en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/830170 Comments by Stacy http://shereadstruth.com/2015/04/24/do-something-beautiful/#IDComment966527858 I hesitate to comment on this particular lesson because it is one that can be divisive. I would point out, however, that Paul is very clear in verse 12 that HE did not permit women to teach. This was his personal conviction. Sometimes, I fear we get stuck debating personal convictions. Healthy discourse is good and right but, if it becomes divisive or a stumbling block to others, then we are not doing the body of Christ any good. Fri, 24 Apr 2015 20:03:41 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2015/04/24/do-something-beautiful/#IDComment966527858 http://shereadstruth.com/2015/04/23/the-worst/#IDComment966219959 There is so much goodness in this passage. I love verse 5 where it says the aim of teaching the gospel is love. It's easy to get caught up in the peripheral issues until we are no longer coming from a place of love but of simply wanting to be right. Our aim is love - and that love comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. I also love verses 12-13. God had a plan for Paul while he was still Saul. He "judged him faithful" before he had ever proven himself to be faithful. It reminds me of God finding Gideon hiding in fear from the enemy and calling him a mighty warrior. When God looks at us, He sees what He created us to be. I just love HIm so. Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:38:51 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2015/04/23/the-worst/#IDComment966219959 http://shereadstruth.com/2015/04/22/12-timothy-instructions-for-gospel-living/#IDComment966050423 Praying for you right now. Wed, 22 Apr 2015 21:38:25 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2015/04/22/12-timothy-instructions-for-gospel-living/#IDComment966050423 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/21/give-thanks-stress/#IDComment916395472 Love, love, love. Needed these words, today. Prior to reading this post, I was in the book of Luke and I read verse 19:42 where Jesus is weeping over Jerusalem and saying, "If you had only known the things that would bring you peace." When I am anxious and overwhelmed, I think he says the same thing over me. This morning, I was reminded of Paul's words in Ephesians 2:14 that Jesus HIMSELF is our peace. In the midst of trials and chaos and noise, we can always have peace because we always have him. Love y'all so much! Fri, 21 Nov 2014 12:29:31 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/21/give-thanks-stress/#IDComment916395472 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/19/give-thanks-suffering/#IDComment915137544 Praying for you, Jenny! Wed, 19 Nov 2014 17:50:12 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/19/give-thanks-suffering/#IDComment915137544 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/19/give-thanks-suffering/#IDComment915136847 I am so sorry for your loss. Praying you feel the peace and presence of the One who loves you so. Wed, 19 Nov 2014 17:48:55 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/19/give-thanks-suffering/#IDComment915136847 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/19/give-thanks-suffering/#IDComment915044996 I have always loved the book of Job and am in the middle of writing a series of talks on Joy from the book of Job. How is that for irony? One of the things that always stands out to me from this passage is in verse 10 when it says, "In all this Job did not sin with his lips." I tend to run at the mouth when I'm upset about something. I feel sorry for myself and I start verbalizing all the ways my life should be different or people should treat me better or why did God allow such and such to happen. Once I start saying those things out loud, under the guise of "venting," I actually get more upset. It doesn't help me at all. In fact, I usually just feel more sorry for myself and guilty for some of the things I've said that, in my heart, I know are not true. Our lips are for praise, not pity parties. Job teaches us (Job 1:20) that, often, mourning and worship coexist. Pain and praise become one. And God is in it all. Thank you so much for this devotional. I am SO loving this study! Wed, 19 Nov 2014 14:47:26 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/19/give-thanks-suffering/#IDComment915044996 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/18/give-thanks-joy/#IDComment914657567 Love this so much. "Was no one found to return and give praise..." May that never be me. Wed, 19 Nov 2014 00:41:53 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/11/18/give-thanks-joy/#IDComment914657567 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/05/01/doubters/#IDComment824770566 This may not make sense but, sometimes, doubt creeps in over the fact that it does not seem at all unbelievable to me that Christ came - both man and God - gave up his life and rose again. I have not struggled with that - with other things to be sure - but not that. Satan sometimes makes me question whether I have accepted it too readily. Should I struggle and seek some sort of proof? I have watched others walk away and declare it unbelievable and, yet, I still believe. What I call faith, others call foolishness. I have a seminary degree and I have heard the points above and I believe them all to be valid. In the end, however, for me - it has to be like the old preacher said, 'I just know that I know that I know and that's enough for me." Thu, 1 May 2014 13:17:10 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/05/01/doubters/#IDComment824770566 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/03/06/fasting-secret/#IDComment801864485 This is just convicting and encouraging