Grace - Thankful Thursday

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” ~ Romans 5:1-2 (ESV - emphasis Iris')

Oh, the precious gift of grace! I'm so thankful Iris chose this theme for Thankful Thursday. Hop on over to her blog to read her precious thoughts, and to visit other participants in this wonderful meme.

I wanted to do a quick word count on grace in my favorite versions of the Bible.

NIV - 124 times

KJV - 159 times

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—" ~ Ephesians 2:8 (Emphasis, mine)

The transliterated word for grace is charis. From www.blueletterbible.org -

One of the definitions is of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

What a beautiful word charis, or grace, is. It reminds me of our word "cherish". Oh, how I cherish grace. If God never blessed me with another single thing, my soul would be at rest because I know it is only by grace that I will spend eternity with Him in Heaven when my body leaves this earth. I am so thankful for God's precious gift, given through His Son! I pray that God's grace would abound in me strongly and extend outward through gifts to others.

God has truly blessed me this week.

Our grandson was born almost a month early on Monday afternoon at 3:20. He weighed in at a whopping 5 lbs., 9 oz. and is 19 3/4 inches long. Liam is a healthy baby boy with a voracious appetite and his lungs seem to be good and strong.

Kristyn is doing so much better than she did when she had Nolan 13 months ago. Her health is good and she did great through labor (she slept through most of it)! Nolan was (overall) a joy to keep during her labor on Monday and spent the night with us Monday night.

Our son-in-law is already a wonderful husband and father to Kristyn and Nolan and we trust he will be to Liam as well.

My husband is such a great husband, father and grandfather. He was a huge help Monday night with Nolan and he is taking good care of me (Nolan shared his cold with me. I thought he had a runny nose and low-grade fever because he was teething - silly me!)

My wife-in-law (my husband's ex-wife, Kristyn's mother) is a God-send. She helped me tremendously throughout the day Monday with Nolan. We would have never gotten through lunch at the cafeteria if not for her. I count Tabitha as a friend and was very comfortable having lunch with her and spending the day with her while Steve was at work. She is awesome in the baby-department, having 4 children of her own. She has raised 3 boys, ages 18, 12 and 9 and has lots of wisdom and knowledge to hand down to Kristyn as she starts anew with her family. I'm grateful for the work God has done in Tabitha's life, growing her into a godly woman and a wonderful mother to Kristyn and her own boys. She is a terrific grandmother and took Nolan Tuesday night, so I could go back to work today. Pray for her, that she doesn't get The Cold.

My father went back to the cardiologist for a check-up and has 2 more weeks to go before he can get back on his riding lawn mower. He just bought a new one and is impatient to check it out. In fact, I think he already has, but will heed the doctor's advice not to do it again for 2 weeks!

Work was easy to catch up to today because I work with such a great group of people. I'm thankful for my Work Family, as I call them. We are a close-knit bunch for the most part and work well together, picking up each others slack when needed.

I give each one of these blessings back in praise to God, from Whom all blessings and grace comes.

What are you thankful for this week? Visit Iris and count your blessings with us, won't you?

This is my entry to the Falling For Jesus Writing Contest sponsored by Internet Café Devotions

When I read of this contest a week or so ago, the sentence, "Was there a particular time during your walk with Him that you felt His love and presence more than you ever had before?" captured my attention, reminding me of a time I sensed God's presence in my life in a mighty and strong way, a way that lasted for 8 years. I met with Him each morning for 8 years minus 10 days. I was too sick to meet with Him those mornings, but I still felt Him with me. He never left my side.

When I was growing up, my dolls were my babies. They were fed, burped, changed, rocked, toted in their little infant seats and placed in baby beds. I always wanted to be a Mother, and I mothered these babies like they were the real deal. I was the baby of the family for almost 13 years, and by the time my sister arrived, the dolls had been put up in the cedar chest. She became the real deal for me. I loved Jennifer so much and delighted in the fact that I elicited the first smile from her sweet face. I just knew one day that I would have a child of my own to love and raise and planned to have two children, both girls.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

~ Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

On May 11, 1991, I married my husband, Steve, who had custody of his daughter, age 6. We talked about starting a family, and Steve was ambivalent. He already had gone through raising a daughter and knew the joys and trials of parenthood. Although he was fine with just one, he didn't begrudge my desire to have another.

