30-Day TRUE WOMAN Make-Over Day 24

Wehoo... today is a HOLIDAY... and what a beautiful and HOT day it was... (still is technically) The first official LONG WEEKEND of the year...

Today's topic is - INTENTIONAL TRAINING
Today's verse is Proverbs 31:24 - "She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes."

Intentional by definition is;
–adjective

1.done with intention or on purpose; intended: an intentional insult.
2.of or pertaining to intention or purpose.

We have to make it a PURPOSE to train those around us... If we are 'younger', we need to seek out an 'older woman' to mentor us, someone with similar circumstances, etc. If we are 'older' we need to live our lives as an example for the 'younger' generation. We need to search them out as well, and try to train them in the life principles found in God's Word. It sounds so difficult, and it sounds like it takes a lot of time, energy and work. Really, according to Nancy in TODAY'S DEVO, "It’s really just giving friendship, counsel, encouragement, exhortation by your example, by your words, one on one in the context of everyday life."

Getting together with someone, younger or older (or even a threesome where there is one young, one middle & one older) can be beneficial to both/all parties. It has been said that we should have "Paul's", "Timothy's" & "Barnabas'" in our lives... A 'Paul' is one who mentors and trains you. A 'Timothy' is one that you mentor or train, and a 'Barnabas' is one who is your peer, one who is WITH you on the journey.

I know that this is something I see myself getting more involved with, as it is a desire of my heart as well. I love all the 'spiritual moms' in my life, some are intentionally training and being an example, yet others are just living their life as an example to view, and learn from. I love teaching and training the younger generations, but usually is has been in the Preschool-Primary areas. Now, I find myself involved in our 'YOUNG GOD CHASERS' class, which is made up of 'Tweens who are ages 8-12. They are 'hungry' and 'thirsty' for knowledge and wisdom. They are exciting to teach, and train because they are ready to tell their story too. I am teaching them, but I am also learning from them as well. I am also planning to start a 'girls group' with a few other 'older' women... we are also getting our 'older' women involved too... to have a multi-generational ministry and get-togethers/functions/workshops/
conferences and more. I am excited to be a part of our church, because we are a church of equippers... so our 'children' and 'youth' are being brought up to equip others as well.

We should try to have PURPOSE for everything we do as women. It doesn't all have to be spiritual, yet it will bring spiritual blessings as well. As in our verse today, our 'virtuous woman' "makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes." We already know this woman is amazing... she makes linens and clothing to provide for her family, yet here we see she also makes linen garments with a PURPOSE. She is making them to sell. She herself does not sell the garments, she gives them to the merchants who sell them for her. She is again making a profit, for which she used some as an income to again provide for her family and as verse 16 states, "She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard". Everything this woman does is out of PURPOSE. She is a WOMAN of PURPOSE!

Purpose by definition is;
–noun

1.the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
2.an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
3.determination; resoluteness.
4.the subject in hand; the point at issue.
5.practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.


–verb (used with object)
6.to set as an aim, intention, or goal for oneself.
7.to intend; design.
8.to resolve (to do something): He purposed to change his way of life radically.


Therefore, our 'virtuous woman' knows the reason for which she exists (definition #1). She is desiring to set goals for herself, and she tries to fulfill them to the best of her own ability. (definition #3 & #6) She resolves to be different, to do and be ALL that God has called her to be. (definition #8)


Again, this leads us to being the ME that God has called us to be... the ME that I want to be. My M.E. is my MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS. That by definition is;


Maximum:
–adjective

5.that is a maximum; greatest or highest possible or attained: maximum satisfaction; maximum temperature.
6.pertaining to a maximum or maximums.


Effectiveness:
–adjective


1.adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result: effective teaching methods; effective steps toward peace.
2.actually in operation or in force; functioning: The law becomes effective at midnight.
3.producing a deep or vivid impression; striking: an effective photograph.


Therefore, in my life I want to accomplish the greatest or highest possible things that God has planned for me. I want to ACTIVELY attain the goals that we have set for me. I am adequate to accomplish the purposes that He has for me, with PURPOSE, which will produce the intended or expected result that HE has for me! I really love the 3rd definition of 'Effectiveness' ~ "producing a deep or vivid impression; striking" I want to leave a deep & vivid impression to those who follow behind me. As a creative person as well, this creates a vivid picture for me. The example given is an 'effective photograph'... as a hobby photographer, I have seen several different 'contests/photo games' around the net, where the creator gives a topic/theme for example, and you have to post pictures that you have taken into that category. For example, say "BRIDGES" was the theme, I could post this picture (photo credit: ME)...

For "JOY" I could post this pic from our wedding...

[Photo credit to SUDDEN EXPOSURE (Mark MacBain).]

Both of these pictures exhibit EFFECTIVE imagery showing the desired theme.

