Sluice Box Adventures
Believing Bible Study in the 21st century
For Women &
Girls
Proverbs 31
King James Bible
Daughters of Faith
An Internet Ministry For Encouragement Of Christian Girls and Ladies Around the World.
Daughters
of Faith
March / April Issue, 2006
"O, The Deep Deep Love of Jesus!"
Miss Amanda Sedler, Columnist
Miss Deborah Brauer, Columnist
Miss Hannah Brown, Columnist
Miss Rebekah Wark, Columnist
Miss Gina Allison, Columnist
Mrs. Ruby Wagenschutz, Columnist
Ev. Benjamin Jossund, Columnist
Mrs. Kristina Jossund, Columnist
Part-Time Ranch Hands
Mrs. Dawn Wagenschutz, Columnist
Mrs. Johanna Spangenberg, Columnist
Many times in my short 18 years I have found myself being stretched in too many different directions. I would try to cram more and more things into one day and would end up getting up at about 4:30 in the morning and not going to bed until 11 or 12 o'clock. I was always tired, and my immune system began failing. I was stressed!
I've also had busy times when it seemed like I had an overabundance of time left over when everything was done that I needed to do. I had time left over to do things with my friends, or to sit down and read a book I'd been wanting to read, or I was able to have more time to spend in my devotions. I was relaxed!
Now, as I look over these two different scenarios, I see that I didn't really have more going on when I was stressed than I did when I was relaxed. I was doing practically the same things, with only a few minor adjustments. Nothing big!
Why then was I so stressed and getting sick and not having enough time in the day to do what I thought I needed to do? I believe that the answer is relatively simple. I was allowing things to eat up my time and the focal points of my day were on the "major" things I had to get done. I would stress out about having a bunch of tests in school, and not enough time to study. I would worry about not having enough time in the morning to get ready because of all the other things I had to do that morning before leaving the house. My focus was all wrong!
In the second scenario, I was relaxed! I had more than enough time to get the things done that needed to be done and still had time to spare. Why was that? I still had a lot of tests at school! I still had things to do in the morning before leaving the house, and I surely still had to get ready in the morning! What then was the deciding factor in how I reacted?
I believe that when I allow the Lord to direct my focus, He gives me speed and accuracy in doing the things that He deems necessary! When I allow Him to direct my focus, there are no needless activities that take up my time. The first thing I do in the morning is to spend time with my Abba, my Heavenly Father. When I start my day with Him, His presence is with me throughout the day; guiding and directing me in the path that He sees fit. I am able to accomplish tasks that I may see as impossible, but with my Father, all things are possible!
However, when I allow myself to become engrossed in the 'things' that I 'have' to do, I lose sight of His will and I become bogged down and stressed out!
I would much rather allow my Abba to guide and direct, wouldn't you?
For Him & Him Alone,
Laura Beth
Requested By: Miss Abigail Gallagher
Request: First, please pray for my family in the upcoming months. My brother-in-law is for Afghanistan in March. pray for my sister and their two kids, especially. Also, pray for me while at the Public High school this year. I'm only taking two classes; but I've already gotten to know a few new people. Pray that I'll be a witness to them and others that i know.
Requested By: Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz
Request: I would like to ask prayer for the salvation of my aunt Lisa, and friends, Liz & Sarah. Also, please pray for a lady named Kathy. This lady is Catholic and has cancer...my mom has been trying to get back in touch with her and hasn't been able to as of yet. Please pray that they will be able to talk and that she will get saved. Thank you so much!
Requested By: Miss Bethany Boomhower
Request: Please Pray for my Grandfather. He is 87 years old, has a lot of health problems, and is not saved. We worry about him. His name is George Moxlow.
Requested By: Miss Hannah Brown
Request: Please pray for my friend, Jim Hogan who is in Iraq right now. Also, please pray that my parents would be able to find the house the Lord wants us to buy. I also have 1 unspoken request. Thank you!
Requested By: Miss Rebekah Wark
Request: Please pray for my Uncle Len, my mom's oldest brother. While we were at camp in August, he had surgery for a tumor on his brain that turned out to be cancer. They haven't given him but maybe a year to live, most likely he doesn't even have that. Two of my great aunts also have cancer. They all claim to be saved, Praise the Lord!
Also remember to keep praying for the requests that have been sent around in between issue! Pray for the Bruce family, for Dorothy and Titus, and the others.
Praying for ya',
Manda
Howdy-Do to our new Dudettes!
We'd like to welcome our newest subscriber, Mrs. Dale Nolan, from Thunder Bay, Ontario!
We're so glad to have you joining us.
For the Beauty of The Earth
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”
Psalm 107:8
It is so easy in our world today, to complain about what is going on. It is easy to be dragged down by always dwelling on the negative. We hear it all the time “Oh, what a terrible world this is!” Even the news media seems to delight in always talking about the horrible things that happen. We, as Christians, sadly, are often susceptible to dwelling on the negative even more than those who have no knowledge of God.
Often we Christians can become very proud, we look down our noses on “the lost and dying world” without realizing that without Christ, we would be just as degenerate as the vilest sinner who lives out in the world. When we Christians begin to lose the realization of who we are without God, we begin to pass judgment upon all the sinners out in the world who do wrong. So often, we don’t realize how lost these people are, and instead of trying to tell them about Christ, we withdraw into our own little “comfort zone” and self-righteously refuse to have anything to do with them. Until we get our attitudes right about who we really are and who God really is, and until we get a grasp of all that God has done for us, we cannot witness to these lost people with the right attitude towards them.
First of all, God is holy. He is just, righteous, loving, and honorable. We, on the other hand, in our natural state, are sinful, weak, selfish, proud, and rebellious. There is nothing good, NOTHING, that we are capable of doing on our own, without God. Romans 3: 10-12 tells us: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” We have nothing to offer God. He already owns everything. Our very breath is in His hand.
When the first man and woman fell to sin in the Garden of Eden, God was not obligated to do anything for them. They disobeyed Him, the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent Creator of heaven and earth. He had every right to do whatever He desired to do to them at that moment. Yet, for a reason I will never understand, He loved them. Their sin had already condemned them to death, but because of the amazing love that God had for His creation, He was willing to sacrifice Himself in their place, and in the place of their children, and to pay the debt that we could pay only with our physical and spiritual death. Realizing our nature, how can we be so condemning towards those who are just like we would be had we not met Christ?
2,000 years ago, God sent His Son to the earth to die on the cross for me, for you, and for everyone else on earth. Jesus Christ paid the debt that we could not pay. God went a step further than that; He now draws every person to Him through the working of the Holy Spirit. Everyone who is willing to come to God for salvation, believing in the saving work of Jesus Christ and confessing and turning away from sin, is promised salvation, a life with God, and a home in heaven.
God’s goodness does not end with spiritual things. The world we live in, the flowers, animals, trees, sky, all of these are gifts from a Creator, and show us of His love. Psalms 19:1 says: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” And Psalms 97:6 tells us that: “The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.” We have so much for which to be thankful! Waterfalls, canyons, mountains, seas, all the glory, majesty, and grandeur of nature was created for us, so that we might come to know the glory, majesty, and grandeur of the God who created nature. We should be rejoicing at the mercy and goodness that God has shown toward us.
Contrast the above knowledge that we have about God with what most lost people know about Him. Christians should be the most joyful people on earth, yet they are often thought of as serious, straightlaced killjoys. Not that this is entirely the fault of Christians; I realize that sometimes the definitions of “fun” between the saved and the unsaved are quite different. However, I do believe that if Christians were more aware on a day-to-day basis of how good God is to them, they would be more willing to share Him with others, and the lost would realize that Christ isn’t someone who destroys people’s “fun”, but rather, they would begin to realize that there is no true joy without Christ.
God commands us to be joyful, and to praise Him, and really, who on earth has more reason to be joyful than we? I don’t believe that Christians should be all happy-go-lucky, without ever really thinking about the fact that God will judge the world one day. However, I do believe that if Christians will allow God to fill them with His goodness, the lost will be drawn closer to the place of salvation because they will see the joy that comes from knowing the goodness of God.
“For the beauty of the Earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies.
Christ our God, to Thee we raise,
This our Hymn of grateful praise.”
–Folliott S. Pierpont
Hi, Ladies! Can you believe that this school year is almost over? I think that it's exciting. :0) I hope you are having a good year so far!
The verse I would like to share with you in this issue is Proverb 22:1, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."
I just want you to think about what kind of name you have. When you walk into a room, what do people say? Do you hear, "Oh, hi!" or, "Oh great, here comes loud mouth," or something like that. I know a few kids who have a name of kindness, and few with names of dishonesty or lying. If you have a reputation that is not the best, you can ask God and He will give you a clean slate. It may take awhile, because you had the wrong reputation earlier, and it may take a while to make people see that you are truly changed. But, just keep trusting God! He can and will help you if you really want to change the way you are known.
Just think about it: What kind of name do you have?
Keep Your Sunny Side Up!
With a Grin,
Bekah
Husband Husbandry
“The heart of her husband doeth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.”
