“An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
‘Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.’
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:10-31
Thank you, mothers! Have a wonderful day!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Your True Identity
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...” 1 Peter 1:1-3
Researchers say that a lack of true identity is the reason for the high suicide rate among young adults. Many spend a lifetime trying to gain recognition and a sense of belonging and accomplishment. As Christians, our identity is found only in Jesus Christ. Searching for it in another person or thing brings disappointment, insecurity, frustration, and anxiety.
Far too often those who profess Jesus as Lord are entrapped by the same things enslaving our world - pride, selfishness, and materialism. Jesus said that in order to save your life, you must be willing to lose it unto Him (Luke 9:24). We cannot experience the freedom and purity of our identity in Christ if we are sill longing to be identified with the things of this world.
In reminding the early church of their identity, Peter told them: Yes, it was true; they were aliens - strangers to this world. Yet they had been chosen by God to know and experience all the wonder and goodness of His glory and grace. Therefore, their identity was secure in Christ.
Have you settled the need for identity in your own life? If so, rest in the power of His embrace.
Researchers say that a lack of true identity is the reason for the high suicide rate among young adults. Many spend a lifetime trying to gain recognition and a sense of belonging and accomplishment. As Christians, our identity is found only in Jesus Christ. Searching for it in another person or thing brings disappointment, insecurity, frustration, and anxiety.
Far too often those who profess Jesus as Lord are entrapped by the same things enslaving our world - pride, selfishness, and materialism. Jesus said that in order to save your life, you must be willing to lose it unto Him (Luke 9:24). We cannot experience the freedom and purity of our identity in Christ if we are sill longing to be identified with the things of this world.
In reminding the early church of their identity, Peter told them: Yes, it was true; they were aliens - strangers to this world. Yet they had been chosen by God to know and experience all the wonder and goodness of His glory and grace. Therefore, their identity was secure in Christ.
Have you settled the need for identity in your own life? If so, rest in the power of His embrace.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Let God Meet Your Needs!
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful...” Hebrews 10:23
He had decided to buy the new car regardless of his financial state. He also tried to forget the fact that his wife had just had a baby. He refused to consider a nice, affordable, used car.
God is committed to meeting our needs. However, He is not committed to meeting all our wants. Several things work against God’s desire to meet our needs:
> Disobedience - When we disobey God, we face the consequences of our sin. Often that means waiting for the things He wants to build into our lives.
> Doubt - It defuses God’s plan for us. It also signal a lack of faith in His ability to provide for us.
> Manipulation - Trying to meet your needs your way leads to spiritual fraud. God sees through manipulation. He wants your life to be sincerely obedient before Him.
> Wrong motivation - Motives that are not God-centered never yield lasting peace. Set your focus on God, not the things of this world.
> Ignoring our responsibilities - When we ignore our God-given responsibilities - family, friends, and jobs - our fellowship with God becomes clouded and we struggle spiritually.
Let Christ by your Provider, and He will meet your needs perfectly.
He had decided to buy the new car regardless of his financial state. He also tried to forget the fact that his wife had just had a baby. He refused to consider a nice, affordable, used car.
God is committed to meeting our needs. However, He is not committed to meeting all our wants. Several things work against God’s desire to meet our needs:
> Disobedience - When we disobey God, we face the consequences of our sin. Often that means waiting for the things He wants to build into our lives.
> Doubt - It defuses God’s plan for us. It also signal a lack of faith in His ability to provide for us.
> Manipulation - Trying to meet your needs your way leads to spiritual fraud. God sees through manipulation. He wants your life to be sincerely obedient before Him.
> Wrong motivation - Motives that are not God-centered never yield lasting peace. Set your focus on God, not the things of this world.
> Ignoring our responsibilities - When we ignore our God-given responsibilities - family, friends, and jobs - our fellowship with God becomes clouded and we struggle spiritually.
