Thy Maker is Thine Husband

Isaiah 54

 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.

² Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
³ For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
⁴ Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
⁵ For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
⁶ For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
⁷ For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
⁸ In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.
⁹ For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
¹⁰ For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
¹¹ O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
¹² And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
¹³ And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
¹⁴ In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
¹⁵ Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
¹⁶ Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
¹⁷ No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

Encourage Yourself in the Lord

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."

1Samuel 30:6

This was a great help for me today. I hope for you too.

Beth

Not my will... But Thine

The other morning I read the story about Joseph being sold by his brothers, then sent to prison by Potiphar to my youngest daughter; then later read about Jesus' betrayal and crucifixion in Mark with my older girls.

It seems like this past year or so the Lord has wanted to convey something to me, that years ago I wouldn't of comprehended, nor would of accepted.

That there are people who are willing to suffer in order to be obedient to God, and God uses that pain and suffering to fulfill His purpose. A glorious purpose.

Look at Jesus.
What was the outcome of His willingness to face and walk through suffering?

 Glory.

Victory.

Hope.

Love.

For His Father. For us.

Look at Josephs life. He could of become embittered towards his brothers who did the harm, embittered towards God, and disbelieving of the promises He had from God. But he remained true and faithful, and forgiving and TRUSTING that God still loved Him even when he was in a dark pit, even when he spent years in prison as an innocent person. It is so easy to think God has abandoned us when we go through pain and torment. That somehow we are not loved by God because our lives do not reflect the ease of others. It's not true. No matter what you're going through, no matter what your life story is; if you are and will continue to love God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength and you continue to believe in Him and His love and goodness, there is victory in your life. There will be a glory that will be displayed on this earth and for all eternity. Your love and devotion to God and to His son is the only thing that we should live for.

Christ prayed and asked for the cup to be passed from Him, that He wouldn't have to go through something as horrible as He was about to, but He ended the prayer how? Not my will, but Thine.
And what was God's answer to His Sons prayer?
No.
This cup CANNOT pass from you. Did He not love His Son? Yes He did! But He knew the reason for, and the benefit of His Son going through it, and His Son was willing.

I think about how many years I prayed and prayed for circumstances to change. Sometimes they did. Sometimes they didn't. I've wondered why some of the things I wanted so badly to change in my life haven't and  have thought God did not love me as much as He loved someone else. That some how I wasn't worthy of good things. Listen; Sometimes pain is a good thing. Sometimes suffering is a good thing. Not when it's caused by our disobedience to God, but if you are a follower of Christ, even then, God will use it to complete the work that He has started and PURPOSED for you.

I'm am not saying that you should suffer any and everything that comes your way. Sometimes we need to protect ourselves and protect our children by getting away from abuse, and we always need to repent and stop our sin that is causing us and others pain. But it is way to often that the message is to get out of a situation because you're not happy. Because you're hurt. Because you're not being loved or fulfilled. That's garbage. Forget about you, and the love affair you have with your ideals.

Beg God for a love for Him. A love to be so devoted that you are able to withstand heartache and disappointment for the sake of being obedient to His will. Your hearts desires matter, but if your hearts desires super cede your willingness to go forward with what ever God's answers to those heart desires are your not living a life of complete surrender.


This entry has the potential of being taken entirely out of context. I hope it doesn't. I hope who ever reads this, has read the story of Jesus, and Joseph, and of so many others in the Word and in this life who have surrendered their will and circumstances to be used how ever God wants; and knows it is what is best for them, for Him, and for others while at the same time knowing and trusting He loves them!
 I have chased after, yearned for things and circumstances, more than I have for Christ. Over the past few years the Lord has graciously shown me HE is the reward. Not a picture perfect family or income. Nor a life that skips over sorrows that I think I could never or should never have to bear.

When we accept our lot out of trust and obedience, the portion is HIM. If I have Him I have something to give to others. I have something that satiates my longings and eases my heart in trials.

Once upon a time I had dreams and hopes, but now my dreams and hopes are to be like Joseph, and Jesus. To believe that God loves me even when I am hurting and in a miserable circumstance and my hope is to persevere through them rather than avoid them. Are your hands open to what ever God pours forth, or only open to what you want?

