He knoweth the way that I take...

Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them......

All too often we lament "why me?" We ask ourselves " must I be the one to take this path?" In our state of self pity we fail to remember that there is a hand guiding our way; "He knows the way that we take". We must continue to pray that when He will have finished trying us "we will come forth as gold". YHWH has seen us from our first light even to our dying day, and He has said that He knows the plans He has for us.. They are plans of good, and not evil; to give us hope of a future.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...

That special power of loving that belongs to a woman is seen most clearly when she becomes a mother. Motherhood is the gift of God to women. How grateful we must be to God for this wonderful gift that brings such joy to the whole world, women and men alike! Yet we can destroy this gift of motherhood, especially by the evil of abortion, but also by thinking that other things like jobs or positions are more important than loving, than giving oneself to others. No job, no plans, no possessions, no idea of "freedom" can take the place of love. So anything that destroys God's gift of motherhood destroys His most precious gift to women-- the ability to love as a woman.

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together. So th e doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?' She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.' The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.' She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms. The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child! 'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.'  "Love says I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person. Abortion says I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself.




A life is a life,  who are we to decide to cut one short.....

Give me the courage to Surrender..

YHWH, I will surrender to you my life, my desires, my struggles, and triumphs... My all.

I surrender all 

     I surrender all, if all is what you ask of me I will not withhold.

        And if my sacrifice is less than giving you my very best....

          Help me to remember Calvary's price and be willing to say "Yes"...

What is Love......

Have you ever been in love? The feeling of being "skippy" and seeing joy in every aspect of life, in each blade of grass. Who doesn't long to be head over heels, starry eyed, knock off your socks, profoundly swept off your feet in love. To be considered precious, and beyond price...... But more than that to be protected, and wanted. Can you imagine always feeling safe; to never be alone. Whether she admits it or not every girl is waiting for her knight; as she should be.  Someone who would willingly give his life for you, who loves you unconditionally, and knowing that you that you may not choose him or love him in return would still die for you.
If you are waiting for him to come along and choose you  ......
He already has. He came, and unannounced He loved you, suffered for you,  paid your debt, gave his life for you, and all in the hopes that you would one day "choose" to love Him. "Why would anyone go to such extreme lengths unless they had some hope of a promise in return"? Because true love gives and asks nothing in return, YOU are his treasure, the apple of his eye, his pearl of great price; His Beloved,  because his love is True love, a love that is never ending.

Those hoping to find this kind of passion and fervent loyalty here on earth you will only be disappointed.  If you truly seek a perfect love, your heart will only be satisfied by the One whom is love itself. By his own words he has loved you with an "everlasting love", "one that cannot be quenched with floods", "nor destroyed by death".


I am His lily among the thorns. His beloved and His friend. In ancient times some purchased their brides with wealth and riches. I was not bought with silver for a brides price; but with the life of my love and my king. Compared to my joy, if you have not tasted of God's goodness and mercy then you know little of happiness and true peace. I pray you choose his love in your life, and  to the lonely loveless world I humbly proclaim:

Bless YHWH, O, my soul and for get not all his benefits

Unworthily yet well-beloved of The Almighty,
   ~Hana

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, .... I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘YHWH is my God.  Zechariah 13:9

YHWH giveth and He taketh away.. Blessed be the name of YHWH.

Things happen to everyone, good and bad. The bible says it rains on the just and the unjust alike. Instead of asking ourselves "why me?"Lets stop for a moment and consider "Why not me?".What makes us so much different and so much above everyone else. He chose each of us to walk our own paths....Why not you , why not now? Yes, things will happen to us that we can't or don't want to explain but we should take comfort in knowing that whatever it is that has happened; it  "will work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose". 

But they that wait upon YHWH shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, They shall run and not be weary ,  they shall walk and not be faint. ......

YHWH, teach me to wait on you........

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea.....

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I .....

... Had more time I would be writing something meaningful to me. Ten days between postings is not going to become a habit I'm sure, however blogging is not top priority sooo.. it may get put off a tad bit.  =0) My time is very precious to me (hint: a coming post) and I don't enjoy wasting it, so consider yourselves time well spent. I'd write more but there is much to be done, little time to do it, and none but me to get it done, the situation being as it is I thought I'd share a little bit about who "Me" is. 

