31 Days of Reflection Day 5 "Dreams"

Why do we often feel like we cant accomplish what we set out to do? We all have goals and ideas and dreams but somehow they are stolen, lost and not completed. I feel like I am my own worst enemy! Well I know that I am. I need to get some fresh air. Clear my head and make some new goals whether they be weight loss, or other goals and just do them. I always feel like I am being held back, it is fear? What is it that keeps me from accomplishing what I need to do? Is it laziness? Intimidation? 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 
(2 Timothy 1:7 Webster) 

Being lazy is like walking in a thorn patch, but everyone who does right walks on a smooth road. 
(Proverbs 15:19 CEV) 

For you have not received a spirit of slavery that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 
(Romans 8:15 ISV)

31 Days Of Reflection Day 4 "The Body of Christ"

     How are we the "Church" to be the the hands and feet of Christ towards others? First within our local body and then into our community?  In today's busy demanding  culture we can sometimes become self adsorbed and not see the true needs of others.

     If we can not minister to the body of Christ within our churches, how then can we reach out in to the community?  There are hurting people in the church that need our intercessory prayers and our compassion. There are some that we need to come along side and mentor. There are some that have physical needs. There are some that have spiritual needs. Are we willing to notice these needs and be willing to actually be the hands and feet of Christ?

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 

 How did Jesus respond to peoples needs ?  First He had to spend time with the Father. Second he was flexible, Jesus was willing to be interrupted.Third Jesus was willing to get His hands dirty and

 fourth He shared His love for "the least of these.

Christ Has No Body
Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

31 Days of Reflection Day 3 " She Doesn't Know Him"

Behold what manner of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
(1 John 3:1 MKJV)

While caring for my father and mother in NM has been a challenge, God is teaching me through it all.  There have been times when I have been frustrated and impatient. God is faithful to remind me that I need to have patience and love the way He loves. One day in particular I became very upset with my Mom.  When I went in to care for my Dad (whom recently accepted the Lord as Savior),  he grabbed my arm and in tears said, " She doesn't  know Him.  Maybe she will know Him soon." I  Immediately was pierced in my heart for my attitude towards her.   She needs unconditional love from me not condemnation.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us an understanding so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him that is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and the everlasting life.
(1 John 5:20 MKJV)

31 days of Reflection Day 2 " Background"

Hi, I want to tell you some background about myself and what is going on in my life right now so that future blogs will make sense. First, I have been Married 28 years to James, the love of my life. We have 5 Children 4 of them adult children and one still in our homeschool. We have been home educating for 24 years. We have 4 grandchildren. I grew up In NM and my parents still live there. I moved away 25 years ago and now live in Blythewood, SC which is right out side of Columbia, SC.

 In the beginning of September I flew out to NM with my youngest son William. We are taking care of my parents while they recuperate from surgeries. My husband and I have never been apart for longer than 2 weeks so it has been a challenge. I Know that I am not being held captive and I volunteered to come here. Nevertheless the schedule is demanding taking care of both of them and homeschooling my 11th grader and getting my 13 yo niece (whom lives with my parents) to school everyday. I am homesick and and want to be home with my family. 

The verses below encourage me."I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you. When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me, I will let you find me, declares the LORD. I will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I've scattered you, declares the LORD. I will bring you back from the place where you are being held captive."  (Jeremiah 29:11-14 GW)

31 Days of Reflection Day 1 " Broken Eggs"

 In August 2015 my daughter's family and I were in a car accident. We all had minor injuries and we are healing well. Immediately after the accident, my grand daughter Jude began "rounding" things up that had been strewn about in the car. She carefully found everything and put it all in the diaper bag. She returned to the car to have one last look around and that is when her heart was broken. There in the backseat floorboard area she found the eggs her mother had just purchased. She began to sob and ran to her Daddy and said "Oh Daddy the eggs are broken!!"  He reassured her that it was OK and they would be taken care of. She continued to sob and replied" but they can not be fixed daddy!

