My Thoughts From The 2010 Family Reformation Ladies Tea

On Saturday I had the privilege of attending Stacy McDonald's (co-author of Passionate Housewives Desperate for God) 2010 Family Reformation Ladies Tea, where about 200 ladies of various faiths gathered together to be inspired by such engaging speakers as Jasmine Baucham, Sandi Grutzius, Stacy McDonald, and Hope Ware.  Each of them shared their heart and God's Word with conviction and passion.

Before this tea, I hadn't heard much about Sandi Grutzius, only that she and her husband serve on the board of Illinois Christian Home Educators, but as she began to speak, I found myself soaking up her words like a sponge. 

She talked about our homes being a source of fulfillment and joy, about expectations of women in the workforce and in the church, about being busy with "good" things but not "God" things.  She shared her testimony, that she was once a very driven career woman, extremely busy, nearing the completion of her doctorate degree, working with Hillary Clinton's administration on health care issues.... and then God began to turn her heart towards home.

She shared some of the mental struggles she faced during this time, one of them being how Satan tried to keep her in the mode of being self-sufficient, relying on her own strengths and accomplishments, rather than trusting in the Lord and His plans for her.

And perhaps the most impacting thought that she shared was this statement from Charles Spurgeon: "Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong, but knowing the difference between right and almost right." 

How many times do we say to ourselves, "Well, it's not wrong for me to do ________ ."  Yes, but is it right, or only almost right?  Is it what is best?  Are the things that matter most - our husband, children, home - at the mercy of things that matter less?

These last few verses of Proverbs 31 were shared in the tea's program, and fit perfectly with what each speaker discussed:

She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Oh, that we all could be like the Proverbs 31 woman!  I also love the the charge to older and younger women, found in Titus 2:3-5, and it was mentioned often during the tea as well.  If you aren't familiar with that passage, then I encourage you to spend some of your Bible reading time studying it, and possibly praying it over yourself and the women in your church.

Me (left) with June (right)

Finally, I want to share my sweet friend, Mrs. June Fuentes, with you.  Some of you may know her from her inspiring blog A Wise Woman Builds Her Home.  She is a treasure, a wonderful mentor in the area of home and family, and it was my pleasure to be able to sit with her and her daughters at this tea.  We are fairly new friends, only having been together "in real life" a couple of times so far, but I am enjoying her friendship tremendously.  Be sure to stop by her blog and say hello, if you haven't already!

May God bless you and keep you this Monday ~

   In Passionate Pursuit,


{Linked with Making Your Home Sing Monday and Gratituesday}


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