From Beast to Prince Charming

I suppose my first childhood role model (apart from my mother) was Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She had it all - wit, energy, brown hair. I could be her! All it took was a yellow dress, earrings, and, of course, a prince. A handsome prince. Not a scary one like Beast. Or even the nice one he turned into (his long hair immediately turned me off to the idea). No. He would be perfect. Inspiring. Charming. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that such boys cannot be found on the playground. It was then that I began to believe that they couldn't be found anywhere. It was a hopeless case, and I lost interest very quickly.

What I failed to recognize, however, is that Beast wasn't charming at all! He was rude, messy, and probably smelled really bad. He was mean, selfish, inconsiderate - everything that would repel the ladies (did you say "ladies" with an accent? Oh... me neither...). What I find interesting, though, is that after time, he began to transform. He became kind, gentle, caring. Gradually, he morphed into a handsome(ish) prince not only in character, but in every other way possible. Strange. Princes take time to develop? That's a different thought.

Prince Charming is real. He is, in fact (prepare for predictable, yet truthful, corn), Jesus Christ. And the Prince Charming you will find on earth (with patience) is a reflection of Jesus Christ. He is loving, caring, encouraging. He will protect you, wait for you, and take care of you. His intentions are pure, his love is unconditional, and he has your best interests in mind. He will sacrifice himself to make you whole and pay any price to keep you in his arms. That is who a true prince is. Not a man who can deceive you with smooth words and obligatory acts of "love." No. That man wants to get in your pants. He's not a prince, but is a dirty, lying beast who has absolutely no intention of keeping you, taking care of you, or protecting you. Um... in light of that, I prefer to have my prince. He's a real one.

To the girls reading this, please please PLEASE be patient. Most princesses in the movies found their princes without looking for them. They didn't have to put on a show to get a prince's attention. They didn't have to post attention-getting photos on their facebook. These princes found them and loved them without needing to be impressed (kind of... most princess movies are full of infatuation. But that's beside the point). My point is that you don't need to look for your prince. More often than not, he'll find you. Who knows? He may be your best friend - the one who just needs that bit of time to transform. Be patient, and don't let yourself be deceived in the meantime. It would break his heart.

World, I Have Overcome You

I was driving home today when I realized how hard I've fallen. I don't speak words of life. I succumb to the temptations of this world. I neglect the most important relationship I could ever have -- and I watch it all happen as if I cannot stop it. No. I allow it to happen.

So in the car, as I'm having my pity party, I realized that Jesus died to break the chains that hold me as I watch. The same power that He had dwells in me. He has given me the power to overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony." How have I become so prideful that I reject the grace that God has given me? How have I forgotten that there is more to this world than how you look, what others think of you, how much fun you have? All that is temporary.. stupid, even. There is absolutely no point. Where have I gone?

A wise friend of mine told me that the grace I can give to others is based on the grace I allow myself to receive from God. It is the same with everything else -- every problem I have and ever will have. He is the source. He is the source of everything. He is everything. If I refuse love from Love Himself, how can I expect to react to my family? Or my husband? My kids? (yeah, I'm jumping ahead a bit; but it's still a good thing to ponder)

Anyways, in this moment of wondering how I've ended up here, God whispered to me through a John Mark McMillan song. I wasn't really listening to the words (I was thinking really hard), but He made me listen to the chorus:

"World, I have overcome you

World, I have overcome you

World, I have overcome

By my song and the blood of a Son"

World, I have overcome you. I continue to repeat that to myself. I have overcome you. I have been given the power to overcome. Every time. Thank You, God.

And so, my journey begins. I will take another step, and continue doing so until I have finished the race. I have overcome the world by the blood of the Son of God. There is nothing more to life. How I look, my status, or what I do is irrelevant after I realize the fact that I am God's gem, and He has overcome that I may also overcome.

Revelation 12:11

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."