autumn_march_may 2015 volume sixty-two # one | free www.christianwomanmag.com
UNDERSTANDING THE MALE EGO HINT: YOU HOLD THE POWER
THE FASHIONABLE CHRISTIAN WOMAN WHY THEY ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE
LIGHTS OUT FOR LUCY’S HOUSE THIS 12-YEAR OLD IS CHANGING A COMMUNITY
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CW contents: 16
autumn | 2015 06 Understanding the Male Ego You hold your husbands self esteem in the palm of your hands... Berni Dymet 10 The Problem with our ‘Selfie’ Generation Why are we so obsessed with ourselves? Sabrina Peters investigates...
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12 Time Poor Soul Rich Author Anne Winckel offers soul enrichment for the busy woman... 16 The Fashionable Christian Woman What does modesty look like today? Your clothing reflects your culture and it does speak. What do your clothes say about you? Tania Harris...
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20 Lights Out for Lucy’s House Simone and her daughter Mia embarked on a journey that would change them forever... Simone Stewart 24 Born for Such a Time as This God calls us to be a ‘light in the darkness’, so why do so many believe that ministry belongs to those working in a church... Annette Spurr
28 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night Are you equipped for spiritual warfare? Danette Garza 30 The Fig Leaf of Performance Kirrly Lowe undresses the concept of the ‘fig leaf’ and how we should remove it for healing...
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Understanding the Male Ego BY BERNI DYMET
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t’s absolutely true. Men and women struggle sometimes to understand one another. We’re created to be profoundly different – and whilst sometimes, we respond with a “thank God” to that fact, other times, it’s more of an “Oh GOD!” Those differences are both an incredible blessing and, at times, an incredible frustration. So since I’m a man writing in Christian Woman magazine, I thought that it might be helpful, if I may, to help 6 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
you understand the ‘male ego’ as it’s called. Often, it gets a bad wrap, but actually, it’s part of how we men are made, and any woman who takes the time and puts in the effort to understand it, has just unlocked the door to her man’s heart. So, here goes .… A Fragile Thing Ego is a bit of a negative word these days isn’t it? It carries quite a bit of baggage
around with it, because of the inflated egos that we’ve all had to deal with from time to time. So let’s talk instead about a man’s sense of worth and value. That’s really what we’re talking about when we talk about the male ego. You’ve probably heard that the ‘male ego’ is an incredibly fragile thing – and speaking as a man, I can tell you, that it absolutely is! That’s kind of a paradox, since men often (not always) appear, at least on the surface, to be less emotional
A Different Perspective.
than women. So let me explain. I’m a good case because on the outside, I appear ‘together’, articulate and confident. Not many situations phase me. I’m quite comfortable in dealing with conflict – and whilst I don’t go looking for it, when it comes my way, that’s fine. I’m more than happy to handle it. It’s just how I’m made. So on the surface, I don’t have any obvious problems with my sense of worth and self–esteem. I really don’t go looking for recognition, I don’t mind all that much whether people like me or not, Sure, I don’t want to upset people, but I realise that I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. So for all intents and purposes, I am a very secure person. And yet – with all that going for me – there is one person on this planet, whose opinion matters greatly to me. There is one person on this planet, whose approval I need – and that person is my wife Jacqui. The point that I’m trying to make here, is that I don’t think that most women really understand the power they have to support and encourage their husbands, or alternately, to criticise and undermine them. A Woman’s Power for Good or for Evil? If you’re a wife, as a man I’m asking you to recognise the huge power that
you have in your hands for either good or evil when it comes to your husband, who I’m hoping is the single most important human being in your life. In the early part of a man’s life, as a young boy, he derives most of his sense of worth and esteem through his mother – that’s what the psychologists tell us – and then through the teen years, his dad becomes incredibly important in taking over that role, guiding him into manhood (a role that way, way, way too many fathers abdicate, to the detriment of their sons and, indeed, to the detriment of society as a whole). Interestingly though, once the lad has established himself as a man and finds himself a wife, it’s more often than not his wife who he looks to for guidance, for approval and for validation. He may appear to seek out validation amongst his ‘mates’. He may not admit it to you face–to–face, but his wife’s approval of him is critical to his sense of wellbeing and success. We all know that how parents treat their children in their formative years has a huge impact on their own perceptions of themselves. Loving parents, with the right mix of discipline and reassurance, tend to produce well–balanced, well– adjusted children who transition more comfortably and effectively into adulthood with a healthy sense of self. Whereas parents who make a hash of it, produce children who struggle with
many issues as adults. In the same way, wives, you have the power to reassure your husband, to be an emotional rock for him, to love him through his mistakes (NO! I said turn left, not right you idiot … now you’ve gotten us completely lost and we’ll be late for the dinner party! Why don’t you stop and ask someone for directions?) and to encourage him when he’s struggling. A wife’s depth of emotional strength and endurance (something that is often under estimated) can be used to support and help her husband be all that he can possibly be. Let me tell you this – as strong and secure as I am, I need my wife to approve of me, to support me and to show her love to me even when I get things wrong (as rare of course as that is in my particular case!) And if you’re a woman with a husband, he needs exactly the same thing from you. He’s wired inside to care about providing for and protecting his family. He wants to succeed at that. That’s why when you criticise him openly in front of others, or attack him about something in private, he’ll either lash out or withdraw or both. Have a listen to this piece of wisdom from the Bible about how precious a great wife is, and how she ought to behave: A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The
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A Different Perspective. A husband’s world is made so much the richer when he knows that his wife won’t criticise him when he makes a mistake, but instead she’ll help him get it right. 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. (Proverbs 31:10–12) His Needs are Different to Yours If I were writing this article in ‘Christian Man’ magazine, about what wives needed from their husbands, I’d be talking about their need to feel cherished and protected. I’d be writing about their need for a deep emotional connection, and the need to communicate their feelings spontaneously without being criticised and without their husbands coming up with solutions to the problem. But… I’m not. I’m writing about a man’s needs in Christian Woman magazine. And what he needs from you, is affirmation and encouragement; the sense that you think that he’s doing a good job at being a husband and father, even if he ain’t perfect, which deep down, he already realises. He needs to feel needed by you and he needs to feel supported by you, especially in public.
