I remember taking a required home economics class in high school (many many years ago). The teacher presented a unit on time management. She mentioned that she actually counted her footsteps calculating the shortest paths she could take to save time preparing for work in the mornings. She had other tips on efficiency in performing household tasks, running errands, and the like. I recall feeling a bit baffled and maybe even somewhat amused at her advice. Why would anyone feel the need to chart their daily course and worry about such things as time saving tips? At that point in my life I could not seem to relate to this women's apparent plight. I did study hard and was involved in after school sports and activities. However, at that time I was only responsible for one person...myself. Because of that I seemed to have plenty of free downtime. I was well capable of managing my schedule with ease and time to spare.
It wasn't until years later that thoughts of my high school instructor came back to me. As I rushed about raising three children, homeschooling one of them and running a household I remembered my teacher's words of wisdom. "Oh, now I understand," I thought. I, like my teacher, now had to make the most of every minute. Packing lunches, helping with homework, carpooling, organizing birthday parties, supervising visits with the children's friends, keeping house, cooking meals, and keeping up with hubby were just some of my duties as wife and mother. I'm certain ladies that you can all well relate to this scenario. Sometimes my head would real with multitasking and I would literally fall into bed at night. Ah yes, now I knew why my home- ec teacher plotted her course and took advantage of every time saving device she could. Efficiency had now become a major priority. Why?... Survival!
The moral of this story is that sometimes we are just not ready to receive certain teachings and wisdom which we encounter. Until we experience circumstances for ourselves many times we cannot understand or relate to truths which could benefit us. The Bible says that the glory of the young is their strength while the glory of the aged is their wisdom. (Proverbs 20:29) Why do we have and seek wisdom when we are older? It is because we have survived many trials. We have observed patterns in life. We have decided that taking sound advice will save us from much heartache, stress, and sorrow. We realize, at last, that the Lord is on our side. He can be trusted to have our best interest at heart. The admonitions and commands He gives us in the Scriptures are there to bring us safety, health, and blessing. We finally "get it."
Let us remember, however, that those babes in Christ whom we are mentoring or praying for may not be ready for all the wisdom we may desire to impart to them. They have not experienced the security which comes from walking with the Lord for years. Therefore, they are still learning to trust God. They may be offended at certain corrections which the Word of God offers. Death to self is sometimes a long process. In the meantime let's pray diligently for our beloved young Christian brothers and sisters, sons, and daughters to grow in the grace and knowledge of God. (2 Peter 1:2) Let's ask the Lord to give us tactful gracious speech. May we win souls and nurture new believers with hearts of love and understanding.
Written By CF
..........WOMEN'S FOCUS MINISTRIES..
3/6/11
3/5/11
THE LION AND THE LAMB
Many of us have often said, "time sure flies!" We are often so busy multitasking that we lose track of time. It is already almost a week into the month of March. The season and weather is beginning to change in many parts of the country. The weather in March can be quite variable. The old saying "If March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb" indicates that if the weather is ferocious at the beginning of the month, it will likely be gentle at the end of the month. The lion and the lamb are often seen as opposites, as in that saying.
The lion is usually thought of as powerful and destructive, something to be feared. The lamb is often understood to be meek or vulnerable. The lion is the king of the jungle, the hunter, while the lamb is the prey, the hunted. There is an oft misquoted Bible passage about the lion and the lamb lying down together after the second coming. Though it doesn't actually say that the lion lies down with the lamb, it still gives the picture desired. In the Bible verse, it is actually the wolf living with the lamb, the leopard lying down with the goat, and the calf and lion and yearling are together, with a child leading them; the cow and bear eating together and their young lying together, and the child playing with the snake. The thought in the actual passage is the same as the misquote about the lion and the lamb, that there will be peace between what would be expected to be enemies:
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:6-9 NIV
This same thought is repeated again later in Isaiah, about the new heaven and the new earth:
The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. Isaiah 65:25 NIV
This is such a peaceful scene. These supposed opposites living together, eating and sleeping and playing together, is hard to imagine in our world. What a serene picture of heaven given to us by the prophet. There is another place in the Bible where it refers to the lion and the lamb, but this time it is referring to them as one and the same. This seems contradictory. How can something be powerful and conquering while at the same time hunted and killed? Seems like an oxymoron. But that is the picture given to us in Revelation:
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders... He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb... And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:1-10 NIV
Jesus is pictured as both the triumphant lion and the sacrificial lamb. He has conquered sin, death and the devil by laying down his life as a sacrifice for our sins, taking on the punishment we deserved, and giving us new life with him. What a wonderful day it will be when we join our Lord and Savior in heaven!
