On my soapbox--feminism

I do not like feminism. I think it is lie of the enemy used to undermine family, church and society.

I didn't used to be so gung-ho. There was a time when I thought it might be okay for a woman to be a pastor as long as she wasn't a senior pastor. I thought if a woman wanted to be in the army, let her fight alongside the men if she wanted to. A little boy unwilling to wrestle a little girl was probably afraid of losing to the girl.

You see. I've been there.

God's brought me along a path to where I am now, but it wasn't always a pleasant path.

A few resources God used were:

• Above Rubies--it offers a free magazine, newsletter, yahoo group, blogs, retreats and more. 
• Eternal Encouragement--it now has a free digital magazine, Lorrie's blog and products, and FB group.
• The Way Home: Beyond Feminism, Back to Reality--This book was written by Mary Pride of homeschool fame. Pride, who was a staunch, second wave feminist, shares her story and the truth behind the feminist agenda. While there a few things in the book I don't agree with, most of it was eye-opening and convicting.

Not everyone agrees with my new understanding, however. Even godly women that I respect have issues with my anti-feminism agenda.

Therefore, it was nice to see an article distributed by Answers in Genesis which I thought was spot on.
Does history hold a bias against women? Members of the radical feminist movement seem to think so. Radical feminism has had incredibly destructive effects on marriage and the family—and its influence has also been felt on the church. Evangelical feminism teaches an egalitarian view of marriage and roles in the church, to the point where passages that clearly teach male headship are reinterpreted, explained away, or ignored altogether. As a result, many men are abdicating or being forced out of their God-given roles as heads of their households and as leaders in the church. The negative effects of this kind of postmodern thinking have led to serious attacks on the authority of God’s Word.
Read the full article HERE.

Creating Contentment--review

This month, my Gabby Mom review is a new seminar series that Lorrie Flem of Eternal Encouragement is doing. 

The first seminar was Creating Contentment. It was great to watch this cool PowerPoint presentation while Lorrie spoke. It was almost like seeing her in person. The slides were colorful and held your attention.

Lorrie spoke on the need for contentment and gives 14 ways to gain contentment. She ends with a heartfelt entreaty about contentment in marriage.

I was able to watch it live and it was nice, BUT because I could watch the whole thing again and it really ministered to me the the area of disciplining my daughter. I need to be content that the challenges I'm facing are approved by God for His glory and my (and mija's) good. Contentment vs. pulling my hair out in frustration...hmmm, which should I choose? 

Oh, and please understand that I don't mean being content with my daughter's poor behavior. I mean being content dealing with the challenges of it.

Right now, you can get a great deal on this recorded seminar. Regularly, it will be $6.00, but you can get this one for only $3.00! Remember, that includes your own copy of the slides Lorrie used and access to watch the seminar whenever you want as many times as you want!

 You can also pre-purchase the next seminar which is True Womanhood is not for Wimpy Women. Unlike Creating Contentment, you won't be able to watch this one live but instead will access to the pre-recorded seminar and all the slides and literature that goes along with it. It will be available on or before March 15 and is on sale for $6.00.

So check out these seminars you can watch in your pjs. Watch them as many times as you want. Print out a copy of one of the slides to post as an encouragement. 
Create some contentment and then avoid being a wimpy woman! 

I received Creating Contentment for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

What's on my reading list?

God apparently has a lot for me to learn because He's placed a lot of things on my reading list.  I thought I'd share what I'm reading.  Maybe it will give you some ideas!


Remember "Those who lead read!"


First, I'm attempting to finish this book.  I say attempting because I can only deal with it small chunks at a time before it gets too convicting!

Love to Eat Hate to Eat
Elyse Fitzpatrick

The book group I attend is reading this book.  It's easy to read but hard to hear!  Convicting again.  (And I either want to call the author Jackie Chan or Francis Schaeffer!)

Crazy Love
Francis Chan

Our adult Sunday school is splitting into men and women to study Biblical manhood and womanhood.  This is the book the ladies will be going through.

The Excellent Wife
Martha Pearce

I'm reading this book for a long overdue book review, so be looking for the review here on my blog!

The Pregnancy Companion
Jessica Wolstenholm and Dr. Heather Rupe

My next book review will be this book for Multnomah Books.

Secure Daughters Confident Sons
Glenn T. Stanton

Now, mija wanted in on the action and asked me to share what books she's currently reading!


She's been reading:

For American Girl Club this month the selection is:

Lastly, we just beginning to try Total Language Plus for all of our language arts.  Our first selection is:

Have you read any of these?  What were your thoughts?  Any suggestions?

