How do we convince ourselves and others -
that the gospel is not about SELF ESTEEM ??

So, yesterday I found myself being challenged to submit to the Lord through the most simple things that Brent asked me to do.......Oh, sure I did what he asked me to, but not without making it known that I was not happy about it.
Thank God for grace that he has extended to me through my loving husband......but after forgiveness, HOW am I supposed to overcome such a stubborn disposition??

Any texts that come to your mind??......please post :)
Any challenges that you women have faced and by God's grace were able to overcome - to be meek and gentle AND joyful in their submission to authority would be a great blessing.

Listening to a sermon today on "submitting to one another in marriage" was helpful somewhat......knowing that submitting is what Christ Jesus did for us.....he 'got under us to lift us up to God' - demonstrated by his prayer in Gethsemane that he would not have to drink of the cup of wrath, but that he would if it be God's will......that he would do and suffer what was required to save His beloved bride. Also demonstrated in his getting on the ground to wash the dirty stinky feet of sinful humans (his disciples) to show us what real leadership looks like.
I get it - that it takes a strong and intelligent and self controlled woman to submit - it is NOT easy to go against the flesh.....but by the Grace of God.

Can't get this song out of my heart these last few days -

"So I come into your chambers, and I dance at your feet Lord.
You are my Savior, and I'm at your mercy.
All that has been in my life up till now.....
Belongs to you. You are still Holy."

Starting now, God give us meekness that is bold enough to love as you have.
Cast out fear and strengthen our hearts in the Joy of fellowship with you Father.

love,
your sheep.

The Unpredictable God ...... WHO NEVER CHANGES

God is the same yesterday today and forever, and yet His ways with His children are so incredibly different that it's a wonder to think about how he fashions our lives so that we grasp the fact that relationship to Him is unique, though He is the Father of all of the adopted in Christ.

Some people meet their spouse and both know it within a week, and with honor they proceed into engagement within 3-6 months and get married with all the bliss and happiness of a fairytale.....even their first years are not as horrid as some other marrieds have warned against.........

Others date for their 1 year, check it off their list and proceed as sweetly as a nostalgic Kenney Chesney song.

Just reflecting today on how "not like that" the road has been for Brent and I-
4 years of heart turmoil and sorrow.......the off and on again of God's keeping Brent in my life, even moving us to the same church without the other's knowledge - and the entire time He was teaching me to love the person I love the MOST in this life, LESS than Christ.
He has mercifully crucified my affections for Brent.......my heart had never been so broken and so strong as it was on Feb 18th 2007 http://jendaas.blogspot.com/2007/02/state-of-peaceful-closure.html
But unbeknownst to me - the Lord was fashioning Brent to be my husband, and he returned for me just 3 months later. 2007 was the worst - and best - year of my life.

It's all coming together ~
The most plainly seen of all of the reasons for God's putting our relationship through the fire as He did - seems to be so that we would not seek our ultimate joy and satisfaction from each other. My heart is still in need of more understanding in this.....but I've let go of much of the grasping for life-giving hope from a temporal source, even my own husband.
Something in my heart is surrendering just today.......as I read the text in Luke 8 - the parable of the seeds. I don't want the seed to be choked out by the cares of this life.........and no matter how many years we are in the faith, this could include us....

ramblings -
jenB

True Believers - Never settle..........

If our merciful God has given us life and breath and all of the comforts we have in America in addition to salvation........why do we still compromise in day to day life? Between my often getting peeved while driving to hearing foul talk and dirty jokes come from professing believers ----- it all just makes me shudder.

A great sermon this past Sunday on 'regeneration' and how flippantly the word is used
(together with the term "born again")
Our pastor brought statistics to the pulpit this weekend - to debunk them essentially......

The Barna group says that 45% of Americans are "born again" pffftt
Meaning that they at some point in their live "made a commitment to Christ and it still matters to them today" and etc.
Supposedly the stats among this people group state that 'born again believers' have the same amount of divorces, the same amount of teens losing their virginity and etc.

This, my pastor says is completely the opposite of how the new testament speaks of "born again converted peoples" and how they live. It's not that there are regenerate people who live in constant patterns of sin....but that there are false believers among the real believers - and it warns us about the wolves. But believers who have been given new hearts ought to be set apart- radically different. Sacrificially sticking with their marriage vows by putting to death selfishness........not spending money on more and more comforts than are necessary for living day to day - but giving away their money and time and lives to seeking to love the lost as much as they listen to the Christian radio / sermons/ CD that encourage them to stop listening and start acting.
IT MATTERS that we bear the name of Christ. In all we say and do.

1 John 2:9
"Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

1 John 3:4
"Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."

To not fall into perfectionism, our pastor will surely be speaking of how believers aren't perfect, but that their bent is toward holiness, they hate their sin, not seeing small sins as small but as INFINITELY worthy of hell because of the ONE sinned against.

God has given us every reason to obey him cheerfully - and we fail to trust Him....to walk in his ways for the joy set before us - in Heaven with Him

This rant is just from mine and my husband's meditations on where the rubber is going to meet the road in our faith and marriage and as a ministry couple. We have been restless...discontent with merely living a 'moral' life........and the sermon shook us up even more.
Tired of just doing the minimum integrity things.......even listening to music and watching movies that aren't 'sinful' but don't push us toward Christ - but leave the heart void and thirsty.

Brent had great opportunity to ride along with our dear brother James (North minneapolis missionary) in his neighborhood - sharing "words from the Lord" (scriptures)
with prostitues and their pimps this past weekend. By God's grace Brent's heart has been changing toward the broken and hurting people......seeing them receive the tract and the verse, dropping their heads, seemingly in shame for what they were doing......has a way of breaking your heart, if you have the Holy Spirit bending your heart so that your affections line up with Christ's.

Leaves the heart wanting more.......more love, more joy more passion for Christ.........

To the best Shepherd who is Himself a Lamb ~
Humble us so that you can Teach us so that you will be Well pleased with us Father ~
In love with you still,
your daughter