"I'm so excited and can't wait to share the Gospel! It's so much fun!" said no true, nor sane Christian ever. Yet, sadly, many Christians, like those of the world, say this about marriage—that they can't wait to be married because it's going to be so much fun! Not that it isn't fun, but that's not the focus and should never be the foundation of a Christian marriage.

Marriage is the only earthly relationship God uses as a paradigm of the Gospel. And therefore, as God's holy and dearly loved children, we shouldn't enter into marriage like those of this world: with self-focus and selfish affections. But we should enter into marriage like Christ: with self-denial and selfless service, first to our King, and then to our spouse.

Anyone who is intimately acquainted with the Gospel of God's grace—granted through God's gift of repentance and saving faith in Jesus Christ, echoes what the Apostle Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthian believers, "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:1-5, ESV)

Husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loves His Bride—sacrificially and faithfully washing her with the Word of God, to present her holy and without blemish before the Father (Eph 5:25-27).  But a husband can only sacrificially love His wife as Christ, if he first loves his own body (Eph 5:29) by nourishing his spirit with the Word of God so that he might turn to his wife, and nourish her with God's Word (admonish where she is idle, encourage where she is fainthearted, help where she is weak, and be patient with her always;1 Thess 5:14). And this is the greatest most noble sacrifice a husband can make for his wife: To daily die to any self-indulgence in order to daily practice the discipline of feeding his own soul with God's Word, so that he might lovingly and rightly sanctify his wife with the same Word God used to sanctify his soul. The fleshly and temporal "sacrifices" a husband makes for his wife (e.g., granting her preferences) are nothing compared to the eternal sacrifice he is commanded by God to offer her, just as Christ Jesus offered to die to His temporal fleshly desires so that He might give His Bride eternal treasures. If a husband keeps first things first (things eternal); granting her non-sinful, temporal preferences will be the fruit of that work.

Wives are commanded to submit to their husbands in everything as they ought to submit to the Lord Jesus in everything—with joy and reverence. And as much as I'd like there to be an "if" between verses 24 and 25, there isn't sisters. I've searched and studied, and it's not there. Yes, I admit, it's far easier to submit in everything, to a husband who's loving you as Christ loves His Bride. But just as God didn't command husbands to seek a life or marriage of ease, He didn't command wives to seek these either. No, God commanded both husbands and wives to seek to live and love one another sacrificially (both in times of ease and in times of great pain), to demonstrate our immense love and gratitude to God for giving us His one and only Son.

Does loving his wife as Christ loves His Bride guarantee a husband that his wife will happily follow his lead and joyfully love and serve him as his God-given, suitable help-meet? Ideally, yes. In reality, no. Does a wife's submission to her husband in everything, as unto the Lord Jesus guarantee that her husband will appreciate her and lead her well? Ideally, yes. In reality, no. A self-seeking and contentious man or woman, will remain a self-seeking and contentious man or woman until the LORD (who alone transforms hearts and renews minds) deals with his/her sin by His awesome acts of righteousness (Ps 65:4-5).

So, if there's no guarantee of a happy marriage, why obey God's command? We obey this command for the same reason why we obey every command of God—because we delight in His Word and His precepts cause our hearts to rejoice (Ps 19:7-10). We obey not simply because we owe God everything, but also because we love and fear Him for all that He's given us in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Therefore, though God does not guarantee a happy marriage for the obedient spouse, he/she will be happy in their pursuit of holiness, while the disobedient spouse will only find misery in their pursuit of self-importance.

Our obedience to God should never be about the results; what we can get out of it. But our obedience ought always be in response to God's love toward us in Christ, rather than our reaction to what others have or haven't done to us.

The people who are, and will enjoy marriage most, are those who are most submitted to Christ and seek the discipline of their loving Father. The happiest person is the one who avails every resource (God's Word, soundly doctrinal and wiser Christians and sermons, books, articles, etc.) that God provides them.

The people who are, and will find the most misery in marriage, are those who are least submitted to Christ and ignore or run from God's loving discipline. The most fearful and fretful person, is the one who scoffs (actively or passively) every resource (God's Word, soundly doctrinal and wiser Christians and sermons, books, articles, etc.) that God provides them.

If you think you're ready for marriage because you're looking forward to daily living with your biggest fan...you're not ready. Marriage is for those who are seeking to daily die to self through the discipline from God's Word, and the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Marriage is for those who daily desire to live as Christ's biggest fan.

Only a holy marriage, is a truly happy marriage.

Though God chose all Scripture to be penned by men, He did not decree that all of the wisdom therein, would come only from men. Proverbs 31:10-31 is an acrostic poem based on the Hebrew alphabet; an oracle a mother taught her son. A son, who was a king.

King Lemuel is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, except in the opening of this famous passage of a what a biblically submissive woman truly looks like—in spirit, and in the practical applications of her every day life. Most scholars believe King Lemuel is King Solomon (also called Jedidiah) since the names have similar meanings, and King Solomon wrote most of Proverbs. Lemuel means "devoted, or belonging to God" and Jedidiah (Solomon's other name) means "beloved of the LORD (2 Sam 12:25).

While it is uncertain who King Lemuel was, what is certain is that God chose for this wise counsel from a mother to her son, to be recorded—that men may know what a godly woman looks like, and women may know that her greatest "adorning...[is] the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." (1 Pet 3:4).