When it didn't happen after we had tried for a year, I went to see the doctor. He explained that I was still young and had plenty of time. Another year passed and no baby.

I rose one morning to have quiet time and read the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel. I purposed that morning that I would seek God's will through prayer.

For eight years I prayed. The first two weeks I prayed were filled with prayers only for my circumstances. I felt like I was to proceed with continuing trying to conceive, but I still had no answer as to why I wasn't able to. I went back to the doctor and began infertility treatments.

My story became a lot like Hannah's, although it didn't end exactly the same way. I had a need. I prayed. I begged. I pleaded. I stated my case for what I wanted. The "Eli's" in my life knew I was on a quest from God and at first thought me mad, then joined with me in prayer as I sought God's will for my life.

The Lord remembered me in prayer, and I fulfilled the vow I made to God. What was my vow? Simply that whatever God's will was for my life, I would accept it, no questions asked (of God's power or will). This was a struggle but I was determined to have some peace in my life over this issue.

Eventually my times of prayer incorporated other things, such as forgiveness for specific sin, prayer for my family, specifically for Steve and Kristyn, a lot of praise and worship, and specific prayer for others. The peace came.

I felt God with me every step of the way, although 8 years later there was still no baby. My time with God brought me closer to Him and helped me see the problems of others around me, not just my own. The peace remained.

Finally, God answered my prayers, though not in the way I wanted. One year after the miscarriage of our daughter, Sydney Michel, the answer was given. During that year, I doubled the double-dose of drugs I had been given and God said, "Stop." I sat down one day with my husband and said, "I'm done. We are through the other side. God has clearly said no, and I don't feel leading from Him to adopt." My husband prayed with me and agreed with me that God's answer for us was to continue to raise Kristyn together as our "only child."

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

~ Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

God is so faithful. He showed me how the prayers had affected not only my reliance on Him with the baby that was not to be, but also how I had turned so many other things over to Him and how I wouldn't be as close to Him in prayer as I am now if I had not committed to spend time with Him in prayer over this matter.

I never felt that God didn't answer my prayers. I got a solid, firm, "Wait...yes...no." I was even rewarded by God with a hysterectomy at the age of 29. I praise God for that, for when my womb was removed, He made me realize that I am living the following verse.

"He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.

~ Psalm 113:9 (NIV)

I have praised the Lord for hearing my prayers through the years, for settling me in my home, for blessing me with children, though they were not children of my womb. I have a bonus daughter, whom I had the privilege of raising from the age of 6 to 20, a son-in-love, 2 grandsons, ages 13 mos. and 3 days old, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends I have seen grow up from age 0 to now. He has settled me, indeed! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

My soul remains satisfied. Each time I prayed, "...give me a little hand to hold in mine." I added, "But your will be done, not mine, Lord." And I meant it. I could feel Him there beside me, telling me He had it under control. It's good to feel His presence so present. It's humbling, it's a privilege, and it just feels "settling".

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

~ Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Let me encourage you to never give up in prayer. I can promise you that God's answer is always best. He will be beside you every step of the way as you pray His will for your life.

Awards Day

I am so blessed!

Jill, from Forever 'n Ever 'n Always, has gifted me with the following award.

Please visit her blog by clicking on the award above to learn more about this lovely award and to pick one up for yourself. I think she's just the sweetest thing ever for doing this. It's precious and means the world to me.

Also............

Esthermay Bently from The Heart of a Pastor's Wife has given me another award.





She had this to say about the award, "...the idea behind the Brillante Weblog Award is to honor blogs that provide quality content on a consistent basis; and increase their readership and following by using the always well-received "link". Is that not the sweetest? Thank you, Esthermay. I am honored, encouraged, humbled and inspired!

(There are actual rules that go with this award, but I didn't follow them. I can't pick just 7!) You can read the actual rules on Esthermay's blog here: http://theheartofapastorswife.blogspot.com/2008/10/iron-sharpening-iron.html


Because I don't want to leave anyone out, here's what I'd like for you to do.

Comment with your favorite Christian website(s) a favorite Psalms or Proverb.

Pick up your award and pass it on.

God bless you!


Love,

Luke 10 tells the story of Jesus sending out the seventy-two (72) men ahead of Him to preach the gospel to the towns where He would soon be going. He knew that in some of these towns the men would be met with resistance and trouble. He referred to them as lambs being sent out among wolves. The transliterated word for wolves is lykos, and was a metaphor for the cruel, greedy, rapacious, destructive men they would face.

