Hello Everyone,
I pray that everyone is well. I hope that you all enjoyed the break and took some time to reflect on what we discussed in regards to Noah's wife.
During this break, I personally took time to have quiet time with the Lord. I was searching for the next step in my spiritual journey. I started this blog two years ago. It originally was an opportunity for me, as a writer, to continue to hone my skills and expose my talents to people in the industry. I wrote about current events, lifestyles, and pop culture. It was completely self-serving.
After a series of life-changing events, I began to seek the Lord more diligently. I became more present when reading the word of God and I sought to know more. I attended every biblical education training my church offered. I read books that Ministers and friends suggested. Then, two years ago, I attended a women's conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. The conference is called True Woman sponsored by Revive Our Hearts Ministries. The conference is held every two years. This conference allowed me to experience spiritual breakthrough. I received a phenomenal word from God through the many women sharing their testimonies and the teaching of God's word geared towards biblical womanhood.
This experience brought to light, my soul purpose in God. God revealed to me that I had been on this journey the entire time. A journey towards spreading His good news about the importance of biblical womanhood. I was ministering to other women through my very walk; just exhibiting biblical womanhood in my everyday life. My pitfalls became the evidence of God's grace and my submission were the promises of His glory.
I came home, revamped this blog to reflect God and started a prayer group, Covenant Prayer Group (CPG). CPG prays diligently. We pray monthly as a group and then weekly in pairs. We lift up the name of the Lord and make our request known to God regularly. We put God first. We walk in biblical faith rooted in God's word from Luke 5:4-7 and Matthew 14:29. CPG endeavors toward biblical excellence that is pleasing to God according to Colossians 3:23-24. We began to see the fruit of this prayer and this faith. God rendered many blessings through our obedience, faith, and prayer.
Through CPG and this blog birthed P31 Productions. P31 Productions is an awesome ministry that encourages biblical womanhood through the biblical example of the Virtuous Woman found in Proverbs 31:10-31. She is the epitome of biblical womanhood. She brings restoration to our biblical womanly purpose that separated us from God through sin. She is a prime example of how we should live in order to honor God as women.
P31 Productions then released its first independent documentary; Project 31. Project 31 is a short documentary that highlights women who are living a proverbial lifestyle. These women have chosen to exhibit the Godly qualities that allow them to honor God in their womanhood. Many lives were changed through this project and many women have pledged to live a more biblical lifestyle that honors God.
Through Project 31, P31 Productions is growing tremendously. Bible studies, devotionals, workshops, and reference materials are being requested from all over the United States. New projects on the horizon. People are intrigued by the possibility of a life that is pleasing to God.
As things are progressing and growing, I am stretched beyond capacity. I am grateful to God's many blessings and all that He has done. I am honored that He chose me as a vessel to bring the message of biblical womanhood to so many women through this gift of writing that He has given me. I am humbled.
As I am on this journey, it is pertinent to stay focused on God and to be obedient to His will. Therefore, this blog will be revamped again. During the break, God has revealed to me that this blog has to change again. The progression of P31 requires growth in every area, including this blog. I thank all of you who have continuously followed and read every week. God has something great in store for all of us. I ask that you are patient because being led by God is unpredictable and unexpected. However, its always exciting and definitely a blessing!!! (Jeremiah 29:11)
I hope that you all enjoyed the journey and are intrigued by the prospective of the new one. Please continue to log on and visit project31film.com as things evolve.
I love you all and I am grateful for your continued faithfulness to my ministry, but most of all to God.
Happy Mother's Day to all mothers!
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
All biblical references were extracted from the New King James version of the bible, YouVersion (2014).
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Noah's Wife in Review
Hello Everyone,
HE GOT UP!!! With all power in His hands!!
I pray that you all have had a blessed Resurrection Sunday and a beneficial time this Lent season. As my family and I rapped up our 40 day lent study, we all reflected on the greater impact this season has head. I have acknowledged lent since I was ten years old. That is how long I have been walking in salvation. Every year I was raised to fast for forty days; only have one meal, and refrain from watching television, newspapers, etc. I never made it the whole 40 days.
However, this year, had such a greater impact on me. I did not focus on the fasting. Instead I made a conscious choice to spend even more time in the word of God and in my quiet time to hear from the Lord. I spent more time studying supportive biblical references instead of magazines and popular news. I followed the principles of the lent study that myself, my husband, and our son decided to study as a family. I feel much more enriched than I ever felt. Good Friday was so much more than the ceremonial traditions that I had been grandfathered into. This time when Palm Sunday came upon us I was truly sorrowful in reflecting on what the day represented and on Resurrection Sunday I was truly elated that He rose!!! I experienced a more spiritual connection to the glory of God and the great sacrifice of Jesus.
My prayer is that everyone is steadily progressing in their spiritual walk and growing closer to God. I hope that this study of Noah's wife aided you during your time of consecration in this lent season. God is calling us to a higher place of praise in Him. We must answer the call.
This week we will review the lessons of Noah's wife. I pray that you will have time to go back and review some of the biblical principles we've covered in regards to studying Noah's wife.
Noah's Wife in Review
Lesson 1
Introducing Noah's Wife
Resource: Genesis 7:7
The Perfect Match
Resource: Genesis 5:28-29, 32
It is Better to Obey
Resource: Genesis 7:13, 16
God is Faithful
Resource: Genesis 8:15-18, 9:1-3
Application
This week as you are resting and recovering from the many activities of Ash Wednesday, Lent season, Good Friday, Passover, Palm Sunday, and Resurrection Sunday, let's reflect on Noah's wife in our quiet. We have truly felt the blessings of this nameless woman in her obedience to God. There is so much to glean from her silent strength.
Next week we will continue the review of Noah's wife and then reconvene on May 7th.
