Good Morning and Welcome to today's Saturday Spotlight!
One of Marilynn's goals is to share a story that men as well as women can read and glean from. Too often presentations on the Bride of Christ have been geared toward women when Scripture says the Church, who is referred to as the Bride of Christ, is made up of men and women. She writes from a women's perspective, but desires that men will be able to gather helpful insight, not just women. After all, everyone is called to live out the commands of Christ in everyday life.
This comprehensive journey through Scripture/Bible study is comprised of 7 volumes all of which can be found on Amazon.
EXCERPT: Thorns
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Ephesians 5:28-29 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
I heard the DJ on "Sharing Life Together" talk about thorns one evening. She was saying how thorns actually have some beneficial and much-needed uses to the plants on which they are found. This thought came back to mind when I had a brief daydream about singing in a trio with others. In this dream someone said I looked like a rose between two thorns. My thoughts returned to the uses of the thorn. The application is actually quite comforting from both sides of the coin.
The most obvious place North Americans see thorns is on rose bushes, bramble bushes, holly bushes, etc. On these plants, particularly that of the rose, we see something that is very Biblically masculine about these thorns. They protect the tender stalk of the rose stem and its branches. Without the thorn, the tender stems, rose hips and buds would be destroyed by predators out to get the nutrition contained in the plant before it's time. It was God's design from the beginning that man would protect woman. . . protect her tender nature and her nurture from those who would seek to pluck her before her time, from those who would destroy her.
Proverbs 24:27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
Another use for the thorn is most often seen on cactus-type plants. Here the thorn, in addition to protecting the tender stalk, also catches moisture and directs it to the stalk of the plant where it can run down to the roots and provide nourishment to the plant. In much the same way, God's plan for man was that he provide for his family. This provision was to come spiritually as well as practically and emotionally.
So I find it interesting that what people often joke about when a woman stands between two men is perhaps more true than they realize. Men were created to defend, to fight for, to provide for the tender hearts and lives of those in their care. This was how men were wired and to take away this ability and need to protect and provide is to eat away at the masculinity God built into the male gender. Every woman, even the most feminist among us will have to admit that way down deep, they do long to matter to a guy such that he will protect and provide for her.
When seen in this light, thorns are no longer seen as a painful source of irritation to be stripped away, but are instead seen as a beautiful illustration of the protective, caring, supportive, providing role of the husband and father in the home. The only people who need fear such an illustration are those who would seek to do harm. They should rightly expect that the husband and father has kept his sword sharpened in the Word so that he is able to fend off harmful attackers and cause them enough due discomfort to dissuade the thought of future attacks on his loved ones.
I don't know about you, but I may never look at another thorn the same way again. And the next time someone calls my male reader a thorn, take it as a compliment that you are protecting and providing for your wife and children. May your sword remain sharp and may you continue to stand in that place of provision, guiding the blessings God sends your way down to the roots of your household, so they flourish under your watchful loving eye and hand.
Marilynn grew up in a solid Christian home, coming to Christ at the age of 7. She has been actively involved in Church life since age 10, including activities such as joining her Mom and sister in singing special numbers, choir, teaching Sunday School, leading Sunday School open session, planning Sunday School lessons, and more. Marilynn attended both public and Christian private schools growing up. She attended North Island Community College on Vancouver Island and Trend College in Kelowna, BC, obtaining certificates in receptionist work and CompTIA A+ computer repair.
Throughout her life, Marilynn has written poetry and published a few of them in the American Poetry Anthology(two issues). She's also written numerous unpublished articles on end-time eschatology and the news, written unpublished short stories, word studies and more.
For more information about "Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey", please visit https://www.facebook.com/
Sounds like an awesome collection of books!
Throughout her life, Marilynn has written poetry and published a few of them in the American Poetry Anthology(two issues). She's also written numerous unpublished articles on end-time eschatology and the news, written unpublished short stories, word studies and more.
For more information about "Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey", please visit https://www.facebook.com/
Sounds like an awesome collection of books!
Stay tuned for more Saturday Spotlights, Tuesday Treasures and Thursday Thoughts.
Until next time...take care & be Blessed!
PamT
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