June 18, 2009

  • How Far Should a Wife Submit?
    Part 1


    How should a godly woman respond if her husband has asked her to do something that she believes is sin? What if she has no ‘peace’ about the circumstances but he still insists? How far does she submit? These questions troubled me as a young wife but I was unable to come to a biblical conclusion. The scriptures have plenty of examples of wives in subjection but we find few examples of those who refused. After many years of study on this topic I believe I  finally gained some answers in this area several years ago, but as always I ask that you prayerfully consider what I am sharing and seek the Scriptures for yourself. 

    The following passage from Ephesians 5:20-24 is full of instruction concerning the 1) attitude 2) manner 3) limitation and 4) extent of our submission as wives.

    1) The ATTITUDE of our heart:
    Ephesians 5:20 Giving THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

    2) The MANNER in which we perform the submission:
    v.21. Submitting yourselves one to another IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD.

    3) LIMITATIONS
    v.22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, AS UNTO THE LORD.

    4) EXTENT
    v.24. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands IN EVERYTHING.

    *~*~*
    Ephesians 5:22 is the typical scripture used for submission but the beginning thoughts start in verse 17-20. Notice the semi-colon which is used to join the related sentences together.

    I. The Attitude: "giving thanks for all things" v. 20

    Being able to give thanks can only flow from a heart that has trust in it’s Creator. It’s easy to thank God when our husbands are godly and love us as Christ loves the church! But, how do we reconcile this scripture to a life that is filled with the pain of unwise decisions made by a spouse, whether he’s a Christian or not? Could the ALL THINGS include husbands who are not saved and live a lifestyle of sin in front of their children? Or husbands who seem to not be taking the lead in their families causing a wife to feel as if she’s carrying the whole load?

    The Strong’s definition for "all" (#3956 ) says that all things means 'whole, every, all, any, whosoever'. To me that says that in the midst of every trial, and for everyone, I am to give thanks.

    How can we thank God for the people and circumstances that cause us so much pain? This can only come by believing and trusting in God’s sovereignty and goodness. There are no accidents in God’s world. All is under the control of an almighty and powerful God.

    Dan 4:35 - "And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and {among} the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, 'What hast Thou done?'

    To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Ps. 115:3)

    Our hearts can only rest in our daily, sometimes painful, circumstances if our faith is resting in the character of God. [2] "Faith endures the hardships and difficulties of this life because it sees that all comes from the hand of a God, who is too wise to err and too loving to be unkind". If we are focused on anything other than God during these hard times we will neither find rest nor be thankful in the midst of our circumstances.

    Our hearts must be anchored to the truth of God’s Word or we will be tossed to and fro by our daily circumstances.

    1. God is Sovereign (Ps. 103:19, Eph. 1:11)
    2. God means this trial for my good and His glory. (Romans 8:28)

    Hannah Whithall Smith once wrote, "Nothing else but this seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only the instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we shall even find ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring us. Nothing else will completely put an end to all murmuring or rebellious thoughts".

    Do you find it impossible to see how God can ever use your situation for good? Then perhaps your God is too small and has become a God of your imagination instead of the powerful God that the Scriptures reveal Him to be. Once our trust is placed in God’s Word we can know that He has divinely proportioned our day to His will. He has not given me too much or too little but exactly the portion I need to expose the sin in my heart and cause me to turn to Him for strength and help. (Psalm 16:5) .

    2. "Submitting yourselves one to another."

    God has called every child of His to submission. Can you think of one person who is not called to submit? Even our husbands are called to submit under employers, government officials and church leadership. In God’s wisdom and knowledge He has assigned authorities to keep us within the boundary of our own particular calling and duty. The term submission means "to arrange under". How am I to "arrange under" my husband ? The direction for my life must be arranged under his plans and goals, my talents and gifts to be used to promote his name and success (Pr. 31:23), my days arranged under his schedule, even my body is to be considered his and not my own mine.(1 Cor. 7:4 ) Because of the fall my old nature desires to make *me* the center of my day, instead of my husband. Daily I must die to this pull of my flesh. It’s the story of the cross of Christ lived out in each believer. My life laid down for my husband and others. It’s my gifts and talents used to benefit and promote another's happiness, not my own. It’s giving up what I want to do at this particular moment to love and honor you for God's glory.