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
References
All biblical verses were extracted from the New King James version of the Bible. YouVersion (2014)
DeMoss, Nancy Leigh & Kassian, Mary (2012). True Woman 101:Divine Design. Moody Publishers. Chicago, Illinois
James, Kevin (2014). No Longer a Prisoner to the Past. New Community Bible Fellowship. Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Mears, Henrietta (1999). What the Bible is All About. Regal Publishing House. Ventura, California
Nelson, Thomas (1997). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the WHole Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishing. Nashville, Tenessee
Wolgemuth, Barbara & Wolgemuth, Robert (2013). Couples of the Bible Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan
HE GOT UP!!! With all power in His hands!!
I pray that you all have had a blessed Resurrection Sunday and a beneficial time this Lent season. As my family and I rapped up our 40 day lent study, we all reflected on the greater impact this season has head. I have acknowledged lent since I was ten years old. That is how long I have been walking in salvation. Every year I was raised to fast for forty days; only have one meal, and refrain from watching television, newspapers, etc. I never made it the whole 40 days.
However, this year, had such a greater impact on me. I did not focus on the fasting. Instead I made a conscious choice to spend even more time in the word of God and in my quiet time to hear from the Lord. I spent more time studying supportive biblical references instead of magazines and popular news. I followed the principles of the lent study that myself, my husband, and our son decided to study as a family. I feel much more enriched than I ever felt. Good Friday was so much more than the ceremonial traditions that I had been grandfathered into. This time when Palm Sunday came upon us I was truly sorrowful in reflecting on what the day represented and on Resurrection Sunday I was truly elated that He rose!!! I experienced a more spiritual connection to the glory of God and the great sacrifice of Jesus.
My prayer is that everyone is steadily progressing in their spiritual walk and growing closer to God. I hope that this study of Noah's wife aided you during your time of consecration in this lent season. God is calling us to a higher place of praise in Him. We must answer the call.
This week we will review the lessons of Noah's wife. I pray that you will have time to go back and review some of the biblical principles we've covered in regards to studying Noah's wife.
Noah's Wife in Review
Lesson 1
Introducing Noah's Wife
Resource: Genesis 7:7
- The necessity of honoring God's divine order
- God, man, woman
- God, Jesus, Holy Spirit
The Perfect Match
Resource: Genesis 5:28-29, 32
- God knows and has our perfect match
- Fulfilling the Godly purpose of support as a woman
- Equally yoked for God's glory (2 Corinthians 6:14)
It is Better to Obey
Resource: Genesis 7:13, 16
- Obedience requires submission
- Submission requires surrendering
- Binding flesh and surrendering to God
God is Faithful
Resource: Genesis 8:15-18, 9:1-3
- Obedience pleases God
- Submission pleases God
- We were created to please (glorify) Him
Application
This week as you are resting and recovering from the many activities of Ash Wednesday, Lent season, Good Friday, Passover, Palm Sunday, and Resurrection Sunday, let's reflect on Noah's wife in our quiet. We have truly felt the blessings of this nameless woman in her obedience to God. There is so much to glean from her silent strength.
Next week we will continue the review of Noah's wife and then reconvene on May 7th.
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
References
All biblical verses were extracted from the New King James version of the Bible. YouVersion (2014)
DeMoss, Nancy Leigh & Kassian, Mary (2012). True Woman 101:Divine Design. Moody Publishers. Chicago, Illinois
James, Kevin (2014). No Longer a Prisoner to the Past. New Community Bible Fellowship. Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Mears, Henrietta (1999). What the Bible is All About. Regal Publishing House. Ventura, California
Nelson, Thomas (1997). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the WHole Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishing. Nashville, Tenessee
Wolgemuth, Barbara & Wolgemuth, Robert (2013). Couples of the Bible Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Lesson 4: Noah's Wife - God is Faithful
Hello Everyone,
I pray that everyone is well and is having a blessed week. I hope that you all have gleaned something from the study of Noah's wife thus far. Many women expressed that they benefited from writing in their journals this week. I have maintained the habit of writing in a journal for over 20 years. Writing in a journal helps me to constantly evaluate myself. I sometimes read old journals and I thank God for how He brought me out. It also allows me to see how faithful God has been to me; in all my personal craziness, He is still faithful.
Last Sunday was Palm Sunday and this week is resurrection week. I wonder what this truly means to all of us. Is it more than a new dress, shoes, an Easter basket and egg hunts? My family and I decided to study the meaning of lent for the 40 days from Ash Wednesday leading up to Resurrection Sunday. There is a scripture text and a devotional application attached to each day of the study. Many people practice religious rituals of fasting to honor and acknowledge the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2). However, this study of the Lent season revealed that the main purpose of lent is to assess and consecrate ourselves for Christ. It should be a time of reflection, sacrifice, and consecration. So if we are fasting from food and we are filling that craving with anything other than God, then the sacrifice is in vain (Mark 7:7-10).
As we move toward the end of this study about Noah's wife and resurrection Sunday, I hope that you all are consecrating yourselves and truly reflecting how faithful God is, despite ourselves.
Resource
Genesis 8: 15-18, 9:1-3
15 Then God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 "Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. 17 bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth". 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him.
1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
Lesson
Noah's wife was by his side, every step of the way. God designed her to be his perfect match. She was designed to support Noah through his journey of his life (Genesis 2:18). The fact that God made man and woman is a mere implication that Noah would not have been able to complete this journey without his wife. He would not have had his son's. He needed a helper to bare his sons and help him along the way. Noah and his wife honors God divine design of order (Genesis 1:27).
Through Noah's wife practicing obedience, she gained the favor of God. She was one of the only women to board the ark and survive the flood. God chose her offspring to repopulate the earth (Genesis 1:28, 9:1-3). Noah's blessing was her blessing.