Proverbs 31:11, 23
“Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate.” (Barnett R. Brickner) We have come to the main point of Proverbs 31. This is not the last article, but if this were a novel this would be the climax. The part we have been building up toward. In verse 12 of Proverbs 31 it says, “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” We spoke about this in the first article. I just want to refresh your memory. This is a very important point. The verse says, ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE. In other words you are to be doing your husband good before he even is your husband. We talked about how you can do that by preparing yourself to some day be a wife. We’ve talked about sewing, scheduling, strength, serving, and a lot of other things. But in this article we are going to look at the husband himself. You will be able to glean things to help you now, but most of this article will be made up of little gems to save for your future husband.
· The next items to add to your “hope chest” are Husband Helpers.
Husband helpers are the very specific areas where you can be preparing your heart and attitude for a husband. These are the areas where you will be the most “help” to your husband. The article is called Husband Husbandry, because we are going to be looking at cultivating your relationship with your future husband both before and after you are married.
1. Husband Husbandry begins with giving him your whole Heart.
Husband husbandry displays two specific character qualities: love and loyalty.
· Love is learning how to give to the basic needs of others without motive of personal reward.
· Loyalty is adopting as your own the wishes and goals of those you love and learning to stand by them even when you feel they don’t deserve it.
“True love doesn’t consist of holding hands- it consists of holding hearts.” Love and Loyalty go hand in hand. In Titus 2:4, we learn that the older women are to teach the younger women to “love their husbands.”What exactly does it mean, “to love their husbands”? Listen to Elizabeth George’s explanation in her book, A Woman’s High Calling. “First of all God’s summons to love in Titus 2:4 is not referring to romantic love. And it’s not about sexual love. No, to “love your husband” is a reference to friendship love and it occurs only here in the New Testament. The phrase comes from the Greek word philandros and refers to “willing, determined love that is not based on a husband’s worthiness but on God’s command, and that is extended by a wife’s affectionate and obedient heart.” In her book Beautiful in God’s Eyes speaking about the same verse, Mrs. George says, “a love that cherishes, enjoys, and likes our husband; we are to value him. We should see our husbands as our best friend and want to be with him more than any other person.” If the older women need to teach the younger women to love their husbands, then that means it must not come naturally.
Real love is a choice. It comes after the initial heart flutters. This is the kind of love that God has for us, an unconditional love. He loves us in spite of ourselves. This kind of love is chosen. This is when you truly become willing to love a man even when he throws his dirty clothes on the floor, never changes the toilet paper roll, get snacks just before dinner, and any other thing that might irritate you. Let me remind you now, that it is an irritation that makes a pearl! When you decide to love a man like this you become loyal to him. It is this kind of love that must be saved for only one man. The man you will choose to love and be loyal to the rest of your entire life. As one person wisely said, “True love doesn’t have a happy ending; true love doesn’t have an ending.”
The best way to be loyal to God’s choice for your husband is to keep your heart for him. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” A one-word definition for giving away your heart is INFATUATION, or getting a crush on a guy.
To give you a very clear picture, cut a heart out of red construction paper. Now, for every time you were infatuated or “had a crush” write his name and cut a chunk out of the heart. Picture yourself giving it to that guy. You hand it to him and say, “Please love and cherish this.” What does he do? Some guys might laugh at you and let the piece of your heart fall to the floor. Others might take the piece and drop it in the nearest trash can. Others might stuff it in their pocket and find it when it colors their pants red in the wash. You might find one who would take it and be pleased, but what happens when some other girl comes along and offers him a piece of her heart and he chooses her piece of heart over your piece of heart, maybe its prettier, bigger or just “better”.
Finally, you meet the man of your dreams and when he proposes he offers you his heart, you say “yes” and take his heart in your hands, but you look down at what you have to give him, and there is only a small piece left. How ashamed you would feel to give that to him! If you have given away pieces of your heart, then ask God to forgive you, ask him to restore the pieces of your heart. Dr. S.M. Davis says, “God will take a broken heart as long as he gets all the pieces.” Allow God to put the pieces back so you can offer your husband your whole heart. For those girls who have never given away part of their heart, give the whole thing to your father. Ask him to hold it tight until you are ready to give it to your husband.
Friedrich Nietzsche said, “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.” We will look at this more in part two, but first, let’s look at the life of the first “help meet.”
· The Husband’s Helpmeet
“ And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make a help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2: 18, 21-24)
It was the 6th day of creation. God made man and placed him in the garden to tend and keep it. “God saw that although Adam was in a state of perfect innocency, it was not good for him to be alone. It would be good for him spiritually, intellectually, and socially to have a wife.” (All The Women Of The Bible- Herbert Lockyer) God knew Adam needed a helpmeet, but first Adam needed to see that something was missing from his life. So, God brought all the animals to Adam to see what he would name them. Imagine as Adam in perfect intelligence named all the animals. He noticed there was a male and female of every type of creature on earth. There was a lion and a lioness, a goose and a gander, a bull and a cow, a stallion and a mare, a buck and a doe, a hen and a rooster…
The afternoon passed. Adam sat down on a rock and rubbed his forehead. He saw every kind of animal that day- each one had a mate of the same kind. And the Bible says, “But for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.” There was not another human on the whole earth. Adam, the human man, was alone. Suddenly, Adam yawed and rubbed his eyes. He was very tired. He lied down in the grass and fell asleep. While he slept, God performed a miracle. He opened Adam’s side and took one of his ribs. Using that rib God formed a woman, a female human to be Adam’s helpmeet. Then God took the woman by the hand and brought her to Adam. God’s still small voice called his name, “Adam, Adam.” Slowly Adam stirred and opened his eyes. I imagine he probably blinked a few times. His mouth went dry and his heart began to race. Before him, stood the most beautiful creature, the crown of God’s creation. God had provided a helpmeet for him. She was distinct and different from him, but she was also part of him. “This Eve was given to Adam and their two hearts beat as one in love for each other and for God.” (Herbert Lockyer in All the Women of the Bible.)
God made Eve to be Adam’s helpmeet. She was taken from man, from his side to walk by his side. She was created to be his friend, counterpart, and helper, who would meet his needs- physically and emotionally. God did not make woman as her own being, although he could have. Instead he used a piece of Adam, from under Adam’s heart. I think this was partially so Adam would continually be reminded of how valuable Eve should be to him. Eve was created to complete Adam, to walk by his side and assist him in his life calling, the tending of God’s creation and to love him in a perfect relationship and friendship. God made Adam exactly what he was missing. Eve completed him in every way. Matthew 19: 5-6 says, “… For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Adam and his wife, Eve, were to become one flesh. A large part of being one flesh is being “best friends.” A best friend is someone with whom you have no secrets from, share everything with, want to be with more than anyone else in the whole world, and love them no matter what happens. One flesh is the highest rank of friendship. Now, we don’t live in a perfect world, nor will we ever marry a perfect man, but it is God’s desire that every “man and helpmeet” live in the perfect bond of friendship. How much easier this would be if you started out as friends before you fell in love and got married! This friendship will only occur if specific “husband helpers” extend from the helpmeet’s heart.
2. Husband Helpers come from the Helpmeet’s Heart.
So what is a helpmeet? “A helpmeet means someone who is suitable, adapted, completing to her husband. A man is not to adapt to you- the exact opposite of what the feminist are telling us today. Their wrong thinking is overflowing into the Christian family and affecting our own families in a negative way.” (Her Husband is Known in the gates- Bernadine Bigner Cantrell.)
As a wife- a helpmeet, it is your duty to complete your husband. You are to be suitable and adaptable to his personality, his needs, and his interests. DON’T MARRY A MAN YOU CAN’T COMPLETE. The foundation of that comes from II Corinthians 6: 14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”YOU CANNOT COMPLETE AN UNBELIEVER. The son might be cute, but you will have big problems with your “father- in- law” (Satan). Beware, the devil may bring lost men into your life to trap you, but remember God’s promise to provide the best for us.
Amos 3: 3 says, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?”DON’T MARRY A MAN YOU CANNOT AGREE WITH. I’m not talking about trivial subjects like whether the toilet seat is up or down, or whether the toothpaste is squeezed from the middle or the bottom. I’m talking about big issues like bible doctrines, standards in music, dress, and entertainment, raising the children, schooling the children, and financial issues. If two people cannot agree on these areas, they have no business binding in matrimony.
Now that we’ve looked at what a helpmeet is, and whom you should not marry, let’s take a close look at four “husband helpers” that must stem from the very heart of the helpmeet for the man you will marry.
· A Heart of Prayer
The first of these is a heart of prayer. This one is to be applied now and throughout your married life. You can and should be praying for your future husband now. The first thing you should be praying is that he would allow God to lead his life, and that in God’s timing he (God) would bring the two of you together, like he did for Adam and Eve. I think most girls remember to pray for this, but there are other areas you should be praying about as well.
Did you ever think to pray for his purity? Ask God to protect him from the strange woman warned of in the book of Proverbs. Don’t pray just for his physical purity, but also for mental and emotional purity, protecting him from the defilement of the world.
