Who is your "Elizabeth"?

Who is Your Elizabeth?


As a third grader, my teacher made the big mistake of sitting me next to one of my girlfriends. It wasn't long after that I rightfully earned the nickname gabby. What did she expect? It's no secret that us gals are relational. Get a group of women together and we will talk and talk and talk and talk. We can't help it, it is how God wired us. When I have something big happen in my life, after talking to my husband, my next impulse is to call my girlfriend Celia, my Elizabeth.

Celia, my Elizabeth.

When Jesus' mother Mary, was given the biggest news of her life, she had no husband to confide in. Her first instinct after her visit from Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, was to immediately go out and seek Godly counsel from her cousin Elizabeth.  "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.  Luke 1:38-40 NIV

Mary didn't wast any time, she rushed right over to Elizabeth. Throughout the joys and sorrows of my own life, I have hurried to my very own Elizabeth. My dear friend Celia has been beside me when the heartaches of cancer and divorce painfully touched my life and once again stood by my side to share the joys of my remarriage and the births of my children.

As a Christian woman, who is your Elizabeth? Who do you rush to in a hurry? Who do you seek for Godly counsel? If you don't have a Godly woman of your very own, ask God to put one in your life.

Your Elizabeth should not:

Gossip with you about others, or with others about you.

Disrespect your husband or your family.

Remind you of past failures, or make fun of your shortcomings.

Pull you away from others.

Discourage you from serving the Lord.

Be in competition with you, or insecure in your achievements.

Your Elizabeth should:

Have a steadfast walk with the Lord.

Give Godly counsel in truth and love.

Encourage you in your walk with Jesus.

Encourage you in your marriage.

Be someone whom you desire to learn from.

Pray for you.

Rejoice in your successes.

See your God-given gifts and encourage you to use them.

Mary rushing to Elizabeth touches my heart. She was a real young woman with a burning desire to share with her cousin and friend all that had just happened to her. I just love that. The Bible tells us that Mary lived with Elizabeth for three months.

No doubt they were talking and talking and talking and talking...

Searching for a Godly Spouse

Last week while I was cleaning my kitchen I brought in my shiny red laptop. I wanted to search for something interesting that would keep my mind off of my task of cleaning the tile-jam (that's toe-jam, except in between tile). I HATE TILE. But I digress. I'll bore you with that dark little secret another time.

I found myself at the Focus on the Family site. As always, Dr. Dobson and his program didn't disappoint. Well known pastor and author Alistair Begg was the guest speaker this day and his topic of discussion was Searching for a Godly Spouse - Part 1 and 2.

No, I am not searching for a Godly spouse. Not today anyway. But I did find myself drawn to this teaching. It was a good refresher course for me. I made breakfast for Paul. Later that morning we sat and listened together (while stuffing our mouths with eggs and sausage). He enjoyed it just as much. No, not just the sausage, the message too.

We both decided our oldest two kids needed to hear this.

Today we shared this wonderful and timeless message with our teenage daughter and teenage son. We had them take notes. Afterwards we had a quick Q and A time, just the four of us. We asked them to share with us anything that really stuck out to them. We had an amazing discussion.

Though our daughter is seventeen and our son is fourteen and their spouses are nowhere in the picture yet, Praise God, we made sure to share with them that they are able to take this exact criteria and choose good friends in their high school as well.

If you are interested in listening too, head on over to Focus on the Family, click on the Broadcasts and Podcasts on the left side of the main page, then click on Listen Now and then find the teachings "Searching for a Godly Spouse 1 & 2" - shared on February 9th and 10th.

Whenever I hear an amazing teaching, I have to pass it on!