    II. The manner: "in the fear of God."

    The manner in which we submit is discovered in the 21st verse, "in the fear of God". Every relationship and duty should be seasoned "in the fear of God". The fear of God should not be the type of fear that a slave would have for his master. Slavish fear avoids doing wrong for fear of punishment. But, rather it is the type of fear that a child has towards a parent whom he loves. He obeys out of love. This is our goal although many times when we first come to God we obey out of our fear of punishment. As we come to know Him more intimately the fear becomes less as we learn to trust Him.

    As we honor God’s command to submit to our husbands we are manifesting our fear of God. Our submission becomes a holy act, an offering of worship because our husbands bear the image of Christ in their position. God has the power to place his image in whom he desires and that position should be acknowledged. "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church" Eph 5:23

    * This article is continued. Please go back to the home page to locate PART 2.

    Copyrighted 1998. You may copy this in it's entirety along with the second part.
    Georgene Girouard

    Note:  Some of the information above was gleaned from other biblical resources as I was studying. I was new to writing at the time of this article and wish that I had documented the resources. If you recognize it's source please let me know so I can give credit.

June 12, 2009

  • Frugal Friday - free movies

     

    frugalfriday

     

    My husband has agreed to go down to only the local channels on our television set. I found a wonderful alternative to some of the garbage programs available on television. I've heard that the library offers movies for years but just assumed there would be nothing we'd be interested in. Boy, was I wrong!!

    I have found some wonderful movies at our local library. The branch is small so it's selection is probably lacking compared to the larger branches. But, nonetheless, I'm very happy with their choices. Plus, they have the entire list of movies on the computer so you can browse from home. You can also order from other branches.

    They have a little bit of everything. There are DVD's and videos to choose from and you're allowed 3 weeks to view them. I think they charge a fee if they are late.

    I don't enjoy all older movies but have found some wonderful character building ones over the  years. This past week I found 3 older movies rated G and one from the history section on Jerusalem told by Jewish and Christian families. The themes of the movies look innocent so I'm looking forward to watching them. You have to hunt and peck through the shelves but there is a lot to choose from.

    It's free entertainment and you're able to choose what you want to watch!! Great combo.

June 8, 2009

  • Loving our Husbands or Ourselves?

    Can you picture your precious Savior kneeling before you, gently taking your dusty, dirty feet in His hands as He begins to wash and then dry them? I can’t imagine a more humbling feeling than to have my Lord and master serve me. Peter obviously felt the same way for he questioned why His master would wash his feet. He still didn’t understand, even after Jesus had spoken to him that the first shall be last and he who wanted to be great must lay his life down to serve.  He has commanded the same of wives. To lay down our lives for our husbands and family and to serve them in humble ways.

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    As I read the account in John 13, I was deeply moved by the love and humility of Christ. Verse three says that ‘Jesus KNOWING that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God.’ (my emphasis). He knew that he possessed a throne in heaven and earth was his footstool, but even though He knew His exalted state He bowed low and took on the form of a servant. When he finished washing their feet he said, "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord: neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him".

    Jonathan Edwards once wrote this about Jesus, "his love did not rest in mere feeling, nor in light efforts and small sacrifices, but though we were enemies, yet he so loved us. He gave up His own ease, and comfort, and interest, and honour, and wealth". This is our Jesus!! So opposite from our own flesh that wants things our way and life to be easy. Our death to self will come daily, hour by hour, and many times minute by minute in the little things. Our ways, our opinions, our ideas of how things should be. This is where we will die and as we die the very life of Christ will be brought forth and seen by others. Praise His Blessed Name!

