Women Understand Your Power!

Good morning to all on this glorious Saturday morning. I actually started this blog entry last Sunday when Waine and I were in Hawkinsville and it has taken me a whole week to chew on what I read. Regardless of my quandary, God is good every minute and every hour of the day as He strengthens me in my areas of weakness. Spring is trying to come to Georgia as we have enjoyed consistent days in the 70's. The evenings still get down to the 40's which makes good snuggling weather for Waine and I.  Continue to keep ET and his healing in your prayers, as well as the healing for JKS. TK still needs your prayers for a job in Atlanta. Thank you in advance for your diligence.

I am continuing my journey in Timothy 2 verses 1-15 "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, Who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,  but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety." Amen

Well this is certainly something to chew upon and I have been for the past week.  Now I know there were female leaders in the Old Testament and Christ certainly made leadership examples of women most notably Martha, Mary and Mary Magdelene however I think Paul was trying to establish order in the new churches arising in Asia Minor. I have not problem that in a marriage relationship, women are to assume the help-mate role as "her response to the obedience of the scriptures". Her role is to assist her husband in leading their family. A strong head of household is required to secure the home. On the other hand God also anoints women to lead His flock; a good modern example if Joyce Meyers. She will however tell you that she submits herself to her husband Dave in matters that concern their family and their ministry.  For Paul to write about the submissive roles of women in Timothy and Ephesians must have meant there was a problem between the men and women of the early church. Perhaps these societies had matriarchal practices that had to come into submission for the Word of God to spread. Who knows but more importantly who cares. Look if God tells me to submit, I am going to submit whether I understand or not. Obedience is the key and I have learned over these many years that God does not need my opinion or my assent to be God. I, on the other hand, need His Grace and Mercy everyday.

Paul also reminds us that it was Eve that was deceived and then she gave the fruit to  her husband. was it because Satan had tried to deceive Adam and was unsuccessful? Probably. It is the nature of women to want to make a way of success and achievement for their families. It is in our pedigree and therefore should be under due diligence. How many of us allow Satan to deceive us now and therefore weaken our families. In Genesis 3: 1-6 it reads "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'  “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." Adam was with Eve when Eve decided to disobey God's commandment and took the fruit from Eve. Astonishing. Adam had been with God first and still he ate what was present to him by his help mate. Another lesson? Instead of refusing Eve, Adam submitted to Eve. Was he afraid of losing her; did he love her more than he loved God? Was he looking for a convenient excuse to sin? All of the above! Remember when he was confronted by God Adam said "“The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Adam actually blamed both God and Eve for his own sin! Sin always likes company and one sin usually leads to another to cover the first. Its best to be obedient and avoid having to make excuses and lying.

I can honestly say the relationship between husbands and wives are very complicated and intertwined. Husbands are affected deeply by their wives and what their wives say and think. They can't help it. It was programmed by God. Husbands have very weak egos when it comes to their wives. The opinions, praise and disappointments of their wives affect husbands deeply. I used to think that unhappy wives were a result of inattentive husbands. I still think that but I have also grown to understand that unhappy husbands are a result on inattentive wives! Wives love your husbands as God commands and be a help and not a hindrance to them as your "reasonable" service to God. Help your husbands follow the plan of God for your family. Your husband does not need any encouragement to follow an alternative plan! Help your husband follow God through submission of your will first to God and then to your man. We are very powerful beings, we wives and it is time to be the women that God intended.

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; now may the LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; now may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen!

Stephanie