Some wives spontaneously praise their husbands to other people, others remain strangely silent or openly critical. Your husband needs the former, not the latter. God’s Timeless Wisdom You know what every husband is looking for? A capable wife – a woman who is more precious than jewels. A woman who he can trust. A woman who will always do him good, and not harm. If you go on and read the rest of Proverbs Chapter 31 in the Old Testament of the Bible (and yes, it’s written in the context of the culture of the time) what it talks about is a woman who is emotionally stable and strong and supportive of her man. Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Psalm 32:30) A husband’s world is made so much the richer when he knows that his wife won’t criticise him when he makes a mistake, but instead she’ll help him get it
right. And when he knows he has a wife like that, he naturally opens up his heart and learns from her. A woman who fears the Lord is a woman who is far more likely to be able to be that wife; the wife that her husband is yearning for. So … there’s my take on the ‘male ego’. It’s not so much an ego, as it is a need for him to be who he was created to be, with the help of his wife. A capable wife, who can find? CW
Berni Dymet is the CEO of the Australian–based, global media ministry, Christianityworks. Each week, millions of people listen to his radio programs and watch his television programs in 160 countries around the world. Visit christianityworks.com to request a free copy of his latest booklet.
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Why are we so obsessed with ourselves? SABRINA PETERS candidly discusses the ‘selfie’ generation...
W
hether we like it not we are the ‘selfie’ generation. Every few minutes thousands of selifes hit the internet worldwide. No surprise, as there are over 500 million Facebook lovers, 100 million Instagram hipsters & 650 million Twitter fans. (I got that from Google so it must be right ha!). There has never been a time in history where our personal lives have been so PUBLIC!
We share EVERYTHING.
The breakfast we just mastered, the gym session we just dominated, the latte we enjoyed, the assignment we just aced, the boy we just kissed, the cookies we just baked, the job we just scored, the sermon we just nailed, the friends we just chilled with and even the baby we just squeezed out (oops was that just me? Bit gross). We literally share EVERYTHING (nothing is off limits)!
But why?
I’ll be totally honest for a second, often times I do it for others (not all the time but a lot of the time!). 10 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
We share because we want to show people how cool our lives are; how fit we are after making a green smoothie, how popular we are after hanging with our main girls or how pretty we look when we just woke up with no make-up on (haha not me!). We post selfies because we think we look alright and hope others think so too (#humblebrag). We update, we Tweet, we post on Instagram because we want OTHERS to give us their attention.
haven’t checked our updates or scrolled our news feed in a 24-hour period. When we post a pic we go back every five minutes and hit refresh to see who liked it. Have you done any of these? Am I the only one? The definition of an addiction is: A state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit forming.
We want LOVE
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(or should I say likes!). But what’s the problem? How is this affecting us at our core level? These are the dilemmas I have faced. Maybe you can relate? Or maybe you are just so secure you’ve never indulged in a single one.
1
. We are addicted. The first thing we do in the morning is grab our iPhones to see who liked our latest status update or check Instagram to count the comments. We are so attached to our phones we feel naked without them. We have withdrawals when we
My name is Sabrina Peters and I am an addict. I think I need to go to rehab! Maybe we can go together? . We end up putting our value, worth and happiness in the hands of others. I often hand over so much of my time, my energy and my attention to complete strangers! I have spent hours at night scrolling through my Facebook feed, reading random things about people I haven’t even met in the flesh. I have got a little high when I have seen comments like #babe #stunning #hottie. I’ve come to the conclusion it doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks of me, it matters what I think of me. A friend of mine recently wrote: Every day I spend trying to get the applause of others is a day I’ve wasted.
Hot topic.
The problem with our
‘selfie’ generation Preach sister, it’s true! I want to be satisfied with exactly who I am, because let’s face it, I am stuck in this skin for the rest of my life! I may as well own it, love it, embrace it!
3
. We have more friends but our friendships have less depth. We have become a gen that is choosing quality over quantity, we think more is better. But is true? Social media has given us this idea that we should all have a posse of friends when in reality, if we have one or two really good friends, we are lucky. Brene Brown The more social media we have, the more we think we’re connecting, yet we can often disconnect from those right in front of our face! I don’t need thousands of friends, I need true friends; ones that really know me not just my profile. I want people that love me when they get up close.
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. We pay more attention to people we’re not even with. I am prone to ruining moments by trying to capture the moment, just ask my husband! I often get so obsessed with taking a good photo on a date night or family day that I can lose plot when
I don’t and end up killing the fun for everyone, what a waste; trying to take a picture while missing the point. I want to LIVE life and be present in the moment. My phone is just an accessory, so I have to treat it like one. People are more important then accessories. At the end of the day I don’t want everyone else to think I am a good wife, I want my husband to think I am!
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. We are constantly comparing. I love the way Steven Furtick puts it: The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.
That makes me laugh every time I read it, because it’s actually true! That girlfriend you envy may look flawless in her latest profile picture but who knows how many times she took that photo and how many different filters she used? Food for thought. We are not suppose to be slaves to the perfect images of others people’s lives. So does this mean I will stop posting selfies? Ha! No way! Social media will always be a part of my life (it has huge benefits and really is a great tool for connecting!) but I am determined to not let it become my life. I am taking back control of my own happiness and selfworth by the grace of God. CW
We can find ourselves riddled with self-doubt because we fixate on how beautiful, healthy, successful, smart & downright PERFECT everybody else’s life can seem. But the problem is SOCIAL MEDIA is only one snippet of someone’s life. It’s the edited version, you don’t get to see the whole tape! I love this: Maybe she’s born with it; or maybe it’s a filter?
Sabrina Peters is a busy mother of two, Youth Pastor and avid writer. Visit her website for more pearls of wisdom. virgindiaries.com.au
“He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good.�1 King Solomon
12 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
Book extract.
