Losing Mothers

In recent weeks I have read the following statements:

“Lower fertility is changing the world for the better”

“The bad news is that the girls who will give birth to the coming, larger generations have already been born. The good news is that they will want far fewer children than their mothers or grandmothers did.”

“Educated women are more likely to go out to work, more likely to demand contraception and less likely to want large families.”

 

The Economist Magazine, October 29th, 2009

Rather alarming I would say…. I personally am glad I was born…. I also am glad I had a wonderful mother… I did not say perfect I said wonderful.  This magazine and many more “sources” predicts fewer mothers as a result of fewer pregnancies.

I offer the following, written in 1896. Praying that women the world over will take heed to God’s command in the book of Genesis to “be fruitful and multiply.” But more than that even… that we may see a resurgence in “motherhood” which is not the same as giving birth.

 

Though all are born “dead in trespasses and sins;” in another sense, when a baby is born—its life is only a patch of soil in which, as yet, nothing is growing.

A mother’s hand is the first to plant seeds there—in the looks of tender love which her eyes dart into the child’s soul, in her smiles and caresses and croonings, and her thousand efforts to reach the child’s heart and shape its powers; and then in the lessons which she teaches.

All the members of the household soon become sowers also on this field; as the life begins to open, every one is dropping some seed into the mellow soil.

In a little while, hands outside the home begin to scatter seeds in the child’s mind and heart. The street, the playground, the school; later, books, papers, and pictures contribute their portion.

As the years advance, the experiences of life—the joys, temptations, tasks, trials, sorrows—all bring their influences. Somewhat in this way, the character of the mature man—is the growth of seeds sown by a thousand hands in the life from infancy.

All our thoughts, words, and acts—are seeds. They have in them a quality which makes them grow where they fall, reproducing themselves. This is true of the good we do.

The mother’s teachings enter the mind and heart of her child as mere seeds; but they reappear in the life of the son or daughter, in later years—in strength and beauty, in nobleness of character, and in usefulness of life. Not only is this strange power in the mother’s words; her acts, her habits, her tones of voice, the influences that go forth from her life—are also seeds, having in them a vital principle. Where they lodge—they grow.

You can never lose your mother! She may die, and her body may be buried out of your sight, and laid away in God’s acre. You will see her face and hear her voice no more; no more will her hand scatter the good seeds of truth and love, upon your life’s garden. But you have not lost her! Your mind and heart are full of the seeds which fell from her hand along the years. These you never can lose. No hand of death can root them out of your life. They have grown into the very fibers of your character. They reappear in your habits, your dispositions, your feelings and opinions, your modes of thought, your very phrases and forms of speech! You can never lose your mother; the threads of her life are woven inextricably into your life!

All the noble things that fall from your hands, as you travel along life’s paths, are seeds, and will not die. The good things we do, with the true words we speak, with the faithful example we show, with all the influences of our life that are Christlike, are living seeds which we sow in the lives of others. They will not fall into the ground and perish. They will stay where they drop, and you will find them again after many days. They will germinate and grow, and yield a harvest!

Go on doing the little things, no matter how small, only making sure that you breathe love into them. Let them fall where they may, no matter into what heart, no matter how silently, no matter how hopeless may seem the soil into which they drop, no matter how you yourself may appear to be forgotten or overlooked as you do your deeds of kindness, and speak your words of love. These words and deeds and influences of yours are living seeds, and not one of them shall perish!

The same is true, however, of the evil things we do. They, too, have in them the quality of life and reproductiveness. If only our good things were seeds, this truth would have unmingled encouragement for us. But it is startling to remember, that the same law applies to the evil things.

The man who writes a wicked book, or paints an unholy picture, or sings an impure song—sets in motion a procession of unholy influences which will live on forever! He, too, will find his evil words again in the hearts of men, long, long afterwards; or see his unclean picture reproduced on men’s lives, or hear his unholy song singing itself over again in the depths of men’s being!

The evil that men do—lives after them! “Bury my influence in my grave with me!” said a wicked man, dying with bitter remorse in his soul. But that is impossible. Sometimes men who have been sowing evil, wake up to the consciousness of the harm they have been giving to other lives, and go back over their paths, trying to gather up the seeds of sin which they have cast into human hearts. But the effort is unavailing, as no one can take out of men’s minds and hearts—the seeds of evil he has dropped there!