You should also be praying for his career- that it would be the one God wants him to have, he would have a good reputation at work, and that he would be able to face whatever temptations the devil may put in his path. Pray for him in the areas of wisdom and leadership. Pray for his ministries that they would be glorifying to God. These same areas will need your prayer support after you are married as well.
· A Heart of Trust
Before you marry a man, be sure you can trust him. He needs to be someone you can look up to and trust with your life and the lives of your future children. People make mistakes, and it is sure that your “knight in shining armor” will fall off his horse now and again, but he must be someone you can trust to mount up again for God. You need to have an attitude of trusting him in the area of faithfulness to you, with the finances, to make wise decisions in leading your family, protection from evil, and spiritual leadership. It will destroy your marriage if either partner lives in constant suspicion of the other person. Be sure he can trust you as well.
· A Heart of a Submission
It takes strength to be a submissive wife, not weakness. “It doesn’t mean being a doormat. It is insight into the man God has given you- his needs and desires- and choosing to act in accordance with them without his demanding or commanding it.” (Her Husband is Known in the Gates, Bernadine Bigner Cantrell) “First it is a witness to the world. Second, it says whatever my strengths I can choose to be submissive to God’s divinely appointed authority. Third it can and will have an influence upon others especially your husband, he’ll feel good about himself and about you.”
The area of submission will be built has you obey and submit to the direction of your parents, especially your father. It is a command from God to obey your parents and to submit to your husband. When the first is done properly, the second will follow much easier.
· A Heart of Acceptance
You cannot change the man you marry. You must receive him exactly as he is. This goes for every stage of your life together. Defer to his likes and interests. Your husband should be your first earthly priority. When he is out in the world, battling with people who could care less about him, he needs that one place of sure acceptance. When he comes home, he should know that there is where he is loved unconditionally and accepted for himself. When he does something that gets under your skin, or you get frustrated with him, remember you chose your husband! It may seem that you had everything in common before the wedding and now you have nothing in common. When those times come, remember these words of George Levinger, “What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with incompatibility.”
Proverbs 12:4 says “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.” He ought to feel like he is getting a prize when he marries you. A feeling of completeness, an all is well feeling, not the war is about to begin. Will your husband be proud to “wear” you in public, or will you make him want to abdicate his throne?
Proverbs 31: 11 says “The heart of her husband doeth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.” Do you know what spoil is? Spoil is what the soldiers would gather from the defeated enemy. Often this spoil included the women to be taken home as concubines or slaves. But the husband of the Proverbs 31 woman looks at the spoil and says, “No thanks guys. I have everything I need at home.” Today, as our men fight spiritual battles in the work place, Satan will tempt them with the spoils of the world. You want your husband to be able to say, “I don’t need the spoil. I already have everything I need.” It all leads back to being best friends with your husband. The closer you are as “friends” before you marry will help you to be even closer friends after you marry. The phrase, “We’re just friends” is not a bad thing, but the perfect way to start. When you find the man who is becoming your best friend, then you’ll know you found your “one and only.” I believe this well-known quote wraps it all up, “Happiness is being married to your best friend!”
Do you know someone who professes to know Christ as Saviour, and perhaps faithfully lived for Him in the past, but who now is overly critical, unmoved by the Word of God, and seems to be completely unconcerned about the Church or his/her relationship to the Lord?
It is possible, of course, that such a person has never accepted Christ at all. It is also possible that such a person is suffering from "Hardheartedness" - a spiritual malady resulting in lack of feeling or compassion, a coldness for which there seems to be no remedy.
Hebrews 3:12-15 tells us, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." Verses 7 and 8 of Hebrews 3 also exhorts us, "...To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts ...", and Verse 7 of Hebrews 4 once again tells us, "...To day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."
It seems evident to me that we cause our heart to become hardened if we will not hear the voice of God. We need to realize the following truths:
1. Becoming hardhearted is a gradual process. We are not on fire for God one day, then wake up the next morning with a hard heart.
2. The initial cause of hardheartedness is the "deceitfulness of sin." Satan is the Master of Deceit; he lies to us, causing us to doubt God and to seek to fulfill our selfish, worldly desires.
3. Then when things begin to go bad, we blame others for our problems - anybody but ourselves.
4. We won't admit that we are not right with God and choose not to deal with our condition.
5. We quickly become self-centered and selfish.
6. We don't like being in the House of God and definitely don't like the preaching of God's Word.
7. We don't respond to the Word of God and never respond to the invitation.
From God's perspective, the Christian suffering from hardheartedness is in a potentially deadly condition. Mark 3:5 tells us that as Jesus met with those in the synagogue, He was "grieved for the hardness of their hearts." We should take heed of God's warning in Geneses 6:3: "My spirit shall not always strive with man."
Is there a remedy for hardheartedness? Praise God, there is!
Jeremiah 23:29 tells us, "Is not my Word like as a fire? saith the Lord: and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" Our Heavenly Father loves us and is longsuffering toward us. We can reverse the effects of hardheartedness if we will apply God's "hammer" to our hard hearts -- repent of our sin, seek God's forgiveness, reject Satan's deceitfulness, listen with our ears, minds and heart to God's blessed Word, long for the fellowship of our Lord and other Christians, and invest our lives in serving Him and others.
I, for one, don't want to harden my heart against my blessed Lord.
There Did We Rejoice in Him
Psalm 66:6, "He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in Him."
What a strange concept...what an odd place of rejoicing...in the flood ~ where the spirit is overwhelmed and the threat of loss or destruction hangs heavy...where fears are not only imagined but also very real...
Has your soul ever been in this place? Sudden bad news, days of struggle with no end in sight, frightening questions with no answers, hope suddenly deferred, dreams and joy turning into the deepest pain the soul has ever known?
Perhaps you have not visited these shores yourself, but the fear of ever walking along the sands of loneliness or treading through the valley of the shadow keeps you in bondage ~ you love life as it is and fear change or the unknown.
In either situation the Lord's command "fear not" comes without any clauses. The soul has an anchor that is both stedfast and sure. For the one who has put their faith and trust in Christ alone for salvation, they need never fear the flood. Not only does your loving Shepherd promise to be there every step of the way to guide and comfort ~
"Fear thou now; for I AM with thee: be not dismayed; for I AM thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I AM the Lord thy God..." Isaiah 43:2-3a
But He is also the One that is able to take the raging waters that would sweep away your soul and turn them into dry land. You will be able to walk through that impossible place on foot, and you will find with the sweetest thrill that right there - in the midst of the flood - there is the most poignant depth of joy that your spirit will ever know. No amount of sunshiny days or quiet waters will ever be able to produce the same ecstasy that comes when Christ alone is your support and stay and His very Word is the sustenance of your moment by moment life and decisions.
Yet this is not all that these places produce. The truth of the matter is that the Lord uses sorrow and suffering, loneliness and loss, as His special school of learning. It is in the Refiner's Fire, the Threshing Floor, the Potter's Wheel that the Lord places His special mark of royalty on the obedient and surrendered heart.
"Why?" you may ask. "Is He just looking to inflict pain on those that follow Him? Is it to be just a life of going from one sorrow to the next? Does He wish to rob me of all the joy and sunshine in my life?" Reality is that suffering and sorrow are in His world because of sin. The beauty of the Christian life is that my God can take what is ugly, painful, fearful, and transform in into something beautiful in this life and the life to come. More than even that, the purpose of the Christian life is not just to keep me from hell, but to also conform me into the image of Christ. What does the Scripture say about Christ?
"For it became Him (God the Father) for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation (Christ) PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING." Hebrews 2:10
"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made PERFECT, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;" Hebrews 5:8-9
If Christ Himself suffered, then why shouldn't I? Did you see the purpose in it though? It wasn't just pointless torture...it produced something priceless =
perfection
many sons into glory
Author of eternal salvation
Hebrews 12:2 expounds even further ~
"Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
The purpose of the suffering was the JOY that was ahead. God's focus for the believer is not from suffering to suffering ~ not a dread of what must be around the next bend or behind the next door ~ but rather an eager expectation of what God can and will do with every aspect of my life in an imperfect world. I can look forward to everything with joy because God's declared purpose for me is,
"But we all, with open face beholding, as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from GLORY to GLORY, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Hallelujah! What a precious reality that I need fear nothing ~ I can even rejoice in the midst of the flood ~ because my Redeemer will work all things for my good as He conforms me into His image and takes me from "glory to GLORY!"
By: Mrs. Johanna Spangenberg
Ì How was Modesty viewed in Bible Days and can it be applied even in this day and age ?
The Greek meaning (from the New Testament) for the word “Modesty”, when interpreted into English actually means:
A long, loose, flowing garment
This fact is rather interesting, as it rules out not only pants, but it gives no place to: mini skirts, tight or low shirts, tank tops, midriffs, bikinis or swimsuits, shorts, and even long skirts that are tight and have slits up them.
In Bible days, modesty was an important issue and the type of clothes a woman wore determined what people thought of her character.
Interesting Examples of ladies in the Bible and how their clothing affected their lives:
Ø Tamar – Genesis 38.
