What are We Waiting For?

Here is a timely devotion from http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/
Its on waiting! This new blog will require that...patients, waiting. But in the end I think its gonna be great! Enjoy the devotion.

What have you been waiting for? Kids to arrive? Kids to grow up? Grandkids? Husband? Husband to grow up? Waiting marks a woman’s life. So many of her experiences test, shape, and develop her capacity to wait.
Anna was a well-worn example of patient waiting. Her short marriage ended in widowhood. She spent the remainder of her eighty-four-plus years serving in the temple as a prophetess. She focused her life on God and helped others do the same. Anna was present when Joseph and Mary brought the child Jesus to Jerusalem for the first time. She was probably one of those indelible memories from the early days of her son’s life that Mary “kept . . . in her heart and thought about them often” (Luke 2:19). Later Mary may have shared them with Luke as he interviewed those closest to Jesus.
Anna overheard Simeon’s prophecy about Jesus and immediately added her own excited words of praise and confirmation for the Savior. She spread the word about the child to those she knew were genuinely awaiting the Messiah.
Anna made the temple her home. Though he was writing about widows in the church several decades later, Paul seemed to be describing Anna when he wrote to Timothy, “Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help” (1 Tim. 5:5). Anna discovered that God can make every passage of life meaningful and useful. The long years of widowhood were also effective years of worship and service.
Like Anna, we often patiently go about the daily routines of life. However, perhaps you are waiting for God to reveal a more exciting plan for your life. Ask God to show you the potential for even this time of seeming insignificance to become meaningful and effective service for him.
God can make every passage of life worthwhile. God helps us learn to wait.

Quiet Moments

The Proof is in Patients! This is a great devotion by Max Lucado. http://www.maxlucado.com/pdf/upwords.proof.patience.pdf

I have sort of become addicted to Max Lucados style of writing this year. Seems to be the author to be found at the library book sales and thrift stores. Love his quick whit and honesty. His books are refreshing to read and packed with life lessons. I will be doing a give a way in a few months so if you are a Max Lucado fan check back for the give a way.

Quiet Moments

Max Lucado is one of my favorite Christian authors. He is uplifting, honest and funny.

Of Petals and People By Max Lucado

http://www.maxlucado.com/pdf/upwords.petals.and.people.pdf 

Quiet Moments

 

I love this artical from   If you have not been to this web page I encourage you to visit.

Ten Things NOT Found in Proverbs 31

Have you ever tried so hard to make things great for your family that you ended up frustrated, bitter, and snapping at every one of them? You know, something like, “Go away and be quiet, can’t you see that I’m trying to be a good mother?” Did you feel guilty because you could not be the person you were trying to be? Great news! The world of being a wife and mother is no different that the world of everything else we do before God. We feel guilty because we are guilty, and we need Jesus to fix that. There is no “special section” of God’s word that does not require his grace to fulfill it in our lives. That includes Proverbs 31.

I’ve viewed many reader comments describing the various books published about the Proverbs 31 woman. Above all, my favorite is, “It read like a car repair manual.” Let us not forget that our number one priority is to be a disciple of Christ. If we read these verses as a “how-to” manual, we will always fail. Always. God’s ONLY repair instructions have always been to come into the fullness of his grace daily and let him perfect us.

The little bit of research I have done has indicated that Proverbs 31:10-31 was actually an acrostic poem that most Jewish women would memorize. It was a guide to Jewish men on finding a good wife. Well, what things in these verses could a man actually evaluate BEFORE he married the woman? I’m thinking he probably would not be looking at a woman who was already married with children, so he couldn’t observe all of these specific daily tasks. He could however, pay attention to the beginning verse where she is titled a “wife of noble character.” Could it be her character that is being described?

This passage describes a woman who “fears the Lord,” who “speaks with wisdom” and has “faithful instruction” on her tongue. She is a generous woman with a strong work ethic who does not get anxious about the future. A woman cannot possess all of these characteristics together apart from a daily walk with God. A great listing of the works that flow out of this character are also listed in this passage. It is a beautiful picture of what a husband will see in his wife when she fears the Lord and how beautiful she will look to him. (“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”)

Unfortunately, we tend to get this backwards most of the time. We say, “If you can do all of the things on this list, you will have become a wife of noble character.” If that wasn’t enough, we add a whole list of other requirements that we assume are included. After all, she is superwoman; If she works so hard, her house must be spotless and her family must be angelic. I’ve got an idea. Let’s not try to add to God’s word and make it better. I think he did a good job the first time.

Following is a list of the 10 verses not found in Proverbs 31:

1. Her coffee table never has dust on it.
2. Many have eaten off her kitchen floor.
3. Better Homes and Gardens just did a photo shoot in her living room.
4. She does all of the housework herself while the kids play Wii.
5. All of the words that flow from her children’s mouths are blessed.
6. All of her children are straight A students, musical geniuses, and all-star athletes.
7. Her hair is always fixed perfectly and her make-up is artfully applied.
8. She does not touch make-up or hairspray because it is vain and the art of Satan.
9. She never makes a bad decision.
10. She is classroom mom, PTO President, the bearer of orange slices at soccer games, and the church committee queen.