I read our sons God's Word, in the womb and out. I did this because I knew giving them the Word of God was the greatest way to love, protect, and provide them with everything they need for this life and the next. As soon as a hint of delight and intrigue sparkled in their eyes for the opposite sex, I began to read and teach them Proverbs 31:10-31, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Timothy 2:9-15, Titus 2:3-5, and the book of Ruth  (to demonstrate what all these Scriptures looked like in the life of a woman whose first and greatest love is Jesus Christ the Lord). I not only read and taught them the Scriptures of what a woman who loves and fears the Lord looks like, but I also imperfectly endeavored to live it before them.

Additionally, I prayed for our sons to be attracted to women who are most attached to the Lord, and to be repulsed by women who are most attached to this world and their sinful desires. I still pray this now. I've developed a habit of praying for their future wives—that God would protect them from the enemy's schemes, keep them pure, and bless them with wisdom from above. I pray that God gives our sons women whom He deems will be suitable help-meets for our boys, so that they may not be hindered, but rather, encouraged to be the men God commands them to be (Ps 1:1-3). I pray for our sons to find and become one with women of noble character, because they are not a dime a dozen, but are rare treasures—far more precious than any jewel found on this earth. And just as priceless jewels must be sought out with great patience, wisdom and diligence, likewise, I pray my sons will diligently seek to find women who fear the Lord and seek to adorn themselves with good works of faith—for the glory of God, for the welfare of her household, and for the good of the church and community in which she joyfully lives and serves.

I've always told my sons that Christ is my First Love, their Daddy is my Second, and they are both securely tied for Third. They didn't like being told this at first, but as they grew older, they learned the value of having a mother whose love and devotion for Christ is preeminent.

Just as a father must teach and demonstrate what kind of man they want their daughters to be attracted to, likewise, a mother must do the same for her sons.

The idiom, "dime a dozen" is reported to have originated from the 1800s when certain foods like eggs, fruits, etc. were sold for a dime a dozen. It soon became well-known that if you could purchase something for a dime a dozen, it was a very ordinary, common, and ubiquitous item. And therefore, this idiom is still used today with the same purpose and meaning: to describe something that is common and easy to find.

Physically attractive girls are a dime a dozen. Whether you turn on the TV, go to a movie, look at magazines, books, billboards, or walk about any public area, you will find attractive women galore. Women with beautiful eyes, beautiful hair, beautiful figures, etc. Women who are fashionable and avant-garde (unorthodox or daring; radical). These kinds of women are truly a dime a dozen. Though these women's lives are valuable in God's sight and ours, they are common and easy to find because they make themselves common and easy to find by exposing what ought not be exposed and delight in catching the eye of any man...single or married.

But the godly woman is not so easy to find because she doesn't expose herself. She's not wearing skin-tight clothing, detailing every curve of her body. She's not in stiletto heals or short skirts, dresses or shorts in order to bring attention to her legs. She's not wearing gobs of makeup and fake additions to accentuate features she doesn't have (long eyelashes, voluptuous lips, etc.). No, a godly woman who loves and fears the Lord will do all these things differently. She will wear makeup in moderation, she might wear mascara, but not falsies; she may wear blush, but not colors that scream "Hey, look at me! I'm blush!" A godly woman may wear jewelry, but she will not wear something that others will want to steal from her. And she will not wear jewelry that cost her so much, she has nothing to give to the poor and needy.

A godly woman dresses modestly, rather than drably (there is a difference). A woman who fears the Lord dresses outwardly to display what God has done, and is doing, inwardly. Having been saved by God's grace through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, women who love the Lord outwardly adorn themselves in a way that befits a princess of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Her outward beauty is simple, so that her greater beauty, the Spirit of Christ within her, can effortlessly shine (2 Cor 4:5-6)!

Because a woman who loves and fears the LORD knows the greatest treasure is within her (the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ), her greatest desire is for this treasure (not herself) to be made known for all the world to see—that all may fear and put their trust in the LORD (Ps 40:3)

So what has been and still is my counsel to my sons until the day the Lord brings them godly women to become one with? It is this: attractive girls are a dime a dozen, but a godly woman is a rare treasure. Like a rare jewel, a woman who loves and fears the Lord is difficult to find, but she is of more value than women who love and fear this world.

Therefore sons, with much prayer, great patience, wisdom, and diligence, seek for yourselves women whose lives (not mere words) radiate these Scriptures, "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain, She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life." (Prov 31:10-12), "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates." (Prov 31:30-31), "likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works." (1 Tim 2:9-10).

What are some practical attributes of a woman who adorns herself with good works? She is a humble and faithful student of the Word, a joyful servant of all, a sacrificial giver, she seeks to love others well rather than seeking to be well-loved by others, she's a good listener, a wise counselor (because her counsel will be from God's Word)—these are just a few visible traits of what a godly woman adorns herself with.

And finally sons, if you will not ready yourselves and take seriously what God calls men to be, then be assured, you are not ready to be married to a godly woman...or any woman for that matter. Therefore, pray that God will make you an Ephesians 5:25-33 and 1 Peter 3:7 man, so that He will bring you a Proverbs 31 woman, whose joy and delight will be to love you and your children well, because she loves the Lord Jesus most.

"House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD."

-Proverbs 19:14

On Friday, June 26, 2015 five of the nine justices of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) vied themselves against the Supreme God of all creation with their calamitous decision to redefine a God-ordained institution—marriage—the union of one man and one woman—two becoming one flesh, by the declaration of God Almighty.

