We conclude this week’s thoughts about faithfulness with some insights about teaching others how to become more faithful. This is a continuation of my series, Thriving in God’s Garden, which is based on Galatians 5:22. Next week, we will learn about how to be more gentle.
Become a woman of excellence.
Proverbs 31:10-31 has been my greatest source of guidance over the years. As a woman, this passage leads me in the ways that God wants me to go. It describes how I should aspire to live as a Christian wife. I think it can be applied to any woman, young or old, married or single.
Proverbs 31:26 (NIV) reads, She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. Notice that God puts wisdom ahead of faithful instruction in this passage. Older, more mature women are called upon to teach younger ones how to live quiet lives that are pleasing to God. Our cumulative life experiences usually make us better equipped to teach others, primarily through the wisdom we have learned from making mistakes along the way.
I have been on a pathway of learning for many years, and there is still much that I don’t know. But when I do understand something through a combination of experiences and studying the Bible, I try to share my wisdom with others. This blog is one example of my faithfulness in teaching God’s wisdom to others.
What do you know?
Each one of us has been equipped with special talents and gifts. Those abilities should be used whenever possible to encourage others. What have you learned as a result of the challenges life has thrown your way?
Most survivors of abuse don’t feel that they are very worthy. They believe that they have little to offer, because their abusers stripped them of all self-confidence. But the fact is that most people who have survived childhood sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence, or other traumas are usually much stronger in the long run than the average person. We can be far more resilient, hopeful, determined, and resourceful than most others can if we recover well. The very fact that we survived abuse speaks volumes about our emotional strength.
Galatians 5:22 (NIV) tells us that we should be exhibiting behaviors that are more and more Christ-like as we mature. These characteristics (the fruit of the Spirit) include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Which ones do you feel are your strongest traits? How can you teach what you know to someone else?
Find a place to share your wisdom with others.
The best way to put this lesson into practice is to find a place to serve where we can faithfully teach others what we know. I lead a small group of women in making quilts for terminally ill patients at the hospitals in our community. My friend enjoys teaching young wives how to cook. No matter who we are, or how much we have suffered, God has given us something unique to share with the world. Where can you serve?
Today’s Challenge
Read Proverbs 31:10-31. You can find it at www.biblegateway.com if you don’t have a Bible. Consider the many talents described in this beautiful passage of Scripture. Which gift can you share with someone else? Choose one of your spiritual gifts today and begin faithfully teaching it to others through your actions or through direct instruction.
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
A Good Wife is Priceless
We are learning about goodness this week in my series, Thriving in God's Garden. Today, I would like to look at how the Bible defines a good wife, as found in Proverbs 31:10-31. Space does not permit me to copy the entire text here. Please go to your Bible or www.biblegateway.com to read it.
A good wife is a husband's best asset.
Proverbs 31:1 tells us that a good wife is worth far more than rubies. Whatever she does brings her husband added value. She never does anything to harm him.
Can we say this about ourselves? How many of us complain about our husbands' faults to our friends? Is this adding value to him or detracting from his worth?
A good wife is industrious.
Proverbs 31 tells us that a good wife is industrious. She takes care of the affairs of her household, managing meals, clothing, and the family home.
Are we handling these things as well as we could? Or is there room for improvement? Are we taking care of the things we can? Or are we sitting back and resenting our husbands for failing to take care of the bills, the car, or the house?
A good wife goes out into the world and uses money wisely. She invests to ensure outstanding returns, produces outcomes that are profitable, and still makes sure that her family gets her best.
Are we handling our money well? Or are we spending our husbands into the poorhouse?
A good husband does not inhibit his wife's growth.
I came across an article today about a jihadist group magazine known as Al-Shamikha (The Majestic Woman). It features interviews with the wives of extremist martyrs. The magazine advises women to stay indoors, because they claim that this practice promotes modesty and a good complexion.
I don't believe that such advice is godly or wise. Staying indoors keeps a woman from using her mind to earn money, to help the needy, or to learn about her rights. An ignorant, penniless woman will assuredly remain an abused woman.
What do you think about this Arabic magazine's opinion?
A good wife speaks with wisdom.
Whenever we open our mouths, Proverbs 31 tells us that wise words ought to come out. Where do we find that wisdom? In the Bible, at church, and among other mature Christians. We can also read both religious and secular materials to help us understand how to deal with relationships, our careers, our finances, and our health.
Whenever we come across something, such as the advice given in Al-Shamikha, we can compare it to the truth of God's Word. If it is in direct conflict with Biblical concepts, we must reject it. Further study of the Bible will help us to discover God's plan for becoming a good wife.
How are you doing in gaining wisdom? Are wise words coming out of your mouth, or do you frequently sound as if you ought to be an interviewee on the Jerry Springer show?
I struggle to speak words of wisdom.
I do my best to speak with wisdom, as described above. But of all my faults, the one that bothers me the most is when I say something negative to others, particularly my husband. I can see on others' faces the disappointment of having to listen to my negativity.
