Christian: Why You May Be Misbehaving

It hit me yesterday: my flesh is acting out because my spirit is starving.
You are what you feed…spiritually speaking.
I’m still a pretty new mom–sixteen months in. Before Arrow was born, I would spend over an hour with God daily; worshipping Him, praying, reading the Word. But after Arrow was born, that all changed. And now that he’s a wild toddler, forget about it. I never get alone-time with God while my son is awake–and that was a problem–a huge problem.
See, we can’t be like Jesus if we’re not spending time with Jesus. Sure, there’s so much God has changed in my life and so many things I’ve overcome and so many ways I’ve grown, but I’m not finished yet. This work of art still has much more work to be done.

Remember the story in the bible when Martha and her sister, Mary were hosting Jesus as their guest? Martha was, “distracted with much serving,” while Mary, “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.”

Martha was focused on getting tasks done for Jesus while Mary was focused on spending time with Him. And when Martha complained about Mary’s lack of help, Jesus said:

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”-‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:41-42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I have been Martha for the past sixteen months: task-focused, serving my family, and hardly spending intimate time with Jesus. And my lack of intimacy with Him was oozing out of me in bad ways.

As of last night I realized that because I’m a mom now, I must be super intentional and strategic with my me-and-Jesus-only time. I also need to be as purposeful with other ways I can get into His presence even in the midst of washing dishes and cleaning up after Arrow.

My son still doesn’t nap much on his own–35 minutes tops and then he wants to sleep for another two hours on me or my husband. This will end before he’s two, but for now, I have to use even this time to focus on God.

I woke up at 5am today and spent time with Jesus. And my goodness, I feel so much more revived and Spirit-filled. My actions and attitudes are also reflecting it. For now, this is what I have to do if I want to function like the child of God I am and spend time with my Beloved. So far, so good.

How about you? How has a different season caused your alone-time with God to change? Are you in a similar boat, and also have to make sacrifices and decisions in order to guard alone-time with Jesus? If you haven’t yet, why not? Life is too short to waste. Get back on track with God today!

Much love, fam!

God’s Will For Women Hasn’t Changed For Us Living In The Millenium

For thousands and thousands of years God’s commands for His daughters have remained the same: help your husband, be submissive to him, love him and your children, and take care of your home. But for the past century—if that— we’ve been steadily redefining a woman’s role in the church and in society. Many professing Christian women cringe at the thought of, “just being a wife and mother,” though many desire to walk in those roles, and others think they want both plus career.

The excuse I often hear is, “Well we live in a different culture and time.” But since when did Yahweh ever tell His people to conform to the culture? Were not His laws to the Jews so utterly counter-cultural and His commands always to be separate from everyone around them?

For we are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty. (‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭16-18‬ HCSB)

I have given them Your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. I am not praying that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, as I am not of the world. (‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭14-16‬)

“If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.” (John‬ ‭15‬:‭18-19‬)

Adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. Or do you think it’s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously? But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! (‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭4-8‬)

Let’s linger on the James passage. Notice how he says submit to God, but resist the devil. The Apostle John affirms:

We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. (‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬)

Catch that? The entire world—that means everyone who is not a Christian—is under Satan’s influence, and we are commanded to resist him. But how many of us daughters of the King are allowing ourselves to be influenced by the feminist movement which is now completely under Satan’s control? It began with Christian women desiring a few rights, but now has branched off to its own secular movement and its ideas are not biblical.

So again I ask, for what, 6000 years or so, through many diverse cultures, God has had the same commands for women, but now suddenly He has a different plan for us living in today’s age? He wants us to be go-getters, climbing career ladders and using birth control instead of getting married and raising children?

How dangerous to say God’s Word was for then but now His ideas have changed with the culture. Did not Christ Himself say:

For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭18-19‬)

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬)

God’s Word is consistent and unchanging. He is not influenced by fads. He has clear plans, purposes and functions for women from the first woman to you and I today.

What are you saying, Natasha? That I should be a home-body until I get a husband?

No. Do the work of the Lord, not the world until God does place you before your future husband. I’m not saying getting a job to help your single mother or struggling parents is satanic. I’m saying seeking to make a name for yourself just because you want to prove you’re independent is. Remember, satan is all about self: self-help, self-esteem, self-success, “controlling one’s destiny,” self, self, self. Christ is all about walking in dependance of the Father, submitting to Him and letting Him lead.

We must examine our hearts. Do we desire what Yahweh has clearly shown He desires, or do we desire what the world tells us we should desire?

If you aren’t a wife yet, don’t worry about it. You’re Christ’s bride; serve Him. If you are married, but struggling with desiring career (not the same as ministry) or feel insignificant being “just a wife and mom,” check your heart. In fact, check God’s heart on His will for wives. Do a study through the bible on wives and see what you find.

May Christ convict and heal anyone reading this right now who needs it.

Praying for you sisters daily,

Natasha

Ms. Career Woman, You Have No Idea What You’re Missing Out On

Where do you find your significance? Where do you find your identity?

Why do you write, why do you sing, why do you act?

Do you want to be noticed? Would you feel more significant if more people acknowledge your existence? Is it a desire, is it a craving, the attention?

As the days go by, this desire within me grows. Not to sing, not to act, not to write, but to be a mother.

For the first two-and-a-half years of my marriage I wanted to be a writer, and a singer. I wanted my books out there. I had a drive though I thought it was fueled by desiring to get the gospel out, and to be used by God. Kingdom builders right?

But now I realize kingdom building isn’t solely reliant on how many books I sell, or concerts and albums I have. It’s when I am personally pouring into someone, a young girl or children, that I am truly being effective and building God’s kingdom. Really, how many books have completely changed your life? Or how many songs? They may speak to you in that moment, or encourage you in that moment, but it’s the Holy Spirit working in your life and through His body that really builds you up. It’s when His people take the time to reach out to you, to listen to you, pray with you, rejoice with you, teach you. It’s when relationships are built, and they can’t be built by reading a book or listening to a song.

I told my husband today, “As the days go by, I keep getting more and more bored with writing.”

I don’t get bored teaching fifth graders the Bible every Wednesday, or my brothers and sisters how to act in order to teach children God’s truths. That never bores me.

I was built to be a mother. I was built to procreate. I was built to teach and to love. I was built for relationships.

That’s what I desire. I’m a daughter of God and like my Creator, I want children. I want to be a mom.