The Best Time to be a Proverbs 31 Woman

 

Proverbs 31 contains the sayings of King Lemuel as told to his sons. Verse 1 says that the king's mother taught them to him. Verses 1-9 contain the advice to the sons while verses 10-31 are the epilogue, also known as "The Wife of Noble Character". Verse 10 of Proverbs 31 asks who can find a wife of noble character. 

In today's society, no matter where you live, is that an easy task? I have three sons who are yet unmarried and I have to tell you that I pray a lot for them and for their future wives, if that is even an option anymore. That said, I know that there are a lot of Proverbs 31 women in the United States, but I feel that the numbers are dwindling. Still, there is hope.

So, with that in mind, I suggest that today is an excellent time to either become a wife of noble character or persevere in that Proverbs 31 woman role knowing that our time here on earth is short. We can be a light to the world by becoming a living example of what a righteous woman looks like.

A woman of noble character is one whom her husband (or family if not married) is proud. Her husband has full confidence in her. The Bible says that she brings him good all the days of her life. That's quite a statement. I think that's also hard to do, especially as we see the signs of Christ's return nearing. Things are getting ugly out there and sometimes it's easier to lash out at others, often our husbands, when we're down and out. However, we must remember to speak kindly about our men in front of others. We want to bring them good, not harm.

The Proverbs 31 woman also works with her hands to create clothing for her family. She sells things at the market to help bring an income to the family. She is not idle and she feeds her family well with what she has. In return, her children rise up and call her blessed, as does her husband. 

This woman also helps the needy outside of her own household. Rather than sit around with friends gossiping about others, she is working hard to help those who need it most, be it with food, shelter, or clothing. I bet she talks about Jesus to them because that is WHO they need most.

So, why do I think this is the best time to be a Proverbs 31 woman? Simply put, there are needs that must be met and people whose hearts God has made tender are ready to receive the help she can provide. Families are being torn apart but they don't have to be. You can be the glue that binds your own family and you can be a light and an example to other women who need to do the same.

Grocery costs these days have gone out of sight. Do you have a garden? Are you being wise (don't let the oil in your lamp go out by being idle) and putting up all that you can grow? A whole lot of people are warning of a coming food shortage or famine. If you do have a garden, let me urge you to can, freeze, or dehydrate all that you can for your own family's needs. If you truly think you have too much (think more than six month's supply or beyond - I aim for a year's worth), consider sharing with neighbors or extended family. 

In years past, I have dry canned some stuff. This year I am dry canning probably three or four times what I usually do. Like everyone else, I love rice and beans. I pressure can most of my dry beans so that they are readily available when needed. The rice, however, I dry can so bugs or moisture don't get into the plastic bags the rice comes in. I also dry can dehydrated herbs that I grow so they will stay fresher. I also dehydrate peppers and then dry can them as well.

Right now is still a good time to stock up on essentials. I'm not talking about hoarding but rather getting a supply of necessities and food items stocked for your family's use over the next several months up to a year's worth. Christians don't seem to stress the need to stockpile like they did back in the day. I think that's pretty sad. The Mormon church has been instructing their church members to stock up a year in advance for ages. It's a prudent thing to do. Why shouldn't we be doing the same? 

Look for sales in the stores. Stock up on what you need now, a little at a time if need be. When I go to the store, I often buy two instead of one of something I need and can't make or provide for myself. For you, this could be toiletries, over the counter medicines or supplements, household products like dish soap or laundry soap, or many food items (like rice) that you can't grow yourself. 

As for clothing, I don't expect we can all make our own. However, with inflation as high as it is you could look for used clothing at the thrift shops or garage sales. With garage sales, however, I find that many people think that they can get top dollar for their used stuff. Be careful. There are discount stores out there like B2 in Michigan that sell great new clothing at slashed prices. 

As times get more difficult, those who are unprepared will come knocking on the doors of those who have done their due diligence. Will we help them? I guess it depends on whether we have the extra to spare. Your own family should come first. 

I have thought a lot about the imminent coming of the rapture of the church to Heaven. If I have preserved too much food or stocked up on goods that I really didn't need, then perhaps someone who is "left behind" will come up on our home and will use what I have stockpiled. Maybe they will go into my bedroom and find my prayer journals and Bibles (I have a few different translations). Maybe they will read them before it will be illegal to do so and maybe a light will click on in their spirits. Maybe they will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thus be saved.

