Welcome to Week Two! If you haven't joined us up until now, it's not too late! Read Week One's posting and the comments. WOW is God working in us!
Week One we talked about who we are--literally, spiritually, ideally, scripturally. We touched on our dreams and next week we'll look deeper into our calling. We talked about mentoring, discovering that we are both mentored to, and mentors ourselves!
Week Two is a week of wondering why we are here. What is our created purpose? I'll list the questions, and some scriptural helps. www.biblegateway.com is a great site to go to so that you can look up the passages in multiple versions. Please, if you would, look at the scriptures in the Amplified Version, as well as your favorite translation. You'll see how much more the Amplified Version will fill in the questions you may have! Monday or Tuesday, you can watch for more!
1. Where did I come from?
Genesis 1:27 Our creation in God's image. Pay special attention to verse 26--and see that God has already revealed Himself as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, not just in verse 26 of Genesis 1, but in verses 1, 2, and 3!
Genesis 2:23 Where did man come from? You may have to search Genesis 2 to see! Where did woman come from?
2. Why was man created? What was his purpose in the garden?
Genesis 2:15 Man's created purpose
Genesis 2:16-17 God's commandment to Man
3. Why was woman created? What was her role in the garden?
Genesis 2:18 God's reaction to Man being alone. Woman's created purpose.
4. What was God's original intent for me, as a woman? What role am I to play, and just how am I doing at that?
We'll talk more as the week goes by about our spiritually created selves and our creationally crafted selves, and how they are the same yet different from man.
Lord, as we look at our creation, and how we were crafted, help us to embrace our womanhood. Help us to recognize the differences and the similarities between man and woman. Help us to begin to understand our created role in the garden so we can understand our role today. Lord especially open our hearts so that we can begin to see how we can once again dwell in the Garden of Delight! AMEN!
I unfortunately missed out on last week; I have everything written down but it never made it to the computer. So I'll put in just a few tidbits before I get into this weeks questions.
ReplyDeleteWho am I? I am a 28 year old married mom-to-be who is just now in the past few months knowing what it is like to feel "at home" with the everyday. I just got out of the military and am going back to college after almost 10 years. I have a very strong faith and am just beginning my journey with how to use it. I pray everyday that I am a good wife and that when this little miracle comes that I am strong enough to be the mom I want to be.
As for this weeks questions I want to answer first with what I think I know. (The answers I would give if asked right at this very moment with no Bible handy)
Man was created from dust to care for the Garden of Eden; Eve was formed from Adam's rib to be his companion.
My role as a woman is to be supportive and submissive to my husband; to trust and have faith that with God's help we will follow the right path.
It is hard for me sometimes with my new role in life to believe that I am doing enough. After working so hard for so many years to be given the opportunity to be a great wife to a very deserving man is a gift.
I look forward to reading more of the scripture above to learn more about myself and where I came from. Love you Mom =) ~Mandy
It's interesting to note that the written word in Gen. 1 describes man and woman being created in the likeness of the trinity. So before the description of the creation of woman, we already know that man (and woman) will be created.
ReplyDeleteMan is a living being created from the dust of the earth and had the spirit of life breathed into him. Our gospel reading last Sunday was about the creation of woman. Woman was created for man of man. We were created to be a helper and companion, suitable and complementary. Therefore, a man shall leave his mother and cling to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. Also be fruitful and multiply.
Man was to tend and keep the garden, eat from trees, but not the tree of knowledge. Have dominion over the birds, fish and animals.
Am I living God's plan as a woman? Right now not so much. It seems everything I do right now is wrong. With friends, husband and children. Apparently I have become the evil step-mother and mother, nitpicking wife. I am told my kids are afraid of me--no reason of what I have done to be told this. I need a reason so I can change this behavior. I want to live my life as good, decent person. Am I trying to be superwoman (probably) by working fulltime, running a house (which by the way is under construction), hauling kids around, paying bills, etc.
My question:
Was God's intent for the husband to be there to help us? Or are we supposed to always be there to serve husband and family and take it with a smile.
I'm sorry for the negativity--too much rain and no sun.
Lynn
We have a good grasp of how woman came to be: created from the side of man, not from the dust, as man. We also seem to understand that we were created specifically to be supportive, encouraging, complementary...man's helpmate.
ReplyDeleteNow, how in the world do we accomplish this? Does it indeed, as you ask Lynn, mean that we forever assume a servant's role?
Man was created specifically to tend, guard and keep the garden--to protect, provide and guide. Woman was created, from man's side when God saw it was not satisfactory for him to be alone. She was created, adapted specifically, to be suitable, complementary, as his helper.