Author ANNE WINCKEL appreciates many women have little if any discretionary time. As a career woman herself, she has embarked on a journey of discovery. Collating a wealth of wisdom from many amazing women, her new book offers 60 second snippets of soul enrichment for your life. This extract is taken from her book Time Poor Soul Rich, Chapter 10, Clarity.
H
ow often do we have clarity of mind when we are consumed by work and busyness? How can we best find wisdom when we are timepoor and living in survival mode? When my own soul has been in survival mode I have found my mind creeping into a state of fog. It is then all too easy to just keep following old familiar patterns in my daily decision-making and prioritising. However, those default patterns do not always lead to the best outcomes. There is nothing like the return of clarity to bring back some enrichment to the soul. Liang When Liang married her husband, now an orthopaedic surgeon, she thought she had the perfect life. She was a corporate lawyer in a global investment bank in Sydney; she was living in a beautiful house on Sydney Harbour; and she had the perfect husband. However, cracks began to show by about the third year of their marriage. Her “perfect husband” was not operating in the manner she most approved of, and she was trying hard to change him – particularly the way he studied for his medical exams. Liang had always been a very diligent student, and she could not understand how her husband could be studying “properly” in front of the television during commercial breaks. Further, her work at the investment bank was keeping her away until late each night, and her husband left for his work at the hospital by 6.00am each morning. They were hardly crossing paths. To top it all off, Liang desperately wanted to have a baby but was not falling pregnant.
Liang was so busy with her work as a money she was earning. Her mentor ensenior lawyer that she rarely had time to couraged her to refocus on her relationreview or reflect on her life and choices. ship with God. Liang purchased a copy She was proud of her achievements and of a small book of daily Bible reflections did not see anything wrong with her life- and read this on the train each morning. style. However, when two senior wom- She also changed the way she talked to en, whom she greatly respected, sepa- God. Until then, she had her ten-year rately challenged her by asking, “How plan and went to God for his stamp of long are you going to live like that?”, she approval. Now she was consciously trybegan to wonder if her life was in fact on ing to get closer to God and find out what the right path. Liang started in a new di- he wanted for her life. rection, seeing things more clearly when Liang used other techniques to learn she made some changes. more about God in the context of her Then there was a death in the fam- extremely busy work life. One was to ily and Liang started to question what buy a pocket-sized packet of cards with mattered most in life. She was thinking Bible verses written on them. Whenever about death and the meaning of life in she had a moment – walking between a whole new way. She realised that al- meetings, on the train or between cerethough she was young and healthy, death bral tasks – she would pull out a card and would inevitably become a fact of her quickly meditate on the text. She also life and it was just a matter of time. Li- tried to memorise the words for even ang considered what kind of legacy she quicker recall later. As well she printed wanted to leave behind for those who the lyrics of her favourite gospel songs knew her. on small pieces of paper and kept them Although working on high-profile in her pocket diary. As with the Bible multi-billion dollar transactions had pre- verses she memorised the song lyrics, viously seemed like an important and and she would sing these songs whenproud achievement, suddenly it seemed ever she had spare time, especially while immaterial and insignificant in the con- walking. text of life, death and eternity. Liang concluded that being loved by God, loving God in return, and reflecting God’s love by loving others were the most “It seems an odd idea to my students that important things in life – things poetry, like all art, leads us away from that had eternally lasting value. itself, back to the world in which we live. It Another of Liang’s new difurnishes the vision. It shows with a sudden rections was to adopt a mentor. intense clarity what is already there.”2 She started to meet monthly Helen Bevington with one of those two senior women. Before long she was questioning her obsession with prestige, career success and the Join the conversation online: www.christianwomanmag.com 13
Book extract
“Then Liang’s decision was taken out of her hands. Unexpectedly, doctors found a lump in her stomach that they suspected was a tumour...” Liang’s mentor was a good sounding board and she helped Liang challenge some of her deeply held views. For the first time in her career, Liang considered whether she should go part-time, particularly because she was still having difficulty getting pregnant. For Liang, being in fulltime work was exhausting (her work days often ended near midnight and she frequently worked on weekends). However, her supervising director at the investment bank convinced her that going part-time would be an unwise decision. This director pointed out that if she stayed on her current career path, her salary would significantly increase, and it would be a much easier and faster road to the top – but if she went part-time, neither of these goals could be guaranteed. Liang tried to forget about the idea – she felt she did not have a good enough excuse to request a change to her role (especially since she didn’t have the justification of children at home), and she thought she would be laughed at if she even suggested going part-time. Yet the inner desire to slow down did not go away. Then Liang’s decision was taken out of her hands. Unexpectedly, doctors found a lump in her stomach that they suspected was a tumour. Given that she was being told the results might take a month before being available, Liang immediately asked her manager if she could go part-time whilst she was waiting. Her request was approved within 24 hours. Liang had previously thought about death vicariously through the death of
others, but this time she was forced to think about the possibility of her own death. During that month of waiting, she pondered deeply about death, and life after death. She found that her initial shock eventually turned into peace as she learnt to trust in God in matters of both life and death. Happily, Liang only had a cyst and not a tumour in her stomach. But having been granted a part-time role, she stayed on in this arrangement. Within six months she was pregnant. Liang now has two beautiful little boys, and continues to work part-time in a global investment bank. For Liang, clarity only came when she opened herself up to accountability with an older and wiser mentor, and when she focussed on her relationship with God in a new way. Elizabeth Elizabeth’s role in procurement creates multiple strategic dilemmas, so she is always happy to seek wise counsel from colleagues and authors. She has also found it a challenge to keep a clear head for all of the non-work related areas of her life. In order to make informed decisions, Elizabeth has adopted a full suite of mentors – one for each of the main areas of her life. She has a financial adviser, a legal mentor, a personal coach, a church counsellor, a health trainer and a business mentor. Elizabeth has created a diverse network where she can call on different experts as needed, and this has often given her confidence to move forward when otherwise she might have been uncertain. Elizabeth also loves books, and she
1 King Solomon, son of King David and Bathsheba, King of Israel (c. 970–931 BC); from the Book of Proverbs 19:8 (NKJV translation of the Bible). 2 Helen Bevington, American poet, diarist, essayist and English literature professor; from When Found, Make a Verse Of, Simon & Schuster, 1961, p. 34. 3 See the 1st-century letter written by James, brother of Jesus, son of Joseph and Mary, Jew and leader of the early Christian church; James 1:5. 14 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
generally has a pile of them sitting by her bedside waiting to be finished. She tries to keep up the habit of reading a little before she goes to sleep each night. She also likes to pick up the Bible to look for wisdom, relying on the fact that it tells her that if she wants wisdom, she should ask God and it will be given to her.3 And she has joined a local library to stop herself buying more and more books to fill her shelves at home. There is nothing like a library fine to encourage you to finish a book by a certain date.
