A woman is capable to rise above her own past and present limitations of self to live out the perfect plan that God has designed for her in the heavenly record book. All she needs is to be a woman who knows God and fear God reverently. The problem with us is that we think we are God. We want to be God. We choose what we want to believe. We use our personal agenda to measure God.
I have not written for women since March 11, 2021. Why? I ask myself. I have avoided the answer until now. The main thing is I have been disappointed by women. Not all women. Just the lot that had refused to align themselves with God’s plumb line and even rationality and common sense, when voting or taking side when the chips were all down, exposing the crux of the matter, and the matter actually permeates the whole human race and not just women alone.
If I have to ask a question on what has caused me not to write in this blog (or rather, silent when it comes to writing for women) it’s this question: why does any Christian woman persist in choosing to be self-centered and selfish and even vengeful, choosing to believe in blatant lies and follow mass hysteria? Do they not have better sense? (For the information of those obsessed by skin colors: I am neither white nor black nor red and I am not a Latino. I am neither Western nor Eastern. I claim Galatians 3:28 as my true identity)
Wait a minute, I have nothing against being a woman. In fact, for those who have read this woman blog you would have noted I have been voicing for the voiceless women, digging through the Bible to speak out when not many men (or even women) have spoken with the perspective of a woman. When you read my stories of Eve, Sarah, Leah, Dinah, Bathsheba, Rehab, and many other New Testament Bible women, including showing the same serious respect and integrity to give a truthful and unbiased (often differing from the world view of many other scholars) account for those not even having a name, you would have noticed and even agreed that I am definitely on the side of seeing women in God’s eyes, and following the heart of Jesus, as I have purposed and opened my heart to receive only what are revealed in God’s words. For example, read what I have written on Leah. (Wounded Love —a ruler and a visionary)
I have written in this women blog how Bible women have been blessed. How women (the 50% of the world population) through out history, have overcome prejudices and evil in their days, how they have raised up kings and priests, and how they have fulfilled God’s plans in their lives and in the lives of those whom they impacted. I have written how godly and wise women were honored and favored just as godly and wise men were honored. I sincerely believe that women are capable to rise above the evil of self-centeredness, which is the root of all griefs.
It is now a new year and the first month is nearing the end. I decide this morning to write to you. How shall an ideal woman be? Again, I would quote a Bible woman (possibly Bathsheba, the mother of king Solomon) as recorded in Bible Proverbs 31:10-31. Take heed that this is not a unique one-off historical woman. Many unnamed women throughout human history have come under this category of godly, wise, capable and unselfish good women of faith. (My late mother was one.) They write the history of light (as against darkness) with their own unselfish lives, walking in the light, and leave a positive spiritual legacy to enable other men and women to follow.
Bathsheba was a beautiful, wise, good, wealthy, royal woman. But her earlier life was full of tragedies and sadness. Yet her past did not shape her into a bitter, crooked, evil, vengeful, ugly (at heart), self-centered woman who went down in history in shame and ruin. No, she rose up and became the woman her son King Solomon recorded in the following famous set of Bible verses of a virtuous woman.
Bible verses
Proverbs 31:10-31 New Living Translation A Wife of Noble Character 10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14 She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. 16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. 18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night. 19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. 20 She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. 21 She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes. 22 She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. 23 Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. 24 She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. 26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. 27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. 28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: 29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
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.
Evangelist Philip’s four prophetess virgin daughters
“Why are these women associated with well-known men, and with outstanding events not named? What is the reason behind their anonymity?” These are the questions some women may ask when they read Bible verses that mentioned certain women without mentioning their names. Instead, they are often described as the wives, daughters, or mothers of some men. Some are described merely by the tasks they perform. They are nameless and remain anonymous, although their tasks/actions have been recorded in history. Here is a list of these women (not exhaustive). I would encourage our readers to look up the Bible verses reference on some of them and see what have they done, good or bad. Make it a point to read some daily. Ask the Lord to reveal to you the lessons and applications behind their stories.
Nameless women in the Gospels
Peter’s Wife
Peter’s Mother-in-Law
Woman with Issue of Blood (a woman of faith given recognition by Jesus)
Jairus’ Daughter
Jesus’ Sisters
Herodias’ Daughter
Syro-Phoenician Woman (a foreign woman who has faith in Jesus)
Wife Sold for Debt
Maids at Peter’s Denial
Pilate’s Wife
Women at Calvary (women who followed Jesus faithfully to the cross)
Widow with Two Mites (woman praised by Jesus)
Widow of Nain
Woman Who Was a Sinner (Jesus has given recognition of her sacrifice for Him. Instead of condemning her, He granted her forgiveness of her sin)
A Certain Woman’s Message
Afflicted Daughter of Abraham
Daughters of Jerusalem
Woman of Samaria (Jesus grated her pardon and eternal life without her asking, and shared the Kingdom of God good news with her. She believed and was saved)
Woman Taken in Adultery (Jesus showed His mercy to her and did not condemn her. instead, He granted her remission of her sin and asked her not to sin again)
Nameless women in Acts of the Apostles
Hebrew Widows
The Women of Antioch
Demon-Possessed Damsel
Daughters of Philip (Read the passages below about how God gives the Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts to both man and woman, without discrimination.)
