In my life the one thing that I have come to recognize is that seasons come and go. There is in fact a time for everything.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
As of right now I find myself in the midst of a few of these. The one that I most relate to, however, is the time for mourning. I find that I am mourning for a friend and the lies that he has told, the way he is living his life, and yet at the same time, how I have lived mine in the past. I find that sin is sin no matter what the circumstances may be. Not one of us is better then the other. It creeps in on you and it looks seductive at first, but ultimately...it will break you. But the joyful part of this sad story, is the fact that when you break, God will be there to put you back together again.
Remember that God is above all the seeking you. No matter what your sin, no matter where you are in your life, we are all ultimately at the same place, because...God loves us. He loves us all and if you look, if you seek him...you would realize He is calling you home.
Christmas Opener: Just Come Home from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Submissive Women
So I have been reading this book called Vertis Conflict by Shaunti Feldhahn. I have read this book previously when I was a freshmen in high school. I did not fully grasp some of the concepts in the book due to the fact that the book deals with college subject matter, such as philosphy classes and the like. So I have decided to read this book over. It deals mainly with spiritual warfare and what we as humans miss behind the scenes. Well tonight I was reading this book and it was speaking about women and a woman was arguing that the bible tells people that women are to be repressed. Now, while I have never really bought into this idea, I was raised just subcoming to the idea that women were not to preach. And while I am not saying that I am going to be a youth pastor or what I will be doing in the future, I am saying that after studying and actually looking at the scriptures, I have only found that on many occasions the scriptures say that women were a big part of the word of Christ being spread. In fact, Paul mentions on multiple occasions many women and their husbands helping plant churches in different cities. I have only learned that the people that are trying to repress women have been using scripture out of context, and this includes people that have supposedly studied scripture throughly. The one area that I, up until tonight, saw as only somewhat oppressive, yet still agreed with it, was the submission of women to their husbands. Don't get me wrong I have always completely and utterly agreed with this statement, but never looked at it the way that it was meant to be looked at.
However, the Vertis Conflict has had a different perpective on this issue that I have heard my entire life. One that I must have missed the first time I read the book. This is what it says...
"It says for husbands to love their wives like Christ loved the church."
"Okay--so here's my opinion of how to answer your main question. Yes, the passage does say that the wife should submit and that the husband, as the head, should love his wife as Christ loved us. So here's the quesion for you: Knowing what you now know about the Christ story, who has the harder job? The wife who has to submit or the husband who has to love his wife like Christ loved the church?"
"Look, if I were your husband, yes, you'd have to submit to me--but you'd be submitting to a man who was commanded to love you as sacrificially and as fully as Christ loves you. Give me a break! Which command is really harder, ladies? Which is the more servantlike? You're afraid of the word submit, and understandably so, because it raises all those specters of being kept under a man's thumb, losing your freedom, your equality, and so on. But that's not the Bible's model. If you submit to a godly husband--a husband who loves you so much that he's willing to die for you--he's going to be putting your good just as high or higher than his own. He's going to be doing everything possible to serve you and love you. And all you have to do is submit to that -- to accept his best heart for you and to honor his God-given desire to lead your marriage in the best and most holy way possible.
"God's design for a godly marriage is wonderous. And that is why I think this is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible--even today."
I found that passage to be pretty incredible. I mean I don't know if any husband could EVER love their wife as Christ loves us, but it is def. something to strive for. Just the thought of some man out their loving me so much that they would be willing to die for me...its mind boggling. I mean my past relationships have not been the best I don't even know if I would know what a relationship where the guy respected me like that would even look like. In fact, I have been watching the way I behave around guys and the things I let the say to me and I don't know that I give myself enough respect. I just let them say what they say and move on. It doesn't really bother me, but I have been thinking and maybe it should. I don't know something I am praying about. Life goes on...
However, the Vertis Conflict has had a different perpective on this issue that I have heard my entire life. One that I must have missed the first time I read the book. This is what it says...