    I don’t have a clear portrait in my mind of a servant. The closest example I can draw from is a waitress, nurse or a housekeeper. God’s word, on the other hand, is full of information on the duties and position of a servant. The meaning of the word servant in Mark 10:43 actually means ‘to run errands’ or to do menial duties. Here are a few of the things I found:
     
    A servant is owned by someone (John 12:26)
    * Bought with something valuable
    * Employed in their masters work, not their own. (Jn. 2:5)
    * Appointed to work- not idle
    * They own nothing. Their children and wife, if given to them by the master, would stay with the master when the servant was set free. (Exodus 21:1-11)
    * Whatever they receive is to be made use of for the master. This includes their talents, abilities and physical strength.
    * He is not free to manage his own life. His day is planned by someone else. (Matt. 8:9)
    * He does whatever he is told (Eph 6:5)

    My heart was deceived for many years thinking because I was a homemaker that I was serving my husband. I felt that my responsibilities were fulfilled because I cooked his meals, served him drinks and goodies in his chair, made his special desserts, kept his house clean and took care of his children. But, heaven help him if he desired for me to stay home from a woman’s bible study that I had my heart set on, or to change my plans if he needed me to run errands for him. He became my ‘ mortal enemy’ set on ‘ruining and running’ my life. It became obvious that a lot of what I chose to do each day was because I felt it was important, not because he necessarily thought it was.

    So, in practical terms, I have shared a few of the principles of serving that I have been trying to implement daily. Many of these have been taught to me by older godly women that have blessed my life.

    1. I study how to please him. ( 1 Corinthians 7:34 )What is important to him? What makes him cranky? What has he had to ask of me more than one time? What makes him smile? What does he find attractive in other women? What does he compliment me on? These become the priority of my day. I once asked my husband to take a test where he ranked what he felt was important concerning the home, etc. My husband listed good meals, clean clothes and my appearance over everything else. So this became my goal for the day. You could do this by listing your main duties of the home, the way you dress and look, the meals you cook, how you schedule your day and then ask him to rate the top 3-5 in importance.

    A. Meals: I started taking notice of what he enjoyed eating and tried to stop fixing what he hated. He hates spaghetti. We rarely ever have it unless he okays it. I buy the brands of food he likes, and I try to prepare it to please him. There are a hundred little preferences that make him happy and I am working on showing him my love by preferring him in these areas while still trying to consider his health.
    B. I make laundry one of my first priorities for the day and work hard at keeping his drawers and closet filled with clean clothes. I wash his clothes first.
    C. Working on my appearance has taken some time. I love the "Little House on the Prairie" look. He, on the other hand, likes me to look ‘classy’. I love jumpers! He hates them and says that they remind him of a goat herder. I would prefer to wear no make-up, he prefers it. I like my hair in a simple bun, he prefers it curled and more modern looking. Since I am created for him and not myself, I am working on pleasing him in these areas. This has taken awhile to change because I don’t have the finances to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, but I’m slowly trying to change the way I dress to please him. Another complaint has been my night ware. I found some Satin p.j.’s that were comfortable and on sale for half price, so I purchased 2 sets.
    2.Die to my preferences, opinions and desires. This is a daily battle for me. I’m trying to learn to die in the little things. Some areas that I am working on is my desire of where I would like to go to church, my opinion on what I feel is best for my children if his opinion differs, my preference concerning the restaurant to eat or how to spend our days off. This doesn’t mean that I don’t lay my requests before him if I think they are important, but that I die to my way when it’s not an important issue or if he has said no. I have also had to ‘watch’ him carefully because I have seen in the past if I feel strongly about an issue, he will take a back seat to my opinion and allow me to lead the family in that area. I have seen the fruit of that and want no part of it.
    3. The money and how it should be spent. Again, I give my opinion and then pray that God will give him wisdom to make the best decision. I try to stay within the amount of money he allots. I never buy large purchases without his consent.
    4. Schedule for the day. My personal sin is that I plan out my day, what I feel needs to be , and my will dies hard if the plan is interrupted. I often forget that my goal is to serve and I place my focus on MY goals and schedule. I get ‘stressed’ or frustrated if he interferes with those plans. The Lord has been instructing me for several years that my husbands requests should be my plan for the day. I was given to him to be his helpmate, he has not been created to be mine. This is a daily battle of dying to myself. Psalm 16:5,8 has been life changing in this area. The principle that God is the one who has ultimately assigned me my portion for today. Just like the children of Israel, it may not be the portion that I want but He desires that I trust Him and take what comes from His hand without murmuring or complaining. He is teaching me to not "lean to my own understanding " (Prov 3:5-7) of what I think the day should be, but to acknowledge Him in all my ways and trust Him to direct my path. When my chest starts to get heavy from the stress and my breathing labored I know that I am not trusting him with the day. He then reminds me that I can trust Him with ‘my goals’. It has become a life of faith, instead of depending on myself. I have had to depend on him to make the time available to accomplish the work that needs to be done.