Lambs are just the opposite of wolves. They are kind, peaceful, patient and loving. When you're a lamb, you're easy prey. I love that He sent them in pairs.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Total strangers stumble across our blogs and we have such potential to make an impact for Christ on the internet. I remember the first time I stumbled across a blog that led me to your blogs...and now I love visiting you each day. The first blog I visited was Twinkle Mom's blog Sunflower Faith. I noticed a signature in her emails in an email group we are in together. I asked her for some hints and began blogging and haven't stopped since!

As evidenced in the verses above, there is strength in numbers. It's hard when we face this wolf-filled world we live in alone. I sincerely praise God for the Christian blogging community we have here and feel privileged to be a part of it. I don't know how it got started, who found who first and how it grew, but I believe Christ led us all to each other.

I pray we will have a good return for our work, spreading the Good News through our posts as we write the things God has placed on our hearts. May we, like the seventy-two, seek to serve God and go before Him proclaiming His name before His return. May we also continue to encourage others and lift our families and each other up through our writings. May we pray faithfully for the writers of the blogs we read as well as their families, for those who host memes such as this one, and for sites like the Internet Cafe, Christian Women Online, Proverbs 31 Ministries, etc.

I like to stay away from the "wolf-y" sites on the web and steer more toward ones that honor the Lamb. What are some of your favorite Christian sites on the internet? I love the ones I mentioned above, and you'll find some of my favorite memes on the sidebar. I'm interested to see what some of your favorite Christian websites are.

May you have a glorious Word Filled Wednesday. Please visit Amydeanne, hostess of WFW, to view more of God's Word through pictures and Scripture.

Bonnie, host of Ink It blog, is hostessing In Other Words Tuesdays today. Please be sure to visit her blog to read what she and the other ladies had to say on this quote today.

“There are two ways of spreading light;

to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

~Edith Wharton~

Both candles and mirrors are mentioned in the Bible.

"If thy whole body therefore [be] full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light." ~ Luke 11:36 (KJV)

"For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance." ~ James 1:23 (NLT)

If we carry within us the light of our Savior, the world around us will be illuminated by the fruit of the Spirit borne within us. However, if we squelch the light the Savior has for us, we darken our appearance. As we learn more about Christ, we reflect His love to the world around us.

Either way, light can be given; but the choice is ours! May the light of our Lord and Savior shine brightly from us by the fruit we bear and may we reflect His light to others, as mirrors of obedience in Christ.

How do ya'll do it?

I'm typing one-handed, holding Baby No in one arm an letting ya'll know how much we appreciate your prayers for Baby Liam's safe arrival.

Born at 3:20 p.m. 5 lbs. 9 oz., 19 3/4 long. Whew! Mom and baby are fine. Nolan, Nonnie and Pa-Paw are watching the clock for bath and bedtime. We are dancing ti Smarty Pants right now.



We are also working on not yanking Nonnie's glasses off. Yi yi yi!

Keepers at Home

Join us At the Well to discuss today's topic, Keepers at Home.

"to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." ~ Titus 2:5 (Emphasis, mine)

Working outside the home leaves little time to be a keeper inside the home. I speak from experience! How do I make the most of being a keeper of my home? Ack! I need help. I will be doing a lot of listening today, moreso than speaking.

I know that it honors God for us to keep our homes neat and tidy. It makes for a more relaxing enviornment for our husbands, it's more inviting to guests, and it's sanitary.

While you won't find me nestled in the pages of Southern Living or Better Homes and Garden, and you're more likely to find Martha Stewart fainting at my house rather than sitting upright and enjoying a glass of sweet tea, you also won't find complete and utter chaos there.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." ~ Colossians 3:23-24

Love lives in our home, and that tidies it up more than any decluttering or scrubbing ever could. But there is work to be done in the house, and it must be done, indeed.

The lexicon at http://www.blueletterbible.org/ for the phrase keeper at home from Titus 2:5 said this:

1) caring for the house, working at home

a) the (watch or) keeper of the house

b) keeping at home and taking care of household affairs

c) a domestic

Do you keep a neat and tidy home?

For the most part. There is always room for improvement in my book.

If so, what do you do to keep on top of this? Schedules? Routines?

