In Praise of Women

7/31/2019 In Praise of Women

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An excellent wife, who can find?

For her worth is far above jewels.11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,

And he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.13 She looks for wool and flax

And works with her hands in delight.

Proverbs 31:10-1


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She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her hands grasp the spindle.20 She extends her hand to the poor,

And she stretches out her hands to theneedy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for herhousehold,

For all her household are clothed with

scarlet.22 She makes coverings for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Proverbs 31:19-22


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Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.24 She makes linen garments and sells them,And supplies belts to the tradesmen.25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

And she smiles at the future.26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,

And the teaching of kindness is on hertongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of herhousehold,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:23-27


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Her children rise up and bless her;

Her husband also, and he praises her,saying:29 Many daughters have done nobly,

But you excel them all.30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,

Buta woman who fears the LORD, sheshall be praised.

31 Give her the product of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:28-31


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In this passage we are given anexample and a mandate . The author

of the text praises a godly woman. He

then tells us the children and thehusband of such a woman should

praise her. He then tells us as readers

to praise her.


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Unfortunately we often accept the liethat somehow praise is not for anyone

but God. We feel sure that letting

someone know how far they fall short isa more godly way of approaching

things. After all praise might engender

pride


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It has been my observation of myself

and others that the most prideprovoking experiences are from not

being praised. They are from being

criticized. The temptation to react byshowing them is not usually

engendered by people giving thanks for

us or commenting favorably about us.


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Further it is my absolute conviction thatcriticism of others is an identifier of one

of the deepest strongholds of pride in

the human heart. To see oneself asabove others.


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And He also told this parable to some

people who trusted in themselves that

they were righteous, and viewed others

with contempt: 10 Two men went up into

the temple to pray, one a Pharisee andthe other a tax collector.

Luke 18:9-10 (NASB)


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The Pharisee stood and was praying

this to himself: God, I thank You that I

am not like other people: swindlers,

unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax

collector.

12

I fast twice a week; I paytithes of all that I get.

Luke 18:11-12 (NASB)


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I tell you, this man went to his house

justified rather than the other; for

everyone who exalts himself will be

humbled, but he who humbles himself

will be exalted.

Luke 18:14 (NASB)


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The ability to consistently see

praiseworthy things in others andcommunicate it to them is lifegiving both

in those who we praise and even more

importantly in our selves.


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Let no unwholesome word proceed

from your mouth, but only such a word

as is good for edification according to

the need of the moment, so that it will

give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 (NASB)


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This came home in a deep way to me

when a friend and I were prayingtogether about strengthening our

marriages. I felt the Lord place a

challenge on my heart to begin to ceasefrom any critical communication coming

out of my mouth towards my wife.


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I told my friend we should make acommitment for thirty days to not say

one word of criticism to or about our

spouses. Instead each morning wewould pray and ask what the Lord

would have us praise our sweethearts

for.


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After we heard what it was we wouldcall each other and tell each other what

we were going to tell them. Then later in

the day we would sit with our wife, holdher hand and tell her what we praised

her for that day.


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By the fourth day of our doing this my

friend and I were both in tears tellingeach other what God had shared with

us that morning. It brought a sweetness

into our marriages like nothing had everdone before. For me it became a life

changer as I began to see the power it

had not only to help others but to

change my heart towards others.


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I began to practice it in all therelationships in my life. To this very day

I purposefully pray to ask God who He

would like me to praise and what I amto tell them. I seek to do that for several

people a day. The results have been

nothing less than amazing through theyears since I began this practice.


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It has become one of those life

changing principles that God has givenme to help me and others actually do

what God says to do in a very practical

way. And I have seen that who everdoes it the same wonderful results

happen.


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Today I would like to share what in the

depth of my heart I believe about Gods

heart for women. I believe it to be based

on an accurate reading of scripture.


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The Bible tells us to praise women for

what God praises them for.


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God intentional created the

first woman in a way to createpraise for her in the heart of

the first man and for allwomen in the heart of

humanity since.


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Genesis 2:18

Then the LORD Godsaid, "It is not good for

the man to be alone; Iwill make him a helper

suitable for him.