Tamar was a “good” girl, but when she dressed like a harlot, people (even those closest to her) did not recognize her, and they thought she was a prostitute. This is a sad story: Tamar’s sinful act – she became impatient and felt that she should have a certain man, but since she didn’t get that certain man she took matters into her own hands – affected the lives of many others. Tamar purposely caused a “godly” man to fall when she tempted him with her clothing and actions, she was a wrong testimony to those around her, and even her own children (because of immorality) suffered.
How you dress reveals what is in your heart. Since people cannot see your heart, they will determine what you are like by the clothes you wear. Because of this, we want to dress in a way that will show how we love God . . . and it doesn’t matter what the “style” happens to be.
Would you want to confuse other people by saying “I’m born again, and I love the Lord”, yet making them think you are a prostitute by the way you dress and act?
Ø “The Strange Woman” – Proverbs 7: 7-27.
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
À Notice especially how in verse 10 the Lord mentions her clothing (attire).
The writer of Proverbs looked out his window and immediately knew that this woman was a harlot because of what she was wearing and how she wore it. For example: in Bible days, a harlot would slit her dress up the side in order to show her thigh as an advertisement of her trade.
Á Do you see what God says about her heart?
It is deceitful, subtle, lying.
(Jeremiah 17:9,10) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
Her heart is full of the tendency to deceive:
a: dishonest
b: deceptive, misleading
 What does God say about her attitude?
This girl is loud and stubborn and she is not content to stay in her house, she always wants to be somewhere else.
a: Loud ~ clamorous, noisy, obnoxious;
loud applies to any volume above normal and may suggest undue vehemence or obtrusiveness.
raucous implies a loud harsh grating tone, especially of voice, and may suggest rowdiness.
strident implies a rasping discordant but insistent quality, especially of voice.
b: Stubborn ~ difficult to handle or manage;
Unreasonably or perversely unyielding.
A strong stubborn nature.
Performed or carried on in an unyielding, obstinate, or persistent manner.
“No man has a right to do as he pleases, except when he pleases to do right.”
c: Her feet abide not in her house ~
It’s not necessarily wrong to want to be at the mall with one’s friends, but if that’s the priority for you and you can’t stand to be at home, then it’s wrong. A godly young lady needs to learn to put the Lord and her family first ~ and part of this is having a true contentment in her heart about staying at home and helping around the house: striving to be a blessing to her own family.
à What does God say about her actions?
She caught the man –
God says it is good for men and ladies who aren’t married to not touch.
She kissed the man –
audacious: heedless of the consequences.
rash: done in haste without regard for consequences.
tactless: lacking restraint and discernment.
impudent: aggressively self-assertive.
She spoke to him with an impudent face –
~ lacking modesty; shamelessness.
~ marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others.
Ä What does God say about her words?
They are all about sex (far from how a Christ-honoring girl ought to be conversing), and they lead a man to hell. Does your clothing cause an unsaved man to lust after your body? Does your clothing cause a brother in Christ to be tempted and fall?
Some day when you stand before God, will He say you are guilty of leading people to hell rather than to Himself and heaven? Our lives need to be pure in every area, so we can be a vessel for the Lord’s use, rather than a tool of Satan.
Now, in light of this passage, I think it is very interesting that the first thing God mentions about this harlot is her clothing. Then it must be important to God how we dress, don’t you think? Therefore, we need to be so careful that we don’t cause any young man (whether godly or not) to stumble or be distracted from keeping his focus on God. How do we keep ourselves from distracting any young man? Well, as you’ve probably already picked up in the previous sections, we ought to wear clothing that covers our bodies modestly. There is such a thing as a lovely and comfortable dress which is modest at the same time.
Honestly, there really is quite a variety of modest clothing if you keep your eyes open and don’t waste money on just fashionable skin-tight items. The following are a few modest options: A-line skirts, culottes, straight (yet not tight) skirts, pleated skirts, jumpers, dresses, sweaters, t-shirts, suit jackets, ect. We really have no excuses for dressing immodestly if we are truly born again and trying to walk according to God’s Word. If you can’t find a modest dress at any store . . . here’s a novel idea: sew one or find a godly lady in church who would do it for you!
Some people may think it seems different, but I want to obey God, and I don’t want to ever be accused of acting like a harlot or even a flirt.
Ø Rebekah – Genesis 24.
This young lady was not only a virgin and beautiful, but she lived a life that was pleasing to God.
There was deep-down Christ-honoring character in her spirit which flowed to every aspect of her young life.
She had the true heart of a servant even though her family was rich. She was willing to help anyone and even do a dirty, tough job like watering many Camels.
As you read this passage and study the character qualities of Rebekah, we see that she no doubt dressed modestly if the attitude of her heart was already modest and humble.
[Go back to the descriptions of modesty in the beginning of this booklet and try to find how many of them were applied in Rebekah’s spirit and daily life.]
We girls need to be more like Rebekah in our words, attitudes, and actions. Our modest outward appearance and peaceful countenance will then reflect the joy in our hearts that only Christ can give.
Ø Queen Esther – Read the entire book of Esther.
Let’s look especially at chapter 5, verse 1, and how Esther clothed herself properly. Clothing has meaning. Just as you can tell a prostitute by what she wears, so you can tell a good lady by what she is wearing. Esther had a very important thing to do ~ and it might cost her life. But with a boldness only from God, she did what was right even though other people were against her and her people. She was doing something for the Lord, and she wanted that point to get across clearly to those around her, so she dressed appropriately. When people saw what she was wearing, they probably whispered, “She is going to see the King!”
How can we apply this to our own personal lives? If you are saved, you are a daughter of God, the King of kings. Because of Christ’s payment on the cross and the fact that we’ve accepted Him as our personal Savior, we can come before Him at anytime anyplace in prayer. Should we not then dress appropriately for such an important occasion (which is all the time)? People ought to be able look at us and know immediately that we are different (just like Esther) and that we are born again Christians, members of God’s family ~ daughters of the King.
Hello, Ladies!
It seems like it has been forever since the last issue! Well, I have one of my personal favorites to share with you all today. It may sound kind of strange, but man is it good! Give it a try...
Spicy Cheeseburger Soup
1-1/2 cups water
2 cups cubed, peeled potatoes
2 carrots, grated
1 small onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 TBS beef bullion granules
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb. ground beef
2-1/2 cups milk
3 TBS flour
8 oz. American Cheese ( you can use Velveeta if you prefer, it seems to melt better! )
1/4-1 tsp cayenne pepper ( optional )
1/2 lb. crumbled bacon
Brown the ground beef.
In a large saucepan, combine first 9 ingredients ( there's a space where you stop ), bring to boil.
Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
Stir in beef and 2 cups milk.
Combine flour and remaining milk until smooth. Gradually stir into soup.
Bring to boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thick and bubbly.
Reduce heat, stir in cheese until melted.
Top with bacon just before serving up this delicious meal!
Well, I hope you enjoy this as much as my family and I do! Hey, I'd love to hear from you. What's one of your family's favorite recipes? It doesn't have to be something like a main course, we're girls! Send on the desserts!!! :0)
From the Kitchen,
Hannah
"Speak up, Sonny!"
Dear Laura Beth,
Thanks so much for your faithful service to Him as you send us such rich encouragement through your newsletters.
Blessings,
Debbie Saddler
AWESOME NEWSLETTER! It is a shame we can't send this to some local newspapers to print. It is what the world needs to read. You ladies are doing a wonderful good job at this letter. Thank you! My daughters who are only 8 and 11 will read this. Its something they need to read and hear. As we all do. Thanks again Laura Beth I have not one single regret for asking for this newsletter.
Saved By Grace Cheree Phil. 4:7
I really enjoy reading the newsletter every other month. It really encourages me. ~ Donna
We are an Independent, Fundamental, KJV only, Bible-Believing Baptist Publication.
All of our columnists write according to these convictions.
Daughters of Faith is a bi-monthly publication and is, therefore, published in these months:
January, March, May, July, September, and November.
If you would like to submit anything for publication, we need to have it before the 10th of these months.
Thank you...
We would be happy to consider anything that you submit for publication.
Our staff enjoys hearing ideas from our subscribers and we want each of you to be involved!
Here is a list of some ideas for things to send in:
Poetry
Recipes
Jokes
Short Devotional Paragraphs (Under 700 words, please)
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Prayer Requests
Book Reviews
Classified Ads (Things for sale, etc.)
Quotes
Any ideas you may have for new articles!
We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to send any submissions to: Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz, wagentrails@juno.com
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Have a Rootin'-Tootin' Day Today
and a Hootin' one Tomorrow!
"O, The Deep Deep Love of Jesus!"
Full-Time Ranch Hands
Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz, Editor & ColumnistMiss Amanda Sedler, Columnist
Miss Deborah Brauer, Columnist
Miss Hannah Brown, Columnist
Miss Rebekah Wark, Columnist
Miss Gina Allison, Columnist
Mrs. Ruby Wagenschutz, Columnist
Ev. Benjamin Jossund, Columnist
Mrs. Kristina Jossund, Columnist
Part-Time Ranch Hands
Mrs. Dawn Wagenschutz, Columnist
Mrs. Johanna Spangenberg, Columnist
Howdy From the Head-Honcho...
