“It All Comes Back To A Question of Character”

So it all comes back to a question of character. She can be a good wife only by being a good woman. And she can be a good woman in the true sense only by being a Christian woman. Nowhere but in Christ can she find the wisdom and strength she needs to meet the solemn responsibilities of wifehood. Only in Christ can she find that rich beauty of soul, that gemming and impearling of the character, which shall make her lovely in her husband’s sight when the bloom of youth is gone, when the brilliance has faded out of her eyes and the roses have fled from her cheeks. Only Christ can teach her how to live so as to be blessed and a blessing in her married life. Nothing in this world is sadder than to compare love’s early dreams, what love meant to be, with the too frequent story of the after-life, what came of the dreams, what was the outcome of love’s venture. Why so many sad disappointments? Why do so many bridal wreaths fall into dust? Is there no possibility of making these fair dreams come true, of keeping these flowers lovely and fragrant through all the years? Yes, but only in Christ. The young maiden goes smiling and singing to the marriage altar. Does she know that if she has not Christ with her she is as a lamb going to the sacrifice? Let her tarry at the gateway until she has linked her life to him, who is the first and the last. Human love is very precious, but it is not enough to satisfy a heart. There will be trials, there will be perplexities, there will be crosses and disappointments, there will be solicitudes and sorrows. Then none but Christ will be sufficient. Without him the way will be dreary. But with his benediction and presence the flowers that droop today will bloom fresh again to-morrow, and the dreams of early love will build themselves up into a palace of peace and joy for the solace, the comfort and shelter of old age.

Source: “Husbands and Wives” by J. R. Miller

“The King of Love My Shepherd Is”

“The King of Love My Shepherd Is

Original Trinity Hymnal, #141 - From Psalm 23

* * *

The King of Love my Shepherd Is,
Whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
And he is mine for ever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul he leadeth,
And, where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love he sought me,
And on his shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, bought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thine unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From thy pure chalice floweth.

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
Within thy house for ever.

“Submission-Loving Comes From Giving”

“I should like to know if there is any reason on earth why a woman should learn self-forgetfulness that does not apply to a man?” __Katy, “Stepping Heavenward”

I do not believe a day passes by that I do not have a discussion about “biblical submission.” I thank God for the opportunity to help and guide and if needed, admonish. This has prompted me to pull out some of my discussions from the study “Stepping Heavenward” to post on the blog. May it be that women will see the truth of the wonder of being Christian women.

Read on…

We see in this chapter Katy has married Ernest and is embarking on a new life purpose. But really? It appears to me that our Katy is still that self-seeking, self-gratifying woman (not for some time a “girl”) and does not have a clue of biblical love, marriage and family although she has been privy to it all her life. There is still so much of Katy in the way that it is like an early morning fog over everything. Why as a professing Christian all these years with the plethora of books, Bible reading/teaching and instruction does she not understand the biblical role of women/men in marriage, agape self-sacrificing and giving love, submission and obedience to God, His Word and to this man that she has vowed to love, honor and obey? Mouth service and an outward submission to what appears on surface to look like submission is no submission at all. God looks upon our hearts and if we are submissive and loving wives because of any other reason than to please Christ and our husband, it is dead works and profits nothing. God is surely not pleased with it. A biblical marriage is submission and sacrifice. It IS giving of oneself sacrificially with no expectation of reciprocation outside of the Scripture. God has called both
husband and wife to obedience in the marriage relationship and for the wife to love and submit to her husband in EVERYTHING and for the husband to love the wife as Christ loves the church. It is not a “tit-for-tat” or “if he does, I will” etc. etc. etc. It is

• How would Christ have me to live in this marriage and be a picture of His Bride the Church”?
• How can I serve Christ by serving my husband in EVERYTHING? How can I by my love, gentleness, unselfishness, kindness and obedience, love this person with every fiber of my being, to the exclusion of my own wants, needs and desires, so that Christ is honored and I am therefore blessed?
• Why is she not asking: “What does God’s Word say about submission, about biblical marriage, service one to another, the role of women and men, loving my neighbor (which in this case my nearest neighbor is my husband), putting others before myself and serving others as Christ has shown us”?
• Why does she not understand that in loving Ernest, his father and sister that she is loving God and serving Him and that He, and He alone, will bless her?