We now live in an information-rich age. Never before have we been able to access so much information with so little effort. However, high volumes of information do not guarantee clarity. Remember that information is not necessarily knowledge; knowledge is not necessarily understanding; understanding is not necessarily wisdom; and insight might well be something else completely! A good starting point is to begin with human mentors – there is no shame in seeking out wise counsel from those whose experience we respect. CW
To order your copy of Time Poor Soul Rich or to have Anne speak at your event then visit www.annewinckel.com
Fashion.
The Fashionable Christian Woman What does modesty look like today? Your clothing reflects your culture and it does speak. What do your clothes say about you? TANIA HARRIS discusses...
O
ne of my earliest initiations into fashion was when my new flatmate flushed my scrunchie down the toilet. She swiped it from my hair box on the bathroom cabinet, dropped it in the bowl and pressed the button on top of the cistern. Then she turned around and walked away without saying a word. It took me days to get over it. That scrunchie was high quality Gregory Ladner bought at David Jones for $6.95. It held my unruly hair neatly in a bun, a side plait and a high ponytail. It was made of black crepe so it went with everything. Anita had just thrown out my best ever hair accessory. "It’s from the nineties girl! You can’t wear that anymore!" I didn’t know what she was talking about. Years down the track, Anita is my stylist, dressing me for my TV shows and photoshoots. She taught me that it doesn›t work to pair wide-legged pants with loose fitting tops because it creates unbalanced layers, and that skirts that fall below my knee make me look like grandma because my giraffe legs are disproportionately long in the thigh compared to the calf. The whole issue of fashion was a new one for a girl who'd grown up to understand that dangly earrings were extravagant and fashion magazines were the things you read when stuck in doctor’s waiting rooms. Mum only wore Vaseline on her lips to keep them from chafing, and why would anyone need heels if you were already tall? WHAT DOES MODESTY LOOK LIKE? The problem of how a Christian woman should dress stepped up a notch when 16 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
I started itinerating. It's the message of ‘God Conversations' you want them to hear, not the message that God made women appealing to men. So the issue of skirt length - especially if you’re on a high platform - became an issue. You don’t want the men in the pew to be fantasying about your legs when he should be thinking about how to hear God’s voice. ‘Be modest’ the Apostle Paul writes. But modesty is culturally expressed. In Paul’s day it was covering your head and not braiding your hair (1 Timothy 2:8, 1 Corinthians 11:5). In Thailand it’s covering your shoulders. In India it’s covering your knees. In the Solomon Islands it’s thighs. Yes, you’re allowed to go topless, but please, please cover those upper legs. It took a while to get used to. When I first walked into the church service in the far-flung village of Luanuia, I was struck by the rainbow colours of the lava-lavas slung around everyone’s waists and the sprigs of pink hibiscus in the women’s hair. Then I noticed the breasts. Rows and rows of them dotted along the pews; large and soft, saggy and old, tanned and leathery, painted and tattooed. It was hard not to be distracted as we sang the Latin Magnificat and recited the liturgical prayers. There was one woman, just to the left of us, who was dressed differently. She wasn’t topless like the others. Instead her slim dark body was adorned in a swath of flimsy red silk. A negligee. I smiled, realising she must have fished it out of a donations barrel on a visiting Western cruiser. She didn’t know it was meant for the bedroom. All she saw was a beautiful dress, the perfect choice
for the most important occasion of the week. Nobody batted an eyelid. Nobody shrieked and kicked her out because she had worn lingerie to church. The Polynesians were operating under a completely different set of rules, even though the call to modesty was the same. Since the whole idea of what defines modesty is cultural, it’s impossible to conjure up rules that fit everyone. Every generation; every culture is the judge and the Christian woman must take her cues from that. So when we’re fossicking through the wardrobe of a morning, we should ask, What does modesty look like for me today? Perhaps it’s wise to ask our partners or our friends; When I wear this skirt, what message am I sending? You see clothing speaks. It tells you who I am and how I expect to be treated in the situation I’m in. If I’m wearing a suit, I’m projecting authority, if I’m wearing a hippie pants, I’m communicating artistry; if I’m in lycra, I’m going for a run. If I’m leading an office meeting with a jacket unbuttoned halfway down my cleavage, I’m…? It’s also important to remember that the message of our clothing changes over time. In the church I grew up in, a hat on your head meant something, (though at thirteen I’m not sure my crocheted beret communicated submission very effectively). In some first century churches, a head-covering said you weren’t a prostitute. Today wearing a hat says your ears are cold or that you’re off to the races. So if clothing speaks, then it would be acceptable, yes even important, that we should give it some thought. We should give some time to consider the
Study.
quote
Join the conversation online: www.christianwomanmag.com 17
Fashion.
She no longer played freely with fashion. She no longer experimented with different shapes and colours on her body because she thought that was what God wanted.
Since the whole idea of what defines modesty is cultural, it’s impossible to conjure up rules that fit everyone. Every generation; every culture is the judge and the Christian woman must take her cues from that. Clothing speaks. It tells you who I am and how I expect to be treated in the situation I’m in. God is the ultimate fashion conscious being. He dressed his flowers in resplendence. He adorned his trees in glorious headdresses. He understands pattern and symmetry and used colour-blocking long before Vogue. A godly woman reflects God’s nature. She reveals the glory of the Creator in everything she says and does. Her clothing sends a message about the God whose image she is made in.
