A Thought on 1 Corinthians 7:1-9

Verses 1-9
Verse 1 indicates that Paul's words in this passage are a response to the Corinthian statement, "It is good for a man not to have relations with a woman." To sum up Paul's response, marriage is one of God's prevention tools for humans against fornication. If we don't have the gift of singleness/celibacy/? (as it appears Paul did v7) then we are free to marry. We are also free to choose not to marry, but it is better to marry than to "burn with desire." Also, the husband and wife are no longer in authority over their own bodies. They are not to "deprive one another" unless they both agree on this for a time with the purpose of devotion to prayer.
Application thought: My husband is a tool of God to prevent fornication and, as the case would be, adultery in my life. Likewise, I am God's tool in my husband's life to prevent the same sin. If either myself or my husband refuse to meet the sexual needs of the other we are acting in sin, are a stumbling block to our mate, and not allowing God to use us for his glory. It glorifies God when I obey so....this is definitely something to consider the next time Satan whispers that lie of "Not tonight...you're too tired...you're not in the mood." In light of this I say to myself, "Get over yourself, enjoy the goodness of your mate....and glorify God in the meantime." :)
Peace Sisters!
Carol

To Accept God's Way

Hi, ladies!

It's been over a week since we met last, but here are my reflections on the chapter we went over:

I had no clue what mothering was all about when I gave birth to my firstborn...who really does? I read all the books, gleaned from all the veteran moms, and prayed daily for my child...but it turns out parenting doesn't happen like in the books, like in the veteran moms' families, like in my visions as I pray!

Can I, will I accept God's way in this parenting journey?

I didn't count on my son being diagnosed with Asperger's. I didn't think it'd be so difficult to answer my four-year-old's questions about life, death, and sin. There's this fear that I'm failing...I worry when my kids act up in public, for example. I just want to tell the on-lookers that he has Asperger's or she is struggling with the idea of sin and discipline but she's really an amazing kid! I want to tell people it's not what it seems...we are learning, we are growing, we are becoming...

It just doesn't look like what I imagined it to be.

But to come back to the truth that He has searched my kids and me...He knows us. He is familiar with all our ways...all the days ordained for us were written in His book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139)...

It's comforting to know that He knows, He understands, and He has provided the grace to do the impossible: raise children in a godly way in all times, trials, and temptations.

I praise You, Lord, because they are fearfully and wonderfully made...as I mother my children, I will not lean on my own understanding, but trust that your grace is sufficient when we mess up or there is a trial ahead.

I want to accept Your way, Lord!

Reflections on Intimacy (a Week Later)

Hi, ya'll!

I posted what I learned from last week's study on intimacy with God on my own blog, and was asked to share it here, too!

Okay, so I couldn't figure out how to get it all on here, so here's a link to my post...ack...technology...

http://livingoutlove2.blogspot.com/2010/03/inconsistent-intimacy.html

Much love to you; can't wait for our next meeting!

*Sunny*

It was great seeing everyone at the last MOG meeting!

We will be going over Chapter 2:Train Up A Mom- To Walk in Intimacy.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Train Up A Mom

This coming Tuesday we are starting a new book called, "Train Up A Mom," by Vollie Sanders.


"As mothers, we're to train our children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). But exactly how do we train our children? And who trains us?"


*Every mom is welcome to come, not just those who attend this church. Invite a friend, a neighbor or the waitress who has told you her child rearing woes! We are all moms who have been and are going through the same things you have been through.

Topic for Tuesday the 27th

Good afternoon, ladies!

Last time we had a great discussion over chapter 3 of the Chapman book, and we ran out of time before we got to chapter 4 - so we'll be talking about that this time!

See you Tuesday!

Updates

Our first meeting next month has been moved to the 6th (instead of the 13th), and we'll be doing Chapters 3&4 of the Chapman book. Hope to see you all there!

Next Study

The study we decided on is Gary Chapman's The Family You've Always Wanted. You can either get the book on your own or talk to Carol about ordering one for you. The cost should be between $12.00 and $15.00 (depending on where you get it from). Borders has a 30% off coupon that's good until tomorrow (click here). It can be used online or in store.

Update: Just got a new 30% coupon in my e-mail that's good until the 14th: click here.

Thanks again to Cristy for being such an encouragement today and for sharing how God has worked in her life as a mother!

Books to Consider

So far these books have been suggested as possibilities for our next devotional. Please leave a comment with any studies/books you'd like to do! I'll update this post as we get more ideas.

• Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
• Me? Obey Him? by Elizabeth Rice Handford
• The Family You've Always Wanted: Five Ways You Can Make It Happen by Gary Chapman
• Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Emerson Eggerichs
  

Lois, Eunice, and Childrearing

Great discussion today! Thanks so much, Sunee for sharing your insights. I was particularly challenged by the question you ask yourself when witnessing one of your children in disobedience (Do I love them enough to discipline them? rough paraphrase). Thanks so much for your transparency! I agree that it's so easy to be selfish, ignore the behavior for the moment, and say I'll deal with this later. Thank you for reminding us that there is great reward in choosing love now for ourselves and our kids by the fruit you've observed in Judah. In the heat of the moment it's so easy to give in to the flesh, but as we train ourselves to choose obedience to God, one tantrum at a time :), I believe we will find it easier to make the obedient choice for ourselves and our children.

I was also encouraged by the powerful message of the foundation of faith we lay for future generations as we daily teach Christ to our children and those around us. I am thankful for the example of Lois, Eunice, and Timothy spoken of in 2 Timothy 1:5. The things we do today are not just for today, but for future generations to come. May we be able to take hold of this concept of generations and be transformed by Christ in how we think about the impact of our daily choices.
I look forward to continuing this discussion as we meet together and encourage one another.
Carol

Lois and Eunice

Our last study over Moms of the Bible will cover Lois and Eunice. You can read about them in 2 Timothy 1. They themselves are only mentioned briefly, but their testament is in their son and grandson Timothy. It will be interesting to see how this discussion develops.

