Women in Ministry....a thought

So I decided to post this on my Blog, as it is something that we discussed on Sunday in Berean Bible College Intro to New Testament. My friend Skyler asked this question:

Skyler Martin Someone tell me what you think of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Im really asking for opinions

³⁴ Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. ³⁵ If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.<sup>[h]

First of all....its SO important not to take a VERSE out of the bible and just read it and say..."it is so". Read the whole chapter, letter or thought. Know why it was written, to whom, and the culture time and place it was written. UNDERSTAND the real teaching of the passage in the bible, and do not take it out of context. Its like saying....I will withhold xyz, when you really mean the whole alphabet! Or perhaps making a pie without crust and trying to figure out why you cannot cut it into equal pieces.

The word of God never changes, but culture does. The word of God is the same today as it was then, and God knew we would be reading it in THIS day and time....and that all the messages and teachings would apply to the changing world as it becomes more wicked and the Christian grows in maturity. A woman's place in ministry has been a long sought after discussion, and Im so glad that GRACE has covered many of the beginnings of the understanding of Salvation in any person's life. We are all loved EQUALLY by God. We are ALL told to go and seek the lost and speak the Word of God to the people.</sup>
So this was my answer to my dear friend Skyler. I would love comments. It is so pertinent how God works because just the other day this whole idea was on my heart...but I had to think about how to say it. I said "no words of wisdom today....but let me get back to you on this..." This is what I was creating on my heart that day. Wow! God is good all the time...

Wow Skyler....I just got hit with this question SUNDAY in Berean Bible College...so here you go. I agree with Isaac Skyler. Jesus loved women in ministry and showed them many times how they pleased him. Saul also knew the depth of a woman's gift in ministry because he even put them in Jail when he persecuted believers before he became a follower! Women were not usually put in Jail! Saul KNEW that women were a powerful mouthpiece for Christianity in that day in time and tried to shut them up. In the feeding of the 5000, it states that there were 5000 MEN, not including women and children. Being in a Jewish or Gentile culture at that time, women were substandard to men. Women were considered property at that time of culture, not people or even counted. Women sat on one side of the room, men on the other, as respect to this gender discrimination. Its important as you study the bible, to also study the culture that was in place at the time of the writings, even though we do understand that the Word is living today, just as it did then. God knew YOU would be reading His word Skyler, and that you would ask this question today. Culture changes, but the Word of God does not.

This is not saying that women should not be accountable to their husbands and allow their husbands to be the "head" of them, meaning to respect them--in ministry this is a huge thing. It is so important as a Christian to be equally yoked because of this. When Jesus died on the cross....many things changed. The new testament was written between 20 - 90 A.D. That was a long time ago, and the culture of people has definitely changed. The Church Body of Christ has grown to understand GRACE in a much fuller manner, I believe. I agree with Isaac, that this verse deals with instruction that we must have order in our services, so that people may benefit from the service. All things are important, the hymns, the prophecy, Tounges and revelation of the word spoken by the spirit...when its done all at once, it is sometimes so chaotic that people mistake Christians as crazy. That is an issue now AND then.

Now......taking that thought, you also have to realize that Christians SHOULD appear different. Sometimes in worship, all of those things do happen, music, tongues, crying out in praise, but its done during a period of time to draw the Holy Spirit into the service more deeply, and then listen to the Word God has put upon the heart of the one speaking or ministering. When Jesus spoke, people listened.

So to end this long thought.....women and men should respect an ordered worship service, not taking out anything. If you have questions during a service, write them down and ask afterward. If Jesus comes to take you home during the service, ask Him when you are in his presence...Im sure he would love to talk with you!

Its amazing how God works Skyler...as I JUST had this teaching Sunday. God is Good all the time.

Thankful once again

So Yesterday I had the dreaded appointment with the Rheumatologist. She told me that a career in nursing was a little optimistic at this point in my health. I have 10 diagnosis' at this point, and I wont bore everyone with the details, but basically its time for disability.

So today I am Thankful. I am trying to start concentrating of all that I do have, and there is so much. Two very special friends told me the other day, each separately, that I may not be able to get rid of things that I have been taught, undo things that have happened, but I can learn new things, and choose joy, not chase it away. I have to decide to do this, and I have.

I am thankful that I made it to the Doctor OK yesterday...I am thankful that I made it home...Im thankful to my mother in law for the gas money and co payment to get there...I am thankful for my little single wide trailer that I live in that has electricity and a bed to come home to. I also have a furnace to ward away the cold. I have three puppies that welcomed me in an extreme joyful way that is also kind of dorky......

I am thankful that my 14 year old son will be flying to see me on Friday. I am thankful that my husband filled up the ice dispenser, as I have to have ice with my coke. I am very thankful that I have a physician that cares about me, and that I am able to receive medication for my illness, even though it doesn't cure everything. I am thankful for my beautiful children and I am thankful for email, that I can keep track of their wanderings out in Utah, and my beautiful daughter and her cheerful smile when she laughs, and that I can see her everyday.

I am thankful for the soap in the soap dispenser, and the water from the tap in my kitchen. I'm thankful for the good lesson at church on Sunday and for the wonderful friend I have found in my Berean Bible College Teacher, Mrs. Beverly. I am so looking forward to learning more about God's Word. I am thankful for the trip today to Springfield Missouri to the district offices of Assemblies of God so that I could learn more about kids with disabilities and how I can be a better lover of all souls..... that God so wants us to find and teach. I learned today that there are NO disabled souls, just bodies. Even a person with a disabled body can feel the Holy Spirit and its comfort. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ, who lives in me, who died for me.