Let Christ by your Provider, and He will meet your needs perfectly.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Our Unmet Needs
“This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:11-21
The youngster ran out the door to join his friends at the playground. Twenty minutes later he was back. “I thought you went to play with your friends?” his mom asked. He looked up from where he had been scuffing his shoes along the ground. She immediately saw the disappointment on his face. “Honey, what happened?” “Mom, they didn’t choose me to play on their softball teams.”
Disappointments like this one can seem small from an adult’s perspective, but they’re not. They are the very things that help shape our personality and self-image.
“I’m sorry you were not chosen,” his mother said. “But this doesn’t mean you are unworthy of their friendship. Sometimes things happen that hurt us, but always remember you mean a great deal to your dad and me.”
One of the greatest needs of our society is the need to be accepted. All of us want to know we matter to someone else. How we choose to meet this need is critical to our sense of self-worth and to our relationship with God. Jesus Christ holds the greatest amount of acceptance we could ever hope to find. No matter what your life has brought or who has rejected you, He promises love and acceptance when you come to Him.
God said He would meet all our needs, and He has never broken a promise.
The youngster ran out the door to join his friends at the playground. Twenty minutes later he was back. “I thought you went to play with your friends?” his mom asked. He looked up from where he had been scuffing his shoes along the ground. She immediately saw the disappointment on his face. “Honey, what happened?” “Mom, they didn’t choose me to play on their softball teams.”
Disappointments like this one can seem small from an adult’s perspective, but they’re not. They are the very things that help shape our personality and self-image.
“I’m sorry you were not chosen,” his mother said. “But this doesn’t mean you are unworthy of their friendship. Sometimes things happen that hurt us, but always remember you mean a great deal to your dad and me.”
One of the greatest needs of our society is the need to be accepted. All of us want to know we matter to someone else. How we choose to meet this need is critical to our sense of self-worth and to our relationship with God. Jesus Christ holds the greatest amount of acceptance we could ever hope to find. No matter what your life has brought or who has rejected you, He promises love and acceptance when you come to Him.
God said He would meet all our needs, and He has never broken a promise.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Who Will Meet My Needs?
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
She broke down and cried as she finished folding her husband’s shirts. They had been married for twenty-five years and raised two children. Somewhere in between the little league baseball games, drama rehearsals, and hours spent late at the office, they had lost one another. Her children always filled the void in her life. Now that they were gone, she realized she barely knew her husband.
Her pastor lovingly listened as she told of her heartache. “God created each of us with certain needs,” he began, “needs for significance, security, acceptance, love, and discipline.” “However,” he said, “no person can meet all your needs. And it’s unfair to request that of anyone. The good news is that with help and time God can restore your marriage.”
Many try to take control of a bad situation by filling their lives with material possessions and other people. However, when needs are not met in the proper way, emotional unrest and discontentment ensue. Only Jesus Christ is capable of meeting your every need. If you are faced with a situation that has left you feeling lonely and insignificant, be assured He wants to and can fill the void in your life. The greatest need a person can have is to know Jesus Christ.
She broke down and cried as she finished folding her husband’s shirts. They had been married for twenty-five years and raised two children. Somewhere in between the little league baseball games, drama rehearsals, and hours spent late at the office, they had lost one another. Her children always filled the void in her life. Now that they were gone, she realized she barely knew her husband.
Her pastor lovingly listened as she told of her heartache. “God created each of us with certain needs,” he began, “needs for significance, security, acceptance, love, and discipline.” “However,” he said, “no person can meet all your needs. And it’s unfair to request that of anyone. The good news is that with help and time God can restore your marriage.”
Many try to take control of a bad situation by filling their lives with material possessions and other people. However, when needs are not met in the proper way, emotional unrest and discontentment ensue. Only Jesus Christ is capable of meeting your every need. If you are faced with a situation that has left you feeling lonely and insignificant, be assured He wants to and can fill the void in your life. The greatest need a person can have is to know Jesus Christ.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Promise of a Resurrection
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.’” John 6:35-40
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” Passage John 6:44
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:54
When Rajiv Gandhi was killed years ago, his Hindu burial was described in this manner in an Associated Press article: “Gandhi’s son, Rahul, was to perform the rites at the cremation ground along the Jamuma River, lighting the pyre and smashing the skull with a cudgel to release the soul of the departed.”
