Jeri Carr

Jeri's Thoughts on Gentle Mothering

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23 (KJV)

but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 (NIV)

I have tried writing out my thoughts on gentle mothering; I even had something here for about a week. I just am not happy with anything I've written. But I very much enjoy all the thoughts the other moms have shared and think they are great! Hopefully I 'll have something here soon. :-)

Jeri's Testimony

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5.8-10)

I grew up in a Christian home and attended a Christian (GARB) school. One day when I was in first grade (I think), I went to chapel at school. I do not remember what the preacher spoke about, but after the sermon he had an "altar call." I went forward. I spoke with someone who asked me if I had ever asked Jesus into my heart before. I had. She told explained that I only needed to do it once. We prayed together.

When I went home after school, I told my parents what had happened. Mom has since told me that, even though I had asked Jesus "into my heart" before, this is the first time I really wanted to share it with others.

A few years later, my mom, dad, and I got baptized together. I know my mom had been baptized before; I think it was a kind of re-commitment on her part. I am not sure if that is the first time my dad got baptized or not. But certainly it was the first time for me. I think it was kind of neat we got baptized together as a family.

While I do not know for certain if the day I told you about when I walked forward was the day I got "saved," I am certain of my salvation. I used to think, "Boy, it was a good thing I went forward when I was little, I would never be brave enough to do it now." But now I know that "going forward" is not that important or necessary. When God touches your heart and gives you the faith to believe, if does not matter where you are. You do not have to "go forward." You do not have to "raise your hand."

I believe the following...

1. God is perfect, and He demands perfection.

2. I am a sinner. Romans 3:23 (KJV) says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." I can try all I want to please God on my own by trying to be good, but I can never match up to perfection. I can never meet all the requirements of the law. The law condemns me to spend eternity in hell apart from God. But is the law bad? No, but rather, ". . . the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" Galatians 3:24 (KJV).

What else does the Bible say?

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:10, 11, 12

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:21-24

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6 (KJV)

3. The penalty for sin is death. For the wages of sin is death, ...

4. ...but the gift of God is eternal life in (through) Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) God the Father, sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on the cross for my sins and for the sins of the world.

For God so loved the world (He loved the world in this manner... this is how He showed His love), that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Jesus Christ--the holy, righteous, spotless Lamb of God--paid the penalty for my sins. HE DIED IN MY PLACE.

5. Jesus did not stay dead! He rose on the third day after he died (this is why we celebrate Easter)(see Luke 24). He is alive and in heaven sitting at the right hand of the Father. He is in heaven preparing a place for all those who believe in Him.

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:25

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1

...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved... Acts 16:31

6. It is ONLY because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ that I am able to confidently say I am going to heaven. When I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the righteousness of Jesus was applied to my "account." My slate was wiped clean. Jesus' righteousness was imputed to me. I am now righteous in the eyes of God. I am being sanctified day by day and becoming more like He wants me to be. But positionally, I am justified. The debt has been paid in full.

This is not because of anything I have done, but only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. Salvation is by grace through faith alone.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8, 9 (KJV)

That I may be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith Phil. 3:9

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5