Well, it certainly seems like a long time since I last sent out an issue. Although, in reality, it's only been two short months. Isn't it amazing how we can get so busy sometimes that is seems there's just never enough time for anything. Other times we get busy, but the time seems to drag on and on and we seem to always have time to do more! Have you ever wondered why that is? Well, I have a theory I would like to share with you... mind you, it's definitely not a professional opinion, it's merely something that I've kind of figured out in my own life.Many times in my short 18 years I have found myself being stretched in too many different directions. I would try to cram more and more things into one day and would end up getting up at about 4:30 in the morning and not going to bed until 11 or 12 o'clock. I was always tired, and my immune system began failing. I was stressed!
I've also had busy times when it seemed like I had an overabundance of time left over when everything was done that I needed to do. I had time left over to do things with my friends, or to sit down and read a book I'd been wanting to read, or I was able to have more time to spend in my devotions. I was relaxed!
Now, as I look over these two different scenarios, I see that I didn't really have more going on when I was stressed than I did when I was relaxed. I was doing practically the same things, with only a few minor adjustments. Nothing big!
Why then was I so stressed and getting sick and not having enough time in the day to do what I thought I needed to do? I believe that the answer is relatively simple. I was allowing things to eat up my time and the focal points of my day were on the "major" things I had to get done. I would stress out about having a bunch of tests in school, and not enough time to study. I would worry about not having enough time in the morning to get ready because of all the other things I had to do that morning before leaving the house. My focus was all wrong!
In the second scenario, I was relaxed! I had more than enough time to get the things done that needed to be done and still had time to spare. Why was that? I still had a lot of tests at school! I still had things to do in the morning before leaving the house, and I surely still had to get ready in the morning! What then was the deciding factor in how I reacted?
I believe that when I allow the Lord to direct my focus, He gives me speed and accuracy in doing the things that He deems necessary! When I allow Him to direct my focus, there are no needless activities that take up my time. The first thing I do in the morning is to spend time with my Abba, my Heavenly Father. When I start my day with Him, His presence is with me throughout the day; guiding and directing me in the path that He sees fit. I am able to accomplish tasks that I may see as impossible, but with my Father, all things are possible!
However, when I allow myself to become engrossed in the 'things' that I 'have' to do, I lose sight of His will and I become bogged down and stressed out!
I would much rather allow my Abba to guide and direct, wouldn't you?
For Him & Him Alone,
Laura Beth
Prayer Power
By: Miss Amanda SedlerRequested By: Miss Abigail Gallagher
Request: First, please pray for my family in the upcoming months. My brother-in-law is for Afghanistan in March. pray for my sister and their two kids, especially. Also, pray for me while at the Public High school this year. I'm only taking two classes; but I've already gotten to know a few new people. Pray that I'll be a witness to them and others that i know.
Requested By: Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz
Request: I would like to ask prayer for the salvation of my aunt Lisa, and friends, Liz & Sarah. Also, please pray for a lady named Kathy. This lady is Catholic and has cancer...my mom has been trying to get back in touch with her and hasn't been able to as of yet. Please pray that they will be able to talk and that she will get saved. Thank you so much!
Requested By: Miss Bethany Boomhower
Request: Please Pray for my Grandfather. He is 87 years old, has a lot of health problems, and is not saved. We worry about him. His name is George Moxlow.
Requested By: Miss Hannah Brown
Request: Please pray for my friend, Jim Hogan who is in Iraq right now. Also, please pray that my parents would be able to find the house the Lord wants us to buy. I also have 1 unspoken request. Thank you!
Requested By: Miss Rebekah Wark
Request: Please pray for my Uncle Len, my mom's oldest brother. While we were at camp in August, he had surgery for a tumor on his brain that turned out to be cancer. They haven't given him but maybe a year to live, most likely he doesn't even have that. Two of my great aunts also have cancer. They all claim to be saved, Praise the Lord!
Also remember to keep praying for the requests that have been sent around in between issue! Pray for the Bruce family, for Dorothy and Titus, and the others.
Praying for ya',
Manda
Howdy-Do to our new Dudettes!
We'd like to welcome our newest subscriber, Mrs. Dale Nolan, from Thunder Bay, Ontario!
We're so glad to have you joining us.
The Tack Chest
By: Miss Deborah BrauerFor the Beauty of The Earth
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”
Psalm 107:8
It is so easy in our world today, to complain about what is going on. It is easy to be dragged down by always dwelling on the negative. We hear it all the time “Oh, what a terrible world this is!” Even the news media seems to delight in always talking about the horrible things that happen. We, as Christians, sadly, are often susceptible to dwelling on the negative even more than those who have no knowledge of God.
Often we Christians can become very proud, we look down our noses on “the lost and dying world” without realizing that without Christ, we would be just as degenerate as the vilest sinner who lives out in the world. When we Christians begin to lose the realization of who we are without God, we begin to pass judgment upon all the sinners out in the world who do wrong. So often, we don’t realize how lost these people are, and instead of trying to tell them about Christ, we withdraw into our own little “comfort zone” and self-righteously refuse to have anything to do with them. Until we get our attitudes right about who we really are and who God really is, and until we get a grasp of all that God has done for us, we cannot witness to these lost people with the right attitude towards them.
First of all, God is holy. He is just, righteous, loving, and honorable. We, on the other hand, in our natural state, are sinful, weak, selfish, proud, and rebellious. There is nothing good, NOTHING, that we are capable of doing on our own, without God. Romans 3: 10-12 tells us: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” We have nothing to offer God. He already owns everything. Our very breath is in His hand.
When the first man and woman fell to sin in the Garden of Eden, God was not obligated to do anything for them. They disobeyed Him, the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent Creator of heaven and earth. He had every right to do whatever He desired to do to them at that moment. Yet, for a reason I will never understand, He loved them. Their sin had already condemned them to death, but because of the amazing love that God had for His creation, He was willing to sacrifice Himself in their place, and in the place of their children, and to pay the debt that we could pay only with our physical and spiritual death. Realizing our nature, how can we be so condemning towards those who are just like we would be had we not met Christ?
2,000 years ago, God sent His Son to the earth to die on the cross for me, for you, and for everyone else on earth. Jesus Christ paid the debt that we could not pay. God went a step further than that; He now draws every person to Him through the working of the Holy Spirit. Everyone who is willing to come to God for salvation, believing in the saving work of Jesus Christ and confessing and turning away from sin, is promised salvation, a life with God, and a home in heaven.
God’s goodness does not end with spiritual things. The world we live in, the flowers, animals, trees, sky, all of these are gifts from a Creator, and show us of His love. Psalms 19:1 says: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” And Psalms 97:6 tells us that: “The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.” We have so much for which to be thankful! Waterfalls, canyons, mountains, seas, all the glory, majesty, and grandeur of nature was created for us, so that we might come to know the glory, majesty, and grandeur of the God who created nature. We should be rejoicing at the mercy and goodness that God has shown toward us.
Contrast the above knowledge that we have about God with what most lost people know about Him. Christians should be the most joyful people on earth, yet they are often thought of as serious, straightlaced killjoys. Not that this is entirely the fault of Christians; I realize that sometimes the definitions of “fun” between the saved and the unsaved are quite different. However, I do believe that if Christians were more aware on a day-to-day basis of how good God is to them, they would be more willing to share Him with others, and the lost would realize that Christ isn’t someone who destroys people’s “fun”, but rather, they would begin to realize that there is no true joy without Christ.
God commands us to be joyful, and to praise Him, and really, who on earth has more reason to be joyful than we? I don’t believe that Christians should be all happy-go-lucky, without ever really thinking about the fact that God will judge the world one day. However, I do believe that if Christians will allow God to fill them with His goodness, the lost will be drawn closer to the place of salvation because they will see the joy that comes from knowing the goodness of God.
“For the beauty of the Earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies.
Christ our God, to Thee we raise,
This our Hymn of grateful praise.”
–Folliott S. Pierpont
Grin, Goofy!
By: Miss Rebekah WarkHi, Ladies! Can you believe that this school year is almost over? I think that it's exciting. :0) I hope you are having a good year so far!
The verse I would like to share with you in this issue is Proverb 22:1, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold."
I just want you to think about what kind of name you have. When you walk into a room, what do people say? Do you hear, "Oh, hi!" or, "Oh great, here comes loud mouth," or something like that. I know a few kids who have a name of kindness, and few with names of dishonesty or lying. If you have a reputation that is not the best, you can ask God and He will give you a clean slate. It may take awhile, because you had the wrong reputation earlier, and it may take a while to make people see that you are truly changed. But, just keep trusting God! He can and will help you if you really want to change the way you are known.
Just think about it: What kind of name do you have?
Keep Your Sunny Side Up!
With a Grin,
Bekah
The Cedar Chest
By: Miss Gina AllisonHusband Husbandry
“The heart of her husband doeth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.”
