He that findeth a wife findeth a good thing...
In this day when it's not unpopular to see women going after men, it can be easy to accept it as the norm. As a matter of fact, some women will encourage others to drop the bait; let him know you're interested and see what you reel in (by way of response).
While you're out there trying to bait one that's not your catch, you're missing out on valuable time which should be spent preparing yourself to be that "good thing" worth finding.
A wife does not become a wife simply after saying "I do" to the man whom she marries. She doesn't become a good thing when she crosses the threshold of her home as Mrs. "whomever", she becomes a wife as she begins to develop godly character. This is something that takes place whether you are being pursued or not! This begins to take place when you seek God and allow Him to work out those things in you that would draw the wrong type of man or cause you to throw a destined man right off course. What type of bait are you? Are you selfish bait intending to get what you want without any intention of being what he needs?
I believe preparation begins long before the courtship...
If all you have are good looks and a closet full of clothes you might want to learn how to pray. If all you have is sex appeal and coupons for a happy meal, you might want to learn how to pray and fast!
What are you looking for? Why are you trying to find a "good man" when you are not yet prepared to be his "good thing"?
Every good man needs a good thing. He who finds a wife finds a good thing. How can a man find a wife? Doesn't that seem to indicate a woman who's already married? That's what a wife is, right? Wrong?
God doesn't make mistakes! His word is truth and He's not an advocate of infidelity! Just the fact that He said, a woman can be a wife long before she ever says, I do, lets us women know that there is something different about a girl, a young lady, a woman, and a wife. Which one are you?
Study the word of God to find out what He says about a wife. A great place to start is Proverbs 31:10. Is your worth far above rubies? Not in the way that you see yourself, but in the way the Lord looks at you? Will your husband's heart safely trust in you? Will your children rise up and call you blessed? Are you ready to submit?
Until you can see past the mirror and look into yourself for godly character traits which are worth far above the price of rubies you might want to ask yourself, "what you looking for?"
Monday, July 19, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
I am, therefore, I MUST
After a recent visit to Free Chapel in Gainesville Georgia, I keep hearing the words of Pastor Jentezen Franklin ringing in my head. His message was appropriately titled, "I am, therefore I must!"
I am the called of God and my life has a purpose to bring glory to the Lord on high therefore I must position myself to hear His voice. I must fulfill my destiny and purpose in the earth that He may be glorified.
As I reflect on these words even as I write, I say to myself I am...
I am tired of not being productive for Christ
I am bored with the day to day nothingness
I am unwilling to accept my present as an indicator of my future
I am trustworthy and accountable
I am the one He can use
Therefore, I MUST rise up
I MUST seek His face
I MUST humble myself and pray
I MUST turn from that thing or those things which keep me from Him
I MUST designate a specific time and place to get in His presence
Have you ever thought about how much planning goes into an event such as a baby shower or wedding reception? We know exactly what we're going to wear, what we're going to serve, whom we will invite, and the exact date and time of the event and nothing and no one will get in the way of that plan. If anyone calls us to entice us to go somewhere or do something other than that which we have planned, without hesitation, we say no, I'm busy that day and at that time.
When we're at the theater watching a movie, we turn our phones on silence or vibrate so we won't be disturbed while we watch our movie and eat our precious popcorn. We treat that time as if it is sacred and even become irritated when that phone lights up as a call comes in. If we choose to answer it, we speak quietly and do our best to hurry the conversation so we don't miss anything and so we don't disturb those around us.
But what about that prayer session you were just in? Even as you walked the isle and prayed, no matter how many times someone came up to you and said hello, you smiled and said hello, or even stopped an engaged in conversation and laughter as if you really were not doing anything important after all.
I don't say this to be offensive, but if we are in the presence of the All Mighty God and we are having important dialogue with Him, why do we not treat it as such? Why do we check our cell phones, stop to play with babies, pause to compliment someone on their attire, or just chat about meaningless topics? Weren't you just talking to Jesus? Where did He go? Can you visualize pushing Him to the side while you chat with your brother or sister then you turn back to Him and start again and stop again and start again, etc. That's exactly what we are doing! Think about it! We are so distracted by the goings on of man, that we forget that we came together to encounter God. That brother or sister will be there when this is over, even if you haven't seen them for a year; now is not the time!
