Treasurer's in heaven

Good morning ladies,
Billy Graham in his book, “Hope for each day”, wrote on Matthew 6:20. "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."
He tells a story of an old man, a great man of God, who lay on his death bed. He called his grandson to come to his side. He called the boys name, and said, "I don't know what type of work God will give me in heaven, but if it's allowed, I'm going to ask The Lord Jesus to help me build your mansion. You be sure and send up plenty of the right materials."
Mr. Graham reminds us that living a life of purity and love, leading others to Christ as we share our faith, doing good works in Christ's name--all of these are materials that can be sent ahead. They can not be touched by thieves, natural disaster or fluctuating economy. Then he challenges: what kind of building materials are you sending up to heaven?
Are we encouraging our children to send up good building materials? Moms, be sure to read the Bible to your children every day. Pray with them and let them see you have a real relationship with The Lord, that you are delighting to do His will in your lives. Let them see and hear you telling others about the Lord, so that they will realize that letting our friends know about Jesus is very important. Let's strive to set a good example to our children, grandchildren and others by sending up quality building materials by modeling how to do this.

A remedy for bad breath

Hello!
This morning I struggled a bit with what I wanted to write to you. I have been reading some articles and found an interesting bit of information. It’s a rinse for bad breath. You might wonder why I’d like to pass that rinse recipe along to you…
Last week a young woman asked me about bad breath. I was hoping she didn’t think I was an expert in the subject.  Most likely she saw me as an “older woman” that would know something on the subject. She recently has been dating a young man and they talk for hours when they get together, I’m thinking she just wanted to know how to avoid having bad breath when she was talking with him. There are remedies for bad breath but are there remedies for helping us to have only good smelling words come out of our mouths?
A verse comes to mind: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
David is talking to the Lord in this Psalm asking Him who can understand his errors and cleans him from his secret faults. He does not want his presumptuous sins to have dominion over him, he desires to be blameless. He wants to have a heart cleansing so that bad words and subjects don’t come out of his mouth.
Are we hiding bad things in our hearts, secret sins that we haven’t confessed? Are we stuffing anger against someone or some situation and not forgiving? These things can cause “bad breath” in our hearts and eventually this “bad breath” comes out of our mouth. As you go along today will you watch for “bad breath” in your conversations with others? If you detect some will you deal with it? Ask the Lord for forgiveness and if there is someone you need to forgive, will you do it?
Now you might ask: What is the recipe? The article says: To battle halitosis and whiten teeth, combine 1 c. of water with 1 t. baking soda, swish around in your mouth, then spit out. The baking soda helps to fight smelly bacteria and combats dry mouth.
The recipe for this mouth wash is simple but keeping the words that come out of our mouths is more complex. The Lord desires to help us with this if we will check what we are meditating on and have a true desire to please Him.

New Blog Location!

Hi Everyone,
I've changed my blog location.... come take a look!
It's here: http://titustwoandtea.wordpress.com/

Be sure to click "follow" there because I am going to stop posting here in the future!

Love,
Linda

We do not know what a day may bring forth

Good morning ladies,
Yesterday my sister in law quoted part of this verse to me: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1
She and her husband had driven down to southern California for a graveside service of a long time friend and mentor. At the service my husband turned to me and said: “I’m feeling faint.” And that is just what he did, he fainted! Thankfully the man running the service went right on with it and some of us attended to my husband at the side.
We had looked forward to visiting with family and friends from out of town but that was not to be. Instead we visited with firemen, ambulance drivers, nurses and a doctor. We did not know what that day would bring forth.
It turns out, my husband was dehydrated due to a virus he had contracted earlier in the week. He was given some fluids and this put him back in good running order, for which I was very thankful!
As we were leaving the hospital, the young doctor said: “God bless you!” “My husband said: He has, over and over.” Then the doctor said: “I’ll pray for you, will you pray for me?” We said that we would and the young doctor was off to see more patients. I had earlier overheard from one of the nurses that they had 3 codes that day and I heard one more announced while we were there. It had been a very busy day for this young man, he did not know what a day would bring forth either and he realized he needed the Lord to help him make decisions concerning people’s health.
Even more critical it is to know where you are going when you leave this world and to make proper decisions concerning this. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 It is very simple to know the way to heaven, you believe in Jesus Christ and His work for you on Calvary’s cross. Confess that you are a sinner and need a Savior, He will save you. He died so you might live eternally.
Our lives hear are very short here but eternity is a very long time. Won’t you put your trust in the One who loved you and gave His life for you so that you can live eternally? We do not know what a day may bring forth but we can sure of our eternity.

