I find myself in the same struggle that Paul had.  My desire is to attack those who attack me.  To come to my own defense and point out the 57 ways they are wrong and use great detail and colorful adjectives to describe the lack ground they are standing on.  I have the desire to be my own advocate … but that is not what God has taught me.  And thus begins the struggle.

This is a lesson I keep learning over and over with different circumstances, different people, different places.  I am reminded that God is my protector, and as one of His children He will not let me be crushed under the oppression.  I take comfort that even Paul went through this same struggle … and had victory through Christ!

As I have allowed the Spirit to counsel me, I am seeing things more clearly.  The person who is attacking me is the one who I have a duty to pray for.  That is one of many ways we are transformed as followers.  Just as Jesus prayed for those who crucified him, we are to pray for those who condemn us.  Although lies and manipulation pour out of a person, that doesn’t mean they understand what they are doing or even why.

A person who does not know Christ is unaware of the spiritual battle that is raging within.  In contrast, I am aware of this battle, hence the relating to Paul in doing what is wrong even when I want to do what is right.  Thankfully there is a faithful God who is urging me towards seeing with His eyes.  To see the truth of a lost soul that is attacking me on the outside, but who spiritually is treading on a path that leads only to destruction.  It is irrelevant what is thrown my way by someone of this world.  The relevance lies in the reality of a lost soul being right in front of me, and whether I choose to seek God’s path of turning the other cheek; or, choosing to see the surface deceit the enemy has painstakingly crafted in the attempt to keep that person in bondage.  In choosing the latter, I would also choose to invite deceit into my own heart.

I choose to follow God and follow the example set for me by Christ.

Lord, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to to have this person in my life.  I thank you for revealing to me the truth of salvation, and for showing me the lost soul that stands before me.  I pray that they would have the truth revealed in a way that cannot be denied.  I pray Lord that you would impress upon me a heart that stays firm in your desire for this person to have eternal salvation.  I pray that you would use me in any capacity to lead them to you.  Lord, I thank you for the honor of being a part of a plan that can impact even one life.  In your holy name I pray.  Amen.

Mrs. Thomas

We all fall victim to judgement of others at some point (or points) in our lives.  Many times, the one who is the most cruel in their judgment of us is ourselves.  Unknowingly, we can put ourselves under such scrutiny that we cripple ourselves from making any advancement at all.  Fear of facing our path left behind can lead to fear of choosing the path in front of us.  So, we choose to sit down on a rather uncomfortable place on the path, looking at all the others on the path who are walking past and pointing out every stumble.  I suppose it makes it easier to cast stones when your sitting so close to them on the ground.

A friend asked me today if I would choose a different path if I could go back to the beginning.  My reply was an immediate “No!”.  The path I have left behind was challenging is so many areas.  There were times that I didn’t choose to sit down on the path, but was pushed down and trampled.  My path has taught me the beauty of pain.  It has taught me the depth of my faith.  It has taught me that everything that grows into beauty must first break through the shell of circumstance to the freedom of hope.

In our society, women are not only encouraged to be strong and independent from a man, they are shamed into it.  There is a perception that weakness is associated with having respect for our husbands.  After all, they are only good for reaching the top shelves of cabinets, killing bugs and opening jars.  Past that, they are mere drones that sit on the couch and yell at other drones playing with various sized balls in a field.  In contract, women have perception, can multi-task better than a computer processor, and maintain overall empathy for the plight of other women globally.  With all of these stereotypes in mind, it is not surprising that the vast majority of our society rejects the concept of submission with marriage … including those within the church.

Let’s suspend our pre-conceived notions about marriage, and explore why we were given the instruction to submit.  Most Christians would agree that all of the lessons within scripture are for our benefit.  That holds true with the plan for a Holy marriage.  “…as to the Lord” is not haphazardly attached to the command of submission; it is the key to understanding it.  As we seek God’s perfect will in our life, and begin the transformation into the person He created us to be.  If this is what we believe, why is it so difficult to reflect the same principle within our marriage?

Human nature is to expect another person to earn our love and respect.  When a husband has not met the expectations, the result is typically to withhold both.  Unconditional love is replaced by punishing, which results in the wife placing herself in the position of God as a self-appointed judge.  The ripple effect caused by both the husband and wife has far reaching consequences … adversely impacting children, other family members, friends, and ultimately the body Christ.

So what does submitting look like?  A common misconception is that our brain is somehow checked at the door and we relinquish our thoughts about everything.  That idea couldn’t be more wrong.  God doesn’t take away our free will to follow Him.  He doesn’t remove our thoughts, our personalities … our uniqueness.  If God doesn’t remove our”selves” when we become Christians, why would he have us do that for another who is born into the same sin that we were?  The definition of submit is “to yield to governance or authority”.  In other words, we are to acknowledge that our husbands have authority that is ordained by God.  This doesn’t mean that our husband has reached perfection in his thoughts and actions, it means we are to love and respect them regardless of their imperfections recognizing that we have the same flaws.

When we marry, we are joined in a covenant; a solemn vow taken before and bound by God; not a contract; a legally binding agreement between two parties that can be broken.  Just as the church; “the bride”; is the body of Christ; “the bridegroom”; we too are one in body with our husband when we enter into the marriage covenant.  Instead of placing expectations on our husbands, we are called to submit to the authority of God; who in wisdom that far exceeds our own, has placed the man as the “head of his wife”.

A submissive wife recognizes that in the covenant of marriage, her role is to support her husband and seek his input on decisions.  As situations arise that expose weakness in her husband, she will choose the path of prayer and support instead of condemnation and judgement.  When faced with the choice of benefiting her own interests above that of her husband, she will choose what will benefit her husband.  None of this reflects weakness as our society believes.  Instead, it reflects a strength that comes from God, and principles that we are to live out in our lives within our marriage, and in the world.

In His Strength,

Mrs. Cristy Thomas

Teen angst is a phrase that strikes terror in even the most battle hardened warrior.  Sighs of irritation and rolling eyes are equivalent to the Cobra’s hiss right before striking.  As the parent, there is a struggle of embracing the adolescent before us and releasing the innocence of the child we long to hold again.  We have little defense against the world that is competing rather successfully for their allegiance.  These challenges are real, they are mounting, and they are persistent.   Although I would love to say that the world is what has caused the concern for my eldest daughter, the mirror reveals the culprit of the deepest damage.

The teachings of Jesus show what characteristics I should be covered in to be Christlike: poor in spirit, mourner, meek, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, the persecurted and seeking righteousness.  These traits in their purest form are only available through growing in Christ.  The “weakness” that Jesus is calling for will result in an outward “strength”.  This will come from a deeper dependance on God, resulting in less of “me” showing and more of God.  I pray that God will continue to purify me in every way.

The shame of not having other peoples needs ahead of my own is growing unbearable.  I have just told my husband that I feel cheated by having to work and not be with the kids, and that it feels like he has been rewarded by getting sick.  I don’t want to have ill will like that.  It is selfish and does not show unconditional love and acceptance.  I have also been carrying frustration from work and allowing it to change my demeanor.  I feel as if I am directly under attack, and I have no recourse.   I guess that’s what it’s all about … letting God handle it.  The “poor in spirit”.

Lord, I do pray for my thoughts and actions to be in correct alignment with you, and for my heart to long for what brings glory to you.  I pray for forgiveness for my recent actions with my husband, children and co-workers.  Please continue to teach me what it is to be Yours and I pray for You to fill me to the point that “I” am no longer.  Amen