Christ has said that loving comes from giving and thus He gave Himself for us miserable sinners who deserved nothing but condemnation and death and He expects that we, as His offspring, should give of ourselves for others, and yes, not only to those that are worthy (in our estimation) of our love but also of those that are unworthy of it. Isn’t this what grace is about? Where is Katy’s grace to others here? She can’t get off the hook now that she is a grown woman or that she has been “put upon” but rather she should be looking into God’s Word and asking Christ and His Holy Spirit to guide her, give her wisdom and conform her into a woman of excellence like our example in Proverbs 31. I do not like that we see so little spiritual references in her diary and so little Scripture cited. I have kept an annual spiritual journal for 25 years and they are filled to the brim with Scripture. That is no credit to me but I am a Christian and the Holy Spirit resides in me and because of it, I write about those I love and Christ is the one that I love most of all so His Word and talk about Him fills the pages. We expect as a Christian reading a Christian book to see more of it.

Katy needs to grow up in God’s Word and the result will be love to others. Without love all that she says and does is “sounding brass and clanging cymbals.” Frankly, from my point of view, she continues to wallow in self-pity and it is sinful. She needs confession and repentance. She needs to look at the wonderful life Christ has given her in all of its blessings and thank Him for it and then look out at all of the poor and miserable folk in the world that has so little and realize the folly of her selfishness. Sound harsh to you? Not so, just biblical. So many Christian women in our day would love to have what this woman has, especially those that have unsaved husbands, and don’t. I think the lesson here to us is to appreciate what we do have and to see with clear eyes in this book the importance of sacrificial love and thankfulness to Christ for what He has done in our own lives.

“Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church; because we are members of his body. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church. Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.” Eph 5:22-33

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; ejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” 1Co 13:1-13

“Brothers & Sisters”

I have been remiss in completing Part II of my series “The Five “C’s”: Church, Cliques, Coffee, Cookies & Crumbs” but promise it is forthcoming in the HeavenlyNotes November edition.

In my research, I remembered this excellent selection from John James “A Help to Domestic Happiness” and thought it appropriate to post prior to my article. With four siblings (three brothers, one sister), I can relate and even with biblical parenting, raising godly children is no easy task. Read on and perhaps you will be helped…

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. John 15:12

Brothers and sisters should make it a study to promote each other’s happiness. They should take pleasure in pleasing each other, instead of each being selfishly taken up in promoting his own separate enjoyment. They should never envy each other’s gratification; if one has a more valuable plaything than the other, the rest should rather rejoice than be sorry. Envy in children is likely to grow into a most baleful and malignant disposition. They should never take each other’s possessions away, and be always willing to lend what cannot be divided, and to share what does admit of being divided. Each must do all he can to promote the happiness of the others. They should never be indifferent to each other’s sorrows, much less laugh at, and sport with each other’s tears and griefs. It is a lovely sight to see one child weeping because another is in distress. A boy that sees his brother or sister weep, and can be unconcerned or merry at the sight, would when he becomes a man, in all probability, see them starve without helping them.

Children should never accuse each other to their parents, nor like to see each other punished. An informer is a hateful and detestable character; but a tattle-tale against his brother or sister, is the most detestable of all spies. If, however, one should see another doing that which is wrong, and which is known to be contrary to the will of their parents, he should first in a kind and gentle manner point out the wrong, and give an intimation that if it be not discontinued, he shall be obliged to mention it—and if the warning be not taken, it is then manifestly his duty to acquaint their parents with the fact.

Children must not tease or torment one another. How much family uneasiness sometimes arises from this source—one of the children, perhaps, has an infirmity or weakness of temper, or awkwardness of manner, or personal deformity, and the rest, instead of pitying it, tease and torment the unhappy individual, until all get quarreling and crying together. Is this promoting their mutual comfort? If there be anyone of the family that is in bad health, or weakly–all the rest, instead of neglecting that one, ought to strive to the uttermost to amuse him. How pleasing a sight it is, to see a child giving up his play time, to read to, or converse with, a sick brother or sister; while nothing is more disgusting than that selfishness which will not spare a single hour for the amusement of the poor sufferer upon the bed, or the little prisoner in the nursery. As to fighting, quarreling, or calling bad names, this is so utterly disgraceful, that it is a deep shame upon those children who live in such practices. Dr. Watts has very beautifully said—

“Whatever brawls disturb the street,There should be peace at home,Where sisters dwell, and brothers meet Quarrels should never come. “Birds in their little nests agree; And ’tis a shameful sight,When children of one family, Fall out, and chide, and fight. “Hard names at first, and threatening words, That are but noisy breath,May grow to clubs and fearful swords, To murder and to death.”

