INTRODUCTION For one day of the year America seems to have figured out all of the confusing, challenging, and conflicting perceptions about the thing we call LOVE. This year, Americans will spend 18.2 billion dollars on Valentine’s Day, or $137.00 per person. The exchange of flowers, cards, candy, and other gifts will signal romance and …
SCANDAL! – A Family Affair: The Five Women of Jesus’ Genealogy
“There are no perfect families!” This sentence is probably uttered, especially during the Christmas season, more times than we can imagine. While certainly this statement is true, it is often difficult to accept, especially when we are confronted with the truth of our family history. Many of us would prefer to avoid the family members …
Eat, Pray, Love – The Story of Samson’s Mother & Father
INTRODUCTION As we continue to discover, study, and learn from the women’s narratives of Scripture, it is amazing, as to the wonderment and glory of the lives of ancient women whose stories are waiting to be uncovered by us, their contemporary sisters. It is likened to digging for buried treasure – you know the treasure …
The Song of Miriam: the Presence, the Power, the Prophet
INTRODUCTION “If life is but a song” (Audrey Heller), then what are the melodies of your life? Is your life a low, flat song – repetitive and out of key? Or, is it a concerto with musical notes rising and descending with fullness, joy, and beauty? Our lives can be either; for it is up …
What Have You Done For ME Lately? – The Story of Peter’s Mother-in-law
INTRODUCTION The winter holiday season is fast-approaching. As women, we may now feel the pressure of performance – the cooking, the decorating, the planning, the gift-giving, the extension of ourselves through hospitality to others. It’s on and we know it. We know because most of us have precedence – we have put the energy into …
The Silence of A Lamb – The Story of Dinah & (Giving Voice to the Voiceless)
In the United States, October is acknowledged as Domestic Awareness month. Interestingly, awareness and action are two distinctly different perspectives. As women who often live with domestic violence circumstances, we are deeply aware of their obvious differences. We can be “aware” of a circumstance; but, simply ignore, deny, or be prevented from making the action …
Sovereignty, SUBMISSION, & Surrender – “I’m Every Woman” – part 3
SUBMISSION – The very thought of this word/action sends a icy shiver down the backs of many women, as we think of the times in which this construct has been used against us in and outside of the church. Yet, undeniably, submission is a required spiritual practice. We find mention of submission throughout Scripture, and especially …
Sovereignty, Submission, & SURRENDER – “I’m Every Woman” (part 2)
SURRENDER INTRODUCTION There will be times when The Spirit tells us which way to choose. To use a country western musical association: “You got to know when to hold them; know when to fold them; know when to walk away; know when to run.” These three are connected to purpose, destiny, and calling. Sovereignty, …
Ain’t it a Shame! (part 2) – The Woman caught in adultery
INTRODUCTION The great African American poet, writer and scholar, James Baldwin once observed: “Ignorance allied with power is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” If we consider that ignorance is not only the lack of knowledge; but the lack of compassion, love, tolerance, and humanity, we can understand exactly what Baldwin meant by his thought. Ignorance, in …
“Ain’t it a Shame” – (part one) – The Story of Queen Bathsheba
2 Samuel: Chapter 11 – verses 1-18 INTRODUCTION Most probably, each one of us has shared in the universal experience of being shamed. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” was said to each of us at least once in our lifetime. For many, this comment was used against us, as children and maybe even as …
