I liked this one - enjoy :)  Rachel

June 28, 2007

 

Cultivating a Grateful Heart

By Glynnis Whitwer

 

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:7 (NIV)

         

Devotion:

Have you ever wondered why God wants us to ask for things in prayer?  I mean, after all, He knows everything!  He knows my first thought in the morning and my last one at night.  He knows my frustration when I’m late and stuck in traffic, and the words I’m biting my tongue not to say.  When I think I “need” a brownie, He knows I really need a carrot.  And I don’t have to tell God I need help keeping calm while trying to get five kids out the door each school morning.  So, since He already knows what I’m thinking and what I need, why do I need to ask Him for help?

 

One reason I believe God wants us to ask for help is that when we ask and God answers, we appreciate His work in our lives in greater measure.  If God provided everything we need before we asked, we could easily believe we are entitled to things.  And, if we never saw how sweetly God cares for our needs, we might take His goodness for granted.  I’ve learned this lesson a few times, but the one that stands out involved grapefruit.

 

When I was a child, my mother fixed our family breakfast before my dad left to teach for the day, and before my sister and I went to school.  Since my dad enjoyed his routine, breakfast usually consisted of bacon, eggs and toast.  On a cold day, Mom occasionally substituted hot cereal for the toast.  And during the citrus season, we might have found halves of juicy pink grapefruit on the table. 

 

I’ll never forget the first time I prepared my own grapefruit.  I had moved away from home and was attempting to establish some of my own routines, so I had brought home a pink grapefruit.  I cut it in half, grabbed a spoon and prepared to scoop out the individual segments like we had done at home.  I planted my spoon at the grapefruit’s thick outer rind only to have the fruit not budge.  I tried to saw it out with my spoon, but it was stuck fast.  I thought I had purchased a defective fruit.  My mother’s grapefruit sections slipped effortlessly onto our spoons!

 

So I did what every wise daughter does:  I called my mother for advice.   Imagine my surprise when she told me that before we got to the breakfast table, she had already separated the grapefruit sections with a small, serrated knife.  For years I thought grapefruit came like that and was shocked to learn it wasn’t so!  It was my mother who did all the work without being asked. 

 

I never appreciated my mother’s work because I never knew she did it!  Now I know how lovingly she cared for our needs by performing this time-consuming task.  Now I am even more thankful for this small act of sacrifice on her part, which is just one of the many ways she cared for our family. 

 

This is the same with God.  If He removed all obstacles and challenges from our lives before we knew about them, we could easily become complacent.  We wouldn’t see our need for Him and would think we could manage on our own.  Each time we ask for God’s help and see Him answer, we appreciate Him even more.  By having us ask, God is teaching us to cultivate a grateful heart, and a grateful heart is a good thing!  Even sweeter than a pre-sliced grapefruit.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to come to You in prayer and share my daily needs and those deep in my heart.  I thank You for caring about me and for acting on my behalf when I pray.  Help me to be more aware of Your presence every moment of the day, and to see Your hand in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Related Resources:

 The Character of God: Understanding His Heart for Us by Brian T. Anderson and Glynnis Whitwer

 

Living Life on Purpose by Lysa TerKeurst

 

Do You Know Him?

 

Application Steps: 

Identify one way God has cared for your needs today.  Thank Him in prayer.

 

Reflections: 

Read Matthew 7:7-11.  What is Jesus telling us about God’s character and abilities in this passage?

 

Since God already knows what we need, what are some other reasons He wants His children to ask for help?

 

What are some reasons God doesn’t answer every one of our prayers exactly as we pray them?

 

Power Verses:

II Corinthians 4:17-18, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  (NIV)

 

Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (NIV)

 

Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

 

 

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

 

This was just too good not to share!  This pertains to ever area of our lives and definitely to our homeschooling.  How often do we really listen to and obey God's voice?  Rachel

June 21, 2007

 

Woof!

By Susanne Scheppmann

 

 

Proverbs 8:33-34, “Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. (NIV)

 

 

Devotion:

Woof! I thought I heard one small bark. Not sure, I turned the shower off for a moment. No, I couldn’t hear my little dog yapping. Jasmine is a twelve-pound black and white Shih Tzu and a yapper. If anyone knocks on the door, she goes crazy barking like a hundred pound Rottweiller.  I turned the water back on, stuck my head under the spray, and reached for the shampoo bottle. 

 

However, a voice inside my wet head nudged me.  You heard her bark. Something is up. A realtor could be showing the house! Our home had been on the market for almost a year. About once or twice a week, various realtors would bring a potential buyer to walk through the house. However, it was stipulated that they must call first. The “woof” replayed through my thoughts.  Maybe Jasmine doesn’t bark at people coming in anymore. Quickly, I turned the water off again.

 

I jumped out on to the cold tile floor. To my horror, I heard voices. My bedroom door was wide open. I raced toward the door dripping water along the way. However, it was too late. The realtor along with a husband and wife previewed me along with my bedroom. They saw crisp floral drapes and soft beige carpet, and then they spied cellulite and flab jiggling toward them, reaching out for the blue tattered robe hanging behind the door. I almost slid into their arms as I crossed the wet tile. With wide-eyed shock, they scurried from the house without a word.

 

I collapsed on a rug with laughter and tears. Jasmine came by to lick me dry. She looked at me as if to say, “Hey, I warned you, but you didn’t listen!” 

 

Eventually my heart stopped pounding and my red face returned to its normal color. After the initial mortification, I began to wonder how often I do not listen when the Holy Spirit speaks to me. How many times have I shrugged it off as just my imagination? Jesus said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26 NIV). I need to learn to listen to His instruction and be wise, not to ignore Him as I did with Jasmine’s first “woof.” 

 

The next time I feel a nudge from God, I will remember my “woof” incident. I plan on listening and moving a lot more quickly than I did. I do not want to repeat the lesson I learned today.

 

Oh, I never heard back from the potential buyers. I guess they didn’t care for the preview.

 

 

Dear Lord, how often have I not listened to Your voice when You warned me of something in my life? Today, I ask that You help me to listen to Your instruction and to be wise. Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to teach me. Let me become a quick learner. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Related Resources:

Do You Know Him?

