Extravagent Love

The Israelites and the Drama of God

2006-05-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

The book of Exodus is one of the most amazing in the Bible. However every time I read it, I feel many little nudges all over me. I always think about how it really was from the human perspective of the Israelites and Moses and what they must have thought about as they followed the Lord.

I don’t blame Moses for being afraid to talk to the Pharaoh. Do you blame him? It’s a good way to land in prison or get killed. God is pretty gracious about it and doesn’t give him any flack but suggests that he uses Aaron, Moses brother as his mouthpiece. With that business all settled, Moses heads to the pharaoh to have not one, but many meetings.

The next amazing thing is that God just can’t do things in an easy or simple way. If I were Moses, I wouldn’t have needed Aaron, but I would have had a discussion with God about why in the world it would take so many plagues and miraculous signs to make the pharaoh let them go. God is God, so why couldn’t he just turn Pharaoh’s heart and let the Israelites go the first time around?

Well, God IS God and He can do whatever He wants! He sure worked up a dramatic story line. I have always suspected that God really was into the theatrics of the moment. Poor Moses and Aaron had to go step by step thru many meetings, displaying miracles and signs and prophesying plagues galore. It must have been stressful for them, but God wasn’t worried about human fear, He was focusing on showing His glory. He loved the Israelites and He was showing His power for their benefit in the long run. He had them in the palm of his hand the whole time. But I still suspect there were exasperating moments for Moses!

After the final plague, which killed all the first-born sons in Egypt including the Pharaoh’s, the Israelites headed out of town with the Egyptians in hot pursuit.

How could it not have been a little overwhelming for the group as they fled their homeland and all they ever knew? They had to rely on a God they couldn’t see. They had to trust in their leader Moses. Certainly, from a human standpoint, doubts must have plagued their minds.

But God was focused on his goals in this situation.

“When I am finished with Pharaoh and his army, all Egypt will know that I am the Lord!” Exodus 14:18

God showed amazing theatricality during all this and also tender concern over his chosen people. This is evident in how he supernaturally protected them.

“Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to a position behind them, and the pillar of cloud also moved around behind them. The cloud settled between the Israelite and Egyptian camps. As night came, the pillar of cloud turned into a pillar of fire, lighting the Israelite camp. But the cloud became darkness to the Egyptians, and they couldn’t find the Israelites.” Exodus 14:19-20.

The next morning was a spectacular one indeed as Moses raised his hand over the Red Sea and the waters parted. This was no Universal Studios Tour. This was the real deal.

Then came the most dramatic ending possible, Moses and the Israelites made it to the other side and the Egyptians were lost as the Red Sea’s waters dramatically swept back over them and they were washed away.

God had had his day. A standing ovation for a fabulous display of power and might!

This rescue had a big influence on the Israelites who had been grumbling to Moses the day before.

“When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the Lord and put their faith in him and his servant Moses.” Exodus 14:31

Now they were ready to tackle the wilderness!

Homeschooling Anyone?

2006-04-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

If you surf the Christian blogs on the internet, you will find that homeschooling is very popular among many conservative Christian families. And before I go any further, I want to make it very clear for those who may have weak analytical and critical thinking skills, that this is not a post against homeschooling. I want to explore the subject and look at it from a different perspective. Please feel free to post comments, even if you don’t agree but I will not engage in any long drawn out arguments. (They can end in anger! Not good!) If we don’t agree, we don’t agree. Deal with it.

I don’t blame any parent, especially Christian parents, for wanting to pull their kids out of the American public school system. The public schools have stopped nearly all funding for music and arts, blatantly promote liberal thinking and politics, push the homosexual agenda, pass out condoms like candy and tell the kids how to use them, and they seem to be against anything that remotely resembles conservative values.

So middle America has three options: pull their kids out and put them in private schools, (which are usually expensive) set them up at the kitchen table with their textbooks, or fight a system which won’t change until their kids are probably finished with college and by then it will be too late; they will be running around with rings in their noses and have probably lost their virginity.