Beth

The Lonely Keeper

For many women and young girls whose heart is for home they are very lonely. That lonliness can be caused by a variety of reasons.

One painful and isolating reason is because their life doesnt look like the life of the "ideal keeper"; The woman or daughter who has a loving supportive husband or father who shares their conviction about being a woman.

So they have to balance their convictions with their circumstances. Many women are doing all they can to honor God with their gender, while at the same time living out a life they struggle with. Lets not add to their struggles by seperating them from the crowd of families who have "arrived".

And if you're one of those women who want to be the "ideal" keeper; know it is a pursuit we all equally must strive for because we each are sinners, and prone to sin thus we will never be ideal or never arrive until we have finished this race and are in heaven.

Don't waste your time trying to duplicate someone elses life. The principles of godly womanhood is the goal. Everyone gets there in a different way. Every Keeper of Homes life looks different and thats ok.

Is God more pleased with a woman who cringes at the thought of another child and totally resents motherhood, or with a woman who yearns for more children but her husband says no?
Looks can be decieving. Just strive to do all you can do in honoring God with your gender according to scripture and encourage yourself in the Word when you're feeling seperate and alone from other women or young girls who have supporting husbands and fathers.

If you love Christ and are striving to stay in His will regarding your gender in all the ways you have power over, rejoice and be not discouraged.

He sees you and knows you by name, and He will help you with what ever your lot is. He is your inheritance and your reward. Not the approval of other women.

Beth

Steven Curtis Chapman - One Little Heartbeat at a Time

I dedicated this song to my mom yesterday for Mothers Day. She asked me if I would put it up on her blog so she could dedicate it to all the Mothers who are here on her blog, but I unfortunately forgot...so here it is a day later. Happy Mothers day!
Gabby

Should I Be a Teacher of Good Things?

For over a year now I have struggled greatly with whether or not I have been called to teach women that they should be keepers at home on a public level. At times I've questioned if I should teach it at all.

I look around and see so many "ok" families, and think why should I upset what works for them? Why should I plant a principle so foreign and so offensive in their minds?   All that will happen is people will hate me, make fun of me and tell me I am incorrectly interpreting scripture.

I have gone back and forth over this. I have discussed it with my daughters and a few friends. To be honest, the coward in me wants to walk away. To let people alone, and to live their lives how they see fit.

But I can't.
I know that if I do I am walking away from an issue that destroys women and families. The lack of knowing who we as women were created to be, and what we were created to do effects our entire society. Starting with the individual,to the family, to  the church and to the goverment.
Yes, it's that big. That powerful.
If you don't believe me just LOOK.
Look all around you. The consequences of leaving life up to us to determine who we are and what we are is removing civility from civilazation.
It's removing truth and righteousness from the church, which leaves no church. Only a building where people gather.

You are a fool to think that we have progressed. No we havent. We are slipping further and further to the place where God must step in to deal with the wickedness. The rebellion. God's judgement is not impending. I'ts here. Read Romans chapter one. 
Where does judgement start? With the church!
Those of us who claim to be christians must be found to be faithful. In ALL of the Word of God. With all of His will. Not just His will to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations. That is only one part of being a christian. Of being faithful.

We cannot interpret scripture through a current, cultural lens. It must be to seek and understand what God said and meant through HIS lens. Which never changes. Not with the times, nor with circumstances.

In Titus chapter two, it tells the older women to be a teacher of good things to the younger women.
To teach these things:


To be sober
To love their husbands
To love their children
To be discreet
To be chaste
To be keepers at home
To be good
To be obedient to their own husbands

WHY?

In order that the Word of God be not blasphemed. What does that mean?


*BLASPHE'ME, v.t. [Gr. The first syllable is the same as in blame, blasme, denoting injury; L. loedo, loesus; The last syllable is the Gr.,to speak.]

1. To speak of the Supreme Being in terms of impious irreverence; to revile or speak reproachfully of God, or the Holy Spirit. 1 Ki 21. Mark 3.

2. To speak evil of; to utter abuse or calumny against; to speak reproachfully of.
BLASPHE'ME, v.i. To utter blasphemy.
He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven. Mark 3.

