Joy - A Missing Delight

 My mom and I talked about this the other day: having joy through everything you go through in life. The ups and the downs. The hidden desires and the present disappointments.  So I was wanting to read the book of Philippians. What better place to look for real, true joy than the Word of God?


The word Joy in Philippians can be used different ways.

 One of the ways it is used is the Greek word "Chara". This is used five times in the book. The meaning according to Strong's is cheerfulness. BUT the second meaning is what caught my eye today.

Calm delight.

 

 

When I think of the word joy I think of bubbly and happy, an active kind of joy.

Joyful children run and laugh and play,

but this calm delight?



 

It must radiate from within,

a peaceful strength,

a contented joy.

Oh, how I lack this but how I want it!

 

 

But here the Lord is showing that joy resides within

and it isn't always manifested actively,

but is radiated from within

in a joyful countenance,

A Calm Delighted Countenance.

Wifey Lessons

Wife Lessons
I've been reading the book, The Power of a Praying Wife. I'm ashamed to say that I've had it for a couple of years but haven't read it. I don't even remember where I picked it up, I see it everywhere at the thrift stores. I've been trying to go through my books and reread some of them(or read them for the first time) so if they aren't as good as I remember I can get rid of them. Does anyone else feel like their bookshelves and movie cabinets are exploding and there is never enough room? This is why I am working on thinning out.

Anyway... back to my book. I wish I had read it sooner and I'm glad I am finally reading. I am so thankful for my husband,truly, but I think I take for granted the prayer needed to make him a great man, and my responsiblilty. So I though I would share some things I've learned so far.

It's easier to pray for your children than your husband because you have authority over your children but your husband is the authority over you.

We need to lay down our lives, as wives, in prayer for our husbands. Our prayers have a greater impact/effect on our man than anyone elses, including his mom's prayers.

There is much at stake if we don't pray, only one side of our marriage will be cared for and strengthened. It gives us a oneness the enemy hates and will try to weaken.

If your relationship with your husband isnt' what it was or should be check your prayer life/time for him. You can't help loving and caring for someone the more you pray for them.

When you feel a change is needed in your man, get on your knees and ask for a change in YOU.

Prayer is the ultimate love language, we enter the presence of God in prayer and He fills us with His Spirit of Love.

Let your husband be the head of the home, you get to be the heart of the home.

If your man does something that dissapoints you (A result of our high expectations), stop seething and remember his good qualities and the things he does for you.

Lessons of Shared Candy Bar

I like candy.

I really like chocolate.

The darker the better.

I was just thinking, maybe we should start training women not to be lured away by strangers waving dark chocolate candy bars. You know like we tell kids not to ever take anything from a stranger. Okay... back to what I was saying.

So the other day I ran into Target to grab a few grocery things sicne I was out that way. And when I was in the checkout, I saw one of my favorite candy bars (that I have a hard time finding) and it was on CLEARANCE. Don't you just love that word? So I grabbed one.

I finished my running and went home. I set the candy bar on the table and got busy doing other things.Maybe I was just building up the excitement of eating that thing, I'm not sure. Well, Working Man came home and I had his coffee made.

I just realized your mind is jumping to a conclusion, it makes me laugh. I didn't try to write it so that you would think what you thinking right now... He ate Her Dark Chocolate Candy Bar!

Sorry, he didn't. Well, sort of. I decided to eat my chocolate before I started supper. But as I peeled back that wrapper, I thought about how much my husband likes candy with coffee. But I knew he wouldn't appreciate that candy like I would, to him it's just a candy bar. To me it was a rare, special treat and I would savor each and every bite of goodness. (Kinda like Christmas tree cakes. Ha Ha!)

As I sat there enjoying the first bite, I was thinking on how glad I was to have a husband. I have friends who are still waiting for God to bring their man into their life. I could just eat that candy myself or I could share it with my husband whom I love dearly. So right then I decided that I would save half of the dark chocolate, vanilla nouget, caramel candy bar for my man. I'm glad I have someone to share my candy bar with.

My life with.

My ups and downs with.

My love of the Lord with.

So that's my lesson from a shared candy bar.

If I can figure out how to change things, any posts on marriage or wifely things will have this label or link.

I Am, Are You?

Matthew 13:45-46

 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."

Christ came to seek me. 

I am 

"One Pearl of Great Price"

He sought me,

 

 Then He bought me with His own precious blood,

 

and I became a goodly pearl.

 

Isn't that wonderful?

 

We are pearls of great price, 

valuable to our Owner.

Amazing Counsel

Commentary on Psalm 144:12

Ver. 12. (first clause). To Young Men. Consider,

1. What is desired on your behalf: "Sons may be as plants", etc.

a) That you may be respected and valued. b) That you may have settled principles and virtues. Plants are not blown hither and thither. c) That you may be vigorous and strong in moral power.

2. What is requisite on your part to the accomplishment of this desire.

a) A good rooting in Christ. b) Constant nourishment from the word of God. c) The dews of divine grace obtained by prayer. d) A resolute tendency within to answer the God appointed purpose of your existence. --J.F.

  Ver. 12. (second clause). To Young Women. Consider,

1. The important position you may occupy in the social fabric: "As cornerstones."

a) The moral and religious tone of society is determined more by your character and influence than by those of men. b) The complexion of home life will be a reflex of your conduct and character, either as daughters, sisters, or wives. c) The moulding of the character of the next generation, remember, begins with the mother's influence. d) Let these facts weigh with you as a motive in seeking the grace of God, without which you can never fulfil your mission worthily.