Because the system cannot be changed quickly, parents opt for the cheapest solution, homeschooling. Ardent mothers quit their jobs and head home to brush up on their teaching skills. Proverbs 31 will need to be redefined to fit in, "She teaches calculus." It's a little scary to me but hey, it's not my kids.

Many Christians now are calling for a complete “flight” from public schools. I often wonder why Christians, whose founding fathers started the whole business of America and free education, don’t stand up and take back the public school system. I mean, don’t American Christians have just as much of a right to have their children educated in this country as much as a homosexual couple’s child?

Why do American Christians seem opposed to engage in the secular culture and having their voices heard on this topic?

Do we, as Christians really want to create a counter culture or “ghetto” to live in? What’s next? Moving to Montana and making it Christianland?

My hats are off to those who want to go thru the arduous process of homeschooling. I know many of the moms are desperate to find a way to raise their children in a safe environment and make healthy choices for them.

But I will wave an even bigger hat at all the people who are committed to deal with the system as it is and attempt to improve it. The American public school system is a mission field that needs workers!

Personally, I have decided not to homeschool my children. I am praying that God will provide funds for me to send them to a private Christian school. If I do not have the extra money, then they will have to go to public schools. That is my choice. I don’t feel I am qualified to teach school subjects at a level that a student deserves. I want my kids to go to college and not major in domestic skills. I also feel strongly that a child needs to know what the difference is in regards to a relationship between a parent who disciplines them and has the final authority over their lives and a teacher who is an instructor that will guide them in school subjects.

Should Christians play roles or be real?

2006-04-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

Should Christian women play a role?

To me a role is what an actor plays in a movie or play. It’s an assigned character with words and actions scripted out. It’s the actor’s job to flesh out the character and make it real for those watching. The better the actor, the more real the role is.

When I received Christ as my savior, I didn’t know that I was supposed to play out a role as a woman. The Bible I read does not give me a scripted part to play. There are commands from the Lord; guidelines for my life and some of them are definitely pointed towards women or men. They are very simple and basic, designed to help us live healthy lives. But I fail to see that God gives out roles like a director of a movie and expects women to have certain "hobbies" or jobs.

I feel that whenever a Christian starts to play a role, and I believe that those of us who spend any time in a church anywhere will not know what I’m talking about, they become phony, false and basically lack the heart or spirit of their faith.

I personally love Proverbs 31. It is a beautiful passage. I think there are guidelines there for married women but I cannot tear it apart and assign tasks or a role for us as women to play out as literally as some people want to do. I mean, what is flax? I don't even know what flax is. If a woman who lives in Antarctica (where for the sake of this post, let’s assume there’s no flax) receives the Lord, does she run the risk of displeasing God because she can’t spin some?

I think it’s extremely important to read all of the Bible and not pick and choose passages but it’s also important not to take it so literally that women (and men) put themselves back into bondage and resort to legalism.

Taking Five

2006-04-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

I've been taking a break from posting and spending a lot of time with the Lord. I appreciate all the comments about the posts on Christian femininity but am still siding with what I believe, which is that Christian women need to seek Christ and make Him Lord of their lives in a personal relationship with him before they seek anything else around them. Striving to make the "role" of a woman our focus or goal in life is just a substitute for the real thing which is Jesus Christ. I think it's important for Christians to work against stereotypes and be real people that non-Christians can relate to.

I will publish more next week after a few more days off and hopefully will blog about a different subject. I just keep going because it seems to be an important one that parts of the body of Christ do not understand.

Christian Women's Answer to Feminism

2006-04-13T06:54:00.000-07:00

I have really enjoyed all the dialogue on this blog concerning femininity and the idolatry of feminism that seems to be going on in the circles of some Christian women.

I have been studying and reading more blogs on this topic and find that the topic of women and their femininity isn’t just something for Christian women to be discussing, but it seems that American femininity in general needs to be redefined.