Paul’s Sister
Rufus’ Mother
Nereus’ Sister
in Joel 2:28-29 we read, “And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” The apostle Peter, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, declared that what the people were witnessing, following the outpouring of the Spirit, was the very thing “spoken of through the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16).
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Acts 21:8-9 “On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.”
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
Today we read aboutthree notable mothers who were given recognition by God and recorded in the Bible. For those who do not know, the Bible is a book of God written by God. The names and lives recorded are important. They are meant to be noted. (“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Eve, the first mother: She was the first mentioned. In terms of motherhood, she failed the first round. She and her husband Adam knew God intimately. Whilst they have taught the second son Abel about the way of God, and the proper sacrifice that pleased God, they did not manage to convince the elder son Cain to…
These women had accurately aligned with the great destiny set for them
Two poor widows, (at the time when the judges ruled), Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi returned across the River Jordan from Moab to Bethlehem.
The Book of Judges recorded that Eglon, king of Moab, invaded Canaan as far as Jericho and subjugated the Israelites for eighteen years before being assassinated by Ehud the Benjamite (1302-1204BC). The time of the judges displayed repeated cycles of peace and oppressions, brought about great apostasy in Israel. The nation underwent political and religious turmoil. The tribes fought among themselves. The people rebelled against God through idolatry and unbelief, and brought judgement upon themselves through foreign oppressions. God then raised up a deliverer/judge, and the people repented and turned back to God and had peace for their nation.
During a famine, Israelite Naomi left Bethlehem with her husband and two sons and migrated to their enemy’s country, Moab (c.1294BC) and stayed there for ten years. Her husband died and her two sons were killed (possibly at war between Moab and Israel). Naomi was widowed with her two Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem after the famine was over. She dissuaded them from following her. Orpah finally agreed. But Ruth persisted in her decision to follow Naomi.
Here is a quote of the related Bible verses: Ruth 1:15 And she (Naomi) said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” 18 When she (Naomi) saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.
Ruth’s journey to Bethlehem (source: thebiblejourney.org)
The journey is illustrated in the attached map.
Although the war had ceased, there was still great risk for two vulnerable women to walk through difficult and dangerous terrain, during a time threatened by lawlessness, bandits and wild animals. They had to walk on uneven ground and climb slope as steep as 2000 foot. Crossing the Jordan River at the time of the first grain-Barley harvest when the river was full from snow melting at early spring was another tough challenge.
Ruth was obviously an attractive and pleasing young woman because Naomi twice expressed her confidence that Ruth could still marry to a good man and had children. There was no rational reason for Ruth to insist on following her mother-in-law to the enemy’s country and live among aliens with no other social support. Why did Ruth make this seemingly foolish (in the eyes of her countrymen) choice? We can find some answers in the Book of Ruth from her interactions with her mother-in-law and her future husband, Boaz.
Ruth’s character: a caring, loyal, trusting and obedient daughter-in-law, a hard working woman, a humble and unassuming person. Relationship between the two women: More like mother and daughter. Conversion and discipleship: Despite the general apostasy of her nation, Naomi had taught Ruth her religious belief and very likely had set a good example in her own faith in God. Ruth’s faith: Most significantly, we note that Ruth really believed in the God of Israel. Her faith in God made her align with the great destiny God had prepared for her.
“And your God, my God.” Ruth declared. This is the ultimate reason why she was later exalted by God from a poor foreign widow to the highly honored and respected position as the legal wife of one of the richest men in Bethlehem and together they became the ancestors of David, from whose lineage Joseph and Mary derived. “The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” Ruth spoke confidently on a prophesy that made history later as she fulfilled her destiny in the lineage of Jesus!
If Ruth had followed her own race, culture and parental religion, she would have missed out her illustrious destiny. If Naomi had not kept her own religion and belief in God regardless of her circumstances, she would not have been able to influence and converted Ruth to the right belief and right way.
Naomi had a strong character. She was able to ask the right questions, analyze, size up the situation and reached the right conclusion. She took charge and made the right decisions. She instructed Ruth with authority and confidence. But if Naomi had not obeyed her husband’s decision and moved to Moab with him, stayed there for ten years until her two sons died, she would not have brought back Ruth and Ruth would not have appeared in the lineage of David, Joseph and Mary too. Naomi too would not have been instrumental in fulfilling a great destiny.
Thus, both women’s belief, faith in God and their willingness to humble and submit themselves to God, had contributed to Ruth choosing rightly and thus fulfilled God’s marvelous plan for their lives!
Here is the ticket: For those new to my blogs (under the pen name “Crosslife Spaces”), read at least an article in each blog to enter this somewhat unusual/Kainos (Strong’s Greek 2537: Fresh, new, unused, novel) world of mine! Yes, I hunt and keep secret treasures. Often I give some away. For regular readers of the over three thousands English blogs I published in WordPress for over eleven years, I believe by now some would have received for themselves some treasures from here. It humbles me to know that somehow somewhere from the far beyond you have found this blog and found something of value to you. I would now urge you to linger longer and take more. Yes, here is my heart.