As a survivor of abuse, it is often easier to speak about the negative than it is the positive. At times, I know this is the voice of depression, which is a common occurrence among survivors of abuse. Even after we've dealt with the depression, the habit of speaking negatively may remain.
We can combat this problem by paying attention to the effect our words have on others. If we see that we have discouraged someone with our speech, we can try to shift the conversation to a happier topic. We can also make a mental note to avoid negativity as much as possible.
A good wife enjoys the praises of her family.
Mother's Day is coming up on Sunday. What do our husbands and children have to say about us? Are we continually striving to become the best that we can be, or have we fallen short in one of the areas above?
If we have been working hard to overcome abuse and trauma, others should be able to see our goodness in the way that we manage our homes, our work, and our relationships. The final two verses of Proverbs 31 read, Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
What kind of praise will you be receiving this Mother's Day?
Today's Challenge
Have you become your husband's greatest asset? Take a few moments today to jot down the ways that you exhibit goodness as a wife. If you're not married, think of yourself as Christ's bride. If you see gaps in your skill set as a wife, study Proverbs 31 to discover how to improve. The praise you will later receive is well worth the effort.
A good wife is a husband's best asset.
Proverbs 31:1 tells us that a good wife is worth far more than rubies. Whatever she does brings her husband added value. She never does anything to harm him.
Can we say this about ourselves? How many of us complain about our husbands' faults to our friends? Is this adding value to him or detracting from his worth?
A good wife is industrious.
Proverbs 31 tells us that a good wife is industrious. She takes care of the affairs of her household, managing meals, clothing, and the family home.
Are we handling these things as well as we could? Or is there room for improvement? Are we taking care of the things we can? Or are we sitting back and resenting our husbands for failing to take care of the bills, the car, or the house?
A good wife goes out into the world and uses money wisely. She invests to ensure outstanding returns, produces outcomes that are profitable, and still makes sure that her family gets her best.
Are we handling our money well? Or are we spending our husbands into the poorhouse?
A good husband does not inhibit his wife's growth.
I came across an article today about a jihadist group magazine known as Al-Shamikha (The Majestic Woman). It features interviews with the wives of extremist martyrs. The magazine advises women to stay indoors, because they claim that this practice promotes modesty and a good complexion.
I don't believe that such advice is godly or wise. Staying indoors keeps a woman from using her mind to earn money, to help the needy, or to learn about her rights. An ignorant, penniless woman will assuredly remain an abused woman.
What do you think about this Arabic magazine's opinion?
A good wife speaks with wisdom.
Whenever we open our mouths, Proverbs 31 tells us that wise words ought to come out. Where do we find that wisdom? In the Bible, at church, and among other mature Christians. We can also read both religious and secular materials to help us understand how to deal with relationships, our careers, our finances, and our health.
Whenever we come across something, such as the advice given in Al-Shamikha, we can compare it to the truth of God's Word. If it is in direct conflict with Biblical concepts, we must reject it. Further study of the Bible will help us to discover God's plan for becoming a good wife.
How are you doing in gaining wisdom? Are wise words coming out of your mouth, or do you frequently sound as if you ought to be an interviewee on the Jerry Springer show?
I struggle to speak words of wisdom.
I do my best to speak with wisdom, as described above. But of all my faults, the one that bothers me the most is when I say something negative to others, particularly my husband. I can see on others' faces the disappointment of having to listen to my negativity.
As a survivor of abuse, it is often easier to speak about the negative than it is the positive. At times, I know this is the voice of depression, which is a common occurrence among survivors of abuse. Even after we've dealt with the depression, the habit of speaking negatively may remain.
We can combat this problem by paying attention to the effect our words have on others. If we see that we have discouraged someone with our speech, we can try to shift the conversation to a happier topic. We can also make a mental note to avoid negativity as much as possible.
A good wife enjoys the praises of her family.
Mother's Day is coming up on Sunday. What do our husbands and children have to say about us? Are we continually striving to become the best that we can be, or have we fallen short in one of the areas above?
If we have been working hard to overcome abuse and trauma, others should be able to see our goodness in the way that we manage our homes, our work, and our relationships. The final two verses of Proverbs 31 read, Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
What kind of praise will you be receiving this Mother's Day?
Today's Challenge
Have you become your husband's greatest asset? Take a few moments today to jot down the ways that you exhibit goodness as a wife. If you're not married, think of yourself as Christ's bride. If you see gaps in your skill set as a wife, study Proverbs 31 to discover how to improve. The praise you will later receive is well worth the effort.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Patience Grows with Wisdom
We begin week four of our nine-week series, Thriving in God's Garden. This study is based on Galatians 5:22, which is commonly known as the fruit of the Spirit. Today, I would like to look at how wisdom affects our ability to develop patience.
Got wisdom?
When we develop wisdom and the maturity to use it to deal with life's challenges, we also develop patience. Proverbs 29:11 (NIV) tells us, A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays his folly.
Allow me to illustrate what this passage of Scripture means. We have a new puppy in our house, a toy poodle named Zibby. I have never owned a toy breed before, so I spent her first weeks reading everything I could find.