Proverbs 31:11, 23
“Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate.” (Barnett R. Brickner) We have come to the main point of Proverbs 31. This is not the last article, but if this were a novel this would be the climax. The part we have been building up toward. In verse 12 of Proverbs 31 it says, “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” We spoke about this in the first article. I just want to refresh your memory. This is a very important point. The verse says, ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE. In other words you are to be doing your husband good before he even is your husband. We talked about how you can do that by preparing yourself to some day be a wife. We’ve talked about sewing, scheduling, strength, serving, and a lot of other things. But in this article we are going to look at the husband himself. You will be able to glean things to help you now, but most of this article will be made up of little gems to save for your future husband.
· The next items to add to your “hope chest” are Husband Helpers.
Husband helpers are the very specific areas where you can be preparing your heart and attitude for a husband. These are the areas where you will be the most “help” to your husband. The article is called Husband Husbandry, because we are going to be looking at cultivating your relationship with your future husband both before and after you are married.
1. Husband Husbandry begins with giving him your whole Heart.
Husband husbandry displays two specific character qualities: love and loyalty.
· Love is learning how to give to the basic needs of others without motive of personal reward.
· Loyalty is adopting as your own the wishes and goals of those you love and learning to stand by them even when you feel they don’t deserve it.
“True love doesn’t consist of holding hands- it consists of holding hearts.” Love and Loyalty go hand in hand. In Titus 2:4, we learn that the older women are to teach the younger women to “love their husbands.”What exactly does it mean, “to love their husbands”? Listen to Elizabeth George’s explanation in her book, A Woman’s High Calling. “First of all God’s summons to love in Titus 2:4 is not referring to romantic love. And it’s not about sexual love. No, to “love your husband” is a reference to friendship love and it occurs only here in the New Testament. The phrase comes from the Greek word philandros and refers to “willing, determined love that is not based on a husband’s worthiness but on God’s command, and that is extended by a wife’s affectionate and obedient heart.” In her book Beautiful in God’s Eyes speaking about the same verse, Mrs. George says, “a love that cherishes, enjoys, and likes our husband; we are to value him. We should see our husbands as our best friend and want to be with him more than any other person.” If the older women need to teach the younger women to love their husbands, then that means it must not come naturally.
Real love is a choice. It comes after the initial heart flutters. This is the kind of love that God has for us, an unconditional love. He loves us in spite of ourselves. This kind of love is chosen. This is when you truly become willing to love a man even when he throws his dirty clothes on the floor, never changes the toilet paper roll, get snacks just before dinner, and any other thing that might irritate you. Let me remind you now, that it is an irritation that makes a pearl! When you decide to love a man like this you become loyal to him. It is this kind of love that must be saved for only one man. The man you will choose to love and be loyal to the rest of your entire life. As one person wisely said, “True love doesn’t have a happy ending; true love doesn’t have an ending.”
The best way to be loyal to God’s choice for your husband is to keep your heart for him. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” A one-word definition for giving away your heart is INFATUATION, or getting a crush on a guy.
To give you a very clear picture, cut a heart out of red construction paper. Now, for every time you were infatuated or “had a crush” write his name and cut a chunk out of the heart. Picture yourself giving it to that guy. You hand it to him and say, “Please love and cherish this.” What does he do? Some guys might laugh at you and let the piece of your heart fall to the floor. Others might take the piece and drop it in the nearest trash can. Others might stuff it in their pocket and find it when it colors their pants red in the wash. You might find one who would take it and be pleased, but what happens when some other girl comes along and offers him a piece of her heart and he chooses her piece of heart over your piece of heart, maybe its prettier, bigger or just “better”.
Finally, you meet the man of your dreams and when he proposes he offers you his heart, you say “yes” and take his heart in your hands, but you look down at what you have to give him, and there is only a small piece left. How ashamed you would feel to give that to him! If you have given away pieces of your heart, then ask God to forgive you, ask him to restore the pieces of your heart. Dr. S.M. Davis says, “God will take a broken heart as long as he gets all the pieces.” Allow God to put the pieces back so you can offer your husband your whole heart. For those girls who have never given away part of their heart, give the whole thing to your father. Ask him to hold it tight until you are ready to give it to your husband.
Friedrich Nietzsche said, “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.” We will look at this more in part two, but first, let’s look at the life of the first “help meet.”
· The Husband’s Helpmeet
“ And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make a help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2: 18, 21-24)
It was the 6th day of creation. God made man and placed him in the garden to tend and keep it. “God saw that although Adam was in a state of perfect innocency, it was not good for him to be alone. It would be good for him spiritually, intellectually, and socially to have a wife.” (All The Women Of The Bible- Herbert Lockyer) God knew Adam needed a helpmeet, but first Adam needed to see that something was missing from his life. So, God brought all the animals to Adam to see what he would name them. Imagine as Adam in perfect intelligence named all the animals. He noticed there was a male and female of every type of creature on earth. There was a lion and a lioness, a goose and a gander, a bull and a cow, a stallion and a mare, a buck and a doe, a hen and a rooster…
The afternoon passed. Adam sat down on a rock and rubbed his forehead. He saw every kind of animal that day- each one had a mate of the same kind. And the Bible says, “But for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.” There was not another human on the whole earth. Adam, the human man, was alone. Suddenly, Adam yawed and rubbed his eyes. He was very tired. He lied down in the grass and fell asleep. While he slept, God performed a miracle. He opened Adam’s side and took one of his ribs. Using that rib God formed a woman, a female human to be Adam’s helpmeet. Then God took the woman by the hand and brought her to Adam. God’s still small voice called his name, “Adam, Adam.” Slowly Adam stirred and opened his eyes. I imagine he probably blinked a few times. His mouth went dry and his heart began to race. Before him, stood the most beautiful creature, the crown of God’s creation. God had provided a helpmeet for him. She was distinct and different from him, but she was also part of him. “This Eve was given to Adam and their two hearts beat as one in love for each other and for God.” (Herbert Lockyer in All the Women of the Bible.)
God made Eve to be Adam’s helpmeet. She was taken from man, from his side to walk by his side. She was created to be his friend, counterpart, and helper, who would meet his needs- physically and emotionally. God did not make woman as her own being, although he could have. Instead he used a piece of Adam, from under Adam’s heart. I think this was partially so Adam would continually be reminded of how valuable Eve should be to him. Eve was created to complete Adam, to walk by his side and assist him in his life calling, the tending of God’s creation and to love him in a perfect relationship and friendship. God made Adam exactly what he was missing. Eve completed him in every way. Matthew 19: 5-6 says, “… For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Adam and his wife, Eve, were to become one flesh. A large part of being one flesh is being “best friends.” A best friend is someone with whom you have no secrets from, share everything with, want to be with more than anyone else in the whole world, and love them no matter what happens. One flesh is the highest rank of friendship. Now, we don’t live in a perfect world, nor will we ever marry a perfect man, but it is God’s desire that every “man and helpmeet” live in the perfect bond of friendship. How much easier this would be if you started out as friends before you fell in love and got married! This friendship will only occur if specific “husband helpers” extend from the helpmeet’s heart.
2. Husband Helpers come from the Helpmeet’s Heart.
So what is a helpmeet? “A helpmeet means someone who is suitable, adapted, completing to her husband. A man is not to adapt to you- the exact opposite of what the feminist are telling us today. Their wrong thinking is overflowing into the Christian family and affecting our own families in a negative way.” (Her Husband is Known in the gates- Bernadine Bigner Cantrell.)
As a wife- a helpmeet, it is your duty to complete your husband. You are to be suitable and adaptable to his personality, his needs, and his interests. DON’T MARRY A MAN YOU CAN’T COMPLETE. The foundation of that comes from II Corinthians 6: 14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”YOU CANNOT COMPLETE AN UNBELIEVER. The son might be cute, but you will have big problems with your “father- in- law” (Satan). Beware, the devil may bring lost men into your life to trap you, but remember God’s promise to provide the best for us.
Amos 3: 3 says, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?”DON’T MARRY A MAN YOU CANNOT AGREE WITH. I’m not talking about trivial subjects like whether the toilet seat is up or down, or whether the toothpaste is squeezed from the middle or the bottom. I’m talking about big issues like bible doctrines, standards in music, dress, and entertainment, raising the children, schooling the children, and financial issues. If two people cannot agree on these areas, they have no business binding in matrimony.
Now that we’ve looked at what a helpmeet is, and whom you should not marry, let’s take a close look at four “husband helpers” that must stem from the very heart of the helpmeet for the man you will marry.
· A Heart of Prayer
The first of these is a heart of prayer. This one is to be applied now and throughout your married life. You can and should be praying for your future husband now. The first thing you should be praying is that he would allow God to lead his life, and that in God’s timing he (God) would bring the two of you together, like he did for Adam and Eve. I think most girls remember to pray for this, but there are other areas you should be praying about as well.
Did you ever think to pray for his purity? Ask God to protect him from the strange woman warned of in the book of Proverbs. Don’t pray just for his physical purity, but also for mental and emotional purity, protecting him from the defilement of the world.