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18 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
shape of the tailored suit for the office, the length of our skirt on a platform and the colour of lingerie we slip into at night. As we do, we should ask ourselves, what does this communicate? GOD AS FASHION DESIGNER When my best friend Claire became a Christian at 17, her clothing suddenly changed. Gone were the beloved army pants and tanks, the vintage-wear with beaded embellishment, the hand-painted Converse runners and paisley scarves. In their place appeared Laura Ashley shirts with floral prints and frilled collars. Pencil skirts and flats in neutrals. My friend went from creative-you’ll-never-knowwhat’s-she’s-wearing-Claire to boring-conformist-Claire. Looking back, she says she was trying to wear what a proper young Christian woman should (Oh dear, had she taken her cues from me?!) Tragically she felt that her artistic flair should be dummied down; that plain and common was preferable as it deflected attention. She no longer played freely with fashion. She no longer experimented with different shapes and colours on her body because she thought that was what God wanted. Is it okay for a Christian woman to enjoy dressing fashionably; to take time to be at her most beautiful? I think you only need to look at nature to see that God is the ultimate fashion conscious being. He dressed his flowers in resplendence. He adorned his trees in glorious headdresses. He understands pattern and symmetry and used colour-blocking long before Vogue. A godly woman is invited to be fashionable - to relish the beauty and creativity of her inner self. It’s okay to take time creating your outfit for the day. To enjoy your body and flourish from within it. Colour, design, unique flair - these are all aspects of God’s nature that we can emulate when we get up each morning. A godly woman reflects God’s nature. She reveals the glory of the Creator in everything she says and does. Her clothing sends a message about the God whose image she is made in. CW Tania Harris is a pastor, speaker and the founder of God Conversations, a ministry that equips people to recognise God’s voice. With a diverse history as church planter, pastor and Bible College lecturer, Tania’s ministry is known for its all-age appeal, wisdom, and ‘God-stories’. When not ministering, she is most likely to be found kayaking on Sydney Harbour or climbing a really high mountain and skiing down it! Hillsong is her church home in Sydney. For your free ebook, podcasts and resources that will help you recognise the voice of God, visit godconversations.com.
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VRN - Christian Woman Mag (Full page) 1411.indd 1
19/11/2014 12:51:08 PM
This page: Mia and Lucy walking from New Canaan Village to Aberdare Ranges Primary School; Opposite page top: Mia’s first day at Aberdare Ranges Primary School Opposite page bottom: Mia and Lucy outside her tent 20 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
Mission.
SIMONE STEWART and her daughter MIA embarked on a journey to Africa that would forever change them both... This is their story about Lucy’s house. n the 22nd Nov 2014, my daughter Mia (12) and I traveled to Nakuru, Kenya as part of a service-learning trip run through the University Of Notre Dame and it’s partnership with So They Can, an organisation set up to work with African communities to empower and educate. The trip is designed so that students immerse themselves in the culture of this community and become participants rather than spectators of a people group very different to our own. I have always dreamed of doing some kind of mission work in Africa and when this opportunity presented itself, I believed that it was not only the right time for myself but also for my daughter to give back to a community in much need. As part of the trip all students are placed with a home stay family in the outskirts of Nakuru, providing a unique glimpse into the everyday lives of these people. Mia and I were blessed to be placed in a home stay next door to the Internally Displaced People’s Village, know known as “New Canaan Village” that the school we were volunteering in had been set up by “So They Can” to service. The location of our home stay gave us an incredible insight into the people of the village, how they came to be there and the complexities they face as they rebuild their lives after post election tribal violence tore them from their homes in the Rift Valley in 2007. For the people in this village education is the key to them breaking the cycle of poverty and violence that has almost destroyed them, so us coming from Australia to educate these children is something they appreciate more than words can describe. The walk to Aberdare Ranges Primary School takes approx 40 minutes from our home stay and was one of the highlights of my day. As we walked through fields with the sun rising, we were greeted by groups of children who would hold our hands, carry our bags and sing songs in both Swahili and English. The peace and space I felt on these walks brought a freedom I will never forget and I was so grateful for that time of reflection daily to speak with God about what it was I was meant to be imparting and learning on this adventure. It was on the first day of teaching, as we were walking to school that Mia met sweet Lucy. Lucy, also 12, lives in one of only 20 remaining tents in New Canaan Village with her mother and 2 sisters. All other tents have been converted into either mud huts or timber and tin homes through donations Join the conversation online: www.christianwomanmag.com 21
Mission.
made to “Moses Building Fund”, set up by one of the Doctors that attend the trip yearly to evaluate the health of the children in both the school and children’s home. On this day walking to school Lucy held Mia’s hand and for the next two weeks rarely let go. Whilst Mia and Lucy had lived completely different lives the connection and bond they formed was an absolute gift to both girls and is not easily describable. Lucy became Mia’s interpreter when the English/Swahili language barrier occurred, her protector when she was wandering New Canaan village and her friend, which was the greatest gift of all. The first time we visited Lucy’s house was a few days after we arrived. As a group we visited New Canaan Village and Mia and I had not realised until that point that outside our home stay compound walls was Lucy’s tent. As we greeted Lucy’s mother and sisters it dawned on Mia that the 2m x 2m tent we were standing outside that was ripped and leaking was Lucy’s home. That at the end of each day as Lucy dropped us back to our home stay she went home to this tent. This realisation was completely overwhelming for both Mia and I and as tears ran down Mia’s face, the unfairness of our world struck me like never before. The only difference between these two girls was where they were born. Both 12, both in school and yet living such incredibly different lives. How was this fair? Lucy’s mother invited us in to her tent and offered us tea. As Lucy translated answers to the questions I was 22 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
asking it became apparent that whilst Lucy’s mum was trying to provide for her daughters, workdays for her were few and far between and the money she earns not nearly enough to provide her daughters with a secure home. We left Lucy’s tent feeling heart broken and over the next few days as I spent my morning walk reflecting and chatting with God the responsibility to do something for this family became entrenched in my spirit. I began to understand that whilst I had thought this trip to Africa was about Mia and I forming a closer bond, understanding a different people group and serving in a school and children’s home it was actually about being an answer to a mothers prayer and the
needs as God would respond, with love and generosity and a willingness to be a solution. I rediscovered that my Christian walk is about seizing the opportunities that cross my path and using the resources that are available to me to make a difference and create change whether that is by cooking a friend a meal or raising funds for a woman in Africa. It’s about using what God has placed in my hands to answer another’s prayers. Rather than constantly worrying about my own needs I need to be actively answering the needs of others around me and by doing so my own needs and wants shrink and a life of living generously will flow out of me organically.
