A Verse a Day – Personalized Gift Version

December 13, 2012 by Lisa Burgess 7 Comments

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with Lisa, wherever Lisa goes.
Joshua 1:9

Is there someone on your Christmas list that could use some real encouragement? A special touch? A personalized gift from God?

With a little time and thought, you can make an investment in your friend or family member’s soul that might remain long after Christmas 2012 has been scrapbooked and/or forgotten.

All it will cost you is a 7-day pill organizer, some paper, and PRAYER.

Here’s what you do:

1. Get a container

Find a 7-day pill box (or any container of your choice).

2. Choose verses

Click on the Verses-Original here or the box below. Pray as you read through these verses (or choose your own) and mark which ones would be meaningful to your friend. Decide on at least one verse per day (a total of seven verses) or up to five verses per day (a total of 35 verses).

You can choose verses by category (one for each day of the week) or ignore the categories and just choose randomly. If you don’t want to personalize (using step 3), print out the verses now.

3. Personalize verses

If you do want to take it one step further and personalize these same verses you’ve chosen, click on the Verses-Personal here or the box below (same verses as above, just reformatted).

Either write these verses by hand, inserting your friend’s name in the appropriate spots OR for computer printing, save the Verses-Personal as a Word document on your computer, then use the simple “Find and replace” command to have the computer make all the changes for you in one clean swoop, using–Find what: [NAME], Replace with: Ashley, and “replace all”. With one keystroke, all the verses are now personal.

Example:

Change this:
May the God of hope fill [NAME] with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit [NAME] may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13

Into this:
May the God of hope fill Ashley with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit Ashley may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13

4. Cut and fill

Cut the verses into individual strips. Fold and insert one verse per day (or up to five) in each box of the pill holder.

5. Wrap in prayer

As you wrap it up or place in a gift bag, pray for your friend to be blessed by the Living Word through your gift of these written words. It’s a gift of love and life that will be appreciated each day.

And don’t be surprised if you, too, are blessed as you put this gift together at Christmas or any time of the year!

What’s a favorite scripture you would recommend sharing with a friend?

10 Meaningful Family Activities for Christmas

December 11, 2012 by Kathy Howard 9 Comments

The real meaning of Christmas can get lost in the shopping, cooking, cleaning, and decorating. These 10 suggestions will help you and your family focus on Christ and also help you share His message with people who need to hear. You’ll have a lot of fun in the process too!

Christmas card prayers – At the dinner table or at bedtime each night, pray for the families you received cards from that day. Use a basket or some other kind of container to hold the cards and keep it on the dinner table or nightstand.
Play the Christmas story – Use a toy nativity set to act out the story of Christmas with your children or grandchildren. I bought a cloth version for my grandson at a craft show. Fisher Price has a really cute one too. Available at Family Christian Store.
Cloth nativity is kid friendly!
Gifts for needy children – Help your children experience the joy of helping others. Connect with a faith-based charity through which you can help provide for children in need at Christmas. Efforts like Operation Christmas Child by Samaritan’s purse and Angel Tree by Prison Fellowship are two good choices!
Hang The Christmas Nail – Years ago someone gave our family “The Christmas Nail.” It’s a six-inch sturdy spike with a red ribbon through a hole in the top. Here’s the short poem that accompanies the nail:

This is the Christmas Nail. It is to be hung on a sturdy branch, a branch near the trunk, a branch that will hold such a spike without being noticed by well-wishers dropping by to admire one’s tinseled tree. The nail is known only to the home that hangs it. Understood only by the heart that knows its significance. It is hung with the thought The Christmas tree but foreshadows the Christ-tree which only He could decorate for us, ornamented with nails as this.

You can purchase your own nail here. I have also made nails – using spikes I purchased at a hardware store and red ribbon – to give to friends and neighbors for their own trees. Make hanging the nail a meaningful event. Gather the family around the tree and decide how the “hanger” will be chosen. For example, it could be the youngest or oldest. Pray and contemplate Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.

5. Bread of Life for the neighbors – A yummy Christmas gift can double as a message of life. Gather the family in the kitchen and make an event out of baking small loaves of sweet bread. If the family doesn’t enjoy cooking, you can do the baking and then the family can help wrap the loaves and go together to make the deliveries to the neighbors. Wrap the bread in pretty cellophane and add a tag with John 6:35. “Jesus is the bread of life.” I have a recipe for Pumpkin-Cranberry bread that everyone loves. It’s festive and can be doubled or even tripled!

