Other Devotions & Articles

Feel free to use any of these devotions if you are looking for an article to post on another site or newsletter.  I only ask that you leave each one in tact and supply the brief bio found at the bottom of this page with a link back to this site.

"She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar." Proverbs 31:14

To what length does this lady of the Bible go to provide food for her family? Think about how it must have been; no real mode of transportation back then. It would almost seem as if you would have to take what you could get.

Now I think about the desire the woman had to provide her family with the best. Maybe their favorite meals required things that had to be “brought from afar.” She must have known the awesome feeling that comes with pleasing your family! It is worth the extra effort because as you know, in bringing them pleasure, we are the ones who receive the blessing. Even though I love to cook, there have been times that I was either tired or just not in the mood to cook. However, when you sit down to eat, any ooos & aahs make it well worth the effort!

Even now as I type this, a wave of conviction has come over me. Jay is out of town for a few days. I have been so tempted to just take the kids out to eat, even though they have been wanting homemade spaghetti (with ALL the carbs). After studying these verses, I will be cooking tonight. We will sit down together and have a wonderful meal, even if Shea is having to bring the food from afar. I could say this is part of her training, but actually, she loves grocery shopping. Remember how awesome it is to bring your family pleasure? I am feeling the blessings – no Wal-Mart trip for me!

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"She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls." Proverbs 31:15

"She gets up while it is still dark". As I read the first part of this verse, it makes me think that in our day, we can truly identify with this woman in Proverbs. Our lives seem to be so busy, and there is so much to get done. I have found that the only way to accomplish the day-to-day things is to get up while my family is still asleep. Although you miss out on a little sleep, there is a plus to this. You don't feel like you are missing out on time with your family or neglecting them. You would also be surprised at how much you can get done in the quiet of the morning!

The second part of the verse is very convicting for me. "She provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls." I see this as an Old Testament picture of what Jesus taught us when He washed the disciples' feet. We are to serve people. Most of the time it is easy to serve our family, but she served her servants! What a concept.
At first glance, I couldn't really see how the 2 parts of the verse were connected. I thought for a while and was able to see that she sacrificed her time for others. As I thought and prayed about it, I saw that she did what she needed to do to get things done, without neglecting people.

I am constantly having to remind myself of this very lesson: People are more important than a clean house, a job, shopping, or any plans. People are even more important than a ministry. People are the reason for ministries! This truth comes up in our lives on a daily basis. Sometimes I recognize it and others I don't. I am making this my challenge, and hope that you will join with me in putting others first, even if it means sacrificing some of our time to do it.

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"She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard." Proverbs 31:16

By looking at this month's verse, we can see very clearly that the Proverbs 31 woman is a good manager of her resources. "She considers a field and buys it." I love the considers part of it. I think that is so important! I think many of us fall into the "now or never" trap. I wish I had time to tell about 1 of the many times I fell into this one. Some of you already know the story of the internet mall - get rich quick scheme that I fell into a few years ago. Take my word for it, if anyone tells you now or never, make it never. God wants us to consider the field before we buy it. This shows great wisdom.

Another part of her great managing skills is reinvesting in what she has earned. "Out of her earnings, she plants a vineyard." This may take more prayerful considering. She has looked to the future, not just the immediate. The vineyard will take time to grow, but in the end the harvest will pay off.

Aside from the business aspect of this verse, we can look at this in a different light. Do we carefully consider what we invest our time in? What about our families? We need to consider the things we pour into our families, especially our children. The things we teach and do for our families are investments. We have to carefully consider these life-long investments! Once we have invested in them, we can constantly reinvest to build them up. It may not be immediate, but after a time of growing, we will reap the harvest!

As I am writing this today, my grandmother is on my mind. Today would have been her 90th birthday! Her life was built around this characteristic of investments. As a widow, she did manage her money well. However, most of her investments were in other people. It is my desire to live my life like she did and pour myself into the ones I come in contact with. Although she is has passed on, her investments are still evident and her vineyard is still growing.

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"She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night." Proverbs 31:18

When I was a little girl, we practically lived at my grandmother's house. When my cousins would come over, one of our favorite things to do was to "trade" things. Our purses would be so full of goodies, but the goodies someone else had always looked better. Sherri and I usually ended up trading between the 2 of us since our sisters were younger. This was usually a fair trade. However, when we did trade with our sisters, we always made sure our trading was profitable!
Looking back, I don't think that is the "profitable" mentioned in Proverbs. It is one thing to be little girls trading things, but as we grow, God expects us to have integrity in business. Integrity should come whether we are actually in a business situation, or just shopping at the grocery store.

I also think He wants us to think before we buy. In today's world of credit cards, instant gratification is a daily thing. As I have found out personally, when you do the math and add in interest, your trading will not be profitable. Somehow, we have to learn to balance it all.

Another area of balance is in the 2nd part of the verse, "and her lamp does not go out at night." At first glance, you would think she stays up working all night long. I like this version because it fits with my night owl nature. However, I really think it has more to do with being ready, prepared, and available at all times. As much as I hate to admit it, I know that God wants us to sleep to refresh our bodies. So here again, the word balance comes into play.

It is extremely hard to stay balanced on our own. Let's decide right now to let God help us stay in balance with our businesses, finances, sleep, and in every area of our lives.

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"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:18

As we look at this month's verse, it is very obvious that God expects us to be generous. When I read this verse, I immediately think of monetary giving. I know God wants us to give to people in need because all we have is really His to begin with. However, the writer specifically mentions 2 aspects of her giving. Let's take a look at these 2 areas and see how they apply to us.

To me, the first phrase, "She opens her arms to the poor," implies giving compassion. If you think about it, opened arms are used for comforting. Within the last month or so, I have heard from 2 different people that the true definition of the word compassion means "to move." When we feel compassion for others, be it the poor in monetary matters, or the poor in spirit, we will be moved to action.

The second part of the verse says that she "extends her hands to the needy." Hands are used in 2 different ways. They can actually be the instruments that give things, and they can be used to help by "doing" work. Like I mentioned earlier, everything we have is God's. I believe He wants us to use it to help other people. A few months ago, we looked at the fact that she was a good manager of her money. If we have our finances in order, we will be able to give more freely. However, sometimes it is easy to hand someone money when what they really need is our time.

I truly think that the verse is trying to tell us to be aware of the needs around us. Yes, sometimes the needs are for money, but sometimes it may cost us a little more - our time. God calls us to be filled with compassion. Let that compassion move us to whatever action is needed.

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"When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet." Proverbs 31:21

This month's verse is all about being prepared. The Proverbs 31 woman is shown as a prepared provider. What a ministry it is to your family when you are prepared for their needs.

I don't mind telling you that I have really struggled with getting this month's devotional down. I was sharing with Jay about my struggle and the topic of being prepared. He made it very clear to me what my problem was... "you can't write about something that you don't have any experience in!" Although he was teasing, he was dead on.

There are many areas in which we need to make proper preparations. Of course we have the basic needs: food, clothing, and household goods. All of these things we sometimes take for granted. When we run short, we see the importance of being prepared. Since I began this "coupon" thing, I have found that I am a little more prepared in the food area.

I have also found that there is more to being prepared than stockpiling grocery store items. I can tell you that preparation does not come naturally to a procrastinator! Have you ever had to pick up a shower gift on the way to the shower? You can make it just fine, but how much chaos do you add to you life? Your family encounters the very same chaos.

We also need to be prepared to provide for the spiritual needs for our families. If you really look around, the majority of families do not succeed in this area. The trend has been to leave it up to the churches to provide the spiritual instruction. I thank the Lord for the churches, but it is still our responsibility as parents to teach Biblical truths.

