To find a bride
Prayer
Lord, thank you that you provide the things that we need every day. Thank you that you keep all the promises you make.
Songs
Standing on the promises
His love
He is Lord
Story
To find a bride
Reference: Genesis 24
Props: sock puppet
When Abraham was old and wealthy, he called his servant and said to him, “ Promise me that you will go to my old country and to my family and find a bride for my son Isaac.” The servant asked, “ But what if the girl doesn’t want to come with me? Shall I take Isaac back to your old country?
“You must not take my son back to my old country,” said Abraham, “ The Lord took me out of my old country and he has promised me that this land will belong to my children. The Lord will send an angel before you so that you will find a bride for my son. If the girl doesn’t want to come with you, you are freed from your promise.” So the servant promised that he would go and find a bride for Isaac.
The servant took ten of his master’s camels and left taking many presents from his master. He travelled to the town of Nahor. He had the camels kneel down to drink water from the well; it was evening, the time the woman go to draw water.
Then he prayed to God. He asked God to help him find the right bride. He asked God for a sign. He asked God that if he asked a girl for water to drink that she would offer to water his camels too.
Before he finished praying, Rebecca came out with the jar on her shoulder. She was very beautiful. She came to the well and filled her jar. The servant went to her and asked her for some water. She offered him some water to drink and when he was finished drinking she offered to water his camels too. While she was doing this, the servant watched her to see if she was the girl he was searching for.
When she was finished, the servant took out some gold jewellery and he gave it to her. He asked her whose daughter she was. She said she was the daughter of Abraham’s nephew. She then asked the servant to come stay at their home for the night.
The servant praised the Lord for answering his prayer and helping him to find the right bride.
So Rebecca’s brother came out and invited the servant to stay at their house. He asked the brother if he could take Rebecca to be Isaac’s bride. They said she could go. He gave presents to Rebecca. He also gave presents to her brother and mother. The servant then asked Rebecca if she was willing to go with him. She agreed to go. Her brother blessed her. And then the servant took Rebecca and left.
Rebecca saw Isaac walking in the fields and asked who he was. The servant told her that it was Isaac. The servant told Isaac everything that he had done. Isaac then married Rebecca.
Bible story adapted by Antoinette Marlow
Activity
You will need: various boxes of a variety of shapes and sizes.
The toddlers must stack the boxes on top of each other. They can put them on top of each other in any direction. They can then knock down the boxes and build them up again.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Your finances! (Bible Study #5)
“He will have no lack of gain.” Proverbs 31:11(b)(ESV)
• The Proverbs 31 husband has a wife whom he can trust with his finances implicitly. How often have you heard the words or perhaps said them yourself “if my husband knew I had bought this I would be in serious trouble, please don’t say anything”. Not an excellent or trustworthy statement!
• There is no doubt that financial management is one of the most difficult arenas to tackle in this day and age. As human beings who are conceived in sin, you can be sure that left unchecked we grow up to be those who seek instant gratification without thought for anyone or anything else. Many people may think that money is not a spiritual responsibility but there can be no doubt that it is. First, before considering any practical issues such as budgets etc, we must consider how God is pleased in the use of what He has given us. It behoves us to remember Proverbs 4:23 that we need to guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it is the wellspring of life. May the Lord help us to search our hearts and see if we have been harbouring wrong attitudes about money and its use in our home.
a) STEWARDSHIP
We are to realise that the money that we have is not ours, it is God’s (Job 1:21) and that when we manage it correctly we do it for Him and apart from this how we manage our money is of particular interest to Him. Elizabeth George explains how she took over many of the financial responsibilities that he husband had been completing and committed herself to learning how to manage these affairs so that her husband would have more time available for ministry commitments. This is an example of being a good steward on all levels in that wise financial management was implemented resulting from a desire to help and support her husband.
The Proverbs 31 woman does not waste her money nor squander it but rather she uses her resources for God’s glory in the realisation that whatever she has been blessed with materially is as a result of God’s mercy. Even when our husband’s receive a monthly salary we should never be lulled into thinking that the money will always be in the bank thus abandoning our trust in God. He has ensured employment for our husbands and even work for ourselves so that we may have food and clothing.
1. Assessing your stewardship – how are you managing things that God has entrusted you with? (Be that your husband, your children, your home, gifts etc.)
b) TRUSTING GOD
We are to acknowledge daily that our God takes care of all our needs (not wants) and as Scripture teaches:
‘And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.’ (1Timothy 6:8).
The Word of God is clear that our Lord will provide for His children and I am sure that you can confirm this in your own lives. Consider the following Scriptures and what we are told of God’s amazing provision (for you to look up):
Matthew 6:33
Philippians 4:19
Psalm 37:45
Psalm 50:15
2 Corinthians 9:8
2. Assessing your trust in the Lord – How are you managing when it comes to trusting God? Do you trust God to take care of not only food and clothing but also to supply leadership, instruction, love, safety etc.?
A wonderful example of a man who trusted God daily for the provision of food and clothing was George Mueller. In obeying God’s call to look after orphans by feeding, clothing, housing and educating them he never once went into debt and trusted only in God’s provision as can be seen from the following quotation:
‘...But still, the first and primary object of the work was (and still is) that God might be magnified by the fact that the orphans under my care are provided with all they need, only by prayer and faith without anyone being asked by me or my fellow-labourers whereby it may be seen, that God is faithful, still, and hears prayers still.’
c) CONTENTMENT
We, as women who belong to God, are called to contentment. Contentment seems to be a significant problem for many women but God’s Word is unchanging on the issue, we are called to be women who desire to live each and every day with both the passion and purpose to be content.
The Apostle Paul shows us how we can learn to be content as we know we are not born with the ability to be content on our own! As C.H. Spurgeon said ‘You will see at once from reading the text, upon the very surface, that contentment in all states is not a natural propensity of man.’
“I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Philippians 4:11-12)
The Apostle Paul reminds us that even when he was abased (belittled or degraded) he was still content and when he had much as a rich person would he was still content without being full of pride. His contentment is found in the faith he has in the Son of God, in knowing that God’s will for him will always be far superior to his own and that he trusts God implicitly. Paul was not being a hypocrite – his speech shows that even when hungry or in need he had learned to be content. In every area contentment can only come from the new life Christ has given us as we submit to our Lord and learn His ways.
