Whoohooo! I graduated on May First! =)
Its crazy to think that I'm already 17 and done with school! Boy .. life sure does fly by fast! I cannot wait to see what God has planed for me!
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
This is a song that my momma 'gave' to me and I think it really fits this time in my life.♥ =)
"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
Jesus told this to his disciples in Mark 6:31. This verse has been jumping out at me for the last few days as I opened my Bible to read. I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to share this verse of wisdom with you. So here we go:
First notice that Jesus says...
"Come with ME..."
Notice that it doesn't say to go to your girlfriend(s), to go to the television, or go to your favorite blog-----but to go with HIM. HE is who we should start the day out with. He is who we need to seek first, He is inviting us.. He is welcoming us. He wants us to be with Him, we do not have to be alone ever, either in challenging or peaceful times.
"..by yourselves.."
Alone? Ahhhhhh yes, every mother and homemaker needs time alone. If Jesus, the Son of God needed time alone to be with the Father to pray to Him, then how much more do we need it? Precious time alone with God we can refreshen our souls, rejuvenate our minds and revive our spirits more than anything else. Our cups overflow with Him, but dry up without Him.
"..to a quiet place..."
I often used to think that if I retreated to a coffeehouse or somewhere similar that I would feel rested. How wrong. I used to think rest would come "if I could just get out to the library for an hour or two because it is so quiet there.." How wrong again! These places seemed like they were quiet but I often found myself not truly rested upon returning home. Why was that? Clearly it was because I wasn't seeking the true rest for my soul--having only had indulged myself in a sort of 'pseudo-rest'. I wasn't spending time with God or His Word, so even if I did make it out to one of these places as a supposed 'break-time' for me I would not come back truly rejuvenated as I had hoped. Ladies, have you experienced this?
"...and get some rest..."
Real rest. See, true rest comes from the true living waters. God is the One who truly "makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." Psalm 23:2-3 Christians know where true rest comes from. We do not have to seek after rest in vain and not ever truly finding it. It is free and abundantly available, all we must do is to make the time.
"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
Its easy to be pleasant, When life flows by like a song, But the man worth while is one who will smile When everything goes dead wrong. For the test of the heart is trouble, And it always come with the years; And the smile that is worth the praises of the earth, Is the smile that shines through tears.
It is easy enough to be prudent When nothing tempts you to stray, When without or within no voice of sin Is luring your soul away; But it's only a negative virtue Until it is tried by fire, And the life that is worth the honor on earth, Is the one that resists desire.
By the cynic, the sad, the fallen, Who had no strength for the strife, The world's highway is cumbered today, They make up the sum of life. But the virtue that conquers passion, And the sorrow that hides in a smile, It is these that are worth the homage on earth, For we find them but once in a while.
A Good wife is Heaven's last best gift to man His angel and minister of grace innumerable His gem of many virtues- his casket of jewels; Her voice is sweet music, her smile, his brightest day. Her kiss the guardian of his innocence,
her arms the pale of his safety, The balm of his health the balsam of his life,
her industry, his surest wealth, Her economy, his safest steward, Her lips, his faithful counselors, Her bosom, the softest pillow of his cares, And her prayers, the ablest advocates of heavens blessings on his head
Today is the day when bold kites fly,
When cumulus clouds roar across the sky.
When robins return, when children cheer,
When light rain beckons spring to appear.
Today is the day when daffodils bloom,
Which children pick to fill the room,
Today is the day when grasses green,
When leaves burst forth for spring to be seen.
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,"Hi"
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
You know when you wake up and from that moment on time is flying faster than you?
Well, I have had a whole week like that! I never really knew how much my mom did until she was gone and not coming back for a week! Mothers are amazing!! Lets just say that! They give SO much emotional energy, spiritual strength, love, laughter, forgiveness, kindness, and PEACE to the home!! Being a mother is a true art!
I have only had to "take" moms place for a week, but that was enough to make me fall into her bed crying!! I was sooo tired! I told her she's amazing and she should be named 'super mom' because I didn't know it took so much work!
I have worked side by side with my mom for 17 years! I know what she does and how she does it! Only I have never been by myself to do it for so long! God has truly been holding me extra close to Him this week! The children have been so good, and such a blessing while mom is gone! They have all done what is asked of them, there has been no fighting, no boys blowing things up while playing war in the backyard, and the best blessing of all is NO animals have got out and run away!! The Lord has truly had His loving hand on our home this week and for that I am so, so very thankful!
The spirit of godly womanhood is present in the woman who, with courage and fortitude, perseveres through the many challenges of life. She realizes that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," and consequently strives for the principled course of action.
