REALWomanhood: What do you agree OR disagree with in this chapter? Share your thoughts below.
Written by Dr. Merle Ray on December 24, 2018
Lesson 2 – Pondering Questions
Who’s Defining Your Womanhood
Textbook: Spiritual Identity by Dr. Merle Ray
Instructions:
Please read the section and then answer the question shown above. Scroll down to Leave your reply by posting your answers on or before the requested due date. Reply also to the comments posted by your Corporate Sisters.
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Diana Williams On April 5, 2020 at 9:41 am
Repost – I agree with the entire chapter. My culture was shaped by the absence of my natural father which has caused me to experience difficulties in relating to God as Father. It has been a tool wielded by the enemy in an attempt to hinder my ability to fully embrace the fullness of who the Father is, and in knowing the fullness of my identity. However, I know that as I draw nearer to my Heavenly Father and His WORD, my true authentic self will be revealed, and I will be able to see clearly the lies of the adversary in all areas of my life. To God Be The Glory!
Dr. Merle Ray On April 5, 2020 at 10:32 am
Amen, Diana!
LaShawn Darthard On March 29, 2020 at 5:02 pm
I agreed with the entire chapter. I had to stop with the beginning to research a little farther of who the Dixie Chicks were and the songs that they sung to get a fuller concept of the introduction. This chapter caused me to see the world, my culture and womanhood on another level. Not just as I once knew it. When truth comes on the scene the lies vanish. Light has dispelled the darkness. Thank you Holy Spirit for working through Dr Merle. For allowing her to share her knowledge, talents and skills on such an excellent level. God is well pleased. I am better for the master use.
Dr. Merle Ray On April 5, 2020 at 4:22 am
Bless you, LaShawn, and may God continue to bless and give you His insights so you can thrive and have dominion the way God intended!
Jerrelyn Gaines On March 29, 2020 at 4:53 pm
Dr. Merle & BYB Sisters,
You know when someone is a really good cook and walk into their house we smell the good aroma, food, and eat. Honestly, for me reading the Spiritual Identity Introduction was like eating a good hot bowl of home cook gumbo. Once you have one good hot bowl gumbo and you are looking towards a second bowl.
Well this my experience with the Spiritual Identity Introduction. One of the BYB graduates and myself was discussing the impact of the book on last year. She and I both agreed this is a book we encouraged each other to visit annually.
Therefore, I needed to read the Spiritual Identity Introduction a couple until I began to mediate and draw near to God. Dr. Merle, thank you for being an excellent spiritual cook.
The Introduction was rich and thought provoking and caused me to slow down ponder on things like our worldly culture and come out of agreement with several lies especially in our entertainment industry and allow (for God is Spirit and those that truly adore Him, do so in spirit and in truth John 4:24) God’s grace and truth to expose the truth.
God is Divine Creator, that Him our Source and him and him alone is where my Source Fulfillment comes. Genesis 1:26 -27 & Genesis 2:7 (“And the Lord God formed man of dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”) According to Thessalonians 5:23 (“And the very God of peace sanctify you (Jerrelyn) wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be persevered blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”).
Dr. Merle for your Godly wisdom, compassion and willingness to do the work and share with others.
Dr. Merle Ray On April 5, 2020 at 4:25 am
Praising God for you, Jerrelyn! What powerful insights you have!
Kimberly Thompson On March 29, 2020 at 3:16 pm
What an eye-opening chapter to see how we as women, no matter what our backgrounds or up bringing, we all have suffered from society’s influences of who we are and who we should be. I absolutely love the challenge to look at this more closely by having to stop and say wait a minute, how is this affecting me. Very thought provoking to finally deal with our issues for real.
I did feel a little awkward seeing God as sexy, only because it is a new concept for me. The carnal mind wants to go there, but God is a spirit and so immediately I had to look at who God is and relate to Him in the spirit. I am so interested to find out how exactly do we connect with God in this way.
Deborah Stevens On March 29, 2020 at 1:54 pm
I struggle with the concept of God being “sexy”. I know it is because the term is so carnal. Intellectually, I can wrap my brain around God being the ultimate desire, approachable, exciting and fulfilling.
Christie Mangum On March 29, 2020 at 12:23 am
I’m not sure with what I disagree with just yet but I do know that lost identity is not isolated to a certain demographic or race of people. Not knowing who you are is one of the greatest tragedies of human kind. We become lost in our present and afraid of our future because we’ve not become clear on the location of where we originated. We keep thinking our answers lie with people that look like us but they come from somewhere as well. Our focus should be on Jer 29:11 before you were in your mother’s womb (and got down here with others like you) I knew you. There is true victory and great gain when YOU know who you are.
Dr. Merle Ray On March 29, 2020 at 1:13 pm
Powerful, Christie!
Jacqueline Williams On March 28, 2020 at 10:30 pm
Dr. Merle, I thank you for your transparency. I believe that transparency breathes transparency that can open the door to healing. I thank God you made it through and are now willing to share and journey with other women in finding their spiritual identity. I agree with what you said. I did have a challenge seeing God as sexy (lol). I got what you were saying though.
Dr. Merle Ray On March 29, 2020 at 1:14 pm
Lol, Jacqueline! Looking forward to working with you!
Teressa Simmons On March 28, 2020 at 9:09 pm
I struggled with the concept of God and sexy together at first. It felt awkward and uncomfortable in my mouth and thought process. I think it had much to do with my mind going straight to the sexually explicit idea of the word sexy I see flashing around me in the world today. But when I meditate on the idea on God being sexy, I realized that it related to the characteristics of Him being exciting, desirable, approachable, and fulfilled. I realized God thinks very highly, accurately, and unapologetically about Himself. I had to separate the worldview of sexy from God’s view. He says about Himself, “…I am God, and there is none like me.” (Isa. 46:9).
Dr. Merle Ray On March 29, 2020 at 1:19 pm
Teressa, awesome insights!
Barbara Crater On March 28, 2020 at 1:50 pm
I agree that something has to change about the way we see our Womanhood. It begins with me.
Destinee Montgomery On March 28, 2020 at 10:56 am
I agree with everything in this chapter, as a millennial I have watched things change. I see how the world has cheated my peers out of their destiny. It breaks my heart because many of these woman don’t see their God-given identity. In order to tap into that we’ve have to give it all to God and fall for Him as a lover and not just a option on a bookshelf.
Dr. Merle Ray On March 29, 2020 at 1:28 pm
Woooo! So well said, daughter!
Sheronda Odums On March 28, 2020 at 8:58 am
I agree with chapter one in it’s entirety one thing in particular is regarding culture. Growing up it was instilled to finish college obtain a good job and you were on your way to being successful. I’ve learned from this chapter you can have all of this and still be unfulfilled.
Dr. Merle Ray On March 29, 2020 at 1:31 pm
Sheronda, you’re so right! Culture is a driver that we don’t know has so much power until we realize what’s missing.
brendab On March 27, 2020 at 7:04 pm
Knowing who your are and that comes from first of all by knowing what God has said about you, that’s freedom in itself, we become free of feeling inadequate, not good enough because someone has made us feel that way, or being less than because of being a woman, God’s point of view of us washes all the others away