Proverbs 31: 25
‘Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future.’
As a Christian
The idea that one could smile at the future in the current world that we live in must be quite an alarming thought to most. Even as we encountered in our last study about how the recession we are currently facing can be considered a blessing, so many woman would think this is decidedly strange. So how can a woman who lives in crime-riddled, recession hit South Africa smile at the future?
The answer is found in how weak we are. Weakness is condemned in our world and sometimes rightly so. But in the proper context of being a Christian woman acknowledging our weakness before God can be the most liberating opportunity available to us. Despite everyone telling us that we have to be uber-strong women who accomplish everything on our own this is not the truth of the Bible. The only way for us to be saved is to come to God in sorrow over sin and to ask Him for forgiveness and mercy through the blood of Jesus. So as we come to our Lord we acknowledge we are weak and unable to pay for our sins or take away our guilt. From then on our everyday walk must be one in which we acknowledge our inability to do anything in our own strength but only in our Lord’s. So the correct kind of weakness says ‘God, I cannot do this on my own but I want to please you, please give me strength and endurance.’ This will mean we will not grow weary in well-doing but rather gracefully grow in strength of character. We should be constantly looking at those sinful areas we have not dealt with and ask God to change us and act upon His Word.
Emotional Strength
Upon discussing this issue with my husband he thought that it would be in the arena of ‘emotional strength’ that most women struggle and I agreed with him. But the root cause of many Christian women’s failure in this area is dependence on self rather than on the Lord which leads to a selfish attitude. How am I going to get through this, who is going to help me and so on, it reminds of little children jumping up and down and asking when it’s going to be their turn! – Prior to salvation we are selfish impatient beings and we therefore need to put off our dependence on self and rely on our Father.
God is pleased when we exhibit the fruit of the spirit and maintain our love for our families and desire to be used of him.
‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires.
Prior to these verses the Apostle Paul has discussed what the world is full of and it’s not a pretty picture! Collapsing in a heap under the pressure of life will not cause our families to one day rise up and call us blessed BUT we have the unbelievable opportunity to be ambassadors for Christ in our homes. It will bless your husband when he knows you have had a difficult time but he sees you smiling and happy because this builds him up in the most holy faith knowing that it is not you but Christ within you. How amazing when looked at from this perspective. One of Joel’s memory verses when he whines, cries, complains, gets angry etc has been Proverbs 25:28 ‘Whoever cannot rule his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls’, even as he has recited it with me I have realised that I too need to learn the value of fortifying my own life with God’s strength so that ‘my castle’ is not easily broken down.
Even though the Proverbs 31 woman accomplishes so much and has the busiest days ever, there are still seasons for when she does things and she would not have done all these activities spoken of in the Scriptures every single day. We must be careful not to fall into a perfectionist trap and think that society is how we should measure ourselves as this will lead to all manners of sin including anxiousness, worry, and self-pity and so on. How can we be givers of good council in our homes, if the lives we lead do not illustrate that which would give glory to the Lord?
This woman does not smile at the future in some haphazard whimsical way, she is not throwing caution to the wind and believing whatever she “feels is right”. A Proverbs 31 woman knows that God is in control of this universe and that what is occurring in her life at this time is being worked out according to His will. Let’s acknowledge our utter dependence and weakness before God and ask Him to make us strong for His glory and that those around us may see God’s transforming power.
PRAYER: Lord, please show us where we have been self-reliant and indifferent to You, show us where we can improve. Please be merciful to us in how You correct us and help us to be kind and merciful when we correct our own children. May Your strength and care be mirrored in our own lives that we may serve You first and be faithful to what You have called us to do.
Amen.
'God could quite justly have abandoned us to our fate.He could have left us alone to reap the fruit of our wrongdoingand to perish in our sins.It is what we deserved.But He did not.
Because he loved us, He came after us in Christ.He pursued us even to the desolate anguish of the cross, where he bore oursin, guilt, judgment, and death.
It takes a hard and stony heart to remain unchangedby love like that.It is more than love.Its proper name is ‘grace,’which is love to the undeserving.'
John Stott
Posted by Ruth Phillips
(Apologies for the delay in the post - internet problems)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Blessed Among Woman
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her.”
Proverbs 31:28
Her family rise up and call her blessed! Is this not an aspect of being a woman that we would all thank the Lord for if it happens in years to come? Many woman do not share this privilege with the Proverbs 31 woman whom we are studying, why?
What does it mean to be blessed?
Firstly we have to look at what makes a woman blessed. For a start, a woman is to see how wicked her sin is towards God, who is Holy and Just, through the work of the spirit. Through the knowledge of her sin she seeks for forgiveness and repentance from God. God quickens the spirit, forgives and gives repentance to His child. The woman is so grateful that she now lives her life for the Lord for eternity and she continues down the road of sanctification (fight against sin) for the rest of her life here on earth! Secondly, the woman is to “bring forth Christ” in every aspect of her life. If a woman is blessed, her life would reflect those two things.
How can be bring forth Christ in our families?
So many questions to be asked about this verse. As briefly as I can, I would like to try and simplify what a blessed woman’s work in the family looks like. The areas that we will look at are very complex. What I mean by that is there is so much information available on these topics! I will try and stir up your interest and provide a list of resources to get you to study further, for yourself, in your time.
#1 Meeting basic physical and relational needs, Proverbs, Chapter 31
This obviously goes without saying but I thought I may just remind ourselves, that all we have studied and discussed within this chapter should not only be practiced in word but also in deed. Many of the facets of the Proverbs 31 woman are basically, meeting our families physical and relational needs in an excellent and Godly way.
The Proverbs 31 woman is a great look at what we should look like without the effects of materialism and feminism. I would encourage you to not let everything that we have studied go by the way side but to pursue to better the ways which you do things around your home and always pursue your relationships within your family attentively. If you do this, both your children and your husband will call you blessed.
#2 Family Worship
This is such an important point and in this day and age such a neglected one! What is Family Worship? Family worship is coming together to worship God as a family unit. For some this may only happen if the whole family sits down for a meal and thanksgiving is given to the Lord in prayer with an “Amen” from most members of the family. But there is so much more to Family Worship!
As a family, we are still learning, and still have much more to learn in this area. We have heard of families and have read of other ways in which to worship the Lord as a family. Some ideas for you:
* Regular Reading of Gods Word. This can be done at set times during the day. Find times where you come together as a family and can be still while scripture is read out aloud. Meal times are great times to do this. Let the man of the house decide which book of the bible to read through. You can even alternate eg: Psalms at breakfast, a Gospel at lunch and Proverbs at dinner. If your husband is not at home for a meal, you take his place.
* Singing Together. Cd players can come very useful in some families especially if you are learning words or are not confident to sing with out music. You maybe blessed to have a pianist in your family that can play. You can sing specially selected hymns on Sundays and even during the week. We find it extra special to sing specific hymns by candle light at certain times of the year, at Christmas and at Easter.
* Praying Together: Pray together at a specific time of the day. A good time is at the end of the day. Discuss the days happenings together, the fun parts and the difficulties. The man of the house concludes in prayer for each person.
* Family Devotion: This is where the man of the house must share with the family what he has studied in his personal devotion time that morning. It is a very good thing for the husband to do. By doing this he is washing his family with the Word of God daily. It can be 5mins long or even half an hour. Up to the husband! Even if it requires you to get up earlier in the morning! Encourage him to study Gods word and share it with the family.
Remember to not be embarrassed if you have guests, try continue as you would normally. It is a great way to encourage other believers and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved.
As a woman, we are not the head of the home, the husband is. Providing that the husband is saved, it is good for him to take the lead of family worship. Our role is so encourage our husbands to be fulfilling his role. We can do this by getting the children ready and waiting to hear from “daddy”. This is important and key for a wife to encourage her husband to take the lead of the home.
