by Kelli Garms | Oct 11, 2019 | Spiritual Growth, Women's Ministry
As I’ve been reading through the Bible this year, I have been struck by how God started the journey of so many great men and women. None of them were able to stay comfortable and complacent and still accomplish what God had in store for them.
- Abraham had to leave his country and set out for an unknown destination.
- Noah, who had never seen rain, had to build an ark and preach about a flood without a single convert.
- Joshua had to take the mantle of leadership after watching how often the Israelites turned on Moses.
- Ruth had to leave her family and country and become a beggar in the land of her enemies.
- Daniel lived in Babylon as a solitary believer.
- Paul, David, John the Baptist, Samson, Esther…. The list goes on and on.
It has made me realize that my desire to stay comfortable is a desire not to be used by God. Ouch!
Will you get uncomfortable with me? Let’s see what God can do when we take that step in faith!
by Kelli Garms | Sep 13, 2019 | Bible Study, Family, Spiritual Growth, Women's Ministry
In last week’s post, I talked about submission in 1 Peter 2 & 3. Lest you think submitting to your husband makes you inferior to him, I wanted to continue in that passage today.
Peter includes only one verse that speaks directly to husbands, but it sure packs a punch! Let’s look at 1 Peter 3:7:
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Am I right to assume reading that verse got your hackles up?? There are several things in this verse that can rub us the wrong way, but let’s unpack it a bit. I think you’ll find it becomes a comfort to you.
When Peter commands husbands to live with their wives in an understanding way, the idea is to do life together. This isn’t describing a domineering husband with a floor mat of a wife. Doing life together implies a partnership, and partnership implies equality.
The term translated “weaker” in reference to the woman is speaking of physical strength. Whatever you may believe about gender roles, you can’t deny that physical strength lies on the side of the man. This is not a slight to women, however, who are natural nurturers and care givers.
Peter specifically references the equality in God’s eyes when he tells husbands that their wives are “heirs with you of the grace of life.” We can’t be co heirs if we are not equals.
You can submit to authority and still be equal in importance. Christ is not inferior to God, yet He submits to God’s will.
Although you can’t control how your husband responds to you, submitting to your husband is a strong testament to your faith in God.
by Kelli Garms | Sep 6, 2019 | Bible Study, Family, Spiritual Growth, Women's Ministry
I recently went through a study of 1 Peter 2 & 3, and a portion of these chapters talks about submission. In the midst of discussing submitting to the government and employers, Peter reminds us that wives should submit to their husbands.
Can I be honest and tell you this has always been a struggle for me? In reality, I don’t just struggle with submitting to my husband; I struggle with submitting to any authority. And I don’t think I’m alone. My mom tells a story about my sister who was refusing to sit down. Once she finally obeyed, she spouted, “I may be sitting on the outside, but on the inside, I’m still standing!”
What I discovered in my study is that submission to my husband has nothing to do with my husband. It isn’t something he earns like a reward for good behavior, and it isn’t something he loses because he didn’t meet my expectations.
My submission to my husband has everything to do with my relationship with God! It is trusting that God will work in and through my husband for the benefit of our family and our community. In fact, Peter speaks of a wife’s submission as a means for her husband to walk closer with God. The other side of that coin is if I don’t submit to my husband, I could hinder his walk with the Lord!
I don’t know about you, but it might take me a minute to digest this one! Though it will continue to be a struggle for me, I pray the Holy Spirit brings this passage to mind each time I start to rebel. Can I pray for you, too?
I love how Scripture gives us the tools we need to renew our minds and become more Christ-like!
by Kelli Garms | Aug 30, 2019 | Spiritual Growth, Women's Ministry
I remember sitting around with my college friends talking about what God had in store for our lives. What was He going to call me to do? and could He just do it already so I could plan out the rest of my life, please?
The truth is, had He told me then what I know now, I’m not sure I would have accepted it. Growing up as a missionary kid, I was ready to go wherever He wanted me to go–even the uttermost parts of the earth. But what He asked me to do was be willing to stay. As you can imagine, I have wrestled with that calling throughout my life.
I have come to realize that I viewed my “calling” the wrong way. I always imagined there would be this ONE THING He would ask of me. I figured there was one way for me to leave a mark on this world (I never really considered if that mark would be mine or His). And I was always waiting for Him to let me in on the big secret so I could get the ball rolling.
Here is what I have learned: Your calling isn’t some big thing you will do in the future. It is made up of the little steps you take today in obedience to Him.
It might look like changing dirty diapers, cleaning toilets, teaching a Sunday school class, discipling someone one-on-one, or even holding babies in the nursery. It might be going to a job from 8 to 5 everyday, taking orders from someone who doesn’t share your values, or knowing you can never do enough for the children in your classroom who are hurting.
My mom used to tell me to “bloom where you’re planted,” and I’m pretty sure this is what she meant. Stop waiting for God to show you what He wants you to do in the future, and do what He’s asking you to do now.
You may wonder if you took a wrong turn along the way, didn’t listen to His guiding of your steps, and ended up in the wrong place. Take heart! You are where you are called to be. It might not be as glamorous as you imagined, but as you take those small steps in obedience today, you are storing up treasures in Heaven, where the world’s version of glamorous is a drop in the bucket!
by Kelli Garms | Aug 23, 2019 | Family, Women's Ministry
Ever since I read Frank Peretti’s book Piercing the Darkness, I will admit I have struggled with yoga and meditation. I have never really done yoga as a result, but the Bible commands us to meditate. However, when Scripture talks about meditation, it is very different than how I see others teaching it.
Meditation is usually taught in a way that encourages you to clear your mind of everything. Accomplishing this is quite the feat. Have you ever tried to clear your mind of everything? The only way I have been able to get anywhere near it is by thinking of a large black wall. Go ahead, try it, I’ll wait…
I’ve been doing quite a bit of research into neuroscience, and one thing I have been able to decipher is that the brain rests in activity, not in inactivity. Let me explain. When you are sleeping, your brain is actually working harder than it did all day! When you are deliberately thinking about something, you actually slow your brain down.
Unlike your body, your mind gets tired when it is bored. Have you ever noticed when you spend all day vegging out on the couch binge watching Netflix, you go to bed exhausted? It is because your brain is bored.
What’s really interesting is the Bible supports this. When Scripture tells us to meditate, it has nothing to do with clearing our minds of every thought. Instead, we are commanded to meditate on His Word. We are to think about, process, and digest Scripture. We are to take our thoughts captive and process them through the lens of the Bible.
So if you want to meditate the biblical way, you need to read your Bible and then think about what you read.
Here are some questions to think through:
- What did that passage teach you about God?
- Did it point out a sin, a promise, a life principle, etc.?
- How should it change you?
- When are you going to follow through?
If you would like a worksheet to help you process this, you can download my free Bible study workbook and/or join the Bible Study Academy.
by Kelli Garms | Aug 9, 2019 | Family, Women of Crossway, Women's Ministry
Every time I hear the phrase “even if” it reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace (Daniel 3). They were threatened with being thrown into the fire if they didn’t worship the king’s idol. I’m always amazed by their response: Our God can protect us, but EVEN IF He doesn’t, we will still worship only Him.
Will you worship only God…
Even if you don’t pass that test?
Even if you don’t get that job?
Even if you don’t get that promotion or rank?
Even if He doesn’t restore your marriage?
Even if He doesn’t save your child?
Even if He doesn’t cure that terrible disease?
It is easy to be impressed with those who have gone before. Sometimes we hear these stories so often they lose their wonder.
I’m praying for you today because life is hard, and these questions are hard, and we hope we will make the right choice when we are faced with it!