written by Jan Andersen, redeemed child of God
The lion is usually thought of as powerful and destructive, something to be feared. The lamb is often understood to be meek or vulnerable. The lion is the king of the jungle, the hunter, while the lamb is the prey, the hunted. There is an oft misquoted Bible passage about the lion and the lamb lying down together after the second coming. Though it doesn't actually say that the lion lies down with the lamb, it still gives the picture desired. In the Bible verse, it is actually the wolf living with the lamb, the leopard lying down with the goat, and the calf and lion and yearling are together, with a child leading them; the cow and bear eating together and their young lying together, and the child playing with the snake. The thought in the actual passage is the same as the misquote about the lion and the lamb, that there will be peace between what would be expected to be enemies:
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:6-9 NIV
This same thought is repeated again later in Isaiah, about the new heaven and the new earth:
The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. Isaiah 65:25 NIV
This is such a peaceful scene. These supposed opposites living together, eating and sleeping and playing together, is hard to imagine in our world. What a serene picture of heaven given to us by the prophet. There is another place in the Bible where it refers to the lion and the lamb, but this time it is referring to them as one and the same. This seems contradictory. How can something be powerful and conquering while at the same time hunted and killed? Seems like an oxymoron. But that is the picture given to us in Revelation:
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders... He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb... And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:1-10 NIV
Jesus is pictured as both the triumphant lion and the sacrificial lamb. He has conquered sin, death and the devil by laying down his life as a sacrifice for our sins, taking on the punishment we deserved, and giving us new life with him. What a wonderful day it will be when we join our Lord and Savior in heaven!
written by Jan Andersen, redeemed child of God
3/4/11
Change Our Heats
Saturday, March 5, 2011 Devotional
Recent events and headlines in the news are painting a grim picture of our nation’s great governmental system coming to an end. Over time, God and His Word have been removed from government and education (the very organization that was set up in order to teach God’s Word). So, what now? A wise man once said, “The philosophy of the classroom today is the philosophy of the government tomorrow.” Yes, here we are. It’s tomorrow, and it appears that the philosophy of a great portion of our leadership is that the law of this land (our Constitution) no longer rules.
It is not possible to control human behavior through the law alone. The law regulates outward behavior not attitudes or motives. The power of the Spirit of God is necessary to change the heart. Jesus made it clear that our righteous behavior makes no difference if our hearts are not right. If we hate, we’re guilty of murder. If we lust, we’re guilty of adultery. We may not like it, but it’s true.
As I ponder where we once were in this nation and where we are now, with the law of the land no longer ruling, but instead immoral opinions, minds and hearts, I see how desperately we need the lessons from the Sermon on the Mount. We need the message of the heart. Guard your thoughts. Marriage is sacred. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Go the extra mile. Love your enemies.
Change our hearts, Lord. The law is still the law whether it’s the Constitution, the Ten Commandments, or both. You didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. We have no right to walk away, to forego our duties, to break our promises. Change our hearts so that we can go back to righteous living where people are expected to do the right thing. It is only possible by Your Spirit, by Your power, and by Your grace!
I’m disheartened by what I see in our leadership today, but I’m not surprised. I know, however, that there are godly people out there with a heart for righteousness. Though it seems as if they are a David against a Goliath, God uses the underdog all the time. I know that I can only work on my own heart. I can only teach my own children, but I can ask others to do the same. I can pray. We can all pray.
If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves,
pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Ultimately God directs the hearts of the leaders, turning it where He wishes (Proverbs 21:1). Have certain recent events been allowed to occur in order for us to learn a lesson? I pray for leaders to rise up who have a fear of the Lord and a heart for righteousness. I pray for God to put these people into leadership, and to remove those with an ungodly character, who selfishly justify their actions as a means to an end. I know that it is not these ungodly people that I battle against, but a much stronger, darker force. Yet, I am not left defenseless, nor powerless against them. For the sake of my rights, my country, my children, I pray for God to intercede.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (AMP)
Written by Amie Spruiell 3/1/2011
Recent events and headlines in the news are painting a grim picture of our nation’s great governmental system coming to an end. Over time, God and His Word have been removed from government and education (the very organization that was set up in order to teach God’s Word). So, what now? A wise man once said, “The philosophy of the classroom today is the philosophy of the government tomorrow.” Yes, here we are. It’s tomorrow, and it appears that the philosophy of a great portion of our leadership is that the law of this land (our Constitution) no longer rules.
