Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

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Jesus Came to Seek & to Save the Lost

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Just on the heels of Jesus’ encounter with a wee little man we find these eternity-altering words… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

In this beautiful story of redemption we see a sinner willing to look foolish in his attempts to sneak a peek at the Savior. Could this man who told the woman at the well everything she had ever done give this tax collecting thief any hope? Had He really healed the sick and raised the dead? Was He really the long awaited Messiah?

As we examine this interesting account we find  Zacchaeus seeking to see Jesus (vs 3) and Jesus seeking (vs 10) and saving the lost. The same verb is used here and it means to seek or strive after something or someone.

While reading through these verses with this verb comparison in mind, I couldn’t help but think that although Zacchaeus thought he was seeking Jesus, it was Jesus who was seeking Him. Zacchaeus was lost, without hope and without a future. But Jesus showed up, raised a few eyebrows when he went to Zacchaeus’ home for a bite to eat and then, after listening to Zacchaeus repent, Jesus declares His purpose statement.

Zacchaeus may have scurried up a tree seeking the Savior, but the Savior left heaven to seek out Zacchaeus…to seek out sinners…to seek out you and me! The purpose our precious Lord came to this earth was so that we could be saved…so those who have have no future and no hope could find salvation.

Being lost in the city or lost in the woods is a bad thing. But it’s only temporary. Eventually you find your way out. But being lost in your sin is very different. It’s eternal unless the Savior who came to seek and save us does just that. And when we get to that place where we are finally ready to scurry up a tree to seek out the Savior, we find that He’s been the One seeking after us all the while and then we understand this eternity-altering truth…Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Aren’t you glad He did!?

How does the truth that Jesus seeks and saves change your life? We would love to hear your own story about how Jesus sought you out and saved you!

Jesus Came to Obey the Father

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There is a lot about God we just don’t understand. Like how He has always existed. No beginning. No end. Just always. Or like how He knows every thought of our hearts and the number of hairs on our heads. Nothing hid. He knows it all. Or like how He is Creator and Sustainer of all that is or ever will be. No one can trump Him. Nothing can stump Him and nothing can undo what He has done. He is all powerful.

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Yet, in Philippians 2:5-8 we are told – “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Emphasis mine)

Can you fathom that?! The God of all creation demonstrated what obedience looks like when He placed Himself in a cradle to begin His journey to the cross.

As Kathy mentioned Monday, we know Jesus came to die. But He left footprints of obedience every step of the way – footprints of obedience left by a heart of humility.

In John 6:38, Jesus declared, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (Emphasis mine)
And as the cross loomed largely over His earthly future, He said,“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” John 12:27 (Emphasis mine)
We all have to die. It’s just part of life. But Jesus didn’t have to. He didn’t have to come to a cradle. He didn’t have to clothe Himself with flesh. He didn’t have to tolerate those who persecuted Him. He didn’t have to endure the pain of the crown of thorns, the whips or the nails. He didn’t have to hang naked from a cross in agony as the soldiers mocked Him and those He was dying for gazed on Him with disgust.
But Jesus came to obey the Father’s will. John 4:34 says, “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.'”
Jesus left a wonderful example of what obedience looks like when He went to the cross. It means we humble ourselves and die to what we want to do – even when it’s hard.
Jesus came to obey the Father – and that obedience took Him all the way to the cross. His obedience offers us hope, peace, joy and everlasting life and if He had not humbled Himself and became obedient unto the death of the cross, we would remain in our sins and we would remain without hope.
Aren’t you thankful Jesus came to obey the Father! As we approach this Christmas season let us not forget to importance of Jesus’ obedience.
Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus came to be obedient? How should that affect our own obedience? 

Jesus – The Same Yesterday, Today & Forever

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Today, we are wrapping up our study of Jesus in the Old Testament. I’m so glad we’ve been able to pull back the curtain of history and get a glimpse of God’s glorious revelation of Himself to mere man long before the birth of Christ.

During this most wonderful time of the year it’s easy to get our hearts fixed on the babe lying in a manger but Jesus is truly the Great I Am. He has always been. He will always be. He is God.

Revelation 1:8 declares the eternally, unchanging nature of Christ…

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Our precious Lord made Himself known in days of old declaring throughout the corridors of time not only that He is God, but that He loves us and desires a relationship with us.

We have found Him to be:

Aren’t you glad Jesus has chosen to saturate history with His presence and allow us to see He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

How has this study of Jesus in the Old Testament strengthened your faith? Have you learned anything new? What particular account of Christ in the Old Testament has ministered to your heart throughout this series?

Jesus in the Old Testament

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“Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:56-58

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As Christmas approaches all too quickly, it’s easy to picture Jesus as that babe in a manger in a little town called Bethlehem. Yet His birth did not define His beginning. He is God. He always has been and He always will be.

Because Jesus is the central interwoven theme throughout the Word of God, it is not surprising to find His presence very vividly presented in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. For the next two weeks we are going to pull back the curtains of the Old Testament accounts of Christ and bask in the glorious ways in which He has chosen to make Himself known to us!

We truly serve a wonderful God who makes Himself known in ways we have yet to discover!

What Old Testament accounts of Christ are you familiar with?

 

 

Jehovah Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts

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Have you ever wished you could just call on someone who would not only fight your battles but calm your fearful and frazzled heart too? Have you ever wanted to just throw your hands up in the air, give up and let someone else take care of things?

Well, you can! His name is Jehovah Sabaoth.