    To take on the form of a servant , our reputation has to be laid aside. Many times our dearest friends and family members will not understand our desire to serve our husbands as Jesus served his disciples. They may remark that we are being a doormat. Phil 2:7 says that Jesus made himself no reputation. In other words He became lower than a doormat, He became nothing. A servant, in the actual description of the word, is not thought of as glorifying position.The meaning of the word servant in Mark 10:43 actually means ‘to run errands’ or to do menial duties. The Lord’s ways are not our ways and what we esteem as good are often of no value in His sight. Amy Carmichael in her book, "If" quotes, "IF the ultimate, the hardest, cannot be asked of me; if my fellows hesitate to ask it and turn to someone else, then I know nothing of Calvary love".

    Will we lay down our lives for our husbands? Let us learn of Jesus, dear sisters. Let us lay down our lives for our husbands in the truest sense of the word, in the seemingly little things for those little things over a period of time can become BIG THINGS. May our day be fashioned after our husbands heart, and not our own. Oh, that we would truly sacrifice to please him in the areas that are important to him. For when we have done it unto our husbands, we have truly done it as unto our Lord.

    Georgene
    Copyright 1998. Georgene Girouard. You may reproduce these pages in their entirety.
    Continue reading

June 4, 2009

  • Frugal Friday: How to give a haircut

    frugalfriday

    I've been cutting my families hair for over 30 years. I first taught myself to cut hair with my youngest son when he was just a baby. I had a friend teach me a few more techniques when my children were older so I was then able to cut my husband's hair. I've saved us a ton of money. I  will oftentimes trim my own hair inbetween hair appointments just to extend my haircut a couple of weeks.

    Meet my handsome assistant.... Mr K.

    Step One: I started at the back of the neck. I combed most of the hair up so that there was just a thin layer of hair at the base of the neck. I made a cut for my guideline and then used that guideline to cut the hair up to the crown.

    May 09 014

    Step Two: Pull the hair straight out and cut using the baseline cut on the back of the neck as your guide.

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    Step 3: Make your first cut at the front. Use this cut as your guideline. Pull up a thin layer of hair behind the guideline and cut to match the guideline cut.  Continue this technique until you hit the crown.
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    Step 4: Decide where you want the hair over the ears and make your guideline cut. Use this as your guide and work up to the crown pulling the hair out to the side.

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    Step 5: Comb the hair over the ears towards the eyes and cut as shown.
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    Step 6: Shave the neck

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    Doesn't he look nice?

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    It helps if you can practice on a young child first. I also found instructional videos on U Tube which looked  helpful.

    I hope I explained this clearly.
    Continue reading

  • "If"

    I don't have many 'treasures' that mean a lot to me.. materially speaking EXCEPT... my beloved book collection! They are like faithful friends who have blessed my life nearly as much as a godly brother or sister in the Lord.

    Last week I was in dire need of some counsel regarding a loved one. I knew that my heart was not saturated in God's love. As I went to bed that evening I grabbed one of my favorite books, "If". I had found good solid counsel in this book many times before.  I had only read a few pages when I realized that the Holy Spirit had used the principles on those few pages to change my attitude. I clutched the beloved book to my chest and breathed a prayer.. thank you, Lord!  He had set me on the right path again!

    Here is one of my favorite sayings from "If" by Amy Carmichael.

    IF
     
      I can easily discuss the shortcomings and the sins of any;

    if  I can speak in a casual way even of a child's misdoings,

    then I know nothing of Calvary love.

    Continue reading

May 29, 2009

  • Frugal Friday: Can you pray this?

    Pastor Francis Chan is quoting from Proverbs 30:7-8 where David is asking the Lord to give him neither poverty nor riches, lest he be full and deny the Lord or poor and steal.   His interpretation of this passage is different than other interpretations I've heard. Have you ever asked God to give you just enough money to make ends meet? Have you asked him to just give you your daily bread? Hmm... I know that I haven't!

