Putting Fairy Tales to Shame: Loving Jesus Through Dating, Marriage, Sex, and Womanhood

By Elisabeth Huijskens

Having lived in this world, weve been fed devious lies about the true definitions of love and romance. We have been tangled in a cycle of misconceptions and heartbreakimprisoning our feminine souls.

Enough hearts have been broken, and a revival is on its way. The time has come to overwhelm the lies and reveal to this world the true definition of love: Jesus love.

God has written the most romantic love story, and since the beginning of time, we have been living in the center of it.

It is time to take up the role we have been given as daughters of the lighta light of joy, hope, romance, and freedom.

Dare to be fulfilled. Dare to be romanced. Dare to be swept up in a love youve never felt before.

Its a love thats putting fairy tales to shame.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449780395

Elisabeth Huijskens

Elisabeth Huijskens has been a leader in her youth group since she was fourteen, where she led worship weekly, taught on biblical topics relevant to her generation, and mentored the girls around her. Elisabeth lives on the Atlantic coast of Florida as a worship leader, fair trade business co-founder, and student studying journalism and worship music. www.elisabethhuijskens.com

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Copyright © 2012 Elisabeth Huijskens

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web address es or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-6679-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-8039-5 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012916893

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/02/2012

Contents

Thank Yous

Introduction

Chapter One - Our Feminine Hearts

A Waiting Groom

Here Comes the Groom

Why We Desire Love

The Wilderness

Chapter Two - A Love Proposing to Prostitutes

Invitation

We are Hosea’s Wife

The Wedding

Chapter Three - This is an Appeal

Psalm 146

Avoiding Heart Break

Let Them Sing Love Songs

Chapter Four - Romancing God

Waiting

He Wants Our Best

Making He Who is Love Feel Our Love for Him

When to Let the Man Cut In

Chapter Five - Worth Clinging To

Unbreakable

Maintaining a Godly Relationship

Chapter Six - Hearts Tangled in the Sheets

A Woman of Wonder

She Said the ‘S’ Word

One Flesh

Jesus and Sex aren’t Antonyms

Chapter Seven - White as Snow

New

Forever Pure

The Crime of the Good Girl

Chapter Eight - A Calling to Forgive

Raw, Sacrificial Love

As He Has Forgiven You

Our Road to Freedom

Chapter Nine - Beyond the I Do

Place of Freedom

An Arranged Marriage

Why We Marry

Chapter Ten - Happily Ever After

Together at Last

Gentle Fearlessness

Our Fairy Tale

Notes

Going Deeper: Study Questions

About the Author

For my Jesus,

who has loved me with a relentless love that not only inspired this book, but also a reason for my heart to beat in my chest. I yearn for this book to make You feel the love I have for You. My praises to You will never find end as I wait in pure excitement to be Home and in love with You forever.

For my family, Frits, Gretchen, Harrison, and Mia,

who not only always said I could do whatever I dreamed but treated me as if it was an evident, obvious reality. If it was not for your support and love (even when I was very unlovable) I would not be able to chase my dreams and callings.

For my future Husband,

I am in love with you beyond words already… It’s my constant prayer that, in this moment, you are chasing Jesus in an untamed fashion, and that in following Him, He will lead you to me very soon. I thank you in advance for marrying me. Let’s show the world how beautiful His Truth is by our love.

Thank Yous

Dad, Mom, Harrison, and Mia, you put up with me too much; but I appreciate every ounce of grace you give me. It has allowed me room to grow (as I’ll keep doing) and it has granted me the ability to write this book. Your love started far beyond the slightest idea of this books’ existence. Every investment, every night of talking down my tears, every discipline, every encouragement pointed me to this road. I will never, ever on this earth, be able to comprehend all of the ways and fashions you have blessed me. Thank you for assisting me and loving me in numerous ways during this journey.

Cheryl Stevens, Sara Purdy, Sarah Miranda, and Alex Barksdale, how many hours have you guys endured my heart’s tossings and turnings while I learned the hard lessons scribbled in this book? How many times have you prayed for my heart, for my peace, and for my mouth to just shut it? How many Heaven-sent words have you spoken over me? I cannot wait to find out just how life-giving you were to my soul when we are all with Him face to face.

Pastor Jeff Barksdale, thank you for answering every single one of my pestering author/publishing questions. Your advice was beyond helpful towards the process and my peace of mind! I’m sure there are more questions to come! Pastor Mike Wehde, thank you for all of the time and advice that went into looking over these pages. It gave me so much confirmation to move forward. Heatherly Sylvia, thank you for being the best editor a girl could have. You are a blessing and an inspiration!

Joshua Toro, thank you for your teaching on Malachi at youth group. It inspired a whole chapter in this book! Thank you for being Spirit led.

Mrs. Wagner (third grade), Ms. Gavagni (eighth grade), and Ms. Westley (college English), my soul has never been so blessed in a class room than by you. Writing has always been a heart-fulfilling activity for me since you, Mrs. Wagner, praised my book report on a story about a young Vietnamese girl. That is where writing became spiritual for me, a communication, a giving and receiving interaction with Heaven. You all have cultivated and nurtured that God-given love and purpose to write within me with your encouragement and authentic feedback. You have been God-placed, key women in fulfilling my task for Him on earth.

"For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave.

It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away."

Song of Solomon 8:6 & 7

The Intro

I know what you’re thinking. Oh, it’s another Christian love/dating/self-help/rule/guide book for young women. I suppose you’re right, in part. Except this isn’t a lecture or a rule book, and I am not an award winning Christian speaker. I have never been married and I have never raised a daughter.

Instead, I am a painfully normal seventeen year old girl who is in love with her Creator. Jesus is pursuing and wooing and romancing me, and I can feel that His efforts are relentless. I find myself dancing with Him when I worship. I feel Him singing over my days and the abundant delight that He somehow finds in me. I am His, and He is mine. A reason to sing and dance and rejoice consistently flows through my veins. For I am loved. I am called beautiful by a Man who gave everything so that I might love Him in return. Jesus has become my sole source of love.

While this love abides within me, I also harbor heartache for the girls I see who