Only Knowing What is Good

Genesis 3:5, "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Genesis 3:7, "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew..."

Adam and Eve got what they wanted: an intimate knowledge of both good and evil. However, that was not what God intended for them, which is the reason He originally commanded them not to eat of the fruit of that fateful tree. When they disobeyed God, the experience of good and evil accompanied the knowledge. Thus, the serpent had persuaded Eve to take a bite based on a half-truth, and the results were disastrous.

God knows that the knowledge of evil is not necessary for a Christian's life. If we get to know God's Truth thoroughly, we will recognize evil at a glance. We do not have to study evil in order to understand it. Romans 16:19 teaches the point and the benefits of it very well, "But I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly."

The "real world" that we live in is the domain of the Father of Lies. Our children are exposed to things in our culture that tempt them to be swayed from the Truth according to God's Word. Although the following "Lie" may seem logical at first glance, when we take it through the process that we have learned, we begin to see the folly in it.

The Lie: Children Need To Get Exposed To The 'Real World' So That They Can Learn To Function In It.

The Process:

Realize...Satan's original tempation appealed to Eve's desire of wanting to have the knowledge of good and evil.

Reflect...In what areas must your children tolerate some evil in order learn good?

Respond...Make sure your household library contains entertainment and education that is edifying to the spirit.

Our challenge, then, as Christian women is to not allow ourselves or our children to be molded by the culture of the world. I would caution you at this point not to look around and compare yourself with others. Instead, go to the Lord and ask Him what He would have you do. You will be blessed as you endeavor to walk in the Spirit and to keep yourself unspotted from the world. (See James 1:27.)

I think that this Bible Study has changed some ways I have thought in the past. I am praying for each of you and asking the Lord to show you how He has revealed truth and brought freedom to you, that you might thank Him and praise Him for progress.

Love, Karen

For Such is the Kingdom of Heaven

For the past several years, the media, public education, and certain secular organizations have slowly and methodically indoctrinated the world into a certain belief system that is absolutely opposite of what God's Word teaches. These have crept into the teachings of the Christian community, and we have accepted and finally embraced them as if the Lord Jesus Himself gave them to us. We must never forget that the father of lies is the prince of this world. His program propagates killing and destroying, and so he would certainly not encourage childbirth, as taught by Jesus in John 10:10, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Jesus teaches more about children in Luke 18:15-17, "They also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.'"

When we observe a little child displaying faith in the smallest way, we are attracted to it. We think it is cute and sweet when a little one announces that it will not rain today because he asked God for sunshine. Isn't it amazing to you that the Lord desires our faith to be like that of a child?

It does not matter what the subject is, the Lord wants His children to trust Him. This is not and will never be taught in the secular arena. If you have been exposed to the way of thinking that is contrary to God's way, then "be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)

Do not succomb to believe whatever your neighbor or co-worker believes. Believe in the Lord. His ways are true and right, and you will never be disappointed because He is faithful.

Love, Karen

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house,
they labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
for so He gives His beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
so are the children of one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
they shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

In this well-known Psalm, King Solomon tells of the senselessness of life without God. Whether building a house or building a family, he shows us that the Lord must be the foundation.

As a husband and a wife build a home together, they will consider their future children. When this couple seeks the Lord, they will soon realize God's design for family has everything to do with His view of children.

The world insists that children are a liability, and the more you have, the more hardship they represent. However, the Lord God, the Maker of all things, declares that children are indeed a blessing. This means that children in your family are rich assets, and God will benefit your life as you welcome them.

Lord, I want to view children the way You do. Search my heart, Lord, and if there is any thought contrary to Your view, change me. I want to love all children because I realize that every one is a precious gift from You. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Love, Karen

What is the Truth of the Matter?

Many years ago, God created marriage between a man and a woman, and He intended for it to be an institution of sweet intimacy, meaningful fellowship, and lasting commitment. The serpent interrupted God's design by tempting Eve to disobey, and as we all know, she ate the fruit and induced Adam to join her. Thus was Satan's first assault, and it was on the marriage.

Today, Satan's main objective has not changed. His purpose is to destroy your marriage, and his first step is to plant the thought that divorce is a better option than staying in an unhappy marriage. If this thought is not recognized as a lie and rejected, then before long it is acted upon.

The purpose of this Bible study is for women to be made aware of the Lies we are told everyday. With our eyes wide open, we can be wise to the schemes of the devil, and we do not have to live our lives in ignorance. The Truth dwells in the Word of God, and when we receive it, the Holy Spirit will quicken it in our spirits that we might be set free from the lies we have believed concerning our wedded state.

Come with me and search the Scriptures:

Genesis 2:21-24
"And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place, then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; he shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.' Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."

Malachi 2:13-16
"And this is the second thing you do: you cover the alter of the Lord with tears, with weeping and crying; so He does not regard the offering anymore, nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, 'For what reason?' Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

'For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence,' says the Lord of hosts. 'Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.'"

Mark 2:2-10
"The Pharisees came and asked Him, 'Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?' testing Him.

And He answered and said to them, 'What did Moses command you?'

They said, 'Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.'