Love and prayers to all, Hana -2Chron. 7:14

If I were a gemstone, I’d be a sapphire.

If I were a scent, I’d be the cool smell of mountains.

If I were the weather, I would be the falling rain.

If I were a facial expression, I'd be a wide eyed stare of innocence.

If I were a car, I would be a JAGUAR S-TYPE 4.2 SE

If I were a time of day, I’d be the  moonlight just before dawn
(it's such a fleeting moment you must be waiting to see it)

If were a month, I’d be November.

If I were a place, Spain.

If I were a liquid, I would be the water racing over the falls.

If I were a taste, I’d be a crisp minty flavor.

If I were a sea animal, I’d be a Seaclam. 

If I were a food, I’d be a slice of Challah bread on Saturday morning.
(aka. Hana's french toast)

If I were a color, I'd be  The purest shade of periwinkle blue (light).

If I were a musical instrument, I would be the aged violin.

If I were a flower, I’d be the blossom of a cherry tree.

If I were a song, I'd be Man of His Word by Bob Carlisle  - subject to change on a whim.
(Because I have a story behind it)

If I were a planet, I’d be envious of the stars.

If I were an object, I would be a bookmark, keeping my place 'til you'd return.

If I were an era, I'd be the Victorian.

If I were a fruit, I'd be a watermelon.(it's the food of angels)

If I were an age I'd be 4 or 11.

If I were a day of the week, I’d Friday.

If I were a sound, I’d be the whisper of the wind.

But I am not. I am a child of The Most High, striving in all that I do to bring honor and glory to His Name. I am his servant and he is my all in all .

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves..........

Do you know who you are......

There is no need to prove our worth by being like men. I am young woman and my desire is to be treated as a lady. What better way to portray my role, than to dress the part!  Have you ever had a gentleman (whom you didn't know) beat you to a door that he might hold it open for you ? Have you ever been stopped by a perfect stranger and had them thank you for conducting yourself as  lady. These may not be the days of knights and fair maidens but you do have a station, and those who look up to you. Be grateful for the beautiful role you were given and carry your station with pride. This coming generation is being trained to follow a crowd, this is the time to take a stand and show them how to lead. I am not talking about an uprising or revolution, but the strength to be weak. God himself has called women "the weaker vessel". My grandfather used to tell his sons: This doesn't mean the "lesser vessel" but just what it says, the weaker vessel. Unlike a stone vessel, a porcelain one would be weaker & much more fragile requiring care and protection. If our goal is to be just as good as a man, we create a competition with them and take from ourselves the respect that was dealt us. 

We are women they are men, it's how we were created. Men have the self-respect and honor take their role (like a man =0) Let's embrace our role with all it's dignity and grace. Take every bit of your femininity and relish it, don't  cheat yourself out of the pure pleasure of girlhood. 

I have a personal conviction of being set-apart and modest, not only in my appearance but also my demeanor and character.  A homely appearance will not hide a gaudy or arrogant spirit, just as a sweet, quiet personality cannot be lost in any apparel.

You are a woman, but have you chosen to be a lady? 

May YHWH bless you with his presence and with his peace. ~Hana

Virtue-over-Vanity is a website as well as a blog, originally intended to encourage young women to choose their virtue over vanity and put their faith before fashion. 

But then I began to think "If we work on our hearts first, eventually the outside will reveal the inside". Because:" Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh". 

I have several posts that are coming and should have been out but I am touching up ....
  So, posts to look for soon: Passion - Integrity - My two cents -Obedience

The song of my heart

You are the words to the music,
          You are the song that I sing
                   You are the melody, you are the harmony
                                      Praises to your name I bring.

                    

 You are the Mighty GOD

You are the prince of peace 

You are the KING of Kings

Now I give back to you the song that you gave to me.

YHWH, you are the song that I sing    

My mind is made up and my heart is sure, I am going to serve Yahweh.... ~ Hana

Times

Our lives are like personal bank accounts, each day we spend 24 hrs that are non refundable....