Being a Proverbs 31 woman is not always an easy thing to do, but it is something in which to aspire. I hope you will begin preparing or continue toward preparing for what could very well be a difficult and trying time. 

Please be hopeful and fend off feelings of despair. God has not given us a spirit of fear but one of joy in knowing that, as things get darker and darker, the Light is coming soon.

Out and Among the Living

 

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. (KJV 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Can you remember the days when we used to get together with family and friends, comforting each other during the hard times and edifying (building up) one another? Can you remember the days when people weren't afraid to get close to you because you had germs that might pass onto them? Can you remember the days of hugs and kisses and those visits to loved ones in nursing homes or the hospital?

In our country and around the world, things are heating up and that heat is not a warm, comforting feeling. Two years ago, we were all shocked to hear that a lab grown virus had been let loose and people were dying as a result. Then, the inevitable happened. People were told that they must stay away from other people. Businesses were forced to close and churches were told that they had to close their doors. 

Let me say that again - CHURCHES WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS!

So when is it ever okay to tell the Church that she must shut down and forbid the gathering together of which the Bible speaks? The verse referenced above says to comfort one another and edify one another. That meant, and means, gathering together. In another verse, we are told to not forsake "the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (KJV Hebrews 10:25) 

God actually wants us to get together. It's good for us. It's good for others. Here's why:

When we gather together, we encourage one another - edifying

When we gather together, we are stronger - "A cord of three strands is not easily broken" (CSB Ecclesiastes 4:12)

When we gather together, we are healthier in Spirit and sometimes in physical health - we are comforting one another and that makes us stronger and healthier in our faith. Part of the reason that so many people died in nursing homes during the last two years is because they had lost hope. It's not enough to have someone wave to you from behind a window pane, or on a video chat, or any other form of "interaction". We crave physical comfort in the form of a hug, a kiss, a snuggle. It's the way God made us. When God made Adam and Eve, He didn't tell Adam that he could wave to Eve from six feet or more whenever he felt that he needed company. Instead, God said that "it is not good for the man to be alone". (NIV Genesis 2:18) He told Adam that Eve was God's gift to him and that together, they should have children and multiply. Hmmmm. You need physical contact for that.

I could go on and one, but I think you get the picture.

Life needs to go on and we need to get out and among the living. If we don't, who is going to be found faithful, going about the Master's business until He returns? (See Luke 19) 

The Master's business is to preach the Gospel (the Great Commission) unto the ends of the earth. That's going to require that we tell as many people as we can about Jesus, about HIs saving grace. People need to get saved. People need to know that there's hope (and it's not in this dying world). People need to know about - gasp - the Book of Revelation. The day is approaching (we don't know when but we sure can discern the signs of the soon return of Christ, birth pangs if you will). 

Are you ready? Are your loved ones ready? Are those that the Holy Spirit has put upon your heart ready?

Let me encourage you to live in freedom. The apostle Paul said, "To live is Christ and to die is gain." (NIV Philippians 1:21) We need to stop living in fear of losing this life and really live in Christ. It means risk, but we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Disclaimer: I am in no way saying that people should go out and spread disease if they are sick. Also, they might need to isolate for a time because of serious conditions. What I AM saying is that we need to dispel fear. For fear is a form of enslavement. And how is that any way to live?

Preparedness

 

Coreopsis Lanceolata

Enjoying the beauty of nature is important to mental health. It's also tied to physical health because it often reduces stress in people, and we all know how critical dealing well with stress is.

The photo above of the lance-leaf tickseed above (from the garden bed by my house) really has nothing to do with the subject of preparedness, but it is pretty and, therefore, I want to include it in this post.

This year, as in the past thirty some years, I have grown food in order to "prepare" for the coming winters. In the case of those of us in the north, there's also spring and fall in which to rely upon harvest. We can never be too prepared, can we? 

Every year, I stock up on essentials just in case we get a blizzard and end up stuck in the house for days on end. I also grow as much of my own food (herbs, some berries, and vegetables - I have to buy most fruit). I love trekking to the woods and finding wild blackberries and mushrooms. I have just this year discovered wood sorrel and other delectable salad fixings. Putting food away in the forms of canned, dehydrated, and frozen goods has been therapeutic - and necessary for our family.

I have watched some great online videos and read books and articles concerning the importance of making "prepping" more of a priority than ever before. For the most part, I would have to agree. I don't know if you have noticed, but grocery products have soared in price over the last few months. So have gas prices - both automobile gasoline and heating gas (lp and natural gas). Then there are lumber prices. That's the one everyone talks about these days. And have you thought about purchasing a home? Forget it unless you want to make an offer above and beyond the listed price of whatever property you can actually find available.

