Tag: women

SAHM – My family! My choice!

4 Comments

Anerican-dreamYesterday during a speech in Rhode Island, President Obama claimed that being a stay at home mom (SAHM) is not a choice we want American mothers making. What a funny comment from a man who hangs his hat on women’s choice, especially the right of women to choose the murder of innocent babies in the womb.

Sometimes, someone, usually Mom, leaves the workplace to stay home with the kids, which then leaves her earning a lower wage for the rest of her life as a result,” he said. “That’s not a choice we want Americans to make.

We can all hope that it was a slip of the tongue or part of a speech taken out of context. But, one look at the agenda of the progressive left leaves little doubt that he meant exactly what he said.
• It’s not about women’s rights.
• It’s not about better day care.
• It’s not about lower wages for women.

 
It never has been with the left. It’s about expansion of the government. All which leads to the fragmentation of families, indoctrination of children and a push toward complete dependency on the government.

 
But I digressed; let’s get back to a woman’s choice…
There is still an attitude toward women who choose to stay at home of, “Oh how nice to be able to stay at home and not work” as though these families are independently wealthy and don’t need two incomes. The idea that being a SAHM is a rare privilege for a few fortunate is insulting. My husband and I made the choice for me to become a stay at home mom 18 years ago when our first child was born. That choice was not easy and we have made many sacrifices to make sure I could be at home. During this time my husband has worked extremely hard to provide for us, often working two jobs. He has done this in the middle of spending 7 years in college and seminary. Eighteen years ago I started a home business that I successfully ran for 8 years. We sold it so that I could devote more time to homeschooling (another sacrifice we chose to make). I have spent the last 5 years researching, writing, building a self-publishing business and marketing my books – all at home. This year, while pastoring and teaching online classes, my husband started another business which alone takes about 60 hours a week of his time. We certainly didn’t choose this lifestyle because we thought it would be easy. We chose for me to be a stay-at-home-mom because we knew it was best for our family. We knew that I could do a much better job at raising my children than anyone else. We knew that the sacrifices could never compare to the blessings.

So, Mr. President, would you really like to help the families of America? Do you really believe in women’s right to choose? Do you really want what is best for our country?
Here are some thoughts….

  • Why don’t we work to lower the ever increasing tax burden so that husbands’ paychecks could reach further allowing moms to stay at home? Between federal income taxes, state, county and city taxes, social security, property taxes, and sales taxes a working husbands pay is cut nearly 50%.
  • Why don’t we stop with all the regulations and stay out of health care? Here’s an idea – stop taxing people who already can’t afford insurance for not having it. Because we all know how sensible that is, right?
  • Why don’t we stay out of the way of small business so employers can have the discretion and ability to pay their hard working employees more? Stop regulating them to death and let them thrive. Small businesses ran by American families is part of the reason we are blessed with such a great country.
  • Why don’t we start enforcing laws and punish those who come into our country illegally instead of giving them our hard earned money. Stop rewarding the law breakers with free health care and government assistance.
  • Why don’t we stop pushing for the enrollment of 6 million American children into preschool? Instead, elevate a mother’s choice and once again appreciate the value that mothers have in raising their own children. The President might not want stay at home moms, but I can promise you that American’s children do! They want their mothers. They need their mothers. It doesn’t and never has taken a village to raise a child.

Election Day is 4 days away. I will choose to vote for those who hold these same values. What about you?

Faith! Living Out the Word book give-a-way

13 Comments

You could summarize the book of James in one word, “FAITH”.  Just what does it mean to have faith?  Every day you demonstrate great faith.  Even now, wherever you are sitting you have placed faith in your chair to hold you up.  Chances are you sat down without a bit of fear or worry that you would be held up.  You are relaxed and confident in the ability of your seat.  We demonstrate faith when we ride in an elevator, when we get in a car, when we fly in a plane.  We demonstrate faith in our doctors and the medicines they give us.  We even demonstrate faith in our own bodies when we first place our feet on the floor each morning to take a walk.  We demonstrate faith in restaurants when we eat food someone else has prepared. We demonstrate faith in our husbands, in our children, in our friends and family. If you pay attention you will find yourself demonstrating great faith throughout any given day.  Faith means to believe in something or to have trust.  But, what does it mean to have faith in God?  Is it enough to just say, “I believe in God.”?  No, for we learn in the book of James that even the devils believe and they tremble.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  And in verse six it tells us that, “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  Jesus spoke of faith often.  He spoke of those with little faith and those who had great faith.  He said that it was because of their faith that many were healed, that they were made whole, and that they were saved.  Faith moves mountains.  In the book of James we will learn that faith endures trials, faith understands temptations, faith gives us wisdom to pass the tests given, faith obeys the Word, faith produces doers, faith harbors no prejudice, faith displays itself in works, faith controls the tongue, faith acts wisely and faith gives us the ability to resist the devil and draw nigh to God.  

