Wives, the Gospel gives us a better way…

Social media has impacted our lives in so many ways – the lie of comparison dramatically impacts us (especially women) in the areas of how we keep/style our homes, how we dress, and how we parent. But it also impacts how we view and treat our spouses. The expectations that we have for our spouses.

The great news for Christian women – we acknowledge a higher calling placed on us as wives AND the Gospel gives us a better way!

Creation: Imaging God in unique ways, Adam and Eve were created differently from one another but those differences were not divisive – they were assets. They needed one another to complete the tasks given to them by God. In Eden they were unified, two becoming one, as they selflessly worked together. Living out a beautiful picture of love and harmony through worship of God alone.

Fall: When Eve doubted God had a good design for her life and union with Adam, sin and division entered the world, forever changing the marriage relationship. Now instead of being unified as husband and wife, we can act like two individuals sitting opposite of each other. Instead of out-loving one another, we look to our marriage to fulfill our own selfish desires. And if we’re Mothers – we can have the tendency to hide behind our children who we grant unconditional love to while holding our Husbands to an unattainable standard. We often live as an “I” instead of an “We” because being in a union requires us to die to self.

Redemption: Jesus loved us more than any earthly Husband ever could. Living a perfect life and purchasing our union with HIS Life. Through this sacrifice, Jesus displayed only what marriage can shadow – the Covenant love between God and His people. This love paved a way so that we could die to our selves and this happened when we were justified before the Throne. This is then played out over and over again as we are refined and sanctified for our future glory. Through Jesus’ death we are made right with God and we are one in Christ.

This is great news for believers! The same love that was in Christ to motivate Him to be patient with needy people. Kind to those who hurt Him. And long suffering for those who didn’t follow His instructions – this love is in us!

His love took Him all the way to death on the cross for us.

In Christ – this is the same love a wife can have for her Husband!!

No matter how your relationship may be with your Husband today – Let him see the work of Christ in YOU! Let Christ’s love in you be greater than your own prideful heart.

What are some things you can prayerfully work on in the way you view and interact with your Husband?

July 17, 2023 0

He Sets the Captives Free

So thankful for these moments; everyday moments the Gospel meets us in…

We need Jesus’ sacrifice and hurt so that we can sacrifice for others.
We needs His death to give us life.

GOD IS FAITHFUL 🙌
He will be an ever present help to the Mother who is longing to live out the Gospel in her everyday life, (Psalm 46). Side note: Great news, this is available to all who believe, not just Mothers.

“ In Christ we are not left without hope. God overcomes the curse by giving people another way to experience birth- not through a physical womb, but through the Holy Spirit.* While a mother gives birth through physical groan-ing, sweat and tears, her water breaking, and the shedding of her blood-
Jesus makes a way for life through his physical torture, sweat and tears in the garden, water pouring from his side, and his pure, perfect blood shed for us on the cross.
The story of the crucified Christ is the best birth story ever told, with elements that parallel the gospel picture in each labor and delivery room.
But Jesus doesn’t deliver babies he delivers captives.
Through his death and resurrection, Christ has perfectly fulfilled everything expected of us as mothers.”
Risen Motherhood Book, page 46

I am so thankful that Jesus set this captive free 🙌
Only in Jesus is my discontentments, bitterness, groanings, and complaining turned – towards the Cross. Towards laying down my life.

Jesus has us bring these sins to the cross.
They are washed in the blood of Jesus.
And there – they can be offered up, what may seem like crumbs to us are quiet acts of obedience, and worship, and are refining and preparing us for a future weight of glory.

He turns my moanings into:
A deeper love of Him
A fuller hope in salvation
A greater motivation to be obedient
And what He is really currently working on in our home life, a greater need to be in community with other believers.

God is our refuge and strength
An ever present help in trouble

Psalm 46:1

June 6, 2023 1

More lessons from my Son

Kind of bittersweet Jackson is now old enough, that his favorite alpaca lovey is breaking down. It’s amazing the comfort this little raggedy, falling apart alpaca gives to him. To some it would be time to put this little stuffie in the trash, but not Jackson. As the last pieces of leather and stuffing fall out he gently picks them up and stuffs back in what he can and discards the pieces he cannot – but to him this is the same lovey that he met as a newborn coming home. His place of safety, familiarity. I pray that Jackson’s care for his alpaca is an indicator of how strong his faith will be. I pray he will grow to be a man to follow after God’s own heart. I pray Jackson’s life and personality will be a testament of God’s glory.

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This morning as I look at this little tattered thing I think of our Savior. I think of Mary seeing her son whipped and beaten beyond recognition. And I think of how dark it must have felt those hours during the crucifixion. I wonder did Mary see her baby boy up there, the child she had given birth to and nursed and raised. Did those watching begin to doubt Jesus being their Savior as they watched Him being broken and poured out? Did those with faith a little stronger still see the strong Rabbi they had come to love and believe to be the Messiah.

“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭5‬, ‭7‬, ‭10‬, ‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And likewise, I think of how God sees us. What we see as the least of us, the broken, the utterly sinful – when God sees us He sees us made in His image. When we come to Christ and accept Him, God sees us through the righteousness of His son. We are made a new creation. We put on our new selves and take off the old.

“throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What an amazing love.

““For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

March 21, 2023 0