6. Musically spread the Good News – We have at least one caroling group stop by our house every year. However, I’ve noticed the groups sing mostly secular Christmas songs. You and your family can share the real reason for the season with your neighbors. Make caroling a festive party by asking a few Christian friends to join you. Gather at your house first for a quick practice session. Make sure your carols spread the Good News by including songs like “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night.” After caroling in your neighborhood, serve hot cocoa and goodies back at your house for the carolers.

7. Birthday party for Jesus – last week, Patti shared about hosting a children’s birthday party for Jesus. Read more about this outreach event.

8. Read the Christmas story – We read the entire Christmas story on Christmas Eve. However, if your children are young, break the story up over several nights. I found two great downloadable resources at FamilyReadingBible.com you should check out. One is a Christmas story reading plan that lists readings from December 13 through Christmas Day. The other is a Bible story reading booklet to print!

9. Watch “The Nativity Story” – The biblical Christmas story comes to life right in your living room when you watch this beautiful movie with the family. Rent it at your neighborhood video store, Netflix, or iTunes, or buy it at Amazon to watch every year!

10. Celebrate the advent – Anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ arrival by adapting traditional advent activities for home. Focus on the Family has some great resources.

I’d love to know how these work for you. Also, feel free to share your suggestions for meaningful activities with us!

The Word in Christmas Weekend Tools

December 8, 2012 by Julie 2 Comments

Though we’re usually quiet here at Do Not Depart over the weekends, we know that during the Christmas season, our readers might find weekends the perfect time to use two free printables we have for you. These tools will help you to celebrate with the Word. We hope you’ll enjoy using them with your family, local church, or neighborhood.

Free printable #1 ~ The Word gift tag stickers

This file is designed to print on a 2×4 inch sticker. Avery 18163 will work or these from Target; they come in a package of 100 for $4.44. As you being to prepare gifts to give, keep these stickers on hand to include the Word as a reminder with each gift you give!

Click here to download a sheet of 10 stickers: The Word in CHRISTMAS Sticker

Free printable #2 ~ The Candy Cane Christmas bookmark

We used these for an ESL Christmas party to share how a candy cane reminds us of what our Christmas celebration is all about. There are 3 on each sheet, and they work well printed on cardstock. Use them as a gift insert, for a Sunday School lesson, or for a party!

Click here for your copy of The Candy Cane bookmark PDF

“God rest you merry” readers as you enjoy celebrating the Word in Christmas!

Other helps this week included:

3 Simple Ideas for incorporating scripture into holiday decorating

Throw a birthday party for Jesus!

Finding the Word in Christmas: 3 Simple Ideas for Incorporating Scripture into Holiday Decorating

December 6, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 9 Comments

I’m a word-lover. All my life I’ve been captivated by words. One of my favorite verses in Scripture is John 1:1,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And then in John 1:14,

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …

The Creator of all things using words is THE Word … and He, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us. The Message says it this way, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.”

And, that, my friends, is Christmas! God Incarnate became Word-Made-Flesh and entered the world. And He used words, as He had from the beginning, to speak truth and hope and promise into the darkness of this world.

It’s probably no surprise then, that words form a large part of my Christmas decorating plan. Words like hope and joy are repeated in many places throughout my home. In some places there are entire verses on display and in others, a simple word that points to the Word.

Here are three simple ways to add the Word to your Christmas decorating:

1. Pick a key word and repeat it. For us, that word would be hope. I have is spread throughout my house in all sorts of ways. There’s even a tree in my kitchen filled with ornaments that say, “Hope.” Each time I see that word, I am reminded that He is our hope!

2. Use an Advent calendar with Scripture. Dayspring has two beautiful tabletop advent devotionals this year. I have both of them on display in my home. As I change the calendar each day, I’m reminded of the beauty of God’s Word.

3. Choose a theme verse for your holiday season and prominently display it. This year has been filled with some major disappointments and very difficult family situations. And we’ve entered the holiday season with a little trepidation about how it will all play out. I chose a verse to display on the chalkboard in our family room that would remind us of God’s sovereignty in all things.

I’m sure there are countless other ways you have added Scripture and words to keep your holiday decor focused on Christ. We’d love for you to share some of your ideas with us in the comments!

{I’ve partnered with Dayspring this holiday season on my personal blog … and I have a great 50% code for this doormat. This is a great way to remind yourself and all who enter or leave your home of the good news and great joy of this season! The code is good through Saturday, December 8.}

Throw A Birthday Party for Jesus!
Helping Children Find the Word in Christmas

December 4, 2012 by Patti Brown 7 Comments

With so much focus on gift-buying, special events and the many other distractions filling December, even faithful believers can struggle to keep their focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Children are especially caught up by these distractions. The glittery appeal of endless colorful boxes under the tree can give rise to a greed and focus that can be alarming to a mother!

