Ephesians 5 spells things out pretty clearly (v. 22-24). Wives should submit to their husbands. Their husbands should be the head of the family. But what do we see in this day and age? "All people are created equal." Women's rights are advocated around every corner (it is also a large argument for pro-choice groups). We also see women bossing their husbands around, and men in turn, shirking their duties to be lazy. We as Americans have honestly taken women's rights too far. We have taken the average women and told her- not that she is an equal to everyone else- but that she is better than other people. We have put guys down, telling them that if the have the least bit of superiority over a girl that they are in the wrong. And the result? Guys in general are lazy and will not take a stand for anything. I mean, why should they if everyone is just going to shut them up? Well it's time the tables were turned. During this post I'd like to dissect Ephesians 5:22-24. I would like to discuss submission, a topic that is forbidden among women now-a-days.
"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." -Eph 5:22-24
First off, the Bible commands us to submit. But what does that mean? Well it doesn't mean that you get no say in the family matters. It also doesn't mean that the husband has to do all the work in the family. This isn't an excuse for wives to bow out of participation in their family. But it does mean that everyone in the family answers to the husband/father. Everyone in the family knows that when he says no, he means no.
But the passage goes on to say that the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is to the church. 1 Corinthians 12: 22-25 "On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other." You see? Every part is needed and important to the body of a family. Just because the husband is the head doesn't mean the wife is pushed out of the family for good.
But you see, this where we've gone wrong. Women have always been told they either step up and take the reins, or they'll get no say at all. That is not what I'm advocating here today. I'm merely asking you to take this into consideration, if wives refuse to be the head, what will happen to the guy population? They'll either have to step up or step out. They will be forced to take responsibility for their family. So girls, in obeying the Bible, we are also encouraging the guys to obey. In obeying the Bible, we are putting the family back where God wants it. So wives, I urge you, submit to your husbands.
What does this look like for those of you who, like me, are not married yet? Well we can practice submission everyday. We can submit to our parents, we can submit to those in authority over us. In doing so we are practicing for how we'll treat our future husbands. We can also stop belittling guys. We need to be more encouraging to them, let them know that we believe in them and know that they can step up and be the leader they were called to be!
Love, Kat
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
Why should we get married?
So this will be more like a series and continue over a few weeks. There are a few reasons that I've come up with that God says we should get married for and then there are some reasons that the world tells us that God's word disagrees with! Tonights reason would be the one that the world tells us.... "Because you are in love!"!
First off, the world tells us to get married because we are, “In love”. Is there such a thing as, “In love”? When I first began thinking about this my first response was, Of course! I mean I’ve heard it so many times and it seems to work. Well, some of the time... Did you know that 50% of the average married population is divorced. That doesn’t seem like it is working all that great…. Then I began thinking… if you are, “In love” then how easy is it to get, “Out of love”. Get where I’m going? We each want to feel loved and have all of those great feelings running through us, yet how long will those last? The Bible says that beauty is fleeting. That means that it goes away! Will a man who married a woman just for her looks fall “Out of love” as soon as she begins looking a little less attractive than she did when he married her? By the world’s standards of love he will… What about the girls. She marries a man who makes her feel safe, can hold her tight, will listen to her for hours on end, but then he becomes ill. I’m not talking about once he is 80 or older. What if he becomes ill at age 30. How easy would it be for her to, “Fall out” of love? Again, by the world’s standards very easy… We’ve all have heard the verse, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all thing, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7″. That is God’s view of love guys. We pick and choose which of these we do. We do all of them at different times, yet there are still those few that in the back of our mind when things come up that we need to use them we say, “Well God knows I’m not perfect and this just isn’t my strong place. It will be ok.”. That is if we actually take the time to think about it. God never once said just obey the ones that are easy…. He said show love and then he wrote out as plain as day what true love was! Back to our discussion of dating though… Are you looking to, “Fall in love” and then get married? I propose to you that you seek the face of God and find out what true love is all about and then once you have just a glimpse of it (I honestly believe that we can not fully comprehend the love of God!) see who God leads you to. Yes, there does need to be some physical attraction and an emotional connection, but if you allow God to lead you to the correct person not only will there be those things…there will be SO much more!!
I want to leave you with a quote and I can’t remember who said it, but it is so true!
