Monday, September 29, 2014

Anemic Women of the Christian Faith


Update: Many readers have found this post harsh. I can understand this. Please know, I consider this for myself first. We must take the Lord's word in it's entirety. While his love and grace cover all our sins, neither does He expect us to stay in our elementary knowledge of Him. We are to grow and mature. In order to do so we must take the saltiness of His word with the sweetness. If we do not, we are in danger of no longer being the salt of His earth.

You are dear to me. The reason I wrote these words is because they have me written all over them. I tend to be most firm on subjects that I see myself in. Please read the comments and add your thoughts. Blessings!

Today's Christianity rarely sees women worthy of being praised.

Oh, they get it all right. 

They get praised for getting their sweet, darling little selves to church on time with the whole family in coordinating outfits. They are praised for participating in Bible studies, teaching Sunday school, or any other thing that people see and deem good.

Nothing wrong with that. Part of every woman wants to know her efforts are appreciated.

But, most Christian women have been pumped so full on this sugary sweet, foo-foo-ey type praise, they've started believing that soaking up and gushing out praises coated with syrup in high pitched tones for no reason other than showing her face, is normal.

As a result, they get their heads stuck so far up in the clouds, feeding on marshmallows of “you're just so precious!” and bon-bons of “how sweet and darling can you be?!” type of stuff, that they've become anemic in their faith.

They've become weak. Not just weak, but weak-willed as well. They have no backbone when it comes to their faith. They've become wishy-washy, lackluster. They exude feeble character. They buckle and fall apart like a dandelion head at the first poof of wind.




They've become ineffectual, ill-equipped to cope with any situation that might mean standing firm in their faith. Not only are they ill-equipped, they've become flat out insipid, lacking an interest in growing the faith they do have. They just like knowing everything is sweet and lovely and kind and generous and....foo-foo-ey. They have no conviction, no desire, no hunger for the one true God.

They just sit there on their fine little fanny growing more and more anemic with each passing day.

If you're that kind of woman, I'll tell you what I told thousands of women here: It's time you grow up. It's time you open that word of God and start getting a feel for what is real. You start feeding and feasting on God's unending buffet, complete with free refills of His living water. Then you order up yourself a good dose of “test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind” (Psalm 26:2) and you pray for the courage to live in full reliance on His faithfulness.

For now, we are going to look at examples of women who are not anemic. Exceptional women who are worthy of being praised. Exceptional women just doing every day life in every day ways.

  1. The mom who bravely submits to homeschooling her children when it would be so much easier to send them to school.
  2. The wife who works long hard hours beside her husband establishing their family business.
  1. The mother up all night holding her child through a sickness.
  1. The mother who sits beside her child's hospital bed, day in and day out.
  1. The grandmother raising her grandchildren.
  1. The teenage girl who chooses to keep her child.
  1. The wife who bravely forsakes her family, friends and all things familiar to follow her husband and his vision, which he is fully persuaded holds much more promise than that of staying where they are.
  1. The widow or single mom raising up little ones to be mighty arrows.
  1. The wife who forgives her husband's infidelity the first time...the second time...the third time...
  2. The mother who buried her child before his or her time.
  3. The missionary wife and mother. 
  4. The chronically ill woman.
  5. Think of that one woman you would name far from having an anemic faith. Put her name here_______.

What makes her exceptional?

Is it the circumstances placed upon her? Maybe she's still young, so could it be her vitality? Maybe she's experienced a lot in life? Or maybe she hasn't been knocked down quite as many times? Maybe its just her personality, you think?

Or maybe she's an exceptional woman because she nurtures a not so anemic faith.

She's not afraid of taking a stand for the right.
She's not afraid of getting her hands dirty, stained and calloused.
She's not afraid of being tired.
She's not afraid of being lonely.
She's not afraid of doing more than her share.
She's not afraid of what people say.

She just knows right here and right now, in her present situation, she has a God who sustains her. She has a God who promises a hope and a future to the faithful. And she has set her mind to being faithful till her very last breath.

