Many months ago I started writing a "book". As many others who love putting their musings to paper, I thought this journey had to lead to this... But I have since realised that this is not necessarily so. My love for writing started when I was little, and writing a book, would not mean that I have now arrived. Writing will always be part of my journey, I hope. So rather than feeling pressurised to publish something significant into book-form, or to leave some kind of a legacy, I have decided to put parts of what I "grinded" out at the midnight hour into this here blog. With no pressure to get the message exactly right or being inspirational. Just to share my journey so far. And perhaps honour those who have influenced, inspired, brought colour and meaning, and are still doing so.
"God is looking for imperfect men and woman who have learnt to walk in moment-by-moment dependence on the Holy Spirit. People who have come to terms with their inadequacies, fears and failures. Believers who have become discontent with “surviving“, and have taken the time to investigate everything God has to offer in this life." – Charles Stanley
I have not learnt, but am still learning to to this. Walk in moment-by-moment dependence on the Holy Spirit. And surrendered to the will of the Father and in a precious relationship with His Son Jesus.
I will start with what I labelled those many months ago as my "Introduction". And then take it from there.
ON BEING A WOMAN
If we reduce womanhood to physical features and biological functions, and then determine our role in the world merely on the basis of competencies, we don’t just miss the point of being a woman, we diminish the glory of Christ in our own lives. True womanhood is indispensable to God’s purpose to display the fullness of the glory of his Son. A woman’s distinctive, unique and captivating female person hood is not incidental. It exists because of its God-designed relationship to the central event of history, the death of the Son of God. (From a blog by John Piper).
The mystery lies not in how beguiling a woman is, but in how willing she is to let the beauty of Jesus unveil the depth of her design. To surrender, fall in love with the Lover of her heart and be content. Fearfully and wonderfully made, through Him, for Him. For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! (Romans 11:36)
ON BEING A MOTHER
Motherhood is not an essential part of womanhood, nor is it a hobby. It is a calling. You do not have children because you are bored or because you find them cute, or you need to fill a void in your life. It is not something you do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.
Christian mothers carry their children in hostile territory. When you are in public with them, you are standing in a society that values how adorable, capable or clever they are. But you testify that you value what God values. You stand with the defenceless in front of the needy. You represent what our culture opposes, because you represent laying down your life for another – which ultimately represents the gospel.
Our culture is simply afraid of death. Laying down your own life, in any way is terrifying. Strangely, it is that same fear that drives the abortion industry: fear that your dreams will die, your future and your freedom will die – and trying to escape that death by running into the arms of death. (Based on a blog written by Rachel Jankovic)
When a mother immerses herself in the Life which is found in Jesus, the life of a child is given a new eternal value. Children are the fruit of a loving relationship with your earthly husband. Just as the fruits of the Spirit are the result of a loving relationship with our eternal husband, Jesus Christ.
Motherhood is given a new meaning, however messy and “un”-valued it may seem. With Jesus the paradigm shifts. You lay down your hopes, lay down your future, lay down your petty annoyances. Lay down you desire to be recognised. Lay down your ideas of a romantic marriage relationship. Lay down your irritability and fussiness with your children. Lay down your need for a perfectly clean house. Lay down your grievances about the life you are living. Lay down the imaginary life you could have had by yourself. And you let go.
And in this free fall of surrender, a wide angled reality opens up in front of your tired eyes: I have been chosen to be this – a woman, a wife, a mother. Not by chance or choice, but for His glory!
I will start with what I labelled those many months ago as my "Introduction". And then take it from there.
ON BEING A WOMAN
If we reduce womanhood to physical features and biological functions, and then determine our role in the world merely on the basis of competencies, we don’t just miss the point of being a woman, we diminish the glory of Christ in our own lives. True womanhood is indispensable to God’s purpose to display the fullness of the glory of his Son. A woman’s distinctive, unique and captivating female person hood is not incidental. It exists because of its God-designed relationship to the central event of history, the death of the Son of God. (From a blog by John Piper).
The mystery lies not in how beguiling a woman is, but in how willing she is to let the beauty of Jesus unveil the depth of her design. To surrender, fall in love with the Lover of her heart and be content. Fearfully and wonderfully made, through Him, for Him. For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! (Romans 11:36)
ON BEING A MOTHER
Motherhood is not an essential part of womanhood, nor is it a hobby. It is a calling. You do not have children because you are bored or because you find them cute, or you need to fill a void in your life. It is not something you do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.
Christian mothers carry their children in hostile territory. When you are in public with them, you are standing in a society that values how adorable, capable or clever they are. But you testify that you value what God values. You stand with the defenceless in front of the needy. You represent what our culture opposes, because you represent laying down your life for another – which ultimately represents the gospel.
Our culture is simply afraid of death. Laying down your own life, in any way is terrifying. Strangely, it is that same fear that drives the abortion industry: fear that your dreams will die, your future and your freedom will die – and trying to escape that death by running into the arms of death. (Based on a blog written by Rachel Jankovic)
When a mother immerses herself in the Life which is found in Jesus, the life of a child is given a new eternal value. Children are the fruit of a loving relationship with your earthly husband. Just as the fruits of the Spirit are the result of a loving relationship with our eternal husband, Jesus Christ.
Motherhood is given a new meaning, however messy and “un”-valued it may seem. With Jesus the paradigm shifts. You lay down your hopes, lay down your future, lay down your petty annoyances. Lay down you desire to be recognised. Lay down your ideas of a romantic marriage relationship. Lay down your irritability and fussiness with your children. Lay down your need for a perfectly clean house. Lay down your grievances about the life you are living. Lay down the imaginary life you could have had by yourself. And you let go.
And in this free fall of surrender, a wide angled reality opens up in front of your tired eyes: I have been chosen to be this – a woman, a wife, a mother. Not by chance or choice, but for His glory!
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