"It says for husbands to love their wives like Christ loved the church."
"Okay--so here's my opinion of how to answer your main question. Yes, the passage does say that the wife should submit and that the husband, as the head, should love his wife as Christ loved us. So here's the quesion for you: Knowing what you now know about the Christ story, who has the harder job? The wife who has to submit or the husband who has to love his wife like Christ loved the church?"
"Look, if I were your husband, yes, you'd have to submit to me--but you'd be submitting to a man who was commanded to love you as sacrificially and as fully as Christ loves you. Give me a break! Which command is really harder, ladies? Which is the more servantlike? You're afraid of the word submit, and understandably so, because it raises all those specters of being kept under a man's thumb, losing your freedom, your equality, and so on. But that's not the Bible's model. If you submit to a godly husband--a husband who loves you so much that he's willing to die for you--he's going to be putting your good just as high or higher than his own. He's going to be doing everything possible to serve you and love you. And all you have to do is submit to that -- to accept his best heart for you and to honor his God-given desire to lead your marriage in the best and most holy way possible.
"God's design for a godly marriage is wonderous. And that is why I think this is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible--even today."
I found that passage to be pretty incredible. I mean I don't know if any husband could EVER love their wife as Christ loves us, but it is def. something to strive for. Just the thought of some man out their loving me so much that they would be willing to die for me...its mind boggling. I mean my past relationships have not been the best I don't even know if I would know what a relationship where the guy respected me like that would even look like. In fact, I have been watching the way I behave around guys and the things I let the say to me and I don't know that I give myself enough respect. I just let them say what they say and move on. It doesn't really bother me, but I have been thinking and maybe it should. I don't know something I am praying about. Life goes on...
Monday, February 15, 2010
Today
So...today was a good day. I was at work most of it, but I am thinking I'm going to get out of my second job early. :) Yay Presidents day. Maybe I will go home and do some homework. Man oh man how I love doing my homework. Actually it really isn't that bad. I love learning more and more about God.
This week we are focusing on 2 Corinthians. I haven't gotten to read much of it yet, I mean I have read it before, but I haven't actually read it for this assignment yet. I will get to it though. :) I am still finishing some stuff up from last weeks 1 Corinthians section.
I learned so much last week from 1 Corinthians!! I mean seriously...as a woman going to seminary I have had some people really discourage me to do this, because I am a woman. Well, one of the main passages that they used to back their argument of it being wrong was 1 Corinthians 14, which states that women should be silent. Well turns out that those people using that verse against me were using it out of context. The verses actually pertain to the fact that women were either false prophesying or asking stupid questions about prophecies that had been made...probably more like doing both. And so Paul said the women should be silent when it comes to the prophesying in order for the prophecies to be interpreted correctly. This just affirmed to me that this is what I am supposed to be doing. I am supposed to be helping people with my life.
I sit looking out on an open future. I'm single...I'm studying...I'm working...and I'm excited to see what is about to begin. Hope you will follow me.
This week we are focusing on 2 Corinthians. I haven't gotten to read much of it yet, I mean I have read it before, but I haven't actually read it for this assignment yet. I will get to it though. :) I am still finishing some stuff up from last weeks 1 Corinthians section.
I learned so much last week from 1 Corinthians!! I mean seriously...as a woman going to seminary I have had some people really discourage me to do this, because I am a woman. Well, one of the main passages that they used to back their argument of it being wrong was 1 Corinthians 14, which states that women should be silent. Well turns out that those people using that verse against me were using it out of context. The verses actually pertain to the fact that women were either false prophesying or asking stupid questions about prophecies that had been made...probably more like doing both. And so Paul said the women should be silent when it comes to the prophesying in order for the prophecies to be interpreted correctly. This just affirmed to me that this is what I am supposed to be doing. I am supposed to be helping people with my life.
I sit looking out on an open future. I'm single...I'm studying...I'm working...and I'm excited to see what is about to begin. Hope you will follow me.
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