It is not possible to control human behavior through the law alone. The law regulates outward behavior not attitudes or motives. The power of the Spirit of God is necessary to change the heart. Jesus made it clear that our righteous behavior makes no difference if our hearts are not right. If we hate, we’re guilty of murder. If we lust, we’re guilty of adultery. We may not like it, but it’s true.
As I ponder where we once were in this nation and where we are now, with the law of the land no longer ruling, but instead immoral opinions, minds and hearts, I see how desperately we need the lessons from the Sermon on the Mount. We need the message of the heart. Guard your thoughts. Marriage is sacred. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Go the extra mile. Love your enemies.
Change our hearts, Lord. The law is still the law whether it’s the Constitution, the Ten Commandments, or both. You didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. We have no right to walk away, to forego our duties, to break our promises. Change our hearts so that we can go back to righteous living where people are expected to do the right thing. It is only possible by Your Spirit, by Your power, and by Your grace!
I’m disheartened by what I see in our leadership today, but I’m not surprised. I know, however, that there are godly people out there with a heart for righteousness. Though it seems as if they are a David against a Goliath, God uses the underdog all the time. I know that I can only work on my own heart. I can only teach my own children, but I can ask others to do the same. I can pray. We can all pray.
pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Ultimately God directs the hearts of the leaders, turning it where He wishes (Proverbs 21:1). Have certain recent events been allowed to occur in order for us to learn a lesson? I pray for leaders to rise up who have a fear of the Lord and a heart for righteousness. I pray for God to put these people into leadership, and to remove those with an ungodly character, who selfishly justify their actions as a means to an end. I know that it is not these ungodly people that I battle against, but a much stronger, darker force. Yet, I am not left defenseless, nor powerless against them. For the sake of my rights, my country, my children, I pray for God to intercede.
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (AMP)
Written by Amie Spruiell 3/1/2011
“Working out” my salvation
“Work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, fully complete)
your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling”.
Philippians 2:12 Amplified Bible
Others can see the struggles, and also the victories. As we turn our own hearts to God, others are watching. There is always someone in our life that is “standing on the sidelines.” They watch… and wait… and then watch some more. One day they will decide to either move in closer to what they are watching, or to move away.
Philippians 2:12 Amplified Bible
It is my greatest desire to influence those around me to seek after Christ. That seemingly would indicate that my focus would be upon them. This verse shows me the wisdom and purpose of “working out” my own salvation. As I do this, I am working it out before others.
Because of this, I ask myself this question, “What does the “working out of my own salvation” cause them to do?” As I learn to completely trust God with each of the more difficult areas of my own life, do my actions cause others to want to learn to do the same? As I learn to serve those older members of my family, with care and without grumbling, am I setting a standard of love that the next generation will decide to follow?
As I strive to love and honor my Husband in all that I do and say, will I cause others to do the same? As I open up my deepest areas of pain and brokenness, and allow the Lord to heal them, will others find the courage to trust in Him, also?
I have learned some of the deeper lessons in life by watching others and listening to what they say to see if their words and their actions lined up. As I saw that they did, I myself, finally found the strength and courage to “step into the ring” so to speak, and leave the familiar safety of the sideline.
It was as if every day I could “hear” the bell ring, but one day I decided to move into the “starting” position. It was then that my own “race” truly began! All of this took place in my own life because of those that went before me that had decided to “work out” their own salvation, with fear and trembling. They were those who chose to dig deep into the purposes that God had designed for their lives. They were those who feared to step out, yet stepped out anyways, those who had been taught by life to never hope or trust again, but gave it one last chance.
These are the ones that had begun as an influence in my life, and then quickly became an inspiration. Today it is my desire to work out my own salvation in such a way as to bring glory and honor to my Lord’s name, and by my example, to hopefully compel others to do the same.
This has always been and continues to be, the example and purpose of my precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Written by Beverley A. Napier
3/2/11
When Women Are Not As They Seem
DEVOTIONAL FOR 3/3/11
Music flows over the congregation as many voices blend together in worship. The music soaks into me and I let out a sigh as my shoulders relax. I am thanking God for all His blessings this past week and the good things to come.
Music flows over the congregation as many voices blend together in worship. The music soaks into me and I let out a sigh as my shoulders relax. I am thanking God for all His blessings this past week and the good things to come.