The liberty that was fought for by valiant men and women, and once mandated by the Constitution of the United States; for each state to have the right to legislate their own laws in these matters, through their elected officials—by the people, for the people, has now be relegated by five unelected officials whose arrogance has reached the highest heavens.  Due to the supreme foolishness of these Supreme Court justices (Sotomayer, Kagan, Ginsburg, Bryer and Kennedy) same-sexed marriages have now been legalized in all 50 states of my country; the country which I love.

There have been many news articles and blog posts about this sad day in American history. And I don’t desire to be another clamoring voice, spewing the same news. My desire is to do what God has given me to do in every aspect of my life; to speak the Gospel truth to a dying and depraved world that is passing away along with its desires, and to encourage the saints in Christ to not lose heart because all who do the will of God will abide forever (1 Jn 2:17).

Do not hate and damn our country, but love and pray for it (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

Just like the great prophets of old (Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc.) loved and prayed for God’s mercy upon the country He sovereignly put them in for His purpose, I too love and pray for my country because my Father God whom I love most, put me here to be a beacon of His hope, love, joy and peace found only in Jesus Christ His Son. So when I see our country being drowned in the cesspools of sexual immorality and pragmatism, my heart is deeply grieved and my knees are bent in prayer. I pray for the five justices who are under Satan’s yoke to do his will because God has chosen to blind them from the truth. I pray for God to have mercy on them, just as He’s had mercy on me. I pray for the petitioners of this suit, and others who revel in sin, that God would grant them the gift of repentance that leads to saving faith in Jesus Christ His Son—the only Mediator between God and man.

Do not be dismayed, but remain steadfast and immovable in the Lord, His Word, and His precepts (1 Peter 4:12-14).

The recent ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States can’t thwart nor does it remotely hinder the everlasting ruling of the only Supreme and Sovereign—God Almighty. When SCOTUS informed the world of their stupendous decision to test the Great I AM, the LORD was not surprised and He was not dismayed; so neither shall His people be.

Much like the presumptuous kings and rulers who had no fear of God, during the days of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 36:23-32), the “kings” of our day recklessly think that by “burning” (redefining and ignoring) God’s decrees like King Jehoiakim did, they will be able to stop the destruction God mercifully warned would come to pass if they did not repent. And just as King Jehoiakim was suddenly swept away by his willful defiance of God’s admonition, the same will happen to anyone who does the same.

This is a time of great testing for all who profess the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who choose to condone, celebrate or remain silent for fear of retribution will only prove that their profession is dead. Neither listen to nor entertain the words of those who profess Christ, yet join in the revelry of any sin. Rather rebuke and urge them to repent.

I pray that when we come before our Lord Jesus, on the last day, we will not be ashamed, for we will not come to our King  empty-handed, but will come with a harvest of righteousness that was sown in the peace of God (James 3:18). And on that great day, I pray that we would all hear our Lord say, “You have done a beautiful thing to Me.” (Mark 14:6)

May the grace and peace of Christ our Lord be multiplied to your spirits. Stand fast.

Additional resources:

John MacArthur’s Exhortation to Believers

Audacity Movie—Loving Homosexuals God’s Way

SCOTUS Decision on Same-Sex Marriages

"Sunny, why is it wrong for women to assert authority over men and is a woman sinning if she speaks at a women's conference and men show up?"

Desiring to be a good steward of the short time my Lord has appointed me on this earth, it seemed wiser to respond to the vast amount of emails and comments I've received by writing one article rather than trying to answer my readers individually on this particular topic. My prayer is that everyone who's already written as well as those who haven't but are wondering, might together, be encouraged by this article and the resources I'm happy to share.

Before I answer the above question, I want to clearly state that I am a complimentarian (theological view that men and women are equal in value before the sight of God and man, with differing roles within the home and church) and not an egalitarian (theological view that men and women have equal roles, i.e., ordain female pastors, elders, etc.).

"Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor."

~1 Timothy 2:11-14 (ESV)

God is a God of peace and order, not of chaos and confusion (1 Cor 14:33, 40). God has established every rule and authority that is in Heaven and on earth.

All that God created is good and beautiful, and though we live in a fallen world filled with sin, as God's beloved children, we are given a glorious gift in Christ: the ability to live as God wills and not as the depraved and our sinful flesh wills.

God established peaceful and orderly rule for the:

We see from the above Scripture references that the LORD established an order of authority even within Himself, the Godhead: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Though God is one God, revealed in three Persons and have the exact same nature, they have different roles. The Father commands and sends the Son, the Son obeys the Father and sends the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit indwells believers, testifying to God—who is truth.

Therefore, if God has peace and order within Himself, why would He create anything without peace and order?

In 1 Timothy 2:11-14, I find it intriguing that God took the submission of women to male leadership all the way back to Genesis when Adam didn't lead Eve and allowed her to usurp his authority (and therefore, God's authority); bringing sin into the world. The woman, not the man, was recorded by God, as the first sinner. I find this intriguing because of the severity in which God compares a woman's refusal to submit under male authority within the church and her home, to the very first act of sin. Seeing the danger in usurping male leadership as God views it, every Christian woman should tremble as I do.