So, what exactly is faith?  My husband often gives a very simple and easy definition of what faith is.  It is simply having confidence in the trustworthiness of God.   In other words, faith is having complete assurance that God will do what He says He will do.  So the only way to build our faith is to know God and His Word.  It is through His Word that we learn of His trustworthiness and through His Spirit working in our lives that our confidence is built. 

So pull out your Bible and dive into the precious Word, verse by verse and line by line.  There is no better way to know Him and by doing so your faith will be strengthened more and more. 

I will choose a winner (US Resident only) and mail out Living Out the Word, Faith.  A verse by verse study for women through James on Monday, November 8th.   You can take a look inside the book here at Amazon.com.

Mandatory to Enter: Leave a comment with your favorite verse from James. 

Additional entries:  TOS Crew members, Subscribe to this blog (rss or email), spread the word about this giveaway (blog, facebook, emails, etc) and leave link in comments.

Rejoice! Women’s Bible Study on Philippians Give-a-way

28 Comments

If you have followed my blog for anytime you know how I feel about studying the Word of God.  I believe that the best way to study is verse by verse, line by line, precept upon precept. (Isaiah 28:9-10)  This method insures that we learn the whole counsel of God and keeps the scripture in context.  (For more information on this read here.)

It is because of this that I have written two expository Bible studies for Women called Living Out the Word.  One is through the book of James called Faith.  And the other is through the book of Philippians called Rejoice.  I am currently working on a book through the Epistles of John called Love.

I am going to give away one of my Philippians books in two weeks to one of my readers.  Mandatory to Enter: Leave a comment with your favorite verse from Philippians.  Additional entries:  TOS Crew members, Subcribe to this blog (rss or email), spread the word about this giveaway (blog, facebook, etc) and leave link in comments.

 I will choose a winner (US Residents only) and mail it out on Friday, July 3oth.

You can take a look inside the book here at amazon.com.

Feminism – The weakening of a society

3 Comments

I just finished reading an article on OneNewsNow about the Rev. Robert Schuller stepping down as lead pastor of Southern California’s Crystal Cathedral megachurch.  It wasn’t his stepping down that caught my attention but the statement that his daughter, Sheila Schuller Coleman, has taken over the lead role in the church.

God has ordained three institutions upon this Earth and because they are ordained by Him, He establishes how they will operate.  Fortunately, God has not left us uninformed about the roles of men and women in any of these institutions.  Unfortunately, that leaves many men and women without excuse for their behavior.  And because they are without excuse and they continue to blatantly disregard God’s Word, they will sadly be judged accordingly.

 The first institution God established was the family.  We see this in the first few chapters of Genesis.  In Ephesians 5:22-33 and I Peter 3:1-6, we see clearly the hierarchy of the family.  The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.  It is a beautiful picture.   It is a shame when believers distort that picture.  This is done by the wife ruling the family, being unsubmissive, taking on man’s role (to lead, provide, and protect) and rejecting her own role found in Scripture.  It is also done by the husband weakly and passively allowing it.

Secondly, God ordained the institution of the government.  Romans 13 tell us that it is God that ordains the higher powers.  Two years ago, in the middle of our Presidential Election I wrote an article called, His Will Done and My Conscience Clear, which partially addresses women leading in the political arena.  You can read it here.

The third institution that God ordained is the church.  Again, God is very clear in His Word that women are not to lead in this area.  Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.  (1Ti 2:11-14)  This is not an archaic issue or even a cultural one.  The reason Paul gives that women are to not usurp the authority of a man in the church goes all the way back to the order of creation.  God established it this way from the beginning.

 The story of Deborah from Judges Chapter 4 is often cited as rationale for women stepping out from under the hierarchy that God has established.  Women love to ignore the majority of Scripture that is clear on the issue and focus on one story from the Old Testament.  Ironically, in their search to justify their own rebellion they will take the story of Deborah out of context.  Text without context is pretext, pure and simple.  Contextually, the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord.  God raised up Deborah, not to set the standard, but to bring shame upon the men.

“Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. Isaiah 3:11,12.

