girltalk Blog
Faith toward God is the foundation of effective mothering. Success as a mother doesn’t begin with hard work or sound principles or consistent discipline (although those are all vital components!). It begins with God: His character, His faithfulness, His promises, His sovereignty. And as our understanding of these truths increases, so will our faith for mothering. But if our practices (no matter how useful) aren’t motivated by faith, they will be fruitless.
The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Fear is sin. And as my husband has often graciously reminded me – God is not sympathetic to my unbelief. Why? Because fear, worry, and unbelief say to God that we don’t really believe He is ‘merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness’ (Psalm 86:15). We are calling God a liar.
Even in the most trying situations with our children, we have much more incentive to trust than to fear, much more cause for peace and joy than despair. That’s because, as Christians, we have the hope of the gospel.
To be continued…
(reprinted from Girl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood)
1:54 p.m. Paint Decisions
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(writings and resources on biblical womanhood around the internet)
Women, Christianity, and Feminism - in case you missed it, listen to Carolyn McCulley’s 9Marks interview on “ministering to singles, Christian social action, and what it means to be a “crush catalyst.”
Eat. Pray. Love. - a summary by Justin Taylor of an insightful review of this popular movie.
Should Christians Practice Yoga? - Dr. Al Mohler considers an enlightening new book on yoga in America and its relevance for Christians.
8:26 a.m.
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A woman came up to me at a party last week, and after we chatted for a minute, she said: “My friend told me about something she heard you say once, and I wondered if it was true.”
I knew where she was going. I get this question with curious regularity.
“Did you say that your biggest regret as a mother was that you didn’t trust God more?”
Yes, I told her, it’s true. I wish I had trusted God more.
As I wrote in our book Girl Talk:
“For every fearful peek into the future, I wish I had looked to Christ instead. For each imaginary trouble conjured up, I wish I had recalled the specific, unfailing faithfulness of God. In place of dismay and dread, I wish I had exhibited hope and joy. I wish I had approached mothering like the preacher Charles Spurgeon approached his job: ‘forecasting victory, not foreboding defeat.”
What mothering fears have you battled lately? Whether you are pregnant with your first child or trying to steer your youngest child through the teenage years, temptations to fear (or to its opposite: self reliance) litter the mothering landscape.
Here at girltalk we’re beginning a new series: A Mother’s Trust. To be honest, we’re doing this for ourselves as much as for you. But we hope it serves you to listen in as we preach God’s truth to our souls.
4:50 p.m.
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Our new favorite history book...
1:52 p.m. Fall Decorating Underway
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(this post by CJ is reprinted from the cheap seats blog )
This weekend I had the privilege of serving our friends at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. I love this church and preaching there is a pure joy because they are so attentive and responsive. And I always benefit from my interaction with members of the pastoral team, whom I deeply respect.
But there was a unique highlight on this trip in meeting Krista Horning.
Krista, now 23 years old, was diagnosed with Apert syndrome the day after her birth and has since undergone more then 60 surgeries. (I simply cannot comprehend that!) But you would probably never know that Krista has spent so much time in hospitals if you were to see her pronounced joy evident in her beautiful smile.
Krista is also the author of the new book Just the Way I Am: God’s Good Design in Disability (Desiring God, 2009). When it was released I received a copy from my friend Jon Bloom at Desiring God. I immediately read the book when it arrived and was deeply moved as I read it. I think you will be as well.
In the foreword, Joni Eareckson Tada writes:
Every child goes through the “Why?” stage. Kids and questions go together. But it gets tougher when, with doleful eyes, a child asks, “Why don’t my legs work like the other kids?” or “Why did God make me this way?”
Krista Horning is a young woman heaven-bent on helping children find answers. Especially the Answer, Jesus Christ. With a tenderness tempered by her own physical challenges, Krista considers it her life’s calling to lovingly lead kids with disabilities beyond their questions to discover just how wise and sovereign God really is.
The bulk of the book features photographs of joyful children at Bethlehem Church who suffer from disabilities. The photographs are complemented with biblical promises. Joni’s foreword is followed later in the book with a pastoral meditation by David Michael and a brief biography of Krista’s life written by her mother Mary (meeting the rest of the Horning family—Mary, her husband, son, and daughter—was another highlight from the trip!). Krista’s book concludes with application questions and a brief list of gospel truths by John Piper.
Just the Way I Am is a unique and valuable resource for parents and pastors who get asked the honest questions from children with disabilities.
What a joy to see how the Horning family is bringing honor to the Savior. And what joy it was to meet Krista and her family this weekend.
3:36 a.m. 29 Weeks Prego=Sleepless Nights
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