       I thought about this many times over the next few days. We try to gather ourselves and fix our problems, but we are broken eggs needing repair, we can not fix ourselves. Abba Father wants us to bring everything that is broken in our lives: our hurts our heartaches and our grieving. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, and he delivers those whose spirit has been crushed. (Psalms 34:18 ISV)
 He is the only one that can heal us. Here we are Lord, we can not fix our hearts but you can. We need to be completely surrendered to Him so that He can work through all He has purposed for us. 

At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we don't know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words. The one who searches our hearts knows what the Spirit has in mind. The Spirit intercedes for God's people the way God wants him to. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God-those whom he has called according to his plan.
(Romans 8:26-28 GW)

Elisabeth Elliot, December 21, 1926 - June 15, 2015

“I have one desire now - to live a life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all my energy and strength into it.” 
― Elisabeth Elliot, Through Gates of Splendor

“Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands.” 
― Elisabeth Elliot

Day 16 "Biblical Womanhood" To be Keepers at Home"

To be Keepers at Home Titus 2:5 
This is a controversial subject among Christian women.  I have included 3 different views from different sources. 

Keepers at home - That is, characteristically attentive to their domestic concerns, or to their duties in their families.. This does not mean, of course, that they are never to go abroad, but they are not to neglect their domestic affairs; they are not to be better known abroad than at home; they are not to omit their own duties and become "busy-bodies" in the concerns of others. Religion is the patron of the domestic virtues, and regards the appropriate duties in a family as those most intimately connected with its own progress in the world. It looks benignly on all which makes home a place of contentment, intelligence, and peace. It does not flourish when domestic duties are neglected; - and whatever may be done abroad, or whatever self-denial and zeal in the cause of religion may be evinced there, or whatever call there may be for the labors of Christians there, or however much good may be actually done abroad, religion has gained nothing, on the whole, if, in order to secure these things, the duties of a wife and mother at home have been disregarded. Our first duty is at home, and all other duties will be well performed just in proportion as that is.*1


 HOME-KEEPERS. Making home first of all a center of attraction by its order and cleanliness and comfort; then by its harmonies of peace and love, so that no discordant notes may mar the music of its joy; and then by avoiding gossiping visits, and the excitements of habitual restlessness, and a too great love of shopping, securing the safety of economy and the honor of a wife who "weaves all into beauty and order at home*2.

.  They are to be workers at home.  We’ve dealt with the attitudes of a woman, love toward husband, love toward children, wisdom and purity.  Now, we turn to the very important issue, the sphere of her responsibility, workers at home, oikourgos, literally a house worker.  This is the sphere of a woman’s life.  It is her domain.  It is her kingdom.  It is her realm.  The word is derived from the word “house” and the word “work.”  A house worker.  It doesn’t simply refer, by the way, to scrubbing floors and cleaning bathrooms and doing that.  It simply connotes the idea that the home is the sphere of her labors, whatever they might be.  It is not that a woman is to keep busy all the time at home.  It doesn’t mean that she can never go out the door.  It doesn’t mean that she’s always to be doing menial tasks.  But what it does mean is that the home is the sphere of her divine assignment.

She is to the home keeper, to take care of her husband, to provide for him and for the children, all that they need as they live in that home.  Materially, she is to take the resources the husband brings home and translate them into a comfortable and blessed life for her children.  She is to take the spiritual things that she knows and learns and to pass them on to her children.  She is a keeper at home.  God’s standard is for the wife and mother to work inside the home and not outside.   In addition to having less time to work at home and teach and care for her children, a wife working outside the home often has a boss to whom she is responsible for pleasing in the way she dresses and a lot of other matters, complicating the headship of her husband and compromising her own testimony.  She is forced to submit to men other than her own husband, likely to become more independent, including financially in fragmenting the unity of the family.  She is in the danger of becoming enamored by the business world or whatever world she’s in, and finding less and less satisfaction in her home responsibilities.*3

 My personal opinion is if you can stay home then do it. It is rewarding.   Pray about it and then obey what God reveals to you.

*1 Notes on the Bible by Albert Barnes [1834].
 *2 The Pulpit Commentary, Electronic Database.
*3  Gods patterns for wives  Part 2 https://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/1945
Copyright © 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010 by Biblesoft, Inc.
All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com

Day 15 Biblical Womanhood " How to Keep Our Way Pure Part 4" Psalm 119:13-16

13 With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches. Psalm 119:13-14

A declaration of commitment.