I grew up under the shadow of the ERA movement and lived in a very conservative family. I was told by society that I could grow up and become whatever I wanted (profession wise) and receive the same pay as a man. I grew up and found out that while women’s job opportunities had definitely opened up, things were not exactly equal in the business world. Things were even less equal in the relationship area as men and women base sex as the foundation of their relationships and men have moved away from committing to anything.

With the “coming of age” of the feminist movement, many women have found that it’s not possible to “have it all.” They were sold on being able to be a professional woman as well as a wife and mother. They grew up and found out that as always, women had to make a choice. The good thing about feminism is that now women at least have a choice.

The backlash of feminism is that many women again are lost and are not able to define themselves in society. Christian women especially are taking this backlash to extreme and are now throwing themselves into anything and everything that has been stereotyped as “feminine” so that they can define their world and create emotional security for themselves.

Is it any wonder then that young Christian women who are sheltered and taught to be separate from the world, begin to romanticize their femininity, their relationships with their future husbands and future children? Is it any wonder that married women crave the coziness and safety of home and blog to each other about the joys of baking bread? They are not seeking a true foundation of biblical values in their lives, but building a foundation on the stereotype of femininity.

Titus 2:3 says:

Teach the older women to live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord. They must not go around speaking evil of others and must not be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely…

Let’s stop right there and look at these three words closely,

to live wisely

Here’s my paraphrase, "to teach younger women not to live foolishly, rashly, or to stick romantic fantasies in young girl’s heads. To not indulge in feminine stereotypes that would take them away from their focus in life", which is per I Corinthians 7:

To be more devoted to the Lord in body and in spirit

Kimi commented and offered a web site for me to check out called, Home Living Helper. In it, I read about the joys of living in rural English during the early 1800’s and how women nowadays just don’t know how to cook anymore because no one taught them how because their moms were all working etc etc. This is all hogwash. This blog is just a homey little hobby blog for women who are living on a different planet. Whatever floats your boat.

Sitting around and talking about the good ole days in Victorian times is not going to help any modern young Christian women of today. Victorian times were painful for women. Every childbirth was life threatening, and most marriages had nothing to do with love but where about finances. And don’t even get me started on romanticizing Jane Austen’s world. Is it really better to live in a world where one daughter could create a scandal with a man and her four sisters would be denied marriage with anyone else and become destined to a life of poverty? Do these women now really want that?

We are called to Christ, not to a womanly stereotype. Christ died for us, not just for men but for us. The Bible is not just for men but for women and we are called to live our lives being devoted to Him and not to a stereotype.

" Why be like pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern." Matthew 6:32-33

(All Bible quotes NLT)

Trusting God

2006-04-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

This week is loaded with activities, some are good and some deal with the unknown.

I find that sometimes when I am dealing with unknown situations where potential problems could arise, I sometimes forget to lean on God and start using my instincts to protect myself. This is a fearful way to live and can be very tiring.

This week I am going to commit to trusting God to be my protector in every situation.

Psalm 91 is one of my favorite Psalms which deals with protection.

"He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." Psalm 91:4

Following Jesus

2006-04-08T07:43:00.000-07:00

I have been spending time lately contemplating why Christians have such a hard time getting a long together.

Last week I was studying Matthew 10:5-42 and meditating on what Jesus told his disciples regarding how to prepare to go into the world to share the gospel. In this passage, Jesus gives pretty detailed instructions, including what to take with you, what not to take, where to go and when to know it's time to leave. It even includes the perspective a disciple needs to have towards the people he leaves behind and meets along the way.

As I studied this passage, I realized that Jesus was talking to his followers. They not only believed in Him, but they choose to leave their families and former lives behind to go and tell the world about Jesus.

I began to wonder if sometimes the problems that arise between some believers is not one of doctrinal disputes but it is simply the fact that many believe in Jesus, profess him as their savior, have an intellectual belief in Him but have not yet taken His word literally to their hearts. I see that some believers have an intellectual belief in him, while others have chosen a heart response to Jesus and made the choice to follow him in all areas of their lives.

