Yes! You are in the right place!

    Welcome back to Fidelis Deus! You may be wondering why it no longer looks like the same blog you used to know and love. No worries! The content is just the same! But there are changes around the corner.
      Becca-Ellen and I have thought and prayed for almost a year about changing the name of our blog, and now the change is official. Welcome to:

A Little Space

The new name signifies something special,  the 'little space' that each of us occupies in our home as a daughter or sister, the little space we are called to brighten, beautify, and glorify our Master in. Our purpose here on this blog is to encourage you to be content in the 'little space' of time or place that God has you in right now, and to encourage you to serve Him to the utmost of your ability right where He has you.

As to the changes around the corner, we are looking forward to:

More Guest Posts!

Reviews of encouraging 'Girl Books' 

Some Giveaways

Introducing new-found resources 

One thing will always remain the same, and that is our passionate encouragement to you. 

"Serve the Lord!"

and

   

Reclaiming Beauty Seminar with the Botkin Sisters

Look what I just found!
Even though it is in the middle of the webinar, you can still join and receive links to past sessions!
I hope you will check it out!





What have you always wanted to know about beauty and beautification? Whether your questions are philosophical or practical, we’d like to invite you to throw them our way as we prepare for the “Reclaiming Beauty” webinar. We’ll be answering questions live during the webinar, but hearing your biggest questions now will help us make sure our sessions will tackle are all the major topics our listeners want to hear about. Just email us at damselsATvisionarydaughtersDOTcom, and let us know what you’d like to hear us address. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Reclaiming Beauty: A Webinar

A New Look at How to Glorify God in Your Body

What is beauty?
Some say beauty fits in a size 0. Some say beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Some say beauty is only skin deep. Some say beauty is only a quality of the heart. Some say beauty is truth. Some say beauty is a lie. Some say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some say beauty is as beauty does. Some say Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly are beautiful. Some say everyone is beautiful. Some say beauty is divine. Some say beauty is corrupting.
From all this confusion, one idea emerges clearly: The world knows beauty matters. They talk a lot about it, write poetry and paint paintings celebrating it, and spend $160 billion dollars a year on it. But what’s equally clear is that they don’t know what it is. The question is: Do we?
Today’s young Christian women have grown up in the most image-obsessed generation in history, a generation that worships some of the most twisted ideals of beauty the world has ever seen. But whether we love them or hate them… they tend to shape our own perceptions of what beauty is. Some of us accept its ideals, and struggle to fit into its mold – others of us are repulsed by it, concluding that physical beauty itself is immodest, worldly, and unspiritual, and reject the realm of beautification completely. But when all we’ve ever seen is the counterfeit the world offers, we can sometimes forget that the world did not create beauty – God did. And though we all know the world has a lot to say about image, we sometimes don’t realize how much God does too.

It’s time to reclaim beauty. For thousands of years, believers, pagans, Gnostics, Humanists, Neo-Platonists, iconoclasts, and creators of culture have battled over this critical turf called “beauty.” Today, we have only to look at who designs the fashions, markets the beauty icons, rules the red carpet, adorns magazine covers, crowns Miss America, and designs clothes-and-makeup advertisements, to know who is currently holding the turf.
It’s time to take beauty back. When faced with an industry that runs on photoshop airbrushing, plastic surgery, starvation diets, grotesque catwalk styles, and billions of squandered dollars, our response can no longer be, “Beauty is not for us.” It’s time for our response to be, “Get your flag out of our ground.” It’s time for us to be a light in a culture that uses beauty as a weapon against God. It’s time for God’s ambassadors to make His principles – such as modesty and femininity – look as beautiful as they really are. It’s time for us to show the world: Ugliness is not beauty. Emaciation is not beauty. Androgyny is not beauty. Immodesty is not beauty. Unnatural distortion is not beauty. From Genesis to Revelation, God paints a different picture of the inner and outer beauty of a woman, and it’s time to show the world what it really looks like – one soul, one body, one face, one closet at a time.

A Webinar on Reclaiming Beauty
with Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin

This fall, the authors of So Much More and It’s (Not That) Complicated and producers of “Return of the Daughters” are launching an intensely practical, image-rich, 7-week webinar on the meaning and cultivation of beauty from the inside out. Join sisters Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin as they dive into Scripture for the answers to an issue of great importance and frustration to young women: personal image.
Is it OK to look pretty? Wear makeup and jewelry? Put effort into my clothes? Take care of my body? Do I have to care about how I look? Where can I find modest, classy clothes without spending a fortune? What should my attitude be toward the latest fashions? How do I figure out what looks good on me? What is appropriate to wear when? What in the world do I do with my hair?
“Reclaiming Beauty: A New Look at How to Glorify God in Your Body” will cover topics ranging from such practical issues as skincare, fitness, posture, voice, modesty, home-made beauty products, and color analysis… to subjects as penetrating as personal identity, insecurity, comparisons, worldliness, vanity, idolatry, our attitude toward others, and the state of our hearts before the Lord.
Discover:

• What it means to represent the Lord as His ambassadors to the world
• Where true beauty starts
• What the Bible says about beautification and adornment
• How we should respond to the world’s idea of beauty
• The history and philosophy behind the most popular garments
• The proper priority-level of beauty in the Christian’s life
• The biblical relationship between the physical and the spiritual
• What it means to be separate from the world
• What we can learn from the beauty industry
• What the beauty industry has gotten wrong

Get practical tips on:

• Clothing yourself better for a lot less money
• Making modesty and femininity look excellent instead of frumpy
• Making off-the-rack clothes modest
• Putting together great outfits with what you already had in your closet
• Using makeup tastefully
• Giving sloppy garments new life with minimum alterations
• Cultivating taste and style
• Getting out of a fashion rut
• Creating a minimum-time-and-effort plan for looking nice every day

A Webinar That’s Not Just Skin Deep

Webinar sessions will run every Tuesday evening, 7-8 PM Central Time, from September 25 to November 13 (excluding October 30). The seven sessions include:

#1. What God Says About Beauty and Beautification
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
#2: What Style Is Your Heart, Mind, and Soul?
Pardon Me, Ma’am, But Your True Identity is Showing
#3. Getting Your Temple in Order
The Physical Foundations of Beauty
#4. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
How to Work with the Build, Coloring, and Natural Beauty God Gave You
#5: Putting Things Together
Composition, Style, Occasion, Accessories
#6: Acquiring New Pieces (and Revitalizing Old Ones)
How to Get What You Need with Minimum Time, Money, and Fuss
#7: The Focal Point
Being a Good Steward of Your Face and Hair

The webinar registration fee is $44 per family. It is recommended for young women 12 and up, although parents are encouraged to listen with their daughters.

Click Here to Register

Starting out as aesthetic ascetics and determined frumps who were clueless about beauty and fashion, Anna Sofia and Elizabeth have had to build their understanding of beauty from the biblical foundation up (a work still in progress). They have no beauty certifications whatsoever, though they do have experience dressing for everything from speaking engagements to political events to concert harp performances to good old dirty work around the farm, and each get everything they need (clothes, shoes, hair care, accessories, cosmetics, etc.) for around $130 a year. They’re also interested in reclaiming the biblical family, film, art, music, and politics, and work with their family’s ministry, Western Conservatory of the Arts and Sciences.

The Christian: A Living Sacrifice

How will I use my time today?

Why does it matter?

Can't I use my time the way I want?

After all.... It is mine.... isn't it?

     If I am Christ's, all I have belongs to Him.

And He calls, "present the things that you horde, find security in, and love more than your Lord to Me."

Why? Because He has given so much more, and there's so much more he wants to give. He is calling, "Give me your last drop of oil and flour... Give me your only son, oh Abraham, oh Widow, oh Hannah.  Give me your boat so I can teach you to walk on water; I am waiting for you to trust me, so that I can open up the windows of heaven."

What do you want me to give, Lord Jesus? 

What is it that I am keeping as my own, for myself?

      The answer comes back to me: Time.

Yes I can while away my time... if I have not given it as a 'living sacrifice' to my Savior.

Yes I can use my time how I want, spending it on me... if I can drown the hunger for a deeper relationship with my Lord. 
     But... I don't want to give up my time! Why? I know I won't get to be selfish with it if I give it to you Lord Jesus. But you are calling. Can I say "wait a little, I'll give it to you later"? With each passing minute it gets harder to say "yes," and by procrastination I prolong the pain of dying to myself. Oh Lord Jesus, I am not willing. But You can make me willing. Please make me willing to say 'yes' to You! 

What is Jesus calling you to give Him?

So The Little Minutes... humble as they be, make the mighty ages of Eternity!

One Minute

I have only just a minute,

 Only sixty seconds in it,

 Forced upon me, can’t refuse it.

 Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it,

 But it’s up to me to use it.

 I must suffer if I lose it,

 Give account if I abuse it.

 It is only just a minute,

 But eternity is in it.

 -Author Unknown

Only What's Done For Christ Shall Last

By Rev. C.T. Studd

“Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,

And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill,

living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,

When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way,

Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,

In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife,

Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,

And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone,

Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, “twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call,

I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life,’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

The Wealthy Woman

Challenge:

 Read through each line of this little paragraph and 

write down your own answers to the questions

before reading on! 

The Wealthy Woman

     What does a wealthy lady look like?  Perhaps what comes to your mind is the rustle of silk floating down a marble staircase, or maybe the glimmer of candlelight reflected from a diamond brooch.You would not be alone in your thoughts; many people have a similar view of wealth.  But what does the Scripture say?