By God's wise and good design, He first created a man, but incomplete without a counterpart (so that he may not take pride thinking he is sufficient in himself). Then after the man Adam realized he was alone and was in need of a help-meet, the LORD created Eve from the man's rib so that she might always be by his side (like the rib, both delicate and strong; protecting man's heart and breath), doing him good and not harm all the days of her life (Prov 31:11-12).

Therefore, for a woman to speak at a woman's conference where men happen to show up is not a sin. For how can a woman be at fault before God or man for what man chooses to do from his own conscience? But if a woman accepts a speaking engagement before a mixed gender audience where she will be teaching from the Word of God, then by God's command and established order, she is in sin, for she is practicing authority over men.

Some people have argued, "But what if the men of the church give women permission to teach men and women?" To them I say, who is man, any man that he should have the audacity to disobey God's Word and reestablish peace and order according to himself? We must remember Paul's epistle to Timothy was written to a man, commanding men not to give authority to women over men. Therefore, any man who presumptuously gives women authority to teach men, is in sin. And any woman who obeys a man who allows them to sin (by teaching men) also sins...but she doesn't have to. Here, a woman is given the freedom in Christ to appropriate her God-given wisdom to say "No" to any man who tempts her to usurp God's ordained order for the church and her home.

"but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious...as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening."

~1 Peter 3:4, 6 (ESV)

When women choose to assert authority over men, they miss out on the beautiful protection from God and the lovely gift they can offer their husbands (or other male authority). Biblical submission is truly a gift from the Almighty for His precious creation—women. Let us not disdain it, but let us receive this gift from our Lord; desiring to be called daughters of Sarah who live by faith to please God, rather than live as daughters of Eve who first sinned against God.

Additional resources on biblical womanhood:

My Second Love: Biblical Submission and The Proverbs 31 Woman
Order In Creation - Ligonier Ministries Devotional
An Excellent Wife - Sermon by John MacArthur
The Role of Women in the Church, Part 1 - Sermon by Alistair Begg
The Role of Women in the Church, Part 2 - Sermon by Alistair Begg

God has been better to me than I deserve. Especially since all I deserve (that is, my sins have earned me) is Hell and His full wrath (Rom 3:23, 5:9). But because God is love and He is perfect, pure, holy, righteous and compassionate, full of mercy and grace (Ps 103:8-14), He chose to save me 41 years ago. Then the Lord saw fit to bless me with a husband 22 years ago, who loves Christ more than me (Col 1:18). Can a girl ask for more?

I'm so very grateful to be my husband's forever second love. I pray the Lord will make me the kind of help-meet that will highlight his strengths, be a balm for his pains and a loving and understanding covering for his weaknesses (Prov 10:12, 31:11-12; 1 Pet 4:8).

Marriage is the most important earthly relationship in the sight of God the Father; for He uses it as an earthly paradigm of His Son's relationship with His Bride, the Church (Eph 5:25-27).Therefore marriage ought never be considered, entered into or maintained with ephemeral affections or self-centered notions.

Because marriage is a holy covenant given by God to a man and a woman, anyone desiring to enter into this covenant ought to fervently pray, pursue wise and biblical counsel and continually search the Scriptures to ensure all things are done in a fitting and pleasing manner before the Lord.

It is sinful for professing Christians to enter into holy matrimony with the same worldly, self-absorbed he/she makes me feel good and fulfills all my desires, hopes and dreams (James 4:4, 17). Men ought to seek out women who pursue Christ as it is written in Proverbs 31:10-31; Ephesians 5:22-24; Colossians 3:18, 23-24 and 1 Peter 3:1-6―for starters. Just the same, women ought to seek men who pursue Christ as it is written in Psalm 1:1-3; Proverbs 2:1-22, 3:5-12; Ephesians 5:25-30 and 1 Peter 3:7.

Will any man or woman live out these Scriptures perfectly? No. And that's not the point. The point is that every professing believer ought to pursue the things of God without constant external prodding. This is the evidence that God's Holy Spirit does in fact, dwell in you.

There are no perfect Christians, only a perfect Christ who's Spirit wills and works all things for God's glory (Rom 8:28-30, Eph 2:10).

We have been bought with a very high price―the precious and pure blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Our lives, our bodies and all we have rightly belong to the Lord. Therefore it is our extreme privilege and highest honor to live for the holy calling and pleasure of God, rather than live for the depraved desires of the flesh.

I don't know where you are in your  marriage today or more importantly, where you are in your relationship with Christ, the only Savior. But I would like to encourage you to press on toward the upward call of God in Jesus Christ, to abide in His love, seek Him and His kingdom first, keep or make your affections for the Lord preeminent above all, love your spouse second best, children tied for third and serve everyone as unto the Lord.

Live coram Deo.

Since yesterday, March 24, 2014 there's been much media buzz about World Vision and their "new" state of apostasy. World Vision announced they will now employ and provide marital benefits for those involved in same sex marriages. I put the word new in quotes because World Vision's apostasy isn't new. Their departure from Christ's vision to come to earth in order to seek and save the lost was abandoned a couple of years ago, at least from what I could find in my research. If you have other information, I welcome correction.

As of January 2012, World Vision has partnered with the well-known and popular heretic, Joel Osteen. You can read an article about it here: Federal Way Mirror Pastors Share Stage With Joel Osteen and/or watch a YouTube video here: Joel Osteen and World Vision Partnership.

