Giveaway

There's a giveaway for pretty hair clips here: http://meditationsofhislove.blogspot.com/2012/08/cynthias-lilla-rose-giveaway.html

Staying at Home

“What will you do after graduation?” This question is posed to all of us girls as we near the completion of high-school. Most people are slightly confused when the girls in my family leave them with the simple answer: “Stay at home.” Why stay at home when there is a world of possibilities before you?

Preparation for Life

From the very beginning of time, God planned for women to be a help-meet for men (see Genesis 2:18, 20). We see a very good example of what God intends for women to be in Proverbs 31. The “virtuous woman” depicted in Proverbs 31 is industrious, diligent, knowledgeable, teachable, wise, kind, and much more. If you take a close look at the verses that describe her (Proverbs 31: 10-31), you will notice that what a “virtuous woman” is capable of are not things that she learned from outside of the home, but from inside the home. If this is my ideal, why would I desire to get education or “experience” from college or the work force? God has given me the best teacher in the world – my own stay-at-home mother – why would I want to trade her for someone I have to pay tuition for?

Another very good reason for staying at home as a daughter is because I anticipate being a stay-at-home wife and mother, if the Lord allows (as Titus 2:3, 4 depicts,“[That] the younger women [be] . . . keepers at home . . .”). If I spend my single years working or attending college, then when I settle down to become a wife, I would be clueless in the management of my home!

Blessing to Family

Besides my personal gain in staying at home, there are others reasons why I stay at home. Because I stay at home, I can help my Dad, Mom, and siblings with their workloads. Staying at home past graduation has helped me to realize that life is not all about me and my desires but about serving and helping others. There are many verses in the Bible that point out how we should live our life for the benefit of others, and not just our own (“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” 1 Corinthians 10:24, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself. . .” Romans 15:2-3a). I have found that the best way to encourage my desire to serve is with my own family. If I cannot joyfully serve my family, how can I expect to joyfully serve a friend or a husband?

Fears about Staying Home

I am sure that there are those who are new to the idea of staying at home, and probably have questions and fears about it. The two biggest fears about staying home seem to be:

1) How will I ever find my husband?

I have decided to let God be the Author of my love story. I believe that in His perfect timing, He will send the perfect young man for me to be my husband, if it is His will. There are numerous examples from the Bible about God bringing two people together (Adam and Eve, Isaac and Rebekah, Boaz and Ruth). I believe that the God Who wrote those love stories can do the same type of masterpiece in my life.

2) I will be in bondage!

I think that it is up to each girl to choose how they view staying at home. If we see it as bondage and a trial, it will be bondage and a trial! When I am tempted to have pity-parties about the things I miss out on while staying at home, I have to remind myself that life isn’t all about “me” (my fun, my desires) but others.

Ultimately, the greatest answer to both of these fears is realizing that if God has led me to stay at home, I know that He has done so for my benefit. One of my favorite passages is Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” When considering staying at home or any other aspect of life, I must trust God and follow His directions! If I lean on my thoughts or my finite wisdom, I will be led to do things that are contrary to God’s perfect will for my life. With God as my guide, I know that the path He leads me to take is the best path – even if the “path” is as simple as staying at home.

~*~*~

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Jeremiah 17:7-9

Giveaway!

A few days ago, I posted about the giveaway at Meditations of His Love. Today, they hosted a giveaway of books!!! Check it out here: http://meditationsofhislove.blogspot.com/2012/08/mohl-summer-giveaway-party-three-book.html

Verse 34 of 52!!!

This week, I am memorizing Hebrews 13:5.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; 

and be content with such things as ye have: 

for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Recently, I have been talking to several girls about contentment, waiting for marriage, etc. This verse is one that I believe fits in SO well!!! We are to live our lives without covetousness (coveting a married life, a husband, children). We are to be content with what we have where we have it (our parents, our siblings, our singleness, our home). But how can we be content and live without covetousness? The last phrase explains it: Jesus Christ is all we will ever need! He will never leave or forsake us!!! When I really think about that, I sometimes wonder how I could be discontent!