God is faithful. He gave Noah the knowledge, ingenuity and strength to build an ark that kept every being safe in order to repopulate the earth. He also gave Noah a submissive and obedient wife with a heart to obey God and an honor her husband.
We are quick to lose sight of the point of our purpose. We were created for His purpose (Ephesians 2:10). Noah's wife submitted to the plan God had for her life (Jeremiah 29:11).
As Easter Sunday rapidly approaches, I pray that we all are truly consecrating ourselves to be more like Christ. I hope that we are surrendering to God's will for our lives. I pray that we are practicing submission and obedience to the will of the Lord. Our connection to Him requires us to live in the full faith of God (PKJ 2014). God is truly faithful and capable of doing exceedingly and abundantly above all (Ephesians 3:20). We must trust His will for our lives.
Application
This week we should truly consecrate ourselves to Christ. The Pastor of our church has asked us to fast at least one day this week in order to acknowledge the sacrifice that was made for us by Christ. In this time, he has requested that we read God's word, pray, and praise the Lord for His power. If we hold His precepts, practice obedience to His word and live in His principles, we will definitely see the glory of God.
I am going to make that same request of you this week. Pick one day and fast for the Lord. Spend extra time reading His word, sitting quietly to hear from Him, and praise Him. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37).
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
All bible verses are extracted from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible. YouVersion 2014.
James, Pastor Kevin (2014). No Longer a Prisoner to the Past. New Community Bible Fellowship. Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Nelson, Thomas (1997). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishing. Nashville, Tennessee
I pray that everyone is well and is having a blessed week. I hope that you all have gleaned something from the study of Noah's wife thus far. Many women expressed that they benefited from writing in their journals this week. I have maintained the habit of writing in a journal for over 20 years. Writing in a journal helps me to constantly evaluate myself. I sometimes read old journals and I thank God for how He brought me out. It also allows me to see how faithful God has been to me; in all my personal craziness, He is still faithful.
Last Sunday was Palm Sunday and this week is resurrection week. I wonder what this truly means to all of us. Is it more than a new dress, shoes, an Easter basket and egg hunts? My family and I decided to study the meaning of lent for the 40 days from Ash Wednesday leading up to Resurrection Sunday. There is a scripture text and a devotional application attached to each day of the study. Many people practice religious rituals of fasting to honor and acknowledge the forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2). However, this study of the Lent season revealed that the main purpose of lent is to assess and consecrate ourselves for Christ. It should be a time of reflection, sacrifice, and consecration. So if we are fasting from food and we are filling that craving with anything other than God, then the sacrifice is in vain (Mark 7:7-10).
As we move toward the end of this study about Noah's wife and resurrection Sunday, I hope that you all are consecrating yourselves and truly reflecting how faithful God is, despite ourselves.
Resource
Genesis 8: 15-18, 9:1-3
15 Then God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 "Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. 17 bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth". 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him.
1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.
Lesson
Noah's wife was by his side, every step of the way. God designed her to be his perfect match. She was designed to support Noah through his journey of his life (Genesis 2:18). The fact that God made man and woman is a mere implication that Noah would not have been able to complete this journey without his wife. He would not have had his son's. He needed a helper to bare his sons and help him along the way. Noah and his wife honors God divine design of order (Genesis 1:27).
Through Noah's wife practicing obedience, she gained the favor of God. She was one of the only women to board the ark and survive the flood. God chose her offspring to repopulate the earth (Genesis 1:28, 9:1-3). Noah's blessing was her blessing.
God is faithful. He gave Noah the knowledge, ingenuity and strength to build an ark that kept every being safe in order to repopulate the earth. He also gave Noah a submissive and obedient wife with a heart to obey God and an honor her husband.
We are quick to lose sight of the point of our purpose. We were created for His purpose (Ephesians 2:10). Noah's wife submitted to the plan God had for her life (Jeremiah 29:11).
As Easter Sunday rapidly approaches, I pray that we all are truly consecrating ourselves to be more like Christ. I hope that we are surrendering to God's will for our lives. I pray that we are practicing submission and obedience to the will of the Lord. Our connection to Him requires us to live in the full faith of God (PKJ 2014). God is truly faithful and capable of doing exceedingly and abundantly above all (Ephesians 3:20). We must trust His will for our lives.
Application
This week we should truly consecrate ourselves to Christ. The Pastor of our church has asked us to fast at least one day this week in order to acknowledge the sacrifice that was made for us by Christ. In this time, he has requested that we read God's word, pray, and praise the Lord for His power. If we hold His precepts, practice obedience to His word and live in His principles, we will definitely see the glory of God.
I am going to make that same request of you this week. Pick one day and fast for the Lord. Spend extra time reading His word, sitting quietly to hear from Him, and praise Him. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37).
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
All bible verses are extracted from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible. YouVersion 2014.
James, Pastor Kevin (2014). No Longer a Prisoner to the Past. New Community Bible Fellowship. Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Nelson, Thomas (1997). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishing. Nashville, Tennessee
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Lesson 3: Noah's Wife - It Is Better to Obey
Hello Everyone,
Hallelujah!!! God's promises are yay and amen!! He is so faithful!!! The overwhelming responses given by the effectiveness of the quiet time blessed me. I pray that we all will continue to make time for God!!! He longs to commune with us. Communing with God is an honor in itself.