Anyone who understands the true Gospel of Jesus Christ realizes that Joel Osteen is nothing but a big bad wolf in flamboyant sheep's clothing. Osteen has confessed multiple times that though he personally believes Christ is the only way to Heaven, he doesn't believe Christ is the only way to Heaven for everyone. Yes, Mr. Osteen says that Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, etc. can go to Heaven if they sincerely believe in a god; any god, that is, of their own choosing. But don't take my word for it. Watch and listen to this charlatan during an interview with Larry King: Joel Osteen Denies Exclusivity of Christ for Salvation.

In November 2013, World Vision stepped further down the road of apostasy by partnering with New Agers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. World Vision is one of the sponsors of "The Bible | Son of God Tour 2014" (based on their production of the heretical and blasphemous NOT "The Bible" miniseries) and subsequent big screen blasphemy with their "Son of God" movie that intoxicated viewers with a fake jesus who deluged them with a false gospel.

(I'll share more on this ostentatious "bible" tour in another article. The focus of this piece is on World Vision's worldly vision.)

This brings us to yesterday, where World Vision didn't just take another step towards apostasy, but is now fully immersed in the cesspool of heterodoxy.

According to Christianity Today, World Vision's U.S. president Richard Stearns described this policy change as one that's "symbolic not of compromise but of [Christian] unity." In this same article, Stearns further expresses, "We're not caving to some kind of pressure. We're not on some slippery slope. There is no lawsuit threatening us. There is no employee group lobbying us. This is not us compromising. It is us deferring to the authority of churches and denominations on theological issues. We're an operational arm of the global church, we're not a theological arm of the church."

I completely disagree with Stearns first statement, but partially agree with his last. World Vision is not a church, but they are supposed to be a Christian organization, run by Christians and founded on biblical principles. Which means they have no excuse before God Almighty for their clear choice to disobey His commands which are not difficult to understand nor obey since He put the Spirit of Christ in us (1 Jn 5:3-5).

Though this is disturbing news, as many Christians have already shared, it shouldn't be shocking or even surprising news. As a matter of fact, one might even say, it's welcomed news. And that "one" would be me. Sound crazy? Well, I might be, but it won't be the first time someone told me my thinking was a bit off kilter. And frankly, I'm okay with that. As long as my line of thinking is in accord with Scripture, I'm not really concerned about how alien my thought processes might be to the world (Rom 12:2, 1 Cor 2:14).

I'm not shocked, disturbed or even a bit surprised by this news because these happenings have already been recorded in a mighty, holy and infallible book—the Bible.

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance  of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at the knowledge of truth."

~2 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV)

If the evidence of nation rising against nation, the increase of natural disasters, pestilence, the influx of deadly diseases and the ever-increasing moral decay of our world hasn't alerted you that we're most certainly in the last days, then let the continual news about professing Christians and Christian organizations falling away from the faith convince you...just as it has been written.

"And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come... For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

"The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

~Matthew 24:10-14, 24;

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (ESV)

Being in the last days is not bad news. On the contrary, it's good news for all who long for the Day of Christ. But we musn't be selfish and rejoice only for ourselves within the safety of our Christian bubbles. No, the joy of seeing our Lord Jesus face to face ought to compel us all the more to be sober-minded and alert about the the lost and dying world we live in.

As holy and dearly loved children of the Most High God, we ought to daily put on the full armor of God, desire the necessary pains of sanctification and have compassion for those who don't believe, as well as for those who profess they believe, but their acts prove their hearts are far from Him (Is 29:13).

Pray for opportunities and share the Gospel while we still have time (Is 55:6-7). Don't know how to share the Gospel biblically and effectively? No problem, just visit my friends at Living Waters where you'll find a host of resources and practical, everyday ways to share the Gospel.

Rather than allow this news of World Vision's apostasy cause you to become angry or discouraged, use this news as a catalyst for you to be a student of the Word and a laborer in the field, so that on the Day of Christ you'll have no reason to be ashamed when you appear before His judgment seat (2 Cor 5:9-10).

"as it is my full expectation that I will not be ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

"And now, little children, abide in Him [Christ], so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming."

~Philippians 1:20, 1 John 2:28 (ESV)

prodigal (ˈprä-di-gəl) adj 1: exceedingly or recklessly wasteful.

Before I share where our youngest son, our prodigal is today, I want you to join me as I remember where we've been; soberly view where we are now; and with great hope, share where we're headed.

From the day we found out God blessed us with each son; beautiful gifts of life growing inside of me, we sang songs of worship and read Scriptures to our boys so their lives (as much as it was up to us) would be saturated with God's grace, peace and love.

Every moment was beautiful, even the hard moments when we nearly lost both of them. Our oldest son was born with a rare condition called pyloric stenosis. If this developed, it usually happened two months after birth, but Michael was born with it; so by the time he was only two weeks old, he required emergency surgery so he wouldn't die from starvation. He's now a very healthy and robust 21 year old young man and we are grateful to the Lord!

At two months of age, it was discovered that our youngest son had a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that would open during digestion; causing excessive vomiting. Pyloric spasms aggravated the issue and intensified the vomiting (about 180 times during the daytime hours and 198 times during the nighttime hours). Surgery was highly recommended, but it was a surgery that would adversely affect the rest of his life. So after much prayer, Jim and I consulted with our wonderful pediatrician God blessed us with, who agreed there were home remedies (along with strong prescription medications necessary to strengthen Kevin's LES) we could implement.