 

Perplexing Proverbs—A Woman’s Bible Study by Susanne Scheppmann

 

Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer

 

Application Steps: 

Read Proverbs 8. Write down the advantages given for learning to listen and applying God’s wisdom in your life.

 

Reflections: 

Do I sometimes intentionally ignore God’s voice?

 

How could listening to the Holy Spirit help guide me each day?

 

What does the term wisdom mean to me?

 

Power Verses:

John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (NIV)  

 

Proverbs 23:23, “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.” (NIV) 

 

Ephesians 1:17, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (NIV) 

OK - Ladies (& Gents), I have to admit I cried on this one!  LOL  Somehow God knows just what we need when we need it!  While I homeschool my kids and Mrs. Taylor does not, I too have a HOT boss and love that I am able to help him :)  Even though there are days that I get cranky that he needs my help at least once a week and sometimes more and even that I "have" to help him and take care of the house and teach the kids and try to be me and be pregnant all at the same time!  (Yesterday, was one of those days.  We have been having issues with the kids room and how "clean" they "are".  DH does not want me spending too much time heping them but I kow that I need to help them in some areas.  I, too, need to work on reorganizing my room since baby will be rooming in with us for a bit.  I will be the first to admit that I am lacking in the home organization department and even in the home making department and I am trying to do better.  I was on a roll at doing pretty good up until about a year or 2 ago when things really started getting busy with our business and then when DH moved the business out of the house things went downhill.  Funny things should have been better without all the business stuff here, huh?!?  LOL   Anyway, I all ready had planned 3 weeks offa round Christmas.  I sat down with my laptop last night and pushed off half of our daily work to after that break.  We will continue to work on Bible study, reading and math over the next 2 weeks and work on organization and cleaning as well.  We all ready have in all of our hours, just not our days.  Even if we did have all our days we would have more than enough hours at this point :)  Well, Enjoy the read below and I am off to do some more   before we head off to ballet class.  ~ Rachel )

 

 

 

December 5, 2006

 

Encouragement for Today

 

“A Change in Plans”

Melissa Taylor, Proverbs 31 Ministries Speaker, Board of Directors

 

Key Verse:

Genesis 2:20b-22, “But for Adam no suitable helper was found.  So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.”  (NIV)

 

Devotion:

I had the joy and privilege for being a stay at home mom for twelve years.  My husband, Jeff, and I have four kids, and being their mom and keeper of our home has definitely been a full-time job that I love.  I wouldn’t trade my life for anything in the world.  In fact, I planned to continue being a full time homemaker for the rest of my life.  Yep, that’s my plan.

 

Jeff has had his own business for years.  While being your own boss has its perks, it also comes with many stressors.  This year, business has been slow.  My hard working husband has had to put in more hours than ever.  He also had to let his faithful assistant go. He does not complain, but his demeanor has changed.  My light-hearted, happy-go-lucky husband has become a quiet, exhausted, workaholic.

 

Our youngest started kindergarten this year.  This brought tears to my eyes, but I have to admit, I was ready to reclaim my identity.  This was the year to add some fun, fulfillment, and some me time back into days that previously been child focused.  It was Melissa Time!  I had great plans for my freedom:

 

Monday - Clean House (Ok, maybe not fun and freedom, but necessary)

Tuesday - Spend time working on speaking events and writing

Wednesday - Bible study group, lunch with friends

Thursday - Tennis, lunch with Jeff

Friday - Volunteer at school, lunch with kids, tennis

 

This was the year I had been waiting on!

 

Have you found that it’s hard to enjoy “your time” when someone close to you is suffering?  Each day, I was playing tennis, spending time with friends, or even volunteering at school, I thought of Jeff and how hard he was working.  One day I was working on my Bible study and I couldn’t escape the thought of my husband.  I asked God to show me specifically my part in Jeff’s life -- not just at home -- but in other areas too. The words “suitable helper” kept ringing in my ears.   So I immediately stopped what I was doing and went to my husband.  I asked him what I could do to relieve some of his burden.

 

Friends, our plans may be filled with good intentions.  Our plans may seem solid, pure, and even efficient and productive.  We have to realize that our plans affect more than just us, and more importantly, our plans don’t belong to us.  They belong to God.

 

My husband presented me with a new plan.  It wasn’t like mine and honestly, I really didn’t like it at all.  It involved canceling two vacations and me getting a job outside the home.  The new plan involved me spending my mornings in an office, not on the tennis courts or with friends. Do you know what though?  This new plan brought peace to my husband. He needed a “suitable helper” and that was me! His peace of mind was definitely worth my free time.

 

There is more to the story. I’m blessed to have a part-time job outside of the home that allows me to be home from work once the kids are home from school.  Another blessing is that my new boss is HOT!!!!!  My new boss is none other than, Jeff, my super sweet husband. I’m his new faithful assistant!  Working with and for Jeff has brought me joy I never expected

 

I could’ve said, “No” to God and my husband.  Honestly, that was my first thought. But God says in His Word that He knows the plans He has for us, to prosper and to bring us hope.  Had I been disobedient and done it my way, I would’ve missed the blessings I’ve received as a result of listening to Him and my husband.

 

Our key verse today is music to my ears.  I can’t think of anything I’d rather be referred to than a “suitable helper” for my husband. It is fulfilling and satisfying to be needed. Plus, being a “suitable helper” has it’s perks.

 

Have you asked God lately if you needed to change your plans?  Try it.  He just may have something special in store for you that you never expected.

 

My Prayer for Today:

Dear Lord,  If Your plans are different from mine, would You please show me?  Open my ears to hear You speak Your truth and plan for me today.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

Additional Resources:

Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed by Lysa TerKeurst

 

Becoming the Woman of His Dreams  by Sharon Jaynes

 

What a Husband Needs From His Wife  by Melanie Chitwood

 

Application Steps:

Begin praying daily for God to reveal His plans to you.  If you are married, go to your husband and ask him what he needs from you.

 

Reflection Points:

Do you spend time with God daily?  Are you still enough to hear His voice?

 

When was the last time you asked your husband for his opinion?

