Chapter One

In the beginning...most of us are familiar with the creation account in Genesis, chapters one and two. When you read the account of God creating the animals and Adam, how were they created? How was Eve created? I can almost sense that woman was an afterthought, but I am sure God had planned for us all along. We were created in a different way and for a very specific purpose; to be a help meet for man. A humbling thought in our self important based society. That we were created for man is the basis of this entire study. One we will explore as married, single, divorced and widowed women together, hoping to implement more of God's plan in our lives.

After reading the first chapter what are your thoughts about being created for the unique purpose of being a help meet?

How do you feel about her statement, "It is far better that the job be done poorly by your husband than to be done well by you."?

Let's Get Started

I know there is a temptation to grab a book and start reading, but I want to encourage you to take time to read all the little extras. This book has acknowledgements and an introduction by the author's husband. What a great endorsement of her! She is going to lead us through the scriptures on how to be a blessing as a wife and her husband believes she is a great wife. Because most of us have already discovered we don't always see things the same way men do, I think this is a very important point. When we question what she is saying, let's remember it is working for her!!! There is also an introduction from Debi, giving you a some insight to where she has come from.

From her husband, Mike's introduction,I picked up on the fact that we are going to be looking at the scriptures seriously and may find some of this controversial. I hope you can commit to taking the time to really take an honest look at how it applies to you. I find it easy to read and not apply what I am reading to myself (I'm sure someone else needs to adjust something). Doing this study together is about helping each other see our blind spots and growing.

Debi's introduction starts with,"Once upon a time". I immediately thought about how I would have loved to have written about my life as a fairy tale. I also realized that it would have centered around everything I wanted, making me the happy princess. But being truly happy and at peace is not getting everything we want, but doing what Jesus wants us to do, because His joy and peace are so much more than we can plan for ourselves. Her last comment states that as her mother taught her, she will teach us. Our mother's have taught us all, some wonderful truths of scripture and some not so good things have been passed along. Things based on fear and insecurity. Ideas taught in universities and from current philosophers having nothing to do with the truths of God. We will battle with the things we have learned and some of the new perceptions of truth we will be reading. But I believe we will all win as we journey together.

Join the Journey!

My daughter gave me a book for my birthday last year, and I added it to the stack next to my bed. It worked its way down the pile, buried under the endless books I want to read, need to read and gifts to read.

As I packed for our vacation to Yosemite and other California destinations this summer I quickly scanned the pile for one to take, in hopes of some free time. I decided on Melody’s gift, “Created to be His Help Meet”, by Debi Pearl. Having gone to many Christian marriage seminars and having read a lot of books, I thought it would be a great review of being a good wife. I also attended a class, about two years after committing to the Christian lifestyle, specifically designed to share the scriptures regarding the role of a Christian wife.

Those same scriptures are explored in this book, but it is amazing to me how differently I see them now after 36 years of marriage, 13 children, 17 grandchildren, and 14 years of being a pastor’s wife!

I did get some free time at Yosemite. I had a melt down with our camping arrangements and all the bear warnings at Yosemite. (Being raised in a big city, bears are definitely on my do-not-like list) I asked to take a nap while Chris and the two boys rented bikes and went exploring. I laid and stared at the tent for a while, then grabbed the book out of my bag and read all afternoon!

I realized that I probably had not adequately taught these truths to my six daughters or the ladies at our church. I would use them in counseling and in answering questions, but maybe we should explore them together and gain strength in our roles as wives and women

Sunday afternoons Chris and I have a leadership group lunch and study time. Current happenings at the church are discussed, plans made, and topics discussed. Sometimes we separate, men and ladies, and other times we stay together. I asked Chris if I could pursue this with the ladies in the group, separate from the men for several months. He agreed and decided to lead the men in his group on the “Love Dare, from the movie “Fireproof”. Then I thought about my four daughters, and one daughter-law, who are not close by. I really wanted to study this with them too. Then I started thinking about other women in the church, surely they would be interested. I then remembered my granddaughter in college and other friends who lived elsewhere. So I said I would set this up as a blog where we can all read together, and share our discoveries with each other. Of course, I know nothing about blogs. I have read my daughters occasionally, but there it ends!

So you are invited to join us on this journey. What does it mean to please God in our role as women? How are we doing? How can we help each other grow into the women God has planned for us to be in this culture that teaches womens rights on all fronts?

My goal is that we will move closer to the kingdom of God, and His plan for each of us as we read and study together.