Here are the links to my English blog sites at WordPress:
https://kzlam36.wordpress.com/ AAAA Watchman, Spirit and Life ~Christian Visions, Revelation from the Words of God, Prophecies, Prayers, supernatural living 1535 articles
https://citizenheaven.wordpress.com/ God’s way of healing, divine healing resources, life testimonies of miraculous healing of terminal diseases, teachings on how to get healed 383 articles
https://wheniamsixtyeight.wordpress.com/ a young millennial-nerd short story, fun-adventure-fiction of young and old living in a futuristic tech world 99 articles
Matthew 13:52
He said to them, Therefore every teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been instructed about and trained for the kingdom of heaven and has become a disciple is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and [treasure that is] old [the fresh as well as the familiar].
Rebekah, one of the four Matriarchs, is characterized by the Rabbis as a prophet and a righteous woman. Yet she is one of the housewives whom Bible readers would have overlooked if not for their famous sons. In the Old Testament time women are assessed by whether they have sons or not. In her case she has twins. But it does not bring her double-happiness. Instead she has had a hard time with the sons and the foreign wives of the older one. This woman may not be viewed positively by some. Why? Because she favors one son over the other and helps her favorite son to carry out a scheme to cheat her husband by taking advantage of his blindness in old age. At the end she is separated from her favorite son and dies without seeing him again. Some may therefore consider her a fool.
But I am going to challenge all the wrong thoughts about her today. Read with me from a new perspective. I pray you receive your fresh revelation as you read this article.
I will look at two persons, mainly this brilliant wife and mother, Rebekah, and her apparently docile husband, Isaac. Many Bible teachers teach about Isaac and brush Rebekah aside. But the Bible clearly places Rebekah at a more strategic historical position than Isaac in terms of shaping the Jewish nation history. Without her there would have been no Jewish nation, nor there be a Christian descendant by faith heritage from Abraham.
Here is a list of Rebekah’s significant roles and the strength of her character which God has put to important use:
God arranges a servant of Abraham who talks to God and asks God about how to make sure he gets the right woman to be Isaac’s wife. Genesis 24:12-14
God arranges for Rebekah to arrive at the right time, the right place, and meet the right person —the servant, just as he has asked God for her to show up and do exactly what he expects her to do, a show of kindness and hospitality to a stranger and a traveler. She goes the extra mile too, by showing diligence and kindness to his animals. Genesis 24:15-20
God designs Rebekah to fit in the great destiny. She is of the same genetic stock of Abraham —being his niece, very beautiful to behold, virtuous (keeping herself pure, still a virgin), hard-working (coming out to fetch water personally and not relying on maids), observant and full of initiatives (by noticing the traveler’s camels need water too and offering to get water for them), knowing her own worth (in not giving herself to any suitor), knowing and expecting her great destiny to come to pass (by waiting for the right spouse no matter how impossible it may seem, because surely by then the whole town’s most eligible bachelors would have tried wooing her).
She is a well-brought up woman of a well-to-do family, with her own nurse, Deborah and maids. (24:59; 35:8) The Bible finds it important enough to record the name of her nurse. Yet, she learns to do chores like fetching water from the well, cooking excellent cuisine which her husband Isaac loves. Indeed, those skills come to be used at the right moment and divine appointment. (27:9, 17, 25)
Rebekah is strong and perseverant in character. She was barren for twenty years before she has the twin boys, Esau and Jacob. Rebekah is totally unlike her mother-in-law, Sarah, who could not wait for God’s promise to come true and tried to jump start her destiny by giving her Egyptian maid Hagar to Abraham as a concubine and thus produced a tragedy, Ishmael. (16:2, 15, 21:9) On the other hand, Rebekah waited for her own descendants and kept her lineage pure just as God has wanted.
Rebekah is intelligent, brave and determined. Why does she choose to go with Abraham’s servant immediately and travel to a distant country to marry a man whom she has never met merely at the words of the servant? She knows God. She has bothered to find out about her distant relatives even before the arrival of that fateful day when she met the reality of her going there to join them and their God and leave her mother, brother and gods (idols) behind. She finds out facts, knows and trusts what God has revealed and confirmed to her, and she makes the right decision with confidence and assurance of her hope. She is not a rash woman who simply takes chance (as many Bible teachers have wrongly taught us). Genesis 24:55-61 24:58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”
Rebekah has a close relationship with God. She is resolute to walk by faith and fulfill her great destiny. She asks God about her future and He answers. When her twins are conceived, struggling inside her, she asks the Lord and the Lord tells her why, and that the younger twin, Jacob, will excel and rule over the older twin, Esau. (25:23) She believes and stays faithful to God’s words and prophecy.
