Free e-book: All About Psalm 23

Recently, I had the honor and privilege of being part of a Group Writing Project.  Our subject:  Psalm 23, a most beloved part of Scripture to countless Christians.  Courtney, at Faithful Bloggers, whose idea this was in the first place (thank you so much, Courtney!) has put all the 26 contributors' writing into an e-book!  I've been reading through all the entries, and I know that you will be blessed, as I've been, by what the Lord has laid on each woman's heart.  I appreciate Courtney's vision and initiative to put this project together, and now she has made it into an e-book and generously allowed us to share "All About Psalm 23--A Christian Group Writing Project" with all of you--free of charge!!

I'm very excited to be able to offer you the opportunity to download this free e-book of devotions on a most precious chapter of the Word of God, Psalm 23 (see below to download).  I know you're going to grow in your relationship with the Lord through reading and pondering the thoughts shared on this familiar passage.

Download your Psalm 23 Christian Group Writing Project free e-book here!

What Is In Your Hand?

Everyday lessons for life
From the Bible record of the feeding of the 5000 as recorded for us in Mark 6:30-44.

³⁵And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:  ³⁶Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. ³⁷He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. (emphasis mine) And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? ³⁸He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. ³⁹And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. ⁴⁰And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

 ⁴¹And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. ⁴²And they did all eat, and were filled. ⁴³And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. ⁴⁴And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

What I have is nothing, really--my talents, my abilities, my resources-- in myself, I have nothing to give.  The need, the complexity, the magnitude is so great (whatever is before me on any given day: my "things to do" list, my problems, those who I will meet and the problems they bring to me).  There is no way that what I have will make any difference or meet the need.  Satan says, "Why bother?  Why try?  What difference can it--can you--possibly make?"


He is right, if not for Christ.  When I give Jesus what is in my hand--nothing really, but I give it, nonetheless--a miracle happens.  What before would not even be enough for me--or my family--now is more than enough for all the need!


Why did Jesus instruct the disciples to find out how much food they had?  Perhaps, I think, so they would recognize their total inability within themselves to meet the need.  Now they were ready to recognize Christ at work.  Now they were humble.


He had them sit everyone down on the grass.  Did they believe, or just obey?  Then Jesus gave them back what had been in their hand before, only now it had been transformed by His Touch, His Blessing.  Before He gave it back, He broke it.  When we give ourselves and what is in our hand to Him, we must be willing to be broken.  Then, in obedience, the disciples, and we, give what is in our hand--now transformed, changed, multiplied--to all those before us, and it fills them, feeds them, nourishes them.  And we are not left depleted and empty, but filled ourselves.  There is enough for all when we bring what is in our hand to Jesus.

Timely Tips on Tuesday: What in the World is a Woman to Wear?

The subject of modesty will never grow old, or be answered for all time.  Why? Because it is a spiritual battleground. Men and women are drawn away of their own lusts, but they are tempted by the dress of others.  This is true in the Christian community, as well as in the world.  That is a sad commentary, but true.  Today, I am linking back to an excellent article on the subject of Modesty on the site "At the Well". It is found under the category of "Woman to Woman", which is a section devoted to older Titus 2 women teaching the younger. (The first section of the article was written June 5, 2009, by Andrea Parlinak, with another section following immediately, which was written by another author. I recommend reading both.) 
The Bible has so much to say about the subject of modesty, that it is amazing that many Christians have not given it much thought.  They dress according to their tastes and preferences, and what appeals to their eyes, their flesh and what they think will attract the opposite sex. Does this remind anyone else besides me of the verses in 1 John 2?
¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17

Also, in Proverbs 7:10 it says there is a certain way of dressing that is the "attire of a harlot"

 ⁹In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
 ¹⁰And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
 ¹¹(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house).
If there is "the  attire of an harlot", it would naturally follow that we study to not look that way!
But you say, "I don't dress that way!!"  Are you absolutely positive?  What is our dress communicating to men? (I speak to us, as women) Ladies?  Do you know for sure that you are not causing a "brother" to stumble, by provoking his thoughts to lust? (At the end of this article, I am including a survey which our church did of the older boys and men on what caused them problems in a girl's or woman's dress--I think it is very helpful.)