Children that are removed from home to school, should be both watchful over, and kind to each other. They should manifest a peculiar and kind interest in each other’s comfort, and not neglect one another. It is pleasant to see two brothers or two sisters, always anxious to have each other as playmates, or as members of the little circle with which they associate, defending one another from oppression or unkindness, and striving to make their absence from home, as comfortable as they can by their mutual kindness.

“Lovest Thou Me”

Lovest Thou Me? John 21:16

If we love a person, we like to think about him. We do not need to be reminded of him. We do not forget his name or his appearance or his character or his opinions or his tastes or his position or his occupation. He comes up before our mind’s eye many a time in the day. Though perhaps fardistant, he is often present in our thoughts. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! Christ “dwells in his heart,” and is thought of more or less every day (Eph. 3:17). The true Christian does not need to be remindedthat he has a crucified Master. He often thinks of Him. He never forgets that He has a day, a cause and a people, and that of His people he is one. Affection is the real secret of a good memory in religion. No worldly man can think much about Christ, unless Christ is pressed upon his notice, because he has no affection for Him. The true Christian has thoughts about Christ every day that he lives, for this one simple reason that he loves Him.

If we love a person, we like to hear about him. We find a pleasure in listening to those who speak of him. We feel an interest in any report which others make of him. We are all attention when others talk about him, and describe his ways, his sayings, his doings and his plans. Some may hear him mentioned with utter indifference, but our own hearts bound within us at the very sound of his name. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ. The true Christian delights to hear something about his Master. He likes those sermons best which are full of Christ. He enjoys that society most in which people talk of the things which are Christ’s. I have read of an old Welsh believer, who used to walk several miles every Sunday to hear an English clergyman preach, though she did not understand a word of English. She was asked why she did so. She replied, that this clergyman named the name of Christ so often in his sermons, that it did her good. She loved even the name of her Savior.

If we love a person, we like to read about him. What intense pleasure a letter from an absent husband gives to a wife, or a letter from an absent son to his mother. Others may see little worth notice in the letter. They can scarcely take the trouble to read it through. But those who love the writer see something in the letter which no one else can. They carry it about with them as a treasure. They read it over and over again. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian delights to read the Scriptures, because they tell him about his beloved Savior. It is no wearisome task with him to read them. He rarely needs reminding to take his Bible with him when he goes a journey. He cannot be happy without it. And why is all this? It is because the Scriptures testify of Him whom his soul loves, even Christ.

If we love a person, we like to please him. We are glad to consult his tastes and opinions, to act upon his advice and do the things which he approves. We even deny ourselves to meet his wishes, abstain from things which we know he dislikes and learn things to which we are not naturally inclined, because we think it will give him pleasure. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian studies to please Him, by being holy both in body and spirit. Show him anything in his daily practice that Christ hates, and he will give it up. Show him anything that Christ delights in, and he will follow after it. He does not murmur at Christ’s requirements as being too strict and severe, as the children of the world do. To him Christ’s commandments are not grievous, and Christ’s burden is light. And why is all this? Simply because he loves Him.

If we love a person, we like his friends. We are favorably inclined to them, even before we know them. We are drawn to them by the common tie of common love to one and the same person. When we meet them we do not feel that we are altogether strangers. There is a bond of union between us. They love the person that we love, and that alone is an introduction. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian regards all Christ’s friends as his friends, members of the same body, children of the same family, soldiers in the same army, travelers to the same home. When he meets them, he feels as if he had long known them. He is more at home with them in a few minutes, than he is with many worldly people after an acquaintance of several years. And what is the secret of all this? It is simply affection to the same Savior and love to the same Lord.

If we love a person, we are jealous about his name and honor. We do not like to hear him spoken against, without speaking up for him and defending him. We feel bound to maintain his interests and his reputation. We regard the person who treats him ill with almost as much disfavor as if he had ill–treated us. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian regards with a godly jealousy all efforts to disparage his Master’s word, or name, or church, or day. He will confess Him before princes, if need be, and be sensitive of the least dishonor put upon Him. He will not hold his peace, and suffer his Master’s cause to be put to shame, without testifying against it. And why is all this? Simply because he loves Him.

