I'm Back...Join me in my journey

Hi there,

It's been a long time since I've posted anything on this blog...actually, it's been a long time since I've written at all.  I miss it and have felt such a tugging on my heart to share things as I live out my journey.  I'm so thankful the Lord does not give up on me when I go through the seasons of dispair, discouragment and doubt.  I wish my walk was more of a "press on toward the goal" instead of a "roller coaster ride".  I have no one to blame but myself for that.  I totally identify with the first generation of Wilderness Wanderers who spent their entire life wondering and wandering about God and the validity of His promises.  I'm in the latter years of life and I should have already crossed over into the Promised Land but I keep looking back and circling the mountions of what if and why instead of looking at the amazing possibilities and opportunities that God has planned for me. 

My daughter-in-love is an amazing woman; wife of my oldest son, mother of 5 children, home-school teacher, home-maker and Bible Junkie...  She love reading God's Word and because her spiritual gift is Prophsey, it just sticks and she can recall it almost effortlessly.  I on the other hand have to force myself to read and it takes an act of God to memorize it.  I can often quote parts of scripture but have no idea what the "address" of the verse is.  She realizes she can't make a day without it and I often go a week without opening the pages.  Maybe that explains why I am so up and down in my journey.  I've heard so often "we always find the time to do what we love" and I always think..."Oh Me"!!  Anyway, the other night she was sharing some scripture and was reading in Titus 2 about the older women teaching the younger women.  Every time I hear her refer to this scripture I get a knot inside because I am an older women but have not mastered the traits that I am supposed to be teaching to the younger women.  Many of the younger women are farther along than I am in many areas.  I found this post when I was doing some research on the subject and want to share.  Please pray for me as I ask the Father to help me develop the Godly Character Traits that are described below so I can be an example to women of all ages.  Also pray that this older woman can figure out how to edit posts and do spell check....

http://www.plainbibleteaching.com/2012/05/02/the-older-women-must-teach-the-young-women/
The Older Women Must Teach the Young Women


Posted on May 2, 2012 at 3:10 am by Andy Sochor



In many ways, our society’s norms and values are quite different from those found in the Bible, particularly in regard to the role and responsibilities of women. Paul instructed Titus to teach the older women about what they were to teach to the younger women. These lessons are still needed today.



“Older women likewise are to be… teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored” (Titus 2:3-5).



Paul mentions seven lessons the older women were to teach to the younger women. Let us consider each one briefly.



The Older Women Must Teach the Young Women to…

Love their Husbands – It is interesting that the younger women are to be taught to love their husbands. Surely a wife loves her husband when she marries him. But maintaining and developing this love is something that takes effort. Too many marriages fall apart because couples have grown apart. Divorces often occur because people “fall out of love.” Jesus gave only one lawful cause for which one could put away his (or her) spouse – fornication (Matthew 19:9). The older women must teach and encourage the young women to continue to love their husbands – even when it is difficult, even when he is not all that he should be, and even when her friends are mocking and disparaging her husband as well as their own.



Love their Children – Most women who have children will honestly say that they love their children. But the fact that the older women were to teach the young women to love their children implies that Paul (by inspiration of the Holy Spirit) has a certain type of love in mind. When he wrote to the brethren in Thessalonica, he used the love a mother has and shows toward her child to illustrate his concern for them. “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7). This type of personal, nurturing affection and attention is what the older women were to teach the young women to practice. The young women must be taught to avoid the characteristics of the ostrich who abandons and neglects her young and treats them “as if they were not hers,” because she is too concerned with other matters that she believes to be important (Job 39:13-18).



Be Sensible – The word sensible means to be self-controlled or sober-minded. Young women, like anyone else, can be led into sin and to forsake their God-given responsibilities when they fail to be self-controlled and sober-minded. Paul warned of those who would “enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses” (2 Timothy 3:6). All Christians are warned: “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The older women must teach the young women to exercise control over their actions, thoughts, and emotions so that they will not become easy targets for the devil.



Be Pure – This word here means chaste or modest. This involves “chaste and respectful behavior” (1 Peter 3:2), by which she is trying to bring glory to God, not to herself. Paul and Peter both warn about immodesty in dress, as this is a common area in which women fail to live up to God’s standard of modesty. “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness” (1 Timothy 2:9-10; cf. 1 Peter 3:3). It is common for worldly women to judge themselves and others based upon the clothes that they wear. But the older women must teach the young women that expensive, fancy, and revealing clothing is not important. Instead, they must teach the young women to focus on developing “the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:4).



Be Workers at Home – The question of whether or not a wife may work outside the home is one that can generate passionate debate from those on both sides. I will save that discussion for another time. But before we can begin to consider that question, we must first understand that the Bible plainly teaches that a woman’s primary responsibilities are domestic. Although the “excellent wife” of Proverbs 31 is not described as having a career like most modern women in our society have, she was certainly not idle (Proverbs 31:27). She kept herself busy by working with her hands (v. 14), providing food for her household (v. 15), making clothes for her family and to sell to others (v. 13,19,21-22,24), making purchases for the household (v. 16), and helping those in need (v. 20). The older women must teach the young women about these domestic responsibilities in order to help train them to be “workers at home” (Titus 2:5).



Be Kind – Tabitha is an example of a woman who was “abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did” (Acts 9:36). Kindness involves showing love and doing good toward others. When Paul discussed the care of certain widows, he described the character of one who would be worthy of help: “Having a reputation for good works… if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work” (1 Timothy 5:10). Humility is involved in this because in order to show kindness, a woman must “regard [others] as more important” than herself, and not “look out for [her] own personal interest, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). The older women must teach the young women to show kindness and do good to others.



