Description of a Worthy Woman
10An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
14She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
20She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Ephesians 2:8-10 (New International Version)
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Matthew 25 31-40
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "
http://noelwalker.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/jesus-in-disguise/
Mother Teresa, when speaking of the the very poorest in Calcutta said that, "Each one of them is Jesus in disguise." In saying this she captures the extraordinary ordinaryness of her ministry. She served even the most challenging person as she would serve Jesus himself
This reminds me of Peter who writes: "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4: 10)
Our calling is to see our fellow humankind as who they really are. Children of God that are in need.
Pray for eyes that see others as Jesus does.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' "
http://noelwalker.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/jesus-in-disguise/
Mother Teresa, when speaking of the the very poorest in Calcutta said that, "Each one of them is Jesus in disguise." In saying this she captures the extraordinary ordinaryness of her ministry. She served even the most challenging person as she would serve Jesus himself
This reminds me of Peter who writes: "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4: 10)
Our calling is to see our fellow humankind as who they really are. Children of God that are in need.
Pray for eyes that see others as Jesus does.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Starting Over, God's Way ~Intouch.org
Have you ever looked at your circumstances and thought, I would love to have a chance to do that again? Or If I could just change that, I would. I need a fresh start. That is what grace is all about.
John chapter 8 tells the story of a woman caught in adultery. The Jewish law declared that marital unfaithfulness was punishable by stoning. Religious leaders brought the woman to Jesus to see if He would follow the law of Moses and condemn her to death. But to their surprise, Jesus did not accuse her. After writing on the ground, Christ said, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (v. 7). The group slowly dispersed, the oldest ones leaving first.
After everybody left, Jesus looked at the woman lying at His feet. She knew He was a man of God. How exposed and embarrassed she must have felt—that is, until Jesus revealed His word of forgiveness and hope to her heart: “I do not condemn you . . . Go. From now on sin no more” (v. 11). He forgave the woman and set her free.
Perhaps there’s something you would like to erase from the past. Just the thought of it brings feelings of condemnation and sorrow. Jesus gave the woman caught in adultery a second chance, and that’s what He will give you. If there is sin in your distant or recent history, know that when you ask God for forgiveness, it is done. He will never bring the matter up again.
In fact, the only cure for sin of any kind is God’s grace applied to our lives. This changes the stumbling sinner into a person living victoriously for Jesus Christ. His death on the cross was sufficient payment for all your sins. Only almighty God can love you so much.
Second chances encourage us not to give up, even when the whispers of the world suggest the opposite. I don’t mean we get another chance after death to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior. But in this lifetime, He lavishes His forgiving love upon us after we have thoroughly blown it. We are never outside of God’s grace.
For instance, many people hear the gospel several times before they receive the Lord. He doesn’t give up wooing them to Himself. He is the God of the second chance—and often a thousand chances. Sometimes a person rejects the gospel for years, until one day, because the Father bestowed grace on the individual, he or she finally becomes His child.
If we received what we deserve for our sin, we’d all be condemned. There would be no second chances. We should want what we don’t deserve, and that is grace.
The Bible teaches that salvation is not based upon our works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” In other words, salvation is a gift we receive by faith.
Even the ability to believe comes from God. So salvation is grace from start to finish—not something that we work up or work on. Good deeds don’t merit being saved. Otherwise, we could boast, “I did this” or “I did that.” Only the heavenly Father can rightfully boast, “I did this: I provided all that these sinners need through My Son.”
God loved you before you knew Christ. He cared so much that He sent His Son to earth to give you new life: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were God’s supreme brush stroke of grace across the canvas of creation. Christ is the embodiment of all hope. If you have received Him as your Savior, His life is within you, and His grace is sufficient to remove every hint of sin’s stain. Let Him give you a second chance.
John chapter 8 tells the story of a woman caught in adultery. The Jewish law declared that marital unfaithfulness was punishable by stoning. Religious leaders brought the woman to Jesus to see if He would follow the law of Moses and condemn her to death. But to their surprise, Jesus did not accuse her. After writing on the ground, Christ said, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (v. 7). The group slowly dispersed, the oldest ones leaving first.
After everybody left, Jesus looked at the woman lying at His feet. She knew He was a man of God. How exposed and embarrassed she must have felt—that is, until Jesus revealed His word of forgiveness and hope to her heart: “I do not condemn you . . . Go. From now on sin no more” (v. 11). He forgave the woman and set her free.
Perhaps there’s something you would like to erase from the past. Just the thought of it brings feelings of condemnation and sorrow. Jesus gave the woman caught in adultery a second chance, and that’s what He will give you. If there is sin in your distant or recent history, know that when you ask God for forgiveness, it is done. He will never bring the matter up again.
In fact, the only cure for sin of any kind is God’s grace applied to our lives. This changes the stumbling sinner into a person living victoriously for Jesus Christ. His death on the cross was sufficient payment for all your sins. Only almighty God can love you so much.
Second chances encourage us not to give up, even when the whispers of the world suggest the opposite. I don’t mean we get another chance after death to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior. But in this lifetime, He lavishes His forgiving love upon us after we have thoroughly blown it. We are never outside of God’s grace.