If we love a person, we like to talk to him. We tell him all our thoughts, and pour out all our heart to him. We find no difficulty in discovering subjects of conversation. However silent and reserved we may be to others, we find it easy to talk to a much–loved friend. However often we may meet, we are never at a loss for matter to talk about. We have always much to say, much to ask about, much to describe, much to communicate. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian finds no difficulty in speaking to his Savior. Every day he has  something to tell Him, and he is not happy unless he tells it. He speaks to Him in prayer every morning and night. He tells Him his wants and desires, his feelings and his fears. He asks counsel of Him in difficulty. He asks comfort of Him in trouble. He cannot help it. He must converse with his Savior continually, or he would faint by the way. And why is this? Simply because he loves Him.

Finally, if we love a person, we like to be always with him. Thinking and hearing and reading and occasionally talking are all well in their way. But when we really love people we want something more. We long to be always in their company.  We wish to be continually in their society, and to hold communion with them without interruption or farewell. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The heart of a true Christian longs for that blessed day when he will see his Master face to face, and go out no more. He longs to have done with sinning and repenting and believing and to begin that endless life when he shall see as he has been seen, and sin no more. He has found it sweet to live by faith, and he feels it will be sweeter still to live by sight. He has found it pleasant to hear of Christ and talk of Christ and read of Christ. How much more pleasant will it be to see Christ with his own eyes, and never to leave him any more! “Better,” he feels, “is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire” (Eccl. 6:9). And why is all this? Simply because he loves Him.

J.C. Ryle, “Holiness” Chapter 15

“A Beautiful Woman Exercises Biblical Submission and Liberty”

“He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also He hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.” Ecc 3:1

As “women of beauty” that have been purchased by Christ as His Elect Bride, we are lovely and glorious to Him and thus because we are empowered women by His grace and gifts, we are to portray that beauty in all aspects of our lives. We are to “BE” what we “ARE” in truth — the bride of Christ — glorious in all of our attributes because of what He has done and in how He has made us.

First and foremost, as that beautiful bride, we are to be biblical in our understanding of “outward beauty” by applying theological truth and the exercise of Christian liberty to others when discussing these practical matters and how we as Christian women reflect our inner beauty “outwardly” to both the saved and unsaved world.

Second: We are to be gracious in our judgment and not to judge according to our particular culture and/or personal style/application but to include those women whose dress styles in various parts of the world are different than ours and not to cause our sisters to stumble. We are not to impose “laws or rules” of dress codes that are not taught in Scripture. The only mandate there is for attire in Scripture is to be “modest in apparel” and that modesty is defined by what is right and just for the culture, occasion, season and that which is good for our particular frame. We, as Reformed believers, have no dress code nor do we bind the conscience of our sisters with one. We know as God’s children what is modest and what is a reflection of our relationship with Christ. To one it may be a dress, to another a skirt and blouse, to another a slack suit, to another a long dress. Remember to apply your theology as you think on these things. A long dress can be just as exciting to the eye as a short one as many a man will attest. Don’t get too entangled with clothes and the wearing of them. We are blessed to have many excellent types of clothes to wear and using godly judgment will help us in our own culture to do what is good for us. If our sister wants to wear something less, we are not to judge her nor is she to judge us by our conviction of more. Be kind in your thinking here so that you do not lay a burden on a sister that is extra-biblical and not taught in Scripture. There are churches and groups that have erred in this, do not become entangled in it to your own hurt and worse, bondage to it.

Third: Regarding hair length. God has given women all differing kinds of hair, some with full heads of thick hair, some with very thin, or stubby, straight or bushy hair or some that are naturally balding, as well as those whose hair has been lost due to illnesses like lupus, or the results of chemo-therapy and/or the permanent loss caused in some cultures by starvation. Remind yourself that we have a Christian worldview; one that is biblical in all its application to life and that includes style of dress and hair.

Fourth: Remember that what we put on or how we wear our hair has nothing whatsoever to do with godliness or holiness. Our holiness is imputed to us by Christ by His work and not by our works. Long or short hair or modest dress does not MAKE the Christian woman but the inner women with a heart filled with Christ, doing good service to others, bearing good fruit and being a Titus 2 woman to all women, no matter where they are spiritually or culturally, a new babe in Christ or mature believer, is our calling and that is what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not confuse what you wear or how you style your hair with godliness. There are many women with the “right” clothing as we see it that are ungodly and children of the devil not submitted to anything but themselves and there are women who may dress unwisely but are God’s child.