 

Key Verses:

Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.”  (NIV)

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.”  (NLT)

Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed.”  (NLT)

PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
Office: (704) 849-2270
www.Proverbs31.org

August 2, 2006 "Fixing My Eyes" Amanda Waldroop Staff Writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries

Key Verse: Hebrews 12:1-3, "Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (NIV) Devotion:   I love to run. I picked it up when I was a freshman in high school and joined the Cross Country team to improve. I've done many 5ks and a marathon since then, and it's become a habitual stress-reliever for me. The funny thing about running is that it's a brutal way to exercise, but there's nothing quite like the runner's high you experience afterward - after you've spent yourself completely. I ran my first 10k race a few months ago. It had been several years since I'd done any kind of racing, so I was a little nervous about setting a realistic goal to pursue. After some thought, I decided that I wanted to finish within 1 hour, and to not walk at all. So I trained consistently for one month, and made sure to drink lots of fluids the day before the race. It just so happened that two male friends of mine were doing the race as well, so we met up at the starting line and set out together when the gun went off. In a crowd of 50,000 runners and walkers, the three of us found that it was incredibly difficult to maneuver through them all at a decent pace. We also found it was almost impossible not to become separated from one another. Unintentionally this happened, and one of us got left behind. A little nervous about not being able to find my way back to my hotel when the race was over, I determined that I was not going to lose my other friend. This would mean something very challenging for me: I would have to keep a steady pace with a male (who was quite a bit faster than me) and I would have to fix my eyes on him at all times to make sure I didn't lose sight of him. Thankfully he had on a bright blue shirt, so this would not be too difficult if I stayed close in proximity. For the first half of the race I was the one leading. Around mile 5, I started hurting and my friend passed me. I could feel the lactic acid setting into my muscles. The salty sweat poured down my face, stinging my eyes, making them foggy. The blue shirt I was set on keeping in sight was getting blurry, but I knew that if I lost it I would lose heart. I would start walking, and my goal for the day would be shot. It was at that point that I realized how desperately I needed to push, to persevere, through the hindering crowd and tell my screaming muscles to be quiet. There was no compromising: I must fix my eyes on my goal - the blue shirt. It is the same for the Christian life. I believe the author of Hebrews must have enjoyed races. He had a good perspective on what it meant to run the marathon of life. He challenged us to consistently throw off those things that would hinder us in the race of life because there would be many of them. He knew that if we didn't have our focus fixed on something steady, we would easily give up when our faith is challenged beyond our understanding. That's why he said we must fix our eyes on something - some kind of goal. That goal was to be the person of Jesus Christ - His life, His death, His mission to bring people into relationship with Him, and His desire for us to become like Him in every way. Once we enter a covenant relationship with God, we are no longer individuals. We become identified with our Covenant Partner. We adopt His goals as our goals, and we must not give up in pursuing them. After all, He didn't give up on the mission that God sent Him to earth to accomplish, and He pleads for us to push through the hard stuff and do the same. He endured the greatest hindrance of all, death, and overcame its finality. Be sure to read today's application steps and consider what it means for you to fix your eyes on Jesus Christ. My Prayer for Today: Dear Heavenly Father, I ask for You to give me a proper perspective of what it means to fix my eyes on You. Reveal to me beautiful spiritual truths found in Your Word. Truths about my role in the mission You came here to accomplish. Truths about loving others, being unified with believers, and what it means to finish strong. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Application Steps: Do you ever experience difficulty maneuvering through a crowd of believers that don't run at the same spiritual pace as you? Ever get so annoyed with them that you refuse to run with them at all? If so, I challenge you to remember that pushing those individuals (and being willing to be pushed by them) is part of accomplishing the long-term goal of becoming unified in purpose as the Body of Christ. Evaluate your over and under-use of your spiritual arms and legs. Working too hard and not working at all both produce lactic acid build-up that can be dangerous to your overall effectiveness in accomplishing the Lord's work. Train them gradually and moderately. Don't be afraid to push yourself, but make sure you are taking in enough living water so that spiritual and emotional dehydration does not occur when the sweat is really pouring out. Reflection Points: Do you fix your eyes on the person of Jesus Christ and the truths of who He is revealed in God's Word? Are you feeling lots of spiritual lactic-acid build up in your muscles right now that is slowing you down in the race? Have you come to a place where you realize your deep and intense need to fix your eyes on Jesus in order not to lose heart in this world? Power Verses: Proverbs 4:25-26, "Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm." (NIV) John 17:24, "Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world." (NIV) Acts 20:24, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." (NIV) Galatians 5:7, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" (NIV) Additional resources: ·  Running on Empty , by Aaron Chambers ·  The P31 Woman Magazine ·  Persevering in Prayer, ETC Corner PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES 616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road Matthews, NC 28105 Office: (704) 849-2270 www.Proverbs31.org Posted here with permission from P31.

Posted here with permission from P31.  i really enjoyed this one :)  It goes great with the reorganizing and decluttering so many of us have been doing.  ~ Rachel

 

July 28, 2006 "Wanting What I Have" Renee Swope Executive Director of Communications, Author, Proverbs 31 Speaker