No, it is not only his problem.  I must act in love, and not cause another to stumble, using my liberty as a cloak of maliciousness, 1 Peter 2:16, (using my freedom to harm someone else). 

The sex of a person should be shown in how they dress.  But it goes further than that:
"The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God." Deuteronomy 22:5
I have chosen to wear dresses or skirts all the time, since the Lord convicted me about my way of dressing, through this verse, and other verses and articles.  One reason is that I want to associate with, and identify with, the design that God created me to have: God made me a woman.  I am grateful for that. I want to be fully a woman. I want to look like a woman.  I want to act like a woman. I find it easier to act, sit and move modestly, and act more "ladylike", when wearing a longer skirt. You can do everything that a woman should do wearing a long skirt (in the "olden days" they had to).  I think people treat me more like a woman, and many (even strangers) have voiced their appreciation verbally for the way I dress. It honestly took me a while to figure out and change my wardrobe, and I still have to constantly think about this subject when buying new articles of clothing, and in my thoughts and actions. Please don't think that I think I have "arrived".

Another fact that I think is interesting is: What is the symbol that identifies women worldwide? A little drawing of a stick figure wearing a skirt.  Everyone around the world knows that is the symbol of a woman. That is what you look for when trying to decide which room is the women's room. From a distance, a person has no trouble identifying me as a woman, because I wear a skirt.  If you haven't turned me off yet, I hasten to add that wearing dresses makes me no better, or worse, than anyone else. It's not something that will get me into heaven, or keep me out.  Related to the subject of modesty, until about a hundred years ago, women wore skirts, but that doesn't mean they were always modest.  It goes much deeper than that. I do not tell you to wear dresses, unless the Lord does, and I am not saying that you are sinning if you wear pants.  I am not on any campaign to get women to wear dresses.  What I am doing is urging you to study this subject, and know why you wear what you wear, and that it is pleasing to the Lord. Modesty, like everything else, is a heart issue.



I encourage you to, please, read these interesting and thought-provoking articles, and do a study of Scripture, and decide prayerfully, talking and praying with your husband if you're married, about what you should wear.

Here are some books I recommend to you as you study this subject:

Christian Modesty and the Public Undressing of America, (really thought-provoking historical look at clothing) by Jeff Pollard

What in the World Should I Wear,
by Cathy Corle   Here's a link:
What in the World Should I Wear


"Unless the Lord" magazine:
Article on Modesty
(I didn't read this one at this time.)

Please read this Excellent Article(!) entitled "Modesty in Appearance" by Arlo Moehlenpah

Modesty Survey

55 Responses

Answer to question:  "What is an eye-catcher for you, what do you consider immodest,

what can cause you to have lustful thoughts?"

• Tight shirt, skirt, or pants that reveal the form of the body parts = 42
• Low-cut tops/dresses/blouses that reveal the bust or draw your eyes down = 37
• Short skirts (knee or above) = 20
• High slits in skirts/dresses = 8
• Sheer fabric, see-through material = 6
• Too much makeup = 4
• High heels = 2
• Hair hanging in front of face/unkempt hair = 2
• Lettering on front of shirts = 2

Becoming A Titus 2 Woman: What Does It Mean To Be Reverent

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:3-5

Today, at Becoming Titus 2 in 2010, we're looking at what it means to be "reverent" (or "sober").  Wow, this has been an incredibly "meaty" study.  Though this is long, will you stick with me, and allow me to share what the Lord has been teaching me? It will be encouraging by the end, so hang in there.

1. This is supernatural.
2. It's to be taught.
3. It can be learned.
4. We "older" women aren't "perfect" at it, just have had more practice learning it.
5. When we don't demonstrate this quality, the Word of God is blasphemed, (or can be). 
6. Like everything else in our walk with the Lord, we need Him desperately, and only by His grace can we even begin to do this.

The first challenge, how to find out what "reverent" or "sober" means. Well, to begin, a word study is in order. Looking up "sober" led me to "temperate" which led me to (not having) "passion"--read on:

1. … habitually temperate 3. Not mad or insane; not wild, visionary or heated with passion; having the regular exercise of cool dispassionate reason. (not) tempestuous and blustering. 4. Regular; calm; not under the influence of passion; as sober judgment; a man in his sober senses. 2. Cool; calm; not marked with passion; not violent  5. (Not displaying passion, as it's defined by:) Violent agitation or excitement of mind, particularly such as is occasioned by an offense, injury or insult; hence, violent anger.