 With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.

With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth: The Psalmist understood the importance of not only silently reading or hearing the Word of God, but also in saying it. To declare God's word (all the judgments of Your mouth) with his lips was another part of his relationship with and love for God.

i. We may confidently conclude that there is not enough - never enough - of this among the people of God. God's people should have His word not only in their minds and hearts, but also upon their lips. Saying it is powerful and must not be neglected.

ii. "When we make the Scriptures the subject of our conversation, we glorify God, we edify our neighbors, and we improve ourselves." (Horne)*1

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches. 
As much as ever any worldling*2 rejoiced in the increase of his wealth. In the way of God’s commandments I can truly say, Soul, take thy ease;” in true relationship with God through Jesus, there is all riches, the unsearchable riches of Christ.*3

I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

(Psalms 119:13-16)

 He looks forward with a holy resolution never to cool in his affection to the word of God; what he does that he will do, 2 Cor. 11:12. Those that have found pleasure in the ways of God are likely to proceed and persevere in them. 1. He will dwell much upon them in his thoughts (Ps. 119:15): I will meditate in thy precepts. He not only discoursed of them to others (many do that only to show their knowledge and authority), but he communed with his own heart about them, and took pains to digest in his own thoughts what he had declared, or had to declare, to others. Note, God’s words ought to be very much the subject of our thoughts. 2. He will have them always in his eye: I will have respect unto thy ways, as the traveller has to his road, which he is in care not to miss and always aims and endeavors to hit. We do not meditate on God’s precepts to good purpose unless we have respect to them as our rule and our good thoughts produce good works and good intentions in them. 3. He will take a constant pleasure in communion with God and obedience to him. It is not for a season that he rejoices in this light, but “I will still, I will for ever, delight myself in thy statutes, not only think of them, but do them with delight,” 
Ps. 119:16. David took more delight in God’s statutes than in the pleasures of his court or the honors of his camp, more than in his sword or in his harp. When the law is written in the heart duty becomes a delight. 4. He will never forget what he has learned of the things of God: “I will not forget thy word, not only I will not quite forget it, but I will be mindful of it when I have occasion to use it.” Those that meditate in God’s word, and delight in it, are in no great danger of forgetting it.*4

 As we can see here if we saturate ourselves with Gods Word, we will be more likely to keep our way pure.
Why study so long on keeping our way Pure? I  believe that this is key to every other aspect in the Titus passage that we have been studying.  So Ladies are you keeping your way Pure?  

*1 Guzik
*2Worldling definition, a person devoted to the interests and pleasures of this world; a worldly person.
*3 *4 Matthew Henry's Commentary

Day 14 Biblical Womanhood "Taking a look at verses 11 and 12 of psalm 119"

Today we will take a look at verses 11 and 12 of psalm 119


 Verses 11-12 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

 First of all memorize His word!  It can help us when we are being tempted. We can remember  Gods absolute truth and apply it and obey it. " To have God’s word of promise laid up in the heart is the only security against being surprised into sin." *1    Second we must  humble  ourselves and submit ourselves to Gods authority in order to be taught His decrees by His Spirit. “We need to be disciples or learners— ‘teach me;’ but what an honour to have God himself for a teacher: how bold is David to beg the blessed God to teach him!” (Spurgeon) 


*1 The Pulpit Commentary

Day 13 Biblical Womanhood " How To Keep Our Way Pure Part 2"

I thought we could explore this more closely, so we are going to look at just two verses at a time. This section Psalm 119:9-16 is a prayer to God by the Psalmist. 

" How can a young man keep his behavior pure? By guarding it in accordance with your word. I have sought you with all of my heart; do not let me drift away from your commands." 

(Psalms 119:9-10)

 Verse 9 "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word."
 By looking to God’s Word, and guiding ourselves so that, we may "cleanse our way"—not otherwise.

Verse 10 I seek you with all my heart; 
 "If from there you will seek the LORD your God, then you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and soul."(Deuteronomy 4:29)

do not let me stray from your commands. The Psalmist prays for help not to stray.


i.e. "let me not accidentally and through ignorance stray from the right path."1

1 The Treasury of David by Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

See you tomorrow

Day 12 Biblical Womanhood "How To Keep Our Way Pure"

Psalm 119:9-16

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.  With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.  I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.  I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."

