A Woman's Beauty

Read: 1 Peter 3: 3-5

Contrary to what we get told by our culture and the media, the beauty of a woman is not in the outer appearance. We are forever bombarded with products that are supposed to make us more beautiful - as if we are not beautiful the way we are. Creams to either hide or eliminate wrinkles; hairstyles and dyes to colour our hair to hide the 'grey'. Make up that masks our real faces, and jewellery & clothing to make us more attractive.

None of these really matter. They're not wrong in themselves, but our attitude behind it should not be in the need of these things to make us more attractive. If we are concerned with the way we look, and care more about grooming our outward, it may be that we are discontented with who we really are. God wants us to be concerned with the inside - the real us. This is where the real beauty is. Having a pretty face, a perfect figure and all the accessories that go along with it, means nothing in the light of eternity. It only reflects the culture we live in, and I think that culture needs to be challenged. After having my daughter (after 3 boys), I noticed the kinds of toys available to 'girls'. A lot have to do with 'Beauty' & 'Glamour'. I had to ask myself, what kind of message is this sending?

I believe we need to get passed being overly concerned with our outward appearance, and concentrate more on what's inside. Allow the Holy Spirit to beautify the inside. For when we have God's beauty inside, it reflects on the outside - and then we won't need the creams and make-up to make ourselves beautiful. We will have the natural beauty of a Godly woman, and that beauty is eternal.

use your talent

Read: Matthew 25: 14-30

Like in this story, we shouldn't bury our talent. God has gifted each one of us with a particular talent. We need to use it for the benefit of the kingdom of God, so it will bless and encourage others. By allowing our talents to be utilized, not only can we have a big impact on someone else's life, but we can also be blessed ourselves. We find great fulfilment in what we do. And we should do, for we were born for it.

Our lives shouldn't just consist of work, sleep and the menial tasks of everyday life. We need to use the talents God has given us to make a difference in our world. Even if it's some quirky gift we think no one would be interested in, we need to find ways in which we can use it.

As we use the talents God has given us, He brings increase. Just like the two others in this story, who went off and used the talents that were given to them, God brought increase. In both cases it was doubled. God will use us in far more ways than we ever dreamed of, and expand our borders so many people can be blessed as a result.

May we not be like the one that did nothing with the talent given him - only to hide it. Whatever it is that God has blessed you with, consider using it to glorify God. After all, He created you to be used in this way.

Lord, I thank you for giving me
A very precious gift
Help me, Lord, to glorify you
With what you've blessed me with.

becoming a women of excellence

Becoming A Woman Of Excellence

A woman of excellence
Is what I long to be
Filled with your godly wisdom
So it is part of me

A woman of integrity
No matter what I face
Standing up for righteousness
And for your saving grace

A woman of destiny
Living out your plan
Knowing where you'd have me walk
Being guided by your hand

A woman of promise
Standing on your word
Holding on to all the truths
While carrying out your work

A woman of compassion
For the ones in the dark
Those that do not know your love
And have darkness in their hearts

A woman that will never
Compromise the faith
With what the world may offer,
But will keep the narrow way

A woman who loves Jesus
And will only follow Him
Gladly to give up the world
So His light can shine within

Lord, this is my earnest prayer
As a daughter by your grace
Grow in me these qualities
As I walk with you in faith.

God was prompting me for a while to create a blog for myself where I could display some of my poetry and to have a page for sharing about Jesus. I kept putting it out of my mind because I had no idea how to do it. I had limited knowledge of the computer, in fact you could say I was completely computer illiterate. It was only about 1½-2 years prior that I actually got a computer, and just over a year prior that I got onto the Internet. I didn’t even know how to work the mouse when I first got the computer - now I have a blog!!! Every now and then God would bring back the idea of creating a blog site to my mind. Finally, this year (2013) I decided to give it a go. I felt like how Peter must have felt when he got out of the boat and walked on water. This was an unknown area for me. I had a lot of attack in my mind when trying to do things unfamiliar to me. Negativity such as ‘you’re too thick to do this’, ‘only intelligent people can do this’ etc…I haven’t got much of an educational background, so this was a weak area that Satan used to attack me in. I felt like giving up many times, but the desire to see it come to fruition was strong, and it was this that kept me persevering with it.

