Welcome to my microcosm

I have been very forward in my emails to churches looking for a place to
visit. Five people have replied to my many emails. I said in my emails that we are looking for a reformed church that would be accepting of large families and women who cover per 1 Corinthians 11.  I was so forward because I don’t want to go to a church for a time and find that they just don’t accept us. We have four small children and that’s not
good for them to skip around.

Of those  emails I received, one was the wife of a Rabbi who does
not believe that women need to cover to pray but said some women do
cover in their congregation. She was somewhat kind, but told me that they are there for Jews and their gentile spouses and she hopes we find something (IOW the general gentile population are not welcome.) Another response  was a lady who said that although they
don’t cover because it is a liberty from the law (I haven’t replied to
that yet, still praying how the Lord wants me to approach it) we would
be welcome.  Another was from a pastor who said that it was written to the church at Corinth only, not for us.  So, does he not believe we should follow the principals at all in first Corinthians because it was written to that particular church?  How much more of the Bible should we throw out then?  I do plan on responding to that.  That was the worst reply I could imagine hearing from a pastor.  Another pastor said “Well I think the
women would be surprised but please visit!!”

We went to that church Sunday. They are family integrated
sovereign grace which is something we’ve looked for. Everyone in the
church are related except the pastor’s family. It’s a fairly new
church. They were very nice and seemed fine about my scarf. There is a QF lady in the church but the other ladies are her daughters and it is unclear wither they agree about birth control.
We liked the church a lot, although I don’t know that my husband would agree to go to it full time.  He didn’t like the fact that they don’t believe in the gifts of the spirit.

Well, the Lord knows what he is doing, even when we don’t.

S

This also came up recently. My response on 1Tim 2:11-15 being interpreted that women should not preach when men are present.

“As far as teaching, I think it is BEST not to. I think if they
DO it must be while they are under the authority of their husband. I do
not approve of women like Paula White being pastors.

However, I have known of instances where women have preached being the
only one who would do it. Susanna Wesley, I believe it was, taught her
children at home and the people in town came to hear her teachings
because her husband was away and there was no pastor. She was not
having authority over them, but they were hungry to be taught (probably
couldn’t read or have a Bible.) Was it wrong for her to allow them to
listen to her teaching her children? No, I don’t believe it was.

But in the IDEAL situation, I believe there are plenty of men available
and they should do the teaching/preaching.”

The subject of women being silent in the church recently came up on a yahoogroup, taken from 1 Corinthians 15=4: 33-36.  A woman posted that she believes in following the Bible 100% and does not speak AT ALL in church (other then the occasional short reply to someone greeting her because she doesn’t want to appear rude.)  My response:

I do believe in looking at context Biblically as well as historically.
I know that people say that headcoverings were cultural but no longer,
so no longer are headcoverings required. This is clearly not correct,
so I do not want to use that reasoning here. It is certainly very
important to me that we are obedient to the Scriptures without making
excuses why we need not obey them. However, I do want to give a
description of the situation then. Men and women did not sit together
in the service, just as the Amish, orthodox Jews, Hindi Christians, and
many others still separate. Women did look to their husbands for
explanations and it is commonly explained that the women would holler at
their husband’s for clarification. This was a clear disruption in the
church. During the service it was inappropriate to discuss things. In
the churches I have been in the men and women sat together, so when my
husband and I have something to say, if it is inappropriate to whisper
we write it to each other, or make notes to discuss it later.

Bringing it back to Scriptural context, Paul said each Christian is
gifted with something to edify the body (discernment, healing, prophecy,
tongues, healing, ect.) He also said that when a woman prays or
prophesies she should have her head covered. I believe this means that
women were praying and prophesying in the body, but that they should
only do so IF covered, meaning under the authority of a male AS WELL AS
having the physical covering which showed to the body that she was under
submission. Ultimately it was she not having authority in the body, but
her husband/father or whoever as her “head.” She was UNDER their
authority…

.At least, this is one of the things I was taught and it
makes sense.

My mom does not believe in women having authority over men, teaching
men, preaching ect. However, the Lord started giving messages to the
church through her. They were in tongues with interpretation sometimes,
sometimes in English. My mom is very concerned about how others
perceive her and does not want to give messages as they were often an
exhortation to repentance. However, she was not about to tell God NO.
So she prophesied there in the congregation IN FRONT OF MEN. No, her
head was unfortunately not covered. But my dad was there, and he was in
agreement to what she did. She was not out of line.

