She Proves Faithful

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As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Family Worship is a dedicated time of teaching our children the Word of God and helping them worship the Lord together with the entire family. Andy Hlushak is our guest today sharing why family worship is important, explains the paideia of God, and we share what we do with our family around the breakfast table that is helping them know and worship the God of the universe.

Show notes: sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode78

Instagram: @sheprovesfaithful

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Stewardship is managing the time, talents, and treasures that God has given to us FOR the glory of God during our days here on earth. We have great freedoms, joy, and some hard work as faithful stewards and today we are talking about the home and motherhood and five principles of good stewardship in these areas.  It’s one of those practical episodes. This is part 2 of a 2 part series. 

 

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Stewardship in the Home

There are two important passages of scripture that point to us learning to be good stewards of the home:

Titus 2:3-5

• the Greek word for home is oikouros meaning caring for or working at the home
• For women, biblically, there is a homeward orientation

1 Timothy 5:14

• And whether widows or not, we see instruction here for women - marry, bear children, and manage their household
• the Greek word used for household is oikodespoteo - is to manage family affairs

There is a charge her for women to manage or STEWARD their household and care for the needs of the home and those in the home. 

5 Principles of Stewardship in our Home

1. Order our days right by putting God first

• Make reading the Word and prayer a priority in your day
• Prayer shows are dependence on the Lord
• "Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude—an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God." - A.W. Pink
• Deuteronomy 6:6-9 We must learn the Lord's commands too, not just expect our children to learn them. 
• Family Worship - read the Word with your kids - sing with them
• When you don't "feel" like reading the Bible - repent!
• When you don't have time, make time later

2. Steward our attitudes

• We create the atmosphere of our home - it can be one of joy or eggshells
• We need to manage our hearts and tongues - Luke 6:45, Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:16
• Repent quickly, forgive quickly, be thankful, rejoice, sing!

3. Steward our time well by being diligent hard workers

• hard work is hard, it's not a bad thing
• idleness is shunning labor, it's a laziness
• idleness leads to sins like being busybodies and gossips - 1 Timothy 5
• "She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27
• Don't expend our time and energy on unfruitful and unproductive things (like social media or pet causes, or waiting for things to direct our day)
• Pray about your tasks as you move about your day

4. Steward our home well by being prepared

• 1 Samuel 25 Abigail was prepared
• Be prepared in our hearts to give and be generous, to practice hospitality
• Prepare by meal planning or having food to nourish our families well

5. Head in the right direction

• Wisdom from Kristina from https://www.bear-squirrel.com/
• We may not know what to do in a certain situation - but we can head in the right direction.
• If we are in the Word we know things we can do that will help us

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King David said But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. Today we are talking about stewarding all the things God has given us and what happens when He will return and we give an account. This is part 1 in a 2 part series on stewardship.   

 

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Riot and the Dance

Want to learn more about gospel-centered biology curriculum? Check out the Riot and the Dance curriculum on Canonpress.org: http://canonpress.com/search.php?search_query=riot+and+the+dance&Search=

Life Hack - Dinner Prep

This comes from SPF listener Serena!

"During busy, busy seasons of life, making dinner can be one of my hardest daily tasks. Dinner comes at the end of the day, after hard homework discussions, loads of laundry, a toddler’s failed naptime, etc, when I am at my lowest energy point of the day. BUT! Creating and cooking meals to nourish the bodies of my loved ones is one of my favorite ways to show my love for them all.

So what’s my life hack? After cooking breakfast, I immediately start cooking and/or prepping dinner. If it’s taco night, the beef is browned & seasoned, the veggies are chopped and placed in appropriate containers. I toss the cook ware in the dishwasher and clean up. When it’s time to serve dinner, it’s a basic “heat and eat” meal that is still homemade and from my heart - but the mess of cooking is already cleaned up and I can focus on enjoying the company of my family."

Stewardship

1 Chronicles 29:10-16

Stewardship is managing what God has given us for His glory. Verse 14 says, "All things come from you and of your own have we given."

Matthew Henry says, “Whatever we have, the property of it is God’s, we have only the use of it, and that according to the direction of our great Lord.”

Stewardship also has an expiration date. Verse 15 says, "For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding."

Other verses on fleeting life:

• 1 Peter 1:24
• Psalm 103:15-16
• James 4:14
• Psalm 39:4
• Job 8:9

How Then Shall We Live?

Matthew 25:14-30

The point of this parable isn’t salvific information. We cannot earn our way into heaven. Jesus is teaching this parable to illustrate stewardship. 