 We are witnessing our society deteriorate more and more each year.  Those that are leading us are causing us to err.  They are destroying the way of the paths.  What is the solution?  It’s really simple.  We need to get back to God’s Holy Word.  We need to relinquish our pragmatism and start being biblical.  Men need follow the advice of the Apostle Paul from I Corinthians 16:13 and “stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”  And we women need to simply move out of the way and let them lead and watch God once again bless our nation.

Faith – a verse-by-verse study through James

2 Comments

The second book in my Living Out the Word series is finally finished!  Faith – A verse-by-verse study for women through the book of James.  The proof copy is on its way.  If all goes well we can expect it to be available to the public within a month.  I thank the Lord that He has allowed me to finish this and I pray that He receives all glory.  Below is an insert from the introduction.

 You could summarize the book of James in one word, “FAITH”.  Just what does it mean to have faith?  Every day you demonstrate great faith.  Even now, wherever you are sitting, you have placed faith in your chair to hold you.  Chances are you sat down without a bit of fear or worry that you would be held up.  You are relaxed and confident in the ability of your seat.  We demonstrate faith when we ride in an elevator, when we get in a car, when we fly in a plane.  We demonstrate faith in our doctors and the medicines they give us.  We even demonstrate faith in our own bodies when we first place our feet on the floor each morning to take a walk.  We demonstrate faith in restaurants when we eat food someone else has prepared. We demonstrate faith in our husbands, in our children, in our friends and family. If you pay attention you will find yourself demonstrating great faith throughout any given day.  Faith means to believe in something or to have trust.  But, what does it mean to have faith in God?  Is it enough to just say, “I believe in God”?  No, for we will find out later in James that even the devils believe and they tremble.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  And in verse six it tells us that, “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  Jesus spoke of faith often.  He spoke of those with little faith and those who had great faith.  He said that it was because of their faith that many were healed, that they were made whole, and that they were saved.  Faith moves mountains. 

In the book of James we will learn that faith endures trials, faith understands temptations, faith gives us wisdom to pass the tests given, faith obeys the Word, faith produces doers, faith harbors no prejudice, faith displays itself in works, faith controls the tongue, faith acts wisely, and faith gives us the ability to resist the devil and draw nigh to God.  

So, what exactly is faith?  My husband often gives a very simple and easy definition of what faith is.  It is simply having confidence in the trustworthiness of God.   As you study through the book of James remember that simple definition of faith.

                     Faith is simply confidence in the trustworthiness of God.                          

In other words, faith is having complete assurance that God will do what He says He will do.  So the only way to build our faith is to know God and His Word.  It is through His Word that we learn of His trustworthiness and through His Spirit working in our lives that our confidence is built.  As we study the book of James, that will be our goal – to study His Word, verse by verse and line by line in order to know Him better.  By doing this, our faith will continue to grow. 

When Bible Study is Wrong

3 Comments

Humor me a moment as I describe my perfect morning. After a good nights rest I would get out of bed by 5:30 a.m., pour a cup of coffee and sit down in the living room with a blanket, my Bible, and prayer journal. When I first wake I like it quiet. Don’t talk to me. I want to spend a few minutes slowly waking up and preparing to start the day. I like to write in the mornings. I like to read my Bible and pray. Therefore, the first hour is mine.

 On this perfect morning, an hour or so later, I would receive a phone call from my prayer and accountability partner who is a pastor’s wife in Arkansas. For the next 30 minutes to an hour we would talk about scripture, share burdens and encourage one another. Then slowly my children would wake up and we would begin our morning routine. I’ve spent many mornings just like the one described above. However, there is one thing wrong with the above picture…..there is no mention of my husband. I realize that there are some men who are perfectly content with being left alone in the mornings but not mine. He gets up early and wants to talk about the day. He wants his coffee and a companion to share it with. He wants a hot breakfast of biscuits, gravy, sausage and scrambled eggs. So, what’s a girl to do?

 The “whitewashed feminist” in me screams out that “I need my time too.” But, is this the correct Biblical response? As a child of God and my husband’s help meet what kind of example would I be if I neglected him in order to study the Bible? I remember the day clearly when God convicted me. My husband never said a word. He just went to the kitchen and started cooking breakfast while I sat on the couch with my Bible in one hand and the phone in the other. All of a sudden, I did not feel very spiritual. Bible study in itself was not wrong, but my attitude sure was. So I got off the phone, put up my Bible, for a later time in the day, and with a repentant heart began to serve. Am I saying that cooking breakfast is a more spiritual work than studying the Bible? Yes, in this case I am because God is always concerned with the heart.