    During this economic 'crisis' a lot of us have felt as if we are doing without. You hear a lot of complaining these days about how 'tight' things are. I've been one of the guilty ones. But, when we really stop and look at what we are considering a 'crisis' in our finances you will see that it oftentimes has nothing to do with the necessities of life. People are cutting back cell phone packages to less minutes or choosing a smaller cable package and not eating out as much. Does that REALLY qualify as suffering? ( I know that some have lost their homes and jobs so I'm not referring to those difficult situation.)  I guess I'm thinking of those of us whose income has dropped considerably, yet we are still living like kings compared to most of the world's population. We still have a roof over our heads (a nice roof in fact)... food on the table... clothes on our back... tv's... cars...computers...phones..and so.. so much more! 

     Paul says in Philippians 4:11-13 that he had learned to be content in whatever state he found himself.

    1 Timothy 6:8 says that with food and clothing we should be content.

    How many of us could go an entire year and be content with only food and clothing? There is not even a mention of a roof over our heads in that equation. Just food and clothing.

    God has me in 'school' these days. I am "learning" to be content and praying that He teach me to be thankful for all He has given me.

May 27, 2009

  • What Good is "Don't Worry" in times like these?

    Does the economy have you concerned? Your children? Your unsaved relatives? This article is awesome and has actual instruction to help you trust God during those times when you fret and worry. There are 4 parts to this series. Keep reading to the end and you'll be blessed. I would have posted the entire article but it's copyrighted.

     

    (The author is David Powlison who writes for CCEF which is a Christian (not Christian psychology, psycho-babble) counseling center. Their teachings are grounded on God's Word and not wordly psychology.)

     

    http://www.ccef.org/what-good-dont-worry-times-these

     

    worry

May 25, 2009

  • Ambition vs. Position: Part 2



    Our ambitions will draw us away from our calling if our minds are not renewed in these truths. Do we TRULY want to obey God's Word when it says that we should be keepers at home or do we merely want to fulfill the lusts of our flesh? The Israelites did not listen to, or obey, God so He gave them up to their own heart's lust. (Psalm 81:11,12) We are told (in 1 Cor. 10:6,11) that the Israelites were set as an example that we should not lust after evil things.

    Ladies, God's Word is profitable for our instruction in righteousness. His Word has given us specific instruction on how to deal with these ambitions that desire to lure us away from our God-ordained roles.

    We are to:
    ~ crucify the flesh with its lusts (Gal 5:24)
    ~ flee youthful lusts (2 Tim. 2:22)
    ~ deny lusts (Titus 2:12)
    ~ abstain from fleshly lusts (desires), which war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11, 12)

    And instead:
    ~ walk in the Spirit and we won't fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal.5:16)
    ~ put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts (Romans 13:14)
    ~ Be obedient and do not fashion ourselves to former lusts (1 Pet 1:14,15)

    Satan will use our fleshly lusts to tempt us to believe we have needs and desires that can only be met 'out there' or by 'just one more thing.' Our lives will become unfruitful if we allow the Word of God to be choked by the 'cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things.' (Mark 4:19)

    As God's children we must examine these desires. Do the scriptures teach that these desires should be fulfilled if they are contrary to God's word? Or do they say that we are to die daily (1 Cor 15:31) and walk in the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16)? Walking in the Spirit means that we walk in obedience to what God's Word says we should do. We have been created for our husband's sake (Gen 2:18-24, 1 Cor 11:9), to be an "help meet to him," & not for the purpose of fulfilling our own desires and ambitions.

    Let's take a few of the temptations we mentioned earlier and find a scripture / biblical principle to use as we cast down each vain imagination.

    1. You would like to have *a little extra spending money.* GOD'S WORD SAYS: We are to be content with food and raiment. (1 Tim 6:8) Ask: Do I really "need" all, or even any, of these other things?

    2. You feel that your husband controls the budget too tightly and you're tired of having to *ask his permission* to spend even a penny. GOD'S WORD SAYS: We wives are to submit ourselves unto our own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Eph 5:22) Ask: In what ways can I show respect for my husband's choices?

    3. You are *embarrassed* by the way your furniture looks, or your car, or the clothes you wear. GOD'S WORD SAYS: Give thanks always for ALL things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5: 20) Ask: How can I fix-up or make do with what God has given me?