No matter what the cause of the rising prices (I have my own theories, but do not wish to elaborate), times are getting tougher for most of us and they are probably going to get a whole lot tougher in the coming days ahead.

The question remains, though. Can we be too prepared? Is there such a thing?

In my own opinion, I would have to say that we can surely overdo it. The reason I think that way is because I know that, as a Christian, I must rely upon God. He said in the Gospel of Matthew that He cares for the lillies and the birds - how much more does He care for us? He has promised to take care of our needs (not our wants - don't confuse them). 

I do believe that part of that providing comes through opportunities to grow and harvest, and then preserve the harvest. I do believe that the Lord expects us to be prepared. Proverbs 6:6-8 says, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer and gathereth her food in the harvest." (KJV)

Proverbs 31 says in verses 10-31:

"A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

 So, God does expect us to make the best use of our resources and be ready. Yet, we can become so focused on our efforts to provide for ourselves that we forget the One who is the real provider. We can do nothing good apart from Him.

And that leads in to which we really need to prepare. Yes, we need to prepare for difficult "moments" in time. But there is certainly something far more important that should grab our attentions and help us to become even more "prepared". 

ETERNITY

I believe, by drawing heavily upon what the Bible says about the future, this world is moving rapidly toward that which Ezekiel and the Book of  Revelation speak about. And not just those two Biblical books. Daniel speaks of the great tribulation. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 says, "Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (NIV) 

Obviously, we are to be ready for the Lord Jesus Christ's return. It could happen today, next month, next year, whenever. We don't know the "day nor the hour". But we can discern the times. Things are unsteady in the middle east. Things are unsteady in the United States. Things are unsteady in the Church - yes, the (collective) Church has been moving away from the Church in Philadelphia and becoming more and more the Church in Laodicea. I don't know about you, but I really do NOT want the Lord to spit me out of HIs mouth. 

So, my conclusion concerning preparedness is that to prepare for the physical needs of our families is good. It affects mental and physical health. It's what we should do as Proverbs 31 women. But to prepare for the coming "taking away" (or rapture) of Christ's Church is even more important. This affects our spiritual state - which Jesus said is more important than the body (Matthew 10:28).

* I know that not everyone agrees concerning a pre-tribulation rapture. Some believe it will happen mid-tribulation or even post-tribulation. I don't think that's the crux of the matter. Christ is coming for HIs bride. We are told to be watching and be ready. I look up every morning and wonder, is this day? Personally speaking, I can't wait.

Making the Home a Little Better - One Day at a Time

 

As most of you know, we live in northern Michigan on a small plot of land where the sun seldom shines - quite literally. Our house sits in a "valley" with a large hill covered in trees (the hill used to be part of the first ski club in the state) to the East and a tremendous amount of trees to the West. By the time the sun gets over the ski hill, the clock has turned to noon. My garden is on a small hill on the east side of the property and it gets as much sun as it can get anywhere close. The sunniest place is in our yard (facing south) and that is where I chose to put my greenhouse last spring. That turned out to be a good choice.

I have struggled over the years we have lived in the northern woodlands to make the most of what I have been given. I do not like snow and what do I get? An average of 136 inches a year, give or take. The cold season lingers and I swear that we only get winter and summer, with winter taking the larger portion of the year. I count myself fortunate in those years that summer lasts more than two months. 

This year I had the greenhouse and what a blessing that was! I was able to start plants in the house in April, then move them to the greenhouse early May. It was still cold outside (in the 50 degree Fahrenheit range) with snow still lingering over the garden bed. Take the gloom and doom of everyone shouting COVID, and it was not a very fun time.

But here is the blessing. I was laid off work since libraries were not considered to be "essential" in Michigan. I had time on my hands to do that which really matters to me. I was able to start numerous plants and work to keep them warm in the greenhouse with the occasional aid of an electric heater. I was able to place those young plants outside in the garden toward the end of May, when they should be planted.

I was able to bless others. I had so many tomato plants that grew suckers that I clipped them, placed them in water, and waited for sprouting to occur. And it did. I gave away close to twenty tomato plants that were all started from suckers. I was told later that those plants were strong, healthy, and provided their owners with a whole lot of beautiful tomatoes.