Snickerdoodle recipe

Good morning!

Today I wanted to share a recipe with you. As moms, sisters, grandmas we sometimes get asked to bring cookies to an event. This is how it was with me recently and I loved the outcome of this recipe. I hope you will enjoy it too!

Soft Snickerdoodles

Ingredients
1 c. butter
1 ½ c. sugar
2 large eggs
2 ¾ c. flour
2 t. cream of tartar
1 t. baking soda
¼ t. salt
3 T. sugar
3 t. cinnamon

Instructions
Mix butter, sugar and eggs in a large bowl. Combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in a bowl and then blend into the butter mixture. Mixing well.
Chill the dough for 15 minutes along with the ungreased cookie sheets. (yes, put your cookie sheets in the refrigerator.)
Meanwhile, mix the sugar and the cinnamon together and turn the oven on to 350*.
Scoop dough and roll into 1” balls. Then roll the balls gently in the sugar mixture. Place them 2” apart on the cookie sheet.
Bake 10 minutes at 350*
Remove immediately to cookie racks to cool.

Enjoy!

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’ will for you in Christ Jesus” I Thessalonians 5:18

Profitable Table Conversation

Good morning,
Today I have been thinking about conversation. How is it with your family, is there plenty of convesation at the dinner table (you do eat at the dinner table don't you? That's another topic for later). At any rate, I'm wondering if you have pleasant conversation at meals?
When our young people were teens, it seemed some of the dinner conversations were less than pleasant and others were amazingly sweet. Sometimes we'd get on controversial subjects that led us down some unsightly paths. What can be done about this? Not all of these converstaions were unfruitful but how can you ensure that not all conversations are about controversial subjects?
I have one suggestion that comes in a little box, it's called: "Food for Talk." Julienne Smith put it together and it consists of cards that have family conversation starters on them. One set is made for the dinner table (breakfast or lunch table), another set is for travel and another for husband and wife.
In the travel deck one cards says: Describe your Perfect Day...Where would you go, who would you be with, and what would you do?
Another card says: What is the best advice you have ever heard or received? Wouldn't you like to know how your children or teens would answer these questions? You can learn a great deal about their likes and dislikes by answering these questions.
You can google: Food for Talk and get a package and try out the conversation starters. We have used these sets off and on and it has been a help!
Proverbs 15:23 "A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!"
Table conversations can be extremely helpful and encouraging and mother's can find tools to help make these conversations enlightening and meaningful. Don't let the negative tops continue for days but be ready to "change the subject." Being prepared is always good.

Chalk

Do you ever have a problem with ants during the spring or summer or perhaps early fall coming into your home? I've just been reading an article that says if you take a piece of chalk and draw a thick line around the area's perimeter with it, that it discourages the insects from entering. It's unclear exactly why this deters them; it may be the calcium carbonate in chalk or simply that ants don't like the feel of the particles underfoot...perhaps it throws off their direction because they can no longer feel the right path that they have been following that leads to their food and to life?
What path are you following? Is it a godly path well worn by others before you or are you being side lined by a layer of chalk someone put down to get you off the right path? Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." The Lord has a path for us to follow and it leads to life. It is a good practice to daily ask Him to direct our paths, so that we follow where He is leading.
We maybe challenged by chalk, by the ways of the world luring us to change directions. We may even fall for it and get off the path but thank the Lord for His grace and mercy! He is waiting for us to get back on the right path that leads to righteousness.
Today will you take a few moments to think of the path you are taking and ask yourself if the Lord Jesus is directing your path or have you been sidelined by the chalk of the world? Then will you correct the situation if it needs correcting, with the Lord's help?
His planned pathway is always best.