Fifth: Do not bind yourself with “do’s and don’ts” and an incorrect exegesis and application of “covering” and “submission.” Our covering is Christ, our covering is our husband, and our submission is to God first, husband second. How we wear our hair or what we put on our heads has nothing to do with submission. I can wear a hat with hair to my waist but that does not make me a submissive and godly wife. Obeying Christ in His Word and loving Him and my husband, submitting to the role He has for me in Scripture, giving glory to God, makes me a submitted wife.

The bottom line is this: If we want to wear long or short hair, a hat or go bareheaded, we are at liberty to do so. We are under grace, not under a law, and especially not under a man-made, self-imposed law that is not Scripturally-based. If your husband wants you to wear long hair and a hat, do so; please him in this but not for “law keeping” reasons. If you want to wear a shorter bob and go bareheaded, do so, you are at liberty and you are not to be judged for it. If you are balding, or have lost your hair for other reasons, wear a wig, or not, put on what you are comfortable with, no man/woman can judge you in these things.

Beauty, the putting on of apparel, the way we wear our hair, our dress style, our demeanor, speech, graciousness, kindness, and patience should be exhibited in our walk as godly women. We are to be beautiful because we are the Bride of Christ and we want to please God and our husband. We are to do all things well, and that includes how we look and act. We are to be “beautiful to look upon” as was Sarah and that means we have to work at it. It should be a joy for us to look beautiful, not only on the outside but that the “hidden woman of the heart” shows on the outside with a countenance of grace and displaying an inward beauty that is Christ-centered. Let us remember to look with Christ-like eyes on others and remind ourselves that God has made each one of us perfectly, with the frame we have, with the coloring we have, with the style that is best for us, and placed us in the Kingdom in this time and place and culture for His own glory. If your sister is different than you, God bless her and thank Him for her. If she lives in Uganda and wears very little clothing but loves Christ, praise God for her. If she lives in Iran and covers completely, rejoice in her life that is hid in Christ. The glory of these things is that our God is sovereign and providential in them. We are here, where we are, what we are, by His command. Enjoy being a woman, God has made you beautiful in His time.

“In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.” 1Ti 2:9-10

“Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.“ 2Co 3:17

WCF, Chapter 20 “Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience”

________ Source: “Heavenly Notes”: Joany, The JoyPals Network, 1981-2006

“Why, Lord Jesus…”

Why, Lord Jesus, dost Thou love men; why are they all Thy treasures? What wonder is this, that Thou shouldst so esteem them as to die for them? Shew me the reasons of Thy love, that I may love them too. O Goodness ineffable! They are the treasures of Thy goodness. Who so infinitely lovest them that Thou gavest Thyself for them. Thy Goodness delighted to be communicated to them whom Thou hast saved. O Thou who art more glorious in Goodness, make me abundant in this Goodness like unto Thee. That I may as deeply pity others, misery, and as ardently thirst for their happiness as Thou dost. Let the same mind be in me that is in Jesus Christ. For he that is not led by the spirit of Christ is none of His. Holy Jesus I admire Thy love unto me also. O that I could see it through all those wounds! O that I could feel it in all those stripes! O that I could hear it in all those groans! O that I could taste it beneath the gall and vinegar! O that I could smell the savour of Thy sweet ointments, even in this Golgotha, or place of a skull. I pray Thee teach me first Thy love unto me, and then unto mankind! But in Thy love unto mankind I am beloved.
_______
Centuries of Meditations

“Happy Handbook”

 

“Happy is that people that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 144:15

For those of you that watch Fox News (I know you do), Steve Doocy has a new book, “The Mr. and Mrs. Happy Handbook.”  I have not read the book with the exception of a few excerpts, so I will not critique it here. When I heard about the book, I thought, wow, as Christians we already have a “Mr. and Mrs. Happy Handbook” — it’s called the Bible! As Christians we are a “happy” (”blessed” ) people and we have God’s Word, the Bible, as that #1″how-to” handbook or guidebook on how to live a “happy” life. This is what our Sovereign Lord says:

 ”Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God: Psalm 146:5

“Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, In the innermost parts of thy house; Thy children like olive plants, Round about thy table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed That feareth Jehovah. Jehovah bless thee out of Zion: And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, see thou thy children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.” Psalm 128:1-6

Aren’t these just precious verses! Christ, and our relationship with Him, and how that affects our own hearts and home life. I like what J.R. Miller says in “Secrets of a Happy Home Life,”* regarding the “wife’s kingdom”:

“Home is the true wife’s kingdom. There, first of all places, she must be strong and beautiful. She may touch life outside in many ways, if she can do it without slighting the duties that are hers within her own doors. But if any calls for her service must be declined, they should not be the duties of her home. These are hers, and no other one’s. Very largely does the wife hold in her hands, as a sacred trust, the happiness and the highest good of the hearts that nestle there. The best husband—the truest, the noblest, the gentlest, the richest-hearted—cannot make his home happy if his wife be not, in every reasonable sense, a helpmate to him.

In the last analysis, home happiness depends on the wife. Her spirit gives the home its atmosphere. Her hands fashion its beauty. Her heart makes its love. And the end is so worthy, so noble, so divine, that no woman who has been called to be a wife, and has listened to the call, should consider any price too great to pay, to be the light, the joy, the blessing, the inspiration of a home.

Men with fine gifts think it worth while to live to paint a few great pictures which shall be looked at and admired for generations; or to write a few songs which shall sing themselves into the ears and hearts of men. But the woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies.”

* * *

This compliments us as women.  We have the ability to make our homes a “happy” place as the above and Proverbs 31 illustrate. I recently heard Rush Limbaugh say that we cannot “make another person happy” and I believe this is true in a sense, especially if their heart is not right with Christ, but if we look at the Bible’s interpretation of “happy” (”blessed”), this can be achieved in another way.  We can bring “happiness” “blessedness” to others.  We can’t change their heart and “make them happy” people but we can bring joy, blessedness and happiness into their lives.  This is a calling to us as wives, mothers and daughters so be  encouraged to make a difference and share the joy of blessedness (happiness) with those that God has given you today and be that woman God has called you to be.

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.” Proverbs 18:22

Smile and be happy, Living Coram Deo, joany

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* Secrets of Happy Home Life by J. R. Miller, 1894 (our thanks to GraceGems.org for this excerpt).

 

“Grace, Beauty and Adornment”

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward–arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel– rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”  I Peter 3:3-4

  We are a “chosen generation” “living (lively) stone” “spiritual house”“holy priesthood” “peculiar people” “holy nation” . . .
2 Peter 2:1-10 

I am always struck to the heart when I read about our “attractiveness” or as Scripture teaches, our “beauty” as the children of God.  It is not talking about our outward physical appearance (although as biblical Christians, we are concerned to present a good witness in our physical appearance in being well-groomed, tidy in our homes and with a walk that is outwardly exhibiting what we are internally), it is talking about the dichotomy of our being “a sweet smelling savior of Christ” on the one hand and the “stench of death” on the other.  It is talking about the double-edged sword we carry in our hearts and hands, and it is talking about our being loved and attractive to Christ and the people of God and at the same time being loved and hated by unsaved men.  This is what it means in following Christ, being like Christ, loved and hated for the gospel’s sake.  We are the messengers and the messengers carry the message of life and death.  We have an “aroma” of Christ and if we live biblically, we will give off that aroma very clearly to the body of Christ and to the world.  It will say who we are in Christ and that message will bring joy or conviction. 