Purity & Contentment
To be pure in mind, body and spirit is more precious than all the promises the world offers. A godly woman guards her heart against anything that would rob her of her purity and she is content to wait upon the Lord and trust the leadership of her husband.
Femininity & Grace
The truly godly woman is one who radiates that inner grace which only comes from the confidence in being a woman of God. She enjoys dressing like a lady and being about the business of women. Because of this, others think of her with respect. Her very comportment communicates a gentle, gracious spirit.
Enthusiasm & Industry
Proverbs tells us that a virtuous woman "works with her hands with delight" and "does not eat the bread of idleness." A godly woman is one who sees her life as mission of service. What others view as a burden, she views as a blessing and opportunity.
Home & Hospitality
One of the defining qualities of godly womanhood is a love for home and hospitality. While other women are driven by careers and ambitions, the godly woman finds true contentment at home. She makes her home a safe haven, first for her family and then for the traveler.
Joy & Friendship
The woman of God is joyful and seeks close companionship with those who share the same vision. For the woman who has embraced the beauty of Christian Womanhood, the richest of friendships begin with her family where she both learns and teaches how to love and honor, and experiences the joy of belonging to another.
Submission & Obedience
The Godly Woman recognizes that "the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man..." She willingly and joyfully submits to him in everything as she would unto Christ. What other women view as a burden and degradation, she views as an honor and a blessing.
I offer my life to You to do with as You please I am an empty vessle waiting to be filled I will wait on Your guidance and strength To see me through all the plans I am to fulfill I am ready to do everything You ask of me
Take my life, this is my plea, LORD, You can do so much through me If I will submit to what You say And trust Your loving hand to guide me Each and every day
Show me the way I am to go And I will follow with never a doubt Knowing You are to be trusted In everything You say You are my holy GOD And I will follow You this day
I am a lowly servent LORD, Yet You can use me like a king If I follow and obey You You can use me mightily
Hark! I hear Him calling Calling out my name Lay down your life for Me He whispers You'll never be dismayed
"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God." 1 Peter 4:11
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." ~Ephesians 4:22
You tell on yourself by the friends you seek,
By the very manner in which you speak,
By the way you employ your leisure time,
By the use you make of dollar and dime.
You tell what you are by the things you wear,
By the spirit in which you burdens bear,
By the kind of things at which you laugh,
By the records you play on the phonograph.
You tell what you are by the way you walk,
By the things of which you delight to talk,
By the manner in which you bear defeat,
By so simple a thing as how you eat.
By the books you choose from the well-filled shelf:
In these ways and more, you tell on yourself.
the feeling of patient, submissive, humbleness a disposition to be patient and long suffering meek - Humble, modest, despirited, or broken of ones own will Uncommon patience Graceful
Psalm 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
We have to be HUMBLE to hear Gods voice. Can we hear God if we are loud and busy with the worries of the world? This is where MEEKNESS comes into play. MEEKNESS is a QUITE and GENTLE heart that is turned toward God!
Psalm 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
Dear friends! We can have SO MUCH joy if we just learn to be MEEK! Friends, please do not think that if you are MEEK then you will get run over or not heard! Or that you will NEVER speak again! No friends- it is just the opposite! People will want to hear what you have to say because you are not LOUD and always talking, yet you are quite and humble. You know when and when not to talk. And because of your MEEK spirit God will bless you and give you GREAT JOY!!
This is to mothers, but I thought it was WONDERFULLY put for those of us who are trying to find meekness!
I pray this will bless you on your quest to meekness!♥
Be gentle. That does not mean to spiritless. It means to be the opposite of violent, irritable, ill-tempered, and moody. Study to be so, for your own soul's sake, and as if you lived in God's presence, always keeping down every movement of anger, irritability, ill-temper, or moodiness. And be gentle,--precisely because you have much to do, much to bear, many cares to burden you, many things which continually try your temper.
Be low voiced. It is wonderful what effect a mother's gentle manner and low voice---when she teaches, or corrects, or praises--will have on a band of children. Take a school-room filled with very young boys or girls. Let their teacher be nervous, fidgety, and irritable; you will see all theses little ones thrown into a ferment and fever and agitation, which is nothing more than a kind of disorder which they catch from the teacher's manner. Let her be loud-voiced, teaching or speaking in loud, quick, nervous tones, and it is ten to one but you will see within a few minutes all these children will become restless, talkative, inattentive, and ungovernable. Now, let some quiet, gentle, calm-mannered and low-voiced person come in, and all the children will become quieted, will listen, and be ready to give their whole attention to what is said. And they will work steadily as long as the calm eye is on them and the gentle, low voice is directing them.