Sometimes it's easier to see what something is, by noting what it is not.  Studying the word sober, (with its synonym "temperate" which related to not having "passion" as defined above), I couldn't help but notice that a sober, reverent woman was not marked by "fits" and outbursts and anger and violent outrage. She's even-keeled, able to make "cool-headed" (and I would add, Biblical) decisions, she's not harboring bitterness, not "flying off the handle".  She isn't a storm moving around the house or erupting (tempestuous and blustering).  She is, in a word, calm.

From the Bible, what it doesn't mean:
A quick and cursory look at the lives of leading Bible characters tells us that being reverent/sober doesn't mean sitting quietly in a chair, never having any strong feelings or emotions.
The Lord brought David, a "man after God's own heart", and verses such as these, to mind as examples:

"The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears."Ps. 18:4-6
He prays in his calamity--"9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed."Ps. 31:9-10
A verse that is very dear to me: "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice."Psalm 55:17
"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. "Ps. 61:2
Ps. 77:2 shows a desperate man--"In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed...I am so troubled that I cannot speak."
(Later in the same psalm he remembers the works of the Lord, all He has done, and says, "Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders." This is key.)

And God Himself exhorts and encourages us: "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me." Psalm 50:15 

David's prayers, filled with vehement emotion, and injunctions to "cry out" to God, clearly show that God, far from condemning a soul filled with emotion, accepts, no encourages, bringing our deep desires, hurts, and cares to Him.
David was also an example of strong affection for others: deep friendship characterized him.

So, God is not inditing us for feeling deeply within our souls, when He tells us to be reverent and sober (calm).

What being reverent indicates, to me, is what characterizes our outward demeanor.  Please don't be misled. I'm not advocating hypocrisy. What I am saying is that, our outward demeanor should demonstrate the truth of our convictions and faith, that we believe that God is in control, that He is able and mighty, that He loves us, and that we are trusting Him, even though we may be filled with emotions of every kind within.
(I need to include a caveat here: Some of us (women) who are naturally very emotional may need to try to control some of our emotions, not encourage them, so I am not encouraging us to give way to every emotional feeling that we have, but rather acknowledging that there are times in life of great emotion.)

I am to take all those deep feelings, emotions and cares, every burden of my soul, to Him. Leave it there. Trust in Him. Then, I am to act, in an outward expression of faith, calmly and reverently; I am to be ruled by my spirit, not my emotions, and my spirit is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.  Let me repeat: I am not to be ruled by my emotions, and my outward behavior should demonstrate that.

That is calm, sober, reverent behavior.  We are not to be under the influence of passion, but it does not say we are not to have any passion, meaning fervor and emotion. (There are some passions and emotions which are forbidden as sin. We are told repeatedly in Scripture to Fear not, for instance. And we are told to be anxious for nothing. Fear, anxiety, worry are emotions which we can't make at home in our souls.) Our emotions and responses are to be ordered and controlled by the Spirit. But, obviously, from the example of David, emotions are not sin.

Titus 2:3-5 removes any preconceived notion we may have that reverence is an inborn trait, and natural. It is learned, it can be taught, we can improve in the skill, but it is supernatural. Without Christ, this is impossible. The natural man knows nothing of this "calm," reverent behavior. It is so foreign to the world, that it is one of the traits that will cause people to ask you for a reason of the hope that is within you. When you are mistreated, insulted, abused, and you do not give way to anger. When you remain calm in times of overwhelming circumstances, people will ask you your secret. This is why satan wants us to fail in this area. It is a great testimony to the world. And the way we act, as wives and mothers, greatly influences our family's behavior, especially our children's.

We must cry out to God, for there will be times when we are overwhelmed. There will be times when we are tempted to respond to insult, injury and offense with anger. There are, at times, storms raging in our souls. God, through His Spirit at work in us, is our only hope. He says we can overcome, and so we must make effort every day, but we must know that it is only by His strength that we will be victorious over sin.  Being reverent/sober is a command, not a suggestion, with a dire warning: that the Word of God be not blasphemed.