We are not done with life—when we die! We shall meet our acts and words and influences again! “Do not be deceived! God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows—he will also reap!” Galatians 6:7. He shall reap the same that he sows—and he himself shall be the reaper!

There is a law of divine justice, in which God requites to every man according to his deeds. We are not living under a reign of mere chance. But sometimes it seems as if the law of justice did not work universally—that some who do wrong, are not requited; and that some who do good, receive no reward. But this inequality of justice is only apparent. Life does not end at the grave! If it did, we might say that the Lord’s ways are not always equal. God’s dealings with men, are not closed in this earthly life!  The story is continued through eternity!

In this present life—wrong often seems to go unpunished, and virtue unrewarded. But our present lives, are simply unfinished life-stories. There are other chapters which will be written in eternity. When all has been completed, there will be no inequality, no injustice. All virtue will have its full reward—and all sin will receive its due punishment.

You can never lose your mother! 

(J. R. Miller, “The SEEDS We Are Scattering” 1896)

True Woman Sighting: Columbia, South Carolina

 

 This article was posted to the True Woman Site by Mindy Kroesche

For Leslie Bennett of Columbia, South Carolina, True Woman ‘08 came in “God’s perfect timing.” Leslie, the Woman’s Ministry Director at Northeast Presbyterian Church, attended the conference shortly after experiencing a time of brokenness and personal revival in her own life.

Since hearing the True Woman message, Leslie said she’s now experienced true freedom and is finding satisfaction in fulfilling her God-ordained identity as a woman. And because of the change it’s made in her life, she wanted to share that message with the women in her church and community.

So on four consecutive Wednesdays in July during a morning and an evening session, Leslie’s church hosted their own True Woman Columbia. During the sessions, over 200 women from 25 churches and nine denominations gathered to watch True Woman DVDs, hear personal testimonies, and have lively and honest conversations. Leslie said that the attendees left encouraged, convicted, and filled with hope. She shared just a few of the ways that God touched hearts, including:

• “Yes, Lord” hankies were spotted tied to a purse and a tennis bag. Another lady clutched hers while undergoing cancer tests. It served as a reminder to say “yes” to the Lord during the numerous medical examinations. Her hankie has already been washed several times!
• A career mom reported she was taking the next year off to devote herself fully to studying God’s Word and nurturing her family and marriage.
• A broken woman desperately seeking financial and pastoral assistance from their church was urged by their pastor to attend the event. Her utilities at home had been turned off but she exclaimed, “God put me in the dark so I could see!”
• Another woman heard about the event and attended alone. She was in despair over her troubled marriage to an American soldier who returned from Iraq as an abusive and alcoholic man. She received encouragement and prayer support and plans to enroll in an upcoming Bible study.
• A divorced, unemployed lady was invited by a friend to attend. She would have typically gone out to “party” on the night it was held but instead chose to participate. She didn’t miss one session and is experiencing a spiritual rebirth.
• A working grandmother received God’s confirmation in her recent decision to retire in order to help raise her grandchildren. She now desires to serve the church and enroll in Bible study.
• The Lord gave a cancer patient Romans 11:33-36 as special verses just two weeks before the event. She was amazed and touched deeply as she listened to the message “From Him, Through Him, To Him” based on those verses.

Leslie plans to continue to share the True Woman message through their Wednesday evening classes, as well as reinforcing the concept of biblical womanhood through their many Bible studies. She looks forward to watching how God will continue to work and move in the lives of those who attended.

“With linked arms, we move forward to continue growing and discovering the full beauty and majesty of God’s unique design for us,” she said.

 

 

See this and more at the True Woman blog:

http://www.truewoman.com/?id=809

 

Any woman here in the Low Country of South Carolina that are interested in a similiar event, please email: cindy@ word4women.com.

Feminism Unfulfilled–Why Are So Many Women Unhappy?

 

This was originally posted to Albert Mohler.com

“The woman’s movement wasn’t about happiness.” That judgment, attributed to feminist Susan Faludi, seems to be the blunt assessment shared by many other women. As numerous recent studies now indicate, a remarkably large percentage of women describe themselves as increasingly unhappy.

This issue came to light last month in a fascinating essay by Maureen Dowd of The New York Times. Dowd, whose columns often reveal the nation’s Zeitgeist, cited the fact that a number of major studies indicate that “women are getting gloomier and men are getting happier.” She asked: “Did the feminist revolution end up benefiting men more than women?”