It was a tough three years, but we got through what we thought and hoped would be the worst years of his life. But one night, while Jim and I were out celebrating our ninth wedding anniversary (a week after Kevin's sixth birthday) we were called by paramedics who informed us that our precious son was hit by a car. We met them at the hospital and later discovered he had a two inch break in his skull and needed to be taken to Children's Medical Center to be seen by pediatric neurosurgeons.

Due to his difficult infant years and near fatal car accident, I was compelled to be more careful with Kevin and keenly sensitive to him being injured in any way. I didn't want anyone to hurt him physically, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. I felt he had enough pain and I just wanted him to enjoy the life God gave him. But I think I wanted this too much at times. So much so, I let things go with him, things I never allowed Michael to be excused from. I may have been too lenient with Kevin. I don't know.


Then my husband reminded me of God's Word in Exodus 32:30-35, 33:19, Jeremiah 17:9-10 and Psalm 115:3. He rightly encouraged me to remember who God is—sovereign, good and loving. And he exhorted me to trust the Lord with my son, all that's happened in the past, all that's happening now and all that will happen in the future. He reminded me that Kevin is responsible for his own choices...not us. He also reminded me that though he and I we didn't grow up in Christian homes (as I shared in my previous article) by God's grace, we were able to make wise choices.

"Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple...I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

~Psalm 119:129-130, 121:1-2

God never promised we wouldn't suffer in this world. As a matter of fact, Jesus said just the opposite in John 16:33. But the promise is that He has overcome the deadly sting of all our pains; therefore in Him, we too have overcome them and can suffer them well (2 Cor 4:16-18).

So how can I suffer well with my prodigal son, my precious babe from my womb whom I love more than my own life and would give it in an instant if it would solve all his problems?

I can suffer well with my son by:

• Keeping my marriage covenant rather than allowing this adversity to divide me and my husband with the blame game, or silently suffering alone (which, being an introvert, I'm very inclined to do).
• Listening to my husband's wise counsel rather than shrug it off as just some "nice" things he's saying to cheer me up and help me "move on".
• Still loving him God's way, found in God's Word, rather than compromising and loving him as the world and he would like me to, that is, to condone everything he says or does for the sake of false peace.
• Remaining steadfast in God's Word so if he returns, I can hold him up, if he can't stand.
• Praying for him and not against him.
• Being true to who I am in Christ, weeping when necessary, rejoicing as it comes and never putting on a show just so others will think well of me.
• Reminding him he is loved and always welcome home...with any means God's provides...perhaps even with this article.

When Kevin was seriously injured after his car accident, my husband was hurriedly driving and said, "I'll drive, while you pray." I was in shock and my mind was blank after getting off the phone with the paramedics so I didn't know what to pray. Then I recalled God's Word in Romans 8:26 and I thanked Him for His Spirit's intercession on our son's behalf. Immediately after I gave thanks, the Lord reminded me of a passage I read almost exactly two years prior to this incident: Psalm 126:5-6. And this is the prayer that gave me hope then, and even now as I strive to suffer well with my precious prodigal son.

"Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing sheaves with him."

~Psalm 126:5-6

I pray my precious son Kevin will be included in the sheaves I get to bring with me when Christ returns or calls me Home.

If you're reading this son, the door is open.

...she keeps her heart "clean" for Christ so that what flows out of her mouth is most pleasing to the Lord (Matt 15:18-20; Ps 19:14, Eph 4:29-32).

"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue...God shows no partiality..If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors...So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." ~Proverbs 31:26; Romans 2:11; James 2:8-9, 4:17

We women "open our mouths" not just with our physical mouths, but also with our pens and keyboards. And too often, we "show partiality" as we ought not. We pay attention only to those we think "love" us just because they serve us and make us feel good. We don't tend to care very much if what others say are from God's Word (Ps 19:7), His wisdom (James 3:17) or that the teaching of God's kindness is on our tongues (1 John 3:18). Too often, we only keep close company with those whose words soothe our flesh and boosts our already overweening egos (2 Tim 4:3-4).

So what's a girl to do? Cry out to Jesus for help!

Below are some of the questions I ask myself to test my own heart:

Often, our husbands are the ones whom God uses to do all these things. And deep down, we all know it, so what do we do? We hide things from them so they can't lead, rebuke, hold us accountable and "sharpen" us. Instead of biblically submitting under our husband's God-given headship, and openly and honestly seek their wise counsel ¹; we gossip and chatter with girlfriends who'll do nothing but feed and nurture our Eve-complex rather than encourage us to live as daughters of Sarah (1 Peter 3:6).

Since I'm guilty of having done these things (because who doesn't like to have their ego stroked?), to keep me from continuing in this sin, I tell my darling husband everything regarding my relationships with: our sons, friends, co-workers and anybody I come in contact with and especially how I'm doing with my relationship with the Lord.

For example, if someone sends me something in writing, I ask my husband to read it for himself, rather than me telling him what someone wrote or said because honestly, I'm aware that my reading may include negative voice inflections, or that my retelling may not be completely accurate and possibly skewed by how I happened to be feeling at the moment. In order to get the true, untainted, godly counsel from my husband, I confess I'm struggling with something and I'm not sure if it's me or "them" and I need his wise counsel. Then I present him with whatever is necessary for him to lead me in the Way. ²

Now that I've openly shared the depths of my heart with you, it's your turn. Ask yourselves the same questions (above) that I ask myself.

