Not choosing sides yet

For the purpose of this journey, I am trying to be very careful not to choose sides yet.  I can see why people each believe their side is correct.  I would like to just look at this debate from scripture and see where that leads us. 

Again, Eisegisis is when you try to import a subjective, preconceived meaning in a text and exegesis is an attempt to discover the meaning of the text objectively.

The next verse I'd like to dissect today is in Ephesians.  Paul is writting to a church and says a few different time "God's will".  This particular passage is talking about spiritual gifts which is something I'm very interested in right now.  Using an exagesis look at this passage, lets see what we come up with.....

 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.   that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,  to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,  in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.  Ephesians 2:1-14  NIV


I felt it was important to include all those verses together because it would be easy for us to change the meaning of just the verses that talk about God's will if taken out of context. 

From these passages it's easy to see that it was God's will for us to be His children.  It's also easy to see that Paul is telling them that God in fact does show us what His will for us is suppose to be.  He does have a plan for us. 

The last section I want to dissect here is found in the second paragraph which is verses 11 and 12.  I want to look at a different version to see what it says

"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,  that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."  New King James V.

^"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone."  The Message V. 

Normally, I'm not one to run to The Message version.  But I really like how this one is stated.  We were made for the praise of His glory (NIV & NKJV), we were made with the overall purpose for His workings (Mess.).  That's so cool!  

So now I ask, is this going to happen on it's own and we should just keep on keeping on with the way we like to do things and God will work everything out for His glory?  Or do we need to seek out God's "designs on us for glorious living"?  I'll keep seaking that answer out.  

Well, it says we were made to praise Him.  So lets make sure we take some time to do that today, and every day!

http://youtube/novUqj3rfE4

God using you VS. God's will for you

I had a great conversation with a friend yesterday about God's will for our lives versus God using you where you are or where you choose to be. 

Some people believe that you should just go out and make good choices and that God will bless you for those good choices.  While others believe that we should first pray, fast, and allow God to show us where He wants us to go do good things at. 

Well which is the right way?  As I looked into what the bible says that God's will is I realized there was a lot more than I had originally thought.  Which has sparked another series idea for me.  So we will now look into the different facets of God's will as it is found in the bible.

First, I'm reminded of the verse in Romans 8:28 that says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." 

God will use you where you are and where you choose to be in life.  It's amazing how God can use a "mistake" in our lives and turn it into something beautiful.  He's really good at that. 

Does that work in all situations though?  Is it saying that you can continue to go about your life previous to being a Christian and that God will still use you?  Well, yes.  God will use your choices for good.  Are you living up to the potential that God wants for you?  Obviously not.  2 Corinthians 5:7 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!". And then in 1 John 2:15-17 it says "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

You can use this debate for every situation in life.  Your career choice, your family size, where you live, what church you attend, what type school you want for your kids, ministry, material purchases.  The list goes on.  So how do we know if what we want for our own lives is what God would choose for our lives if He had free reign to makes those choices for us?  You tell me.  

I will continue to look at what the bible says about God's will for our lives in a series that I will start now.  Not sure how long this series will be because I've just begun to research this.  I hope you will join me and comment about your thoughts or verses that have spoken to you on this subject.   

Summing up Titus 2 woman with a song...

I was trying to think of a post that would sum up the whole Titus 2 woman journey we have been on.  As you can already tell, I am not eloquent when it comes to things like that.  Nor am I a great speller.  So the only thing that came to my mind that seems to fit is a children's song I learned in church many many years ago. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqFrXwpTI-w&feature=colike


Next week I turn 30 and yet this song still applies to me today.

I hope you are encouraged by this song today.

That the Word of God may not be blasphemed

Titus 2:3-5-"the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." NKJV

We are at the end of our Titus 2 Woman journey.  It's been great.  The last part is "that the word of God may not be blasphemed."

We definitely do not want our actions to be showing something different than what our words are.  It makes me think of those people who cut other drivers off on the road and drive kind of crazy while having a "I <3 Jesus" bumper sticker on their car. 

It also makes me think of James 2:24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.  We do not want to be a hypocritical Christian.  And as unfairly as it may be, we are looked at and judged by the world much more closely when we call ourselves Christians.  Of course we are going to stumble and make mistakes but those mistakes and stumbles will be used against us at times.  So we have to be careful that we follow all the Titus 2 guidelines as best we can so that others will see Christ lifted up, which should be our ultimate goal anyways.

The other thing it makes me think of is our blasphemous words.  Cuss words, swear words, using God's name in vain. 

"You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name".  Exodus 20:7

I'm very guilty of doing this.  I can blame the Army for making it a comfortable place to use curse words regularly but if I am to be in the world and not of it, this simple command should not be overlooked or made into an excuse.  It's plainly written that we should not do it.  So why is it so hard?  Maybe it isn't hard for some of you.  But I am often around people who cuss and when you are around something often, over time you become complacent. 

So I'm going to try harder to be careful of my words because I do not want to cause others to stumble so the words of God will not be blasphemed.

I think this post was more for myself than for you guys today.  If I'm wrong, let me know.

Obedient to their husbands.... a MUST read

Titus 2:3-5-"the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." NKJV

Ugh!  Here is the one I was most fearing.... "Obedient to their husbands".  I am the least qualified person to be writing this blog, let me tell you.

When my husband and I first got married, I was 22, I thought I knew exactly how I wanted my marriage to go, and how my husband was to treat me.  Likewise, my husband felt he knew exactly how he wanted his marriage to go and how I should treat him.  As you can imagine, the two did not agree.  So it was not shocking when after just a few years our marriage was about to be over.  We couldn't agree on anything.  I kept wanting to have my way and he kept needing to have his. 

