are not good enough and never will be. We are not worthy, never have been, and never even had a shot at trying. That is the whole point. That’s the reason we belong to Jesus, because we are not worthy. The question of your worth has been settled. Did you notice how the father replied to the prodigal’s reply of unworthiness? “Quick! Bring the best robe! A ring, sandals, killed the fatted calf, and let’s have a party!” Do you understand that those are God’s words for you too? Instead of a discussion on disfunction or a theological diatribe, God says “let me show you how I feel about you. Your worth is settled because you belong to me.” He is saying to the prodigals “what matters is that you are with me now. You are home. There is no more shame, no more guilt, all is forgiven, let’s celebrate.” While I have been the prodigal, sometimes more often than not, I have been the older brother. Believe it or not, being the elder brother can sometimes take us further from God’s heart than being the Prodigal. Take a look at the one who stayed home. The one who did not rebel or squander his father’s riches. The good one. *told scripture of older brother* have you ever been the good one? I have. I spent most of my life trying to do the right thing. All of my trying and the presence of goodness that I’ve strived for make me well acquainted with the heart and the attitude of the older brother. There is something inside of us elder brother types that we believe if we can follow all of the rules, make wise choices, and live sacrificially, that’s it! That’s what God requires and boom, we’re in the club! The Prodigal knew he was a sinner. The elder brother could not see his own sinfulness. At least the Prodigal knew what he had done. He had willingly chosen rebellion and had came to his senses about it. When the elder brother lashed out in judgement and anger, it only highlighted how blind he was to his own sinfulness. Obedience for the sake of appearance results in religious moralism. The elder brother was very religious, a great list maker and rule follower, but he was just as lost as his younger brother...because the elder brother had not known grace, he was not able to extend grace. The older brother could not give grace to the prodigal because he had not known the grace that was present in his Father. When you live all your life believing love comes by works, then that is the basis in which you give love. When you’ve never believed the Father sees you and calls you beautiful just because you belong to him, then you are not able to extend that same free acceptance and mercy. Life becomes bondage to moral works and living. It’s ironic that the eldest brother thinks he knows. How about you? When have you been the elder brother? When have you held onto self righteous attitudes and rules? When have you forsaken the spirit and the heart of the Father because you chose the letter of the law instead? When have you whined and secretly harbored resentment when someone else was covered by the grace of God? Have you ever thought to yourself, hey wait a minute! They’re getting off too easily. When I am the elder brother, my intimacy with God is hindered by my attitude and my judgmental spirit. When I have been the elder brother, oh how my heart ached under the weight of such great animosity. Whether you are the Prodigal or the elder brother, the answer is the same. Take everything that keeps you from His arms to the cross and leave it there. Think about of where you struggle or what issues gives you pain. Take it to God by way of prayer. And keeping taking them until they are no longer yours. They have been paid for in full. Only the blood of Christ is enough to cover the pain and ugliness of your suffering. The strength to finally be free of your bondage is there.

Bible Study PFB is an important activity for many people.

It provides a platform for individuals to explore and understand the teachings and wisdom within the Bible.

Through Bible study, people can gain spiritual nourishment, find guidance in their daily lives, and deepen their relationship with God.

Participants often come together in small groups or larger congregations to discuss and analyze the scriptures.

This interactive process allows for different perspectives and interpretations, enriching the overall learning experience.

Bible Study PFB may also include lectures, prayers, and reflections to enhance the understanding and application of the Bible's teachings.

Whether you are a long-time believer or new to the faith, Bible Study PFB offers an opportunity to grow in your knowledge and faith.

It is a valuable resource for those seeking spiritual growth and a closer connection with God.

I've had this book sitting on my shelf for approximately 12 years.

In my early 20s, I made an attempt to read it. However, to be completely honest, I simply couldn't connect with the author's style and the way she depicted women. As a result, I put the book aside.

Recently, I picked it up and read it through in my mid-30s. Sadly, I still don't have a great affection for this writing style. Nevertheless, I must admit that Angela Thomas likely does address the heart questions and internal journey of most women. I believe that on some level, most women would value this work.

I do think that her thoughts regarding intimacy with Jesus and the difficulties involved in this particular relationship are rather accurate.

I think the reason I didn't love this book is that I felt it lacked courage. Due to an excessive use of metaphor and a series of questions posed throughout, there wasn't a great deal that Angela said about herself that was tangible and relatable. I wasn't certain what she was disclosing about herself. While I can understand a woman's need for privacy, I think there were moments when she could have led by being more transparent. Often, women hide themselves out of fear of rejection, criticism, and condemnation. Our culture, and especially our churches, need women to take the lead and be transparent in a healthy way.

Everyone, read this. <3

This is an important message that I want to share with all of you.

It might contain some useful information or interesting facts that you don't want to miss.

Maybe it will inspire you, make you think, or simply bring a smile to your face.

So, take a moment, relax, and read on.

I hope you'll find this article engaging and enjoyable.

And if you have any thoughts or comments, please feel free to share them with me.

Thank you for reading! <3

I thought this was very good.

It had a certain charm and appeal that immediately caught my attention. The details were well-presented, and the overall concept was engaging.

I couldn't help but be impressed by the thought and effort that had gone into it.

It seemed to have a unique quality that set it apart from other similar things.

Maybe it was the way it was written, or perhaps it was the ideas it conveyed.

Whatever the reason, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it and looking forward to seeing more like it in the future.

I believe that this has the potential to make a significant impact and be well-received by others as well.

It's truly something special, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to experience it.