The context of Proverbs 31:11(b) is directly referring to a husband who has no lack of gain and who can implicitly trust his wife in all things, most especially in financial matters. But we as mothers must also consider the fact that we are living in an ever-increasing material age where our children will be faced, just as we are, with the desire for possessions and a reckless pursuit of that which does not honour God. Scripture tells us in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. In evaluating your position within the home, let us be encouraged to consider the eternal benefits of wise financial stewardship which will be such a great blessing to our husbands but also our extended family as an example and a way of showing them that the Gospel has made a difference in all areas of our lives, especially one as uncomfortable and unpopular as money management!
We have to replace our self-indulgence with self-control – ‘Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control (Proverbs 25:28) – that is a verse that hits me right between the eyes! If we lack self-control we will not be able to pursue anything correctly as we are defenceless and in need of repair. Pray God that we will run to Him and understand that these are daily submissions that will have to be made before Him as we ask Him to provide us with the necessary grace to complete these tasks. If we have been reckless with money may we repent of this behaviour and ask the Lord to convict us by His Holy Spirit of areas in our lives where we can start to make those small changes which will honour Him.
We have looked at God’s Word and how we must be those who are good stewards, trusting God and content in what the Lord has blessed us with. When it comes to wise financial management there is no doubt that practical guidelines to curb spending are also appropriate to list. The starting point, though, is to remember that without a Scriptural basis in these areas of our lives we will fail so may we see our finances in light of eternity and may this cause us to want to be careful thereby honouring the husbands God has given us.
Let our prayer echo that of the Lord Jesus as He taught His disciples how to pray “...lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one ...” (Matthew 6:12-13)
Memory verse – Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,and all these things shall be added unto you.” (ESV)
Herewith follows a summarised list of points gleaned from Randy Alcorn’s book Money, Possessions and Eternity :
1. Realise that nothing is a good deal if you can’t afford it.
Paying R100 for a toy for our child that is normally priced at R300 sounds like an excellent bargain but if we do not have R100 spare for that month then it’s always going to be a bad choice to spend money on a good deal we can’t afford.
2. Recognise that God isn’t behind every good deal.
Even when we can afford it, it does not mean we should just buy it. Self-control means turning down good deals on things we really want because God may have other and better plans for his money.
3. Understand the difference between spending money and saving money.
Saving is setting aside money for a future purpose. Money that’s saved stays in our purse or in the bank. It can be used for other purposes, including our needs or the needs of others. Money that’s spent leaves our hands and is no longer at our disposal. If we buy a R200 jersey on sale for R80 and think we have just saved R120, we simply don’t understand the concept of saving. Where is the R120 we think we saved? It doesn’t exist. All we’ve done is spend R120. If we keep “saving” like that, we’ll soon be broke.
4. Look at the long-term cost, not just the short-term expense.
If we buy a new radio system we’ll spend money on CD’s. If something breaks we have to pay to fix it. If we purchase a new car we worry about dents and there is insurance which has to be paid. Even a free puppy can mean vet bills, dog food, and what about a fence to protect passers-by. A free puppy could very easily mean thousands of rand spent on extra expenses.
5. Pray before you spend.
When something’s a legitimate need, God will provide it. How often do we take matters into our own hands and spend impulsively before asking God to furnish it for us? How often do we buy something – whether we consider it a “want” or a “need” – a week or a month before God would have provided it for free or at a minimal cost, if only we’d asked Him? Often we either buy what we want or forego what we want when there’s a third alternative: ask God to provide it for us. If he doesn’t provide it, fine – he knows best. But why don’t we give Him the chance? Waiting eliminates most impulsive buying. Setting a waiting period gives God the opportunity to provide what we want, to provide something different or better, or to show us that we don’t need it and should the money differently.
6. Examine every purchase in light of its ministry potential.
Whenever we spend money we can also ask ourselves if this money could have been used for a ministry such as to evangelise the lost or feed the poor. We answer to God with the way we spend our money so our conscience should be clear before Him.
7. Understand and resist the manipulative nature of advertising.
Responsible spending says yes to real needs and no to most “created” needs. We have far fewer needs than we believe. The temptation to overspend is immense. Advertising’s goal is to create an illusion of need, to stimulate desire and make us dissatisfied with what God has provided. We must counter advertising with God’s Word, which tells us what we really do and don’t need.
8. Learn to walk away from things you want but don’t need.
Often we feel completely obsessed with an item and when we buy we feel unsatisfied in that we hoped for better. We need to learn to walk away from things and knowing the relief and joy we can feel in knowing that possessions do not own or possess us.
9. Realise that little things add up.
Money trickles through our hands. A few rand here and there adds up significantly! We need to fix the “leaks” in our spending habits so that we can divert the flow of income to higher purposes.
10. Set up a budget and live by it.
How do you think God feels when at the end of a month we are not able to account for the money we have been entrusted with and there is none left! “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks; give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever.” (Proverbs 27:23-24). Two tips that will help: recording expenditures and making a budget. These will help us detect problem areas by clarifying our spending habits. This will improve our mental and marital health because financial disorder is one of the leading causes of personal and familial distress. It’s not how much money we make but how we manage it that matters!
Written by:
Ruth Phillips
• The Proverbs 31 husband has a wife whom he can trust with his finances implicitly. How often have you heard the words or perhaps said them yourself “if my husband knew I had bought this I would be in serious trouble, please don’t say anything”. Not an excellent or trustworthy statement!
• There is no doubt that financial management is one of the most difficult arenas to tackle in this day and age. As human beings who are conceived in sin, you can be sure that left unchecked we grow up to be those who seek instant gratification without thought for anyone or anything else. Many people may think that money is not a spiritual responsibility but there can be no doubt that it is. First, before considering any practical issues such as budgets etc, we must consider how God is pleased in the use of what He has given us. It behoves us to remember Proverbs 4:23 that we need to guard our hearts with all diligence for out of it is the wellspring of life. May the Lord help us to search our hearts and see if we have been harbouring wrong attitudes about money and its use in our home.
a) STEWARDSHIP
We are to realise that the money that we have is not ours, it is God’s (Job 1:21) and that when we manage it correctly we do it for Him and apart from this how we manage our money is of particular interest to Him. Elizabeth George explains how she took over many of the financial responsibilities that he husband had been completing and committed herself to learning how to manage these affairs so that her husband would have more time available for ministry commitments. This is an example of being a good steward on all levels in that wise financial management was implemented resulting from a desire to help and support her husband.
