Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Three, Question One - Nov. 23, 2005

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Mission of Motherhood - Jul. 15, 2005

Here are my thoughts from Mission of Motherhood.  I am posting them "in the raw".  These are just the notes that I type out while I am reading the book . . . not editted or censored in any way.  I post in fear and trembling as there are some real emotions here.  It is not all pretty but I don't want to edit out my flaws.  I want to present myself as I really am, still growing in the Lord.  I pray that God will use my life to bless others.

(for those of you who know the title of my upcoming article ... and Kim, it isn't what you think it is ... I wonder if you are getting a clue as to the theme of the article?  )

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 15, 2005

Question 4

Rom 8:1 THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. [John 3:18.]

What does this passage say about the guilt of people who have fallen below God's standards?

What is the condition for escaping the condemnation we deserve from God?

Who are those "who are in Christ Jesus"?

Do you feel condemned for the mistakes you have made?

Why or why not?

How can you be freed from the feeling of guilt?

Praise God for this one verse . . . not that all the other verse are less important ... but this one verse is such a great reminder for me. There is no condemnation ... I don't have to hang my head in shame. He has come to save me, to help me, to give me life and purpose. I don't normally feel condemned for the mistakes I have made. I grabbed onto this verse and made it my own. When the condemnation and guilt plagues me, I recognize that pretty quickly as the enemy. I am glad. It would be so easy for me to just wallow in a miry pit of self condemnation. I told someone else recently that I am all about self destruction. That has a direction that has called me all of my life. I never think about seeking revenge on someone else for hurting me ... I think about what I can do to myself. So, if I allowed myself to go that place of guilt and condemnation, it would be devastating. God keeps a pretty tight hold on this for me. He hedges me in and guards my thoughts. I realize that th! is could be my thorn in the flesh. This could be the thing that I would struggle with, that would keep my humble. I am glad it is not because it frightens me to think that I might not win the battle and then where would I be.

CONDEMN, v.t. [L., to condemn, to disapprove, to doom, to devote.]

1. To pronounce to be utterly wrong; to utter a sentence of disapprobation against; to censure; to blame. But the word often expresses more than censure or blame, and seems to include the idea of utter rejection; as, to condemn heretical opinions; to condemn ones conduct.

We condemn mistakes with asperity, where we pass over sins with gentleness.

2. To determine or judge to be wrong, or guilty; to disallow; to disapprove.

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have confidence towards God. I John 3.

3. To witness against; to show or prove to be wrong, or guilty, by a contrary practice.

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it. Mat 12.

4. To pronounce to be guilty; to sentence to punishment; to utter sentence against judicially; to doom; opposed to acquit or absolve; with to before the penalty.

The son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests, and to the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death. Mat 20.

He that believeth on him is not condemned. John 3.

5. To doom or sentence to pay a fine; to fine.

And the king of Egypt--condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver. 2 Chr 36.

6. To judge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service; as, the ship was condemned as not sea-worthy. To judge or pronounce to be forfeited; as, the ship and her cargo were condemned.

Rom 8:1 With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 15, 2005

Questions 3
Col 2:8 See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).

What are some of the philosophies of man concerning family that have taken people captive today?

What are the results of these deceptions?

In what ways have you been influenced by cultural expectations that conflict with God's design?

What impact has this had on your family?

Ok, have gotten totally bogged down in these final questions. I am not going to try to answer them one by one but just try a ten minute free write to answer them as a whole. I had an answer for this but then I realize that I wasn't answering honestly for myself. I was giving a picture of culture but I am not wrapped up in those philosophies but I do have my own philosophies that are holding my captive. What are the philosophies concerning families that are effecting me . . . deceptions ...  what are the deceptions of family that I have been holding too .. . I know that there are some. I believed the I could create a godly family. I believed that our family had to look a certain way, do certain things, don't do other things, don't fail, etc. That is the family that I tried to create . . . sort of the Christian Stepford family. It was an idol for me. My identity was wrapped up in the performance of my family . . . was I good enough? Were my children good enough? Was my marriage good enough? When it would shake and quake, I would tremble in terror . . .fearful of the looming disaster. There was no solid rock. There was no foundation. I was building it all on the foundation of my own pride, my own perceived needs, my own fears. Instead of letting us be real, dependent on God, committed to Jesus, wondering in His grace, follows of Christ ... What was the impact? We were all insecure. Insecure of our status with God, with each other. None of us felt accepted or loved. We all fought to hold onto our own position ... selfishness being our motivation. We were fearful .. . fear motivated the parents. Fear motivated the children.