We are such a blessing to our families when we are prepared to meet their needs; physically and spiritually. Join with me to add this piece to our puzzles. I truly believe this will not only help our families, but bring us peace of mind as well.

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"She makes coverings for her bed;" Proverbs 31:22a

I think it is really interesting to see that the Bible even mentions that the Proverbs 31 woman is a decorator! As I thought about why that would be important enough to be in the Bible, I thought again about what a ministry we have toward our families. When your house is in order and looks appealing to you and your family, it brings about a peaceful feeling. How nice it is to be "at home" in your surroundings.

Hopefully this month's devotional will be a little easier to write than last month's! As I said last month, preparedness is not my best feature, but I do love decorating. It has not always been that way. For years after we got married, I couldn't even hang a picture on the wall and make it look right. The result was that our house was not very appealing or comfortable; not even to us. All the time we lived there, I was praying for a larger house. The Lord started speaking to me through His scriptures and other people. "Bloom where you are planted," and be faithful with what you have and you will be in charge of more. About the time conviction set in, He sent me HGTV and Romantic Homes magazine!!!

This topic for a devotional comes at a good time. I was just inspired by my neighbor's house. I love seeing how people decorate their homes. One of my neighbors has a hugh stone house. It is gorgeous from the outside, which has always made me curious to see the inside. Last week, she took me on a tour. It was everything I expected it to be.

I was very encouraged to find out that a lot of her things were found at close-out prices or garage sales. I knew that I had been able to decorate my home on a shoestring budget by going to flea markets, thrift stores and garage sales. However, it was encouraging to see a totally different style of house (especially of that magnitude) decorated from some of the same sources. It really is something each of us can do to our homes. If you notice, the Proverbs 31 woman made her decorations. You do not have to spend a fortune for it to look nice.

Spend some time figuring out exactly what your style is and what you like, then start looking. This will require a little patience. To find exactly what you want at the very best prices will take time. Be sure it is exactly what you want. Nothing is wrong in decorating YOUR home if YOU like it. You can make your home a sanctuary for your family.

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"She is clothed in fine linen and purple." Proverbs 31:22b

Homework Assignment: The next time you go out in public, look around at how women and girls are dressed. Look for neatness, sloppiness, decency, and revealing clothes. You will find a wide variety. As we look to the Bible for direction, I believe we will find lots of guidance in the area of how we should dress.

The Bible leads me to believe that the Proverbs 31 woman is a classy dresser. In the Message Bible, it is worded, "dresses in colorful linens and silks." Later, in verse 25 it says, "Her clothes are well-made and elegant." It appears that she takes pride in her appearance. I am not talking about being prideful, but only taking time to look our best in a way that represents God in our lives, and dressing in ways that will bring Him glory.

In my book, I mention the difference between public and private dress. I think somehow, society has gotten this backward. In private, you should be comfortable and wear whatever you desire. Keep in mind though that if you are married, there are times that you may dress in a way that you would not dress if going out. Men are so visual, and you do want to be desirable for your husband. We usually don't think of desirable dressing while at home - it is sweats or for me pajama bottoms. On occasion, we should give our husbands a nice visual!

On the other hand, when we go out in public we see all kinds of visuals! Some we could do without. We all know that who we are is really what is on the inside. However, the way we portray ourselves on the outside says a lot about us as well. Not only do we reveal more about who we are (no pun intended), but we can also cause our brothers in Christ to fall, which the Bible clearly warns against. To guard against these things, ask yourselves these questions before going out in public:

Am I portraying myself as a picture of purity by the way I am dressed?

Is the way I am dressed a representation of Christ, or of the world?

Could I possibly be a stumbling block to someone if I go out looking like this?

Back to that homework assignment...let's add to it. If we start with ourselves and share these things with others, we may not change society, but we can change our part of society. I leave you with one more verse:

I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety... I Timothy 2:9

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"Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land." Proverbs 31:23

As we look at this month's verse from Proverbs 31, it appears that He is only speaking about the husband. If we look at God's Word a little deeper, I think we will find that He will speak to us as well. I want to take this verse that talks about her husband being respected and look at it from 2 different perspectives.

First of all, I want to address singles. If you are a single woman, be sure whoever you date fits God's idea of a respected man. The whole plan of dating is to find your life mate, a spiritual leader for your family. Don't even put yourself in the tempting position of dating someone that you know you shouldn't marry. Measure them against what the Bible says, and make sure it is God's plan before you marry. My daughter has a saying posted in her bathroom that says something like, "It is better to be alone and happy than married and lonely." Choose carefully!

For the others who are married, we need to watch ourselves and make sure we are respecting our husbands. It is so easy to get busy with the kids and the house and neglect our husbands. I think we subconsciously think that they need us less, which is not necessarily true.

If you are in a marriage where you do not feel respect for your husband; maybe he is not the spiritual leader that he should be, try faking it for a while. I know that sounds wrong on the surface, but on many occasions when we change our attitudes toward someone, that person will change as well. I believe this is probably a universal thing. I have even seen this work at school with my students.

A couple years ago, Jay used an illustration in a sermon that has stuck with me to this day. It was about a lady who was in a very bad marriage. She went to an attorney and not only wanted a divorce, but wanted to really hurt her husband for all he had put her through. They decided that for 1 month she would really love on her husband and pamper him so that when he was served with the papers he would be shocked and hurt deeply.

During that month, the attorney had the papers drawn up. He waited, but the lady never showed up to sign. He finally called her to schedule a time for her to come in. She informed him that he could tear the papers up. As it turned out, when she loved on and pampered her husband, he began to love and pamper her. They were the happiest they had been in years. Our attitudes have power to change situations!

As I mentioned at the beginning, God does speak to us through this scripture. Let's take these words and use them to bring joy to our husbands, which will ultimately bring joy to ourselves.

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God's promises in Isaiah 43.

As we enter into the Thanksgiving season, we automatically begin to think of the things we are thankful for. Usually, the most obvious come to mind: our families, friends, homes, etc. There is so much more! I would like to step away from Proverbs 31 this month and take a look at just a few of God's promises in Isaiah 43.

Through a series of events, and praying for guidance in writing this devotional, God led me to some verses that I haven't read in some time. These verses are ones that got me through a very rough time in my life. As I read them now, knowing what I was going through years ago as I meditated on them, I can clearly see how God worked in my life. As I share parts of these verses, I pray they will be an encouragement to everyone who reads them.

At first glance of Isaiah 43, you think God is only speaking to Israel. However, if you continue, you will see that this is for all believers! I encourage you to read the entire chapter as part of you daily quiet time this week.

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; your are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;" Is. 43:1b- 3a

What a blessing to know that our Savior is with us through all of our situations. Do any of you feel like you are in the fire right now? Take these words with you. Post them on your mirror, your desk, or on the refrigerator. We can have peace through the storms of life.

"And I am God. Even from eternity I am He; and there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?" Is. 43:12c-13

"Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." Is. 43:18,19

What hope there is in thinking about all the power God holds, and to know He uses it for our benefit. Try not to think about the past, or the storms you are in the middle of. God has unlimited power to bring about the needed changes in our lives. He wants to do something new in our lives if we will let Him.

Here is the best promise of all! "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins." Is.43:25

Regardless of what we have here on earth or don't have, the most precious possession for Christians is our salvation. Just having the assurance of Heaven and meeting Christ face to face is the greatest promise. However, it doesn't stop there. We will also see our loved ones who have gone before us. These are just the "after life on earth" blessings of salvation. We can enjoy salvation now by entering into His presence daily, by enjoying communication with Him, and by allowing Him to lead and guide us. This is so amazing to me! We receive all of this, and if you look at the reason, the verse says, "for My own sake." He does it because He wants the relationship with us. What a thing to be thankful for!