I think following Jesus is a lot different than just believing in him. Following means you are intent on doing what he says, learning and obeying the lifestyle he lays out for us in scripture. It means loving him and responding to him from your heart and the belief in him is not just an intellectual acceptance of him into your life, but a spiritual acceptance into your heart that causes you to stop clinging to your old way of life and embrace his way of life.

Many Christians sit in church every Sunday. They read and study the Bible but have not yet decided to follow and be a disciple of Jesus. That decision means actively pursuing the lifestyle of discipleship that Jesus spells out for us in Matthew 10. This is a decision of the heart and spirit in regards to our desired relationship with him.

Jesus pointed out in John 5:39-40 that even the Pharisees knew scripture but yet did not recognize him as their messiah:

You search the scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me so that I can give you this eternal life.

It is one thing to believe in Jesus but another to choose to follow him. It is important that we not just study the scriptures or hear them but make a heart felt decision to follow him!

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:39

(All scripture quotes NLT)

Free and Feminine

2006-04-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Well I'm back after taking some time to think and pray about all those wild posts on feminine stereotyping. I still haven't been moved by the posts enough to back off on the idea that some Christian women ARE taking femininity and turning the stereotype of it into something they are holding up for the world to inspect or something they feel they need to worship or idolize. It's a funny thing that golden calf syndrome. The Isrealites were pretty into God until Moses turned his back for one second...

I think lots of people and even Christians need to construct a "house" or something that is comfortable for their faith to fit in, especially if they find freedom a bit to liberating. Freedom can be uncomfortable. I know there are many young girls who have grown up in divorced families or dysfunctional homes and they need to understand that they can still receive Christ even if they don't fit into the stereotype of having a father to serve or a family that will financially support them while they wait at home to be married. That kind of lifestyle is definitely a man made stereotype as not all people can fit into it. Christ is for everyone!

I am still single and do want to be married and want to "make a home" but that will come in it's time. Until then I am focused on serving the Lord in the ministry He has called me to and to find fulfillment in Him not a stereotype. I do not express my femininity by my cooking or homemaking skills. I express it because, well, I am a woman! Nothing can change that! :)

I do wonder if some of the young women in America nowadays are so pressured by secular values that they are reversing back to the stereotype of "homemaking" out of a sense of finding themselves as women. Young girls do need role models and I think most Christian women would agree there aren't enough Christian women role models around. I can't find one in all these "homey" types and so until I find my Prince Charming and can be accepted into the inner circle of the wonderful married women (or those who are preparing and romanticizing until he comes along,) I will be content sitting on the doorstep of my Father's temple. I would rather sit there for one day than anywhere else!

Gratitude

2006-04-02T03:38:00.000-07:00

Whew! I am tired from my last few posts! I am sorry if anyone has been offended, I admit to be a little over passionate at times, but I am just glad I am free in Christ and do not have to live up to a church or man made stereotype of what a Christian woman needs to be! Here's to freedom in Christ!

Here's 5 things I'm grateful for.....

1. My Christian parents, who taught me to value intelligence in myself and others

2. God has called me to be a woman who is to be conformed to Christ and not a stereotype.

3. My awesome Christian male single friends who encourage my faith and respect me emotionally, physically and spiritually.

4. My church family, who don't expect me to do any bake sales, EVER!

5. I was born in a country where people are free to worship the Lord!

Where the Spirit of the Lord is....there is freedom!

Answering Kimi's questions part 2

2006-03-29T03:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Kimi,

Don't worry, when I see you in heaven I will give you a big hug and apologize for bringing up so many comments to poop in my blog! LOL!

I apologize for being so harsh in my last comment and please know they are not personal as I don't really know you; they are coming from my wild heart and that's why they are a little rough! Sorry!

I DO appreciate your responses and they have made me think a lot. I think I have led us off the track of my original premise which was not whether a woman should stay at home or go to college, but that I was standing in defense of Christian women making homemaking into an idol or as a way to express their femininity. Again, our fullness is in Christ and I know that we do agree on that!

