In Which Sheila is Still Shouting "Grace, Grace!"

I saw this sign in front of a detox center for legalist women...not really, but it could be true.

Tim and I love the law of God, as given through Moses. It is the legalist who is anti-law; because she insists on her own understanding of the law, she ends up misunderstanding God's law, misapplying the law, which is, in fact, to be anti-law.

Friends, to truly love the law of God is more than a mere sentiment. It is more than reading the Old Testament and feeling good about it. To truly love God's law, is to invest significant time investigating it, understanding it, and being vigilant to communicate it accurately, and apply it Biblically.

Anything short of that, is sloppy scholarship, anemic passion, and misguided stubborness that masquerades as love for God's law, and that is to be a practicing antinomian, no matter what your creed is.

The law is good when used lawfully, the Bible says. Tim and I are completely passionate about the lawful use of something so precious and potentially powerful as the law. Therefore, we are to be counted amongst those who love God's law. Legalists do not actually love God's law at all - if you are even able to get past all the scholarly sounding rhetoric, you will find that legalists only love their own perceived performance of the law. The parts of the law they have been able to keep make them feel holy. They perceive God's blessings that have been in fact given to them unearned and undeserved - as being contingent upon their own "higher standard"...their own higher level of personal holiness. The law makes a legalist feel better about themselves, and definitely makes them feel better than you.

So tell me. Which person actually loves the law? The legalist? Or the grace-girl? (or grace-guy...whichever.)

See the difference? Hands down, no further discussion, the grace-girl is the one who actually and passionately loves the law of God, because she has carefully studied and zealously guarded the intent of the law, as communicated by God, both old covenant and new.

I use the female gender simply because "I are one" - and because to get the women using the law lawfully, is to get half the church using the law lawfully. Historically, there have been powerful women who have passionately supported the gospel of grace...and "devout" women who have stubbornly opposed the gospel of grace.

There ain't nothin' new under the sun. I've seen it before, with my own eyes. A woman with a firm superiority complex becomes a willing tool of religious spirits, and that woman will oppose all emphasis on grace. (At the very heart of it, this is exactly why Paul and Barnabas were opposed...)

Acts 13 says this, "But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region."

Yeah, I want to talk to the women. You better believe I do. Girlfriend, you can choose to be "devout and prominent" or you can be the righteousness of God in Christ - but you can't mix legalism and gospel. Every time you do, you will end up expelling others "from your region" - usually, in our age of propriety, you'll do it by being the one to leave.

Here is the sort of devout woman I want to be:

"Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures...And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious...attacked." (Acts 17)

Throughout history, for every devout legalista, God has raised up a leading grace-girl. I so want to be the grace-girl. I want to be persuade-able, tender towards the Gospel. I want to be God's woman, not my own version of God's woman.

(Which means, I will actively support the Pauls and Silases in my life, but that's another topic altogether...Jezebel cannot give honor where it is due, and she certainly can't stop controlling the men in her life, and she will ultimately never keep her mouth shut. She's convinced that she knows more.)

Oh my. I think I'll stop now. I've riled enough religion as it is. Few things are scarier than a woman who is devout for all the wrong reasons, who is unpersuade-able, and envious of the powerful women who embrace the grace message of the gospel.

I sort of understand. I'd envy me, too...not that I'm "powerful", but God certainly gives me every good thing I haven't earned and do not deserve.

Birthday Pictures...

Isaac and I were both a little sad on my birthday...

...because we miss Josiah, who is training to be one of "the few, the proud, the Marines", in Parris Island, S.C.


But I did get this gorgeous vintage leather suitcase from Hannah and Justin...


...here is an inside shot. This beauty is in pristine condition. Can you believe this? I'm using it as my sewing box, yarn store-er, craft kit...and I confess to being in love with it. I might date it.

...got these roses from my man...




...a sewing machine, with love, also from my man...the carrying case from Isaac.

...and a spa gift card from Sarah and Jonathan...

As usual, my family spoils me. So I shall turn my frown upside down (though I still miss my oldest boy!) and go get a massage and sew something fabulous.

Underlined Bits - Making a Mere House into a True Haven

“This home is dedicated to good will. It grew out of love. The two heads of household were called together by a power higher than they. To it’s decree they are obedient. Every tone of voice, every thought of being is subdued to that service. They desire to be worthy of their high calling, as ministers of that grace.


They know their peace will go unbroken only for a little time. And often they suspect that the time will be more short than even their anxious hope. They cannot permit so much as one hour of that brief unity to be touched by scorn or malice. The world's judgements have lost their sting inside this door.


Those who come seeking to continue the harmony which these two have won are ever welcome. The rich are welcome, so they come simply.

The poor are welcome, for they have already learned friendliness through buffeting. Youth is welcome, for it brings the joy which these two would learn. Age is welcome for it will teach them tenderness.”


Anon, 1919.

The Honor Principle

Come on in and sit down with me, this morning.  The sun is shining, my puppy is in a snuggly disposition, and coffee is brewing.  What would you like for breakfast?  I can make you anything from biscuits and gravy, or I can slice you up a fresh pineapple and make you some whole grain toast.  I want to talk to you....about the honor principle.