A very similar set of questions arises from TIME magazine’s current cover story and special report, “The State of the American Woman.” As the cover of the magazine explains, “A new poll shows why they are more powerful — but less happy.”

Reporter Nancy Gibbs traces the vast changes brought about by the feminist revolution. “It’s funny how things change slowly, until the day we realize they’ve changed completely,” she observes. As she documents, these changes are easily visible in contemporary America:

In 1972 only 7% of students playing high school sports were girls; now the number is six times as high. The female dropout rate has fallen in half. College campuses used to be almost 60-40 male; now the ratio has reversed, and close to half of law and medical degrees go to women, up from fewer than 10% in 1970. Half the Ivy League presidents are women, and two of the three network anchors soon will be; three of the four most recent Secretaries of State have been women.

Along the way, Gibbs also traces more fundamental changes. With remarkable understatement she simply notes “the detachment of marriage and motherhood” among other transformations. “Women no longer view matrimony as a necessary station on the road to financial security or parenthood,” she explains.

Nevertheless, “Among the most confounding changes of all is the evidence, tracked by numerous surveys, that as women have gained more freedom, more education and more economic power, they have become less happy.”

Gibbs cites a growing body of research that documents this trend toward unhappiness. In “The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness,” [pdf file] published in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain that women in the 1970s “reported higher subjective well-being than did men.” Now, the opposite is the case.

The big question raised by these studies is this: Has feminism produced unhappiness among women? That question is inescapable when seen in light of the historical context. The great transformation of society by feminism took shape only after the 1970s. As a political and social movement, feminism has been stunningly successful. In the span of a single generation, the society has been overwhelmingly transformed. But, over the same period, women report themselves less happy, especially as compared to men.

As Gail Collins notes in her new book, When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present, the pace of this transformation has been absolutely stunning. “The cherished convictions about women and what they could do were smashed in the lifetime of many of the women living today,” she observes. “It happened so fast that the revolution seemed to be over before either side could really find its way to the barricades.”

Nevertheless, Collins, also a columnist for The New York Times, concluded: ” The feminist movement of the late 20th century created a new United States in which women ran for president, fought for their country, argued before the Supreme Court, performed heart surgery, directed movies, and flew into space. But it did not resolve the tensions of trying to raise children and hold down a job at the same time.”

These tensions have erupted as flash points in our national conversation over recent years. Some feminists have accused women who decide to stay home with their children as “letting down the team.” Gail Collins cites Marlyn McGrath Lewis, director of undergraduate admissions at Harvard University as saying, “It really does raise this question for all of us and for the country: when we work so hard to open academics and other opportunities for women, what kind of return do we expect to get for that?”

The essays by Maureen Dowd and Nancy Gibbs both raise the fundamental question of feminism – Has it led to greater unhappiness among women? Dowd and Gibbs remain committed feminists. Nevertheless, as Dowd notes, feminism has served to increase the burdens upon women, even as it promised to open doors.

Sadly, most feminists seem incapable, given their ideological commitments, of asking the hardest questions. “Progress is seldom simple,” Gibbs explains, “it comes with costs and casualties, even challenges about whether a change represents an advance or a retreat.”

In reality, feminism was never only about opening doors for women. In order to make the case for the vast social transformation that feminism has produced, the feminist movement aspired to nothing short of a total social, moral, and cultural revolution. Along the way, feminism redefined womanhood, marriage, motherhood, and the roles for both men and women.

Nevertheless, it appears that most women are uncomfortable with this total package. Instead of producing a vast expansion of happiness among women, the feminist movement must now answer for the fact that women, by their own evaluation, appear to be less happy than before the revolution.

The reason for this is probably quite simple. Women are in the best position to evaluate, not only what feminism has gained, but what it has lost. Maybe Susan Faludi is right – The women’s movement wasn’t about happiness.

_____________________

I am always glad to hear from readers. Write me at mail@albertmohler.com. Follow regular updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AlbertMohler.

I discussed this topic on Thursday’s edition of The Albert Mohler Program with special guest Dr. Denny Burk, Dean of Boyce College.

Brunch and Chocolates…..

Sacred Friendships: Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the Faith

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Sacred Friendships – Celebrating the Legacy of Women Heroes of the FaithBy Robert W Kellemen & Susan M Ellis / B M H Books

This book is a “must read” for Christian women.

