Christian woman – Women in their best

God wants your marriage well! With God nothing will be impossible! Luke 1:37. Come January 23-25 (CST) zoom meet!

Why don’t you ask God? Find out what God says about you and your future. Whether you are married or thinking about marriage or not, this online encounter is for you and your loved ones and neighbors. Please also share with your church members and encourage those with needs to come!

This is organized by a volunteer mother with a grown son. She is educated in both English and Chinese. So she knows the family issues of both sides of the culture among many other things. To encourage the Chinese speaking to attend the meeting dates are set in the coming Lunar New Year holiday.

The group of speakers are from the US and the meetings will be conducted in both languages with live translators.

You are welcome to attend with your friends and family.

Zoom account number: 805 980 9265 Code: 1

Here is the schedule:

Time Zone	China & SE Asia		Central Standard Time
Time	AM	PM	AM	PM
23-Jan				6-10
24-Jan	8-12	8-10	6-8	6-10
25-Jan	8-12	8-10	6-8	6-10
26-Jan	8-12

The speakers are from Victory Life Church. Here is a brief introduction of who they are and what they do.

Pastor Jacob Sheriff has dedicated his life to being transformed into the likeness of Christ. His dad, Duane Sheriff, is the Senior Founding Pastor of Victory Life Church. His heart’s desire is to share the truth in love and to help others discover who they are in Christ.

As a second-generation pastor, Jacob has been blessed to have been introduced to the Gospel and have a relationship with Jesus from a young age. Jacob has been a part of the pastoral team at Victory Life Church since 2005, and now serves as the Senior Lead Pastor. He has had such radical encounters with the power of God that seeing people transformed by Jesus has become his life’s mission. The most significant part of the call of God on Jacob’s life is to his incredible wife, Hannah, and their five children. They are committed to raising their children to be disciples of Christ. In his free time, you can find Jacob reading, studying, enjoying good coffee, and backpacking. He is a Holy Spirit gifted communicator in sharing the truth of the Gospel of Jesus.

Pastor Zach Backues is the VLC Durant Campus Lead Pastor. Zach has been with Victory Life Church since 2010 in various volunteer and staff positions. He and his wife Serena have 5 children: Jovie, Judah, Lennon, Kenna, & Phoenix. Zach has a passion to see people experience the reality of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. His favorite thing to do is travel with Serena.

Pastor Landon Heinen serves as the Pastor for Victory Life Academy. He has a love for The Word of God and a passion for seeing people transformed by Jesus. He has a father’s heart to encourage the gifts and callings that God has placed within people, and to help foster a lifetime desire to follow God, Learning about Him, all that He created. Landon and Jasmine have been married for over two decades and are raising five amazing kids.

Mrs. Jasmine Heinen is passionate about sharing the love of God through his word. Her desire is for students to know the character of God, then effectively apply God’s Word to their lives. She has a gift of encouragement and sees the gold in every student. Trained in Emotional Intelligence and Crucial Conversations, she continues to pursue higher education and relational studies.

Pastor Lee Armstrong has been in ministry 42 years ,36 of those with Victory Life Church. He is an author, and he describes himself as a servant of Victory and the body of Christ.

He will be teaching these subjects in the forthcoming free online Zoom sharing and ministering meetings:

1) The biblical purpose for marriage.

2) Eight areas of marital breakdown.

(As time allows!)

“When baking a cake, if the baker uses half of just one ingredient the cake cannot fully be enjoyed.

As we walk with God if we are missing one ingredient or using only half of what is called for, our Christian life cannot be fully enjoyed.” (Lee Armstrong)

Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Download PDF Ebooks For Christian Women (men are encouraged to read too)

Below are Free Books For Christian Women:

5 Choices For Women Who Win – Daisy Osborn

DOWNLOAD PDF

30 Days To Becoming A Woman Of Prayer – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

A Book Of Prayers For Young Women – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

A Girl After God’s Own Heart – Elizabeth George

DOWNLOAD PDF

A Girl’s Viewpoint – Annie Zac Poonen

DOWNLOAD PDF

A Woman After God’s Own Heart(r) – Elizabeth George

DOWNLOAD PDF

Daughter Get Understanding – Dag Heward-Mills

DOWNLOAD PDF

Dear Mary – Sarah Jakes

DOWNLOAD PDF

God Made Mothers – Annie Zac Poonen

DOWNLOAD PDF

New Life For Women – Daisy Osborn

DOWNLOAD PDF

Raising A Daughter After God’s Own Heart – Elizabeth George

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Confident Woman – Joyce Meyers

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Effective Minister’s Wife – Faith A. Oyedepo

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Power Of A Praying Wife – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Power Of A Praying Wife Devotional – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Power Of A Praying Wife Prayer And Study Guide – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Power Of A Praying Woman – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Power Of A Praying(r) Parent – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Power Of A Praying(r) Wife – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Power Of A Praying(r) Woman – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Power Of Prayer To Change Your Marriage – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Power Of Praying For Your Adult Children – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Power Of Praying(r) For Your Adult Children – Stormie Omartian

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Proverbs 31 Woman – Mike Murdock

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Woman Believer – Daisy Osborn

DOWNLOAD PDF

The Woman Question – Kenneth E. Hagin

DOWNLOAD PDF

Woman Thou Art Loosed! – T.D. Jakes

DOWNLOAD PDF

Women & Self-Esteem – Daisy Osborn

DOWNLOAD PDF

Above book list from website: (https://christiandiet.com.ng/download-pdf-ebooks-for-christian-ladies-and-women/)

born for a time such as this: faith and grace

What better is a time such as this to remember all the good things in life? Women are born to remember the good things. We are born for any time that is called, a time such as this, in the like of queen Esther. I have compiled a list of links to my previous blogs on famous Bible women of faith and grace, and the significance God has viewed each of them, and whom the Holy Spirit has highlighted and recorded in the Holy Bible. I pray you will be blessed and strengthened like these women as you read their stories and be encouraged that your life is precious in God’s eyes. Never give up hope anchored in Jesus. The tough woman gets going when the going gets tough.

Nameless Bible women: many “gentle lights without a name”

a woman whom Jesus loved: a capable, responsible and bold woman of faith

She sees a GREAT NATION. She is a mother.

