PRAY FOR PARIS..Really?

I only blog here when I feel stirred or challenged, which leaves a huge gap in the frequency of my posts,
But there is an issue which is huge in news and media which has inspired me to write again.
PRAY FOR PARIS

The recent news in Paris is devastating. It has released a new depth of fear and distrust in the nationals and the surrounding countries.
 I personally love Paris, I have been 5 times, speak a little French and our Ancestors in St Lucia had several invasions from France in the 18th century. I am sure that our family history must intertwine with the French somehow as most St Lucian nationals are Catholic and speak French or patois.
Photo credit Google
This painting depicts the Battle of St. Lucia, 15 December 1778, when 12 French ships led by Admiral d'Estaing (left) attacked seven British ships (right) commanded by Admiral Barrington.

The current climate in France is very uneasy, what is most disgusting about the attacks was the orchestration of the operation. To plan to detonate several bombs in several places as a team is a dark concept so dire and sinister it leaves complete question to the sanity and morality of mankind.

The terrorists are wicked, we do not doubt this, however married to an ex Muslim now Christian I have seen the Quran and it honestly does say to execute anyone who does not willing to convert... 

So are Jihads just fulfilling their God given purpose upon the Earth by their own terms? According to their holy book they are fulfilling what Allah requires they are the ones who by suicide "deserve" their "77 virgins in Heaven"
The reason not many people in western society know this is because like the Jewish Torah the Quran can only be read in its original translation so as to not liquidate or edit the message it presents.
 This is understandable as part of the Christian Bible is "Lost in translation" as it were when converted from Greek to English, but this therefore leaves sufficient evidence of the Quran's message as it has not been tampered with:

Quran (2:244) - "Then fight in the cause of Allah, and know that Allah Heareth and knoweth all things."

Quran (2:216) - "Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not."  Not only does this verse establish that violence can be virtuous, but it also contradicts the myth that fighting is intended only in self-defense, since the audience was obviously not under attack at the time.  From the Hadith, we know that this verse was narrated at a time that Muhammad was actually trying to motivate his people into raiding merchant caravans for loot.

Quran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help."

Quran (3:151) - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority".  This speaks directly of polytheists, yet it also includes Christians, since they believe in the Trinity (ie. what Muhammad incorrectly believed to be 'joining companions to Allah').

Quran (4:74) - "Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward."  The martyrs of Islam are unlike the early Christians, who were led meekly to the slaughter.  These Muslims are killed in battle as they attempt to inflict death and destruction for the cause of Allah.  This is the theological basis for today's suicide bombers.

Quran (4:76) - "Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah…"

Quran (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks."

Sourced via the Quran on Google

It is a very violent religion initially formed on violence in its structure and organisation.
 Anyway that's another post for another day..
I digress from my initial point and that is : PRAY FOR PARIS

My post calls into question humanity and mankind. We are so quick to divert blame to one party in this entire devastation but lets bring it closer to home: how many of us; in a Godless nation are actually "praying for Paris?"

I have seen people making money off the situation  some companies offer  a pretentiously generous 20% donation to the French cause; heck even celebrities are joining in!

This angers me as I think we caption the phrase "Pray for Paris" when many people don't pray EVER, have never prayed before or only pray when they want something because their life has taken a turn for the worst.
Why does the world cry out to God when  there is a crisis anyway? Does that mean that innate within our God given conscious we believe in a higher being. Or, and lets be honest here are we just using God? Isn't that hypocrisy? We talk to you when we want something but turn against you the rest of the time.

Let me give you a small fable to illustrate, so Its often said:  
Imagine you DON'T work at McDonald's and then on pay day turned up in store pushed the queuing customers aside and loudly demanded to immediately speak to the boss! As S/he appeared from the back of the restaurant you declare, for all to hear that you have not been paid and then demand your monthly wage. 
The manager would be shocked at such an audacious request. 
S/he would ask you "why should I give you what you ask when you have not been working for me?"
The same goes for God and prayer, if indeed its God we are praying to, as: "Pray for Paris" is not very specific to a religions Judeo God. It could be to a tree or flower if you so choose, who/what is your "god?"
So lets say hypothetically it is to an omnipotent and omnipresent Lord, surely then why do we just pray when we need something? Why not always?