Please know that as far as expressing one's character, I DO NOT mean that in a secular way but in a spiritual way. Who are we in Christ? How is our character formed in Christ? But I do believe that young people need to have different experiences in life so that they can learn to apply their faith to their life. They shouldn't be encouraged to live in a bubble or stereotyped lifestyle. That is what I am against.

I live in Europe now and am originally from one of the three largest cities in the States. I am not revealing details because my original idea for this blog was to practice my writing skills and share personal details of what God is sharing with me in hopes of encouraging others and I did not think anyone would ever even visit this sight! Now it's evolved into something else! LOL

Where I live now in Europe, young women, Christian or not, all are focused on getting an university degree. (But I did encourage young people going to college before I moved here.) University is the only way they can get a job and survive. In this economy men and women must work to support themselves and their families. If you are living at home and your husband supports you, then you are very blessed indeed.

I currently work with disadvantage teenagers who have no family, home and little schooling. I cannot look at these young girls, many who can only feed themselves by prostituting themselves, and offer them an American stereotyped women's thinking of Christianity. I have to offer them Christ. The real deal with no tea and cookies.

This has been an interesting discussion for me as I am truly interested in what young people in America are thinking about and how they feel about life, especially their relationships with God. Please understand that the blogs I am reading do appear to me to be promoting homemaking and staying at home and I am not getting the picture that there are other options for young women. Please understand that now I know this may not be the intention of the writers, but I am fascinated that the young men are writing about changing the world and the women aren't.

I am curious about a couple of things and anyone is free to comment. (I am NOT trying to get a heated discussion going! :) I seriously am interested in the following:

If you are choosing the calling of a homemaker, how did you come to this decision? How do you know it is a calling for you? (I'm not looking for personal details, just general ones.)

Many comment that people are giving them flack for staying at home....Who are these people? Are they Christians? People at church? Older people? Non-Christians?

What is a secular Christian to you? This has been mentioned a couple of times....

Do you know any young women who are serious about getting a degree and going into a profession?

I want to leave you with a piece from Oswald Chambers that I read today in "My Utmost for His Highest."

"If you are avoiding the call of the religious thinking of today's world, and instead are,"looking unto Jesus." (Hebrews 12:2) setting your heart on what He wants, and thinking His thoughts, you will be considered impractical and a daydreamer. But when He suddenly appears in the work of the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. You should trust no one, and even ignore the finest saint on earth if he blocks your sight of Jesus Christ."

Kimi, you can call me wild cat anytime!

Please come back and visit!

Answering Kimi's Questions...

2006-03-28T06:11:00.000-08:00

This topic is getting a little tiring for me, but Kimi, here goes the answers to your questions posted on my last blog post: (Please note my blog name is WILD CHILD not Wild Cat....Thanks

1. I need to make what I said clearer, what I meant was that the stereotype role of the housewife was popularized in the 1950's and 60's. What did women do before that? Read some history books.

2. No, we do not need to rely on college to find ourselves! Read my post again, "For in Christ, all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ." Colossians 2:9,10. Our femininity, our fullness, who we are is in Christ, not in our lifestyle.

I am not saying that college is more important than Christ. I am saying that pursuing other options like a college education instead of staying at home and cleaning can give a woman more options to add something valuable to her husband, family or society and is a more stimulating pursuit than sitting around baking cookies and learning to serve tea. Focusing totally on anything more than Christ is idolatry. If God wants you to be a missionary doctor and you think education is wrong then you will not become a doctor. Why not consider options to serve Him better?

Exploring one's character means getting to understand who you are as a person instead of just doing what every other girl around you is doing because it feels safe to think alike.

"An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit." I Corinthians 7:34.

That's God's word for single women. I don't see anything there about preparing a meal.

3. When I talk about university, I mean a formal, higher education that one receives at an educational institution.

4. Yes, women who stay at home stare at toilet bowls and wipe drool off babies mouths. It does actually happen because it's all they know how to do. And yes, I watched my mother paint the house 500 times and have a fit if someone popped over unannounced and the floors weren't spotless. It's not a pretty picture. She has my permission to write about her and she knows I love her and am not putting her down. I am putting down the mindset. If you make homemaking your total focus in your life, then it will be. I am simply arguing that CHRIST needs to be first!