You will spare yourselves and your dear ones much trouble and much unhappiness by laying this lesson to heart. You can do what you like with them---if you are perfectly self-controlled. Besides, what a service you do them; and how they will bless their mother in afterlife for having taught them this gentleness!
In my quest for meekness I came across this writing:
"The meek man is like a ship that rides at anchor, movetur, sed non amovetur--"is moved, but not removed" The storm moves it (the meek man is not a stock or stone under provocation), but does not remove it from its port. It is a grace that in reference to the temptations of affront and injury quenches the fiery darts of the wicked (as faith in reference to temptation in general). It is armor of proof against the spiteful and envenomed arrows of provocation, and is an impregnable wall to secure the peace of the soul there, where "thief cannot break through and steal," while the angry man lays all his comforts at the mercy of every wasp that will strike him.
----Matthew Henry
The definition of Meekness: The feeling of patient, submissive humbleness. A disposition to be patient and long suffering. James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the meekness that comes from wisdom." This bible verse show a calm temper of mind, that is not easily provoked. Oh how far off we are today in our world! Today young ladies are: Loud Rude Self seeking Without discretion Prideful
Today we do not see quiet, clam, well kept, joyful, serving young ladies. We see a world that wants to draw attention to themselves using foul language, having a prideful posture, immodest dress and having a spirit of strife. They adorn themselves with anger and lack of self control!
It is my quest as a young lady striving to serve her Father to be just the opposite! My prayer is to be:
I pray that the Lord will show me my weaknesses so I may "attack" them and rid my heart and life of all that displeases the Lord!
Galatians 5:24 "And those who are of Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires!"
The only way to have such a heart is if I hand over ALL MY passions and desires and seek GODS passions and desires, and in doing so His passions and desires will become MY passions and desires! Oh to have the heart of the Lord- that truly is my prayer!
"A gentle and quiet spirit is not only imperishable; it is precious in the sight of God. It's also one of the hardest qualities to cultivate. Far from a sign of weakness, a gentle and quiet spirit is the sign of a woman who is strong in faith, mind and character."
---From the book So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin
- 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link
The Clothing of Spiritual Beauty
Posted on Friday, February 6, 2009 at 10:09
Dear ladies, I have a question for you....
What are your clothes saying about you?
The type of clothes I am referring to is not something you can purchase at the local mall. It is not trendy and nor is it always comfortable. You cannot find it on the finest racks at Nordstroms or even find it on clearance at any sales. The type of clothing I am referring to is your clothing of spiritual beauty.
The clothing of spiritual beauty is much more beautiful than the cashmere sweaters, the silk dress, the leather skirt, the diamond studded belt---that moth and rust can destroy, for many reasons. Our spiritual clothing is beautiful in the eyes of our Lord for He is the great designer of it---and as others see it, they will see that it is the fruit of God's work in us.
Now our spiritual clothing is exquisite and looks like this:
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness goodness
faithful
self-control
humility
strength
dignity
courage
forgiveness
meekness
steadfastness
gentleness
quiet
modest
pure
encourages others
always points to God
Very different from this kind of clothing:
loud
selfish
angry
irritated
revengeful
lustful
self-centered
greedy
discontent
slanderous
unforgiveness
bitterness
vain
hatred
jealousy
murder
malice
self-seeking
prideful
discourages others
always points to self
You can see the garments of spiritual beauty on a woman because it is very evident. Her clothing is in full view for others to see even while it is spiritual. It is seen in her conduct (how she carries herself), in her eyes, in her words and in her works. She possesses something that others do not and carries the spirit of the Lord with her. When I see these attributes in a woman it is hard not to notice. She is a rare gem and treasure that my heart desires to aspire to. I pray the Lord would help me to cultivate this type of fine spiritual clothing, though not to receive approval from man, but to be pleasing in God's sight.
The latter list of apparel is wretched. It defiles us and steals glory from God. It comes thundering in the spirit of Satan---loud, debaucherous, slanderous, and prideful. It seeks only self-gain and is quite deceptive especially to the person who wears them. It seeks to conquer, kill and destroy--much like the designer who designed it--- and yes, I said DESTROY. Not just destroy those around but the very person who wears the pseudo raiment.
And as a last word....sometimes are we not like trees that look full from afar but when you get up close they are empty? Or maybe we look like bowls of lush, fresh fruit but when you get up close we only find in dismay that is only wax? I am speaking here of authenticity. We can look like we are wearing the spiritual clothing that God has designed for us to our neighbors, on Sunday dressed in our Sunday best, at our women's Bible studies, etc., but are we sadly like the bowl of fruit that when people get closer find that we are not whom we portrayed ourselves to be?????
God's word is the final word on the matter on our authentic spiritual clothing:
"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12
What will you pull out of your spiritual wardrobe today?