How ever. This does not mean that the responsibility to be having spiritual input into your children’s lives diminishes! Certainly not! As a mother who is fulfilling her Godly role as a mother, should in fact be having more (time wise) of an input into the children’s lives that the father does. You may also help your husband in the careful selections of hymns to be sung and other little special touches for these special times.
#3 Personal Devotion
Your own personal devotions with the Lord are very important! You should make it a habit to share your personal devotion with someone most days, even every day! If you have children you can share it with them. Then as you go through the day, as you face trials and temptations, you can share it with them and show them how to apply what you have learnt.
It is also very important to teach your children how to have their own devotions. You can start at a very young age! We started with a good picture bible, the pictures helped explain the stories and held their concentration. As they begin to understand more, you can start reading portions out of the bible. Explain the story in great detail, children love detail, and give them application. Tell them how they can apply the portion of scripture to their lives that day. Very important to never forget to bring out an attribute of God in each sitting. You can even teach them to memorise scripture from very young. The more the better!
Pray with them at the end of the devotion. Pray what they have learnt and pray for things that are going to happen that day. Ask them to tell you at the end of the day what they learnt in their bible devotion.
#4 Praying
It is important to teach your children how to pray. The only way to do this is to show them. Pray when ever you can, out aloud with them. When they can formulate words, you can ask them to repeat after you have said a few words. It is important that we depend on the Lord for every little thing that we do! We need to show our children our dependence on the Lord!
#5 Discipline
This is so important! Disciplining children is not about sending children to the bathroom to get a hiding, a hug and then being told what they should of done instead. We are not moulding our children in to perfect angels! Discipline is about disciplining the heart, the actions will reflect what is in their hearts. We need to be disciplining as Gods word instructs us. Using Gods word to identify sin, to correct it and then to encourage the children to do what is right. Their own personal battle to meet Gods standards will lead them to see their own need for Christ. The woman who teaches her children their need for Christ and teaches them scripture which will make them wise to the salvation of the Lord will be blessed!
#6 Teaching around the clock
“..And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deut 6:7
As the mother, you spend more time with the children at home and should therefore have more time to teach your children about the Lord.
We need to ask the Lord for wisdom to see each moment as a teaching moment about the Lord. For example, picking flowers in the garden could lead to a lesson on creation. You could rejoice when your little one gets covered in mud as dirty laundry could be a lesson on “filthy rags”, our sin! Fruit, Adam and Eve sinning etc.
#7 Family Traditions
This could be under the previous point of teaching your children every day about the Lord. But I thought that family traditions can be narrowed down to particular events such as Easter and Christmas…..and many more! These two events are vital opportunities to teach our children even more, it really helps to focus on the birth, the death, the resurrection and the ascension of Christ. There are so many important lessons that should not be missed. Find ways in which you can teach these things to your children in memorable ways so that they will never forget Christ!
Her husband also, and he praises her.”
Proverbs 31:28
Her family rise up and call her blessed! Is this not an aspect of being a woman that we would all thank the Lord for if it happens in years to come? Many woman do not share this privilege with the Proverbs 31 woman whom we are studying, why?
What does it mean to be blessed?
Firstly we have to look at what makes a woman blessed. For a start, a woman is to see how wicked her sin is towards God, who is Holy and Just, through the work of the spirit. Through the knowledge of her sin she seeks for forgiveness and repentance from God. God quickens the spirit, forgives and gives repentance to His child. The woman is so grateful that she now lives her life for the Lord for eternity and she continues down the road of sanctification (fight against sin) for the rest of her life here on earth! Secondly, the woman is to “bring forth Christ” in every aspect of her life. If a woman is blessed, her life would reflect those two things.
How can be bring forth Christ in our families?
So many questions to be asked about this verse. As briefly as I can, I would like to try and simplify what a blessed woman’s work in the family looks like. The areas that we will look at are very complex. What I mean by that is there is so much information available on these topics! I will try and stir up your interest and provide a list of resources to get you to study further, for yourself, in your time.
#1 Meeting basic physical and relational needs, Proverbs, Chapter 31
This obviously goes without saying but I thought I may just remind ourselves, that all we have studied and discussed within this chapter should not only be practiced in word but also in deed. Many of the facets of the Proverbs 31 woman are basically, meeting our families physical and relational needs in an excellent and Godly way.
The Proverbs 31 woman is a great look at what we should look like without the effects of materialism and feminism. I would encourage you to not let everything that we have studied go by the way side but to pursue to better the ways which you do things around your home and always pursue your relationships within your family attentively. If you do this, both your children and your husband will call you blessed.
#2 Family Worship
This is such an important point and in this day and age such a neglected one! What is Family Worship? Family worship is coming together to worship God as a family unit. For some this may only happen if the whole family sits down for a meal and thanksgiving is given to the Lord in prayer with an “Amen” from most members of the family. But there is so much more to Family Worship!
As a family, we are still learning, and still have much more to learn in this area. We have heard of families and have read of other ways in which to worship the Lord as a family. Some ideas for you:
* Regular Reading of Gods Word. This can be done at set times during the day. Find times where you come together as a family and can be still while scripture is read out aloud. Meal times are great times to do this. Let the man of the house decide which book of the bible to read through. You can even alternate eg: Psalms at breakfast, a Gospel at lunch and Proverbs at dinner. If your husband is not at home for a meal, you take his place.
* Singing Together. Cd players can come very useful in some families especially if you are learning words or are not confident to sing with out music. You maybe blessed to have a pianist in your family that can play. You can sing specially selected hymns on Sundays and even during the week. We find it extra special to sing specific hymns by candle light at certain times of the year, at Christmas and at Easter.
* Praying Together: Pray together at a specific time of the day. A good time is at the end of the day. Discuss the days happenings together, the fun parts and the difficulties. The man of the house concludes in prayer for each person.
* Family Devotion: This is where the man of the house must share with the family what he has studied in his personal devotion time that morning. It is a very good thing for the husband to do. By doing this he is washing his family with the Word of God daily. It can be 5mins long or even half an hour. Up to the husband! Even if it requires you to get up earlier in the morning! Encourage him to study Gods word and share it with the family.
Remember to not be embarrassed if you have guests, try continue as you would normally. It is a great way to encourage other believers and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved.
As a woman, we are not the head of the home, the husband is. Providing that the husband is saved, it is good for him to take the lead of family worship. Our role is so encourage our husbands to be fulfilling his role. We can do this by getting the children ready and waiting to hear from “daddy”. This is important and key for a wife to encourage her husband to take the lead of the home.
How ever. This does not mean that the responsibility to be having spiritual input into your children’s lives diminishes! Certainly not! As a mother who is fulfilling her Godly role as a mother, should in fact be having more (time wise) of an input into the children’s lives that the father does. You may also help your husband in the careful selections of hymns to be sung and other little special touches for these special times.
#3 Personal Devotion
Your own personal devotions with the Lord are very important! You should make it a habit to share your personal devotion with someone most days, even every day! If you have children you can share it with them. Then as you go through the day, as you face trials and temptations, you can share it with them and show them how to apply what you have learnt.
It is also very important to teach your children how to have their own devotions. You can start at a very young age! We started with a good picture bible, the pictures helped explain the stories and held their concentration. As they begin to understand more, you can start reading portions out of the bible. Explain the story in great detail, children love detail, and give them application. Tell them how they can apply the portion of scripture to their lives that day. Very important to never forget to bring out an attribute of God in each sitting. You can even teach them to memorise scripture from very young. The more the better!
