Building or Destroying?

Proverbs 14:1 "A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands."

      Dear Lord,  It has been awhile since I had time to post anything.  This verse has been resonnating in my heart for while now.  Unfortunately, I have seen quite a bit of home tearing down as I deal with students, parents, and friends.  There are so many, Lord, who claim to know You, but when these women open their mouths about their husbands and children, one has to wonder.
      Our Pastor once said that if there was "dirty laundry" in his family no one would ever know about it because it had no business being outside the home.  We see it in movies, on TV shows, and in the lives of those with whom we rub elbows.
      Lord, I have been one of them in the past, and saw the devastation it caused.  Our homes should be a haven of refuge, not a battleground where loved ones are wounded, sometimes beyond repair.  I want to be in the home building business...not in the demolition business.  Help me and those who might read this, Lord, to never say anything negative about their spouses, children, or grandchildren or other family members.  If there is correction needed, may it not be done in anger, but laced with grace speaking the truth in love so as to cause decipleship.
      I love You, Lord and want the very best for my family.  Help me, and other wives and mothers to be builders too.

Widows Free to Marry

1 Corinthians 7:39-40 "A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.  But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God's Spirit when I say this." NLT

      Lord, thank You for the wonderful husband you have given me and for our 41 years together.
I know in Paul's time and culture things were much different for a woman.  If she was widowed with children, her children were bound to care for her.  If she was childless, it fell to the church to care for her.  She could not just get a job and provide for herself.
      If she was young with small children, it was better for her to re-marry than to stay single simply for provision sake.  The Law required her husband's brother (if he had one) to marry her if she was childless to carry on her husband's name.
      It is very different for us.  If a husband dies, a woman can work, get survivor's benefits from Social Security, be on welfare and get food stamps and medicaid for health insurance for her children.  The church has little to do with providing as it should.
      If statistics prove true, I will be a widow at some point in my life.  I do have children who love me and would provide for me, and I would be eligible for the Survivor's benefits.  I could continue to work depending on the time frame and my health.  I know I would be free to re-marry, but do not believe I would because I want to serve You with as much time as I have.  I believe that is what Paul is saying here about "being better off to stay single".  However; I am in my "Senior" years.  Your plan would be best for each widow in her circumstance.
      We have several widows at our church and they serve You with all of their free time.  Some are still working, some not, but they have chosen not to re-marry.

Fix Your Thoughts

Philippians 4:8 "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

      Lord, thank You for this verse!  We are in the month of Thanksgiving, and a lot of folks are putting on their social media one thing a day that they are thankful for.  This is great because it nudges us to do what we should be doing all year through all day long.
      The enemy and our flesh would urge us to dwell on the negative...the wrong things that are happening in our country and in the world, and what we do not have.  In the time this was written, Christians were under severe persecution.  In the USA, our persecution has started.  But, for the most part, our lives are easy and we are rich compared to the rest of the world.  And yet, complaints and ingratitude abound on every side within the Family.  I have unfortunately been guilty of that myself, and I ask Your forgiveness!
      Lord, You are so very gracious and merciful to me.  I have a job, food, clothing, shelter, heat and even air conditioning!  I have a car to drive and money to put gas in it, extra funds to use for medical expenses, we have not only a telephone in the house but I have a cell phone and a computer in the house, a TV, radio, and we get the newspaper!
      Lord, You provide us with wildlife of various sorts in the yard, the beauty of Your creation all around, and marvelous sunrises and sunsets to delight us, and help from students and the church to help with yard work.
Lord, we are SO very blessed!  Thank You!  Help me to catch the complaint before it becomes a real thought so I can praise You and thank You instead!

Characteristics of a Lukewarm Christian

Francis Chan has written a wonderful little book called Crazy Love.  Because I lend my books to others, I wanted to write these done in a permanent fashion so I could go back and look at them again even if I didn't have the book.

1. Attend Church only because it is expected of them-Isaiah 29:13
2. Give money to the church or charity only if it won't affect their standard of living-1 Chron. 21:24; Luke 21:1-4
3. Choose what is popular over what is right in a conflict-Luke 6:26; Rev 3:1
4. Don't want to be saved from their sins, only its penalty- John 10:10; Romans 6:1-2
5. Are moved but not changed- James 1:22; 4:17; Matthew 21:28-31
6. Rarely share their faith with anyone- Matthew 10:32-33
7. Gauge their goodness or morality by comparing themselves with the secular world- Luke 18:11-12
8. Say they love Jesus and he is a part of their lives, but only a part-Luke 9:57-62
9. Love God, but not with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength- Matthew 22:37-38
10. Love others, but do not seek to love them as much as they love themselves- Matthew 5:43-47; Luke 14:12-14
11. Will serve others as long as it does not infringe on them too much- Luke 18:21-25
12. Think about life on earth more than eternity in heaven- Phil 3:18-20; Col 3:2
13. Are thankful for the luxuries and comforts but rarely consider trying as much as possible to give to the poor- Matt 25:34-40
14. Do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling guilty- 1 Chron 29:14; Matt 13:44-46
15. Are continually concerned with playing it safe: they are slaves to the god of control- 1 Tim:17-18; Matt10:28
16. Feel secure because they attend church and have done the religious “stuff”- Matt 7:21; Amos 6:1
17. Do not live by faith, their lives are structured and they do not have to-Luke 12:16-21; Hebrews 11
18. Equate their partially sanctified lives with holiness, but could not be more wrong- Matt 23:25-28

Lord, keep me from being lukewarm!