For instance, many people hear the gospel several times before they receive the Lord. He doesn’t give up wooing them to Himself. He is the God of the second chance—and often a thousand chances. Sometimes a person rejects the gospel for years, until one day, because the Father bestowed grace on the individual, he or she finally becomes His child.
If we received what we deserve for our sin, we’d all be condemned. There would be no second chances. We should want what we don’t deserve, and that is grace.
The Bible teaches that salvation is not based upon our works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” In other words, salvation is a gift we receive by faith.
Even the ability to believe comes from God. So salvation is grace from start to finish—not something that we work up or work on. Good deeds don’t merit being saved. Otherwise, we could boast, “I did this” or “I did that.” Only the heavenly Father can rightfully boast, “I did this: I provided all that these sinners need through My Son.”
God loved you before you knew Christ. He cared so much that He sent His Son to earth to give you new life: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were God’s supreme brush stroke of grace across the canvas of creation. Christ is the embodiment of all hope. If you have received Him as your Savior, His life is within you, and His grace is sufficient to remove every hint of sin’s stain. Let Him give you a second chance.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
"Love of God is Pure When Joy and Suffering Inspire an Equal Degree of Gratitude"
I have always been a Steven Curtis Chapman fan and I enjoy watching his video blogs on youtube. I especially liked the video of him and Maria Sue, his adopted daughter, washing dishes and singing.
Well, I watched it a lot and I also loved to watch the video blog when he talks about writing the song Cinderella. It warms my heart everytime I see it, even now after what happened. ......Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 his daughter Maria Sue was killed at their home when his teenage son accidentally ran over her in the drive way. I cannot think of anything worse than one of my children being killed and my other child feeling the guilt of her death. I was devasted over what they were going through. It really put things in perspective for me, at a very critical time in my life. A year later, God had made me strong enough to face my difficult situation with courage and a thankful heart. Maria Sue still makes me smile when I watch the videos. Click on the links below to learn more about the Chapman family and their difficult journey toward healing, wholeness, and gratitude even through adversity.
This first link above is the memorial service.
Maria Sue would have turned 7 years old today.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Angels and Children
I have been listening to a sermon series called Angels, Demons and Spiritual Warfare by David Platt, The Church at Brook Hills.
http://www.brookhills.org/media/schurch/angels-demons-and-spiritual-warfare/
He talks about angels, how there are a set number of angels in Heaven and how they worship God constantly and how they help God. Jessica has been thinking a lot about Heaven recently because we lost Mrs. Lucille, Hanna's grandmother, to cancer on April, 8th.
The other day she told me she wants to be an angel when she gets to Heaven. I told her that she can't become an angel because she is human. She was not too happy, as you can imagine, because I call her my angel all the time. She thinks that being an angel is the most wonderful thing ever. Then I explained to her that we are so much more special than the angels, we are God's children and when we go to Heaven we will live with God our Father. I don't think she was convinced. I felt so overwhelmed telling my child she is going to be with her Father in Heaven one day, it means more to me than my own salvation. Telling my daughter, my child, made me realize how much God loves my Jessica and Samantha (as much as my human mind can imagine.) I love them more than my own life, yet God loves them infinitely more than I ever could. Jesus never died for the angels in Heaven, yet we think of angels as being special...but we are the special ones, children of the Living God, Co-heirs with Christ!
For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we really are God's children.
And since we are his children, we will share his treasures.
Romans 8:16
http://www.brookhills.org/media/schurch/angels-demons-and-spiritual-warfare/
He talks about angels, how there are a set number of angels in Heaven and how they worship God constantly and how they help God. Jessica has been thinking a lot about Heaven recently because we lost Mrs. Lucille, Hanna's grandmother, to cancer on April, 8th.
The other day she told me she wants to be an angel when she gets to Heaven. I told her that she can't become an angel because she is human. She was not too happy, as you can imagine, because I call her my angel all the time. She thinks that being an angel is the most wonderful thing ever. Then I explained to her that we are so much more special than the angels, we are God's children and when we go to Heaven we will live with God our Father. I don't think she was convinced. I felt so overwhelmed telling my child she is going to be with her Father in Heaven one day, it means more to me than my own salvation. Telling my daughter, my child, made me realize how much God loves my Jessica and Samantha (as much as my human mind can imagine.) I love them more than my own life, yet God loves them infinitely more than I ever could. Jesus never died for the angels in Heaven, yet we think of angels as being special...but we are the special ones, children of the Living God, Co-heirs with Christ!
For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we really are God's children.
And since we are his children, we will share his treasures.
Romans 8:16
Sunday, May 2, 2010
John 14:6
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6
Jesus is the Truth. He fully reveals the Lord's way and wonderfully enables us to be restored to it. Let us not be ashamed of the Truth. Only here will we find the glorious path to true freedom.
http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/index.html
Jesus is the Truth. He fully reveals the Lord's way and wonderfully enables us to be restored to it. Let us not be ashamed of the Truth. Only here will we find the glorious path to true freedom.
http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/index.html
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