For the Love of Books: Feminine Appeal

I don’t need or get as much sleep as a normal person usually would. Lately I’ve been putting that time to better use by reading, it’s amazing what you can finish with an extra two or three hours every night! After reading some really great books these past two months, I thought I start some book reviews and share with you what I’ve learned from them! Now, I know that I’m no book critic but I do love read and writing about God’s truth, so here we go:

Book: Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother

Author: Carolyn Mahaney

Written: 2003

Genre: Christian; Women

Summary:

In this book Carolyn is addressing the virtues of a godly woman seen in Titus 2 and the appeal to follow them. She shares all the blessings and reasons to be following a course f biblical womanhood, being transformed by God’s word not the world. Carolyn is the wife of C.J. Mahaney, has been married for nearly thirty years, and has four children. In this book she focuses on 7 specific virtues, which are:
* The delight of loving my husband
* The blessings of loving my children
* The safety of self-control
* The pleasure of purity
* The honor of working at home
* The rewards of kindness
* The beauty of submission

Personally:

I enjoyed reading this book as a single woman desiring to one day be married, understanding what it is to be prepared for and how to be serving others now and ultimately how to be glorifying God through living out biblical womanhood. Carolyn is straightforward and doesn’t “beat around the bush” with things that God has commanded! This book is focused more on biblical doctrine and less on personal experience, her ultimate view is to keep God first and glorifying Him in how I act.

Key Points:


(Some of the main quotes that stuck out)

“Our emotions are a warning system God graciously gave us to attract attention to the sin in our hearts.”

We need to be using emotions to stir us into action, not as an excuse to sin. Checking our feelings and emotions for sinful motives or being out of order in the least bit. Often what needs to be done isn’t what we “feel” like doing.

“In fact, our husbands’ particular sins, unique weaknesses, and even their idiosyncrasies are tailor-made for us. Likewise, our sins and weaknesses are custom-designed for them. Both husbands and wives will become more Christ like by having to deal with each other’s sin and deficiencies.”

Before reading this book I had a difficult time in confronting or rebuking a friend’s sin, whether not at all or not lovingly, I would come off blunt and harsh. After reading this I was humbled in the fact that one day I’ll have to submissively and lovingly confront my husband one day, so I need to cultivate a gentle and quite spirit in this area now.

“But if we submit to these temptations…”

This is kind of a random snippet from the book, but it made me think through my actions throughout my day more, asking myself in each action what/who I am submitting to.

In conclusion this book is so full of truth and practical application but to ultimately adorn our lives with the gospel, showing others the transforming effects it has and the greatness of our God!

Worth Following...

“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”- 1 Corinthians 11:1

I recently had the joy of joining the high school ministry True North; it’s so humbling to think that God has placed me as a leader. To be a tool in reaching out and teaching high school girl’s of Orange County the truth of God. But it has definitely got me thinking as to what it means to be a “leader.”

“But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”—Mark 10:43-44

Leading first begins with submitting, submitting to authority is not optional and all leaders have someone they are under and ultimately we all serve under the Lord. To rebel against leadership is to rebel against God, He has placed them over us as we see in Romans 13:1 that every man is to “be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” We see this in Christ, He is Lord of all and yet came to serve, not to be served, doing the will of the Father, John MacArthur makes a great point that “leadership is ministry, not management.” If we do not first have the attitude of submission and longing to serve one another, being as leader who is a loving servant of all; then leading can become a desire to reign over others for their own benefits and not to the growth and benefit of those they lead.

[Now, it is important to remember who you can lead, by God’s grace I lead a small group if high school girls and if it is the Lord’s will one day my children; I cannot think that I would lead men or a husband, or that (like in the example of children) my desires in which way to lead would come over his.]

“We can lead others only as far along the road as we ourselves have traveled. Merely pointing the way is not enough. If we are not walking, the no one can be following, and we are not leading anyone.”- J. Oswald Sanders

This quote is so humbling; it ties in with the thoughts on being a servant leader, but also caused me to look into my own heart and life to see what is worth following. Where am I standing still, yet telling others to walk? Leadership requires a blameless character and spiritually maturity. Leaders determine the direction of those who follow. In the example of shepherds leading their sheep, the shepherd must first go out and create a path for them to walk on, we must do the same, though we will not be sinless, we will create a path for ourselves and others to be sinning less! For example we see in Hebrews 5:12-14 the exhortation for moving from spiritual milk to solid food, they still could only heard the basis principles of God; as leaders (as Christians!) we need to be string in growing in understanding and knowledge who our God is.


“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”-1 Thessalonians 1:6

My desire and prayer as a leader is to be able to say to my girls that they become imitators and that I would be able to be imitated and through that then example to others able to lead them in the command from God to be “holy as I am holy.”