Steve and I tag team on this. Both of us work outside the home, so both of us work inside the home. It works for us. Staying on top of it, picking up behind ourselves, helps tremendously.

If you have children at home, do they get involved?

Our nest is empty; however, when Kristyn was growing up, she had chores that were suited to her age. I wanted her to learn what keeping house meant, and I also needed her help. She was a great helper! Sometimes, in her teen year, she waited until the last minute to get it done, but she always came through!

If you are lacking in this area, why do you think that is?

Working outside the home. It's hard to put in my 9 hours here and go home and constantly clean. The secret is to stay on top of it.

Besides keeping my home tidy, I am to actually care for our home. I do. I love my home and I don't take it for granted. I keep watch over it and the affairs of the house. I guard what comes into my home and manage the affairs of the home to the best of my ability.

I am not perfect, but things do get done. I could do better, and I'm looking forward to listening to ya'll this morning as we chat about this At the Well. Chelsey, at Joyfully Living for His Glory, is hosting. Be sure to visit her and see what she and the others have to say about this subject.

Also, please be in prayer for Kristyn. She is at the hospital now - going to have the baby Liam almost one month early!

May your heart be as moved as mine by this song and video. (Get out the kleenex before you hit play!)

Be sure and visit Amy at Signs, Miracles, and Wonders, hostess of Then Sings My Soul Saturday's, for more....

Kim, at Homesteaders Heart, loves to laugh it up on Friday's! She has been hostessing this for a few weeks now and I love it! Thanks, Kim! Ya'll go visit her site for more funnies.

Here's my contribution for today...a couple of signs from around the internet.

That extra 1/2 mile will get you every time!

Ya think?

...okay?

Every husband agrees, I'm sure!

We'll just keep going...

P. S. To Thankful Thursday & Pictures

Our Father in Heaven has definitely been with us through the whirlwind events of this afternoon. Kristyn, my bonus daughter, is great with child. She's due November 1. This afternoon she began having contractions. She has a 13 month old already, so she knew what they were and headed to the doctor's office. They decided Liam was not quite ready to make his appearance yet, even though he thought he was, hah hah. They admitted her and gave her medicines to stop the contractions and diagnosed her with a urinary tract infection and dehydration and said those were why she was having contractions to begin with. I have prayed about this all afternoon, for the doctor's wisdom and the baby's health, and so far, so good.

We are trusting God in this and knowing that in His perfect timing, things will happen as they should. I admit we were more than a little anxious there for a while, but when we found out she had only dilated 1 cm. and stopped we were somewhat relieved! Poor Steve called and said, "Have you prayed?" I said, "Yes, now, let me go so I can pray again!" We spent some time with her at the hospital and she was eating well, which we were glad to see. She's doing great and will probably go home Friday morning if the contractions remain stopped and she hasn't dilated anymore. Please remember her in your prayers if you think of it. She is a precious precious girl. I love her so much and want the best for her, of course. Her husband is just as sweet as the day is long. We love him dearly and are grateful to have him as a son-in-law. He's a great husband to Kristyn and a wonderful father to Nolan, and will be to Liam as well.

Here are some pictures to put names with faces...

Kristyn & Corey

Baby Nolan (aka Baby No) sitting in the creek at Rocky Springs last weekend

Pa-Paw (my precious hubby & Baby No)

Our toy poodle Wilson, practicing for bedtime

Me...let's think of that awful shine on my face as radiant glow instead of the glistening from the heat, hah hah!

Good night, ya'll! It's off to read, have some time in prayer and then bedtime around here! Sleep well, bloggy friends. I will be praising the Lord for you and praying for your needs and desires to be met through Christ our Lord. Keep Kristyn & Liam in your prayers if you will.

Blessings & Prayers,

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” ~ Colossians 3:16 (ESV - emphasis Iris')

I have been so blessed through Iris' Thankful Thursday meme. It's a time of the week where I'm reminded to be thankful to God for so many blessings He has given me, and it's a time of reflection on the theme she picks as well.

We are called to thank God many times throughout the Bible. A form of the word thank appears in the NIV version of the Bible 144 times.

In Old Testament times, the Israelites presented Thank Offerings to God.

"'If someone's offering is a fellowship offering, and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present before the LORD an animal without defect." ~ Leviticus 3:1

I rejoice that we do not have to sacrifice our herds (I don't have a herd!), and that we are free to present our thanks directly to God through prayer and praise, in the name of His Son, Jesus, who is perfect and without defect. Through Him, our praises reach God's ear and I'm so grateful for that!

