How are you doing as an older woman?
Do you live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord?
How is your speech, your attitude?
Are you producing the fruits of the Spirit in your life?
Do you live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord?
How is your speech, your attitude?
Are you producing the fruits of the Spirit in your life?
I can see that there is no time to mope around this morning, but do a serious time of soul searching!!
How am I doing as an older woman? When is the point that you become an 'older woman"? In my life, it was when the Lord began to stir my heart to make maturing changes in my life and to convict me of things that I needed to grow out of. Things like selfishness or self seeking interests. When the light bulb comes on that "it is not all about me!" The lessons learned of what are the correct priorities, how to put the needs of others first, how to make my home and family my most important ministry. When I saw the things in my life that needed changing and asked the Lord to do the changes in my heart and attitude, He began to mature me. In His grace, He can make the changes and transition us to become gracious, older women. As the Master Gardener, He can prune the deadness that hinders new, spiritual growth and bring new fruit into our lives.
Our children are spaced uniquely in the fact that our youngest son was born a little later in life. My older boys were 10 and 7 when our youngest was born. As a result, I have been blessed to be around women younger than myself many times through church nursery, children's activities and sports activities. One thing that I try to do the most is to tell them what they are doing right! Mothers face so many circumstances and there is so much uncertainty in a mother's job, they need to hear the good that they are doing.
Appropriate daily living should reflect God's standard - holiness. That is the highest standard and that is what Christians are called to - "to be holy as He is Holy. Seeking His holiness, keeping a pure heart, basking in His grace when we fail and doing it again - better, cultivate into a lifestyle appropriate for a Christian woman.
Speech and attitude are an overflow from what is going into the heart. It is so important to be surrounded by good, wholesome, godly things. Daily putting God's Word in the heart sets the tone for the day. Keeping the influences of the eyes and ears positive, go a long way in keeping the overflow pure. Keep good water flowing from the heart fountain! A favorite reminder of mine is found in Colossians 3:16 - "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
Producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) comes by abiding in the Lord. John 15:5 tells us "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing."
So, as older woman, holiness is the aim, abiding in Him brings fruit and this is done through Him and His strength which is limitless. Most women are "older" than someone and by allowing God to teach us as we walk through daily life, we can be a source of encouragement and blessing to others.
Our children are spaced uniquely in the fact that our youngest son was born a little later in life. My older boys were 10 and 7 when our youngest was born. As a result, I have been blessed to be around women younger than myself many times through church nursery, children's activities and sports activities. One thing that I try to do the most is to tell them what they are doing right! Mothers face so many circumstances and there is so much uncertainty in a mother's job, they need to hear the good that they are doing.
Appropriate daily living should reflect God's standard - holiness. That is the highest standard and that is what Christians are called to - "to be holy as He is Holy. Seeking His holiness, keeping a pure heart, basking in His grace when we fail and doing it again - better, cultivate into a lifestyle appropriate for a Christian woman.
Speech and attitude are an overflow from what is going into the heart. It is so important to be surrounded by good, wholesome, godly things. Daily putting God's Word in the heart sets the tone for the day. Keeping the influences of the eyes and ears positive, go a long way in keeping the overflow pure. Keep good water flowing from the heart fountain! A favorite reminder of mine is found in Colossians 3:16 - "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
Producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) comes by abiding in the Lord. John 15:5 tells us "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing."
So, as older woman, holiness is the aim, abiding in Him brings fruit and this is done through Him and His strength which is limitless. Most women are "older" than someone and by allowing God to teach us as we walk through daily life, we can be a source of encouragement and blessing to others.
That was a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing. Great truth!!!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Karen @ Lil Momma's Haven
So many things you shared mirror my life. Thanks for sharing your life.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Absolutely precious post. I love how you realized the markers of becoming an older woman - In my life, it was when the Lord began to stir my heart to make maturing changes in my life and to convict me of things that I needed to grow out of. That was my lightbulb point, too. It has nothing to do with age of the body but of the things God reveals to our hearts. At 20 I grew up fast! I began to be an older woman at that point, stopped, and started again at 32. Here I am now, practically old and gray at 38. But oh, how far I still have to go! Great post and some excellent food for thought.
ReplyDeleteI am an older Mom of a toddler myself. 41 with an almost 4 year old. I am surrounded by younger Mom's too and I pray I'll be a godly example and encourager. What a great idea to tell Moms what they are doing right. I'm sure you're such a blessing to them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your heart!
Love,
Beth
I agree with you - I became an "older woman" when I began to allow the Lord to use life's experiences to mature me/mold me and shape...instead of resisting Him. I count it a privilege to use the little wisdom I've been given to help other woman along the way.
ReplyDeleteDon't dread that empty nest thing too terribly much...there are really are some perks woven in there :)
I find I am with younger women too because of a five year gap. It certainly is a different experience.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this teaching thanks.
ReplyDeleteSeeking to be a God pleasing older woman