Count your blessings- name them one by one: Count your blessings- see what God has done; Count your blessings- name them one by one; Count your many blessings- see what God has done. (Oatman) Did you ever learn this little chorus? It is catchy and could be with you all day in those quiet moments. Do we count our blessings? Today will you look for the blessings around you? They might be little tiny occurrences but what joy comes to our hearts when we thank the Lord for them. “Psalm 107:1, 8 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” “Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” As you go through your day, hum this little song in your head and look for those blessings. When you find them, take a moment to thank the Lord for them. Enjoy the day!

Good morning, A part of a song is running through my head this morning: "it's a beautiful day." It looks like it will be since the heat has subsided and a cool breeze is blowing in the window, I'm thankful! But perhaps it isn't a beautiful day for you and you are tired and weary. A friend recently gave me these verses that help us with weariness: "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." When we are tired and weary the Lord isn't. He is there, available to give us strength. He understands our situation and desires to increase our strength by His power. What power? The power of the everlasting God who created the ends of the earth, this is power! What is it this verse says about increasing our strength because even the young will grow weary and faint? We must hope in the Lord in order to renew our strenth. To trust in Him and His infinite power to handle our situation. When we hope in Him, we can soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary and walk and not be faint. What situation is dragging you down today and you can't sing: "it's a beautiful day?" Will you not trust the Lord and His creative power to work in that situation?

Hello! Today I'm thinking about rest and rest without pain. Why? you might ask. A couple weeks ago I must have lifted something that was too heavy and I put my low back out of alignment. I was busy, so I let it go without treatment and now I am paying the consequences. I did recently have it adjusted and it felt so good for a day but today it is telling me that it's not quite well. I really don't like back pain, do you? And to be perfectly honest I'm not very good at taking a rest. How about you? Some of you maybe all about rest and others like myself find it diffucult to slow down. Jesus told His disciples after a time of hard work in the ministry to: "come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat." Mark 6:31 Many young mothers have difficulty taking breaks when they have household demands, children and outside work to do but it is necessary. Family vacations and times of rest can have lasting benefits and create such good memories. Some families are doing "staycations" Where they stay at home but do daytrips to nearby attractions or historical sites. Staycations can be less expensive than "vacations" since you can stay at home, make picnic lunches etc. to cut costs down. In the O.T. a Sabbath day was set up for rest once a week. Preparations were made in advance so there would be one day a week without the usual work. It gave the family time to be together, to enjoy one another, to enjoy the Lord and to rest. When was the last time your family took a rest together? We live in such a fast paced world, that resting is becoming a lost art. Without rests we can end up hurting ourselves and causing pain. In order for the Sabbath rest, the women worked extra hard in being organized and getting things ready for that day of rest. Might you consider what you could do to schedule a day of rest for yourself and your family? "Oh! how our loving Sheperd knows our neeed of rest and peace! And how we need the quietness- With Him all troubles cease. Then may we value more and more These times with Thee apart, When Thou dost to our souls reveal Thy wise and loving heart.

Hope in the Lord

Good morning, A part of a song is running through my head this morning: "it's a beautiful day." It looks like it will be a beautiful day, since the heat has subsided and a cool breeze is blowing in the window, and I'm thankful! But perhaps it doesn't seem like a beautiful day for you and you are tired and weary. A friend recently gave me these verses that help us with weariness: "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." When we are tired and weary the Lord isn't. He is there, available to give us strength. He understands our situation and desires to increase our strength by His power. What power? The power of the everlasting God who created the ends of the earth. We might ask ourselves what kind of power would it take to create the earth and all that is in it? To create the sky, stars, moon, sun, the various planets, on and on...now this is power! The verses tells us: "He understands because His understanding no one can fathom". He is beyond brilliant. What is it this verse says about increasing our strength when we are weary? "even the young will grow weary and faint"? Young to old feel weariness from time to time. We must hope in the Lord in order to renew our strength. To trust in Him and His infinite power to handle our situation. Webster defines hope as: Desire with expectation of obtaining what is desired, or belief that it is obtainable." Will we choose to hope in the everlasting God the powerful creator? When we hope in Him, we can soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary and walk and not be faint. What situation is dragging you down today and you can't sing: "it's a beautiful day?" Will you not put your hope in the Lord and His creative power to work in that situation? He will help you to soar, run or walk today.