You should also be praying for his career- that it would be the one God wants him to have, he would have a good reputation at work, and that he would be able to face whatever temptations the devil may put in his path. Pray for him in the areas of wisdom and leadership. Pray for his ministries that they would be glorifying to God. These same areas will need your prayer support after you are married as well.
· A Heart of Trust
Before you marry a man, be sure you can trust him. He needs to be someone you can look up to and trust with your life and the lives of your future children. People make mistakes, and it is sure that your “knight in shining armor” will fall off his horse now and again, but he must be someone you can trust to mount up again for God. You need to have an attitude of trusting him in the area of faithfulness to you, with the finances, to make wise decisions in leading your family, protection from evil, and spiritual leadership. It will destroy your marriage if either partner lives in constant suspicion of the other person. Be sure he can trust you as well.
· A Heart of a Submission
It takes strength to be a submissive wife, not weakness. “It doesn’t mean being a doormat. It is insight into the man God has given you- his needs and desires- and choosing to act in accordance with them without his demanding or commanding it.” (Her Husband is Known in the Gates, Bernadine Bigner Cantrell) “First it is a witness to the world. Second, it says whatever my strengths I can choose to be submissive to God’s divinely appointed authority. Third it can and will have an influence upon others especially your husband, he’ll feel good about himself and about you.”
The area of submission will be built has you obey and submit to the direction of your parents, especially your father. It is a command from God to obey your parents and to submit to your husband. When the first is done properly, the second will follow much easier.
· A Heart of Acceptance
You cannot change the man you marry. You must receive him exactly as he is. This goes for every stage of your life together. Defer to his likes and interests. Your husband should be your first earthly priority. When he is out in the world, battling with people who could care less about him, he needs that one place of sure acceptance. When he comes home, he should know that there is where he is loved unconditionally and accepted for himself. When he does something that gets under your skin, or you get frustrated with him, remember you chose your husband! It may seem that you had everything in common before the wedding and now you have nothing in common. When those times come, remember these words of George Levinger, “What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with incompatibility.”
Proverbs 12:4 says “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.” He ought to feel like he is getting a prize when he marries you. A feeling of completeness, an all is well feeling, not the war is about to begin. Will your husband be proud to “wear” you in public, or will you make him want to abdicate his throne?
Proverbs 31: 11 says “The heart of her husband doeth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.” Do you know what spoil is? Spoil is what the soldiers would gather from the defeated enemy. Often this spoil included the women to be taken home as concubines or slaves. But the husband of the Proverbs 31 woman looks at the spoil and says, “No thanks guys. I have everything I need at home.” Today, as our men fight spiritual battles in the work place, Satan will tempt them with the spoils of the world. You want your husband to be able to say, “I don’t need the spoil. I already have everything I need.” It all leads back to being best friends with your husband. The closer you are as “friends” before you marry will help you to be even closer friends after you marry. The phrase, “We’re just friends” is not a bad thing, but the perfect way to start. When you find the man who is becoming your best friend, then you’ll know you found your “one and only.” I believe this well-known quote wraps it all up, “Happiness is being married to your best friend!”
Notes from Nana
By: Mrs. Ruby WagenschutzDo you know someone who professes to know Christ as Saviour, and perhaps faithfully lived for Him in the past, but who now is overly critical, unmoved by the Word of God, and seems to be completely unconcerned about the Church or his/her relationship to the Lord?
It is possible, of course, that such a person has never accepted Christ at all. It is also possible that such a person is suffering from "Hardheartedness" - a spiritual malady resulting in lack of feeling or compassion, a coldness for which there seems to be no remedy.
Hebrews 3:12-15 tells us, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." Verses 7 and 8 of Hebrews 3 also exhorts us, "...To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts ...", and Verse 7 of Hebrews 4 once again tells us, "...To day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."
It seems evident to me that we cause our heart to become hardened if we will not hear the voice of God. We need to realize the following truths:
1. Becoming hardhearted is a gradual process. We are not on fire for God one day, then wake up the next morning with a hard heart.
2. The initial cause of hardheartedness is the "deceitfulness of sin." Satan is the Master of Deceit; he lies to us, causing us to doubt God and to seek to fulfill our selfish, worldly desires.
3. Then when things begin to go bad, we blame others for our problems - anybody but ourselves.
4. We won't admit that we are not right with God and choose not to deal with our condition.
5. We quickly become self-centered and selfish.
6. We don't like being in the House of God and definitely don't like the preaching of God's Word.
7. We don't respond to the Word of God and never respond to the invitation.
From God's perspective, the Christian suffering from hardheartedness is in a potentially deadly condition. Mark 3:5 tells us that as Jesus met with those in the synagogue, He was "grieved for the hardness of their hearts." We should take heed of God's warning in Geneses 6:3: "My spirit shall not always strive with man."
Is there a remedy for hardheartedness? Praise God, there is!
Jeremiah 23:29 tells us, "Is not my Word like as a fire? saith the Lord: and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" Our Heavenly Father loves us and is longsuffering toward us. We can reverse the effects of hardheartedness if we will apply God's "hammer" to our hard hearts -- repent of our sin, seek God's forgiveness, reject Satan's deceitfulness, listen with our ears, minds and heart to God's blessed Word, long for the fellowship of our Lord and other Christians, and invest our lives in serving Him and others.
I, for one, don't want to harden my heart against my blessed Lord.
The Meetin' House
By: Mrs. Kristina JossundThere Did We Rejoice in Him
Psalm 66:6, "He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in Him."
What a strange concept...what an odd place of rejoicing...in the flood ~ where the spirit is overwhelmed and the threat of loss or destruction hangs heavy...where fears are not only imagined but also very real...
Has your soul ever been in this place? Sudden bad news, days of struggle with no end in sight, frightening questions with no answers, hope suddenly deferred, dreams and joy turning into the deepest pain the soul has ever known?
Perhaps you have not visited these shores yourself, but the fear of ever walking along the sands of loneliness or treading through the valley of the shadow keeps you in bondage ~ you love life as it is and fear change or the unknown.
In either situation the Lord's command "fear not" comes without any clauses. The soul has an anchor that is both stedfast and sure. For the one who has put their faith and trust in Christ alone for salvation, they need never fear the flood. Not only does your loving Shepherd promise to be there every step of the way to guide and comfort ~
"Fear thou now; for I AM with thee: be not dismayed; for I AM thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10
"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I AM the Lord thy God..." Isaiah 43:2-3a
But He is also the One that is able to take the raging waters that would sweep away your soul and turn them into dry land. You will be able to walk through that impossible place on foot, and you will find with the sweetest thrill that right there - in the midst of the flood - there is the most poignant depth of joy that your spirit will ever know. No amount of sunshiny days or quiet waters will ever be able to produce the same ecstasy that comes when Christ alone is your support and stay and His very Word is the sustenance of your moment by moment life and decisions.
Yet this is not all that these places produce. The truth of the matter is that the Lord uses sorrow and suffering, loneliness and loss, as His special school of learning. It is in the Refiner's Fire, the Threshing Floor, the Potter's Wheel that the Lord places His special mark of royalty on the obedient and surrendered heart.
"Why?" you may ask. "Is He just looking to inflict pain on those that follow Him? Is it to be just a life of going from one sorrow to the next? Does He wish to rob me of all the joy and sunshine in my life?" Reality is that suffering and sorrow are in His world because of sin. The beauty of the Christian life is that my God can take what is ugly, painful, fearful, and transform in into something beautiful in this life and the life to come. More than even that, the purpose of the Christian life is not just to keep me from hell, but to also conform me into the image of Christ. What does the Scripture say about Christ?
"For it became Him (God the Father) for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation (Christ) PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING." Hebrews 2:10
"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made PERFECT, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;" Hebrews 5:8-9
If Christ Himself suffered, then why shouldn't I? Did you see the purpose in it though? It wasn't just pointless torture...it produced something priceless =
perfection
many sons into glory
Author of eternal salvation
Hebrews 12:2 expounds even further ~
"Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
The purpose of the suffering was the JOY that was ahead. God's focus for the believer is not from suffering to suffering ~ not a dread of what must be around the next bend or behind the next door ~ but rather an eager expectation of what God can and will do with every aspect of my life in an imperfect world. I can look forward to everything with joy because God's declared purpose for me is,
"But we all, with open face beholding, as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from GLORY to GLORY, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Hallelujah! What a precious reality that I need fear nothing ~ I can even rejoice in the midst of the flood ~ because my Redeemer will work all things for my good as He conforms me into His image and takes me from "glory to GLORY!"
Honestly Modesty...Huh?
(Parts 3 & 4)By: Mrs. Johanna Spangenberg
Ì How was Modesty viewed in Bible Days and can it be applied even in this day and age ?
The Greek meaning (from the New Testament) for the word “Modesty”, when interpreted into English actually means:
A long, loose, flowing garment
This fact is rather interesting, as it rules out not only pants, but it gives no place to: mini skirts, tight or low shirts, tank tops, midriffs, bikinis or swimsuits, shorts, and even long skirts that are tight and have slits up them.