The Proverbs 31 woman does not waste her money nor squander it but rather she uses her resources for God’s glory in the realisation that whatever she has been blessed with materially is as a result of God’s mercy. Even when our husband’s receive a monthly salary we should never be lulled into thinking that the money will always be in the bank thus abandoning our trust in God. He has ensured employment for our husbands and even work for ourselves so that we may have food and clothing.
1. Assessing your stewardship – how are you managing things that God has entrusted you with? (Be that your husband, your children, your home, gifts etc.)
b) TRUSTING GOD
We are to acknowledge daily that our God takes care of all our needs (not wants) and as Scripture teaches:
‘And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.’ (1Timothy 6:8).
The Word of God is clear that our Lord will provide for His children and I am sure that you can confirm this in your own lives. Consider the following Scriptures and what we are told of God’s amazing provision (for you to look up):
Matthew 6:33
Philippians 4:19
Psalm 37:45
Psalm 50:15
2 Corinthians 9:8
2. Assessing your trust in the Lord – How are you managing when it comes to trusting God? Do you trust God to take care of not only food and clothing but also to supply leadership, instruction, love, safety etc.?
A wonderful example of a man who trusted God daily for the provision of food and clothing was George Mueller. In obeying God’s call to look after orphans by feeding, clothing, housing and educating them he never once went into debt and trusted only in God’s provision as can be seen from the following quotation:
‘...But still, the first and primary object of the work was (and still is) that God might be magnified by the fact that the orphans under my care are provided with all they need, only by prayer and faith without anyone being asked by me or my fellow-labourers whereby it may be seen, that God is faithful, still, and hears prayers still.’
c) CONTENTMENT
We, as women who belong to God, are called to contentment. Contentment seems to be a significant problem for many women but God’s Word is unchanging on the issue, we are called to be women who desire to live each and every day with both the passion and purpose to be content.
The Apostle Paul shows us how we can learn to be content as we know we are not born with the ability to be content on our own! As C.H. Spurgeon said ‘You will see at once from reading the text, upon the very surface, that contentment in all states is not a natural propensity of man.’
“I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Philippians 4:11-12)
The Apostle Paul reminds us that even when he was abased (belittled or degraded) he was still content and when he had much as a rich person would he was still content without being full of pride. His contentment is found in the faith he has in the Son of God, in knowing that God’s will for him will always be far superior to his own and that he trusts God implicitly. Paul was not being a hypocrite – his speech shows that even when hungry or in need he had learned to be content. In every area contentment can only come from the new life Christ has given us as we submit to our Lord and learn His ways.
The context of Proverbs 31:11(b) is directly referring to a husband who has no lack of gain and who can implicitly trust his wife in all things, most especially in financial matters. But we as mothers must also consider the fact that we are living in an ever-increasing material age where our children will be faced, just as we are, with the desire for possessions and a reckless pursuit of that which does not honour God. Scripture tells us in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. In evaluating your position within the home, let us be encouraged to consider the eternal benefits of wise financial stewardship which will be such a great blessing to our husbands but also our extended family as an example and a way of showing them that the Gospel has made a difference in all areas of our lives, especially one as uncomfortable and unpopular as money management!
We have to replace our self-indulgence with self-control – ‘Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control (Proverbs 25:28) – that is a verse that hits me right between the eyes! If we lack self-control we will not be able to pursue anything correctly as we are defenceless and in need of repair. Pray God that we will run to Him and understand that these are daily submissions that will have to be made before Him as we ask Him to provide us with the necessary grace to complete these tasks. If we have been reckless with money may we repent of this behaviour and ask the Lord to convict us by His Holy Spirit of areas in our lives where we can start to make those small changes which will honour Him.
We have looked at God’s Word and how we must be those who are good stewards, trusting God and content in what the Lord has blessed us with. When it comes to wise financial management there is no doubt that practical guidelines to curb spending are also appropriate to list. The starting point, though, is to remember that without a Scriptural basis in these areas of our lives we will fail so may we see our finances in light of eternity and may this cause us to want to be careful thereby honouring the husbands God has given us.
Let our prayer echo that of the Lord Jesus as He taught His disciples how to pray “...lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one ...” (Matthew 6:12-13)
Memory verse – Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,and all these things shall be added unto you.” (ESV)
Herewith follows a summarised list of points gleaned from Randy Alcorn’s book Money, Possessions and Eternity :
1. Realise that nothing is a good deal if you can’t afford it.
Paying R100 for a toy for our child that is normally priced at R300 sounds like an excellent bargain but if we do not have R100 spare for that month then it’s always going to be a bad choice to spend money on a good deal we can’t afford.
2. Recognise that God isn’t behind every good deal.
Even when we can afford it, it does not mean we should just buy it. Self-control means turning down good deals on things we really want because God may have other and better plans for his money.
3. Understand the difference between spending money and saving money.
Saving is setting aside money for a future purpose. Money that’s saved stays in our purse or in the bank. It can be used for other purposes, including our needs or the needs of others. Money that’s spent leaves our hands and is no longer at our disposal. If we buy a R200 jersey on sale for R80 and think we have just saved R120, we simply don’t understand the concept of saving. Where is the R120 we think we saved? It doesn’t exist. All we’ve done is spend R120. If we keep “saving” like that, we’ll soon be broke.
4. Look at the long-term cost, not just the short-term expense.
If we buy a new radio system we’ll spend money on CD’s. If something breaks we have to pay to fix it. If we purchase a new car we worry about dents and there is insurance which has to be paid. Even a free puppy can mean vet bills, dog food, and what about a fence to protect passers-by. A free puppy could very easily mean thousands of rand spent on extra expenses.
5. Pray before you spend.
When something’s a legitimate need, God will provide it. How often do we take matters into our own hands and spend impulsively before asking God to furnish it for us? How often do we buy something – whether we consider it a “want” or a “need” – a week or a month before God would have provided it for free or at a minimal cost, if only we’d asked Him? Often we either buy what we want or forego what we want when there’s a third alternative: ask God to provide it for us. If he doesn’t provide it, fine – he knows best. But why don’t we give Him the chance? Waiting eliminates most impulsive buying. Setting a waiting period gives God the opportunity to provide what we want, to provide something different or better, or to show us that we don’t need it and should the money differently.
6. Examine every purchase in light of its ministry potential.
Whenever we spend money we can also ask ourselves if this money could have been used for a ministry such as to evangelise the lost or feed the poor. We answer to God with the way we spend our money so our conscience should be clear before Him.
