Oh, that I might know the freedom that comes with silence! The beauty of one who in stillness hears the voice of God and the discernment it brings. I am inspired to look to You, Oh God, to bring swift justice. Give me the strength to be defenseless. You are my defender. Lord, change my heart. Uproot the pride that causes me to speak when I should be still.
KSW
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Spiritual Cleansing
It was a tight fit, but we squeezed our Lifegroup into our apartment tonight for some good old fashion Worship & Prayer.
In my opinion, there is no better way to spiritually cleanse your apartment!
KSW
In my opinion, there is no better way to spiritually cleanse your apartment!
KSW
Monday, September 6, 2010
Just When I Thought I Had Mastered the Art of...
Being a single Godly woman...
I got married.
Now I'm back at square one.
It took me 15 years to figure out how to honor the Lord in my singleness. Now, three years into marriage, it's looking like I've got to start over.
The discipline-turned-devotion I had when I was single doesn't work anymore! New Rules! New Game! I've been flailing all summer long. This morning I finally had a break through.
I woke up early and walked down to the water. After spending a month begging the Lord to change my husband (so that he will start doing what I want him to do), I realized this morning that I am the one who needs to change.
I said, "God, I want to honor you with my life. Being married is hard work! I feel like right now I am failing on so many levels. What does it mean to be a Godly Married Woman?"
He answered my question in the Book of Proverbs.
Chap 1
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you...but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster"
Chap2
"yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God...He is a shield to those who walk in integrity...for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you."
Chap3
"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My daughter, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves her whom he loves, as a father the daughter in whom he delights...keep sounds wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it...to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor..."
Chap4
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."
Chap7
"Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call insight your intimate friend..."
Chap8
"Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her...those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries...blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord."
Chap9
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life."
Chap10
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely...The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life...love covers all offenses...Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life...When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains her lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver...The lips of the righteous feed many..."
Chap11
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom...a woman of understanding remains silent...she who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered...a gracious woman gets honor...those of blameless ways are His delight..."
Chap12
"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband...There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing...truthful lips endure forever."
Chap13
"Whoever guards her mouth preserves her life; she who opens wide her lips comes to ruin...good sense wins favor...whoever walks with the wise becomes wise."
Chap14
"The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down...A woman of quick temper acts foolishly...blessed is she who is generous to the poor...The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life...Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but she who has a hasty tempter exalts folly...A tranquil heart gives life to flesh, but envy makes the bones rot."
Chap15
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger...A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit...the cheerful of heart has a continual feast...Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it...A hot tempered woman stirs up strife, but she who is slow to anger quiets contention..."
Chap16
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established...When a woman's ways please the Lord, he makes even her enemies to be at peace with her...The heart of a woman plans her way, but the Lord establishes her steps...Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall...blessed is she who trusts in the lord. The wise of heart is called discerning...Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body...Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and she who rules her spirit than she who takes a city."
Chap17
"Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife...Whoever covers an offense seeks love...A friend loves at all times...A joyful heart is good medicine...Whoever restrains her words has knowledge, and she who has a cool spirit is a woman of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when she closes her lips, she is deemed intelligent."
Chap18
"A fools lips walk into a fight, and her mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is her ruin and her lips are a snare to her soul...The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous woman (wife) runs into it and is safe...humility comes before honor...If one gives an answer before she hears, it is her folly and shame...From the fruit of a woman's mouth her stomach is satisfied; sh eis satisfied by the yield of her lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
Chap19
"Desire without knowledge is not good and whoever makes haste with her feet misses her way...Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is her glory to overlook an offense...a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain...House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord...Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed."
Chap20
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise...Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you..."
Chap21
"To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice...The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance...It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife...Whoever closes her ear to the poor will herself call out and not be answered...It is better to live in the desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman."
"Whoever keeps her mouth and her tongue keeps herself out of trouble...The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord."
Chap22
"Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for she shares her bread with the poor...She who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as her friend."
Chap23
"Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off...Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding..."
Chapt24
"By widsom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches...If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small...know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off...for the righteous falls seven times and rises again."
Chap25
"Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of a noble...Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret...With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone...If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you...It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarelsome wife...A woman without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
Chap26
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself...For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases."
Chap27
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips...A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in ones right hand...As in water face reflects face, so the heart of a man reflects man."
Chap28
"Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered...whoever gives to the poor will not want..."