It is a lie from satan that those outbursts, those fits, those times of giving way to worry, fear and anxiety, those times that "I just lost it", are acceptable and normal.  No, I am sinning. The steps to take in those cases are to confess my sin to God and those I have offended, to ask God for help to change, to commit to steps which will bring a different outcome next time, to spend time in God's Word and in prayer, crying out to God for help and strength.

I will therefore that the younger women...give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 1 Timothy 5:14 (Nor the older women.)

There will be times when we will fail. This is very humbling. But, with the humbling to our souls from failing, from having to ask forgiveness, and from being on my knees before the Lord begging for help, comes grace. God gives grace to the humble.

Remember the saying, "It's not where you're at that counts, but the direction you're going." Let's remember that God is there to help us, and by God's grace, let's go in the right direction.

"Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.  If thou, Lord, shouldest mark (keep track of) iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His Word do I hope."  Psalm 130:1

A Prayer of Repentance and Request for God's Help:
"Lord, I am not calm in the worldly sense and often I am not calm in the spiritual sense. I feel things so strongly. I (over)react often. Father, at times I am a storm: tempestuous and blustering. Please forgive me for acting even wildly, at times, and for being given to extreme emotion (extremely agitated and sometimes even angry) in the face of insult, "injury" or offense. Lord, please change me by Your Spirit that I may demonstrate a regularity of calmness, and the ability to exercise cool, dispassionate reason. May I know how to be a woman of stability and sober judgment, that I may demonstrate to a needy world that reverent, sober, calm spirit which You alone can give, that Your Word may not be blasphemed, and I may be a testimony to all of Your grace and love."

I Finally Did It!

This is *so* exciting, guys! I have been wanting to do this ever since I heard of it from Berean Wife (thanks, BW!) two months ago. I've finally done it. I installed InstaVerse. It is this incredible tool which, when you type a Bible reference, such as Titus 2:5 or 1 John 1:9 or Genesis 1:1, causes the verse to appear (in a popup window) when you hover over it with your mouse. Try it!  Besides working here on my blog, it will work when you're reading an email or Word document as well.  I absolutely *love* that, when you are typing and want to include a Bible verse, such as Phil. 4:8, all you have to do is hold down Alt and F8 and it will type in the verse for you!! Yay!  Best of all, InstaVerse is *free* in the King James Version, which is what I prefer, anyway!  For a minimal fee, you can download other versions. I'm very excited (can you tell I'm excited?!) to use this new tool--I think it will do two fabulous things.  It will motivate me to use a lot more Scripture in my writing, (because I'm really bad at remembering the reference of a verse; usually I know the gist and most of a verse, but sometimes I say a verse and my kids say that was MMV: Mom's Mutilated Version, so now I can get it right every time!) and it will cause you, and me, to have the Word before our eyes and in our hearts much more. I think of verses coming before our eyes over and over, as though they're splashing our minds and bathing our thoughts, like ocean waves.  Then, pretty soon they're like a huge wave *drenching* our souls with the Word. We'll be saturated with it! Isn't it fantastic!? (*Cheering, jumping up and down*)
So, click on this link and you can get your own free today!

A Penetrating Question

 Is Your Quiet Time with God:
M = Moving
O = Organized
R = Renewing
N = (K)nee-bending
I = Involved
N = Normal
G = Growth-producing

and

E = Essential
V = Vital
E = Exhilarating
N = Necessary
I = Intrinsic
N = Needful
G = Gladsome

?

Women in the Word

At this very busy time of year, perhaps your study of the Word has suffered.  It's easy to have happen.  But it's necessary to be diligent in devoting time to prayer and Bible study or the neglect will find us depressed and far from our Lord very quickly.  Our relationship with Jesus has to be lovingly tended.

As an encouragement along these lines, I'd like to introduce you to a radio broadcast and blog, Women in the Word (click on the link to go to the site). I've been richly blessed by the Biblical teaching I've heard as I've listened locally, but you can get this rich content through their blog, even though you don't live, as I do, where you can pick up the radio station.  Please visit this site and study the Word with Pam, Rebecca and Sarah.  On their blog one of the helps you will find is the current study on 1 John along with study notes, as well as their discussion of the text. I encourage you to join me as we become more and more diligent Women in the Word.

1 John 2:15-17--"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."