Rebekah is married to an unequal, Isaac, a weaker man, given to carnal desire in his old age. Not only he does not believe in God’s prophecy about his twins, he has chosen to favor the older one, who is a carnal man too. Isaac and his wife Rebekah go separate way in the matters of God. Rebekah is the spiritual one who fears God and wants to make sure God’s will be done by hook or by crook. Isaac is the carnal one who cares only for his own physical gratification and forgets about God and His expressed will. 25:27-28 “So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.”
Isaac is weak and fails to be the head of the family. He also fails in teaching and disciplining his two sons in the matters of God. Esau is a godless man who does not fear God and has no interest in God’s purpose in his life. He despises God’s providence of the double blessing for the first born. (25:32, 34) The Holy Spirit describes Esau in Hebrews 12:16, “That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.” Isaac obviously is not so senile that he does not know his son’s weaknesses and that he does not believe and worship the same God Abraham and Isaac believe and worship. Isaac blatantly married two idol worshipping foreign (Hittite and Ishmaelite) women who caused family strife —they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah. (26:34-35; 27:46; 28:8-9).
Isaac is born very rich, as the sole heir of Abraham. But he is a man of his own worth in the world: very successful farmer, sower, live stock owner, shrewd businessman, and negotiator of deals. The Lord blesses him specially because he is the promised heir of Abraham. 26:12-14 He not only prospered, he continued prospering, until he became very prosperous. He could have done better in distributing his wealth and possessions between the two grown sons according to the culture and practice in which he was brought up but he failed to do so despite seeing his sons becoming increasingly hostile to each other. A more decisive and caring father would have done it before the situation got out of hand. When the family tragedy struck he was both old and blind.
Rebekah decides to take matter into her own hand because she sees an indecisive and incompetent husband who does not carry out his role as the head of the family. She has done her best to repeatedly remind him. She has undertaken to personally educate and coach Jacob since young all about God and his great destiny because Isaac is too busy in the field. She remembers God’s prophecy about her and her prophecy by her brother as well. (25:23; 24:60) She reminds herself not to forget them even though the situation may look helpless with her older rebellious son and her apathetic husband.
We all know the story of Rebekah initiating a scheme for Jacob to take the blessing of the first born from his father and flee to safety after that. Do you think that Rebekah never thinks of the consequence of her separating from her beloved son, Jacob, the promised heir God has selected? They never see each other again. Knowing her murderous older son Esau, she has prepared for the cost she must pay. True enough, she has willingly paid the price.
Rebekah has to live with her husband Isaac and the murderous and rebellious godless Esau for the remaining twenty years of her life. Yet she was prepared to do that for the sake of bringing Jacob to his greatness as the promised one for God.
Rebekah is a woman who knows and lives the power of hope. She endures the loneliness of a visionary. She can envision her son Jacob returning in glory. She can envision how he is being trained from a distance by God to equip him for the greatness God has planned for him. She hears of him getting married and raising all those sons for God. She envisions them becoming many nations. She sees him and his family in her dreams. She knows her hopes are not in vain. Because she has trusted God all her life against all odds. She loves to the point of sacrificing her personal gratification. Isaac is blessed to have such a selfless wife. Otherwise he could not have fulfilled his role as one of the patriarchs for the twelve tribes of the nation Israel.
No, she is no ordinary wife and mother. She really knows God and wants God’s best for her son. And it makes all the difference.
—June 21, 2020, Kai
by Kainotes Ministry*
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 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.
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)
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. 38Whoever 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)
This young woman encountered the worst tragedies anyone could think of: a sudden death of her husband -the sole bread earner of the family, and he left behind two young sons and a huge debt. In those days a married woman was considered a mere property of the husband. Her social status came from being a man’s wife. The loss of her husband without any tangible inherited asset meant a total loss of status in the community and an overwhelming financial crisis. We had no knowledge whether she was trained for any commercial skills. If she had any, she would have proceeded to get an employment or make some income. But this woman had no economic solution on her own. Whatever she had in her house were used up to pay the creditor. The lender had the right to repossess everything and even take her children as payment. The creditor was coming to take her two young sons into slavery.
The case of this unnamed woman as recorded in the Bible:
What can we learn from her? How did she cope? What did she do right?
1. She heard God. Instead of waiting for the worst fate to arrive -her two sons taken into slavery by the creditor, she went to ask for help from the right person -her husband’s spiritual teacher and principal of the school of the prophets, Elisha, an accomplished true prophet of God. She told him honestly all she had left was a jar of oil and her two children.
2. She obeyed God. She did exactly what Elisha told her to do, to the minute details: borrow as many as possible empty vessels from all her neighbors, shut the door, together with her sons poured her only jar of oil into those vessels, did not stop until all the vessels were filled thereupon the oil would stop.
3. She believed God’s words through the mouth of the prophet. She and her sons thus witnessed God’s awesome supernatural power of multiplication of physical elements. (This was also miraculously done by Jesus later as recorded in the New Testament’s Gospel of Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-38)
4. The positive result: She became a woman of wealth*, debt free, and a successful oil business entrepreneur with ongoing profit to support herself and her two sons for the rest of their lives. She could also support their continuing education and training for their called prophetic profession just as their late father had pursued.