We are coming out of the twisted phase, the warped philosophy. We are being healed and restored to God and to each other.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 15, 2005

Question 2

Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Gen 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Gen 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

What does it mean to be made in God's image?

From John Wesley's Explanatory Notes:

In his nature, not that of his body, for God has not a body, but that of his soul. The soul is a spirit, an intelligent, immortal spirit, an active spirit, herein resembling God, the Father of spirits, and the soul of the world. In his place and authority. Let us make man in our image, and let him have dominion. As he has the government of the inferior creatures, he is as it were God's representative on earth. Yet his government of himself by the freedom of his will, has in it more of God's image, than his government of the creatures. And chiefly in his purity and rectitude. God's image upon man consists in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, Eph_4:24; Col_3:10. He was upright, Ecc_7:29. He had an habitual conformity of all his natural powers to the whole will of God. His understanding saw divine things clearly, and there were no errors in his knowledge: his will complied readily and universally with the will of God; without reluctancy: his affections were all regul! ar, and he had no inordinate appetites or passions: his thoughts were easily fixed to the best subjects, and there was no vanity or ungovernableness in them. And all the inferior powers were subject to the dictates of the superior. Thus holy, thus happy, were our first parents, in having the image of God upon them. But how art thou fallen, O son of the morning? How is this image of God upon man defaced! How small are the remains of it, and how great the ruins of it! The Lord renew it upon our souls by his sanctifying grace!

It really is an almost uncomprehendable thing to thing about ... the first created man, inspired -- brought to life by the very breath of God --- an habitual conformity of all his natural powers to the whole will of God! Can you imagine? It seems that I am always dragging my flesh, kicking and screaming, into compliance with God's will.

Eph 4:24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

10 Col 3:10 And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. [Gen. 1:26.]

Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

So, the image of God is true righteous and holiness and perfect knowledge. Those are things that I believe that Adam and Eve possessed. But as I highlighted in the paragraph from Wesley's notes .. . how far we have fallen!

But that last sentence ... The Lord renew it upon our souls by his sanctifying grace!

RENEW', v.t. [L. renovo; re and novo, or re and new.]

1. To renovate; to restore to a former state, or to a good state, after decay or depravation; to rebuild; to repair.

Asa renewed the altar of the Lord. 2 Chr 15.

2. To re-establish; to confirm.

Let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom there. 1 Sam 11.

3. To make again; as, to renew a treaty or covenant.

4. To repeat; as, to renew expressions of friendship; to renew a promise; to renew an attempt.

5. To revive; as, to renew the glories of an ancestor or of a former age.

6. To begin again.

The last great age renews its finish'd course.

7. To make new; to make fresh or vigorous; as, to renew youth; to renew strength; to renew the face of the earth.

Psa 103. Isa 40. Psa 104.

8. In theology, to make new; to renovate; to transform; to change from natural enmity to the love of God and his law; to implant holy affections in the heart; to regenerate.

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Rom 12. Eph 4.

We are not destined to hopelessness in a fallen state, a destroyed image. Because of God, we are being conformed to a renewed image ... the image of Christ that includes His righteousness, His Holiness, His knowledge. This is a process ... the words used in those scriptures are active words, being done. It is being done through God's power and because of His love, grace and mercy. However, we do have to act accordingly, in agreement. We have a responsibility as well.

The Ephesians verse and the Colossions verse are both part of passages that are included in an exercise in Martha Peace's book, Excellent Wife. The Put Off/Put On dynamic. (Check www.lifeaction.org or www.marthapeace.org) Can go further with that study with the life action list . . . That would be a great study to do)

In verse 28, when God blessed Adam and Eve, what was the first part of his blessing?