• Live according to His word, Don't just read it 
• Seek Him with all your heart.
• Memorize the Word
• Praise Him for teaching you the Word
• Rejoice in following His Word
• Study His word
• Delight in His Word
• Do not neglect His Word

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action. (2Ti 3:16-17)"

Day 11 Biblical Womanhood " What is Purity?"

Today we will study what purity means. As I was studying  what purity is I realized while most people think that purity "just" relates to being sexually pure that is not the case. Purity is a lifestyle choice  that encompasses every area of life, not just sexuality. Purity is not a wide path, but a narrow road. Purity is a singular matter that touches everything.

Purity~

 "In the Old Testament, the basic sense of the Hebrew word for purity is probably an emptying out or being clean. The verb appears about forty times, most occurrences with an ethical, moral, or forensic sense. Purity is opposed to being guilty. It stands over against such conduct or attitudes as unfaithfulness to God's covenant (Hosea 8:1), rebellion against God's law (v. 1), and idolatry (vv. 4-6, 11). Purity consists of "clean hands" (Gen 20:5), innocence ( Psalm 26:6 ; 73:13), and an "empty stomach" (Amos 4:6).

In the New Testament, there is little emphasis on ritual purity. Rather, the focus is on moral purity or purification: chastity (2 Cor 11:2 ;Titus 2:5); innocence in one's attitude toward members of the church ( 2 Cor 7:11 ); and moral purity or uprightness ( Php 4:8 ; 1 Tim 5:22 ; 1 Peter 3:2 ; 1 John 1:3). Purity is associated with understanding, patience and kindness ( 2 Cor 6:6); speech, life, love, and faith ( 1 Tim 4:12 ); and reverence ( 1 Peter 3:2 )."*

* http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/purity.html" 

Join me tomorrow as we study "How To Keep Our Way Pure"

Day 10 Biblical Womanhood " How to have Self Control"

    So today we are looking at  "How to Have Self Control". Yesterday we learned that self control is a fruit of the spirit.  We basically must yield our hearts to the Holy Spirit and obey Him when He speaks to us. By doing so it will produce the fruits of the Spirit in our lives.  You ask, "How do I know when He is speaking to me?"  Bill Jones and Terry Powell include the following chart in their book, Walking in the Spirit. (Camp Hill: Christian Publications, 2001. p. 81): 

       Characteristics of the Holy Spirit's Promptings 
       

They Will Always	They Will Never
Confirm Scripture	Contradict Scripture
Be Specific	Be General
Convict	Condemn
Lead you	Push or drive you
Be Simple	Be Complicated
Motivate you to faith	Create fear in you
Focus primarily on changing you inwardly	Focus primarily on changing you outwardly
Emphasize character	Emphasize circumstances
Be True	Be False
Be Clear	Be Confusing
Restore Relationships	Destroy Relationships
Major on your faults, others’ needs	Major on others’ faults, your needs
Lead you to do something	Lead you to overdo something

       

 This list should help us to discern when the Holy Spirit is prompting us. 

"And how does the Spirit produce this fruit of self-control in us? By instructing us in the superior preciousness of grace, and enabling us to see and savor (that is, "trust") all that God is for us in Jesus. "The grace of God has appeared . . . instructing us to deny . . . worldly desires . . . in the present age" (Titus 2:11).     When we really see and believe what God is for us by grace through Jesus Christ, the power of wrong desires is broken. Therefore the fight for self-control is a fight of faith. "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called" (1 Timothy 6:12).*

* http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-fierce-fruit-of-self-control
 See you tomorrow!

Day 9 Biblical Womanhood “to be self-controlled and pure"

Today we will look at just the first part of verse 5 “to be self-controlled and pure, and to be keepers at home, kind, who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the message that comes from God.”

(Titus 2:5). the next four days we look at the 4 questions below. 

1 What is self control?

2 How can I have it?

3 What is purity?

4 How can I make my way pure? 

So What is self Control? 
The dictionary defines Self control as:

noun

1. the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations.
2. 
   