Are you comfortable?  Is there anything else I can get you?  Oh, wait a minute...(rooting around the large basket by the couch)....here's the softest lap blanket ever.  All tucked in?  Good.  Because I'm going to keep you here for a little while.

::smile::


Honor is a principle, woven all throughout the Scripture, Old Covenant and New.  Just as sowing and reaping is a principle, just as First Fruits is a principle (the New Covenant manifestation of the Old Covenant tithe), just as generosity is a principle - honor is an unalterable, unavoidable principle that many legalists choose to overlook.

Legalists love to believe that their blessings are somehow attached to their performance.  Funny thing, though...the one area they never perform well in, is this area of relationships.  And  relationships are what walking with God is all about.

There is a difference between law and principle.  I can keep the law by obeying the speed limit.  I avoid the curse that comes with breaking the law, but I don't come under any particular supernatural blessing.  And I will never in my lifetime obey the speed limit in all places, at all times.  I live under a curse - knowing that there is a ticket somewhere in my future, if only by accident.

Godly principles contain only blessing.  The law (as contained in the commandments and ordinances) has been replaced by a Better Thing, period.  No "if's, and's, or but's".  Principle remains.  Some attitudes (principles) will always tend towards life, whether you are a Christian or not.  Generosity somehow always tends towards prosperity, for example.

Honor tends towards Great Blessing.  I'm talking about the blessing of true wellness - "it will be well with thee" - Full, Multi-Dimensional, Well-Rounded Blessing  -  as opposed to one or two dimensional blessing, such as mere financial prosperity, without rich relationship, or rich relationships without physical health, etc.

There are three levels of honor:  1.  honor towards those who we know are our superiors, 2.  honor towards those we think are our equals, and 3.  honor towards those we are responsible for...those below us, for lack of a better term.  Some of the greatest theologians in church history have said that a man or woman is defined by the honor they give, not to superiors, not to inferiors, but you and I are defined by the honor we give to those we perceive as being equals.  Even more than the honor we give, we are thoroughly known and tested by who it is we think is our equal.
Most fools will treat an obvious superior with a measure of deference.  Many fools will treat a perceived inferior with pity and generosity.  But all fools will eventually treat their perceived equals with patronizing airs, then with irritation, leading to indifference, and even scorn.

Jesus said that superiors, equals, and inferiors are to receive our honor.  Not all equally, of course, but all are to receive their level of honor.  Jesus said  "And whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward." (there's the superior)  "And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward." (there's your perceived equal)

 "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple" (there's your inferior), assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

So there you have it.  Jesus said this to those under the law.  Before the cross, it was all about the law and the prophets.  After the resurrection, God made it all about the church and the five-fold ministries who equip her.  To carry this honor principle into the New Covenant, it is simple and solid reasoning to say that Jesus would  convey the honor principle like this:

"Whoever receives (meaning "honors") an apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, or evangelist in the name of (out of respect towards) those ascension gifts, given by Jesus to the church, that person will by no means lose his reward.  This is some big reward we are talking about.

He who receives a righteous man, in the name of that righteous man, will not lose his reward.  In other words, when we give honor to someone equal in terms of responsibilities and abilities - when we recognize his talents and take note of his hard work and service, we are also rewarded. 

Lastly, I cannot even offer a cup of cold water to a young one, as an act of compassion and honor, without there being a sure reward coming to me.

We do okay honoring those beneath us or dependant on us with their cup of water.  We struggle with giving heartfelt honor to those we deem as our equals in intelligence or experience.  We outright balk and often refuse to give honor to those God has placed over us in the faith - whether that be domestic authority, church authority, or job authority.

Without a culture of honor in our churches, however, there is no wellness.  Without a culture of honor, soul-prosperity (as well as other forms of prosperity) is limited at best.    We are rewarded in direct proportion to the honor we give to legitimate authority.  This is a principle.  There is blessing attached to honor, just as reaping is attached to sowing, and the mercy we receive is attached to the mercy we have shown. 

Those women who scoff and doubt that such a principle of honor even exists, those are the very ones who tend to not manifest soul prosperity. (The men don't manifest soul prosperity either...but that is another topic for another day.  Suffice it to say, they are discontented men, grasping at career props and money props and position props to keep them soul-satisfied...because they neither give honor to their wife, nor are they honored by their wife.  They do not give honor to legitimate authority, and thus experience only a limited wellness.)

Return.  Go back.  Start all over, like an innocent child, and begin giving honor where it is due.  If you will honor the people God placed in your life, and honor them in the proper way, at the proper time, with proper sincere honesty, there will be released into your spirit a steady rain of His Spirit...rising waters of mercy and grace, washing you inside and out, and leaving you feeling fresh, washing the cynicism away.  You will experience  the lightness and wholesomeness of an unjaded soul.  You will begin to walk in multi-dimensional, powerful Blessing.  It will be well with you, and you will live long and large upon the earth.

That is how powerful the Honor Principle is.