all at the same time. We do live in a world of over sharing and (I believe) the reason is not so much because we are seeking to brag but that we are seeking affirmation. We post a picture of a dinner we made (not me because, well, I can't cook!) so that others will ooh and ahh. We post something that we have done for our kids or spouse because we want people to think we are good moms and wives. We just want to be loved and appreciated. We want people to affirm what we are doing. What your devotion has reminded me of is Galatians 1:10. "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Maybe, what we share isn't as important as why we are sharing it. Thank you so much for the time and heart you put into your words here, Amanda. Thu, 6 Mar 2014 13:29:07 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/03/06/fasting-secret/#IDComment801864485 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/03/05/time-mourning/#IDComment801860399 Love. Love. Love. Thu, 6 Mar 2014 13:16:59 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/03/05/time-mourning/#IDComment801860399 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/01/09/afreshstartday4/#IDComment781804313 I just have to say, Sarah - "God didn’t just leave us with our plate of Brussels sprouts..." That is some good writing, my friend. I laughed out loud and then thought, "what a great image of what God has done." Thanks! Thu, 9 Jan 2014 14:29:58 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/01/09/afreshstartday4/#IDComment781804313 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/01/08/afreshstartday3/#IDComment781259535 I completely understand! I live in my own Garden of Eden surrounded by family and food and provision and, yet, I find myself looking for that something that I don't have instead of being content with the PLENTY that I have been given. Wed, 8 Jan 2014 13:37:18 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/01/08/afreshstartday3/#IDComment781259535 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/01/08/afreshstartday3/#IDComment781255841 I always say that Satan is crafty, but he is not creative. He pulls the same tricks with us, today, as he did with Eve. He wants us to question God's Word (Gen. 3:1 - "Did God really say...?") AND He wants us to question God's motives (Gen. 3:5 - "For God knows...") Eve's downfall was that she doubted God's Word and began to believe that he was withholding something good from her. I know that I have to guard my heart against that when I look around me and think how much easier life would be if I only had "that." We must be on the lookout for Satan because he will attempt to plant the same seeds of doubt in us that he did with Eve. "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ." - 2 Corinthians 11:3 Wed, 8 Jan 2014 13:30:50 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/01/08/afreshstartday3/#IDComment781255841 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/01/06/afreshstartday1/#IDComment780153212 I blogged about this very thing last week - God's ability to bring new life with just a breath. Genesis 2:7 makes it clear that, though we had been formed, we did not live until God breathed. So, he brings new life. Yet, in the valley of dry bones, we see that, with a breath, he can also restore life (Ezekiel 37:4-5.) There in the valley, when life seemed over and hope seemed gone, what brought the breath of God?? It was the hearing of the Word of the Lord. So, when we feel dry and weary and like hope is gone, we, too, can have the breath of God. We can breathe in what God breathed out (2 Timothy 3:16.) Much love to you, sweet ladies. Here's to new beginnings which only come when God breathes upon us with his word. Mon, 6 Jan 2014 12:46:03 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2014/01/06/afreshstartday1/#IDComment780153212 http://shereadstruth.com/2013/11/19/givethanksday2/#IDComment752723920 Praying, sweet sister. Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:14:31 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2013/11/19/givethanksday2/#IDComment752723920 http://shereadstruth.com/2013/10/16/jamesday1/#IDComment735980514 I just love seeing so many new ladies in the study this time around! Welcome!! Thu, 17 Oct 2013 02:36:51 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2013/10/16/jamesday1/#IDComment735980514 http://shereadstruth.com/2013/10/16/jamesday1/#IDComment735613963 I love that, from the very beginning, James points to Christ. Sure, he could have gone the route of shameless self promotion. It is certainly easy enough to do. Just look at any of our Twitter profiles or blog bios. This education. That experience. This number of kids. Oh, look how busy I am. Or creative. Or popular. Oh, and here is a little nod to my faith. Or, like the devo said, he could have focused on his failings, his doubting, his missteps of faith. We do that, too, I can't talk to anyone about Christ because I have done this or been there. What if we lived like it was all about him (since it is!) Stacy, a servant of God and Christ - that is what you need to know about me. Wed, 16 Oct 2013 12:35:22 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2013/10/16/jamesday1/#IDComment735613963 http://shereadstruth.com/2013/10/16/jamesday1/#IDComment735599884 Praying, my friend. Also, you are going to LOVE the book of James. Definitely one of my favorites. :) Wed, 16 Oct 2013 12:02:45 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2013/10/16/jamesday1/#IDComment735599884 http://shereadstruth.com/2013/09/26/god-helps-his-people/#IDComment726789421 Ah, thanks, Lakeisha! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Sat, 28 Sep 2013 14:20:02 +0000 http://shereadstruth.com/2013/09/26/god-helps-his-people/#IDComment726789421