True Woman 08

This past weekend, I attended a conference in Schaumburg, Illinois, that was unlike any other I have ever attended. The True Woman conference, sponsored by Revive our Hearts (the radio program of Nancy Leigh DeMoss) and other similar ministries, was not a "fluffy" women's conference. We enjoyed solid, doctrinal teaching on biblical womanhood. Some of the other things that set this conference apart were the exceptional music (led by Keith and Kristyn Getty) and heavy emphases on prayer, repentance, surrender and humility. Part of the purpose of the conference was to show how feminism has infiltrated the church and our own individual lives. I especially enjoyed Mary Kassian's message on the history and rise of feminism in our culture. I'll mention, lastly, that the conference was also BIG; there were over 6000 women there and thousands of others who watched it via live streaming. (The venue could not hold any more than 6000, so registration was ended back in August.) We sat for hours at a time in the same place because there simply was not room to let everyone go take a break at the same time! It was very encouraging to see that many women who value marriage and mothering and male leadership in the church. You can listen to the messages online here. Some of the speakers included Joni Eareckson Tada, John Piper, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Mary Kassian, Janet Parshall, and Karen Loritts.

Oh, and the best part was that I got to go with my mom!

Resolutions on the tongue from James

These are from the message "The Tongue, the Bridle, and the Blessing", a message by Sinclair Ferguson at the Desiring God National Conference held last weekend (I only listened online here). He looked, first of all, at the classic passage on the tongue--James 3, and then put it in its practical context within the book of James.

...the book of James has at least 20 resolutions that need to be part of the Christian’s covenant with God about how the believer is going to employ the tongue and lips, and master the heart in such a way that the beauty of Jesus is expressed:

1. I resolve to ask God for wisdom to speak out of a single-minded devotion to him (1:5).
2. I resolve to boast only in the exultation I receive in Jesus Christ and also in the humiliation I receive for Jesus Christ (1:9-10).
3. I resolve to set a watch over my mouth (1:13).
4. I resolve to be constantly quick to hear and slow to speak (1:19).
5. I resolve to learn the gospel way of speaking to both rich and poor (2:1-4).
6. I resolve to speak in the present consciousness of my final judgment (2:12).
7. I resolve never to stand on anyone’s face with the words I employ (2:16).
8. I resolve never to claim as reality in my life what I do not truly experience (3:14).
9. I resolve to resist quarrelsome words as evidence of a bad heart that needs to be mortified (4:1).
10. I resolve never to speak decided evil against another out of a heart of antagonism (4:11).
11. I resolve never to boast in any thing but what I will accomplish (4:13).
12. I resolve to speak as one subject to the providences of God (4:15).
13. I resolve never to grumble. The judge is at the door (5:9).
14. I resolve never to allow anything but total integrity in everything I say (5:12).
15. I resolve to speak to God in prayer whenever I suffer (5:13).
16. I resolve to sing praises to God whenever I’m cheerful (5:14).
17. I resolve to ask for the prayers of others when I’m in need (5:14).
18. I resolve to confess it whenever I have failed (5:15).
19. I resolve to pray with others for one another whenever I am together with them (5:15).
20. I resolve to speak words of restoration when I see another wander (5:19).

Great teaching on parenting young kids

I don't even know how I happened upon this podcast this week, but it's great. It's called "Thoughtful Parenting for the Early Years" and is so practical and helpful for knowing what to expect from toddlers. Wish I could start over : ) . . .

Esther

I've been enjoying a series by Nancy Leigh DeMoss on Esther. She has been speaking about her life all week here. It's been my listening material in the morning when I unload the dishwasher.

Celebrating

"What you find joy in, you celebrate; what you celebrate, you pass on."

This is a quote from Will's message this morning. The sermon was in a series on parenting from Deuteronomy. I'm biased, I'm sure, but I think this is a great message on an important concept.

I'm brainstorming a bit...
These are some things I think my parents celebrated (and therefore passed on a love for):

ministry to people
sacrifice/giving up things they loved
prayer and answered prayer
family and church family
the Word (both for practical benefit and serious study)
reading
memories/good times together
travel
having many interests (crafts, sports, hobbies)
clutter-free living
music and singing together
popcorn : )
children and animals
nature and being outdoors (especially in Minnesota)

Radical Womanhood

Carolyn McCulley has written a book called Radical Womanhood which will be released this fall. (I saw her story this week on the girltalk blog.) She is a gifted author and speaker and has been used by God since coming to Christ as an adult. She had a degree in Women's Studies from a secular university, and her views on femininity were radically changed through her study of the Bible. I really enjoyed these messages she gave at a women's conference where she shared about the joys and challenges of pursuing biblical femininity in a world that has embraced the fallacy of feminism. They are well-worth listening to.

Hoping in God

I enjoyed this message today by Janis Shank about the life of Sarah. You can also find an outline here. The women's ministry of Sovereign Grace Church in Fairfax, Virginia is doing a series on "hope."

I was encouraged to hope in the promises of God. For me, the most comforting promise from this week has been Psalm 115:3 "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. "

Affection and "A, You're Adorable"

I was listening to an excellent sermon recently by Chuck Swindoll here about daughters. I was convicted about my own lack of affection toward my husband. The message challenged me to model a kind, fun-loving affection for my girls. I tend to be "all business" with Will when the kids are around.

So...tonight when Will got home, we all sang a rousing rendition of "A, You're Adorable" (AKA "The Alphabet Love Song"). I'm not sure what Will thought about it, but Kaisa loved it. There is a background midi and lyrics here.

Ministry is a mercy

My dad “gave” me 2 Corinthians 4 in a sermon when I graduated from high school. God used this passage of scripture to encourage me again today. I’ve been very discouraged, and I need to remember that I deserve nothing. Everything is a mercy.

2 Corinthians 4:1 (ESV)
Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

“Ministry is a mercy. It is a gift of God’s grace and favor to the utterly undeserving. You know, you hear people talk about burnout in ministry. Burnout is not because of work. You don’t hear ditch diggers complain about getting burned out on digging ditches. Labor doesn’t make people burn out. What makes people burn out is discouragement, and discouragement is connected to unrealistic expectations. If you realize you deserve nothing, and that everything is a mercy, that’s all you need to know.”

John MacArthur in “Certainties that Drive Enduring Ministry” at the 2007 Desiring God National Conference