...the 2m x 2m tent we were standing outside that was ripped and leaking was Lucy’s home... This realisation was completely overwhelming for both Mia and I and as tears ran down Mia’s face, the unfairness of our world struck me like never before. scripture Mark 6 v 30-33 kept ringing in my ear. Message Bible: “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in Godreality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met”. I recognised in myself that often in our western culture of plenty we become so preoccupied with our own wants and needs that we forget to listen and hear the needs of our neighbours. We forget that actually we as God’s people are called to be the answers to prayers, to be the hands and feet of God on earth, that God uses us, humans, to fulfill the prayers and needs asked of him and that we need to have listening ears and respond to those
During the next few days conversation between Mia and I centered around fundraising money to provide Lucy’s family with a house, a water tank, a self composting toilet and solar light. On our return home we began planning how we would raise funds. Mia suggested that our family could live without lighting for a week and have people sponsor us to do so. My husband and I supported this idea and set up a “My Cause” page for donations and planned the week we would live without lighting. During this journey our family has been so overwhelmed by the support we have received and we have been humbled by friends, family and strangers generosity. We have raised over $5000 and have been able to provide Lucy with a home as well as 2 other families in New Canaan Village. The homes are in the process of being built and Mia and I cannot wait to see photos of Lucy standing outside the home that so many people have helped make possible. Mia and I found coming home from an experience like this extremely difficult
YOU CAN HELP CHANGE A LIFE So They Can’s mission is to work together with communities in Africa to educate and empower, so they can break the poverty cycle, realise their own potential and meet their own needs. For more information on how you can support this community please visit their website Sotheycan.org.
and the fundraising has kept us in many ways buoyant as we are still focused and living out our experience. I think the real challenge will come in a few months time when our initial fundraising is complete, the houses built and we are caught up in the day to day of our “normal lives”. This is where the true impact of our journey will be tested. This will be when daily I remind myself to listen to the Lord and to the needs of others around me and to continue living out of the revelation of being God’s hands and feet on earth. To stop worrying about my own needs and wants and focus on the resources I have in my hand and how these can be used to answer others prayers. Mia and I talk about returning to Nakuru, Kenya daily. We cannot wait until the day we get to see our Lucy again, but for now our focus is on making people aware of how they can also partner with this community and make a difference in the lives of another by using the resources and gifts God has give them. CW
This page top left: Lucy and her mother and one of her sisters; This page above: In the classroom with Shiny shine (glitter); Opposite page: Collins and I at the children’s home
How great thou art... When through the woods and forest glades I wander And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gently breeze. Then sings my soul...
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Join the conversation online: www.christianwomanmag.com 23
Workplace.
Born for such a time as this God calls us to be a ‘light in the darkness’, so why do so many believe that ministry belongs to those working in a church or Christian organisation... ANNETTE SPURR challenges us to reconsider...
I
t’s a book that reads more like Hollywood screenplay than a bible story. Each page filled with opulence, intrigue and romance. The setting is an exotic Kingdom, resplendent with silver and gold couches on a pavement of marble and mother-of-pearl, the atmosphere drenched in aromatic spices and perfumes. But this page turner wasn’t written by a Hollywood playwright, it was written by God himself. This is the story of Esther. For centuries, scholars have debated whether her story even belongs in the bible. It’s the only book of the bible Martin Luther King refused to preach on because of God’s apparent absence. But delve a little deeper and you’ll see God’s unmistakeable hand throughout Esther’s story. She was an orphan who entered a beauty pageant… and won! Her prize was to marry the King of Persia. It’s every girl’s dream, right? But this dream-come-true came at a price and it nearly cost her life. Studying this twisted fairy tale, I recently had a fresh revelation and it blew my mind. When I first became a Christian, it seemed everyone at the church I attended was heading off to Bible College or some kind of ‘full time ministry.’ I remember feeling guilty about working in mainstream media... a seemingly shallow world of bright lights and beautiful people. I spoke to my pastor’s wife about it and her response was unsettling: ‘Well, someone has to fund these people in full time ministry, so that’s your purpose in life.’ For a while I actually believed that my raison d’etre was to donate my income to people actually doing God’s work, since I clearly was not. But I’ve come to realise that couldn’t be further from the truth. Doing some freelance work for a mainstream radio station recently, a friend sent me this message: ‘I can’t believe you’re working at that place. I had to turn it off last week because they were so rude!’ And she’s right. Mainstream media is renowned for its vulgarity and barrage of offensive song lyrics. But imagine, just for a moment, if the music director of your local radio station became a Christian; if the editor of your city’s newspaper came to church? My response to my friend was simple: ‘I’m just happy to be shining my light in this place.’ Years ago, her comment would have sent me plummeting into an ocean of guilt, but now I know I’ve been called to this 24 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
industry for such a time as this; To influence the influencers! The people who create culture and tell our children what they should believe; how they should treat women; how they should view their own worth; what matters… and what doesn’t. As I pondered my friend’s message, the on air announcer spoke into his microphone… ‘I love this next track… It’s Hozier’s ‘Take Me to Church…’’ Then he added: ‘Said no one ever!’ Hozier’s dark, soulless voice floods the airwaves, chanting the cry of a generation: Every Sunday’s getting more bleak A fresh poison each week ‘We were born sick, ‘ you heard them say it My Church offers no absolutes She tells me, ‘Worship in the bedroom.’ The only heaven I’ll be sent to Is when I’m alone with you— I was born sick, But I love it Command me to be well Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. ‘Great song,’ one of the tech guys smiles and starts nodding his head. And there I am, in a room full of people who will probably never set foot inside a church. But we chat at the coffee machine, on our lunch breaks, in the car park. I speak life at every opportunity. I don’t have a microphone… but I have a voice. Like Esther, I’ve been called to a seemingly Godless place. But like Esther, God is writing my story. Music artist Lecrae has often been criticized for breaking into the mainstream music scene but his mission his clear; during his acceptance speech this this year’s Grammy awards, Lecrae boldly declared: ‘You can’t celebrate gifts without celebrating the giver of all gifts.’ Whether you’re the Pastor of a mega church, or an accountant in a city office, you, too, have been called for such a time as this. Live purposefully and embrace your gifts and your mission field, wherever it is. God’s favour rests on you, as long as you show up for Him and like Esther, reveal your true identity (Esther 4:12-14). CW
I remember feeling guilty about working in mainstream media... a seemingly shallow world of bright lights and beautiful people. I spoke to my pastor’s wife about it and her response was unsettling: ‘Well, someone has to fund these people in full time ministry, so that’s your purpose in life.’