Anyway, I believe that contextually this shows us that they DID speak.
But I can’t prove it and you’d just have to pray and talk to your
husband and come to your own beliefs.

S

I just thought I’d post the little things Faith (4) has done this past week.

We went to Dollar General and she saw a little old lady and ran to her and hugged her.  The old woman was so touched and said she loves children, she has 14 great grandchildren!

We went to Mcdonald’s and she hugged the old old woman who works there cleaning the tables and floor.  “Miss Mary!  How are you?”

At the pool she told a woman that her little boy is an excellent swimmer, introduced herself, and asked the woman how her day has been.

At the pool she went up behind an old man sitting in the water playing with his grandchildren, and gleefully sprayed water all over him.  Repeatedly.  Horrified, I told her to stop but he was delighted.

At the resale shop yesterday, she was talking to a woman and gave her a hug and congratulated her that her grandsons are turning four this weekend.

At a birthday party a friend of mine’s sister showed her how to make this neat toy work and she happily nestled her head in Michelle’s lap in thankfulness.

I’m sure there have been many more times where she blessed someone with her openness and sweet disposition.  I do caution her to not be so familiar with strangers, but I don’t want her to be afraid either.  Does this mean I will leave her alone at a park while I run to the bathroom?  Well, no.  But I don’t think telling her “Never talk to strangers” is the right strategy either.

I know that we all have different opinions on how to raise our children and what is the best way to protect them.  We can only be the best that we know how to be. But I encourage all parents to seek the Lord and not just rely on your own understating.  Acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths!

Bless and be blessed,
S

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071005-5.html

Main point from interview -

“Q But I want to tell you — and I hope this doesn’t bother you at all — that in the Islamic world they think that President Bush is an enemy of Islam –

THE PRESIDENT: Sure.

Q — that he wants to destroy their religion, what they believe in. Is that in any way true, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: No, it’s not. I’ve heard that, and it just shows [sic] to show a couple of things: One, that the radicals have done a good job of propagandizing. In other words, they’ve spread the word that this really isn’t peaceful people versus radical people or terrorists, this is really about the America not liking Islam.

Well, first of all, I believe in an almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That’s what I believe. I believe that Islam is a great religion that preaches peace. And I believe people who murder the innocent to achieve political objectives aren’t religious people, whether they be a Christian who does that — we had a person blow up our — blow up a federal building in Oklahoma City who professed to be a Christian, but that’s not a Christian act to kill innocent people.”

1) Are they all yours?

A: No, I just love to go grocery shopping with four children ages four and under.  There’s nothing like the challenge of keeping everyone happy and cooperative while attempting to get everything on my list and everything I forgot to put on my list.  Don’t forget the process of loading all in their carseats, unloading them, walking to the store without getting squished by the cars, getting through the checkout line, back through the parking lot, and loaded back into the carseats, only to be unloaded again at home (and then unlaoding the groceries and getting them up the LOOOOONG walkway and into the house and into the fridge all while trying to keep the children from hurting each other and the baby from crying.  Oh yeah, I’m training for “Survivor!!!”

2) You have your hands full!

A-Not really,you should see me cooking dinner with a baby on my hip, my skirt pulled to my ankles because my 2 YO is pulling on it, and my 3 and 4 YOs screaming that so and so took such and such.  THEN my hands are full.  Right now they are just pushing a cart.

3)  Are you trying for a boy?

A- We are a part of a scientific study to see if all the old wives tales about gender are true.  As of yet we have not tried to have a boy, because we are still doing the girls’ studies, but hopefully in the next four years or so they will let us know it’s time for the boy studies.

4) Are you done yet?

A-  Well, I still have a lot more eggs and sperm available, so I don’t think so.

5) How many children do you WANT?!

A- The guiness book of world records is 22 children.  At the rate I am going I could have at least 24 before menopause!

6) (to my four year old) Are you not in school today?

A- no, we don’t believe in the confines of an education.  We believe that a child is at his best exploring his environment through play and we don’t want to squash that by teaching them things like how to read the alphabet and count.

7)They are so well behaved!