5. Whilst the multiplication of the oil was entirely miraculous, the level of the woman’s wealth depended on her faith and action in obedience to the words of promises of God she heard and received as true. At best she could have borrowed a few small jars if she had half believed. But she believed totally. She borrowed lots of big jars. That was why the Prophet Elisha told her she would remain wealthy for the rest of the lives of her and her sons. This revelation opens my eyes -Don’t limit God!
Bible verses: (2 kings 4:1-7)
A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”
So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors—empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.”
So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.”
And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”
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*Olive oil was considered to be one of the great sources of wealth in the days of King Solomon (cf. I Kings 5:11; II Chronicles 2:10). In biblical days an abundance of oil was a sign of prosperity and favor and a lack of oil was one of the many curses for disobedience (Deut. 28:40). The oil of olives was widely known and used during most of Bible History. It had a wide variety of applications, and was a valuable commodity. It was used for anointing the living and the dead, for sacred offerings, for lighting lamps (in the Tabernacle, Temple or in ordinary people’s homes), cooking and medicinally. It was also used in personal grooming, and as an ingredient in some soaps (as it still is).
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.
Why are some women fearless? Who are those women? Why should women be fearless? Mary, the Mother of Jesus on earth is one of them. It is not easy to write afresh about Mary. What revelation is there other than the obvious which every church has taught? The Scripture will show us.
Here is a brief list of spiritual characteristics about Mary, based on the Gospel of Luke (Chapter one).
She sees, hears and converses with angels without fear. The angel Gabriel was sent to her and spoke to her. She saw him and was “troubled” at his saying but she did not faint and pass out at the phenomena. (1:19)
She is a thoughtful and careful young woman. she considered what manner of the angel’s greeting was. (1:19)
She remains calm and rational. After hearing him out she asked question about the practicality of the announcement. She was engaged but had not yet married or had intimate relationship with a man so how could she give birth to a child? She questioned the angel/God’s messenger boldly. (1:34)
She is spiritual. She knew the angel came from God and the message for her was from God. (1:38, 47)
She believes those prophetic words about the forthcoming supernatural event. (1:38)
She accepts her role in this supernatural event. (1:38)
She believes in the power of God. (1:38)
She expresses her willingness to undertake her role in God’s divine plan. (1:38)
She considers it an honor. (1:48)
She takes immediate action to go to her most trusted social support as led by the Holy Spirit. (1:39-44, 56)
She is well-versed in the words of God. She believes in the supernatural power of God’s words. (1:46-55)
She knows and trusts God. (1:45-55)
Can Mary be described as a fearless woman? Yes. She has displayed great boldness and courage in accepting her role in this divine appointment and assignment. What is her secret for success? She is fearless. What makes her fearless?
The answer is in John’s description of God (1 John 4) we know that God is love. God’s love is perfect. Perfect love casts out fear. Mary abides in love –God. God’s love is the divine power that carries her all the way to fulfillment of her role in history. The crucial word “relationship” with God stands out in Mary’s life! She has a close relationship with God and knows God’s true nature.
“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)
How can we apply what we learn today? By the Holy Spirit. “By this we know that we abide in God, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (1 John 4:13)
What is a woman’s true worth? In my previous post I presented her spiritual worth. This morning I started writing this post to address women economic issues. But I was halted by a name while browsing through “The Economist“, “History proves that the capitalist system works. The countries endowed with free minds and private property rights have been the fastest-growing and the most prosperous.” “Free enterprise helped far more than feminism—household appliances ended drudgery. Above all: marriage was the best deal ever devised for women.” (Phyllis Schlafly)
Phyllis is a different breed of woman issue champion and speaks differently from others on the subject. She has a no-nonsense style and gets to the gist of the issue. Instead of making women to bear more economic responsibilities and financial burdens, she speaks plainly (my interpretation) to the men. “Man, we American women hold you responsible to upkeep us and the children. Man, be responsible! No, man, don’t ever think of passing the buck to us women!” Here are some of her classic sensible words of wisdom taken from various internet sources: My personal comments are in brackets.
The best way to improve economic prospects for women is to improve job prospects for the men in their lives, even if that means increasing the so-called pay gap. (Go for it, guys! it’s you job to aim higher -higher pay jobs!)
Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly in Mrs. America.
Women have babies and men provide the support. If you don’t like the way we’re made you’ve got to take it up with God. (Clear cut responsibility. Fair play, guys. Stop your nonsensical excuses. Just pay up.)
American women are so fortunate. When I got married, all I wanted in the world was a dryer so I didn’t have to hang up my diapers. And now women have paper diapers and all sorts of conveniences in the home. And it is the man and the technology that has made the home such a pleasant place for women to be. (“American women are so fortunate. ‘Sigh…” from women from other parts of the world…)
Since the women are the ones who bear the babies and there’s nothing we can do about that, our laws and customs then make it the financial obligation of the husband to provide the support. It is his obligation and his sole obligation. And this is exactly and precisely what we will lose if the Equal Rights Amendment is passed. (It’s a man’s obligatory responsibility issue, man! Woman, never give up your upper hand! It is his problem and not yours!)