5. I love to cook. Tonight I am cooking tagliatelle with bolognese sauce. You can come on over, but I warn you my apartment is clean. My mother did not teach me to cook or clean. She taught me to be responsible for myself. Every adult needs to learn how to take care of themselves. This is called being responsible. Do you think because I just picked up a book and started to cook without anyone teaching me I have some kind of exceptional talent? Maybe I should pursue this. I thought it was just because I learned how to read and can do basic math.

I have actually thought it would be cool to be a culinary chef, but you wouldn't like
it. You would have to leave the home and go to culinary school.

6. Yes, please GO SERVE CHRIST! I simply want young Christian women to understand that this sectarian thinking about homemaking and cleaning is a stereotype and if they are not careful it will be an idol in their lives! Okay, don't listen to me, stay at home, go clean the cat pan. Go mop the floor! I bless you all!

Should we make femininity into a stereotype? Part 2

2006-03-27T03:30:00.000-08:00

Should we teach Christian young women to only fit into our Christian culture in the context of what the stereotypes of our culture tells them to be, i.e., “feminine” defined as uneducated, staying in the house to clean, focusing on a life without options? Should young women read only certain passages of the Bible that speak directly to women and hold them up as the epitome of female Christianity? Why are young women quoting passages of scripture that pertains to married women when they are still single and do not know yet if they will marry or not?

Let me point out again what the Bible says specifically about unmarried women in I Corinthians 7:34,

An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.

The Bible does not teach that young Christian women are to be staying at home and baking bread. That is a stereotype partially created out of the American secular culture and partially from American Christian culture. This role plays on themes of the American housewife, which was popularized in the 1950’s and early 60’s.

It is clear to me that the Bible wants single young women to be devoted to the Lord. Paul gives further instructions for married women in the same verse:

But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband.

Clearly, his thinking about married and singles are going into two different directions, but then he adds:

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. I Corinthians 7:34-35

Young women should not be restricted by “roles” or “stereotypes” but should be devoted to the Lord.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:8-10

As women, we find our completeness, our fullness or femininity in Christ. We do not find it acting out roles or stereotypes that are presented to us by our parents, culture or communities.

I would like to thank my mother who was a traditional housewife. She stayed at home and tended to her husband and child. She never taught me to clean a toilet or bake cookies. She never held any special stereotype up for me to make me feel like I had to live a certain kind of life. She made sure that she and my father saved up enough money so that I could go to University and receive an degree. Thanks Mom.

Should we make femininity into a stereotype?

2006-03-26T05:09:00.000-08:00

(This is part one of my response on the subject of making femininity into an idol.)

I read " Beauty from the Heart's" response to my blog, "Can Femininity become and Idol?" and appreciate the response. I want to say again, that these young women are obviously talented and intelligent. I am not questioning this. I am wondering why, since they do seem to have something going for them, they are upholding femininity as a stereotype and focusing on these areas to the exclusivity of the rest of their development.

I am not trying to put down marriage or motherhood! I just think that a young woman needs time to develop and explore her own character before she enters adulthood and that education is an important way to find out who she is before launching into marriage. A woman can give her spouse and children so much more if she knows who she is inside. I don't believe a young girl needs to spend years "preparing"how to clean house. I have my own apartment and love to cook and have friends over to visit. I don't understand why it takes years to prepare to be a homemaker. This kind of focus, when it's exclusive, makes homemaking, femininity, whatever word you want to call it, an idol.

Today, over half of the Christian marriages in America fail. While I'm sure I could post another blog on my theories as to why this statistic is so heartbreakingly high, I want to point out one point of my theories; I feel that the American Christian culture has created roles for both men and women to emulate which create unrealistic expectations that many women (and men) cannot live up to and thus creates extra stress and insecurity in marriages and lives. Women feel they much reach the "perfected" Christian woman role which is laid out in front of them or they are a failure. Or worse, their husbands or communities think they are one.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard adult Christian women, cry as they unload their hearts because they can't live up to be a perfect Proverbs 31 woman. They are so overwhelmed with what they "need" to do to be the perfect wife and mother and are so taken with the stereotypical role that has been placed before them by the Christian culture they live in, that they live their lives in constant insecurity.

