Learning some lessons from our children

A few weekends ago Ryan, Micah, and I went on a road trip to Tennessee for my brother-in-law's college graduation. This was the first long car trip that Micah had been on since he was four months old. I, trying to be the thought-of-everything-mom, packed every possible thing that he could need to be content: toys, snacks, blankets, spoons, pacifiers, something to drink, and his own little cup holder to hold his food of choice whenever he desired. So, by my standard, the trip should be flawless! We were planning on Micah sleeping a large part of the trip because he is still a normal two naps a day kid, but he decided that he only needed to sleep a total of forty minutes of the nine hour trip. Although this was different then his normal schedule, he maintained himself very well, until it was time for bed. We attempted to put him down about 11pm. After two hours of trying everything, we finally just looked at him and said with our parent voices, "time for bed Micah" and he went to sleep. The next day, the day of the graduation, Micah took no naps at all, decided that he wanted to eat almost nothing, drink almost nothing, and be happy about almost nothing. Despite our best efforts, Micah did not want to relax, until I took him in my arms and held him close and he closed his eyes, but minutes later he was up again. During the graduation, Micah and I spent most of our time out in the hall. Micah bounced between being perfectly content to unappeasable. Finally, after an exhausting two days, Micah slept, and he slept well. The next day was our trip home and Micah slept about five of the nine hours home. I think he had finally exhausted enough of his own recourses, that he was just willing to give into what we had always known would be best for him, sleep.

So lessons I learned about God and myself from my son:
-God (like a mom attempts to be) is all knowing and has provided for our every need (Romas 11:33-36)
-I (like Micah) have no idea what I need and I am unwilling to give into what God (mom) knows I need
-God (like a mom) knows us, His children, intimately and has already ordained our paths (set a schedule) (Psalm 23:3)
-I (like Micah) think that I know what is best for me and I will whine, cry, and pout until I get it or realize finally that is not going to happen
-God (like a mom) has to sometimes be firm to get us to follow His instructions (Proverbs 3:11-12)
-I (like Micah) sometimes need a firm reminder of who I am and who my Father is
-God (like a mom should be, but I often fail in) is just, patient, loving, and slow to anger (Psalm 103:8)
-I (like Micah) take God (his mom) for granted
-God (like a mom) embraces his children and is always a place of rest (Matthew 11:28)
-I (like Micah) only allow those moments to last for such a brief time

So over the past few weeks I have watched Micah and I have realize how much I can learn from him. Sometimes we have our tough moments, but most of our time is spent in laughter and wonder. He is the most wonderful little guy and I see such a desire in him for encouragement and approval. In the littlest things that he does, he wishes to be seen. He wants to know that Ryan and I are proud and that who he is is good. How I am like that. But I wish that I could be as simple as Micah is. Often I don't just look for the approval of my heavenly Father, but rather I seek that from so many others. Micah right now knows no people greater then his mom and dad and I hope that one day we will be able to point that approval towards Christ. So, the next time that I find myself in mommy vs. Micah, after the situation is settled, I should reflect on what greater things I can learn about myself and my relationship with my higher authority, Christ.

Micah's growing up!

Micah has started to walk, so life at our house is a whole new ball game. I am so proud of the little guy each time he learns to do something new, but I am also saddened that he is growing so fast. I realize that each moment that I have with him comes and goes more quickly then I ever would have imagined. What a blessing it is to watch him grow, but what an intimidating task to be one of the people that will guide him as he matures into a man. That is one area where I need to seek God's grace each day. But for today, I rejoice that he is walking!! Good job kiddo!!

