Friday, May 29, 2015

Waking Up

What wakes you up in the middle of the night? Maybe your children, especially if they are young, wake you up. Maybe your dog wakes you up because she needs to go outside. Maybe a storm is rolling through and the thunder awakens you. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I usually just want to roll over and go back to sleep. If something wakes me up in the middle of the night, it better be important!

Here, we read that the Psalmist wakes up int the middle of the night - deliberately - to thank God for His laws. Prayer and Thanksgiving are important, are they not? I want my uninterrupted sleep so that I can feel rested and ready to face the day in the morning. Would I be better off in the morning if I were willing to thank God - even in the middle of the night? Even if I weren't better off in the morning, would I be willing to sacrificially wake up in the middle of the night and devote myself to God? Regardless of the outcome, He is worthy of my devotion all day long - even in the middle of the night.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Sing It Out

Can you imagine singing "You shall not drive faster than the posted speed limit?" That would be weird, wouldn't it? Do you still remember the words to your favorite song when you were younger? Do you still remember the words to "Mary Had A Little Lamb" or "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star?" Of course you do! Did you first learn the letters by singing the alphabet song? Next time won't you sing with me! Singing is a great way to learn something and memorize it. Singing is fun and can bring you much joy. Why not sing God's word? It will help you to commit it to memory and it will bring you strength and joy long after you finish d singing it!

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Sticks And Stones

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

I can remember reciting that many times when I was young. And almost every time I can remember that words DID hurt me. Though I hate to admit it, I've been on the other end of that also. I've been the one doing the insulting.

Insults hurt. But they don't have to. If we are focussed on God's love for us, if we remember all that He has done for us, if we trust His word, we can handle whatever insults come our way.

When we are insulted, the insults may draw our attention to something we lack or some way we fall short. They draw the attention to us. If we remember God's love for us, if we remember the works,He has done for us, if we trust in His word, we are drawing our attention to Him. He can handle it. He is so much bigger than any insult. He never changes.

So when you are insulted, dear reader, don't dwell on the insult, dwell in Christ.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Worthless Things

Isn't it amazing how much time we spend focussing on worthless things? It may be the latest celebrity gossip, or binge watching the hot new show online, or playing games online, or almost anything else. Sure, they may be fun for a while and maybe even bring some zest to out lives. But do they revive us?

First of all, I guess we should remember that we need to be revived. We have become new creations in Christ, but when we sin, it deadens us and turns our hearts away from Him. We need revival. His Word can bring us revival. It reminds us of His love for us. It reminds us of all that He's done for us. It reminds us that if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. How's that for revival?

Monday, May 25, 2015

The Path

The first time I ran a 5K, I was worried that I might get lost and wouldn't know which way to turn. As it turns out, the course was well marked and of course there were the hundreds of runners before me that I could follow. I was worried that I would be able to finish because I'm really not much of a runner.

Life is like that. However life can be much easier when we know that God has marked out the path for our life. His commands may not literally tell us "Don't turn here" and "turn left ahead" but they do tell us the way we should go. We need to be diligent in reading, studying, and meditating on them so that we can discern how to apply them to our lives. And best of all, as we round the bend and see the hill ahead of us, we can know that God will enable us to make it up.

So, stay on the path and do not deviate. The run may be hard, but you can do it!

Friday, May 22, 2015

Open My Eyes

Open my eyes... Why are my eyes closed in the first place? Am I resting or sleeping? Are my eyes closed because I am trying to focus on something? Am I trying to imagine something? Am I closing my eyes because there is something I don't want to see? Maybe my eyes are actually already open, but I am totally oblivious to what is around me? Maybe I'm blind and it doesn't matter whether my eyes are physically open or not - I can't see. There are many things that may prevent us from seeing the wonderful truths in God's word. A simple prayer may unlock the marvelous for us. Do you want to truly see?

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Storing Up

Squirrels gather food for the winter when times are tough. There may be times when they need to draw on what they've saved when there is nothing else to eat. We should be storing up God's word in our hearts. There may be tough times ahead and we need God's word to get us through. There may be times where we are facing trials and temptations. We need God's word to help us through. Read it. Savor it. Memorize it. Store it up for the future. It's worth it.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

What Are You Focussed On?

What are you focussed on? Are you trying to get in shape? Lose weight? Excel at your job? Find a new job? Find a husband? Find a new husband? Finish school? Raising your kids? Preparing to have another kid? Preparing a meal? Wondering where your next meal is going to come from?

How much attention do you pay to God's word? Do you know that it is worth focussing on? Not just the easy parts. Even the long genealogies are worth reading. So is the Law. There's not part of God's Word that we can ignore. There may be passages that don't apply to us or at least don't apply to us now. We can learn from it all. We can learn about God's character. We can learn about His plan of salvation. We can learn about the right choices others have made and how they were blessed by them. We can learn about the wrong choices others have made and how it affected them.

Don't focus just on one part of God's word. Don't cherry pick just a few favorite verses. Read it. Read it all. Meditate on it. Focus on it. Let it breath into your life. Celebrate it. Don't be ashamed of it.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Credit Where Credit Is Due

We come now to the end of this poem about the excellent wife. Do you know women like this? Praise them. Give them credit where credit is due. The excellent wife is not doing all these things so that she can be recognized - she is doing all she does out of obedience to bring glory to God. But still she deserves to be recognized not just with a well done my good and faithful servant, not just with a thank you honey or thanks Mommy, but with recognition from others in her life.