God has certainly blessed me this week.

I'm thankful for my precious husband. He's a great guy! He loves me and treats me like a princess. (I'm not old enough to be a Queen yet!)

I'm thankful for my uncle's clean test results on his PET and MRI scans, showing no cancer.

I'm thankful that Kristyn's pregnancy is going well and that in less than a month I'll be a grandmother again to baby Liam.

I'm thankful for Nolan, our 13 mo. old grandson, who lights up a room with his smile.

I'm thankful for work. I work outside the home and I'm grateful to be able to earn an income that supports my book-reading habit, my internet connection, and my growing addiction to the Hallmark Channel.

I'm thankful for the health of my earthly father. He had a minor complication from his pacemaker surgery that were found during a check-up, but it should resolve itself on it's own.

I'm thankful for medicine that controls the illnesses of the earthly body I live in.

I'm thankful for all of my Bibles. I love reading the Word of God, and whichever one I am reading from, I feel blessed to have them in my home and to be free to possess one without fear for my life.

I'm thankful for my blogging friends. Ya'll encourage me so much and have spurred me toward a closer walk with God.

I'm thankful for my best friend who let's me whine when my throat is sore without saying, "Put your big girl panties on and deal with it! It's that time of the year, the weather is changing, you know."

Most of all, I'm thankful for God's gift of grace and the hope and assurance of Heaven. As we live our lives in these last days, I'm thankful to be a part of this crazy mixed up world, seeing prophecy come to fulfillment and eagerly await the rapture of His church. (Can you tell I watched Grant Jeffrey tonight, LOL?)

Hop on over to Grace Alone...Iris' place, where you will certainly be blessed by reading her post and the posts of others expressing their hearts full of gratitude to our Savior.

One WFW, I began a Fruit of the Spirit theme. My first post started with the verse, and each week I have been led to post one on each fruit. I have posted on love, joy , peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness.

This is the last post in the Fruit of the Spirit theme, and it seems to be on the hardest fruit (for me) to cultivate. Self-control, or in ye olde KJV, temperance.


The greek word for self-control, or temperance, is ejgkravteia, and means the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites, according to the lexicon on the www.crosswalk.com website.

Let's also look two other definitions.

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines temperance - 1: moderation in action, thought, or feeling : restraint 2 a: habitual moderation in the indulgence of the appetites or passions b: moderation in or abstinence from the use of alcoholic beverages

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines self-control: restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires

Restraining our own actions, thoughts, feelings, and words is not something new to our generation. Struggling with self-control was prevalent back in the day the Bible was written as well. The apostle Paul struggled with sin, perhaps a sin involving a lack of self-control.

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." ~ Romans 7:17-25

I admire Paul greatly, and to know of his struggle with sin really helps me understand that the sinful nature that is part of us is at war with the new nature Christ gives us when we are saved. I don't feel quite so alone in my struggles, and knowing that it's not unique to me helps.

Like Paul, I don't understand it. I was very reluctant to write on this fruit, and almost called the whole post off, thinking I would never get a post on it to sound quite right. I don't think I could. Still am not sure I can.

Before I could even begin, I had to seek the Lord.

"Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually." ~ 1 Chronicles 16:11

How can we bear the fruit of self-control when our sinful nature is at such war within us? First, we have to recognize lack of self control as a sin. Sin is anything that separates us from God, driving a wedge between us.

With that in mind, though, we must have hope and remember Who gave us this fruit of self-control. Christ gave us this fruit, planting it in us. As Christians, it is our fruit to bear just as bear the other fruits of the Spirit.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." ~ Galatians 2:20

Self-control has to be cultivated, just like any other fruit; however, it may require more attention than most. It must be carefully and constantly weeded, pruned, and tended to like some difficult and picky flower.

"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." ~ Romans 8:11-14

In a recent poll on my blog, the question was asked, "What area do you struggle with most regarding self-control?" 14 people responded. 50% struggled with food issues, 28% with words, another 28% with temper, and 7% with other. While I feel for everyone who struggles with it, I took some measure of comfort in knowing I'm not alone when I struggle in all those areas, some more than others.