Another rich godly woman leader in the church: Phoebe

a wise and no ordinary mother-in-law: Naomi

a wise wife and a famous mother: mother of Samson

a godly woman with her son raised from death

the marks of a woman prophet

an orphan girl destined to be queen -part two

three famous women: the power of second chance

no uncertain woman here

God sent a precious gifted wife

Two women received the favor of God: faith factor

God shows His love for a woman of ‘no reputation’

God shows His love for a very precious daughter

(Revised) Two godly housewives

a beautiful love song from a woman (who has just given her weaned child away)

Jesus and women: He defines them by their love of God and faith in Christ

kainotes, 2021-12-13

An epic tragedy: two men, one woman, treachery and falsehood vs loyalty and integrity

She is a beautiful, wise, good, wealthy, royal woman. But her life is full of tragedies and sadness. She was forcibly taken and violated by a trusted family friend. Her loyal and heroic godly husband was betrayed and murdered by his best friend and superior. Her grandfather and father ended up in the enemy’s camp because of what their trusted king and friend did to their family…but God gives grace to her, a woman with no say and no power to do anything except to submit in silent anger in those dark ages of women. God preserves her brilliant and good son for her, and makes him one of the most successful and noteworthy kings in history! Her husband, the loyal godly warrior is vindicated. His name is placed alongside the king in the lineage of Jesus the Messiah!

AAA watchman

An Epic tragedy: centered on a beautiful wealthy royal woman’s family story. Like a Greek drama. But it is written in the Bible.

Her name? Queen Bathsheba. Surprise! I have decided to write about this most misunderstood extraordinary woman of destiny. In Proverbs 31:1 the author declared that it is “the sayings of King Lemuel, which his mother taught him.” Proverbs 31:1-9 records an exhortation from a godly queen mom to her son, the king, on chastity, justice, mercy and temperance required of a good king.

Her famous son, Solomon, composed three thousand proverbs, and a thousand and five songs. (1 Kings 4:32) It is believed that the Solomon is King Lemuel here and the mother is Bathsheba, the most misunderstood queen (and queen-mom), an obedient daughter, a good wife, and a wise mother. Solomon is known as the wisest and richest man ever lived. No doubt he inherited some…

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“The eagle that soars in the upper air does not worry itself how it is to cross rivers.”

I came across this biography writer through watching a video on the story of Gladys Aylward (See the end of this blog for the video*). Here is her book. Do read.

A missionary in the 1930s, Gladys Aylward, 24 February 1902 – 3 January 1970, was a British-born evangelical Christian missionary to China. In 1938, the region was invaded by Japanese forces, and Aylward led more than 100 orphans to safety over the mountains, despite being wounded, personally caring for them (and converting many to Christianity.

GLADYS AYLWARD – A LIFE FOR CHINA

GLADYS AYLWARD – A LIFE FOR CHINA

by Carol Purves

ISBN 978 1 909281 49 3

This is the story of Gladys Aylward, a missionary to China in the 1930’s and the 1940’s. Immortalised through the film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness starring Ingrid Bergman. Gladys set out to China alone, trusting in God to supply all her needs. Her call was to China alone, no other country of service would do for her.

Often her life was in danger. She received a bullet wound to her shoulder while fleeing Japanese soldier. She encountered wolves in the forest in Siberia, fortunately she only heard them, she did not see them.

Nearly a hundred children were led by her across the mountains to safety, while she was the only adult to guide them. Her story eventually became known world-wide as she lectured in many English speaking countries. Being only five foot tall was no hinderance to her determined nature.

Interesting facts – Did you know Gladys travelled all the way from the east side of London to deepest China wearing two left shoes?

Did you know this intrepid missionary is now buried in Taiwan, which in her day was known as Formosa?

Read all about it in this book.

Purchase this book from: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon Kindle

About Carol

It is said that everyone has a book in them. To date Carol Purves has discharged five of her internal books. Her main genre is Christian biographies. What could be better; most people are interested in people. We like to know how they tick (or in these cases how they ‘ticked’), their successes are ours and their failings show our perceived superior wisdom.

Carol is a freelance writer, former teacher, secretary and member and former committee member of the Association of Christian Writers, (an orginazation which did most to set her on the path of being a writer.) Living only 9 miles from the Scottish Border it was inevitable that she should join the Fellowship of Scottish Christian Writers, (though being a Sassenach she is in the minority in her membership).

A taste of her blog: “Crisis of Confidence”

Carol Purves Carol’s Blog March 4, 2021

Maybe I’m not alone. Things that I used to do with confidence, I now am afraid to do. I used to drive happily anywhere in the country, I now hesitate to just drive into the city. (not that anything is open when I get there). I used to answer the telephone without a thought, now I hesitate wondering if it is bad news or someone needing encouragement I cannot give . (or even a cold call. I’ve just been interrupted yet again as I type) I used to greet everyone I met with a smile and cheery word, now I cross the road in case of infection. (Not that they can see my smile behind my mask anyway)

It is no wonder that you, me and the rest of the world are suffering a crisis of confidence. Everything we knew as normal and acceptable has been stripped away. With fake news and scaremongers we can’t believe in anything or trust anyone.

What we need is somebody who will absolutely not let us down. Something we can rely on without fail. Then our crisis of confidence will become an assurance of confidence.

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Video on Gladys Aylward: The Small Woman With A Great God (2010) | Full Movie | Carol Puves

A classic

Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman Paperback – 1 Jun. 1970

by Gladys Aylward (Author)

A solitary woman. A foreign country. An unknown language. An impossible dream? No.

With no mission board to support or guide her, and less than ten dollars in her pocket, Gladys Aylward left her home in England to answer God’s call to take the message of the gospel to China. With the Sino-Japanese War waging around her, she struggled to bring the basics of life and the fullness of God to orphaned children. Time after time, God triumphed over impossible situations, and drew people to Himself. The Little Woman tells the story of one woman’s determination to serve God at any cost. With God all things are possible!

A true story of a determined missionary, Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman will challenge you to bold and expectant faith.

transgender issues: concerning our children

About our children. This is for mothers. And all women.

https://www.breitbart.com/health/2021/02/25/watch-rand-paul-hammers-bidens-transgender-nominee-child-surgery-sterlization/

Sen. Rand Paul hammered President Joe Biden’s transgender nominee for a top position at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Paul, a Kentucky doctor, pressed nominee Rachel Levine about the danger to children of “transgender” therapies. The dangers include bone-damaging drugs, sterilization, voice changes, and cosmetic surgery of the genitals. Paul compared the surgeries to primitive female genital mutilation, dubbed FGM. (Paul is right.)

Levine is an advocate for transgender medical procedures, and dodged the questions with a canned response:Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

“How can we justify having someone in charge of health and human services who doesn’t understand basic biology?” responded Erin Brewer, a cofounder of Partners for Ethical Care. She told Breitbart News:

I’m very concerned that we’re having someone who’s in a position of authority, who’s going to be making policies for this country, who doesn’t seem to understand that … when there’s a disconnect between the body and the brain, you need to get the brain in connection with the body because you can’t change somebody’s sex.

Critics are slamming Levine for touting and publicizing a January 2020 study that declared puberty-blocking drugs are beneficial for young children. The study was subsequently criticized by multiple authors.