We will be deciding on what devotion to do next, so if you have any ideas please feel free to suggest them Tuesday. Also remember that we're putting together a short about the group to share with the church, and we would love for you to share how this ministry is encouraging you and/or meeting a need in your life. You can talk on video or simply write down your thoughts. You could even leave them here in a comment or a blog post if you want.

Thank you for your fellowship!

Next Meeting

Just a reminder that our next meeting is this coming Tuesday, 8/11/09. Same time, same channel! This week we'll be discussing Mary, the mother of Jesus. See you then.

Cayla

A Broken Naomi
Interesting thoughts Cayla! I am especially intrigued by the last paragraph. Your question was: Are there dark circumstances in your life that cloud your vision of God?
I am reminded of the book that I brought up during our meeting regarding the illustration of Naomi. The book is called "Shattered Dreams: God's unexpected pathway to joy" by Larry Crabb. It is one of the most profound and heart changing books (outside of the Bible) that I've ever read. In this book it's suggested that entering into the pain of our darkest circumstances is where we find our deepest pleasure: an encounter with God. I'll share a few excerpts from the book that will hopefully give a little more insight to the book of Ruth.

Don't sanitize the story. Naomi did not say, "I'm having a hard time. Most nights I cry myself to sleep. But God knows what He's doing. My family died for good reasons that I cannot see but I claim by faith. I know nothing enters my life without passing through His tender hands. My hope is in the Lord."
That may be what we think she should have said, what we wish she had said, but it's not what she did say. She was miserable, and she saw God as the source of her misfortune.

The Western church has become a community of either the victorious or the acceptably broken. Either we speak glowingly of our love for Jesus-usually because the blessings are abundant-or we struggle nobly through hard times, convincing others and sometimes ourselves that we're doing better than we are. With each other we're more proper than real, more appropriate than alive.
Naomi broke the rules. She stood broken before her community, admitting who she was rather than pretending to be who she should have been. The result was more pain and, although not right away, more hope. Had she deadened her pain and behaved appropriately, she would have found the contentment of Buddha(what is meant by this statement is explained in the book)and missed the joy of Christ.

Through all of our pain God wants us to realize our desire for the Ultimate Blesser, God Himself, rather than settling for anything less. Do I live life longing to experience little "blessings" along the way that make life easier and make me happy or do I live life to experience the Blesser Himself, God?

The Spirit's masterpiece is the man or woman who much prefers to live elsewhere, who finds no deep joy in the good things of this life, who looks closely in the mirror and yearns to see something different, whose highest dream is to be in the Presence of the grace-filled Father. It is the person whose life here is consumed with preparing to meet Him there.

Carol

Naomi

This week we had a great discussion about Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth. One interesting point was on the issue of bitterness. At the end of chapter one, Naomi says:

"Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?"

"Mara" translates as bitterness, while "Naomi" means my delight. We were challenged in our discussion to see how someone who describes herself as bitter (as evidenced by her desire to be referred to as Mara) and claims the Lord dealt with her bitterly can be a godly example for us as mothers. This brought up the question of the original Hebrew meaning of the word that is translated as "bitter" in English versions of the Bible.

The word for "bitter" used in this passage is "מרר," transliterated as marar. Here are the definitions given for this word:

1. to be bitter
   1. (Qal) to be bitter
   2. (Piel)
      1. to show bitterness
      2. to make bitter
   3. (Hiphil) to make bitter, embitter
   4. (Hithpalpel)
      1. to embitter oneself
      2. to be enraged
2. to be strong, strengthen

The first definition lines up very well with the connotations we have with the word. The second definition (from the TWOT) is certainly interesting, but it does not fit the context of Naomi's speech. So if Naomi is indeed bitter and enraged, characteristics that we can all agree do not align with a Christlike attitude, what is it that we are to glean from her?

Naomi's story reminds us that God is working to fulfill His purpose even in our darkest hour. Though Naomi does not recognize it at the time, the future hope of God's kingdom is "clinging" to her in her daughter-in-law, Ruth. God was richly blessing Naomi in ways that would affect generations to come, but His eternal purpose was eclipsed by her worldly circumstances and perceived persecution.

Billy Graham illustrates it well in The Secret of Happiness:

Our Lord instructs the persecuted to be happy. “Rejoice,” He said, “and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:12)…

The persecuted are happy because they are being processed for heaven. Persecution is one of the natural consequences of living the Christian life. It is to the Christians what “growing pains” are to the growing child. No pain, no development. No suffering, no glory. No struggle, no victory. No persecution, no reward!…I have a friend who lost his job, a fortune, his wife, and his home. But he tenaciously held to his faith - the only thing he had left. One day he stopped to watch some men doing stonework on a huge church. One of them was chiseling a triangular piece of stone. “What are you going to do with that?” asked my friend. The workman said, “See that little opening way up there near the spire? Well, I’m shaping this down here so it will fit in up there.”

Tears filled my friend’s eyes as he walked away, for it seemed that God had spoken through the workman to explain the ordeal through which he was passing, “I’m shaping you down here so you’ll fit in up there.” The persecuted for “righteousness’ sake” are happy because they are identified with Christ. The enmity of the world is tangible proof that we are on the right side, that we are identified with our blessed Lord.

Are there dark circumstances in your life that cloud your vision of God? Pray that He would free you from any bitterness and that you would be able to see His purpose at work even in the challenges of life. The view from the mountaintops is beautiful - but growth happens in the valleys.

Cayla

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