Not much else, but just ready for another "drastic" but it will be OK, just like all the others. A new joy to be found tomorrow.

God Bless and
I will write soon.

Rhea

Changes...we should be Thankful

Today I am meditating on how much I am blessed. Others I know are posting a "Thankful for" message each day in November. I know me, and I wont be able to keep up with the daily thing because Im a butterfly brain....but I thought I would just jot a few things down.

How do drastic changes create a Thankful heart?

If you know me, you know that this "drastic" thing happens to me all the time. I mean its like a magnet tied to my butt and it follows me everywhere. I should have "drastic magnet" written or tattooed on my forehead! I like to think of it as God's Exercise Gym, but I hate exercise. I would much rather do things the easiest way. So when these "drastic" exercises come to my presence, I usually sit and try to figure out exactly "how" this happened. After 35 some years of doing this, I have finally decided that I need to be Thankful for the "drastics" in my life, because they are really answers to prayer, taking the long route. Not the easiest route.

In the book of Jeremiah 29:11 it tells us all how much God loves us and what great plans he has for us. So....when "drastic" comes, how "should" we react?

^{Jeremiah 29: 11} For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³ If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

The first thing I know it to not be afraid. Fear is not from God in any way shape or form. I'm not saying we should run around being blind to what is happening around you, but when hard times come, and "drastic" happens, we should turn inward to the Peace that only Jesus can give. It says in verse 11 that his plans are not for disaster, but for a future and a hope. I totally believe that when "bad" things happen, they really are not bad, they are just changes and we should be Thankful for each one. Its not a disaster happening, but it will be for your good, if you look to the Lord during those times....just as verse 12 states, that He will Listen to you when you pray.

I know that when I have had these "drastics" in my life, I have turned to my own power so many times. "How will I fix this? What am I going to do? I should do this and this and this, and what about the kids, and I cant do that because of this and that and what will this one person think?? " My stupid brain does not stop. It has been a work in progress for me to dump it all out, lay it down at the Cross and PHYSICALLY choose to not worry and CHOOSE peace

After 911, the sales of Bibles went sky rocketing. Everyone was turning to the Word to find answers and to find a place of refuge. A "drastic" had happened. People were seeking Gods face in a way, through the "drastic", to find their peace. In verse 13 it says If we look for Him wholeheartedly, we WILL find Him.

So why, oh why, should we not Look to Him when we have these "drastics" happen in our own lives?

I am so thankful for the life that I have been given and the trials that I have had. It has made me, well me.
Life has made me a strong woman in a place where I never thought I would have to be at times, but I have learned to live well through hard times and plenty.

However, even though I know this
I would like to say.....
Im a little Tired today God.
I need a break.

My appointment with the Rheumatologist two weeks ago did not go well. She is not hopeful that I will ever work the way I had before, doing what I love, nursing. I am in the middle of an RN program that I may physically not be able to finish. Im maxing out on medications that are relative to the disease that I have, and disability is the next option. Functioning in the crazy way that I used to do, working two jobs, and running a daycare at the same time are now over. Just driving the car to the grocery store and sitting through my math class on a hard chair is a trying experience. Again, a "drastic" has come and Im trying very hard to "dump" my brain and lay it at the Cross.

I did that last night and today I am at peace.

But I am also tired.


So today my Thankful is that I am thankful for my "drastics" in my life that continue to follow me and create me, the woman that God loves and has a great plan for.

School is Everywhere

Well its that time, that I never thought would really come. School. Me, 45 years old in School again! Once again I am a student. Ive been through 116 college credit hours of classes and still do not have a complete degree. This does NOT count the Medical Assistant Diploma that took 18 months or the EMT class that took 6 months. I am not only in the RN Program, but I also finally answered the call and I am in Bible College. Some people think Im crazy, I feel like I am running a race to win this time!

Miss Riana is in her 11th grade year and loves her classes, "except for creative writing" which I dont understand because she loved to write on everything, including walls when she was little. She loves to write, she is just having a hard time adjusting socially to her new school. It hurts me deeply inside to see her struggle. I wish I could just stab myself and somehow transfer that pain to me. She loves her Medical Office Technology classes and it just amazes me that they teach kids in high school now, how to be able to step into the world and have a decent job! It took me FOREVER to get the education that she is just naturally getting. I am so proud of her and she is like a sponge. She learns Quickly!!!

Mr Benjamin states that he loves being in 9th grade as he is the "ruler of the school". He loves being the "big kid" finally, as he has been the baby brother all of his life, until Miss Shandee arrived at Dennis and Angie's house.

Mr Joseph is enrolled into his second year of college at SLCC and he is doing "ok" he says. I worry about him, being in Mo and He in Utah. I want to be there when he needs to talk, but it doesn't seem to be an option at the moment. I am so thankful for technology, as I can talk to my kiddos daily.

Mr Andrew hasn't talked to me since June, but I hear he is working two jobs, trying to get some things paid off, save some money, and hopefully go to school when the time is right. He lovely girlfriend Miss Lily keeps me abreast mostly of his condition, and I am so thankful for her. Andy seems to be turning into and Andrew.

Well I don't have much more to complain or praise about. School is here and we are all trying to
survive. More to come.....