When our oldest was a toddler, I realized how confusing Christmas must be to a little person. I would refer to Christmas as Jesus’ birthday, but unlike every other birthday we’d celebrate, on this birthday the focus seemed to be on giving gifts to everyone but the birthday boy!

Host a Birthday Party for Jesus

We have done a number of things in our own family to refocus our attention on Jesus at this time, and in the past several years we have also been throwing a birthday party for Jesus!

This is a great outreach opportunity. Hold the party in your home and invite the neighborhood kids. Or have it at church and reach out to the children who live in the area. You can make it a joint effort between multiple families and share the responsibilities.

Birthday parties usually have three components: activities, gifts and food. You can weave scripture in and throughout your celebration in all of these areas.

Activities at Jesus’ Birthday Party

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. Luke 1:21-22

Put on a play

We usually start out our birthday party with a nativity play. This can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. One year our daughter wrote up a whole play, complete with original musical numbers, and practiced for days with her friends!

A far simpler option is to read the story of Jesus’ birth right from your bible, and have the children act it out as you do. You will find the narrative in Luke 1:26-2:20.

Provide simple costumes. You may find that the children get so excited about this you end up reading through the story multiple times, so that everyone has a chance to participate. More Word of God falling on little ears is a wonderful thing to say yes to!

Sing

We usually incorporate singing into the play, but you could also do it at a separate time. “Angels We have Heard on High” and “Silent Night” work well with the story and are widely known. You might want to print lyrics for the grown ups and older children.

Make crafts

There are countless Christian Christmas craft ideas online! Choose crafts that incorporate scripture. Or show how the craft symbolizes an important scriptural truth by making little signs with the related scripture to put on the craft table. My gifted friend Becky brought these one year:

Gifts at Jesus’ Birthday Party

Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. – Matthew 25:40

I like to take a two-fold approach to gifts at Jesus’ birthday party – heart gifts and physical gifts.

Heart Gifts

Set up a small tabletop Christmas tree. Underneath place a wrapped box with a slit cut in the top, or a shoebox with the lid wrapped separately. Put slips of paper next to the box, along with pencils or crayons. Each child can come up to the tree, write down things they have done for Jesus recently, and slip the paper in the box. It is helpful to have an adult nearby to help with this, as not all children are comfortable writers.

If the children have trouble thinking of something, ask them “How did you show love to someone?” and remind them that when we do things for others, we are also doing them for Jesus (Matthew 25:40). Sharing, doing someone else’s chore, speaking encouraging words, obeying, giving hugs… these are all ways that children honor Jesus.

Physical Gifts

When we invite the children, we ask them to bring toiletries or non-perishable food to the party. Afterwards we bring the donations to our local food pantry.

You could also ask the children to bring baby items (diapers are always needed) that later you bring to a women’s shelter or pregnancy resource center

Food at Jesus’ Birthday Party

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

We do allow our children to celebrate and eat special treats, but the fact is that little bodies do better if they are able to get a something nourishing in them before they get filled with sugar. To that end, set out a table of fruits, veggies, cheese and crackers. You can also provide lunch if you hold the party in the middle of the day.

Of course no birthday party is complete without birthday cake!

We usually just make a simple cake or cupcakes. You could also provide plain cupcakes, frosting and decorations and allow the children to decorate their own at the party.

If you want to be more elaborate, you can create a cake that has Christian symbolism. Mary Rice Hopkins and Leslie Ratliffe created instructions for a special Jesus Birthday Cake that includes scripture readings.

We all sing a loud happy birthday to Jesus, but we don’t use candles. It’s safer and simpler to avoid candles with a large crowd of little children who all want to be the one to blow them out!

Live the Joy of the Lord!

As we try to keep our focus on Jesus this December, and help our children to do so as well, let’s also keep our hearts light and have fun celebrating the amazing gift we have been given! Little eyes and ears are watching!

Our readers have wonderful ideas! Please share your suggestions for keeping kids’ hearts focused on Jesus and His Word as we anticipate Christmas! Leave a comment here.

Finding the Word in Christmas

December 3, 2012 by Julie 7 Comments

This weekend we welcomed December, and already there’s competition for what to include in our celebrations.Will the Word of God be found in your Christmas displays and decorations, your gifts and your gatherings?

Many of us find a heap of holiday events, tasks, traditions and pressures piled on the manger, making it hard to find Jesus there at all! Some of what covers up the Savior may be good, making it all the more difficult to give Jesus the place He deserves. As the birth of Jesus takes center stage, we rejoice in knowing that’ “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The story of Christmas is that of the Word with us, so what better way to honor His coming than to weave that story throughout this season of joy?