2. The beauty which ought to belong to you in your position. "Polished after", etc. The beauty of,

a) Heart purity: "The King's daughter is all glorious within." b) A noble and modest conduct: "wrought gold", no imitation; real gold. c) Gracious and gentle demeanour.

3. How both the right position and right beauty are obtained. a) By yielding yourselves to God. b) By Christ dwelling in your heart. b) By becoming living stones and polished stones under the workmanship of the Holy Spirit. --J.F.

Dinah's Disastrous Decision

Genesis 34


“And Dinah…went out to see the daughters of the land.”

Vs.1

Jacob bought ground in the land of Canaan, by the city of Shalem, apparently planning to make it his home. He has just met with Esau again and all is well between them. (Read Gen 28:1 - They were not to take a wife of the Canaan, like Esau did.)

Jacob’s daughter by Leah, Dinah, decides to go out to see the daughters of the land. Some sources state she may have been going to a festival or party-type gathering. It seems many agree with Josephus, a Bible historian, that the gathering was likely an annual festival of nature worship. What we do know is that she went to see the daughters of Canaan, girls Dinah shouldn’t have had any fellowship with. While out, Shechem, the son of Hamor (who Jacob had purchased the land from), saw Dinah, took her and defiled her. The next verse tells us that he loved her, his soul clave unto her and he spoke kindly unto her, so he asked his father to arrange the marriage. He father was told not to marry a daughter of Canaan, thus Dinah shouldn’t have been hanging out with those girls and neither should she get tangled up with a man of Canaan. But both happened to her because she wanted friends.

Meanwhile, Dinah went home and told Daddy what had happened. The Bible says that Jacob, “held his peace until they (Dinah’s brothers) were come.” Her brothers eventually avenged for Dinah, meaning they fought for her cause, resulting in the death of all that cities men.



Important Facts to Consider:

Dinah was the only girls with 12 brothers

She was probably 15 or 16 at the time

Most likely she was spoiled and used to getting what she wanted.

She probably craved female companionship like most women do.



Dinah’s decision to go off “to Town” alone to make friends or maybe hang out with friends she had already made affected the rest of her life. One commentator said that Dinah “went out to see” the world and it’s people instead of being a “keeper at home” like young ladies are supposed to be. She probably was of marrying age, but a husband shouldn’t have been looked for in Canaan. I think it’s safe to say that single women of marrying age and younger should be extra careful in what they do and where they go. The world is alluring but it is oh, so dangerous. The same thing that happened to Dinah, defilement (rape), may not happen to you but other life changing things could.

Be careful who you become friends with and where you spend your time, it will change your life forever, good or bad.



*Note: I know that rape is a serious thing and I can’t excuse the fact that Shechem did what he did, but I think it could have been prevented if Dinah hadn’t gone where she shouldn’t have to make friends with girls she shouldn’t have. I believe Shechem saw her, lusted after her and acted on that lust, but I think that he did love her. The Story seems different in the case of Amnon and Tamar in 2 Sam. 13, he defiled her, but then immediately after the act it says that he hated her more then he had loved her before the act. In any case, God gives healing to those who have gone through these situations, but there are some ways to safe guard against it happening to you.

Serving Your Generation

(From June 11)

“For David, after he had served his own generation
By the will of God, fell on sleep…”
Acts 13:36

    Twice now this past week someone has mentioned this verse to me. And for some reason it never stuck out to me before. My sister and I always say that we wish we lived a long time ago, even though the work was hard, life was simple and people were satisfied. But I was talking to my friend while working one day about my desire to start a website to help teen girls with the issues they face. She was saying how God puts us here, in this time period, to reach our generation. In some ways we must come up/ keep up with ways that our generation lives. A website is a prime way for people to be reached in this generation.
     Apparently God felt it important to mention that David reached his generation. And the Bible is still true for us today. May we reach our generation too.

         But how did David serve and reach them?
              And How can we?
Looking at his life just briefly I found some things that stuck out to me.
1. He was faithful and obedient to His father.
       He tended the family sheep(a girl’s job in Bible times) and carried supplies to his brothers.
2. He had courage to stand up to Goliath without protective armour
        He knew this enemy of God needed to be taken care of and he didn’t need anything but God and a strong dose of faith. He is mentioned in Hebrew’s Hall of Faith because of this.
3. He used his talents for God’s Glory
        He played his harp skillfully, first for his sheep and then as a form of comfort for King Saul’s troubled spirit.
        He also wrote or composed the majority of the Psalms which still give comfort today.
4. He had friends that encouraged his to do right
        Jonathon was like a brother, but he was older than David. He gave us his position with out a fight - so David could do God’s will.
5. He tried not to abuse his position
         He was king and could have let his position pull him away from the Lord. Instead he prepared to build the Temple (furthering the work of God)
6. He knew how to confess and forsake when he sinned
         He did abuse his position but not going to war, seeing Bathsheba bathing, killing Uriah, and marrying Bathsheba, but we was convicted, he confessed,  and he was restored.
7. He Fought and was a man of war
          David had to conquer the land, defeat the worldliness. He knew God didn’t want His children influenced by the pagan customs and lifestyle.
8. He was a man of God with Convictions
       God called him a man after God’s own heart and we know he was chosen, not because of the outward appearance but because of his heart.
9 He did great things for God
       Battles were won, preparations were made for the Temple, songs were written, God was glorified, and he raised Solomon to be the next, and wisest king.

There are more things I know, but the point is: David’s generation could see what he lived for and he served/ reached them. Esther had her generation to serve “For such a time as this.: (Esther 4:14)       

                              How will I serve and reach my generation?
                                       How will you?