Book Review: Spiritual Mothering

Spiritual Mothering, by Susan Hunt

I just finished another book by Susan Hunt. This is one of those books that I have wanted to read for a while, but just never got around to it. I think the reason that I had put it off was because I thought it was going to be just another book about Titus 2. Well, it was about Titus 2, but it was unique in that it did not focus so much on the "curriculum" of Titus 2 as it did on the relational factors between women. It addressed many of the problems that I have seen with women in the church. Although it sounds obvious, she talked about the primary purpose of women mentoring women--encouraging one another to live for God's glory. She brings to this subject years of ministry experience in the church. It is obvious that she has dealt with women from various backgrounds and in various stages of life. I highly recommend this book!

A Helper...Fit for Him

This is going to be short and sweet (at least this time), even though I know a lot could be said on this subject. So here goes...I have been contemplating the question whose helper are we to be? This all stems from a book or books I should say that I have recently read, written by Susan Hunt. I like Susan Hunt and I like the work she has done in teaching Biblical Womanhood. The question that I am raising is because of her book co-written with Ligon Duncan, Women's Ministry in the Local Church. It is based on the fact that woman was created to be a helper. They demonstrate how this helper design can be fleshed out in a women's ministry in the local church. I like the book and I think the idea is interesting, but my question is, "Do they take the helper design beyond Scripture?" Isn't the woman created to be a helper fit for him...her husband? and as far as the local church goes isn't the gift of helps not gender specific? Is women's ministry in the local church to be primarily in her own home? These are just some thoughts that have been rolling around in my head for a few months and I thought it would be nice to think them out here.

Biblical Womanhood

Okay, I have been needing to make some changes with this blog and have finally decided how I am going to do it. This blog is going to be utilized for encouraging women, both married and single to pursue Biblical Womanhood. I am going to go ahead and leave all the old posts that are more general, but from this point on, I will focus more on issues pertaining to Biblical Womanhood.

I have added in my list of links a link entitled Home- United for Christ. This is the blog that I first started and intended to be for both me and Mark. So, if you are interested in Homeschool or other things pertaining to the Callarman's you should check out that blog.

What does it mean to be a woman?

Check out girl talk to see what Carolyn Mahaney has to say about being a woman.

Walk In Love.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” -Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. -Love covers all offenses.

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” – “Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.” –Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles. –Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. –If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. –Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Eph. 5:2. John 13:34. 1 Pet. 4:8. Prov. 10:12. Mark 11:25.
Luke 6:35. Prov. 24:17. 1 Pet. 3:9. Rom. 12:18.
Eph. 4:32. 1 John 3:18. (Daily Light on the Daily Path)

The Beautiful Faith of Fearless Submission

Over on the Desiring God website they have a new sermon with the above title. You can watch an excerpt here. Pastor John Piper talks about the essence of the Christian woman: Hope In God. It is good and very challenging. It strikes right at the fearful heart and admonishes us to trust God in our suffering. When I think of all the women that I admire I see they share this very trait. They are not afraid of suffering.

My aunt told a true story about a young woman who was about to give birth. Her husband informed her that she did not have to worry about pain in childbirth because now that Christ had become a curse for us she would not have to bear the curse of pain. Needless to say this young woman soon learned the truth!

I think this is not much different than what many people are teaching these days. They may not be so bold as to say there will be no pain in childbirth, but they do say if we have enough faith then we will not suffer in this age. This type of teaching is totally contrary to the Word of God.

This faith, that we are told to have, is not a faith in a certain outcome to our situation; but it is faith in God's wisdom and goodness. It is faith in the God revealed in Scripture. A God who is faithful to all his promises. It is faith in the truth revealed about our God found in scriptures like, "the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases." Our faith is in God, not what we think would be a good solution. It is a faith that stands firm even in the midst of suffering. It is firm because God never changes, "he is the same yesterday, today, and forever!" Our circumstances change, but God does not.

In John Milton's Paradise Lost, satan says that he will make a heaven out of hell. I think this is precisely what these false teachers are leading people to do these days. They want people to deny the reality that we live in a cursed, sin-sick world that is passing away (praise God!). They want us to believe we already have attained our inheritance reserved for us in the age to come. This is not what Scripture teaches. Yes this world is filled with beauty and good things, but it is not our desired haven. We are seeking a city not built with human hands.

So, as women let us grow in beauty as we hope in our faithful God. May we set our eyes on Christ the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the cross. Let us not be pulled into false teaching that says if we believe enough this life will be pain free. Rather let us remember that when we suffer we are fellowshipping in Christ's sufferings and our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed.

Book Review

It has been almost a year now since I read Created to be His Help-meet, by Debi Pearl. The reason I am now talking about it is that it keeps popping up. I do not commend this book and if you would like to know why you can click over to my review here.

So what books do I recommend on marriage and womanhood? Here are a few:

Feminine Appeal, by Carolyn Mahaney

The Mystery of Marriage, by Mike Mason

Let Me Be a Woman, by Elisabeth Elliot

Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem

Stepping Heavenward, by Elisabeth Prentiss

The Hidden Art of Homemaking, by Edith Schaeffer

Most importantly these books are of no use if we are not growing in Christ-likeness. So, in our quest to be Titus 2 women let us not forget to be Christian women.

May we all grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!