I discovered that while most dogs can be housebroken and left for a number of hours at home alone without accidents, toy dogs cannot. Their bladders are about the size of a kidney bean, and they rarely acquire the ability to wait for hours on end to go potty.
If I didn't learn this about my dog, I might have expectations for her housebreaking that would be unfair to her. But, since I have gained understanding about her, I am more patient with her. I don't yell at her if she has an accident, and I don't leave her alone for more than a few hours.
Strive for understanding in your relationships.
Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) reads, A man's wisdom gives him patience. In other words, we must apply ourselves to learning more if we want to become more patient people.
Just as I learned about my dog's development, we can all learn a little something about the people who live with us or in our neighborhoods. Studying child development may help us to understand our children's limitations or the phases our teens are struggling to overcome.
Reading or attending seminars about marriage can be very helpful in developing patience with our spouses. Every spouse has strengths and weaknesses, and we can learn to be more patient with them if we understand what their limitations are.
We may grow in wisdom and patience if we study a little bit about our neighbors who come from cultures which are different from our own. I have learned a great deal by reading about and meeting people from other countries. Taking the time to listen to them, in spite of the language barriers that we face, has helped me to understand them and patiently wait for them to express themselves.
Today's Challenge
Is there someone in your life who needs your understanding today? A child? A teen? A spouse? A neighbor? A coworker? Take some time to gain some wisdom about them, and watch your patience grow.
Got wisdom?
When we develop wisdom and the maturity to use it to deal with life's challenges, we also develop patience. Proverbs 29:11 (NIV) tells us, A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays his folly.
Allow me to illustrate what this passage of Scripture means. We have a new puppy in our house, a toy poodle named Zibby. I have never owned a toy breed before, so I spent her first weeks reading everything I could find.
I discovered that while most dogs can be housebroken and left for a number of hours at home alone without accidents, toy dogs cannot. Their bladders are about the size of a kidney bean, and they rarely acquire the ability to wait for hours on end to go potty.
If I didn't learn this about my dog, I might have expectations for her housebreaking that would be unfair to her. But, since I have gained understanding about her, I am more patient with her. I don't yell at her if she has an accident, and I don't leave her alone for more than a few hours.
Strive for understanding in your relationships.
Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) reads, A man's wisdom gives him patience. In other words, we must apply ourselves to learning more if we want to become more patient people.
Just as I learned about my dog's development, we can all learn a little something about the people who live with us or in our neighborhoods. Studying child development may help us to understand our children's limitations or the phases our teens are struggling to overcome.
Reading or attending seminars about marriage can be very helpful in developing patience with our spouses. Every spouse has strengths and weaknesses, and we can learn to be more patient with them if we understand what their limitations are.
We may grow in wisdom and patience if we study a little bit about our neighbors who come from cultures which are different from our own. I have learned a great deal by reading about and meeting people from other countries. Taking the time to listen to them, in spite of the language barriers that we face, has helped me to understand them and patiently wait for them to express themselves.
Today's Challenge
Is there someone in your life who needs your understanding today? A child? A teen? A spouse? A neighbor? A coworker? Take some time to gain some wisdom about them, and watch your patience grow.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Empower Yourself by Empowering Others
Jack Canfield's Success Principle #64
Today is my final blog in this series based on Jack Canfield's Success Priniples. On January 31, I will begin a new series about forgiveness. I hope that you have found Jack's thoughts helpful, and I hope that you will stay with me as we continue on this journey together.
The greatest contribution we can make to the world is to fulfill the purpose God has given us. Helping others to do the same provides them with joy as they fulfill their God-given dreams. Jack Canfield has helped me to clarify my purpose and to take the action steps necessary to begin my journey. I will always be grateful for his wisdom.
Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV) reminds me that gaining wisdom throughout our lives is important:
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she [wisdom] is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her wil be blessed.
One of the most powerful ways to gain wisdom is to teach it to others. If you would like to teach Jack Canfield's Success Principles to others, you can go to www.thesuccessprinciples.com to download a free study guide. By teaching others, you'll be helping yourself to stay the course along the way to fulfilling your own life purpose.
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. Come along with me next week in our discovery of God's wisdom about forgiveness.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Today is my final blog in this series based on Jack Canfield's Success Priniples. On January 31, I will begin a new series about forgiveness. I hope that you have found Jack's thoughts helpful, and I hope that you will stay with me as we continue on this journey together.
The greatest contribution we can make to the world is to fulfill the purpose God has given us. Helping others to do the same provides them with joy as they fulfill their God-given dreams. Jack Canfield has helped me to clarify my purpose and to take the action steps necessary to begin my journey. I will always be grateful for his wisdom.
Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV) reminds me that gaining wisdom throughout our lives is important:
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she [wisdom] is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her wil be blessed.
One of the most powerful ways to gain wisdom is to teach it to others. If you would like to teach Jack Canfield's Success Principles to others, you can go to www.thesuccessprinciples.com to download a free study guide. By teaching others, you'll be helping yourself to stay the course along the way to fulfilling your own life purpose.
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. Come along with me next week in our discovery of God's wisdom about forgiveness.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
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