I sit in the back and look out over the room at the heads of fellow worshippers. I feel good on this day - and my pleasant mood is reflected in everyone I see. If I feel good - everyone must feel good, right? I feel a check, a hesitation, in my heart.
Many times I have smiled and said, “I’m fine, thank you.” When the truth is I am hurting; but I keep the truth on the inside and paint ‘everything is fine’ on the outside.
So it stands to reason that if there are plenty of days when it takes everything in me just to show up in church, or answer the phone, or get out of bed; then I can’t begin to guess how anyone else is doing on any given day. This is stated clearly in
1 Samuel 16: 7b
“…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the LORD looks at the heart." (NASB)
What does this mean for us as women? How can we use this as a reminder to be pleasing to God? Paul writes in a very clear way about how Christians should behave and treat others, including our enemies (see Matthew 5:44):
Ephesians 4:31-32
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (NIV)
We may not know what it cost the woman near us to get there this morning. We may not ever know. But we can be gracious and kind to her with sincerity and gentleness. In that way, we will be pleasing God with the words we speak:
Proverbs 15:3-4
“The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
“The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” (NIV)
Some days are pleasant, and we should thank God for that because “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above (James 1:17a NASB). I am asking God to help me to remember that I see only the outside. I do not know what it has cost a woman in emotional struggle, mental anguish or physical sacrifice just to show up in life. May He help me to carefully consider my words and use them to be kind.
Written by Mary Wilkins.
God Is The God Of Revelation
I am so thankful that our loving God continues to reveal many things to us as we seek Him and ask Him. He will make known to us the hidden things, the secret things and the mysteries as we fervently draw close to Him and listen to His voice. His word says that His sheep hear His voice. We are His sheep.
I love it when there are times I have read certain passages in the Bible over and over again, and then there is that one specific time that He will give me fresh revelation on that particular passage and it suddenly comes alive to me. That scripture was there all time, but God brought revelation and understanding to me what it meant. His word truly is alive and well.
I want more revelation of who my Heavenly Father is each passing day. His word says in Ephesions 1:17 "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him."
I want to know Him better and have greater intimacy with Him and experience all that He wants to reveal to me. I am His daughter and He truly desires to show me and each of us a greater revelation of Him. Our walk with Him never has to be dull or stagnant but can daily be vibrant and alive as we allow our Heavenly Father to reveal His heart to us.
Blessings,
Written by Sandy
I want more revelation of who my Heavenly Father is each passing day. His word says in Ephesions 1:17 "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him."
I want to know Him better and have greater intimacy with Him and experience all that He wants to reveal to me. I am His daughter and He truly desires to show me and each of us a greater revelation of Him. Our walk with Him never has to be dull or stagnant but can daily be vibrant and alive as we allow our Heavenly Father to reveal His heart to us.
Blessings,
Written by Sandy
3/1/11
Fruit of the Spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is
Galatians 5
But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith
Since love is a fruit, a product, of God's Holy Spirit, could its companion, joy, be produced in us differently? Like love, joy is not the product of the natural mind but the product of the supernatural Holy Spirit of God. If it is not a product of the natural mind, then pursuing it apart from the guidance of the Holy Spirit will produce only very limited and pale imitations of what God experiences by nature and greatly desires to be in us.
David writes,
"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore"
(Psalm 16:11).
It is interesting to compare our joy with God's continual joy and simultaneously think of what destroys joy for us. As long as we are human, joy diminishes and eventually ends. We realize this even as we experience it. I have owned several new automobiles. Each time I took a new one home, I received it with joy as if I had a new toy. But in each case I eventually acquired the same attitude toward the new car as I formerly had toward the old one. The joy was gone, and the car was again nothing more than a tool to convey me from one place to another.
No matter how secure the sources of our joy seem, we know joy does not last long. We may die; a mate or a friend who brings us joy may die; good health ceases; comforts vanish; social tragedies and natural disasters destroy loved things, properties depreciate and wear out; and our senses become dull so that we cannot see, hear, taste, feel, or smell as we once did (II Samuel 19:31-35).
The God who created everything is aware of all the human tragedies that have unfolded before His eyes over the past 6,000 years, and He still finds cause to be joyful. Our great God does not find joy in the tragedies themselves. His Word records times when He expressed regret, sorrow, or anger over the conduct of mankind, and yet He still experiences a vibrant, lasting joy. This seems to imply that His joy generally wells from different sources than mankind's. It is this joy we need to seek.
submitted by ; Annie
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