In this time of observing Thanksgiving, may we be thankful not only for the obvious, but for who God is and all that He does. I hope and pray that this season will be one that we will be able to truly see God's blessings.

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Christmas Perspective

Once again, God has led this month's devotional away from Proverbs 31. With this being the season of Christmas, I would like to look at a variety of scriptures as we examine our perspectives.

A little more than a year ago, I went to a workshop through Region 10 where Keith Lowry was the presenter. He was very entertaining and spoke on several subjects; all regarding getting along with people. The one area he spoke on that has had a powerful impact on my life, is changing your perspectives.

After the workshop, (around Christmas last year), I listened to a couple friends of mine. They were upset about all of the work and time they had put into the holiday season with no help from their families. I can remember them saying how their families seemed to almost expect it from them and that the word woman seemed to be a synonym for slave. At the time, I thought how sad it was that they felt this way. I thought, "they should try to look at it from another perspective." When you find yourself feeling this way, remember this verse:

So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! I Cor. 10:12

The very next day I had a little pity party of my own. Regardless of the huge amount of help that I do receive from my family, I let the pressure of trying to get it all done get to me. Phrases that kept coming to my mind were, "Why always me," "Why can't anyone else," and "I am the only one." I even remember thinking that it was almost as if they expected it of me! God immediately showed me that I too needed a new perspective!

This Christmas season, I have purposed to keep a positive outlook on all the responsibilities & privileges given to me.

* First of all, I will notice and appreciate all of the help my family provides. An attitude of praise and thankfulness is all it takes sometimes to get rid of a stinky attitude.

"Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20

* I will also choose to see that if it appears that anyone expects something of me, then I must have done a good job taking care of them in the past. I'm not talking about letting people run over me, but when you think about it, it can actually be taken as a compliment that they are putting their confidence in me.

"Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." Proverbs 31:11

* I will also keep in mind that Christ called me to serve others. If that is my goal, then these could be signs that I am on the road to success.

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:21

* One last thing that is sure to change your perspective is to find someone you can bless. You may not be in a position to bless someone financially, but pray and see what area God would lead you to help someone. In blessing others, we see how much we ourselves are blessed.

"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." 2 Cor. 9:11

I know this Christmas season will probably be just as busy as the past ones. However, I have already begun praying about my attitude and perspective this year. Please join me this "Christ"mas season with a new perspective; one that would bless others and be pleasing to God.

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I would like to take this time to wish you a Happy New Year! This year will be exactly what we make it, despite our circumstances. I pray that we will all see things through the eyes of Christ and that He will help us keep everything in perspective as we try to reach our own personal goals.

"She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes." Proverbs 31:24

Since I began this women's ministry and business, I have come in contact with so many other Christian Business Owners. In fact, last October during the women's expo that several of you were a part of, I looked across the large ballroom of the civic center and what a picture it was! The room was full of Christian women and a few men, all sharing their businesses.

The Proverbs 31 woman was also a business lady. She made items and sold them in the marketplace. She may have been the very one who started the first home-based business. She used her talents and interests in a way that provided for her family. Not only did she do quality work (linen), but I believe that in everything she did, she did with honesty, integrity, and in a way that led people to Christ.

I would like to challenge everyone to make this our very own mission this year. Regardless if you work at home or outside the home, if you are your own boss or work for someone else, we are to do everything as if we are working for the Lord.

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men." Ephesians 6:7

In other words, make the Lord your boss. Every work place can be a temple in itself. This can even be true if you are in a position but your desire is somewhere else! When we work to bring Him glory, our work becomes an act of worship. When our minds are focused upon the Lord, we want to do our best quality of work. If we can worship through our duties, I believe others will see Him. We have the ability to show Christ through our teaching, nursing, speaking, cooking, housekeeping, selling, accounting, writing, and any other ministries we may have. He can be seen in everything we do.

Let's allow God to use us this year in our everyday duties to accomplish His purposes.

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"She is clothed with strength and dignity" Proverbs 31:25a
 
Do you have trouble each morning deciding what to wear? Aren't you glad you have a choice? The Flylady (www.flylady.net) teaches us to decide what you are wearing the night before so that your morning runs more efficiently. I can tell you that it really works. There are a few other things we need to decide to put on that are even more important than the clothes we wear. And like our clothes, we have choices.

You are probably all familiar with Ephesians chapter 6, where it tells us to put on the full armor of God. The armor has several different pieces to help us stand up against Satan. They are available for our protection, but it is still our choice to actually wear them.

Today I want to look at a couple of other items that may not be as familiar to us all. However, we still need to put them on daily. Let's take a look at the Proverbs 31 woman and see what example she sets for us in this area. What does she decide to put on each morning? The verse says:

"She is clothed with strength and dignity."

There is a need to put on strength and dignity every morning. However, we do have a choice in the matter. How many times have I with careful consideration grabbed my clothes from the closet and gotten dressed without going to the prayer closet to get my strength for the day? With all of the pressures of life, it is vitally important that we have God's daily strength. The Bible also says in Philipians that we are able to do all things through Christ because He gives us the strength. Why don't we choose to wear it daily?

She also puts on dignity, or self-respect. This can also be found in the prayer closet. The Lord has already done the work for us. In the Old Testament, when He was speaking to the Israelites, He said:

"I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high."  Lev. 26:13b

Of course He was talking about getting the Israelites out of slavery to the Egyptians, but hasn't He done the same for us? He brought us out of slavery to sin. Because of His grace and mercy, we can walk with our heads held high. We are children of the King! We need to remember this and put on this confidence each morning. I believe it will make a difference in our attitudes and possibly the way the world views Christ.

Just like our physical clothing, if we feel good about what we are wearing we will feel good about ourselves. Instead of standing at the door of the prayer closet trying to decide what to put on, we need to have these things laid out and ready each day. When we wear them, our days will run more efficiently.
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"She can laugh at the days to come." Proverbs 31:25b

I would be willing to guess that each of you have heard of and could probably recite parts of the "Serenity Prayer." The part that automatically comes to my mind (in a paraphrase) is about changing things in our control, and not worrying about the others. The Proverbs 31 woman clearly shows this attitude. I think that anyone who can "laugh at the days to come," must know the secret of letting the Lord handle what we can't.

There are also other examples throughout the Bible. I love the example of Esther. If you read the entire book of Esther, you will not find the Lord's name mentioned at all. However, you will see Him behind the scenes, working out the problems of His people. When you are facing something and you don't feel like the Lord is there, realize that He is always there, working things out for His people. Esther learned through her experiences to trust the Lord. She did what she could do, and left the rest to Him.

Another place to look for an example of trusting God instead of worrying is in the book of Mark. I can truly relate to the fear the disciples felt when they were in a boat in the middle of a storm. The storm alone would be enough for me, but in a boat?  When the disciples finally went to wake Jesus up, they asked, "Don't you care if we drown?" Immediately, Jesus handled the situation. Afterward He asked them why they had been so afraid. The disciples had started out trying to handle the situation themselves, although they had no control over nature. As a last resort they did what they could do to change the situation; they asked Jesus to help. Sometimes this is our only option. Eventually they learned to trust Him to change the things they couldn't control.

I think one of the things that helped me to write this devotional this week was the attitude of a friend of mine. She is going through a really tough time. She made the comment to me that she finally realized that the outcome of her situation would be the same, but her attitude in the midst of it could be different. Sometimes our attitudes are the only things we have control over.

I had the opportunity to share this within my own family this week. It seems that at every turn, the same lesson keeps surfacing: Change what you have control over and leave the rest to the Lord! Whether there is an action we can take, if all we can do is pray, or if we just change our attitude, this is a tough thing to put into practice. I pray we will be able to master this and "laugh at the days to come!"
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"She speaks with wisdom..." Proverbs 31:26a

Have you ever said something and immediately wished you could take it back? This usually results in hurt feelings or a conflict of some sort. If we look at the Proverbs 31 woman as our example, we can be ever so aware of our words and guard the things that leave our mouths. In this way, we too can speak with wisdom.

