Held to Account (M.O.M Book Club – Chapter 2)
“If we reject God’s design from the outset, our children and their children and their children will reap the consequences of our unfaithfulness. When we face the Lord at the end of our lives, he will ask us, “What did you do with those precious eternal human beings that I entrusted into your hands?” -Sally Clarkson, The Mission of Motherhood, P. 37
The theme for me in chapter two ofThe Mission of Motherhood was the fact that one day I will stand before my God and give account for my life. I will be judged (not condemned) for what I have done with my life.
“For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” Romans 14:10
“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. Forwe must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
It is a sobering reality that I will face the judgement seat of Christ. This judgement reality pushes me to examine my heart – am I living for His glory…or my own?
Am I submitting my will to His design, or am I stubbornly holding onto my rights…my passions…my opinions?
His grace and mercy has released me from the fierly grip of hell and allowed me to live in freedom from the bondage and death of sin. However, I am now a slave of Christ, not of myself and not of my own desires and will.
I love Jesus.
I want to live that love.
And I want hold onto His truth and be faithful to it with all of who I am and have been given so that one day, after I have given an account of my life, I may hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Week One - The Product of Your Hands
…
What stood out to you in this chapter? Did you answer the discussion questions or do the “paper” challenge? Let’s talk about this chapter in the comments section.
Recommended Article: Will Christians be Judged?
…
The art work at the top of the post sums up the theme of chapter two for me. You can find the print at RedLetterWords.com by clicking here.
There are lots of great points in this chapter on marriage. One part that I underlined starts on page 32:
"Marriage outside of God's design becomes primarily an institution where men and women try to meet their personal needs for companionship, sex and housekeeping…this is a formula for relational failure…no sinful, imperfect human can ever fully satisfy the longings in another person's soul for love, security, and purpose, especially over the long course of a human lifetime, because neither partner was intended to have these needs met apart from God."
The quicker we learn in marriage that our mate can not fill our God shaped voids the better! We can put pressure on our husbands to be something they were never intended to be and then be angry with them for not living up to our unattainable standard…hence the divorce rate continues to rise.
Sally puts it beautifully! Living in marriage according to God's design is a huge foundational piece in our Mission of Motherhood.
And I had underlined and starred the same quote you posted on page 37 too – great one to ponder! Thanks!
Much Love,
Courtney
Courtney(WomenLiving´s last [type] ..Vlog- Childrens Object Lesson – Watch What You Say
Courtney(WomenLiving´s last [type] ..Vlog- Childrens Object Lesson – Watch What You Say
Courtney, that section stood out to me as well, and even how that translates to how we view children. This is such a foundational book!
I loved this post… full of truth. Such a good reminder. I am not reading the book right now as I have already read it. Yet, it's been a few years and maybe it's time to re-read it. :) Thanks for sharing!
Blessings!
Carrie
hello Sarah Mae, I like the focus the verse that leads this chapter gives me:
"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceptions, according to the traditions of men, according to the elementry principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." Colossians 2:8
God's Design for us, Our family , marriage and us as mothers…. I want God's Original design as my guide and not what is of man's traditions/ thinking or my own thoughts but Of God's design.
I feel with out understanding my postion in Christ and in God's design, that I will wander confused by this world and the adoped ways.
I can not pursue the beautiful thought that Sally presented in CH 1 pg 14. Picturing each child's heart as a treasure chest to fill with so many God fearing and lovely things. We must seek God's design to be our fondational truth so we are able to know who we are, so we can be filled with His love and truth in our own treasure chest and to do such a work in the treasure chests of the children given to our care, in His strength and by design of His truth.
I was reading in my Bible this morning about wisdom. I need and long for His TRUE wisdom (not my own) so to pursue this High calling of motherhood. In this book there is much lovely wisdom and encouragement to gleen. I am thankful to share this with you. smiles, Angelia in TX
Hi Angelia – thank you for your thoughts on this chapter (I don't know where everyone else is!) :) I also love the picture of our children's hearts being like a treasure chest – so powerful! I too seek His wisdom, it is a constant dying to self!
The Lord seems to reinforce the lessons I need to learn… even on the path to my trying to live them out… both points attributed to by Sarah Mae and Courtney are life lessons that I have recently become all to well aware of… basically, that it is not about me. Life, one that is focused on God and on the Savior-ship of Jesus, is about giving glory to the Father. Living for him means dying to me even though every part of me seems to scream out to be heard, to be understood. Going to his Word and living by his principles and striving to reflect him is the way to be a blessing to my children and my husband.
Loved reading the above comments. Sorry I am a bit behind in posting my thoughts on this chapter!! The points already made concerning marriage and our accountability before our God stuck out to me as well. I continue to love that Sally points her readers to the Word in regard to gender roles, motherhood and priorities in general. Her encouragement to seek the Lord is invaluable.
"The most important factor in being successful as a mother is to turn out hears to God, to seek his will, and to allow him to begin making sense out of the messes we've made of our lives. He who created motherhood is the gentle teacher whose ways and input we must seek."
As soon as I look to the world around me to validate or impact that motherhood role that God has given me, I lose focus and perspective. Only when I look to Him continually am I able to keep perspective. It makes me think of the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus".
My views of motherhood, parenting, marriage, etc have dramatically changed, especially over the last few years. Thank you Sarah Mae for encouraging us to read this book together and thank you all who are reading for the encouragement in mothering. On page 35 Sally talks about how "mother's who do attempt to follow God's design for families may suffer from feelings of isolation, loneliness, and discouragement." It is blogs like this, discussions like these, and reminders of the blessings God has given to me as a wife and mom that keep me from feeling this way. Hope many others are encouraged as well!
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Chocolate Zucchini Cake
The points the other ladies have made about having a strong marriage and foundation in God also stood out for me in this chapter. The one thing I really took from this chapter is that it's absolutely imperative I get myself right with God and follow His will for my life. I'm teaching my children to "do as I say and not as I do" and that is not how God wants us to live our life. God has pointed out in so many ways to me this week that if I want my boys to live for God, then they need to see me doing the same.
Thank you so much Sarah Mae for encouraging us to read this book. :)
Bobbey´s last [type] ..MOM – Chapter 2
Bobbey´s last [type] ..MOM – Chapter 2
Page 36: "…we can use our role to stitch together the pieces that will help make our families whole. We need to know where God wants us to go in order to create a plan to get there."
From time to time, I am able to grasp the weight of our responsibility. How much we need to pray for our children. How many areas that we need guidance from the Lord to journey through motherhood. It is absolutely crucial that I devote each and every day to my God, stay faithful in the Word, and "pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children" (Lamentations 2:19).
Because of my past controlling and manipulative ways, I reversed the roles of my marriage. Now, being in a relationship with the Lord, I realize how badly I have messed things up. I have the biggest desire to stay at home with my children. My husband, who stays home with our children, would like to work. Our little girl, Gracie, has some medical issues that require major expenses. I have awesome insurance with my company. I feel trapped! God has given me this desire and yet, I feel that I cannot fullfill it. I know that with God all things are possible. I have seen the impossible happen, so I believe this. I read the opening verse of Chapter 3, "The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands". I was the foolish woman. Please pray for us – Gene, Kim, Ben, & Gracie.
Kim, I am praying!
Thank you so much, Sarah Mae!