7. Understand and resist the manipulative nature of advertising.
Responsible spending says yes to real needs and no to most “created” needs. We have far fewer needs than we believe. The temptation to overspend is immense. Advertising’s goal is to create an illusion of need, to stimulate desire and make us dissatisfied with what God has provided. We must counter advertising with God’s Word, which tells us what we really do and don’t need.
8. Learn to walk away from things you want but don’t need.
Often we feel completely obsessed with an item and when we buy we feel unsatisfied in that we hoped for better. We need to learn to walk away from things and knowing the relief and joy we can feel in knowing that possessions do not own or possess us.
9. Realise that little things add up.
Money trickles through our hands. A few rand here and there adds up significantly! We need to fix the “leaks” in our spending habits so that we can divert the flow of income to higher purposes.
10. Set up a budget and live by it.
How do you think God feels when at the end of a month we are not able to account for the money we have been entrusted with and there is none left! “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks; give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever.” (Proverbs 27:23-24). Two tips that will help: recording expenditures and making a budget. These will help us detect problem areas by clarifying our spending habits. This will improve our mental and marital health because financial disorder is one of the leading causes of personal and familial distress. It’s not how much money we make but how we manage it that matters!
Written by:
Ruth Phillips
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Puppet workshop
Puppet workshop
Presented by Antoinette Marlow
Why make puppets?
We want to tell our children the stories in the bible. As most young children have a very short attention span, they need a visual aid to attract their attention and keep it. Puppets are also familiar to children and easy for them to identify with. Thus the puppets are used to tell the children's stories.
Website : This website can be referred to for more ideas: www.daniellesplace.com
Requirements:
Brown paper bag puppets
· Brown bags
· Coloured paper
· Coloured cardboard
· Marker
· Glue
Sock puppets
· Eyes(felt/plastic)
· Nose(felt)
· Cardboard
· Felt
· Cotton wool
· Wool
Paper mache puppets
· Newspaper
· Wall paper paste
· Masking tape
· Coloured paper
· Wool
Spoon puppets
· Wool
· Coloured paper
· Tissue paper
To make puppets:
Brown paper bag puppets
Cow puppet
What you will need: brown paper bags, coloured paper, glue, cardboard, markers and any other decorations you would like to add.
What to do:
1. Cover the brown paper bag with white paper. Glue the paper onto the bag. Cut any excess of the brown bag off.
2. Draw or print a cow face on a piece of cardboard.
3. Glue the bottom half of the cow’s face onto the bag so that it stands out.
4. Cut out black patches from paper and glue them randomly onto the cow’s body.
Sock Puppets
Easy to Make Sock Puppets - These puppets are so cheap and easy to make. You can add all kinds of features to make an endless array of puppets. Save your old socks and socks with no mates or look for used socks and accessories in second hand stores.
What you will need: sock, hot melt glue gun, pink or red felt, cardboard from cereal box or thicker card board, chalk, scissors and paper, googly eyes, and anything else you would like to add.
What to do:
1. Print out the mouth pattern and cut out the shape from cardboard such as cardboard from a cereal box or cardboard that is a little thicker. Fold the mouthpiece in half. (Make pointy mouthpieces for animals with pointy noses such as snakes, and wolves.)
2. Insert the folded mouthpiece into the sock so that the curved ends are facing the toe end of the sock. If it is too big, cut the piece smaller to fit so that it doesn't stretch the sock too much. Place your hand in the sock as shown in Picture A so that it is comfortable. Mark on the sock with chalk 1/2" beyond the end of the mouthpiece. Cut off the end of the sock where marked.
3. Remove your hand and flatten out the sock so that the heal of the sock is on top. Cut away the extra sock material around the rounded part of the cardboard mouthpiece 1/2" from the edge. See Picture B.
4. Fold open the toe end of the sock and the cardboard mouthpiece. The mouthpiece should be laying on top of the sock with the top toe end of the sock folded up. See Picture C. Place a drop of hot melt glue in the center of the lower edge of the mouthpiece. Shown in picture C with an X. Pull the edge of the sock material over the edge of the cardboard piece and press it in place being careful not to burn yourself. See Picture D. Place another dot of glue on the top edge of the mouthpiece and pull the edge of the sock over the mouthpiece and press down. Place glue all the way around the edge of the mouthpiece a little bit at a time pulling the sock material over the mouthpiece of pressing it down as you go.
5. Cut another mouthpiece from pink or red felt for the mouth. Cut it to fit over the cardboard mouthpiece and cover the edge just a little. Glue it down. Cut out a tongue piece and glue it inside the mouth. To add other features stuff the sock puppet with scrap material to make the puppet firm. Glue on ears, eyes, teeth, and other features.
Paper-mache puppets
Paper-mache paste
Mix one part wallpaper paste with three parts water. Stir well and the paste is ready to use.
Strip paper-mache
Cut paper into strips. Paste a layer of strips in one direction. Then paste another layer of strips in the other direction. Continue until you have four or more layers and then leave it to dry. It may take several days dry right through.
Paper-mache paste
You can shape this pulp like clay or use it to cover objects. Tear small squares of paper into a large bowl and add some paper-mache paste. Allow the mixture to soak until it feels like clay. You may need to squeeze out any extra paste.
Paper-mache puppets
You will need: newspaper, tape, a short cardboard tube, scissors, paper-mache strips, paper-mache paste, powder paint mixed with white glue, paint brushes, wool, strong glue, a length of cloth, needle and thread and a piece of felt.
What to do:
To make the puppets head, crumple a sheet of newspaper into a ball. Tape the ball into shape.
Cut off a length of cardboard tube. Tape the tube to the ball.
Cover the ball with two layers of strip paper-mache. Leave the paper-mache to harden for about four hours.
To add texture to the head and neck, press on the paper-mache pulp.
Use small lumps of pulp to shape the puppets ears, nose, mouth and eyes.
When the head is dry, paint one the face. Glue pieces of wool to the head for hair.
Cut a simple glove shape from the piece of cloth.
Sew up the edges, leaving the neck hole open for the tube and the bottom open for your hand.
Cut out simple hand shapes from felt and stick them on to the ends of the arms.
Attach the cloth glove to the neck tube with strong glue.
Spoon puppets
You will need: plastic spoons, permanent markers and wool.
What to do:
Draw faces on the spoons with permanent marker. Glue pieces of wool to the spoons for hair.