Pray with them at the end of the devotion. Pray what they have learnt and pray for things that are going to happen that day. Ask them to tell you at the end of the day what they learnt in their bible devotion.
#4 Praying
It is important to teach your children how to pray. The only way to do this is to show them. Pray when ever you can, out aloud with them. When they can formulate words, you can ask them to repeat after you have said a few words. It is important that we depend on the Lord for every little thing that we do! We need to show our children our dependence on the Lord!
#5 Discipline
This is so important! Disciplining children is not about sending children to the bathroom to get a hiding, a hug and then being told what they should of done instead. We are not moulding our children in to perfect angels! Discipline is about disciplining the heart, the actions will reflect what is in their hearts. We need to be disciplining as Gods word instructs us. Using Gods word to identify sin, to correct it and then to encourage the children to do what is right. Their own personal battle to meet Gods standards will lead them to see their own need for Christ. The woman who teaches her children their need for Christ and teaches them scripture which will make them wise to the salvation of the Lord will be blessed!
#6 Teaching around the clock
“..And you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deut 6:7
As the mother, you spend more time with the children at home and should therefore have more time to teach your children about the Lord.
We need to ask the Lord for wisdom to see each moment as a teaching moment about the Lord. For example, picking flowers in the garden could lead to a lesson on creation. You could rejoice when your little one gets covered in mud as dirty laundry could be a lesson on “filthy rags”, our sin! Fruit, Adam and Eve sinning etc.
#7 Family Traditions
This could be under the previous point of teaching your children every day about the Lord. But I thought that family traditions can be narrowed down to particular events such as Easter and Christmas…..and many more! These two events are vital opportunities to teach our children even more, it really helps to focus on the birth, the death, the resurrection and the ascension of Christ. There are so many important lessons that should not be missed. Find ways in which you can teach these things to your children in memorable ways so that they will never forget Christ!
#8 Homeschooling
A mother who homeschools her children has a wonderful opportunity to teach her children a biblical world view. She can show her children that everything comes from God and the proof for all things (subjects) are found in Gods Word! What a precious gift from a mother to her children!
Concluding:
There are so many more ways to bring forth Christ in our families! I haven’t even touched the iceberg! We obviously are limited with our time with our children and it will go by very quickly. This is why it is so important to seek the Lord urgently in prayer on this matter. Start disciplining your life in such a way that you may teach your children more about who Christ is, why we need him, his provision to us and the way in which we must now walk.
We must also keep in mind that next to the bible, a mother is the book that shows them how true obedience, love and honour to the Lord is actually carried out. We have so much influence in our children’s lives, please be encouraged to make it a Godly, God honouring influence, with humility and wholeheartedly.
Our aim as mothers is to give our children a good understanding of Gods Word, to give them a correct understand of who God is and to show them their desperate need for Christ!
As such a high standard is expected of us, it is only by the Grace and Strength of the Lord that we are able to attain to it. Not all in one day or even in one year but over our life time! Our motive for doing so is to Glorify the Lord because we love Him.
And remember that the Word of God will not return void! Its amazing that Gods word will live on in children’s hearts right until the day that they die. Gods word is quick and powerful, use your opportunity to write Gods Word in their hearts. This is why they rise up and bless us, because we labour to instil Christ into their lives! The woman who does this could see the day when her children and husband rise up and bless her!
(It is the work of God to save a person in His time, but still our responsibility to teach Gods Word! We are not forcing children to “Ask Jesus into their hearts“! No, not at all, we labour in prayer and nurture, we wait to see the evidence of salvation in our children’s lives. Until then, many closet tears will be shed from the compassion of mothers to see God saving their children from their sin! )
All for the Glory of God!
Written by Natalie Rogers
Appendix A
An extract of a mothers life whose children could of called her blessed!
Mrs Savage and her children
Mrs Savage loved home, and as the head of a family, aimed, by setting a pattern of cheerful, serious piety, to walk “as becometh the Gospel.” For the spiritual welfare of her domestics she cherished a holy zeal, and discovered it by regular and patient instruction, as well as fervent prayer. “Oh!” she writes soon after her marriage, “that the family might be the better for me. As far as I know my own heart, U earnestly desire the salvation of every should under our roof. Oh, that they did but see what I see of the Excellency of Christ, the sinfulness of sin, and the vanity of creatures.”
She was the mother of nine children. The care and tenderness she discovered in their infancy did not exceed her concern for their souls. As they advanced in years, her pious anxiety increased, and no pains were spared to teach them the things of God. A considerable portion of the evening of the Sabbath was devoted to family instruction. She excelled in the happy art of recommending religion to the young. She gained their attention, and encouraged them to be inquisitive in divine subjects. To her instructions were added the most affectionate prayers; and her children, who were not immediately under her inspection, were visited with such letters of piety and love as, with the blessing of God, were calculated to produce the happiest effects. Her diary abounds with expressions of concern for her children. “Oh!”” she writes, “” that I could be every day travailing to see Christ formed in them. This week I was much affected when, reading in my daily course, Proverbs 30:8, ‘Remove fr from me vanity and lies.’ Methinks it is a very proper prayer for children. I have earnestly begged of God to remove from mine vanity and lies. “At another time, “I read in my daily reading in my closet, Isaiah 54, with the exposition; I was much affected with the 13th verse, ‘And all they children shall be taught of the Lord.’ Though it is spoken of the Church’s children, I could apply it to my own children in particular, and desire to act faith on it. I am caring and endeavouring that they may be taught and instructed in the good way. This is the inward desire of my soul. ‘Now, ‘ saith God, ‘they shall be taught of me, and all thy children shall: be a sweet promise; it much satisfies me. ‘ Lord set in with poor parents, who desire nothing in the world so much as to see their children walk in the ‘narrow way that leads to life. “
Taken from ‘The Christian Lady of the Seventeenth Century; or the Life of Mrs Savage.’ By Sir J.B. Williams. London: Religious Tract Society.
Appendix B
Suggested Reading:
*Mothers of the wise and Good by Jabez Burns (Testimonies and short biographies of famous children and their mothers!)
*Disciplines of a Godly Family by Kent and Barbara Hughes
*Family practice by R. C. Sproul and Elisabeth Elliot
* Treasuring God in our traditions by Noel Piper
*When you rise up by R. C. Sproul Jr.
*How to bring your children to Christ by Ray Comfort
*What the bible says about parenting by John MacArthur
*Teach them diligently by Lou Priolo
*Shepherding a childs heart by Tedd Tripp
*Instruments in a redeemers hands by Paul David Tripp
*Don’t make me count to three by Ginger Plowman
*Spiritual parenting by Charles Spurgeon
*A mom after Gods own heart by Elizabeth George
*Disciplines of a Godly woman by Barbara Hughes
Concluding:
There are so many more ways to bring forth Christ in our families! I haven’t even touched the iceberg! We obviously are limited with our time with our children and it will go by very quickly. This is why it is so important to seek the Lord urgently in prayer on this matter. Start disciplining your life in such a way that you may teach your children more about who Christ is, why we need him, his provision to us and the way in which we must now walk.
We must also keep in mind that next to the bible, a mother is the book that shows them how true obedience, love and honour to the Lord is actually carried out. We have so much influence in our children’s lives, please be encouraged to make it a Godly, God honouring influence, with humility and wholeheartedly.
Our aim as mothers is to give our children a good understanding of Gods Word, to give them a correct understand of who God is and to show them their desperate need for Christ!
As such a high standard is expected of us, it is only by the Grace and Strength of the Lord that we are able to attain to it. Not all in one day or even in one year but over our life time! Our motive for doing so is to Glorify the Lord because we love Him.
