But They Feared God...

A God-Fearing woman is called to fear God alone and not fear anyone or anything else.  

Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. Matthew 10:28

It is the Lord God you shall fear.  Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.  You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples around you-for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God-  Deuteronomy 6:13-15

Do not fear anything frightening 1 Peter 3:6

Women in the bible, Shiprah, Puah, and Moses' mother feared God rather than man or what man could do to them.

Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah, and the other was named Puah; and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?” The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.” So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. And because the midwives feared God, He established households for them. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born, you are to throw into the Nile, but every daughter, you are to keep alive.”  Exodus 1:15-22

(Speaking of Moses' mother) ...she hid him for three months.  But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch.  Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.  His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him." see Exodus 2:1-4

• Two midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them but let the boys live.  
• Disobeying the king's decree, Moses' mother placed him in a wicker basket beside the Nile where he would be kept alive.  In the book to the Hebrews, we learn that it was by faith that Moses was hidden by his parents and that they were not afraid of the King's edict.  (Hebrews 11:23)  Like his parents, by faith Moses did not fear the wrath of the king, instead enduring because He "saw Him who was unseen". Hebrews 11:27

As I read these accounts this morning, motherhood came to mind. Abortion came to mind.  Countless children being sexually abused came to mind. Children being used in the industry of pornography and sexual exploitation came to mind.  Children being brought up to hate God, or at least ignore Him, came to mind.  

Last evening, on a text with two God-fearing mothers, one said, "The enemy is so crafty, and I get so angry that he is after our kids."  The other responded, "And it just keeps getting worse and worse for children in this world.  

The enemy hates the image of God in our children.  He hates the image of God in us.  He hates the image of Christ and His Church in a relationship between husband and wife.  He hates God-Fearers.  He always has.

I took so much courage this morning from God's Word as I read about the faith of Shiphrah and Puah, Moses' mother and father, and Peter and John. 

What am I to do with this knowledge as I sit here at my kitchen table, in the midst of a culture who is trying to destroy our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, men and women?  I'm not certain about the answer to this, but I do know as a God-fearing woman, wife, and mother:

1.  I am to fear the Lord alone.  

Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell. Matthew 10:28

2.  I am to love my husband.

So that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands... Titus 2:4

3.  I am to love my children and teach my children about the Lord, His Word, and His Ways.

...to love their husbands, to love their children. Titus 2:4

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:7

But Jesus said, "Let the children alone and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

4.  I am to despise fearing man-a trap of the enemy.

The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be delivered. Proverbs 29:25

5.  The Lord alone is my only keeper and protector.

The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun will not smite you by day, 

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord will protect you from all evil; 

He will keep your soul. 

The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and forever. Psalm 121:5-8

6.  The will of God is that I rejoice always, pray unceasingly, and give thanks in all circumstances.

 Rejoice always, praying without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

Is Being A Mom Enough?

Is Being a Mom Enough?  

I've heard this question from many young moms throughout the years, and many years ago, I was the one asking it.  

I worked full-time as an elementary school teacher, and as any teacher knows, it's hard work.  But what I didn't know then is that I had children at home to love, cherish, nurture, teach, and bring up in the instruction and admonition of the Lord.  I learned the hard way that forsaking my home to build a life is not the way of the Lord.  

Just a few months after having my firstborn, the night before I was to return to work, as my husband and I lay in bed, tears streamed down the side of my temples as I stared at the ceiling.  I told my husband how I didn't want to go back, but I saw no other way, and neither did he.  We would have had to sell our already 1200 sq foot tiny home to live in something more affordable, or so we thought.  The next day, I took my baby to a sitter and went to work, caring and teaching a classroom full of little children.  Two years later, after having our second born, I was becoming increasingly confused and unhappy with dropping my children at the sitter and teaching someone else's child. Day after day, I would drop my children and Jim would pick them up.  He would go home after a long day of work and start supper, the laundry, and play with our children.  There were few around us championing me to go home.  

But the Lord kept pressing into my heart that things were upside down, and I needed to be home. But self-made idols die hard and long and teaching was my identity.  I was a TEACHER.  It was not only what I did, it's WHO I was.  To me, teaching stood for everything I wanted:  purpose, meaning, activity, creativity, love, and recognition.  I was good at teaching, and the parents approved.   A perfect fit for a girl like me who was searching for the glory of God on this earth.  

Fast forward to bringing our two youngest children home. They were babies and we saw no other way for me to be home than for a miracle to happen or to sell our home.   We decided that selling our home was the only way for me to be home, and we did.  Again, it was not easy.  It was the home built on the 10 acres we desired to raise our children on.  But selling the home meant I could be home with all four children.  It was a hard change for our family, but it was worth it.  A million trillion times worth it.  

When my oldest son was in 9th grade, he asked to homeschool, and then a year later, our oldest daughter asked to do the same.  It was the Lord's redemption in many ways for the years lost.  Our relationships grew, and those years are some of the best gifts the Lord has ever given me.  Today we homeschool our two youngest children.  Most days are hard days.  But they're "worth it" days.  

I know without a doubt that loving my husband and loving and teaching our children is a work worth doing and yes, it is enough.  It is not my identity.  It is not WHO I am.  I belong to the Lord.  God is my Father and Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.  I believe that God makes families to build up the church.  If you are a mom, you are doing an important work.  In Ephesians, Paul writes and says that God has saved us and prepared good works for us to walk in.  Motherhood is full of these works.  May we walk in them.  Christ is enough.  Being in Christ is enough.  Doing all things for God's glory is what He asks. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Proverbs 14:1  A wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tear it down with her own hands.

Proverbs 31:10 An excellent wife who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.

Proverbs 31:29-30  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  

Titus 2:4 ...so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and love their children.