A- while I love to hear this it makes me wonder what it is that I am doing wrong at home! “Thank you.  I take parenting advice from nursery rhymes.  Remember the old woman who lived in a shoe and had so many children she didn’t know what to do?”

Are they twins/triplets?  They all look just exactly alike!

A- Why yes, the oldest three are triplets but were born a year apart from each other.  I know, it’s hard to tell them apart, since they all have blue eyes (which is almost their only similar feature.)

9) You need to get a hobby!

A- Oh, we have a very nice hobby, and it burns calories too!

10) You do know what causes that, don’t you?

A- cock the head and very seriously reply “no, I don’t.  Could you please explain it to me?”

I so enjoyed this blog written by a QF homeschholing preacher’s wife!

August/September: I knew some ladies online who cover and felt the
Spirit’s urging to research it. My husband and I researched it for over
a month and we decided that I was definitely supposed to cover for
prayer and prophesy and that the Bible does not specify it is only for
public prayer.

September 26: we left our church because of an issue surrounding my head
covering. My husband also talked with his mom about covering and
she wrote that the Holy Spirit gave her personal revelation that we are not to cover.

September 28: My husband sent me a link to a yahoogroup headcovering list and I joined.

September 30: my first time to wear a covering ‘in public’ meaning my
parents came over for communion and I was covered. My parents didn’t
comment.

October 1 : I posted this to the list
” This morning I took the girls to the YMCA in the kids area and I went to
the chapel. I had trouble praying and at some point I said, “Well,
Lord, I know I’m out of practice (I pray thruought the day but never
have time for alone prayer) but this is ridiculous!” I felt Him say
“You’re not covered.” Ah, He was right, in my hurry to get out the door
I neglected to remember that new but very important detail. I searched
through my bag and found a onsie. YEs, you read that right. I put a
baby shirt on my head. And you know what? It worked! I was
immediately attentive, the noises around me were not a bother, and I
felt God’s presence there with me. This wasn’t a new feeling, but I
have never felt so ‘instantly’ in prayer as I did at that moment. It
was pretty awesome. Even though (especially though!) I wore a small
white baby shirt on my bowed head. ”

October 5: Friday was my first day to cover all day. I found that I
pray so often that covering ONLY when praying was inconvenient and it
was so much more practical to stay covered. I thought I would feel self
conscious when I ran errands that day but I didn’t- it felt so right to
be covered! I bought two temporary head kerchiefs at a resale shop and
am still wearing those for now. My husband was a little surprised with
my new ‘look’ I think. But, he has been very tender and sweet and,
well, more loving and honoring, since I have been covering full time.
It’s really amazing and I hope it doesn’t wear off!

October 6: Saturday we went to dinner at my parents and had a very
stressful conversation with my mom. She wanted to know why my head was
covered and proceeded to tell me how 1)unbiblical it was 2) women who
are covered are in bondage 3) women who cover are ‘holier then thou’ She
said other things too, but that was the base of her argument.

October 7: Yesterday we drove to Houston to visit a messianic store that
carries Tallits and scarves. The tallits were beautiful but cost too
much. They scarves weren’t what I was looking for. However, the
conversation I had with the couple who own the store was wonderful.
Apparently other newly convicted women have also been coming in for
scarves. This is a big movement from God, I believe. The woman was so
encouraging. She said they were unable to find good, fundamental
conservative churches who accepted her covering other then the Messianic
congregations, and they couldn’t find one nearby that taught the Bible
in addition to all the traditions. They used to be members of the one
that I was looking into but left because the Rabbi refused to really
teach the people and because they focus on the Jewish members and prefer
to ignore the gentiles (What I also found in my conversations with the
Rabbi’s wife via email.)

So, they started their own church, right there in their store. And now
the ladies who have joined also cover their heads. This seemed to be
confirmation that my husband might be going in the right direction in
considering started a church. We are in deep prayer over this issue.

S

Recently, I was diagnosed with C. A. A. D. D. Child Activated Attention
Deficit Disorder. This is how it manifests:

I decide to do the laundry. As I start toward the laundry room, I notice that
there are cheerios all over the floor and my car keys are in the cereal bowl. I
decide to pick up the cheerios before I do the laundry. I toss my keys in the cabinet to prevent the kids from taking off with them, put the cheerios in the trash can, and
notice that the trash can is full. So, I decide to take out the trash.

