Chapter 3
You’ve Come a Long Way Baby!

I remember well the commercial to which the author alluded. I was around ten years of age and aghast that women felt a sense of entitlement not to their own cigarette, but also to doing things their own way. The demands placed on society by the female gender have been humorous in some instances—young girls desiring to join boy’s sports teams, women demanding levels of rights previously unheard of and the list go on. Let me hasten to say that the Gospel of Christ always raises the status of women; He never intended that women be trampled under the feet of men. However for society to function effectively, God designed an order as laid out in I Corinthians 11:3-4 “The head of the woman is the man, the head of the man is Christ, and the head of Christ is God.”
I believe one of the biggest problems in depicting true womanhood is television. The idealized family of the 1950’s was portrayed in Leave It to Beaver. Ward went to work; the Beav and Wally went to school, and June stayed home cooking and vacuuming all the while “dressed to the nines.” This gave way to the blended family of the Brady Bunch of the 1960’s and early 70’s, but it was still mom and dad and kids pulling together. The 1970’s provided a tremendous paradigm shift in the television family. While we laughed at and enjoyed Happy Days, but in retrospect, I cannot help but wonder if there weren’t elements of satirizing the slice of Americana provided by Leave It to Beaver. Let’s face it—Mrs. Cunningham was no Mrs. Cleaver. The women portrayed in the shows of 1990’s and 2000’s were a far cry from their predecessors, given my limited viewing experience. I believe that television tragically reflects what is happening in society. We have gone a long way –in the wrong direction. It is God who can turn the hearts of women back to the paths of biblical womanhood. Let’s not give in, give up or give out until we have pursued this plan for true womanhood.

Chapter 2 From Him Through Him and To Him

This reminds me of my pastor’s message yesterday. Although from an entirely different passage of scripture, the thoughts are quite similar. He directed our thought to overcoming the sin of worry. He observed,”If you are not ready to thank God for where you are, you are not ready to ask Him for what you need” (Wilburn, H. Salem Baptist, 8/22/2010). A woman who adopts this posture exemplifies the following characteristics according to Nancy Leigh DeMoss. The grateful life is lived as God-centered. This woman realizes that the events of her life are not about her and she lives to God’s glory – a glory-centered life. She believes that God is bigger than her problems. Secondly,” a true woman trusts God” (DeMoss, p. 41). She isn’t given to fear and worry, even in the face of seemingly hopeless circumstances. I needed to hear this tonight. For the past week, we have been going through a challenging time in our family. I have succumbed to the sin of worry in varying degrees. God confronted me with my sin yesterday, and I had little choice but to turn from it and choose to trust Him. I want to be true woman of God. That ultimately happens when one, looks into His face and says “Yes, Lord” before she knows the question. Lord, help me have that level of trust in my Savior

Day One: Voices of the True Woman Movement

John Piper purports that “wimpy theology makes wimpy women” (17). I had to chew on this one, and while he chose share stories of those who had suffered privations or death for the cause of Christ or who had stood firm amidst life-altering difficulties, my attention has been riveted on more mundane issues – is my theology, i.e. my view of God big enough to give me the power to overcome sin? We give into sin all too easily, because our God is too small – He is insufficient, at least from our vantage point. As a result, we seek to excuse our sin, indulge our appetites, and worship at the altar of self. Godly Christians require a theology that is rooted in a thorough knowledge of Scripture and a burning passion for the glory of God.