And remember that the Word of God will not return void! Its amazing that Gods word will live on in children’s hearts right until the day that they die. Gods word is quick and powerful, use your opportunity to write Gods Word in their hearts. This is why they rise up and bless us, because we labour to instil Christ into their lives! The woman who does this could see the day when her children and husband rise up and bless her!
(It is the work of God to save a person in His time, but still our responsibility to teach Gods Word! We are not forcing children to “Ask Jesus into their hearts“! No, not at all, we labour in prayer and nurture, we wait to see the evidence of salvation in our children’s lives. Until then, many closet tears will be shed from the compassion of mothers to see God saving their children from their sin! )
All for the Glory of God!
Written by Natalie Rogers
Appendix A
An extract of a mothers life whose children could of called her blessed!
Mrs Savage and her children
Mrs Savage loved home, and as the head of a family, aimed, by setting a pattern of cheerful, serious piety, to walk “as becometh the Gospel.” For the spiritual welfare of her domestics she cherished a holy zeal, and discovered it by regular and patient instruction, as well as fervent prayer. “Oh!” she writes soon after her marriage, “that the family might be the better for me. As far as I know my own heart, U earnestly desire the salvation of every should under our roof. Oh, that they did but see what I see of the Excellency of Christ, the sinfulness of sin, and the vanity of creatures.”
She was the mother of nine children. The care and tenderness she discovered in their infancy did not exceed her concern for their souls. As they advanced in years, her pious anxiety increased, and no pains were spared to teach them the things of God. A considerable portion of the evening of the Sabbath was devoted to family instruction. She excelled in the happy art of recommending religion to the young. She gained their attention, and encouraged them to be inquisitive in divine subjects. To her instructions were added the most affectionate prayers; and her children, who were not immediately under her inspection, were visited with such letters of piety and love as, with the blessing of God, were calculated to produce the happiest effects. Her diary abounds with expressions of concern for her children. “Oh!”” she writes, “” that I could be every day travailing to see Christ formed in them. This week I was much affected when, reading in my daily course, Proverbs 30:8, ‘Remove fr from me vanity and lies.’ Methinks it is a very proper prayer for children. I have earnestly begged of God to remove from mine vanity and lies. “At another time, “I read in my daily reading in my closet, Isaiah 54, with the exposition; I was much affected with the 13th verse, ‘And all they children shall be taught of the Lord.’ Though it is spoken of the Church’s children, I could apply it to my own children in particular, and desire to act faith on it. I am caring and endeavouring that they may be taught and instructed in the good way. This is the inward desire of my soul. ‘Now, ‘ saith God, ‘they shall be taught of me, and all thy children shall: be a sweet promise; it much satisfies me. ‘ Lord set in with poor parents, who desire nothing in the world so much as to see their children walk in the ‘narrow way that leads to life. “
Taken from ‘The Christian Lady of the Seventeenth Century; or the Life of Mrs Savage.’ By Sir J.B. Williams. London: Religious Tract Society.
Appendix B
Suggested Reading:
*Mothers of the wise and Good by Jabez Burns (Testimonies and short biographies of famous children and their mothers!)
*Disciplines of a Godly Family by Kent and Barbara Hughes
*Family practice by R. C. Sproul and Elisabeth Elliot
* Treasuring God in our traditions by Noel Piper
*When you rise up by R. C. Sproul Jr.
*How to bring your children to Christ by Ray Comfort
*What the bible says about parenting by John MacArthur
*Teach them diligently by Lou Priolo
*Shepherding a childs heart by Tedd Tripp
*Instruments in a redeemers hands by Paul David Tripp
*Don’t make me count to three by Ginger Plowman
*Spiritual parenting by Charles Spurgeon
*A mom after Gods own heart by Elizabeth George
*Disciplines of a Godly woman by Barbara Hughes
Jesus heals the paralysed man!
Lesson Aim: To learn that Jesus can forgive sins because his is God!
Read: Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26
Prayer: Lord thank you for today. Thank you that we can come and learn more about you. Help us to listen. Amen.
Previous lesson:
Does anyone remember last weeks lesson?
Show the activity page and go over verse.
Songs:
My God is so great
Standing in the need of prayer
Story:
One day, Jesus went to his own City, It was called Capernaum. After some days, it was heard that Jesus was in the house. Immediately many people gathered together. There were many people at the house, so many that no body else could fit through the door and find a place to stand or sit! As Jesus was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting near by.
Then behold, men brought a bed a man who was paralysed. Do you know what it means to be paralysed? It means that the man could not walk, or even move his body! His paralysis was so bad that he had to stay in bed all the time! The men who where carrying the paralysed man on the bed, wanted to take him to Jesus inside the house so that Jesus could heal him.
When they could not find a way to bring him into the house because of the crowd of people., they went up on to the housetop. They made a hole in the roof by removing the roof tiles. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. The bed came to rest before Jesus.
When Jesus saw the mens faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
The scribes and the Pharisees began reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? “ God knows our thoughts! Jesus knew their thoughts! Jesus said, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven you “ or to say, “Rise up and walk?” But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins!
Only God can forgive our sins!
Jesus then said to the paralysed man, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Immediately he rose up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house. He was glorifying God!
Everyone was amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”
* Jesus is God
* Jesus forgave the man for his sins first as that was more important than his health.
* Jesus declared that he was God
* Jesus healed the man
* Everyone glorified Jesus
* Everyone feared God!
PRAYER:
Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ to this earth. Thank you that your raised Jesus Christ from the dead and that Jesus paid for our sins. Thank you that when we come to you, we can find forgiveness and repentance. You are the only God, may our lives glorify you and may we fear you.
Amen!
VERSE:
Jesus said, “Get up, pick up your bed, and go home!” Luke 5:24
Read: Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26
Prayer: Lord thank you for today. Thank you that we can come and learn more about you. Help us to listen. Amen.
Previous lesson:
Does anyone remember last weeks lesson?
Show the activity page and go over verse.
Songs:
My God is so great
Standing in the need of prayer
Story:
One day, Jesus went to his own City, It was called Capernaum. After some days, it was heard that Jesus was in the house. Immediately many people gathered together. There were many people at the house, so many that no body else could fit through the door and find a place to stand or sit! As Jesus was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting near by.
Then behold, men brought a bed a man who was paralysed. Do you know what it means to be paralysed? It means that the man could not walk, or even move his body! His paralysis was so bad that he had to stay in bed all the time! The men who where carrying the paralysed man on the bed, wanted to take him to Jesus inside the house so that Jesus could heal him.
When they could not find a way to bring him into the house because of the crowd of people., they went up on to the housetop. They made a hole in the roof by removing the roof tiles. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. The bed came to rest before Jesus.
When Jesus saw the mens faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
The scribes and the Pharisees began reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone? “ God knows our thoughts! Jesus knew their thoughts! Jesus said, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven you “ or to say, “Rise up and walk?” But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins!
Only God can forgive our sins!
Jesus then said to the paralysed man, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
Immediately he rose up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house. He was glorifying God!
Everyone was amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”
* Jesus is God
* Jesus forgave the man for his sins first as that was more important than his health.
* Jesus declared that he was God
* Jesus healed the man
* Everyone glorified Jesus
* Everyone feared God!
PRAYER:
Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ to this earth. Thank you that your raised Jesus Christ from the dead and that Jesus paid for our sins. Thank you that when we come to you, we can find forgiveness and repentance. You are the only God, may our lives glorify you and may we fear you.
Amen!