To not give honor where it is due will not bring down a curse on your life.  That is old covenant thinking.  I can't say this enough:  you are no longer under the law!

But to withhold honor from legitimate authority, to treat authority as common, or worse, to treat anyone as beneath you, is to lose out on a deep reaching, profoundly generation-altering blessing.

I don't want to lose out on that.

In Which Sheila Declares, "Give Honor Where It Is Due..."

(me - doling out punch.  In this case, please think of this picture as quite prophetic and illustrative of "a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down", because Imabouta get down and dirty with you!)

I've known and observed many women over the years I've walked with the Lord - those who honor legitimate authority are rare and beautiful as diamonds.  Those who treat legitimate authority with indifference or insufficient respect are common as pennies.

Too many complain about their husband.

Too many do not honor their father.  Too many do not honor their mother.  (It seems fashionable, almost, in this generation for a woman to have "mother issues".  Friends, I will not be part of that.)

Too many do not show proper respect for spiritual authority - pastors, teachers, etc.  They cross the line in their mannerisms, in their perceived intellectual superiority, in their attitudes.

And in all cases, these whiny, disrespectful women wonder why they are not prospering in their souls.  (And soul-prosperity is the only prosperity that matters, quite frankly.)

Wonder no more.  Just observe how you respond to legitimate authority.  To whom are you rendering due honor and respect?

Wake up, and smell the cappacino, girls.  I wouldn't bring this up if I didn't care!  I so want to see women truly experience well-being...  

Fall Harvest Decor, White Palette

As Autumn drew near, this past September, I began to wonder how decorating for Harvest would look in my home, with my new light, white color palette.

I shouldn't have worried, after all, the Bible does say that "the fields are white unto the harvest...", so white and harvest should be two concepts that easily go together.

I know. That's a reach. And a little cheesey. But this is my blog, so deal with it. Anyhow, here are some shots I took today of how my harvest decorating finally all came together. I'll be leaving things "as is" until Christmas...

Of course, pumpkins and gourds are everywhere. I edited out the green gourds this year, because my carefully-chosen colors for fall are orange and blue, brown and white...

I took the turquoise coffee mugs down, and replaced them with brown transferware teacups (though I still drink coffee in them - shhhhhh...don't tell.)

A close up. Gotta love this.

whatever you do, do it elegantly - which means "as simple as possible, but still making an impact." Three white pumpkins placed on a brown glass mosaic leaf plate...this is perhaps my favorite idea I came up with.

replaced the usual candles on our covered front porch with three small pumpkins, and one large one on the table. That's it! That is all I did to our front porch, yet somehow it shouts "HARVEST TIME"...

Don't forget the fact that the outdoors needs no ornamentation. Please, no fall leaf garlands around your front door...(unless you have no trees in your yard!)...let the real leaves have center stage. This is our pond, right off of our front porch. It is overshadowed by a dogwood - whose leaves are luscious scarlet right now.

change out your kitchen linens...put out a fall cookbook...and again, elegant simplicity...just one white ceramic pumpkin on the wood counters.

Orange and blue play beautifully together in the dining room...(that tablecloth doesn't read well in this picture - it is a sweet shade of robin's egg blue print..)

A close up of the table centerpiece - just things I've gathered in years past - the only new thing is the (real) white pumpkin under the tiny cloche...the cloche was $4 at Hobby Lobby - a deal no woman can resist.

white, white, white...and orange.

White, white, white...and orange. (actually, depression-era peach lustre-ware teacups and saucers - love they way they stack and lean - with leaves and berries...) This speaks to my philosophy to decorate with what is real and ordinary and useful whenever possible. I'm real down on "knick knacks" these days...

My stainless steel double-timer, and a box of matches. Useful. Real. Beautiful. Decorative. I love this long box of wooden matches. I much prefer to light my candles this way. I know I'm weird and I'm okay with it. Kapeesh?

Savor this special time of year - it is over all too soon, swallowed up by cheesy boy-bands who mangle beautiful old Christmas carols. Fall will soon be overtaken by all things Santa Claus. Take time to set your harvest season apart by decorating for it, and truly "giving thanks", without letting the commercialism of the Christmas season overshadow this lovely autumn of the year. There will never again be another autumn 2010 - and it is winding up fast.

Grace and peace to you, friends. Isn't that all we ever need , anyway?

~linking to the Fall Nesting Party, over at Melissa's Inspired Room Blog...

No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets

William Borden, 1887-1913

William Whiting Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy fortune, already a millionaire in high school, graduate of Yale, gave himself wholeheartedly to Christ with this motto: “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.” He died a missionary to Muslims in Egypt.

Dr. Samuel Zwemer said this at the funeral: “He won the victory over his environment. By some the victory has to be won over poverty; by others over heredity or over shame and temptation; but Borden won the victory over an environment of wealth. He felt that life consisted not in ‘the abundance of things a man possesses’ but in the abundance of things that possess the man.”

Quoted in Mrs. Howard Taylor, Borden of Yale ’09 (Philadelphia, 1926), pages 279-280.