Today, we have the privilege of shedding some light on a name many are not very familiar with. His name is Jehovah Sabaoth and as we peel back the layers of that magnificent name, we will once again be reminded that the God we serve is so much greater than our finite minds can comprehend!

Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts) is mentioned over 270 times making it the most frequently used compound name of God in Scripture. This profound name means the Almighty, Sovereign, Self-Existent God over all the multitudes (whether an army, the sun, moon and stars, or creation itself).

First mentioned in 1 Samuel 1:3, we find Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, making annual trips to the temple to sacrifice to the LORD of Hosts. Just a few short verses later we find a barren and heartbroken Hannah making a covenant with the LORD of Hosts as she cried out for Him to hear her prayer and give her a child. (1 Samuel 1:11)

Hannah may have longed for her womb as well as her arms to be filled with a sweet little bundle of joy, but the previous verses (1 Samuel 1:6-7) give us a better idea of why she prayed such a desperate prayer. She not only wanted to experience the joy of being a mother but she also wanted to be able to silence the persistent mocking of Peninnah. So she called on the LORD of Hosts to win a war she could not win on her own.

In 1 Samuel 17:45, we find just prior to pegging Goliath with a pebble, David boldly proclaimed, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

And in 2 Samuel 5:10, we find – “And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.”

  • In Psalm 24:10, The LORD of Hosts is the King of glory and in Psalm 46:7 He is our Fortress.
  • In Psalm 59:5, He is called upon to vindicate His people.
  • In Isaiah 51:15 we see He controls the sea and the waves.
  • In Isaiah 54:5 He is our husband and in Zechariah 4:6, He declares that He alone wins our battles when He tells Zerubbabel, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.”
  • And in Isaiah’s life-altering, mouth-shutting vision of the Lord, he heard the Seraphim speaking to one another, crying out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)

Throughout Scripture we find this LORD of Hosts as our ever present defender, the Sovereign and Holy God over all the universe who sees us, loves us and moves mountains on our behalf. He fights our battles, wins our wars and is the refuge we can run to in time of need. He is Jehovah-Sabaoth!

There is nothing He cannot do, nothing He does not know, nothing He cannot control, no enemy He cannot defeat, no heart He can not heal, no mouth He can not shut, no miracle He cannot perform. And how beautiful to know He longs to work in our lives and on our behalf as the LORD of Hosts!

What battle have you been trying to fight on your own? Like Hannah, will you call upon the LORD of Hosts to do what only He can do and vindicate you in the process? How does knowing that God is the LORD of Hosts help you in your circumstances?

 

 

 

Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The LORD Our Righteousness

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Jesus, Pilate and Job all presented questions in Scripture that every heart must answer:

And he asked them,”But who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29)

Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”  (Matthew 27:22)

“How then can man be righteous before God?” (Job 25:4)

Today, while we will concentrate on Job’s question, we will consider all three. 

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Just on the heels of dealing with the sin of the unfaithful priest, in Jeremiah 23:6 Jehovah introduced Himself by a brand new name…Jehovah-Tsidkenu. It’s only used one other time in Scripture and is also tucked in the pages of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 33:16).  It is a name God gives Himself and a name He gives His children.

What we are about to examine is some intriguing stuff, sweet friends. No story told can equal the beauty in which God unveils Himself to His people. So stay with me as we follow the trail of truth God leaves to lead us to Himself!

Jeremiah was speaking to a nation whose king was wicked. His name was Zedekiah, which means Jehovah is Righteous. His original name was Mattaniah (Gift of God) but when his father, Nebuchadnezzar,  made him king, he changed his son’s name to Zedekiah.

It was a familiar story. God had blessed His people but it didn’t take long before they had turned their backs on Him and began to sin.

God’s eyes were not blind to Zedekiah’s wickedness and He told him through Jeremiah the prophet, “I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath.” (Jeremiah 21:5)

God’s eyes were not blind to His children’s sin either and in Jeremiah 32:30, God declares, “For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth. “

In both Scripture references where God uses the name, Jehovah-Tsidkenu, He gives us a astounding parallel. He is our merciful God who delights in His people and chooses to bring redemption, restoration and righteousness to His wayward children.

  • In the first mention (Jeremiah 23:6) God promises to exchange the one who should have lived up to his name as a righteous king who trusted Jehovah (Zedekiah) with THE LORD WHO IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. That promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ who the Bible states – is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9). Jesus is the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament name, Jehovah-Tsidkenu – In contrast to Zedekiah (the unrighteous king), Jesus is the Righteous King who is also our righteousness.
  • The second mention (Jeremiah 33:16) is to change the whole nation from wayward and wicked hearts and give them a new heart as well as a new name, Jehovah-Tsidkenu. Because of Christ, we can become just as righteous as He is. Just as the nation was named Jehovah-Tsidkenu, He names us the same.
Isaiah 64:6 tells us…
“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.”
But because Jesus has become our righteousness, when we receive Him, we become as righteous as He is in our Heavenly Father’s site. We put on His robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) and when the Living God looks at us, He sees us just as perfect and just as pure as He sees His Son (Romans 5:21).
Knowing that God is our righteousness is not only good news for the unbeliever who turns from their sin and turns to God through faith in Christ, but it is also good news for the believer, who like the children of Israel, sometimes find themselves wandering far from the One they love. Jehovah-Tsidkenu remains our righteousness – even when we aren’t behaving so righteously.
Who He is in us establishes us positionally though practically we may be acting otherwise. We remain righteous in His sight, even when we behave badly. Yet because He is in us, He changes the desires of our hearts to be righteous in deed, knowing that our righteousness came at oh-so great a cost and stems from oh-so great a love.
  • Job’s question has been answered by The LORD Our Righteousness. Only Jehovah-Tsidkenu canmake a man righteous. But we must each personally answer the eternity-deciding questions posed by Jesus and Pilate.
  • Jesus asked…”But who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29) (Is He the Son of God – the Righteous One with Healing on His wings – the Christ?)
  • Pilate replied… “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”  (Matthew 27:22) (Have you let Him be your Righteousness? If not, will you?)