But then I think, since I’m going to be near the mailbox when I take out the
trash I may as well mail payments for some things I ordered online. I take my checkbook off the computer desk, and see that there is only one check left, my extra checks are in my bedroom. On my way to the bedroom I find a sippy cup full of
juice. I’m going to look for my checks, but first I decide I should put the sippy
cup in the refrigerator to keep it cold. As I head toward the kitchen with
the sippy cup my roses on the counter catches my eye — > they need
to be watered. I set the sippy cup on the counter, and I discover baby wipes
that I’ve been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back in
the bathroom, but first I’m going to water the flowers.

I set the wipes back down, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot
the TV remote, I must have left it on the kitchen table. I realize that
after bedtime hubby will want the remote, but I won’t remember that it’s on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the living room where it belongs, but first I’ll water
the flowers.

I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So,
I set the remote back down, get some paper towels and wipe up the spill. Then
I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: the laundry isn’t washed, the bills aren’t paid,
there is a warm cup of juice sitting on the counter, the flowers aren’t watered,
there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can’t find the remote, I
can’t find the wipes, and I don’t remember what I did with the car keys.

Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I’m really baffled
because I know I was busy all day long, and I’m really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I’ll try to get some help for it,
but first I’ll check my e-mail.

ADAPTED FROM INTERNET FORWARD

The forward:
Sometimes we wonder, “What did I do to deserve this?”
or “Why did God have to do this to me?” Here is a
wonderful explanation! A daughter is telling her
Mother how everything is going wrong, she’s failing
algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best
friend is moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her
daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter
says, “Absolutely Mom, I love your cake”

“Here, have some cooking oil,” her Mother offers.

“Yuck” says her daughter.
“How about a couple raw eggs?” “Gross, Mom!”
“Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking
soda?”

“Mom, those are all yucky!”

To which the mother replies: “Yes, all those things
seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put
together in the right way, they make a wonderfully
delic ious cake! ”

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He
would let us go through such bad and difficult times.
But God knows that when He puts these things all in
His order, they always work for good! We just have to
trust Him and, eventually, they will all make
something wonderful!

*****************************************************************************
I was thinking along those lines this morning when I got out my mop and it broke upon first stroke. So, I got down on my hands and knees to scrub. Believe me, spending an hour sweeping and handwashing my floor was like baking soda and cooking oil!
I was on a local talk show a couple of times when I was a teenager. One of those times I was asked to explain to another teen why she must go to school (her mother was being threatened with jail time and fines because of her daughter’s truancy.) Well, this wasn’t an expected question and I wasn’t sure what I should say. A quick prayer and I opened my mouth and said

“It builds character.” Her face was blank, the talk show host wasn’t sure what to make of it either. I don’t think I made a convincing argument. Looking back at it, though, that was a great reason. There are things in our lives that are VERY unpleasant and even when we see NO REASON and NOTHING GOOD from these events, they still build character. Christians and nonChristians alike value character. As Christian ladies, though, good character can equal wisdom, good decisions, and an opportunity to be a good witness.
Lord, build in me a Godly character!!

Sunday we had my parents over for communion. Mom did not comment on my scarf, even though it kept falling off and I kept putting it back on. When discussing the
church issue she was also careful to avoid the specific subject of the issue, so I think my dad must have told her and she was just careful not to bring it up. So, she just abstained from comments. That’s certainly better then complaining! Although, she did complain about lots of other stuff…..

We sang some songs (my fingers are sore now, I’m not used to playing the
guitar for so long anymore) and Paul read Scripture and then we had communion.

It was, in all, a very nice time.
Monday morning I took the girls to the YMCA in the kids area and I went to
the chapel. I had trouble praying and at some point I said, “Well,
Lord, I know I’m out of practice (I pray thruought the day but never
have time for alone prayer) but this is ridiculous!” I felt Him say
“You’re not covered.” Ah, He was right, in my hurry to get out the door
I neglected to remember that new but very important detail. I searched
through my bag and found a onsie. Yes, you read that right. I put a
baby shirt on my head. And you know what? It worked! I was
immediately attentive, the noises around me were not a bother, and I
felt God’s presence there with me. This wasn’t a new feeling, but I
have never felt so ‘instantly’ in prayer as I did at that moment. It
was pretty awesome. Even though (especially though!) I wore a small
white baby shirt on my bowed head.

Bless and be blessed,
S