I would like to share a portion regarding our speech from the book, A Woman of Noble Character.

Words can tear people down or build them up. As women striving to please God, we should purpose to build up not only our families, but the people around us as well. This is one of the most difficult areas for people to master. The Bible talks about being able to control large animals and ships, but not being able to control our tongues.

We should always try to keep a tight rein on our tongues. The Bible has many verses addressing this aspect of our character. Watching what we say includes the tone that we use when speaking to others, spreading things that we hear, griping or complaining, and the actual content of what we say. All of these areas should reflect the character of Christ.

One more area concerning words that we need to be aware of is our self-conversations. We normally do not consider the things we think to ourselves as conversations; however that is exactly what they are. You can talk yourself into being offended or mad at someone just by dwelling on an incident or thinking negative things about that person. Just because your words are not audible doesn’t mean they won’t have an ill effect on people.

Several years ago, someone gave me a checklist to use to examine my words. Ask yourself these questions BEFORE you say anything or as you find yourself thinking:

1. Is it kind?
2. Is it true?
3. Is it necessary?
4. Does it reflect Christ’s Character?

If the answer to any of these questions is “No”, refrain from saying them and purpose to redirect your thoughts. By thinking before we speak and using these questions to guide our words, maybe we will have less words to try and take back.
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"So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God." Genesis 45:8a

Have you ever felt like you were in a rut or a dead end situation? For most people, the answer would be yes. When these times come and your dreams are getting squashed, don't lose hope. God is still in control, and He always has a plan.

Within the last year, I saw a very good friend of mine go through a very trying time. She was almost to the point of giving up because she couldn't see a way out. However, she never lost her faith. I do not know the purpose for her trial, but I know that God had a plan and will still use her experience. She had to work and do her part, but God's timing for her has come. Now she can see a light at the end of the tunnel, a dream being fulfilled.

Joseph went through a similar but worse scenario. He also started out with a dream. This dream showed him being bowed down to. Although he didn't fully understand it, it was exciting for him to think about.

When he told his family about the dream, it was the last straw for his brothers. They got so mad that they sold him into slavery! For years he went through severe trials: betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and prison. In all of these, he kept his faith. I wonder if through it all, he held on to the dream, realizing that it came from the Lord. Maybe he knew the Lord's plans would prevail in the end.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

Most of you know how the story ends. He ends up a very powerful man in the Egyptian kingdom due to his Godly wisdom regarding the famine. When events looked like they would never turn out as he had dreamed, God sent Joseph's family to Egypt. Eventually, his brothers bowed to him, and he revealed his identity. (Dream fulfilled!) Immediately he shared the verse:

"It was not you who sent me here, but God." Genesis 45:8a

I love the lessons we can take from Joseph's life.

* We can still be used in the ruts.
* The way out is in God's timing.
* We still need to do our part.
* We are there for a purpose.
* God will not waste our experiences.
* Our trials help us minister to others.
* God is in control of our situations and our dreams, not the people around us.

When hard times come, remember all of these things. Most importantly, stay close to the Lord; He is the only One with the strength to pull you out, and the only One with the power to fulfill your dreams!
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"By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night." Exodus 13:21

A Letter to My Son
As I mentioned last month, my son graduated from High School this month. As one of his gifts, my daughter made him a scrapbook of his High School years and I got people to write letters of advice to him. She added the letters into the pages, and it turned out beautifully! Since this basically applies to us all, I would like to share a portion of what the Lord laid on my heart for him. I have excluded all personal parts of the letter.

From this point on, you will have the same obstacles, challenges, and successes, only at a different level. That is why more than ever you need to stay in God's Path. I know you have heard me talk about this before, but I truly feel that God has given me this word for you now.

I want you to keep the wandering Israelites in mind as you make any type of decision in life. Remember that they were in the desert with extreme heat, a shortage of food and water, and cold conditions at night. This would make 40 years unbearable. However, God didn't just provide for them, He was for them the things that they needed. During the day, He was a cloud to cover them and shield them from the heat. At night, He was a pillar of fire to lighten the darkness and to keep them warm. All of this was only available to them when they stayed on His path.

He also provided food and water while they were on the path. He miraculously had water come gushing from a rock, while bread and quail actually fell from the sky. When it comes down to it, it was just a matter of common sense. If they had not been where God was sending the food and water, they would not have been able to receive it.

As you take steps throughout your life, please remember that God is the same now as He was then. He not only provides protection for you, He IS your protection. He is also your provider. Just like us, He only wants what is best for you; He will send it too. Just be sure you are on the path so that you will be able to receive His blessings abundantly!

"What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do." Isaiah 46:11b
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Gardening 101
Then He told this parable, "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" Luke 13:6-9

We have several young fruit trees in our yard, but so far no fruit. One of the latest trees my husband planted was a pear tree. We got so excited to see tiny little pears start to grow. We were just as deflated when they withered up and fell off before they were mature.

Just like our pear tree, the parable shows that the fig tree was not bearing fruit for the master. That was the tree's purpose for living - bearing fruit. Not only was it not serving it's purpose, but it was also taking up valuable space in the vineyard.

I have read this parable many times in the past and have seen the same thing over and over. It wasn't until this morning that the Lord showed me a different perspective to see it from - the gardener's perspective.

First of all, the gardener showed his concern for the tree as he pled for the owner to spare it. He actually interceded for the tree.

Secondly, he was not ready to give up hope. When you think about 3 years with no fruit, it really sounds like a long time to wait. He was also still willing to spend his time and energy to take care of the tree. It is really hard to continue to nurture something when you do not see results.

As I read this, God showed me that we need to be more like the gardener when dealing with unfruitful believers. Do we always keep them in our prayers and plead for them? Do we intercede with a sense of urgency?

We cannot give up or lose hope for them. Instead, we must continue to nurture them in hope that they will return to fulfill the purpose the Lord has set for them.

I also wonder if the fig tree would have begun to bear fruit if the gardener would have "put the tree down" and talked about it behind it's back. Somehow, I think nurturing would have better results. However, so many times we talk about people who have fallen away from serving the Lord. No wonder it takes so long for them to return.

My husband will continue to care for the pear tree in hopes that next year we will have fruit. I had to wait for 4 years for my peonies to bloom! Honestly, I had given up hope, but I'm glad I waited. When they did finally bloom, they were gorgeous and lasted for weeks! How much better will it be when our brothers and sisters in Christ return for service? Until then, intercede, nurture, and do not lose hope.                                                                                                       ********************************************************************************************
"She speaks and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26b

There is so much I could say about mentors and the process of mentoring, that I find myself paralyzed in writing about it.

I could share about 2 ladies (Sandra & Merlyn) in my church who are mentors to me, or how sometimes someone will look to you as an example and you will not even realize it (importance of living a Godly life when you don't think anyone is watching). I could tell how important it is to reach out to younger girls and lead and guide them. I could also share that it is not always the older women who are actively mentoring the younger. Lastly, I could try to show the importance of making a difference in the next generation.

Instead, I will let a very familiar passage in God's Word do the talking.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:3-5

How powerful and straightforward is that? The Lord gives the instruction as well as the challenge. Let's be obedient and act on it.

MENTORS
M - Make a Difference in the Kingdom
E - Encourage Others
N - Nice in Character
T - Teach from Experiences
O - Obedient with Her Words
R - Reverence Toward the Lord
S - Submissive & Self-Controlled                                                                                                   ********************************************************************************************
"She watches over the affairs of her household." Proverbs 31:27a

Have you ever experienced "Women's Intuition," either as a wife or mother, or perhaps as a child - wondering how your mother knew? I believe the Lord does give us special abilities to interpret what might be really going on. However, I also believe that the biggest way in which He allows us to see these things is in listening and paying attention to the people and events around us, and keeping the lines of communication open.