“God never once said marry who you love, but He said over and over to love who you married!” ~ Anonymous
Just following Him,
JEN
First off, the world tells us to get married because we are, “In love”. Is there such a thing as, “In love”? When I first began thinking about this my first response was, Of course! I mean I’ve heard it so many times and it seems to work. Well, some of the time... Did you know that 50% of the average married population is divorced. That doesn’t seem like it is working all that great…. Then I began thinking… if you are, “In love” then how easy is it to get, “Out of love”. Get where I’m going? We each want to feel loved and have all of those great feelings running through us, yet how long will those last? The Bible says that beauty is fleeting. That means that it goes away! Will a man who married a woman just for her looks fall “Out of love” as soon as she begins looking a little less attractive than she did when he married her? By the world’s standards of love he will… What about the girls. She marries a man who makes her feel safe, can hold her tight, will listen to her for hours on end, but then he becomes ill. I’m not talking about once he is 80 or older. What if he becomes ill at age 30. How easy would it be for her to, “Fall out” of love? Again, by the world’s standards very easy… We’ve all have heard the verse, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all thing, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7″. That is God’s view of love guys. We pick and choose which of these we do. We do all of them at different times, yet there are still those few that in the back of our mind when things come up that we need to use them we say, “Well God knows I’m not perfect and this just isn’t my strong place. It will be ok.”. That is if we actually take the time to think about it. God never once said just obey the ones that are easy…. He said show love and then he wrote out as plain as day what true love was! Back to our discussion of dating though… Are you looking to, “Fall in love” and then get married? I propose to you that you seek the face of God and find out what true love is all about and then once you have just a glimpse of it (I honestly believe that we can not fully comprehend the love of God!) see who God leads you to. Yes, there does need to be some physical attraction and an emotional connection, but if you allow God to lead you to the correct person not only will there be those things…there will be SO much more!!
I want to leave you with a quote and I can’t remember who said it, but it is so true!
“God never once said marry who you love, but He said over and over to love who you married!” ~ Anonymous
Just following Him,
JEN
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Thought Filled Thursday!
~ When someone you love becomes a memory that memory becomes a treasure! ~
Is it just me or does it seem that everyone has been dying lately? I've lost extremely close friends. Seen many people loose parents, friends, spouses, and just mere acquaintances. I read people's blogs and I see how it is not only me. I joke with mom about how it makes you want to get a life insurance plan, but the truth is it makes me more determined to share the love of God with our lost and dying world!!! This is not a normal subject that we discuss, but death is real... we each have a time to die. As hard as it is to hear it's the truth. The awesome part about it is that we do not have to fear death!! I've realized this more and more lately. I have friends who are not saved and they do not totally understand the prayer thing, but they will txt me and ask me to "pray" basically comfort them when they or a close friend of theirs is close to death. My heart breaks for them... They have no hope!
Normally on thought filled Thursday we just share a quote or lyrics and that's it, but i feel led to go a little deeper today... If you were to die today where would you go, Heaven or hell? Have you ever thought about it? Do you have a fear of death? John 3:16, which almost everyone knows, says, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that who so ever believeth in his should not perish, but have everlasting life.". This is good news guys! The Bible tells us that because we have sinned, messed up, and basically are just not good enough to get to Heaven (Romans 3:23) we have to be punished. What might that punishment be you ask? Eternal separation from God... hell. Here is the good part though... God loved you SO much that He was willing to send His one and only son down from Heaven to die a terrible death for you! Yes... you! He did it all for you! Before we go on though you have to realize that He didn’t stay dead. Three days later He came back to life! We do not serve a nice God who is dead now, but died doing a really nice thing. We serve a living God who overcame death!!! You may wonder what the big deal was.... I mean how can one person save all of human kind, anyone who trust in Him? The thing is He was perfect. He lived life, faced the same things you and I do, yet He never once sinned! How cool is that? So, because of what Jesus did you have a way to Heaven! All you have to do is realize that you are a sinner and basically be willing to admit that you have messed up. Then believe that Jesus is who He says He is. That He lived a perfect life and died on the cross for you (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)! What happens then (This is my favorite part!! :))? The Bible tells us that we become His child! John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.". I love that! Unlike some parents though He promises to never leave you... period! Hebrews 13:5 says, "I will never leave you now forsake you.". I absolutely adore that promise!
So, why do I tell you all this? I'm sure many of you could have said it better than me... yet God led me to share this tonight. We are never promised another breath... I ask you again... If you were to die today, where would you go? If you have any questions that you rather not post as a comment feel free to e-mail me! This is my passion and I love each one of you! It is the desire of my heart that not one person may perish... I pray that each one of you has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!
JEN
Is it just me or does it seem that everyone has been dying lately? I've lost extremely close friends. Seen many people loose parents, friends, spouses, and just mere acquaintances. I read people's blogs and I see how it is not only me. I joke with mom about how it makes you want to get a life insurance plan, but the truth is it makes me more determined to share the love of God with our lost and dying world!!! This is not a normal subject that we discuss, but death is real... we each have a time to die. As hard as it is to hear it's the truth. The awesome part about it is that we do not have to fear death!! I've realized this more and more lately. I have friends who are not saved and they do not totally understand the prayer thing, but they will txt me and ask me to "pray" basically comfort them when they or a close friend of theirs is close to death. My heart breaks for them... They have no hope!
