The Incredible Privilege of BEING a Woman

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The Incredible Privilege of BEING a Woman

I feel like I am treading on holy ground by addressing the subject of womanhood – for holy ground it certainly is. I feel like a privileged observer as God creates a masterpiece of life and limb to fulfill a unique and wondrous destiny.

Women were created to fill a VOID

The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.  The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. (Genesis 2:20-22 – NASB)

What a privilege it is for anyone to fill a void in the life of another human being. A woman, however is created with that special capacity to fill the void in the life of the one man God will bring into her life to be with till death parts them.

I vividly remember walking with my Dad to his place of work when I was no more than ten years old. “Son,” he said seriously, “women are God’s special gift to us men, and he has made us responsible to treat them with the love and respect they deserve. Your mother is God’s special gift to me, and to you. Don’t let me ever hear you disrespecting her in any way.”

Now I know that sin has caused a horrific abuse of women in our generation, and in many generations before. That however, does not take away from the incredible privilege every woman has of being able to fill the void of her husband, and as a mother, of the children God gives her.

Women were created to present a VISION

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32 – NASB)

Every woman in the marriage bond has the privilege of presenting to the world a vision (a picture) of the relationship between Christ and his church. The apostle makes it very clear the relationship between a  man and his wife is a depiction of the spiritual union between Christ and His church. (See Ephesian 5:25-29)

Women were created to be a VESSEL

One of Webster’s definitions of the word “vessel” is: “a person into whom some quality (as grace) is infused.”

Men and women are equal insofar as their value to God is concerned, but God infuses women (if they are fulfilling their destiny) with some unique capabilities, such as the love she can bestow on her husband, and upon her children.

Sure, these can be distorted, but a woman who loves the Lord will display these qualities in a unique and God-given manner.

Being a Woman

(© 15th September 2015 – by Christopher Shennan)

An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. (Proverbs 31:10 – NASB)

To be a woman is of such great worth,

As is seldom understood or conceived;

She is uniquely gifted from her birth,

With all of God’s blessings she has received.

If only a woman would realize

All that her God has designed her to be,

She’d gain just a glimpse of pure paradise,

And taste what it is like to be truly free.

God has not made women a lesser breed,

Though some men are sure to say it is so;

He has made them special to fill great need –

To go into places no man dare go.

A matchless grace all good women possess;

Being what they are, they have power to bless.

Please visit My website: www.christophershennan.ca
My blog: https://christophershennan.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CNShennan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherShennanAuthor

Image by unknown photographer. Used under the CC0 license.

Standing on Holy Ground

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Standing on Holy Ground

Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”  (Exodus 3:5 – NASB)

Two people enjoying time together? Looks like Holy Ground to me.

When we read the account of Moses standing on Holy Ground and being told to take the shoes from off his feet, we are captivated by the dramatic scene and wish, perhaps we could have and experience like that.

I think we are missing the point.

Holy ground is all around us.

There may not be a burning bush and we may not hear God’s voice emanating from it. We nevertheless encounter many situations in life that should cause us to tread carefully; they are just as much Holy Ground as that on which Moses trod. We come across these situations and carelessly pass them by; we do not recognize them as a sacred trust God has brought our way. We are being given an opportunity to respond with compassion, and demonstrate the Love of Christ in them. They, however just seem like the common occurrences of life and we don’t realize they are holy ground to God.

  • Two friends enjoying time together
  • A friend suffering from depression
  • A pregnant teen
  • A wayward son or daughter

I don’t think I have to make the list any longer. Each of us come across people suffering varied forms of trouble and anguish. All we need to do is recognize them as Holy Ground, and respond accordingly.

Holy Ground

(6th June 1992)

Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”  (Exodus 3:5 – NASB)

I envied Moses as He stood

On Holy Ground back then

And heard the voice of God Most High —

Most privileged of men.

“Why can’t I stand like Moses on

The ground of Holy kind,

And hear the voice of God breathe out

His Words into my mind.”

Such were my thoughts, such my complaint,

In holy reverence prayed,

Whenever I bowed my head to seek

The pathway Christ had made.

And soon the answer sounded forth

Upon my inner ear:

The still small voice of God that said,

“Come listen! Come and hear!

“The Holy Ground of Scripture lies

Within your view, my child.

Take off the shoes of careless thought

Lest Truth be soiled – defiled.

“And then there is the Holy Ground

Of foreign missions, see,

A precious tract of land to Christ

Who said, ‘Come unto me.’

“Tread softly, Christian, on the ground

Where lost souls’ feet have trod.

Take now the shoes from off your feet —

It is Holy Ground to God.

“Where ever you look, both far and near,

You find some holy place.

What’s common ground to careless souls

May be the ground of Grace.

“Perhaps it is your brother’s need,

His mountain of distress,

That you conceive as nothing more

Than mild unhappiness.

It is Holy Ground, don’t dare to walk

Across your brother’s need,

Till Faith and Love have filled your heart,

And Mercy has agreed.”