All religions of the world - except Christianity - teach confusing, uncertain, and complex concepts of life and death. It is the Christian faith alone than teaches, professes, and focuses on the surety of the believer’s resurrection. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving His deity, you can be assured of your personal resurrection. The grave is not a dead end. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was crucified for our sins and rose again from the tomb just as He promised.
When you die, your spirit is immediately with the Lord. When the Lord returns, our bodies will be joined with our spirits. It is clear we will have bodies like Christ’s after His resurrection (Philippians 3:21). The burial of a Christian is but a formality. He is already with the Savior, tasting the delights of heaven, seeing God face to face.
“we...prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5:8
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” Passage John 6:44
“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:54
When Rajiv Gandhi was killed years ago, his Hindu burial was described in this manner in an Associated Press article: “Gandhi’s son, Rahul, was to perform the rites at the cremation ground along the Jamuma River, lighting the pyre and smashing the skull with a cudgel to release the soul of the departed.”
All religions of the world - except Christianity - teach confusing, uncertain, and complex concepts of life and death. It is the Christian faith alone than teaches, professes, and focuses on the surety of the believer’s resurrection. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving His deity, you can be assured of your personal resurrection. The grave is not a dead end. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was crucified for our sins and rose again from the tomb just as He promised.
When you die, your spirit is immediately with the Lord. When the Lord returns, our bodies will be joined with our spirits. It is clear we will have bodies like Christ’s after His resurrection (Philippians 3:21). The burial of a Christian is but a formality. He is already with the Savior, tasting the delights of heaven, seeing God face to face.
“we...prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5:8
Sunday, May 2, 2010
After Death, What Then?
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
The believer will live in heaven, the perfect glory and expression of a perfect God. He will live forever in the brightness, goodness, and purity of God his Father, his sins judged by God on the cross (Isaiah 53). Those who reject Christ as Savior, who fail to receive His offer of forgiveness of sin, will live forever in hell - darkness, torment, pain - completely absent from the presence of God.
You did not get to earth on your own steam. Man was God’s idea. Everyone has life because the Creator gives it. We have spirit that is either made alive by Christ or that is dead in sin and dead to God. After physical death, the believer eventually will be judged for the purpose of rewards. He will be rewarded by God for his deeds and motives on earth. His salvation is not in question. The unbeliever will also be judged by Christ after physical death. He will be judged for his sins. With no Advocate and no forgiveness, he will be sent away from God’s presence forever.
Your eternal future can be decided today if you have not yet accepted Christ. Admit your sins, realize your alienation from God, believe in Christ’s work on the cross, and receive His everlasting life.
The believer will live in heaven, the perfect glory and expression of a perfect God. He will live forever in the brightness, goodness, and purity of God his Father, his sins judged by God on the cross (Isaiah 53). Those who reject Christ as Savior, who fail to receive His offer of forgiveness of sin, will live forever in hell - darkness, torment, pain - completely absent from the presence of God.
You did not get to earth on your own steam. Man was God’s idea. Everyone has life because the Creator gives it. We have spirit that is either made alive by Christ or that is dead in sin and dead to God. After physical death, the believer eventually will be judged for the purpose of rewards. He will be rewarded by God for his deeds and motives on earth. His salvation is not in question. The unbeliever will also be judged by Christ after physical death. He will be judged for his sins. With no Advocate and no forgiveness, he will be sent away from God’s presence forever.
Your eternal future can be decided today if you have not yet accepted Christ. Admit your sins, realize your alienation from God, believe in Christ’s work on the cross, and receive His everlasting life.
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