Thoughts on Ruth 2
If it be true that OT Salvation shows people coming into Israel embracing their God, speaking in a God-like manner, and behaving in a God-like way (per Colin Smith and Ed Kuhar), then it appears that Ruth was an OT believer. She speaks of One God, reflects the faith of Abraham – “the friend of God,” (James 2:23) and demonstrates “loyal love” (Strong’s lexicon) to Naomi much like the God whom she had chosen to serve. Note that in her “testimony” in chapter 1, she chooses the covenant name of God (Yahweh), not the generic form (El), further demonstrating that she was a “true Israelite” of the heart. Boaz further corroborates the veracity of her testimony, by saying of her that she had come to take refuge under the wings of the LORD God of Israel. True faith is evident to those around it.
The dealings of Boaz with Ruth demonstrate two things. He not only adhered to the law, but it was his guide for righteous living (NSB). Secondly, he gave to Ruth, at times in secret, or so it would seem. According to the Nelson Study Bible, this action was so not to shame her. In reaching out to people and working with people, we need to be careful to preserve their dignity, remembering that they are image-bearers of God as are we.
Romans 2 states that the goodness of God leads man to repentance; certainly, the goodness of God changed Naomi’s perception of Him. We serve a God who wants to be known, and He ever seeks to reveal Himself to His people through His mercy. Naomi saw the source of their blessing as the LORD, note the use of God’s covenant name. Is it a tell-tale sign of the heart when you consider how these OT individuals referred to God? Maybe the OT concept of salvation is tied up in that, or is at least revealed therein – their passionate relationship with and for Him.

Thoughts on Ruth 1

The story of Ruth took place during the days of the judges, a time of great moral and spiritual degeneracy. I’m certain the remnant was demoralized, and yet it is a bright spot that God is not finished with His people. God always has His remnant and His cause will persevere. This may be an example of eisogesis, but it seems ironic that they left the house of bread (Bethlehem) for Moab (God’s Washpot). Yet, even while dwelling in Bethlehem, they named their sons Mahlon (sickly) and Chilion (pining, failing). Is that indicative of their spiritual state even while there in the house of bread? The man whose name means “God is my King” further backslid when he allowed his sons to take wives from the daughters of the Moabites, a practice expressly forbidden by Jehovah, Himself and with good reason for the Moabites had adopted the abominable practice of sacrificing their children to the idol, Chemosh. Could it be an act of God that took the lives of these three men, leaving their wives widows? Regardless, it serves as a stark reminder that our actions never occur in a vacuum; they always have impact on others, as is seen in the lives of these individuals. Naomi’s husband and sons were all dead. But then one day news arrived from home. It was that food was available once again.
The visitation of the LORD in bringing bread to His people is the first direct mention of His name in this book. It is interesting that even in a pagan land and in her bitterness that Naomi ascribes this provision to the God of Israel. As she prepared to leave for home, she gathered her daughters-in-law to her to give them some parting words. She blessed them by wishing on them God’s mercy (deal kindly, a.k.a. loyal love). The concept of mercy here is fascinating. It is far deeper than I was ever taught. On one hand, it does refer to withholding justly deserved punishment, but there is so much more. Here it refers to the loyal love of God. God’s loyal love persists with me throughout my life and can never be exhausted regardless of my behavior. Naomi decided the same for her daughters in law – for God’s love to persist with them. Note how He persisted with this family.
Why was Ruth willing to serve the God of the Israelites when Naomi had testified that He was against her? Note that in vs. 20, Naomi does not use the covenant name for God; yet she does in vs. 21 and continues to use them interchangeably throughout the chapter. What is the significance Perhaps, Naomi, herself, is pining for a relationship she presumptively or presumably left in Israel. Ruth and Naomi arrived back home in Israel at the beginning of barley season. The famine for food was over. Was the spiritual famine in the life of Naomi over? Naomi is received by her people, but what about Ruth? Did she see even in Naomi’s faltering relationship with her God something that was lacking as she went through the motions of service to Chemosh. How was God once again moving in the lives of His people, particularly Ruth and Naomi? One thing to note: Naomi’s remarks about reflect a faulty view of His character (“He brought me back empty”). God would reach into her famine-stricken-soul in throughout the rest of the story to restore her to Himself and to restore her trust in that covenant relationship, while painting a lovely picture that is a foreshadowing of Christ and His church. Until next time, consider these things.