That was a powerful lesson last week! I was so severely challenged and blessed by it at the same time. This passed weekend we moved into a new home. Moving puts stress on any relationship; friendships, family, associates, co-workers, and especially marriage. It is an event that heightens anxiety and certain pressures within anyone. I was most challenged in my submissiveness during this process. It is very easy for me to practice submission in the obvious areas; cooking, cleaning, maintaining our home, allowing my husband to lead. I am still learning and growing in those quiet areas; silence, meekness, attitude, willingness, accepting my role as a God designed woman, etc. Realizing how submissive Noah's wife had to be in order to be as supportive as God designed her to be to Noah has impacted my approach towards my own battle with submission. I am my husband's God designed perfect match and God is in control; not my husband and especially not me. I cannot profess that God is in control of everything, confess that I trust God and then try to practice disobedience in the mist of any trial or small discomfort. Studying and preparing for this lesson is definitely evidence of God's perfect timing. I am challenged and stretched to grow even more, in the area of trusting God's divine order (God, man, woman) and practicing biblical submissiveness over my own perspective of submissiveness. Submissiveness is not contingent on the other person's behavior. It is based on your obedience to God. You are indirectly submitting to the person who has authority over you in that moment. You are directly submitting to God. You are binding your flesh and surrendering to your spirit man. Your true submission is to God. I thank God for these lessons for they truly bless my life. Most people would say that the blessing is the new home, which yes, I am very grateful. However, the true blessing was the opportunity to see myself and have my sin exposed so God could convict me and I could grow in Him. The more I grow in Christ Jesus, the closer I am to God. I am a humble servant and grateful that I get to experience these lessons with all of you.
This week we are going to discuss obedience. When God gave me this lesson, I thought to myself, "Again Lord?!?!?" We have talked about obedience with almost every woman of the bible that we have discussed so far. However, it is a definite point of contention when walking with Christ. As we war with our flesh daily, we are succumbing to disobedience more times than we should (Romans 7:14-17).
We will discuss the wife of Noah and her practice of obedience.
Resource
Genesis 7:13, 16
13 On the very same day Noah and Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark.
16 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded; and the Lord shut them in
Submit - Yielding to another; refer to another person for decision and/or judgement
Surrender - Agree to forgo the power or possession; relinquish control
obedience - dutifully submissive behavior with respect to another person; being willing
disobedience - a trait of being unwilling; failure to practice obedience
Lesson
I would like us to focus on the definitions listed above. When an interaction is occurring that requires obedience, better yet, submission, are we conscious of what this really means?
I facilitated a weekly bible study this last week at my church and we discussed the importance of awareness and choice. In order to really conquer sin daily, we must have an awareness of sin, our sinful nature, and what triggers us to sin. Additionally, we must be aware of the choice we are making to engage or indulge that sin. This same awareness is necessary when operating in submission and obedience. We have to make a conscious choice to submit and obey. You cannot practice obedience without submission which takes awareness and choice.
Noah's wife needed to exhibit all of these qualities in order to support her husband Noah in the biggest decision of his life. We can only imagine the intense emotion that this situation may have invoked based on the severity of its nature. What would the reaction be today if a person that has authority over us told us that the world was going to end at God's hand, very shortly and that we need to prepare a place of refuge during this time. I am curious to know how many of us would submit to that authority and obey. How many of us would have a willing attitude to build the refuge?
Noah's wife behavior of submission and obedience spanned beyond herself. It also affected her children and each generation to follow. Shem, the eldest son of Noah and his wife, went on to lead many blessed nations. We can conclude that this is because he witnessed the leadership of his father, serving God, and the obedience of his mother, submitting to her husband. A lineage of obedience.
Think of all the times in your life when you chose to be obedient. When I think of the times that I have chosen to be obedient, God's radiant love shines upon me. Sometimes it is not immediate, but the rewards are always there. It seems that we sometimes confuse our expected outcome with God's intended outcome. We are disappointed because things did not follow our plan. However, things always operate according to His plan. His plan gives Him glory, not us. We are here to glorify Him.
As I discussed above, we have a habit of disobedience when we have to submit. God has called us to submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21). This requires obedience.
Hallelujah!!! God's promises are yay and amen!! He is so faithful!!! The overwhelming responses given by the effectiveness of the quiet time blessed me. I pray that we all will continue to make time for God!!! He longs to commune with us. Communing with God is an honor in itself.
That was a powerful lesson last week! I was so severely challenged and blessed by it at the same time. This passed weekend we moved into a new home. Moving puts stress on any relationship; friendships, family, associates, co-workers, and especially marriage. It is an event that heightens anxiety and certain pressures within anyone. I was most challenged in my submissiveness during this process. It is very easy for me to practice submission in the obvious areas; cooking, cleaning, maintaining our home, allowing my husband to lead. I am still learning and growing in those quiet areas; silence, meekness, attitude, willingness, accepting my role as a God designed woman, etc. Realizing how submissive Noah's wife had to be in order to be as supportive as God designed her to be to Noah has impacted my approach towards my own battle with submission. I am my husband's God designed perfect match and God is in control; not my husband and especially not me. I cannot profess that God is in control of everything, confess that I trust God and then try to practice disobedience in the mist of any trial or small discomfort. Studying and preparing for this lesson is definitely evidence of God's perfect timing. I am challenged and stretched to grow even more, in the area of trusting God's divine order (God, man, woman) and practicing biblical submissiveness over my own perspective of submissiveness. Submissiveness is not contingent on the other person's behavior. It is based on your obedience to God. You are indirectly submitting to the person who has authority over you in that moment. You are directly submitting to God. You are binding your flesh and surrendering to your spirit man. Your true submission is to God. I thank God for these lessons for they truly bless my life. Most people would say that the blessing is the new home, which yes, I am very grateful. However, the true blessing was the opportunity to see myself and have my sin exposed so God could convict me and I could grow in Him. The more I grow in Christ Jesus, the closer I am to God. I am a humble servant and grateful that I get to experience these lessons with all of you.