Good morning, Recently I was reading a ladies devotional and the woman who wrote was speaking of trials in our lives. She made a statement that when a trial comes we are to "look at God's faithfulness and not at the circumstances." This seems to be excellent advice! We are human so our first reaction to many difficulties and trials in our lives will be emotional. If we trained ourselves to look for God's faithfulness in the middle of the trial, we would see His loving hand working the circumstances for good. There maybe some circumstances for which it will take eternity to reveal God's purpose but we can train ourselves now to trust God in every situation. Romans 12:2 "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." The transformation of the mind is done by trusting God, His plan and will. By purposely looking at His faithfulness in every situation. When some circumstances come into your life today will you purpose to look at God's faithfulness? You will find He is there!

Good morning! I woke up this morning thinking about a couple of verses: "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, virtue..." II Peter 1:5 and "Who can find a virtuous women? For her price is far above rubies..." Proverbs 31:10 Virtue is a quality that God would like us to add to our lives. What exactly is virtue? It is a Greek word prounced: ar-et-ay it means: "excellence" Add to our faith- excellence....that a woman of excellence or virtue is considered of more worth that a ruby. A ruby is a valuable stone, a beautiful stone. What a challenge! Would you say you are a woman of excellence? Would others say that about you? In order to have this said, we first must have faith in a Holy God and in the work of His Son, Jesus, on Calvary's cross. This faith assures us that our sins are washed away and that we are accepted by God. When we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we are given the Holy Spirit to live within us. We have the excellence of our God living right inside us! We have a resource, a power for living that is beyond the norm. Then we go on in life pleasing the One who died for us, with the power of the One who lives within us. We make decisions moment by moment to life to please Him or do we? How often we fail and forget! We live for ourselves, pleasing ourselves not thinking what might please the Lord. What should we do when we realize we are on the wrong road? Confess it! "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9 Then begin again to walk in the way we really should be going, in the way of excellence. This pathway will involve giving up, getting rid of, or completely turning from whatever tripped us up on the path of excellence. We want to stay close to the Lord, following His Word daily and seeking to please Him. This is a life long journey, with many twists and turns, but the path to excellence is only found by dying to ourselves, to our selfish desires and following Him. Adding virtue to our lives. Excellence will be displayed in our daily decisions. We do want to be women of excellence! Let's do as the verse says: "make every effort" to add virtue to our lives. Let's determine to make this effort today to add to our faith- virtue.

A summer Bible study

Hi Ladies, Are you in need of an encouraging summer Bible study? I have available some of the Titus Two and Tea Bible study booklets. Let me know how many you would need and your snail mail address and I'll send them to you. Each book contains 12 studies that can be done alone, with a friend or a group of ladies. The booklets are $10 each plus the mailing cost. Have a blessed day! Linda "Older women likewise are to...encourage the young women"....Titus 2:3

Training our children to serve the Lord

Good morning ladies, Jesus said, Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." John 12:26 Do you want to serve the Lord? Where might He be calling you to serve? Perhaps it's even as a family that He is calling you to serve. The call could be for something as simple as asking a neighbor over for dinner. It's wonderful to set an example to our children to serve the Lord and how special it is to serve together. If it's dinner with a neighbor, the children could help with the housecleaning, the menu planning and setting the table, they could help with the meal preparation and clean up. Everyone doing a part to the best of their capability. The verse says that to serve the Lord we must follow Him. Jesus fed people,remember large groups 5,000 and 4,000? He had each of His disciples take a part in the serving of the meal and the clean up. As mother's we often find it easier to "do it ourselves." But our children loose out when we do that! Teach them to make a list and decide when to do each item and who will do each item on the list. I would make these lists and once we had completed the tasks we would check to be sure everything was done to the best of our ability and then we'd do soemthing fun like going to the park, McDonald's, the libary, etc. The blessing is that Jesus said "My Father will honor the one who serves me." Sometimes this blessing comes after the time together with those we have served. The joy of simply blessing someone and seeing them smile and appreciate the act of service. Or perhaps the blessing will come later, even in heaven, when we hear "Well done, good and faithful servant." Let's challenge ourselves to ask what the Lord might have for our family to do together to serve Him and how we as mother's can train our children to serve the Lord. Blessings await....