Readings:
“Spiritual Leadership”- J. Oswald Sanders
“A few Good Shepherds”-John MacArthur (Article)

An Interest in Sin

So it’s been a rainy week here in Orange County and you know what I’ve realized? We are really into accidents. I mean think about…how often are we like “Wow what happened?....Did you see that accident today?....Look at that, what a mess!” People love seeing accidents, the carnage of it all, it is almost obscure to us…some almost mesmerized. Have you ever thought about why that is? I tried and their really isn’t a good answer!

“May we never take a dry-eyed look at sin, lest ere we have a tongue parched in the flames of hell.”- Charles Spurgeon

As I was driving in some heavy traffic last night from an accident, I began thinking about some people are so interested in other people’s sins just as they can be with these car accidents. We may sometimes want to know about other people’s struggles or sins so we can “pray for them.” Just as with the accidents why do we want to know so bad? Do we have a reason for knowing? There really is no good answer it ends up piling into a mush of gossip, because once we are privy to this juicy information we go to others and say “Be praying for so and so, they are really struggling with (whatever it is) right now.” Is that really carrying out what we see in 1 Peter 4:8-

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

Cover means to make hidden, but by telling others and learning about it, this becomes uncovering. Charles Spurgeon also said on this area that, “he who is not angry at transgression become a partaker in it.” In what ways are you partaking in sin? Whether its someone else’s struggles with sin you want to information too, a tv show, a book, or maybe even that Star magazine you read only to “pass the time in line.” We should abhor sin, when we don’t we are saying that we are okay with it! We are warned in 1 John 2: 15 too “not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” May we work daily to not become used to the ways of the world but constantly see sin through God’s eyes.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”- Romans 12:1-2

"There was Silence in Heaven..."

Revelation 8:1

“There was silence in heaven…”

This struck me, caused me to be silent…this silence was over the great wrath and judgement about to be poured out onto the world, it makes me wonder if there was silence in heaven right before all the wrath of God for every saved person was poured out on Christ…His beloved Son.

Does this silence you?

Are we in awe of it each and every day?

Knowing that the silence in heaven being spoken of in Revelation should be over what is about to happen to us? We deserve that wrath and so much more, a kind of wrath that makes all the heavens silenced! This is no purgatory, this is no simple separation from God or outer darkness, but the justice of God, the punishment, gnashing of teeth kind of punishment! And yet, we so often see christian’s throwing around Christ as if He is some kind of medication to help us! Or as if we invite Him into our heart, that He is "standing at the door knocking"....in the words of Paul Washer "Jesus Christ owns the door if He wants to knock it down He will!" God owns us, He created us, we are under His authority either as children of His manifold mercy or as children of wrath!

The point in all of this is that we should not have days where it does by where we do not sit in awe and silent of the grace given to us, this should cause more silence then God wrath because wrath is what we deserve and grace is as almost a scandal.

May this "Jesus is a friend of mine" atitude not be true of us, may we be in constant awe and extreme gratitude and humility towards what amazing grace that has been given to us.

David Clotfelter said in his book “Sinner’s in the Hands of a Good God”,

“It is because we are guilty- because we have no right to express anything from God but punishment-that we may speak of redemption through Christ as a work of mercy and grace” (pg. 34)

We so often hear about God's love that we could almost be desynsatised to what it truly means. If you haven't yet, I encourage you to read Jonathan Edward's "Sinner's in the Hands of an Angry God." Once we understand that we deserve wrath but are under God's love, song's such as these could are penned:

The Love of God
By: Frederick M. Lehman



The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star, And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled, And pardoned from his sin.


O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall for evermore endure

The saints' and angels' song.



When years of time shall pass away, And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,

When men, who here refuse to pray, On rocks and hills and mountains call,

God's love so sure, shall still endure, All measureless and strong;

Redeeming grace to Adam's race-The saints' and angels' song.



Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry.

Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.

Beautiful?

"Beauty, according to the Christian worldview, is established by God himself, and is inseparable from truth and goodness. Attractiveness is the mere delight of the eyes. In a sinful world, our eyes delight in many wrong things, and many of the most beautiful realities are, to the mere eyes, unattractive."- Albert Mohler

I recently did a study through Proverbs 31:10-31 and learned a great deal about myself…something disgusting.

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”- Proverbs 31:30

Have you ever thought through this verse? Yes, we as women quote it often to ourselves and know that to men this whole passage is what should be sought after in a wife, but have we really used this passage as a mirror for ourselves? Does it really reflect what is in our hearts?

Not in mine.