My husband and I raise wild species of waterfowl and pheasants on our farm. We also raise sheep and goats along with chickens. How blessed we were to be able to spend more time with those animals, creating better and healthier environments for them. My husband was able to raise quite a few baby ducks and pheasants, as well as some quail, that we took to swap meets around Michigan and Indiana. We did a fairly good business and hope for an even better next summer.

Mandarin Duck

So, how did we make our home a little better this year? I think that maybe the best thing we did was to work on our home business and the farm. I had such a huge success with the tomatoes in my new greenhouse that I canned a lot of them. We now have a good stock of salsa, tomatoes, and sauce on hand for the winter. I found lots of beans (black beans, navy beans, and pinto beans) at great prices at the bulk food store in Shipshewana, Indiana while on a trip to the swap meet with our birds. Guess what is canned and ready for meals this winter? You guessed it - beans! And not only that. I have canned salsa verde (tomatillo overload in the garden this year), many varieties of jam, vegetable broth, sauerkraut, sweet pickles and also dills, and even elderberry syrup (my dad's recipe). 

The freezer is full too. 

I had meant to do a lot of spring cleaning in the house, but that never happened. Now, my plan is to fall clean, which may turn into winter clean. I have already got a good start on the living room. 

I'm back to work and our library remains open. Nothing looks the same and sometimes I panic. I wonder why Jesus hasn't come back yet. The news never reports anything good anymore. 

One thing I can do is my job as a wife and a mother. I can do my job as a Christian, being sure that I am faithful to spread the Good News of Salvation. 

The Bible says that God does not operate on our time scale. He knows when the moment is right and that is when Jesus will come and take us home - in the twinkling of an eye. Until then, it is my job to make my home - my piece of the world - a little better, one day at a time. 

My Thoughts in Troubled Times

I love living in the country where things seem to be a bit more peaceful than they are in the cities of this country. Out here, we can roam the grounds without worrying about wearing masks. It's not that COVID-19 can't someday reach us, but we can breathe. Albeit, that breathing may include smelling animals that city folks might find offensive.

Here in the country, we were quarantined like everyone else. In fact, we were quarantined a LOT, because we live in Michigan, the land of excessive rules and quarantines. Every single time another "extension" came down from the governor, it felt as if the sky were falling. People were losing hope, and that can never be a good thing.

You see, we need people.  In a place where it's okay to tell people that the powers-that-be are only doing this "for the health and well-being" of the masses, it's very hard to believe that a healthy person being forced to keep away from other people is for their own good. Especially when the health and well-being of people seems to include allowing abortions to continue all throughout the quarantine.

And that makes me sad and angry at the same time. 

Who was there to fight for the unborn? Who cared about their lives? And how can we believe lawmakers who say they care about human life while they continue to snuff out the lives of the most vulnerable?

We must continue to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Today, fighting for rights is popular. People are fighting for equal rights and some are fighting for special rights above and beyond equal rights. Others are fighting to abolish anyone who doesn't look like them.

This, too, makes me angry and sad at the same time.

I want to say, "Shame on you" to those who have made me look at people a new way, bringing on fear rather than respect.

I have thought little about race in my lifetime because I don't believe that God made races. He made two people, Adam and Eve, from which all the rest of mankind came. What color were Adam and Eve? I don't care. All I ever believed was that God made us all brothers and sisters with varying skin colors. All of them are just gorgeous to Him who made us. When he looks at us, he doesn't see black, white, red, yellow, brown, whatever. He sees us as we are inside; He sees our spirits. 

So, when I hear that "_______ lives matter" (fill in the blank with whatever you wish), I still believe that all lives matter to God the Creator. He loves us enough to have sent His Son to die for ALL of mankind, not just one color or "race". The problem is, we don't get that forgiveness of sin and promise of eternal life unless we receive it as His good and perfect gift. We have to really want that gift and repent of the past.

A final thought on recent matters is my thoughts on the police. My son is a county deputy. This hits me deeply and causes me to lose sleep. We have close friends in police departments. We have family other than my son working for the police. NONE of them would hurt anyone if they could help it at all. They don't deserve the hatred.

A land without order is no land at all. Remember that when the chaos gets out of control. And also remember that you can always lift your eyes to heaven and repent of the past, gaining a future brighter than your wildest dreams.

Why I Love Sheep

My daughter has four goats and a rabbit. I have two sheep. My husband has numerous ducks, pheasants, and quail. I won't even begin trying to explain why I think that sheep are better than all of those birds, but I would like to share with you my reasons for loving, and wanting, sheep rather than goats.

