tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67812596264548423512024-03-14T05:09:13.001-03:00Mark of BeautyGod created women with great purpose and with the intent to receive great blessing. But as we continue to believe the lies of this world, our recognition of our God-given roles as daughters, sisters, wives, mothers and grandmothers has become skewed. This blog has been created with the intent to explore our true purpose, to embrace God's priorities in our lives and to see what the true mark of beauty really is - the mark that only God can give. Enjoy the journey with us!c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-74566135931341212322010-10-04T10:00:00.004-03:002010-10-04T10:12:52.357-03:00Back in ActionMy goodness it's been a while since I've written a new post on Mark of Beauty! Chasing my toddler and tending to other responsibilities has kept me away, but within the past few weeks I have been revisiting some new stuff on biblical womanhood and would enjoy sharing them with you. I can't say that I'm going to be able to spend as much time on here as I have in the past, especially with a new c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-15020502045873507012010-05-26T08:40:00.003-03:002010-05-26T08:57:46.312-03:00Missionality RevisitedI've been revisiting my past posts on missionality this week in order to re-evaluate the way that my family, and also our community group, is pursuing practical missionality (love like Jesus and make His gospel known) among the people that the Lord has placed in our sphere of influence, and as I've been doing this, my husband introduced a talk from Pastor David Platt to me that was given at the c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-10255131020661389402010-02-25T10:07:00.002-04:002010-02-25T10:31:04.947-04:00Following Jesus' Example FirstI write a lot on this blog about how I desire to become more and more like Jesus, and that's truly what I want for my life.I just read an interesting blog post from Practical Theology for Women, titled Equipping Women for Gospel-Centered Lives, and I came across something that I've never thought about before. As we pursue godly womanhood and desire to become more and more like Jesus, we have to c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-82973957634366358642010-02-24T12:38:00.008-04:002010-02-24T18:05:39.929-04:00Overwhelmed by the need for missionality ...Now more than ever before I feel a deep need to be missional for the sake of Jesus Christ within my neighborhood. I've never quite felt this strongly about it before. I'm not sure if it's just because of where we live -- a transitional neighborhood that still exudes many signs of poverty and physical brokenness -- or just the sheer fact that the Lord is reconditioning my heart to long for Him andc. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-84465332622056259682010-02-17T14:35:00.006-04:002010-02-17T15:08:25.523-04:00Looking for a good book ...I just stumbled across a great site, Discerning Reader. It looks like quite a gem! From what I can tell, it appears to be biblically based and offers reviews on a wealth of books from Apologetics to Children's Books to Family, Theology and Women. I obviously don't want to vouch for their reviews and say that their opinions are completely in line with what I believe, but from what I've read so farc. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-61165328016895464702010-02-02T16:32:00.006-04:002010-02-03T15:32:46.887-04:00Digging Deeper to the HeartIt's interesting how the Lord sharpens and prunes us .... We begin to pray for transformation in different areas of our lives -- change may be immediate or over time -- but it seems that God usually begins to work on and in us when we least expect it. That's how God has been working in me lately.I've been struggling with what I thought was self-control or the ability to tame my tongue for who c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-34395925133876311672010-01-30T16:22:00.003-04:002010-01-30T17:23:43.307-04:00Gone for a while, but not forever ...Oh my ... it's been awhile since I've been on Mark of Beauty. With the busyness of Christmas, a move, the new year, and settling into a new house, blogging has not been a priority. (Lack of Internet connectivity can do it too!) But even in the midst of all that's been going on, God continues to be gracious to me and has continued to teach me about Himself and how this broken woman can pursue c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-68052562470480016322009-12-15T10:35:00.002-04:002009-12-15T10:43:31.469-04:00Mary, a Woman Used by GodAs I reflect on Christmas, I think it's interesting to go back and look at Mary, an ordinary woman who God used to