What great conviction came when I read a “GirlTalk” blog on beauty and they asked these questions: (I urge you to answer these as well, not just in thought actually write it down as if you were truly having to answer these questions)

"Why do you try to make yourself look more beautiful and attractive? What do you hope to gain?”

and

"How has it worked out for you? Has the pursuit of physical beauty helped you achieve all you hoped it would? Explain.”

As I began to answer, heaviness came upon me and I became absolutely disgusted with myself, I was not living out this verse but actually holding beauty as an idol. Here’s what was answered:

"Why do you try to make yourself look more beautiful and attractive? What do you hope to gain?”

Most of the time I try to make my self more attractive and achieve beauty, not because this is most glorifying to God, but rather because of a standard that has been set. Before I was saved I modeled, which is a field that focuses so much on outward appearance you almost begin to lose who you truly are as a person...your looks define you. Putting on make-up and nice clothing becomes almost a putting on of yourself (the opposite of things such as "clothing yourself in humility"). This past life has embedded itself so deep into my mind that it has become so difficult to overcome since salvation, spiritual beauty has not yet come to reign over physical beauty in my heart and it is truly a daily struggle. I had someone say to me the other day "What would life be like the day Ashley doesn't receive a complement?" This hit me so hard...because honestly I would see myself as less beautiful and ultimately of lesser worth, this is why I strive for physical beauty...value.

and

"How has it worked out for you? Has the pursuit of physical beauty helped you achieve all you hoped it would? Explain.”

Physical beauty has not helped me achieve much except in a worldly sense, in the past I used it for many evil things, even getting a stranger to pay for my meal and when I find myself now a days trying to gain from physical beauty I am disgusted. From the world's eyes I had gain and achieved great things but in my heart and in the eye's of God all I gain is conviction of my sin. It's easy to flash a smile and bat your eye lashes; but it is beyond difficult to sit reverently at the Lord's feet allowing His view of beauty to become yours.

“Specifically, God's will includes salvation (1 Tim. 2:4); self-sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2); Spirit filling (Eph. 5:18); submission (1Pet. 2:13-15); suffering (1 Pet. 3:17); satisfaction (1 Thess. 5:18); and sanctification (1 Thess. 4:3).”- John MacArthur

When God graciously exposes our sin to us we become humbled, falling at his feet. God’s view of beauty is us following His will, it is not aligned with the world’s view of beauty.

I challenge you to perform a “heart check” in this area, even if you do not see it as being a struggle for you, because I didn’t think it was for me either…

“But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."- 1 Samuel 16:7

Redeeming the Time

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”- Ephesians 5: 15-16

What I’ve come to realize about myself is that I love books…okay, I love buying books with the idea of reading them. Recently this problem has been getting better, I stay out of the bookstore and have organized all my unread books into categories to read on a monthly basis. But, as time went on and school started up again I thought to myself “I barely have time for personal prayer and bible reading time, let alone books!” Oh boy, was I wrong…

I had gotten a book awhile ago recommended by my pastor’s wife, Shopping for Time written by C.J. Mahaney’s wife and three daughters. I figured since I enjoy C.J.’s writings and sermons his wife and daughters are probably just as good. But to no surprise it sat on the shelf for months. That is until I spoke with a woman about how “busy” I was and feeling as if I had no time for anything, she mentioned the “5 am club.” Is it just me or does that sound like self mutilation? I barely sleep as it is, let alone wake up at some dreaded time! She said just to read the book and that I’d understand, so I did and here is what I gained from it…

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.”- Haggai 1: 2-5

How often we are like these men who claim to have no time for the work of the Lord, claiming we are just too busy for bible study and prayer and when life “settles down” we will start it up again. What foolishness this is to put off what God has commanded us to do, Charles Spurgeon was right in saying:

“If you have not the time, God gave it to you, and you must have misspent it. Nobody has more than twenty-four hours in a day, and you have no less.”

So, let us redeem the time, for we ourselves are redeemed!

How can you redeem the time? Think first of what “time wasters” we can take out of our day; such as TV, Facebook, books that are not geared to edifying your knowledge of God…? Then, take them off your mental list of things to do, plan ahead and finish your priorities before these activities!

Secondly, how can you add more time to your day? By arising earlier! This psalmist had it right when he declared “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” (Psalm 5:3) Remember the “5 am club” I mentioned earlier? Well, this past month I have joined what the “6:30 am club.” Waking up at 6:30 to begin my day had led to a series of amazing mornings! First I wake up, text my accountability partner, pray for the strength to be awake, drag myself to the kitchen for some coffee, then it’s straight to over an of hour of bible study and prayer time. As an extra bonus I get to see my parents before they leave for work. So, by the time I am finished with all these things is about the time I would have normally been waking up! I encourage you to start this as well, you can modify it to your schedule like most of the women I know doing this did, but just start by waking up earlier the amount of time you spend for quite times.