1. To arrogate the prerogatives of God.

*(Websters 1828 Dictionary)
 
(arrogate:1. to claim unwarrantably or presumptuously; assume or appropriate to oneself without right:)

So...

Where does that leave me?
To have no choice but to be a teacher of good things to the younger women.

The fire within my heart is for women to know what a woman is. What her purpose is. And who is her Master. Yes... Master.

Her creator is her master. Apart from Him, she can never know the why of her existence, the purpose of her life. She was made by someone else. For someone else.
She can never be beautiful,  truly beautiful unless she is who she was designed to be.

Apart from God's Word, I can't teach that. He has beautifully illustrated who and what a woman is to be in the Holy Scriptures.

You can't teach anything good from your own reserves, or words. You can't teach what discreet means, or chaste or anything seperate from the one who OWNS those things.  They belong to him. We must take it from Him for it to be pure and true and right.

I started this blog as a means to encourage women who have the understanding of what a keeper at home is, and whose heart and life is trying to walk that out in difficult circumstances. Circumstances that make it hard to be obedient to the Word of God in this area.

I slacked off because I questioned how important it is. Who really cares, and is it really necessary?
I have struggled within my soul and the struggle is over.

Our society is messed up. Our churches are messed up. In order for men to be men, women must be women. It is critical to the family, and the effectivness of the church and it's mission.


Beth

The Best Of Times... Hopelessness

The best times in my life are when I feel the worst and hope is gone.

It is in my darkness that the Lord shines His brightest and gives me a hope. Hope in Him, and trust that all he has for me is for good and not evil. (Jeremiah 29:11)

The unprotected and vulnerable part of me is my heart. It's where Satan attacks. He knows it is the bullseye for gaining a stronghold in me.

It starts with sorrow. Sorrow for not having what I want most. Sorrow turns to fear.
Fear tells me things may be worse than I think they are, Fear tells me things will never change and I will have to live with these things for the rest of my life.
Fear turns into anger, and anger turns into unforgivness and self-centeredness. When all these emotions have been allowed to run their course and it produces no change in my life or situation, I arrive at hopelessness.

It is at the point of hopelessness the Lord picks me up and washes me in His love and reminds me that I don't need to look out for myself and make sure I get whats best for me... thats His job and I'm not trusting Him with me.

Shame overcomes me for not finding my all in Him, and wanting more than giving. Giving what He daily gives me;
Love,
companionship,
faithfulness
and forgivness.

Repentence removes the shame. With repentence I am filled once again with His love. His strength. His power. His purpose.
And His eternal, un-ending hope.

Hope removes sorrow. And sorrow is where it all started.

"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my stength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong".

2 Corinthians 12: 9, 10

Remember...

Satans power is limited... God's is unlimited!

Light In The Darkness

"Like waifs clustered around a blazing fire, we gathered around it (the Bible), holding out our hearts to its warmth and light. The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer burned the word of God."

- Corrie Ten Boom

Wives and Daughters...

In all our actions we are to be imitators of God.

Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31 & 32, 5:1

Dont let someone elses behaviour or your circumstances determine whether you will be imitators of God or not. Examine your hearts. Do you want to obey God for HIS SAKE, or your own?

"This hard place in which you perhaps find yourself is the very place in which God is giving you opportunity to look only to Him, to spend time in prayer, and to learn long suffering, gentleness, meekness-- in short, to learn the depths of the love that Christ Himself has poured out on us all ".

Elisabeth Elliott

Peace

Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace of mind and joy.
Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully
and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands.

Elisabeth Elliott


"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee".
Isaiah 26:3

The Storm

The storm isn't to be looked at. It's to be used to focus on Him. You are not in charge of the weather nor are you to be a hapless bystander. It is all for the glory of God. He wants you to grow and be wise and able to hear when He speaks. He wants your ear so disciplined to His voice that when the wind blows you can hear him. Only Him. He wants you to keep your eyes on Him when the sky is black.
He wants you to be so stayed on Him, that what He tells you to do, you will do, no matter what is going on around you. He is testing you to see that you will obey and follow Him. It is not heartless, but heartfelt. Do you love Him? Do you trust Him? Then reach out to Him while you walk out into the storm obeying His voice. He will keep you. There is a prize for you and glory for Him. The prize is the soul that watched you and saw Christ. A soul saved and brought into the kingdom because of your obedience.

