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Soften Your Heart and Thrive, 07 NOV
“Women saved thru childbearing”… Paul could mean so many things in 1st Timothy, I can’t read Greek or Hebrew for my own slant, and I KNOW the customs of the time were very DIFFERENT…. But what does this Jesus baby (now a growing child) in my heart say to me TODAY about being saved thru childbirth?
Soften and Thrive, 07 NOV
In 1st Timothy, Apostle Paul wants this for women: “9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
Before we jump down Paul’s throat for such expectations of women being silent (and I highly doubt they were) at that ancient time and i am NOT going to go into those discussions in this piece, let’s also look at what Paul wants for men: “8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.”
Well, sure, what’s the chance of that? Men without anger? Even Jesus had anger towards men… Anger and strife is human… But anger towards God? No…. See Paul may have desired what God desires, men to be praising (regardless of thorns in their sides) and NOT take anger WITH GOD for one’s lot in life… Paul urges the raising ones hands in praise and surrendered belief that Jesus took the judgment consequences for us all. Men (ALL OF US these days) are to have no dispute with God – settle your anger, forgive each other, soften your heart to feel Jesus’s compassion and weep with HIS tears, just like the song states…
When we think of childbearing for women, we see (and I certainly felt) the giving of one’s whole body for the baby. Not just carrying the strain but physically and mentally, hormonally and nutritionally, all aspects of childbearing changes the whole body. Women saved thru childbirth also means that it is US bearing Jesus into and thru our hearts. (note: to read when Jesus was being born in me please see writing # 7, Christmas Eve Labor, 24 Dec)… I so felt this amazing change in my heart – and so bore Jesus thru my physical, mental, hormonal, and nutritional states… In body and spirit, Jesus was born anew in me from the seeds God placed into me, which he carefully watered. Then he sent the HOLY SPIRIT to DRIVE all the players into position – so that when HE flooded me with a Christmas Flood (writing #2, Christmas Flood), I was ready to give birth – with spiritual doctors and nursemaids aplenty… A baby Jesus, that i could no longer deny, was being born at the proper time in my life – at time when i was emotionally ready to raise and grow this child. I pray you have born or will bear Jesus when you are ready. Bearing Mary’s tears at the death of her son and weeping Jesus’s tears at his crucifixion will cleanse your soul.
Trust me that adorning oneself with a baby Jesus is beauty – not from gold or pearls or fancy clothes… Oh, there is no greater beauty then that which can been visualized when Jesus’s smile is on your face…
After childbearing, life-calling is not done… there is child-raising, Of course Jesus is not going to feed himself, he was a baby – He and all babies need to be cared for – nurtured, taught, and fed. A women’s work is not done at childbirth – NEVER done when all the world are God’s children. Truly BOTH men and women can begin this journey of raising God’s children in TODAY’S customs… Once born, Jesus in ALL men and women needs proper spiritual nutrition – less junk – more of a healthy diet that we can feed into our temple bodies and minds… Jesus will eek by with all our non-nutritive ways – but he will THRIVE when we feed him right. Because of Jesus’ growth we will THRIVE as well…
Babies (and especially baby Jesus) will soften your heart – babies will kick you mentally into surviving and thriving because you have to give yourself to raise them – and when you can compassionately give of yourself – the baby will grow and thrive… Yes, YOU can grow Jesus and not begrudge the situation – you can thrive because Jesus grows in you. You can weep with Jesus’s tears for compassion for the world when yours dry up – and YES Jesus’s Godly tears will fill your cup – from the inside. I hold my cup up, Lord, fill me up….
Soften your heart and Thrive…..
Amen
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“Soften my heart, Lord Soften my heart From all indifference Set me apart To feel your compassion To weep with your tears Come soften my heart, O Lord Soften my heart” Graham Kendrick
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1 Timothy 2 (NIV)
Instructions on Worship
2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
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Debbie Upper 