Wisdom

Good morning everyone,
It is a beautiful day today.  Sorry,  I'm late this morning, with the email.  I am moving a tard bit slow.  Morning came way too quickly, I was not ready.  The girls went to Barnes and Noble with friends, so I was able to catch up, thankfully.
Here is a question, that needs pondering and also action.  Why do we find it so easy to be judgmental about others?  I know the Bible tells us not to judge; Matthew 7:1Judge not, that ye be not judged.  I guess the real question or problem is that we judge others, yet we do the exact same thing and do not see it.  We do not see our selves, perhaps because we do not wish to.  This got me to something else we tend to do as ladies... I know I am not the only one.  We are fixers... We fix things, people, situations.  We fix... Perhaps that's in line with our title as 'helpmates'. Just a thought.
Anyway, here is another verse from my standard as a woman;  Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Now, if I applied that verse to my life in the literal sense, there would be no judging of others, because I would seek God's council before speaking.  But because of my sin nature, I give over to my instinct of speaking and sayings things in a rather judgmental manner, because people are not  aligning with my personal standard.  Isn't that sad, and disheartening?  There are so many verses  that remind us of the evil of the tongue.
Today is Friday, how have we used this member of our body through out this week?  Did we open our mouth with wisdom and kindness?  Or were we swift to speak?  James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
I love my God, because He is quick with new beginnings.  He waits for me to confess my sins, and He then hands over a clean slate, a new beginning.  Yea...Gimme that God (Kirk Franklin). Take advantage of such unfailing love and unwavering mercy and forgiveness.  Let us begin again.  Remind ourselves to be 'slow to speak'. Let us cushion our words with kindness, especially to those we love the most...harder to do, because we expect too much... Love you more, have a blessed day. 

Renewal

Good morning to a few of my favorite ladies,
It is a beautiful day.  It is even more beautiful this day, because it is a special day.  It is a special day because... (Drum roll please) it is my birthday!!! Yea!  Love birthdays, it is great time to reflect and make new commitments for a brand new year of your life.  Looooooove birthdays.  We shall just  ignore the growing older part for now.  How shall we celebrate this brand new year?  This year that God has allowed me to see?  Glad you ask!
Proverbs 31:25. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
I love this verse.  It is one of the few verses in this chapter, that is all about her.  The KJV says, 'strength and honor are her clothing'. Strength and honor... To be honorable, to be known as one who is honorable, in a society where it seems few women aspire for that title.  Honorable..  But why strength and honor?  Why strength?
She needs strength in order to be honorable.  We need to be strengthened in The Lord in order to be honorable.
I determine whether I will be called honorable. It is up to me.  No one outside of God, can help me.   You see after a while, everything I do and say in the flesh, even if it is 'nice', it gets old pretty quickly.  Especially if there is no earthly reward for it.  When no one says 'good job', when it seems as if I am being taken for granted, when what I  do is taken for granted..
Celebrate this special day, by leaning on The Lord, for His perfect strength. Laugh today, play today, find sometime today to read and as always  have some quiet time with The Lord.  But let this day be a new beginning.  Claim your identity.. We are children of the Almighty King. He loves us perfectly.

Have a great day.

Thankfulness

Good morning, on this absolutely beautiful morning, ladies,
It is a gorgeous day here in Central New York. On such a day, we need to count our blessings.  The birds are singing their praises to our great God, let us join with them this morning.
A few sundays ago during our Couples' Fellowship, we were  again reminded that we are our husband's image bearer.  We bear our husband's image best, when we are the Lord's image bearer.  We need to first be God's image bearer, and I believe we become our husband's image bearer, without really trying.  God has set some very clear principles in His Word for us as wives.  It is not conditional, whether our husbands walk or not according to His Will.
Here are a few verses I would like to share with you, as we go about our day..1 Corinthians 9:24-27.... Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self- control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Our lives are an open epistle.. What are your husband's friends saying about you?  Maybe, they are not saying it out loud, but what do they think about you?  Are they thinking... Your husband is lucky to have found you?  Or they thinking.. What was he thinking marrying you?  You determine that, by your actions..