Now, using 'Effective' vs. 'Not so effective'... For "PAIN" I could post this pic of me when I had 'facial cellulitis'...(photo credit: Me)

Yet, here is another pic of me with the Facial cellulitis, but I have a smile on my face, so it kind of takes away from the desired effect of "PAIN"... it does still somehow look painful, because it is red and swollen, yet because of my smile, it doesn't 'seem' painful.

God's desired theme for us is to live a life that is pleasing to Him, and completely FOR Him. He doesn't want our 2nd best, nor does He want to be 2nd place! To be an EFFECTIVE witness and example, we need to live life with a PURPOSE! (God's purpose, not our own!)

When we do that, like our 'virtuous woman' friend, God will grant us favour and give us many blessings greater than we can imagine or think! So walk out your life with INTENTION and PURPOSE. (Not just living with 'good intentions'... but actually following through to reach the goal that God has for you in Christ Jesus!) "I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back." (Philippians 3:13-14 THE MESSAGE)

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING!

30-Day TRUE WOMAN Make-Over Day 22

YEEHAW... what a wonderful way to start a day. We had a ladies' breakfast at our church with Evangelist ANITA PEARCE (for more info on her and her ministry click INSPIRATION MINISTRIES) She challenged us and reminded us, that God is the potter and we are the clay. To fully become the ME that He desires me to be, I have to yield to him and allow Him to remake me. Thankfully I can say I am on that road, and on that journey, and the book "The ME I Want to Be" (by John Ortberg), and this 30-Day True Woman Make-over is helping out with that. So THANKS JOHN, NANCY (& others)! (Coincidentally John's wife is also named Nancy, but they are not the same.) Of course I give ALL glory to God, as He is bringing me through these changes, and recreating processes, and I am excited to move forward in my newfound 'ME' (Maximum Effectiveness)!

Today's topic is - HOW TO CONTROL YOUR TONGUE

Today's verse is Proverbs 31:22 - "She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple."

Phew... controlling the tongue... if only we could lose weight and calories from all the work it takes to do this... there would be way more thinner and quieter people around.

We ALONE cannot control our tongues... we need the help of the Father. We can try in our own strength, yet the temptations and fleshly thoughts get the better of us, and we choose to 'put our foot in our mouth' once again.

Too often we find ourselves stuck in the middle of 'loose tongue syndrome'... whether we are doing it ourselves, or someone is sharing the news with us. Anytime slander, or gossip takes the place of things that edify and encourage, we should know there is a problem. Yesterday's devotional (Nancy's here, mine here) dwelled on slander and sound doctrine. So today, as Nancy stated, we are not going to focus on slander itself, but how to be a woman who does not slander.

She quotes seven steps to becoming a woman who does not sin with her tongue;
1. Humble yourself

2. Put off all slander and evil speaking

3. Put on words of kindness, love, forgiveness & grace

4. Bring your thought-life under the control of the Spirit

5. Talk less
6. Think before you speak

7. Refuse to listen to slander or gossip about

These seven steps are all difficult to undertake, yet with the Lord's help (as I said at the beginning) it can and will be accomplished in our lives. Basically the old saying is rather fitting still, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all". We need to be women who do not slander. Although I know it's easy to get caught up in juicy gossip or even slanderous gossip...

We need to yield ourselves over to God, so that He can use us and change us into the ones he designed us to be. (Again confirmed in the message this morning with Anita.)

When we exhibit the symptoms of 'loose tongue syndrome' (L.T.S.), we should be able to quickly repent to the Father (first) and then to the others around us (if necessary). But instead, if we continue in LTS, then it is very contagious, and it spreads to others around us. Sometimes we even add on or subtract details to our speech as well. Our speech, clothing and actions require us to show and exemplify modesty so that others around will learn from and walk in the same. Our 'loose tongue' also hurts our family. When we 'gossip' or 'slander' someone, we need to think of how it would be for us, if we heard someone talking like that about us. Our family can get caught in the 'cross-fire', as we are humans who think 'an eye for an eye' and want to think revenging rather than repenting. When we have a mind full of kindness, love, forgiveness & grace (step #3 above), our mouths and tongues will reflect the same (IE. GIGO - garbage in, garbage out). We can rest easily at night knowing that we lived the best that we could without taking another down to advance.