VERSE:
Jesus said, “Get up, pick up your bed, and go home!” Luke 5:24
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A Good Woman vs a Godly Woman
“She opens her mouth with wisdom;
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”
Proverbs 31:26
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”
Proverbs 31:26
The verse we are looking at today describes the Proverbs 31 woman’s speech, the words that she says and the way in which she communicates. She is wise in knowing when to open her mouth. Do you sometimes open your mouth and later kick yourself as you know that you should of kept your mouth shut. I do find myself in that situation sometimes. Very often after you have opened your mouth it is very difficult to stop in the middle of the sentence! A Godly woman is wise. She thinks through her words before saying them out of turn and will assess words to see if they should be said.
Her words are kind. Are all your words kind? Are all your words spoken out of love in a controlled manner? How many times do we err on the words we say? Many times during the day. We do not only err but we sin against God with our words!
Have you ever noticed how many times the Word of God deals with our speech? After studying this verse, I have been amazed at how many times it is dealt with in scripture! Why do you think our communication is so important to God? Read the following verse:
“The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life..”
Proverbs 10:11
The reason why our words are so important is because it reflects what is in our hearts. The Lord is most concerned with what is going on in our hearts! When a righteous person speaks, words of life should be spoken. What are words of life? Gods word is Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is life. Therefore, Gods word is life. Our words should reflect Gods wisdom.
Now for an issue that I have been wondering about concerning our Proverbs 31 woman. I know many woman who would fit the Proverbs 31 profile BUT ARE NOT SAVED! Their husbands trust them, they are good at managing a home, they handle money well, they do everything for their family, they give to the poor etc. The list goes on and many woman make a perfect match of our Proverbs 31 woman.
The verse that we are looking at today is actually the key to differentiating the difference between a worldly, domestic goddess and a godly, Proverbs 31 woman. Our actions may look good, but it is actually the heart which God sees. This verse shows that what is in the heart will come out of the mouth. When a woman is about her daily “to do list”, which would be a very long one, her words and how she says them will reveal much about the condition of her heart.
Continuous sinning in our communication would cause much concern to make a serious issue of pray with the Lord. We find mercy and grace at the feet of Jesus, don’t hesitate to run to the Lord and cry out for wisdom in your speech. It is important.
Do you remember everything that you have said since your day began this morning? How about since the beginning of the year? There is no ways that we remember everything that we say! But God does remember every thing that we say.
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”
Matthew 12:36
Please understand the importance of wisdom in knowing when to open your mouth and knowing the law of kindness. I have included two studies for you to do in your own time. They will help you to examine many verses in Gods word and will help assess where you may be sinning. Do not be discouraged and shut up completely! Let me encourage you to cling to the Word of God and to flee to the feet of Jesus, the more the better! All for Gods glory! Enjoy the studies!
Written by Natalie Rogers
Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling Youth,
by Patricia A. Miller and Keith R. Miller, Pg 204,205,206
Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling Youth,
by Patricia A. Miller and Keith R. Miller, Pg 204,205,206
Write out verses.
1. Positive qualities to develop in speech:
Building up: Ephesians 4:29
Gentleness: Proverbs 16:24, Proverbs 25:15
Speaking truth: Ephesians 4:25
Speaking after listening: James 1:19-20, Proverbs 15:28
Communicating knowledge: Proverbs 20:15
Appropriate words: Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 15:23
Kindness: Proverbs 12:25; Ephesians 4:32
2. Negative qualities to avoid in speech.
Obscene, foolish, raw jokes: Ephesians 5:4; Ephesians 4:29
Falsehood, lying: Ephesians 4:25
Answering before listening: Proverbs 18:13
Foolish, stupid arguments: 2 Timothy 2:23-24
Slander: Titus 3:1-2
Lack of self control: James 1:26
3. Speech can both grieve and please the Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 4:29-31
4. Summary of the tongue’s power potential
Proverbs 18:21
James 3:5-8
James 3:9-12
5. Many contrasts are provided in Proverbs
Proverbs 12:18
Proverbs 15:1
Proverbs 15:4
Proverbs 10:20-21
*Biblical illustration - Abigail (1 Samuel 25)
______________________________________________________________
Obscene, foolish, raw jokes: Ephesians 5:4; Ephesians 4:29
Falsehood, lying: Ephesians 4:25
Answering before listening: Proverbs 18:13
Foolish, stupid arguments: 2 Timothy 2:23-24
Slander: Titus 3:1-2
Lack of self control: James 1:26
3. Speech can both grieve and please the Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 4:29-31
4. Summary of the tongue’s power potential
Proverbs 18:21
James 3:5-8
James 3:9-12
5. Many contrasts are provided in Proverbs
Proverbs 12:18
Proverbs 15:1
Proverbs 15:4
Proverbs 10:20-21
*Biblical illustration - Abigail (1 Samuel 25)
______________________________________________________________
A homework manual for biblical living, By Wayne A Mack
Vol.2 family and marital problems
COMMUNICATION WORKSHEET
Vol.2 family and marital problems
COMMUNICATION WORKSHEET
A. List five things that you could discuss with your mate. Now plunge in and seek a good time to actually communicate.
B. Evaluate your conversation. Answer the following questions about your conversation by using this rating scale: 0 = never, 1 = seldom, 2 = sometimes, 3 = frequently, 4 = always. Circle the questions where improvement is needed.
1. Do you really show an interest in what others are saying (__) or are you interested in what you are talking about? (__)
2. Are you a know-it-all? (__)
3. Is your voice pleasant, gentle and friendly? (__)
4. Do you say things clearly and simply so that others can understand? (__)
Are you lovingly honest or evasive and untrue? (__) Are you open or secretive?(__)
Do you often send backdoor messages? (__)
5. Are you predominantly appreciative and affirmative (__) or critical and negative(__)
6. Do you encourage others (__) or belittle them? (__)
7. Is your family better because of your involvement with them? (__) How?
8. Does your family feel free to be honest and open with you? (__) Is it safe for them to tell you the truth about you as they see it (__) or do they have to fear speaking the truth to you? (__)
9. Do you tend to dominate a conversation in which you are involved? (__)
Do you ever “whip into silence” by your tone or reaction? (__)
10. Are you willing to listen to opinions that are different from yours and not be threatened by them? (__) Are you a highly opinionated, prejudiced person? (__)
11. When others want to talk to you, do you give them your undivided attention (__) or are you usually too busy? (__)
12. Do you consider communication with your family to be a priority matter? (__) Is it more important to you then watching TV? (__) Than reading the newspaper? (__) Than taking a nap? (__) If you had to choose between talking to your family and doing one of the aforementioned things, would you usually choose talking to your family?
13. Are you often not in the mood to talk? (__) Do you give in to your moods (__) or deny yourself and focus on the needs of others? (__)
14. Are you frequently sarcastic and nasty in your speech (__) or do you usually use wholesome gracious, considerate, and respectful speech? (__)
15. Are you usually cheerful and bright (__) or overly serious and somber? (__) Do you usually have a merry heart (__) or a sullen spirit? (__)
16. Do you nag? (__)
17. Do you lecture or moralize? (__)
18. Do you sometimes exaggerate problems , read into the other person’s faults,etc (__)
19. Do you sometimes mind read, read into the other person’s words and accuse him/her of meaning things he/she didn’t really say? (__)
20. Do you insist on having the last word? (__)
21. Do you make time to communicate on a daily basis? (__)
22. Do you often bring up the other person’s past mistakes? (__)
23. Do you often refuse the other person’s suggestions or advice without really thinking about what he/she is saying? (__)
C. Study the following verses; ask God what they say about communication; write down what they say and how you need to apply them in your circumstances.