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NB: My decision to post this article is led by the Spirit. Please note that I do not condemn anyone who has been through the surgical reassignment. Jesus does not condemn you. However, I am obliged to urge you (an adult who is considering but has not yet done it) to get all information from those who have been through the process decades ago and are now living with the consequences. I believe that as an adult we are responsible for our own choices and the consequences of our choices. But it is not wise to let the children choose at a time when the natural development of their mental/cognitive conceptual abilities and physiological development are not mature enough to make the choices. There are many issues involved, such as, social, economic, relationship, security, psychological, mental, biological, physiological, cultural, professional, religious, community, and many other factors pertinent to make a living in this world. A child needs to grow up, be exposed to, and experience the many factors and facets of living before they can make this kind of choice.

REGRET is the NUMBER TWO issue we have to face all our lives when we make a choice as irreversibly colossal as this type. The NUMBER ONE issue is as stated in this article quoted above. There are many regrets in life that can be reversed. But this type of REGRET CANNOT GO AWAY. Sad to say. However, if a person has a regret that does not go away, please do not despair. I am a believer in a good God, and I know He is always available you for any kind of regret. Jesus has never turned away anyone.

Kainotes 2021-02-26

Random famous women quotes

How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.– Florence Nightingale
Unless we form the habit of going to the Bible in bright moments as well as in trouble, we cannot fully respond to its consolations because we lack equilibrium between light and darkness.– Helen Keller
The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.– Helen Keller
Christianity fuels everything I write. Being a Christian means that I am called upon to do battle against lies, injustice, cruelty, hypocrisy–you know, all the virtues in the church of liberalism. As St. Paul said, if Christ is not risen from the dead, then eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.– Ann Coulter
The God who created, names and numbers the stars in the heavens also numbers the hairs of my head. He pays attention to very big things and to very small ones. What matters to me matters to Him, and that changes my life.– Elisabeth Elliot
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.– Hannah More
Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. – Harriet Beecher Stowe
If we are to better the future we must disturb the present.– Catherine Booth
Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.– Corrie Ten Boom
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?– Corrie Ten Boom
“God Hold us to that which drew us first, when the Cross was the attraction, and we wanted nothing else.”― Amy Carmichael, God’s Missionary
“To me there is no more tragic sight than the average missionary. …We have given so much, yet not the one thing that counts; we aspire so high, and fall so low; we suffer so much, but so seldom with Christ; we have done so much and so little will remain; we have known Christ in part, and have so effectively barricaded our hearts against His mighty love, which surely He must yearn to give His disciples above all people.”― Amy Carmichael, God’s Missionary

America’s answer: forgiveness

For all my sisters in Christ in America. This post carries all my best wishes for your total wellness in spirit, soul and body! You hold 50.5% of the American population. You are significant!

AAA watchman

Forgiveness is a mighty supernatural force. When I am led to listen to 2 Corinthians I realized that this is an answer to my prayer for America. I have been praying for America more seriously since the eve of the British Brexit referendum result. My spirit was alerted that there would be a significant change in Britain and in America (the two developed nations plus Swiss German where my Christian’s root derived). The things in heaven (spiritual realm) had changed. What I did immediately was to align my financial investment with the spiritual prompting which I confirmed with the Bible (God’s words), and the results came out exactly as my spirit received. Lately I have been praying and asking the Holy Spirit what next, looking at the “superficial surface” currents of America from a distance.

Today I believe the specific resolution word is “forgiveness”.

In Paul’s second letter to the…

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important women leaders in Paul’s ministries

It is biblical for a woman to be a church leader. Moreover, if we deny gifted women the opportunity to exercise their ministries, we reject some of the very people Jesus has anointed, appointed and given to His church. Galatians 3:28 (NKJV): There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

There are many misunderstandings that women are not important in the early church movement, and that Paul is prejudiced against women in leadership position. Such misconceptions have obstructed gifted and talented Christian women from taking certain roles in which they have been called and equipped by the Lord to do. In Ephesians 4:11, Paul lists five kinds of ministers which Jesus Christ has given to the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. His purpose is to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12 (1 Cor. 12:28-31).

Here is a list of first century Christian women mentioned in the New Testament serving as ministers and ministry leaders:

Philip’s daughters (Acts 21:9), Priscilla (Acts 18:26; Rom. 16:3-5, etc.), Phoebe (Rom. 16:1-2), Junia (Rom. 16:7), possibly Chloe (1 Cor. 1:11), Euodia and Syntyche (Phil. 4:2-3), Nympha (Col. 4:15), Apphia (Phlm. 2), “the chosen lady” (2 John 1), “the chosen sister” (2 John 13), and probably Lydia (Acts 16:40), etc.

In the New Testament, several people, apart from the Twelve, are mentioned as being apostles. Paul is an apostle outside the original twelve. One of the New Testament church’s apostles is a woman—Junia.

Junia and Andronicus (who may have been husband and wife) were members of the church in Rome; they may even have been the founders of the church there. Romans 16:7. Paul also states that Andronicus and Junia were “outstanding among the apostles”. They had suffered persecution because of their faith and at some point had been fellow prisoners with Paul.

In Acts 21:9 we are told that Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. They were highly respected female prophets and leaders in the early church, as was the prophetess Ammia of the church in Philadelphia. The fourth-century church historian Eusebius mentions Philip’s daughters and regarded their ministry as the benchmark for prophetic ministry in the early church, comparable with other notable male prophets: Agabus (Acts 11:27-28; 21:10), Judas and Silas (Acts 15:22, 27, 32), and Quadratus of Athens.

Euodia and Syntyche are women evangelists and possibly church leaders (bishops and deacons) recorded by Paul who addressed and commended them as his co-workers in the ministry of the gospel, using the same term describing Timothy. (Philippians 4:2-3, 2:22, 1:1).

Phoebe is another woman minister whom Paul esteemed and commended. In Romans 16:1-2 Paul described Phoebe as both a diakonos and a prostatis. Phoebe was a minister or deacon, and a leader or patron, in the church at Cenchreae. She is a woman of means and has provided facilities and resources to many in the ministry and to Paul personally. (Romans 16:2)

In classical Greek the word prostates (feminine, prostatis) was used to mean either a chief or leader, or a guardian or protector, often in a religious context; it was later used also to translate the Roman concept of a patron. A diakonos is a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess).

Romans 16:1 TPT “Now, let me introduce to you our dear and beloved sister in the faith, Phoebe, a shining minister of the church in Cenchrea.”