Key Verse: Hebrews 13:5a, "Keep your lives free from the love of money (or stuff) and be content with what you have." (NIV) Devotion:   In a frantic search for a doll her daughter wanted, my friend Janet drove all over town looking in every store for Generation Girl Barbie. ® She remembered how ridiculous she thought it was to watch the Tickle-Me Elmo® craze and couldn't believe how desperately she now wanted to find the one-of-a-kind doll. She finally tracked Generation Girl ® down just days before Christmas. With the anticipation of a child, Janet couldn't wait to see her daughter Ali's excitement as she opened the box and played with her new friend for days on end. Just a week into the new year, Janet was cleaning her house when she stumbled over Ali's Barbies.® She noticed they all looked alike wearing no clothes. Generation Girl ® ended up with the rest of her glamorous friends, in a loss-of-identity crisis. Janet laughed out loud as she realized all her efforts to accumulate the perfect collection had brought her nothing but a bucket of naked Barbies!® Do you have your own "bucket of naked Barbies;" things you had to have that don't really matter any more? In your quest for contentment, have you accumulated possessions that promised to fill a void in your life, yet only left you feeling empty and wanting for more? If so, you are not alone. Historian Arthur Schlesinger observes that our society is marked by an "inextinguishable discontent." For the average American, discontent has become a way of life. Is it even possible to get to a place where we are content with what we have, instead of always thinking about what we want? I believe we can. But only when we understand that contentment isn't getting what we want. As author, Linda Dillow explains, "Happiness is getting what we want. Contentment is wanting what we have." What we need is a want for what we have. When my heart wrestles with discontent, I am learning to ask the Lord to show me what I have that I no longer "want". Simple prayers like this often change my indifference into desire: Lord, thank you for the gifts you have given me: my family, my friendships, my church, my ministry, my home, my health, my time. Thank you for the opportunity to serve with You; the honor of serving You. I am grateful for the favor of your grace, the freedom of your forgiveness, the unconditional love and acceptance that I long for and the promise of your presence. Give me a "want" for the things of God. And thank You for the things I don't want: the track marks on the carpet that remind me of loved ones who live here, the never-ending laundry that reminds me how you have provided for my family, the high power bill that reminds me I have a warm home, the taxes that need to be filed because it means we have income, and my exhaustion at the end of the day because it means I am alive and well. Please give me a contentment that is separate from my circumstances and my stuff. Please give me a want for what I have. As we seek to have a heart filled with contentment, let's seek the Lord, not with a list of what we want but with a want for all that we have. My Prayer for Today: Lord, I long for contentment in the depth of my soul that comes from knowing and being loved by You. So often I fall into the trap of thinking that things will make me happy. And when they don't satisfy my longing, I feel frustrated and confused. I pray that you would show me any areas of my life that I am trying to fill with something other than You. Please give me a longing for more of You, more of Your love and more of Your presence. Help me to want all that I have in Christ! In Jesus' Name, Amen. Application Steps: Define "contentment" in your life right now. Commit to learn contentment (for yourself and with your family) 1. Buy a notebook and start a gratitude journal. 2. Commit for one week to list 3 things you are thankful for each day. 3. Continue your journal by listing things daily or weekly as a family. Encourage kids to vary what they list. 4. At dinner, tell one thing you are thankful for about the person to your left. 5. Commit to not buying anything you do not need for one week. 6. Have each person give 2-3 toys/personal items to a local charity. 7. Start each day by practicing Paul's prescription for contentment with your kids: - Tell God what you need. - Thank him for all he has done. - Thank him for all that you have. Family Discussion: Explain to your children the importance of contentment. Warn them about the danger of comparison and the trap of getting more. The truth is, the more we get the more we want. We all need to be reminded that we will never have everything. There will always be someone who has more. There will always be just one more thing we want. But we can be content by being thankful for what we have! Talk about a time when you, or your children, were not content and how it leads to worry. Remind them that contentment is not getting what you want; it is wanting what you have.

Reflection Points:
What have I recently purchased that I really wanted? Do I still want it, or do I think I'll be happy if I get something else?

What I am going to do when I start wanting just one more thing?

How would my heart attitude change if I chose to be contented with where I am and what I have right now?

Power Verses:
Psalm 32:8, "The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." (NLT)

1 Thessalonians 5:18, "No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (NLT)

1 Timothy 6:17, "Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment." (NLT)

Luke 12:15, "Then Jesus said to them, "Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns." (NLT)

Hebrews 13:5, "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never forget you." (NLT)

1 Timothy 6: 18-19, "Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life." (NLT)

 

Additional resources:

·  Journey of a Woman's Heart 4-part Tape Series , by Renee Swope

·  Searching for God's Treasures in Everyday Life 4-part CD Set, by Renee Swope

·  Who Holds the Key to Your Heart, by Lysa TerKeurst

 

PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
Office: (704) 849-2270
www.Proverbs31.org

 

I love this one and just had to share it with all of you :)  ~ Rachel   "God's Abundance" Glynnis Whitwer Senior Editor P31 Woman Magazine, Proverbs Speaker

Key Verse: Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." (NAS) Devotion:   As a children's ministry volunteer for many years, I've noticed a common trait among the children of church employees and pastors: they walk through the church with a unique confidence. It's as if they are thinking, "My dad owns this place and I can go wherever I want." I understand this mentality because when I was a teenager, my mother worked as the office manager of our small church. She was an invaluable resource to every volunteer with her efficiency and problem solving abilities. Although I was a little older, I remember feeling pride in my mother's role within the church. And it gave me a sense of ownership and authority. A little child gains confidence because of his or her identification with a parent. Today, you and I can walk through this world with confidence because of our identification with our Heavenly Father. As daughters of the Most High King, we have the privilege of approaching our Father's throne with the boldest of requests. And yet, for some reason, (perhaps a false humility) we hang back. In fact, we often act like orphans; afraid to ask for too much, afraid to seem greedy. But the truth is we have a Heavenly Father who "is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). Even Jesus told us in Matthew 7:11 "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" I heard the story of a professional golfer who was invited to play golf with the king of a Middle Eastern country. The golfer flew to meet the king and spent some time golfing with him. At the end of the visit, the king asked how he could thank the golfer for spending time with him. The golfer said there was nothing he needed, but the king insisted. So the golfer said, "How about a new golf club." The king agreed, and the golfer returned to America. Weeks went by and the golfer was curious about what type of club the king would choose. One day, a man appeared at the golfer's home with an envelope from the king. The golfer opened the envelope to discover the deed to a golf country club. The moral of the story is that we need to think like a king. But I would add, we actually need to think like the daughter of a King. We need to be convinced that God is able to do anything you or I ask, and that it pleases Him to do so. It would be wrong to give the impression that God is like a rich grandfather with a blank check. Scripture is clear in other places that we need to be seeking God's righteousness and pray according to His will. But it is also wrong to walk around with our heads hung low, desperately seeking confidence and identity from worldly sources. I believe we need to walk with our heads held high, in quiet confidence, knowing that our identity is found in being loved by a generous Heavenly Father, who "chose us in Christ before the foundations of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love." And this same God, who chose us, longs to give us good gifts. My Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, thank you for choosing me, and adopting me into your family. Your love is overwhelming. Teach me to hunger after your will and your righteousness. I ask for a heart of boldness and confidence that comes from knowing my identity lies in being loved by You. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Application Steps: Consider if your identity and confidence are found in your own abilities or from your relationship with God. Identify the areas of your life where you trust in your strength to meet your needs. Decide to lay all your needs and wants before our Heavenly Father. Reflection Points: What are your most common prayer requests? If you could ask God for anything, what would it be? Why do you think God doesn't answer every prayer with a "yes" answer? Is there anything in you that might hinder your prayers? (unconfessed sin? unforgiveness?) Recall a time when God gave you abundantly more than you even thought to ask. Power Verses: "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7 (NIV) "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7: 8-11 (NIV) "For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich." II Corinthians 8:9 (NRS) "I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations." Psalm 89:1 (NIV) "Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." Matthew 18:19-20 (NRSV)   Additional Resources: ·  P31 Woman Magazine, by Proverbs 31 Ministries   ·  Dreams of a Woman, by Sharon Jaynes ·  Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed , by Lysa TerKeurst

PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
Office: (704) 849-2270
www.Proverbs31.org

 

 

I have permission from P31 to share this and I hope it blesses you as much as it has me :)  ~ Rachel   June 30, 2006 "Fears of a Mom" Lysa TerKeurst President of Proverbs 31 Ministries

Key Verse: Isaiah 54:14, "In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you." (NIV) Devotion:   Are you a mother who battles with a spirit of fear where your children are concerned? A father's greatest fear is usually that he won't be able to provide for his family. A mom's greatest fear is typically that something will happen to one of her children. Fear is a funny thing. It sometimes provides healthy caution but more times than not, it seems to produce undue stress and anxiety over things we have little to no control. The Bible has a lot to say about fear. According to one Bible text search, "fear not," or the equivalent to that, is said 365 times. Let's see, how many days of the year are there? Well, that means we have a verse to hang onto every day of the year. One day I was fretting over having let one of my children go to the lake with another family. I totally trust this other family and had no real reasons to feel anxious, but this gnawing feeling of "what if" seemed to be my constant companion. I kept having little flashes of her getting injured or worse. I went to my husband and asked if by any chance he was having these same feelings. He simply said no. A profound thought struck me. Perhaps the reason why I am so mentally spent by the end of the day is because my mind is constantly on the go where my kids are concerned. Most concerns are small like: Did they brush their teeth? Are they cold? Did they have enough breakfast? Or, did they study their spelling words? But then I have flashes of fear that pierce my heart and make my pulse quicken. Mostly this happens when I hear of bad things happening to other children. A terrible car accident, a brain tumor, a heart defect, a drowning, a child choking- this list of what if's goes on and on. No wonder I'm so tired! It's okay for us moms to be protective over our children and watch out for their well being. It's one of the most important aspects of our job. But it's not okay for the fear of the unknown to paralyze us and stifle our kids in the process. The reality is that God has assigned a certain number of days to our children and nothing we do or don't do will add to that number. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6:27). I do not speak of this topic lightly. I know the reality of bad things happening to children. When I was 18 years old, my mom gave birth to my beautiful sister, Haley. But tragedy struck when she was only 16 months old. Despite all our pleas for the Lord to spare her, His answer was "no" and she passed away. Also, when my second daughter was only 6 weeks old she became gravely ill. My husband and I heard words from a doctor that no parent ever wants to hear. "We aren't sure she can make it through the surgery. You have 5 minutes to tell her goodbye." Though my voice was paralyzed and silent, my soul screamed out, "Nooooo, you can not take her. I will not let you take her!" How do you tell a lifetime of dreams all wrapped up in one child, goodbye? As they wheeled her away, I collapsed into my husband's arms. He gently led me out to the parking lot of the hospital. Outside, he cupped my face in his hands and asked me who did Ashley really belong to? Whose child is she really? With each of his questions, I kept saying she was my child. Through his own tears, he kept asking these same questions and finally, I answered him with the truth. "She is God's child." So in the middle of our tears and pain, we mentally lifted up our daughter and released her back to God. Though my tears did not cease, the panic in my heart did. I felt the most amazing peace wash over me and fill up every hurting crevice in my soul. Thankfully, Ashley's crisis ended differently than Haley's and God allowed her to stay with us and be healed. But the motherhood lesson I learned that day in the parking lot will stay with me forever. When I fear for my children, I have to relive the following exercise: 1. I have to go back to that parking lot and lift my child up to God. 2. I have to state that they are His first and foremost. 3. I have to proclaim my love for God no matter what the outcome is. 4. And I have to realize that I cannot control my children being kept safe. Not by my prayers, not by my worries, and certainly not by my fears. If you are a mother who is often paralyzed by fear concerning your children, make a choice to stand in that parking lot with me and lift him or her up to God's sovereign hand of protection today. My Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, please help me to make the right choice when fear threatens to invade my life. Help me not to react to fear, but to turn to You. Thank You, Lord, for being the stronghold of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Application Steps: If you are struggling with fear, copy Psalm 27:1 on an index card and post it somewhere that is visible throughout your day. Do a word study using your Bible concordance to find other verses that speak to your heart about fear. Then, close your eyes and stand in that parking lot with me. Lift each of your children up to the Lord. Pray for their protection and provision. Tell Him that you trust Him. But let the deepest cry of your heart be for the courage to tell God you will love Him no matter what. Reflection Points: Are there chronic fears that Satan uses to distract you from accomplishing God's purpose for you? Are their chronic fears that Satan uses to distract you from allowing God to accomplish his purposes for your children? Learn to recognize when fear is running away with you and don't go down that path. Power Verses: Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (NIV) Isaiah 43:1-3, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flamed will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (NIV) Psalm 27:1, "The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?" (NIV) Additional resources: ·  The Bathtub is Overflowing, but I am Feeling Drained, by Lysa TerKeurst ·  Who Holds the Key to Your Heart?, by Lysa TerKeurst ·  The P31 Woman, our monthly magazine

PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
Office: (704) 849-2270
www.Proverbs31.org

 

 

I have permission from P31 to share this here.  Hope it blesses you.  ~ Rachel

 

July 5, 2006

“God of All Comfort”
Rachel Olsen, Co-Editor of Online Devotions, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/speaker_rachel.htm

Key Verse:
Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (NIV)

Devotion:
Today is my mother’s birthday. A certain day in May, not long after Mother’s Day, is the anniversary of her death.   She died of cancer when I was seventeen.