     "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."  1 Peter 3:3-5     Think again of the diamonds and silk.  Are these not vanity and outward adorning?  If God's view of wealth and ours differ, should we not change our views?  Should we not replace the elegant woman with jewels, silk, and chic coiffure with a modest, contented lady in simple attire seeking to be a blessing to others?  Still more, should we not ask God to make us ladies of wealth in His eyes? (Written by a friend of mine who hopes that the Lord will use it to bless and encourage those who read it.)


This was thought provoking for me.

What do I value most? So much so, that I would consider someone 'wealthy' if they had it? 
Is that what comes to my mind first when I think of wealth? Why not? Does it mean that I truly value it? Or that I just wish to think that I value it?
What do I think is truly beautiful? What is gaudy?
Do I dress in a way to please those around me, or my Lord? How much or little is too much or little?
Am I vain?
What if I am?
What does God think of me?
What if the simple beauty costs me as more spiritual labor than the silks would cost physical labor? Is it worth it to me? Am I tenaciously persistent in going after that beauty?
What is getting in the way?
Am I choosing 'good' over 'better' and 'best'?
How can I practically fix it?
Can I go do it right now?


Hope you were challenged as much as I was!
In Christ

I Know It's Not Easy To Be A Mother

To my Mother on this lovely Mothers Day... and to all of you who are mothers, 

"Thank You" for your self-sacrifice.

I Know It's Not Easy To Be A Mother
To know all the things that you have to know,
To train up us Kids in the way we should go,

To make sure our hair's brushed and our shoes are tied,

To throw out our pet fish after it's died,

I know it's not easy to be a Mother.

To keep us Kiddo's all tucked in our bed,

To know how our nighty-night story is read,

To teach us to pray and realize our need

For the Lord Jesus is great indeed.

I know it's not easy to be a Mother.

To buy all the groceries and feed us good food,

And do up the dishes regardless of mood,

To stand behind Daddy as decisions are made,

To gently correct us when we've disobeyed.

I know it's not easy to be a Mother.

To make sure we all practice, and teach us our school,

to help us to use the Golden rule,
To make sure that Daddy is on his way,
And that he's got his lunch for today,
I know it's not easy to be a Mother.

To teach us to keep the house scrumptiously clean,
And wipe off our tears when someone's been mean,
To teach us to find joy in whatever we do,
Even when it means cleaning up after the flu,
I know it's not easy to be a Mother!

I don't know how you juggle all those balls,
And get up and pick up after life falls,
But one thing I know, for of all this, thank you,
but above all, Mother, I Love You!

God is Jealous for You

Holy fear leads us to dread anything which might cause our Father’s displeasure. A good child would not do anything which would make his father feel vexed with him. “It vexes me,” says he, “if it vexes my father.” So let there be always with us a fear to offend our loving God. He is jealous, remember that. It is one of the most solemn truths in the Bible, “The Lord thy God is a jealous God.” We might have guessed it, for great love has always that dangerous neighbor jealousy not far off.

They that love not have no hate, no jealousy, but where there is an intense, a definite love, like that which glows in the bosom of God, there must be jealousy. And oh, how jealous he is of the hearts of his people! How determined he is to have all their love! How I have known him to take away the objects of their attachment, one after another — break their idols, and deprive them of their precious vanities — all to get their hearts wholly to himself, because he knew it would never be right with them while they had a divided heart, It was injurious to themselves, and so he is jealous of that which injures them, and jealous of that which dishonors him. Let us have this holy fear very strong upon us, and we shall avoid anything which might grieve the Spirit of God.From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "Godly Fear And Its Goodly Consequence."
 

All I Have Is Christ

by Jordan Kauflin

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave

I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross

And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me

Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

God Colored Glasses

I wonder what would happen if more Christians started wearing 'glasses' like these?
I was really challenged by this video and I hope that you will be too.

If

If I could fix my thoughts on You all throughout the day,

I would not have to worry for I could always pray.

I would renounce once and for all everything not come from You,

I'd b'lieve and embrace Your promises and seek Your face as I ought to do.

I'd recognize that you were with me, an ever present reality,

and constantly converse with You in freedom and simplicity.

I'd ask You for help in discerning your will, and in things I know You want me to do,

Offering them to You as worship and then thanking You when I am through

I wouldn't have to keep my mind on the small tasks my hands are a part of,

I'd thank You for giving me this work to do so I could give it as an act of love

I would not look ahead to the things I cannot change

but cling to You and wait and trust life's best when you arrange

If little things distract me from our sweet communion,

God You'd remind me of your presence and renew our union

If I could but abandon myself completely to You,

I'll find the path to heaven straight and light that is sure and true

If only I could discipline myself with faithfulness!

afterward would come the Joy of choosing to seek Your face.