Growing in Grace

When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. -Proverbs 28:12 This is a picture of the effect we can have on people around us every day. We can make people happy or sad. No matter where you find yourself - working as a waitress, or a nurse, at Walmart, or in your own home, you can be a blessing. You can be the fragrance of Christ, even in the midst of a worldly atmosphere. In Genesis 39:3-4, we read about Joseph. "When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success. . . Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned" (NIV). Here we see Potiphar had found someone who worked hard and whom he could trust. Joseph was put in charge of other servants. I'm sure these servants were glad as well, because Joseph, being a man of integrity, was surely a good boss. The wicked, however, have a different effect on those around them. The definition o

In Genesis 22, we read that God tested Abraham by asking him to take his son Isaac, whom he loved, to the land of Moriah to a mountain God would choose to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. The word "love" was used by God for the first time in the Bible to show a father offering up his only son. This was a prequel to God the Father offering up His only Son, Jesus. Abraham obeyed God. He took his son Isaac along with wood for the burnt offering and two of his young men. When they arrived at the mountain God had chosen, Abraham told his young men that he and Isaac would worship and then return to them. Abraham gave the wood to Isaac to carry. This was symbolic of Jesus carrying His own cross on His way to be crucified. Isaac asked his father where the lamb for the burnt offering was. Abraham told his son that "God would provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering" (v. 8) When they arrived at the place of sacrifice, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a man (or woman) of understanding and knowledge maintains order . -Proverbs 28:2 As we watch world events in the news, it's easy to see how unstable a country becomes when there is rebellion against the loving, righteous ways of God. There are wars and factions because there's no true moral, ethical, or spiritual base. There is chaos. The country and the people of that country get torn apart. It's important to know that this is true not only within a nation, but within our own personal lives and within our homes. We as women have a great position of influence for good or for bad. We are keepers of the home. It's been said, "As goes the woman, so goes the home; as goes the home, so goes the nation." Maybe you've been living with split priorities and a divided heart. Maybe you have been wondering why your world and your home and your inner life is filled with chaos and rebellion. So, may I say to

In the Old Testament, the name Jehovah is the most used name for God. The Hebrew letters are YHWH. By adding the vowels  "e," "o," and "a" and changing the letters "Y" to "J" and "w" to "v," we get Jehovah . Or by only adding the vowels "a" and "e" we get Yahweh which links the name to the Hebrew word meaning "to be, to exist." Photo Credit So " Jehovah , or Yahweh , implies a Being who is absolutely self-existent. That means God always was, is, and always will be. He doesn't need anything outside of Himself. Nobody made God! Rather, He is the Creator of all." This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven. -Genesis 2:4 "Anytime you see the name Lord in all capital letters (or capital and small capital letters) in the Bible, it is the name Jehovah , the self-existent One.&q

Know the state of our flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don't last forever. . . Your sheep will provide the price of a field. And you will have enough goats' milk for yourself, your family, and your servant girls. -Proverbs 27:23-24, 26-27 Down on the farm they say, "Take care of your sheep, your sheep will take care of you." Although most of us not longer live on farms, there are some important principles we could learn from farm life. I spent many summers with my grandparents on the farm. I remember so clearly how diligent my grandfather was. No one had to force him to get up at 5 a.m. to milk the cows and feed them and mend the fences. He noticed if one of his cows was injured. He knew if one was missing. Throughout his life he had few luxuries, but I remember homegrown, home-cooked food was the best in the world. Grandfather loved his garden, his animals, and his work. Life was simple but life was good. Ecclesiastes

As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. -Proverbs 27:19 Our reflection. We as women look in the mirror to see how we look. We worry about how we look, and we want to change the way we look. But we can look good on the outside and be a mess on the inside. This might be news to some, but a person can have an unattractive exterior and yet have a beautiful heart. Always remember it is the heart that is the true picture of who you really are. That's why the Proverbs tells us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for from it flow the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23, paraphrased). Max Lucado wrote a storybook called If Only I Had a Green Nose. In the story, Willy Withit arrived in town. He was promoting the latest and greatest look that would definitely make you "with it." The first "with it" fashion was a green nose, but once everyone got the green nose, it was no longer "with it." A red nose was the new "w