1. Matthew 12:34-37
2. Ephesians 4:25-27
3. Ephesians 4:29-32
4. Ephesians 5:18;19
5. Colossians 4:6
6. 2 Timothy 2:24,25
7. Titus 3:1,2
8. 1 Peter 3:10,11
9. James 1:19,20
10. Proverbs 12:25; 15:1; 15:28; 17:14; 20:5; 25:9, 11, 12, 15
11. Proverbs 12:16,18; 15:5; 16:21; 24:27; 17:9; 18:6,13,17,23
D. Select two or three areas in which you need to improve to become a better communicator with your family. Confess your failure to God in this area, ask Him to help you to change and then go to work on them. Begin every day by reaffirming your desire to change, ask God for help, memorize Scripture that speaks to the practise you want to change,, and deliberately throughout the day seek to be different, At the end of every day, review your progress, ask God for forgiveness where you have failed, and again commit yourself to becoming different in the areas you are seeking to change. Write out the changes you want to make and plan how you will bring them to pass.
E. As incidents happen, examine what you did wrong and check how you should of handled the situation.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Recession is a blessing!
"She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies sashes for the merchants."
Proverbs 31:24
We are privileged to be living in a western culture. Let us have a look at how a typical day goes:
The alarm clock wakes us up, maybe more than once because we have a convenient lazy tool called the 'snooze button'. We switch the lamp on. In our own time, we force ourselves to get out of bed and walk a few meters to the bathroom. We turn on the tap, wait a minute until the water is the desired warm temperature and flow. We lather ourselves in all sorts of soaps and oils. We reach out to our lovely bought fluffy towel and head towards our large wardrobes. We open the door and view the piles of bought clothing and shoes. We change. Off to the kitchen we go, we switch the kettle on, grab cereal, open long life box milk and eat. We may open a carton of yogurt and a bottle of fresh fruit juice. Eventually when ready, we grab car keys, lock the house up, set the alarm and ride to our destination in our air conditioned car!
The rest of the day consists of instant coffee, restaurants, coffee shops, quick meals, cell phones, email, Internet, computers, printers, hairdressers, doggy parlors, clothing stores, fridges, light switches, toilets, the list goes on.
The Proverbs 31 woman did not have all these luxuries! She was forced to get up much earlier and do everything herself. Let us have a peak at what her live may have looked like.
Wake herself up, ensure that the lamps did not run out of oil. Ensure that the outside "sewerage system" was functional and clean. She walked far to get water, she had to make a fire to heat the water, make soap for the family to clean themselves with, make the towels for everyone to use, make all the clothes and even maybe the shoes. Grow the oats and cook it, milk the cow or get fresh milk from nearby, make the bread, walk to her destinations. Make all her food by hand and from scratch, plan carefully and ahead as there were no phones, post letters weeks in advance, seek out learned men and woman when requiring information, write everything out, cut every ones hair, groom animals and keep food fresh with out a fridge. This list keeps on going!
Today, we really do not have anything to complain about!
The TRUTH: We have become lazy
Can you see how much harder the woman had to work years ago? Woman in third world countries still live as most did a few hundred years ago. I have to say that all our luxuries have made us lazy. Its hard to admit but it is so true. I have heard it sad that all our new technology makes our mundane chores quicker and easier so that we have more time to do other things. This statement could be true. BUT, because all the hard work is done by our machines, we become lethargic and we place our newly found spare time into more "me time". As a result, we become lazy, we misuse our time and we forget how valuable time is.
"Look carefully the hoe how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is" Ephesians 5:15-17
The LIE: We don't have to go back to the past when new technology is improving our lifestyle!
How do we explain to woman today, that it is important to work hard for her family. Why should woman today have to work so hard? We are so used to just running down to the shops and buying what we need.
The answer lies in the fact that we have to be realistic and remind ourselves of the world that we live in today. A materialistic world! A world which is forgetting God, feminism is getting stronger and people have strayed so far from the truth of God's word in knowledge and in deed!
The result of luxurious living
I would say that our priorities have become selfish. Wealth has caused us to be self centered and lazy! That is the hard reality of materialism. We begin to live for ourselves. We do not extend our hand to the poor and needy as we ought. We do not depend on the Lord for our basic daily needs.
In the light of our materialism, our laziness and the forgotten art of a hard working woman, we stop and ponder why we have to do all the hard work when it is already done by someone else, but with a high price. Where is the link to being a Proverbs 31 woman in a materialistic world?
The link is simply this. Love the Lord your God and to love your neighbors. If we are driven by the materialistic world, we will be self orientated in many ways. If we are driven by the love of the Lord, our situation would be much different. We would sacrifice many convenient ways of doing things in order to produce more by the sweat of our brow to be able to reach out our hands to the needs around us.
God's Providence
God has ordained a recession. Our finances are getting tight, we are panicking as we are battling to make ends meet. In many cases, we are unable to buy what we need and see as necessities. The recession has brought many to their knees! We are in desperate need of Godly wisdom!
The more that I think about our current economic situation from a biblical view of a Proverbs 31 woman. I see our need to return to Gods design of a true biblical woman. Our materialistic world has distorted and even destroyed biblical womanhood. Materialism has fueled the feminist movement!
It is imperative that our dependency is in God and not our materialism and our selfishness. I have realised through our study that if I apply myself more and get my hands dirty. My family will benefit so much more. Let me explain and give some brief simple examples.
My budget for veggies were at a minimum. We managed to get through the week with a few meals with some veggies. Now that the "veggie patch" at the back of the garden is underway, we are going to be able to have all sorts of lovely, unmodified, organic, delicious veggies and fruit to eat. Lord wiling! Fresh garlic, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, cabbage, onions, butternut,onions, gem squash, radish, carrots, patty pans, strawberries, gooseberries, basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, may types of mint and the list can go on. It can cost a little to get things going but once I get into the hang of the veggie and herb gardening, I will be able to continue growing without having to buy seed!
Then there are eggs which were becoming a luxury with the prices getting sky high. My dad made a plan with a friend who owns a large plot to buy chickens and share the eggs. There will soon be an abundance of eggs. Real eggs, eggs which are actually free range (not like the shop varieties!) They have the beautiful golden yellow yolk. Delicious and much more healthier!
I have to conclude that I am grateful that money has become tight due to the recession. It has certainly forced me to become more industrious at home. It has also made me appreciate the Proverbs 31 woman more!
How will the recession affect our daily lives
Now in regard to our industrious woman seen in Proverbs 31:24, she is a woman working hard at home with not many luxuries that we have today. Let the recession cause you to rethink how you do things at home. Once our mind set is changed from an instant world to a 'sweat from the brow' world. Our priorities will change.
We will have to do a large amount of research to learn how to make bath oils, make clothing, make candles etc. As we learn individually and apply ourselves, we will start to help one another a lot more. We will start discovering our God given womanly talents and abilities. We will start to realise that people around us maybe battling to get something done and you can help. This is how we become industrious. We also start loving in the way that God has intended us to love each other by helping each other by deed and not just by word. You will also notice another thing, when you have to work hard at the simple things in life, you are sensitive to those around you who are poor and needy.
"For this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brother. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need yet closes his heart against him,, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
1 John 3:16-18
Life indeed has become to fast and instant and we have become lazy in all spheres. I can see a facet of God's providence in the current recession that we find ourselves in. Let us praise the Lord for what we have. Let us carefully examine where we can ditch the fast, easy, costly and search for a slower, harder and cheaper way of doing things. Let us use what we have to glorify the Lord. By Gods grace, let us teach, bless and love others with the work of our hands. The Lord will bless the abilities that He has given you. Be faithful in using them and praise the Lord if any goods or money is given to you for your hard work, your industry which is God centered, home based and blessed!
So is a recession in our day and age a blessing? Of course!
Discussion question: How doe the recession impact the feminist movement?