Annette Spurr is Creative Director at Blue Box Media, Editor at MumDaily.com.au/MomDaily.net and mother of two boys, Annette is passionate about encouraging and equipping Christians to become culture changers.
Events.
HOW TO CHOOSE CONFERENCE VENUE W
hen choosing a venue for your next meeting or conference there is more to consider than just the budget. Taking into account who is attending, from how far and how many you should plan to ask the following about any potential venue:
SUITABILITY • Does the venue fit the Church’s corporate image? • Does it give the correct impression for this particular meeting? • Will it appeal to the target audience? • Will the venue’s staff add to the attendees’ experience in a positive way? LOCATION • Is the venue easily accessible to those attending? • Does the location offer the necessary road/rail/air links? • Is the venue location suitable for any extra events/shows/excurisions that have been planned? • Is the location quiet, close enough to accommodation if required, in a safe area, etc... AVAILABILITY • Is the venue available on the dates required? • Are any extras such as equipment, accommodation, etc. available on the dates required? • How flexible are they if you have to change the meeting date? SIZE • Is the seating capacity suitable? 26 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
your checklist for planning
The following practical checklist will assist you in the planning process for selecting your next conference venue.
• Are the meeting rooms large enough to provide a comfortable experience for those attending? • Are the meeting rooms well laid out? Do they allow for good views of the speaker without any obstructions? • Does the venue allow attendees to move around without bottlenecks and delays? FACILITIES • Does the venue have a variety of rooms if required? An auditorium if necessary? Small rooms for break away meetings? • Can the venue offer a projector, electronic whiteboard, stationery, etc. • Does the venue offer wifi internet access? Do they have a photocopying/fax service? Can they make available laptops or PC if required? • Can they provide refreshments, tea/ coffee/meals? • Are vegetarians, vegans and those with specific dietary requirements catered for? • Does the venue have enough parking spaces? • Are the rooms well ventilated and temperature controlled? • Will disabled delegates be catered for? • Is there a restaurant or bar for postmeeting networking and entertainment? • Do they have sports and leisure facilities such as a pool or gym? • Can the venue also provide accommodation if required?
COST • Does the venue fall within the budget for this meeting? • What type of rates do they offer i.e.: 24 hour per delegate rate, individual room hire rate, etc... • Can they offer any discounts? • Can the price be negotiated? • Does the overall cost, all extras included, compare favourably with other offers/options (i.e.: hotel accommodation at a separate location to the meeting or dining elsewhere) • Are there hidden costs? • When is payment required? • Is a deposit required and if so how much and how far in advance? • What is their cancellation policy? Will you receive a full or partial refund? A lot of the above questions can be answered by a visit to the venue’s website and by asking for a quote. If it is a venue you have never used before you may want to ask the opinion of other Churches that have held meetings and conferences there to find out what their experience was like. If the meeting or conference is an important one you may wish to visit the venue personally to get a first hand impression of the layout, suitability and, very importantly, the attitude of the management and staff. At the end of the day you want to get the most out of your meeting and the venue you choose has to add rather than detract from the experience of those attending. So take the time to choose carefully. CW
Study. REVISED EDITION
AVAILABLE IN ALL GOOD CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORES OR VISIT www.ArkHousePress.com Join the conversation online: www.christianwomanmag.com 27
Spiritual warfare is not often spoken about but we fight a daily battle in the spiritual realm. Are you equipped for the fight? With Dannette Garza...