Gen 1:28 And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.

Be fruitful, multiply ... AND fill the earth AND subdue it AND have dominion over the creatures.

How does having children and filling the earth with them correspond to our responsibility of subduing the earth and ruling over it?

I like what the amplified brings to it ... using all of its vast resources in the service of God and man. We are having children and bringing them up to carry on the responsibility of subduing the earth ... of using the earth and it's resources to serve God and man. All that we are, all that we have ... all from the earth ... all to be used for God's glory. Being productive for His honor.

In what way has God prepared you to subdue the world?

I am just going full circle here.. . but the very fact that I am created in His image is what prepares me to subdue the world, if I embrace the definition of subdue to be making the something productive and fruitful. It takes the gentle power that comes from God ... subdue doesn't mean to destroy but to bring into fruitful obedience. It takes tender care to do that. It takes creativity. Patience. All of things are from the Spirit of God and that is the preparation that God has given me.

In what ways have you neglected your stewardship in this matter?

I think that I talked about this before. I have been very caught up in complaining about all I have to do and how hard it all is and not doing it ... instead of putting my hand to it and getting it done. I have a sense of what I am trying to say here and I am not sure that I am communicating it well ... but the responsibility is HUGE and I can't understand why I don't grab onto the responsibility and do it and feel the satisfaction of a job well done. Instead, I am content with mediocrity.

My personal areas of responsibility ... relationships, homemaking, finances, health, creativity, education ... have been suffereing because my heart has not been in the right place. I have placed the value in word only but not in deed. It is time to get busy with a total transformation that includes action.

What impact would you like to make in the world for the purposes of God?

My name means reflection. I want to be a reflection of the face of God, reflecting back to them the promise and potential in their lives.

How are you sharing this mandate from God with your children?

I guess that she is talking about the mandate to subdue the earth and be fruitful. I am not sure that I have shared this particular mandate with my children. I have shared with them that God has a purpose and plan for their lives. I have committed to walking alongside them and helping them find the calling that God has for their lives. But this particular mandate? I haven't shared it with them as pertaining to their lives.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 15, 2005

Question 1

Gen 3:20 Now the man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.

What is the significance of the name that Adam called Eve?

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes:

Gen 3:20 - God having named the man, and called him Adam, which signifies red earth, he in farther token of dominion named the woman, and called her Eve - That is, life. Adam bears the name of the dying body, Eve of the living soul. The reason of the name is here given, some think by Moses the historian, others by Adam himself, because she was - That is, was to be the mother of all living. He had called her Isha, woman, before, as a wife; here he calls her Evah, life, as a mother. Now, 1. If this was done by divine direction, it was an instance of God's favour, and, like the new naming of Abraham and Sarah, it was a seal of the covenant, and an assurance to them, that notwithstanding their sin, he had not reversed that blessing wherewith he had blessed them, Be fruitful and multiply: it was likewise a confirmation of the promise now made, that the seed of the woman, of this woman, should break the serpent's head. 2. If Adam did of himself, it was an instance of his faith in ! the word of God.

What meaning does it have in relationship to our identity as women?

Life. God continues to bring forth life through women. He continues to expand mankind. His mercy and grace is evident upon us as life is created in our protective wombs and brought forth through our sufferings. It is a glorious thing ... a glory filled thing ... A privilege and a responsibility that is to be valued and cherished.

How would you describe woman's original purpose as indicated in Genesis?

I cannot answer this question here ... without a doubt, the original purpose of woman is in Genesis 2:18, being a suitable helper for the man. This is a subject deeper than can be answered in just a few sentences here ... it may require a thesis or discertation ... I could respond a pat answer here but I am not satisfied to do so. It will be a subject, in fact already is a subject, of much interest, study and contemplation.

How has this sense of purpose changed in our culture today?