Chap29
"A fool gives full vent to her spirit, but a wise woman quietly holds back...Do you see a woman who is hasty in her words? There is more hope for a fool than for her...One's pride will bring her low, but she who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor...whoever trusts in the Lord is safe..."
Chap30
"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him..."
Chap31
"She rises while it is yet night...She laughs at the time to come...she opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."
Lord God, make me THIS woman.
KSW
I got married.
Now I'm back at square one.
It took me 15 years to figure out how to honor the Lord in my singleness. Now, three years into marriage, it's looking like I've got to start over.
The discipline-turned-devotion I had when I was single doesn't work anymore! New Rules! New Game! I've been flailing all summer long. This morning I finally had a break through.
I woke up early and walked down to the water. After spending a month begging the Lord to change my husband (so that he will start doing what I want him to do), I realized this morning that I am the one who needs to change.
I said, "God, I want to honor you with my life. Being married is hard work! I feel like right now I am failing on so many levels. What does it mean to be a Godly Married Woman?"
He answered my question in the Book of Proverbs.
Chap 1
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you...but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster"
Chap2
"yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God...He is a shield to those who walk in integrity...for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you."
Chap3
"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My daughter, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves her whom he loves, as a father the daughter in whom he delights...keep sounds wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it...to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor..."
Chap4
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil."
Chap7
"Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call insight your intimate friend..."
Chap8
"Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her...those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries...blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord."
Chap9
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life."
Chap10
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely...The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life...love covers all offenses...Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life...When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains her lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver...The lips of the righteous feed many..."
Chap11
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom...a woman of understanding remains silent...she who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered...a gracious woman gets honor...those of blameless ways are His delight..."
Chap12
"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband...There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing...truthful lips endure forever."
Chap13
"Whoever guards her mouth preserves her life; she who opens wide her lips comes to ruin...good sense wins favor...whoever walks with the wise becomes wise."
Chap14
"The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down...A woman of quick temper acts foolishly...blessed is she who is generous to the poor...The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life...Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but she who has a hasty tempter exalts folly...A tranquil heart gives life to flesh, but envy makes the bones rot."
Chap15
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger...A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit...the cheerful of heart has a continual feast...Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it...A hot tempered woman stirs up strife, but she who is slow to anger quiets contention..."
Chap16
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established...When a woman's ways please the Lord, he makes even her enemies to be at peace with her...The heart of a woman plans her way, but the Lord establishes her steps...Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall...blessed is she who trusts in the lord. The wise of heart is called discerning...Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body...Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and she who rules her spirit than she who takes a city."
Chap17
"Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife...Whoever covers an offense seeks love...A friend loves at all times...A joyful heart is good medicine...Whoever restrains her words has knowledge, and she who has a cool spirit is a woman of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when she closes her lips, she is deemed intelligent."
Chap18
"A fools lips walk into a fight, and her mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is her ruin and her lips are a snare to her soul...The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous woman (wife) runs into it and is safe...humility comes before honor...If one gives an answer before she hears, it is her folly and shame...From the fruit of a woman's mouth her stomach is satisfied; sh eis satisfied by the yield of her lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
Chap19
"Desire without knowledge is not good and whoever makes haste with her feet misses her way...Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is her glory to overlook an offense...a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain...House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord...Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed."
Chap20
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise...Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you..."
Chap21
"To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice...The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance...It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife...Whoever closes her ear to the poor will herself call out and not be answered...It is better to live in the desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman."
"Whoever keeps her mouth and her tongue keeps herself out of trouble...The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord."
Chap22
"Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for she shares her bread with the poor...She who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as her friend."
Chap23
"Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off...Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding..."
Chapt24
"By widsom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches...If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small...know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off...for the righteous falls seven times and rises again."
Chap25
"Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of a noble...Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret...With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone...If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you...It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarelsome wife...A woman without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."
Chap26
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself...For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases."
Chap27
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips...A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in ones right hand...As in water face reflects face, so the heart of a man reflects man."
Chap28
"Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered...whoever gives to the poor will not want..."
Chap29
"A fool gives full vent to her spirit, but a wise woman quietly holds back...Do you see a woman who is hasty in her words? There is more hope for a fool than for her...One's pride will bring her low, but she who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor...whoever trusts in the Lord is safe..."
Chap30
"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him..."
Chap31
"She rises while it is yet night...She laughs at the time to come...she opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."
Lord God, make me THIS woman.
KSW
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