1. This passage is about the coming Kingdom of Heaven

2. The master gave according to their ability (and even our ability comes from God)

3. The master comes back and the servants give an account of what they've done.

Two types of servants

First two servants: worked hard, invested, and labored - and they did it on behalf of the master. They did it because they loved him and

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Encouragement is more than just a feel good word to put our hope in - its a calling to something. Today we are looking at four encouragements Paul called the Ephesian elders to and how to spot a wolf that wants to destroy the flock.  

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The Riot and the Dance

For one night only, on Monday, March 19th, The Riot and the Dance, a nature documentary praising God and attributing the marvels of creation to the Creator.

Take a look at the trailer - buy tickets and show your support for films that honor God!

Learn more and find a theatre: http://riotandthedance.com

Encourage - Called to

Acts 20

Paul encouraged = The word used in Acts 20:1 is the Greek word parakaleō which means to call to something.

Our faith in Christ is an active thing.

Not passive.

We don’t just exist; we exist to the glory of God!

Four Things We are Called to:

1. We are called to gather - Acts 20:7 / Hebrews 10:24-25 - We are to learn the Word of God together and break bread together (eat!).
2. We are called to serve the Lord with all humility - Acts 20:19 - We are called not to consume but to contribute
3. We are called to be a people on mission and to persevere - Acts 20:24 - our lives are about Christ and we are called to make disciples. When we get tired, take comfort in Christ's perseverance for us.
4. We are called to be on guard against wolves - Acts 20:28-31 - there will be people from among us that rise up and teach twisted things.

Wolves & What the Teach

A wolf is a metaphor used to describe someone who is greedy, cruel, and/or destructive.

Paul describes them as speaking twisted things.

Biblical Times Wolves:

1. Judaizer - taught a combination of God's grace and human effort - Acts 15
2. Pagans - worldly, materialistic, worship created things - Romans 1

Current Wolves Examples:

1. Universalists - claim that everyone will go to heaven
2. Sexual revolution - claim that there is not just male and female Romans 1
3. Prosperity Gospel - preaching that Jesus is about man and what we can get from Him

Opposite of a Wolf

Through Paul's example we see what is opposite of a wolf:

1. Does not shrink back from teaching what is profitable
2. Proclaims the whole counsel of God
3. Warns and admonishes against sin
4. Commends people to the Lord and assures them of eternity
5. Does not covet

Resources

Acts 20 sermon from New City Church - http://newcitydenver.org/sermons/how-jesus-builds-a-great-church/

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I think we’ve all heard it before “Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites”

People expect a certain standard of living and behavior from Christians and when they don’t see it, the word Hypocrite is immediately assigned. Since Christians are not perfect, how do we avoid being a hypocrite? How do we prove faithful when we still sin?

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Life Hack - SOAP

Amanda sent in a life hack to put a rubber band on the soap dispenser shaft to keep from pumping too much soap out. Give it a try, especially for little hands that use too much soap!

Also! Amanda is running a Face Mask sale on her site AJapothocary.com during the month of March! I LOVE the Natural Radiance Mask - it smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling so soft.

https://www.ajapothecary.com/product/natural-radiance-mask/

Christians can be Hypocrites

Greek Word - hypokritēs means actor/pretender

Two ways we can be hypocrites as Christians:

1. we can know the truth and do something different (Example: Paul confronting Peter in Galatians)
2. we can act out what we know is right but our hearts are far from worshipping God (Example: Jesus rebuking the Pharisees and scribes in Matthew 23)

Bottom line - as Christiasn we are new creations with a new heart able to live lives to God.

If our hearts are new, we live according to the newness. So anytime we sin, we are actually being hypocrites. We are living according to the flesh instead of according to the spirit. 

What do we do when we still sin?

We repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We turn from evil, because we can through the power of Christ.

We live out 1 John 1:9 - When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to cleanse of our sins and forgive us of all unrighteousness. 

Turning from hypocrisy does these things:

1. Glorifies God
2. assures us of our salvation
3. shows the world God's authority, holiness, and forgiveness to sinners

When confronted with hypocrisy in our lives remember this verse:

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6

Two ways to respond: pride vs humility

Pride: Annanais and Sapphira Acts 5

Humility: Israel and Samual 1 Samuel 12

Practical humility in 1 Samuel:

• Fear only God
• Serve Him faithfully with all your heart
• Consider the great things He has done for you (in Bible, and in own life)

Three Ways We Can Prove Faithful by Turning from our Hypocrisy

1. Turn from evil and obey the Lord

2. Think like a Christian by developing a biblical worldview

3. Ask for forgiveness - seek restoration of relationships

Resources

A Survey of Church History - https://www.ligonier.org/store/survey-of-church-history-complete-dvd-package-collection-parts-1-6/

Acts and Facts Magazine - http://www.icr.org/icr-magazines

Answers in Genesis (has kid resources too!