Thirdly, kill procrastination. This by far can be our biggest struggle when dealing with redeeming our time, but Alexander MacLaren makes an excellent statement about this:

“No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by putting them off till tomorrow. It is only when they are behind us and done, that we begin to find that there is a sweetness to be tasted afterwards, and that the remembrance of unwelcome duties unhesitatingly done is welcome and pleasant. Accomplished, they are full of blessing, and there is a smile on their faces as they leave us. Undone, they stand threatening and disturbing our tranquility, and hindering our communion with God. If there be lying before you any bit of work from which you shrink, go straight up to it, and do it at once. The only way to get rid of it is to do it.”

By putting off those daunting tasks placed in front of you it becomes the same as the people putting off the building of the Lord’s house because we are told that “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” (Colossians 3:23) Replace procrastination with diligence. (See Proverbs 12:24)

“I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.”- Jeremiah 10:23

Your plans are not your own. Please keep this in mind as it is of the most upmost importance to surrender your plans to God’s will. He directs our path and prepares us to walk in it. We usually see these plans as “interruptions,” when in fact they are blessings! In the Mahaney girl’s book we get a nice insight to how their dad (C.J.) views his to-do list in sight of God’s:

“Only God get his to-do list done each day. We are not God. We are finite creatures with serious limitations.”

I began this blog with Ephesians 5:15-16 and would like to end with the verse following afterwards; “therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (v.17)

What is the will of the Lord? You may not know ahead of time that His will for you on a certain day is to not clean the house but to minister to a brother or sister in need or end up with a family emergency; but we can know that the will of the Lord is perfect and will be done over ours! Submitting ourselves to God’s will down to the smallest of tasks is the beginning of redeeming time because only from God do we receive the ability to carry out each and everyday. So, let’s give it back to Him.

“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”- Psalm 118:24

The Sheep who Cried Wolf

“More fierce than the evening wolves…” Habakkuk 1:8

The evening wolves have gone all day without food, they become more and more fierce as night moves on. Upon finding a small flock of sheep, he stalks, attacks, and kills one of the sheep; filling him-self on her precious flesh. This sheep was alone and weak, separated form the rest of the flock easy to be targeted by the wolf. What if this sheep had cried “wolf.”?

Who or what is this wolf amongst the flock? Perhaps your first thought was trials or tribulations…

We are promised in our Christian walk that trials and tribulations will come our way: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you…” 1 Peter 4:12. But how do we respond to these trials?

A few months ago I found myself in the middle of a trial. I was broken, confused and actually very scared of what could happen. I cried to God for this trial to be taken away, I didn’t want to go through it and felt as if a wolf were destroying me limb from limb. I wanted this trial to be over and desired comfort. How wrong was my thinking! One morning I found myself confronted and rebuked by God through a quote from Charles Spurgeon which reads:

“O that we thus walked more in the footsteps of our Lord, cheerfully enduring trial for His sake, promptly and willingly putting away the thought of self and comfort when it would interfere with our finishing the work which He has given us to do. Great grace is needed, but great grace is provided.”

This trial, at once shed of it’s costume of wolf became a blessing, a time of growth and entrusting myself completely in the arm of my Shepherd. Knowing that “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

So often we cry and plead for God to take away these trials, crying “wolf” to our perfect Shepherd. We think and see these trials as evening wolves coming out of nowhere to destroy us. Marked by thoughts such as “How could this happen to me?” Reconsider asking yourself this by pondering the last part of 1 Peter 4:12, “…as though something strange were happening to you.”

Christian, may you stand firm in trials and tribulation. Though the ways crash over head, remind yourself that your Shepherd is there to lead you through and it is for His glory and your benefit, seek to see grace in these roaring sea billows.

So, what are the real wolves?...

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Temptation, which leads to sin, which gives birth to death. Sin has the power to destroy us, like the ravenous evening wolf. We see this exact warning in 1 Peter 5:8:

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

We can often let ourselves think we are strong enough for temptation. This like a sheep meeting a wolf eye to eye and saying “bring it on.” Foolishness! This sheep is dead meat by tempting temptation, he needs to cry out for his Shepherd to save him from the wolf, and guide him to a safer path.

Friends, I plead with you to know view yourself as stronger than your sin, because you are not, God is. He is your great and merciful Shepherd who provides you with all strength necessary to overcome the world and not become conformed to it. Seek out your Shepherd before the wolves come.

Establish it in your heart to not “cry wolf” when none is there to destroy you, but stand firm in trusting God who knows the wolves before they come and is ready to protect you at all cost.