The ultimate Word of God, His Son, speaks volumes to us of His great love and of the lengths He would go so we can walk with Him. “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:1-2). We’re so thankful for you, our readers, walking with us in the Word so as not to depart from it.

Join us this December as we share tools with you to wrap God’s Word throughout your Christmas season. Like a garland on a tree, we’ll share tips and ideas for how to naturally incorporate God’s Word in your activities and accessories. The Do Not Depart team wants to help you find the Word in Christmas!

Do you have a favorite way of weaving the story of the Word into your celebration?

Giving Thanks for the Small

November 29, 2012 by Teri Lynne Underwood 14 Comments

Two years ago I read [amazon_link id=”0310321913″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]a book that echoed deep within the God-seeking, list-making recesses of my heart[/amazon_link]. I’d been listing gifts for several years at that point, though I didn’t number them. Sunday mornings were spent journal in one hand, calendar in the other recalling the little blessings and moments of the week just passed.

I’d learned this lesson about worship: my heart is better prepared to focus on Him when I’ve already spent time focusing on Who He is and all He’s done for me. I enter the sanctuary of our church ready to encounter Him more deeply when I’d intentionally given thanks beforehand. And so my journals are filled with Sunday lists of lunches with friends, moments with my husband, unexpected accomplishments, and opportunities to give. When I started blogging I added a “Fab Five” each Friday numbering five of the joys from the week.

For almost 17 years I’ve been counting in one form or another.

I was looking through some old journals and found lists written by a newlywed … with gratitude for a husband who surprised me with dinner out and the celebration of Christmas in our first home. I found scribbled notes of gratitude scratched out by a very tired nursing mom who wanted to remember the peaceful moments of 2 am feedings and singing softly over her little girl, “Lord, prepare her to be a sanctuary …”

But sometimes habits get old and lists get forgotten. I’ve never made the listing into a discipline or attached a spiritual requirement to it … but I’ve also lost sight sometimes of how numbering changes me. It reminds me to slow and still and notice.

This year, I’ve spent November intentionally counting.

It’s 10:31 am on November 28th as I write this post and I just stopped to list gift #524, a verse I saw on Facebook yesterday and read again today:

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master, now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed in him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 MSG

Did you catch that last sentence?

Let your living—our living, our love and lives spilled out for Christ—let that living spill over into thanksgiving. Sometimes we neglect to let our living spill over into thanksgiving.

As we close out this month of turkeys and thankfulness listed out on Facebook and rush head-first into the chaotic Christmas season it’s going to get harder.

I love this thought from [amazon_link id=”0310321913″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Ann’s book[/amazon_link]:

Do not disdain the small. The whole of life—even the hard—is made up of the minute parts, and if I miss the infinitesimals, I miss the whole.

Of course we must be thankful for those “big” gifts of salvation, our families and friends, our churches and opportunities to serve … but maybe we also need to be intentional about gratitude for those small things too—quiet moments with a good book and coffee or an unexpected email with a kind word of encouragement. My list for November includes names and places, food and movies, Scriptures and quotes from books, sermon notes and songs. These years of listing have taught me to notice … both big and small. And to remember the Giver of every gift (James 1:17)!

Will you do me the honor of sharing just one thing, something small perhaps, that you are thankful for this day? Just a leave a comment with your note of gratitude.

Thankful for the Word of God

November 27, 2012 by Patti Brown 11 Comments

I was a young adult and I was afraid.

Depressed and overwhelmed by a frightening world, I thought I believed in God but I didn’t really know who He was.

Then mercy fell. I began to read my bible. Not just read it but study it. Mature believers came alongside and taught me how to read God’s Word as more than a bunch of stories and rules. I feasted on the Word!

And it changed me. It was in the Word of God that I was really introduced to Jesus.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

There are so many reasons to be thankful for the scriptures… the Word of God. Today I am sharing just a few of the reasons I am thankful that God gave us His Word.

God’s Word is trustworthy

People fail us. People deceive.

But God’s word is truth… we can rely on it.

And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 2 Samuel 7:28

Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. Joshua 21:45

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

God’s Word is alive

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

I often find myself reading a passage of scripture which directly addresses a situation with which I am struggling right at that moment. A few years later I can read that same passage and find a nuance I had missed that is perfect for my new struggle.

The scriptures are not dead, but living and dynamic, and applicable to every aspect of our lives, now and always.

And Jesus Himself is the Word made flesh, made alive!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

God’s Word is powerful

God’s Word has a power that is supernatural. It is the Sword of the Spirit, the only offensive piece of our spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:13-17).

