my collection of moms

May I confess something? I have a chronic case of mom-greed. I long for a mom. Most girls want husbands. I'm only sort of joking when I tell people that I'm not looking for a husband . . . I just want the mother-in-law; and when I find the mother-in-law I want, then I'll marry her son. But you know, even should I find the "perfect" mother-in-law, she will only be human and flawed. One day she too will die, leaving me again to be motherless; which proves to me that ultimate satisfaction can only be found in the One who never changes, never dies, never leaves me alone, and is going to wipe away every tear.

But do you know how kind God is, who not only is Father to the fatherless, but raises up mothers for the motherless? One of the symptoms of my mom-greed is that I collect spiritual moms (although I don't think this is a bad thing at all). My spiritual moms range in age, from long-dead to barely old enough to be my mother. My spiritual moms do the things that my real mom would have--they encourage me, rebuke me, build me up in the faith, go shopping, talk, sing, cry, hug, bake, cook. . . .

I think that everyone should have a spiritual mom or two or six. Why? Titus 2:3-5 gives a pretty good reason. And you don't have to personally know a woman for her to mother you, and she doesn't have to be a real mother. What is something that mothers universally do? They feed you! So what does a spiritual mother do? She feeds you spiritually and sends you to Jesus! Here are a few that I'm willing to share with you.

Amy Carmichael. Over and over again, she has sweetly ministered to my soul. She's more than just a sister in Christ. She mothers me, just as she mothered countless little children in India. Do you want a mom who, in lovely rhyme and verse, can destroy the defense you've built up for your sin? Her little book If will break your heart.

Elizabeth Prentiss. If you have never read Stepping Heavenward, oh, you don't know what you're missing! Like a skilled surgeon with a wickedly sharp scalpel, she is aggressive to cut out the sin. My sanctification is the goal! Like a mother, she desires my spiritual well being.

Elisabeth Elliot. I don't think there's been a single more influential person on my life than Elisabeth Elliot. Of all spiritual moms, she is chief. She's given me such good counsel. I can't even recommend one book more than another. We can hardly do better than to take instruction from her.

My other spiritual moms are several women who are in my life. Like the more "famous" ones, they feed me spiritually, only in person rather than on paper. Ladies, do you realize how precious your ministry is to those of us who look up to you as to mothers? Maybe our moms are dead, or absent, or uninvolved, or indifferent, or even cruel. Thank you, thank you for your ministry, for entering our lives and being more than just a friend, more than just a sister, for coming alongside as a mentor and teacher. I know well that God sees your labor of love on our behalf and will overwhelmingly repay you on that day!

Don't Waste Your Lent

"The world's spirit is strong, and it can play at religion with every appearance of sincerity. It can have fits of conscience (particularly during Lent)! It will contribute to charitable causes and campaigns on behalf of the poor, but all with its own condition: 'Let Christ keep His distance and never assert His lordship.' This it positively will not endure!" A. W. Tozer

Most of us know catholics who are really good at 'playing' religion. It becomes particularly evident during Lent. People who don't talk about God (except to use His name in vain), don't obey Jesus' commands, don't love Jesus or strive to be like Him all of a sudden think they're pleasing God by having pizza for dinner in place of steak. What a sacrifice. (It actually is a true act of sacrifice in Florida where the pizza is abysmal...)

This is so sad.

For most catholics, Lent is about worshiping God with their lips when their hearts are far, far from Him.

So what can we, as Christians, do for the catholics we come in contact with?

1. First of all, give thanks to our Lord for fulfilling the requirements of the sacrificial system, thus ushering in the law of liberty and grace. Also, thank Him for declaring all things (foods) good.

2. Pray.

3. Learn. Educate yourself about Catholicism>--it makes an impression when you've done your research.

4. TALK TO THEM! They're supposed to be religious, remember? Talk about God. Ask them questions about their faith, their belief in the Bible, etc.

5. Challenge their beliefs. Sola Scriptura, works-salvation, Marian worship...

6. Live it. Obedience to Christ, accompanied by joy and satisfaction in Him, speaks loudly. Your catholic friends will recognize that what you have is different than what they experience.

Use this season of Lent for the glory of God by seizing the opportunity to reach out to your catholic friends and neighbors.