Presented by Antoinette Marlow
Why make puppets?
We want to tell our children the stories in the bible. As most young children have a very short attention span, they need a visual aid to attract their attention and keep it. Puppets are also familiar to children and easy for them to identify with. Thus the puppets are used to tell the children's stories.
Website : This website can be referred to for more ideas: www.daniellesplace.com
Requirements:
Brown paper bag puppets
· Brown bags
· Coloured paper
· Coloured cardboard
· Marker
· Glue
Sock puppets
· Eyes(felt/plastic)
· Nose(felt)
· Cardboard
· Felt
· Cotton wool
· Wool
Paper mache puppets
· Newspaper
· Wall paper paste
· Masking tape
· Coloured paper
· Wool
Spoon puppets
· Wool
· Coloured paper
· Tissue paper
To make puppets:
Brown paper bag puppets
Cow puppet
What you will need: brown paper bags, coloured paper, glue, cardboard, markers and any other decorations you would like to add.
What to do:
1. Cover the brown paper bag with white paper. Glue the paper onto the bag. Cut any excess of the brown bag off.
2. Draw or print a cow face on a piece of cardboard.
3. Glue the bottom half of the cow’s face onto the bag so that it stands out.
4. Cut out black patches from paper and glue them randomly onto the cow’s body.
Sock Puppets
Easy to Make Sock Puppets - These puppets are so cheap and easy to make. You can add all kinds of features to make an endless array of puppets. Save your old socks and socks with no mates or look for used socks and accessories in second hand stores.
What you will need: sock, hot melt glue gun, pink or red felt, cardboard from cereal box or thicker card board, chalk, scissors and paper, googly eyes, and anything else you would like to add.
What to do:
1. Print out the mouth pattern and cut out the shape from cardboard such as cardboard from a cereal box or cardboard that is a little thicker. Fold the mouthpiece in half. (Make pointy mouthpieces for animals with pointy noses such as snakes, and wolves.)
2. Insert the folded mouthpiece into the sock so that the curved ends are facing the toe end of the sock. If it is too big, cut the piece smaller to fit so that it doesn't stretch the sock too much. Place your hand in the sock as shown in Picture A so that it is comfortable. Mark on the sock with chalk 1/2" beyond the end of the mouthpiece. Cut off the end of the sock where marked.
3. Remove your hand and flatten out the sock so that the heal of the sock is on top. Cut away the extra sock material around the rounded part of the cardboard mouthpiece 1/2" from the edge. See Picture B.
4. Fold open the toe end of the sock and the cardboard mouthpiece. The mouthpiece should be laying on top of the sock with the top toe end of the sock folded up. See Picture C. Place a drop of hot melt glue in the center of the lower edge of the mouthpiece. Shown in picture C with an X. Pull the edge of the sock material over the edge of the cardboard piece and press it in place being careful not to burn yourself. See Picture D. Place another dot of glue on the top edge of the mouthpiece and pull the edge of the sock over the mouthpiece and press down. Place glue all the way around the edge of the mouthpiece a little bit at a time pulling the sock material over the mouthpiece of pressing it down as you go.
5. Cut another mouthpiece from pink or red felt for the mouth. Cut it to fit over the cardboard mouthpiece and cover the edge just a little. Glue it down. Cut out a tongue piece and glue it inside the mouth. To add other features stuff the sock puppet with scrap material to make the puppet firm. Glue on ears, eyes, teeth, and other features.
Paper-mache puppets
Paper-mache paste
Mix one part wallpaper paste with three parts water. Stir well and the paste is ready to use.
Strip paper-mache
Cut paper into strips. Paste a layer of strips in one direction. Then paste another layer of strips in the other direction. Continue until you have four or more layers and then leave it to dry. It may take several days dry right through.
Paper-mache paste
You can shape this pulp like clay or use it to cover objects. Tear small squares of paper into a large bowl and add some paper-mache paste. Allow the mixture to soak until it feels like clay. You may need to squeeze out any extra paste.
Paper-mache puppets
You will need: newspaper, tape, a short cardboard tube, scissors, paper-mache strips, paper-mache paste, powder paint mixed with white glue, paint brushes, wool, strong glue, a length of cloth, needle and thread and a piece of felt.
What to do:
To make the puppets head, crumple a sheet of newspaper into a ball. Tape the ball into shape.
Cut off a length of cardboard tube. Tape the tube to the ball.
Cover the ball with two layers of strip paper-mache. Leave the paper-mache to harden for about four hours.
To add texture to the head and neck, press on the paper-mache pulp.
Use small lumps of pulp to shape the puppets ears, nose, mouth and eyes.
When the head is dry, paint one the face. Glue pieces of wool to the head for hair.
Cut a simple glove shape from the piece of cloth.
Sew up the edges, leaving the neck hole open for the tube and the bottom open for your hand.
Cut out simple hand shapes from felt and stick them on to the ends of the arms.
Attach the cloth glove to the neck tube with strong glue.
Spoon puppets
You will need: plastic spoons, permanent markers and wool.
What to do:
Draw faces on the spoons with permanent marker. Glue pieces of wool to the spoons for hair.
The Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden
19 March 2009
Prayer
Lord, thank you for bringing us safely together. Help us to listen and learn. Amen.
Songs
My God is so big
Jesus made me
Oh, be careful little eyes
Story
The Garden of Eden
Props: Two sock puppets, cow puppet and sheep puppet.
The Lord planted a garden in Eden and there he put man to live. The Lord made all sorts of trees grow in the garden. What types of trees? Fruit trees, oak trees, pine trees. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river ran though the garden (gurgle, gurgle).
The Lord took the man and told him to work in the garden and to take care of it. What did he do? He pruned the trees, thinned out the plants and picked fruit in season. The Lord said to the man “ you may eat the fruit from any tree but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat it, you will surely die.”
The Lord said it was not good for man to be alone, so he made a helper suitable for him, woman.
The Lord God brought the animals to Adam and Adam named them. Here comes an animal. What is it? It is a ……..(Baa, baa). Here comes another animal. What is it? It is a ……..(Moo, moo).
Then one day, the devil, dressed like a snake slithered through the garden looking for Eve. “Hullo, Eve,” greeted the snake. “Doesn’t this fruit look yummy? If you eat it you won’t die. You’ll become clever like God.”
