As a woman I long to be beautiful . . . In this day and age where many flaunt their physical beauty it can be easy to be dissatisfied with one’s self and envious of another, and forget about God’s view of beauty.
And yes, last night after a few comments from me, my husband advised me to “Go see Eli” (Know the Wemmick story I’m referring too?)
God in his wisdom, made me exactly as He wants me (outwardly) . . . But the most important thing is my heart! I have something to do about that!
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” I Samuel 16:7
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain (or passing), But a woman that feareth the Lord, She shall be praised.” - Proverbs 31:30
. . . As for the outward God does give us directions to follow.
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” I Timothy 2:9,10
And yes, there are so many ways “Christians” today apply or ignore the whole thing of dressing modestly. But God Word isn’t something I want to take lightly. After all who will we stand before to give account of how we conducted our lives on this earth?
"Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: I Peter 3:1-5
I have found this to be true . . . Ladies with this “hidden” beauty of heart make the best friends!!! Their sweetness comes out is so many caring, gentle ways . . . ways of Jesus!!!
And really it is not hidden . . . it doesn’t take long to “see” the “beauty of the Lord” in a person.
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us . . .” Psalm 90:17
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
A Houseful and Overflowing!
"Don't bring your teacup to God and ask for grace and strength, bring your wheelbarrow or your dumptruck." - Bob Stauffer
Today I asked for a houseful . . . after all it is Monday.
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." Proverbs 24:10
Today I asked for a houseful . . . after all it is Monday.
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." Proverbs 24:10
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Quote
Quote from my brother Skyler, “One thing about those boys, they wear a body out!” Don’t I know!
Skyler actually took a nap this afternoon, but Japheth didn’t. He was too worried he might miss out on something!
It’s good having him here!
Skyler actually took a nap this afternoon, but Japheth didn’t. He was too worried he might miss out on something!
It’s good having him here!
Sunday, July 09, 2006
The Testing
I wrote this during a time of great testing in the year 2000. I know it could be written better . . . but God doesn't always call the best writer to write . . . He just asks us to let Him use us . . . and so I say, "Yes, Lord" What else can I say to my Lord? or He isn't really Lord.
The testing, the fire burns hot at my feet
Will I go under? Will I be beat?
By the evil that's out to suck in my soul,
BUT NO! THERE'S A GOD WHO IS IN CONTROL!
I have but to ask, His power is there.
He's wanting and longing to release it by prayer.
I've asked Him –
He's faithful and true!
He knows what's best and always will do . . .
Even though the pruning and chastening brings pain.
For each loss and heartache is exchanged by rich gain.
There's joy that follows sorrow -
God is there for each tomorrow.
I asked for courage to face the test,
Not run . . . or hide from what really is best.
But turn toward the battle and fight,
For the Lord in His strength and His might.
I asked for His blood, to rid my soul of its sin and its strife.
The sin that stains my heart and my life,
Can be washed and renewed -
Though scars bring remorse . . . it reminds me again,
Of what He's forgiven and cleansed from within.
He's promised to bless and repay -
The years the locusts have eaten away.
Who else can give all that I wonder?
My God is a God of strength and thunder!
I'm glad to place my life in His hands, . . . .
And rejoice when thorns almost break my song . . .
I rest in His care - I ask nothing more
Than His cleansing power and grace to restore.
He's given me all my hearts desire.
He's given it though through testing and fire.
It's worth all the pain, the heart-wrenching cries.
My soul is united to Him in the skies.
I'm going Home to Heaven above.
I can't wait to experience all of His love.
The look in His eyes, the loving smile on His face,
The warmth of His forgiveness and mercy and grace.
He's acquainted with sorrow and tears and grief;
He knows how to still my heart and bring relief.
My Savior, My Lord, and My King
HE IS WORTH EVERYTHING!
And to Him I come, just as I am -
Sinful and wicked, worn as a lamb.
Unable to save from the dreadful fall.
But He's sought me and bought me, He gave His all!
I'm listening for that great trumpeter call.
For the day the Father will give the word,
Then to all that call will be heard.
Some will go upward and others will perish
But not those who love Jesus and cherish -
All that He's done and all He can do,
I thank Him, My LORD, My Father too.
But I can't . . . express it enough . . .
To tell you the love that overflows my heart
With the joy of knowing we won't be apart.
The Bride and the Groom united will be . . .
AND LIVE IN HEAVEN ETERNALLY!
MY GOD REIGNS SUPREME!