 

About five years after her death, I found comfort and blessed assurance in the outstretched arms of Jesus Christ.  He wiped away my tears and filled my heart with hope again.  When I placed my life in His hands, I gained a companion that would stick closer to me than my own older brothers do (Proverbs 18:24).

 

Following my saving encounter with Jesus Christ, much of my mourning turned into dancing.  However, a new concern arose in my heart.  Once I realized that Jesus Christ is truth personified, and that He said no one can come to Father God in heaven except through Him, I wondered if my mother was in heaven (John 14:6).  I previously assumed anyone who believed God existed and tried to be a good person would go to heaven automatically.  Now I realized that if my mom had not accepted Christ’s forgiveness for her sins, she may not be with him this day in paradise.

 

Did she? Did my mom know Jesus? This question burned in my heart. She was the only member of my immediate family that showed any interest in going to church, if only occasionally.  Her interest in the things of God definitely increased as she battled the disease.  But did she know the simple requirements for gaining eternal life before death?

 

A couple years ago a Bible that belonged to my mother came surprisingly into my possession.  Her name was inscribed in the front and inside I found a small sheet of paper with her unmistakable handwriting.  This is what she had written down:

 

Romans 3:19

Romans 3:12

Romans 3:23

Romans 5:8

II Timothy 3:2-5

Ephesians 2:7-8

Luke 19:10

Hebrews 7:25

Romans 10:13

Romans 10:9-10

I treasure this little piece of paper, knowing it was held in and written on with her living hands. As I read through the verses she wrote, I know that indeed my mother was aware of Jesus, the Savior.  She had heard the good news of how to attain forgiveness and eternal life through Him.  While mere knowledge does not assure salvation was accepted, I’m greatly comforted by this paper and believe that God, in His sweet compassion, brought it into my possession to assure me of my mom’s present whereabouts.

God so desires to comfort His children. In Isaiah 66:13, God says “as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (NIV).  I encourage to take your pain to the Father of Compassion and God of all comfort and allow Him to quiet you with His love.  He promises that one day He will surely wipe away our every tear (Rev 21:4).

My prayer for today:
Dear Lord, thank you for caring when we are hurting. Thank you for being an unending source of comfort and strength.   Thank you for sending Jesus to die of a broken heart that my own wounded heart can be healed.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:
Look up and read through the verses above my mother had written down.  If you don’t have a bible handy, use the search box at www.crosswalk.com.  If you have not yet welcomed Jesus Christ as your savior, click here: http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/knowHim.htm

Lovingly share these verses with friends and family who do not yet know Him.

Reflection points:
Are you in need of comfort?  Have you turned to the author of comfort – Abba Father God?

Receiving comfort from God requires you to humble yourself before Him.

Is there someone God has laid on your heart to comfort, or to witness to?  Have you obeyed?

Power Verses:

2 Corinthians 1:3-5   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us is all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  (NIV)

Psalm 147:3 The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (NIV)

Psalm 119:76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, O Lord, according to your promise. (NIV)

Psalm 34:19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delvers him from them all. (NIV)

Additional Resources:

P31 Woman Proverbs 31 Ministries’ monthly magazine

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/woman.htm

Do you Know Him?

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/knowHim.htm

Coming Out of the Dark by Mary Southerland

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_outDark.htm

 

PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
Office: (704) 849-2270
www.Proverbs31.org

I have permission from P31 to share this here.  I hope it blesses you as much as it has me.  ~ Rachel

 

July 7, 2006 "Able and Available" Renee Swope Executive Director of Communications, Proverbs 31 Speaker

Key Verse: Matthew 25:21, "His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master's happiness." (NIV) Devotion:  The doorbell rang soon after I got home. I was surprised to see Janet standing in the doorway. I had just walked home from her house after dropping off a thank you note. "This is the most amazing thank you note I have ever read." Janet said. "Renee, you have a writing gift and you need to use it." I was a bit puzzled. It was only a thank you note. Later that afternoon, I thought about Janet's words and wondered if God could use me to encourage more than just one friend. So, I penned Janet's words in my journal and asked God to show me if He wanted me to do something with them. A few months later, I was returning from a women's outreach dinner at my. I was thinking about the message I had heard on contentment and wished I could read the speaker's notes so I could apply the lessons in my daily life. "Maybe I could write a follow-up study guide to give to women who come so they could go deeper, too." I thought. The next day I called Janet and told her about my crazy idea. She was on the women's ministry leadership team at my church. She said they'd been praying for something to give women after the dinner series ended. She loved the idea of a small study guide. Later that week, Janet asked our women's ministry director to consider my idea and much to my shock, they approved it! I nearly died from the suffocation of fear and insecurity but with Janet's prayers and prodding, I wrote a study guide. Two months later it was given to over 1000 women. I taught a class the following year to lead women through the study guide. I wrote another and another. The next year, a new ministry was started and it's thriving today. All of that, after one thank you note! All of that, because I was available to give back to God what He had given me. But I haven't always been able or available. For many years I was more like the third servant in Matthew 25:14-30. In case you're not familiar with the story, here is my contemporary synopsis: There was a business owner who had three servants with varying degrees of abilities. He was going on an out-of-town business trip, but before he left he assigned each employee an individual project, according to their abilities. The first two were given more to oversee. Perhaps they had more experience or were better at multi-tasking. In any case, both gave their time and talents to serve their boss and he was very pleased with them when he returned. The one who had been given less responsibility made excuses about neglecting his assignment. He even blamed his boss for his neglect. I wonder if he thought, "Oh, this little project isn't much. Why worry about being faithful with it? The boss will never notice." I have thought that at times. I wonder if he was jealous that others were given more visible responsibilities. I wonder if envy turned to presumption, which led to strife toward the boss and apathy toward his abilities. I know that has happened to me. Our Boss is on an out-of-town assignment and He's asked each one of us to oversee something in His kingdom, according to abilities He's given us. With each ability comes an assignment. With each assignment comes a choice, a risk and a responsibility. With each assignment comes the possibility of reward and the potential of regret. With each assignment comes accountability to the Master - whether great or small. It isn't a matter of how much or how little He's given to us. What matters is how well we use the abilities we have been given. Just like the servants, if we are faithful with a little God will entrust us with more and we will experience deeper joy as we live out His purpose in our lives. No matter how big or small our talents seem, they are all God-given, and they all matter to Him. It's been seven years since I wrote the first study guide. God has been true to His promise of giving more when we are faithful with a little. He has used my writing to grow my speaking. He has entrusted me with more for now, and I have the blessing of sharing all that He is teaching me with women across the country. Just as He promised, I am getting to share in my Master's happiness. It started with one thank you note. It started with a woman who was faithful in the little things of encouragement, prayer and the gift of prodding. It started with another woman who gave back to God what He had given to her. My Prayer for Today: Lord, what abilities have You given me that I don't see? Please make me aware of the little things that can make a difference for You and others. I lay down my doubt, my jealousy and comparison. I confess the times I have been unwilling to give back what you have given to me. I want to know the joy and pleasure of being faithful with the little things! In Jesus' Name, Amen. Application Steps: Read the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Reflection Points: ·  List your abilities. If it's difficult, list some things other people say you do well: ·  Have you ever struggled with the abilities God's given you compared to others? ·  Have you ever "buried" your abilities because you didn't think God would notice or because you didn't think they mattered? ·  How did each servants' faithfulness with their abilities impact their relationship with the master? ·  How has burying or using your abilities impacted your relationship with God? ·  List steps are you going to take to be a faithful steward of the abilities God has given to you: Power Verses: Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (NLT) Ephesians 4:16, "From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (NIV) Romans 12:4-5, "Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others." (NLT) Romans 12:6-8, "God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." (NLT) Additional resources: ·  Shaped with Purpose Workbook, by Renee Swope ·  Journey of a Woman's Heart Conference Tape Set by Renee Swope ·  Living Life on Purpose by Lysa TerKeurst PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES 616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road Matthews, NC 28105 Office: (704) 849-2270 www.Proverbs31.org