Support the show

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In your anger do not sin. Huh. We’ve all been angry a time or two, so important to look at God’s Word when we think about this common and powerful passion that often directs our thoughts, tongue, and actions. Today we are talking about where anger comes from, what it produces, and a few biblical ideas to put it away.

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Life Hack - How to eat More Veggies

Thank you to SPF Listener Kim for today's life hack:

Kim suggests loading up on the veggies at the grocery store and then chopping them all up when you get home. Store them in the fridge and use as needed! When your veggies are chopped and prepped you're more likely to use them, plus it makes a easy side to any meal:

Roasted Veggies

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Spread prepared veggies on pan tossed with olive oil, garlic, salt, spices you love
• Roast for 30-45 minutes

The Truth About Anger

Anger is not always a sin - Anger is an emotion that tells us where our heart is at.

Where does anger come from?

• Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also - Matthew 6:21
•  From out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks - Luke 6:45

We must be keenly aware that our heart is not always for God; many times in our anger our heart is in it for ourselves. 

Two Questions

Why are we angry? and Where is it going?

Why are we angry?

Righteous Anger: is getting angry when the law of God is violated and God himself is blasphemed

Unrighteous Anger: the reasons are endless (I'm not in control, my feelings are hurt, I am offended, I want to be right, I want to be comfortable, etc)

Where is unrighteous anger going?

• Stirs up more anger - Proverbs 15:1
• Leads to evil - Psalm 37:8
• Does not produce the righteousness of God - James 1:20

An angry and hasty spirit is soon provoked to ill things by afflictions and error and ill opinions that become prevalent through the workings of our own vile and vain affections. - Matthew Henry

In our Anger - Do Not Sin

In your anger do not sin, do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26

Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 tells us to put off anger and put on the new self

We need to STOP ---> THINK ---> REPENT (turn from our sins and turn to the grace of God)

Sometimes anger feels productive and fruitful, but 2 Peter tells us what really makes us fruitful and productive:

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if

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We are coming up on two years of the SPF Podcast and today we are talking about four ways we can prove faithful as Christian women and I share a little bit about how the SPF podcast started way back with my emails in High School.

Show Notes: sheprovesfaithful.com/podcast/episode72

Instagram: @sheprovesfaithful

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THANK YOU to all the women who sacrificially give each month to help this podcast keep going. It is a huge blessing to me as I can continue teaching and encouraging women with the Gospel over the airwaves.

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patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful

Life Hack: Phone + Focus

This life hack is brought to you by SPF listener, Fallon.

"I recommend turning off all your post notifications on your social handles. By doing this you aren’t constantly being notified when someone “hearts, likes or comments” on your post. It helps you not checking your social handles 24/7 and makes you more aware of your surroundings. Plus it’s like a little prize later when u pull it up and see all your notifications."

I agree and have been doing this for a while and it's given me better focus and presence during my day!

Thank you Fallon!

Four Ways to Prove Faithful

No 1: Proving faithful with the Gospel message

"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

If we are believers we are entrusted with the mystery of God and need to be found faithful stewards of it.

The mystery of God is Christ - in the fullest sense, it’s God’s plan of salvation through His Son. We would have never been able to understand the way to eternal life without Jesus, His death and resurrection.
 “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3

If we are believers, God has unveiled to us the very great and wonderful mystery of salvation! We are now stewards of this message.

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf:as “Be reconciled to God.” He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."  1 Corinthians 5:20-21

No 2: Prove faithful in our roles and responsibilities as women, wives, mothers

We have purpose on earth - God gives us roles and responsibilities as women, wives, and mothers.

Some of these roles and responsibilities are in Genesis 1-3 and we see a feminine charge throughout Scripture including in Titus 2, and general callings such as making disciples of Christ in Matthew 28.

No 3: Prove faithful by pursuing holiness

Jesus return is a reality and as Kevin DeYoung puts it from his book Taking God at His Word:
“And when Jesus comes again we will

Support the show

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You may have heard of a conversion story, but what about a de-conversion story? There is a temptation to turn away from the good and certain Word of God when we don’t understand something, instead of pressing into the Scriptures. Today we are talking about uncertainty, certainty, and four reasons the law of God is a gift to us.

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Opportunities

Friends of a Feather Podcast

Take a listen to Friends of a Feather Podcast where Wren asked me questions about my open heart surgery, miscarriages, and how I've hoped in God.

Friends of a Feather Podcast episode

Spiritual Spring Cleaning Webinar with Rachel Jankovic

Canon Press is hosting a four week webinar with author and mom, Rachel Jankovic. You can sign up with a group of women and receive a discount!

