This past week we studied how to take captive our emotions and not excuse our behavior based on how we feel.  This coming week we will see how we are also to not blame our circumstances for our attitudes and behavior.  I think we will see how these two ideas are very closely linked. 

On page 197 of Lies Women Believe, Nancy Leigh DeMoss states:

The truth is, regardless of what emotions are whirling around inside, by God's grace, we can choose to fix our minds on Him and to "trust and obey."  When we do, we will experience His peace and the grace to be faithful, even though our circumstances may not change.

I recently read a blog post of a dear friend of mine and I thought about the quote above.  It is a great example of how to take captive every thought and to preach truth to yourself.  I hope it is as encouraging to you as it was to me. 

So we were out all day, the whole family. I had a haircut and color (yeah!) with my dear stylist, Eric. Then we went to our lovely friends' house for lunch and to visit. We drove home through a snow storm. It was slow going. John has an ear infection and was feeling quite puny. Three of four children fell asleep. We made a quick stop for provisions before coming home.

When we arrived home, things fell apart. All children were starving. John needed to lie down immediately. The groceries needed to be put away. The snow had piled up and the walks need shoveling pronto. I remembered that tomorrow is trash and recycling day. I was being pulled in all directions, and snapped at John when he innocently asked where something was. Not good.

I turned on the oven for dinner, threw some snacks on the table, and stomped outside with a bag of trash. I dragged the trash barrels to the curb, stomped back upstairs for the recycling, dragged that to the curb, all the while muttering murder under my breath about how I do all the chores, I do all the housework, I take care of the whole house, blah, blah, blah, poor me, I'm so put upon.

As I took up the snow shovel, for some reason, thoughts of farm and pioneer women came into my head. Those women did everything...house, children, back-breaking labor day and night, inside and out. I began to feel a little bit less sorry for myself. Mind you, not for any good reason. I just thought to myself, "I'm no wuss. I'm as tough as those women. I can hack this."

So I shoveled the sidewalks to our two doors. I shoveled our (many and narrow) steps. Then came the test. Was I going to shovel our neighbor's sidewalks and steps? Now, our house is a two-family home, and our neighbor's sidewalk is connected to ours. We don't really use his steps ever. But he works A LOT, he wasn't yet home from work, and I will very often shovel his side, just to make things easier for him.

But at this moment, I really DID NOT want to shovel his way. Here are some of my thoughts: he never shovels; it has snowed so much this winter and I've done this enough; he shouldn't expect me to do this for him (I'm sure he doesn't!!); I have enough to do taking care of my own family; ME, ME, ME, ME, ME.

Then I started to think about the fact that I think our neighbor actually really appreciates living near us. Twice, he has asked if we would want to go in on buying a two-family with him. I don't think our neighbor is a believer, though his father is a pastor. I know nothing of his upbringing, or his experience with the church; he's not in a church community. He's been to our church once, last Easter. And I thought about how we pray for him, and try to care for him and love him. And I thought about how we might be the only Christians here (his folks live far away) who want to love and care for him. And I began to want to serve him, so that he might see Christ's love through us. And I even said out loud to myself, in the snowy night, "Because I love Jesus...I'll do this."

Then I realized that that's not quite right. If my service relies on my love to Christ, it will fail. My love to Christ is weak and faltering, and dependent on my moods and emotions. My moods and emotions are unsteady, selfish, and fickle. But Christ's love to me...it never fails. His love to me is steady, sure, purely for His glory, and the same, yesterday, today and forever. My service to my neighbor must be because Christ loves me. And I said aloud, again, into the snowy night, "No...because Jesus love me."

This affects all areas of my life. It's my only hope. My only hope against sin, the flesh and the devil. Because Jesus loves me. Because Jesus loves me, I have the power to not yell at my children. Because Jesus loves me, I have the power to not complain about my circumstances. Because Jesus loves me, I have the power to shovel my neighbor's walk. Because Jesus loves me, I can take out the trash with joy in my heart. Because Jesus loves me, I can serve with joy and abandon.

Oh, Lord, I believe. Help me in my unbelief.

To add to the already lively discussions, here are two articles:

The first article explores the other side of the view Nancy Leigh DeMoss brought up in the book:  is Gen 1:28 (be fruitful and mulitply) a command or a blessing?  Does that matter?  A little on the shorter side with alot of scripture reference. 

The second expounds on Nancy Leigh DeMoss' premise in the book and goes a little further in the discussion of birth control.  A little on the long side, make sure your blessings are napping or occupied!  You need to access this article through the first: pull up the first article, click on related articles and links under the title and click on the first one listed by Sam and Bethany Torode.  Sorry about that, it wouldn't let me imbed it here.  Worth the trip though! 

Feel free to respond on the blog and further the discussion!

**The views expressed in these articles do not necessarily promote the views of Cornerstone or the Women's Ministry.  They are used here to facilitate discussion.** 

Nancy Leigh Demoss says, "Women have been told that demanding their rights was the ticket to happiness and freedom.  After all, 'If you don't stand up for your rights, no one else will!'  However, I am convinced that the claiming of rights has produced much, if not most, of the unhappiness women experience today."  (Lies Women Believe, pg. 74)

In light of those words and the discussions we have had this week, read this article written by Rev. Thomas F. Dailey, O.S.F.S. who is director of the Salesian Center for Faith & Culture at DeSales University in Center Valley.  If you get a chance, comment on how this article ties into what we learned in our study this week and the quote from NLD above. 

Here are some further questions to provoke your thoughts:

1- Why does the author claim that the "classic parental cliché that she could grow up "to be anything you want to be" not true?  How does that tie into the NLD quote above?

2- How could the subject in the article (Sophie) have reacted differently to her situation if she was relying on the truth we studied?

3- How does the author's argument that choices are not disablities tie in with what he calls the greatest disability: "a false belief that we can or should have everything we want"?  And does that reflect the sentiment of NLD and what we discussed this week?  If so, how?

You don't need to use these questions if you have other thoughts to express.  Also, feel free to share what God has been teaching you this week through the study. 

Please remeber to not use slander, crude language or offensive thoughts in your comments!  We would like this blog to uplift the women of Cornerstone!

***The article in this post does not necessarily reflect the beliefs and/or sentiments of Cornerstone and the Women's Ministry.  It was used here to provoke further thought about our biblestudy.***

This week we thought it might be helpful to post some info on the author of our book, Nancy Leigh DeMoss so we can get to know her a little better.  Please click here to read a brief biography of Nacy.  Click here to read an interview with Nancy that gives further insight into some of her daily struggles, some things we can relate to! 

 May God bless you this week as you study His word and hide His truth in your hearts! 

This is still a work in progress....

Things to look forward to:

Please feel free to offer any ideas and suggestions!