• 04.17.2012 Feminine Appeal {The Rewards of Kindness}
    Feminine Appeal {The Rewards of Kindness}
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    Before I became a wife and mother I would have considered this chapter from Feminine Appeal, by Carolyn Mahaney, the least relevant in my life. Kindness and goodness seemed to bubble up effortlessly as I (foolishly) sought the reward of being needed, appreciated, and liked by all my friends and colleagues. Yet, almost 14 years of marriage, 5 kids, and 10 years of ministry later…I dare say I need this chapter more than ever! Author Jerry Bridges explains that while kindness and goodness can often be used interchangeably, it is helpful to distinguish between these two traits. “Kindness” he says, “is a sincere desire for the happiness of others,” and “goodness is the activity calculated to advance that happiness.” (p. 119) Most of us would characterize our love for our families as truly desiring their happiness; and yet, that is not always what is felt or heard in our tone, our […]

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  • 03.20.2012 Feminine Appeal {The Honor of Working At Home}
    Feminine Appeal {The Honor of Working At Home}
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    I must admit: I’m not a naturally good homemaker. Who really is, anyway? If homemaking is simply shopping for home accoutrements, making pretty pillows (or pinning pretty pillows on Pinterest you intend to make), rearranging furniture, or baking cookies, then yes–I think we all would say we enjoy homemaking. But, if the real work at home involves laundry waiting to be put away, dishes that need handwashing, runaway socks that lurk about, meals that I love to make but hate to clean up after, and the ever elusive phantom dust bunnies that laugh at me from the corners of the house–then, the cultivation of a heart for homemaking is a paradigm shift and not a natural disposition. Working in the home is just that. It’s work. Our culture as seen in television would have us believe that staying at home is either the privilege of frolicking from the gym, to lunch with […]

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  • 02.21.2012 Feminine Appeal {The Pleasure of Purity}
    Feminine Appeal {The Pleasure of Purity}
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    We are in the fifth chapter of Feminine Appeal this month: The Pleasure of Purity. I hope you’ve joined in by reading with us month by month as we study this encouraging book on the seven virtues of a godly wife and mother found in Titus 2. The topic of purity in sexual intimacy can evoke feelings of restraint or that of freedom. Clearly, we live in a culture that regards biblical purity as the former, but we as God’s beloved know better….Or do we?  “Purity’s pleasure is receiving sex as a wonderful gift from our Creator and enjoying it for His glory.” (p. 82) Intimacy in marriage was intended for our enjoyment. But, let’s be honest…how often do we echo, in the way we act, the world’s perception that the most fun to be had is before marriage rather than in the God-honoring union of marriage. It’s everywhere in our […]

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  • 12.19.2011 Feminine Appeal {The Blessings Of Loving My Children}
    Feminine Appeal {The Blessings Of Loving My Children}
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    Motherhood is the most challenging job I’ve ever endeavored to do. The most rewarding…but the most difficult, indeed. I’m posting on the third chapter of Feminine Appeal today, the book I am studying with the ladies of my church. I hope you’ve chosen to read along with me month by month as we discuss one chapter at a time here at GraceLaced. When I was young and in school, I never aspired to being a mother, much less a mother of five…boys. I thought of children as “fun,” and little versions of us as parents. I thought of parenting and motherhood as being about ME, and not about Christ. I did not understand the high calling of motherhood when I was first initiated in 10 years ago. I have a much better understanding now, but continue to grow daily in the cultivation of a godly pursuit of my mission in motherhood. […]

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  • 11.15.2011 Feminine Appeal {The Delight of Loving of My Husband}
    Feminine Appeal {The Delight of Loving of My Husband}
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    We are working our way through Feminine Appeal, the book I’ve challenged you to read along with me, as I lead the ladies of my church through a once-a-month study. We are studying the seven virtues of a godly wife and mother, as found in Titus 2, and following the mandate (even if virtually) to mentor and be mentored. Please join in! Comment or link up from your blog at the bottom of the post! ************************************************************ “If Paul exhorted Titus to have the older women teach the young women how to love their husbands, we can assume this love is not something that happens spontaneously. Loving our husbands–as biblically defined–is a learned response through the grace of God.” (p. 37) Most of us don’t think of love as something that should be difficult; it’s a feeling, we’re told, isn’t it? That is, until we find ourselves deep in the years of “for […]

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  • 10.18.2011 Feminine Appeal {Titus 2}
    Feminine Appeal {Titus 2}
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    Last night, the women of my church met to discuss the first of nine chapters in Carolyn Mahaney’s wonderful book, Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother. It’s the second time I’ve lead the study, but the encouragement is still as applicable for me now as it was the last time. There is nothing easy about the high calling of biblical womanhood.  While happy marriages, obedient children, organized homes, and graciousness in character may be lovely and blessed byproducts of this high calling, it is not to this end that we grow and labor. The seven virtues expressed in Titus 2 are ultimately about the gospel working in us and displayed through us. It is for Christ! I’m so very thankful for Paul’s admonition in Titus 2 for older women to train up younger women to: love [our] husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive […]

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