Be of good courage! In the darkest and fiercest of storm you are not alone or in charge. Trust and step out. Step to the one who is there.

George Muellar advised:

Dearly beloved, don't be discouraged if you have to suffer from unconverted relatives. Perhaps very shortly the Lord may give you the desire of your heart, and answer your prayer for them. But in the meantime, seek to commend the truth, not by reproaching them on account of their behaviour toward you, but by manifesting toward them the meekness, gentleness and kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is a godly woman?

A woman who knows her reason for being. (Genesis 2:18)
Walks in such a way that attributes of God's character are revealed through her uniquely created position as woman.

A godly woman knows her handbook for godliness, and the Lord's will for her, is given to her in the Bible and she embraces the truths therein. She reads the Word and is a doer of the Word to become what He wants her to be. Not to use it to measure the godliness or godlessness of another. She serves the Lord, not herself. She acts and makes decisions based upon her sevice to Him, as a helper to her husband (Genesis 2:18) and keeper of her home (Titus 2:5). Her "felt" needs do not rule or dictate what she does or does not do, neither do circumstances. She does not pursue the worlds current or cultural views for what a woman should do or think, but takes every thought captive (II Corinthians 10:5) and submits her will and thoughts to God's purpose for her. She obeys the Word and leaves the outcome in His hands. She does not do in order to get, including God's blessings. She models godliness more than teaches it. Godliness is the garment she wears not declares.

There is so much more that could be said. The Bible is full of what is and how to, be a woman. All the "what if's" positions of ... "I'm not married", "I don't have children", "I don't have my own home" do not change the fact that you were born woman. And if you were born a woman the Lord has a work for you to do in the vane of being woman. On this blog I will often point you to others who are more thorough in explaining the specific roles of women in all stages of life. My blog's primary focus is to encourage women who know what a godly woman is and are keepers at home (or want to be), but are stuggling due to difficult and challenging circumstances and are needing encouragement to stand and persevere.

This blog is for the married woman, the unmarried, the maiden and the older woman who needs to be reminded why she is so important to the well being of families for many generations! Every womans call is to be a Titus 2 woman. We are all either the older woman or the younger. The older instruct and teach and model, and the younger woman executes the wisdom and skill taught her in being a keeper at home and a godly woman. Start wherever you're at. Whatever situation you find yourself in. Learn what God's will for you as a woman is by starting in the Word of God. Then study and learn from those who are living and applying those biblical truths in being godly, in being a keeper, in being a helper, in being a woman.

About This Blog

Initially I intended for this blog to be only a place of encouragement for those who are trying to love and live as godly women in difficult circumstances; but sometimes we need to be reminded why we need to hang on, not just that we should.

Biblical, godly, intentional, womanhood has been nearly obliterated from women's minds and hearts. We have been willing victims for many generations but a spiritual revolution is underway. We are tired of all the "me"-psychology that tears families apart rather than heals them, and where the only thing left at the end of our day is to to embrace and nurture ourselves and our "rights".
Women, young and old, are beginning to realize that their identity and purpose has been stolen from them. Divorce and broken families cause men and women not to fulfill their purpose as was designed by their Creator. For His glory, our protection, and yes... our happiness and fulfillment.
Happiness and fulfillment are results of counting it all joy to obey His will for ourselves. His purpose is our purpose. We run after things that we believe will elevate us and liberate us; we listen to the spirit of lies and succumb to the the worlds current, yet always evolving, view about ourselves and lives. We have allowed the culture to determine what we should do about our future, our children, our families, our problems and ourselves, rather than going to the One who created us and created marriage. What has been the fruit of that? Is it eternal? Has it adorned your position as woman, or undermined it? Eternity exists for everyone. Eternal glory in heaven, or eternal damnation and suffering in hell.