This week we are going to discuss obedience. When God gave me this lesson, I thought to myself, "Again Lord?!?!?" We have talked about obedience with almost every woman of the bible that we have discussed so far. However, it is a definite point of contention when walking with Christ. As we war with our flesh daily, we are succumbing to disobedience more times than we should (Romans 7:14-17).
We will discuss the wife of Noah and her practice of obedience.
Resource
Genesis 7:13, 16
13 On the very same day Noah and Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark.
16 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded; and the Lord shut them in
Submit - Yielding to another; refer to another person for decision and/or judgement
Surrender - Agree to forgo the power or possession; relinquish control
obedience - dutifully submissive behavior with respect to another person; being willing
disobedience - a trait of being unwilling; failure to practice obedience
Lesson
I would like us to focus on the definitions listed above. When an interaction is occurring that requires obedience, better yet, submission, are we conscious of what this really means?
I facilitated a weekly bible study this last week at my church and we discussed the importance of awareness and choice. In order to really conquer sin daily, we must have an awareness of sin, our sinful nature, and what triggers us to sin. Additionally, we must be aware of the choice we are making to engage or indulge that sin. This same awareness is necessary when operating in submission and obedience. We have to make a conscious choice to submit and obey. You cannot practice obedience without submission which takes awareness and choice.
Noah's wife needed to exhibit all of these qualities in order to support her husband Noah in the biggest decision of his life. We can only imagine the intense emotion that this situation may have invoked based on the severity of its nature. What would the reaction be today if a person that has authority over us told us that the world was going to end at God's hand, very shortly and that we need to prepare a place of refuge during this time. I am curious to know how many of us would submit to that authority and obey. How many of us would have a willing attitude to build the refuge?
Noah's wife behavior of submission and obedience spanned beyond herself. It also affected her children and each generation to follow. Shem, the eldest son of Noah and his wife, went on to lead many blessed nations. We can conclude that this is because he witnessed the leadership of his father, serving God, and the obedience of his mother, submitting to her husband. A lineage of obedience.
Think of all the times in your life when you chose to be obedient. When I think of the times that I have chosen to be obedient, God's radiant love shines upon me. Sometimes it is not immediate, but the rewards are always there. It seems that we sometimes confuse our expected outcome with God's intended outcome. We are disappointed because things did not follow our plan. However, things always operate according to His plan. His plan gives Him glory, not us. We are here to glorify Him.
As I discussed above, we have a habit of disobedience when we have to submit. God has called us to submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21). This requires obedience.
APPLICATION
As we progress throughout the week, let's take time to practice:
• conscious awareness
• biblical choices
• biblical submission
• obedience
Take some time to journal about your experiences this week and assess yourself. Ask God to help you through each task.
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
All bible verses are extracted from the Holy Bible King New King James Version.
M-W.com (2013). Merriam-Webster Dictionary Web Version. Retrieved from App Store
Mears, Henrietta (1999). What the Bibles is All About. Regal Publishing House. Ventura, California
Nelson, Thomas (1997). Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishing. Nashville, Tenessee
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Lesson 2: Noah's Wife - The Perfect Match
Hello Everyone,
I pray that everyone is well today. I hope that you all enjoyed getting to know Noah's wife a little bit last week. I received so many responses about praying the prayer of Psalms 19:14 and how helpful it was. I try to keep that scripture very close to my heart. God's word is truly an ever present help.
I pray that everyone is well today. I hope that you all enjoyed getting to know Noah's wife a little bit last week. I received so many responses about praying the prayer of Psalms 19:14 and how helpful it was. I try to keep that scripture very close to my heart. God's word is truly an ever present help.
I recently viewed the newest production of Noah. I have mixed emotions about the bible being literally translated onto film. I often wonder will the depictions appear accurate according to God's word and the Holy Spirit. Additionally, I have an appreciation for taking some creative liberties, as I am a creative person myself and a faith based filmmaker. I enjoyed the film to some degree because it was, at least, entertaining. However, it may have been more effective if the creative licenses were more aligned with the biblical principles that are streamed throughout the bible. Nevertheless, I did have an appreciation for how Noah's wife was depicted. For the majority of the film, she was submissive and honored the God divine order of God, man, woman. She followed Noah and when she had questions she approached him in an honorable and respectful manner. She was soft and loving, yet strong in her disposition and beliefs. She nurtured her family during one of the most difficult times in the bible. She did it all while honoring God's divine order. My hope is that this film will inspire its viewers to read the true story of Noah found in the Holy Bible (Genesis 5:25-9:29)
Today we will discuss Noah's wife in regards to being Noah's perfect match. God has a purpose and a plan for everyone (Jeremiah 29:11). We are all chosen, purposefully designed, and perfectly matched according to God's will. When we choose our own match or become selfish with our God designed mate, that is when things fall apart. We must trust God.
Resource
Genesis 5:28-29, 32
28 Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed."
32 And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Lesson
Based on verse 29 of Genesis 5, Noah had a calling on his life. After Cain and Abel, sin filled the Earth. Men began to take more than one wife and spread wickedness throughout the land (Genesis 6:5). There needed to be a restoration of the communion of God and man. The hope was in Noah.
With such a great expectation of Noah's life, he needed a mate that would suit such a destiny. God's perfect plan was Noah's wife. As stated in last week's lesson, her name is never mentioned in the bible. However, according to Jewish custom in combination with the genealogy of the bible found in Genesis 4:19-24, her name would be Naamah; sister of Tubal-Cain (bibleinfo.com 2014). However, based on Abrahamic religions, her name would be Emzara. No one, in current existence, has full knowledge of what her name truly was. However, God knew because he knew that she was Noah's perfect match (Matthew 10:30).