Priscilla and Aquila were active in ministry and hosted a church in their home at Ephesus (1 Co. 16:19) and later at Rome (Rom 16:3-5) where they ministered as pastor-teachers. Priscilla (the wife) is the leading Bible teacher. Priscilla’s name appears first in four of the six mentions of this couple in the New Testament. She may have a higher social status than her husband. She and her husband even ministered to the famous preacher Apollo and corrected him and taught him the truth regarding the Gospel messages he preached.

Some of the earlier churches women, who lived in relatively spacious homes, hosted a congregation that met in their home. With higher social status and ampler financial means, the hosts led the congregations and exercised the pastor-teacher gift.

We can read many such examples in the New Testament:

Mark’s mother provided a house with a large upper room (accommodating 120 persons) in Jerusalem for the Christians to assemble (Acts 12:12); believers met in the home of the rich well-connected business woman Lydia at Philippi (Acts 16:14-15, 40). Paul greets “Nympha and the church in her house” in his letter to the Colossians (Col. 4:15). It appears that Chloe is also the host of a home-church (1 Co. 1:11), as may have been some of the other women Paul greets in the last chapter of his letter to the Romans.

In his letter to the Romans (Christians and house churches), Paul describes and commends four very special woman voluntary workers in the ministry,

Mary, “who has worked so hard for your benefit.” (Romans 16:6 NLT)

Tryphaena, Tryphosa and “beloved Persis”. Romans 16:12 DLNT “Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, the ones laboring in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who labored-at many things in the Lord.”

We can note how Paul can see the true worth of these women ministers. Voluntary workers are special and crucial to the churches and ministries because these are those who love the Lord and eager for the advancement of the Kingdom of God, sensitive to the needs of the church with the willingness, energy and financial means to meet the needs of the ministry and the people. They have sacrificed their own comfort and safety for the love of God. They are usually the unsung heroines.

a woman whom Jesus loved: a capable, responsible and bold woman of faith

Is Martha less spiritual than Mary? Today we read what Jesus really says about her. Martha is a capable, proactive, and mature woman of faith. Jesus loved the two women, namely Martha, her sister (Mary) and their brother Lazarus dearly. (John 11:5) The three are presumably young, not yet married, affluent, hospitable. They generously open their large house in Bethany to accommodate Jesus and His ministry team. Martha is mentioned first in the verse 11:5. She is probably the oldest and the head of the household.

Some Christians may mistakenly think that Mary is more “spiritual”, more interested in the words, and wants to know Jesus more intimately, while on the other hand, Martha is more “carnal”, more diligent in serving Jesus (and His company) in physical services (food and drink, hospitality) and tends to be action-activity-work-performance oriented.

Context for the above teaching: Luke 10:38-42

Luke 10:42 is often cited to substantiate the above view. It says, (AMPC) “There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.”

First question: Has Jesus really said that Martha’s diligence and faithful stewardship in the helps/hospitality ministry is less important than the other ministries? My reading of the Bible says “No.”

Remember this is a one-off incident recorded. What is Jesus really saying on this occasion to Martha in reply to her concern about not having enough physical help to provide what Jesus and His company’s need? Jesus is actually assuring her that for Mary it is crucial to listen and understand Jesus’ teachings in this session. Jesus is well confident that Martha can manage the rest of the household details efficiently. Jesus also knows that Mary needs to listen and prepare herself so that she will anoint Jesus in a future historically and prophetically crucial incident —anointing Jesus for burial. The original word “need” (“5532 Chreia” in Strong’s Concordance) in Luke 10:42 means “need”, “business”. It is Mary’s business at that point in time to listen to that specific teaching from Jesus. Mary indeed heard the crucial message, bought and later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet. (John 12:3,7)

Second question: Is Martha less spiritual than Mary? My reading from the Bible says “No.”

Bible context: John 11:1-45 records the incident of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary died, and was raised from the dead by Jesus after four days. Both sisters sent a message to Jesus when Lazarus was very ill. But Jesus stayed where he was for another two days and only went after Lazarus died. Here is a summary of what Jesus did and said, His reasons, and how others responded.

His immediate practical goal (in deliberately delaying): resurrect Lazarus from the dead.
His ultimate goal:
1. Goal (1): that the people see and believe that He is truly who He says He is, the Messiah and the Son of God, with the power and authority of God to give life. (John 11:4,14,15)
1. Goal (2): That His own disciples see and believe that all He has said about Himself will come true too, that is, He will be taken, killed and raised on the third day. There are 12 passages in the Gospels recording Jesus predicting His death and resurrection. He wants them not to panic and fear, but to stay in love, peace and unity throughout the crucial three days after Jesus’ death and burial. (Mathew 17:22-23, Luke 18:31-33)
His main target audience: especially the eleven apostles, and other disciples including Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.
In summary, Jesus wants to show that death has no power on Him, because He is the God who gives life. (John 11:25) He also specifically wants to see how Martha and family would each react based on His past teachings. This is evident in His interaction with them.
Results vary and reveal each person’s maturity as a disciple of Jesus:
1. The apostles as a group: They miss the whole point. (John 11:12,13,16) It explains the later event when they decide to go fishing after Jesus’ death. (John 21:2,3)
2. Mary: She failed this test despite Jesus’ teachings she has previous soaked in. When Jesus came she continued to stay in her house and mourned. She came out later only when Martha went and told her that Jesus is calling her. She was still upset with Jesus not coming earlier to heal Lazarus when he was still alive. (John 11:32) Jesus was disappointed with her (weeping just like the people around her as though there was no more hope!) John 11:33 (NLT) states, “When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.”
3. Lazarus: He was dead and inside the grave. But he heard Jesus, rose and came out of the grave. He became a live witness. (John 11:43-44, 12:9-10,17-19)
4. Martha: Unlike what some may think, Martha is well versed with what Jesus has taught and believes in His words, although she has her concern about the stench from the dead and rotting body (John 11:39). Jesus patiently talks to her and explains to her His supernatural power over the physical natural constraint. (John 11:20-40).

Martha does not give up hope that Jesus can perform a miracle on Lazarus. She declared to Him two important statements of faith, “But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” (John 11:22) “Yes, Lord,” she told Him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” (John 11:27) Martha said the same words that the apostle Peter said in Mark 8:29. She is on equal spiritual footing with the prominent apostle in her understanding of who Jesus is!

Martha is a capable, responsible and bold woman of faith. While managing the big house full of well-wishers and mourners, when she got word that Jesus was coming, she went the distance to meet Him. But Mary stayed in the house with the mourners. (John 11:20) Martha had the boldness and confidence to ask Jesus and voice her concern, yet with hope. Because of that, she is the one to whom Jesus declares two crucial truths. And it is not a coincidence. Jesus knows she will respond right. She did.