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Genesis 2:19

Out of the ground the LORD Godformed every beast of the field

and every bird of the sky, and

brought them to the man to seewhat he would call them; and

whatever the man called a living

creature, that was its name.


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Genesis 2:20

The man gave names to allthe cattle, and to the birds

of the sky, and to everybeast of the field, but for

Adam there was not found

a helper suitable for him.


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Genesis 2:21

So the LORD God caused adeep sleep to fall upon the

man, and he slept; then Hetook one of his ribs and

closed up the flesh at that

place.


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Genesis 2:22

The LORD God fashionedinto a woman the rib which

He had taken from theman, and brought her to

the man.


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Genesis 2:23

The man said, This is now bone of my

bones, And flesh of my flesh;She shall be called Woman,

Because she was taken out

of Man.


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Genesis 2:24

For this reason a man shallleave his father and his

mother, and be joined to his

wife; and they shall become

one flesh.


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Genesis 3:20

Now the man called hiswife's name Eve,

because she was themother of all the living.


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Notice the care God takes to unfold the

drama of Eves creation. You can feel

the awakening of a desperate need

within the man he created as God

spoke that it was not good for him to be

alone. It is said of all the things he did

up to that point, it was good. Now he

exclaims, It is not good. And herewe begin to see His purpose in letting a

void be in the mans heart.


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I believe God created an Eve shaped

hole in Adam. Before he met her he

was longing for something but not sure

what. In Gods typical fashion He let

Adam see all the animals who shared

animate life with him. He had them

name each one he brought to him. But

as they passed by one by one itbecame more clear with each new

name given that none met the heart

need he longed for.


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I can just imagine Gods delight as he

saw Adam growing more and more

concerned. I can almost see him

laughing to himself and thinking just

wait to see what I have for you! You

have no idea how wonderful she will be.

I want you to appreciate her when she

shows up. I want you to alwaysremember a universe without her so

when you have her you will always be

grateful for her!


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Finally all the animals had been named.

All the potential candidates for curing

the mans aloneness had been

considered but for Adam none was

found as a suitable one who was his

opposite called alongside him to help

him thats the literal translation of

who God said Eve was.


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So that was it. The longing in his heart

could not be met in anything on the

planet. One thing we must always

remember when we sing that we need

none but Jesus.. on one level that is

absolutely true but on another we

desperately need each other as well.

And this was purposefully designed byGod in us.


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This need was placed in humanity

before sin ever entered the world.

Adams fellowship with God was

unhindered.

God created Adam with a need that not

even He would meet. The only thing

that could meet the need in Adamsheart was the woman that at that

moment only existed in Gods creative

genius.


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So one of the first things women can be

praised for is that each of them are

created to be a woman. Just as God

created Eve intentionally, specifically, in

every aspect of her being, physically,

emotionally, intellectually and spiritually

to be a woman so He has done with

every woman since.


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I have always been sure that the timing

of Gods creation was intentional. He

could have created Eve at the same

time as Adam. As I said before I believe

the timing was purposeful in Adam to

bring forth praise from his lips when he

finally saw her. And he did just that! The

Hebrew literally says.Here at last bone of my bones

flesh of my flesh!!!!


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She is Gods

greatest work

of art.


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But I believe the timing had

an even greater purpose.

I believe God saved the bestof his creation for last.


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Its like watching fireworks in Gibbons

Park every year. The grand finale is

awesome. We see some great stuff

before and we arent sure even if weve

seen the best yet. But when the end

really comes we all are amazed.


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Isnt that the way it is with

almost everything? Weusually save the very best we

have to offer in any creativeenterprise until the very last. I

believe is what God did with

Eve.


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Eve was the crowning act of

Gods creation. She was thefinal glorious display of His

artistry. Each of Eves

daughters continue to display

that glorious creative beauty

and power to this day and will tothe end of history.


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She is the prophetic

display of Gods

purpose in history.