So...does this mean we are forever in a servant's position? This is perhaps a good time for us to look at the consequences for Man and Woman's original sin. We know she ate of the fruit--even though scripture said she was fully aware of the commandment God had given Man not to eat of it. The serpent targeted her, perhaps because he was well aware Man had been commanded, but not Woman. She ate. And then Man ate too. He knew the commandment, yet he chose to willingly step aside of God's direction. When God came to the Garden, He asked for Man. "Where are you?" "Here, hiding, in shame, naked, having eaten of the fruit." God asks why, and Man's response is, "Well, YOU gave her to me!" God speaks to Woman who also passes the buck, "Well, the serpent told me to!" Neither accepts responsibility.
So God imposes consequences for their actions. (Mandy, see where this comes from? It wasn't my original thought for discipline--it's a God thing!--mom). God's consequence for Woman is pain in childbirth. That one we know. But do you know the rest of the curse? We would desire and crave the attention of our husband, and he would rule over us. Lynn, THIS is where we become frustrated! We forever crave the positive attention of our husbands---"but, HONEY..."
The consequence for Man is to toil in the garden--that's the familiar one. However, it also states because Man listened to the Woman (did what she said instead of what God said) in SORROW you will toil and eat of the fruit of it all the days of your life.
Continued...
ReplyDeleteBear with me a minute...and go along with this train of thought if you would:
Man came from the dust.
The trees grew from that dust.
The fruit came from those trees.
Woman came from man/dust.
Woman grew from that man/dust.
The fruit that we are came from the trees.
The fruit Man now sorrowfully toils to grow is that very fruit...us.
The curse is so much deeper than the separation from God. The curse is a constant turmoil between the dust and that which ccomes from the dust. Man and Woman are destined to frustration in their relationship.
Oh. Geesh. Now I get it. The challenge is the consequence for that original sin. Confound those two! Man and Woman! Why didn't they just leave the fruit alone? Why did God plant that tree in the garden in the first place!?
Love without the free will to CHOOSE to love is very very VERY empty. It's not love so much as it's a programmed behavior. If we could not choose God, then what role do we play in our faith relationship? It ceases to be relationship with love and emotion. The original sin had to occur so we would constantly strive to once again dwell in the garden.
Knowing WHY things are the way the are helps us to understand better. Lynn, you struggle because that is the consequence for that original sin.
NOW WHAT? We'll talk more in the next couple of days about submission and subordination. Submission is what we're to do...as women...our created and crafted role. Subordination is where it becomes twisted. Domination rather than dominion. No, Lynn. We are not doormats. We are not subordinate, or dominated. I promise more in the days to come.
Take heart! The struggle is the consequence for that original sin. Our desire is for the attention of our husbands. This course is helping us to understand how to once again dwell in the Garden of Delight.
Lord, be with us as we grow into the women you created and crafted us to be. Helps us to understand when it seems so unfair and so hard! Knowing your original intent, and the consequences to our choices, helps us to make different choices. Thank you for never giving up on me! AMEN!
All very comforting and powerful. My dream would be to be home so I could spend more time taking care of family and husband, but I also need to be working right now to support growing children and their needs. Right now my choice is to pray more and ask God to help me down the narrow path.
ReplyDeleteThis discussion is so timely and I thank you so much for being there for me. Gosh I wish I could see you in person--miss you.
Lynn
Week 2 -10/5
ReplyDelete1. Where did I come from?
God created the world, the world created the dust, plants and trees. God formed man from dust and breathed into his nose to give him life. God created a woman from the man’s rib.
2. Why was man created? What was his purpose in the garden?
To care and tend the Garden of Eden. God told Adam that he may eat from the trees of Eden except from the tree of Knowledge. If he did not listen to Gods only command, and ate from the tree of Knowledge, than he would surely die.
3. Why was woman created? What was her role in the garden?
The reason why women were created was so man would not be alone. God was being a romantic, only wish that my husband would be this way, lol. They way I am interrupting it, is that God had this plan to make the world like the heavens. A place where men and women would be happy all the time, enjoy their surroundings and the way they look at each other.
4. What was God's original intent for me, as a woman? What role am I to play, and just how am I doing at that?
For me to bare fruit, I think I did that one pretty well, lol. Raise my children knowing that God is always there and you are never alone. Have them be the best God wants them to be and how God is working through me to do so. Believe, praise, speak and spread his word. Honor, respect and support my husband. Those are the things I believe t God has intent for me in my life.
I gave birth to my 5 out of 6 children; they are all very different little people. They know to pray and ask God for help all the time, also thank him. They trust me with almost everything especially my teenage son… My daughter I am the hardest on her because I don’t want her to be like me at all but she loves me know matter what. The babies, they are able to know that when I a praying to lay their hands on me (hug me) and pray with me.
