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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/29/2008 7:17:32 PM
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RamiRedeemed
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Again I'll argue that doing something for Gods glory does not mean serving Him.
Does that mean, if we're to do all things for Gods glory, and I tie my shoes in such a glorifying manner that that means I'm serving God?
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/29/2008 7:22:45 PM
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Mrs.Wifey
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Then what does and doesn't count? The verses don't say "everything EXCEPT tying your shoes/going to the bathroom/driving your car/etc...". They say *everything*.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/29/2008 7:24:44 PM
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RamiRedeemed
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So then using the restroom is serving God?
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/29/2008 7:27:00 PM
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RamiRedeemed
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lol and if i dont is it still service
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/29/2008 7:29:48 PM
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Mrs.Wifey
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The point, is that our attitude is to be of one that honors and glorifies the Lord, we should have that attitude no matter what we are doing. By having that attitude, everything we do should be pleasing to the Lord. A spirit that desires to please the Lord(and honor, glorify) won't be hindered by the mundane going ons of the day.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/29/2008 7:31:53 PM
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Auben
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I think we need to find a new path with our thought here.
Logically, whether serving our children is glorifying God is beside the point. If everything we do glorifies the Lord that does not make everything we do a spiritual calling. I am not called to clean the house or visit the dentist or brush my teeth or hug my friend. I can do those things well, cheerfully, with humility and grace and thus serve the Lord and others BUT that does not mean that I am called to each of those tasks at least not in the Biblical sense of the word calling. Again, we're jumping into generalization. As Christians we are called to serve others, our children are a part of that, the question is are we specifically called...in the Biblical sense of being called away from something and to another specific thing or task...to be a parent? Does God call women to be mothers the same way he calls them to be prophets or teachers or givers of encouragement?
I'm sorry Spitzu feels sad, but I don't see exactly why she is sad. How is the belief that one hasn't received a special calling from God mean that she cares less for her child? How does her belief mean the child is any less special to her? A child feels the mother's love and sees her care. They don't need to think God gave a mandate from heaven in order to feel special in their mother's eyes.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/29/2008 7:33:22 PM
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RamiRedeemed
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i just dont see how having a good attitude=service=a calling?
i might have to bow out of this one as it's going nowhere.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/29/2008 8:42:29 PM
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myka
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quote:
Doing something for His glory and doing something in service to Him are two different things.
I'm wondering how you understand glorifying God and serving Him as two different things... just curious as to your thoughts on the differences.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/29/2008 8:49:13 PM
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manda59
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quote:
ORIGINAL: myka
quote:
Doing something for His glory and doing something in service to Him are two different things.
I'm wondering how you understand glorifying God and serving Him as two different things... just curious as to your thoughts on the differences.
Yes me too, I was wondering about that aswell.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/30/2008 8:40:07 AM
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pumpkin
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I'm not answering the latest (serving God vs. glorifying God) but the previous about a spiritual calling or not.
I have thought it through a bit more, and it comes down to this.
I cannot say that there is a spiritual calling to be a mother because one doesn't have to be saved to be a mother. What about those who are buddists or muslims or atheists, or whatever. They can (and many are) still be mothers. God doesn't "call" you to it, but he does definitely give us the opportunity to be a mom, and it is a blessing!
Pastors and missionaries have been called by God because their "professions" are completely centered on God, and they give up other worldly ambitions in order to sacrifice everything for God. They are relying on God for EVERYTHING.
I'm sorry, but motherhood just doesn't fit the mold for "spiritual calling" for me.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/30/2008 8:41:27 AM
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Consecrated2God
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quote:
Human relationships require love, and work, and grace but I don't think they require a spiritual calling. If they do, it is such a general call the entire human race can stand up and say 'I am called to love and minister to my (child, husband, friend, sister, father....).' Which we are.
Great post!