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I find an even greater purpose

in the timing of Eves creationwhich brings praise into my

heart for all women. I believe

she and through her every other

woman, bears in her being a

prophetic picture a picture ofwhat Gods plan is for all of

time.


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I believe what God did in the

seven days of creation mirrorthe story of history. The story

centers on Eve. I believeevery woman since mirrors

the same story.


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I believe the central purpose

of the creation of the universeand us as male and female is

that at the end of time God isgoing to take to heaven a

bride for His Son Jesus.


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The central drama of history is

Jesus coming to this brokenplanet to purchase his bride

with his own life. He, as he

desires every man to do, fought

for her, denied himself for her

and gave his life to gain herheart.


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Let us rejoice and be glad and give the

glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb

has come and His bride has made herselfready. 8 It was given to her to clothe

herself in fine linen, bright andclean; for

the fine linen is the righteous acts of thesaints. 9 Then he said to me, Write,

Blessed are those who are invited to the

marriage supper of the Lamb. And hesaid to me, These are true words of

God.

Revelation 19:7-9(NASB)


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The design expressed in

the creation of Eve asAdams spouse was

intentional.


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Their union was torepresent Jesus

and His Bride -

the Church.


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Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives,just as Christ also loved

the church and gaveHimself up for her,


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Ephesians 5:26

so that He might sanctifyher, having cleansed her

by the washing of waterwith the word,


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Ephesians 5:27

that He might present toHimself the church in all her

glory, having no spot orwrinkle or any such thing;

but that she would be holy

and blameless.


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Ephesians 5:28

So husbands ought also tolove their own wives as their

own bodies. He who loveshis own wife loves himself;


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Ephesians 5:29

for no one ever hated hisown flesh, but nourishes

and cherishes it, just asChrist also does the church,


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Ephesians 5:30

because we are members of Hisbody. 31 FOR THIS REASON A

MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS

FATHER AND MOTHER AND

SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS

WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALLBECOME ONE FLESH.


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Ephesians 5:32

This mystery is great;but I am speaking

with reference toChrist and the church.


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The last act ofphysical creation

was to bring Adam

his bride Eve.


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The last act of history

will be to bring to

Jesus his bride thechurch.


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Revelation 21:9b

Then one of the seven angelswho had the seven bowls full of

the seven last plagues came

and spoke with me, saying,"Come here, I will show you the

bride, the wife of the Lamb.


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Revelation 21:10

And he carried me away in theSpirit to a great and high

mountain, and showed methe holy city, Jerusalem,

coming down out of heaven

from God,


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Every woman who has ever lived or will

ever live bears that prophetic image in

the core of her being even if she never

marries. God has chosen women to

show us the wonderful plan God has for

the whole of history.


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In the mystery of Gods

principle of design God

choose the woman to

be the life giver.


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I once was listening to a

feminist speaker at UWOand she made thestatement that the onlydifference between awoman and a man was

the ability to bearchildren.


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In keeping with the spirit of

our age she felt this was avery minor point.


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I immediately thought, That

difference is so huge that iteffects everything there is

about our identity.


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And yet she was very

wrong in saying that her

only difference is the

ability to bear children.


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It is only in the age of

disposable relationshipsthat we can fail to see that

from the dawn of time theunique place God gave

women in His design.


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They are LIFE GIVERS, not

only in the ability to bearchildren but in every aspect

of their being - spirit, souland body.


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Eves life giving

began with her

relationship with herhusband Adam.


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Before she was a life

giver to children she

was a life giver toAdam.


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She shared common aspects

of his creation but thedifferences in her body, soul

and spirit were centered inher awesome gifting of being

a life giver.


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Before she gave life to

her children she gave

life to her husband.


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Genesis 4:1

Now the man had relationswith his wife Eve, and she

conceived and gave birth toCain. . . .


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It has been so ever

since the first couple

held each other in thewonder of Eros.


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And so the mysteryof Gods design is

revealed.


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The mystery ofmutual dependence

and mutual lovebringing forth life.


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1 Corinthians 11:11

However, in the Lord, neither iswoman independent of man, nor

is man independent of woman.12 For as the woman originates

from the man, so also the man

{has his birth} through thewoman; and all things originate

from God.

