Wednesday, February 22, 2012

"Created to Be His Help-meet"



"CREATED TO BE HIS HELP-MEET" -Debi Pearl

Although I am about half-way through this book I felt it necessary to summarize some of it thus far...First question I had when I read the title was, What in the world is a "Help-meet"  I will give you the definition that was given in the book, a help-meet is a woman who helps her husband in any and all of his life's projects.  

Let me forewarn you look no further if you are a strong feminist, or do not believe in stay-at-home-moms or being a homemaker.  This book will not sit well with you, and I have to admit at some points of time I tend to disagree with some statements entirely, but that is the beauty of writing! I have taken away more good, than negative though! :) 
Some characteristics and examples of what a help-meet would do are goes as follows: 

  • Asks for Godly wisdom
  • learns to understand & appreciate her man for who HE IS. 
  • Learns to be flexible 
  • Plays the supportive role 
  • Fears God
  • Believes God's word as it is written
  • Is obedient, submits, & holds reverence to her husband. When you hold those characteristics to your man, it's doing the same for God.  
This book revolves around a  particular scripture in Genesis.  The one it primarily revolves around is Genesis 2:18 "The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a HELPER, suitable for him."  Thus where the author Debi comes up with "help-meet"  I believe it is also written as that in several different versions of the bible.  I was just giving you what my version had said.  I read the Life Application Study Bible and I LOVE IT! The footnotes doing a break down of what the scriptures mean is amazing! I'll include a link of my bible I use here. God's work was not yet complete until he made the woman.  We as women were made from Adams rib, He illustrated this for us that in marriage men and woman symbolically become one flesh.  Marriage is a gift from God and a wonderful one at that.  The desire for love and marriage was indeed God given! 

Some of the bible verses she includes can be interpreted extremely different than how she sees it.  Such as this one from 1 Timothy 2:11-15  (In this particular chapter of the bible it is Paul writing a letter to Timothy a pastor on topics such as qualifications for the church leaders, public worship, personal discipline, confronting false teaching, how to treat various groups within the same church.)

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.  I do not premit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; She must be silent.  For Adam was formed first, then Eve.  And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was, and became a sinner.  But women will be saved through childbearing--If they continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety."

Now this scripture doesn't mean don't bother teaching anyone as a woman, God wants us to teach our children and other young women! He encourages us to do so! 

Titus 2:3-4 "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." 
These scriptures are telling us what our role is as a Woman of God. This is not including the mans role, but if I were..Their role is not that of a nurturer as the wives and mothers, but a functional one to their wife and children.  Us as women, we are designed to be sensitive and vulnerable for the sake of our little ones we must nurture says Debi.  

The bible encourages us to submit to our husband, but they must in return love us.  Paul explains Husbands to love their wives, as Christ loved the church in the letter to the Ephesians. 

I feel as though sometimes Debi leaves out the scripture before or after the chosen one she includes...For example..The scripture Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." Well, before that scripture it says "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." We as husband and wife are BOTH called to submit to Christ. 

God calls for submission among equals.  He did not make the man superior, he made a way for the man and woman to work together.  Its a submission by choice and not by force.  1 Corinthians 11:3 is referring "head" to authority. As with the authority of Christ over the church, this is not the self-centered exercise of power but leadership that takes care to serve the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of the wife.  " But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God."

I have to admit that at sometimes in this book I feel as though I am a woman just called to bow down to my husband smile and be cheerful when if he cheats and put him first before anything else, (not including God of course though, she makes that clear) so I struggle between taking in everything she says because sometimes it's over the top.  (to me) 

But I must admit, I like this book for a lot of reasons and have found it to be a blessing because it has got me digging into The Word and how to make my marriage better! I have looked more into the bible on what its take is on marriage and interpretations of these scriptures can be tricky.  I hope as the book goes on there will be more clarification.  This is my synopsis so far though.   :) I'll get back to more later.  

In Christ, 
Leanne



Sunday, February 19, 2012

Children

I pray that I may provide my children with Godly wisdom and for them to not stray from it. For I know that each and every good thing comes from God.
 
I sure know how to properly use my grammer!! ^^ UGH! *They're Sorry.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

My baby is one.

I can't believe how fast time flies. Every year has felt as though it went faster than the other. But let me tell you something, when you have kids it goes twice as fast! This past year has been the most challenging and rewarding year of my life. Rae has grown into a beautiful little toddler and I am so truly blessed to have her in my life. She has changed me for the better. She has taught me what unconditional love is! I am so glad that Corey was able to be here for her birthday! We are gearing up for a deployment in the fall so we are trying our best to spend the time we have together as a family. September comes faster than you think! Rae is such a joy. She is standing by herself for long periods of time and I am sure will be walking any day now. We are working on her to talk more but she prefers baby talk. She is as stubborn as can be. She says "hi" and "bear". Random words to say even before "mama" & "dada". This doesn't surprise me though because she is a little weirdo :) You can tell she is mine and Corey's child by how weird she is lol.

Cheers to her first birthday and Corey's 21st. It was a good one. Hopefully many more to come :)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

A simple "thank you" can do the trick.

Husband and I told each other a long time ago we were not going to celebrate valentines day. He didn't listen. I received this beautiful bouquet of flowers at work with a note telling me the obvious "I love you" but also including "thanks for all you do". That was enough to make me feel appreciated and valued as his wife. I am working towards being the best I can be for hubby and it's a good start by him thanking me for what I do. As a woman you want to feel like you are appreciated and loved, where as men want to feel respected. Well buddy..I respect you more now that I know you appreciate and recognize what I do. :) Job well done Valentine. It's the simple things that mean the most!