I can say that I believe in God and I am genuinely praying for Paris, as I do anyway and the rest of the world.. not to sound superfluous as it may read but to emphasise a point that is God is so much more than just a genie in a bottle we summon him when we want a wish granted .

 Importantly, just know this, it all boils down to the condition of "people" their agendas and motives, I believe God made us to have free will not to be pawns on a chessboard but to make our own decisions, and the way the world is going, will there ever truly be peace?
People as individuals are selfish (myself included) we all like a bit of "me" time ; a quick test on this would be how many Brits were happy to hear refugees from Syria and beyond were possibly coming into our country??... show of hands reveals a minority.

Lets be honest with ourselves we hear bad news like this, we care about things for a short while then, move on with OUR own lives. 
How many of us can guarantee we will be praying not just for Paris, but for the world, and not just on the 13/11/15 but always?? Will a  show of hands reveals a minority?

Its food for thought, honestly this as not a criticism or judgemental post or a social rant but literally, these are just thoughts from my mind written that scream aloud from the page.

Lets be people of our word not just going through the media motion of: tag and share; following the curewent craze and the hype.

If we are going to pray lets just do it right? Not just when we want something.

Pray with me if you will?

Dear God, 

We have seen the sadness in Paris. Our brothers and sisters unfairly slain for a selfish and wrongful cause.

Mothers and fathers have seen their children go before them; a grief that shatters their family forever. God we know this is not right.

Father we ask for justice in what is so  very cruel and unfair. We pray you  bring comfort to the families who have suffered such loss and pain, bring the right people into the police force lord, who will find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

We ask for a sense of peace to cover in the Nation of Paris. let the people become a community and comfort one another in this time of crisis.

We pray for all nations who are in peril lord and have encountered terrorists and natural disasters in the last few years; too long to list by name but we lift up Israel and Syria, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Libya, America and here in the United Kingdom.

We ask for all this and thank you in advance lord.

Amen.

Celebrity or not celebrity?

My best friend and fellow pastors wife and I were engrossed the other day in discussing celebrities.

We both know the cliche of: when you're a Christian you're not really supposed to know what's going on in the world of gossip, camers and scandals etc... To stay cocooned and maybe on occasion pass religious Jugment; but at the same time I believe that it is good to know what is going on in social media, news and the world around you and not be oblivious to it.

 Its very good to know what is happening in governmental politics, the terrifying and brutal world of Isis and celebrity news. Not that you glorify it mentally or model your life around it but at the same time a general awareness is something that I personally enjoy being up to date with.

It's good to know: what the Bible prophesied thousands of years ago is literally unfolding and unravelling like the ribbon of a tailors work bench into the reality of life as we know it today.

So; via our telephone conversation where upon we discussed celebrities and the lifestyle of the rich and famous we clearly fell upon a mutual agreement. 

This was that:  Our most sincere feeling towards the subject of certain celebrities was empathy and concern.

We talked celebs like:Rihanna, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson, Mcauly Caulkin

(We all remember Britney)..

We reminisced on about where they began in life, their talents and God given gifts and how far they ended up.

What if there had been somebody in their lives that was genuine and could help them?

Now in the case of my absolute favourites Whitney, Michael and even Elvis it's too late so to see the moral demise of Beyonce in her dignity and self worth who started as a Christian girl singing in church and is now letting her sister K.O. her husband in an elevator, it's sad. 

 We still pray that there is time for her and many more to change. 

I think the most disturbing and petrifying thoughts are where upon the deaths are the same as one of their parents. 

We know Whitney Houstons daughter was found in a bath tub recently, her lungs full of water in the same way her mother met her fate, Peaches Geldof had the same demise as her own mother, it's deeply horrifying.

When you think about just how many celebrities have each died in the most unfortunate ways in the past few years it's a sombre thought.  it's increased and shocking to contemplate just how young they are.

From Brittany Murphy, Robin Williams, peaches Geldof, Alexander McQueen, Amy winehouse; Some from suicide and some from drugs we know that they had to be deeply empty, lonely and very unhappy individuals.

It's too late now, they are gone but never forgotten. The rest that remain with us that show these signs of sadness and insecurities we vow to pray for.