God says true friends will love us enough to give us His truth fully aware that we may lash back in anger or give them the silent treatment. Those who truly love you will always sacrifice themselves and subject themselves to your abuse—all for your eternal good. Remember that, and take time today to thank your husband (if you're married) or your friends who express God's love to you. If you've returned their kindness with unkindness, be a big girl...confess your sins and ask them for forgiveness.

 ¹ Note: None of our husbands are perfect and give wise counsel all the time. Only Christ the Lord is perfect and is able to do that. However, God commanded and has provided protection and blessing (1 Pet 3:1-2, 4. 6) for all His girls who choose to be strong and courageous enough to submit to their husbands in everything as unto the Lord (Eph 5:24).

 ² Caution: If you are married, do not engage in deep spiritual or emotional conversations with any man but your husband (whether a pastor, family member, childhood friend, co-worker, etc.). Doing this will damage the sacred intimacy God has granted only between a husband and his wife. No matter how hard you try, you will disobey God by disrespecting your husband (Eph 5:33).

(article also published at My Second Love and The Christian Post)

Biblical submission is:

A beautiful gift for your husband and a precious offering to God.

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This is not a feel good study, but it is full of practical applications and exhortations to do good (Heb 10:24, James 2:18, 26).

"A major distinction exists between the ancient marble-crafters and the God of eternity, however. They worked with lifeless stone, and what emerged was the product of their own skill and choice...Becoming like Jesus Christ must be at the center of our understanding of what it means to be a child of God on this side of eternity. And like the artisans of old, God's methods necessitate pain, the removal of what we might rely upon, and great amounts of time and patience....There's much within each of us that would implore the Master to quit the work, to let us be content as an unfinished piece. We are frail people living in formidable times. Pain, difficulty, suffering, loss, and rejection are regarded as enemies in our postmodern world. But in the hands of a loving Father, afflictions and difficulties are meant to be the agents of glorious change for those who submit to the work of the Master's hand."

~Fran Sciacca

But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our Potter; we are all the work of Your hand.

~ Isaiah 64:8

I love God, this earthly country He's made me a citizen of, and I respect the presidential office and the foundation on which it was established, to: faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

However, I do not respect the manner in which President Obama has neglected this solemn oath, and more over, how he professes Christ Jesus as Lord, yet lives, votes and believes in a way that vehemently opposes  God Almighty's holy and righteous decrees (2 Tim 2:22).

"If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain."

~1 Timothy 6:3-5

I've been praying for our President since he took office five years ago and continue to pray for him, his cabinet, advisers and of course, his precious family. I pray that God will grant all of them the gift of repentance that leads to salvation in Christ, which is far greater than a mere man's profession of faith (Matthew 15:7-9).

True salvation comes from the Lord and not even the President of the United States can claim it for himself just because he's the President. He doesn't have the power or authority to save himself by mere words. Eternal salvation can only be invoked by the power of God and not by a decision, choice, or proclamation of any human being, no matter how passionately or emphatically one might proclaim it.

"For He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy."

~Romans 9:15-16

President Obama joyfully calls good evil and evil good as he continues to rally support for heterosexual immorality which produces unwanted, yet precious babies who are callously murdered by their own mothers; while he honors Planned Parenthood and those like them who prey on the uneducated, weak and often poor of this world, forcing them to make life decisions based on fear and lies as they deliberately try to hide the truth from them (like opposing mandatory sonograms or education about a baby's development from the time of conception).

The President also gives unwavering support and approval of homosexual immorality as he fights for, promises and rejoices over every ungodly victory to inoculate people of all ages...including elementary-aged children, with this grievous sin by telling them that gay, lesbian and transgender lifestyles are good, acceptable and "normal", when God Himself says this is perverse.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth...For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."

~Romans 1:18, 26-32

Furthermore, the President has encouraged the idle, pride-filled, and entitled people who expect demand that others study and work hard, so the sluggards of this world never have to do anything more than occupy a street and/or look for the next handout rather than a hand-up. Enabling bright and competent people to remain utterly dependent on others is not showing them honor or love, it's actually a demonstration of hate, as they are kept trapped in their dire situations (Prov 19:15, 2 Peter 2:1-2).

Though the President has never purported to be a teacher of the Word of God, he does often quote Scripture out of context and deceives the masses into believing and supporting his well-crafted lies.

President Obama has neither honored the oath he swore when he took office...twice, nor has he honored God through his egregious profession of faith in Christ—the only Son of God Almighty.

Why is this all such a concern for me and why is this on a blog entitled, Abandoned to Christ? Because there are too many professing Christians (and possibly falsely converted) as well as possibly true and well-meaning Christians who have been deceived by our President's claim that he is a member of the Body of Christ, thereby causing division within the Church.

Below is a recent and heartbreaking example of an exchange that happened between me and a Mr. Chuck Powell, who told me he graduated from seminary with a Master of Divinity degree.

Mr. Powell attacked me and Albert Mohler after Dr. Mohler tweeted about the President's statement that same-sex marriages ought to be legal in all the states across our country. I merely responded to Dr. Mohler's tweet (and no, I don't know Dr. Mohler personally and he has no idea who I am), to encourage him and anyone else on the thread, that I would be praying and that we all should.

For five years I've said nothing negative about our President, publicly. But I find that I cannot remain silent any longer while the President of our great nation revels in the murdering of millions of innocent unborn babies; while women are goaded into playing the harlot in the name of "sexual freedom"; while Christian companies (like Hobby Lobby) are being threatened to be fined thousands of dollars if they won't include abortion in their healthcare plan, and while the marriage union that God created is being maligned by those who choose to live a sinful and debased homosexual lifestyle.