This is truly a gift for women. If you will notice, women are the ones who naturally watch and listen. Sometimes this is misinterpreted as being nosey, other times as being a people-watcher. I don't think this comes naturally to men, nor do they seem to understand it. On many occasions my husband has wondered why the kids told me things that they didn't share with him. All I could say was, "I asked them about it."

My daughter has a friend that I actually taught when they were in 5th grade. I used to get such a kick out of being around her. I could always tell which boy she liked after being around her for about 5 minutes. She was always amazed and thought I was a psychic or something. What she didn't realize (but will after reading this), is that although she considered it a secret that no one knew, she was very open and talked freely to me. All I had to do was listen and fill in the blanks.

It was pretty much the same with my daughter. Keeping the lines of communication open gave her the freedom to tell me everything that went on in her life. There were times she told me things that I thought I could have actually done without knowing! This allowed me to watch and monitor the influences and decisions she made throughout those critical years. Open communication and trust is so important in knowing what goes on in your household.

I realize that all kids are not this open. In fact, I almost had to drag information out of my son. I found that the key to communicating with him was:

*Listening Intently to all that he said
*Showing interest in the things he chose to share
*Asking questions in a non-interrogating way
*Having his friends over to our house

I know this all appears to just be about raising children, but this also applies to our lives in general. If we are called to "watch over the affairs of our household," that means all of it. Listening and communicating is also important with our husbands, employers, teachers, etc. This works with all relationships.

As we go through our daily lives, let's continue to apply these natural abilities the Lord has given us as women. Let them call it "Women's Intuition" if they want to. I will call it "watching over the affairs of my household."

I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw. Proverbs 24:32

(Added Afterward)
Note about my Husband
After I sent out the devotional mentioning my husband, I started thinking that I may have given the wrong impression about him. Although he used to wonder why the kids gave me more information, he picked up on things in other areas that I seemed a little more naive in. (Man's Intuition) I think it was one of those things where the Lord put us together and used both of us in different ways to know what was going on with our kids.

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She does not eat the bread of idleness.  Proverbs 31:27b
I guess most of you have heard the expression, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop." How true this statement is! When you are not being productive, Satan starts planting thoughts and lies in your head.

The Bible has lots to say on this subject. In fact, Proverbs alone is filled with wisdom dealing with productivity vs. laziness. Let's take a look at a few verses throughout the Bible. In Proverbs 31, the Bible says "she does not eat the bread of idleness." Titus 2:5 tells us that we should be "busy at home." 2 Thessalonians 3:11 says, "We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy, they are busybodies." Maybe this is where the saying stems from: Idle hands are the devil's workshop!

If you read the entire verse in Titus 2, "busy at home" comes after "be self-controlled." Sometimes it takes a lot of self-control to turn off the TV or in my case, step away from the computer to actually fulfill our responsibilities.  At other times, it may take self-control to step away from the work and spend time with the Lord and our families. This is one of those matters of balance. If we choose to be too busy, it is easy to neglect those we love the most. I believe this is another one of Satan's traps.

In Exodus 5, the Israelites were still in slavery to the Egyptians. They had in their hearts to go worship the Lord. Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh asking for permission for the people to be able to take a 3 day journey for worship and sacrificing purposes.  Even Pharaoh knew how powerful keeping people too busy was. He ordered more work to be added to the Israelites' daily load, saying, "Make the work harder for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies." Exodus 5:9 He knew that if he kept them busy, they wouldn't have time to even think about worship. Isn't this how Satan works today?

We need to take a look at our own lives. First of all, are we being productive? Secondly, are we too busy for worship and family time? Don't let Satan have even a foothold in getting us out of focus - keep the balance!

Isn't it awesome to see God's timing in even the little things? I had a lot of trouble writing this devotion due to my busyness! It is a good thing that the expo is almost here. I am convicted that I need to get back in focus!
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This past month I helped my daughter decorate her 1st apartment. This brought back memories of a different time in my life when decorating was not even of interest to me at all. Thinking back, it was probably because I didn't have a clue what I was doing. I am so thankful that the Lord introduced me to Romantic Homes Magazine and HGTV!

I thought I would share an exerpt from my book, A Woman of Noble Character this month and follow it up with some fall decorating ideas.

Have you heard the expression, "Bloom where you are planted?" Keep this expression in mind when you think about your living conditions. There will be times (especially in the beginning of your marriage) that you are not in your "dream home." Be faithful with what you have.

Years ago, I lived through a period where most of my friends were in new or larger homes than I was. I was not bitter or envious, but I did desire to have a nicer house. I kept my house picked up and cleaned, but didn't really do any decorating or extras. God gave me a verse that convicted me:

"Well done, my good servant!" his master replied. "Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities."

This really started to make sense to me when a good friend of mine sold her house and moved into a rent house while they built another one. While she was in the rental property she painted and put up new wallpaper. She kept it clean, organized, and decorated. Seeing the way she responded to a temporary situation made a lasting impression on me. Bloom where you are planted!

Enjoy, appreciate, decorate, and take care of what God gives you at the time. Be patient and faithful with what you have and in His timing, more will come.

Here are a few simple Fall Decorating Ideas:

*Use rich fall colors for items such as table runners, tablecloths, soap dispensers, pillows, candles, and other accents.
*Use branches, leaves, pine cones, acorns, etc. for decorations.
*Display fresh mums around the house.
*Use stones, pine cones, or fall fruit (limes, cranberries, kumquats, etc.) as fillers/anchors in vases of flowers or branches.
*Use miniature pumpkins for candle holders, arrangements, or place cards.
*Use candles with a fall scent.
*For large family gatherings - Set up a buffet using a side table covered in fall fabric. Put different sized boxes under the cloth for various levels to display the food.

Just a few simple ideas can make it easy to transform your home into a fall sanctuary.
Happy Decorating!

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"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should
be the same as Christ Jesus..." Philippians 2:4,5

Love in Action
As we come into the Christmas season, we all picture Christ as the little baby in the manger. We usually don't think about His birth being a sacrifice, however, deciding to leave the glory of Heaven to come to a fallen world was definitely sacrificial. In fact, His entire earthly life was a sacrifice, ending with the ultimate giving of His life for us - all of us.

Today, we call ourselves "Christians" which means Christ-like. If He is a clear picture of sacrificial love, are we really portraying Him through our actions? Do we look like Christ? Is our love put into action?

If you take a step back and look at all that goes on at Christmas, you will see more love put into action than any other time of year. The radio station we listen to has a program called Christmas Wish that has grown over the years to help thousands of people. The public really gives to this project. You will also see Angel Trees, Salvation Army Ringers, and all sorts of motorcycle toy runs. These are all wonderful displays of love for people we will probably never meet, but who desperately need it.

I think to really examine our Christ-likeness on an individual basis though, we need to take a closer look at how we love the people we come in contact with. The Bible gives us all sorts of examples of how Christ treated people on the streets. He was kind, restored them, fed them, healed them, and loved them. This included the ones that were hard to love. Now to apply this.

Who are the "Hard to love" people in our lives? They can show up as road rage drivers, disrespectful kids, rude store clerks, quick-tempered shoppers, grouchy people, or even people we know who have hurt us in the past. When you think about it, these are the people who need the most love. Joyce Meyer says, "Hurting people hurt people." This statement has so much truth to it. Love is the only way to counteract the anger and hurt they feel. When you show them love regardless of their actions, they can't help but change.