Another way to look at our “attractiveness” is to examine our walk.  A “living stone” offering up “spiritual sacrifices” is one who is being biblical in their behavior.  We are attractive even to the world when we are biblical.  They may “rail” against us in many ways but the “railing” is against our good witness in Christ, the gospel message, not from offensive or contrary behavior on our part.  If we try to shove the Bible and Christ down the throat of an unbelieving person who is spiritually “dead” and has neither the eyes nor ears to understand the gospel, nor been given the gift of faith, in an arrogant, proud or self-righteous manner, we will be offensive and not attractive. If we live in the world and think, act and walk like an unbeliever, we will be unattractive and cause shame to the cross of Christ. If we, as believing sisters, lord it over our sisters who are weak in the faith, have different gifts or situations than ours and thereby wound them, we are offensive and not attractive.  If we are gossipy, envious, backbiting, complaining believers, we are not attractive and do not reflect Christ-like behavior. We are to be those loving “attractive” believers who can be a witness as Christ was, “there was no fault found” in them.  In other words, we are to love the brethren, our neighbor, our enemies with a heart of Christ and exhibit the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance against such there is no law” Gal. 5:22-23) so that we are “innocent” of the sin of being offensive.  We cannot blame our offensive or unbiblical behavior on the grounds of “persecution” if we are not living, acting and behaving biblically.  We will “suffer persecution” but not because of our disobedient behavior.  We are to be “without fault” and thus as we reflect Christ-like behavior, we are “attractive” to Christ, His people and the world.  The unbelieving world may not recognize that “attractiveness” (as we will see every day) but we do not answer to the world, we answer to Christ and we are to be that reflection of Him and that is, without a doubt, attractive because it reflects the gifts of the Spirit.  We are to “examine ourselves” daily to be sure that we are living by faith, in faith, acting upon faith, and walking by faith. A faithful walk exhibits Christ and we know that Christ is the “beauty of holiness” “altogether lovely” and One to be desired above all else.  The unsaved world called Him a “drunk and winebibber” but that did not negate His “beauty of holiness.”  Thus, our attractiveness, the reflection of God’s Spirit, is not negated by unsaved man.  Therefore,  our marching orders are this, live biblically, reflecting holiness and the gifts of the Spirit because we love Christ and we know not who He will bring into our lives and our testimony may be the very “attractive” thing that He uses to bring them into His kingdom.  Perhaps it will be an unbelieving husband or wife who is “won by the behavior” of the spouse.  Perhaps it is our child or family member who is won by our infectious love, joy and peace.  Perhaps it is the neighbor that we refrain from gossiping with or perhaps it is that sister who is a babe in Christ who wants to be a godly Proverbs 31 woman.  We are to live as we are called, offspring of our Heavenly Father, with His characteristics and beauty.

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Source: joany, Reformed-Women, “The Attractiveness of God’s People” My Summary Comments: Grace To Stand Study, Dec. 2003. Copyright ©2003-2006, The JoyPals Network, All rights reserved.

“Christ, Our Righteousness”

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?” (Rom. 8:33–34)

I recently read (again) the “New Horizons” article “Cleared and Approved by the Supreme Court!” by J.G. Vos in my research for our upcoming studies.  It seems that this is often in the forefront of our conversations of late (and perhaps more often that we think because of the current heresies [old error mixed with new error] being perpetrated on the immature and unlearned in the faith ).  In Vos’ article he asks “Have you been cleared and approved by the Supreme Judge of the universe?” In other words, “are you truly justified in the sight of God by His free grace and imputed righteousness”? Thus, this encouraged me to challenge us once again on this important subject and what we believe regarding our justification.  The following along with our forthcoming recommended reading should whet your appetite for more reading and study:

Shorter Catechism Q. 71. How is justification an act of God’s free grace?
A. Although Christ, by His obedience and death, did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in the behalf of them that are justified; yet inasmuch as God accepteth the satisfaction from a surety, which he might have demanded of them, and did provide this surety, His own only Son, imputing His righteousness to them, and requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith, which also is His gift, their justification is to them of free grace.

Vos says:

“It is basic to an understanding of justification as set forth in Scripture, that we recognize that justify and justification are legal terms; they concern the Christian’s relation to God as Judge. Justification concerns the Christian’s standing in relation to God’s act of judging. In the Bible, the term justify means “to declare righteous” or “to pronounce righteous.” It does not mean “to make righteous.” This important distinction is obscured by some modern translations of the Bible. To understand justification as “making a person righteous” is to confuse justification with sanctification. Sanctification is an inward change in character. Justification is a change in relationship to the law of God. “Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone” (Shorter Catechism, Q. 33).Justification includes pardon, but it is more than pardon. It includes: the pardon or forgiveness of all our sins, plus the pronouncement that we are positively righteous.“

and

“The only ground of justification is the finished work of Christ—his blood and righteousness. This is the basis on which God can pronounce us righteous: “To declare … his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). Because Christ lived a perfect life and shed his blood on the cross, God can impute or credit this to you and me, and on this basis declare that we are righteous.“

This begs the question, is Christ your righteousness?

Read on…

Soli Deo Gloria, joany
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