I Remember I Meditate I Muse


For several Wednesday evenings last fall, our Pastor, Dr. Howard Wilburn, directed our attention to Psalm 143. As the last of the penitential Psalms, it appears to have been written when David was in deep distress, fleeing for his life as Absalom had usurped the throne and sought the life of his father. Absalom apparently felt he had just cause for his actions having witnessed first hands the moral failures and overt favoritism of his father, and so in an act of treason he not only sought his father’s throne, but his life as well. Consequently, David was forced into hiding, and it is altogether possible that this Psalm was written from the depths of some cave. Despite the fact that he was being pursued, even sinned against, David openly acknowledged before God his own culpability in the entire situation. Then in verse 5, he changed his focus by uttering three simple sentences:” I remember; I meditate; I muse.” As David remembered, he likely turned his thoughts to what God had done in the past, e.g. the conquering of Goliath the nine-foot champion of the Philistines, or perhaps the times of deliverance from King Saul, such as the time he threw the javelin in an attempt to pin David to the wall, or even the early days of watching his father’s sheep when he killed a lion and bear with little effort through God’s power. As he remembered these incidents and more, he was then able to meditate on the greatness of his God, i.e. His attributes and Old Testament Names: Omnipotence, (Power over the animals), Jehovah-Nissi (The Lord our Banner) as he remember the Victory over Goliath and deliverance from the hand of the evil Saul. As David sat alone, he had these and more on which to mediate. Then he moved on to musing. Pastor noted that musing can take two forms: ruminating and applying the objects of his meditations or actually speaking forth those things which have sustained and encouraged him. I believe much of his musing is recorded for us in the book of Psalms.Now as these three statements are turned to application for my life, I consider “I remember, I meditate, and I muse.” I remember the desperation prayers delivered up on behalf of my mother when even the doctors despaired of her life. I remember the grace that sustained me when the Lord finally did call her home. I remember the nightmare of the dissertation and how the Lord ultimately brought it together. I remember the presence of God when it seemed as though I was all alone in various times throughout my life. Ashamedly I remember times of personal sin and failure. As I consider these and more, I meditate on His greatness, particularly on His attributes and names: Jehovah-Rapha (The Lord My Healer), who brought ultimate healing to my precious mother in Heaven, Jevovah-Roi (The Lord My Shepherd), my Shepherd who provided guidance through the nightmare of the dissertation, and Jehovah Tsdikenu, (The Lord My Righteousness), who gives me that righteous standing before God and Jehovah–Meqaddishkem , (The Lord My Sanctifier) who provides for me to live out that righteous standing before God. Ultimately, my meditations on Him enable me to face anything because He is Jehovah-Shalom (The Lord My Peace) and Jehovah-Shammah (The God Who is There). Wherever I am, God is already there and has been there. As I remember and meditate on these names, I muse. At this point, I must confess, my musing takes the form of writing, but then I suppose the platform really doesn’t matter as long as God receives the glory.

The Bricks and Mortar of Walled-Off Hearts

It began with a simple look of disdain,
Words I thought I heard,
And other life’s events . . .
Thus the building began with the bricks of bitterness
Bound together with the mortar of self-love
Until my heart was walled-off from all who might enter
Even the Healer of Wounded Hearts and the sun of His love.
As wall grew thicker, my pain deepened.
Until one day a Man with wounded hands
Commenced to dismantle the wall and at my bidding
Entered the garden of my heart
And the healing began.
The bricks crumbled as the mortar melted beneath His touch.
Thus, my walled-off heart was made new – and the flowers of thanksgiving and praise began to blossom
As the sun of His love shone through.

