The virtues of a “Proverbs 31 Woman” King Lemuel had learned from his mother. She instructed him as a young boy in the God-inspired virtues of a woman he should look for as a wife. She taught him though to honor and respect all women. A Godly woman’s influence over her young son will shape his character forever. It will determine how he treats girls in school, at work, in public and private. It is a sobering responsiblity raising boys in the world today. With all the negative and debase attitudes they see on TV, and hear in music lyrics, a Godly mother’s positive influence will shape her son’s views of women for a lifetime.
Tag: religion
Jeremiah 29:7 ” Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
There are times when we feel like refugees in a strange land. Alienated and alone, we sulk in our situation, letting everyone know how unhappy we are. So the very last thing we want to do is ask God to bless the uncomfortable place we’re at. But that’s just what the Lord is asking us to do…to speak Shalom – peace and prosperity into the situation. For if it succeeds and thrives we can only but benefit.
Luke 8:50 ” Fear not, just believe…”
We lie in bed at night with the “what ifs” reeling around in our heads. They are always the worst case scenarios for whatever is worrying us at the time. God hard-wired us humans to recognize danger, it’s called fight or flight, and it keeps us safe. But when we allow fear and anxiety to rule over our lives we suffer. These emotions aren’t new, in the Old Testament the Lord commanded the children of Israel many times… “Do not be afraid.” And in the New Testament, Jesus repeatedly said… “Fear not.” to the crowds. So what are we to do? Fear and anxiety can be channeled for the positive in our lives. They can challenge us to be wise, prudent, and a good steward of our resources. They can cause us to look at our current situations and make changes for the better. …and Jesus said, “Fear not.”
Ephesians 3:17-19 “…and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power together with all saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
I don’t believe we can even start to comprehend the love of God…it transcends all understanding. But if Jesus is dwelling in our hearts, that love is already established in us through Him. And what is well rooted will flourish and grow. So while we may never be able to fully grasp the depth of His love for us, we will be made complete in it.
Acts 19: 11-12 ” God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
Today I found the handmade aprons I had been bequeathed from my Grandmother. Both my Grandmothers were resourceful, strong farm women who grew Victory gardens and families in the Illinois dirt during the Great Depression. They learned to make do with what they had and never lost faith during the dark times. As I look at these aprons and ponder this verse, I do agree that Paul was truly anointed of God, but the faith of the woman wearing that apron he had just touched was even more incredible. As she ran home, this woman had unwavering faith that when she laid the apron on the sick family member they would be totally healed. As I contemplate the aprons, I am thankful for the unfaltering faith of my Grandmothers… forever tied to me by these apron strings.
Ezekiel 8: 12 ” He said to me,’son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? ‘ They say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’ “
Why do we humans think that just because we can’t see in the dark, God can’t either? In this blackness of spiritual blindness we arrogantly think that not only can’t God see us, but that He can’t perceive that we’re doing. These shrines of ours are many…addictions of all kinds top the list. You’ve probably heard someone say-“What I do in the privacy of my own home is my business.” Or that “I’m not hurting anyone by what I’m doing.” But indirectly others are being hurt with the idol we worship in the dark. Children are deprived of their parents by the shrine of drugs and alcohol. Wifes lose their husbands to the idol of pornography. They are the innocent victims of our pride that thinks God can’t judge through such darkness.
Proverbs 17: 28 ” Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”
Just think, if we would only keep our mouths shut, we’d be perceived by others as intelligent and clever. We would appear as if we had great understanding and insight if we merely restrained our lips. But unfortunely what happens most times is that we open our mouth and take all shred of doubt away!
Hebrews 4:12 ” For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit; joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
The Bible…no other book available to the masses can speak so intimately to each one of us. Scripture we have read over and over one day jumps out at us and we read it anew from a totally fresh perspective. Or a verse we come upon will apply perfectly to the problem we’re struggling with that very day. The omnipotent voice of God is alive and at work in His Word. When you read it the Word is set free to accomplish its goal. On the Day of Pentecost after Peter had addressed the crowd concerning the risen Jesus they had crucified it says “that they were cut to the heart” by his words, repented, and over 3,000 were baptized. Their thoughts and emotions were pierced by Peter’s anointed words.
Isaiah 32:17 ” The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”
Righteousness is “Right Living” in this Unright world populated by many Unright people. Living a righteous life day after day is frankly a challenge, but Isaiah wanted us to be encouraged by the incredible benefits that we could gain from living a righteous life. The result of this right living will be a sense of total well-being in your life. The culmination of this righteousness will be tranquility knowing that your relationship with God is secure. It may not be the easiest, but the bottom line is that discipline produces righteousness which produces peace.
Romans 15:13 ” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Just after my sister began chemotherapy for breast cancer they found a suspicious nodule on my mammogram. My first inclination was to call everyone I knew to pray, but the Lord stopped me cold…”Trust in Me” He whispered. ” Alright”, I countered, “but what about just a few of my prayer warrior friends?” Again God’s reply was “Trust in Me.” That evening Landy and I prayed, and the next morning this scripture in Romans jumped out at me. “Lord, my trust is in you and no one else, please fill me with all peace and joy as I wait on you.” I prayed. The Ultrasound showed just a benign fluid filled cyst, nothing worrisome at all. As I thanked God for this good report I pondered what lesson He wanted me to take from this all. By putting all my confidence in Him I was filled with hope,joy,and peace as I trusted in Him. I then could overflow with that same kind of faith and confidence every time I prayed for someone else. My faith has grown by this experience, my confidence in my God has only deepened.
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