The testing, the fire burns hot at my feet
Will I go under? Will I be beat?
By the evil that's out to suck in my soul,
BUT NO! THERE'S A GOD WHO IS IN CONTROL!
I have but to ask, His power is there.
He's wanting and longing to release it by prayer.
I've asked Him –
He's faithful and true!
He knows what's best and always will do . . .
Even though the pruning and chastening brings pain.
For each loss and heartache is exchanged by rich gain.
There's joy that follows sorrow -
God is there for each tomorrow.
I asked for courage to face the test,
Not run . . . or hide from what really is best.
But turn toward the battle and fight,
For the Lord in His strength and His might.
I asked for His blood, to rid my soul of its sin and its strife.
The sin that stains my heart and my life,
Can be washed and renewed -
Though scars bring remorse . . . it reminds me again,
Of what He's forgiven and cleansed from within.
He's promised to bless and repay -
The years the locusts have eaten away.
Who else can give all that I wonder?
My God is a God of strength and thunder!
I'm glad to place my life in His hands, . . . .
And rejoice when thorns almost break my song . . .
I rest in His care - I ask nothing more
Than His cleansing power and grace to restore.
He's given me all my hearts desire.
He's given it though through testing and fire.
It's worth all the pain, the heart-wrenching cries.
My soul is united to Him in the skies.
I'm going Home to Heaven above.
I can't wait to experience all of His love.
The look in His eyes, the loving smile on His face,
The warmth of His forgiveness and mercy and grace.
He's acquainted with sorrow and tears and grief;
He knows how to still my heart and bring relief.
My Savior, My Lord, and My King
HE IS WORTH EVERYTHING!
And to Him I come, just as I am -
Sinful and wicked, worn as a lamb.
Unable to save from the dreadful fall.
But He's sought me and bought me, He gave His all!
I'm listening for that great trumpeter call.
For the day the Father will give the word,
Then to all that call will be heard.
Some will go upward and others will perish
But not those who love Jesus and cherish -
All that He's done and all He can do,
I thank Him, My LORD, My Father too.
But I can't . . . express it enough . . .
To tell you the love that overflows my heart
With the joy of knowing we won't be apart.
The Bride and the Groom united will be . . .
AND LIVE IN HEAVEN ETERNALLY!
MY GOD REIGNS SUPREME!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Remembering
Memories are special. (Good ones anyway) Yet I find myself not remembering enough of bygone days and I wish it were not so. So to help keep these things fresh in my mind I’ve started to write them down. I’ll let you in on some.
There are many things God wants us to remember . . . and for each of us it comes about in different ways, through different people, different times and different places.
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth . . .” Ecclessiastes 12:1a
There are many things God wants us to remember . . . and for each of us it comes about in different ways, through different people, different times and different places.
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth . . .” Ecclessiastes 12:1a
Nursing Home Handshakes
“We’re going to visit Ethal “ I told the boys one morning. She had just been transferred from the hospital to a nursing home. Ethal was an elderly neighbor and we had a two fold purpose in going to see her. First of all she loved company and I wanted to get out of the house on that March day. So I packed up the boys and my little girlie and off we drove to Blackduck.
On the way I realized that this was the first time that I would have all three little ones to tow around by myself. Hmm . . . how would this go?
We found Ethal grateful for our efforts to brighten her day. Soon we were ready to say good-bye and after little hugs and chocolate cookies for the boys, we took our little procession down the hall in search of another lady we knew. Japheth’s cookie promptly went into his mouth, but Jeremiah having recently been awakened from sleep clung to his.
On the way a white haired lady by the name of Alice intercepted us by holding out her hand and saying over and over God bless you. Japheth gladly shook her hand and Jeremiah followed suit. As we traipsed around the nursing home looking for Opal (as she wasn’t in her room), Alice followed us and got several more handshakes out of the boys. Two sets of big blue eyes and soft chubby little hands brought Alice a bit of love and cheer that day.
My heart overflowed with joy to watch my sons let Jesus use their hands and give comfort to the feeble. Truly “ A wise son maketh a glad father (and Mother any day!), but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.”
On the way I realized that this was the first time that I would have all three little ones to tow around by myself. Hmm . . . how would this go?
We found Ethal grateful for our efforts to brighten her day. Soon we were ready to say good-bye and after little hugs and chocolate cookies for the boys, we took our little procession down the hall in search of another lady we knew. Japheth’s cookie promptly went into his mouth, but Jeremiah having recently been awakened from sleep clung to his.