It's a solemn thought but who is next? Who's going to be the next tragic headliner?

 Where we as readers will literally have a sip of their coffee with their morning paper, look to the headlines and think: My goodness I didn't know they were that miserable.

We can only see the outward but God looks at the heart.

Internal misery can only be filled with Gods love. Not by the love of a man or woman, what comes out of a bottle. 

Those famous song words: 

"travel the world and the seven seas, 

everybody's looking for something.."

Hold a poniant and sobering mindset for our world today.

The further we stray from the truth the more likely we are to forget it existed and live with the emptiness  inside.

Most people search for that fulfilment and never find it. 

Today's thoughts are simple. We're praying for celebrities, people in power and leaders. 

That they make the right choices and are guided by conviction in their search for the ultimate truth, and indeed find it.

5 more weeks to go...

On 28 March 2015 we move house relocating from Derby in the East Midlands and moving up north to Hull; East Riding of Yorkshire.

I am very excited about the move I can't wait to be a full-time pastors wife in addition to running my business and being a mummy we have found our home it's beyond gorgeous better than anything I could have imagined that literally everything I wanted and asked God for.

(Pic from insta follow my acc on there I will follow back mrselizatimbo_phull)

With the home sorted and school, church building sorted and even a new studio space in town all we need to do is book a holiday! lol 

We know the pressures of the ministry and that little trip before it all kicks off is deserved and needed!

Thoughts for the day

Sometimes the simplest picture can speak 1000 words....

Be blessed today 

Femininity The Final Frontier

I have over this week , been watching a lot of episodes of Ladette to lady.

I have never seen any of the series before and it was quite alarming to see how girls behave in this day and age.

Not to say that there are no ladies of class and demeanour any more but it does seem like the more loudmouthed and impolite you are the better in this day and age.

It was quite sad to watch these girls not be able to comprehend how to behave.

For me personally I do not judge;  I just feel an introvert sadness and wish that I could do more to help people.

Constantly drinking, Burping as loud as possible passing wind and cavorting on one another like a dog in heat, it was so sad to see no grace or femininity in any of these young ladies at all.

It got me thinking if I could list my favourite top 10 feminine women who would they be?...

My Top Ten most Feminine Women of all Time (or to date..)

Number 10 Doris Day

NUMBER 10 Doris Day

Although she stared in calamity Jane and the Pyjama Game (both rather feisty roles) 

Doris is a lady of grace and elegance her poise and beautiful singing, dancing roles make her a lady of talents as well as beauty.

NUMBER 9 Elizabeth Taylor

NUMBER 9 Elizabeth Taylor

One of my favourite actresses Elizabeth has perpetual elegance employees in her tone mannerisms and acting ability.

She was said to have a darling personality, acknowledgement of people was flawless and her femininity was impeccable off stage or on.

NUMBER 8

NUMBER 8 Natalie Portman

Natalie is often featured in glorious beautifully feminine and floral adverts showcasing fruity delicate sense of modelling Chanel or playing in Swan lake (how delicately feminine is that?)

She is incredibly beautiful and her femininity is a evident in all her work.

NUMBER 7 Dita Von these

The thing is with Dita, although she is a burlesque dancer; which you have to have a certain amount of femininity to do I personally query how much of it is genuine or staged?

Obviously when she's performing she is the picture of poise, femininity and Seduction but her marriage to Marilyn Manson questioned her personal values behind-the-scenes.

I have seen pictures from their happiest times with him,of her glugging down a pint of beer in a leopard print elasticated cheap top, on a torn couch without a care in the world of how she looked so I wonder is this just part of her act being seen in the public eye or has she conformed since that point in her life? Change is always possible with determination so only she knows...

NUMBER 6 Natalie Wood

NUMBER 6 Natalie Wood

I adore Natalie Wood. For a lady that had such a difficult upbringing and a deprived torn family which even affected her in her adult life has femininity and venerability as a beauteous woman was always clear in her rolls or in her off screen personality.

Natalie may have been a bit too vulnerable because of her femininity. She was described as very paranoid and self conscious of what other people thought of her and always trying to push for the best impression on others however it's a beautiful sight to behold to see a woman acting like a woman.