God was the first matchmaker; when He created woman, He created her to be the perfect mate (DeMoss & Kassian 2012). Therefore, Noah's wife was the perfect mate to Noah; her name is irrelevant. Sometimes the most prominent presence is exemplified by the nameless faces. Noah's wife was indeed that.
They survived the flood that covered the earth (Wolgemuth 2013). How could Noah survive the ridicule during the building of the ark and then the flood without a great help mate given to him by God. The purpose of woman helping man isn't about exalting the man; the help contributes to the both of them achieving a greater, nobler eternal purpose that is far bigger and more significant than their own existence (DeMoss & Kassian 2012). Noah needed to repopulate the Earth and bring redemption to man in God's eyes. He needed a mate suitable for such a journey.
His wife consoled him, giving his hand a squeeze for assurance (Wolgemuth 2013). Only a God designed mate can generate such a connection and infiltrate the male conscious enough to evoke confidence to press forward on a God designed journey. Together, they expand the family of God, thus bringing glory to the Father (DeMoss & Kassian 2012). We are not mated for our own pleasure, we are mated to glorify God. Nameless, Noah's wife exudes this objective.
Application
This week we will focus on quiet time and meditation. In order to fulfill our purpose and surrender to God's perfect match for ourselves, we must quiet our spirits and have an ear to listen. Today, in our current society, we busy ourselves with multitudes of white noise. We are so engaged with business that we miss the soul purpose of our being. God has a higher calling for all of us. We must quiet our minds, surrender our hearts, and seek His face.
I challenge you this week to have some quiet time with God. Set aside 30 minutes to sit in silence and receive from God. He is waiting for your undivided attention.
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
All scriptures are extracted from the New King James version of the Holy Bible. YouVersion 2014
DeMoss, Nancy Leigh & Kassian, Mary (2012). True Woman 101: Divine Design. Moody Publishers. Chicago, Illinois
Wolgemuth, Barbara & Wolgemuth, Robert (2013). Couples of the Bible. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Today we will discuss Noah's wife in regards to being Noah's perfect match. God has a purpose and a plan for everyone (Jeremiah 29:11). We are all chosen, purposefully designed, and perfectly matched according to God's will. When we choose our own match or become selfish with our God designed mate, that is when things fall apart. We must trust God.
Resource
Genesis 5:28-29, 32
28 Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed."
32 And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Lesson
Based on verse 29 of Genesis 5, Noah had a calling on his life. After Cain and Abel, sin filled the Earth. Men began to take more than one wife and spread wickedness throughout the land (Genesis 6:5). There needed to be a restoration of the communion of God and man. The hope was in Noah.
With such a great expectation of Noah's life, he needed a mate that would suit such a destiny. God's perfect plan was Noah's wife. As stated in last week's lesson, her name is never mentioned in the bible. However, according to Jewish custom in combination with the genealogy of the bible found in Genesis 4:19-24, her name would be Naamah; sister of Tubal-Cain (bibleinfo.com 2014). However, based on Abrahamic religions, her name would be Emzara. No one, in current existence, has full knowledge of what her name truly was. However, God knew because he knew that she was Noah's perfect match (Matthew 10:30).
God was the first matchmaker; when He created woman, He created her to be the perfect mate (DeMoss & Kassian 2012). Therefore, Noah's wife was the perfect mate to Noah; her name is irrelevant. Sometimes the most prominent presence is exemplified by the nameless faces. Noah's wife was indeed that.
They survived the flood that covered the earth (Wolgemuth 2013). How could Noah survive the ridicule during the building of the ark and then the flood without a great help mate given to him by God. The purpose of woman helping man isn't about exalting the man; the help contributes to the both of them achieving a greater, nobler eternal purpose that is far bigger and more significant than their own existence (DeMoss & Kassian 2012). Noah needed to repopulate the Earth and bring redemption to man in God's eyes. He needed a mate suitable for such a journey.
His wife consoled him, giving his hand a squeeze for assurance (Wolgemuth 2013). Only a God designed mate can generate such a connection and infiltrate the male conscious enough to evoke confidence to press forward on a God designed journey. Together, they expand the family of God, thus bringing glory to the Father (DeMoss & Kassian 2012). We are not mated for our own pleasure, we are mated to glorify God. Nameless, Noah's wife exudes this objective.
Application
This week we will focus on quiet time and meditation. In order to fulfill our purpose and surrender to God's perfect match for ourselves, we must quiet our spirits and have an ear to listen. Today, in our current society, we busy ourselves with multitudes of white noise. We are so engaged with business that we miss the soul purpose of our being. God has a higher calling for all of us. We must quiet our minds, surrender our hearts, and seek His face.
I challenge you this week to have some quiet time with God. Set aside 30 minutes to sit in silence and receive from God. He is waiting for your undivided attention.
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
All scriptures are extracted from the New King James version of the Holy Bible. YouVersion 2014
DeMoss, Nancy Leigh & Kassian, Mary (2012). True Woman 101: Divine Design. Moody Publishers. Chicago, Illinois
Wolgemuth, Barbara & Wolgemuth, Robert (2013). Couples of the Bible. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Lesson 1: Introducing Noah's Wife
Hello Everyone,
I pray that all is well with everyone. I hope that you all enjoyed the short break and the journey with Eve. The journey through Eve was definitely eye opening for me. The discussion around the original sin in combination with my normal check-up with wise spiritual counsel definitely put a bulls-eye on my own personal struggle with true Godly submission. Honoring God's divine order of; God, man, woman, is easy when its obvious. The more quiet and delicate moments that appear invisible to the naked eye are more evident and apparent to the Holy Spirit. Submission is an intricate behavior necessary by all of us. The Holy Spirit is submissive to Jesus Christ as Christ is submissive to God. God's divine design of man is a true reflection of that; woman is submissive to man as man is submissive to God. We are all called to submit. We are called to submit to certain situations in our lives, especially ones we have no control over. We are charged to submit to people, jobs, crisis, illness, even our children, sometimes. Additionally, we all struggle with submitting in submission. Even Jesus prayed to God as He struggled to submit to His fate on Calvary (Luke 22:42).