Linked to:
  

Are you Exhausted, Irritable, and Overwhemed?



I actually did fall asleep reading
to my daughter last week!!

There was a hilarious movie back in the 70s in which the vixen lamented in her best Marlene Dietrich voice,

"...I'm tired. Tired of playing the game.  Ain't it a crying shame?  I'm tired..."

The whole thing is hysterical!!

But when you really feel that way...not so hilarious.  I know from personal experience and even my friends deal with it sometimes, as well.

So, I was excited when I found out my Gabby Mom review this month was a new video by Lorrie Flem entitled, "From Exhausted, Irritable, and Overwhelmed to an Energized and Fulfilled Woman of God."  It's a new resource from Eternal Encouragement.

Now that's an extreme makeover I need!

I figured it would be fun to share it with another mom who is in the trenches with me, so I invited a friend. 

The video is an hour long and FULL of meat.  Of course, it took us about 3 hours to watch it thanks to getting some cheesecake, children going in and out, making the speakers work, getting more cheesecake, and actually taking breaks to talk about what Lorrie just said.  I actually think it was beneficial to take breaks because there was so much information covered.

So, don't get exhausted while watching the video.  Take a break or two.

Now, if I attempted to share everything from this hour long video, it might make you feel overwhelmed, so I won't do that.  Lorrie takes you step-by-practical-step to find REAL REST.  The video comes with a viewers guide which also makes it easier to keep track of the steps Lorrie shares.

 

Usually, my reviews for Gabby Moms is all positive, but I do have a little warning.  I want to warn you so it doesn't make you irritable.

First of all, Lorrie has a heart for hope and encouragement.  That's why her ministry is called Eternal Encouragement.  She has sooooo many resources for so many of our day-in-day-out challenges and growth issues, and she wants to share that help and encouragement with us.

For that reason, throughout the video, Lorrie mentions other resources she has.  Her reasons are to help, but it kind of comes across a little "commercial-ly" and distracting.  But please remember, Lorrie is only trying to point out that Eternal Encouragement has resources that will help in many of the challenges we face.

My friend and I really enjoyed our afternoon with Lorrie Flem.  If you want some help in changing from "exhausted, irritable, and overwhelmed" to "an energized & fulfilled woman of God," just click HERE.  It's $19.97.

Watch it by yourself or grab a friend and enjoy fellowship with each other around the Word.  Cheesecake optional!



I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review.

Don't take a bath & other things I learned from 5 R's of Godly Womanhood

Don't take a bath.



That is only one  of the many pearls of wisdom I gained this month from listening to Godly Womanhood: The 5 R's for Homeschool Moms by Lorrie Flem.  I reviewed the first 2 R's of this Eternal Encouragement resource last month.  This month I gleaned from the last 3 R's which are Refine, Rejuvenate and Rest.

The set includes 5 MP3s and 5 e-books and is available for $24.97 HERE at Eternal Encouragement. 

Why don't you go purchase it now while I wait for you?

Back?

Good. 

While you were gone, I learned to view my housekeeping as a God given career and plan to improve it. 

That was definitely a challenge to me.  I've often used homeschooling as an excuse for my messy house.  In fact, a friend credits this fact to the safety of her home. Awhile back, they awoke to find their front door broken in. Nothing was taken, however. She thought nothing was stolen because the thieves didn't want to deal with the chaos in her living room!

True story.

But Lorrie challenged me to not accept where it is but to plan on improving my performance just like someone who works in a career outside of the home would do.

Then in Rejuvenate, Lorrie taught about CRIJ.  It can be a challenge to get all four elements together in my own obedience! When it comes to mija, well sometimes I might get CRI but no J, but on a really bad day I may only get a C.  Then sometimes, I don't know if because she's sanguine or because she's a blonde, but C and I go out the window leaving only an attempt at R and J.

I'm sure you'll understand better when you listen to Rejuvenate for yourself.


In Rest, I learned that for my rest tomorrow, I have to work today. Lorrie taught me there is a lot more to resting than just attempting to get time alone.
Which reminds me.

Don't take a bath.

I received a complimentary copy of the 5 R's of Godly Womanhood as part of The Gabby Moms in exchange for my honest review.

New Youth Curriculum on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

New Youth Curriculum on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood



Children Desiring God has come with a new study about biblical manhood and womanhood for junior and senior high students.  It includes powerpoint presentations and student journals

Go to the link for a video and more information.