revisiting the past & my headcovering journey

This blog has been closed for a couple years. Today while moving some things around the house I came across my copy of the book "Life as a Prayer: Recapturing the Wind of Head Covering" This is where Michele Barnes McClendon shared my headcoving story (with my permission from posts from this blog) along with the stories of other women. Though that was about 4 years ago coming across that book today stirred a lot in my heart. As I read the words from my heart that were shared there many emotions come back. The headcovering journey remains a very impacting experience that prompted much soul searching and prayer. Things remain the same for me now on this subject as are written in the last sentences of chapter 3 of Michele's book.
I closed this blog for a long time. I was very vulnerable in my writings and wondered if I shared too much. I also knew there were times in my writings that I likely crossed the line into legalism. I didn't want someone to come across the blog - read one post and take that little slice as the whole pie of my journey. Would I write some things differently now? Sure. Do I see some things with a little different perspective now? Sure. All the same the writings here are a part of my story and I am not ashamed of that. God stretched me so much during this time and I am grateful. Blessings, Joanna

Self righteousness and man made religion

Just wanted to share the following that stirred my heart about self righteousness and man made religion:

http://glimpsesofmyheart.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/self-righteousness-and-man-made-religion/

HE's still workin on me...

Pride. It appears I'm full of it.

In the last couple months I'd prayed different times to the LORD as to why I get so rattled when someone disagrees with a conviction of mine. I knew I needed to sort through why I wanted so much for others to agree with me and why I felt the need to prove my self and my convictions. I justified my strong internal desire to prove my point as being natural - I mean, of course if you feel very strongly about something and feel it has great validity why wouldn't you want to help open others eyes to the light! HA. See any pride there?

The LORD is showing me that despite that there is nothing wrong with wanting to be understood that much of my feelings are stirred up because a big root of pride is involved.

You know who the LORD used to get my attention on this? Michelle Duggar.
We love the Duggars. We own the Duggar dvds and every Sunday evening we have family night and eat popcorn and watch an episode of the Duggars on dvd.

Recently in watching I became captivated by how Michelle responds when put on the spot by interviewers on subjects that are different than how she and Jim Bob have chosen to lead their family. She always responds saying something positive about the other person with the different point of view. There is no hint of condemnation or criticism. I began to contemplate this. Obviously, for them to lead their family in a way that is very contrary to the world, and sets them apart in many ways in the majority of Christian circles too, they have to be very strong in their convictions. They obviously firmly believe that they are doing what is best for their family.

So how is it that Michelle has such a different response than me? The difference is she is full of humility and grace. I don't believe she has any turmoil inside if others disagree. She isn't on a mission to prove she is right, nor is Jim Bob. They simply believe what they believe and live it. I am in awe of that. My prayer for this year is that the LORD will get me to that place. That HE will help me to simply rest in HIM and be at peace with who HE has made me to be. That HE will open my eyes to what all causes my unrest & strip me of any remaining roots of pride.

Thanks to Michelle Duggar for being a wonderful testimony to me of Christian humility and grace. Thanks for listening to the Holy Spirit but not trying to be the Holy Spirit for others.

I know I'm making baby steps by HIS grace.
I'm reminded of the childhood song... "HE's still workin on me. To make me what I ought to be. It took HIM just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the Earth, and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient HE must be because HE's still workin on me!"

Joanna

Teach Your Kids About Jesus - by Joseph Henson

I am privileged to have the honor of doing a review of a new book titled:
"Teach Your Kids about Jesus". The book was written by Joseph D. Henson and is designed provide simple kid friendly Bible Lessons for you to do together as a family!

We began using this book with our children (ages 5, 7, & 9) this past week. We all came away from the first lesson feeling very positive about using this book in our Family Bible Time!

Why we like it:
It was easy for my husband to use in leading our Bible time. The selected text is read straight from your Bible - which I love. (I personally think we lose something when the scripture is all written into the Lesson book. The children do not get the blessing of reading it straight from their Bible) The questions included in the book are very simple. This was especially a blessing as some of the materials we have used in the past only our oldest daughter knew the answers and the younger ones felt left out. When we did the first couple lessons in this book both of our younger daughters beamed as they were able to answer questions too! As the book progresses questions are offered that not only cover the current lesson but review previous lessons. It is a very family/kid friendly book that would be especially helpful to those new to having a Family Bible Time. It's sound, simple, and effective.

There are 138 lessons. The Lessons cover: The early life of Jesus, His ministry, His miracles, His teaching methods, The Kingdom of God, The Sermon on the Mount, The Passion Week. It is meant to give your family a deeper understanding of Jesus and a better overall understanding of the Bible.