do extraordinary things!Chapter 4: A Portrait of a Woman Used By God in Biblical Womanhood in the Home discusses this well. Enjoy!c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-17259649892666901612009-12-14T15:58:00.001-04:002009-12-14T15:59:41.478-04:00True Woman | True Woman Videos: "We're all feminists"I stumbled across this video today and think it's a great perspective on feminism. Enjoy!True Woman | True Woman Videos: "We're all feminists"c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-44567410187225909292009-12-07T08:53:00.004-04:002009-12-07T12:25:54.861-04:00Body ImageDo any of you receive the Proverbs 31 Ministries' Encouragement for Today emails? Well, my mom does and she shared this one with me on Friday. I think it hits home for most of us, regardless of our age or how many kids (or not) we've had, and it's is a fantastic reminder that we are God's daughters. God created every inch of our bodies and He thinks we're beautiful.There's obviously a certain c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-24693593629789829402009-12-03T09:11:00.003-04:002009-12-03T09:15:22.993-04:00Defined By God, Not CultureThe Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood posted a neat article on their blog yesterday as they looked back over the Time stories that came out last month on the state of women today. The blog post is an encouraging reminder that we need to define ourselves according to Jesus and not culture.Have a read: http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/More-on-the-State-of-the-American-Woman.c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-58278014701539438672009-12-02T08:47:00.007-04:002009-12-03T14:01:30.772-04:00Godly Women on MissionA few weeks ago at the women's ministry meeting at church a woman brought up a fabulous question about pursuing godly womanhood in regards to missionality. She asked if it was appropriate that once we begin to understand what God's call is for us as women, that we begin to live it out in a way that affects women who don't know Jesus yet -- use what we know to help other women love their families c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-74398936390865433482009-11-25T14:56:00.005-04:002009-11-29T21:12:43.490-04:00God's Best for Single WomenAre you a single woman who is looking for sound theology on what your current life season should look like as you pursue the Lord and His plans for you? I'm in the process of digging into some resources and learning more about godly singleness (whether that's a place of longing to marry one day or if it's God's life call) to help strengthen that area of Mark of Beauty, and I stumbled across c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-87756478070362579072009-11-24T10:22:00.003-04:002009-11-24T10:47:11.695-04:00The 5:00 ClubWell, I can't say that I'm really in the 5 AM club ... it's actually more like the 6:30 AM club at my house, but either way, here's the jist.A month or so ago I wrote about my need to get up early, have my quiet time and spend time with the Lord to prepare myself for the day, so that I am on top of my game and in a place where I can put the Lord before me on all my days' decisions, plans, c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-82434223331044507292009-11-19T08:56:00.005-04:002009-11-19T09:22:58.239-04:00Movement Toward Women's MinistryWe had our first meeting in a long time toward building a women's ministry at Vintage21 Church yesterday. (There have been many attempts to get this kind of thing running over the course of our history ... 7 years to be exact ... but nothing ever quite stuck and things slowly fizzled out.) So, needless to say, I was a little wary going into this meeting, but it turned out to be excellent!I feel c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-16272742136596940742009-11-17T09:29:00.007-04:002009-11-18T09:10:31.517-04:00Dealing with Sin ... What Fun!Sin is not something that I like to talk about or much less think about a whole lot. As a follower of Jesus, I obviously believe that I am sinner because Jesus says that I am in His Word and that's ultimately the reason why God sent him to earth, bottled up his godliness into human form to live the life that I couldn't live, died on the cross to pay for the sin that I couldn't pay for and rose c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-88034765099290431372009-11-13T22:37:00.006-04:002009-11-13T22:52:39.363-04:00Sanctification in Marriage // A Great TalkMy husband and I are currently listening to a great sermon on the sanctification in marriage by Matt Chandler of The Village Church in Dallas, TX ... yes, a very hot and exciting Friday night :) (It is actually.) But as we listen to this ... it's based on 1 Peter 3, a chapter of scripture that we've visited a lot on Mark of Beauty, and man does he hit it on the mark!If you're married or not, thisc. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-42414559475115720422009-11-12T01:03:00.003-04:002009-11-12T01:10:35.236-04:00Revisiting Mary & Martha ...I was browsing through my blogroll this evening and I noticed that girltalk just published a post called 'A Martha Moment,' and I quickly thought back to my post a few weeks ago about Atheistic Enterprising. I was encouraged to read that I'm not alone in this issue and that there's hope to rise out of a mere Martha-like serving mentality and into a Mary-like devotion to Jesus.If you're interestedc. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-4085105200187076132009-11-06T08:59:00.003-04:002009-11-08T22:54:25.153-04:00Teaching Good Theology to Our KidsI just started reading a fantastic book, Big Truths for Young Hearts, by Bruce Ware. (Yes, I do have a couple books going at the same time right now, but it keeps things interesting.) I'm only about a fourth of the way into it, but so far it's great and I don't see how that will change.Ware is a pastor and father of 3 and has a long history of explaining theology in a way that kids and adults canc. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-34728190306176032862009-10-31T12:42:00.000-03:002009-10-31T12:42:38.833-03:00A Mother's Job DescriptionI had the chance to read a page and a half of Womanly Dominion this morning, pretty good for a Saturday, and I'm encouraged by the words that I read that remind me of my job description as a mom.
Homemaking motherhood is no refuge for the inept woman who can't cut it in the real world. Rather, stay-at-home mothering is the ultimate profession for the elite of her gender.
Her skill set must be c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-45397928374653695372009-10-28T15:56:00.000-03:002009-10-28T15:56:17.131-03:00A Good Remedy for Teething ...I just finished reading Mark 5:21-43. As I'm digesting it and trying to figure out it's practical application for me, it seems to provide the perfect remedy for my son's teething pain ... his first molar started breaking through late last night. Needless to say, we didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night and nap time this morning didn't work out so well. It seems to be the times when he needs c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-20362836893462280912009-10-21T14:11:00.000-03:002009-10-21T14:11:09.122-03:00Atheistic Enterprising?As I was plowing through chapter 5: Womanly Dominion in the New Testament, in, you guessed it, Womanly Dominion, I was struck at the contrast that Chanski highlighted between Mary and her sister Martha. Now I can't tell you how many times I've read Luke 10:38-42, but until now, I've never quite identified with Martha the way that I did this morning. Not to say that I have always identified c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-69112927245171035422009-10-08T14:19:00.002-03:002009-10-12T14:37:54.364-03:00Trusting in the Lord ... even in the tough timesThis past year and a half has been one of the most difficult seasons of my life. I was pregnant. We had to sell a house. I had a baby. We adjusted to life with a baby. We moved into "temporary housing." We made a choice as a family that I would quite a job that I loved to stay home and raise our son full time. We had to adjust our budget to reflect one salary. I've had to find my "place" as a c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-32774823481994126252009-10-06T11:30:00.001-03:002009-10-06T17:49:05.584-03:00Mark of Beauty Hits FacebookOk, I did it .... I just created a Mark of Beauty page on Facebook. I debated for a while whether or not I should do it, but in actuality, if the goal of Mark of Beauty is to create a forum where women in all stages of life can come, learn more about godly womanhood, find new resources to continue that study, and help other women come to an understanding of God's true design and purpose for theirc. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781259626454842351.post-91345968411511945392009-10-05T11:59:00.000-03:002009-10-05T11:59:47.554-03:00Excuses For Not Pursuing God's CallAs I mentioned last week, I am slowly working through Womanly Dominion. In chapter 3, Chanski looks at how the great Deceiver convinces us to blame circumstance, genetics, our husbands, etc. for not allowing us to pursue God's calling in our lives. In this chapter, he quotes Nancy Leigh DeMoss quite frequently from her book, Lies Woman Believe, a book that Anna referenced a few months ago. As c. hodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02948406923133608921noreply@blogger.com1