Have you answered those questions yet? How does knowing Jesus is our righteousness affect your day to day actions?


 

Wise Words

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I remember when I was a little girl, my mom used to call me the Mouth of the South. It wasn’t a play on words about my southern drawl and it certainly wasn’t a complement. I was just plain sassy and deserved that dreaded title.

But when I became a Christian everything about me changed – including my smart mouth. It’s not that I never battle a little sarcastic slicing and dicing when my world gets turned upside down, but my heart now longs to speak healing words instead of hurtful ones.

Notice how Proverbs 31:26 reads in the Amplified…

“She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom,

and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].”

What a power-packed verse! Her words didn’t just spew out her mouth like a broken fire hydrant. She didn’t wield her words like a weapon. She skillfully opened her mouth…as in exercising, exhibiting and requiring skill. Wow! We could park on that one for the rest of the post, couldn’t we!

Have we ever really considered the words that come out of our mouths are something we should learn – like a skill that we should hone? Obviously the Proverbs 31 woman considered the words she used as something SO important that she skillfully exercised wise choices about that which she allowed to flow from her lips. The result was godly wisdom, counsel and instruction.

The second part of that verse parallels two vastly different concepts. Law and kindness. The term “law” applies to a system of rules or codes of law. Kindness on the other hand is used interchangeably with mercy and is defined as goodness and faithfulness.

Only a woman of grace can dish out truth with kindness as its key ingredient!

You probably remember the old saying, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” Well, the Proverbs 31 woman said what she meant and meant what she said…and it was truth laced with grace that flowed from her lips and spoke wisdom to each listening ear.

Since the mouth is the fountain from which the springs of our heart flows, we know that the Mrs. P31 was able to dispense words of wisdom and truth laced with grace because her heart was consistently filled with Living Water.

Today, as we examine the words we say under the microscope of Mrs. P31’s example, we have to ask ourselves some hard questions. 

  • Do you need some instruction on what should and should not be coming out of your mouth?
  • What are some ways you can hone your verbal skills?
  • Do you struggle with harsh, critical or mean words?
  • Do you gossip, whine or complain?
  • Would others describe your word choices as ‘godly wisdom’ and ‘truthful and kind’?
  • How can you make sure your heart is right so your words will be right?
  • What words do you need to eliminate out of your vocabulary if you’re going to be a woman who skillfully speaks godly wisdom?
  • Do you find it difficult to speak law (truth) combined with kindness?
  • What are some ways you can learn how to speak law and kindness at the same time? 

The Proverbs 31 woman may not have had a big mouth, but she certainly left some big shoes to fill! May we be women who skillfully and intentionally speak godly words of wisdom – and may we be carefully craft our words so that we combine the law with kindness in such a way that we speak life into the lives of those who are listening.

The Strong Mrs. P31

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“She is clothed with strength and dignity;  she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25

Strong. It’s a word I always think of when I think about my mom. Her strength was evident by the way she handled life, death and all things in between. She wasn’t perfect, but she was strong.

The strength we see described in the Proverbs 31 woman is much more about her character than it is about her physical strength. It’s demonstrated well when a woman strengthens her arms, it’s demonstrated best when a woman strengthens her heart.

Strength is a beautiful thing when worn with dignity and when a woman is strong, she’s an ornament of grace.

Proverbs 31:25 not only unveils the strength of the illusive Mrs. P31, but it also reveals her confidence as well. Because she is strong, she is confident. Because she is confident, she is strong.

Strength doesn’t mean she is immune to the difficulties of this life – it means she’s confident enough to walk through them with grace.

And while readers of the Word have had the privilege of seeing the strength of Mrs. P31 on display throughout the centuries, we know that the strength which flowed so freely from her life found its wellsprings in her reverential fear of the Lord.

As we ponder the path of the strong Mrs. P31, let’s remember each footprint she left was graciously laced with dignity.

STRENGTH IS…

  • Morally Upright
  • Courageous
  • Persevering
  • Authoritative
  • Influential
  • Self-Controlled
  • Confident
  • Prepared
  • Valiant
  • Honorable
  • Gracious

STRENGTH IS NOT…

  • Stubborn
  • Arrogant
  • Rigid
  • Forceful
  • Condemning
  • Indecisive
  • Argumentative
  • Harsh

I’m so glad my mom left a legacy of strength and dignity. I long to leave the same.

How about you? What kind of legacy are leaving? Is it one of strength? Is it one of dignity? The fact that she is clothed with strength and dignity begs the question…What are we wearing?

Today, as you consider the strength of the Proverbs 31 woman, will you examine your own strength through the lens of her life? 

He Can Trust Her

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“The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.” Proverbs 31:11 (Amplified)

I’ve always thought the study of the Proverbs 31 woman was a bit intimidating as well as a little painful. What woman can be all that and a bag of chips? How can she be all of those things at all times? Is that even possible while we live in this flesh?

In context we’re looking at the ideal woman as described by a mother who is giving her son the description of what he should be looking for in a wife – the kind of wife we all pray our sons would be wise enough to marry. But are we that kind of woman? Are we at least striving to be that kind of woman?