Sheep and goats are both mentioned often in the Bible. The goats tend to get a bad rap and maybe that's because they are so mischievous. The goats in our household can take flying leaps and get out of their stall in the barn - and that stall has fencing and a gate that is five feet tall! Now, I'm not talking about standard sized goats but rather little ones, La Mancha and Nigerian Dwarf goats. Both of these are very small and look like babies all of the time. Dottie especially jumps very high. She gets out of the pen and then jumps up on whatever she can to reach the shelving in the barn on which she struts her stuff and makes fun of the other goats who aren't quite as agile as she is.

Like sheep, goats in the Bible are mentioned often as being used for food. They chew the cud and have split hooves, so they are a clean animal (kosher). We have not eaten goat and I have no idea what it tastes like. I can assure you that my daughter will never eat them. She doesn't eat rabbit either.

Sheep can be super loving. I know my girls are. When I try to pet the goats, they wiggle until they can escape and get into mayhem. The sheep, on the other hand, stand still and allow me to pet away. If I stop, one of them will either nibble gently on my hand or even head butt me to get my attention. They appear to crave a loving touch.

Matthew 25:31 says that when Jesus judges the nations, He will separate the goats from the sheep. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Jesus Himself is seated at the right hand of God. There are MANY verses attesting to that. You can find references to them on this page. In Biblical days, sitting at the right hand of someone very important and influential was the best thing ever. The sheep (believers in Jesus) get that honor.

Believers are called sheep many times in the Bible. Ever wonder why? I think it's because sheep are vulnerable and, most times, very trusting. They go with the shepherd but sometimes they wander off and can't seem to find their way back home. In that respect, I think they are oblivious to the dangers of the world.

The Bible says that Jesus (the ultimate shepherd) will leave 99 sheep in order to go find and bring back the one who is lost. (Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:4) Sheep are vulnerable to wolves and other predators. Up here in the north, we have wolves, coyotes, and bears. There have also been cougar sightings. My sheep could find themselves in danger if I don't provide adequate protection for them.

Which leaves me to feel a bit overwhelmed all of a sudden. What if I lay down on the job and just once, one little time, I let my guard down and one of those predators takes one of the sheep?

Yikes! I am so very thankful that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, never lets down His guard. He will never lead us down the wrong path and neither will he allow Satan to devour us. When we, like sheep, put our faith and trust in Him, He does His part and keeps us safe (our souls).

I don't know about you, but that's comforting to me.

Let Us Not be Idle

The majority of us are in a "lockdown" state, meaning that we are supposed to stay home and away from others who are not in our own households. Right now, things might seem bleak and it can be difficult to look on the sunny side.

But believe me, there is a bright side. For me, the ability to stay home for a few weeks is something I have actually been craving. Do I want that at the expense of people being very ill? NO! I wish I could stay home just because we had enough money to make do without me working an outside job. Freelance writing has never brought in enough money to allow that. The years that I stayed home while homeschooling our children were very lean - too lean.

These days, I don't homeschool anymore as our youngest child graduated last May. We have started a home business (actually a farm) and we are living the homestead life while still working day jobs.

For the next three weeks, I am off work from the library. Hmmm, how to make the best use of my time? Will I become bored? 

The other day, I made homemade three bean soup with the canned goods I put up last fall. Black beans, navy beans, and cranberry (pinto) beans with celery, canned tomatoes, carrots, a quart of vegetable broth (also home canned), artichokes (ok, from the store - can't grow those up north too well), dehydrated kale crumbled in, black pepper, onion, and a bay leaf. That's all.

Yesterday, I baked a keto blueberry bread (cake) with almond flour for my husband following the diet. I also baked a gluten-free rye type bread (using caraway seeds, not rye flour) for me. Wowsa! That gluten-free bread is just like the expensive stuff I was buying for $5.99 a loaf at the store! I did not use the olives it called for, and I did not have superfine rice flour; just used the regular. I also subbed out oat flour for the sorghum flour. 

I made a large batch of sweet potato pancakes on Sunday to have on hand for quick breakfasts. 

Today, I made a vegan, gluten free batch of brownies for myself. Nobody else will touch them (because they have a vegan fear). I love the brownies because they are full of fiber, something we all need and probably don't get enough of.

Also today, I planted a 72 cell tray of plant starts - tomatoes, tomatillos, celery, watermelon, a golden melon, bee balm (lemon), and some Pampas and purple fountain grasses for Jeff's bird pens. In the coming weeks, I will begin other plant starts. If all goes to plan and we actually get a warm spring, I will be ready to get some things straight into the garden.