                  I want to encourage you to consider every hour you spend each day.
Don't throw it away, make wise investments... Ones that you know will last, just like in business
"get rich quick"  is not usually the best route. Value will prove distance, withstand age, regardless of its surroundings holds it's worth.

I would like to thank my dearest and best of friends. Time with them has reminded me of the value of each day we have.
Why should we spend our days living in bitterness or longing for the past? Let's press on to a bright future every day is new and we can make each one the best yet. 
Make every moment a memory you'll cherish, Make every hour count because you aren't getting a single second back...   

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what YHWH has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Strength

In the book of 1Corinthians it says "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth  take heed, (and Stand,) lest he fall." In the age that we live in I find more and more everyday that we are becoming a society of cowards. Men and women without morals or standards of conduct With our faulty characters we are unable to remain steadfast in truth; and eventually fall prey to peer pressure. Even cowards have courage in large numbers. Only a noble heart can stand alone, and be unmoved. Everyday one will hear of a man void of character demanding of a man of high morals: " Why do you need to be so different, why won't you do "such and such" .... Don't you have a mind of our own?" Is it really small mindedness that calls us to be the different and to stand out in the crowd.?...  Au contrair!!! If we would consider the situation it is obvious whom is the individual, and who the conformist is. Our generation has an intense need to please, but not the audience that really matters. We are slaves to the opinion of others, as well as to society's fashion, and the idols we have made of our clothing. In my opinion the #1 tip of style is Difference (that is what makes it your own personal style ;0)
But standards alone are not enough if they are not accompanied by conviction. We can all say "well, I just don't think I can, or need to bring God in to that area of my life"... but are we talking about "the life" that he gave us?!?! How can we ask him to bless us in all aspects of life if we don't include him in every one? As believers we should be Lights in every avenue, letting our actions and presence be our testimonies in season and out of season. A dear old friend  once told me that "Every so often YHWH sends us small trials to let us know we are still on the path". When people see no difference between us and the world, when life is easy and you are accepted as who you are then it's time to look around examine your lifestyle and walk. I am not saying you can't get along with a worldly crowd, fit right in and still be a servant of the Almighty. However, I want more, Look at Abraham, Moses and Job. What did they all have in common? They ALL stood alone. Abraham "came out from among his people", Moses rather than live in the pharaoh's palace, chose to suffer with the people of YHWH,  Job lost everything and remained faithful. Do want to know some thing else they had in common; They were the friends of YHWH, He calls them his friends!!  You will be a servant of God if you commit your life to His service, but, you could be his friend!! They all paid a price for the prize that was priceless. And the best part is that there was never a second thought; they made up their minds and never looked back. Courage is not being fearless, it is the will to act in the face of fear. Strength doesn't mean it will be effortless, but enduring the pressure and overcoming the force.
We may cheer for the man of success and wealth, but we admire and esteem the one that will deny both to embrace honor.
Deuteronomy 7:7 says "YHWH did not set his love upon you, nor choose you because you were great in number. for ye were the fewest of all people"......But because YHWH loved you.

How can we say we are "set apart" if we lack the Strength to appear weak, and the Courage to be different. In our weakness YHWH is proven strong, and in our difference he will be glorified.

-Living today as though it were my last  ~Hana

Fun Days!!

Growing up I can say my some funnest days were not spent in a theme park, shopping at a mall,  or attending professional sport games, but were those spent working. As children my parents taught us by example to work to the best of our ability. "Whether working for the President, yourself, or Mr. Blackwell, the quality of your work should always be the same". The other day our family was going to take down a barn/warehouse and with the material we are going to build a little cabin. Right after breakfast, all the boys headed out. As we drove up to the work-site, the view brought back so many happy childhood memories and was such a pleasure to see. My brothers, ages 6 and 16 were up on the roof working along side dad; men in training =0) It didn't take the girls long to find ways to fall in to place... It was a wonderful day working hard as a family. When "The de la Fuentes" work there is so much laughter going around, it would seem that the amount of fun you have depends on how hard you are working......( At the end of the day all of the little kids still had tons of kick left in them, and while  I wasn't admitting to anything let me tell you I was pleased as punch when we called it a day with a dinner and lemonade ;0) 