Personally speaking, self-control is a hard fruit of the Spirit to bear. Perhaps the hardest, but it's not impossible. I think it just takes a lot of faith, and a lot of humility.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." ~ Hebrews 11:6

The verse below made me wonder, though, could self-control a matter of pride?

"Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another." ~ Isaiah 48:10-11

Stubborn Israel had been dealing with idolatry. When God freed them, He wanted them to know it was *Him* Who freed them, not another, for He is not one to share His glory. When I ran across this verse, I stopped in my tracks and realized that every form of self-control I struggle with, whether it's temper, words, finances, temptation, or food, it all boils down to "what I want", not what God's best for me is. When I have fits of struggling with self-control, I'm putting emphasis on what "I" want, what "I" have to have, what "I", "I", "I"....desire.

Our desires need to be focused on God.

"I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." ~ Psalm 40:8

"Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually." ~ 1 Chronicles 16:11

We need to lay aside our whims and impulses and lack of self-control, and get over ourselves. It really is all about Him! In realizing this, we need to reign in our impulsive desires. How? How can we do this? Is it easy? I don't think so, but as we grow closer to Christ, we'll find that it does get easier. We'll realize that the urge to give in to our own impulses in combatting lack of self-control over areas such as food, finances, temper and words comes from the Devil or our own fleshly desires and hopefully eventually be able to laugh at the attack we find ourselves under to just give in.

Most of all, we need to purpose in our hearts that each and every one of our actions will glorify God and bring Him honor, and not discredit Him to others who are watching the example we set. For, as Paul told the Philippians, others are watching, my friend.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you." ~ Philippians 3:12-17

Let's bring glory to God as we race toward the prize (eternal life) He has set before us. Let's leave the former struggles behind and seek to live lives that bear the fruit of self-control, so that we can bring glory to God for the grace we have attained, and set a good example for those who are watching us. Little ones at home, spouses, family, friends and strangers...let's set that good example for them to glorify God with the fruit of self-control.

S - Surrender all your desires and impulses to God each morning and pray that in all you do, you will bring glory, not dishonor, to Him through your actions of the day

E - Expect slips ups and confess them and repent asap

L - Learn from other people who bear the fruit of self-control consistently

F - Follow God's Word on how you should respond to situations

C - Cultivate the other fruits to make sure this one is getting the same nutrients

O - Omit one bad habit at a time - trying to give up too many at once is hard

N - Never give up trying

T - Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you in wisdom

R - Recognize the triggers that cause lack of self-control and steer clear of them

O - Obey the Holy Spirit's prompting, rather than your own selfish desires

L - Lead others by example of self-control

Father, I praise You as my great Gardner and ask that you cultivate this fruit in me. I know that there are times that I fail in this area, and I humbly ask that You guide me in the way I should go. Help me seek Your face continually, spend time with You daily, soaking up Your Son and Your Word, where there is so much advice on living a life that is pleasing to You, and help me show restraint and self-control as the opportunities arise. Help me remember to bring honor to You in all that I do, Lord, and be aware that others are watching the example I am setting. Let me set a good example for Your glory, Father. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Please visit Amydeanne for more Word Filled Wednesday posts! You will surely be blessed, as I am each week. Thanks, Amydeanne for hostessting this each week!

IPOP31 Bible Study Part 3 - The True Woman of Proverbs 31

Amy writes, "All throughout the bible there are many scriptures that enforce the majority of the lines of scripture in Proverbs 31 BUT... the similar scriptures are not just for women. They are intended for the entire body of Christ. The bride of Christ."

How did I not realize this before? It makes perfect sense to me. All the attributes have always seemed perfect to me, unattainable. One day, though, we will be made perfect in the image of Christ, when we are called home to Heaven, and we, as His bride, will honor Him with these attributes.

Just as our desire is to please our husband, our desire is also to please God, as Amy pointed out in Genesis 3:16. She asked that we let God speak to us as we studied this verse in the Blue Letter Bible concordance.

"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire [shall be] to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." ~ Genesis 3:16 (Emphasis, mine)

Desire caught my attention. The Hebrew transliterated word is tĕshuwqah. The root word means "in the original sense of stretching out after." That's my desire, not only for my husband, but more so for Christ!

The second point Amy made that stuck out to me was, "She has a pure heart. God sees a clear distinction between a person's actions and the person's heart."