She had a lot of disagreements with people in later life unfortunately that that was more to do with her declining health rather than her femininity.

NUMBER 5

NUMBER 5 Sophia Loren

What icon of beauty, sensuality and femininity.

Her face is still famous today, her hairstyles were popular she was the trend setter of her generation.

Personally I can't imagine Sofia Lauren burping as loud as possible and gyrating on any breathing  thing..

NUMBER 4

NUMBER 4 Maryln Monroe

Evidently troubled in her later life which drove her to commit suicide however Marilyn was officially known as the sex icon of her time.

Extremely feminine in every single thing she didn't even if she was a shared lead role in the movie she would always stand out (gentlemen prefer Blondes).

I do not admire her ethics or the way that she lived some part of her life, however Marilyn was a business woman and she knew how to turn on the charm in the best possible way some of it was definitely staged but that's what made her so attractive. She paid attention to her voice, poise  and her flirtatious manner not the best way for every woman to act that definitely encouraged gentleman to look her way. She flaunted her curves died had ginger hair blond and new exactly how to have a good time she was definitely a wild child of her day but that does not dismiss the fact that she is a lot more feminine than The wild child of our day Milie Cyrus.

NUMBER 3

NUMBER 3 Princess Diana

Princess Diana was an natural born beauty she was very shy and that added to Humility and sweet gracious charm so loving so caring and as dainty, as a French fancy, she was truly one of our English roses that we would definitely feel proud of in the history of England.

It was so sad when she passed away on my mother's birthday in 1997.

 I never forget when my mother  came into my bedroom that day crying I said:

 "why you crying on your birthday?"

and she told me Princess Diana had died that morning in a car crash. 

The nation was weeping that day.

Our princess has Gone but definitely not forgotten..

NUMBER 2

NUMBER 2 Audrey Hepburn

I am obsessed with Audrey from her films such as : My Fair lady and breakfast at Tiffany's to her delicate petite figure and bone structure! She's so cute and delicious! 

Audrey is officially the most feminine lady going! Super popular she is the ultimate fancy dress at every grown up party, with every girl styling their hair in the updo bouffant large glasses, pearls and that extra long cigarette holder.

She was just so pretty and so classy in every aspect of her being. It was natural to her; she was said to be utterly charming and gracious and just so caring! 

 Even in the latter part of her life all the work she was doing for charity was unbelievable, a constant giver and caring for others. She has to be one of the more popular ladies in history that exhume feminity and kindness.

NUMBER 1

NUMBER 1 Jackie Kenedy

Yes it's official Jackie Kennedy has to been number one feminine lady of all time.

A lady that had a few very difficult chapters in her lifetime; Jackie was in her time and in her memory today considered to be one of the most feminine and beautifully positioned women in history.

She was from a very well-to-do upper-class family and once she was the first lady of the United States of America maintained the all traditional American family image.

she kept her cool when things were not right within her marriage and was widowed at such a young age but still cultivated and maintained her beauty of nature.

I can honestly say Jackie is the picture of perfection in how a lady should carry herself with femininity grace and charm.

I have not been able to include everyone in my list of top 10 there is a special mention I must give to Grace Kelly, Rita Hayworth and Kate Middleton, all of which I think deserve joint second/first along with Audrey and Jackie but there was only room for 10!

I haven't got time for the celebrities that grease themselves up like a deep fried sausage and take ridiculous images for attention (cough cough Kim Kardashian..) Sometimes it's nice to detach ourselves from all of that madness and remember our purpose and poise in life. Aiming for the best and visualising greatness.

Pastors wife & Vintage Homemaker

Welcome to our new blog!

I am Betty Timbo 

I am a vintage loving shabby chic 1950s housewife, mummy and the wife of a wonderful husband and Pastor of our church in Hull.

Welcome to the vintage world as you step back to a simpler time

come with me to vintage fairs, retro fashion and Iconic 1940s beauty tips.

I love the ideal housewife, ideal family where the woman looks after the home and the man looks after the family.
With a permanent hankering with the past and avoid venturing into with the modern world too often.
my vintage home is definitely where my heart is

Domestic housewife and mother, tea drinker; join me as a true time warp believer a tempting escape from the stresses of modern life.