As for the serving God vs. serving children discussion, the Bible says that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Jesus. So yes, serving our children is very much so an act of serving God.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/30/2008 9:24:22 AM
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RamiRedeemed
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I see service as work. While you can be in service and glorify God you can also be doing other things and glorifying God.
I think it glorifies God when I have my house clean. When people stop by without mention they can see that I keep a nice home. I think that glorifies God, seeing as He provided the house we live in and all the things in it which so easily make it cluttered.
But, I don't think something as simple as cleaning is an act of service to God. It's work, sure, but in the realm of things it means very little. No one is going to get saved or have some kind of spiritual awakening because my laundry is folded.
Likewise, you can also be walking in your calling and not be glorifying God. Does that make it any less of a calling or any less of service? I don't think so.
I also agree with the other lady who said that lots of women who are not christians are mothers. I'm not sure you can have a calling without being saved.
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Some people talk because they have something to say.
Others talk because they have to say something.
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ramireconciled.blogspot.com
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/30/2008 2:19:36 PM
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purejoy
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quote:
ORIGINAL: pumpkin
Pastors and missionaries have been called by God because their "professions" are completely centered on God, and they give up other worldly ambitions in order to sacrifice everything for God. They are relying on God for EVERYTHING.
Thanks for explaining further, Gina. I guess the reason I ask is because I truly do feel that God has called me to be a nurse. That is one of the biggest ministry areas in my life. So I'm not sure if we actually disagree, or if I'm just using "calling" differently. That's why I asked. 
Would you say that pastors and missionaries are the only "called" professions? (You may have said before and I just don't remember.)
Rami- This discussion has reminded me of a devotional I read once. I tore the page out and keep it in my Bible because it was very enlightening to me. The gist of it...
***Mr. Rogers wife did an interview after his death. She said "I always remind people that he was an ordained Presbyterian minister and this (Mr. Rogers Neighborhood show) was his ministry. His work was his ministry, and he loved his work; my, did he love his work..."
We may feel that work is secular, but view leading a Bible study as spiritual. The Bible draws no such distinction, however. Paul instructed Christians to work doing everything as to the Lord and not to men (Colossians 3:22-24).
When we honor God and help people, then our work and ministry blend together in pleasing service to the Lord.***
That's not word-for-word and not the whole thing, but the points that were so helpful to me. I'm not necessarily saying motherhood is or isn't a calling. But I do think that folding my laundry can be an act of service to the Lord, if I am doing it with the right attitude...to me that is encompassed in the "whatever you do" part.)
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/30/2008 2:40:56 PM
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spitzu
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quote:
ORIGINAL: purejoy
That's not word-for-word and not the whole thing, but the points that were so helpful to me. I'm not necessarily saying motherhood is or isn't a calling. But I do think that folding my laundry can be an act of service to the Lord, if I am doing it with the right attitude...to me that is encompassed in the "whatever you do" part.)
Yep, and it's in the seemingly mundane "nonspiritual" and unimportant tasks that sometimes we bless people in the greatest of ways.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/30/2008 3:33:22 PM
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pumpkin
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you know, that reminds me...
David always opens doors for me, even if we drive separately he will walk over to my car and open my door, and walk me to the door, etc... He carries things for me, and just in general is always a "gentleman" with me... whether others are around or not. Well, the other day he had driven the van and I drove the car. I waited for him to come open my door, and he helped me carry some things in. A lady stopped us on the sidewalk. She said, "I hope you don't mind my saying this, but you two are SUCH a blessing! It does my heart a world of good to see how you help her, and how you open her doors, and just how nicely you treat each other. You two are always a blessing and a joy to watch, and I just wanted you to know that!" (that's the basics of what she said...) She spoke for nearly 5 minutes about it, and about what she had witnessed, and how glad she was to see it, and how rare it was. We thanked her, and we truly do appreciate her saying those things... but obviously, most people don't say a word about it/us. I am glad that it did this woman "good" and "blessed" her to witness it. It's just funny though, because it seems so "nonspiritual" and unimportant... and she was so impressed and said how it blessed her. =)
I don't really know if pastors and missionaries are the only "called" professions, but they are still the only ones I can come up with off the top of my head...