Feminists have convinced themselves that any difference between men and women is oppression and that women in the United States are an oppressed minority. This is such a lie. American women are the most fortunate class of people who ever lived on the face of the earth. We can do anything we want to do. (Sigh…many third world women would wish they were Americans!)
Men should stop treating feminists like ladies, and instead treat them like the men they say they want to be. (Honestly, I believe a man certainly knows the difference between a man and a woman.)
The feminist movement taught women to see themselves as victims of an oppressive patriarchy. … Self-imposed victimhood is not a recipe for happiness. (I agree to not proclaiming negative words on ourselves!)
In colleges, there are no gender separations in courses of study, and students can freely choose their majors. There are no male and female math classes. But women generally choose college courses that pay less in the labor market. Those are the choices that women themselves make. Those choices contribute to the pay gap… (I agree with this as you can read my sharing on key to success below!)
I don’t believe that everybody should be paid the same. I believe in equal pay for equal work. (Well said, ma’am!)
My college degree is from a great university in 1944. I got my master’s at Harvard graduate school, completely co-ed, in 1945. My mother got her college degree in 1920. What’s the problem? Those opportunities were always there for women. (Thumbs up to these pioneers!)
What I am defending is the real rights of women. A woman should have the right to be in the home as a wife and mother. (I cannot comment because I am neither. But I do enjoy the regular lengthy visits from younger relatives ranging from infants to young adults. I consider them as God’s grace.)
If the woman picks the wrong man, that’s not society’s problem. That’s her problem. (This again relates to the success key of “careful choosing” and preparation as I share below about economic success.)
There are many choices out there for young women. And you have to ask yourself whether you want to model your life on the women who let life pass them by and who spend their lives thinking they were victims and that men are the enemy. Or do you want to have a happy life with a successful marriage and 14 lovely grandchildren. The choices are out there. (AGREED! Again a matter of making good and right choices of models.)
The United States is a giant island of freedom, achievement, wealth and prosperity in a world hostile to our values. (Claps!)
In a world of inhumanity, war and terrorism, American citizenship is a very precious possession. (SIGH from men and women from other nations, “Don’t we already know? Why else do you think we want to become your citizens/residents?)
The European nations’ loss of sovereignty to the EU should be a warning to Americans. It is a mystery why any Americans would support the concept of the EU. (Ma’am, certainly a mystery to many of us from the rest of the world too.)
Location is the key to most businesses, and the entrepreneurs typically build their reputation at a particular spot. (I included this quote because it is relevant to women as a start-up entrepreneur. It is the simplest and least costly way to test out your business plan and products. The best network is relationship based from locals already know you well, trust you and even support your business efforts. This is a wise beginner’s move before you try virtual network selling on internet.)
This blogger’s notes: Last night I did a search and came upon the unique case of Rwanda women. Rwanda has the highest number (63.8%) of women parliamentarians. One reason was that after the genocide the president decided to make up for the shortage of men by giving women legal entrances to the previously closed doors of offices. Yet, the significant representation of women did not change the society and family. Here is an excerpt of an article:
“she returned to Rwanda to interview female politicians about their lives — not just their public positions but their private lives, with their husbands and children. She found with rare exception that no matter how powerful these women were in public, that power didn’t extend into their own homes. “One told me how her husband expected her to make sure that his shoes were polished, the water was put in the bathroom for him, his clothes were ironed,” Justine says. And this husband wanted not only his shoes laid out in the morning, but his socks placed on top of the shoes. And he wanted it done by his wife, the parliamentarian.” The women’s explanation was that they were Rwandans. (https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/07/29/487360094/invisibilia-no-one-thought-this-all-womans-debate-team-could-crush-it)
The article about an African nation is not new as a few years back I have seen the same public-private discrepancy in an Asian country which went through a genocide. Many women became sole bread earners and raised up their children. The matriarch had decision making authority and financial responsibility in the family. But in the community they remained silent, demure, graceful and uninvolved in the men’s social-political world.
Africa and Asia may be different from America. Phyllis McAlpin Schlafly née Stewart (August 15, 1924 – September 5, 2016) was an American constitutional lawyer and conservative political activist. She was known for staunchly conservative social and political views. She was well educated, informed and highly qualified and yet she remained contentedly married and enjoyed her role as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She has made a pertinent point: When it is a win-win situation between genders, why not continue the win-win?
In developing world, when a family man is unwilling or is unable to pay his dues and be faithful husband and responsible father, the woman steps into the role of the bread winner in lieu of the husband. This is a global generic issue throughout the history of mankind. In these cases the women show their willingness and capability to do so.