I am very fortunate to say that I have an amazing Christian mentor and friend who had the courage to tell me that I was not putting God first in my marriage or following what the bible says a wife should act like.  It hurt to hear, but she was right.  She sent me verses on cards that I place everywhere so that I could read them and be reminded of God's love through this hard time and how I needed to treat my husband. 

I can't say that it was easy, or that everything changed overnight.  But slowly, by my actions speaking louder than my cruel words had been, we started to repair our marriage.  The more I read the bible, the more I began to realize just how much the world had influenced my ideas of what a wife and marriage looked like. 

Satan has worked very hard to destroy what God wanted marriage and family to be.  Why?  Because God uses marriage to build couples up individually and as a unit to do and be amazing.  I have learned so many lessons from my husband.  Often times those lessons have been that I am more selfish than I realized, that I'm quick to judge others, and slow to listen.  I would probably not have learned those lessons as well if I remained single because it wouldn't have mattered. 

Whether us women like it or not, God designed the Husband as the head over us. 

 Ephesians 5:24
"Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."  NIV

You know what I think when I read that?  That's impossible!  Everything?  I have to submit in everything? 

So one time I gave it a try.  I tried to submit in everything for just one single day.  Guess what happened.  At the end of the day, I was exhausted.  And my husband noticed.  He told me thank you for working so hard and showing him love in so many different ways.  And then he gave me a back massage.  I know some of your husbands probably do that often, but that was a big deal for mine.  I felt like it was God telling me "you deserved this reward".  Well of course I wanted to do it again the next day, and the next.  No, I didn't get a back massage each night.  But my attitude was different, my husbands attitude was different, the whole atmosphere was different.  It was calmer.  It was rewarding.  

God will reward you for being submissive to your husband.  It's not easy, especially when we are not getting along or I know his decision is going to make my life harder.  But God does rewards us. 

I have encountered people, especially women, in my life that question it.  Calling me out and saying I should not act this way.  I was the same way before God got a hold of me.  They are looking at marriage with the worlds glasses.  God wants to give you His glasses for marriage.  You get those special glasses by reading His word and then acting on it.  

Hope this was an encouraging moment for you today.    

Be good

Titus 2:3-5-"the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." NKJV

Well today should be an easy one, its on being good.  The NIV one says to be kind. 

Proverbs 28:8 says "Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor." and later in the chapter it says "Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses."

So as you can see it got me thinking about the poor.  It's so easy to be kind to my family and friends when they need something because at some point I get something in return.  It's a whole different thing when you are kind to someone who you do not know, knowing you will never get anything in return.  Often times not even a thank you.  But God clearly wants us to help the needy.  There is SO many ways to help.  No matter what step of life you are in.  You can help someone else that is less fortunate than you. 

Our church did a 3 day life lesson about how it is to be poor.  We were given dry beans and white rice rations for 3 days per family member.  That's all we could eat.  Let me tell you, it was not easy.  Most of the people who participated in this lesson at our church HATED it.  Several people said that they'd rather just give the poor people money or fast for a day instead of having to eat what they eat for only 3 days. 

That lesson has really stuck with me and I remember it often when I see a homeless person.  I have to stop and give them food or money.  It's one thing to see a sad looking African child with flies on his face on TV and give money, its a whole other thing to actually do a missions trip to Africa and live for a few days the way they do.

"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy."  Ezekiel 16:49

Are we as Americans, arrogant, overfed and unconcerned?  Are we willing to help the poor, to do good, and be kind?  I'd love to hear how you are helping others

 

Homemakers

Titus 2:3-5-"the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." NKJV

If I haven't lost a lot of friends from the last posts I've done about alcohol and how you dress then this one is probably going to do it.  Let me just point out that I did not write this.  God has it in the bible because HE wanted it there.  I'm just the messenger, don't shoot me!

Homemaker.....

Just to be on the safe side, lets look up the other versions of this verse.

NIV says "to be busy at home"
The Message says "keep a good house"
NLT says "to work in their homes"

Do we care to argue about which translation is right so we can go about our lives without having to change anything?  I don't.

I feel I must add here for those of you who do not know me that I am a Stay-At-Home-Mom.  I do feel that is the ideal situation for pre-school aged children.  I do believe God designed us mothers to be their first teachers in all things that will carry them throughout the rest of their lives.  Such as what is right and wrong, manners, basic school (colors, shapes, numbers, letters), how to clean a home and guide them in the direction that God has for them.  I am not saying that everyone should do it.  I know several mothers who could not handle staying home with their children all the time and the better situation was for them to be in childcare somewhere else for at least a few hours a day.  I know several mothers who can not afford to stay home with their children (which is a topic of debate for another blog post).   

The bible makes it pretty clear where God wants us to be.  In the house, cleaning it.  Which is so basic.  I tell my kids "If you want to go do anything extra, you need to take care of the basics first which is cleaning your room and cleaning yourself.  Then we can go do other things".  I think God feels the same way with us.  First make sure everything is in order in your home.  I do not think that means cleanliness necessarily, but just part of it. 

Our jobs as women is to keep the house.  We make the home.  We make the home a safe place where our husband and kids can go to for love and comfort.  We show that in caring for our loved ones (laundry, clean linen, homemade meals, good conversations).  Being available for them for errands, homework, chauffeuring, games, stories, crafts.  If we work outside the home we need to make sure all those basics are still taken care of.  If you have all those basics covered and you feel God is leading you to a job that takes you outside of your home then go in peace to that job.  God will give you the strength to be the wife, mom, and employee if He wants that for you.  

I know I  touched a nerve with some who wish to ignore this part of the bible.  Talk to me about it.  Do you find something else in the bible that makes you see these verses differently than what I'm posting today?