I have discovered the secret to having a good monday. Work out. seriously. I know it sucks to get up early and go to the gym but it's amazing how awesome I feel the rest of the day after doing that. I got up around 6:45 this morning and was at the gym by 7:15 and on the treadmill. I got home around 8 and dove into life. After showering, making my bed, doing my morning devotions, and eating a filling breakfast (scrambled eggs and a bowl of blueberries) I was able to dive into school. I have gotten so much done today! That's the best feeling ever.
I have a hard time staying focused but after exercising in the morning and sticking to a schedule throughout the day, I am able to stay focused and get a lot done (which is very satisfying). I challenge you to do the same. You will feel amazing.
But enough about my amazing morning. Ha. I do have something specific to say, really I do.
For my Church History class I'm reading a book called Feminine Threads: Women in the Tapestry of Christian History by Diana Lynn Severance. I've only read the first chapter so far and I'm already in love. To give you an idea of what the book is about, here is the back of the book:
"From commoner to queen, the women in this book embraced the freedom and the power for he Gospel in making their unique contributions to the unfolding of history. The true story of women in Christian history inspires, challenges and demonstrates the grace of God producing much fruit throughout time."
Anyway, I wanted to share some of my favorite passages that I found today in the first chapter with you. The beginning of the chapter talks about the women in Jesus' genealogy. It mentions how really only five are named specifically: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. It also talked about how the first three are Gentiles and three are known for their immorality.
"Tamar was a Canaanite widow who played the part of a prostitute to seduce her father-in-law Judah, compelling him to protect her and provide her with children. Rahab had been a prostitute before she came to worship the God of Israel. Ruth was a Moabitess who also came to worship the God of Israel and married into Boaz's family in Bethlehem. Bathsheba was the wife of a Hittite and committed adultery with King David, later becoming the mother of Solomon, the greatest King of Israel. Whatever social, moral, or racial stigmas these women once faced, they are part of Jesus' genealogical record. From positions of disgrace they were elevated to places of usefulness and honor." (pg. 17-18)
I love the fact that Jesus' could've chosen to be apart of a blameless, perfect Jewish line of people. But he came through a line what was defiled with women who were disgraceful at first, before worshiping God. Not only did Jesus humble himself by becoming human, he humbled himself by becoming human through a genealogy that was disgraced. That is so amazing me.
Further in the chapter, it talked about how Paul said that the married should stay married and the single stay single. This passage really struck me and was encouraging.:
"The idea that singleness could be an honorable option for women was revolutionary. Yet, logically, it made sense. Freedom to choose marriage or a single life devoted to Christ enhanced a woman's position individually, because marriage and family were no longer requirements for a woman's self-worth. All was relative to the ultimate foal of living a Christ-pleasing life. The world was passing away, and everything was less important than a life lived for Christ. Remaining single allowed one to be consumed by the things of Christ and not by the things of the world. Singleness was a gift from God as was marriage; and marriage was good, as was singleness." (pg. 29)
I feel like the statement above ^^ is, in Christian circles, often discouraged. Marriage is the "thing". But being single is just as good in God's eyes. One is not better than the other.
The last section I want to share is sort of long I know but I didn't want to paraphrase it cuz it's just so good.
"Many in the twenty-first century are offended by Paul's instructions concerning the place of women in the Church. Some say Paul is simply conforming to his culture by suppressing women and not giving them authority in the Church. This is hardly consistent with Paul's personal, working relationship with women and his earlier statements of the woman's spiritual equality and her godly submission to her husband. By grasping at authority and position for women in the Church, many fail to realize that in Christianity , the position of a humble servant- washing the saints' feet as Jesus did- is the highest position... As Eve in the Garden focused on the fruit of the one tree she was forbidden to eat, so many who claim women should be priests and ordained ministers focus on the Scripture's prohibition of women assuming authority over men. In doing so they ignore or demean the numerous roles and positions of ministry for women in the New Testament, including ministries of showing hospitality, fellow-laboring as missionaries, instructing other women, evangelizing and sharing the Word with others, teaching children, and help;ing those in need and distress. In these ministries of serving others, women in the earliest churches set a pattern and examples followed by Christian women in ensuing centuries of the Church." (pg. 36)
The main thing I realized from this chapter that I had never really noticed before is the fact that women were just as involved in the early church ministry as the apostles and men were. They were just as much missionaries as women now are. God was using women in the expansion plan in the beginning just as He is now. How Cool!! I'm so blown away by what these early Christian women did. I can't wait to see what the rest of this book holds! You can be sure that if anything else pops out at me, like these passages did, that I'll share them.
I hope you had a marvelous Monday, even though it is a Monday.
God Bless,
C.A.
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