Keeping busy while confined to your own property can be challenging if you aren't used to it. But the alternative is anxiety and a breakdown of mental and spiritual health. It's important to stay positive even in times such as these. 

If you have a prayer request, feel free to leave me a comment. I have found that praying for others is one of the biggest stress relievers for me. Remember that God is ultimately in control. Nothing surprises Him and nothing can overcome Him.

Wishing you health and happiness - and productivity 🙋

Garbage In - Garbage Out

Remember that old saying, "Garbage in, garbage out"? Essentially, it means that what you put into your body is what, eventually, comes out. The saying also applies to the mind. What you watch or read (or listen to) eventually manifests itself somehow. For a select few, it has resulted in people addicted to violent gaming committing violent real-life crimes.

These days, as I try to eat cleaner for my body, I am also trying my best to keep the garbage out of the rest of me. In the past, this really wasn't too hard to do. I have lived in a bubble where my social life consisted of church and homeschool group activities - and I am no way sorry for that!

But we own a television and we are hooked up to the internet. I work a job where I am around other people on a daily basis. Yes, I work in a library, but that doesn't mean I don't hear things that I shouldn't. There are a few ladies in our book discussion group who are very liberal in more ways than one and they are extremely loud about it. Yikes.

I can control what I see and hear while I am at home. I can choose to watch on our internet enabled television only that which is good and clean. I can choose to read only the books and other materials that are clean and wholesome. What I cannot often control is what I hear while at work or the grocery store - or anywhere else where the public is involved.

And that's what I struggle with. I cringe when someone swears. I don't enjoy crude jokes. I especially get angry when my Savior is cursed.

I think that the key to receiving garbage that you never wanted anyway and then not allowing it come out of you and harm someone else is to pray every day about it and to surround yourself with that which uplifts Christ as much as you can, like reading your Bible daily. Knowing Scripture by heart is a powerful weapon against the enemy.

Jesus was around vile people while He walked this earth. He did not allow them to corrupt Him. He will not allow the vile people in my life to corrupt me - or you - either.

Saturday Scripture Speaks - May 2

Psalm 30:5 (KJV) says,

"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

This verse always speaks to me. It doesn't matter where I am at the time or what I'm doing. We all suffer hardships. Personally speaking, I have watched my life go in waves. I have experienced incredible highs, as in the births of my children, my wedding day, - those times when everything seemed to be right with the world.

There were other times, however, when I didn't know if I would be able to manage the deep holes that seemed to be developing all around me. Those were the times that our financial condition was the lowest, times when family and friends turned on us, the times when we suffered physical trials (my son still suffers kidney disease from Henoch Schonlein Purpura onset 2 years ago) - those times when we honestly thought we wouldn't survive.

The highs and the lows are like waves in the ocean. They swell and then they fall. They go up and down throughout our lives. After coming out of a difficult time we might be falsely led to believe that all will be rosy from here on out. That's a false security and we should be on our guards. The hard times come and go, but they will come again. 

Rather than despair, we need to draw our strength from Christ for God's Word says that we have LIFE in Him. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

We will mourn and suffer at times while we are still here in these perishable bodies. But someday we will awake in God's presence and every tear will be wiped away as we rejoice forevermore!

Obsolete Laws vs. God's Law

There are some really crazy laws out there, still on the books. Just to give you an idea of how far out there they are ...

1. In Glendale, Arizona, you may not legally back up a car.
2. In Ohio, you are not allowed to run out of gas.
3. In Georgia, slapping a man on the back is illegal.
4. In Utah, birds have the right of way on public highways.
5. In Hawaii, you may not insert pennies into your ears.
6. In Iowa, it is against the law to have a rotten egg in your possession.
7. You may not take lions to the theater in Maryland.
8. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, you cannot open a pop bottle without a licensed engineer present.
9. Alabama will not allow salt on their railroad tracks - it's a criminal offense.
10. In Michigan (woo hoo), it's illegal to put a skunk in your boss's desk. Oh phooey, I was going to try that :)

God's Ten Commandments (NIV) state:

1. You shall have no other gods before me.   2. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.   3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.   4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.   5. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.   6. You shall not murder.   7. You shall not commit adultery.   8. You shall not steal.   9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.   10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. Laws are hard to follow, especially the ten commandments. God knew we couldn't keep all of them perfectly, no matter how hard we tried. Because of our sin nature, we forever battle these laws.   Good news! Jesus died a sinner's death on a cross even though He was Himself sinless. In doing so, He took away our guilt and took it upon Himself. Jesus is the only One who ever has been or ever will be who could completely obey the Ten Commandments. By accepting the gift of forgiveness (His sacrifice on the cross), we can be declared not guilty of breaking the Law - and hence live with God eternally.   That's a lot better than the alternative - hell with Satan.   Easter is soon to be here. There's no better time than now to get right with God.   "I will yet praise Him, my great Redeemer!" (Tommy Walker)

Saturday Scripture Speaks - All for the Glory of God

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

To glorify God means to give Him the honor that is due Him. This verse is becoming more and more meaningful to me as I grow older and celebrate more spiritual birthdays. So many things come at me - bad food, electronics (making physical exercise nearly obsolete), general busyness of life, stress, etc. that God can sometimes get "blocked out". 

Stormie Omartian's 7 Steps to Greater Health are peaceful living, pure food, proper exercise, plenty of water, prayer and fasting, periods of fresh air and sunshine, and perfect rest. They are the seven essential "p's", if you will.

If I truly desire to glorify God with my life, I will at least try to do these things.

1. If I have peaceful living, I'm glorifying the Lord by trusting Him with everything life throws at me.
2. If I eat only pure, natural foods, I am considering my body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, the place where God dwells. I know that the food God made, not the overly processed junk that man makes, is what He intended for me to use for nourishment. That shows me, and others, that I am a good steward of His temple.
3. Proper exercise is necessary to care for this physical temple. It means that I'm not going to let the temple fall into disrepair because of improper upkeep.
4. Plenty of water - ah, that's often problematic for me. Sometimes I simply forget to eat. Yet, God's Word says, "whether your eat or drink ...". Drink water for God's glory. Period.
5. Prayer and fasting is something I don't do quite enough, but I'm working on it. The first time I fasted, I didn't couple it with prayer. A couple of weeks ago, I did a 24 hour fast and prayed lots. What a difference! A praying person, especially while denying herself, has power! "There's life saving power in the blood of the Lamb!" (Lewis E. Jones) God is glorified when His power is revealed in the life of the believer.
6. Periods of fresh air and sunshine are SO very important to our health, both physical and mental, that doctors are now finding a link between a lack of vitamin D (manufactured by the sun) and diseases like MS and Rheumatoid Arthritis. We tend to get depressed when we are deprived of time in the sun. How does a grumpy, sick person glorify his Creator? He can't.
7. Perfect rest sort of goes hand in hand with fresh air and sunshine, in my opinion. If we lack sleep, stress wears down our physical bodies and our minds. Sleep - restful sleep - renews us. God gave us a model to follow when He rested on the seventh day of Creation. He was saying, "Take note. This is important!" Obeying God (after all, resting on the Sabbath is the 4th commandment) gives Him the glory and honor He is due.

Whew. I have a lot of work to do! And since work honors God as well (He surely doesn't desire for us to be lazy or fail to provide for our families), I'm okay with it.

Saturday Scripture Speaks - Throw off that which Hinders

Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, a son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.
 

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have pity and mercy on me [now]!

 And many severely censured and reproved him, telling him to keep still, but he kept on shouting out all the more, You Son of David, have pity and mercy on me [now]!

And Jesus stopped and said, Call him. And they called the blind man, telling him, Take courage! Get up! He is calling you.

 And throwing off his outer garment, he leaped up and came to Jesus.

And Jesus said to him, What do you want Me to do for you? And the blind man said to Him, Master, let me receive my sight.

And Jesus said to him, Go your way; your faith has healed you. And at once he received his sight and accompanied Jesus on the road. 

^{Mark 10:46-52 (AMP)}

^{I love this passage of Scripture. It reminds me that Jesus wants us to throw off that which hinders us in our walk with Him. The beggar had faith strong enough to cause him to shout over the others who would have ignored him. This beggar was blind and he wanted to see.} 

^{When Jesus told the crowd, "Call him," He wanted to heal him. Yes. But He also wanted to demonstrate what faith can do. This man was healed instantly by word while another blind man in the Bible received sight only after Jesus spit in the dirt to make mud, applying it on his eyes. (Mark 8:23)}