Eve looked at the fruit and it was so inviting. So delicious and colourful and it could give her knowledge, so she took the fruit and ate it. She took the fruit and gave it to her husband and he also ate it. At that moment, they realised they had disobeyed God and sinned.
When God came to talk to them in the evening they hid away. “Adam, where are you?” God asked. When God asked why they hid away, they said they were ashamed and afraid. He asked them if they had eaten the forbidden fruit. “Um, yes.” said Adam and Eve.
Then they started making excuses. The man said it was the woman’s fault. The woman said it was the man’s fault.
God was very angry and he punished them for their sin.
The Lord made them clothes from animal skins and he sent them out of the Garden of Eden and an angel with a flaming sword barred the way in.
Activity
Each toddler is given two bowls and a dishing spoon. One bowl is half filled with water. The toddler must dish the water from the full bowl to the empty bowl. The toddler must then stir the water with the spoon in a clockwise direction. This activity develops gross motor skills.
19 March 2009
Prayer
Lord, thank you for bringing us safely together. Help us to listen and learn. Amen.
Songs
My God is so big
Jesus made me
Oh, be careful little eyes
Story
The Garden of Eden
Props: Two sock puppets, cow puppet and sheep puppet.
The Lord planted a garden in Eden and there he put man to live. The Lord made all sorts of trees grow in the garden. What types of trees? Fruit trees, oak trees, pine trees. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river ran though the garden (gurgle, gurgle).
The Lord took the man and told him to work in the garden and to take care of it. What did he do? He pruned the trees, thinned out the plants and picked fruit in season. The Lord said to the man “ you may eat the fruit from any tree but you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat it, you will surely die.”
The Lord said it was not good for man to be alone, so he made a helper suitable for him, woman.
The Lord God brought the animals to Adam and Adam named them. Here comes an animal. What is it? It is a ……..(Baa, baa). Here comes another animal. What is it? It is a ……..(Moo, moo).
Then one day, the devil, dressed like a snake slithered through the garden looking for Eve. “Hullo, Eve,” greeted the snake. “Doesn’t this fruit look yummy? If you eat it you won’t die. You’ll become clever like God.”
Eve looked at the fruit and it was so inviting. So delicious and colourful and it could give her knowledge, so she took the fruit and ate it. She took the fruit and gave it to her husband and he also ate it. At that moment, they realised they had disobeyed God and sinned.
When God came to talk to them in the evening they hid away. “Adam, where are you?” God asked. When God asked why they hid away, they said they were ashamed and afraid. He asked them if they had eaten the forbidden fruit. “Um, yes.” said Adam and Eve.
Then they started making excuses. The man said it was the woman’s fault. The woman said it was the man’s fault.
God was very angry and he punished them for their sin.
The Lord made them clothes from animal skins and he sent them out of the Garden of Eden and an angel with a flaming sword barred the way in.
Activity
Each toddler is given two bowls and a dishing spoon. One bowl is half filled with water. The toddler must dish the water from the full bowl to the empty bowl. The toddler must then stir the water with the spoon in a clockwise direction. This activity develops gross motor skills.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Are you Trustworthy? Proverbs 31:11 (Bible study #4)
"The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. "
Proverbs 31:11 (esv)
GOD IS TRUSTWORTHY:
Who do you know to be trustworthy? God is trustworthy. Gods word is trustworthy. God does not lie, He has always and will always do what He says that He will do. God cannot be God if He was not trustworthy! God is the perfect example of being trustworthy. Do you honestly believe that God is trustworthy? Does your heart trust in God? Does your life reflect a trust in God in your words, your actions and your thoughts? Let us reflect on some scriptures that mention the trustworthiness of God.
Psalm 111:7 "The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy."
Psalm 93:5 "Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore."
God is faithful and just, His precepts and decrees are trustworthy. There are many accounts in the bible where these attributes of God are shown. Can you think of any? Just to mention one, Noah. God said that he would destroy mankind, He kept His word. Afterwards, God promised that He would not flood the world again and created the rainbow to remind us of His covenant. His words have remained true thousands of years later.
Another example is Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 1:15 "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."
Paul admits to being the greatest of sinners. If I asked you if you were a good person, you may also side with Paul and declare that you are also the greatest of sinners. Therefore the reality of Jesus Christ, being sent by God to this earth to be a sacrifice for your sin and to bear the wrath of God for your sin would be an incredible reality. It should cause you to rejoice, give thanks to God for His mercy towards you, to give Him all the Glory. If we believe that God is trustworthy and His word is true, we will not doubt that our sin is forgiven. We are free to serve Him with all of our hearts, in obedience to His Word seeking Him to be glorified in all things. Give thanks to the Lord because He is trustworthy.
VERSE STUDY:
Now for a hard question. Are you trustworthy? Let us disect the verse to find out how trustworthy you may be.
The heart is referred to as the "inner man, mind, will, heart"(1) It is "the seat of the senses, affections, and emotions of the mind, of various kinds, as confidence." (2)
Trust is to "rely on". (3) To confide in any one, to set one’s hope and confidence upon any one.(4) "To feel safe, be full of confidence."(5) "assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; one in which confidence is placed; dependence on something future or contingent; a charge or duty imposed in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship; something committed or entrusted to one to be used or cared for in the interest of another; responsible charge or office"(12)
Husband is the reference to "owner, lord"(6) lord, i.e., the male marriage partner to a female, with a focus on the authoritative position of the male partner over the wife (7)
A lack is "to not have enough of what is needed, implying a need," (8) to lack, to be without (9)
Gain is "garments, food and drink,"(10) "goods, property, i.e., possessions of value." (11)
A CLOSER LOOK INTO THE VERSE AND APPLICATION:
If you look at our portion of scripture that we are studying, it starts at vs 10. I would dare to suggest that vs 10 is bringing out the personal relationship between God and with a person who He has saved, a woman in this case. As woman who have been redeemed, we live our lives to love, please, fear and Glorify God. This is what is rare and beautiful. I would then suggest that vs 11 then focuses on the relationship between the woman and her husband. Keeping God as the main focus always, a woman also has the responsibility of winning over her husbands trust and heart and to be consistent in safe guarding her husbands trust in her.
Before you can have your husbands heart trusting in you, your relationship with the Lord must be priority and you should be growing in knowledge and grace daily with the Lord. If this is not the case, I would urge you to set time aside each day to sit at the feet of your Lord in prayer and with His Word.