 

 

 

I have permission from P31 to share this here.  I hope it blesses you as much as it has me.  ~ Rachel   July 6, 2006 "Ready to Quit" Sharon Glasgow Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member

Key Verse: II Corinthians 9-10, "Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (NIV) Devotion:   I was exhausted, worn out and overwhelmed. There were many unfulfilled expectations, too many people wanting too many things from me and I had nothing left to give. I had become so inundated with life that my daily time with God slipped and soon I felt unworthy and inadequate. I decided that I didn't deserve to teach my 6th grade Sunday school class anymore. After all, how could God use a person like me? All week I rehearsed how I would tell the Sunday school superintendent my decision. Each day passed and I couldn't muster up the courage to call him. By the time Sunday rolled around I decided that I would just have to find him and resign that very day. I didn't want to teach another day and planned to tell him he would have to find a quick substitute. I looked everywhere for him, he was nowhere to be found. It was five minutes before my class was to start and I didn't have a lesson planned. I just couldn't teach! These children deserved a teacher who was totally committed to God. Finally I saw the Sunday school superintendent in the distance, but before I could reach him, I was stopped by a crying little girl, one of my students. "Mrs. Glasgow, I'm so scared, I decided to be baptized today and I won't be able to be in your class because they are baptizing me in this service. I'm alone, my family is not Christian and I don't know why, but I'm nervous. Can you stay with me until the second service begins?" By this time the superintendent was out of sight and my class was without a teacher. I told the little girl, "Give me one minute; I'm going to get the other children." I was back in minutes with the class. We all hugged her and prayed with her before she went into the baptistery. We all ran into the service and sat at the back to watch. Right before the little girl was baptized the minister asked her, "Who helped bring you to the Lord?" Standing on her tiptoes, she looked over the baptistery edge to me at the back, and said, "Mrs. Glasgow did." Tears of humility and joy rolled down my cheeks. I didn't quit teaching. God showed me that His grace was and is sufficient; His power is made perfect in my weaknesses. I had grown tired and weary, but God gave me His strength when I needed it. He always does when we remember where the power source is and plug in! My Prayer for Today: Oh Lord, just when I think I've got a plan for my life I stumble and fall. Everything gets complicated when I'm not leaning on you! In Proverbs 16:9 you tell me, "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Thank you, Lord for directing my path. Please show me your way Lord, so things do not have to be so hard. In Jesus' Name, Amen. Application Steps: When God calls you to a mission He will give you the energy, motivation and ability to do what He has called you to do. The only way to get the right "fuel" for service is by spending time with Him. Read God's Word. Listen as He leads you and when you are weak or confused, turn to Him for strength. Try reading Revelation chapter 3. Reflection Points: Which comes first - washing the dishes or talking to God? Talk to Him first. You'll be more productive in your chores. What are you listening to while you work or drive? Praise Him and He will lift your spirit. Power Verses: Isaiah 40:28-31, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagle; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." (NIV) Additional resources: ·  Living Life on Purpose, by Lysa TerKeurst ·  At the Feet of Ordinary Women, by Angie Conrad ·  P31 Woman Magazine PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES 616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road Matthews, NC 28105 Office: (704) 849-2270 www.Proverbs31.org

 

 

I receive a daily email from Proverbs 31 ministries.  I have permission to share them here on my blog :)  To find out more about them go to www.proverbs31.gospelcom.net or click on th elink on the right ;)  Rachel

Here is today's devotion:

 

May 19, 2006

 

          “The Test”

 

Van Walton, Director of Spanish Ministries, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member