It is my opinion that one of the best gifts you can give your children is a good work ethic. I don't mean perseverance or determination I mean the ability and desire to work.  If  a child knows how to work hard; with the help of YHWH they can achieve any goals they set. I know successful professionals that attribute it all including the the drive that pushed them, to the summers they spent working in the fields with their grandfather. Some thing about hard work keeps life in perspective, you appreciate the time and efforts of others, it teaches you to be helpful (to see a need and fill it with out being asked)  you learn to enjoy playing more, and it gives a sense of responsibility. I admire what my Abuelito accomplished with all of his children, when I look at his children I am so blessed and inspired to see this spirit.... I hope one day I can instill the same in my children: a desire to help without a reward, an ability to work without an overseer, and a respect for all (regarding none higher than another).....

Wasn't the Messiah our perfect example; and he was a humble carpenter. I  guarantee every piece of his work was a masterpiece. It is my prayer that one day I will be a master piece of his, after he molds me, after he smooths out the edges, and removes the dross....

Let us "work" towards that goal,  preparing ourselves to be used as  instruments for him...

                                                                                                                              ~Ecc. 9:10

Choices-Compromises

Have you ever thought: Surely this won't affect anyone/anything.......
Well nothing could be farther from the truth, every thought, every action, Every choice we make will affect us.
Our choices form our thoughts, which determine our actions which will eventually mold our character. I think it should be common knowledge, ( and you may quote me on this) "Your compromise will be your demise"
You can't just say you'll fix it later,that is not the way it works. Mistake should be corrected and wrongs must be righted as soon as they are made. Ask any carpenter, musician, seamstress or mathematician... and you will find, that slight miscalculations are not acceptable and lead to the ruin of the house, the Concerto, the garment, and the formula. YHWH esteems those of a humble, contrite spirit and whom will tremble at his word. David was a man after God's heart;  does that mean he was pursuing the heart of his creator or that he was molded according to the desires of YHWH..... Perhaps both?  To have such a love for his shepherd, and then sin, you may think what a disappointment he must have been. But man does not see the heart as YHWH does. Look at David's first words, you will see what it was that set him apart from other men. "Create in me a clean heart O, YHWH , renew a right spirit within me". The ability to repent is such a humbling gift, and it is truly a gift.
Many people will say they are sorry, but never acknowledge that they've done wrong. While other will admit to their sin and apologize, but never change their ways. As children of the Most High we should strive to walk in the WORD of truth, and truly repent when we have turned astray. Every decision we make today will play a part in determining the person we will become tomorrow. If we seek YHWH early (before we need him, before trouble comes) then we will find him, because we will have searched for him with all of our hearts. Everyday there is an opportunity to be used of God, and those who make themselves available for his work will never regret THAT decision. 
Shouldn't we all seek to be vessels of honor and gold for HIM.....

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O YWHW, my Strength and my Redeemer. ~Psalm 19:14

Choose your Virture over Vanity

Our society tends to define people by their material goods. Why do men care so much for character of their wealth? Rather than consider the wealth of their character.That is not to say that I think money is the root of all evil, but the Love of money is. When we are blinded by the gold's glitter we do not see the real treasure. Regardless of my situation or the station I find myself in, I count my self Rich indeed. Because I know my true worth. So many can sit in their palaces and mansions storing their wealth and power, and yet still be empty inside with no joy. Why,.. Because a priceless gift cannot be bought... It must be given... I cannot count YHWH's love in wealth. Nor should you ...Do you not know: You were not purchased with silver and gold  but with the loving kindness of the living God and the blood He shed for you. We spend our whole lives making money to be rich, so we can enjoy life. After an entire life time this goal is accomplished, but there is no time left or people to enjoy it with.The important things in life are not wealth and possessions but the people you spend that life with. The differences you make, whether good or bad will depend on how you live that life. You have a choice to make this day, but, as for myself  I will serve YHWH (Joshua 24:15). 
So live today as though it were your last; for the glory of your redeemer!