In Bible days, modesty was an important issue and the type of clothes a woman wore determined what people thought of her character.
Interesting Examples of ladies in the Bible and how their clothing affected their lives:
Ø Tamar – Genesis 38.
Tamar was a “good” girl, but when she dressed like a harlot, people (even those closest to her) did not recognize her, and they thought she was a prostitute. This is a sad story: Tamar’s sinful act – she became impatient and felt that she should have a certain man, but since she didn’t get that certain man she took matters into her own hands – affected the lives of many others. Tamar purposely caused a “godly” man to fall when she tempted him with her clothing and actions, she was a wrong testimony to those around her, and even her own children (because of immorality) suffered.
How you dress reveals what is in your heart. Since people cannot see your heart, they will determine what you are like by the clothes you wear. Because of this, we want to dress in a way that will show how we love God . . . and it doesn’t matter what the “style” happens to be.
Would you want to confuse other people by saying “I’m born again, and I love the Lord”, yet making them think you are a prostitute by the way you dress and act?
Ø “The Strange Woman” – Proverbs 7: 7-27.
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
À Notice especially how in verse 10 the Lord mentions her clothing (attire).
The writer of Proverbs looked out his window and immediately knew that this woman was a harlot because of what she was wearing and how she wore it. For example: in Bible days, a harlot would slit her dress up the side in order to show her thigh as an advertisement of her trade.
Á Do you see what God says about her heart?
It is deceitful, subtle, lying.
(Jeremiah 17:9,10) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
Her heart is full of the tendency to deceive:
a: dishonest
b: deceptive, misleading
 What does God say about her attitude?
This girl is loud and stubborn and she is not content to stay in her house, she always wants to be somewhere else.
a: Loud ~ clamorous, noisy, obnoxious;
loud applies to any volume above normal and may suggest undue vehemence or obtrusiveness.
raucous implies a loud harsh grating tone, especially of voice, and may suggest rowdiness.
strident implies a rasping discordant but insistent quality, especially of voice.
b: Stubborn ~ difficult to handle or manage;
Unreasonably or perversely unyielding.
A strong stubborn nature.
Performed or carried on in an unyielding, obstinate, or persistent manner.
“No man has a right to do as he pleases, except when he pleases to do right.”
c: Her feet abide not in her house ~
It’s not necessarily wrong to want to be at the mall with one’s friends, but if that’s the priority for you and you can’t stand to be at home, then it’s wrong. A godly young lady needs to learn to put the Lord and her family first ~ and part of this is having a true contentment in her heart about staying at home and helping around the house: striving to be a blessing to her own family.
à What does God say about her actions?
She caught the man –
God says it is good for men and ladies who aren’t married to not touch.
She kissed the man –
audacious: heedless of the consequences.
rash: done in haste without regard for consequences.
tactless: lacking restraint and discernment.
impudent: aggressively self-assertive.
She spoke to him with an impudent face –
~ lacking modesty; shamelessness.
~ marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others.
Ä What does God say about her words?
They are all about sex (far from how a Christ-honoring girl ought to be conversing), and they lead a man to hell. Does your clothing cause an unsaved man to lust after your body? Does your clothing cause a brother in Christ to be tempted and fall?
Some day when you stand before God, will He say you are guilty of leading people to hell rather than to Himself and heaven? Our lives need to be pure in every area, so we can be a vessel for the Lord’s use, rather than a tool of Satan.
Now, in light of this passage, I think it is very interesting that the first thing God mentions about this harlot is her clothing. Then it must be important to God how we dress, don’t you think? Therefore, we need to be so careful that we don’t cause any young man (whether godly or not) to stumble or be distracted from keeping his focus on God. How do we keep ourselves from distracting any young man? Well, as you’ve probably already picked up in the previous sections, we ought to wear clothing that covers our bodies modestly. There is such a thing as a lovely and comfortable dress which is modest at the same time.
Honestly, there really is quite a variety of modest clothing if you keep your eyes open and don’t waste money on just fashionable skin-tight items. The following are a few modest options: A-line skirts, culottes, straight (yet not tight) skirts, pleated skirts, jumpers, dresses, sweaters, t-shirts, suit jackets, ect. We really have no excuses for dressing immodestly if we are truly born again and trying to walk according to God’s Word. If you can’t find a modest dress at any store . . . here’s a novel idea: sew one or find a godly lady in church who would do it for you!
Some people may think it seems different, but I want to obey God, and I don’t want to ever be accused of acting like a harlot or even a flirt.
Ø Rebekah – Genesis 24.
This young lady was not only a virgin and beautiful, but she lived a life that was pleasing to God.
There was deep-down Christ-honoring character in her spirit which flowed to every aspect of her young life.
She had the true heart of a servant even though her family was rich. She was willing to help anyone and even do a dirty, tough job like watering many Camels.
As you read this passage and study the character qualities of Rebekah, we see that she no doubt dressed modestly if the attitude of her heart was already modest and humble.
[Go back to the descriptions of modesty in the beginning of this booklet and try to find how many of them were applied in Rebekah’s spirit and daily life.]
We girls need to be more like Rebekah in our words, attitudes, and actions. Our modest outward appearance and peaceful countenance will then reflect the joy in our hearts that only Christ can give.
Ø Queen Esther – Read the entire book of Esther.
Let’s look especially at chapter 5, verse 1, and how Esther clothed herself properly. Clothing has meaning. Just as you can tell a prostitute by what she wears, so you can tell a good lady by what she is wearing. Esther had a very important thing to do ~ and it might cost her life. But with a boldness only from God, she did what was right even though other people were against her and her people. She was doing something for the Lord, and she wanted that point to get across clearly to those around her, so she dressed appropriately. When people saw what she was wearing, they probably whispered, “She is going to see the King!”
How can we apply this to our own personal lives? If you are saved, you are a daughter of God, the King of kings. Because of Christ’s payment on the cross and the fact that we’ve accepted Him as our personal Savior, we can come before Him at anytime anyplace in prayer. Should we not then dress appropriately for such an important occasion (which is all the time)? People ought to be able look at us and know immediately that we are different (just like Esther) and that we are born again Christians, members of God’s family ~ daughters of the King.
The Chuck Wagon
By: Miss Hannah BrownHello, Ladies!
It seems like it has been forever since the last issue! Well, I have one of my personal favorites to share with you all today. It may sound kind of strange, but man is it good! Give it a try...
Spicy Cheeseburger Soup
1-1/2 cups water
2 cups cubed, peeled potatoes
2 carrots, grated
1 small onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 TBS beef bullion granules
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb. ground beef
2-1/2 cups milk
3 TBS flour
8 oz. American Cheese ( you can use Velveeta if you prefer, it seems to melt better! )
1/4-1 tsp cayenne pepper ( optional )
1/2 lb. crumbled bacon
Brown the ground beef.
In a large saucepan, combine first 9 ingredients ( there's a space where you stop ), bring to boil.
Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
Stir in beef and 2 cups milk.
Combine flour and remaining milk until smooth. Gradually stir into soup.
Bring to boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thick and bubbly.
Reduce heat, stir in cheese until melted.
Top with bacon just before serving up this delicious meal!
Well, I hope you enjoy this as much as my family and I do! Hey, I'd love to hear from you. What's one of your family's favorite recipes? It doesn't have to be something like a main course, we're girls! Send on the desserts!!! :0)
From the Kitchen,
Hannah
"Speak up, Sonny!"
Dear Laura Beth,
Thanks so much for your faithful service to Him as you send us such rich encouragement through your newsletters.
Blessings,
Debbie Saddler
AWESOME NEWSLETTER! It is a shame we can't send this to some local newspapers to print. It is what the world needs to read. You ladies are doing a wonderful good job at this letter. Thank you! My daughters who are only 8 and 11 will read this. Its something they need to read and hear. As we all do. Thanks again Laura Beth I have not one single regret for asking for this newsletter.
Saved By Grace Cheree Phil. 4:7
I really enjoy reading the newsletter every other month. It really encourages me. ~ Donna
About Daughters of Faith
Daughters of Faith is a ministry of Twin Ports Baptist Church, 208 52nd Ave. East, Superior, Wisconsin. 1(715) 398-6947We are an Independent, Fundamental, KJV only, Bible-Believing Baptist Publication.
All of our columnists write according to these convictions.
Daughters of Faith is a bi-monthly publication and is, therefore, published in these months:
January, March, May, July, September, and November.
If you would like to submit anything for publication, we need to have it before the 10th of these months.
Thank you...
How To Get Involved With Daughters of Faith
We would be happy to consider anything that you submit for publication.
Our staff enjoys hearing ideas from our subscribers and we want each of you to be involved!
Here is a list of some ideas for things to send in:
Poetry
Recipes
Jokes
Short Devotional Paragraphs (Under 700 words, please)
Funny/Cute Children's Church Stories
Prayer Requests
Book Reviews
Classified Ads (Things for sale, etc.)
Quotes
Any ideas you may have for new articles!
We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to send any submissions to: Miss Laura Beth Wagenschutz, wagentrails@juno.com
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and a Hootin' one Tomorrow!
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