There are many women who deserve to be praised like this. There are many women that I want to model my life after theirs. To the homeschooling mother of six who has raised her children to love and serve God and has allowed God to use her to bless countless other women, to you I say well done. To the young widow who has raised her children to love and serve God, I say well done. To the pastor's wife who has faced numerous health challenges and yet still stands by her husband and joyfully serves the Lord, I say well done. May you all be praised by e good things you have done and may God be praised because of you.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Wisdom

The fear of the Lord is he beginning of wisdom. The excellent wife, this woman of noble character, that I have been studying these last few weeks is wise. She fears the Lord. She understands her place in front of the Lord. She understands her limitations and His attributes. She knows who she is and she knows who He is. Without a right relationship with God, without a right picture of who God is, all that she does is worthless. Pursuing a right relationship with God keeps her other relationships in line. This is the kind of woman I want to be.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Cream Of The Crop

The excellent wife is not the only woman of noble character out there. The are many others. Isn't it good to not be alone. She draws inspiration from the others. She is moved by what they do. This spirs her on to even greater things. I thank God for he many noble women in my life. May I learn from their examples and become like them!

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Those Who Really Know Her

Who really knows the excellent wife? Her children and her husband. This wife of noble character, those closest to her can see her noble character. Her children see it and bless her. Her husband sees her and praises her. Her noble character is not just a show put on for the world to see. It is how she lives behind closed doors. Do those who know you best see your noble character?

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Eyes In The Back Of Her Head

Did your mom have eyes in the back of her head? Did she know what was going on even if she did not see it? The excellent wife is like that. She watches over her household. She knows what is happening in it. She knows that the dishwasher needs to be emptied and that the laundry needs to be sorted. Her work is never done. Though it may sound exhausting, and she may be exhausted, she does it willingly. She is not just keeping herself busy, she is taking care of her household. She doesn't want anything to fall through the cracks lest any under her care suffer. She is willing to put the needs of others before her own needs. She does it not out of empty obedience or in fear of the tyranny of the urgent. She does it out of love.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Loving Instruction

The excellent wife is a teacher. She may not have a classroom or students, but she is a teacher. She is not to be bothered with foolishness. She speaks wisdom. She wants the words she speaks to make those around her become better people. She wants those around her to become more like Christ. She knows that is what is important and she doesn't want to waste her time on other things.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Confidence

Some days you just want to stay in your pajamas all day long. Maybe you're not feeling well. Or maybe you're in something more seductive and your husband has the day off.  But most days, you must get up and face the world. What do you wear? The excellent wife clothes herself with strength and honor. She is ready to face the day. She knows where her strength comes from. Her strength comes from the Lord. She is confident as she faces the day because she knows that her Lord has plans for her today. The world may taunt her and try and sow fear in her heart, but her heart belongs to the Lord.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Only The Best

I was just pricing fine linen fabric. It is not cheap. In fact, I was blown away with how expensive it was. The excellent wife deals with fine linen. She uses the best materials. She sells what she makes. She sells high quality items that are in demand with the merchants.
Whatever you make, is it crap? Or do you give it your best and try to make something worthwhile? Do you cut corners because you don't care or do you carefully do everything it requires?
Do your best. Give of your best. Take time to care about what you do. You're worth it.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Behind Every Great Man

The discussion of the excellent wife turns to her husband. He is a leader in their community. He is well-known and respected. In part, this can be because of his excellent wife. There is no murmuring about his family or the shenanigans at home. There is no scandal brewing in his marriage. He can lead in the community because his household is in order. Behind every great man is a great woman. Are you that woman?

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

She's So Fine

The excellent wife is no slob. She cares about how her home looks. She cares about how she looks. She makes sure that she has nice things for her home - she makes cover lets for the bed - so that her home is comfortable for her family and for guests. She wears fine clothing. She doesn't want to reflect badly on herself or her family. She's not vain or trying to impress people. She is warm and wants to welcome people. She wants her family to feel loved and well taken care of. How about you?

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Not Afraid

Winter is over and I, for one, am glad. Of course, it seems that everywhere I drive, I am still reminded of the recent winter. There is still sand at the edge of the roads left over from when it snowed. At this point, it seems like it would take Noahic rains to wash it all off the roads. I don't think that is in the forecast.

But when it snowed, we had nothing to worry about. The roof over our heads, though old, was not in danger of failing. We never lost heat. The wood stove made the house feel like it was summertime. The kids all had warm clothes to wear and plenty of hot chocolate to drink.

The excellent wife is somewhat of a realist. She realizes the blessings she has and the protection she has. She may even be pragmatic and has planned to make sure that she and her family are ready. This I know. It may be almost summer, but I'm ready. Let it snow.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Extending Her Hand

The excellent wife loves others. She extends hers hand to shake their hand. She extends her hand to pull them up out of the pit. She extends her hand to embrace them. She extends he hand in peace. She extends her hand to show them she is not a threat. She extends her hand in love. To whom can you extend you hand today?

Friday, May 1, 2015

What She Needs

What can't she do? Really, it's seeming like the excellent wife is a super woman! She spins her own yarn or thread. That's something that seems so far from my reality. I can't do that. But then again, I don't need to. When I consider this verse with a little more humility, I think of how when she had a need, she doesn't immediately ask "who can help me?" She instead asks "what can I do?" It's so easy to buy clothes at your favorite store. Want a new dress? Take a quick trip to the mall and you're sure to find plenty to choose from. Don't like it anymore? Donate it, throw it out, or just leave it in the back of your closet. But what if it wasn't so easy? If you had to sew your own dress, you might have made something that you might have liked even better and would have lasted longer. If you had poured your heart into making it, you may have treasured it more and been more satisfied. That's the secret of the excellent wife. She pours her heart into what she does and is satisfied with it.