A P l St k t i th


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As Paul Stookey wrote in the

Marriage Song,Woman draws her life from

man and gives it backagain, and there is love.

B f h d d t th


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Before she responded to the

first helpless cry from theheart of her baby, she

responded to the cry of herhusbands heart for one to

share his life with.


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Malachi 2:14

. . . she is your companion, the wife of

your marriage vows. 15 Didn't God

make you one? Your flesh and spirit

belong to him. And what does thesame God look for but godly

descendants?

(Gods Word Translation)


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Our mothers womb

was not the only placeshe was a life giver to

us.


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Again we see Gods design for

life giving in a womans body.Her body is the source of life

giving nourishment in those

first moments of our lives.


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One of the great tragedies of

Hudson Taylors life was the lossnot only of his wife Maria shortly

after she gave birth, but also of

his infant son. That son died

only because he had no mother

to nurse him.

Th l th th


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The love, the presence, the

provision and the protectionan infant has from his nursing

mother is used as one of themost powerful biblical

symbols of Gods love for us.

Isaiah 49:15


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Isaiah 49:15

"Can a woman forget her nursing

child And have no compassion

on the son of her womb? Even

these may forget, but I will notforget you.

F b d th l h i l


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Far beyond the early physical

dependency we have on our mothers

her influence will mark our lives

indelibly. If she fulfills her mandate from

God we will be given the best beginning

we could possibly have.


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The nurture, training and

protection a good mothergives out of her love for

us could never bepurchased.....


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But even if she was not

the best of moms wecan never repay what

was given to usthrough her.


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Because each one

of our days

are a gift from

God through her.


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By giving us lifeshe gave us a

chance to know

and belong toGod.


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The most important life

giving role in human

history was Mary givingbirth to Jesus.


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Had there been

no womb toreceive Him....


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Had there been noone to nurse him....


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Had there been noone to care for him

as only his mother

could.....

W ld t b


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We would not be

sons and

daughters of Godtoday.

G l ti 4 4


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Galatians 4:4

But when the fullness of the timecame, God sent forth His Son,

born of a woman, born under the

Law, 5 so that He might redeemthose who were under the Law,

that we might receive the adoptionas sons.

I th if


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In the same way if our

mothers had not chosento have us we would

have never known thejoy of our relationship we

have with God today.

She gave us the greatest


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She gave us the greatest

gift given beside whatJesus himself gave. She

gave us the chance tolive and in doing so the

chance to find a lifegivingrelationship with God.

Now some Perhaps


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Now some. Perhaps

many of you listeningtoday have been feeling

uncomfortable with thethings I have been

sharing.

Some of you may feel that


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Some of you may feel that

there are only a fewwomen that you could

whole heartedly praise.

Others of you may be


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Others of you may be

remembering ancientwounds inflicted on you

by one or many of thedaughters of Eve.

Some may even be feeling


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Some may even be feeling

shame, regret orcondemnation as you are

tempted to hear thismessage as a plumb line

you must measure up to.

I know from my own


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I know from my own

journey of seeking to bethe man God wants me

to be that I must haveJesus in my life before I

can be anything he maywant me to be.

But I also know that we


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But I also know that we

can help each otherbecome what God

intends when we valueeach other as God does.

When we see each other


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When we see each other

as God sees us.

When we encourage each

other as God desires.

When we commit to each


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other in love the way Hecommits to us in love.



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other in love the way Hecommits to us in love.

Prayer Points:

Th t ll ld h G d i i Hi ti f


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That we all would honor Gods image in His creation of women.

That we would praise the women in our lives for what God

praises them for.

If we have wounds from women we would forgive those who

have not lived up to Gods desire for them.

If , as women, we have wounds from men not fulfilling their role

in our lives we would forgive them.

That we, as men, would love, honor and respect all women

especially those we have a closer relationship with.

That God would capture hearts of women who are trapped in

bitterness by using us to show his love for them and the valueHe holds them in.

That we would honor our mother no matter what she was like

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In Praise of Women