I am thankful for the Titus 2 women's ministry at our church. The Biblical view of womanhood is so different from what the world says. I fear as time goes on, the contrast will become even greater. I have vague childhood memories of life before the women's lib movement, but younger women have no other reference point than modern feminism. We are constantly bombarded from movies, television, and the internet to the point you become numb. Even the grocery store isn't a safe place anymore. There should be magazine-free checkout lines, because it's embarrassing to see what is shamelessly displayed on the covers as the perfect woman.
Last Saturday, the pastor's wife led a study on purity - not just staying free from fornication or adultery, but purity of mind and thought as renewed by Scripture. We discussed several issues that hit close to home such as how we view our appearance, why we want to be accepted, and what is driving that. Is it the Word or is it the world? Is it resting in the fact the we are in Christ and accepted by God because of His perfect sacrifice or wanting to be admired for just the externals? Are we cultivating a meek and quiet spirit or spending our time cultivating the perfect hairdo? Seriously, 2-1/2 years of a woman's life is spent on her hair.
Lest anyone think we left with a set of rules, that was far from the case. The challenge was to love Christ and treasure Him. If we set our affections on Him, we will begin to value what He values - not what the world applauds. This will manifest in how we dress, how we deal with aging, how we raise our children, how we encourage each other as moms, wives, and single women.
I am very excited about what God is doing. I am grateful for the older women in the church, but I am also thankful for the 20-somethings. It's great that my teenage daughter can know younger women who are way cooler than her mom, who love Christ and defy what the world says. As an introvert, it isn't in my nature to get too close to anyone, but I need these sisters in my life, and I praise God for them.
Last Saturday, the pastor's wife led a study on purity - not just staying free from fornication or adultery, but purity of mind and thought as renewed by Scripture. We discussed several issues that hit close to home such as how we view our appearance, why we want to be accepted, and what is driving that. Is it the Word or is it the world? Is it resting in the fact the we are in Christ and accepted by God because of His perfect sacrifice or wanting to be admired for just the externals? Are we cultivating a meek and quiet spirit or spending our time cultivating the perfect hairdo? Seriously, 2-1/2 years of a woman's life is spent on her hair.
Lest anyone think we left with a set of rules, that was far from the case. The challenge was to love Christ and treasure Him. If we set our affections on Him, we will begin to value what He values - not what the world applauds. This will manifest in how we dress, how we deal with aging, how we raise our children, how we encourage each other as moms, wives, and single women.
I am very excited about what God is doing. I am grateful for the older women in the church, but I am also thankful for the 20-somethings. It's great that my teenage daughter can know younger women who are way cooler than her mom, who love Christ and defy what the world says. As an introvert, it isn't in my nature to get too close to anyone, but I need these sisters in my life, and I praise God for them.
Yeah,in the book we are going through ( just us 4 ladies) we went through the purity chapter, and my eyes were open to alot of things as well. I like the idea that Our purpose as women and wives is to adorn the gospel. And we live by God's standards, not the worlds.
ReplyDelete"Seriously, 2-1/2 years of a woman's life is spent on her hair". This is truly amazing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post this is and how blessed you are to have such a godly pastor's wife to mentor the women in your fellowship!
I loved the emphasis she placed on purity of the thought life. That is where it all begins.
Women have always been under pressure to be outwardly beautiful, but never so intensely as we have today.
I'll be 59 this year and one advantage of getting older is that you kind of get "forced" to be more comfortable in your own skin. (You're too busy just trying lose weight and stay healthy). Not that I don't still struggle with vanity, but it's rather a lost cause the older you get anyway. ha!ha!
True beauty comes from dying to self and being conformed to the image of Christ.
Blessings sister!
I agree that there should be a magazine free aisle at the grocery store.
ReplyDelete