…and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God… Ephesians 6:17

In fact, when Jesus was tempted in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11), He responded to Satan with scripture. The Word of God is sufficient to thwart the enemy.

God speaks to us through His Word

We speak to God when we pray to Him, and He speaks to us through His Word.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Prayer is not a one-sided conversation. We can find God’s will for our lives right in the pages of our bibles.

God’s Word changes lives

I could write a book on the ways my life today is different from my life twenty years ago. And the single biggest change is that I began reading the Word of God and trying to live my life according to it.

It is God who is the power behind that, it is He who has given me the ability to change. But it was through His Word that I understood the need for the change, and discovered the direction I was to go.

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:21-25

This is not passive. Just reading the Word will have an impact, but the real change comes when we are not just hearers but doers.

My daughter recently asked me how she could become a good mother. My advice to her? Grow in a godliness, and stay in the Word!

Would you share with us why you are thankful for God’s Word? How has reading and living according to His Word changed you? Please leave a comment.

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Thanksgiving in the Word

November 22, 2012 by Sandra Peoples Leave a Comment

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family from Do Not Depart!

Thankfulness in a hard marriage

November 20, 2012 by Julie 7 Comments

If being in a hard marriage gives a wife a “pass” on having a grateful attitude, Abigail qualified.

When it’s hard to be thankful

God’s word doesn’t tell the circumstances of their courtship, what the groom was like when they wed, or if they’d met before they were joined. By the time the ugly story unravels in 1 Samuel 25, the wealthy husband is called “Nabal,” meaning full of folly and worthless. “The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved” (1 Sam. 25:25), and her name was Abigail. Her presence in the narrative of scripture testifies that God sees and knows that sometimes it’s hard for wives to have a grateful spirit, but it’s not impossible.

God designed marriage to reflect the oneness He Himself displays, to be the tender blending of mutual protection and singular intimacy that produces a grateful spirit. But sometimes it falls far short. How can we be grateful in marriages marred by the folly of our flesh?

One woman’s example

Abigail’s grateful display took place on the stage of sheep shearing season, a major event for a businessman with 3,000 sheep and 1,00 goats. As David fled from King Saul, the would-be king sent a request for culturally-expected hospitality; the “worthless” one lived up to his name, inviting David’s vengeance. To have attacked Nabal and his people would’ve tarnished David with “bloodguilt” and spoiled his preparation as future king. Abigail knew David was God’s chosen, anointed king, and she acted boldly out of regard for God’s plans, as well as the honor of her home. Despite her imperfect circumstances and intolerable marriage, she displayed a godly spirit and presented herself in humility. Despite disappointment, she had nurtured a strong heart turned straight after God’s plans. Abigail was satisfied in God and determined to honor Him. The soil of her marriage was hard, but she cultivated an attitude of gratitude.

A God-filled wife is a grateful wife

Abigail found satisfaction, help, and purpose in her Husband-God, and she directed her gratitude to Him. As a God filled wife, Abigail was able to forgive her husband, act for his best, consider his reputation, and give unconditional love aside from his folly. Unable to trust him, she turned her eyes from her human husband and looked to the God she could trust. Sometimes it’s really hard to be grateful in marriage, but it’s possible.

She acted boldly, because she knew, “my lord<David> is fighting the battles of the Lord” (1 Sam. 25:28). Abigail’s story didn’t end with marriage counseling or reconciliation, but with judgment on her husband and a new beginning for her. Declared “Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you” (v. 33) by David, she answered, “Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord” (v.41). Humility revealed her grateful heart. In the harshest of marriages, she cultivated an attitude of gratitude.

Proverbs 31 gives a composite picture of the qualities of an excellent wife. Written by King Lemuel, this man was probably a contemporary of Solomon, a son of David. I have to think King Lemuel would’ve known of the woman Abigail and the story of her beautiful, grateful spirit that endured the folly of a drunkard husband and captured the heart of the shepherd-warrior David. Perhaps Abigail inspired the kind of woman described in King Lemuel’s proverb about a wife who does her husband good, “and not harm, all the days of her life” (Prov. 31:12).

To cultivate thanksgiving in a hard marriage

First cultivate trust in God and His plans
Grow your individual faith-roots deep
Pray for your husband and act for his good
Focus on God’s grace to you and give it in return to your mate

If your marriage resembles that of Abigail to Nabal, focus on gratitude in your relationship to God. If you are blessed with a husband who loves you well, don’t take it for granted; express thanks to God and to your man. Every wife can have an attitude of gratitude.

If Abigail was your friend, what would you tell her about God to encourage her?

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