Be Subject to Their Own Husbands – The thought that a woman is to be subject to her husband is ridiculed and attacked by many in our society. Women are taught by society that there is no such thing as different roles for men and women, despite the fact that the Scriptures describe distinct roles for husbands and wives (Ephesians 5:22-25). Many believe than a woman can be the head of a household over a man, even though the Scriptures teach us that she must be in submission to him (Colossians 3:18). The older women must teach the young women to submit to their husbands (1 Peter 3:1), respect them (Ephesians 5:33), and fulfill the role of “a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18).



Conclusion

Those who would fall into the category of the “older women” have a serious responsibility. The younger women are not going to learn these lessons from our society, from their peers, or from the modern books on marriage, parenting, and womanhood. But God still wants the young women to learn and develop these qualities. As a man, and a preacher, I can teach the truth on these things and it can be helpful. But any effort made by me or other men cannot compare with a faithful older woman teaching, mentoring, and showing by example

The Anchor Holds

This morning I found myself in Romans 7 & 8. How refreshing it is to know that even Paul struggled at times with knowing in his mind what was right but doing in his flesh what was wrong. The great thing is he learned that he did not have to stay in that battle because the power of the Holy Spirit of God was living inside of him. Living the Christian life is impossible without the transformation that is brought on by the renewing of the mind and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The more we follow the Spirits lead, the less power the flesh has over us. Dying to self is a lifetime battle. It’s like those sci-fi films where the “creature” is shot and falls “dead” only to have him begin to move and before you know it that “creature” is up and coming after you again. The great thing about being blood bought is that we have the “silver bullet” to kill the flesh. There is nothing “self” or flesh can do against the blood of Jesus. It was refreshing and encouraging to be reminded that the struggle is not hopeless, in fact, our hope is in Christ and our security is being grounded and anchored to the rock.

Then as I was driving to work the Lord took the Word and gave me a visual picture of what he was saying to me in my quiet time. I noticed a “road work” sign along the highway. It was all bent and the metal was mangled and it was lying on its side. It looked like it had battled the high winds and lost. As I continued down the road, there were 3 or 4 more just like the first one and then all of a sudden there stood one. It was the very same type of sign but it stood straight and tall as an arrow. It was so straight and tall that it really jumped out at me and of course, the Holy Spirit pointed it out as well. As I looked at the one that stood upright, the Holy Spirit asked me what made the difference. I looked and at the base of the sign there were 4 or 5 sand bags keeping it secure. The Holy Spirit said, “Debbie, it’s the anchor that holds, it’s being grounded and secured that makes the difference.” Without the Spirit of God ruling in us, leading and guiding us we would be just like those mangled, bent signs, lying on their side. Not only were they bent and beat up, the message they were meant to display was not even visible. The purpose of their existence had been rendered useless because they were not secure, they were not grounded and there was no anchor holding them and keeping them from being destroyed by “life’s” storms.

Romans 8:5, 6 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

May God bless you BIG!!!
Debbie

Just a Witness or Actual Evidence?

I have begun to ask the Lord every day to give me a Word for the day. It might be a verse, a phrase or what ever He has that would be the central focus of my meditation through the day. This morning driving to work, listening to Adrian Rogers, the Lord gave me my “word” for the day. Pastor Rogers said “It’s okay to be a witness to what Jesus Christ has done but could your life be presented as evidence?” I began to ponder that question and saw myself in a court room. As I was standing there I began to see the difference between telling what I have heard or seen and being presented as the exhibit its self; exhibit A. Being the evidence is something totally different. It is good to be a witness of things heard and seen but to be an exhibit is to be the physical proof that gives substance to the words of a testimony. Not mere words but actual, hard core evidence that the witness account can be proven by the evidence presented in my life. The Lord began to show me how different it is for someone to point us out saying, “She says or believes this or that” versus someone pointing us out and saying, “She does this or that; she is this or that”. We all know that we are to be doers of the Word but in light of the question, could my life be presented as evidence? This morning, a sobering picture was presented. What evidence is there in my personal life that bears witness of what Jesus Christ can and will do in a “vessel” that has been yielded to Him? If all I have are scriptures memorized that tell what He has done and can do without a living example of what He has done in me then my knowledge of scripture is weak at best and could be determined to be hear say or just good words out of a good book. Both of which could and likely would be tossed out of a court room. However, the lost world can not deny a living testimony. With out being living evidence, I am reduced to a “form of godliness, denying the power thereof”. (2 Tim. 3:5)

Passage James 1:22-25: 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Passage I Peter 5:8: Be sober (alert), vigilant (watchful); because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

My prayer in these last days is that we may be found guilty as accused when charged by the world and its system of being “living exhibits” of what Jesus Christ does and who He is. May our lives be the evidence that would dismiss the scoffers and doubters claims based on the overwhelming, undeniable proof presented by our daily walk.

Passage Romans 12:1:1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

May God bless you BIG!!!
I love you my Sisters,
Debbie

What is a Heart String?

A "Heart String" is a little something that I want to share. It may be an inspirational thought, a poem or a word received while having a quiet time or in the midst of the hussle and bussle of my busy day. "Heart Strings" came about from experiences in which my Heavenly Father tugged on my "hearts string" to get my attention. I pray you enjoy them as much as I enjoy sharing them.