The sense of purpose for men and women in our culture today has gone astray from God's original purpose. As Isaiah says:

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all. [I Pet. 2:24, 25.]
Key words there are "his own way". As a whole, woman (and men) in this culture are not walking in God's original purpose but in the purposes of their own way.

Since I have not given the space here to fleshing out the original purpose of a woman, I cannot further comment on how that purpose has changed in our culture today.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 14, 2005

Page 33
They have children for essentially the same reasons they marry -- to make themselves feel good. So the children are considered as bleswsings -- as long as they fulfill this function. ... At the same time, they teach the children to be self-centered and self-absorbed, passing on a legacy of emotional neediness rather than godliness.

When the mission and the reason for having children is lost, they easily come to be seen as a time drain, a monetary expense, a career impediment, and a curtailer of personal freedom.

This relates back to my statement in chapter one in response to what is the worlds view of children. Sally sums it up well here ... as long as they are fulfilling our needs then we consider them a blessing. Hhmm, very convicting.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 14, 2005

page 32
The problem is that the self-centeredness implied in such a relationship is a formula for relational failure. No sinful, imperfect human being can ever fully satisfy the longings in another person's soul for love, security, and purpose especially over the long course of a human lifetime, because neither partner was intended to have these needs met apart from God.

Oh my, I know this. I KNOW this. I remind other women of this ... we are not to look to our men to meet our needs. I cannot expect that my husband can meet my heartfelt needs. In fact, it is unfair and burdensome to do so. However, I find myself, again and again ... looking to Chris to make me feel special, to feel loved, to feel secure. He disappoints me and I spiral into anger and hurt feelings. I cry and I conjole and I manipulate. (Those of you who know me well, know the saying from my former pastor, "what you manipulate to get, you must manipulate to keep") I cannot put Chris is God's place. I cannot look to him to fulfill me. My jealous Lord God does not want me to do that. Those needs can and will only be met in God.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 14, 2005

page 29
within the basic outlines of God's design, there is a lot of room for diversity, creativity, freedom, and redeption.

and yet all women have the God-given capacity to live in ways that beautifully and purposefully express their llife-giving feminine design -- their helper or cooperative approach to tasks, their ability to multitask, their nesting instincts and creative spirit.

the common purpose for all women is to glorify God in whatever circumstances and boundaries of life we find ourselves, trusting him to show us how we can best use our gifts for him

Don't you love the unique creativity ... or should I say the creative uniqueness ... of God? Though we may all have the same purpose ... to glorify God and enjoy Him forever ... We all enjoy our own personality, circumstances, talents, skills. May I dare say that God celebrates our individuality as well. He delights in us. His word says that He sings over us. God wants us to live out our lives in the very uniqueness that He planted within us. We are to be creativee and live in the freedom that He has given us. There are Godly principles, non-negotiables ... but in everything else, we have freedom.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 14, 2005

page 28
Proverbs 31:10 - 31

the preparation of food, clothing, ministering to others, teaching her children and others, spiritual life, business, future and well-being, and productivity, as well as meeting her husband's needs, looks well to the ways of her householdd

Titus 2:4 - 5

women were to be productive in providing emotional stability and encouragement, physical sustenance, and spiritual encouragment for their famlies, as well as managing and directing the necessary work of running the household.

Let me see if I can capture my thoughts about the previous statements. When I first read that list of things on this page today, (which I have read over and over the past twenty years), I thought, "wow, those are my responsibilites? I must have a pretty important job." And I do! But I have to confess that I have been busy about shirking my responsibilities. Some of you know my 15 yos Justin. Great kid. Sensitive, kind. But when he is given a job, he doesn't get busy about doing the job, he gets busy about trying to figure out how not to have to do the job. I am afraid that has been my focus lately as well. I have been busy offering all the excuses as to why I haven't been able to fulfill my responsibilities.

Instead of honoring my position, my responsibility, my purpose and devoting my all to excellence in those areas, I have been busy whining, piddling, finding things to escape my duties.

Oh God, forgive me. How can I encourage women to be women of Godly purpose when I am lukewarm in the my own commitment.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 14, 2005

Page 27
Genesis 3:20

Eve ... the mother of all the living.