You can order a copy today by clicking on the link below:

They are not my children

I just started doing the "Entrusted with a Child's Heart" women's study.
Today when I was sitting in the class something hit me.
My children are not my own - they are God's children.
Yes, I'd heard that concept before but I hadn't truly got it. What the LORD brought into my mind was how when I leave my children with my parents they are simply watching them. I am entrusting the children's care to them but my husband and I are still their parents. Because my children are not their own children, my parents inquire and want to know how my husband and I want them to handle different situations with our girls. They respect that we are the parents, the authority over these children, and they realize that we know each of these children more intimately than them. They serve us lovingly by heeding our instruction and caring for our girls for us.

What this means to me:
My children actually belong to God. He has just entrusted my husband and I to care for them for HIM! Wow. Somehow when I really look at it like I'm "baby sitting" God's children it makes me see things a lot differently. I wouldn't want to usurp HIS authority over them. I need to be looking to HIM as to how to handle things with them, how to train them. HE knows them more intimately than me.
It makes me aware of how valuable these precious children are and yet it also takes the weight off my shoulders a bit. They are HIS. If I will wait for HIS direction in each situation HE will tell me what to do. HE is a skilled, experienced parent! They are not my children - they are HIS.

Thanks for this down to earth illustration for me today LORD!
Joanna

What is a True Woman?

Yes, this blog is reopened!

This past week I got the huge blessing of going to the True Woman Conference in Indianapolis. It was incredible! Any lady out there that has not gone to a True Woman Conference or is not already registered to go - DO IT!! If you are not familiar with The True Woman movement - get familiar! No, it's not a cult! But, yes indeed it's completely counter cultural! Our wordly culture is trying to tell us what beauty is/what womanhood is and somehow we Christian women listen and buy into their thinking. The world and it's system is not based on the Bible. Therefore, it is not based on truth. That's what the True Woman movement is all about; going to the Bible to find out what our role and purpose is as women!
True Woman is a ministry of Revive our Hearts. You can find out more at these links.
True Woman
Revive our Hearts
Life Action Revivial Ministries is the parent ministry of Revive our Hearts

The following is a wonderful testimony that was shared at the Conference
(Stop the Music player at bottom left of blog before playing)

I have been a white washed tomb

I've been asking the LORD to stretch me. In the last week HE indeed has. HE used a Christian cousin way over in Haiti sitting in the heat, living in a tent, who thankfully had time on his hands and a lap top to minister to me. God is awesome.

I shared with him my convictions as far as attire and why I felt I needed the fence of wearing long skirts. He shared with me about a time in his life when God revealed to him that he was cutting off the branches of the tree and the undesirable fruit but was ignoring the root problem. He was changing things externally to try to address sin issues rather than getting to the heart. He expressed how he thinks that is one of the biggest traps of satan - to get us occupied trying to manage the sin rather than be freed from it. He expressed how much Jesus taught against the ways of the Pharisees who worked real hard to look religious outwardly but their hearts were not cleansed and made pure.

Two nights ago after my cousin had expressed some of these thoughts and I was pondering them and praying about them I opened up a devotional book I hadn't read out of in years and I turned to the following:

Matthew 23:27
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

Wow... God showed me I am the whitewashed sepulchre. I didn't like to see that but indeed I'm seeing more and more it's true!
In bible times the tombs (sepulchres) were painted white to alert people that it was a grave so no person would come in contact with the body or the grave and be made unclean. Jesus often spoke against the Pharisees who looked religious, acted religious... but inside they were full of corruption and death like the whitewashed tombs. (my paraphrase taken from "Living on the Mountain" by Roger Palms pg 195)
I have been a white washed tomb. My intentions were good. I was trying to deal with a sin issue but I was dealing with it externally rather than asking God to renew me and change me in my inner being. As my dear cousin expressed we must not just chop off the sinful fruit or the branches but get to the root and dig it up!

The fact is I don't need to wear long skirts - I need to be rid of fleshly thinking. I need to be completely renewed in my inner being. Oh modesty is important yes, and biblical, and I am not speaking against that. But putting on noble clothing doesn't remove the heart issue. It's like a wolf in sheep's clothing or a whitewashed tomb.

I am so thankful for the mercy of Jesus. I have cried out to HIM to cleanse me in my inner being and fill my to overflowing with HIS Holy Spirit. Thank you LORD for showing me that I was covering over/"managing" my sin rather than being set free from it! Thank you that YOU are indeed freeing me. I was relying on my own strength for freedom from my sinful motives but only You, JESUS, and your redemptive power can change me in my inner being and set me free!!

The cross of Christ is sufficient to conquer my sinful flesh:
Romans 6:6-7 & 14
"We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
For one who has died has been set free from sin.
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."

Today I am dancing for JESUS for HE is my deliverer.


(stop music player at bottom left to listen to "Everything we need" sung by Acapella