A Womans Image... Part 2

Isaiah 53:2 describes the coming of the incarnate Christ by saying, "...He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him." If Christ Himself, with God in the creation of beauty, did not see fit to render himself beautiful as a means to draw others to him, why then should I desire to have or create a beauty that will point others to myself and not Christ? "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:12)." What a complex concept. As a woman I wish to be beautiful for my husband and to be desired. Where is that line that makes me pleasing to my husband, but not consumed by the images shaped by this world? As I wrestled with this question I ran across a verse that I’m sure I have read before, but this time was the first time that my eyes were opened. "But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands (1 Peter 3:4-5)." There is something greater then the physical beauty that exists just in our physical likeness of Christ; it is the beauty of our inward or spiritual likeness of Christ. “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord…Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22,24).” Not that submission is the key to all beauty, but is a mighty tool that is constantly used by God to remind His children to be humbled and to keep a gentle and quiet spirit.

So what should our adorning be? Where is that line? The bible speaks of the Proverbs 31 woman saying, "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at time to come… She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong (v. 25,17).” Perhaps this clothing carries a greater reward then the satisfaction of thinking I look beautiful.
The Reward: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, he praises her: ‘Many woman have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” There is the line. Beauty is found in the ways that God has called us to walk as woman. Beauty is described by all of the things that are embodied in the Proverbs 31 woman. Let look at how this Proverbs ends, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her words praise her in the gates.”

Amen and thanks be to God that he has created a beauty that is greater then that which is measured by this world. Be encouraged about yourself this day wife and mom!


"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you (Jeremiah 1:5)"

A Woman's Image... Part 1

Like everyone, for most of my life I have had insecurities about myself. Whether it was teenage (or adult) acne, crazy puffy frizzy hair (you can't imagine some of the pictures) or even some the clothes I wore, there has always been an area in which I have felt I could improve. In spite of all of those things, my physical body image (my shape or condition) was never really a source of attack. Now, perhaps it is because I was obsessed with my hair, which never looked right, but my body was just not an area of struggle, until recently. I had my son fourteen and half months ago and although I was back into my regular clothes about 10 days after his birth, nothing has ever been the same. Within the past few months this has really become an area of attack for me, so I thought I would devote a few days to searching out what God says about the physical image of a woman. Lets begin with this in mind from Proverbs 31 "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised (v30)." There is no doubt that what is inside of a woman is where much of her value lies; however, we would be blind to believe that the physical presence has no worth. It says of the Proverbs 31 woman that "...her clothing is fine linen and purple (v22b)." These materials are seen through out scripture as a representation of stature and beauty. But let us look first to the one who created us before we define both our outward and inward appearance.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:2)." The word likeness, dmuwth in Hebrew, means likeness, resemblance, similitude; image, model, pattern, or shape. In other words, we were made to resemble and simulate the image, model, pattern, and shape of our Creator. So what does scripture say about our Creator: Psalm 19:1a says, "The heavens declare the glory of God." In Revelation 4:2-3"...a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of emerald." In Job 37:22b "God is clothed with awesome majesty." In 2 Peter 17 God is described as the Majestic glory. Majesty, the Hebrew word hadar, is translated as glory, beauty, and excellency. Just these few glances of God as the eyes of men have see him, give us the idea of God's majesty, beauty, glory, and grandeur. This is the image in which we were created. But let us conclude with this view, Hebrews 1:3 says "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High." We are created in the image of the Majesty on High and the one who is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. For today, let us take some solace in the fact that our image in liked to the one who is more majestic and glorious than we can even fathom. Everything about God is beauty, so if we are created in His likeness, we can only be but beautiful.

More to come...