“I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
“You would see God’s glory if you believe.” (John 11:40)

Martha believed Jesus. She witnessed the resurrection of her brother. She saw the glory of God. Like her sister Mary, her name is recorded in the Bible. So is her brother Lazarus. What a family of powerful living faith that witnesses to many!

by Kainotes Ministry* July 24, 2020

Vine’s Greek New Testment Dictionary:

*KAINOTES=Newness
kainotes akin to kainos, is used in the phrases
(a) “newness of life,” Rom 6:4, i.e., life of a new quality (see kainos under NEW); the believer, being a new creation (2 Cor 5:17), is to behave himself consistently with this in contrast to his former manner of life;
(b) “newness of the spirit,” RV, Rom 7:6, said of the believer’s manner of serving the Lord. While the phrase stands for the new life of the quickened spirit of the believer, it is impossible to dissociate this (in an objective sense) from the operation of the Holy Spirit, by whose power the service is rendered.

I write this for you: about internet and social media (Women’s internet club)

Dear one:

I am praying for a miracle about you. I know you may not be reading this because you may have forgotten how to visit here. Because you may have forgotten how to access my blogs or anything called blogs. Yet I hope you will visit me (my blogs) one day. Perchance. You see, I believe in miracle.

One day you asked me what internet is and what blogs are and how different they are from Google, Facebook, YouTube or emails. I remember one day you asked me to give you a list of some of my blogs on the Bible women. You said you want to know more about them, and how God views women.

Because you do not allow anyone who is not your long term friends (like having over thirty years of true friendship) to keep your phone number, use WhatsApp to reach you, or write email to you and you have deactivated your Facebook and Messenger account, and you haven’t learned to use all other social network accounts, and are in fact still struggling with internet and all related digital media, and you may have even misplaced the handwritten list I have written, and you are unlikely to remember how to use the internet to browse and google my WordPress name or URL* address for the blogs, I need a miracle. And I still believe in a miracle.

One day you were very depressed and told me one of your good friends had cancer. He went through very modern medical treatment and was recuperating. His mouth was in great pain. They put tubes to help him breathe and be fed. You wanted to know how you may pray for him. You wanted to record a prayer and asked me to agree with your prayer without speaking. You believe in the power of prayers and the Amen (agreement) of a fellow believer. So I did. Your friend wanted a prayer that would be miraculous and got him out of the pain and out of the hospital within the shortest time. It happened. He was free of the tubes and out of the hospital on the third day! So you see, miracle does happen.

No matter how challenging it is for you to learn to apply what you have learned about media from me during that short season, I still believe you will persist and practice them. For a person who values privacy and personal space above all else, book marking the blog site is the best option. You can choose to visit the blog and check if there are new ones, at your private and confidential convenience. WordPress blog is a safe place to visit. They do not spam you with stuff.

I would suggest you re-activate your Facebook account. You do not have to worry about people spying on you. I have already taught you how to keep private and safe from unwanted visitors. I have also taught you how to block practically everything from Facebook, Gmail, and WhatsApp. There is really nothing to fear. I have taught you to open other email accounts for your own trusted group of elite friends and associates. And you have written all the instructions long hand step by step in your note book. You have applied them on me immediately and I am blocked out. So you are doing very well.

Why do I advise you to re-activate your Facebook account? This is a useful tool to keep track on others if you want to. You can visit and see the public announcements of forthcoming events like zoom meetings, live streams and recordings of past events. Facebook may prompt you to add friend certain people but you don’t have to respond or pay attention. The list is auto-generated and has nothing to do with those people on the list. They do not know the suggestions by Facebook. I have taught you to remove them from the list. I have taught you to unfriend or unfollow people whom you have inadvertently added friends. You can start your own private (closed) group and use the Facebook tools for your purpose. There are many new things to learn and you can do it. I have witnessed your determination and ability to learn.

I have decided to publish a notification on my Facebook upon every new blog I write for this WordPress woman blog. You may find something you are looking for in each woman character I am writing about. Do make an effort to find me, and read. I pray media technology will not deter you, my sister, and many others like you. There is nothing complicated about media technology. It is just a way we communicate with each other.

Thank you for reading this letter. Thank you for taking the bother to find this blog.

With best thought (Philippians 4:8) for you always,

Kai, June 25th, 2020

“a fifty percent perspective—a voice for women”

https://kingdomofgodaughter.wordpress.com/

p/s: Because time was too short during the brief season we encountered and shared with each other in persons, I did not fulfill my promise to teach you about the internet using a PowerPoint as you prefer visual and drawings. But I did prepare it. I shall go through it slide by slide at interval in my following tech-nerd blog and will link to this woman blog upon each posting.

“a millennial nerd’s confession”

https://wheniamsixtyeight.wordpress.com/

*what is a URL? (Uniform Resource Locator)

URL (or URL-address) is a special form of individual address of a certain resource on the Internet. It can refer to the website, some particular document, or an image. The Internet user just needs to insert this code into the location bar to find the needed website, document, folder, or image. In plain language, it means the following: due to the URL address, the user gets information about where the needed information is located.

Make Bible characters come alive

How to make the Bible characters come alive when we read the Bible for ourselves and for others? This is one of my quests as a Bible scholar and teacher. I have read the Bible since 1983 when I encountered God through the Holy Spirit powerfully and was immediately filled with the passion to read His words. For nearly three decades I read His words consistently and systematically daily often in big chunks. In addition, I learned from many teachers and books. Most importantly, I learned how to hear God, listen to the Holy Spirit and receive revelation.

Lately I have pondered on the importance of showing an effective and yet simple and easily accessible way that helps and facilitates novice Bible readers read the Bible and thus encourages them to read increasingly more on their own and receive fresh revelations for themselves. They will themselves own the first hand revelations. This is my vision and main goal in studying and teaching the Bible. Everyone must DIY and can use a hard print Bible as your lifestyle. Power outage and stoppage of the internet cannot stop you from hearing God through His words.

This is essential for all today’s global Christians because not all can access and/or zoom and other digital ways to learn, read and understand the Bible, yet hoping to know what God is saying to them individually.

Here is a brief summary of what I do when I read the Bible.