Proverbs 31 is a beautiful passage and I love it. But look closely at some of the verses:

"She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard." Proverbs 31:16

"She sees that her trading is profitable" Proverbs 31:18

Obviously, this woman is running a business.

This verse is my favorite:

"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy" Proverbs 31:20

These young girls are busy preparing to keep house but are they preparing to serve the poor and help the needy?

To me Proverbs 31 is not a passage that women should hold up and wave like a flag of their favorite "to do" or "to be" list. To me it is an example God gives in the Bible of a noble wife. Married women should meditate on this passage and use it as an example of how they can grow into being a better wife, mother and woman, but it's clear this passage is not saying that all women should be in the home baking or bearing children. This passage is a big picture of all the different talents and ways married Christian women can fit into their world and bring glory to God.

Since this is a passage dedicated to a wife, it excludes single women. Paul gives single women a passage for them to focus on in I Corinthians 7: 34...

An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.

These young women are already creating a stereotype that will be difficult for them to fit into as they grow older. Some will not marry, nor even own homes, some will marry and may not be able to bear children, and sadly, over half of them will get divorced unless the statistics change. There are many ways to prepare for adulthood that are much healthier than focusing on cleaning the house!

The Wife of Noble Character

2006-03-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

--Proverbs 31:10-31 (NIV)

Can Femininity Become An Idol?

2006-03-24T06:18:00.000-08:00

I love wandering thru different Christian blogs and find many interesting and stimulating. I am however a bit alarmed at some of the blogs posted by young teenage girls. There seems to be some kind of trend growing among them that is "anti- education" and "anti-self." Many are written by obviously bright, home schooled girls who have their future in the palms of their hands. But strangely, most don't want one.

In blog after blog I read insightful commentary on life and Christianity, but when the subject of the future comes up, these girls seem to draw a blank. They begin to dribble about learning to cook, mop floors, clean toilets and burp babies. The thought of university scares them and they write long reams of reason why going out into that big anti-christian world is just too much for them. They don't even acknowledge the fact that there are Christian universities all over America from every different denomination who accept women as students!

I wonder if these girls are typical adolescents in that they have normal fears about the future and this may be what is behind their constant chatter about learning to bake or mop floors. I can sympathize because becoming an Christian woman and standing up for Christ in this world is pretty overwhelming and scary, but the sad part to me is that their plans for a future staring in a toilet bowl seem to be supported by their families and their churches and I haven't found anyone who even questions their plans for staying cooped up in houses the rest of their lives.

Their parents, obviously wanting the best for them, have taken the time to pull them out of public school and "home schooled" them. Is this the product of home schooling? Young women who are so scared of their womanhood that they make femininity into an idol and cast mothering and cleaning as roles to pursue? Something is missing with this picture. What happens when these young women, who are so obviously brainwashed by each other, (check some of their blogs, they uphold each others right to ignorance and the use of mops...(fearlessly feminine, spunkyjunior, feminine beauty, and unconformed) really do grow up and become adults? In Christian churches where the single male ratio is 1 man to 5 single women, what in the world are they going to do with themselves if they never marry? They take a stand saying that they will stay at home and serve their fathers. What if their fathers die? What if they have no means to support themselves?

Of course I think it's normal and healthy for young women to dream about husbands and families and that includes taking care of a home, but there is also each person's calling that the Lord gives us and my experience is that to live an abundant life we need to be submitted to Christ and find out where He is calling us to serve in the body of Christ. I don't think that adolescent fear of the future should be a cover for young women who are called as Christ's disciples to grow like Him, make more disciples and tell the world who Christ is and what He did for them! I also am afraid they are focusing on being feminine to the point that they are making it an idol in their lives. I truly believe if young Christian women today want to make an impact for Christ in the world tomorrow, they need to be submitted to Christ, educated, focused, disciplined, and ready to serve Christ and heed whatever calling He gives them. Motherhood is not an end to a girl's character. It iss just one aspect of a woman's personality. I pray that these young women will wake up and become real adult voices for Christian women around the world.