This image is in the public domain.
Please visit My website: www.christophershennan.ca
My blog: https://christophershennan.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CNShennan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherShennanAuthor

Standing on Holy Ground

17070-a-woman-and-older-man-sitting-at-a-table-pv (2)

Standing on Holy Ground

Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”  (Exodus 3:5 – NASB)

Two people enjoying time together? Looks like Holy Ground to me.

When we read the account of Moses standing on Holy Ground and being told to take the shoes from off his feet, we are captivated by the dramatic scene and wish, perhaps we could have and experience like that.

I think we are missing the point.

Holy ground is all around us.

There may not be a burning bush and we may not hear God’s voice emanating from it. We nevertheless encounter many situations in life that should cause us to tread carefully; they are just as much Holy Ground as that on which Moses trod. We come across these situations and carelessly pass them by; we do not recognize them as a sacred trust God has brought our way. We are being given an opportunity to respond with compassion, and demonstrate the Love of Christ in them. They, however just seem like the common occurrences of life and we don’t realize they are holy ground to God.

  • Two friends enjoying time together
  • A friend suffering from depression
  • A pregnant teen
  • A wayward son or daughter

I don’t think I have to make the list any longer. Each of us come across people suffering varied forms of trouble ans anguish. All we need to do is recognize them as Holy Ground, and respond accordingly.

Holy Ground

(6th June 1992)

Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”  (Exodus 3:5 – NASB)

I envied Moses as He stood

On Holy Ground back then

And heard the voice of God Most High —

Most privileged of men.

“Why can’t I stand like Moses on

The ground of Holy kind,

And hear the voice of God breathe out

His Words into my mind.”

Such were my thoughts, such my complaint,

In holy reverence prayed,

Whenever I bowed my head to seek

The pathway Christ had made.

And soon the answer sounded forth

Upon my inner ear:

The still small voice of God that said,

“Come listen! Come and hear!

“The Holy Ground of Scripture lies

Within your view, my child.

Take off the shoes of careless thought

Lest Truth be soiled – defiled.

“And then there is the Holy Ground

Of foreign missions, see,

A precious tract of land to Christ

Who said, ‘Come unto me.’

“Tread softly, Christian, on the ground

Where lost souls’ feet have trod.

Take now the shoes from off your feet —

It is Holy Ground to God.

“Where ever you look, both far and near,

You find some holy place.

What’s common ground to careless souls

May be the ground of Grace.

“Perhaps it is your brother’s need,

His mountain of distress,

That you conceive as nothing more

Than mild unhappiness.

It is Holy Ground, don’t dare to walk

Across your brother’s need,

Till Faith and Love have filled your heart,

And Mercy has agreed.”

This image is in the public domain.

Please visit My website: www.christophershennan.ca
My blog: https://christophershennan.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CNShennan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherShennanAuthor

It’s all about HIM

It’s all about HIM

(Picture credits at end of post)450px-Christ_the_King_Statue_1

…I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ… (Philippians 3:8 – NASB)

Reading the Bible is a holy walk, and must be done with an attitude of reverence and alertness that will make us ready to receive truth in a manner that will transform our lives. If we do not, we may find ourselves walking over holy ground, and being totally unaware of the treasures beneath our feet. Like Moses, when we read the Scriptures we need to take the shoes of indifference off our feet, and realize we are treading on holy ground.

When I read the passage before us recently I found myself on holy ground; I found that, just beneath the surface was a secret that would sustain me for the rest of my life. It is a secret I had discovered before, but with the passing of time had slipped into the background.

The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
And He will make them know His covenant.
(Psalm 25:14 – NASB)

The secret I re-discovered was that the Christian life is all about Him, has ever been about Him, and will always be about Him.  From God’s perspective it is all about us, because He loves us with an everlasting love and sacrificed His only Son so that we should not perish, but that we should have eternal life.

But from our perspective, if we want to grow in grace, we must come to the point where it is all about Him. Every grace and goodness that can flow into our lives comes not from trying to achieve greatness, even the greatness of a holy life, but in making Jesus Christ the pivot and central focus of our lives.

It’s all about HIM

…I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ… (Philippians 3:8 – NASB)

I thought that the Christian Life was

All about striving for greatness;

Striving to make myself holy –

To find, at last, true happiness.

I thought that all of my striving,

And my anxious, fervent longing,

Would create in me a wondrous

Sense of just truly belonging.

Now all these things were admirable,

And worthy of a seeking heart;

They surely were sent from Heaven,

And were meant to give me a start.

Yet something I knew was missing;

It was something I could not yet grasp,

And this something kept eluding,

Till it dawned on me – to just ask.

The secret at last was revealed:

Seek Him until you have found Him,

Then cling with all of your being,

And then you will get to know Him.

It’s really quite simple my friend,

It’s not hard now to understand;

It’s all about Him in the end,

Till at last in His Presence you stand.

Please visit My website: http://www.christophershennan.ca
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CNShennan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherShennanAuthor

Christ the King Statue by Leszek (nickname Rzuwig.) Copyright. Used under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license; please note the Disclaimer at this site. No changes were made to this photo.