Normally on thought filled Thursday we just share a quote or lyrics and that's it, but i feel led to go a little deeper today... If you were to die today where would you go, Heaven or hell? Have you ever thought about it? Do you have a fear of death? John 3:16, which almost everyone knows, says, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that who so ever believeth in his should not perish, but have everlasting life.". This is good news guys! The Bible tells us that because we have sinned, messed up, and basically are just not good enough to get to Heaven (Romans 3:23) we have to be punished. What might that punishment be you ask? Eternal separation from God... hell. Here is the good part though... God loved you SO much that He was willing to send His one and only son down from Heaven to die a terrible death for you! Yes... you! He did it all for you! Before we go on though you have to realize that He didn’t stay dead. Three days later He came back to life! We do not serve a nice God who is dead now, but died doing a really nice thing. We serve a living God who overcame death!!! You may wonder what the big deal was.... I mean how can one person save all of human kind, anyone who trust in Him? The thing is He was perfect. He lived life, faced the same things you and I do, yet He never once sinned! How cool is that? So, because of what Jesus did you have a way to Heaven! All you have to do is realize that you are a sinner and basically be willing to admit that you have messed up. Then believe that Jesus is who He says He is. That He lived a perfect life and died on the cross for you (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)! What happens then (This is my favorite part!! :))? The Bible tells us that we become His child! John 1:12 says, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.". I love that! Unlike some parents though He promises to never leave you... period! Hebrews 13:5 says, "I will never leave you now forsake you.". I absolutely adore that promise!
So, why do I tell you all this? I'm sure many of you could have said it better than me... yet God led me to share this tonight. We are never promised another breath... I ask you again... If you were to die today, where would you go? If you have any questions that you rather not post as a comment feel free to e-mail me! This is my passion and I love each one of you! It is the desire of my heart that not one person may perish... I pray that each one of you has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!
JEN
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Word-Filled Wednesday!
Psalm 91:1 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Take rest in the God's shelter today!
Love, Kat
Love, Kat
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Lost in God...
There's a popular saying, I think we've even used it on here before. It goes something like "A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man has to seek him to find her." Something about those words have weighed heavily on my heart tonight. I know we've discussed focusing on God rather than guys many times, but I wonder if we've really let it sink in. Several times my youth group has discussed the cost of being a disciple. Luke 14:25-27 says it like this, "Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.'" Now this is not talking about literal hatred, after all the Bible preaches against hate and tells us to love right? This passage simply means that our love for God should be so passionate, so deep, that when compared with our love for life, the love for life looks like hatred. We should love God so much, that the most prized earthly things (family, friends, life) won't hold him back from God's will. This easily translates to purity. Our love for God should be so deep that compared to our longing for a future husband, it comes out far more important. You know there are woman who have given up their fairy tale dreams to serve God? He is there first and only love. Could you do that? There's a song by According to John that beautifully depicts a love like this. I encourage you to read these words, let them sink in. How does your love for God compare?
What a beautiful smile
A radiant girl
Fell in love first time I saw her
She stays on my mind
Id give anything
To know everything about her
Pre-Chorus:
Theres light in her eyes
And I know its all for him
She carries on and on
Like he was her best friend
Chorus:
Shes in love (echo)
Its not hard to see
But I would like to believe it was with me
Someone got a hold of her heart
And he wont let go
And I know Shes in love
Verse2:
She looks to the sky
When she talks about him
She believes he hung the moon
Said he had to go away
She waits for his return
Says hes coming for her soon
Pre-Chorus2:
How can this be fair?
This guy can walk on water
Dont guess Ive got a prayer
Hes written love letters - to reach her
Bridge:
She worships the ground he walks on
She just smiles when she says his name
Its a match made in heaven
I cant compete with the King of Kings
Love, Kat
What a beautiful smile
A radiant girl
Fell in love first time I saw her
She stays on my mind
Id give anything
To know everything about her
Pre-Chorus:
Theres light in her eyes
And I know its all for him
She carries on and on
Like he was her best friend
Chorus:
Shes in love (echo)
Its not hard to see
But I would like to believe it was with me
Someone got a hold of her heart
And he wont let go
And I know Shes in love
Verse2:
She looks to the sky
When she talks about him
She believes he hung the moon
Said he had to go away
She waits for his return
Says hes coming for her soon
Pre-Chorus2:
How can this be fair?
This guy can walk on water
Dont guess Ive got a prayer
Hes written love letters - to reach her
Bridge:
She worships the ground he walks on
She just smiles when she says his name
Its a match made in heaven
I cant compete with the King of Kings
Love, Kat
Friday, April 2, 2010
Going agianst the grain once again...