We just came through a three day jointly-supported missions conference at Piedmont and Salem. On Wednesday night Art Williams of Open Air Evangelism challenged our hearts with the vast need that still exists both in North America and overseas. As he moved toward the conclusion of his message, he drew a distinction between a missions conference and a missionary convention. He noted that at a conference, people often merely exchanged ideas on the subject at hand, while at a convention, material was presented to elicit a decision. This concept struck a resonant chord within my heart as my mind was catapulted back thirty-some years ago to a small Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, where we had annual Missionary Conventions that lasted from Sunday to Sunday. The opening night featured our children dressed in native costumes marching around the auditorium while the instrumentalists played A.B. Simpson’s well known missionary hymn, “A Hundred Thousand Souls a Day . . .” Throughout the week various missionaries showed their snake skins and other interesting curios while presenting impassioned pleas for the commitment of one’s life for the furtherance of the gospel. At the end of the week, it was not uncommon for the youth group to be lined across the front of the auditorium signifying, “Yes, I will invest my life in God’s service.” Now some thirty years later, I have to ask myself, where are the many who gave some semblance of saying, “Yes, I will . . .” Certainly, there were those God directed to stay home and invest their time, talents, and treasure in a local assembly so that others could go. Others found places of service as leaders of North American churches or in other venues of Christian ministry here in the States. A few took up the task and invested their lives in missionary service. Yet, many turned back, put off by the inconveniences demanded by a lifestyle of unabashed commitment. As I contemplate these matters, I am reminded of song written by Lanny Wolfe and sung by the LBC Chorale in the 1980’s. The words for the first stanza are duplicated below:

“Have I heard it for so long that it's just another song?
Has the story lost its thrill that I once knew?
Lord, give me a burden that’s so strong,
That it will last when my tears are gone
I’m tired of what I’ve been.
Lord, make me over again.
I’m so tired of being stirred about the lost who need to hear.
I’m so tired of being stirred that His coming is so near;
I’m so tired of being stirred till I cry bitter tears.
I’m so tired of being stirred but not being changed.”

The final stanza invites the Lord to step into our lives and rearrange things to suit His agenda, not ours. Perhaps, we need consider once again if we’re merely being stirred or truly being changed by all that we have heard.

Dealing with Doubts

Throughout my Christian life, the demons of doubt have frequently hampered my walk with God. As I mentioned in an earlier post, when Satan cannot disqualify a believer by misconduct, he will seek to debilitate him or her through doubt. Satan’s railing accusations often prey upon the hearts and minds of the redeemed, thus paralyzing the effective witness and ministry. In a recent skirmish, he sought, once more, to discredit God before me and me before God. Here’s what happened:
In another sleepless Sunday night (too much caffeine and a fair amount of physical pain), the devil preyed on my mind, and led me down a road that is all too familiar – doubting my salvation. I discovered that I can be induced to do stupid things in the middle of the night. Therefore, I reviewed the plan of Salvation and prayed to receive Christ. After I was done, I felt like a fool. It seemed as though the Lord was saying, “Why are you asking for this, it’s already yours!”

However, the reproof and chastening for this mindset was not yet complete. On Monday, as I went about my work, the Lord brought to mind the verse in Ephesians 4:30, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit by whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.” Immediately I was convicted and moved to repentance. Now, I realize in the immediate context, the verse is most likely referring to the lists of sins that included before and after the verse, but I believe the Lord would be pleased to for me to think of the verse in the following light. The Holy Spirit is the One who has sealed us, thus guaranteeing our safe delivery to Heaven. When I doubt I am casting aspersions on His veracity before the seen and unseen worlds. I believe that such an action deeply grieves Him. When I realized that God was grieved by that aspect of my behavior, I was deeply moved and confessed it as sin. You see, when I have perceived God as being angry with me, I have chosen to be afraid and to stay out His way. When I think He is disgusted, I want to give up. However, when I perceive that He is grieved, I am moved to repentance. Now that I know that such doubts are sin, I can in the words of James 4:6-7, “Submit to God, resist the devil, [so that] he will flee.”

It is the Word of God that affords assurance of salvation. When I seek assurance by attempting to remember a prayer or experience, I find myself spiritually and emotionally debilitated. When I turn to the Word of God, I find peace, solace, and from Scripture. It is only as I immerse myself in His Word that I can achieve emotional and mental victory when confronted with these demons of doubt. My salvation is all about God and His promises that cannot be broken,

God is good . . . all the time. I can trust Him with my eternity,