^{The bigger picture, however, is that the blind beggar, after Jesus called him, leaped up and came to Jesus - and he did so after "throwing off his outer garment". Bible scholars tell us that in the culture of that day, a blind man would lay his cloak onto the ground before him and beg for money, which passersby would throw onto the cloak. At the end of the day, if the man were fortunate, he would have received enough money to get by. This beggar in Mark chapter 10 threw off his cloak, demonstrating that he would no longer need to beg.}

^{I think that the throwing off of the cloak is a good picture for us today. Had the man carefully laid his cloak aside, he would have shown that his faith was very small, if there at all. It would have been his "safety net" in case the healing didn't happen to stay around and he went back to being blind.}

^{The man, however, left the cloak and followed Jesus. Isn't that what we're called to do? Shouldn't we throw off that which would hinder our walk with Christ (disbelief, material goods, safety nets, etc.)?} 

^{Something to think about.} 

Extraordinary Blessings in Ordinary Places

People don't seem to know how to make the most of things anymore. If they don't have lots of money, lots of stuff, or perfect everything, they want to give up. We have seen an increase in suicides in our county this year. What's going on?

I have resolved that I will search for the blessings that come from God in the midst of depressing circumstances. 

Lately, I've felt my heart nearly bursting from all of the wonderful things that God has done in our family and in my life. From the little things like ladies coming into the library just to talk - and tell me that I bring them joy, to the huge answers to prayer, to knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am saved by the blood of Jesus: extraordinary blessings are all heaped upon me. 

The question really is, do I recognize the blessings when they blandly appear in the most ordinary places and circumstances? 

Lord, let me never fail to see You - an extraordinary God who works in extraordinary ways in the most ordinary of places.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 30

The fleas are gone. It sounds like a stupid little thing for which to be thankful, but after this summer's constant battle with the biting things, I'm praising God!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 26

I have been feeling "down" the last couple of days as I have struggled with how to parent our grown children. I am blessed beyond all belief as I trust in my Savior - the King of Glory, Jesus Christ. He gives me the grace to continue on.

I am thankful that I am a princess, a child of God. He will and does answer my prayers in His time.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 25

Last night I had a very good telephone conversation with one of my sisters. I am THANKFUL that I have sisters - all four of them. On top of that, I have two wonderful sisters-in-law that I love as much as I do my own sisters. And, if that isn't enough, I have a few friends that are so special to me that I count them as sisters as well.

Thank you, Lord, for sisters.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 23

Ryan and I cleaned house this afternoon. I am thankful tonight for a son who helps his mother do housework. I am that much closer to getting some Christmas decorating done now!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Days 21 & 22

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Somehow I missed a day so I'm combining two today.

I am thankful today for books. I work with books and live with books. They are my friends (as I was taught in grade school - "treat your book as your friend"). Just think where we'd be without the written word. We wouldn't have the Bible or any of the great works of literature that so enrich our lives.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 20

Last night and again today, I was reminded of how beautiful God is. He has spoken to people about our needs - and we have kept silent. The needs are met when beautiful people, who love a beautiful God, listen and obey.

A big thank you to those who were faithful to the Spirit's prompting. The Lord works miracles when we trust Him completely.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 19

I am extremely thankful that I was able to get my health turned around in the last couple of years. I found out what foods to which I am allergic - gluten and garbanzo beans. I eliminated gluten from my diet about three years ago. Last year I had to eliminate garbanzo beans as well. In July of last year, I began dieting by eliminating sugar - then eliminating most animal products. Doing those last two things resulted in me losing 40 lbs and feeling better (and younger) than I have in many years. Exercise is important. I added walking as much as I can.

I also added something that has helped me tremendously. I had acid reflux so bad that I would grab my stomach and double over in pain, unable to move or barely breathe for a good five minutes when an "attack" happened. I went to the doctor and ran tests. It was determined that I had a problem at the top of stomach that is quite common in smokers - in spite of the fact that I have NEVER smoked even once in my life. This "problem" keeps stomach acid at the top of the stomach, leaking into the esophagus.

The doctor then put me on acid reflux medication (omeprazole, over the counter). It worked, but it was expensive. Then, I found out that these medications cause osteoporosis! Well, I don't need that! Through tons of research, I came to the conclusion that I needed to use foods and supplements to create a less acidic body. I now take barley grass (organic) tablets every morning. Sometimes I take several throughout the day, depending on what I'm eating. I eat a mostly vegan/raw foods diet. Those two changes have eliminated my stomach pains and acid reflux. The only times I get a bit of reflux is when I eat something I know that I shouldn't.

Praising God for my renewed health!