That God equipped a woman from the very beginning to bring life into the world from her own body and to nurture growing families.

I don't know about you, but this statement almost took my breath away. Just the weight of it fell on me. This is an amazing thing. From the VERY begining God has given women, given us, given me the privilege and the responsibility to bring forth life. I have birthed nine children and I don't believe I have understood the value so clearly as I do today. I am almost in tears here. Don't you see how valuable we are to God, to His kingdom, to the world? God could have set any reproductive system in place that he wanted ... but he chose women to bring forth life and to nurture that life. I am completely caught up in this thought right now.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 14, 2005

page 24
Originally, each of us, man and woman, was given the purpose of partnering with God to rule over the world and to make it productive -- in an infinite number of areas -- government, the arts, architecture, food production, worship and so forth. Each of us is created with a capacity and purpose to be productive and creative in life -- according to our drives, gifts, and strengths -- and to glorify God as we rule over the specific dominions he has entrusted kto us. And each of us will be required to give an accounting of how we handled this responsibility -- how we invested our livesin God's purposes to subdue our own little corner of the earth -- the circumstances of our particular life -- for his glory.

I love the previous paragraph. Our vision of our purpose is so narrow and dim. We are partnering with the King! He is our father and He has given us the responsibility of making the world productive and creative. I am just in awe of how grand it is, how important it is. What am I doing with that responsibility? Am I being creative? Am I being productive? Am I inspiring creativity and productiveness in others? I almost feel like I have been promoted. Well, I guess the position was mine all along but I had not accepted it, had not embraced it, had not committed my life to it. I was too busy chasing myself and my own frivolities.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 14, 2005

Pg. 21
What we do as mothers, therefore, has eternal significance.

So many times we are consumed with the here and now. The question of what we are accomplishing haunts us. The world tells us that we should be doing something with our lives, givng back to the world the skills that we have, making a difference. Jobs are defined by product ... building are built, mergers are made, contracts are signed. The question is, "what do you do?" Seemingly, in this world, what we do defines us. So, what do we do and what do we have to show for that? Should we be so product oriented anyway? Or should we revel in the process?

Let us not look to the things that are seen but to things that are unseen ... for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting_, but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

The eternal significance has nothing to do with whether or not the laundry was folded, the toys were put away, the dishes were washed. We have to see beyond that. What is God trying to accomplish in our lives for eternity ... in our children's lives for eternity. That is the eternal thing.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter Two - Jul. 14, 2005

pg 2
"I've always longed to feel and give real love, but I don't know if I am capable.

I think that I mentioned this before ... I did not believe that I was capable of giving and receiving real love. The miracle is the healing of the heart wounds that had left such scars that nothing could penetrate them. I did not understand the love of God, could not receive the love of God, felt like I had to earn the love of God.

It all began with a simple prayer that was totally spirit-led because I would never have prayed this prayer of my own accord. In 1997, I began to pray that God would break my heart for my children. I didn't even know why I was praying that ... but the Spirit of God knew how hard my heart was, how high the walls that I had erected were. I did not love my children. It breaks my heart to say that but it is true. I was not capable of loving my children. I was pregnant with my 8th child and I did not love my children.

The Spirit led me to that prayer and God is faithful. He answered and it has been the most excrutiating process. It has been painful to have my heart ripped open and the healing balm of God poured within.

During that journey, I attended a Brennan Manning conference and he talked about being Abba's child and the love of the Father. I am only just now understanding it, able to receive it, able to give it.

I am eternally grateful for the prompting of the spirit and my obedience because it has saved my relationship with my children and possibly even their relationship with the Lord. I am SO in love with my children now. Praise God! He is able to do more than we could ever dream possible.

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter One - Jul. 6, 2005

Question 4.

What are the elements of responsibility that the older women are required to teach to the younger women?

Tit 2:4 -

They may teach (σωφρονίζωσι)

Better, school or train. N.T.^o. ^olxx. The verb means to make sane or sober-minded; to recall a person to his senses; hence, to moderate, chasten, discipline.