A fresh look at working at home

"But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went in to him and said, "Lord, so you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:40-42)
Let's take the example of Mary and Martha. This story has been looked at often as a story where Martha, although perhaps correct in her desire to prepare the house for her guests, it is Mary that Christ highlights as choosing the best portion at that moment. You see Christ rebuke her by saying you are busy about a lot of things, all of which I'm sure Christ saw the value in, but He says that one thing is important and Mary has found it. Perhaps this has greater application then just a Mary versus Martha choice. Maybe woman can glean from this that although we are do much at home, first, when Christ beckons, sit at His feet and listen. What we will learn through the work of the Holy Spirit will prepare us from the tasks of the day. How are we to worship God through our fulfillment of Titus 2:4-5 if we have not taken hold of the good portion that equips us for all things. "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training is to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself or us to redeem is from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14)."
We as women allow the command to work at home to distract us from "the good portion" of "sitting at the Lord's feet and listen[ing] to his teaching (v.39)." We become so busy around the house cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, playing with the kids, talking with our husband, and caring for the dog, that we often allow or even out right neglect our time spent with the Father. I have countless days where I get so much stuff accomplished inside and outside of the house that I have never get to the one who is the giver and sustainer of all I have. The one that is often left as the last task to accomplish is the one who has given all that I have to clean, cook, spend, and enjoy. How often I can let things that are before me distract me from Him who is "the good portion." Now, as I wrote about yesterday, I believe that there are many ways that we can worship God through our actions and choices as woman, but first he calls us to come and sit at his feet and listen to him teach. His grace as already appeared (a one time action), but it continues to train me in all the areas I am called to as a woman. He calls us and equips us for ever good work, but we must seek that daily grace first.

learn what is good

Perhaps I should explain the meaning behind the title of this blog, Young woman learn what is good. Okay, so I realized that this is not directly from the Titus 2:3-5 passage, but rather it a phrase that sums up the application for young women. In verse three the older woman are instructed to "teach what is good, and so train the young woman..." to do what I believe are seven critical continuous choices. The continuous action of choosing provides the daily opportunity to worship God. In Romans chapter twelve, Paul appeals to the believer that they should "present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Look at the things that the older woman are instructed to teach the young women: to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husband. Each one of these beckons the young woman to choose to give of herself for the betterment of both herself and her family. These actions are found to be holy and acceptable in the eyes of God, qualifying them to be spiritual worship. What a difference it makes when I realize that my daily life is more than wiping noses and rears, cooking meals, and maintaining my home, but rather through each of these actions I can present myself as a living sacrifice. I must realize that my life can be used as a constant act of worship before God and not just a series of tasks to accomplish. Just something to ponder.

In my life's journey I am often the younger women, so here I will try to record my journey as I seek to learn "what is good."

Know God...

Life on this earth is a grand journey. The Maker of the universe has drawn some unto Himself and has already set before them a path filled with grace to equip us each day as we grow. Often as believers we do not live as though this process has already been planned and completed in the eyes of our maker. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 tells us that the "God of Peace himself" will sanctify us completely so that in spirit, soul, and body we will "be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." The God that has called us is faithful, and will surly complete His work. He already knows the work that He will fulfill in me, and yet I often doubt His hand in the everyday matters of my life. The God of Peace himself, what does that mean? Perhaps Jesus explains it best when he says in John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." I think that is it. In the world you will have tribulation. Period. But I (I love that) have overcome the world. That blows me away. The God that I worship has already overcome the world. That means that the tribulation that I face or better stated, each sanctification moment that I meet, I should have peace in, because Jesus has already overcome it. He walked on the earth as fully man, and triumphed over it. Romans 8:35 and 37 say "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?...No, in all these things we are more then conquerors through Him who loved us."

How important is it for us to know our God and to believe the promises that he has set before us to read. As a wife and mom, life hands me different trials then perhaps if I worked outside of the home. If I allow, I could begin to see my work as unimportant or perhaps not as valuable as others; however, the way that I grip onto scriptures and as I embrace the work of the Holy spirit in me I see the great importance that God places on woman at home (Proverbs 31), and the work that he preserves just for me. I must know my God and understand Him intimately to value my place on this earth. I was at a conference a few weeks ago and heard a woman speak about the importance of woman in the church. In a later interview she said,” By self-consciously pursuing a deeper understanding of God, we fortify ourselves for the challenges and difficulties that will inevitably come our way." -Carolyn Curtis James

Know your God and realize that He has "purified for himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works." Titus 2:14

Be encouraged today by the Holy Spirit wives and moms...