I'm writing this to exhort every Christian to faithfully pray for the salvation of our foolish and lost President who's been ensnared by the devil to do his will (2 Tim 2:26).

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."

~1 Timothy 2:1-6

I beseech you saints, to kneel with me in loving intercession for our President and our country's leaders; to bear arms with me by being students of the Word so we may wield it well; to stand up and speak for the innocent babies who are being slaughtered by the thousands daily; to lovingly speak truth to anyone you know who lives in a homosexual or transgender lifestyle so they may be freed from the captivity of their sin with the undiluted Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 1:16-17) and so you might encourage and offer a hand-up to sluggards so they will have something to give others rather than take what is not theirs (Eph 4:28).

As our wise Pastor Chuck Swindoll said to us this Sunday, "One person can't do everything, but each of us can do something", and together, we can be the salt and light Christ commanded us to be as we hold out the word of life to this crooked and twisted generation (Philippians 2:14-17).

Earnestly seek the LORD in all this, and pray fervently about how He desires for you to participate in the battle for good over evil; and read His Word to find your answer...then do it...immediately.

Remember, our full hope, trust and fear is in God Almighty alone, not the President, evil laws or our government. So regardless of what transpires, remember to always honor and obey God in everything and with everything.

"Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of His servant!..I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread."

~Psalm 35:27, 37:25

What's the very first word that comes to mind when asked, "What defines you?"

Husband? Wife? Father? Mother? Son? Daughter? Brother? Sister? Friend? Student? Minister? Volunteer? Sports? Hobbies? Cancer? Or simply...Christ?

If you asked what defined me 24 years ago, I would've said "work". If you asked me again a few years later, I would've said, "mother". If you waited another couple of years and asked me again, I'd say "Bible study teacher". And if for some reason you were still curious and asked me 10 years after that, I would've said "help-meet". If you asked me only five years ago, I'd tell you "diseased".

But if you asked me now, I'd tell you simply..."Christ".

As you can see, my life used to be discombobulated since Christ was not preeminent in my daily living. I neglected God's divine order of things: God first, spouse second, children (equally) third, loving and serving other Christians fourth, extended unbelieving family members fifth, and vocation last.

Don't get me wrong, being a good employee or employer, serving others well, being a student of the Word, being a husband, wife, mother, etc., in themselves are not sinful. But we can make them sinful by giving any of these things the preeminent position that only Christ is due; and God calls this, idolatry (Ex 20:3, Gal 1:10).

Sadly, I'm not the only Christian who's been deceived by what or who defines me. I'm seeing a destructive and heartbreaking trend within the church that affects our homes—too much focus on what we're doing: parenting, ministry, Bible studies, programs, and more; and too little focus remembering Who we're doing it for.

Making anyone or anything our main focus and goal in life is a pernicious activity and leads to:

• Husbands neglecting to love their wives as Christ loved His Bride—the Church by: sacrificing his time and desires so he can study the Word; being equipped to properly teach and lead her in sound doctrine so she's not deceived by her emotions or false teachings. This also enables him to lovingly rebuke her when necessary, for any ungodly behaviors or attitudes she exhibits; all the while, honoring her as the weaker vessel (Eph 5:25-28, 1 Peter 3:7).
• Wives refusing to biblically submit to their husbands in everything by honoring their husbands in private or public, resisting to nag him, and seeing his needs more important than hers with a cheerful, humble, respectful and loving attitude; seeking to do good to him and not harm all the days of his life (Eph 5:22-24, Col 3:18, 1 Peter 3:1-6, Proverbs 31:11-12).
• Both husbands and wives should diligently study the Scriptures, so together, they can effectively disciple their own children rather than expect the ministers at church, homeschool curriculum or co-op to do it. God provided ministers, teachers and other resources to come alongside parents to help us, not replace us. The commandment to train up children in the love and admonition of the Lord was given to parents (Deut 6:5-9; Proverbs 1:8-9, 3:11-12, 13:24, 23:12-14, 29:17).
• Children ignoring God's command by disrespecting and rebelling against parents (1 Sam 15:23a), foolishly and immaturely assuming in their short span of years, they know vastly more than their parents (Proverbs 23:22). Not to say, parents can't learn a thing or two from their children, but humility is fast becoming an endangered quality in young people. No parent is perfect, but to continually play the blame game for malcontent attitudes towards authority doesn't prove you're an adult, it only proves, like a toddler, you're still screaming, "Mine! I do it!" (Deut 12:28, Eph 6:1-3)

You see, when we allow our pride to prevail, our priorities get mixed up. Subsequently, we're led to the deception that what others say about us and/or what we think we've "accomplished" has earned us the right to blessings, honor and praise, rather than giving this due worship to Christ our King; making us idolaters who worship ourselves, our reptuation, our work, or position in life. Conversely, our "failures" don't and shouldn't define us either.

If you're at a place in your life, where you're like me a couple of decades ago or even just a five years ago, I urge you to do what I did; repent, open your Bible, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand all that God is trying to teach you through His Word (1 Cor 2:12-13). Then ask our Father to open the eyes of your heart so you can see every opportunity He's given you each day, to live it (Ex 16:4, 19-20; Eph 2:10).