Ok, now that's a good picture .. to recall a person to his senses.

Why would this need to be taught?

What does it mean to be a worker at home?

In what ways do women who obey these standards keep from dishonoring the Word of God?

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter One - Jul. 6, 2005

Question 3.

What is the attitude or the heart of the mother reflected in his example?

  Gentle.

Again another term that I am struggling with. As one who is blessed with a bold personality, I have struggled to understand what gentle is and how I am to be gentle. I actually sort of like this verse in the Message Bible:

1Th 2:7 We weren't aloof with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children.

That actually paints quite a picture for me. We weren't aloof with you ... standing back, keeping distance. A nursing mother caring for her children ... she cannot nurse and hold the baby at arms length. She must hold the baby close, skin to skin, giving vital nourishment to the child, so close that the baby can hear the heartbeat of the mother. Wow, can hear the heartbeat of the mother ... what is my heart beating in time to?

Figuratively, how do I do this with my older children? How do I hold them close like that, giving them vital spiritual and emotional nourishment, so close that they can hear my heartbeat?

Lots of questions here that I haven’t worked through all the answers yet. I think I will have to come back to this one at a later time.

How does this picture compare to the way that you care for your children?

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter One - Jul. 6, 2005

Question 2.

Psa 127:3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

What does this verse indicate about God's view of children?

Children are considered a gift, an inheritance, freely given. An inheritance denotes something of great value. No question that children are of great value.

I am stuck on reward though ... but that's the next question.

When God blesses us with children, why does he consider it a reward?

I was struggling with this a bit this morning. Looking up the definition of reward and the entire connotation is that it is a return ... it is something given in return for good deeds, work, etc. So, I am wondering, why are children called a reward ... what did we do to deserve being given children. How can they be called a gift, which denotes something freely given and then called a reward, which denotes something given in return.

I just found this in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Reward

re¯´-wo^rd´: In modern English (except when influenced by the Biblical forms) a "reward" is something given in recognition of a good act. In English Versions of the Bible, however, "reward" is used quite generally for anything given, and the term covers the recompense of evil (Psa_91:8), wages (1Ti_5:18 the King James Version), bribes (Mic_7:3), and gifts (Jer_40:5 the King James Version). The Revised Version (British and American) has specialized the meaning in a number of cases (Psa_94:2; Eze_16:34; Jer_40:5, etc.), but not systematically.

OK, so that makes more sense to me now.

Then I found this in Naves, that reward is a motive to faithfulness. Wow! Now that certainly paints a picture. Is there anything else in my life that motivates me to faithfulness the way that my children do? Motivated to seek God, to pray, to know His word and His ways. Time and time again, I hear stories of people turning to the Lord after they have children because they realize the seriousness of it, they need the direction. Praise God then that He gives us the very thing that will drive us to faithfulness, drive us to our knees in prayer, drive us to seek our God.

How does this verse contrast with the prevailing view of children in contemporary culture?

Typically, in this country, we do not cherish the life of a child. Children are considered a burden and an interference. There are those who say that they want children and seemingly they do, but the children are expected to adapt to the parents ... the parents schedule, the parents goals, the parents career. Parents are the center of the home. There is a fear of having a child centered home … many times to the detriment of the children. We are not to have either a parent centered or a child centered home. We are to have a God centered home. Now, what does that mean?

Can you stand another example from our church. I hope that I can explain this well …

David Rhodes, with wayfarer ministries, spoke at our church a few weeks ago. We talked about having a God centered life. On the stage he had a chair, a globe and a screen door. The chair, of course, represents us. It was in the middle of the stage. The world represents the world. It was to the right of the chair. The screen door represents God. It was too the left of the chair. OK, stay with me here.

Typically we have ourselves in the center. Before coming to know God, we have our chair turned toward the world. We are seeking the world, satisfying ourselves in the world and focusing on the world. We become Christians and we are told to turn away from the things of the world, to turn toward God. So, we turn our chair around and we face God (the screen door). We have now totally turned from the world. We have no avenue to minister because we are so focused on God that we don’t even see the needs of the world.

