The Holy Interruption
Five o’clock in the morning has always been sacred to me. I have long been one of those people who rises before the sun, sits at my desk with Scripture, prays, and wrestles with God. That daily ritual began in my teen years and has remained a mainstay. Five a.m. is a good time of day—a very good time of day.
Then, twenty-one years ago, that sacred hour came under assault. My son Noah was born, and he too was—and still is—an early riser. With a seemingly supernatural ability, that little guy could hear my eyes open and my brain turn on before I could even get out of bed. There was no sneaking out of my room without him knowing. He did not stay long in his crib; no bars or doors could contain his little body. As soon as he could escape, he would run to find me without fail. Before I could get a cup of coffee or sit down for even a moment of quiet, he was with me. My sacred time and space had been invaded, and I was honestly at a loss. I even resented his cute invasion into “my quiet time,” and I became grumpy and annoyed by his presence.
Fortunately, God dealt with me relatively quickly. Everything about my attitude was hypocritical and wrong. The quiet time itself—the reading, praying, and asking God to make me more like Him—was not the sacred part. The sacred part was becoming like Him by welcoming my son and loving him unreservedly. What did I truly want Noah to see and experience? Just as I crawled out of bed early every morning in anticipation of meeting with my heavenly Father, I wanted him to meet the same Father as he ran into my arms and invaded “my space.” What once was causing me annoyance and even anguish was transformed into something truly beautiful when I stopped trying to protect and cling to “my time.” Instead, when Noah turned that corner, I welcomed him with delight—utter delight. The first person he wanted to see every day was me! Open arms. Open heart. Sometimes I read to him. Sometimes we sang. Sometimes, he would just sit at my feet doing his own thing while I did mine. I learned to welcome him as my Father daily welcomed me into His presence. I died to me, and in the dying true life was found.
Noah just turned twenty-one. He’s home for the summer from his college adventure. When he is home, he is still the first person I usually see in the mornings, and I still welcome his presence with utter joy and delight. I’ll admit that raising him has been very challenging. Our joyous mornings would advance into tedious days of discipline and training, but that small spiritual victory in the early morning hours years ago has born much fruit. When Noah prayed the other night over his own birthday dinner, the power and clarity of his words made me raise my head and peek at him as we prayed. He thanked the Lord for giving him a home and a place of peace and rest and for a family that pointed him to God and loved him with His love. He was thanking God for the embrace he received here. He prayed over our family—my husband and I and his sisters—that we’d continue to be the people of grace and peace to one another and that God would be glorified. My cup overflows. Amen.
“Paul prescribes four spiritual virtues for the lifegiving woman in [1 Timothy 2:15]:…continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. These virtues answer the perennial challenges of the lifegiver in her years of pregnancy and child rearing. Faith quiets worry. Love refutes selfishness. Sanctity answers worldly distractions. Self-restraint tames the temper even as it rallies the listless spirit. If a woman perseveres in these virtues through the lifegiving years, not only will she be saved from numerous incidental calamities, she will gain the sanctified character that is the goal of the godly woman.”
““To sanctify means to set aside for a specific purpose. For example, the vessels of the tabernacle were sanctified for holy use alone. The sanctity of motherhood is rarely mentioned today because our society has greatly de-emphasized its importance. Most women do not set themselves aside for motherhood; instead, they squeeze it in around the edges. Here Paul teaches the sanctity of motherhood. When a woman carries, nurses, or rears her children, this work is fundamental to her service to God. We know that we should not drink, smoke, or take drugs during pregnancy. That is one way we set ourselves aside. Perhaps it is even harder to set ourselves aside for our children and their needs in the home. Things we would do ordinarily for ourselves or to please others, we do not have time to do because we need to be lifegivers. We are set aside for this purpose.””
“Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.”
The Fall Semester is Coming!
It is time to start thinking about ordering books for your fall classes. I am happy to report that I just picked up a large shipment of books and currently have stock to fill orders for the fall. Several people have called or emailed asking how long it takes to fulfill orders. While in stock, we are shipping orders next business day. We are going to try to keep everything in stock to keep fulfilling orders quickly. However, in the wonderful event that we run low on books a shipping delay of about a week will ensue. All that to say, placing your orders sooner than later will help me manage stock more effectively and efficiently and will help prevent delays.
Use coupon code: FALL26 to receive 5% off your order now through August 31st
Five Aspects of Women Facilitators:
In the last few Communiques, I let y’all know that I am putting together a Five Aspects of Women Facilitators group. Several of you reached out to say you are interested, and I am sending out the call out one last time. If you have taught the course in the past, or if you consider yourself well versed in the materials and are interested in helping grow and continue the ministry, please contact me by July 31st.
I have several projects that would benefit from your feedback and help. In the meantime, if you are interested in joining this group, please send me an email at info@fiveaspects.com.
The new FAWF group will begin this August, Lord willing.
In Christ,
Kristine Vermillion
Editor and Women’s Ministry Director
Five Aspects Ministries