Hospitality to the young

Dear Friends, Yesterday we attended the funeral of a long time- motherly type friend. She will be missed for her warm hospitality and the love she showed to many a young person over the course of her life. She had 5 children but willingly welcomed many others into the home for a visit or a meal. She made a difference in her life and kept a few of us off the streets, (so to speak), allowing us time to be with other believers and enjoy Christian hospitality. Chapter 6 of Proverbs ends with Solomon being told by his father to avoid adultery. "But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself." Heading down the path of sexual sin is a step by step decision...usually this doesn't just happen all at once. It includes too much time alone with another person to allow temptations to increase. Our young people and young couples need places to go where they are accepted and are able to build positive relationships. How wonderful it is when families are willing to allow other teens or young couples into their homes for christian hospitality....to allow them a safe haven and a place to learn positive behavior. There are too few homes that offer this today....perhaps you could invite some others over for a meal, some games, a Bible study, or some other simple activity? When are children were younger we had an every other week get together, often it was shared by several couples. The young people traveled around from home to home, enjoying a meal and time together. It was a time that drew these young people or couples together and allowed for life long friendships. It took time, energy and $ getting the meal together but looking back, it was worth it! As I look out into the living room I can still see young people sitting everywhere, even up the stairs, since our house is small. The singing was excellent and many of the speakers that came were a blessing to all of us. We bought some board games that some of them enjoyed and the basketball hoop outside by the garage was helpful. Once we even had a ping pong table on the deck. Won't you consider opening your home to someone other than your family? A simple meal and discussion around the table can be a blessing to someone who has no family and is looking for acceptance. Let's don't leave doors open for our young people to make wrong decisions because no one has the time to care for them. A willingness with love and a little creativity is all that is needed. Give it a try.

6 things the LORD hates

Good morning, A night of rain has passed and the sun is coming up today. It's so sweet to have the area dusted off with the rain and to see the sun shining afterwards. Hopefully we are being dusted off too by the Word of God as we read and study it. I'm afraid some of our ideas have become dusty with the worlds thoughts and we need to correct those ideas to get them in line with God's word. As we continue our little study of the Proverbs, we are in Chapter 6:16 where we learn what the LORD hates, yes He hates some things: "There are 6 things that the LORD hates, 7 are an abomination to Him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." If we slowly read back through the list, we will find that our world tolerates and even condons some of the things the LORD hates. Young girls are taught to stick their noses in the air and be proud, telling little white lies is acceptable, shedding innocent blood is still by many considered to be wrong and very hurtful, however movies taunt wicked schemes and people running to do evil, though the "good guy" often still wins...how much wrong has been taught by these films? We no longer swear on Bibles in a court of law and with the hardening of the heart we justify our words, the final abomination to the LORD is one who stirs up dissension among brothers. A few years ago and even continuing up to this day there have been divisions in the local churches. Many of these divisions brought on by brothers (and sisters) speaking against one another. In Matthew 7 the Lord says: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Vs.1-3 The Lord is not talking about major doctrinal issues here, but rather specks of sawdust...how many divisions could have been stopped if these verses had been heeded. If sawdust had been gently removed and healing had taken place. Solomon goes on to tell us that "these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life...if we would discipline ourselves to what is right, the LORD would not have to do it for us. It would be wise to memorize this list and to remember that if we are tempted to do these things, the LORD hates them and there are so many things He loves, because He is love.