As we read through Proverbs 31:10-31, we find a woman of very noble character. Yet, one of the greatest traits touted by Mrs. P31 is that of trustworthiness. As the Amplified so beautifully says, her husband was confidently secure in her. He relied on and believed in his wife – and as the Scottish minister, George MacDonald, once said –

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved. 

From the framework of Proverbs 31:11, we’re told her husband “confidently” trusted in his wife in the area of their finances. In fact, as you read through each verse that describes this Wonder Woman of the Bible,  you find that like a sweet perfume, Mrs. P31’s trustworthiness permeated every area of her life.

Her husband could trust his wife to…

  • Be a frugal shopper (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Be wise with their finances (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Not be sneaky or deceptive about her spending (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Not pressure her man to make more and more money (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Not be materialistic (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Not try to persuade him to do something unethical or desperate to make a buck (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Do what is good for him (Proverbs 31:12)
  • Be a diligent worker (Proverbs 31:13-14,19,24)
  • Not be lazy (Proverbs 31:15)
  • Care for others (Proverbs 31:15,20)
  • Be a wise investor with their finances (Proverbs 31:16)
  • Be a woman of dignity who is prepared for their future (Proverbs 31:21,25)
  • Take care of the needs of the family and the home (Proverbs 31:22,27)
  • Encourage, support and promote him (Proverbs 31:23)
  • Carefully chose words of grace and truth, and guard what she says about him (Proverbs 31:26)
A study of the P31 women can be truly daunting when we try to place our own lives beside hers. She stands tall and lives large! She’s the ideal woman – the one whose steps we we’re to follow.
But I don’t think we’re to be discouraged by her – we’re to be encouraged to be women who rise to the occasion – to set our standards high and seek to be women who will garner the ultimate praise – ‘her husband and children rise up and call her blessed.’
I’ve heard people say that in a marriage, trust is everything. If a man can’t trust his wife, it’s like knocking the legs out from under the foundation of their marriage. Trust is the seed that feeds love.
Marriage may survive when the embers of fizzle out love, but when trust is destroyed, the marriage is on dangerous ground.
So, use this post as an opportunity to evaluate your life as a wife. Can your husband really trust you in the areas that are mentioned above? Are there any areas you need to work on? 

Peace in Proverbs

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Shalom. It’s a word we’re familiar with, but it’s biblical definition is much more complex than our English word, peace. In the original language, Shalom is defined as completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfection, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.

As we probe the precepts of Proverbs, we find that peace – or the lack thereof – is threaded throughout this wonderful book of wisdom. Although Scripture identifies three very important aspects of peace (peace with God, peace of God and peace with one another), Proverbs primarily focuses on peace with one another – with those in our homes – with our friends – – with acquaintances – with those in our churches – and with other nations.

Today, we’re going to examine peace in Proverbs and the commands and benefits of  walking in peace as well as the consequences of choosing not to.

So, let’s take a walk through the peace we find in Proverbs:

Proverbs 3:2 – Obeying God’s Commandments and walking in wisdom infuses peace into our lives.

Proverbs 3:17 – Wisdom paves a peaceful path through life.

Proverbs 6:12-15 –Wicked men who stir up strife wind up hurting themselves in the process.

Proverbs 6:16-19 – Those who sow discord among the brethren are among the six things God hates.

Proverbs 7:9-15, 10:10 – Seduction masqueraded as peace is the epitome of a hypocrite.

Proverbs 12:20 – In contrast to the demented minds of evil doers, those who plan peace find joy.

Proverbs 13:10 – Strife begins in the heart of the proud. Got pride? – no peace. Know peace? – got no pride problem.

Proverbs 15:1, 18 –  Our words can speak peace into conflicting circumstances.

Proverbs 16:7 – When our ways please the Lord it affects the way others treat us.

Proverbs 16:27-30 – The destructive influences of a strife stirrers have disastrous ramifications.

Proverbs 17:1, 21:9, 19, 25:24 – Our homes should be a haven of peace not a war zone.

Proverbs 18:19 – Restoring relationships with those who are closest to us can sometimes be the most difficult.

Proverbs 20:3, 22:10 – Avoiding confrontation with strife strates can help you be a strife stopper.

Psalm 34:14 calls us to, “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

Peace with God is what we’re given when we become children of the Most High God (John 16:33); the peace of God is ours when our minds are fixed on Christ (Phil 4:7); peace with one another is also accomplished when we love each other well (1 Thes 5:12-14).

George Washington once said, “Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.”

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

When you’re in your home, pursue peace. When you’re with your neighbors, pursue peace. When you’re in the company of friends, pursue peace. When you’re dealing with those in the body of Christ, pursue peace. When you have opportunity to minister in other nations, pursue peace.

When others hurt your feelings do you find it difficult to maintain peace? Would you consider your home a haven of peace? Are you a peace maker, a strife starter or a strife stopper? 

Shalom to you, sweet friends!

The Wife Your Marriage Needs

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If you’ve been married more than six months you know that marriage isn’t always easy.

In Ephesians 5:23-33 we’re told the Christian marriage is to be a reflection of Christ and the church – a beautiful example to the world of what true sacrificial love and oneness looks like. Unfortunately, the divorce rate in the church is equal to that of the world.

Some have the benefit of their parent’s godly example of a good, strong marriage, but most don’t. There is no How to Do This Marriage Right manual handed out when we say “I Do”. Even as I write this, I realize many of you may be in messy marriages. Perhaps you feel like you’re shriveling up in a dry and barren relationship or maybe you just know things could be better on the home front.