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great." Abram said, "O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir." Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if  you are able to count them." And He said to him,  "So shall your descendants be." Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. -Genesis 15:1-6 Photo Credit In this passage, Abram addresses God as "O Lord God." This is the meaning for the name Adonai . God is our Lord, Master and O

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. -Matthew 20:28 What chores have you delegated to your children to keep the wheels of family life turning? Hopefully, our children will learn early on that no amount of complaining or procrastinating will relieve them of their responsibilities. If they can learn to face their tasks with resolve and determinations, they will acquire a work ethic that will serve them well in the workplace one day. In living the Christian life, you too may face "chores" God has given you to do. Serving at church, helping elderly parents or grandparents, and taking care of the needs of your spouse and children can seem like a burden at times. Although the extra discipline required to minister to others may seem daunting at the time, you'll discover it develops a Christlike character that glorifies the Lord. Photo Credit Are you complaining about the chores God has given you to

The lazy person claims, "There's a lion on the road! Yes, I'm sure there's a lion out there!" As a door swings back and forth on its hinges, so the lazy person turns over in bed. Lazy people take food in their hand but don't even lift it to their mouth. -Proverbs 26:13-15 Laziness. It's defined as "slow-moving, sluggish, idleness." Procrastination is certainly a part of this. To procrastinate is to delay, to put off till another day or time. I have to tell you I hate it when I do that. Not that we are to be workaholics and consumed with busyness, but we are to be good stewards of the time and opportunities that the Lord has given to us. Photo Credit God does care about how you spend your time, because not only has He numbered your days, but if you are a child of God, your life is not your own . First Corinthians 4:2 tells us, "It is required in stewards that one be found faithful" (NKJV). So what is faithful? Fait

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. -Proverbs 25:2 Solomon understood two things that seem to stand in conflict to each other. Photo Credit 1. In many ways God is mysterious. It's been said that if God were so small we could completely understand Him, He would be too small for us to worship Him. So think about it. Do you really understand how gravity works, or why your eye can see, or how a tiny seed can grow into a tree? If we can't grasp the mysteries of the creation, how much more and perfect we could explore it for all of eternity. "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Romans 11:33, NKJV). Photo Credit 2. The fact is that even though we cannot understand everything, we need to seek to understand the things that we should understand. Kings and leaders and godly moms who take their responsibilities seriously never get tired of learning how they can grow in their

Don't envy evil people or desire their company. For their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble. -Proverbs 24:1-2 Ladies, this is a piece of advice we need to make sure we apply. Wicked people are troublemakers and trouble-talkers. There can be no greater trouble than a woman who is on the warpath. There are many examples in the Bible of people who stirred up trouble with their words. On the journey to the Promised Land the Israelites grumbled many times. In Numbers 11 the rabble began to crave other food besides the manna. They were unthankful, and yet they had never missed a meal. No, they just wanted fish and cucumbers. It's been said, "Contentment is not getting what you want but wanting what you have." Well, they complained, and pretty soon everyone was unhappy. Everyone was complaining. It spread like the plague. Then Moses got discouraged. He wanted to give up. Can you see how complaining can make your husband or your friends

Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old. -Proverbs 23:22 It may be hard to read these words. Maybe you grew up with a father who was harsh, or cold or cruel;  or you've always struggled with your mother and find it difficult to be around her. To you this proverb doesn't sound logical or doable, at least for you in your situation. So what should we do, and how can we apply it? For those who have a chip on your shoulder about your parents, this proverb is the Word of God; therefore it's God who is looking you in the eye and saying "Get over it." When you're short tempered or disdainful of your parents, it's just plain wrong. It causes your own character to be eroded. Regardless of our circumstances, we can choose not to be bitter. We can still love our parents. If we remain, we may see our parents change, and have the blessing of a healthy relationship with them. Photo Credit In Ephesians 4:32 the