Developing Godly excellence by Elizabeth George (1)
We are most generally in charge of the choices we make. What are some of those choices illustrated in these proverbs and what principle(s) does each teach us:
* Proverbs 6:9-11
* Proverbs 10:4
* Proverbs 12:11
* Proverbs 14:23
* Proverbs 18:9
* Proverbs 28:19
* Proverbs 31:27
_____________________________________________________
Sources used:
(1) Discovering the treasure of a Godly woman by Elizabeth George. pg96,97
Written by Natalie Rogers
Monday, October 26, 2009
Jesus heals a man brought through the roof!
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for this new day. Thank you for the cross where Jesus died for our sins so we can talk to you again. In Jesus name, Amen.
SONGS: Trust and Obey, Praise Him, Thy Word have i hid in my heart
BIBLE STORY: Mark 2: 1-12
Let’s look up today’s story in God’s Word the Bible so we can see the truths Jesus told us. Today we are going to hear about a man and his friends who believed in Jesus and trusted Him even though it seemed like they would not be able to reach Him.
Have you ever been in a really crowded room? When you are squashed or there are lots of people. On this day Jesus was talking in a room and a lot of people were all squashed into one room. A man who could not walk and his friends could not bring him in to see Jesus as there was no space... What did they do?
Read Rooftop Miracle taken from the Word & Song Bible.
REVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. Where was Jesus in our Bible story? (In a house)
2. Was there a lot of room in the house? (No, it was very crowded.)
3. What was wrong with the man in our Bible story? (He was sick – he could not walk)
4. What did his friends do? (They were carrying their friend to Jesus. When they could not get in the door, they made a hole in the roof and lowered their friend down.)
5. What did they ask Jesus to do? (Heal their friend)
6. Did Jesus heal the man? (Yes!”)
MEMORY VERSE – Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
CRAFT – A man lowered through the roof of a house!
Materials needed – box of some sort with a lid (similar to a box obtained from a bakery), craft knife, pipe cleaners, punch, cotton wool, cutout shape of a man.
· Take the box and cut a hole in the lid of the box in the shape of a rectangle.
· Trim the edges of the part that has been cut out so it will fit smoothly into your hole.
· Turn the card around so the white side is face down, then punch one hole at each corner giving you four holes.
· Use the pipe cleaner to thread through the holes on either side, giving you a little bed with handles.
· Take some cotton wool and glue it at the one end of the bed for a “pillow”.
· Use the shape of the man to be coloured in by the children and glue it on and lower him down into the house. Older children may decorate the house outside. Depending on the age of the children they can help with each stage.
SONGS: Trust and Obey, Praise Him, Thy Word have i hid in my heart
BIBLE STORY: Mark 2: 1-12
Let’s look up today’s story in God’s Word the Bible so we can see the truths Jesus told us. Today we are going to hear about a man and his friends who believed in Jesus and trusted Him even though it seemed like they would not be able to reach Him.
Have you ever been in a really crowded room? When you are squashed or there are lots of people. On this day Jesus was talking in a room and a lot of people were all squashed into one room. A man who could not walk and his friends could not bring him in to see Jesus as there was no space... What did they do?
Read Rooftop Miracle taken from the Word & Song Bible.
REVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. Where was Jesus in our Bible story? (In a house)
2. Was there a lot of room in the house? (No, it was very crowded.)
3. What was wrong with the man in our Bible story? (He was sick – he could not walk)
4. What did his friends do? (They were carrying their friend to Jesus. When they could not get in the door, they made a hole in the roof and lowered their friend down.)
5. What did they ask Jesus to do? (Heal their friend)
6. Did Jesus heal the man? (Yes!”)
MEMORY VERSE – Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
CRAFT – A man lowered through the roof of a house!
Materials needed – box of some sort with a lid (similar to a box obtained from a bakery), craft knife, pipe cleaners, punch, cotton wool, cutout shape of a man.
· Take the box and cut a hole in the lid of the box in the shape of a rectangle.
· Trim the edges of the part that has been cut out so it will fit smoothly into your hole.
· Turn the card around so the white side is face down, then punch one hole at each corner giving you four holes.
· Use the pipe cleaner to thread through the holes on either side, giving you a little bed with handles.
· Take some cotton wool and glue it at the one end of the bed for a “pillow”.
· Use the shape of the man to be coloured in by the children and glue it on and lower him down into the house. Older children may decorate the house outside. Depending on the age of the children they can help with each stage.
Respect is Key!
RESPECT IS KEY!
Chapter 16 – Proverbs 31: 23
‘Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.’
Prince charming arrives ... tall, dark and handsome with a gift of beautiful blooms and a box of chocolates/ a bottle of perfume/ expensive jewellery (choose whichever one suits you) and then the happy couple set off for a romantic dinner on their own. Romantic movies portray this so-called ideal all the time and hence we think that there are people who live like this permanently with no difficulties or painful circumstances. As a result scores of disgruntled wives go through life believing that anything less than the above makes for unfulfilled expectations.
Have we ever thought that we have our own princes, that your husband is your prince given to you by God and he is the one whom you have a wonderful oporunity to serve and love this whoel life through. Whatever happens in your marriage is ordained by God, is not this the time to take stock of how you have been progressing and see where you could improve? We are already 23 verses into our study and how amazing is the power of God’s Word to change us.
A MATTER OF RESPECT
The Proverbs 31 woman’s husband is also described in this manner in the NIV:
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.’
This man is able to focus on delivering righteous judgement as he is looked after and provided for at home in a respectful way. How easy it can sometimes be to allow the respect of our husbands to slip as we fall into a rut of nagging and complaining. This should not be the case.
An excerpt from a sermon John Piper gave, brings some light as to why verse 23 was included in an acrostic poem about an incredibly godly woman, who fears and loves the Lord.
“Verse 23 seems out of place in a song of praise to women. It says, ‘Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.’ How is it that a word of praise to the wife who fears the Lord? Proverbs 12:4 gives the answer: ‘A good wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is rottenness of his bones.’ A wife who fears the Lord increases the esteem of her husband at the gates of the city. In twelve and a half years of marriage my wife has never done or said anything in public that would have caused me to be ashamed. She has my absolute trust as a representative of what our family stands for. There is no place i might go where i would be ashamed to take Noel. She is a crown to my head and a signet ring on my right hand. She is for me 100% because she is a woman who fears the Lord. And I pray that every wife here will, under God, give that kind of support to your husband.”
This woman’s husband is given a tribute due to her hard work and dedication. But the opposite can also be true, lets look at another Scripture which also sheds some light on a wife who si continually arguing with her husband and those around her:
‘A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentioius woman are alike.’ Proverbs
Manners and Customs of the Bible explains it as follows:
Reference is undoubtedly made here to the frequent leaks to which the flat roofs of Eastern houses are subject. Having merely a covering of earth, rolled smooth and hard, a heacy rain will soon succeed in fidning its way through, when the drops will fall into the room below. Thus making it uncomfortable, if not actually uninhabitable. Travellers are frequently disturbed in this manner during violent storms, sometimes being obliged to change their quarters in the middle of the night.’
Wow, I cringe at the thought that at times I may have made my husband want to ‘change beds because the leak was so bad’. A man who is in a home with a woman like this will not be respected in the gates but rather shamed, embarrassed and possibly even resentful. As an aside I love the fact that my husband loves coming home from work to his growing family. It can be so easy to want to offload as soon as he walks through the door and sometimes I do! But the most God-honouring thing to do is to get the children together to go and meet him with a kiss and a hug and welcome him into the home. Yes your day was probably difficult, yes there will be challenges still there in the morning but the Lord wants us to not nag nor be sour with our husbands but rather this study has really shown me the effect I can have on my home for the worse or the better. We can show respect for our husbands in the following ways:
Not to belittle him in private or public, pray for him, if he returns from work or being out later than usual still meet him at the door and warm his supper up, do not complain about your budget and how there is no money – rather thank him for his hard work and trust God to provide. A man who is continually worrying about a wife who is grumbling about finances will not be ‘known in the gates’.