Undivided Devotion to the Lord

1 Corinthians 7:33 "I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord."

Dear Lord,
      Thank You for having Francis Chan write the book "Crazy Love"!  In one of his chapters, he  describes the characteristics of a a"Lukewarm Christian."  Through this book, I have seen that I am half-hearted in some areas of my devotion to You.

• Give money to the church or charity only if  it won't affect my standard of living.

      Lord, I must confess that with all of the bills we have, it is hard to find money to give to You.  Help me, Lord, to trust You enough to give You what is Yours first and then let You help with the rest.

• Rarely share their faith with anyone. 

      Lord, I spend all of my time around saved people at home, at work, with immediate family.  I have shared my faith with my extended family, but they are either lukewarm and want it that way, or they are not interested at all.

      At church, we are reading Randy Alcorn's book "The Treasure Principle" too, and he addresses the same things.   Lord, I love You so much!  Why are these two areas so hard to overcome?  You have given me much more than I ever need, and I realize that at any time, it can all be taken away like the folks in NY City discovered when "Sandy" hit, and we felt in late June and early July this year with the derecho.  This world is not my home, and it is foolish to think that I will have ease all the days of my life.  I must totally rely on You for every need...not want.  I need to make my wants few so I can be a Your Kingdom Builder. Help me, Lord!

     

Divided Intersts- Proper Priorities

1 Corinthians 7:32b-34 "An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife-- and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband."

      Lord, I see in these verses Paul is not saying there is something wrong with being married.  What he is bringing to light is, "To whom is your first devotion?".  A married man or woman can put their spouse before their devotion to You if they are not careful and diligent.  A single devotee would not, or should not, have that issue.
      Our first priority must be devotion to You, then to spouse, then to family, then to church, and then to others, then everything else falls in behind...including work.  I must admit to You Lord, that there have been a few times in past years, when it was mandated that we stay late on a night to work,  I chose Wednesday night when I should have been at choir (my only present church ministry) so as not to be away two nights in a week leaving my husband alone all day and evening.  If we were able to minister together, that would be different, but we cannot now because of his physical condition.
      On those nights, my first priority (You) becomes my last, my last priority (Work) becomes second, because of  my second priority (My husband).  I were not married with children, that would not be an issue.  But now that I am happily with both, the schedules are harder to juggle.  My husband has never told me not to fulfill either obligation, but in deference to him, I choose.  I am deeply committed to him out of love and concern, as I should be, and want to please him. 
      Lord, I am glad that my "work" is also a ministry to Your children, and on those nights or Saturdays, I am still serving You. 

Keep Focused on the Important

1 Corinthians 25-32a "But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.  I would like you to be free from concern."

     Oh, Lord, these words could not be more for today if You had someone write it now!  These verses fall in the middle of Paul re-iterating what he basically said before about being willing to stay as you were when you received Christ as Savior.  Then You put these in the middle.
     Pastor Carl has been asking us to pray for the vision of our church and we have been reading Randy Alcorn's book "The Treasure Principle".  Lord, our society has such a materialistic, entitlement, discontented mentality.  We are so earthly minded...living and thinking that life will continue on as it is or will get better. You promise neither, Lord.  In fact as this was true 2000 years ago, it has intensified to our present time.  We are longing for what we don't have, wishing we didn't have what we do, wishing our circumstances would change, or praying that they don't.
      Lord, I know Your return is nigh.  Please, Lord, help me to live a contented, spiritually vibrant life in whatever situation in which I find myself; keeping my eyes on You and Your goal for my life.  Lord, I thank You for everything You have given and also withheld from me, as You know what is best for me.  I want to live free from concern!

Proverbs Interlude

Proverbs 14:
22b  "But those who plan what is good find  love and faithfulness."
23a  "All hard work brings a profit"
24a  "The wealth of the wise is their crown"
26 "He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge."
27 "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death."

      Lord, for these past few days, You and I have been talking about these verses as the Plyter family is experiencing triumphs and also trials.  Our boys work so hard, Lord and are upright.  You bless as You see fit and in different ways.
For Lance, Your wealth is in his salvation, a wife who loves him wholeheartedly, a heart for people, his ministry to the church, and a job he can do.  His trial is finances and his health.
For Jeff, Your wealth is in his salvation, a wife who loves him wholeheartedly, a houseful of girls, financially through his job, and his ministry is to those with whom he works.  His trials now are in re-locating and all that goes with that.
For Tom, Your wealth is in his salvation, a wife who loves him wholeheartedly, a houseful of boys and a girl, a voice with which to sing praises,  a ministry with the youth at his church, and his job.  His trials are with finances and his health.
For Dick, Your wealth is in his salvation, a wife who loves him wholeheartedly, a family that adores him and an uncanny ability to provide for pennies on the dollar to stretch what You have given.  His trials are his health and daily pain.
For me, Lord, Your wealth is in my salvation, my beloved faithful husband, my family,  my voice to sing praises, and a heart for others and my job/ministry with the college students at Liberty U.  My trial is some pain, and wanting to be with family more than I get a chance to be.
      Lord, You have given so much to us.  In this month of focusing on gratitude, I praise and thank You for who You are, as well as what You do for us on a daily basis. We are so unworthy, and You are go gracious.  How can I ever thank You enough?