I laughed, I cried…I was humbled.

In a time when women’s ministry is often synonymous with brunch and chocolate, we can all learn from the women in Sacred Friendships.

The wisdom, boldness, perseverance, love, and sacrifice displayed by these female heroes will make you want to put down that latte and get to work in the body of Christ.

This historical narrative presents the stories over 50 women and covers 2000 years of church history. The authors allow these women to shine their own light through their letters, diaries, and other writings. We also hear the words of those who were influenced by their faith.

These women teach us to balance life and doctrine, humble care and bold courage, content and character. They speak the truth in love. They teach, counsel, and encourage others through their words and through their actions.

The list of heroes includes mothers and sisters of the saints. It includes martyrs and deaconesses, wives of famous pastors, and women who quietly instructed and discipled followers in their rural homes. You will hear from women who boldly spoke out against and debated male leaders during the Great Western Schism, the Reformation, and the road to Emancipation. There are stories of those who endured slavery and those who fought against slavery. The book ends in a Nazi prison camp, where the faith of one woman encouraged and influenced those around her.

Diversity among the women in Sacred Friendships affirms that all women can serve in God’s kingdom. These women were married, single, and widowed. They included women of high position and political influence, peasants, prisoners, and slaves. Some were mothers and some never had children. All of them lived authentic lives of faith.

I am grateful to authors Bob Kellemen and Susan Ellis of RPM Ministries for including me on their blog tour.

I asked Bob:

Tell us about your speaking, writing, and consulting through RPM Ministries.

Bob: “I believe that most Christians care deeply, but struggle to speak the truth in love. RPM Ministries exists to equip lay people, pastors, educators, students, and Christian counselors to change lives with Christ’s changeless truth. We do so by speaking, writing, and consulting about Christ-centered, comprehensive, compassionate, and culturally-informed biblical counseling and spiritual formation.

Our passion is to empower the church and para-church to care like Christ. As a result, God’s people enter deeply into one another’s lives and make a significant different in the lives of hurting and hardened people.

RPM is our acrostic for Resurrection Power Multipliers. We based the concept upon Paul’s prayer in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.”

We want to raise up a new generation of biblical counselors and spiritual friends who live out 1 Thessalonians 2:8. “I loved you so much that I gave you not only the Scriptures, but my own soul, because you were dear to me.”

How can people get in touch with you and how can they learn more about your ministry and about Sacred Friendships?

I can be contacted by email at: rpm.ministries@gmail.com

A free sample chapter of Sacred Friendships is available here

Sacred Friendships is on sale at 40% off for $12.99 here

To learn more about RPM Ministries, please visit: www.rpmministires.org

**** Please note the above review is from Tabitha’s Team site:

http://www.tabithas-team.com

 

 

 

Instruction and Advice For The Young Bride!

Instruction and advice for the young bride on the conduct and procedure of the intimate and personal relationships of the Marriage State for the greater spiritual sanctity of this blessed sacrament and the glory of God.

No, that is not the opening paragraph, that is the title of a piece written in 1894 by Ruth Smythers, wife of Reverend L.D. Smythers. Obviously Mrs. Smythers took Titus 2 very seriously and wanted to advise young brides on how to “love their husbands.” Please read the following “advice” she gave: 

“To the sensitive young woman who has had the benefits of the proper upbringing, the wedding day is ironically, both the happiest and most terrifying day of her life. On the positive side, there is the wedding itself, in which the bride is the central attractionin a beautiful and inspiring ceremony, symbolizing her triumph in securing a male to provide for all her needs for the rest of her life. On the negative side, there is the wedding night, during which the bride must “pay the piper,” so to speak, by facing for the first time the terrible experience of sex.

At this point, dear reader, let me concede one shocking truth. Some young women actually anticipate the wedding night ordeal with curiousity and pleasure! Beware such an attitude! A selfish and sensual husband can easily take advantage of such a bride. One cardinal rule of marriage should never be forgotten: GIVE LITTLE, GIVE SELDOM, AND ABOVE ALL, GIVE GRUDGINGLY. Otherwise what could have been a proper marriage could become an orgy of sexual lust.

On the other hand the bride’s terror need not be extreme. While sex is at best revolting and at worst just painful, it has to be endured, and has been by women since the beginning of time, and is compensated for by the monogamous home and by the children produced through it.

