Ruby For Women

Advertise with Ruby for Women

Amanda — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:57:41 +0000

How would you like to get the word out about your latest book or even your home business? Advertise in Ruby for Women's monthly e-zine and web pages! There's a variety of packages, so stop by Ruby for Women's Advertising Page and find one that best fits your business needs. Once you've selected the write package, e-mail Senior Editor Nina Newton editor@rubyforwomen.com and she'll take it from there!

Lessons from an Anchoress: Remembering Julian of Norwich

Amanda — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:51:39 +0000

This post is shared courtesy of Sarah Carey of a time and a season

For the feast day of Julian of Norwich: May 8th, 2012.

A conservative Christian site for women named her as one of the “Top 10 Bad Girls of the [Christian] Faith.” There’s a semi-cloistered community of Episcopal monks and nuns named after her in the United States. Feminists think she’s the bee’s knees. She’s captivated thousands, if not millions, since her death in 1417.

She’s Dame Julian of Norwich, Christian medieval mystic and anchoress.

Julian was born in Norwich, England around November 1342. She was also born into a tumultuous time in England’s history. There was the Black Plague sweeping through Europe, Lollards were running around stirring up trouble, peasants were revolting, and there was even a Papal schism brewing. This was a time of religious and societal strife. People were revolting. The Church was revolting on itself. Sickness was rampant.

The world as Julian knew it was tearing apart at the seams.

However, when Julian was 30 years old in 1372, she became very ill (Some sources say she suffered from botulism because in her writings, she notes that parts of her body are “dead” and she cannot feel them). At the point of what she believes to be her death, Julian sends for a curate. When the curate arrives, he instructs her to look upon a crucifix as she dies. However, instead of death, Julian is met with visions of the Crucified Christ, visions that she writes down and revises over several years. After her healing and visions, Julian becomes an anchoress (a woman who renounces life in the “outside world” and lives in a small room attached to a church) in order to seek Christ. In her writings she offers an optimistic portrait of a loving Savior, despite the turmoil of the world around her.

So what does a woman who elected a life of celibacy, bricked onto the side of a Medieval church have to do with modern Christianity? Lots.

Granted, I think Julian is a little light on sin in her writings (she thinks it’s no big deal), but she did something that many of us today seem to forget. She recognized God’s love for us. In her writings, Christ loves, cares for, and nurtures His followers through a close relationship and through the Eucharist. God is not just a father in Julian’s writings, but He also takes on feminine qualities (Julian tends to get heat for this) such as binding His children to him and making sure that His children find root in Him. Julian showed us how God loves us through Christ, even in a context that is drastically bleak. Even though the world was in pieces, Julian famously states that “All shall be well” in Christ. And I’ll let you in on a secret, I’ve caught myself repeating this to myself when things look too stressful to handle. Perhaps this medieval anchoress had the right idea about the provision of our Lord.

Whether you see Julian of Norwich as a theological bad girl that was light on sin and a little too heavy on divine feminine images or you think she has something right, we can’t deny her impact on modern Christian thought. After all, it’s believed that she was the first woman to write a book in English. And though she lived in a time where women had little say in the theological discourse, Julian bravely wrote down what she saw in the midst of illness. She sought the Lord, even to the point of renouncing the outside world in order to do so. Though we all may not be called to be celibate anchoresses (or for the gents: anchorites), active in vowed religious life, or even ministers, we can all arrive at our own anchorhold and actively seek the Living Christ.

-Sarah

Want more? Check out these books about Julian of Norwich:

Julian of Norwich: A Contemplative Biography by Amy Frykholm, Paraclete Press.

The Showings of Julian of Norwich (the text of the visions experienced during her illness), ed. Denise N. Baker, A Norton Critical Edition.

For those who want “normal English:” Revelations of Divine Love, ed. Simon Parke, Amazon Kindle Store (only 99 cents!).

The Complete Julian by Fr. John Julian, Paraclete Press. (I haven’t read this personally, but it’s a Paraclete Press book, so it can’t be bad. The summary is also impressive).