After beginning to write this devotional, I was reminded that it is even sometimes hard to put love into action with the people we love the most. Just let them make you mad and see how much love comes pouring out. After a time of conflict with my son yesterday, in my heart I did not want to put love into action. I knew what the right thing to do was, but I ended up having to go through a little repentance first!

Love is not always easy, but to be like Christ, we are called to love. Just as Christ sacrificed for all, we are called to love all. During this Christmas season where love shows up the most, let's all take it a step further and show love to everyone we come in contact with.
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God's Purposes Revealed

A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way? Proverbs 20:24

Almost a year ago, I wrote a devotional regarding using our God given skills to fulfill His purposes. The article focused mostly on using the skills. At the time, I really needed those words myself as I was trying to make it through another school year. I have to confess that I had been teaching for several years, but over time the desire had diminished. As I looked back on that devotional this week, I was reminded that the Lord does give us certain abilities and talents to accomplish His purposes. However, it has only been within the last 2 months that I could actually see His purpose clearly. What an overwhelming difference that has made in my life!

To really explain how the Lord has worked in all of this, I must go back several years. Almost 20 years ago, the Lord placed me in a job at the Juvenile Probation Department. We were connected to the detention center, so I was able to interact a great deal with the kids. Most of the time I got too involved and too attached. After 5 years I had gone through lots of hurt and my perspective was a little off. My only interaction with teenaged kids was with kids who were in lots of trouble. I can remember thinking that all teenagers were troubled. At that time, the Lord began dealing with me to do something to help kids before they got to that point. He spoke clearly to me about going back to school and becoming a teacher.

Over the past 13 years, I hope that I have done some things right and made a difference with some students. However, it is only now that I am remembering why He had me teach in the first place. Back in September, I was given the name of a student to possibly add to my Reading program. I am ashamed to say that when I saw his name, my first reaction was, "No Way!" I had seen his behavior and attitude for a year, and I did not want to deal with that. However, the Lord had a different plan. When I knew I was going to add him to the program, a good friend of mine tried to encourage me by saying that the Lord must be putting the two of us together for a reason. How right she was.

I had a talk with him before making the change to his schedule, and he assured me he would be on his best behavior. When he finally came to my class, he was true to his word. I had no idea that he had such good, respectful behavior within him. After being around him for only a few weeks, I really grew to love him. In fact, I saw him as a true blessing that God had sent my way.

Due to several events taking place, I am now able to work with this student on a one-on-one basis. When the events first started coming about, the Lord reminded me of the purpose He had set before me so many years ago while I was at the probation department. It was as if I had come full circle. Being able to see that I was finally working on what He had called me to, brought my desire back for teaching. It made me a better teacher for the other students as well. There is something about seeing your purpose that makes you more effective in all areas.

Looking back, I can see how the Lord orchestrated different areas of my life to bring this about. For instance, we had lots of changes in our school last year. I wasn't sure if I should change grade levels which would have meant going to a different school, change districts altogether, or stay where I was. Over the summer I had 2 different districts contact me about teaching for them. I had to do lots of praying over this matter. As tempting as they both were, I truly felt that for some reason the Lord wanted me to stay where I was. I am so glad that I happened to be listening at the time. As all of this was beginning to be revealed, the Lord pointed out an encouraging verse for me to meditate on:

And He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation. Acts 17:26

As I continually thought about this, my first thoughts seemed to be kind of arrogant. They were all about how I was placed here to help this student and to try to make a difference in his life. Although that is my goal, and I pray for that continually, the real change has been the difference he has made in my life. For God to use a  teenager to show me that He still wants to use me, to give me a clear purpose, and to put a desire back into my heart for teaching is sometimes more than I can stand without tears. There are many other things He has taught me through this young man, but there is not enough time to even begin.

I would like to encourage you also to find God's purpose in each aspect of your life. As I wrote several months ago, using the skills and abilities He gives us is very important. They can even help you discover the purposes set before you. Obviously for me, finding the purpose was enormous! If you are in a position at home or in the workforce that seems monotonous, seek the Lord's purpose for having you there. Pray about it, look for opportunities, and seek Him in all you do. It has taken me 13 years to get a clear picture, but as I mentioned earlier, what a difference that picture has made. It has transformed my job into my calling!

(For further reading on God's purpose, read the stories of Joseph (Genesis) and Esther. They are some of my favorites.)
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Make the Most of Your Skills

I have been reading through the book of Exodus. Currently I am on all the details of the building of the tabernacle and the duties that went along with it. If you are not careful, it is easy to read sections of the Bible like this and think they are filled with history that doesn't apply to us. Oh the nuggets of Truth we miss! This morning, I read about Bezalel and Oholiab. This is what the scriptures had to say about them:

"I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts" (Exodus 31:3).

"Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you" (Exodus 31:6).

The Lord immediately spoke to me about all of the ways He equips us for the things that He calls us to do. Another way of looking at this is the things we excel in and enjoy are things we should be doing for His Kingdom, not just to make a living.

It is amazing to see how He has done this in my own life. As many of you know, my profession is teaching. I have been trained to be a teacher, and He has given me qualities that teachers need. Not only has He allowed me to help students and actually earn money for teaching, but I have also had the chance to be a part of His Kingdom work through VBS and Sunday School. Now He has allowed me to start "Out of the Nest & Beyond," another teaching ministry. Sometimes it is overwhelming to think that He would be so much in the details of my life that He would take my training & characteristics and put them together with my "home" desires to give me a new opportunity. That is just how He works. He gives us the skills, abilities, knowledge, and yes, even desires to do all that He has commanded of us.

Take a look at what you are the best at and think how you can use that to minister to others. Whether you work at home or away from home, it doesn't matter. Let's just focus now on our home lives. Think of all the many skills it takes to run a household and raise a family! You may be great at cleaning, cooking, organizing, decorating, financial planning, teaching, communicating, sewing, or crafts. The list could go on forever. In each of these areas, you can minister to the people around you. You could have a ministry with people who are sick or the shut-ins at your church. You may take what you know and use it to help young wives or mothers. (Read Titus 2:3-5.) Our youth can use all the Godly mentors they can get. If nothing else, there are always things that can be done at the church.

If you will take a look at what you are good at, and what you enjoy, you will be able to find an area of ministry. Like the verses state, the Lord gives us the skills, abilities, and knowledge to accomplish His purposes! Let's make sure we are doing just that. I would like to leave you with one of my daughter's favorite verses:

"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
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Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

So many things have been happening in the different areas of my life lately. Earlier in the month, I was thinking back and doing a little reflecting. This brought about an overwhelming sense of thankfulness - beyond expression. While all of this was going on, I was reading the book, Out of the Dust . I came to an entry the main character made in which she listed all that she was thankful for in poetry form. Before I knew it, I had found the outlet I needed to express my own feelings.

Blessings in My Life

Opportunities to Spend Time with Others
Sacrifices that Become Desires
Lessons Learned
Blessings in Disguise
Walls that Tumble
Friends Willing to Follow the Lord's Direction
A Supportive Husband who Loves the Lord
God's Directions when They Don't Make Sense
Smiles that Capture Your Heart
Children who Love
Accepted Trust
Differences Yet to be Made
Challenges to Face
Hope
An Overflowing Heart
Purposes Revealed
Tears for Others
Tears of Joy
Finished Consequences
Seeing God Work
Small Surprises
God's Creative & Perfect Timing
Timely Encouragement
Overcoming Negative Reports & Obstacles
New Beginnings
Unexpected Love
Changed Lives
Open Doors
Joy of Salvation
Missions Accomplished
Ongoing Missions
Knowing that God is Bigger than Circumstances
Opportunities to Give Back
Childhood Memories
Unconditional Love of Parents
Unexpected Messages from God
Friends Who Don't Understand but Love You Anyway
Music with a Message
Intercessory Prayer Partners
Joy in the Journey
Confirmation Along the Way
Seeing Good Come from Bad
Full Circle Events
School Administrators Who Seek the Lord
Friends Who Love Children
Seeing the Big Picture
Life Shaping Events
2 Kings 6:13-17
Perseverence
The Least of These (Matt. 25:40)
Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Spiritual Leadership in the Home
Ability to See Through the Eyes of Others
Being Able to See Why People are Who They Are
The Privilege of Being Used
A Grandmother's Legacy
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Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Rev. 19:7

Devotional

This month's devotional comes from a friend of ours, Garry Griffin. Knowing that our daughter is getting married and that my husband would be conducting the ceremony, he sent this to us. It was so meaningful right here at the wedding season, I thought that I would share it.