It is useless, in most cases, for the bride to prevail upon the groom to forego the sexual initiation. While the ideal husband would be one who would approach his bride only at her request, and only for the begetting of offspring, such nobility and unselfishness cannot be expected from the average man.

Most men, if not denied, would demand sex every day. The wise bride will permit a maximum of two brief sexual experiences weekly during the first months of marriage. As time goes by she should make every effort to reduce this frequency. Feigned illness, sleepiness and headaches are among the wife’s best friends in this matter. Arguments, nagging, scolding and bickering also prove very effective if used in the late evening about one hour before the husband would normally commence his seduction.

Clever wives are on alert for the new and better methods of denying and discouraging the amourous overtures of her husband. A good wife should expect to have reduced sexual contacts to once a week by the end of the first year of marriage and to once a month by the end of the fifth year of marriage. By their tenth anniversary many wives have managed to complete their child bearing  and have achieved the ultimate goal of terminating all sexual contacts with the husband. By this time she can depend upon his love for the children and the social pressures to hold the husband home”.

Is this the intimacy between husband and wife intended by God in a “one flesh” relationship? Absolutely not. In her book “Kiss Me Again”, Barbara Wilson stresses the loving and intimate relationship God intended. She does so while illustrating many of the “life” occurences that inhibit us from having this relationship with our husbands.

Unlike Mrs. Smythers, Barbara Wilson shows us that when most women say “no” it is a result of having said “yes” when they should not have. She provides many examples of how previous relationships act as a buffer between a husband and wife.

She starts out explaining some of the cases and why these women now happily married seem unable to “love” their husband as God intended. Next she provides scientific evidence of God’s bonding chemical and how this is affected by poor sexual choices and then moves into healing.

Tomorrow we will discuss more about what the healing process looks like.

If as you have read this post, you have felt any conviction or guilt about something in your past or present, I ask you to please, stop and pray and call upon our creator, that you may begin your healing now.

****The quotes by Mrs Smyther’s was found in the book Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney. In the footnotes the source is noted as, The Madison Institute Newsletter, Fall 1894, copyrighted 1894 by The Madison Institute(New York, Spiritual Guidance Press)

Kiss Me Again…..

 

This is the first of several installments of my review of  Kiss Me Again by Barbara Wilson.  This is an introduction and overview furnished by Multnomah. Please read and check back for my review.

Many married women genuinely want to feel more desire toward their husbands.  But while sex before marriage was hard to resist, now resisting seems like all they do. In her new book, Barbara Wilson shows how couples can suffer for years from the “invisible bonds” of previous relationships without even knowing it. Hidden emotions of distrust, shame, and resentment can sabotage even the most loving marriage.

 

In Kiss Me Again, Wilson :

 

• Shares her own story of healing and renewed desire
• Helps women forgive themselves and their husbands for past choices 
• Shows readers how to break free from “invisible bonds”
• Explains God’s plan for helping a husband and wife to re-bond
• Includes conversation helps for both wives and their husbands
• Helps couples reignite the passion that they thought was lost

 With assessment tools, write-in exercises, and gentle guidance, Kiss Me Again offers a biblical plan for rekindling the closeness and passion women long for in marriage. Because no past is beyond the reach of God’s healing touch. 

 Author Bio:

Barbara Wilson is the author of The Invisible Bond and former director of sexual health education for the Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center in Sacramento . She speaks nationwide to youth and adults with her message of sexual healing, and she teaches frequently in the women’s ministry at the multi-campus Bayside Church in Northern California . Barbara and her husband, Eric, have been married for twenty-eight years.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

 To learn more about or purchase Kiss Me Again go to: RandomHouse.com:

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421586

A Testimony of God’s Grace

There are many of us who worship the Lord and believe that His Word is inerrant and infallible. But do you believe it WORKS?…… Do you believe that the Word of God changes people no matter what they have done? He does!!!!