Some richer nations use public funds to subsidize the qualified poor and unemployed. However, Many developing countries cannot afford such luxury. As men flock to work in the growing cities for better pays their families are left behind. Often the men’s wages can barely support their costly city lives and their wives and children have to survive on their own means. Some non-profit organizations give women and children hygiene/basic healthcare, education, vocational skill and trade training. Many women become sole bread-winners.
But what about the issue of unequal pay for certain groups of women, the economically poor, and colored (non-white) women in a predominantly male governing society? I have no answer. I would suggest you read my following testimony carefully and perhaps find your own key.
A generic advice to both genders: Have I been given less pay or less promotion opportunities despite equal merits due to whatever prejudices or discriminations? My honest answer is “NO”.
The reason was I chose my field of study and employers carefully. The key is: “Choose wisely”. Choose with planning and hard work of preparation accompanied by a lifelong positive outlook, enduring optimism for success and persistent learning new knowledge (always at a few steps ahead of others in the pack, man or woman).
*In my case I believe in having a close relationship with God trusting in His grace (undeserved favor). It works. Ask God for the right job, geographical location, people group, employer, bosses, pay and promotion timing. Above all, maintain who you really are, a woman/man of worth in God’s eyes. The Bible has given good promises for success for both women and men. Use them. Be willing to shift your paradigm and relocate when you are called. “Relocation” is my second key word to success.
What have you been doing in the past if you are one of those who feel that you are a loser because of your____________(race, color, gender, class, and whatever)? Have your past strategies worked? What has or has not worked for you/others? What can you do to make things work? Can you find good successful role models who has proven by bountiful good fruits to emulate? These are just some random pragmatic questions I would ask you to ponder on. If you are already a Christian, then my best advice for you is to pray and ask God to open up good choices and relocations (including the necessary training and equipping) as testified above.*
One cautionary word to those women who do not already know: “Don’t think that in a man’s mind/heart a woman is like a man.” You can try. But you are just not. I have asked women, “do you want to change place with a man?” So far the answer is often a strange look meaning,”What, are you nuts?” or a laugh and a definite “NO! No Way!” So I have concluded that women are really smart. We know our secret God-given gifts and advantages which men do not have. On the other hand, man, you too have your God-given gifts and advantages that women do not have. You just have to find out what your special gifts are.
Read King Solomon’s description of his capable mom: Proverbs 31:10-31, a capable and loyal wife, wise and good mother, successful and wealthy business woman who is fair to her workers and kind to the poor. Above all, her King son summed her up as “a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” 21 Bible verses were dedicated to record this wonder woman. What an honor!
An Evanescent rose. I took this picture in late November 2015 at Santa Cruz, CA. I have a soft spot for roses. Is it because of their beauty despite the thorns? Or should I rephrase my question to, is it because of their beauty in having the thorns? I believe there are two perspectives. One can view the thorns as encumbrances. Another may view the thorns as added advantages. I like to think that the thorns of a rose demonstrate the strength of an otherwise seemingly fragile looking flower. I do not like to liken a rose to a woman or vice versa. But if anyone ever thinks of a woman as a rose, please also think of the thorns, that is, the inherent strength of a woman. No, women are not the weaker ones.
And He said to her, Daughter, your faith (your confidence and trust in Me) has made you well! Go (enter) into peace (untroubled, undisturbed well-being).
Some women are very angry. They decide to take matters into their own hands and walk down the street to make their voices heard. I know how it hurts or infuriates oneself when one feels that others are not listening, or worse, perhaps mocking or scoffing in their hearts. It hurts to be considered and treated as a second best or third best or not even a human who matters (in some societies). Gender, age, color, race, looks, nationality. All these matter to the physical world. Discrimination means her physical rights and entitlement are taken away from her because of her age, gender, looks, race, color or nationality (even if she has the right color, race, or looks). Indeed, in the fallen world, all men are not born equal. This is not a new issue. Some women may not know this, gender men are not born equal too. Have things improved since the beginning of mankind? Which is preferred: honesty or hypocrisy? You want an honest opinion and attitude from the heart or you just make do with the superficial legal mandatory physical (material) recognition from fellow citizens in the society? For practical living, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, both are essential.
Do women need to fight for their rights? Can our words and actions change others’ ways of thinking and the generic hearts of mankind? This is the current topic of debate since woman suffrage movement which actually began in 1848, when the first women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York, USA. The outstanding (unfinished) issue (in USA) is 169 years old. In this blog dedicated to women I have previously put together many Biblical examples of women in the Bible and how God (the Holy Spirit) viewed them and spoke positively of them and their lives. There are many evidences to show that God has never discriminated against women. The discriminations that some women have encountered past and present in some societies or people groups individually and/or as a group are not from God. Just as the many disasters and bad happenings in this fallen world are not from God but from irresponsible and selfish mankind, bad things that have happened or are still happening to women are from selfish man (mankind) and not God.
