Posts tagged as:

biblical womanhood

Things I Love #4 – Chocolate, Womanhood, & Montessori

by Jessica on February 22, 2010

So far I’ve celebrate the “month of love” with some things I love: family, books/chapstick/pretty things, and paper/feet/food. A bit random, but hopefully interesting. Onto the finale of Things I Love….

#1 – Chocolate.

Particularly with peanut butter. Whoever first mixed peanut butter with chocolate was a genius. Second best combo is mint.

#2 – Biblical Womanhood.

John Piper says it better,

It is not wimpy to say that God created the universe and governs all things to magnify his own grace in the death of his Son for the salvation of his bride. That’s not wimpy. And it doesn’t lead to wimpy womanhood.

But it does lead to womanhood. True womanhood. In fact, it leads to the mind-boggling truth that womanhood and manhood—masculinity and femininity—belong at the center of God’s ultimate purpose. Womanhood and manhood were not an afterthought or a peripheral thought in God’s plan. God designed them precisely so that they would serve to display the glory of his Son dying to have his happy, admiring bride. (see here)

#3 – Montessori.

You know Montessori, right? Maybe not. She’s that Italian lady who did something with education. Now in all serious the Montessori is my preferred philosophy of education. What is it? It’s a method of education that educates the whole child.

Montessori’s approach to the education of the child is unique in that it is based on the observation of the child and following his or her abilities and interests. By observing children closely, you are able to identify when a child is most willing and ready to learn a specific skill. The method is based on the freedom of the child to explore and learn, mostly, through self-direction.

The Montessori philosophy nurtures a child’s sensitive period by allowing the child ample opportunity to be absorbed and focused on whatever task they are driven to at the time. Montessori believed that children learned more quickly and easily during this time, for this specific task, than any other time and that children should not be punished or redirected during their sensitive period. (see here)

For those of you who may not know, I taught as an assistant teacher in a Montessori preschool (3 to 6 yr old) for three years before I had my son. In the fall, I finished my Montessori Infant/Toddler training and am a certified Infant/Toddler Montessori teacher through the North American Montessori Center.

Tagged as: about, biblical womanhood, Montessori, pictures, Things I Love

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A Passion for Biblical Womanhood

by Jessica on February 15, 2010

in biblical womanhood

One of the things I am most passionate about and love to dive into is the topic of biblical womanhood. Though it can, at times, be an ambiguous term I have come to cherish God’s design for women. There’s so much I could say on the topic, but for right now I’ll share this.

My mom invited me to teach a lesson on 2 Timothy 2:9-15 with her for a couples class my parents are leading at their church. While biblical womanhood is something I love to talk about I rarely get the chance. So, weather permitting I’ll be in South Carolina this weekend. And while my brain has been turning with quotes, verses, commentary, sermons, and Greek definitions all pertaining to the topic my heart is praying one thing,

Lord, give me a vision for womanhood greater than the one I have. Show me how womanhood relates to the Gospel. Show me why it’s important. Let me share how the glory of womanhood is just part of the picture of something so much greater. Help me to speak the truth in love.

It’s so easy for me to spout off knowledge, real life application, historical and cultural references, and refute contradictions but all of that really is meaningless unless the heart of Christ is there. Biblical womanhood has no value apart from Christ. There is a glory and beauty that will be missed if biblical womanhood is watered down to a list of do’s and don’ts. It is so much more.

The true woman is the real thing. She is a genuine, authentic Masterpiece. The Master has set eternity in her heart and is conforming her to His own image. There is consistency in her outward behavior because it is dictated by the reality of her inner life. That reality is her redemption.

The true woman is a reflection of her redemption.

[...] By the transforming power of the Gospel, the Christian woman is empowered by God’s Spirit to give an increasingly true reflection of her Savior and thus to be a true woman.

Susan Hunt, The True Woman (22)

Tagged as: biblical womanhood, quotes, So much more, The True Woman

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The Truth of Biblical Motherhood

by Jessica on January 24, 2010

in biblical womanhood

“The truth is that biblical motherhood doesn’t mean we’re promised postcard-perfect days where we lounge together with our little ones on the porch swing in white starched dresses sipping lemonade and singing in harmony. Homegrown children take a lot of hard work–and sometimes “it ain’t pretty.” Other times, it’s breathtaking.

Biblical motherhood means sacrifice, selfless love, and faithful dedication. It means we’re there with our families–body, mind, and spirit. To recognize our purpose in motherhood, we must see the godly generations beyond our own children (Genesis 24:60, Deuteronomy 4:9, 7:9). This means denying ourselves (Matthew 16:25) and being consumed with God and His love for us.

It means starting each morning on our face in repentance and thanksgiving, pleading for His grace and for the strength to glorify Him in our daily endeavors. It means loving God more than we love our children–and consequently, He will equip us to truly love them and prepare us to serve them through Christ our Lord.”

- Stacy McDonald, Passionate Housewives Desperate for God (21)