I read the whole book and other related books of the Bible which pertain to the characters and/or events. For example, when I study the two characters Euodia and Syntyche in Philippians 4:2-3, I read the whole book of Philippians and the relevant chapters in the book of Acts.
I pray and ask the Lord Holy Spirit to lead me to read the right passages and meditate on them.
I read related articles and studies about these two Bible characters, the historical context, the culture and society and other important background.
I study and meditate on the missionary journeys of Paul, the early churches (mainly house churches) he planted, and his women disciples and coworkers, the kind of person and leader Paul is and how he handles issues raised by his followers and co-workers and churches.
I familiarize myself with Paul’s way of writing, what he really means, why does he say certain things the way he says them, what is he trying to say to them, what results he is expecting, why is he confident of saying them and expecting those results? I ask myself lots of questions about the way Paul writes those letters which have become the Scriptures, a significant part of the New Testament Bible. Knowing Paul is absolutely essential for me to understand his letters. For example, a letter from your close one is always easier for you to understand than a letter from a stranger. Pick his brain. Pick his heart. You will find treasures you have never noticed before!
It takes me quite some time to meditate. After the first round of reading I leave it and think about it a lot of time while doing other things. I will turn the verses over and over in my mind and talk to the Lord about it until my mind is crystal clear and certain what the Lord wants me to talk about. The apostle Peter actually tells us how it works, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” 2 Peter 1:19.
Often it is at the clearest point like a morning star rises in my heart then I can put into writing the essence of what I receive and it just flows effortlessly as I read through the verses again while I write.
When it does not become a fluent flow I will just record the pieces as notes for future reference.
In the case of two characters Euodia and Syntyche in Philippians 4:2-3 I was alerted by the Lord to not restrict the reading to the mere context of 4:2-3 or even the immediate verses before and after. My spirit clearly says, read the whole letter of Philippians. Read 1:1 and see the difference between this letter and all other letters of Paul. This letter addresses not just the whole church (all the saints in Christ Jesus in Philippi), it specifically calls to attention episkopoi (supervisors/overseers/bishops) and diakonoi (ministers/deacons) in Paul’s opening greeting.
When I read the whole letter I realize that truly the whole letter addresses the issue of reconciliation and restore unity in Christ Jesus, what is unity, why unity, the consequences of disunity, how to re-establish unity, the key problems, action points, the two role models, and the assurance that they can do it.
I read with Paul in mind. I walk through the letter with him. I see him in his Rome house arrest. He cannot go to Philippi physically but he knows his people very well. He knows what is going on and he knows they will follow what he says in his letter. He has to write a positively encouraging letter to counter the negatives: lack spiritual knowledge of the true condition of Paul, anxiety, discouragement, loss of discernment, disagreement over trivial matters, disunity, loss of peace and joy in the two co-worker leaders and affected those who followed them.
I learn from Paul’s way of writing: he starts off in the first chapter with something positive and commendable about them. He uses words like: joy, confident, good work, love abounding, filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ. He finishes off the letter in the last chapter with more positive praises of them: he rejoiced that their care for him flourished again, they have done well to share in his distress, their being the only church giving to his ministry, fruit abounds to their account, like sweet-smelling aroma, acceptable sacrifice to God, well- pleasing to God, and his assurance of their reward—God’s supplies of all their needs according to the riches of His glory.
I read Paul’s letters with this in mind: Paul does not impose standard on others that he himself does not practice. he also does not impose on others requirements that they cannot follow. All he asks them to do is to practice what he has been doing and has already discipled them to do. in addition to his teaching and training, they have the same Holy Spirit in them to give them the desire and power to do exactly what Paul does. He himself does exactly what Jesus does and more just as what Jesus tells His disciples and followers to do.

I pray that this sharing on my part will help you to read the Bible in a way that makes the Bible come alive to you too.

June 17, 2020

June 18, 2020

Please share this article with those whom you know are serious about reading and knowing God through the Bible. Those who want to hear God for themselves when reading the Bible. Those who are not satisfied with a mere literal caricature of the Bible characters. Yes, all those who believe in chewing into the real meat of the Bible instead of drinking mere milk. I will be writing more on the way I read the Bible and conduct free zoom classes as well for the more digital and internet savvy group as well. Please watch out for my announcement in this AAAA Watchman blog.

When zoom or digital media are down, still reading the Bible in a way that makes the characters come alive and hear God for yourselves

by Kainotes Ministry*

Vine’s Greek New Testment Dictionary:

Paul’s leadership: resolving conflict between two women church leaders

I always write with you in my mind and in my heart because you want to know about the women in the Bible.

Yes, I have not forgotten, however briefly, the time we have spent together, pouring out our hearts on the words of God, searching and studying the Bible, the enthusiasm and passion for the words of God, and the rich revelations we received in our quests.

As promised, I have started a new season to study and write more about specific women in the Bible. This is an urgent need. Many churches consist of mainly women (if not all). The Bible records the active and positive participation and contribution of women in both the Old Testament time and in the New Testament churches. New Testament church leaders like Lydia, Phoebe, Junia and Priscilla have received increasingly more attention. There are also other lesser-known women who are equally important leaders and serve in the capacity of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

I recently wrote about one whom Jesus singles out to praise in my blog titled “Do you see this woman?” (1) https://kingdomofgodaughter.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/do-you-see-this-woman-1/

Do you remember that one morning you told me you had a strange dream in which you were told to read Philippians 4:8? I told you it is Paul’s letter to two very important women. They were not just any women in the congregation. They were both loving, giving, mature church leaders and Paul’s valued co-laborers for the Gospel.

I didn’t manage to tell you much about them at that time. So today I would highlight these two women, Euodia ( Greek Εὐοδία, meaning possibly “sweet fragrance” or “prosperous journey”) and Syntyche (Συντύχη, “fortunate,” literally “with fate”). One is called “prosperous journey” and another is called “Serendipity”. Such auspicious names!

Having such nice names and being capable and hardworking leaders in the important Philippians church do not exempt them from being reminded to reconcile their disagreements. Paul’s letter actually pleads with them to agree in the Lord. (4:2). The two appeared in strife. Let us find out what happened by reading the whole letter. Paul’s appeal to them was written in Philippians 4:2-3 (HCSB) Reading the mere context in 4:1-9 will not help us to fully understand the two women. These are two real persons in life and not two-dimensional caricatures. Paul’s whole letter is meant for them and I would read the whole letter as the background and dig out more details about the two.