My prayer is that you’ll have a fresh understanding that our marriages are much more about our relationship with God than they are about our relationships with our husbands.

My prayer for those of you who are hurting and on the edge is that God will make a miracle out of your marriage.

I learned along time ago that I can’t fix my man – but I’m not accountable to God for him.  I am, however, accountable for how I act and react in my marriage.

We may not be handed a marriage manual when we say, “I do” but we have the greatest guidebook available…the Word of God. So as we peruse through Proverbs, let’s commit to be doers of the Word and not hearers only regardless of what our husbands do or don’t do.

I promise you, sweet friend, it may not change your man (he has to work on his own issues) but it will certainly change you in the midst of your marriage and help you become the woman your marriage needs.

It’s interesting to note that Proverbs doesn’t give our men many words of wisdom about marriage. Perhaps that’s because with 1,000 women in the house, Solomon was wise enough to know that if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.

But we do find two very important directives for every husband to live by:

• Love your wife well and be faithful to her (Proverbs 5:18, 6:28-29).

After all, that’s what the heart of every woman longs for – a man who will really love her ’til the end. When he really loves her, he’ll put her needs before his own; he’ll protect her and provide for her; he’ll try to understand the longings of her heart; he’ll even make those late-night trips to the store for Midol, ice cream and a movie – because when he loves her well… he loves her with his life. That’s what sacrificial love looks like.

Words of Wisdom for the Wife:

The best list of traits that should identify a Christian wife are found in the oh-so-intimidating verses of Proverbs 31:10-31. 

• She’s a woman of strong character whom her husband can trust to do what is good and right for him and their family. Her man can trust her with his heart, his home and his finances (Proverbs 31:10-12).

• She’s a wise, diligent, hard-working woman who takes care of herself, her hubby and her household. She’s much too busy to be found sitting on the couch eating bonbons and watching soap operas all day (Proverbs 31:13-19,21-22,24).

• She has a servant’s heart and ministers to the poor (Proverbs 31:20).

• She is a woman of dignity who is wise with her words and, much like a boy scout, is always prepared for the unexpected (Proverbs 31:25-27).

• Like a pillar, she upholds her husband and helps him become all he can be. In the process she garners the praise of her man and their children. Her own works sing her praises, as well (Proverbs 31:23,28).

• She understands that true beauty is found in a heart that fears the Lord. Her life comes from the overflow of her relationship with God (Proverbs 31:10).

More Words for the Wife from Proverbs:

• A good wife is a priceless treasure to her husband (Proverbs 12:4, 18:22, 31:10).

• A prudent and understanding wife is from the Lord (Proverbs 18:22, 19:14).

• An irritable, quarrelsome, critical and complaining wife can make a man wish he never said, “I do” (Proverbs 21:9, 25:24, 27:15).

Being the wife your man needs will make you the wife your marriage needs – and vice versa. It isn’t always easy. It’s a day by day diligent and intentional effort of the heart. But we work on being the wife our marriage needs because our marriage is to be an overflow of our relationship with God and a picture of Christ and the church.

As you read through the words of wisdom from Proverbs, did you see any areas you need to work on as a wife? Do you have any godly counsel you can share with other wives that would help them become the women their marriage needs?

 

 

 

You’ve Got a Friend

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I have to admit I am very excited about today’s post because the Lord has blessed me beyond measure with several good, godly friends. They are living descriptions and definitions of what it means to be a friend. Unfortunately, their lives often remind me of how far I fall short of being not only the kind of friend they deserve, but also the kind of friend the Bible calls me to be.

Friends are powerful influences in our lives. They have the capacity to encourage us to live as we know we ought and to challenge us to accomplish more than we could envision. Yet, they are also capable of dragging us lower than we thought we’d ever go and into doing things we thought we’d never do. That’s why it is so important we choose our friends wisely.

Throughout Proverbs, Solomon gives us words of wisdom about the significance of our friendships. As we walk through the Word together today and begin our Proverbial friendship dig, we’ll unearth some priceless treasures of wisdom, warnings and encouragement.

1. Proverbs 7:3-5– Insight (understanding) is your friend. Insight is a necessary ingredient to help us live well and choose wisely. No wonder Solomon calls insight our friend.

2. Proverbs 14:20, Proverbs 19:4, Proverbs 19:7, Proverbs 19:6 – When it comes to friendships, motives matter. Financial status should never make or break any friendship.

3. Proverbs 16:28 , Proverbs 17:9 – A warning about words is necessary if we want to be and have good friends. Honesty, discretion and confidence are necessary on both sides of the friendship equation. Choosing trustworthy friends is as important as being a trustworthy friend.

4. Proverbs 17:17– Unconditional love is the foundation of true, long-lasting, life-enhancing friendships. We never look more like Christ than when we love at all times.

5. Proverbs 18:24 – The power of unsavory friendships to destroy each other is troublesome for those who don’t wisely select their friends. Yet, those who are wise will not only choose loyal friends, but will also be loyal friends.

6. Proverbs 22:11 – A friend who has a pure heart and a gracious tongue will speak with wisdom and earn the listening ear of leaders.

7. Proverbs 12:26, Proverbs 22:24-25– Just as a good friend has the power to encourage you to do what is right and good, an ungodly friend can lead you astray. Solomon’s words of wisdom speak through the portals of time warning us to cautiously choose who we befriend.