The World is Like a Dark Room

Amanda — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:36:32 +0000

This post is shared courtesy of Beth Brubaker of Footprints in the Mud

I woke up the other morning when it was still dark outside, fumbling my way to the bathroom because I didn't want to wake anyone by turning on the lamp. However, I made the mistake of turning on the light when I got there- my eyeballs were assaulted by a searing yellow-white beam of man-made light, blinding me. My eyelids reacted like a mousetrap- slamming shut so fast I didn't have enough time to take in my surroundings. No amount of lid-muscle kept out the radioactive rays that danced in reverse shadow behind my eyes, as I made my way to where I needed to be by feel instead, hoping I wasn't blinded for life.

I tried opening my eyes a minute later, but they refused to budge, either by will or my trying to pry them open manually. My brain seemed to feel that my eyes were under attack, and overrode any orders from me.

But after a while the lights stopped dancing, and I was able to slowly open my eyes. Bit by bit I got used to the glare, and eventually the light was a welcome sight.

Then I had an epiphany. This is just like man's relationship with God.

I know what you're thinking- 'How on earth did you come up with that idea?' Let's just say I'm probably not the only writer that had an epiphany in the bathroom.

Here's the train of thought on the matter:

It's human nature to resist God, ever since The Fall. Our world is a black pit of a room and we don't even realize it- we're just fumbling around in the dark. But then the light of God is turned on, our first instinct is to shy away from it, because we're not used to something so bright. Sometimes it hurts to see it and we shut our eyes as tight as possible, trying to keep all the light out. But you just can't do it.

Soon you start cracking open an eyelid, letting in a little more light as you get used to it. Then a little more, and a little more. The more you're exposed to the light, the more you get used to it, and the more you begin to welcome it into your life, and you wonder how you made it through life, living so long in the darkness.

Once you're used to the light, you look around, now fully aware of what you've been stumbling over when in the dark. You no longer have to stumble over unseen hindrances, feeling around for all of those hidden barriers- you can see everything as it is- and here's the best part- because you can see them, you can avoid most of those pesky obstacles. And for those you can't avoid, you can make your way over them easier because you can finally see a clear path.

It's pretty amazing what happens whilst answering the Call of Mother Nature- or was it the Call of God? Either way, I think it's neat when God does stuff like that to me- like manna from heaven, only the manna are stories, and they nourish the soul!

All I have to say is that He's done this to me a lot, and I've learned to keep pens and paper handy, just in case- and yes, I've even learned to write in the dark, just so I don't wake anyone up!

May you become a beacon of His light, even as you're getting used to the light yourself!

May Days Giveaway at Katherines Corner!

Amanda — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:58:45 +0000

This post is shared courtesy of KatherinesCorner stop by for a chance to win the May Day Giveaway!

It’s Giveaway Time! I am giving you a jump start on Summer with the May Days Giveaway! Fingers crossed there will be plenty of participation for this one. I bought the tote and the necklace and was looking for a little something else to give you when I received an email from Jeremy. He is the representative for the designer Jennifer Ouellette. He generously offered to provide a prize for the giveaway. Not one, not two, not even three, but four Jennifer Ouellette headbands! The two headbands pictured and two more ( surprises). So lets get your summer off to a great start with some fun accessories.

Prize- beach tote, flower necklace and four headbands!

Entering is easy. There is only one mandatory entry all other entries are extra opportunities to win.

MANDATORY Entry You must follow Katherines Corner through email, or linky follower. ( on my right sidebar). Or you can also be a follower through twitter, facebook, or google plus. Just leave a comment to enter and mention which way you follow ( for verification)

ADDITIONAL Entries

For one entry- Visit the Jennifer Ouellete website and come back and leave a comment about your favorite item.

For one entry- Follow Katherines Corner on facebook, or twitter, or google plus , leave a comment for each follow

For one entry -tweet or mention the giveaway on twitter or facebook ( one mention per day) please leave the link in the comments

For two entries, place the May Days Giveaway button ( from my right sidebar or copy and paste the image below with a link back to Katherines Corner) on your blog, please leave a comment where I can find it.

button image ↓

For three entries- write a blog post about this giveaway, please leave the link to the post in the comments

Giveaway starts today May 11 and ends at 6 pm ( MST) on May31st. It is open to residents of the US, UK, Canada and Australia and Any Other Country that allows delivery of this type. * Thank you for your bloggy friendship and participation at Katherines Corner!

