Sheila Walsh - Im Not Wonder Woman: But God Made Me Wonderful

Im Not
WONDER
WOMAN

2006 by Sheila Walsh

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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NEW CENTURY VERSION. 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted The Message are taken from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted NKJV are taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted NRSV are from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations noted KJV are from The Holy Bible, KING JAMES VERSION.

Text quoted from On This Day by Robert J. Morgan is used by permission of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication

Walsh, Sheila.
Im not wonder woman : but God made me wonderful! / Sheila Walsh.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-7852-6293-0 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4002-0200-3 (trade paper)
1. Christian womenReligious life. I. Title.
BV4527.W354 2006
248.8'43dc22

2005030053

Printed in the United States of America

08 09 10 11 12 RRD 5 4 3 2 1

This book is dedicated with love and gratitude to Ruth Bell Graham.Ruth, you are beautiful inside and outside, and you have left aneternal imprint on my heart.

Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but awoman who respects the LORDshould be praised.

PROVERBS 31:30 (NCV)

Contents

Introduction
The Woman Beneath the Cape

1.Insecurity:
Ive got nothing to wear!

2. Low Self-Esteem:
I dont like what I see in the mirror

3. An Overcoat of Shame:
I will never be good enough

4.Anger:
Im losing control

5.Fear:
Im afraid of what the future might hold

6.Masks:
Im afraid to be seen

7. Broken Relationships:
I want to exchange my family for a new one!

8.Disappointment:
I dont know what happened to my dreams

Part Two:
Spring Cleaning My Life

9. Facing the Truth:
Taking a fearless look in my closet

10. Taking the Trash Out:
Bringing my stuff to Jesus

11. Timing Is Everything:
Releasing childhood pain

12. Returning What Doesnt Fit:
I wont take on other peoples dreams or offenses

13. Altering My View:
I will change the way I see myself

14. Getting Help:
I will allow others to bring healing to my life

15. Receiving Gods Outfits for Me:
A divine makeover

Part Three:
New Clothes for a Wonderful Woman

16. A Straw Hat:
I will change the way I think

17. A Strand of Pearls:
I will guard my heart

18. A Chair in the Corner:
I will make a place to feed my spirit

19. Running Shoes:
I will honor my body

20. High Heels or Flip-Flops:
I will celebrate who God made me

21. Regular Hose:
I will let God be in control

Epilogue
What a Wonder:
I will dare to dream again

Wonder Woman 1: Monica the Magnificent

Here I come to save the day!

The alarm cut through the air like an amplified bugle call. Monica sat up in bed and reached for the appropriate button. The clock had delivered more than a simple wake-up call; it was the start of another mission. In her mind she could hear music. It sounded like a combination of the theme song to Mission Impossible and the Hallelujah Chorus from Handels Messiah. Fully awake now, she bounded out of bed and headed for the shower. She was grateful that some companies had finally wised up and combined shampoo and conditioner in the same bottle, for she certainly didnt have time to do both. Her hair was cut in such a fashion that with a simple flip of the head it fell into a neat, shining bob. She sprayed her face with the new foundation in a can, applied a touch of blush and lip gloss, slipped into her suit, cape, and boots, and headed for the kitchen.

As she squeezed fresh orange juice and prepared bacon, eggs, and waffles for her husband and two children, she pressed play on the CD player above the stove and a warm, comforting voice began to read a passage from the Bible. At the end of the third Psalm, the voice moved to the New Testament and delivered the Sermon on the Mount with compassion and conviction. Two hymns later, it was time to wake the children.

Hannah and Peter bowed their heads and prayed before complimenting their mother on such a delicious and nutritious breakfast.

Good morning, Light-of-my-life! Simon said as he kissed his wife on the cheek. Whats on your schedule today?

Well, after I take the children to school, Monica said, Im meeting Gloria for coffee. She is having a few problems in her m-a-r-r-i-a-g-e. Then I volunteered to take lunch to two of the shut-ins in the church. After that, Ill collect the dry cleaning, shop for groceries, and pick up the children from school. Ive invited your boss and his wife and three children over for supper.

What a woman you are, Simon said, running his hands through Monicas clean, shining bob. How do you do it all?

Wonder Woman 2: Olivia the Overwhelmed

Does anyone know what day it is?

The alarm cut through the air like chalk on a dry board. Olivia reached over and pressed the snooze button of grace that gave her five more minutes. She pressed it one more time, then again until she became aware of the fact that her son was standing at the foot of the bed, yelling.

Mom, were late. Thats two tardy slips this week!!

She jumped out of bed, swirled some mouthwash around her gums, and pulled on the faded warm-up suit that was lying on the floor.

Wake your sister! she called after her son.

Olivia ran past her husband who was stretching out his bad back and headed for the kitchen. Grabbing two toaster pastries from an open box on the counter, she threw them into her purse and began the daily hunt for her car keys.

Has anyone seen my keys? she cried at the top of her lungs.

The dog had them last night, her daughter said. He hid them in the pizza box.

Olivia rummaged through the trash until she found her keys, well ensconced in a cold slice of pepperoni pizza.

Kids, in the carnow! she cried.

As she sped down the road, little pieces of cheese flew up from her key ring and stuck to her glasses.