"She has a pure heart. God sees a clear distinction between a person's actions and the person's heart." ~ 1 Samuel 16:7 (Emphasis, mine)

I looked up countenance and heart in the Blue Letter Bible and found countenance to mean sight, appearance, vision. Heart means 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding a) inner part, midst 1) midst (of things) 2) heart (of man) 3) soul, heart (of man) 4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory 5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
6) conscience 7) heart (of moral character) 8) as seat of appetites 9) as seat of emotions and passions 10) as seat of courage

I'm so glad God looks at the heart and not at the countenance!

Amy wrote, "No matter how many steps you take away from God it only takes one step to come back. Ask God to purge your heart and begin restoring you."

That's balm to my soul. As I read Acts 8:1-24, about Saul's persecution of the church and it's scattering, I was reminded that there are times I have taken steps away from God out of persecution of non-believers, though not to the extent Amy probably had, and how I changed to fit a mold I thought would be more pleasing. I prayed that God would change one person's heart, not only because I did covet her for Christ, but because I wanted this person's approval and friendship. God, however, saw that I had a double motive, and eventually we parted company. She has gone from athiest to agnostic, last I heard. God looked at my heart and saw what it really intended and I believe the seeds I thought I was sowing fell on a very hard heart. I have, as Amy suggested, asked God to purge my heart and restore me. Now that I have done that, I will begin praying that someone with a pure heart step in and present the gospel to her with pure motives and that she is saved one day.

The third point Amy made really hit home, "She fills her heart with God's word and praise to her King and He will give her the desires of her heart. The desires He placed within her."

God has changed the desires of my heart. By actively seeking and obeying Him, He has granted many of the desires of my heart. I have claimed this verse as my own.

"He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD. ~ Psalm 113:9

Go here to read the whole story on that subject... http://magnoliaheartbeats.blogspot.com/2008/08/in-other-words-give-me-hand-dear-lord-i.html My soul is satisfied!

Words of Amy in blue....

Focused Thoughts:

• The spiritual aspect of Proverbs 31 is that this woman is a description of the bride of Christ.


• She has a pure heart. God sees a clear distinction between a person's actions and the person's heart.


• She fills her heart with God's word and praise to her King and He will gives her the desires of her heart. The desires He placed within her.

Scripture for Memory:

And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Write It Down (or post it):

Be sure to record your revelation and thoughts in your bible, notebook, or let us all share in what you are learning and write a post about it and link it here!

Done - see above

Share with us what God has revealed to you when were seeking Him. Again, I'll post my own thoughts and notes later in the week.

Done - see above.

For Study Purposes:

Find other scriptures that are similar to particular verses in Proverbs 31.

" A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." ~ Proverbs 12:4

"For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands," ~ 1 Peter 3:5

"And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal." ~ 1 Samuel 25:19

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you," ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:11

"They sailed to Ophir and brought back 420 talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon." ~ 1 Kings 9:28

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." ~ Mark 1:35

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." ~ Matthew 13:44

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power" ~ Ephesians 6:10

"The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps." ~ Matthew 25:4

"Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen." ~ Exodus 35:25

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." ~ Proverbs 19:17

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." ~ Isaiah 43:2

"For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics of fine linen—the work of a weaver-" ~ Exodus 39:27

"A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." ~ Proverbs 12:4

"One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message." ~ Acts 16:14

"I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." ~ Isaiah 61:10

"The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just." ~ Psalm 37:30

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." ~ Proverbs 14:1

"As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." ~ Isaiah 62:5

"and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." ~ Ephesians 5:27

"His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation." ~ Luke 1:50

"Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." ~ Matthew 7:20

Give an explanation as to why it is important that you don't compare yourself to other women.

I think we are all so unique, gifted with different abilities and talents, and when we want to be "what she is" we are diminishing ourselves in God's eyes.

Find one scripture that gives an example of God restoring someone.

"Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly." ~ Mark 8:25

Questions to ponder:

What are the desires of your heart? If you wrote a similar poem today what would it consist of. Share it with us.

The desires of my heart are simple. I ask that God grant me the ability to honor Him in all I do and not bring dishonor to His name ever. I ask that He maintain the health of my family and heal those who are hurting.

My Poem

I will bring honor and glory to You

In times of sadness and joy

No matter what I desire

I will trust You to fufill

Each request, according to Your will

(don't ya'll laugh! I am *so* not a poet! Amy, give us an acrostic for next week, LOL!!)