* some countries may not allow this type of prize to be shipped please check with your postal customs rules and regulations to determine if your country is among them.Katherines Corner takes no responsibility for lost or misdirected mail to countries outside of the US.

Call to Prayer

Angela — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:02:58 +0000

The foundation of Ruby for Women is based on prayer and community. Here at Ruby for Women we have a community group called “We Are Praying for You”. This is a place for you to share your prayer request with the group as well as pray for your fellow sisters in Christ.

In order to best serve this specific group we would like to put out a call to serve for “Prayer Warriors”. We need 2-3 volunteers to help us monitor prayer requests and send out a call for prayer when prayer is requested. This would require checking the group 2-3 times a day and following up with those who have requested prayer. Assistance will be provided in order to get you started and would require no more than 15-20 minutes of your time a few days a week.

If you feel called to be a “Prayer Warrior” for Ruby for Women please contact (amorris@rubyforwomen.com) for more information. Thank you and have a prayer filled day!

Oh Ye of Little Faith

Amanda — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:51:18 +0000

This post is shared courtesy of Cecilia Pulliam of Out of the Closet and Into the Light

In last week's post I mentioned finally figuring out why I worry. For the most part I have managed to let go of that vice, and as a resslt, I spend more time in the now, trading the desire to be in some future or past moment, for this moment.

And God blessed my new attitude while sitting at a stop light.

I grew up eastern Oregon amid wide open desert expanses. Wildlife was (and still is) abundant near my home. Every morning during spring and summer, a Meadowlark's song accompanied my coffee and devotions. Over time I equated its song with God's Word - a sign of His gifts and blesssings. After moving from my home state several years ago, I have not heard the Meadowlark sing. Other birds seranade my devotions, and have a beautiful song, but they aren't the same.

The warmer tempetatures this last week caused my parked car to heat up considerably by the time I left work. To ease the discomfort until the airconditioning kicked in, I rolled the windows down and headed home.

While sitting at the light, instead of impatiently tapping the steering wheel and willing the darned thing to change, I looked, really looked, at my surroundings: blue sky, mountains, open fields, trees in full folliage, and even a gurgling creek running through emerald green grasses - right beside the road. I soaked it in.

It was then it happened - the sweet trill I had not heard for so many years - a Meadowlark burst into song, sang the entire time I waited for the light, continued as I turned the corner, fading away only after going halfway to the next light.

Listening to that precious melody brought this scripture to mind:

Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they? And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit? And for rainment why are solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labor not, neither do they spin. But I say to you that noe even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. And if the grass of the field, which is to day and tomorrow is cast into the oven, God does clothe, how much more you, O ye of little faith? Matthew 6:26 - 30

*****

For those who have not had the privilege of hearing a Meadowlark sing: http://youtu.be/y2klTNOqdEs

Blogger of the Week Donna McBroom-Theriot

Amanda — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:30:43 +0000

Congratulations Ruby for Women Blogger of the Week Donna McBroom-Theriot

of "My Life. One Story At A Time."

Here's a post courtesy of Donna's blog "My Life. One Story At A Time."

All Things Southern - The Cookie

With my impending trip to New York City, I've been thinking about how quickly I can sneak out to my favorite cookie shop, Levain Bakery. It is actually one of the first places to which I learned to navigate my way to in the city. It didn’t take me long to learn that I had to simply board the 1 Train and exit at the Columbus stop, and after departing the subway station in to a beautiful park, I head north to 167West 74^th Street. Even if I didn’t know the address, I could put my Southern nose into the air and smell my way to the little shop. And, when I say little, I really mean little. I could also just look for the line because it is always out of the door and into the street. You even have to duck to avoid hitting your head as you descend the steps into the little bakery.

Read the rest of the post at Donna's blog!