You then should focus on your relationship with your husband alone. Forget about being overwhelmed with gaining the trust of your husband in other areas of running a home. Concentrate on growing closer to your husband. Once you have started working on your relationship with your husband (which is always a priority in your marriage, if married), then start to focus in other areas. (Click on the title of this blog post. "Are you trustworthy?" and you will be directed to a list of 94 Ways a wife may express love to her husband by Wayne Mack. Do this when you are finished reading this post.)
Elizabeth George mentions a brilliant "checklist for Loyalty" in her book. Can your husband trust you in the following areas. If not, repent on humbled knees like the rest of us, and through prayer and discipline work at the areas. Remember, small steps at a time!!!! A trustworthy woman is not born over night, trust has to stand the test of time. It is time that is the most difficult mountain to face but by the Grace of God, He will strengthen you! Here is her list:
"*Money - Can your husbands heart and mind rest because of your diligent management of his (and your) assets (Proverbs 31:27)? Can he depend on you to be thrifty, wise and debt-free?
*Children - Are you a devoted mother, dedicated to training up obedient children who love the Lord, who love their father, and who bring honor to their names (Proverbs 31:1-2)?
*Home - Is your husband encouraged by the knowledge that al is well - and will be well - at home because of your focused efforts to run an orderly home (Proverbs 31:13,27)?
*Reputation - Is your husband's heart at rest becuase he knows that you will do him good and not evil all the days of your life, never causing any questions about his character to arise (Proverbs 31:12,23)?
*Fidelity - Can your husband trust and even rejoice in your lifelong faithfulness to your wedding vows (Proverbs 5:18)?
*Emotion - Does your husband rest in the knowledge that he can depend on you to be emotionally steady and stable avoiding blow-ups and flare-ups (Proverbs 14:30)?
*Happiness - Are you a fountain of joy, delighting yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4) and refteshing the hearts of those at home?
*Wisdom - can your husband trust you to handle the challenges, difficulties and crises of life with godly wisdom (Proverbs 19:14)?
*Conduct - Can your husband count on you to conduct yourself with graciousness (Proverbs 11:16), discretion (Proverbs 11:22), virtue (Proverbs 31:10), and dignity (Proverbs 31:25)?
*Love - Positive progress in the preceding nine areas is progress in love! You see, love is known by its actions. Your active care for your husband's assets and the details of his life is powerful evidence of your love for him (Proverbs 31:29)."(13)
HEART PROBING TIME:(14)
1. The heart: What do these proverbs say about the damage done by a wife with a character flaw?
Proverbs 12:4
Proverbs 19:3
Proverbs 21:9,19
Proverbs 27:15
2. The trust: Throughout the book of Proverbs, God advises against trusting in anyone or anything other than God. For instance, what do these Proverbs warn?
Proverbs 3:5
Proverbs 11:28
Proverbs 28:26
Now, what do these Proverbs teach us to do instead?
Proverbs 3:5
Proverbs 16:20
Proverbs 28:25
Proverbs 29:25
3. Can you point to any area of your life or any behavior that would cause your husband not to trust in you? Also not the changes you plan to make to be a more faithful wife.
EXTRA READING:
" The Book of Proverbs places on the husband the responsibility of guiding the home according to the wisdom of God, but as we shall see in chapter 31, the wife also plays an important part. Where two people love the Lord and love each other, God can guide and bless them. It’s not a “fifty-fifty” arrangement, because “two become one.” Rather, it’s a 100 percent devotion to each other and to the Lord.
The wife. Every wife will either build the home or tear it down (14:1). If she walks with the Lord, she will be a builder; if she disobeys God’s wisdom, she will be a destroyer. She must be faithful to her husband, for “A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones” (12:4, NIV). A crown or a cancer: What a choice! And beauty isn’t the only thing he should look for; it’s also important that a wife have wisdom and discretion (11:22). " Be Skillful
"If the husband and wife trust each other, there will be harmony in the home. Her husband has no fears or suspicions as she is busy about her work, because he knows she has character and will do nothing but good for him and their children. If brides and grooms take seriously the vows of love and loyalty they repeat to each other and to God at the altar, they will have a wall of confidence around their marriage that will keep out every enemy." Be skillful
Written by:
Natalie Rogers
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sources:
(1) Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, pg 524.1
(2) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, pg 427
(3) Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon pg 105.1
(4) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, pg 112
(5) A concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, pg 37
(6) Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon pg 127.1
(7) Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), DBLH 1251
(8) Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), DBLH 2893
(9) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, pg 295
(10) Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, 1021.2
(11) Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), DBLH 8965
(12) MW Collegiate Dict (11th ED)
(13) Beautiful in God's eyes by Elizabeth George, pg 34,35
(14) Discovering the Treasures of a Godly Woman, Proverbs 31, by Elizabeth George pg 18 -20
Proverbs 31:11 (esv)
GOD IS TRUSTWORTHY:
Who do you know to be trustworthy? God is trustworthy. Gods word is trustworthy. God does not lie, He has always and will always do what He says that He will do. God cannot be God if He was not trustworthy! God is the perfect example of being trustworthy. Do you honestly believe that God is trustworthy? Does your heart trust in God? Does your life reflect a trust in God in your words, your actions and your thoughts? Let us reflect on some scriptures that mention the trustworthiness of God.
Psalm 111:7 "The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy."
Psalm 93:5 "Your decrees are very trustworthy; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore."
God is faithful and just, His precepts and decrees are trustworthy. There are many accounts in the bible where these attributes of God are shown. Can you think of any? Just to mention one, Noah. God said that he would destroy mankind, He kept His word. Afterwards, God promised that He would not flood the world again and created the rainbow to remind us of His covenant. His words have remained true thousands of years later.
Another example is Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 1:15 "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."
Paul admits to being the greatest of sinners. If I asked you if you were a good person, you may also side with Paul and declare that you are also the greatest of sinners. Therefore the reality of Jesus Christ, being sent by God to this earth to be a sacrifice for your sin and to bear the wrath of God for your sin would be an incredible reality. It should cause you to rejoice, give thanks to God for His mercy towards you, to give Him all the Glory. If we believe that God is trustworthy and His word is true, we will not doubt that our sin is forgiven. We are free to serve Him with all of our hearts, in obedience to His Word seeking Him to be glorified in all things. Give thanks to the Lord because He is trustworthy.
VERSE STUDY:
Now for a hard question. Are you trustworthy? Let us disect the verse to find out how trustworthy you may be.
