Our High Calling

 

Good day to my sisters who love and obey the Lord!

I was pondering my way through Philippians 2 this morning and got to this and wanted to share it to also edify you. 

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"

Philippians 2:14-15 

We are to be blameless and harmless...in that case by not grumbling and all that. I hope none of us do that about anything. It's always something to ponder deeper and search our hearts to see how we do in all the everyday life situations that can sometimes cause us some trouble. The Lord wants us to overcome and be thankful in everything. Let us sisters strive to be blameless in all our ways in the midst of a wicked world. The Lord says for how He wants us to be in our demeanour of being meek and quiet and submissive and also in our clothing. 

And then I wanted to share this one. 

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 3:7-14

As women doing the work that God wants of us, we are living in His ways which are high and holy. The world says it's foolish and out of date to be a godly woman keeping the home and/or being a helper to a husband or raising children. 

But it doesn't matter what people say. God's ways are higher and His Word will endure for ever. Man's word will not. 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

We are to aim high in our living of this life in Christ if we have been born by the Spirit through the gospel.

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Matthew 5:48

It's a blessed life indeed and we have such a hope of eternal life to come if we endure through this all. 

I got my headcoverings sewn today, three of them. 

Here's a quick video clip of what I do for sewing them.

I offer them on my shop here. I made these at 100cm or 40 inches.

And they are a nice lightweight muslin fabric.

Reminds me of this scripture... 

"Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions."

Mark 10:21-22

And this....

And this... 

I hope we sisters are humbled and yet rejoicing about the high calling we are called to, first as followers of Christ, His disciples, and then as women in our roles we are to have while on this earth. One day we shall be like the angels of God in heaven. 

"And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection."

Luke 20:34-36

This life is so temporary. Let us focus on the next life, eternity, and seek God's righteousness.

Alright sisters I shall leave it at that for today! I hope anything I share can edify, encourage, and bless you. 

Strive on!

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

1 Peter 1:13-16

Love and peace in Christ, 

...from one of God's daughters

See the biblical gospel here. 

Read more of "Our High Calling"

Bravery and Flattery

"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."

1 Samuel 17:45

Sometimes I can feel like that...David - a little "nobody" facing a mighty warrior - Goliath! Yet we can overcome in Christ in all our battles. And because most often the saints walk alone, we can be surrounded by our "enemies" too! But we love our enemies and neighbours and want to tell them the truth of the good news of Christ. 

For us women we are to have a meek and quiet spirit yes, but we can be mighty warriors in the Word of God and stand boldly for His truth. It's to do with not fearing man really. I have to work on that myself.

I like this one... 

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

Acts 4:13

...just simple people with the power of the Spirit and having seen the life of our Lord and seen the risen Saviour! 

"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

2 Peter 1:16

And Paul asked for prayer for boldness in the gospel... 

"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

Ephesians 6:19-20

Let us pray for one another also, that we may be strong sisters standing for truth and the gospel, boldly. May we dig into the Word to know His truth and the Spirit will reveal it to us. 

"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."

Proverbs 28:1

Let us strive to shine our lights and be a living and powerful witness to our Lord...and be bold as a lion. 

This morning I was reading and I came across this verse. And I was thinking deeply about it and how it relates to other scriptures and life as believers. 

"He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue."

Proverbs 28:23

Ponder that. 

And this one... 

...and this one...

What great love God must have for us to chasten, rebuke, and correct His children! What a mighty caring Father!

Psalm 12...

"Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted."

(Does it not remind you of what is coming out of the church pulpits today?)

Beware women! Do not be deceived by their flattery.

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

Romans 16:17-18

People want to hear what their flesh wants to hear. They want to be told all is well with them (even if it isn't). True love tells the truth and does not flatter anyone. 

Ponder this one... 

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."

1 John 5:2

God's Word is so good...it tells us all these things that we see today!

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

2 Timothy 4:3-4

But you women can do your own study on flatter in scripture and see the depths of it. 

There are many verses about wicked women flattering with their lips; a warning for us to thoroughly examine all our speech and also to beware of others doing it to us. It could be and is very dangerous. Similarly there are also warnings for us women on not being gossips and in Titus 2 not false accusers either. 

"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."

Psalm 148:3

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

Matthew 12:36-37

Love in Christ,

...from a daughter of God

See the gospel to eternal life here. 

Read more of "Bravery and Flattery"

Blameless Women of God

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,"

Hebrews 6:1

Good day sisters in Christ, the godly women of the world! 

How does this find you? I hope and pray striving on for the Lord, growing in Him and being moulded into His likeness. I was thinking of this subject. If we have been any time as a new creation in Christ we will be maturing and over time day by day we will be seeking to do better at things we fail at. And reaching for perfection/maturity that the Lord commands of us. We don't want to sit still not growing. 

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Matthew 5:48

There is so much in scripture about this all of course and how we are to live as followers of the Lamb. 

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."

Philippians 2:12-16

As women, we know the things that pertain particularly to us of quietness, submission, meekness, biblical dress, headcovering, keeper at home etc. How are we going at all of those things? As I grow in my walk and look back from where I came from I see how the Lord is leading me into maturity in those things and more. Though we are all different and are called in Christ from different backgrounds some things may take more time to grow in. It might take longer for some developing a meek and quiet spirit and for us all no doubt learning how to react in different circumstances along with learning the roles of keeper at home. Other things can be done more quickly like putting on biblical clothing and headcovering. Yes it may only have been like ten months that I have been covering and dressing fully biblical but once you get past that initial flesh that says oh this will be hard and what will people think, then you don't care so much and you grow stronger. And it is obedience to the Lord's commands so it must be done and He died to redeem us as we are not our own. 

And yes as godly women we will be stared at by the world...and thought strange. But we have to overcome those feelings and press on for our Lord. Praise God He gave me strength to overcome and I've never looked back. All you who want to follow God and are obeying the gospel can overcome all things in Him. Then we can leave these things that are quick to obey and focus on the things that need harder work, our weaknesses, and even in them we will mature and grow if we are faithful. Don't give up pressing on. 

We see Paul teaching on more areas of being blameless...in this case a godly widow. 

"Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work."

1 Timothy 5:10

We have so much instruction in God's Word and we all are responsible for our own actions. At the end of each day we can think how we could have done better and all throughout the day we will be judging our attitudes and bringing them into line with how they ought to be if they have strayed. 

The Lord will give us wisdom and strength if we ask. Yes we have to act too and do things that are hard in the flesh but only then will we grow stronger in the Lord growing in maturity and walking blameless in all things.

To me this is signs of life, seeing a person constantly searching their hearts and actions and repenting and over time doing better. We are alive from the dead after all!...if we have been born by the Spirit that is, through the gospel. 

Love in Christ,

...from a servant of the Lord

See the gospel to eternal life here. 

Read more of "Blameless Women of God"