What about this set up. Move the chair to the left, so the screen door is in between the chair and the world. Now, We look at the world but ALWAYS through the filter of God, through His eyes.

That is how we have a God centered home. My responsibility always goes to God first … I have a responsibility to God in my marriage. I have a responsibility to God in my parenting. I have a responsibility to God in my friendships. I have a responsibility to God in my ministry. Regarding my children, it isn’t about me versus them. It is about what does God want to happen in that situation. But you know, I have really chased a rabbit here so let me get back on track.

How does this compare to your own feelings about your children?

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter One - Jul. 6, 2005

Question 1.

Psalm 127:1Psa 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.

What, according to this verse, is the secret to the success of a godly family?

According to this verse, the Lord building the house is the secret to the success. OK, what does success mean?

Success: 1. The favorable or prosperous termination of any thing attempted; a termination which answers the purpose intended; properly in a good sense, but often in a bad sense.

I wonder if there is ever a termination of a godly family? At what point does it come to an end and we say our job is done and we can rank it as successful or unsuccessful. I think I understand what Sally is trying to get at with this question. We have to know that we don’t build the house. Of course, here the word house implies the family. We don’t build the godly family. We can’t produce the fruit of the spirit in our children. We cannot make them have love, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. We can make it appear that they have those things but the authentic manifestation of the fruit comes through the work of the Spirit.

I have to caution myself not to define success in my own mind. I had an idea of what success would look like and what it involved was external, the appearance of godliness. God does not look on the outward but on the heart. I want the measurable things to be of the heart.

What will happen to the work of the house building if parents are not following God's path?

I am so sensitive to a works theology that this question does make me a bit nervous. I have read all of the Clarkson’s books and I know that they don’t advocate a formula style of parenting … that if you do this you do a., b., and c., you will have a Godly family. But my first impression of that question leads me there, to that desire to go back to Egypt … what if it were true, what if I could just do something to make my children be godly children. I cannot go back there. It is not true. So, what then? Follow God’s path.

Our church is watching a series of dvds on Sunday mornings called nooma. The first Sunday was titled "dust". Rob Bell talked about the education of the Jewish children. How they all learned the torah by age 10. Then some of those went on to learn all of the scripture. Then the best of those went on to another level of education and then the best of the best of the best, would become the disciple of a rabbi. They would go to the rabbi and ask to be his disciple and he would fire questions at the candidate to determine if he was truly good enough. Only the best of the best made it this far, the rest went back and learned the family trade. Once the rabbi determined that the candidate was indeed good enough to make the cut, he would say, "Come, follow me." The disciple would then follow in the footsteps of his rabbi, emulating everything that the rabbi did and said. He would walk so closely behind the rabbi, that the dust that the rabbi’s feet would kick up would cover the disciple. Thus the Jewish saying, "may you be covered with the dust of your rabbi"

Jesus called his disciples, "come follow me" They weren’t the best of the best. They were working in the family trade. But Jesus called them to be His disciples. He calls me to be His disciple.

And am I walking so closely in His path, so closely behind Jesus, that I am covered in the dust of my rabbi? Am I emulating Him? Modeling my life after Him ... His compassion, His mercy, His wisdom, His grace, His love, His understanding. If so will my children be likely to follow me there as well.

That is what I believe it means to be on God’s path. If I am not following my rabbi, then there is no direction for my children to follow. It will be an aimless, pointless journey.

 

-- Cynthia

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Mission of Motherhood, Chapter One - Jul. 6, 2005

A Journey Like No Other

Discovering the Mission of Motherhood

"I will grow into the kind of person God wants me to be as I live out my life in faith and seek to be faithful in my walk with God; as I nurture and honor my commitment to my husband and children and family and home; as I exercise my skills, training, and gifts toward those whom God has placed on my path; as I seek to give to the po0r and minister to the needy and those in my neighborhood and church while living a life of bold faith in a great and wonderful God. At the same time, my children in the context of walking with me through my life, will gain a clear model of how they can live as well."

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