The heart is referred to as the "inner man, mind, will, heart"(1) It is "the seat of the senses, affections, and emotions of the mind, of various kinds, as confidence." (2)
Trust is to "rely on". (3) To confide in any one, to set one’s hope and confidence upon any one.(4) "To feel safe, be full of confidence."(5) "assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; one in which confidence is placed; dependence on something future or contingent; a charge or duty imposed in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship; something committed or entrusted to one to be used or cared for in the interest of another; responsible charge or office"(12)
Husband is the reference to "owner, lord"(6) lord, i.e., the male marriage partner to a female, with a focus on the authoritative position of the male partner over the wife (7)
A lack is "to not have enough of what is needed, implying a need," (8) to lack, to be without (9)
Gain is "garments, food and drink,"(10) "goods, property, i.e., possessions of value." (11)
A CLOSER LOOK INTO THE VERSE AND APPLICATION:
If you look at our portion of scripture that we are studying, it starts at vs 10. I would dare to suggest that vs 10 is bringing out the personal relationship between God and with a person who He has saved, a woman in this case. As woman who have been redeemed, we live our lives to love, please, fear and Glorify God. This is what is rare and beautiful. I would then suggest that vs 11 then focuses on the relationship between the woman and her husband. Keeping God as the main focus always, a woman also has the responsibility of winning over her husbands trust and heart and to be consistent in safe guarding her husbands trust in her.
Before you can have your husbands heart trusting in you, your relationship with the Lord must be priority and you should be growing in knowledge and grace daily with the Lord. If this is not the case, I would urge you to set time aside each day to sit at the feet of your Lord in prayer and with His Word.
You then should focus on your relationship with your husband alone. Forget about being overwhelmed with gaining the trust of your husband in other areas of running a home. Concentrate on growing closer to your husband. Once you have started working on your relationship with your husband (which is always a priority in your marriage, if married), then start to focus in other areas. (Click on the title of this blog post. "Are you trustworthy?" and you will be directed to a list of 94 Ways a wife may express love to her husband by Wayne Mack. Do this when you are finished reading this post.)
Elizabeth George mentions a brilliant "checklist for Loyalty" in her book. Can your husband trust you in the following areas. If not, repent on humbled knees like the rest of us, and through prayer and discipline work at the areas. Remember, small steps at a time!!!! A trustworthy woman is not born over night, trust has to stand the test of time. It is time that is the most difficult mountain to face but by the Grace of God, He will strengthen you! Here is her list:
"*Money - Can your husbands heart and mind rest because of your diligent management of his (and your) assets (Proverbs 31:27)? Can he depend on you to be thrifty, wise and debt-free?
*Children - Are you a devoted mother, dedicated to training up obedient children who love the Lord, who love their father, and who bring honor to their names (Proverbs 31:1-2)?
*Home - Is your husband encouraged by the knowledge that al is well - and will be well - at home because of your focused efforts to run an orderly home (Proverbs 31:13,27)?
*Reputation - Is your husband's heart at rest becuase he knows that you will do him good and not evil all the days of your life, never causing any questions about his character to arise (Proverbs 31:12,23)?
*Fidelity - Can your husband trust and even rejoice in your lifelong faithfulness to your wedding vows (Proverbs 5:18)?
*Emotion - Does your husband rest in the knowledge that he can depend on you to be emotionally steady and stable avoiding blow-ups and flare-ups (Proverbs 14:30)?
*Happiness - Are you a fountain of joy, delighting yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4) and refteshing the hearts of those at home?
*Wisdom - can your husband trust you to handle the challenges, difficulties and crises of life with godly wisdom (Proverbs 19:14)?
*Conduct - Can your husband count on you to conduct yourself with graciousness (Proverbs 11:16), discretion (Proverbs 11:22), virtue (Proverbs 31:10), and dignity (Proverbs 31:25)?
*Love - Positive progress in the preceding nine areas is progress in love! You see, love is known by its actions. Your active care for your husband's assets and the details of his life is powerful evidence of your love for him (Proverbs 31:29)."(13)
HEART PROBING TIME:(14)
1. The heart: What do these proverbs say about the damage done by a wife with a character flaw?
Proverbs 12:4
Proverbs 19:3
Proverbs 21:9,19
Proverbs 27:15
2. The trust: Throughout the book of Proverbs, God advises against trusting in anyone or anything other than God. For instance, what do these Proverbs warn?
Proverbs 3:5
Proverbs 11:28
Proverbs 28:26
Now, what do these Proverbs teach us to do instead?
Proverbs 3:5
Proverbs 16:20
Proverbs 28:25
Proverbs 29:25
3. Can you point to any area of your life or any behavior that would cause your husband not to trust in you? Also not the changes you plan to make to be a more faithful wife.
EXTRA READING:
" The Book of Proverbs places on the husband the responsibility of guiding the home according to the wisdom of God, but as we shall see in chapter 31, the wife also plays an important part. Where two people love the Lord and love each other, God can guide and bless them. It’s not a “fifty-fifty” arrangement, because “two become one.” Rather, it’s a 100 percent devotion to each other and to the Lord.
The wife. Every wife will either build the home or tear it down (14:1). If she walks with the Lord, she will be a builder; if she disobeys God’s wisdom, she will be a destroyer. She must be faithful to her husband, for “A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones” (12:4, NIV). A crown or a cancer: What a choice! And beauty isn’t the only thing he should look for; it’s also important that a wife have wisdom and discretion (11:22). " Be Skillful
"If the husband and wife trust each other, there will be harmony in the home. Her husband has no fears or suspicions as she is busy about her work, because he knows she has character and will do nothing but good for him and their children. If brides and grooms take seriously the vows of love and loyalty they repeat to each other and to God at the altar, they will have a wall of confidence around their marriage that will keep out every enemy." Be skillful
Written by:
Natalie Rogers
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sources:
(1) Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, pg 524.1
(2) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, pg 427
(3) Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon pg 105.1
(4) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, pg 112
(5) A concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, pg 37
(6) Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon pg 127.1
(7) Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), DBLH 1251
(8) Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), DBLH 2893
(9) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament, pg 295
(10) Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, 1021.2
(11) Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament), DBLH 8965
(12) MW Collegiate Dict (11th ED)
(13) Beautiful in God's eyes by Elizabeth George, pg 34,35
(14) Discovering the Treasures of a Godly Woman, Proverbs 31, by Elizabeth George pg 18 -20
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