Wednesday, July 4, 2007

What Does the Bible Say About CWM's?

Hi everyone. At least once a month or more I receive emails asking me exactly what does the Bible say about CWM's. I finally decided to write an article about that subject. The article is posted on the home page of www.christianworkingmom.com. Read the article and let me know what you think.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm grateful for your encouragement as a Christian working mom. I have one comment about your article, as well as your entire website. Do you have an editor? I don't mean to be critical, but the grammar, spelling, and puntuation make your articles and posts very difficult to read. Just something for you to consider. Thanks again for your ministry.

Anonymous said...

re: working outside of the home
When I got married I did not want to "work" at a job and when I started to have my children I did stay at home for 5 years. But the Lord used our financial situation and lack of food to get me to do His will. That would be to work at a job.
James 4: 13 - 17
13 - Now listen, you who say, "Today, or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."
14 - Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
15 - Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will we will live and do this or that."
16 - As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil
17 - Anyone, then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

It is only by God's will that we should live, whether it be working or not. We are sinning if we are not doing God's will for our particular lives.

Coach Kimberly said...

Anonymous, thanks for the verses in James. You are right that the best place to be is in God's will and that will look different for each person.

Ann I appreciate your comment. No, I don't have an editor. This website and ministry is ran on a shoestring budget. My style is conversational and speaking from the heart. Forgive any errors you find and I will try to be more diligent in my writing.

Shanna said...

I just want to say thank you. I have been having such a hard time of this. My son is 9 mths old and I miss him so much. I just want to do the right thing by him.

Anonymous said...

shanna~ I just posted on the other open comment also, but I just want to say again that I "have felt your pain" =o)

This has been a good site for support. You are already doing right by your son just in your concern for him.

kimberly~ THANK YOU FOR THE ARTICLE!! I am usually an "editor" myself!! Hahaha I am one of those who always finds tying errors in the paper, BUT this hit my heart so much that I didn't even notice any errors!! =o) Thanks for all you do!

Anonymous said...

oops. I forgot that was "me"~

jenlon =o) Sorry I still haven't gotten this signed up correctly so that my name will show up~

Coach Kimberly said...

Thanks Jenlon for your kind words and your wise advice for Shana, they are greatly appreciated.

Shanna said...

Thank you for your words. I am a 36 year old woman who waited later in life to have a child. When I thought I could never have a child God gave my son. He is not 9 months old. He is the love of my life. What hurts me the most is that I feel that I am not there for him like I should be. I just can not seem to get over the pain of leaving him.

Coach Kimberly said...

Shanna,

God certainly answers prayers and did with your son. What a wonderful testimony. Know your son knows and loves you all ready. I pray that it will get easier for you.

Anonymous said...

Hi Everyone,
Bear with me, I still have to figure out how to put my username instead of anonymous. I have been posting in the open blog section.

Thanks so much for that article you wrote, I found it to be very comforting and confirming to what the Lord has been speaking to me as I've come back to work, first part-time and now I will be full-time.

I just wanted to also share one verse that I have in my office that comforts me when I'm at work. Ephesians 2:8 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

I know it's hard to overcome the mommy-guilt and fear of harming your kids from being at work, since I experience that too, but the Bible also says that the sheep know the shepherds voice. I wonder if others of you have felt as I have, the difficulty in feeling called to do something that seems to go against beliefs that were thought to be Biblical, but are really just part of the American Christian/moral subculture.

God's ways are not our ways. The enemy is right behind our shoulder trying to condemn us. God never leaves us and more than that, what a blessing that He has opened doors for further blessing for us and our family through fulfilling work and provision.

One last thing, Coach Kimberly, I appreciate your informal conversational approach. I really need that right now, I'm not looking for perfection, but a godly friend and support group. Thanks for all you invest into this website. I can't believe I feel such support from "strangers". I really don't get into "chatting" online or blogging etc, this is the only site I go to for that. God Bless, trevormama

Coach Kimberly said...

Hi Trevormama,

Thanks for your wise words and your kinds words. We are not "strangers" we are sisters in Christ. I do know what you mean. Again, I can't wait to meet you all in heaven if it doesn't happen here first. One point you made that I think is so important when you talked about is it Biblical or the American moral subculture. I'm more and more convicted each day to live according to what the Bible says and not what church tradition is, etc. We have to live by what the Bible tells us to do and the book of Jude warns about false teachers. I think we have to be on guard when listening to Christian leaders. Sometimes what they say sounds good but if it isn't based in Scripture then it is wrong. Sorry to get on my soapbox. Thanks for blogging with us. I love learning from other women. God can speak through all of us and use in our workplaces. We can share our faith with people our pastor will never meet. Thanks again for taking time to share.

Anonymous said...

Hey there,
I've had two ideas floating around in my mind that I'd love to have additional comments on:
1. If you are working full-time outside the home and your husband is at home with the young children, are you still in the position of "submission"? I think I am because, it is by my husband's request that I am out working, but I also fear that the shear position that I'm in will cause me to be more in authority.??

2. In the Bible after the fall of Adam and Eve, the curse for the man is to work, and the curse of the woman is childbirth, can anyone shed any light on that? My thoughts are that both Adam and Eve were working the garden before the sin, so work by itself is a good thing, but that maybe after the fall, Adam is the one who ultimately is responsible.??? And if that is true then how does that fit into my situation. I'm just trying to battle my own feelings right now, and wondered how others might wrestle with this stuff.
Thanks! trevormama

Coach Kimberly said...

Hi Trevormama,

Thanks for asking some important questions. Recently, we did a study of Ephesians in my Sunday School class. Yes, I think you are still submissive to your husband if you are the one working. Also, he may need it now more than ever if he is not working. Ultimately, I think the point we as women often miss in submission is can we be submissive to God to trust that God is working through our husbands? If I can trust that God is leading my husband then it is easier for me to submit. Submission does not mean the husband makes all the decisions, but if there is a difference in opinion ultimately the buck stops with him and he has to have the tie breaker vote. Also, I think it is so important for us to pray for our husbands and God's direction in their lives.

I think the big sin by Adam and Eve was listening to the lie of Satan (which still works today) you can be your own god. If you eat of this tree you will have knowledge. We all want to be our own god and in control. Adam and Eve really didn't have to work before the fall, because the food was plentiful. Also, God put both Adam and Eve together to be in the garden and be over it. We see after the fall men and women competing for control and authority. I'm not sure the fact that Adam was told to work and Eve would have pain in childbirth translates into who should work and not.

One more thing when we become married the Bible says the two become one. So, no matter who is working you are doing that as a couple that is one united by God. Your husband is taking care of the children and you are working. Together you are both meeting the needs of the family. You said you are battling your own feelings. Are those feelings yours, what others have said, or God. I don't think you will find any scripture condemning what you are doing for your family. You and your husband are meeting the needs of your family and working as one.

I don't know if any of that made sense, but I hope I was able to help some.