My Husband, I love him so much and want him to be the best in everything he does. I am very supportive of his career and dreams. I make sure he has his dinner on the table as soon as he comes home from work. Sometimes, I will make him breakfast. However there are times, I feel it is too much and I am pulled by all limbs…Have nothing for me, so while he is gone to school, deployed or TDY. I take advantage of the time and do something for me. Is this wrong, if so than Help!! I want to please everyone but I also want to have time for God and me.
Hugs to everyone,
Maria
Good Morning! Praying God's abundant blessings on your day!
ReplyDeleteAs I read Maria's post, and re-read Lynn and Mandy's postings, I see one HUGE stronghold and attack-point for Satan:
"I CAN'T DO IT ALL!!!"
"I work, I raise kids, I have a husband, I'm connected to the military with deployments and the stressors of moving a lot, I am remodeling, I am learning how to stay home after having worked for so long"...the list goes on and on and on of ways that we think we're falling short of the expectations for us as godly women.
First, let me assure you, none of you are falling short! Satan would like you to believe you are, which keeps your eyes off of God and your desire to be godly women. He's gonna' get you where he can--your self-esteem and your sense of who you're to be as women of the Garden of Delight.
Remember your created purpose--so man would not be alone (Maria, I love your romantic take on this!), you were crafted from man's side to be his helper, his companion, his completion, his encourager, his complement. I'd say you're all doing a phenomenal job of that!
Lynn, even in the midst of struggle you're still striving to be what God wants you to be. Mandy, as you adjust to becoming a new mom and stay at home wife you're striving to be the woman He wants. Maria, you put yourself second to everyone in your desire to be a godly woman.
My prayer for you today is that you rest in God's arms. He is there for you as Satan attacks and causes you to doubt that you are indeed children of the Most High God. You ARE godly women...striving to be ever-more His according to His Creation. I could not be more proud of each of you! Wisdom comes through experience. Challenges, just like the fires that melt off the impurities from gold, bring us closer to being the woman He divined.
Be easy on yourselves today. :-) Thank Him for continuing to work in you and through you. Rest in His arms. And know you're a work in progress. If you respond to the challenges that Satan hopes will throw you off course with the love of Christ, you derail Satan's train!
Precious Father, hold each of these women in Your arms today. Comfort them with words of encouragement and worth. Remind them that Psalm 139:14 says we are wonderfully made! Help them to find peace in the midst of their day, and to feel Your love as they stand up against Satan and his desire to throw them off Your course. And Lord, may each of them feel wholly and holy loved. AMEN!
OK ... here goes a rather rambling comment on the 'Why,who and how' of creation ... based on a wonderful day that we had yesterday. My son, an only child, often spends most of his time with me ... just a function of me doing the driving, teaching, etc. Yesterday was a 'guy' day ... rather by accident, not by any plan. And it was a joy to behold ... I felt this inner sense of 'this is right' all day long. They got up together at 3am to watch Nebraska play football against Missouri (two of our very favorite teams). Only overseas do you get the joy of waking up in the middle of the night to watch sports :) Friday was a teacher work day, so I had to go to work ... my husband has been fighting a cold, so he stayed home and they slept after the game. Then in the afternoon they went up to the German shooting range and got to shoot at clay pigeons ... and in the evening before dinner they went out back and tried out the new fly fishing rod. They sat and played chess together and watched an old WW II movie ... and I just smiled. I baked a special treat for dinner, and did some other 'support' tasks that I have been wanting to do but just couldn't find the time. It was just one of those warm fall days where you just felt 'hugged' by everything around you. It is one of those days where you just feel that everything has fallen into place ... now today we have chores to do, so I have a feeling it will feel like a totally different day. But I have the memory of yesterday to guide me in my role of support, love and care. I know I was created to support my husband, and most days that is an easy role ... but sometimes I need to remember what that support needs to look like at any given time. Praise God for warm fall days ...
ReplyDeleteKathy
As Kathy put it so well, "this is right."
ReplyDeleteThanks for your patience with me this week. We've had a week of H1N1 with both my girls. With my husband's COPD/emphysema we sent him to stay with his mom...so I've had that disjointed feeling of doing it all, but knowing it's just not "right." :-(
We're all on the mend (me included). Hopefully soon I can once again have my Man in the house. :-) I function so much better as Woman when he's here.
Next week, we'll look at our calling as women.
I am so praising each of you for having such a godly focus. Even if sometimes we feel like we drop the ball, knowing we have our eye on the garden, knowing that we were crafted uniquely, knowing that our purpose is to be the complement, that which finishes, completes, and makes whole Man as he was created.
I am blessed to know you.
His, so praising Him for YOU,
Lee Ann