    4. You're *bored* with the daily care of children. The thought of something NEW and EXCITING is appealing and 'drawing.' GOD'S WORD SAYS: Children are a heritage and a reward (Ps 127:3) and we're to be training them up in the way they should go (Pr 22:6) doing ALL things heartily, as unto the Lord! (Col 3:23) Ask: How can I change my attitude for the better toward my job at home today?

    5. You want *more & more* things to do and yet become tired of them easily, and so you quickly jump from one project, or ministry, to another.
    GOD'S WORD SAYS: (Have as our goal) to know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings... (Phil 3:10) Ask: How can I focus my time and energies on coming to know my Savior better?

    6. You *volunteer* at church to the point that you become behind in your duties at home.
    GOD'S WORD SAYS: To be …. Keepers at home…so THAT the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:5)
    Ask: What are the specific priorities God has already given me in His Word?

    7. You feel *guilty* for just being at home taking care of your husband and children, and so let family and friend's innuendo's (that you're lazy or not reaching your full potential because you're MERELY a homemaker) influence you. This leads you to begin desiring and pursuing other things.
    GOD'S WORD SAYS: A woman is to be well reported of for good works; (like) having brought up children. (1 Timothy 5:4) Ask: Am I seeking to please man or God?

    8. You think that a career would satisfy and fulfill you more than being a wife, mother, & homemaker. GOD'S WORD SAYS: Let nothing be done through strife and vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. (Phil 2:3)
    Ask: What specific things can I do today to be looking out for the interests of OTHERS first?

    9. You think that once the children become school aged that you should help your husband earn a living. Or that you will need to go back to school to finish your education. The only reason you are staying home now is because the children are not in school all day. GOD'S WORD SAYS: Women are to be keepers at home. (Titus 2:4,5) KEEPERS: (Strong's 3626) - a guard, a stayer at home, i.e. domestically inclined (a good "keeper of the house/home") Or from oikourgos: oikos= home +ergon= work; one who works at home
    Ask: What work, or further education, - from home - (if any) is reasonable for me to pursue?

    10. You want your children to achieve academically. You want them to be a success in this world. You decide the only way to achieve this is by putting them in a Christian School which means that you will need to get a job in order to pay for it.
    GOD'S WORD SAYS: To seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and ALL these things shall be added unto you. (Matt. 6:33)
    Ask: Will this thing (fill in the blank_____) lead my children TOWARD God or away from Him and spiritual growth? Will He not provide ALL they truly need AS I am obeying His command to be a keeper at home?

    Paul said he died daily leaving for us an exhortation that we too must expect to fight a daily war against our flesh and the lusts. For daily we are enticed to throw down our aprons and find so-called 'true & lasting fulfillment' in some other role than what God has called us to. The lack of contentment in what God HAS called us to, and the lust for 'just a little bit more' whether it is more money, prestige or personal fulfillment is still enticing women today just as it did when Paul wrote this exhortation.

    Beware, Sisters, that you don't fall into the devil's snare.

    Protect your heart & eyes by not filling them with :
    ~ Soap operas that promote unbiblical lifestyles
    ~ Modern women's magazines that promote luxury
    ~ Books that weave ungodly & romanticized notions of love & lust
    ~ Movies that glamorize the working woman by showing higher education and careers as the 'goal' of every woman
    ~ Friends that entice you away from the Lord and His plan & purpose for your life

    Saturate your mind in God's word and what He has called you to do.
    ~ Memorize and meditate on scriptures that speak to your goal as a married woman
    ~ Make sure that your closest friends are those who have embraced their God assigned roles
    ~ Fill your heart & home with HIM!
    ~ Vigorously pursue the things outlined in His Word for a godly woman

    Begin to realize that the enemy of your soul and the lusts of your flesh seek to entice you to leave your duty in order that your life may blaspheme God's word and commandments (Titus 2:5). Let us persevere to make it our ambition to lead a quiet life, to work with our hands and to mind our 'own business.' (1 Thess.4:11 NAS)

    *aberration - to wander from the right way or moral rectitude

    (1) The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity
    (2) Rocking the Roles by NavPress


    Georgene
    Copyrighted 1998. You may copy this article in it's entirety.

May 24, 2009