Defining Womanhood

I had the privilege of going out with my mom last night for dinner and a little shopping. As we were finishing up our meal, we began to discuss the danger of discontentment in life's circumstances. It is so easy to find ourselves wishing we could change the past or live in a different present. This ties together a theme that I have discovered in my personal and bible study lately. Self! We like to blame the Devil, our upbringing, current environment, and those around us for our unhappiness, but have you ever stopped to think that you could be your biggest problem? Two areas of self-centeredness that seem to plague women the most are control and insecurity. We like to control the running of our house, our children, spouses, jobs....you name it. This is a result of our sin stemming all the way back to Adam and Eve. " And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you." (Genesis 3:16b, NLT) The natural order of authority was not only perverted between...

As I was growing up, I never had much of a verbal filter. Who am I kidding? I still don't have much of a filter. Whatever thought I had, more often critical than kind, would just flow from my mouth. My mom used to tell me, "There's honest and then there's brutally honest. You are brutally honest." Usually my reply would be something similar to, "Oh well." or "I'm just stating the truth." I obviously considered myself a step above all those to whom I frequently criticized. The book of proverbs has a lot to say about foolish people and actions, and many times it is in relationship to our words. Proverbs 18:2 and 29:11 say " A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." " A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back." Ouch! I have fallen very short from this counsel. Why is it that harsh or judgmental words can often be the first things that rush to our minds...