And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

We find reinforcement in the Word of God that marriage is God's idea. We also find that we must be committed to permanence. Is there a lingering idea in the back of your mind that tells you that divorce is an option? Maybe you are entertaining the notion that when your children grow up, then divorce is possible. These ideas are directly contrary to God's design for you.

The Truth of the Matter is:

Marriage is a lifelong covenant. There is no marriage that God cannot heal. There is no person God cannot change. God's grace is sufficient, even in the most difficult or extreme circumstances.

May you find true joy and peace with the knowledge of His Word.

Love, Karen

Practice Waiting on the Lord

Question of the Day

When a woman determines to wait on the Lord rather than taking the reins (in her marriage), what blessings could result in her life?

Whenever we open our Bibles with a sincere desire to search and find the Lord's heart in a matter, He allows us to see Him and to discover His truth. Deuteronomy 4:29 informs us clearly, "But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul."

Based on this promise, we are going to study the following Bible passages in order to find an answer to our question of the day:

Isaiah 40:31, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Psalms 27:7-8, 14, "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, Lord, I will seek.' Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! "

1 Peter 3:4, "...rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands."

Jeremiah 17:7, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord."

The Lord God, the One Who loves each of us unconditionally, allows different circumstances into our lives that affect us deeply. Many times, we cannot do one thing about them on our own, even though we tend to want to rush to find a remedy. We try on our own to relieve the situation, but we realize that by ourselves, and with our strength, there is absolutely nothing we can do. This is when we fall on our knees and cry out to the One Who owns the solution to our problem. However, it is surprising how many times the Lord answers our prayers with, "Wait on Me."

Many of us have discovered that we can apply this Truth to our marriage. Are you now or have you been faced with a trial? Perhaps you have cried out to God, and His response seems to indicate that you should do nothing but wait. As you have read, the Bible has much to say about the blessings we all receive by waiting on the Lord. You see, as you wait on God, you are in reality allowing the Lord to work in your husband's life without interference from you. It is true that this practice requires much patience on the part of the wife, but that is part of the blessing. The inner strength a wife needs, such as patience, diligence, and endurance produces faith, which is from the Lord.

If you have found yourself with the "reins" of your marriage in your hands, perhaps it is time to give them to the Lord. The Lord will give them back to your husband, which is where they belong.

And now it is time to wait...

...but you can do it! God has already given you the grace to obey Him. He will not let you down because He is faithful to fulfill His promises.


Love, Karen

Clearing Up A Misconception

The Father of Lies lures our minds away from Biblical thinking by framing foolish arguments as seen from his point of view. He persuades us to side with the world's thinking, and before long we become militant and angry. For example, somehow our enemy has convinced women of the "truth" of the following equation:

Submissive Wife = An undesirable position

You and I should know differently, because our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated true submission by His life. As Christian women, we are privileged to have this example revealed to us from the Word of God. This is a good time to be reminded as we search out the Truth now. We are looking for Scriptural examples of "submission."

Matthew 20:28, "...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Jesus gave His disciples an entirely new thought. His mission was to serve others and to give His life away, and He taught others to do the same.

John 13:1-5, "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded."

Christ was a wonderful teacher, and used various means to teach His disciples the truths of His Kingdom. One method He used to instruct was by example. He has actually shown us what it means to serve others by girding himself and using a towel to wash the feet of His disciples in the same way a household servant would in those days. He was fully aware of His position as the Son of the Father in Heaven, yet he made Himself lower, submitted Himself, for the sake of His disciples. This is love.

Philippians 2:5-7, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."

Jesus did not give up His position of deity, but He set aside His high standing to make Himself of little regard. He did not relinquish anything, but neither did He demand recognition. As a result, He transformed our thinking by showing us a more excellent way.

And so, I believe there exists a much better equation that describes our view of submission in our marriage:

Submissive Wife = A Position Most Desired

Don't you agree?

Love, Karen

Desiring Only What God Wants for My Life

The author of Psalm 106 writes a song of national repentance as the people return from the Babylonian captivity. It is a summary of man's sinfulness from the beginning of the Exodus. In the wilderness, the children of Israel were so intent on getting the food and water they wanted that they became blind to what God wanted for them. They were more concerned about immediate physical gratification than long-lasting spiritual satisfaction. They did not want what was best for them, and they refused to trust in God's care and provision.

We will focus on the following three verses as they apply to our Bible study today:

Verse 13-15, "They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul."

We have all heard the warning, "Be careful what you pray for because you just might get it!" This caution may become more meaningful in the light of the above Scripture. We must ask ourselves if we have been "twisting God's arm" regarding any of the petitions we are bringing to Him. If we complain long enough, He may give us what we want, even if it is not good for us.

However, something interesting happens when we take our eyes off of our own desires. We are actually able to see the physical and spiritual needs of those that the Lord has positioned around us. This new eye-view causes us to see and to place others' needs before our own. Isaiah 58:11 tells us that when we do this, great blessing (not leanness) will come our way.

"The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

Praise the Lord for His Truth. He guides us and gives us balance in His Word to keep us centered on Him. He alone knows what is good for us, yet when we humble ourselves with the pure motive of desiring His will for our lives, He reveals Himself to us in a marvelous way. He alone truly satisfies.

Love, Karen