8. Proverbs 27:6 , Proverbs 27:9 – Giving and receiving good and godly counsel and correction is an important aspect of healthy friendships. When you know a friend loves you, her counsel is trustworthy and sweet – even if it’s hard to hear. In contrast, sweet words are wicked when the heart of the one speaking is also wicked.

9. Proverbs 27:10 – Friendships are a matter of the heart. True friends love each other, want the best for each other, are there for each other no matter what. They laugh and cry together; they hold each other up and they show up when everyone else runs away.

10. Proverbs 27:17 – Friends sharpen each other. They give each other permission to correct one another – to challenge one another – to speak truth to each other even when it hurts – to say not only what the other wants to hear, but what she needs to hear.

Do you have a filter for the friends you chose? Do your friends help you be a better person or a bitter person? Do you give your friends permission to say what you need to hear? Do you have any friends right now that bring out the worst in you or cause you to make foolish choices? 

I’d love to know how your own special friends have made a difference in your life – so please add your own girlfriend story in the comments.

Oh, and for fun, I just couldn’t resist adding the lyrics to this little ditty from Toy Story (bet you’ll be singing it before you get to the 3rd line!)… :-)

You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you’re miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
Just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me 
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got troubles, well I’ve got ’em too
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you
We stick together and we see it through
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me 

Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too
Maybe
But none of them will ever love you the way I do 
It’s me and you
And as the years go by
Boys, our friendship will never die
You’re gonna see
It’s our destiny
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got a friend in me

 

 

 

Praying for Your Children

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“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4

I love being a mom. And like most moms, I’ve always wanted what’s best for my children. I remember not long after I became a Christian all I could think of was how desperately I wanted to see them have hearts that longed for the Living God.

In 3 John 1:4, John’s joy overflowed as he watched his beloved Gaius living out loud for God. He may have been talking about his spiritual children, but I believe John’s words echo in the heart of every Christian mother who desperately desires to see her children walking in the truth.

There are so many things we can try to do to see them come to know Christ at an early age – to see them grow in Word – to see them become men and women of God. We can take them to church, get them involved in Christian activities, teach them right from wrong and we even try to instill a Biblical world view in their hearts.

But our greatest work as a mother is to incessantly intercede on behalf of our children.

If you’re just starting your journey as a mother, you have the blessing of bathing your child in prayer from the beginning. But no matter how old they may be now, it’s never too late to start praying for your children.

Here are a few ideas to help you intentionally and strategically pray for your children:

Pray Always: Maintain a heart of continual prayer for your children no matter where you are or what you are doing. “Never stop praying.” 1 Thes 5:17 (NLT)

Pray With Scripture: There is an unequalled element of faith when God’s children pray God’s Word back to Him because they trust Him. Insert your children’s names in the precious promises of God and acknowledge that you are believing He will fulfill His Word.

Last Thursday, Teri Lynne showed us how to pray through Scripture. Do that same thing. Only pray through each verse for your children as well as yourself.

♥ Ask God to help your children to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. (Mark 12:30)

♥ Ask the Lord to give your children the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they would know Him better. That their eyes would be enlightened that they would know the hope of His calling. (Eph 1:17-18)

♥ Intercede for your child’s character. Ask that they would be humble and willing to put the needs of others before their own. (Phil 2:3-5)

God’s Word is chock-full of verses to pray for your children. As you read through the Bible during your quiet time, keep your eyes open for new waysto pray for your child. There is no substitute for praying God’s Word back to Him.

Pray With Urgency: We have no idea what tomorrow holds for us or for our children. So pray now. Fervently pray for your children. Pray that God would be their Shield and Defender and let your prayers become road blocks for the enemy.

Pray With Wisdom: So often we don’t know how to deal with certain circumstances in our children’s lives…but God does. Ask Him for wisdom and then pray for your children according to the wisdom He gives you. If you see an area of weakness in their lives, begin to intercede for victory in that area and wisdom to know how to parent them through it.

Pray For Their Spiritual Needs: Salvation is their primary need, so passionately pray for it. Pray for protection, direction and a heart after God. Pray they will always have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to believe. Pray they will be strong in the spirit and in the power of His might.

Pray For Their Emotional Needs: Pray for their emotional well being. Pray they will be strong without being hard; that they will be tender, without being weak; that they will understand their value in the sight of God; that they will not be quickly angered; that they will not hold grudges; that they will love well.

Pray For Their Physical Needs: Pray for their health. Pray for their eating and exercise habits. Pray they would not have addictive behaviors.

Pray For Their Friends: Pray God would surround them with people who will strengthen their faith, encourage their walk with God and hold them accountable.

Pray For Their Parents: Yes, pray for yourself. That you would be the parent(s) to your children that God calls you to be. That you would understand them, see their weaknesses and their needs, and would know how to walk them through each season of their childhood.

Pray For Their Future Spouse: Pray for the one God is preparing for your child. Pray for their salvation, their character and that they would truly love your child and be a godly and faithful spouse.

Pray For Your Prodigal: Please hear my heart on this, dear one. Your heart may be breaking because your children are far from God and everything they know to be right and good. I know how hard this unwanted journey is and I want to encourage you with everything I have to keep praying. Don’t give up; don’t grow weary; don’t be angry; don’t lose faith; don’t lose heart…keep praying. Drag that child’s heart to the altar of the Living God every day – lay them at the feet of the Savior – claim God’s Word over their lives. You pray like no one else will.