   However to have Biblical Self control is a gift not something that we do in our own power. 

"Fundamental to the Christian view of self-control is that it is a gift. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace . . . self-control" (Galatians 5:22). How do we "strive" against the our fatal desires? Paul answers: "I labor, striving (agonizomenos) according to His power, which mightily works within me" (Colossians 1:29). He "agonizes" by the power of Christ not his own. Similarly he tells us, "If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live" (Romans 8:13). "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). We must be fierce! Yes. But not by our might. "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD" (Proverbs 21:31)."*

Join me tomorrow as we look at how to have self control,  one of the fruits of the Spirit. 

*http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-fierce-fruit-of-self-control

Day 8 Biblical Womanhood " Ways to show Children Love"

 Ways to show our children we love them:

Pray For Your Children:

That they will know Christ early in life

Psalm 63:1; 2 Timothy 3:15

 That they will have a hatred for sin

Psalm 97:10

 That they will be caught when guilty

Psalm 119:71

 That they will be protected from the evil one in each area of their lives: spiritual, emotional, physical

John 17:15

 That they will have a responsible attitude in all

their interpersonal relationships

Daniel 6:3

 That they will respect those in

authority over them

Romans 13:1

 That they will desire the right kind of friends

Proverbs 1:10-11

 That they will be kept from the wrong mate

and saved for the right one.

 2 Corinthians 6:14-17

 That they, as well as those they marry,

will be kept pure until marriage

2 Corinthians 6:18-20

That they will learn to totally submit to

God and resist Satan

James 4:7

That they will be single hearted, willing to

be sold out to Jesus Christ

Romans 12:1-2

That they will be hedged in so they cannot find their way to wrong people or places

Hosea 2:6

Encourage them

Show Unconditional Love

“Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God" (Romans 15:7

Praise and Bless Them

There are tremendous benefits in praising and blessing our children. Praise creates an atmosphere of love, joy, and acceptance. Children desire the praise of their parents, and they naturally want to please them and gain their acceptance.

Listen to Gain Understanding

We can learn to understand our children by listening to them. It is important that we give undivided attention to them when they talk to us. We want our children to be able to share their hearts without feeling that we will condemn them. Effective parenting requires good listening skills, which will produce greater understanding.

Have Fun Together! 

 See you tomorrow!

Day 7 Biblical Womanhood " Love their Children"

First let us remember that our children are a gift from the Lord,

 "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

(Psa 127:3-5)

"He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD."

(Psa 113:9)

"Love their Children"

in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children,

(Tit 2:4)

To love their children; not with a fond, foolish, loose, and ungoverned affection; but so as to seek their real good, and not only their temporal, but spiritual and eternal welfare; to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and to use and keep proper discipline and government over them; for otherwise, a midst all the fondness of natural affection, a parent may be said to hate a child, If you don't punish your children, you don't love them. If you do love them, you will correct them. 

(Pro 13:24)

.  John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Do you have a wayward Child? Here is an article from John Piper "12 ways to love your wayward Child"

Join me tomorrow as we explore ways to show our children love.  

Day 6 Biblical Womanhood" 4 Ways to Show Love to our Husbands"

  As I thought over some ways to show Agape love to our husbands these 4 came to the front of the line. I am sure that you can brain storm many more to add to this list. I have included a link that may be used as resource.

• Respect, Esteem, Honor &; appreciate Him. " Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." (Eph 5:33)

“The wife is to treat her husband with deference; in other words, she is to recognize this biblical and Christian view of marriage, she is the regard the husband as her head, the head of this new unit. They are both one, but there is a head to the unit, as there is a head to our body, as Christ is the Head of the church.” (Lloyd-Jones)

• Pray for Him: “She does him good . . .” (Proverbs 31:12a)

Bless your husband by praying for him! The Apostle Paul instructed all Christians to pray for one another (Ephesians 6:18). This includes wives’ responsibility and privilege to pray for their husbands. Earnest prayer for your husband is good for him, for you and the spiritual health of your home (Proverbs 31:11-12).Satan desires to destroy your husband, especially his character and his leadership in your relationship. Trust God through prayer as you daily surrender your husband and marriage to the Lord’s wise, loving care.