The two women are important leaders in the church: First, we can note Paul’s appreciative and respectful attitude towards Christian women co-workers. He works with them and values their contribution, recognizes their diligent efforts in telling others the Good News, and affirms that their names are written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:2-3). He addresses the letter specifically to God’s holy people, church bishops, and overseers/deacons. (1:1) (Note: The Letter to the Philippians is different from Paul’s other letters because he specifically includes the episkopoi (supervisors/overseers/bishops) and diakonoi (ministers/deacons) in his opening greeting.)
Women founded this church: When Paul responded to the visionary call to Macedonia, instead of meeting a man as he thought, because there were not even ten Jewish men (the required quorum) to start a synagogue, he met a rich business woman, Lydia, who was leading a women prayer group and she was converted by Paul and immediately started the first house church in Europe, in her house in Philippi!
The status of women in Philippi is high: Philippi was the chief Greek city of Macedonia (Acts 16:12) under the Roman Empire and it has been well documented that Macedonian women enjoyed greater freedoms, rights and powers than many other women of that time.
Paul describes these two women Euodia and Syntyche in the same terms he describes prominent church leaders like Timothy and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:22,25), as those who have contended for the Gospel at his side, with a worthy ministry comparable to that of the men. Paul uses words that carry a metaphorical reference to gladiators fighting side by side in the arena. Far from demeaning women, Paul is actually declaring them capable and valuable for his ministry. Paul does not have gender prejudices or stereotyping women’s role in his ministry.
Paul is in prison and his chief concern is maintaining unity among his co-workers. This is exactly the same concern of Jesus before He left Earth. In John 17:11-12 Jesus asks the Father to protect Jesus’ disciples by the power of His name so that they will be united just as the Father and Jesus, so that no one was lost. There is a supernatural power for Jesus’ disciples in being one just as the Father and Jesus are one. Disunity among leaders can cause their sheep to go astray. Paul explains to them what it means to have unity: “Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” (2:1-2)

In practice, how to achieve this unity? Paul gives them two main action points:

Do not be self-centered: 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 2:4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Do renew their mind by thinking good thoughts about the other. 4:8

Paul gives them two real life models to follow:

1. Chapter two: focus on Christ’s example of an attitude that can lead to reconciliation. 2:5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

2. Chapter three: Follow Paul’s example. he focuses on Jesus and the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (3:14)

Can the two women do it? Yes, definitely. Because Paul says confidently in 3:15 “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” He knows these two mature sisters in Christ love God and have the fervency and diligence to serve God and obey God’s words. Paul has discipled them well and trusts them to do as he urges, to reconcile.

Lastly, Paul sums it up by saying, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (4:9)

You see, the consequence of their disagreement and strife in the church has caused the loss of God’s peace in them and affected the others in the otherwise exemplary church.

At the end of the letter, Paul brings up a praiseworthy uniqueness about this church led by women leaders. They are a loving and giving church to Paul’s ministry! They themselves in turn are experiencing the richness of God’s supplies for their generous sowing into Paul’s ministry. (4:19)

Postscript: These women are well-connected high society people. Even the royalty —the Roman Emperor, Caesar’s household send them greetings through Paul. Their networking is important to Paul’s ministry. (4:22)

by Kainotes

Jesus and women: How Jesus gives grace to a love-thirsty woman (modified with added revelation Mar 22, 2020)

Today I received wonderful fresh revelation in how deliberate and persistent Jesus is when bringing a maritally broken (having had five previous husbands) Samaritan woman to salvation and in-filling of the Holy Spirit! Many want to know how to receive the Holy Spirit. A thirsty woman has received by faith on her first encounter with Jesus. How did she receive it? Or rather, how did Jesus make sure she receive it? Jesus gives her grace. She receives by faith.

The Scripture: (comments from this blogger are in bracket)

John 4:7, 9-14 (NLT)

⁷ Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”

(Jesus took the initiative to approach the woman voicing out her need for her, “Please give me a drink.” He wanted her to ask Him!)

9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

(The woman was like any natural human, absorbed by what she saw in the physical realm. Her first response was dictated by her life experience, traditional cultural and religious practice. She immediately drew a boundary between she and Jesus. If Jesus was just a tired passer-by waiting at the well for his food and drink, he would have been turned off by her legalistic questioning.)

¹⁰Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

(But Jesus was not distracted from what He has intended to give her. Jesus always acted deliberately. He went to rest at the well deliberately. He wanted to give her a gift, the Holy Spirit in-filling; He also wanted her to ask for this gift!)

¹¹ “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? ¹²And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

(The woman’s response to Him in her physical realm was no surprise. In hind-sight we can all see how she continued plodding away apparently at the wrong track. But don’t we all?)

¹³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

(Jesus, undeterred by this Samaritan-Gentile woman’s mindset, continued to address her spiritual thirst, and explain patiently what the Holy Spirit is like and how He will meet her unquenchable thirst in her when she is filled! This is further described in the next section of the Gospel of John when Jesus addressed the multitude of Jewish temple worshippers in Jerusalem)

John 7:37-39 (NIV) ³⁷[ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” ³⁹ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.]

John 4:15-26 (continue the discourse between the Samaritan woman and Jesus)

¹⁵“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

(The Samaritan woman’s attention was finally turned to what Jesus could give her and she asked Him for that supernatural Gift!)

¹⁶“Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. ¹⁷“I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—¹⁸for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

(Jesus wanted truthfulness from the spiritually thirsty woman. She was looking for love in the wrong places to quench her thirst which can only be met by God in her! Instead of assuming that the Samaritan woman kept changing husbands, it is just as reasonable to think of her as having experienced the deaths of several husbands, or as a woman with unfaithful husbands , or even as a woman whose husbands divorced her for her inability to have children. And now she does not even have the security of a proper marriage. In all scenarios she was indeed not fulfilled. Jesus wanted to address her hurt and possibly disappointment with God.)

¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. ²⁰ So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim,where our ancestors worshiped?”

(It is interesting that the woman’s response and attention turned to that of God, religion and worship. Despite her marital problems and then ‘lawless’ living, she knew about the key Jewish and Samaritan religious physical difference. Now she wants to know more and how to worship God correctly. Is she sincere in wanting to know God to the point of talking to a stranger, a man, and a Jew? I believe she is. She is thirsting for God just as Jesus has discerned. )

²¹ Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. ²² You Samaritans know very little about the One you worship, while we Jews know all about Him, for salvation comes through the Jews. ²³ But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. ²⁴For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

(Jesus came to the point of true worship: 1. Know the God-Person Whom you worship, not the place or physical church or congregation group; 2. Know God in the Spirit, and therefore could worship-join to Him, in spirit and in Truth-His word.)

(1 Cor.6:17 (AMP)¹⁷But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.”)

John 4: ²⁵The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

²⁶ Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

(The Samaritan woman was thus saved! Her spiritual eyes were opened when she turned to the matter of God and true worship, and she recognized and accepted Jesus as the Messiah, her Savior!)

(Samaritans were hostile to the Jews. Yet Jesus took a deliberate journey to meet with this woman in order to save and deliver her from her past hurt and present uncertainty about her future. The saving of one woman is worth it! After her salvation, her countrymen were saved at her testimony.They came out and encountered Jesus themselves, and accepted Him as their Savior.)

How to receive the Holy Spirit? Jesus promised this, “your heavenly Father give to them that ask Him.” (Luke 11:13b) Just ask. It is a gift. The Samaritan woman asked Jesus and received. Her life was transformed and she became the first gentile evangelist, witnessing for Jesus!

(Modified from an originally published post in my AAA Jack watchman blog on 6/8/2011)

delivering a prominent speech: choose light

Dear sister, congratulation for being selected to deliver possibly the speech of a lifetime in an honorable prominent position. I opened my Bible and here is the message for you.