Your life and choices influence what will happen to not only you, but to your husband, your children and those around you. Embracing and living out God's purpose for you as a woman is God's plan for you and key, to preparing the way for others to come to Christ. The first clue in knowing what you're here for is knowing that you're woman! The moment you were conceived your purpose and calling was already determined according to your GENDER. How you are to influence the world for Christ starts with you fulfilling your role as woman. So that is where you need to begin. Study and search the Word deeply to know what God's plan for woman is. Our gifts are different. But our roles as women are the same. Don't go to the world and its traditions and philosophy to learn how to be a woman. Go to the Word, God's Word. Pray and study. We are called to be set apart from this world. That starts with our thought life! Even our thoughts are to be obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

If you're not happy, my guess is that you're allowing your emotions to lead. You're letting pain, fear, anxiety, anger, resentment, self- entitlement and pride, be the centerpiece of your existence. It leads, it directs, it controls. I understand. It is my daily struggle. When your love for the Lord super cedes that of anything else including your hearts desires, you will find joy, even in suffering. You will chase after a purpose greater than yourself.

On this blog I hope and pray that you will find encouragement, but also reminders of why and how to be a godly woman according to scripture. It took but a few individuals to begin the movement of robbing women of their purpose and eroding family life but it will take an army, armed with a Sword to reclaim it.

An Introduction

My name is Beth. I'm a forty-three year old wife and mother of six.

I've lived a good life, but a life that has also been full of pain, heartbreak, dissapointment and sin. A great deal of the pain and heartbreak was due to sin... mine.
For the past twenty-four years the Lord has been teaching me the importance of being a godly woman and how to persevere in godliness regardless of the circumstances and behaviour of others.
When I first got married I had no concept of what a godly marriage was, only a good marriage.
I belived if I was a "good" wife, I would be loved, and if I was loved, I would be happy. I believed if I loved my husband well he would be good, kind and faithful till death due us part.

Even though I was converted when I was eight and raised in a christian home with a pastor for a father, I was never taught God's design for men, women and marriage.
Christianity was a way to live life but I was never taught it was the source of life. The source for knowing, being and doing. I never knew that I had a purpose just because I was a woman.
I was never taught the consequences of sin, only that I shouldn't sin. I wasn't taught that life could be hard and people cruel and that there was biblical answers to both. I was never taught how to respond to someone who was sinning against me,
so I made decisions contrary to my purpose; being a godly woman, which would in turn make me a faithful servant to my Lord.
I didn't commit gross sins. I didn't drink, do drugs and run around. I wasn't a rebellious teen. But because I had no idea of what it meant to be a godly woman or how important it was not only for my sake but for God's glory, I made decisions that brought many trials for both me and my children and dishonour to the Lord and God's people. I was very naive. Sometimes foolish, and sometimes just rebellious to what I knew to be right. So for the past twenty-four years my heavenly Father has chastised me, convicted me and put me thru His refiners fire. Most importantly He has given me more grace and mercy than I will ever deserve.

Though I have fallen so short as a woman and as a believer, the Lord has forgiven and continues to forgive. He has restored, is restoring, and redeemed and still redeeming my life to be used for His purpose and His glory. He is making the crooked paths straight in my heart and life.
I am forever grateful for a God who knows me, sees me, yet still accepts and loves me.

I know what it is like to be married to an unbeliever. I know the pain of divorce and I have known the pain of waiting years and years for the Lord to restore a marriage and it never be restored. I know what it is like to have a blended family and all it's challenges. I know what it is like to be a single mother for many, many years raising children and homeschooling them alone and on one income and at times no income at all. I know the heartbreak of infidelity, the fear of tomorrow, of being lied to and unloved and unwanted. I know the difficulty of never being good enough, smart enough or charming enough to evoke tender and loving feelings from someone else. I know what it is like to be abandoned and left alone, to wait and wonder, and yes fear, what the morrow holds. I have experienced much. My dad dying when I was twelve, I think had a large part in my choices later on. Not an excuse, just an observation. I tell you all these things so you know I understand hurt, pain and dissapointment. This isn't a place to discuss hard things, but to be encouraged through hard things. Your heart can thrive and stay alive to love the unlovable, to love thru pain and heartbreak and not give in to bad and hateful attitudes. To not be punitive. To give rather than seek.
The storms are not over in my life, but I can see the rays of heaven begin to brighten on the horizon, not because my circumstances have changed, but because my heart has.

Fret Not

Psalm 37:1-7
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.