Growing in Grace

It is better to live alone in the desert than with a (crabby), complaining wife. -Proverbs 21:19 Matthew Henry said, "It is better to have no company than bad company." Let's look at the key factor here that makes a woman a misery. It's complaining. This comes directly from unthankfulness. We can get so busy fixating on what we don't have that we completely forget and completely miss out on the blessings that we do have. Photo Credit Wives, this is a warning. If we make our husbands feel like they can't do anything right, they will eventually stop trying. So what is the cure for a crabby, complaining heart? It's a thankful heart. Colossians 3:15 says, " Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. . . And always be thankful ." -The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional;  by Debbi Bryson; August 18; p. 241 I'll never forget the wedding of a friend that took place in Palmdale. The pastor used this proverb in hi

The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. -Proverbs 21:3 Enoch was a man who lived at a time in history when men were dangerously wicked. But contrary to the trend and flow of others, Enoch walked with God."  He was known as a person who pleased God " (Hebrews 11:5). What does it mean to please the Lord? The above proverb gives us an important clue: the Lord is pleased when we do right. When we read about Enoch, we're not told of any big and mighty deeds that he accomplished. He just lived his life, facing whatever came his way. The big and little battles that take place requiring us to make choices and surrender are seen, applauded and empowered by the same God who Created everything. We must choose. Will we choose to walk with God? May we sense His presence, honor His ways, and hear His voice saying, "Well done." " We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual w

Another name of God is El Shaddai . We begin to learn about the meaning of this name in the book of Genesis. In Genesis chapter 17 we read that when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him. This was twenty-four years after God had promised Abram He would make him a great nation. Abram and Sarai were waiting all those years for God to give them a child; and by this time they were way past the age of having children. In verse 1, when God appears to Abram He tells Abram, "I am God Almighty." This is the meaning of God's name El Shaddai. "God is the almighty One, the powerful or mighty One. God is all-sufficient. He is all we need." (p. 59) When Abram meets God, he falls on his face. God promises Abram he will be the father of a multitude of nations. How is it that even though Abram is 99 years old and without children, God can still fulfill His promise to Abram? "There is only one way: through El Shaddai . God is all-sufficient

This part of our study was very appropriate in light of the election yesterday. . . Photo Credit Another name for God is El Elyon . The first time this name for God is used is in Genesis 14. In this passage there is a war between four kings and Abram's nephew, Lot, is taken captive. In response, Abram gathers his trained men to go after and rescue Lot. Abram defeats the kings and retrieves his nephew. Following this victory, the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram. Melchizedek king of Salem was a priest of God Most High. We read his blessing in verses 19-20: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." God's name in verse 18 is God Most High. God Most High delivered Abram's enemies into his hands. This Hebrew name El Elyon , God Most High, shows us some important things about God. God is the Possessor of heaven and earth. God is sovereign; this means He is

Photo Credit In Psalm 139 we read in the first four verses that God knows us. He knows when we sit down or stand up. He is intimately acquainted with all our ways. He knows it all. Verse 13 says that God formed our inward parts; that we were woven together in our mother's womb. We are the Designer's creation; completely designed by the hand of God. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Because of this, verse 14 tells us we should give thanks. God's works are wonderful. Our frame was not hidden from God. All the days ordained for us are written in God's book. When we understand that God is our Creator, it should change how we see everything. "Are you thankful for the way God made you, or do you gripe and complain? Do you feel like a misfit, a mistake, or an accident? If you do, then you have believed a lie because God shows you right in His Word that HE is the Creator and no one else. There are no mistakes. He forms us and weaves us. We are fearfully and wond

The name used for God in Genesis 1:1 is Elohim . This word designates God as God. It means "to fear" or "to reverence." The first part of the word, El , means "mighty" or "strong". It is the word we use to refer to Almighty God. The im ending is important as it is a plural ending. Photo Credit   In Genesis 1:1 we read that God was in the beginning; that He created the heavens and the earth. God is our Creator. Elohim then, is the word for God as Creator.  Photo Credit In Genesis 1:2 we see that the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. This Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit Both were present at Creation. Photo Credit In John 1:1 the apostle tells us that the Word was in the beginning; the Word was with God and the Word was God. So there are three claiming to be God. Photo Credit John 1:3-4 says that "He" was in the beginning. We know from John 1:14 that the One who became f

I think you all know that junk food isn’t good for you. Good food, like vegetables and fruit, milk and meat is much healthier for your body than ice cream sandwiches, cupcakes and candy bars. Good food will make you healthy and strong and help you grow. Too much junk food will just make you sick. The same is true about the things you think about. It is easy for us to think bad thoughts. Many times we have bad thoughts because we’ve put bad things into our minds, perhaps by watching violent TV programs or playing violent video games. Maybe we play with friends who use rough language or we listen to a certain type of music. What does God want us to think about? Photo Credit God wants us to think about good things. In Philippians 4:8 Paul wrote the kinds of things we are to think about. He said, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praisew

The kids and I have started a new Bible study. It's called "God, What's Your Name." It's another inductive Bible study by Kay Arthur and Janna Arndt. This comes from our first lesson. . . "To boast in" means "to have confidence in," "to trust in." As believers, this means we can believe God. In biblical times a name represented a person's character; and God's name represents His character, His attributes, and His nature. To know God's name is to know God. We can trust Him to be everything He says He is. He will not change. When we boast in His name, it means we have confidence in WHO God is. In Old Testament days, chariots and horses were means of protection. People put their confidence in them as a way of protecting themselves and to help them escape from trouble. But we can boast in the God and put our trust in Him. When we are in trouble, we can call upon God. He will rescue us and we will honor