For more information and to register: http://canonpress.com/spiritual-spring-cleaning-live-webinar-with-rachel-jankovic/

The Deconversion Story

The article my husband sent me that set this whole thing off:  Jen Hatmaker - Changing my mind about the Bible

Kruger writes an incredibly articulate article about the Power of Deconversion stories

• Christian testimonies are a powerful way to explain our faith in a God who saves us from our sin
• De-conversion story is not for the lost necessarily but for the Christian
• Kruger says the purpose is to “convince them that their outdated naive believes are no longer worthy of their assent. 
• They thought they’ve seen the light, but now they’ve REALLY seen the light

One element common of deconversion story - the Word of God is just not certain.

But!

That's a lie.

The Bible is certain.

In all the uncertainties of life, isn't the certainty of God's Word a co

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Self care is a cultural trend taking social media by storm. What is self-care all about and is it biblical? Today we are addressing the cultural dominance of self-care and look at it through the wisdom of God think biblically about rest and restoration.

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Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks Life Hack - Coats & Car Seats

This life hack comes from listener Paula who said, put your kid's coats on backwards - when it's time to buckle up, slip off the coat and then put them back on! It's safe and warm for car seats.

Thanks Paula!!

Is Self Care Biblical? First things first:

1. It is not my intention to shame anyone for ever using the hashtag “self care” or posting about it. It’s not a sin to use this hashtag. The purpose of this episode is to explore a worldly view of self vs a biblical view of self and to not be deceived by cultural trends.

2. This episode is not to say we need to neglect good hygiene or not take care of ourselves. This is about looking to the source of rest and restoration. 

We are going to address the cultural dominance of self-care and look at it through the wisdom of God.

What is self care?

Psych Central says, “any activity we do deliberately in order to take control of our mental emotional, physical health.”

Habits of Well Being says, “A personal journey and each day is changing, so its important to continually look after yourself (i.e. make it a habit) and reflect on your health and well-being.

English Oxford Dictionary says, “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s health.”

Cultural Self care is really about OUR ability to achieve rest and restoration to be our best selves even if it comes at the expense of our duties, responsibilities and worship of God.

Two Troubles:

1. Culture wants us to believe we have trouble remember ourselves but It’s really impossible to forget about ourselves and our needs. This trend can lie to us and say we’ve forgotten all about yours truly. I spend too much time loving my neighbor and not enough time for me.

One quick # search again on IG would prove otherwise:

#loveyourself has 19.7 million vs #loveyourneighbor 90K

#selflove has 12.7 million vs #loveothers 311K

2. Self care turns into a humanistic source of giving our weary souls rest and restor

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Idolatry simply put is created things worshiping created things instead of the Creator. It’s a snare to the Christian heart and only leads to suffering. Today we are looking at a few idols in Biblical times as well as some modern day idols and two solutions to idol worship. 

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Life Hack - Saving for Christmas

A dance mom friend told me this great idea to save for Christmas gifts throughout the year: at the end of each month use whatever cash is leftover to buy a gift card to a store you like to shop at (Target, Amazon, etc). Then at Christmas you can use those gift cards to shop for gifts without adding extra financial pressure to that month.

Idolatry: Then and Now

Idolatry is the worship of created things rather than the ONE and Only Creator. 

Romans 1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Idolatry is dangerous because we get to decide who God is and what God does.

Asherath and Baal - idols of the past

• goddess and god of a particular power
• changed per culture
• worshipped through immorality and depravity including prostitution, child sacrifice, and self mutilation
• proved to be snares to God's people
• mutable - always changing to fit desires and needs of culture
• only powerful in certain areas

Joshua 24 and Judges 2

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

IDOLATRY TODAY

Looks a little different - we don’t carve images really

But it’s evident what idols are vying for our hearts when we look at our culture.

Learning from men like Dr. Greg Bahnsen and Dr. Joseph Boot my husband says, “Culture is the public expression of private worship; whatever is worshipped the most privately, will be the dominate force publicly.”

Dominate force publicly - socialism 

Private idol is greed and covetousness 

Dominate force publicly - fluidity of gender

Private idol - feelings

Dominate force publicly - social media addiction

Private idol - self

modern day idols:

• Social media addiction - an endless feedback loop of affirmation
• Government - looking for salvation from the government
• Naturalism and Science - a rejection of biblical creation and worldview and embracing atheistic evolution and earth preservation
• Self-care - self care is rooted in self worship of my needs. I’m not saying it’s a sin to want to go get coffee by yourself or to have some peace and quiet time, but to say it’s necessary takes it to worship.

It all boils down to SELF AGGRANDIZEMENT - which means the fulfillment of the self to the exclusion of all others and their needs and desires.

What’s the solution to idolatry?

Know the true God and obey his commands

Do you duty - your calling as Christians - to teach your children and tell others.

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