God's genuine love

The last 3 - 4 months have been a little rough.  There has been a lot going on spiritually, with my family, with my job, with grad school.  I hit a real low point about two months ago - it was a real tough time for me.  I felt a complete sense of depression and anger about many things.  But like usual, when I think all has gone to nothing, He reminded me that I am not in charge, and He knew exactly what was happening at all times.  I fully believe it was a test but I don't know how I did.  I know that it was a good learning experience and I have grown so much in the love that He has for us all.

A calling

How do we know what we are meant to do? Ok, tough question, or maybe not written well, but how do we know where God wants us to go and what to do? I realize that someone's going to answer that when we are quiet enough, we will hear what God wants. I know that's true, but sometimes I have trouble making the step to understand if that's my mind imposing something that I think is a calling. How do other people discern what's a real calling versus their mind just "playing" with them?

Reactions or rejections?

I have to say that coming back to my Christian faith has been one of the most wonderfuly experiences that last few years, but also has presented some things issues. I am not suggesting that all the things have been bad, but it has provided me with a challenge. Many years ago, I had given up on Christ in my life, thinking it would be easier to follow my own path rather than what He has planned. Little did I know how difficult that would be. It was such a great experience to come back a few years ago, coming back to His word and seeing how I could live to bring joy. I guess the challenge lies in other peoples expectations of me. I love how He so clearly lays out for me how to live, but when people expect me to act a certain way, dress a certain way, etc, that makes it a little more challenging. The people who truly care about me have come around to see the positive change in me, and some of them have even come around to Christ, which as awesome experience. It's still tough to see some of the reactions I have gotten, mostly because they are rejecting God's word. How have others handled this type of reaction to their change or the rejection of God's word?

Wives and submission

Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."

So I talked a little about this in yesterday's post. Women's lib is such a mistake. I'm not saying in any sense that women shouldn't have rights, be able to vote, that type of thing. Women need to have legal rights that are equal to men, but we are not here to be above them. We need to take a long, hard look at how we expect our families to run. In a family, wether you live with your parents or a husband, there can only be one person in charge, one person who runs the spirtual life, makes decisions, works on finances, and so on. I think that women definetly have a say in these decisions, that they are part of this family unit and are affected by all these decisions, but in the end, these decisions are the man's to make. We wonder why so many marriages end, when all we have to do is look around at these families where women can not just stand back, and accept the decions that their husbands make that will benefit them.

Some women look at this and you hear them stamp around saying that it takes a spineless women to just "bow down and take it". First, I never said anything about bowing down and taking it. I have always been in a blessed position where men have taken my opinons very seriously and have always taken my opinion in to consideration, allowing for things that mater to me to help guide, although not make, their final choice. But when it comes down to those women saying that it takes someone who is spineless to allow this, think about something. It's actually much harder to trust in someone else's choices, trusting that they will open their hearts to God to make the right choice. Many women are so set on 'my way or no way', and they don't take time to step back and let one person to think about the overall benefit to the entire family, not just thinking about what's best for one person. It's so easy to think about yourself, to decide what you want and then push for it. Try just once to sit down, talk about it, write about it, and then turn it over. If you truly believe, God will guide the hearts around you to make decisions that are really good for everyone.

For more food for thought, think about this: Titus 2:3 - 5 "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."

Submission to God's Will

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. (Colossians 3:18-21).

This one is a continuation of the other day. Again, God is very specific about what He wants and what's appopriate. He expects that there is an order to things, that certain people will be in charge, and He is very clear that you need to obey those people unconditionally.

In today's society, women are expected to be these take charge, overbearing types. We are expected to want to be tops in our fields, to go after everything and hit people down on the way. I'm not saying that women can't enjoy working or do things on their own, but this whole idea of women's lib is sort of out there. It takes a lot more patience and courage to be able to understand that you can have your own life, but are still responsible to someone else. A family unit, whether it be children with their parents, or husband and wife, you still have a leader that needs to be in charge for the family to run smoothly spirtualy, economically, etc. It sounds it a little odd to break it down to such basics, but that's just what God expects.

"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth." (Deuteronomy 28:1)

Again, God expects us to be obedient to His word. He does not simple ask or request it if we feel like it. If we expect to spend time with Him, we must do what he wants. I have had to work hard to see past this notion of making myself happy, reminding myself that His love is far more important. It can be difficult to think beyond the world that we live in to eternity, but that is what really matters. I love reading how people can feel and understand this so easily, hoping that the more I learn, study, and work, I will get closer to that ease and understanding. I want to be able to understand the way other people do. But that is why we all keep learning and studying!