Nevertheless, we are strengthened in Christ Jesus to walk in God's divine order of things (Luke 22:43). If we could maneuver through the struggle of submissiveness within our own will, then we would not be called to pray to Him for help or worship Him for triumph. Although, we should all worship Him because of who He is, and that should be enough, we have a tendency to worship and pray to Him because of what He does.
These thoughts and behaviors lead us straight to where God wants us to be: from Eve to the wife of Noah.
Resource
Genesis 7:7
"So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood."
Lesson
It is a known fact that Noah's wife is never officially named in the bible. Though she is not named, her presence is ever prevalent in the journey of Noah. He was a man of integrity who walked righteously and though he was mocked, she followed him and supported his call (Wolgemuth 2013). As a woman of God, she was charged to support her husband. Could you imagine supporting your husband as people laughed and gawked at him? What would your response be to the taunters?
We as women are designed to be helpers (Genesis 2:18). We are helpers to our husbands, bosses, co-workers, children, family members, friends, and associates. We have an innate nature to help. Our help is the fundamental foundation of support. We are the mortar that holds the bricks in place.
My husband recently expressed his gratitude for my availability. He had been ministering to a colleague who's wife works and travels a lot. My husband eluded to the idea that this colleague was exhibiting certain behaviors because his wife was so absent. He exclaimed how men need that barrier so they are not left to their vices. I responded with, "Could you imagine who you and most of your married friends would be if we did not have each other?" I am not trying to imply that men cannot exist without a woman, I am merely translating into layman terms what the bible, God's word, has expressed (Genesis 2:18). We need each other equally. A building is just a pile of bricks without the mortar and the mortar is just a lump of concrete without the bricks; neither can make a building alone.
Noah's wife was the mortar in supporting his decision to walk with Christ. They sought to live holy lives in a corrupt society (Wolgemuth 2013). Her support not only pleased Noah, but it also pleased God. After God surveyed the Earth, He found no one worthy of saving but Noah, his WIFE, and his family; Noah was deemed righteous by God (Genesis 7:1).Noah's wife was included in the benefits of her husband, through her obedience to God's divine order and her support to her husband.
Application
Are you practicing the characteristics that exhibit your innate design of helping? We, as women, have a tendency to hinder more than we help. We can succumb to the behaviors of Eve in the Garden of Eden that introduces sin in our lives. This week, let's practice more of a strong silent supportive presence like Noah's wife. Make a conscious effort to help over hindering. Pray the prayer of Psalms 19:14 to help you be a helper.
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
Reference
All scriptures are extracted from the New King James version of the Holy Bible. YouVersion (2014)
Wolgemuth, Barbara & Wolgemuth, Robert (2013). Couples of the Bible. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan
I pray that all is well with everyone. I hope that you all enjoyed the short break and the journey with Eve. The journey through Eve was definitely eye opening for me. The discussion around the original sin in combination with my normal check-up with wise spiritual counsel definitely put a bulls-eye on my own personal struggle with true Godly submission. Honoring God's divine order of; God, man, woman, is easy when its obvious. The more quiet and delicate moments that appear invisible to the naked eye are more evident and apparent to the Holy Spirit. Submission is an intricate behavior necessary by all of us. The Holy Spirit is submissive to Jesus Christ as Christ is submissive to God. God's divine design of man is a true reflection of that; woman is submissive to man as man is submissive to God. We are all called to submit. We are called to submit to certain situations in our lives, especially ones we have no control over. We are charged to submit to people, jobs, crisis, illness, even our children, sometimes. Additionally, we all struggle with submitting in submission. Even Jesus prayed to God as He struggled to submit to His fate on Calvary (Luke 22:42).
Nevertheless, we are strengthened in Christ Jesus to walk in God's divine order of things (Luke 22:43). If we could maneuver through the struggle of submissiveness within our own will, then we would not be called to pray to Him for help or worship Him for triumph. Although, we should all worship Him because of who He is, and that should be enough, we have a tendency to worship and pray to Him because of what He does.
These thoughts and behaviors lead us straight to where God wants us to be: from Eve to the wife of Noah.
Resource
Genesis 7:7
"So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood."
Lesson
It is a known fact that Noah's wife is never officially named in the bible. Though she is not named, her presence is ever prevalent in the journey of Noah. He was a man of integrity who walked righteously and though he was mocked, she followed him and supported his call (Wolgemuth 2013). As a woman of God, she was charged to support her husband. Could you imagine supporting your husband as people laughed and gawked at him? What would your response be to the taunters?
We as women are designed to be helpers (Genesis 2:18). We are helpers to our husbands, bosses, co-workers, children, family members, friends, and associates. We have an innate nature to help. Our help is the fundamental foundation of support. We are the mortar that holds the bricks in place.
My husband recently expressed his gratitude for my availability. He had been ministering to a colleague who's wife works and travels a lot. My husband eluded to the idea that this colleague was exhibiting certain behaviors because his wife was so absent. He exclaimed how men need that barrier so they are not left to their vices. I responded with, "Could you imagine who you and most of your married friends would be if we did not have each other?" I am not trying to imply that men cannot exist without a woman, I am merely translating into layman terms what the bible, God's word, has expressed (Genesis 2:18). We need each other equally. A building is just a pile of bricks without the mortar and the mortar is just a lump of concrete without the bricks; neither can make a building alone.