So we have all read the verse that talks about how you are not supposed to be unequally yoked with someone, right? This verse is used time and time again. It is a great verse, but I truly believe that our culture has weakened it to a, “Do not date a non Christian” statement. Does it mean that we should not date an unbeliever? You better believe it! Is that all it means though? I believe that it means wayyyyyyy more than just that. Now before I even begin I want to make the disclaimer that I know without a doubt that this post will not only step on some toes… it will stomp on some. Feel free to share your view in a comment! Please just realize that I have done much research in God’s word and prayed for a long time about this and this is the way I see it. Cool? I hope so!
What does, “Unequal” mean? Webster’s meaning for it is, “not of the same measurement”. Please do not get me wrong… it is definitely important that you do not marry an non Christian, yet what about someone who professes to be a Christian, yet doesn’t act like one or is spiritually less immature than you? Unequal to me can also mean that you may have a little bit of the same thing, yet one person has more than the other. Make sense? Also, the fact that they say they are Christians, yet do not live a life that proves it may show that they are not true believers. By no means what so ever am I judging someone else’s salvation. I’m just following God’s word. Matthew 7:21 says, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”. Also, God’s word talks about how you can tell a person by their fruits. What are their, “fruits”? The words they say, the things they do, the choices they make, the way they treat people, etc. The honest truth is that if you like a guy you will automatically make excuses for him. God’s word makes it plain and simple. You can continue to make excuses, but in the long run that will do you no good. It once again (as all the other against culture truths) all comes down to… who do you value more? God or your boy friend? I wish so many times that I could step into some girls lives and show you what your life could be like if you left the world behind and ran to God! Girls… IT IS WORTH IT!!!! It may take your being single until you find a guy worth your time, but that is not a bad thing! Want to here how come? First off, it gives you time to grow closer to God! Secondly, you do not give your heart to someone who isn’t worth it. Also, it shows that you love God and puts what He thinks above what the world thinks!
Finally… I want to mention one thing that we may discuss in more depth later on. That is the fact of dating with the purpose of marriage. Everyone has different opinions, but here is mine. Dating is meant to be used for finding a husband. Period. If you are dating a guy just for the heck of it and continue to make the disclaimer that you aren’t going to marry him, that you are just dating him then you are setting yourself up for heart break! Our culture says it’s ok to go from guy to guy. Get together, break up, get together, break up… and so on with this furious cycle. Do you know what that’s preparing you for once you get older? Divorce! Think about it…. You will not know how to stay in a committed relationship! I whole heartedly believe that if you are too young to be looking for a future spouse then you are also to young to be dating.
With love,
JEN
What does, “Unequal” mean? Webster’s meaning for it is, “not of the same measurement”. Please do not get me wrong… it is definitely important that you do not marry an non Christian, yet what about someone who professes to be a Christian, yet doesn’t act like one or is spiritually less immature than you? Unequal to me can also mean that you may have a little bit of the same thing, yet one person has more than the other. Make sense? Also, the fact that they say they are Christians, yet do not live a life that proves it may show that they are not true believers. By no means what so ever am I judging someone else’s salvation. I’m just following God’s word. Matthew 7:21 says, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”. Also, God’s word talks about how you can tell a person by their fruits. What are their, “fruits”? The words they say, the things they do, the choices they make, the way they treat people, etc. The honest truth is that if you like a guy you will automatically make excuses for him. God’s word makes it plain and simple. You can continue to make excuses, but in the long run that will do you no good. It once again (as all the other against culture truths) all comes down to… who do you value more? God or your boy friend? I wish so many times that I could step into some girls lives and show you what your life could be like if you left the world behind and ran to God! Girls… IT IS WORTH IT!!!! It may take your being single until you find a guy worth your time, but that is not a bad thing! Want to here how come? First off, it gives you time to grow closer to God! Secondly, you do not give your heart to someone who isn’t worth it. Also, it shows that you love God and puts what He thinks above what the world thinks!
Finally… I want to mention one thing that we may discuss in more depth later on. That is the fact of dating with the purpose of marriage. Everyone has different opinions, but here is mine. Dating is meant to be used for finding a husband. Period. If you are dating a guy just for the heck of it and continue to make the disclaimer that you aren’t going to marry him, that you are just dating him then you are setting yourself up for heart break! Our culture says it’s ok to go from guy to guy. Get together, break up, get together, break up… and so on with this furious cycle. Do you know what that’s preparing you for once you get older? Divorce! Think about it…. You will not know how to stay in a committed relationship! I whole heartedly believe that if you are too young to be looking for a future spouse then you are also to young to be dating.
With love,
JEN
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Thought Filled Thursday!
~ The world takes us to the silver screen where flickering images of passion and romance play, and while we watch, the world says,"This is love." God takes us to a tree where a battered and bloody man hangs, and while we watch, God says,"THIS is love." Joshua Harris~
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