On the way a white haired lady by the name of Alice intercepted us by holding out her hand and saying over and over God bless you. Japheth gladly shook her hand and Jeremiah followed suit. As we traipsed around the nursing home looking for Opal (as she wasn’t in her room), Alice followed us and got several more handshakes out of the boys. Two sets of big blue eyes and soft chubby little hands brought Alice a bit of love and cheer that day.
My heart overflowed with joy to watch my sons let Jesus use their hands and give comfort to the feeble. Truly “ A wise son maketh a glad father (and Mother any day!), but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.”
Black Lace
Helping gather maple sap one evening, I noticed once again the beauty of God’s creation. The sight brought back memories of my Aunt Josie. I don’t remember where we were or what we were doing exactly but I remember her words.
“There was a tree line on a fencerow on the old home place where locusts grew different heights. In the evening when the sun would set, I enjoyed so much the view of the dark, bare trees against the sky. In my mind it looked like scalloped black lace, so elegant with all the little twigs and branches. Sometimes there were rosy skies, sometimes hues of blue, maybe a touch of twilight with the moon and a few stars. A thing of beauty that only God could create, more vibrant and real than any black lace!”
Now when I see the winter trees, her words come to my mind. I marvel at how God makes so much beauty out of the bare. God can make beautiful the bare and ugly in my life too. Isaiah 61:3 says “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called the trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord.”
Cow Paths
As a girl I enjoyed our cow paths. Often evenings after my chores were done, I would take off and wander done these paths. We had a very rocky hillside below our house which was also part of the dry cow pasture. The narrow, smooth, dirt paths the cows made felt good to my bare feet. I can still almost feel the air and the quiet of those times sitting on a rock and just enjoying the day God had made.
Today I still want to walk in paths . . . in the paths of righteousness where God leads me, to drink from His still waters and let Him restore my soul. For when I daily come before Him, I do not lack. His grace is sufficient. And I can enjoy peace and quiet in my heart just as I enjoyed the quiet of the evening in the cow pasture in days gone by.
Today I still want to walk in paths . . . in the paths of righteousness where God leads me, to drink from His still waters and let Him restore my soul. For when I daily come before Him, I do not lack. His grace is sufficient. And I can enjoy peace and quiet in my heart just as I enjoyed the quiet of the evening in the cow pasture in days gone by.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Beery Family News
Exciting days are ahead of us next week . . . we get to keep my Aunt Frances and my youngest brother, Skyler here for about a week. Uncle Ellis and Aunt Donna are bringing them along. Hopefully we can spend a bit of time with them also.
The boys are elated!!!!!!!!!! They’ve been begging to go see Uncle Skyler! He spells lots of fun as he is twelve years old.
And while I’m talking family, my older sister Kendra and her husband Loren are in the process of moving further south from Harrisonburg, VA. Ferrum, VA it is. They are dairy farmers.
And Dad and Mom just moved also . . . not even a mile away! They are out of farming now. It’s hard to believe . . . but life goes on.
God is good: His mercy endures forever!
The boys are elated!!!!!!!!!! They’ve been begging to go see Uncle Skyler! He spells lots of fun as he is twelve years old.
And while I’m talking family, my older sister Kendra and her husband Loren are in the process of moving further south from Harrisonburg, VA. Ferrum, VA it is. They are dairy farmers.
And Dad and Mom just moved also . . . not even a mile away! They are out of farming now. It’s hard to believe . . . but life goes on.
God is good: His mercy endures forever!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
"My son"
We’re celebrating life . . . five years of life for our first born son!
God gives life . . . physical and spiritual. One day we hope and pray that Japheth will be born again . . . and have eternal life! The angels help celebrate that we are told.
“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.” Luke
15:10b
What really matters in life?
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself , and take up his cross and follow Me. For whosoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24b-26
Like in Proverbs, I long to direct “My son” in matters of life. I desperately long for him to heed my council.
What’s sobering is that in my walk of life I am “telling” him what’s most important to me . . . “O God, that I would show him right!”
God gives life . . . physical and spiritual. One day we hope and pray that Japheth will be born again . . . and have eternal life! The angels help celebrate that we are told.
“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.” Luke
15:10b
What really matters in life?
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself , and take up his cross and follow Me. For whosoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24b-26
Like in Proverbs, I long to direct “My son” in matters of life. I desperately long for him to heed my council.
What’s sobering is that in my walk of life I am “telling” him what’s most important to me . . . “O God, that I would show him right!”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)