We know from history that human laws can be enacted in civil societies. But people’s hearts and attitudes do not simply change. Mind-set only changes through life transforming encounters in one’s own life. Physical changes are possible but not the heart matters. I learned superficially since young the differences between man and woman, for example, what to do or not to do, where to go or not to go, mainly based on physical abilities and social acceptability and responsibility. I also noted that in cases when the man of the family was unable to carry out his assigned responsibility as the head/bread-earner of the family, the woman stepped in effectively and assumed the responsibility without much debate. It was natural and automatic. She would go out and get a job and supported her children (and husband) when needed. Many women changed their dominant role as housewife to that of a business entrepreneur or corporate executive. Some excelled and became highly respected authoritative professionals in specialized fields traditionally dominated by men, just as some men excelled in fields traditionally dominated by women. Changes through interchanges of physical tasks are not difficult.
The increasing progresses in opening of the education and employment venues to women have contributed to further economic and social advances and material wellbeing of women. On the other hand, there are many records of materially successful self-made women, without the aforementioned institutionalized advantages or privileges. How can this be? This is not new. The Bible recorded many successful godly women in different influential fields: political, military, economic, social and even religious (by being prophets)!
On the other hand, we all know that mankind’s nature has not changed since the existence of history. We can only carry what we are able to carry in true integrity, at the level which each of us is assigned according to the ability each has. Some human has more endowments in certain areas and resources. Some have less. Some resources are gender-related but not all are.
Coming back to how to make people change their mind (attitude and intrinsic value system) about looking down on women or a human because of his or color or race or nationality, I have no answer. I would say that though gender (and many other discriminative) issues seemed important to me once, I do not now consider it a matter that warrants dispute. For example, if you think that being a white woman and treated as a second class citizen in your white country is unfair, try being born as a person without a definite clear gender or being born of a color and race of a country which the world’s popular mass media (which have and still are shaping world view of the world’s population) have traditionally looked down upon. Try being one of those stereotyped caricatured oriental characters in your movies. Indeed, the white culture has been popularized and upheld by many in the global entertainment and game industries which no longer have any boundaries.
My answer to the unfairness of this world is to have an esteem which the world cannot touch. I know my God is real. I have encountered Him. I submit to His words. I also know from my experience that man’s words cannot really change people. The real transformation can only take place just as the very learned and intelligent man, the Apostle Paul, said, “by the renewal of our mind.” The transformation of our mind is the key to knowing God. God has said that we can be joined to Him and one spirit with Him! (1 Corinthians 6:17) In our spirit we can access the real answers to our many questions the world cannot answer. I cannot explain to you how my own mind had been changed. I can only witness to you that you will agree and say Amen when yours too are changed by the renewal of God’s words (with His Spirit). I also urge you to seek to know God now so you know His purpose for you on earth. Life is set in time. Believe me, time does not wait for a person no matter how busy or important you may consider the other matters you are pursuing are.
James 1:20, says that the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. Regardless of how appropriate our anger may seem, and regardless of how we think our wrath could make a person or situation change, we will never achieve God’s best that way.
Paul actually said this two thousand years ago, Romans 12:1-2 Amplified Bible (AMP)
12 [a]Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
Footnotes:
Romans 12:1 Paul now begins outlining for the believer the practical application of the theological truths taught in chs 1-11.
Romans 12:1 Lit brethren.
Romans 12:2 From the Greek word meaning “metamorphosis.” Refers to the process that leads to an outward, permanent change.
This young woman encountered the worst tragedies anyone could think of: a sudden death of her husband -the sole bread earner of the family, and he left behind two young sons and a huge debt. In those days a married woman was considered a mere property of the husband. Her social status came from being a man’s wife. The loss of her husband without any tangible inherited asset meant a total loss of status in the community and an overwhelming financial crisis. We had no knowledge whether she was trained for any commercial skills. If she had any, she would have proceeded to get an employment or make some income. But this woman had no economic solution on her own. Whatever she had in her house were used up to pay the creditor. The lender had the right to repossess everything and even take her children as payment. The creditor was coming to take her two young sons into slavery.
Do gender, race and religion matter in voting? if not, then what really matters? Be open and watch.
Why are some women fearless? Who are those women? Why should women be fearless? Mary, the Mother of Jesus on earth is one of them. It is not easy to write afresh about Mary. What revelation is there other than the obvious which every church has taught? The Scripture will show us.
An 
KJV
Some women are very angry. They decide to take matters into their own hands and walk down the street to make their voices heard. I know how it hurts or infuriates oneself when one feels that others are not listening, or worse, perhaps mocking or scoffing in their hearts. It hurts to be considered and treated as a second best or third best or not even a human who matters (in some societies). Gender, age, color, race, looks, nationality. All these matter to the physical world. Discrimination means her physical rights and entitlement are taken away from her because of her age, gender, looks, race, color or nationality (even if she has the right color, race, or looks). Indeed, in the fallen world, all men are not born equal. This is not a new issue. Some women may not know this, gender men are not born equal too. Have things improved since the beginning of mankind? Which is preferred: honesty or hypocrisy? You want an honest opinion and attitude from the heart or you just make do with the superficial legal mandatory physical (material) recognition from fellow citizens in the society? For practical living, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, both are essential.
Women in their best 