Read this amazing  testimony. I pray that any of you who have loved ones caught in sin….no matter what that sin is, that you will pray and rest in the grace of God. He alone is our hope…

********************************************************************

Ten years. That’s how long I lived in complete opposition to the word of God. I was a homosexual and everyone who knew me knew I didn’t hide it. In January 1990, I asked Jesus into my heart to be my Lord and saviour. Now I was gay and a professed Christian. I tried to be the best gay Christian I knew how. It didn’t work. I had no peace. The power of the Holy Spirit took away my peace. I was in agony. My life was not compatible with the word of God and I couldn’t live like that anymore. I knew I had to leave my life as I knew it. But I didn’t know how. I couldn’t. I wasn’t strong enough. I wasn’t capable. But …….I was willing. The Lord took that willingness and carried me through my sin to forgiveness and redemption. It wasn’t easy but then again He never promised it would be.  I prayed for help, wisdom and courage. He answered that prayer mightly. The Lord provided for all my needs. He knew what I needed before I knew what I needed. He gave me a place to live so I could end the relationship I was in. He provided me with people in my life to talk to, pray with, encourage and love me. He educated me through conferences and seminars about how to walk away from the gay life and make a new life in Christ. As I got into the word of God, I learned about this new life. A life in Christ. He set me free from a life apart from Him to have a new life in Him. The Lord began to change my thoughts, my desires, my heart. This new life was just waiting for me. But first I had to surrender my old sinful life. As my old life began to fade away, a new one slowly came into view. A life so wonderful I could never have imagined it on my own. The Lord saw fit to bless me with a wonderful wife, Kelly, and a son, Andrew. These are gifts I couldn’t have without my willingness to change, my willingness to surrender.If you are struggling with homosexuality, know change is possible with God as your deliverer, counselor and Lord. Please listen to my full testimony. Read the information on my website. He’ll do whatever it takes. His love runs farther than you can run away.Yours in Christ,Eric

www.ericgardnersetfree.com

 

Being gay was all I knew how to be……….or so I thought. Scared and confused, one night I prayed,”God, I don’t know how not to be gay, but I do know how to be a Christian. I know how to read the bible. I know how to understand it. I know how to believe what it says. And I know how to do what it says. I’m going to start focusing on being a Christian, rather than not being gay.”  

 

If we could only see around the corner, around the bend, to the road that He has for us, we would see He has plans for prosperity and hope.

 

 

 

My husband and I have had an opportunity to work with Cross Ministries in the past and offer their site as an additional resource:

http://www.crossministry.org/

May the powerful testimony of these men be used mightily for God’s Glory…

 Having four wonderful men that we love dearly caught in this lifestyle this is something close to our hearts. We pray that through this testimony and resources you may be able to help others.

To God be The Glory

How Corrupt is Your Heart?

O God, may Thy Spirit speak in me that I may speak to thee. I have no merit, let the merit of Jesus stand for me. I am undeserving, but I look to Thy tender mercy. I am full of infirmities, wants, sin; Thou art full of grace.

I confess my sin, my frequent sin, my wilful sin; all my powers of body and soul are defiled: a fountain of pollution is deep within my nature. There are chambers of foul images within my being; I have gone from one odious room to another, walked in a no-man’s-land of dangerous imaginations, pried into the secrets of my fallen nature.

I am utterly ashamed that I am what I am in myself; I have no green shoot in me nor fruit, but thorns and thistles; I am a fading leaf that the wind drives away; I live bare and barren as a winter tree, unprofitable, fit to be hewn down and burnt. Lord, dost Thou have mercy on me?

Thou hast struck a heavy blow at my pride, at the false god of self, and I lie in pieces before Thee. But Thou hast given me another master and lord, Thy Son, Jesus, and now my heart is turned towards holiness, my life speeds as an arrow from a bow towards complete obedience to Thee. Help me in all my doings to put down sin and to humble pride. Save me from the love of the world and the pride of life, from everything that is natural to fallen man, and let Christ’s nature be seen in me day by day. Grant me grace to bear Thy will without repining, and delight to be not only chiselled, squared, or fashioned, but separated from the old rock where I have been embedded so long, and lifted from the quarry to the upper air, where I may be built in Christ for ever.

What Did Your Actions Say About God Today?

Our conduct has a direct influence on how people think about the gospel.

The world doesn’t judge us by our theology;
the world judges us by our behavior.
People don’t necessarily want to know what we believe about the Bible. They want to see if what we believe makes a difference in our lives. Our actions either bring glory to God or misrepresent His truth.”
~ Carolyn Mahaney ~Feminine Appeal~

Did  you yell at anyone today?

Did you repeat an off colored comment?

Did you exceed the speed limit?