This leads us into today's verse... our 'virtuous woman' "makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple." We learned already that this woman is modest in her dress, speech and actions, yet she is now also showing that she is modest in home design as well. Now, when one thinks of modest sometimes, they don't think positively at first. I have mentioned the word 'prude', yet I will also add 'frumpy or dowdy' and 'plain'. This however is not the actual picture we get from the 'virtuous woman'... her apparel and her home are clothed in that which may be modest, yet is still beautiful and rich in quality. Her bedroom and her home are her 'castle' as the old saying goes for me usually. She takes time to design and implement a quality in her home that is also reflected on her own dress, and therefore also reflects her love for her family and for God. She again is using her own hands to create this comfort for her and her family. The verse says 'she is clothed in fine linen and purple.' Fine linens and purple are used alot in royalty, to show off the richness of the colour and the designs. Purple in colour, signifies royalty, and this woman, and we, are covered with the annointing of the King. He also calls us His royal priesthood. We are daughters of the King... therefore we are REAL PRINCESSES!

We need to take that role in our lives, we are worthy, we are special, loved and treasured. A princess is protected by the King, and is loved by the King more than any other female in the Kingdom, (well except for the Queen). A princess has the prominence in the Kingdom and the cities around the 'castle'. She is known for her role as a Princess (unless she chooses to hide it and go 'undercover' as Jasmine did in Aladdin). No one knew she was the Princess, because she hid under 'frumpy' and 'plain' clothes.

We need to stop dressing in 'rags' and trade those 'rags' for 'robes of righteuosness' and take our rightful place as PRINCESSES in the Kingdom. We are due to inherit alot more than monetary value. (and we don't have to wait until our 'Father' dies... because his son already did that ONCE AND FOR ALL.) A princess does not walk around slandering those in her kingdom, she walks to show respect for her family and for her King. Although the King is her Father, she still has to respect and obey His words just like everyone else. Whatever she does reflects back onto the King. It is the same with us... whatever we do reflects back to our King. If we are seen in the world as gossips and slanderers, yet profess to these same people to be Christians, what example is that leaving? If we are a part of the 'chosen people, royal priesthood and holy nation' spoken of in 1 Peter 2:8-10, then we need to walk in that promise.

"'A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.'They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:8-10 NIV)

Tongues of gossip and slander are that which make others stumble, and they disobey the message of God. Because we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, we need to walk in the freedom, and declare the praises of God. He brought us out of the miry clay, and the darkness into His wonderful light, and we are now the people of God. We have received an over-abundance of mercy from God, and we need to grant others the same grace and mercy. Just a reminder, GRACE is 'getting something that we don't deserve' and MERCY is 'not getting something that we do deserve'. We deserve death and eternal flames, yet we are receiving life, and life abundantly in Heaven with our God.

We need to walk in the 'LTS' (Loving Tongue Syndrome) instead of 'Loose Tongue Syndrome'. We want it to be CONTAGIOUS enough that others catch it, and watch over what they say too. Just like the contagious 'common cold' or even a simple everyday thing like 'yawning'... once we see someone do it, we catch a hold of it, and do it in our own lives! What a world that would be?

To read other devotionals (on Cre8ted 2 Share) regarding our tongue & our words, click HERE.

BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING... in all you think, do and say!

30-Day 'True Woman' Make-over Day 10

Today's topic is: THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS
Today's verse is Proverbs 31:10 - "Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character -- A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies."

WOW! We have made it through the first 9 verses of warnings from Lemuel's mother, and now we are starting to learn about the wife of noble character, the 'virtuous woman'. Some women see her as the 'virtual woman', something or someone that cannot be attained by the ordinary every-day woman of today. But as our topic today states, any woman can lead a life of noble character and have a fruitful life as well. Unfortunately, too many of us try to strive, perform, struggle and even try to outdo other women in our lives, like this 'virtuous woman' found in Proverbs 31:10-31. We are not to become exactly like this woman, we are supposed to become the M.E. that God has called us to be individually. Our M.E. is our MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS (or in other words our potential). We have to live up to our potential, not that of another woman. This 'virtuous woman' found in Scripture is just a 'pattern' to follow. Nancy Leigh DeMoss also quotes, "The purpose of this picture, in part, is to help us see that we can’t live up to it, that we cannot measure up to it." (You can read more of Nancy's devotion here). We cannot do this alone in our own strength, each of us are not called to be seamstresses, or to have ALL the domestic characteristics of the 'woman of noble character'. We need God! All we need is more of God, and He will help us become who He created and called us to be. There is a quote that says something like, "God has hand-crafted each one of us, not mass produced us."


Today's verse, "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies", is where Lemuel's mother is admonishing her son to look for a wife that is as noble as she is trying to train him to be. Somewhere in the world there is ONE woman who will fulfill the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs just for HIM.


to be continued... gotta go back to work!!


When we surrender and submit our lives to God, He can and will do the miraculous in our lives. The last verse in our study, Proverbs 31:31 says this, "Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates." We will be rewarded, and basically reap what we sow in the end. If we sow into our lives, and others lives with the same spiritual characteristics that this 'virtuous woman' did, then the 'fruit of our hands' or the fruit of our labour will bring forth an amazing harvest!