You can’t quit! I know it’s hard. I know you’re frustrated and I know your heart hurts like crazy. But God is a miracle working God and His arm is not slack that it cannot save. He alone is able to make beauty out of the ashes of your prodigal’s life. Hold on in prayer, my sister and live your life face down in intercession for your children. Because if you won’t – who will?

And mother-to-mother I want you to know I pray your children will live out loud for the Living God because we all know…there is no greater joy than to see our children walk in the truth.

Resourses:

Stormie Omartian – The Power of a Praying Parent, The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children

Do you have specific ways in which you pray for your children? Do you struggle with knowing how to pray for them?

My Time to Dig – Key Ingredients

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On my recent post, How Much Time Is Enough, I mentioned some advice I had received in the early days of my Christian walk. A sweet man of God told me, “Stephanie, there’s a difference between reading God’s Word and studying it…and you need to try to do both every day.” That advice has been my quiet time filter for over 20 years.

With the exception of a few things, my quiet time hasn’t really changed much. Some of the seasons of my life have caused me to juggle my schedule and change my routine, but the key ingredients have virtually remained the same. I may have juggled the order in which they fall-I may have grown along the way, but there are five elements that have remained a constant in my quiet time over  the years.

STUDY – This is my “must do” of the day. I’m a “word” girl, so I love to study the original meaning of things and expand my understanding of God’s Word. That probably explains why I love the Amplified version and why I love study books. I study words, topics, books of the Bible and characters. Most of the time I just get out my Bible, my Bible study books (some of my favorites are on an older post entitled, “Finding What I’m Looking For”) and just dig in, but other times I use a workbook. Right now, I’m going through “A Woman After God’s Own Heart” by Elizabeth George.

My study time also goes hand in hand with what I’m speaking on or writing about, so while I’m going through “A Woman After God’s Own Heart” – I’m also studying the New Testament church, character studies of moms of the Bible and the book of Philippians.

READ – I like to read through the Bible every year. I confess that I’ve never purchased a One Year Bible before, but that’s a personal preference. When I read through the Bible, I want to be able to make notes of how God speaks to me or write a prayer beside a promise and date it. I want to leave a trail in my Bible of where I’ve been and where God has led me.

I also confess that when life gets complicated and I’m on overload that the “Reading” time is the one that gets set aside for a season. Don’t get me wrong, I continue to spend time studying the Word, but when I can’t fit it all in, I set aside my reading until my life gets back on an even keel.

JOURNAL – Although I’m not really into “diary-style” journaling, I love to journal my journey through the Word. This helps me be attentive when I’m in the Word…looking for nuggets of truth and listening for His still small voice.

Each page of my journal normally contains two titles. THE WORD. PRAYER.

The Word – is where I write down insights in His Word, places where He has spoken to me, promises I’m claiming, wisdom I’m seeking, direction I’m in need of, correction I’m also in need of and moments where He has clearly made Himself known to me.

Prayer – is where I write those things that I was prompted to pray for as I was reading. Where I pray in reference to something I had just read in Scripture. Where I list a promise I’m clinging to or a praise for speaking to my heart.

PRAYER – I like to maintain a list for daily prayer. I’ve changed this up over the years as to the way I keep track of it, but I have to have a list or things fall through the crack of things “I meant to pray.” I make a list with headings like, Family, Friends, Church, Nation, Costa Rica & Panama, Pastors, Missionaries & the Persecuted Church.

DEVOTIONAL – I love to read short, challenging and encouraging devotionals. My all time favorite is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I also like Streams in the Desert, The Daily Bread and many blogs that I subscribe to for daily devotionals. Ann Graham Lotz has a great one, as well.

Something new I’ve learned to do over the past year is to “settle” in with the Lord. I learned about it when I went through a book called Saturdays With Stella and it changed my concept of being still before God. It’s more about getting to a place where you just enjoy His presence. Nothing has to be said, nothing has to be done. Like when you sit in the room with a loved one and enjoy the sweetness of being together – silently saying “I love you.”

And when you think about it, isn’t that what our time with the Lord is all about. Through spending time in God’s Word and in prayer – we are telling Him, “I love you” and hearing Him say the same back to us.

Tell us about your quiet time with the Lord. Do you struggle with some things more than others?

How Much Time Is Enough?

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Many people ask how much time they should spend reading the Bible. It’s a good question, but there is no one-size-fits-all kind of answer. When it comes to the time we spend in God’s Word, there is no such thing as “too much” – there is no such thing as “too little.”

I remember not long after I became a Christian a sweet and godly man told me that there is a big difference between reading God’s Word and studying it and that I needed to strive to do both each day. That word of wisdom has stuck with me through the years. For better or for worse, I still strive to do both every day. I say, “for better or for worse” because, at times, I’ve weighed myself down with self-imposed expectations that were impossible to keep in light of what I was going through.

You see, it doesn’t take long on planet earth to learn that life happens and circumstances don’t always add up to an hour in the morning reading God’s Word and an hour in the evening studying it. Life happens. People get sick. Tragedy strikes. Schedules are altered. Children are up all night throwing up. Elderly parents need to be cared for. Newborn babies cry through the night. A house full of children make it impossible to find a quiet place.

We’re all in different seasons in our lives and we face an ongoing jockeying of our schedules trying to prevent our worlds from colliding with our time in the Word.

On the flip side of the circumstantial coin, it’s important that we don’t let our dailies dictate our agendas. If we’re not careful, our lives can become an excuse for not spending time in the Word of the Living God.