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/30/2008 3:59:10 PM
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pumpkin
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of course we are all to be "missionaries" to those around us, but that is NOT the same thing as being a missionary in the traditional sense of the word. I would definitely not equate what I do on a daily basis with what a "real" missionary does. It's just not the same thing at all.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/30/2008 4:33:37 PM
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pumpkin
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my bottom line is this...
would you say to others that you are a missionary? Would you claim that title? Or do you just want the recognition here that you can do missions while at home? I would agree, and already have, that we are all responsible and called to be missionaries (of a sort) at home in our daily lives. I would not personally claim the title of missionary, as I don't feel it would apply to me. I think people would get the wrong impression if I called myself that. I am not a missionary in the sense that most think of. I wouldn't want that misunderstanding to be floating out there, because I would feel like I had misled people.
That is not to say that we don't all have missions that we can complete at home or at work or through habitat for humanity or what have you... I just would not call myself a missionary unless I was truly one in the traditional (most understood) sense.
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/30/2008 4:58:48 PM
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spitzu
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I don't think it's the title that's important. A title is just a title. What's important, IMO, is doing the best you can for God in whatever roles/jobs/callings/missions He has given you and being open to His voice speaking to you and prompting you in "hey, I want you to ____ for me". Whether that ____ is preaching in front of millions in the world's largest church, or witnessing to that one co-worker, I don't really think matters. One is not more important than the other. The little toe is not less in Kingdom work than the big toe.
I think we get hung up too much on titles and the "spirituality" of things.
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<- Ahh, the sound of a real shutter. It's like music!
Macro Monday #6
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RE: Is it a spiritual "calling" to be a mother? - 10/30/2008 5:13:34 PM
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isaacsmom
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quote:
We may feel that work is secular, but view leading a Bible study as spiritual. The Bible draws no such distinction, however. Paul instructed Christians to work doing everything as to the Lord and not to men (Colossians 3:22-24).
When we honor God and help people, then our work and ministry blend together in pleasing service to the Lord.***
That's not word-for-word and not the whole thing, but the points that were so helpful to me. I'm not necessarily saying motherhood is or isn't a calling. But I do think that folding my laundry can be an act of service to the Lord, if I am doing it with the right attitude...to me that is encompassed in the "whatever you do" part.)
My mentor-leader of our Bible study group brought to light recently that the mundane things we do daily for/with our children, even though they don't feel spiritual at all, are indeed spiritual. The little daily influences we have on them shape them and are of eternal value. Wow! What a sobering thought!
quote:
was. We thanked her, and we truly do appreciate her saying those things... but obviously, most people don't say a word about it/us. I am glad that it did this woman "good" and "blessed" her to witness it. It's just funny though, because it seems so "nonspiritual" and unimportant... and she was so impressed and said how it blessed her. =)
Gina, this reminded me, I was at the post office a couple of weeks ago and I held Isaac and Isabel's hands walking from the building to the car. Who would even give a second thought about this? I was surprised when a lady approached me and said "I just want to tell you that I can tell how much you care about your children by holding onto them safely, so many parents just let them run up ahead or lag behind. I thanked the Lord that you love your children. You are a blessing to them and to me". WOW! I was very taken aback and thanked her for her kind words and told her I indeed love my children. People are watching us always and we aren't aware of it. Even just holding my children's hands across the parking lot, just doing the most basic, common-sensical tasks of mothering, was serving God that day, and was for the glory of God that day. And it didn't even "feel" spiritual to me at all at the time.
I strive to view every aspect of my life as spiritual, and not just put my faith in a compartment. Faith encompasses everything about me, which includes being a wife, friend, mother, daughter, neighbor, etc. Not just when I'm teaching my Sunday School class or singing on the worship team or attending Bible study.
< Message edited by isaacsmom -- 10/30/2008 5:24:39 PM >
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