"Confess your sins to one another..."

"Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." James 5:16

In class on Sunday morning, the first topic of discusion was on how do we get members at church to really know each other. Dr. Henderson said there was a sister in our congregation who dealt with an alcohol addiction. For many years, she struggled with this, went to AA meetings, but no one in her church family knew about her addiction. Someone made the comment, that some people just won't open up and share their intimate details or struggles with others. As I agree with this, I wonder if there is more to it. I sat there listening to all this and other comments, I kept thinking of one of my favorite shows, Desperate Housewives. Yes, I am a little ashamed to admit it, but it is a guilty pleasure of mine. In fact, my husband, trying to be funny, calls me a desperate housewife at times. What I have gained from watching that show and the whole concept of what a "desperate housewife" means is that its about wanting to be the perfect housewife; to have the perfect marriage, family, house, and be able to juggle anything and everything thrown her way. She wants to look like she has it all together, completely flawless, when in all actuality, she has so many problems within her marriage, with her kids, and with herself. She is trying to cover up and hide anything that others may see as a failure. Bri, out of the four women on the show, is notorious for wanting to be perfect. This season for Desperate Housewives is its last one, and Bri, throughout the show, has had multiple husbands and lovers, as well as two children, and is considered to be a "Christian" housewife with strong Godly morals, but here at the end has now attempted suicide as she has no spouse, no lover, no family around her, and even her three best friends want nothing to do with her. So I bring up desperate housewives, because, on a smaller scale, I wonder if this is reality for a lot of woman, and maybe men too, and maybe the reason why the church is not so close and open with each other. Maybe we are too worried about others judging us and our reputations. We have no problem trying to reach out to others and be open with them about their problems, but are we all really open and translucent about ourselves with our church family?
I'll just go ahead and admit it myself, in that I do want to look like I have it all together and that I can handle anything that flies my way. I have prided myself for being raised to be very independent and I like to prove to myself that I can "do it all". But, is that really true, for anyone? I can't do it all, and I don't think anyone can do it all. We are human and we are naturally going to mess up and need help.
So how do we change this way of thinking? Who makes the first step to being completely open, even sharing our struggles that makes us look weak and sinful? I meet with a small group of women about 1-2 times a month. We discuss a book that we are reading at the present time, and wrap it up with prayer requests that we have for others. I was thinking that even with this intimate group of women, I'm not sure if we really share our problems, that we are not proud of, with each other. So, how do we open up to people? Who admits first when their actions are ugly and detestable? Who will look weak first and be vulnerable? Who is willing to not care what others think of themselves?
Isn't Jesus our perfect example? Not only did he leave his comfortable homeland surroundings and immediate family, but he went everywhere preaching about God and fulfilling the Word all along knowing that the pharisees and scribes were scheming against him and saying false things about him,

 "But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him,"(Mt 12:14), and "the scribes and Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say." (Luke 11:53-54), and "...they ridiculed him." (Luke 16:14).

 He still spoke what was true, despite worrying about his reputation and being 'liked' by the majority. He could have come down and been worshipped like an earthly king and enjoy the luxuries of earth, (although pretty sure nothing down here compares to up there), but He chose to give all of that up for the cross, for you and me. Phillipians 2:7 says, "he made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." And on that cross, does it not show the ultimate humility and selflessness of Jesus? Not wanting to overlook the pain and agony of being on the cross, but can you imagine the embarrassement, if that word can even begin to describe, what it would be like to be naked, scorned, mocked, and forsaken on the cross in front of the whole world.

 "I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting," (Isaiah 50:6).

 "But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads... I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet, I can count all my bones, they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots," (Psalm 22: 6-7, 14-18). 

Before going to the cross, Mark tells us the soldiers

 "clothed Him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him." (15:17-20).

 Wow! When I think about that, then why do I worry so much what others think. Yes, sin is embarrassing and makes us look bad, but when it comes to my Christian family, if I need help, should I not be able to open up to the family that loves me the most and can pray and help me with my weaknesses? Would it make it easy for others to share their problems if they see others sharing?

Proverbs 31

I love this! In a ladies bible class at church, we studied proverbs for a quarter. As we studied Proverbs, I have to say that Proverbs is one of my favorite books in the Bible. The last chapter of the book, Proverbs 31, is very popular, and I am sure read and loved by many. Being married and having a baby, the Proverbs 31 woman has become more alive and meaningful to me than before. I am so thankful that God inspired Solomon to write about her. She is the pillar of the perfect, Godly woman. In every way do I respect her and want to model my life after her. Now of course, 'her', I believe, is figurative, but she represents the life God would have for us women to live.
Going through this proverb, the Godly woman is trustworthy (v.11), does good to her husband (v.12), works willingly with her hands (keyword: willingly, v.13), she provides for her household with food and clothing not only in the day but through the night (v.15), she is not lazy but is wise and diligent with her time and money as she turns it in to more profit instead of wasteful living (v.16-19) She gives to the poor (v.20). She brings honor to her husband and not shame (v.23). She is not worried about the things to come, but speaks with wisdom and teaches with kindness (v.25-26). Her children and her husband praise her (v.28). Most importantly of all, she fears the Lord (v.30)!
The Godly woman is so spiritually beautiful. I try to think about her often during the day. When I start to grumble and complain to myself, usually when I am cleaning toilets or folding clothes late at night, I think of her and how I need to change my attitude and conduct to be like her.
I ran across this video on the Provers 31 movement on facebook. It was so refreshing to see a young man reading scripture and starting a "movement" about the Godly woman and having such a positive reaction from others. "For the Word of God is living and active..." Heb. 4:12!!!