. . . on this subject, check in during the next two weeks as I will be sharing a couple of articles that I wrote specifically for single girls. :)

Verse 33 of 52!!!

I'm not 100% sure that I'm back on track with my verse number, but here are some verses I memorized this week:


For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Giveaway

One of the blogs that I enjoy and receive a lot of encouragement from is having a giveaway in the next couple of weeks. Thought I'd pass the news along. :)

Trust

One of the words that God has brought to my mind so many times recently has been "TRUST." It is such a simple word, but so hard to grasp. May we grow in our trust to Him.

52 verses update

I know that I have been very negligent to post my verses from the 52-verse memory challenge - due to a very busy summer! But, here are the verses that the Lord has allowed me to memorize:

John 10:29-30
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.

Proverbs 3:8-9
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Micah 6:8
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

1 Corinthians 2:5
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Obedience - When It's Hard

For a moment, picture the following:

There is a mighty king, renowned for his power and victories. Wherever he fights, he comes away victorious, burning the enemy city and carrying away hundreds of captives. This king is now coming against your nation, and you are totally unable to defend yourself. There is only one place to go where you can escape this king’s invasion. Would it not be wise to flee?

The tribe of Judah faced this decision (Jeremiah 42-43). King Nebuchadnezzar was coming to fight against Judah and they were unable to defend themselves. The nation that they thought was the habitation of safety was Egypt. Before taking the journey down to Egypt, however, they came before Jeremiah the prophet and asked him to seek God (Jeremiah 42:1-3). They assured Jeremiah, “Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.” (Jeremiah 42:6)

God gave Judah two options: 1) Stay in the land and be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, or 2) Flee to Egypt for and be overtaken by the sword and famine. God’s will was for the remnant of Judah to stay and be delivered into the hand of Babylon.

The thought process of Judah was understandable. Egypt appeared to be quiet and free from fear, whereas staying in the land and living through King Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion was not an appealing alternative. They were faced with a choice: obey God and stay in the land, or disobey God and flee to Egypt. Which did they choose? They chose Egypt: “for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.” (Jeremiah 43:7) What was the result? Jeremiah’s prophecy was fulfilled,

“And when [King Nebuchadnezzar] cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword. And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace. He shall break also the images of Beth-she'mesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.” (Jeremiah 43:11-13)

What can we learn from Judah’s example?

1) Obedience is not simply saying, “I will obey” (like Judah did in Jeremiah 24:6), but in actively obeying.

2) Obedience is not always easy – in fact, to obey might mean to let go of our way of thinking and follow God – even when things do not seem to make sense.

3) There is safety in obeying God. Had Judah obeyed God and stayed in their land, God would have saved them, delivered them, and guided King Nebuchadnezzar to have mercy on them (see Jeremiah 42:11-12).

4) God loves us too much to allow us to continually disobey Him. He will bring correction if we willfully disobey Him (see Jeremiah 46:28).

Sometimes we face tough choices like the tribe of Judah did. Will we take the easy route and disobey God’s commands, or will we follow Him, no matter what the cost?

I have greatly enjoyed sharing "Thoughtful Thursdays" with you each week, but for the time being, I will have to lull my weekly posting. I will still share articles, but not as frequently. :) Thank you for all of your input.

Verse 27 of 52!!

My verse for this week is John 10:28 - I had memorized John 10:27 before, so I will share them both.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand."

John 10:27-28

This verse has become very special to me as I've heard many debates on security or insecurity of the believer. I personally believe in the security of the believer because of verses like these. According to this verse, once we are saved, we are bound in the grasp of Jesus' hand - and no man (including ourselves!) can loose us from our heavenly Father's grasp!!!!

Don't . . .

Compromise:

(from Webster’s New World Dictionary)

       ~an adjustment of opposing principles, systems, etc. in which part of each is given up

       ~to surrender or give up

Choices surround us daily. Darts are thrown at us, tempting us. Will we compromise? Will we swerve from our convictions? Will we surrender to the world? Or will we stand firm where God has placed us?

Compromise does not happen suddenly, but gradually by small, daily choices. Choices such as:

“My parents used to say we couldn’t watch this, but I’m probably old enough now.”