I’m finding now that when I finish a page, I have more ideas for other pages to add to it. It’s like it’s branching out into different areas - and my writing is also branching out into different areas. I felt as though God was saying to me ‘you didn’t know how to create a blog either’!!! So I thought there’s really no excuse. God obviously wants to stretch me and expand my writing. It is challenging, but I'm excited about it.

The reason I share this with you, is to hopefully inspire and encourage you to step out and do what God has laid on your heart to do, despite what others may think or say. Despite what limitations you may think you have. God will equip you and place people across your path to help you. There comes a growth within ourselves when we step out in faith, as well as being able to minister into other people’s lives. Let God ‘expand’ you. Let God ‘stretch’ you. And see what He can do through you. So if you have a dream or a vision God has placed within, all I have to say is ‘Rise up, Go forth and Do’.

God Bless You!!!

I AM NOT AFRAID

Read: Isaiah 43: 1-5 

The Lord God, the creator of the universe, tells us to, ‘Fear Not’, and that we are so very precious to Him. He has created us and has saved us. He knows us and calls us by name. We are His very own children. (V.1). Whatever we go through, we can be sure that God is always with us. He walks with us every day. Just remember the next time you feel afraid, God is standing right by your side and He will walk with you. Keep on calling out to Jesus and He will be there. He loves you and you are so very precious to Him. You needn’t be afraid when you know Jesus is by your side. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

Is there something you feel afraid of? Tell Jesus now how you feel and ask Him to help you not feel afraid anymore.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4: 18

Lord, please come and be with me
When I feel afraid
Take my fear away from me
And fill me with more faith.

Be committed

Read: Genesis 22: 1-13 

Boy, talk about being committed to God! God tested Abraham to see how committed he was to Him. Isaac, the promised son, was to be sacrificed. Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac because of his great faith in God. God stopped him, before any harm came to Isaac – but what a test of faith!

God still tests us from time to time, to see how committed we really are to Him. Being committed to God, no matter what, can be really hard. There a times, like in this story, where our faith is challenged. But no matter what comes up against us, we need to remain committed to the Lord.

It’s really hard when we come up against opposition at school, in a sports team or a club we belong to. But hard as it may be, we need to still remain committed to God. As Christians, our faith will come under attack from others that don’t understand. But stand strong and don’t give in. Remember, God loves you. He will honour your stand for Him.

If you are having a hard time right now with others attacking your faith, first of all bring them before the Lord in prayer. Then pray daily for God to strengthen you and to give you wisdom.

You won’t ever be going through this alone. God is with you always. Stay Committed!

Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. ~ Proverbs 16: 3

Lord, please help me stay committed
No matter how hard it gets
For I know you love and care for me
And want for me the best

What I Am Not

What I Am Not

I am not sick, for "my Lord healeth me of all my diseases" Ps. 103:3.

I am not bound, for "the Son has made me free" Jn. 8:36.

I am not defeated, for "I'm more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me" Rom. 8:37.

I am not weak, for "the Lord will give strength unto His people" Ps.29: 11.

I am not without power, for "ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" Acts 1:8.

I am not without peace, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Rom. 5:1.

I am not lacking any good thing, for "no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly" Ps. 84:11.

I am not overtaken by any evil work, for "the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work" 2Tim.4: 18.

I am not afraid of any plague, for "there shall be no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling" Ps. 91:10.

I am not running from the devil, for I am "resisting the devil, and he is fleeing from me" Js. 4:7.

I am not without daily quickening, for "He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His spirit that dwelleth in you" Rom. 8:11.

I am not shackled by sin, demons or fear; "thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee" Dan. 6:16.

I am not in a losing battle, "the Lord shall fight for me, and I shall hold my peace" Ex. 14:14.

I am not without joy; "His joy shall be in me, and my joy shall be full" Jn. 15:11.

I shall not fail to see God; "blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" Matt. 5:8.

I am not oppressed by cares, difficulties and troubles; I am "casting all my cares upon Him, for He careth for me" 1 Pt. 5:7.