The Judgment Free Zone

Have you seen the new fitness center in Brick? I don't know how long it's been there but I just noticed it a couple of weeks ago. The name caught my attention. The Judgment Free Zone. Who wouldn't want to go there? I expect the gym will be successful in drawing a clientele. But will the clients stay?

What do you think the name is about? Does management want to let people know that no one at the gym will look at them critically? That they will be accepted no matter the shape or size? Or do they want everyone to come as they are, happy with themselves and see no need to change? If that's the case then, its unlikely the people will renew their membership. If we are to be completely judgment free, there is no need to improve.

I do think women are their own worst judges. I mean, who is really happy about their looks? I always wished I had long slender legs. But no amount of exercise will help that (unless someone has a stretch rack in their basement I could use). Let's just say though, for argument sake, I could have those legs. How long would it be before I was again judging my appearance based on an ideal in my imagination?

So, what do I do with my concern for my short-stubbies? Do I join a club where I can be made to feel good about myself no matter what? Somehow I don't think that will stick.

The only answer for me (and everyone) is Psalm 139:13-18.

I'd like to find a gym named, "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made." I'd also like to see a woman's magazine named: "Beautiful in God's Eyes," or "Days Formed for Me."

My sisters, we are made in the image of God. We were formed in our mother's womb by the Creator of the Universe. Every part of us is tailor made to suit God's purposes. He fashioned us. We couldn't begin to count the number of thoughts He has for us. And, if we are standing in the righteousness of Christ we live in a doubly free judgment zone. God loves us as His creation and He loves each of us as His blood-bought daughter, princess, bride. That's the only opinion worth caring about.

Posting comments

It's come to my attention that there are at least a few of you who are having trouble leaving comments on the blog. Hopefully this little tutorial will help you. If you're still having problems afterwards, shoot me an email.

1. Click on the comments link at the bottom of the post.




2. Type your comment in the box.




3. Complete the word verification. This feature helps prevent blog-spam things called "bots" from posting random comments. I know it sounds weird, but trust me on this. Just type whatever letter/number combination you see.




4. Choose an identity. If you have a gmail address or an account with Blogger, you can use the Google/Blogger option. If you have an account with TypePad, Wordpress, OpenID, or AIM, you can use the OpenID option. If you'd just like to post with your name--which would be nice, so we can see who you are!--choose the Name/URL option. Or, if you'd prefer to comment anonymously, choose the anonymous option.




5. Click "Publish Your Comment." You can also click "Preview" if you'd like to see it first.




Now that you know how to post comments, go back to Gayline's post from today (March 15) and leave one. And if you have time, go back to the others you tried to comment on and leave one there too. We want to hear from you!

Life = Christ

Why am I alive? The Westminster Confession of Faith says, "the chief end (purpose) of man (woman) is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." John Piper says the way we glorify God is by enjoying Him forever. TDB taught us this morning from Philippians that to live is Christ. Life = Christ. "Living for Christ is living for others in their joyful journey of faith" and "living in such a way as to say, 'Christ is worth it.'"

Whether our circumstances are hard: prison, sickness, unemployment (or less than "ideal" employment), spiritual singleness in your marriage, rebellious children, busyness, fatigue, loneliness, or grief; or whether they are pleasant: material prosperity, spiritual blessings, church, ministry and familial joys, our lives are to be all about Christ.

Do others look at us and think being a Christian is worth it? Do they think we are really truly happy being a Christian? Do our children see Christ in us? Do they see us joyfully deferring our good desires for something even better - the good of others? Do our adult children find Christ attractive as they look at our lives? Do co-workers marvel at our lives being so much about Christ? Do they see a joy-filled consistency in our lives? This is how we glorify God, and in this, enjoy our God.

I'd love to hear how living for Christ is joy-producing for you. What desires are you deferring to Christ and finding it to be a joyful exchange? How in your circumstances (prison?) are you, with the help of Christ, able to choose fruitful labor for the joy of others? Let us give glory to God by hearing each other's stories. It's all about Him and His activity in our lives. Sharing these things is a way of "nurturing other's progress and joy in the faith." We spur one another on and our joy is increased as a result.