Captured Moments: Wordless Wednesday at Ruby for Women Wk 1

Nina — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:09:45 +0000

This week we are excited to announce our very own Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! There are so many wonderful blog hops all around the blogosphere, and we would like to encourage you to find them and share them with us right here at Ruby for Women.

Just link up your blog post for Wordless Wednesday, and then share our link and logo with some of the other Wordless Wednesday hops. Looking forward to connecting with lots of new bloggy friends through our interactive Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop!

If you are a shutterbug and love to capture every moment with your camera and would like to share those photos, tips or tricks more than once a week; Join us at Captured Moments on the Ruby for Women Community Page for lots more photography fun.

Here is one of my favorite Wordless Wednesday Blog Hops: Create with Joy ;o) Come on over

andjoin the fun here, too!

“It began” by Keith Wallis

Amanda — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:09:13 +0000

This post is shared courtesy of Keith Wallis of wordsculptures

It began in the womb of time

and the slow-grained flowing;

it began when the rains came

and the spirit of tomorrows

glistened in the sweat of yesterday.

It began when the river flowed

and the waters broke

in birth pains of caverns.

In the rising of hills

and the sinking of valleys,

as the scraped knees of mountains

bled down their ragged shins

it began.

“Passing Gas” by Lynn Mosher

Amanda — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:27:04 +0000

This post is shared courtesy of Lynn Mosher of Heading Home

We just celebrated the Run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby, and all the events that led up to it. The air show and fireworks display is the biggest event, attracting hundreds of thousands of people, sometimes three quarter million, from many states.

As I watched the air show on television, I learned that those flying the Lockheed Martin KC-130 in-flight refueler call what they do...passing gas! (Gotcha!)

Wikipedia says, “The Lockheed Martin KC-130 is the basic designation for a family of the extended-range tanker version of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft modified for aerial refueling.”

The KC-130 is capable of fulfilling a multitude of roles and missions. As a tactical tanker/transport, it provides support for the Marine Air Ground Task Forces, such as...

*carrying wounded

*being the largest aerial firefighter

*having some converted into gunships

*emergency supply into battle areas

*emergency medical and other evacuations

*aerial delivery of troops, cargo, and equipment

*humanitarian missions for food and medical supplies

*in-flight refueling for both tactical aircraft and helicopters as well as rapid ground refueling.

So, what does this have to do with you and me? Let’s see.

We have our own personal air and ground Task Force, the Lord and His army, His hosts of heaven. He is our Refueler. He is all things to us, working for us in every area of our lives.

The Lord is to us whatever we need:

*He carries us when we are wounded and hurting, when there is only one set of prints in the sand, as Mary Stevenson said in her poem Footprints in the Sand, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you.”

He carries us through those wilderness days, as He did the Israelites, “You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” (Ex. 19:4 NLT)

*He puts out the fires around us, joining us in the midst of the fiery circumstances, just as He did with the Three Amigos when they were bound in the midst of the fiery furnace. Others saw that over their “bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.” (Dan 3:27 NKJV) The Lord enters our flaming trials and we are loosed, walking unhurt in their midst.

*He helps to fight our battles and makes them His, as Scripture says, “The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you,” (Deut. 1:30 NKJV) and “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chron. 20:15 NIV)

*He brings emergency supply into wherever we are and in whatever we need, for “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19 NKJV)

*He is there to evacuate us from certain situations. “I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the [enemy], I will rescue you from [his] bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.” (Ex. 6:6 NKJV)

*He supplies our need for daily sustenance, “He has filled the hungry with good things,” (Luke 1:53 NKJV) and “He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (Ps. 107:9 NLT)

*As our Refueler, He fills us when our soul-level gets low or drains out and we seek His infilling. Scripture tells us, “He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” (Ps. 103:5 NLT) And “I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” (Jer. 31:25 NKJV)

The questions are: Do we allow Him to refuel us with His Spirit and fill us with all He offers in order to accomplish all the things He desires us to do? Do we run to Him to be refilled in whatever we lack?

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit,” and may you be “made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with Himself.” and “be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Rom. 15:13 NKJV, Eph. 1:23 NLT, Eph. 3:19 NIV)

Do you need to be refueled today? Need gas?