Did you speak out of anger to your children, spouse, friends?

Are you concious of the fact that you are a walking advertisement for the Gospel? As Carolyn Mahaney’s quote states, the world does not look at you they are looking at a person calling themself a Christian.

Ladies do you tell your friends in conversations at work, club, even Sunday School that you believe in a woman’s submission to her husbands authority and then maintain your own checking account or credit card so you can make purchases without his knowledge?

Let us all pray that we may be more aware of being a billboard for the gospel.

 

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God  1Corinthians 10:31

 

The flower in this article is called the Gloriosa Lily… Live your life to the glory of God.

 

Being Created Woman in the 21st Century

About a week ago I posted an article entitled, “Why Did God Create You Woman?” Since then I have received many comments. For the most part the comments have been from fellow complementarians. Some however have questioned the validity of the article as they state that it “sets out a stereotype taken from the writings of a patriarcal society.”

A close review of my article will show that the assertions are from the Holy Bible. Now if anyone views the Word of God as being written in a patriarcal society, I can only answer with scripture. To do otherwise would be to give my “human” opinion. Thus the answer is, ” All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16 TNIV.  I chose to quote from the TNIV translation as those who would criticize my beliefs feel most comfortable with this “gender neutral” bible.

Additionally, I was asked how this(my essay) addresses the issue of God and humanity. What about woman pastors, professional women, work and women and men and work. Let me address these one by one:

God created each male and female marvelously and wonderfully different from the other. They have been created not only to physically complement each other, but to work together for the kingdom. Woman are given amazing natural characteristics that allow her to serve the kingdom in many ways. Throughout scripture we see example after, example of strong and intelligent women. How does Abigail complement her husband? By being a wise and discerning woman who humbly goes before a king and thus becomes a life giver to her husband. Esther through her obedience is used by God to give life to her people.  Lydia, a businesswoman is able to financially and physically provide for the smal “church plant” in her home. The woman of Proverbs 31 is a businesswoman and home keeper. The scripture tells us she has the trust of her husband as she does him no wrong. Once again we see woman in their God given roles excelling and being life givers. Woman and roles in the Church. A woman is limited by God in the role of Pastor. This is not because women are not good preachers, teachers, or leaders. It is because that is the structure God provided for order. When 60% or more of every congregation consists of women. WHY are these women not serving other women! There are endless ways in which women can serve and honor God’s role for them.

Why is the issue of Pastor an issue….. BECAUSE we ALL want what we cannot have if it is percieved to be “more special’, “better”, “bigger” or more important. This equals pride. Our Lord Jesus Christ came not to be served but to serve. Should we as Christian women seek to do less?

Lastly, I have been asked how this relates to modern married and unmarried women.  Everything I said relates to all women. We are to be life givers. As previously stated in my essay, you do not have to give birth to give life. If you are a professional business women who is single and travels, you have an amazing opportunity to be a witness of an intelligent, secure, woman who through every action of her life chooses to do that which will assist her fellow humans.

Are you a married woman who has a career and a husband and children? I can say I have been there and done that. Actually I have been a homeless single mother with three children. Though I was not a Christian at that point in my life I sought to give life in all I did. Not only in the care of my own children, but in the care of others. When I had a home and experienced a young single mother with 2 children, they came into my house and I shared all that was mine with her.  Since being married and all of the children having moved out, my husband and I have done the same for a pregnant woman and her children….. What does the scripture and my role as a woman in God’s image have to do with the 21st Century? Everything!

The scripture contains everything any individual requires for life and godliness. It contains truth and grace that frankly I do not know how a busy mother, wife and career woman can live without.

In closing I would like to quote a feminist theologian…

A feminist who loves the Bible produces, in the thinking of many, an oxymoron. Perhaps clever as rhetoric, the description offers no possibility for existential integrity. After all, if no man can serve two masters, no woman can serve two authorities, a master called scripture and a mistress called feminism.  Dr. Phyllis Trible

No one can serve two master or two mistresses or a master and a mistress.

As a Christian we are called to do all to the Glory of God and to seek first the kingdom of heaven. By doing this we will not serve two masters but one. The only one true God.

For those of you who have any questions, please read the scripture. If you do not think my essay relates to you where you are right now…. then send me a comment with a short description of who you are and I will be happy to relate how being created woman unfolds as you walk in your shoes through life today.