Even when your husband is not paying attention we are still called to lay down our lives for them and he will then be raised up in his position and be able to ‘wear his wife as a crown’ becaseu she does him good (v 12) and he can fully trust her (v 11). She is not spiteful or a nag (v 12), she is mindful of family needs (v 14-15) and thinks for herself while still being submissive (v 16). This woman does not live by her emotions as we said above she does not offload as soon as her husband walks in the door! Her husband is touched by her love and compassion for others too (v 20) and yet at the end of the day she has time and energy for her husband. As Carolyn Mahaney says your husband will not be unhappy with peanut butter sandwiches for supper if it means you are rested and energetic enough for dessert J.
So we see that this verse about her husband is not misplaced at all. When we believe the Proverbs 31 passage and act in faith we build up our husbands and we fall more in love with our earthly prince charmings’ and more importantly our Heavenly King.
Ruth 4:11 ‘All the people in the court, and the elders, said “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rached and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. (NASB)
This is a poem that my mom read to me a while ago from Streams in the Desert:
It isn’t the things you do dear,
It’s the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bitter heartache
At the setting of the sun.
The tender word unspoken,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent, dear,
Are your haunting ghosts at night.
The stone you might have lifted
Out of your brother’s way
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried to much to say.
The loving touch of the hand, dear,
The gentle and winsome tone,
That you had no time or thought for,
With troubles enough of your own.
These little acts of kidness,
So easily out of mind,
These chances to be angels,
Which even mortals find
They come in night and silence,
Each chill reproachful wraith,
When hope is faint and flagging,
And a blight has been dropped on faith.
For life is all too short, dear,
And sorrow is all too great,
To suffer our slow compassion
That tarries until too late.
And it’s not the things you do, dear,
Its the things you leave undone,
Which gives you the bitter heartache,
At the setting of the sun. Adelaide Proctor
Written by
Ruth Phillips
(My apologies for the delay in posting this)
Chapter 16 – Proverbs 31: 23
‘Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.’
Prince charming arrives ... tall, dark and handsome with a gift of beautiful blooms and a box of chocolates/ a bottle of perfume/ expensive jewellery (choose whichever one suits you) and then the happy couple set off for a romantic dinner on their own. Romantic movies portray this so-called ideal all the time and hence we think that there are people who live like this permanently with no difficulties or painful circumstances. As a result scores of disgruntled wives go through life believing that anything less than the above makes for unfulfilled expectations.
Have we ever thought that we have our own princes, that your husband is your prince given to you by God and he is the one whom you have a wonderful oporunity to serve and love this whoel life through. Whatever happens in your marriage is ordained by God, is not this the time to take stock of how you have been progressing and see where you could improve? We are already 23 verses into our study and how amazing is the power of God’s Word to change us.
A MATTER OF RESPECT
The Proverbs 31 woman’s husband is also described in this manner in the NIV:
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.’
This man is able to focus on delivering righteous judgement as he is looked after and provided for at home in a respectful way. How easy it can sometimes be to allow the respect of our husbands to slip as we fall into a rut of nagging and complaining. This should not be the case.
An excerpt from a sermon John Piper gave, brings some light as to why verse 23 was included in an acrostic poem about an incredibly godly woman, who fears and loves the Lord.
“Verse 23 seems out of place in a song of praise to women. It says, ‘Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.’ How is it that a word of praise to the wife who fears the Lord? Proverbs 12:4 gives the answer: ‘A good wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is rottenness of his bones.’ A wife who fears the Lord increases the esteem of her husband at the gates of the city. In twelve and a half years of marriage my wife has never done or said anything in public that would have caused me to be ashamed. She has my absolute trust as a representative of what our family stands for. There is no place i might go where i would be ashamed to take Noel. She is a crown to my head and a signet ring on my right hand. She is for me 100% because she is a woman who fears the Lord. And I pray that every wife here will, under God, give that kind of support to your husband.”
This woman’s husband is given a tribute due to her hard work and dedication. But the opposite can also be true, lets look at another Scripture which also sheds some light on a wife who si continually arguing with her husband and those around her:
‘A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentioius woman are alike.’ Proverbs
Manners and Customs of the Bible explains it as follows:
Reference is undoubtedly made here to the frequent leaks to which the flat roofs of Eastern houses are subject. Having merely a covering of earth, rolled smooth and hard, a heacy rain will soon succeed in fidning its way through, when the drops will fall into the room below. Thus making it uncomfortable, if not actually uninhabitable. Travellers are frequently disturbed in this manner during violent storms, sometimes being obliged to change their quarters in the middle of the night.’
Wow, I cringe at the thought that at times I may have made my husband want to ‘change beds because the leak was so bad’. A man who is in a home with a woman like this will not be respected in the gates but rather shamed, embarrassed and possibly even resentful. As an aside I love the fact that my husband loves coming home from work to his growing family. It can be so easy to want to offload as soon as he walks through the door and sometimes I do! But the most God-honouring thing to do is to get the children together to go and meet him with a kiss and a hug and welcome him into the home. Yes your day was probably difficult, yes there will be challenges still there in the morning but the Lord wants us to not nag nor be sour with our husbands but rather this study has really shown me the effect I can have on my home for the worse or the better. We can show respect for our husbands in the following ways:
Not to belittle him in private or public, pray for him, if he returns from work or being out later than usual still meet him at the door and warm his supper up, do not complain about your budget and how there is no money – rather thank him for his hard work and trust God to provide. A man who is continually worrying about a wife who is grumbling about finances will not be ‘known in the gates’.
Even when your husband is not paying attention we are still called to lay down our lives for them and he will then be raised up in his position and be able to ‘wear his wife as a crown’ becaseu she does him good (v 12) and he can fully trust her (v 11). She is not spiteful or a nag (v 12), she is mindful of family needs (v 14-15) and thinks for herself while still being submissive (v 16). This woman does not live by her emotions as we said above she does not offload as soon as her husband walks in the door! Her husband is touched by her love and compassion for others too (v 20) and yet at the end of the day she has time and energy for her husband. As Carolyn Mahaney says your husband will not be unhappy with peanut butter sandwiches for supper if it means you are rested and energetic enough for dessert J.
So we see that this verse about her husband is not misplaced at all. When we believe the Proverbs 31 passage and act in faith we build up our husbands and we fall more in love with our earthly prince charmings’ and more importantly our Heavenly King.
Ruth 4:11 ‘All the people in the court, and the elders, said “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rached and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. (NASB)
This is a poem that my mom read to me a while ago from Streams in the Desert:
It isn’t the things you do dear,
It’s the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bitter heartache
At the setting of the sun.
The tender word unspoken,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent, dear,
Are your haunting ghosts at night.
The stone you might have lifted
Out of your brother’s way
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried to much to say.
The loving touch of the hand, dear,
The gentle and winsome tone,
That you had no time or thought for,
With troubles enough of your own.
These little acts of kidness,
So easily out of mind,
These chances to be angels,
Which even mortals find
They come in night and silence,
Each chill reproachful wraith,
When hope is faint and flagging,
And a blight has been dropped on faith.
For life is all too short, dear,
And sorrow is all too great,
To suffer our slow compassion
That tarries until too late.
And it’s not the things you do, dear,
Its the things you leave undone,
Which gives you the bitter heartache,
At the setting of the sun. Adelaide Proctor
Written by
Ruth Phillips
(My apologies for the delay in posting this)
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