Abigail

Some women are married to great men, while others are married to fools. Abigail was married to a fool. When she tried to be respectful and generous in response to something her husband had done, she ended up saving lives.

Today at Seek God With Me, let’s take a look at how we can turn a bad situation around. Even when you’re not the person in charge, you can do something to help others.
 
Have you had the opportunity to respond to a threat with kindness? Abigail did. Join me at Seek God With Me and see how this strong woman did it.

What A Way To Go, 1964


Shirley MacLaine stars with Dean Martin, Dick Van Dyke, Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Gene Kelly, and Robert Cummings in this fun romantic comedy. Shirley MacLaine’s gowns were designed by Edith Head.  

Louisa May Foster has had an interesting life, but she’s full of regrets. She just wanted a husband to love her and grow old with her. As a young girl, her mother wanted her to date the wealthy boy in town, Lennie Crawley, played by Dean Martin. But she only wanted love, not money. So she remained strong and kept looking.

She found what she wanted in Edgar Hopper, played by Dick Van Dyke. Not long after they were married, he found a way to get rich – and then he died. In her grief, she went to Paris to recover. There, she met and married a starving artist named Larry Flint, played by Paul Newman. His death made her more rich. At the Paris airport while she was trying to go back to New York, she met Rod Anderson played by Robert Mitchum. He, of course, made her even more wealthy, and then he died. But he wasn’t the last husband.

Her husbands loved her and made her happy, but because of their drive to become wealthy, they all died fairly young. She was a resilient woman who tried to have a happy life, but was swamped with money associated with several last names.

Esther


I love the story of Esther. She was a beautiful young woman who listened to others and used wisdom. I love telling her story because she demonstrated that it takes more than beauty to change the world. Today at Seek God With Me, Esther’s story takes center stage because she showed strength in a life and death situation.

I think Esther had a serious poker face. She didn’t give away what was behind her initial invitation to a banquet. She set up the king to listen to her plea to stop a massacre.

Join me as I take a look at the strength and patience of a woman who saved the lives of her people.

 

All About Eve, 1950

Bette Davis is Margo Channing, a woman trying to continue her successful career as a stage actress. However, she hires Eve to help her out. Eve, played by Anne Baxter, decides she must take advantage of every opportunity if she’s going to become a big star.

Celeste Holm is lovely as her friend Karen. One of Marilyn Monroe’s early roles was in this film as Miss Casswell. I loved Thelma Ritter as Birdie as well.

The screenplay was written by Joseph L Mankiewicz. He adapted the story from Mary Orr’s “The Wisdom of Eve.” Those writers went to work with fireworks in their pens. This film is where the famous line, “Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy night,” is from.

This film was nominated for fourteen Oscars and walked away with six wins. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Joseph L. Mankiewicz won Best Director and Best Writing of a Screenplay. Thomas Moulton won Best Sound, Recording. George Sanders won Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Edith Head and Charles Le Maire won the Oscar for Best Costume Design, Black and White.

Jael

Jael was a strong woman who accepted the opportunity that came right to her door. She’s famous because she killed a runaway who was an enemy of the Israelites.

Last week, I highlighted the efforts of Deborah, who encouraged Barak to lead 10,000 men into battle against Sisera as the Lord had commanded. Barak was able to succeed in battle. He and his men killed all of Sisera’s men. But Sisera fled on foot.

Where did Sisera go? He thought he was safe at the door of Jael’s tent. She greeted him with kindness, covered him with a blanket, and let him go to sleep in her tent. What a nice woman. Right?

Not so much. This is not a woman you want to mess with.

Join me at Seek God With Me to read more about this strong woman.

 

Captain Cautious, 1940

All onboard an  American ship are finally on their way home from their last European port. They miss their families, and they all want to be back home in Maine. However, the war with the British has started since they’ve been gone. They aren’t aware of the war and are surprised when a British ship aims its cannons and kills their captain. 

The daughter of the captain becomes the new captain, goes to France to get supplies, and plans to go back well able to join in the fight against those awful British who killed her father.

There are many twists and turns in this romantic adventure. I thought it was written well enough for those who enjoy a good “woman in a man’s world” adventure. The women are talented and courageous, and even though they try their best to be heroes, those guys just won’t allow it.

Victor Mature, playing Daniel Marvin, exhibited intelligence in his decision-making. He also revealed courage, strength, and a love for his woman. Louise Platt played Corunna Dorman, Daniel’s love interest.

Leo Carrillo was wonderful as Lucien Argandeau, the man to whom every woman was supposedly attracted. And Vivienne Osborne played Lucienne’s wife, Victorine, who was prepared for everything, except paying her bill in France. 

The villain, named Lehrman Slade, was played by Bruce Cabot. He was handsome enough to make a viewer think he could be competition for the hero, but he was a real scoundrel. Many other actors found a brief moment to steal the show: the guy with the stutter, the musician who helped set the stage for the romance, and the young British drummer. I must also mention the one running gag where the sailor continually mentions how having a woman on a ship is bad luck. 

This was an adaptation from the novel by Kenneth Roberts. I haven’t read the novel, but the movie was good enough that I might be interested.

Deborah

Want to know what Barak said? Find out at Seek God With Me.

Today, I’m looking at how the prophetess Deborah handled a difficult situation. She was a strong woman who had to do whatever it took to find success. The story of Deborah and Barak is a story of victory, but there was a struggle to get to that victory.

Deborah was not some mousy little people pleaser. She was bold enough to stand up for what God said. How many in our day would stand up for God’s commands? How many of us would rather not stand out in that way? Deborah had to stand out and be bold in order to save her people. To read more, join me on my devotional blog at Seek God With Me.

 

Strong Women

Happy Groundhog Day!

February is known for a lot of different things. It is the month of love. It’s Black History Month. It’s the month of Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day. It’s the month we celebrate Presidents’ Day. It’s the month of the Super Bowl. And it’s Creative Romance Month.

I'm glad a lot of guys out there take this month, the month of love, seriously and show appreciation for the women in their lives. Encouraging women is something both genders can do. I’ll be celebrating strong women of the Bible and in classic movies during this month.

You might know some strong women in your family or on your street. Or you might be a strong woman, a current day heroine who makes everyone else’s life better.

So come back and check out the women in movies who have to overcome challenges. There are women in the Bible who stood up to adversity and changed the lives of those around them. These women are not mice who skitter into the corner when danger shows up. They have the guts to face down the obstacles and press on toward the goal.