Scripture Saturday: Titus 2:3-5

Do you have those things that just nag at you? Things that really irk you? 

I have recently found that one of my greatest irritants is Christian women. 

Wait... What? 

Isn't this blog all about biblical womanhood?

Yes, and I want to clarify that there is a HUGE difference between being just a Christian woman and living out biblical womanhood. 

If you are a woman and you take Christ as your Lord and savior, then you are a Christian woman. That is it. But living out biblical womanhood takes work and effort. One of the best descriptions of biblical womanhood can be found in Titus 2:3-5 which says,  

"...the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed."

That makes it pretty clear doesn't it? 

So here is the part that gets me... 

WHERE ARE THESE WOMEN? 

I see SO many Christian women being bogged down by the daily grid that they are completely out of the battlefield. They are failing to practice these things much less teach them to other women. These women are struggling with holding it all together when God has called us to thrive and pursue Him. I think that is due in large part to the abdication of older women from their roles as teachers. 

Now, please hear me, I am not saying OLD WOMEN are failing. I am saying if you are further along in your spiritual journey than another person, YOU are the older woman, even if you are 14 years old. 

So this is where I challenge you and myself. 

We as the body of Christ need to do better.

Be the one to reach out your hand and say I am here. Let the struggling women know that they are not alone. You can do that in two ways, physically and spiritually.  

Physically, you can be the person to:

volunteer to babysit her children (for free!)
volunteer to help her catch up on housework

volunteer to host her family in your home for a meal

Spiritually you can be the person to drive the conversation toward God by: 

asking about her time in the word

asking how you can pray for them, 

asking how God is working in her life right now 

These are so simple, and yet we have entire congregations filled with women that are so overwhelmed by everyday life that they aren't in the battle for God's kingdom. 

We should be outraged by that!  

I for one refuse to sit on the sideline. I want to see godly women living out biblical womanhood every single day. I want Titus 2 women working for God's glory the way that HE called us to. 

So join me. 

Think about the women in your church, Bible study, mommy group, or office. Is there someone there that you can reach out to? 

If so, DO IT. 

If not, look again. I bet they are there. 

Military Monday: Fit For Service

 

Welcome to another Military Monday! Upon marrying a military man I learned that there is a LOT to know about life as a military spouse. Mondays are my day to talk about the things I am learning, the new language, military news and current events. Sometimes I post encouraging videos, stories, and cartoons as well. Today I want to talk about being fit to serve. 

In the military community a huge emphasis is placed on the physical fitness of our servicemen and women. Here at Fort Bragg, soldiers have to be able to run well, carry a massive ruck, absorb the physical shock of an airborne mission... and then be able to actually do their job. The Army (and other branches of the military) carefully plan and execute training opportunities to help the soldiers to be as ready as possible for the tasks to which they are assigned. Accountability is available for soldiers that struggle with the discipline of physical fitness. All of this is put in place to keep our service members fit for service. 

 But what about the families?

This is usually the point where I lose people.

The soldier is in the service and should be fit to serve.

Why does the spouse need to be?

 Can I let you in on a little secret?

Service members have to be gone often. Whether it is TDYs, deployments, or just being in the field our soldiers are often gone more than they are home.

So what does that have to do with fitness? 

When your spouse is gone over Christmas, can you get the decorations down from the attic? If you have to PCS while your soldier is en route to a training or coming home from a deployment, can you lift your furniture? When your three year old wants to play airplane like Daddy does, do you have the arm strength (let alone the midline stability) to do it? How about your overall general health? Are you having to go to the doctor over and over again for colds, aches, and pains? 

Military spouses absolutely serve their country, there is no doubt about it. Sacrificing holidays, first steps, last days of school so that your spouse can serve our country isn't easy. But it is a whole lot harder when you physically can't take care of yourself.

The word "resiliency" is thrown around a lot in our world.

We are told often to bounce rather than break.

I think the first step towards this goal is teaching military spouses how to take care of themselves through fitness and nutrition. Only when these spouses have the tools and understanding to achieve true health and fitness will our whole military family truly be fit to serve.

Can I Serve if I can't Knit?

I have a very dear friend (and now roommate!) who amazes me. She is in the final stretch of PT school and yet still finds the time to make plum jam and handmade lace headbands… DURING FINALS. She also makes food to take to ill church members, and knits fun things for friends and family. She is the person you call when there is a ministry opportunity because she knows how to do all this stuff.

She is what I call a domestic goddess.

I am not, and everyone knows it.

Let me tell you, I used to really struggle with the fact that no one in my small group called me to bake casseroles or help plan a baby shower. So I made a list of all the things I wanted to learn to do so that I could minister. The list included learning to make food that can be frozen and reheated, knitting (just so I could give baby blankets), and getting better at public speaking (so that people would want me to speak at their small groups). Yes, all of those are good things to learn. But then I realized I was completely ignoring 

the things I could do, the gifts that God has given me.

No, I can’t knit a blanket or sew tiny clothes for expecting moms. But you know what I can do? I can babysit, I can drive her other kids to ballet and football. I may burn casseroles, but I can clean a home like you have never seen. I may not be great at organizing games to play at a baby shower, but I can get the oil changed in her car.

I didn’t grow up learning to minister like my friend did. But I have been given a servants heart and a great deal of real life experiences. Everyone starts at a different place. But God can use even me, a former waitress/bartender turned teacher. Just imagine what He can do with you.