Copyright Revive Our Hearts. Written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Used with permission. Click below For a prayer guide to begin.

31 Days of Praying for Your Husband

• Encourage Him “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness,”Hebrews 3:13. First Thessalonians 5:11 “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness,” Throughout Scripture we see instructions to encourage one another and verses that are meant to encourage us. Why is encouragement emphasized in Scripture? Primarily because encouragement is necessary to our walk of faith..
  
• Complete Him do not Compete with Him.

See you all tomorrow.



.

Day 5 Biblical Womanhood "Different Kinds of Love"

Today I want to  go back to 1 Cor 13 and look at the word love.

 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And if I shall dole out all my goods in food, and if I deliver up my body that I may be burned, but have not love, I profit nothing.

(1Cor 13:1-3)

 Love
The ancient Greeks had four different words we translate love.  It is important to understand the difference between the words, and why the apostle Paul chose the Greek word Agape here.

 1. Eros was one word for love.  It described, as we might guess from the word itself, erotic love.  It refers to sexual love.

2. Storge was the second word for love.  It refers to family love, the kind of love there is between a parent and child, or between family members in general.

3. Philia is the third word for love.  It speaks of a brotherly friendship and affection.  It is the love of deep friendship and partnership.  It might be described as the highest love of which man, without God’s help, is capable of.

4. Agape is the fourth word for love.  It is a love that loves without changing.  It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting re-payment.  It is love so great that it can be given to the unlovable or unappealing.  It is love that loves even when it is rejected.  Agape love gives and loves because it wants to; it does not demand or expect repayment from the love given.  It gives because it loves, it does not love in order to receive. The word has little to do with emotion; it has much to do with self-denial for the sake of another. It is Unconditional.

This is the kind of Love that we have to let God do through us. It is a fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity, meekness, self-control: against such things there is no law.
(Gal 5:22-23)

Can you think of some ways to show your Husband Agape Love?

Join me again tomorrow as we explore some ways we can show our husbands Agape love.

Day 4 Biblical Womanhood "Love Their Husbands"

That they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
(Tit 2:4)

First we will look at loving our husbands, we will be spending some time here for a few days, then later we will take a look at loving our children.

  

To love their husbands;  Let us look at what love is then,

 First look at 1 Cor 13: 1-13

What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others. What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others. Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten. We don't know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. But what is perfect will someday appear, and what isn't perfect will then disappear. When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do. But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways. Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don't know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us. For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love. 

(1Co 13:1-13)

Lets do a love "Check Up" with the underlined text. Are our actions toward our husbands inline with these scriptures? If not  lets take a moment to confess our sins and ask for Gods forgiveness and guidance to help us to make right choices on how to respond to our husbands. 

Come back tomorrow for more on Love.

Day 3 Biblical Womanhood "Older Women"

Today we are going to focus on the older women and what scripture has to say about them and how they are to live their lives in order to effectively minister to the younger women. Let’s take a closer look.

The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they admonish the young women. Titus 2:3.   

                            

•           Reverent in behavior: This older woman sees her entire life as a worship to God. Some Commentaries call this sacred service. I love this picture of one’s whole life as a worship to God. We are an open testimony to His work in us over the course of our lives, so we need to behave as Christ would. In this way we live to be an example to those who come behind us.

•    Not slanderers: not raising false reports or, bringing false charges against members of the church, making differences and divisions among them.

•         Not given to much wine: This was a common failing of older women in Roman and Greek culture. Paul recognizes that this special challenge needs special instruction.( Guzik Commentary on O.T. and N.T.)  But even today there is the temptation to drown out your sorrows with wine. Let us be Sober in heart and mind able to discern the will of God in our lives. Therefore girding up the loins of your mind, being sober, perfectly hope for the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (1Pe 1:13)

•       Teachers of good things : If the older women have special challenges, they also have special opportunities. God can use their wisdom and experience as they admonish the young women. This gives the older women something positive to live towards, instead of the negative things of slander and alcohol abuse. (Guzik Commentary on O.T. and N.T.)

 I am challenged to live my life as a worship to God and  be a positive influence in today’s society. How about you?  Join me tomorrow as we study verse 4. See you soon.