11 comments

Paula Hendricks

Painting Biblical Womanhood

Posted on 04.24.09 by Paula Hendricks | Twitter: @PaulaWrites678
Topics: Womanhood

“If you painted a picture of biblical womanhood, what would it look like?”

Before you read on, close your eyes, and really ask yourself, “How do I picture biblical womanhood?” 

I asked Barbara Rainey—painter extroardinarre and True Woman ’08 speaker—this question. Before you watch her answer below, here’s a look at my painting—not necessarily of biblical womanhood, but of Christianity—almost three years ago to the day:

“I can’t remember the last time I stopped considering how Christians thought I should live my life, and just asked God what would please Him. I feel like my Christianity should look like Megan’s*: all bubbly, passionate, and exciting. And at the same time, it should look like Trina’s: disciplined, strict, modest, rigorous. And it should be like Sarah’s: I should know Scripture backward and forward. Oh yeah, well I’m at it, I should be like Kathy: pure, uninterested in the opposite sex, and I should definitely mentor someone. Is it no wonder I’m passionless and exhausted?”

Can you relate?

Alright . . . here’s Barbara Rainey on how she would paint biblical womanhood:


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When Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing,” that included walking the Christian life and living out biblical womanhood. Is He powering Your life, or are you? Are your daily decisions and priorities God centered, or self-centered?

*Yes, names are changed.

Comments

  1. HOW AWESOME Barbara & Paula.
    Yes, I remember God using me as, unto the Jew I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jew.
    I was so extremely close to God during a great trial. And He used me uniquely powerfully though I was me; He painted the picture and made something Beautiful out of my life!!!!
    And here I am awaiting another Great transformation by my God.
    posted by Leslie Dawn Neagle
    on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 8:46 am
  2. Good reminder... we often have expectations - of others, and of God. That is really "putting Him in a box". Letting Him work through us must include allowing the unexpected, being asked to do things we didn't expect or even like sometimes.
    How BIG is our God??!!
    posted by MARY H
    on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 10:08 am
  3. God really put this one on my heart,
    Galatians 1:10
    Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or
    am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to
    please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
    He really showed me how important it is to be focused on
    Him and not winning the approval of others. Trying to win the approval of others is still self-centered.
    posted by Michele
    on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 11:43 am
  4. Amen, Paula (and sisters in Christ!),

    This was a blessing! I love the picture of the rainbow raindrops above -- beautiful. Amen to what Barbara said about having a heart filled with God -- and the expression of that being limitless. Makes me think of the scripture where Paul prays for the Ephesians (Eph. 3) that (among other things) they may be filled with all the fulness of God, and then prays "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us..." How full of hope and promise the Bible is! Yes, Paula, we will be exhausted if we try to do it in our own strength, or to meet the approval of people. Thank you for what all you sisters shared. I am definitely one who has needed to learn (and am still learning) to look for God's approval first and foremost, and not be a people-pleaser.

    In His love,
    posted by Leslie S.
    on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 4:37 pm
  5. It is SUCH a comfort to know that my walk need not look like another's walk for it to be right before God. And, it is SUCH a conviction when I am tempted to judge another woman's walk with the Lord because I don't think it is right. The truth is that my walk, just like any other's walk, needs to be that which results from a heart aligned with God, as Barbara says, and only He knows if that is the case, because the expression of that heart will be different from woman to woman and walk to walk. I can only focus on my walk before God, and that is the way He meant for it to be.
    posted by Laura V Groves
    on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 8:15 am
  6. I'm having a hard time in my walk with God at all right now. I live with exhausting, excruciating pain 24/7 with no relief, precious little sleep, and unable to focus my thoughts on anything meaningful. I am unable to even get out of bed most of the time. My eyesight prohibits me from reading very much, as I have double vision right now as well. I want so much to draw near to God so that He can draw near to me, but I can't seem to be able to trust Him this time around. I have found Him to be very precious during other bad spells of my illness, but I have never experienced this much pain for this long. I feel really quite useless to God, my 3 children or my husband. I don't really have any friends at church, because people aren't interested in being friends with someone who cannot "do" - ever. I have even asked an older Godly lady at church if she would mentor me, if we could have Bible study time together, but she won't do it. I have asked the Pastor's wife for encouragement repeatedly over the years, but she doesn't want to get involved with me, either. I want to be used by God - I have a lot of track time with God over this issue of suffering, and I know that God is using it for good when I will surrender it to Him. I look at Joni Tada and see how powerfully she is used by God because of her disability. But honestly, I cannot even imagine getting out of bed every day and "doing" anything because of pain. Prayer is very difficult because no matter how hard I try to focus, I just can't. I'm having a hard time wondering how God can use me at all because even though I spend nearly all day every day in the Word, because I can't do much of anything else, I cannot retain anything I read. This has gone on for years, and I'm having trouble hanging on right now. Sorry this has been so long, and I don't want to rain on the parade. I'm very sincere in my desire to be God's woman.
    posted by Melinda
    on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 6:26 pm
  7. Dearest Melinda,

    My heart goes out to you. I cannot imagine how difficult your situation must be. My words are inadequate to convey comfort. I know only One who truly understands and sees what you are experiencing -- and although He may seem far away at times, He does care.

    My prayer for you is an echo of the Psalmist:

    "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust' . . . His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. . .

    'He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.'" ~ Psalm 91

    The team at ROH would like to send you some resources that we hope will minister to you at this time. We will be contacting you for mailing information.

    We are praying for you dear sister.
    posted by Kimberly Wagner
    on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 4:24 pm
  8. Dearest Melinda,
    I am praying for you too... tears came to my eyes as I read your posts (I believe it is Christ's love) -- I believe many will be praying for you (James 5:16, last sentence)
    Love and blessings to you,
    posted by Leslie S.
    on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 7:44 pm
  9. Melinda,
    I too am so sad to hear of what you are going through, I cannot imagine. I do know the Father hears the cries of his children so just cry out to him and know that he hears you , his grace is sufficient and his love is unfailing.
    "And shall God not avenge His Own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?"
    The Lord is not slack concerning his promise. He will never leave you nor forsake you. There have been times in my life when I have delt with the pain of TMJ which can be excruciating at times. I would hold my head,cry, ball up in the fetal position and hum to the tune of Amazing Grace. Praising him brought me relief.
    Try humming to his praises. I will be praying for you. Tambra
    posted by Tambra Lucas
    on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 8:31 pm
  10. I am struggling just now with my Biblical Womanhood and that struggle stems from my sometimes proud and disobedient spirit. Only this morning was I able to wrap words around it and call it what it truly is - even before I read this and saw the video. God is so amazing like that - He never fails to give me the chastisment, direction, confirmation and guidance that I need. Even if I don't know I need it yet, He has it "out there" for me to come across in His Plan and in His Time. I am thankful. He is Amazing! I wonder, could you ask if the painting shown above could be formatted with resolutions so we can save it as background and have it in focus like those nice backgrounds that Nancy has on the site. I set it as my background to remind me for a time of Whose I am truly, but it's out of focus. If not, that's ok - it's just a thought.
    posted by ann r
    on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 4:11 pm
  11. Dear Ann r,

    Thank you so much for your transparency and honesty. True freedom comes when we finally reach the place of admitting our sin.

    Good question about the painting above. We're checking on that for you, Ann.

    Stay tuned or check the blog and I'll let you know as soon as I get an answer!
    posted by Kimberly Wagner
    on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 7:57 pm

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