I have learned a great deal about submission as a daughter, but seeing as I am unmarried, I do not yet have any experience in submitting to a husband. =) Mrs. Julie Fink at her wonderful Journal for Women has some excellent articles on what the Bible has to say about this topic of submission. Mrs. Fink is a very wise and precious lady and I just love learning new truths from her! I hope you will prayerfully read these articles she has written and benefit from them.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
What Is Submission?
Warning! If you're a normal, thinking woman you will not enjoy this blog post. You might even dislike ME halfway into reading it! Perhaps you will grow red with indignation; maybe your stomach will even churn. (chuckle) But be brave! Press on and read to the end. And please pray that God would create a work in your soul that you are unable to do yourself.
It is with an earnest desire that God would work in the hearts of His dear ladies that I have written this entry and have chosen to share it publicly. It is a work we desperately need Him to do, for the evidence of our need is written plainly on the epistles of our hearts, known and read of all men. Humble yourself as a little child and please let Him do it, for you will be so richly blessed. I can say that because I know. Oh, I know!
Lovingly,
Naomi
We teach little ones the verse, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." (Eph. 6:1) We want them to grow up loving and obeying Daddy and Mommy. Parents tell their children to do this and that, and not to do this and that because they want their children to be happy and safe. The methods of discipline chosen by parents are not pleasant but the goal in mind is good. When a child comes to realize the good purpose of spankings and other forms of discipline, that knowledge will instill in the child a desire and a willingness to obey. The child understands the truth of God's Word: "for this is right." It transforms that child's heart and attitude completely. Happy submission to Daddy and Mommy becomes his response to instruction.
When God established the first institution, the family, He designed it according to a very specific structure. Just as a contractor builds a house according to a well-thought-out plan, God created the home according to how it would best function and endure. We see in chapters five and six of Ephesians that God's structure for the family is God: Christ: husband: wife: children. It only works one way. This structure of authority does not equal various levels of superiority and inferiority, but simply different levels of "say-so."
It is with an earnest desire that God would work in the hearts of His dear ladies that I have written this entry and have chosen to share it publicly. It is a work we desperately need Him to do, for the evidence of our need is written plainly on the epistles of our hearts, known and read of all men. Humble yourself as a little child and please let Him do it, for you will be so richly blessed. I can say that because I know. Oh, I know!
Lovingly,
Naomi
We teach little ones the verse, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." (Eph. 6:1) We want them to grow up loving and obeying Daddy and Mommy. Parents tell their children to do this and that, and not to do this and that because they want their children to be happy and safe. The methods of discipline chosen by parents are not pleasant but the goal in mind is good. When a child comes to realize the good purpose of spankings and other forms of discipline, that knowledge will instill in the child a desire and a willingness to obey. The child understands the truth of God's Word: "for this is right." It transforms that child's heart and attitude completely. Happy submission to Daddy and Mommy becomes his response to instruction.
When God established the first institution, the family, He designed it according to a very specific structure. Just as a contractor builds a house according to a well-thought-out plan, God created the home according to how it would best function and endure. We see in chapters five and six of Ephesians that God's structure for the family is God: Christ: husband: wife: children. It only works one way. This structure of authority does not equal various levels of superiority and inferiority, but simply different levels of "say-so."
Girls, what is your heart
like? When a situation arises between you and your parents and you
disagree with them, what is your response? Are disagreeable words the
first thing out of your mouth? Do you resist their counsel and
instruction? Is your attitude, "But I'm right; they're so
unreasonable; they don't understand"?
As I have grown up, I have
struggled with arguing. I have not always seen it as arguing, but my dad
is more perceptive than me. =) My logic was that if I did not speak disrespectfully or have a saucy
look in my eye, that constituted not arguing, regardless of my disagreeing with him and voicing those opinions. (Ha! Hardly.) I am thankful that whenever we have had a
disagreement about something, he has firmly but quietly told me, "Don't
argue." Ouch! I would close my mouth at once, but in my heart I would continue arguing. My simmering rebellion evidenced itself in the "silent treatment." Sure, I knew better than to act disrespectful. As I entered my teens I made a commitment to never speak to or treat my parents disrespectfully, and though I have had my failures God by His grace has helped me keep my commitment. But I soon came to learn that disrespect goes far deeper than how you merely treat and respond to your authorities. I finally realized this truth and how it helped me! God started creating a change in my silent rebellious spirit. But there was one thing I still needed to learn.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Regency Lace Shawl
I figured it was about time to write about the shawl. Counting the two times I reworked my first shawl, this is my fifth one to knit. I absolutely love this shawl pattern. It's graceful and warm yet lightweight enough that it doesn't feel cumbersome. The pattern is fairly simple to knit and it gets easier every time. As always, I used Lion Brand Homespun yarn, this time in the color "Regency." I originally made it to sell at our village craft fair but, seeing as no one was interested, it's mine now. =)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Life-Giving Labor
The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
Proverbs 10:16
In the photo: A "baby" rose hip bush (North Pole, Alaska)
Monday, May 2, 2011
Promises of Spring
Today I took a lovely walk with my sisters and our dog Max. It was one of the warmest days we've had yet and it felt simply glorious!