"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear, but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious." 1Peter 3:3-4


Lately, I have found myself despising shopping, rather it be for clothes or even groceries. Reason being is the type of people that I am shopping with. I feel like living in Cool Springs, there is a bit of an "uppity up" type atmosphere with the people. Walking into Target, Publix, Whole Foods, and even TJ Maxx, it seems to be a flood of people in trendy clothes with their tight leggings, eye-grabbing boots, extravagant and draping jewely, cute tops, and perfectly styled hair. Sometimes I look at these women and I think if only I could dress like that! I think they look so cute and trendy, and I find myself discontent with my clothing and style of dress. I just find that if I stay out of stores, then I don't dwell so much on what other people have and wear, and I don't focus on clothing as much. It is so hard to 'live in the world and not be of the world,' 2 Cor. 10:3.
 You would think that church would be a safe haven, but the battle for me is there as well. There are some women who are current with the new styles and trend, and then there are the women who wear very modest and plain clothing. Now, I hope to make it perfectly clear that I am not trying to say it is wrong or shameful to dress trendy. On the contrary, some people have a talent at being fashionable. Natalie, a sweet friend of mine, is a perfect example of this. She always looks so trendy and so cute, and yet she shops at goodwill for most all her clothes! She is not at all obsessed with her look, but just has that knack at putting clothes together and looking stylish. But I am so thankful for the women who don't care for new trends and their dress. They help me not to be concerned about appearance and it is so easy to see how they are concerned more for 'the adorning of their hearts'. The problem in all this desire of being cute and trendy stems from a misplaced mindset in me.  I need to 'set my mind on things above, not on things that are on earth,' Colossians 3:2. 
And not only do I need to not worry about clothing so much for my own sake, but also for the sake of my Christian sisters. Do I want to be a distraction to my sisters by having them think about my clothing and appearance when they see me, or feel the way I do now. That is one of the wars I wage everyday with the world, but not one I want to wage with my Christian family. And what an example to the younger sisters, particularly in high school? I remember what a struggle high school was trying to keep up with trying to dress "cool" and wear what everyone else was wearing. I really hope that I have not offended any one, but just something I have been thinking about, and something I hope to teach to my children. 
Of course, there are a great many scriptures that speak to womens' dress: 1 Timothy 2:9, Proverbs 11:22, and Proverbs 31:3, to name a few. But I think Psalms 119:37 says it plainly, "Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in Your ways."

The doorposts...

A little over a year ago, we started building the house we are in now. We bought the lot, picked a builder, chose a house plan, and started watching our house be built. It was very exciting, and if you've been down this road yourself, you know that you worry about forgetting to add something to the house and it being too late if they've already moved passed that part in the building stage. They start with pouring the foundation, and then before you know it your watching the framing of your house go up! We went to look at the house a lot at this stage. One wednesday night at church, we were listening to Alfred Thomas teach, and he mentioned people writing scriptures on the doorposts of homes as they were being built. As the workers worked on the houses, they would see and read the scripture verses. I'm not sure if a soul has been saved through that, but it's a seed, right?! What a great way to share the gospel! God's word is like fire, Jeremiah 23:29!

Do you ever notice billboards on the side of the road that quote scripture verses, like "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world," John 1:29,  "If any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his," Rom. 8:9, "Jesus Loves You" John 3:16, "The end is near..." 1 Pt 4:7. I was reading some articles on scripture billboards, and they talked about the impact they have on the truck drivers. It is so amazing what the Word of God can do, and all we have to do to share it is just write it down! 

I want to write scripture verses all over my house so that I can see them daily in all that I do, so that my husband and children can remember them too, and so that anyone who enters our house can see and remember them as well. Let me know if you have good scripture verses that you use in your house!

Deuteronomy 11:18-20

¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ²⁰ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,


I feel like one of my biggest purposes on this earth is teaching my child(ren) about God and the Bible and raising them in a strong, Christian household. And my biggest fear is that I might fail in doing so. God has blessed me with a beautiful, healthy baby who has just turned eight months old. I am so thankful for her and my husband everyday. But with such great blessings, comes such a big responsibility that I can't take lightly. Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." I believe that based on how I conduct myself, my household, my marriage and relationships to church, family, and friends, will greatly determine the outcome of my children's relationship to their Lord and ultimately where they will spend eternity. I think of the great commission in Matthew 28:19-20 when I think of my purpose here on this earth and what greater influence do I have on one than on my own children that the Lord has entrusted to me. 
I am starting this blog, because as I try to daily read my bible, I stumble upon so many verses that I wish I could write all over my house, and could put to memory so that I can teach them to my children. I find myself just underlining and writing them out in a journal, but I don't get to just write about the verses and how I feel about them, so I have decided to blog about God's word!