So, how much time is enough? As much as you can possibly invest! As much as you desire to grow given the season you are in right now. As much as you need comfort, courage, wisdom and strength in the circumstances you face today. As much as you need to build your faith and guard your heart during the storms that are sure to come. As much as you desire to leave a legacy of diligence and godliness for your children. As much as you can, dear one…as much as you can.

But if you’re anything like me, your attempts will be hit and miss without the benefit of a well-crafted plan. Fortunately, there are plenty out there for you to choose from. Biblegateway.com has several reading plans available. Another great source is Heartlight.org.

If you’re looking for ways to make time in the Word a priority in your life, here are some ideas that I hope will inspire you.

Choose a plan. I recommend you try beginning with a “read the Bible in a year” plan now. That normally takes about 20-30 minutes a day.

Commit to a timeframe that works for you. Evaluate your schedule and write down your time in the Word in your appointment book. That’s right…make an appointment with God and guard it at all possible costs. If you don’t think you have enough time, think about how much time you spend watching TV. Consider how many hours you spend on the computer…on Facebook, on Twitter, blogging and email. Think of the time you spend randomly talking on the phone to your friends. None of those things are bad, but they’re no comparison with our time in the Word.

Be accountable. Find a friend who loves to spend time in the Word and give her permission to keep you accountable. It may not be easy, but you have to be willing to allow others into your world and ask you questions that may aggravate you every once in a while.

Teach Someone. You will never learn more than when you teach someone else. Teaching puts you under the gun and literally makes you spend time in the Word. I’ve often said that speaking is selfish for me because it motivates me to diligently study God’s Word so that I’m able to present it clearly to others.

Be forgiving. Give yourself room to fail and room for life to happen without beating yourself up or giving up. If you miss a day, a week, a month…just look at your plan and begin reading where you are. Don’t try to catch up…just start where you are and get back on track.

2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Psalm 119:92-93  reminds us of the life-giving qualities God’s Word, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.”

If you struggle with trying to figure out how much time is enough, just remember, when it comes to the time we spend in God’s Word, there is no such thing as “too much” – there is no such thing as “too little.” No time in the Word is wasted. So…dig in!


Reading God’s Word

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Do you know God is jealous for you; that He sings over you…or that He yearns for you? Do you know He loves you with an everlasting love and He has given you precious promises that are yours because you’re His? Do you know God has anointed you to do something specific on planet earth? All of these wonderful nuggets of truth are unearthed when we begin our personal dig in the Word of God.

God’s Word is the life-changing source of faith, salvation, wisdom, power, purpose, peace, direction, protection, comfort, forgiveness, redemption, deliverance and direction. Our time in the Word is not something we have to do, it’s something we need!

But, if your day is anything like mine, your plate runneth over and you’re overwhelmed. So much to do, so little time and at times the Word of God sits on the table eager to be read, longing to find its proper place of prominence in your life.

Perhaps you’ve had seasons of structured, consistent time in the Word when you basked in the wonder of His presence and heard the echo of His still small voice. Or maybe you’ve never really known where to begin when it comes to reading the Bible. Wherever you are in your journey, one thing holds true…there is no substitute for time in the Word.

When I find myself drifting from the norm and struggling with my schedule, I sometimes end up neglecting my time in the Word. It’s not that I don’t want to spend time reading the Bible, it’s just hard to put the pieces of my scattered life back together in such a way that my priorities are in order. This I know…when my life is unorganized, my time in the Word tends to be the same way.

I once heard that if you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time. That’s true in life. That’s equally true in our approach to Scripture. To avoid those seasons of half-hearted, haphazard time in the Word we have to have a plan; we have to step back and reevaluate our lives and set things in their proper order.

If you’re not sure where to begin, there are Scripture reading plans readily available. In fact, Kathy Howard has a great chronological Bible reading plan on her website under “Discipleship Tools.” Another Bible reading plan can be found at Christiananswers.net.

If a “through the Bible in a year” plan is more than you can handle right now, there are other plans available. Or you can choose to tackle a specific book or group of books of the BIble. Whatever you do, be sure to set goals. Even if it’s a chapter a day…shoot for the target of time in the Word. Not for the sake of saying you did it or because you want to put a check on your reading schedule, but for your own spiritual growth, to strengthen your faith and to give you the tools and ammunition you need as you face each day.

If we’re going to prioritize our priorities then there are some changes we’ll need to make. But change is absolutely necessary if we’re going to be the women of God we long to be. And like everything else, it’s all about the choices we make.

Whenever we realign our lives to put God first and to spend time in the Word, there’s some juggling we may have to do and some choices we’ll have to make. Let’s look at the list below and begin making our way to the place where His Word takes its rightful place in our day and in our life.

QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF:

CHOOSE A TIME – When is the best time of the day to get alone with God? Do I have to wake up earlier?

CHOOSE A PLACE – Where is the best place to get alone with God?

CHOOSE A PLAN – What is a realistic reading plan for me during this season of my life?

CHOOSE YOUR TOOLS – What is the best way to take notes of how God speaks to my heart, directs my life and answers my prayers?

CHOOSE YOUR TEAM – Who can I talk to about God’s Word that will encourage and challenge me?

CHOOSE YOUR CHOICE – Just do it! Stay committed to the choice I make…even when I feel like I’m going through the motions, even when I’m not sure I’m getting it…I’ve got to keep reading…I’ve got to stay in the Word and continue to seek His face.

There is no substitute for the Word of God. Nothing else can change you from the inside out like the Word of the Living God. Nothing else can give you faith, strength, wisdom and courage like the Bible. So get ready to start digging…there’s nothing like it!

What helps you stay in the Word? Share your struggles or advice?

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