She knows her God is far from anemic Himself, and because He made her in His likeness she can stand tall and strong, laughing at the days to come. Laughing at whatever breeze or gale may come storming her way. She doesn't run in fear or cower under the enemy's threats like women with an anemic faith do.

She bravely calls for her God. He answers her and He makes her bold. Then He finishes with a flourish, dousing her with an ample supply of stoutheartedness.



She digs in and does what needs to be done to the amazement of those around her. Some laugh at her. Some scorn. Some betray. Many wonder, certain she has fallen off her rocker or will be falling soon.

Yet, she stands tall and strong. She squares her shoulders, bravely marching on with her sword of truth and sheild of faith, head held high and her eyes glued to the prize He holds for His exceptional, stouthearted women of the faith.

Listen, she's not exceptional because she's not scared. She's probably scared out of her mind.

She's exceptional because she is not anemic. She's not complacent. She's not weak.


She's exceptional because she's far from being anemic in her faith.  >>tweet this<<


"So, because you are lukewarm-
neither hot nor cold-
I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
~ Revelation 3:16 ~



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's coffee time!
Go here to take a virtual coffee break
for your homemaker's heart!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Sharing with.... The Modest Mom Blog, What Joy is Mine, Create with Joy, Mom's The Word, Salt & Light, The Beauty in His Grip, Proverbs 31 Wife, Soul Survivor, Mrs. Aok, Strangers and Pilgrims, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, The Life of Faith, She Lives Free, The Wellspring, A Mama's Story, Life in Balance, Nourishing Joy, My joy filled life, Cornerstone Confessions, Time-warp Wife, Teaching What Is Good, Rich Faith Rising, Diamonds in the Rough, Chronically Content, God's Growing Garden, Pig & Dac, Raising Homemakers, Juana Mikels, My daily Walk in His Grace, Holley Gerth, Woman2Woman, Messy Marriage, Wake up Wed, Rachel Wojnarowski, So Much At Home, WholeHearted Home, Our Life on A Budget, Meredith Bernard, A Wise Woman Builds Her House, Yes they are all Ours, Becoming a Godly Wife, Serving Joyfully, 3D Lessons for Life, Graced Simplicity, Imparting Grace, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Creative K Kids, 7Days Time, Christian mommy Blogger, Simple moments stick, The Missional Call, Essential Devotions, Missional women, A Look at the Book, Counting my Blessings

Featured at...
Today I'm sharing my favorite 5 posts that I've read over the last month.

*This is in no way meant to hurt women who struggle with the physical health issue of anemia. This comes from one who has struggled with anemia in the past. Bless you!


21 comments :

  1. Kaylene, all I can say is awesome! This is one of your best post yet! Girl you should write a book for all us struggling Christian women out there. God bless you my friend. I miss you, but am glad I can still stay in touch thru your blog. Have a wonderful week! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh my!!! Your statement about standing with your husband when it goes against everyone else in your life. WOW!! I've had to do that with mine and I felt guilty. Extremely guilty because we both stand beside God and others don't. I was thinking for so long that I was in the wrong. But not now. What a post.!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You, dear one, are never wrong when standing by your husband. NEVER. I too, have been made feel wrong over and over again for standing by my man. It's nothing short of the work of the enemy of your soul, your marriage, your very life. Don't go there! You are never wrong when standing with him in Jesus. EVER.
      Stand by him! Fight for him! Fight along side him! & don't you stop! Blessings!

      Delete
  3. Excellent thoughts. I'm thankful to have come across your blog and look forward to reading more! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shonya!!! You blog?? How did I not know this?!! So excited to read your writings! Blessings, dear sister!

