Attitude Adjustment

The devotional I'm going through is teaching me about being a woman of "biblical femininity".  It's blowing my mind!

Characteristics that embody biblical femininity include caring for family, honoring authorities, helping those in need, and exercising God-given talents.  A woman of biblical femininity most importantly fears God (Brownback, 2010).

The devotional entry that has caught my attention most strongly is titled "A Pure Woman Has a Gentle and Quiet Spirit".  The author defines biblical quietness as "the trait that enables us to exhibit trust in God and to rest in the circumstances in which he has called us to live."  The more I think about this, the harder it seems for me to practice it!  Lately I have felt bombarded by circumstances that are, shall we say, "alternative" to ideal.  The temptation to gripe, complain, and allow a bad attitude to fester and infect my heart's motives (and, in turn, my actions) has at times been overwhelming.  My prayer is that God would continue to reveal to me ways that I exhibit more "worldly femininity" than biblical femininity.  I pray that God will change my heart so that my actions exhibit my trust in him in all circumstances.

Your Love Never Fails

Everyone...I LOVE THIS SONG.  As much as I love going to the park on a sunny day.  It was introduced to me by my great friend Brent months ago, and I still sometimes just HAVE to listen to it.  Love it.

The Narrow Way

These passages are making me think today:

Matthew 7:13-14 - "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate.  The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.  But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." (NLT)

"So what path are you walking today?  Are you working harder to develop your exterior or your interior?  Are you striving for your reputation or Christ's?  Are you serving others or yourself?  Are you investing more in God's Kingdom or in your 401(k)?  How we spend our time and energy reveals which path we have chosen.  But how blind we can be to the truth!" - Purity by Lydia Brownback

Calling all BOYS!

I want every guy in the world to listen to this sermon.  It's worth your time, and mine.


"Marriage and Men" - Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church

Self-Esteem

Something I read this week that pretty much changed my life:

"What false teaching threatens our sincere and pure devotion to Christ?  What do we put up with readily enough?  Perhaps today more than anything else, we allow the purity of the true gospel to be diluted by the false gospel of self-esteem.  Self-esteem sounds good, but it is antithetical to God's gospel.  Christ didn't die to improve our self-esteem; he died to give us his.  He didn't come to build up our self-worth; he came to knock it down.  Jesus said, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me' (Luke 9:24); and Paul wrote, 'Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves' (Phil. 2:3).  We have been deceived by the false teaching of self-esteem because, like most effective deceptions, there is a kernel of truth in it.  We do have intrinsic worth because we are made in the image of God.  But it is his image in us that gives us our value." - Purity by Lydia Brownback

Oh my goodness, WHY HAS NO ONE EVER SAID IT LIKE THIS BEFORE?!  I have no worth on my own, but whatever worth I have is ONLY because I have God.  I think I now understand why dealing with "self-esteem issues" by trying to convince myself that I am just fine the way I am has NEVER WORKED!