A lesson from the ants

Hello! Have you ever been in debt? Today's chapter, Proverbs 5, talks some about owing something to another person and being under the bondage of paying it off. I remember getting my first credit card and having a great time buying things...then the bill came in...I wasn't able to pay it all off, so paid what I could and then then next month it came in the mail again with charges on it because I didn't pay it off. Being part Scotch, I didn't like this at all! I determined to pay it all off as soon as possible and never to have late charges again. Paying it off in full was a good practice and it kept me from the pressure of getting behind. It is a sweet thing I found to have a clear conscience as far as money practices are concerned. Sometimes we trap ourselves into buying things we don't need. What do we do in this situation? How do we gain control of ourselves? Solomon's advice is to: "Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. Free yourslef, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler." Vs. 3-4 Humility in the situation is part of the cure for the lack of self control. To acknowledge that we have gone too far, spent too much, helps us to learn to be moderate in our spending. I have known several who have been owing greatly to the bank for their homes, they have talked over and over to those at the bank and finally were successful in getting the loan refinanced so they could pay it off little by litte. It was an exhausting adventure for them to say the least, they were emotionally spent by all the calls and the contacts they were making, but in the end it paid off. Relief finally came as they didn't give up "pressing their plea to their neighbor." Once they were refinanced relief came. Solomon gives more advice: "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise." Have you ever watched ants in an ant house or just observed them on the ground at a picnic? The ant if you watch it, is constantly working, doing it's part in providing for "the family." They work diligently and purposefully. When we find them on our kitchen counters we aren't so impressed with their diligence nevertheless they do present a clear picture as to what kind of diligence it takes to provide for ourselves and our families. Sometimes we fall into debt because we are selfish and lazy and expect others to provide for us. We are told "the ant has no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." Vs.7-8 They are continually in motion, doing their part, not being told they must. We are told when we fold our hands and sleep, poverty will come upon you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man." Vs. 10-11 A wise woman is aware of her finances and guards them, preparing for the future. She does her part by being aware of the needs and storing up what is needed for the future. How are you doing with these things? Are you doing your part to provide for yourself and those around you? If you are in debt there are some excellent programs out there to help you get out of debt. They call for diligence and self control and will help you keep your head above water. The Lord will help you when you humble yourself and ask for His help. It won't be a quick, easy fix but He will help. As women of faith, let's be honorable with our finances. Let's take care of our debts and then purpose to not go into debt by being wise and providing diligently like the ants.

A double edged sword

Good Morning! Have you ever met anyone who just seemed to say the right thing at the right time? I have a girlfriend who is the kindest person I've ever met, she knows how to pay a compliment at just the right time and she is sincere. It is a joy to be with her! She knows how to correct as well and the words of correction go deep into the heart. In Proverbs 5, we see Solomon being warned by his father that there are people out there who are not so sincere: "For the lips of an adultress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword." Vs. 3-4 He is warned to keep away from her, far away, he is not to go near her door or he will be giving his strength to another and years to one who is cruel...at the end of his life he will regreat and groan his choices. The adultress desires to draw men away from purity in a marriage. As an alternative to this "adultress woman" he is to drink water from his own cisterns. To love his wife and not another. He is to "rejoice in the wife of your youth." In the book of Hebrews we read: "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church. When a member of the church, someone who belongs to Christ, commits adultery (sexual immorality) it is a sin against their own body as well as against the Lord. Our world is filled with immorality. T.V. shows flaunt it and promote it and movies do the same. They don't realize or purposely remain blind to the consequences of this type of sin. How are you going to protect your families from these things? Will you speak honestly with those you love and give the advice that was given to Solomon? If you are married will you love your husband and set a quality example of a loving marriage? Will you look through your movie library and remove anything that would defile? If Christians stop buying the "worlds entertainment" the movie industry would be forced to provide clean entertainment. Chapter 5 goes on to say: "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths...he will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly." Vs. 21,23 We often think no one sees our activity, when it is in full view of the LORD. He has a perfect standard and there is blessing in following in His ways, there are dire consequences to those who divert from the path. These words don't seem like words that seem sweet but if we heed what Solomon was being taught and teach it to our children and those who have influence over we will save them a great deal of pain. Let's use our words to tell the truth so that the wise who put these truths into action will be spared this doubled edged sword.