      Delete
  4. Thank you for encouraging women to get in the Word! Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think we should extend the same sympathy & compassion to those who have spiritual anemia. In all honestly, all of us are anemic except for the grace of God! We certainly want to motivate others to be doers as well as hearers of the Word. I want to be a sheep at the end of the age; visiting the sick & those in prison, clothing & feeding the needy! I don't want to be the "goat", doomed to hell because I didn't put faith into action. I appreciate this post Kaylene. Love & prayers, in Jesus, Cynthia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen to "we are all anemic except for the grace of God." When I look at some women & know their stories, I wonder if I could have done what they did. I'm so appreciative of strong, exceptional women. They are such an encouragment to those of us who have a long way to grow. Blessings!

      Delete
  6. Kaylene, I appreciate your heart in pursuing excellence as a woman of God. I also say that it's hard to really judge if a woman is "anemic" on the outside, without knowing her heart and walking around in her shoes. There may be many things going on in her home that we don't see. I believe these women need compassion, sympathy, prayer, and love.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely they do! Often exceptional women of faith do look like they "have it all together". I've found those who do look like that, have often survived odds that most don't. They have experienced His great grace, fully rely on it & keep an eternal perspective that I long to grasp myself. I am blessed to know numerous women who continue to spur me on, longing to grow as they have grown. Thank you for reading and commenting, Betsy!

      Delete
  7. I can appreciate your list of exceptional women... I call them the strong, brave women who toughed out life's circumstances with their sturdy faith in God. My grandmother's where both such women. I pray for that strength daily... Thank you for sharing on the Art of Home-Making Mondays this week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A sturdy faith in God...I love the visual that brought to mind!

      Delete
  8. It is true we can all fall “anemic” in our faith, Kaylene. I know I have gone through seasons in this state…and I don’t even know that it’s possible not to. Which makes me even more thankful for my God that never moves and always takes me back even when I move away and fall short. So very thankful that His grace is sufficient even then. Blessings to you in your efforts to encourage in this place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Meredith. I know many reading this will find it judgemental & harsh. That being said, neither is it easy to discourage complacency effectively with the sweet gentle words we are so familiar with. Revelation 3:16 says complacent people are in danger of being spit out of His mouth. While writing this I had an excessive amount of conviction poured out onto my head, to the point I felt mostly hypocritical. Yet was so convicted that since I fall into the trap of complacency & anemia so fast, due to the cushioned feel of our western culture, I'm probably not the only one. It is impossible to put a finger on an anemic faith beyond ourselves due to His great grace & the continual teaching of His Spirit. Praise be to God!

      Delete
  9. You, my darling Kaylene, are feisty. And I like it. It REALLY makes me think (and sometimes convicts me.) I think you are right-- I mean shoot, just look at the stuff people are praised for online? It is nuts. Thanks for being bold and sharing this absolute truth. You rock.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Amen to every word! My Mom and grandmothers were strong in their faith and were models of who I want to be!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Kaylene, I just found your blog and wanted to tell you how encouraged I am to find another woman hungry to tell the truth - and truth we need to hear. I like that you put the note at the beginning of the post too - to remind us readers that there is some hard stuff we need to hear sometimes in order to keep growing. In Colossians 1:25, 28 Paul says we are stewards of God's Word and we are to make it fully known (fully!), and that we are to proclaim Jesus warning and teaching. So I appreciate your honesty.

    Excited to explore more of your thoughts!

    Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kaylene, your words sound harsh at first glance, but that is just because our society is so used to a sugar-coated faith. Jesus said some pretty harsh things, too. It's not because He was unloving, but because He loves fervently, passionately, and zealously. I think that you are showing the same kind of love with words some would see as harsh. I would hate nothing more than to hear Jesus call me lukewarm or for Him to say, "depart from me. I do not know you." I see the same love in your words that Jesus had behind His. Thank you for being willing to step out in faith and speak the truth in love. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  13. It's good to challenge each other like this, and "anemic faith" is a great way to put it. I was really encouraged by this post and your replies to the comments! Thanks for joining the Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you so much for sharing this heartfelt real post and linking it up to the Salt & Light Link Up. I am featuring it at this week's link up on my blog. <3 Misty

    ReplyDelete