The attendants had all taken their places, the pastor was standing center aisle, the music stopped, and for a moment, all hung still and silent. Then with a crescendo the music announced the coming of the bride and the doors to the sanctuary were opened. Accompanied by her father, the bride began her walk down the aisle. I am sure you have been there; you've seen it a dozen times. Probably been involved in it yourself.

She was beautiful, striking, the princess of the fairy tale as she started down the aisle. But for some reason, my eyes quickly left that vision and switched up to the groom. The muscles in his chin tightened for a second, then quivered. A tear made its way to the corner of each eye, and dropped onto his cheek. I know what he felt. I have been there. But what Steven felt, I as his father, felt also. The joy he felt I understood. But my joy was not just for the groom, or the bride but also for everything that preceded it and all that was to follow, all rolled into one. All the plans and prayer and hopes and dreams and a lifetime of getting ready for this day were felt at that moment.

I understand just a little better, now that I have been father of the groom, our heavenly fathers love for His son and the bride, for all the pain and preparation that took place to bring it to that point, and all that will follow when the bride and groom are together.

You and I are the bride, the wedding party is in place, and in just a second the doors will swing wide. The Father will soon see His Son's lip quiver as the bride comes down the aisle. I understand now, just a little better, the unspeakable joy the Father will have on the beautiful morning. It will be glorious. Are you ready?

To find out more about Gary and to read more of his devotions, go to his blog below.
http://mannainthemorning.blogspot.com/
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"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Proverbs 31:28-29

It has been some time since I have actually written using one of the Proverbs 31 scriptures as my reference. However, the Lord has now led me back to the place where I left off. (See the scripture above.) Although these particular scriptures can be very encouraging, I also see them as a challenge. They challenge us to take a look at what others see in us because our true character shows through to people. The way people see us can sometimes be a way of examining our own character.

Last month we had the privilege of celebrating Mother's Day. Most people who are able honor their mother on that particular day. In the scripture, I believe it is talking about more than just a day of honor. It says that her children "arise and call her blessed." The word arise is a verb that requires action. This is not just standing in our honor, but honoring us with their life. Now I can tell you from experience that children, just like adults, have a mind of their own. Sometimes all of the love and examples in the world cannot guide a child to make the right choices. However, when we as mothers set good examples, we will usually be able to see some evidence in our children. Our ultimate goal is to lead, guide, and show them just how to make the right decisions. When we do this, they can call us blessed with the lifestyle they lead. What a great legacy!

The scripture also speaks of our husbands praising us. Again, keep in mind the phrase, "Mind of their own!" Seriously though, I truly believe that most husbands appreciate their wife's character, even if it is not spoken. I believe that they can see when we are at least trying to possess Godly characteristics, and that they are grateful for it. If you look back to the beginning of Proverbs 31, it talks about Godly character being a rare thing. Men know this too. I do feel blessed to have a husband who appreciates me, even with my many faults. If you do not feel appreciated, just listen to the things your husband says about you to your children.

There is another area in which we can examine our character - by looking at how the people in our area of influence see us. If you have been in the world at all, you can easily see that not everyone has Godly examples in their home. I feel that we are all called to share these qualities with everyone we come in contact with. We can have a huge impact in the lives of people around us, just by setting the right examples. Think about the people/kids in your neighborhood, classroom, church, or even in public - store clerks or bank tellers. People are always watching. What do they see?

Read the verses again, and take them as an encouraging challenge to impact others. Appreciation is nice, but it is not our motivation. Seeking to be the best not only for our families and the people around us, but for our Lord is the true reason for our efforts!
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"Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

Have you ever tried to help someone and ended up giving them bad advice instead? Earlier this year I gave some well thought out advice to a couple of my students. Thinking that being charming at school would help them in the long run, I told them to "charm a teacher." Boy did that come back to get them! The teacher saw right through it. When she mentioned it to me, I immediately went and told them to lay off of the charm.

Looking at this month's scripture, I can see why that advice didn't work. The verse says that "charm is deceptive." Although my intentions were to show them that being nice and respectful to adults would get them further in life, charming a teacher was going against who they were. When you really think about the word charm, you can see that there is a different motivation about it. I think the reason the Bible says that it is deceptive is because there is an underlying selfishness in it.

A perfect example of a charming woman is one of my favorite characters, Scarlett O'Hara. She could get almost anyone to do anything. However, she used her charming nature for her own selfish desires. This is exactly where the deception comes into play.

The next part of the scripture says, "Beauty is Fleeting." Working around teens I see the importance they put on physical looks. When you think about it, it is not only teens who do this. Almost all of us focus on our appearance. This is not necessarily a bad thing if kept in perspective. As we read though, "beauty is fleeting." In these days, it seems like plastic surgery helps with this. However, in the natural course of time, we see that wrinkles still come along with a few other changes as we go through life. There is still a beauty about aging though. I hope to age gracefully and be content with what the Lord has given me. However, I can compare current photos with ones from my younger days and see a difference. If beauty is based only on appearance, it is definitely fleeting.

The last part of the verse has the answer! "But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." This last little phrase almost wraps up all of the Proverbs 31 verses. It is as if the writer summarizes them by implying that all of the characteristics mentioned for a woman of noble character hang on having a reverence for the Lord.

I think that this is one of the areas in which we desire to have the qualities that without the Lord's help are impossible to obtain. By putting the Lord first in our lives, He transforms us into who He wants us to be. He brings out the "Proverbs 31" characteristics within us, and therefore we are able to bless those around us.

Having a charm or charismatic quality about you is not a bad thing. Being physically beautiful is obviously not a bad thing either. All good things come from the Lord. However, remember that what is most important is the "fear of the Lord." When we put the Lord first, others will see Christlike characteristics in us, resulting in praise that we can direct toward Him. With His characteristics we will not have to purposely "charm a teacher," because His love covers it all!
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Daily Bread

What could be better than filling your home with the aroma of fresh bread baking in your oven? Just last week I was on the phone with a friend who had just taken a fresh loaf of bread out of her oven. She commented on the wonderful smell that was filling her house. She had gotten a starter from one of her friends, and after a couple of days of preparation, it was finally time for baking.

Since the Bible talks quite a bit about bread, I would like to look at some of its different aspects. First of all, you can't talk about bread without mentioning yeast. In most areas of the Bible, yeast represents sin. However, in Matthew, yeast is an important component.

He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of Heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." Matthew 13:33

In the parable, the yeast causes the dough to increase and rise. The kingdom of Heaven is also that way. Although it started small in number, it continues to increase. As Christians, the Holy Spirit allows us to be a part of this process. When we witness in the world, we are working the flour and increasing the dough.

During the Israelites' exodus, they had to escape in the middle of the night. God had just protected their firstborns with the Passover, and now He was telling them to leave immediately. He had ordered them just the day before not to use yeast in their bread. Looking back, you can see His purpose in these directions; if they had used yeast, the bread would not have been ready for the long journey ahead of them. This bread became a symbol of the protection of His people.