Fatherly advice

Good morning! As we move along in the book of Proverbs (I'm afraid we are skimming it for sure) we last read in Chapter 4 some fatherly advice. We were told to pay attention and gain understanding from our father's wisdom. When Solomon's father spoke to him, he was the only son of his mother at the time. He was told to "lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live." Many of our parents gave us sound advice and we were wise to listen and heed it. We are told that wisdom will protect us and wisdom will watch over us. (vs.6) Wisdom is there to guide us, to honor us, it will be a garland of grace on our heads and a crown of splendor. (vs. 8-9) We are told to "hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life." vs. 13 The opposite to this is explained in Vs. 14-15 "Do not set your foot on the path of the wicked, or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way." Evil men cannot sleep until they do evil, they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. How true in our day and age as we see T.V. commericals for new movies full of wickedness and violence. A wise women will keep these types of shows out of the reach of their children and husbands for that matter. Solomon goes on to explain that the path of the righteous is like the first gleam, of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. The light of dawn and wisdom from God verses the darkness of night and the ways of evil. In vs. 18-19 His father exhorted him to pay close attention to his words, to not let them out of his sight, and to keep them within his heart. "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." vs. 23 Our hearts are guarded when we read the Word of God and apply it diligently to our lives. When we say no to the worlds winning ways, when we say no to the flesh that wars against our souls and not to the devil and his angels who wait to cause us to stumble. He ends the chapter with: "let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Let us exhort one another and especially our children, if we have them, to walk in the light and keep their hearts and ways only for the Lord.

Walking in truth

Good morning! It looks like another beautiful California day. I do enjoy the weather here and am thankful for a beautiful place to live. Now to our chapter in Proverbs. Chapter 4 of Proverbs starts off with Solomon talking about his father and some of the things he learned from him. His father encouarged him at a very young age to "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding, do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you, love her and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." Vs.4-7 What quality instrucions from a father to a son! Since we are children of God, we can get our wisdom and our understanding from Him through reading the Word of God. But it takes time to do it and when we learn, we must apply what we learn to our lives. I believe that is the difference between wisdom and understanding. Wisdom is being wise about a certain subject, and understanding is applying what we know to our lives. Reading the Word is wise and applying it shows we understand what we have read. As mother's, aunts, grandma's, sisters are we helping the children in our lives to be wise? Are we teaching them the Bible all it's wonderful stories and truths? One speaker I heard made a good point that the Bible does not start with: "once upon a time.." but rather the Bible is the truth of God. It is not to be confused with Grimm's fairy tales but taught as truth so that our sons and daughters can lay hold of the words with all their heart, so they will live and be protected from what is wrong. As we teach truth to our children, they will be able to understand and apply it to their lives. "Except you become as a little child, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Children are trusting and Solomon was told by his father: "Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Vs. 23. What we know as truth, let us guard it, Solomon was told to let his eyes look straight ahead, to fix his gaze directly before him. Let us do the same thing, to know the truth and walk in it, because the truth of the Word of God will set us free.

True prosperity

Good Morning, I hope you are enjoying reading through the Proverbs as much as I am! There was so much more that could be said about Chapter 2 but if we are going to read through all 31 chapters we must keep going. Chapter 3 begins with: "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity." How would reading the Word and remembering it bring prolonged life and bring prosperity? Are the name it and claim it people really right? Or could it mean that if we keep God's Word we will be kept from things that will harm us and that the prosperity here is referring to blessing of the soul rather than a financial blessing? Any thoughts? The third and fourth verse say: "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." Would you consider yourself a loving and faithful person or is your heart full of bitterness? Are you a person who cannot be trusted? A bitter person is someone who can't let go of the past and is stuck there. We can confess our bitterness to the LORD and He will help to take it from us so we can move on. I recently read that we can't go on to read the next chapter of our lives if we keep reading the last chapter over and over. Since the LORD has so greatly forgiven us, we can forgive others and leave our hurts with Him. Verses 5-6 I memorized as a young person: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanindg; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Or as the King James says it: He will direct your paths. Trust...do I really trust in the LORD, do I believe He has good planned for my life and that He is able to bring it about? Am I willing to be patient and wait His timing and trust His Word? Chapter 3 then goes on to touch on several more subjects some of them being: honoring the LORD with our wealth, not despising the LORD's discipline in our lives, being blessed with wisdom, preserving sound judgment and discernment, our reaction to diaster, how to treat our neighbors and the LORD's response to the wicked. You won't want to miss reading the rest of this amazing chapter.