O
ne of my favorite weapons of Spiritual warfare is Psalm 91. Of course there is an abundance of weapons available to us in God’s word. However, one of my favorites is Psalm 91. I can recall one night when I was wrestled out of sleep by the sound of my daughter’s voice. She said, “Can you help me?” Instantly I opened my eyes and went to her. My daughter was actually sleeping in my room that night. To my surprise, she was in a very deep sleep. Then I realized that I actually heard her in the spirit. Being still so sleepy, I said a quick prayer for her and drifted back to sleep. Then a few nights later I heard her again. She had said “Mommy”. This was crystal clear and again she was sound asleep. This time I was really concerned. So, I sought the Lord. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that she was under a spiritual attack. From that time onward, I waged war for my children. Every day I made sure that I prayed for their protection. I pleaded the blood of Jesus over my children and I always asked God to surround my little ones with protective angels. Most importantly, I used my sword. The word of God is full of living power (Hebrews 4:12). When we speak the word of God out loud, the light and power of his word shatters the darkness and sends all evil running. When our Lord Jesus Christ broke the curse of the law, by his death and resurrection on the cross, he gave us the power and authority that we need to protect ourselves from all darkness and attacks. Even Isaiah prophesied about our authority in God’s word, “He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver” (Isaiah 49:2). When the Father God spoke man into creation there was power in his breath. It is so amazing to imagine the kind of power in God’s word. The Lord spoke and it was created. What an awesome power! All of that power was harnessed into Gods word. Therefore, when we speak his word, by faith we release that same power! In Psalm 91, His word says that we “will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrows that fly by day” (Ps 91:5). However notice that in verse 9 there is an “IF”. The “if” comes by faith and trust in the Lord. “If you make the Most High your dwelling” (Ps 91:9). We must believe that God has released his power and faith into his word. We must also trust in him. The Lord says we must come to him like a little children. “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). To be like a “little child” we must be able to trust and depend on God to protect us and provide for us. When my little daughter called out to me for help, she trusted me to help her. In fact she only knew to go to Mommy or Daddy when she was scared or in trouble. There is so much to be learned from the little children! A child is able to trust, a child will depend completely on his or her caregiver and a child will believe. This one word is so vital; BELIEVE. If we will only believe, all other works will come into line. Some children have such a wonder in their eyes when they see Santa Clause or hear a tale about him. Oh if only we could have such a wonder and belief in our Lord God Almighty! I trust in the Lord with all of my heart... I Believe! From 28 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night… the very beginning of our creation we were given a desire to believe his promises and to know him. He is our father. He is our super hero who saves us. In fact, he loves us so much, that he gave us all authority over all darkness. Early in my walk with Jesus, I had a night vision of Satan chasing me and pressing down on my eyes. It was so clear and vivid. He was trying to blind me and I could see my eyes clouding over. I was so very afraid! He had me pinned down on the ground and I could not move. All I could think of was to cry out to Jesus. From the depths of my soul I cried “JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!” Then I was instantly covered in peace. I knew that Jesus had helped me and saved me. I was set free! After a few months of seeking a deeper closeness with the Lord, I had another night vision. This time, Satan and his evil helpers were taking me into a chamber room intended for pain. I was shackled to a table with cold chains of iron and there was blood splattered all over from his other victims. He had told me that he would not kill me, but that he was going to cause me so much torment and pain that I would beg for death. But then, I remembered God’s promises in his word and I remembered my authority in Christ. Suddenly I was not afraid and I laughed! I said, “You have no power over me, in fact you cannot even talk to me! Get away from me now!” Instantly he was gone and I felt such a sense of victory! I praise God that I am no longer a captive! I am no longer subject to the wiles and attacks of the devil! Oh praise the Lord! The best part is that I can take what I have learned and bring protection to my children and others. Even my children know that I can protect them through Jesus. Every night they ask me to pray for them and now they are starting to pray their own warfare. If you suffer from nightmares or have fear or any other affliction that is not stemmed from the peace of God, then take action! Please begin to protect yourself with the Word of God
Warfare.
and arm yourself with the power of Jesus. If you want Jesus to come and save you, like he saved me, just come to him like a child and believe. Close your eyes and ask the Father God to help you. Ask him to show you his truth. Understand that God sent his son Jesus to earth, and he broke the curse of the law. Jesus took the keys of death from Satan. Therefore Satan has no power! Praise God! By the death of Jesus on the cross, man was given freedom from sins and power over the devil. Go to him with childlike faith and talk to your daddy in heaven.
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the Lord, who is my refuge— then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” CW Dannette Garza is a freelance writer based in the USA. She holds an Associate of Arts in Religion from Liberty University but her training is ongoing with the Holy Spirit.
By faith, I release to you the prayer of Jesus: Jesus Prays for His Disciples My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Awakening peace and love and joy Recorded Hymns, Choruses, Bible Readings and Prayers – memories from childhood
Then I encourage you to read Psalm 91 out loud. I also recommend personalizing this prayer. Although you may not see, when you speak out his word, a double edged sword will crush all evil and begin to set you free from all oppression the enemy has set around you. Psalm 91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;
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Inspiration.
The Fig Leaf of Performance Pastor, Author and Mum of three boys, KIRRLY LOWE undresses the concept of the ‘fig leaf’ and why we should remove it for healing...
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here are moments when truth hits you and instantly you can see. Then there are times, like last year, when truth must be soaked in. When a lie has become entwined in your being without you even knowing. Knitted to the fabric of who you are without your conscious permission. It goes on like a Band-Aid, or a big engulfing bandage. Quickly to cover the pain. Then it remains for years embedded into our skin until it feels like it is who we are, so enmeshed in our identity, that we forget who we really are. Then there are moments, like last year, when the Lord declares it is time to soak. Time for freedom. Time for the embedded bandages to be gently and lovingly removed in an oiled and scented bath of truth. Some of us call the lies Band-Aids. Some of us call them masks. Last year I began to call them fig leaves. The same fig leaves Adam and Eve stretched out to cover their shame in the first garden known to man. Fig leaves weren’t bad in and of themselves. They formed part of the 30 Christian Woman Autumn 2015
beautiful garden of God’s creation. They were just never meant to cover the glory of humanity. And there is this one fig leaf. It’s a big, glorified one. It’s called performance. So many of us look at it, admire it, desire it. Then in a moment of brokenness, we grab at it. We rip it off the tree to cover our broken heart. This fig leaf blocks the light, it covers the truth, it hides beauty, vulnerability and humanity. It covers, but it doesn’t heal. It momentarily looks good, but the price to keep it on is high and will eventually cost you your energy, your joy, your peace, and the unique beauty of who you are. Performance is not fruitfulness. Fruitfulness is a fruit, not a leaf. It grows from within; it’s not grabbed from without. Fruitfulness doesn’t block our identity; it oozes out from our identity, from who we are in Christ. The fig leaf of performance must be removed so fruitfulness comes forth. It hurts. When a fig leaf is entwined in our nature, there are wounds under-
neath. Old wounds, raw wounds. The Lord will only strip the fig leaf when He is intent on healing. When it is time for the raw open wounds, to be soothed, cleansed and healed. Freedom and truth on the other side of the pain. Battling to trust Him with my wounds, I allow Him to peel off the fig leaf of performance. I scream a little, shrink back more than a little, but ultimately surrender to His work. Knowing there is one tree that won’t just cover my wounds, but will absorb my wounds, heal my wounds, transform my wounds. Not a tree from the first garden, but a tree from the second garden. The tree of the cross. The only tree we are called to run and hide in. I run in, and I feel its power. My wounds aren’t covered. They are absorbed. I let go of the leaves, I step out from behind the other trees, and I smell freedom. CW
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