Best Sermon ...

I heard one of the best sermons on biblical womanhood I've ever heard. I may be a bit biased as it was from my pastor at Grace. I also certainly don't have all the answers. However, I have grown up in one mindset of what it should look like or what a group of people have interpreted scripture to mean. I have learned that, yes, the Bible is very clear on a number of things when it comes to women and our roles. However, I have also learned that we, in our sinful and humanness, include our own personal bias, opinions and growing up experiences into how this plays out.

We often blame only the "world" for its scewed version of womanhood. I believe the church is to blame as well, and by church I don't mean a specific building. I mean groups of people. We see some things through our own lenses of interpretation or just beliefs, or how we were raised.  For example, what does it mean to be a "complimentarian"? You and I may both be one, however how we live that out practically, may look a little different.

What's my point? While we may have different ideas or interpretations of what scripture means to us practically, none of us have the right to see "our way" as the right way and shun those who don't believe the same way as we do.  I am not referring to those biblical distinctions we hold to that separate us from other "religions". I am talking about how we live out our lives as followers of Christ, when we don't all agree on everything.

What does this have to do with womanhood?  (I'm getting there!) I have lived my entire 49 years as a single woman. I've been told I am not fulfilling my life's greatest calling: that of being a wife and mother. I've been told I am less then a man, that I have to obey men, that I am not worth as much financially as I make less then a man doing the same job.  

My greatest calling is where God has me now and using the gifts He has given me to share Christ with others, encourage believers and to love God and others more every day. While being "alone" may not be ideal, God's grace is enough.

Here are four fundamentalist flaws (from my pastor's sermon)

1.  Hyper-patriarchy over partnership - absolute rule over women, that we are under all men.

2.  Non-biblical ideals as requirements:

     a.  woman can't work outside the house

     b.  women should never be in charge

     c.  women should never teach men, period

     d.  women should not excel their husbands - be smarter than, make more money that, etc.

3.  Cultural norms over timeless truths of scripture

4.  A fulfillment of the second part of the curse...that men will rule over women in a negative way.

We confuse the word "helper" ..... God is referenced  as helper as well. It is not being inferior or weaker. Adam could not do his role alone. He needed help, a partner.

Yes, I am soon to be married ... and my role will change. I can no longer do what I want, whenever I want to. ( yikes! ) LOL ....... this doesn't make me "better" then single people. It makes my role now different.

Church:  we HAVE to change how we see single people, how we treat them and how we use them in our churches. There are single people I would rather have influencing my children (if I had them) then some married people. 

Now that I have offended somebody ........ we are ALL made in God's image. Let's act like it.

Women I am Thankful For

Philippians 1:3
"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God."

There are many women I am thankful for today.  So I just want to mention a few and say thank you.

To the woman who gave birth to me:  thank you for choosing life in a time when being an unwed pregnant teen was kept silent.

To the woman who gave me "life":  thank you mom ... for taking a baby (3 in fact) that you didn't give birth to and making us your own. For making every birthday seem like the biggest deal ever. For making our house a home. For modeling what a Godly mom and woman looks like. For your sense of humor! For modeling prayer. For modeling great courage and strength in the end. I miss you.

To the woman who is another birth mom:  thank you for choosing life so that my family could raise Preston and Lillian.

To my SIL, Kari - thank you for being the amazing mom you are to Preston, Quinten, Deacon & Lillian. Thank you for allowing me to completely and un-ashamedly spoil and love them. Thank you for caring for dad ... you are modeling grace, God's love and caring for someone through difficult times.

To the women who have been my "other moms":  Patsy Kuhar & Sheron Gibbs. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your families, for nursing me through many surgeries (Sheron!), Sunday dinner with your family, your examples of selfless giving and service, and for your daughters who are my lifelong friends.

To some women who are dear friends:

Beth - for not killing me as a 17 year old freshman! For not being intimidated of who my family was and putting me in my place when needed, for discipling me and still being my friend 30 years later. By the way, the mattress out the window was Cheryl's idea.

Kim - for reaching out and "taking me on" ... for helping me survive our common office space : ) and encouraging me so well. For all the chats, coffee and being in the "circle of trust".

Lori W. - for allowing me into your family and letting me be an "aunt" to your kids. For being so excited every time you see me. For your love of life. For allowing a very unmusical person be your sound "man".  For being a dear friend and more recently, being my matchmaker.

Kirsten - for being my "sister, for being patient while I "figured you out" : ) , for walking through hard, hard times together, for your loyalty, sense of humor, encouragement, your example of complete and utter trust and faith in Jesus, for being "Jesus w/ skin on" when I needed it, for our mutual love of food and laughter and for being a forever friend.

Jessica - I've learned so much from you watching you be a mom. thanks for your raw honesty and vulnerability about being a wife and a mom. Thanks for letting me love your kids!

Becky & Brooke - for all the laughs, snarky times, serious conversations and friendships especially these past couple of years. Thanks for your examples of grace. You are lifelong friends!

There are others and I probably offended somebody : )  which is not my intention. I just wanted to say thank you to some women I love and one I miss.