An Official Apology and Introduction.
I have been in full-time ministry for over 35 years now and I have never had any desire to preach the Scriptures that seem to be negative toward women. I defended myself for all those years thinking I was right. What I failed to realize was the immense significance of what the Holy Spirit desired to reveal to me regarding His precious women and femininity in this universe and in the eternal purpose of the Creator. I have been totally shocked by what the Holy Spirit revealed to me while writing this book. I now can see the damage that could have been averted if I had searched the Scriptures sooner! He has literally revealed to me the meaning of all of those hard to understand Scriptures concerning women. So, I ask forgiveness of every woman for not caring enough about you to really search the Scriptures concerning God’s heart toward you.
The reason I never felt moved to preach those Scripture verses was because deep in my heart, I knew they did not reveal the humility that I saw so clearly in the heart of the Triune God, and pride always turns me off. Unfortunately, I had no idea that my total lack of concern greatly affected my sisters in the world.
After praying with thousands of women in many nations, beholding the tremendous pain they carry, and watching the Father heal so much within them, it is the right time to share some of the insights the Holy Spirit has given me in order to bring about a major healing to all His precious gifts to the world and to the body of Christ: the gift of a woman!
If you are a woman in a typical Church in almost any nation in the world, then you probably feel somewhat awkward with the men in your church, possibly even your own brothers, father, and pastor. You might feel that your place within the family and within the Church is very limited to a certain section, like working in children’s ministry, in the kitchen, or nursery. You very well might have a deep inner feeling that men think you are not as important as they are, and to even consider yourself as important would be an error.
Dear sister, know this: you are a very special addition to humanity and to the Church of Jesus Christ.
It is the Lord’s desire to heal any inner pain, fear, or sense of inferiority that you may have carried for so long. Father desires that you take back your honor that may have been stripped away from you and that you regain your position as His daughter, right next to Jesus (your Big Brother) on His throne!
And to my dear brothers in Christ, you also will find many answers to hidden questions within your heart regarding the true place of a woman in life and within the Church. The Father will kindle a new love, honor, and appreciation within you for your sisters in Christ. May every person reading this book come much closer to the heart of God by the time they are finished.
This book has been an adventure that has been thoroughly worth every moment of struggle, toil, and pressing in. Rich blessings and love in Christ Jesus! Pastor Greg Violi
On our next wedding anniversary, Marie and I will be married for 40 years, and it is quite amazing how many couples we know who, like ourselves, are complete opposites. It seems that we men desperately need our wives’ input, wisdom, ability to complement us, and to bring a wholeness to us as our counterpart. Apart from this we would remain fragmented, incomplete, and undone. It was the mouth of the Lord God that said those very important and completely true words, “It is NOT GOOD for a man to be alone!” (Genesis 2:18, emphasis mine).
Why do so many people affirm that opposites attract? Could it be that they are beholding in the spirit their other half who would make them complete and whole?
When Marie and I were first married, I thought deep within my innermost being, it is so good that we are together; we really need and love each other. But I love her a little bit more than she loves me, and she needs me a little bit more than I need her. After all, isn’t she the weaker vessel? Hidden within my heart was this deadly element of pride that would have me put myself above my wife. When we held a conversation, I would straightaway speak whatever was on my mind (I think my Italian blood had something to do with that), and only then would I ask my precious counterpart, “What do you think?” I expected an immediate answer from her. The response I received was either silence or other phrases that I quickly learned to hate; “I don’t know,” or, “It doesn’t matter.” Well, to ME (and at that time in my life, this was very important), I thought, I asked you a question! When someone asks a question, they deserve an answer! RIGHT? So, in time, I started to think (deep within my hidden parts), What is her problem?
Well, after reading a book about God-given temperaments, I learned how we each have a temperament that has been given to us by our Heavenly Father that fits our personality perfectly and that there is no such thing as a bad temperament. I finally came to realize what Marie’s problem was.
Her problem was the one that assumed she should be like him, instead of the way God had made her to be. Put very simply, her problem was ME! My wife, Marie, is a very special person with unique qualities that deeply and specifically complement me in so many ways. After 40 years of being together, I can truly say it is not good for a man called Greg to be alone!