Noah's wife was the mortar in supporting his decision to walk with Christ. They sought to live holy lives in a corrupt society (Wolgemuth 2013). Her support not only pleased Noah, but it also pleased God. After God surveyed the Earth, He found no one worthy of saving but Noah, his WIFE, and his family; Noah was deemed righteous by God (Genesis 7:1).Noah's wife was included in the benefits of her husband, through her obedience to God's divine order and her support to her husband.
Application
Are you practicing the characteristics that exhibit your innate design of helping? We, as women, have a tendency to hinder more than we help. We can succumb to the behaviors of Eve in the Garden of Eden that introduces sin in our lives. This week, let's practice more of a strong silent supportive presence like Noah's wife. Make a conscious effort to help over hindering. Pray the prayer of Psalms 19:14 to help you be a helper.
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
Reference
All scriptures are extracted from the New King James version of the Holy Bible. YouVersion (2014)
Wolgemuth, Barbara & Wolgemuth, Robert (2013). Couples of the Bible. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Eve in Review
Hello Everyone,
God has been so gracious in my life over this study of Eve. He has covered me when I have fallen short and definitely exposed areas of improvement through Eve's journey. However, just like the Father that He is, He has also rewarded me for my times of obedience and moments triumph. He is faithful; more faithful to me than I will probably ever be to Him. He remembers to put breath in lungs everyday. If I was in charge, I would surely forget!
I pray that you all have had a blessed week and have received something from this journey with Eve. God certainly lead the bible to be written for a purpose. Therefore, Eve's journey is ever relevant in our lives today. We must resolve on the importance and the necessity of it in our lives. Eve, the first woman has so much to offer in her brokenness and triumph. We are Eve. As Eve toiled in the garden with the serpent, so we toil over sin every day as we live our lives. We can learn so much from her pitfalls and victories.
Thank God for Eve!!!
Next we will study Noah's wife. However, here is a review of the Study of Eve:
REVIEW
Eve in Review
Lesson 1: Thee Firstlady
Resource: Genesis 2:21-25
Woman - female person...
Companion - support...
Resource: Genesis 2:23-25
Bride - a married woman..
Wife - man's partner
Resource: Genesis 3:1-13
Sin - estrangement from God
Disobedience - failure to obey
Pride - unreasonable self-esteem
Resource: Genesis 3:14-24
Separation - detached...
Resource: Genesis 3:16a, 4:1-2, 4:25a, 5:4
Mother - to nurture...
Resource - Genesis 4:1-8
Mourning - bereaved; sorrowful
Resource - Genesis 4:9-24
Resource - Genesis 4:25
Mercy - leniency; alleviation of distress
If you missed any of these points, please go back and review the lesson in your quiet time with God. God's word is so revealing to our own lives. The answers to all our questions are in the word of God.
Again, we will move on to Noah's wife next study. Therefore take some time to get to know her prior to the study. Her story begins in Genesis 6.
I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
All Scripture verses were extracted from the New King James version of the Bible. YouVersion (2013).
M-W.com (2013). Merriam-Webster Dictionary Web Version. Retrieved from App Store
God has been so gracious in my life over this study of Eve. He has covered me when I have fallen short and definitely exposed areas of improvement through Eve's journey. However, just like the Father that He is, He has also rewarded me for my times of obedience and moments triumph. He is faithful; more faithful to me than I will probably ever be to Him. He remembers to put breath in lungs everyday. If I was in charge, I would surely forget!
I pray that you all have had a blessed week and have received something from this journey with Eve. God certainly lead the bible to be written for a purpose. Therefore, Eve's journey is ever relevant in our lives today. We must resolve on the importance and the necessity of it in our lives. Eve, the first woman has so much to offer in her brokenness and triumph. We are Eve. As Eve toiled in the garden with the serpent, so we toil over sin every day as we live our lives. We can learn so much from her pitfalls and victories.
Thank God for Eve!!!
Next we will study Noah's wife. However, here is a review of the Study of Eve:
REVIEW
Eve in Review
Lesson 1: Thee Firstlady
Resource: Genesis 2:21-25
Woman - female person...
Companion - support...
- importance of being a woman
- purposeful womanhood
- God's divine plan in woman
Resource: Genesis 2:23-25
Bride - a married woman..
Wife - man's partner
- Reflecting the Holy Trinity
- honoring God's divine order
- Oneness
Resource: Genesis 3:1-13
Sin - estrangement from God
Disobedience - failure to obey
Pride - unreasonable self-esteem
- delayed obedience is disobedience
- Practicing humility over pride
- Trusting God's word
Resource: Genesis 3:14-24
Separation - detached...
- lacking unity with God
- undermining God's word and promises
- availing ourselves to God through vulnerability
Resource: Genesis 3:16a, 4:1-2, 4:25a, 5:4
Mother - to nurture...
- nurturing others
- nurturing relationship with God
- sustaining through God's grace
Resource - Genesis 4:1-8
Mourning - bereaved; sorrowful
- even Jesus wept
- finding God's glory in mourning
- suffering in Christ Jesus
Resource - Genesis 4:9-24
- God knows you
- God's plan is better than our plan
- faith - trusting God
Resource - Genesis 4:25
Mercy - leniency; alleviation of distress
- God is gracious even in our sin
- God's redemption/restoration
- There is hope in Christ Jesus
If you missed any of these points, please go back and review the lesson in your quiet time with God. God's word is so revealing to our own lives. The answers to all our questions are in the word of God.
Again, we will move on to Noah's wife next study. Therefore take some time to get to know her prior to the study. Her story begins in Genesis 6.
I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
All Scripture verses were extracted from the New King James version of the Bible. YouVersion (2013).
M-W.com (2013). Merriam-Webster Dictionary Web Version. Retrieved from App Store
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