1 John 2:8-11 (NKJV)

⁸Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

⁹He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. ¹⁰He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Matthew 6:22-23 (NKJV

Jesus describes the Lamp of the Body

²²“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is ^[a]good, your whole body will be full of light. ²³But if your eye is ^[b]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Footnotes:

Matthew 6:22 Clear, or healthy
Matthew 6:23 Evil, or unhealthy

Dear sister, I pray you open the eyes of your heart to receive God’s light. (Ephesians 1:18)

Rambling thoughts: Gender Polarization and solution (updated June 8, 2020)

Gender polarization is an ancient monster that has reared its ugly head menacingly and is increasingly prowling around looking for victims to devour in this time. But I cannot remember my siblings and I being deliberately brought up in the polarization way. We were just flowing with life and circumstances.

In my family the women could appear stronger than the men. For example, when a gigantic venomous monitor lizard (or viper) entered our house the men (my dad and eldest brother) ran away and my mom was the one who took up a weapon (a long sharp metal something) pierced the head of the monster and pinned it to the ground. She shouted for the man folk to return and deal with the threshing dying beast. They had no clue what to do. So she instructed them to fetch a tough huge sack so she could cast it into it, tie the sack up and ask them to cart it to the back yard and burn it to ashes. We children were stunned and awed by the cool, composed, tough and bloodless execution all done without display of any emotion on her part.

If my eldest sister was home she probably would have run away too. As for me? I neither fled nor fought. I was just a curious eight years old bystander. Courage is not gender specific. When we kids grow up and have our own family we have displayed immense courage too when needed to protect our loved ones. I cannot think of any specific trait labelled gender-specific in my family.

No, my mom was not a superwoman of gigantic size and power. She was a beautiful, elegant, intelligent and knowledgeable average size business woman from a lineage of scholarly and godly genteel background. She was considered the best dressed woman for all time in the oil and gas frontier town where she lived most of her adult life. She rose to the monster-killing occasion when needed. Her goal? Protect her little chicks (including a toddler and an infant) like a mother hen does. After the incident she sat down and continued her afternoon tea as if nothing had happened. Then she instructed us to return to our homework. She was capable of and focused on multitasking as the circumstances required. That was my typical mom.

So where do all these ugly scenes of gender polarization out there come from? Knowing where they come from helps us to resolve them or kill them, just as my mom did with the “monster”.

What about running to the street and crying wolves? You may be too late. The monster (mobster) is really big and evil out there and its sole purpose is to use you and other human to steal, kill and destroy everything human value and love.

What is the solution? This is a question for every Christian to turn inward and ask oneself. One thing I know, aligning with the polarization monster will not bring salvation or deliverance. Whatever you do, if the outcome is creating more self-focus, more me vs others, more hurt and more destruction, more exclusiveness and demonization of others, then your alignment is with the death monster and not with the super-abundant life that God has promised and given you and your loved ones in Christ Jesus.

My solution? Come to the point where our sole identity is “in Christ”. surprised? Women are also in Christ! Start afresh from this equality foundation. Unshakable. Seeing yourself the way that God has made you in Christ will change how you think about yourself and that matters most. God is a lot more concerned with where you are going than where you came from. God is in the spiritual realm. He has the best thoughts for you. Why don’t you go to Him for your inner healing instead of calling out the dead and let other more destructive men use you for their ends?

Last word: don’t go after the wrong men and expect them to recognize your real worth. Go after the One you know will never reject you (because you are a woman). His name is Jesus.

Matthew 26:13 I assure you: Wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.” Said Jesus of a woman who shows her priceless love for Jesus because she alone (among all the important men who are there) recognizes He really is Who He says He is, the Son of God, the Savior. And she knows He will make history. And she too (unknowingly) in her faith in action by anointing Jesus before He went to the cross.

Jesus and women: He defines them by their love of God and faith in Christ

We read how God defines women in the Bible. Eight women (Gospel of Luke) are being defined, each according to her faith in God and love of God.

Mary, a favored woman: She believed in the Good News from God. She obeyed. She is favored because the Lord is with her and she believes His words. And she loves God.

Luke 1:28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Luke 2:23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.”

A sinful woman forgiven: She had saving faith (in action). Her sins were forgiven. Others looked at her external, a sinful immoral woman. But Jesus saw something deep, her love for Him. Look at her, He said. What did Jesus see? He saw her kneeling before Him, weeping and serving Him out of her unabashed love, giving all she had, by faith. God is pleased with faith and love in action. God rewards those who come to Him by faith and seek Him diligently. (Hebrews 11:6)

Luke 7:36 [ Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman ] One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.

Luke 7:37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume.

Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

Luke 7:44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

Luke 7:48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 7:50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

A woman who had suffered 12 years of constant bleeding. Her faith (in action) in Jesus had healed her. She was just an unnamed woman in the crowd. When healed she stood out and gave a public testimony. Because of her faith and diligence in seeking God, God is pleased and rewards her faith in action. (Hebrews 11:6)

Luke 8:43 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure.

Luke 8:47 When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed.

A woman named Martha who welcomed Jesus into her home and served Him. She knew how to be a generous hospitable and diligent hostess to Jesus. Her name and her hospital act are duly recorded in the Bible.

Luke 10:38 [ Jesus Visits Martha and Mary ] As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

A woman (possibly wishing He was her own son) in the crowd who dared to praise Him in admiration in open, after hearing Him teaching them on serious spiritual matters.

Luke 11:27 As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!”

A woman crippled and bound by an evil spirit for eighteen years and healed by Jesus. She was a woman of no status in that society and yet she came to where Jesus was, in public. Jesus saw and healed her. Her faith was rewarded. She became a life testimony to Jesus. She was personally named by Jesus as a dear woman, a daughter of Abraham (father of faith)!

Luke 13:11 He saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. Luke 13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!”

Luke 13:16 This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”

A woman used by Jesus as an example in His parable about making bread with yeast (the multiplying power of the Holy Spirit on God’s words). Why did Jesus use a woman as example? There were many women who were listening to His teaching and they became His faithful followers and disciples. Some became martyrs later with the other disciples.

Luke 13:21 It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Another woman used by Jesus as an example in the parable of searching for the one lost coin (soul).

Luke 15:8 [ Parable of the Lost Coin ] “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?

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There were altogether eight extraordinary women mentioned here. Remember the women existed in Bible times, at least two thousands years ago. Jesus spoke to them and spoke of them. What Jesus (the Son of God) spoke were duly recorded in the Bible. For two thousands years many had read of them! Don’t you wonder why the Holy Spirit specifically highlighted these women?

Are you not pleased and honored if you are a woman too? I would be.