The Daughters of Sarah

1 Comment

sadShe was a beautiful lady and well dressed but her eyes were so sad. “Can I ask you something?” she said. It was after I had finished speaking at an Apples of Gold ladies conference at our church that she approached me. “My husband portrays himself as a godly spiritual leader when we are at church but at home he is a different man. Am I still to submit to a hypocritical husband?” We talked for several minutes. I shared with her some Bible verses and ended saying, “Yes, we are to submit as unto the Lord. Scripture does not say we are only to submit to a perfect husband.” I explained to her that submission was easy when your husband was a godly man who strived to do with will of God and to love you as he should. But an ungodly man was no excuse for unsubmission. “Remember,” I said, “You will be accountable to the Lord for your obedience not your husbands.” After a few more minutes, she left with a glimmer of hope in those once sad eyes. I’ll probably never meet her again but have often wondered about this dear lady. Has she been obedient to the Scriptures in spite of her husband’s faults? Has God worked on her husband’s heart?

As heartbreaking as it is it happens often. You will have a wife who greatly desires to follow the Lord in submission to her husband. But he is either unsaved or simply does not obey the Word. Listen to what 1 Peter 3:1-6 says about this very thing, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”

Do you remember the story of Sarah and Abraham? Two times her husband put her in a dangerous situation by asking her to lie about their relationship. Once in Genesis 12 and then in Genesis 20 Abraham, because of fear, told his wife to say that she was Abraham’s sister causing her to be taken from him. “Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” If you will read the story you will learn that God protected Sarah in her obedience. And, God dealt with Abraham in his foolishness. Ladies, as hard as it is we must never forget that our submission is “unto the Lord.” Biblical submission is such a beautiful thing. Without submitting myself to Christ I could never be saved. Without submitting myself to my husband I could never be in the will of God. My husband and I have grown a lot in this area. He has not always loved me as he should and I have not always submitted as I should but can I tell you that the more we have grown in obedience to Scriptures that the easier it becomes. When I submit to my husband it is a lot easier for him to love me as Christ loves the Church. And when he loves me this way it is a lot easier to submit.

One of the best sermons on submission that I have ever heard is by S.M. Davis called “The 7-fold Power of a Wife’s Submission.” It will bless your heart. Go to http://www.biblepreaching.com to hear it.

Rejoice

2 Comments

book cover

With my proof copy in hand, I thank the Lord that I can say my Bible Study through Philippians is available. If you know of any ladies bible study groups that would be interested please refer them to this link. https://www.createspace.com/3391206  The book will also be available on amazon.com in a few weeks. Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers. Below is an excerpt from the introduction.

“Happiness is overrated,” was the response my good friend gave one day when talking about her life’s circumstances. What? Isn’t being happy what life is all about? If we will look around we will see that all the self-help books and motivational speakers seem to be telling us just this. Look up the word “happiness” in any dictionary and you will discover that it means the state of being happy or having joy, pleasure, delight, etc. Happiness results from the attainment of what one considers good. In other words, the world’s view of happiness is based on current circumstances. Are you happy when your husband brings home flowers for no apparent reason? What about when your children go an entire day without tears, fighting, and/or blood? We are happy when our finances are secure, the doctor visit goes well, our church has no problems, the in-laws went home a day early, and the bathroom scales are being generous. But what happens when it has been years since you have seen flowers from your husband? What happens when all of a sudden your children have become enemies and you work all day on getting a peace treaty signed? What happens when your clothes are fitting tight and to make matters worse your scale has been lying to you? What happens when your church family is having troubles or your in-laws announce a two week visit? What happens when the doctor brings bad news? What happens when your finances are a wreck? What happens to your happiness then? If we will be honest we will say it leaves. As a child of God, is this world’s happiness what we should really seek? Is our happiness what God is concerned with? Is being happy the same thing as having the joy that the Bible speaks of? Just what is the difference between “happiness” and Biblical joy? Here it is – happiness can come and go. But, biblical joy is rock solid. It comes from deep within your soul and cannot be moved. Glory Hallelujah, it is here to stay. The joy that comes from the Lord is not based on our circumstances but on Christ alone. I am going to say that one more time for emphasis. The joy that comes from the Lord is not based on our circumstances but on Christ alone! It has nothing to do with us, it is all about Him. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. (Psalm 32:11) When the storms in life come, my joy is in the fact that God is my refuge. When I am weak, my joy is in the fact that God is my strength. When others oppose me, my joy is in the fact that God is my defender. When I am afraid and do not know what tomorrow holds, my joy is in the fact that God is all knowing. When the fiery darts from Satan are thrown, my joy is in the fact that God is my shield. My joy comes from the fact that God IS.