It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But you know that you have added at least a few of these things on your list. Remember Martha and Mary? Which one do you think had a list like this in her pocket? Drop the scrub brush and grab a Bible. Sit at Jesus’ feet and become a disciple. Let him give you his character, and you will have the one thing needed to carry out everything else.

 

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Kelly Harbaugh is the creator of “Tabitha’s Team,” a blog for women who seek first to be disciples of Christ. www.tabithasteam.blogspot.com

 

Quiet Moments

 This week I found a wonderful small devotional at the Library sale. Perfect Trust by Charles Swindoll. Its an easy read packed full of encouragement and lessons.

This quote ment a lot to me: "Our circumstances may not change but in the process we change."  This fits my life to a tee. I am a better person for the circumstances. I have more faith and trust in the Lord because of the circumstances. I can relate to others who are going through what I have been through. Through the circumstances I know :

God grants forgiveness and comfort

I am strengthened by His Spirit

Granted wisdom and hope

Provided for

Granted eternal destiny and purpose

You will keep in perfect peace
       him whose mind is steadfast,
       because he trusts in you.  Isaiah 26:3

Quiet Moments

Welcome to Quiet Moments Meme. Lets bless one another by sharing and encouraging one another in our walk with the Lord. Simply share something from your bible reading, bible study, answered prayer, pray needs, inspriational song ect. Keep it up lifting and encouraging! I will be posting this each Monday. Feel free to join at any time during the week. Link up with Mr Linky at the bottom of the post. If you would like a button please let me know.

 This week Jeremiah 29: 11 has ment so much to me.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This scripture is written during a battle... a time of turmoil. I am not in turmoil or battle...at least not of that magnatude. But we are in need of reassurance and direction. So I belive this scripture gives guidance during a time of confusion. It has helped me to stay focused on the fact that God already has the plan ( of course in Jeremiah he was talking about Israel ) for my life. He indeed cares for me and knows what is best for me. So I need to let go and let God. That is peace!

God will provide comfort and peace no matter what we are going through.  This does not mean that life will be easy and that no harm will come to you.  Rather that God will walk with you and bring peace even in times of massive trouble and calamity.   ( such as in the book of Jeremiah)

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

~ Ephesians 3:20, NLT

Please click on Mr Linky to link yourself.

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Quiet Moments Meme

Welcome to Quiet Moments Meme. Lets bless one another by sharing and encouraging one another in our walk with the Lord. Simply share something from your bible reading, bible study, answered prayer, pray needs, inspriational song ect. Keep it up lifting and encouraging! I will be posting this each Monday. Feel free to join at any time during the week. Link up with Mr Linky at the bottom of the post. If you would like a button please let me know.

 Perhaps a great way to start would be to share some goals for the  first month of 2010.

 I want to increase my time in the word. Last year I used bible shared http://www.bibleshared.com/ to track my bible reading. I loved using this tool! I plan to start by getting up 15 minutes earlier.

I want to spend more time in prayer. Since I always put this off till late in the day...I have made my bedroom more organized for prayer time. I plan to make a door knob hanger for my door that says PRAYING. My kids are older if they do not know I need to be left alone of course they will knock on the door ect.

Finish the Beth Moore Study A Womans Heart. I am so behind.

New Year Goal: To Be a Godly Woman

 

As wives, moms, teachers, and so much more we often do not take time to "feed" ourselves. I am making a point to rise earlier this year, to get into the word, spend time with the Lord. Last year I made a commitment to read through the bible in a year. I did not complete the goal but really enjoyed the 34 percent I did finish and I plan to finish the rest this year! I use this site to help me:  http://www.bibleshared.com/ This started out as a HSB Meme. While the Meme sorta fizzled the habit did not. I so enjoyed digging deeper in the word. Here is another daily bible reading site. Its easy to navigate. http://net.bible.org/daily.php?month=1&day=1&plan=daily#n6

One of the studies I will be doing is Cindy' Rushtons Becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman. You can hear this study free of charge on Mom to Mom Radio. http://momtomomradioshow.com/  This is audio so you can download it. I highly recommend you start from the beginning: Be Dependable. These are a bit long...at least for my morning schedule. So I split the time and do it in two sessions.

Would anyone like to read through the bible in a year with me? Suziscribbles started a meme last year that went strong for a while but fizzled out. I would love to do a bible meme. Let me know if you would like this.

Five Minutes for Faith

I found this devotion web site for moms that I really like. It is a busy busy season for all of this so the title caught my eye. Check it out! http://www.5minutesforfaith.com/

"Here at 5 Minutes for Faith, we strive to be a little different. Every day we all face struggles, disappointments and difficulties. We sometimes feel as if we are on our journey alone … that is where we want to make a difference in your day. We want to share God's love and grace with you on the days when you need it the most."

Prayer Journal

During this busy season there is one area of our life that needs to stay consistant: Our time with the Lord. I stumbled across this Squido Lens the other day and just fell in love with it! This gal really has a great lens on how to keep a prayer journal. Check it out. http://www.squidoo.com/prayerjournalorganizer This would be a great gift to create for yourself and your family.