Don’t!

“This is a special occasion. I don’t dress like this on a regular basis.”

Don’t!

“Maybe this dress is a tad bit too short . . .”

Don’t!

“Oops! This book has a curse word. Oh well, I’m already half-way through.”

Don’t!

“Just once won’t hurt.”

Don’t!

“What would my friends think if I don’t join them?”

Don’t!

“I just couldn’t tell them ‘no.’”

Don’t!

“I don’t feel very comfortable doing this, but that’s just my personality.”

Don’t!

When we are tempted to make a compromise, our choices lead us to do one of two things: be conformed to the image of the world, or be transformed to the image of Christ (Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.).

As a young girl: stick to the convictions and standards set by your parents. Do not sway from them – even if “everybody else does it this way.” Honor their obedience to God. (see Ephesians 5:1-3)

As a young woman: stick to the convictions and standards that God has placed in your life. Do not second-guess yourself because of what others are doing, but return to God’s Word to see what He says about each issue. (see 1 Corinthians 7:34a)

As a married woman: stick to the convictions and standards that God has led your husband to take. Do not try to persuade him to change, but encourage him to follow what God would have him to do. (see 1 Corinthians 7:34b)

Girls and ladies, let us not be conformed to this world by following the patterns of those around us, but be transformed to our Lord, renewing our minds daily by the Word of God.

Verses 25/26 of 52!!!

The past two weeks, I have completed memorizing Psalm 4, by God's grace!! Here are the final verses:

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:7-8

A few thoughts I've had about these verses:

   ~It is the Lord that puts true gladness in my heart. Rejoicing over something like the produce from a garden is temporal. The gladness Christ gives is Eternal!

   ~Safety is from the Lord - not man, government, guns, locked doors, etc. All of those will fail, but Jesus Christ never fails! There is security in His protection!!!

"Thou Shalt Not" and Our Thoughts

This was another article that I wrote for Rubies Like Ruth's study on thought-life.

~*~*~

Have you ever applied the Ten Commandments directly to your thought-life? I have not . . . until the study on our thought-life set me to thinking.

1 - Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)

2 - Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. (Exodus 20:4)

What is foremost in our thoughts? Are our thoughts focused on God and pleasing Him? If not, what keeps our thoughts away from God? These thoughts could be “gods” or “idols” (graven images) that come between us and God.

3 - Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. (Exodus 20:7)

Many of us would never dare let a curse word out of our mouth (note: most curse words are derivatives of God’s Holy Name) but what about in our thoughts? Do we keep our thoughts pure from using ugly words?

4 - Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8)

While listening to the sermon, do we let our thoughts wander? Do we go to church to learn of God, or simply use that “wasted” time to daydream? When we are home on Sunday, do we keep our thoughts pure, or on this “day off”, do we take a day off of guarding our thoughts?

5 - Honour thy father and thy mother. (Exodus 20:12)

It is easy to smile and act obedient to our parents, but what about our thoughts? Do we boil and rebel inside? Do we tear down our parents in our minds? Do we compare them to others’ parents? Do we grumble about our parents in our thoughts? Honor does not come from without, but from within.

6 - Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13)

While we may not physically commit murder, remember that 1 John 3:15 says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer.” Are our thoughts full of love for others? Or do we mentally “kill” our family and friends?

7 - Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)

Jesus said, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28 – note: this can apply to women lusting after men as well). Do we look at others with pure eyes? Or do we look to supply our minds with food for thought? Do we lust after (long for) young men and thereby commit adultery?

8 - Thou shalt not steal. (Exodus 20:15)

Is it possible that when we think prideful thoughts, we are stealing glory from God? Do we steal time from God when we allow our thoughts to wander idly about instead of using them for His honor and glory?

9 - Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exodus 20:16)

Do we contrive ways to damage others’ reputation? Do we always “speak the truth” in our hearts about others, or do we allow our injured feelings to shade the truth in order to justify ourselves?

10 - Thou shalt not covet. (Exodus 20:17)

Do we greedily long for something that someone else has? Do we spend our time wishing or dreaming for things that are not?