Key Verse: 1 Peter 4:12, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you." (NAS) Devotion: Being a school teacher, I am familiar with testing. It is what I do. I teach. I test. I correct papers. If my students earn a good grade I assume they prepared. If they perform poorly, I am convinced they chose to slack off. Devotion: Because of my familiarity with testing you would think that I know how to prepare, but I have learned that I am a poor tester. I perform poorly for several reasons. Sometimes I believe there is nothing I can do to get ready for a tough exam. Other times I talk myself into accepting the idea that no matter how hard I try, I will never measure up. Often I am just lazy and prefer participating in the fun and easy, rather than concentrating on the challenging and difficult. I retired from the classroom several years ago and, even before that, I stopped going to school. I have put tests behind me. Short of the ever-recurring, I-forgot-to-set-the-alarm-and-am-running-in-my-pajamas-to-my-physics-final nightmare, exams are a thing of the past, or so I thought. Recently I found myself in the classroom, sitting at a desk, pen in hand, blank paper before me ... Well, not exactly. The conventional classroom had been replaced by a difficult situation, surrounded by too many negative possibilities. Although not sitting at a desk, I had been put in a hard and contemplative position; my tools were my head and heart instead of pen and paper. I faced a very difficult exam, a trial of sorts, and I was failing, miserably. I struggled, searching for the right answer. The greatest difference between an academic exam and a spiritual test is the teacher. In the halls of academia the student is all alone to pass or fail. Spiritual trials always offer help, assistance from the Rabbi, whose name is Jesus. When life's tests are hard, I turn to my Teacher. Once I had a chance to sit with Jesus and understand where my weaknesses could be found, I realized a few things about preparedness. The teacher in me would like to share with you what the Rabbi taught me. Maybe these hints will be helpful for you the next time you face a spiritual test. Realize that life is a series of tests, just like school. Real life is about learning our lessons so we can be prepared for the test. You might ask, "How can I prepare?" 1. Report to class regularly. * Read your Bible. * Learn what the Scripture means and how it applies to your life. * Memorize. 2. Use Study Hall wisely. * Waiting for the answer to come is not down time - it is the study hall of life. * While in the 'wait' room or 'study hall' prepare and practice for the next tests. What we do while we wait determines the outcome of our test. 3. Get tutoring in areas of weakness. * Pray, developing a deep relationship with Jesus, the Teacher. * Listen until you hear the answers to your questions. 4. Practice whenever possible. * Review regularly what you learn. * Study groups are necessary for accountability and success. When the day of the test arrives, as it surely will, make sure to be totally present. Many times in the Bible, God calls His servant, just like roll call, before He gives the test. Be ready to raise your hand and respond, "Here I am." (Genesis 22:1) Be comforted with the fact that God believes in re-tests. We don't have to live with the "F" of Failure or even an average grade of a "C" for just plain Common. God is into perfecting us. He wants to give a "B" when we do our Best or an "A" when we rise Above the world. I want my final grade to be A+. May my life be All About the Almighty. Unfortunately we have to take the same test many times before we get the ever-coveted A. Always remember, God wants to say, "Well done my faithful one." When the test is over at the end of the day - I want to know I did my best. I want God to be pleased with me. My Prayer for Today: Jesus, my Teacher, I am so very blessed that You are perfect, yet You do not call me to be perfect. You make me perfect through Your shed blood. All You ask of me is that I obey You. Please help me to understand my assignment; give me strength and endurance to fulfill the plans you have for me; show me the way of wisdom so I will make choices that glorify You. I ask this in Your Name, Jesus, Amen. Application Steps: Recall the last time you faced a difficult trial. Describe and explain the experience. List the positives that resulted due to the 'test'. What were the negative outcomes? If you had it to do over, how would you handle the same 'test'? Reflection Points: How do I handle the trials and tests that come my way? Am I prepared to be spiritually tried? Do I avoid life's tests or do I face them head on, confident that God is by my side, allowing me to be tested. Power Verses: Deuteronomy 13:3, "...don't pay any attention to what that prophet or visionary says. GOD, your God, is testing you to find out if you totally love him with everything you have in you." (MSG) Psalm 139: 23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." (NAS) 1 Thessalonians 2:4, "On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts." (NIV) James 1:2-3, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (NAS) Additional Resources:  Click here Who Holds the Keys to Your Heart, by Lysa TerKeurst http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_whoHoldsKey.htm Becoming a Woman who Listens to God, by Sharon Jaynes http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_becomingAWoman.htm What Happens when Women Walk in Faith, by Lysa TerKeurst http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_whatHappens.htm

Yesterday (Thursday 7/14/05) when sitting down to a late lunch I felt God leading me to read Proverbs 31.  I flipped to it and thought “we always focus on the last part so I should start at the beginning this time”.  But, I have to admit, I did not actually read the beginning of Proverbs 31, I just sort of skimmed it.  When I landed on verse 8 though I read it and 9 completely and got this from it J

 

Proverbs 31:8-9

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.  Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

 

God has given us Holy Spirit to guide us in our prayers b/c we do not know enough to pray wisely on our own! ("For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Rom.8:26)

 

As a parent I have more knowledge and wisdom than my children.  I have been placed in authority over them.  They do not always listen, but how can I expect them to when I don’t always listen to God?  I know some things about this journey called life that they do not know and I need to guide them in those areas (which at 5 & 6 are all areas).  Armed with the knowledge I have gained through my life’s journey, watching the lives of my friends & family members, my children’s personalities/strengths/weaknesses, and the vision God has given me for our family and my children’s futures I can go to God and speak to Him on their behalf. 

 

And, still armed with all of that and the power of my LORD I can speak to Satan and his evil cohorts and their evil plans and condemn them and deny them access to my children.

 

Before I close, I want to mention one or two other groups that a busy homeschooling mom can speak up for.  Family, friends, DH’s co-workers/customers/friends, people reading your writings, those in the news, our military, pastors in your church/community, homeschool group leaders/members, president, judiciary, new homeschoolers (many feel overwhelmed esp. when looking for local contacts), and on, and on, and on…(I promise I CAN count! LOL)

 

God has placed people in your path on this journey for a reason, you may NEVER fully know the reason but He has one nonetheless.  Ask Him to direct you in your dealings with them.  Ask Him to guide them and to reveal Himself to them.

As I help DH with kit making, shipping, at shows or whatever I try to pray over it that God will somehow reveal Himself to our customers and that He will bless the work of our hands.  I should do it more often.  (By doing this I can honestly tell you that I have prayed for people world wide including Israel, Switzerland, Australia, etc.)

Hmmmm….I should do it for school. 

I should do it for the kids.

…my marriage

…uncles, aunts, cousins

…parents

…sisters & their families

…grandparents

…etc

…myself

 

Lord, show me at least one person to speak up for TODAY.  I may not be able to be a visible activist to the physical eye – that’s okay b/c I’d rather be a spiritual activist down on my knees like my great grandmothers, grandmothers, mom and mother in love J  Guide me and direct me, teach me and reveal Yourself to me TODAY!