Job and I

2006-03-22T07:29:00.000-08:00

My spiritual life has been hard lately. I know that some of it is due to spiritual warfare. But I also understand that it's because God is trying to keep me going in a certain direction and I, in my stubbornness, am resisting a bit.

Instead of feeling free and full of love and joy, I feel hemmed in, confused and a tad depressed.

A verse that really sums up my feelings is:

"But He knows where I am going. And when He has tested me like gold in a fire, He will pronounce me innocent." Job 23:10

I have felt a bit persecuted and put down lately but instead of rejoicing about it, I have been grumbling towards God.

But I have truly been able to say:

"For I have stayed in God's paths; I have followed His ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from His commands but have treasured His word in my heart." Job 23:11

I am trying to follow the Lord even though I'm TIRED!

I realized last summer when I was thinking about whether I should continue down this path of choosing to live my life fully in faith for the Lord, that no matter how I feel, God still has a plan for me. No matter how many people try to turn me from God or try to discredit me, God still has a plan for me!

"Nevertheless, His mind concerning me remains unchanged, and who can turn Him from His purposes? Whatever He wants to do, He does. So He will do for me all He has planned. He controls my destiny." Job 23:13,14

Whew, this is a relief! I figured if I just relax and try to trust Him more that He will still pull through for me and protect me and make what needs to happen in my life happen. I don't have to try and control myself or my relationship with God to bring about His will in my life!!!!!!!

(I have recently left a church that taught these principles. They taught that how we behave, determines God's will and His relationship with us in His life. I now understand that is anti-biblical, but many churches today teach this.)

I have been wondering lately if the reason I am in the "grumps" is because I am at a point in my walk in Christ where I am actually growing and trusting Him more than I ever have before. I am wondering if this knowledge of His "control" over my destiny is hitting me so hard that this is why I am feeling a bit depressed about it. I do have to die to Christ! We talk about it, read it in the Bible, but doing it is always hard!

"So He will do for me all He has planned. He controls my destiny. No wonder I am so terrified in His presence. When I think of it, terror grips me. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. Darkness is all around me; thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere." Job 23:14-17

Spiritual Warfare

2006-03-21T05:25:00.000-08:00

I have been dealing with a lot of spiritual warfare lately. Last night I couldn't fall asleep until after 1am. I just felt nothing but anxiety. I kept trying to pray but it didn't help much because I couldn't focus. Before I went to bed I read a great passage from Ephesians from "The Message" Bible....

"God is strong and He wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels." Ephesians 6

I love "The Message" paraphrase of these verses because it's so down to earth and it's so true. We have weapons, prayer, the Word of God and we need to use these when spiritual oppression or warfare happens. If we don't spend time praying, then we are not using our weapons. If we are not reading our Bible and believing it, then there's another weapon we are throwing on the wayside.

The thing that's hard for me to understand lately is that spiritual warfare is a lifetime struggle. Right now that is almost depressing for me because I've been under so much spiritual attack. It's not a situation that will be resolving in a few hours or so. It's persistent and the more we do the Lord's work and seek Him, the more the devil seems to be right there ready to put up a fight.

But the ending is known. We already have the victory by believing in Jesus our savior! We win!

Keep fighting for the faith!

Delving Deeper

2006-03-20T10:26:00.000-08:00

For some time I have been wandering around the web and reading different Christian blogs and getting, well, very inspired.

This blog is my attempt to share what God is teaching me and in writing it, I am hoping that I will be getting deeper into His word and encouraging others to take a look at their faith and be challenged to go to another level.

I'll probably also be posting some of my personal thoughts and opinions about life and what's going on in the world around us.