Can I just say that I think collecting food for others is a great motivation to keep on this journey. My husband and I have been talking a lot lately about how to live in our American culture and still deny ourselves earthly things in order to seek after more heavenly ones. For me buying something that I would love to eat at the grocery store and then setting it in a pile to be given at the next monthly food donation has been a great tool in denying myself of earthly things and to seek after the heavenly blessings.
The ladies bible study is still going :) I am grateful for all the Lord is teaching me through this time of ministering to these two ladies. I am hoping that maybe as time goes on and I get a little more bold to open up my home and having these ladies over for lunch. I am not always a hospitable woman, I know for some that is a shocker, but it is very true. It is hard for me to overcome my pride in thinking that my home is too small to entertain guests or that our food budget is too low to afford feeding others..but God is really challenging me to take seriously the verses that say to be hospitable to others. It's yet another area of my life that God seems to be asking me to give him control over, all this surrendering, is good...hard...but good.
My beautiful children are growing up so fast. My little baby boy is so big now I hardly feel as though I can call him a baby anymore. But thankfully he still allows me to snuggle with him, and he often runs up to me while I am busy just because he wants a hug, kiss, and to hear his mommy say "I love you." There was a time in my life when I thought that this much love in one home was unthinkable or that others could have it but not me. God is showing me how much he really loves me and while I didn't get the blessings of a loving home as a child he is showing me what faith, trust, and love for him no matter what has future blessings. If these are the earthly blessings that he has given to me I can't even begin to imagine the heavenly ones that he has waiting for me.
I have started reading a book called Created to be his help meet. By Debbie Pearl. It is a book that some would say has old fashion values in it (such as women staying home from work) feminist would definitely call it a "step back" in the movement of women rights. But truthfully most of the things that she talks about is how to be a loving wife even when our husbands don't deserve us to be. How to love and serve them even when they don't help with dishes, house work, cooking, and cleaning, and the blessings that God gives to us because we are faithful to what he has called us to do. It is also very convicting and I just read a chapter where she talks about the different types of men that there are in this world. Rather than try to write out how she describes each of the types I'll just give you a little paragraph from her book that I think will show you the heart of her message as well as the serious calling that she believes God has given to women that are married. This may not all flow together with what I'm trying to do but I hope the paragraph will make you want to get the book and read it for yourself.
"When a woman is married to a bossy, dominant man, people marvel that she is willing to serve him without complaint, so she comes out looking like a wonderful woman of great patience and sacrifice. A woman married to the impulsive visionary Man, who puts the family through hardships, will stir amazement in everyone. "How can she tolerate his weird ideas with such peace and joy?" She comes out being a real saint, maybe even a martyr. But if you are married to a wonderful, kind, loving, serving man, and you are just a little bit selfish, then you are likely to end up looking like an unthankful shrew. He helps you, adores you, protects you, and is careful to provide for you, and you are still not satisfied. Shame on you!"
I am married to a Mr. Steady kind of man and I wish I could say that I have not ever been an unthankful shrew but that is not the case...I have man times been an unthankful shrew. Anyways, I guarantee this book will make some women angry, but I dare someone to read it and not see any truth that really makes a difference in it. It's a great book, I for one think a good rebuking every now and then is a great way to stay humble and it challenges me to seek more after heavenly blessings than earthly ones.
I thought I would leave you with a few pictures of my babies...they are not the best quality (pictures that is) but they are still precious to me!
1 comment:
I will say this, the book has some great positive and insightful ideas, tools, and just all around what we as wives should be doing despite how are husbands treat us. At the same time I do think there are some chapters where she "stretches" scripture a little to far to meet her point and as my husband says She focuses mainly on "holiness" and striving to be holy as wives than on how the grace of Christ can change us, and God's sovereignty.
Overall though still a very good book.
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