As the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, you can imagine how scarce food was. As He always does, God still provided for them. This time, He gave them manna (Heavenly bread) to meet their needs. The amazing thing about manna was that it came directly from the Lord, and it was a daily thing. God gave them strict orders NOT to store it up. There was nothing they could do themselves to make this bread; they could only trust God for it. God is still the same today. He provides for our physical needs on a daily basis, but we have to trust Him for it.

In the book of John, Jesus miraculously fed the 5000 with a few loaves of bread and some fish. The very next day, the crowd searched for Him so they could see another miracle. He explained to them that they should "Not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life," John 6:27. He explained further that "the Bread of God is He who comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world," John 6:33. In the same way that He meets our physical needs, He is also there to meet us spiritually. In fact, He puts the eternal before the temporary. As our Daily Bread, He provides spiritual nourishment and protection if we will just trust Him for it. When we trust Him and allow Him to work in our lives, the dough will begin to spread and others will be affected. Have you accepted the Bread of Life? If you have, is there a sweet aroma filling your life? If not, allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life so you can be a part of the kingdom's increase.

Let the sweet aroma of these dinner rolls remind you of our Daily Bread.

Easy Dinner Rolls

1 Cup of warm water (105-115 degrees)
2 Packages of Active Dry Yeast
1 Stick of Melted Butter
½ Cup of Sugar
3 Eggs
1 Teaspoon of Salt
4 - 4 ½ Cups Unbleached, All-Purpose Flour
Additional Melted Butter (optional)

Directions:

Combine the warm water and yeast in a large bowl. Let the mixture stand until yeast is foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in butter, sugar, eggs, and salt. Beat in flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough is too stiff to mix (some flour may not be needed). Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. (It can be left for up to 4 days at this stage).

Grease a 13 X 9 inch baking pan. Turn the chilled dough out onto a lightly floured board. Divide dough into 24 equal-size pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth round ball. Place balls in even rows in the prepared pan. Cover and let dough balls rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake until rolls are golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Brush warm rolls with melted butter, if desired.
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A Lesson from Football

It is very hard to stay satisfied, even with things you desire! Last school year all I heard about from my 6th grade boys was how they couldn't wait until 7th grade to play football. I am not exaggerating when I say that I heard that ALL year long! As soon as the practices started this year, I began to hear a lot of griping and complaining about how they just weren't going to do all of the running that the coaches required. Some of the guys even quit the team. I thought how utterly ridiculous their attitudes were. They weren't satisfied with what they wanted.

One day at church, we were reading in John 19.

"But they shouted, 'Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him!'"John 19:15a

The very same truth came to me. For centuries people had been looking for and anticipating the Messiah. Just a few days earlier, when Jesus was performing miracles, they were thrilled with Him. Now in troubling times, they were not satisfied that He be their Messiah. They were even willing to turn to Caesar!

"'We have no king but Caesar.' the chief priests answered." John 19:15c

This situation looks like an easy place to condemn. However, I am truly glad I wasn't around at that time. Who knows what my actions or feelings would have been? I started thinking about all the areas in which I acted in the same dissatisfied and ungrateful way.

How many of us wish for a new car, only to get it and in no time want something else? How many times do we pray for God's provision, only to gripe about our jobs? It is so easy to pray about a new house, but complain about the cleaning and upkeep once we get it. These all fit into the same "utterly ridiculous" category as the football guys and their practice. You have to take the good with the bad.

I know the football team did have to work hard, and I probably wouldn't have made it through 1 practice. However, both teams ended up with great records; one being undefeated. Their hard work did pay off.

What a timely lesson for the Lord to bring about here at Thanksgiving. It is a very simple but important lesson - You may not enjoy all it takes to keep something, but stick with it and enjoy the benefits of what the Lord gives you. Be thankful and satisfied with all that you have.
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Cut Down!

Every time we go to church, we pass a Christmas tree farm. My husband has made many comments about the owner's ability to grow nice trees. Over the years I have watched little sprouts become pretty big trees. It is neat to keep your eye on one or two of them, and watch them fill out and grow up. As we drive past them, I usually try to pick out which ones would be the best trees for decorating.

This past Sunday as we were driving by, I noticed one of the little ones I have been watching, and thought what a nice Christmas tree it would make one day. Its color was beautiful and the shape nearly perfect. I was envisioning a family going out and cutting it down. Although I have known all along that this was the purpose of the tree farm, it occurred to me that the only reason these trees were planted was to die. I thought about how sad that seemed.

The Lord quickly showed me a very obvious analogy with Christ. Although I have heard most of my life that Christ came to Earth to save us (by dying), it just made the picture a little more clear. Dying to save us was His purpose from the beginning of time. He was "planted" here on Earth to die. Just as the trees are taken care of and nurtured during their short life, He was taken care of by His earthly parents. When the appointed time came, He was "cut down." The difference here is in the purpose. Although both make our Christmas season a little more meaningful, Christ's death makes life everlasting.

This Christmas season remember the reason He came. The child in the manger was more than a baby; He was Salvation. He knew fully what He would endure by coming here, but did it with joy anyway.

"Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross" Hebrews 12:2a

He was fulfilling His purpose! Planted to be cut down for us!
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"Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:31

Since I first began teaching, I have used rewards on a consistent basis. I have found that the students will do almost anything if there is a reward in sight. However, I have heard some teachers say that 6th graders will not work for rewards, that they are too old. To me that is just ridiculous. Don't we still work for rewards as adults? It is nice to get a pat on the back, a little praise here and there, or how about a raise! I don't think rewards ever lose their appeal. If so, the Bible wouldn't talk about the rewards available to us.

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7

As you can also see from the scripture, rewards are not gifts, they are earned. To earn things, we have to work for them. Please don't confuse this with salvation which is a free gift. Many times the work we are called to do is laborious, tiring, and at times it can be hard to see results. If the Lord has called us to these tasks, we must continue to work diligently anyway. Remember, a lot of times rewards don't come easily. If we can keep the goal or reward in sight, it will be easier to continue with His work.

When we think about rewards in the workplace, most of the time they are connected with money - bonuses, raises, etc. These are rewards of our hard work and time invested. Heavenly rewards are even sweeter than the monetary ones. When you invest time into a person, you may be able to earn their trust. That is priceless! Breaking down walls, making a difference in lives, leading people to accept salvation, and seeing those you've invested in living right are also rewards that you just can't put a price on.

The second part of Proverbs 31:31 talks about "Praise at the city gates." For years I have just seen this as public recognition. On an earthly basis, I guess that is true. However, back in January, a friend of mine, Traci passed away suddenly. She truly was one of the Godliest women I have ever known. As I read this scripture a few days after her death, a new perspective came to me. This was more than public recognition on earth, she was hearing, "Well done My good and faithful servant" at the City Gates of Heaven! This really helped me deal with her death. Knowing that her struggles here on earth were over and that she was now receiving Heavenly rewards was comforting. When it appears that no one notices what you do or when you start to feel discouraged, remember that your reward will be waiting in Heaven.

"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." 2 Corinthians 4:17- 18

I challenge you to take a look at all the rewards mentioned throughout the Bible. Look at the ones you receive daily, and look forward to the ones yet to come. They will help motivate you as you make a difference in this world. As far as my classroom is concerned, I will continue to use rewards. Whatever works!
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© 2005-2007 by Susan Sikes of Out of the Nest & Beyond
About the Author: Susan is the author of A Woman of Noble Character. Her ministry, Out of the Nest & Beyond, trains girls in the area of homemaking skills and encourages women. She sends out a free e-newsletter, "News from the Nest," each month which includes a devotional, tips and recipes. To find quick and easy recipes, visit www.OutOfTheNestandBeyond.com

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Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praise.  Proverbs 31:30