As we view our thoughts in light of the Ten Commandments perhaps there are a few things to consider.

     - Where do I fail in obeying God’s Ten Commandments?

     - Where have I disobeyed and need to ask God’s forgiveness?

     - How can I change my thoughts to be more Christ-like?

Perhaps we do not think that we are in trouble of falling, but remember, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:21-23 – emphasis added) The quote, “Our actions follow our thoughts,” is very true according to God’s Word. A person does not become a murderer overnight neither does one become a thief overnight. It begins within, when we fail to keep our thoughts in line with God’s laws.

It is so important to judge our thoughts in light of the Ten Commandments because, one day, God will judge us not only for our actions, but also for our thoughts.

Food For Daily Living - Conclusion

Originally shared with Ladies in Waiting magazine and Rubies Like Ruth

Conclusion

Have you “eaten” recently? Has God’s Word been your daily nourishment?

 “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

Today, have you . . .
   ~Read God's Word?
   ~Meditated on God's Word?
   ~Studied God's Word?
   ~Memorized God's Word?

Verse 24 of 52!!

I continued my memory of Psalm 4 this week with verse 6:

There be many that say, Who will shew us any good?
LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Food For Daily Living - Memorize

Originally shared with Ladies in Waiting magazine and Rubies Like Ruth

Memorize

 “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

God promised that if we memorize His Word, He will use it to help us in times of struggling.

 “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” (Psalm 37:31)

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” (Psalm 119:11)

By hiding God’s Word in our hearts, we are providing help for future struggles.

Hiding God’s Word also goes hand-in-hand with meditating on God’s Word. If we memorize a verse, we can often quote it during the day and think upon it.  

Having verses memorized also helps when teaching, witnessing, and sharing with others.  “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

. . . to be continued next week!

Verse 23 of 52!!!

This week, my verse was Psalm 4:5:

"Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord."

This verse has really spoken a lot to me in the past few days. 

The first phrase: "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness." When the word "sacrifice" comes up, my mind generally races to the Old Testament times of killing a lamb. However, a sacrifice is giving up - sometimes it could be as simple as giving up my self-perceived rights, giving up my time, or giving up my desires.

The second phrase, "And put your trust in the Lord." Over and over in God's Word the word "trust" appears. Where am I placing my trust? In things that change? In the vain help of man? Or am I truly placing my trust in Jesus Christ - looking to Him for my Refuge and present help in time of trouble?

Food For Daily Living - Study

Originally shared with Ladies in Waiting magazine and Rubies Like Ruth

Study

 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Lack of study is prevalent in the church today. Many Christians take what they hear and do not go to God’s Word to “rightly divide the word of truth” or to “see whether these things be so” as the Bereans did (Acts 17:10-11). Because of their neglect to study, Christians often believe lies that satan slips into the church.

When confronted with a question about the resurrection, Jesus answered, “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29) Because of the Sadducees’ accepted belief and lack of studying God’s Word for themselves, they fell into the trap of believing a lie. We can do the same thing today if we take the teachings of man and just assume that they are truth. The result will be erring like the Sadducees. We must study for ourselves to see what truth it.

 . . . to be continued next week!

Verse 22 of 52!

This week, I continued Psalm 4:

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Psalm 4:4

Food For Daily Living - Meditate

Originally shared with Ladies in Waiting magazine and Rubies Like Ruth

Meditate

 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)

Meditation is a popular religious word today. However, the verse above clearly explains that the key is not simple meditation, but meditation on God’s Law (or the Bible). The original word for meditate is “hagah” or “siyach” which both mean to ponder.

I am sure that you have noticed that there are two ways of reading. One can read by skimming through, possibly losing most of the information they just read, or by reading slowly and pondering what they have just read. The difference is vital when we are considering God’s Word. We can skim through our Bible and put it away without gleaning anything from it or we can meditate on what we read and learn.

Meditating on God’s Word also goes beyond reading time. Many verses mention meditating, “Day and night” or “at night.” As we go through our day, we can think about the words we read and meditate on them.

 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

. . . to be continued next week!