If we had been alive during the days of the high priest who were the only ones who could even enter into the presence of God, we would all be that limp piece of lifeless meat being dragged out by a rope due to our unworthiness to be in His presence!
We come before Him halfheartedly, without reverence or fear and we do our halfhearted obeisance to Him while allowing anything and anyone to distract us in the process. Have you ever wondered what the Lord is thinking at that time?
When you are intimate with your spouse, it's usually behind closed doors, especially if you have children or other guests in your home. Why? Because that is private time, not to be shared with anyone but the two of you. You would not dare leave your bedroom door open and allow anyone to view or walk in an interrupt that precious time. You would not walk out on your spouse in the middle of intimacy to just say hello to someone or take a call, you would let that person pass by without so much as making eye contact and there is no way you're answering that phone! Unless there is an emergency, even the kids are ignored or sent away if they knock on the door. Why? Because some things are not meant to be interrupted. Some things are meant to be special, intimate, undisturbed, sacred, holy, reverential and worshipful. Isn't that what our intimate time with the Lord is supposed to be like?
The sanctuary of God is a holy place; a sacred place; a place where we are to reverence the Holy One. It's just like being in your bedroom with your spouse. Nothing and no one should interfere with that intimacy between you and He! The phone should go unanswered. The TV should not be on. The children will be there when your prayer time ends.
If we all begin to reverence Him and prevent anything or anyone from interrupting that time with Him, maybe that encounter with Him will not have to be a time of intense labor but a time when those miracles, signs and wonders are made manifest because we are once and for all on one accord intending to reach a common goal; ENCOUNTERING HIM and ONLY HIM!
The next time someone comes to you during prayer and taps you on the shoulder, just politely say, I'm sorry, now is not the time. Some will be offended at first, but I believe the end result will be well worth it!
In my home, our children know that when my husband and I go into our bedroom together, we are not to be disturbed. It took some time for it to sink in, and sometimes they need to be reminded, but we have taught them to respect our privacy and we also know that if they knock anyway, it must be of great importance. In much the same way, our time with the Lord can be established. If someone taps you on the shoulder during prayer, try saying, now is not the time. If it doesn't sink in, just remind them that I AM, in the presence of God, therefore I MUST get back with you.
I am the called of God and my life has a purpose to bring glory to the Lord on high therefore I must position myself to hear His voice. I must fulfill my destiny and purpose in the earth that He may be glorified.
As I reflect on these words even as I write, I say to myself I am...
I am tired of not being productive for Christ
I am bored with the day to day nothingness
I am unwilling to accept my present as an indicator of my future
I am trustworthy and accountable
I am the one He can use
Therefore, I MUST rise up
I MUST seek His face
I MUST humble myself and pray
I MUST turn from that thing or those things which keep me from Him
I MUST designate a specific time and place to get in His presence
Have you ever thought about how much planning goes into an event such as a baby shower or wedding reception? We know exactly what we're going to wear, what we're going to serve, whom we will invite, and the exact date and time of the event and nothing and no one will get in the way of that plan. If anyone calls us to entice us to go somewhere or do something other than that which we have planned, without hesitation, we say no, I'm busy that day and at that time.
When we're at the theater watching a movie, we turn our phones on silence or vibrate so we won't be disturbed while we watch our movie and eat our precious popcorn. We treat that time as if it is sacred and even become irritated when that phone lights up as a call comes in. If we choose to answer it, we speak quietly and do our best to hurry the conversation so we don't miss anything and so we don't disturb those around us.
But what about that prayer session you were just in? Even as you walked the isle and prayed, no matter how many times someone came up to you and said hello, you smiled and said hello, or even stopped an engaged in conversation and laughter as if you really were not doing anything important after all.
I don't say this to be offensive, but if we are in the presence of the All Mighty God and we are having important dialogue with Him, why do we not treat it as such? Why do we check our cell phones, stop to play with babies, pause to compliment someone on their attire, or just chat about meaningless topics? Weren't you just talking to Jesus? Where did He go? Can you visualize pushing Him to the side while you chat with your brother or sister then you turn back to Him and start again and stop again and start again, etc. That's exactly what we are doing! Think about it! We are so distracted by the goings on of man, that we forget that we came together to encounter God. That brother or sister will be there when this is over, even if you haven't seen them for a year; now is not the time!
If we had been alive during the days of the high priest who were the only ones who could even enter into the presence of God, we would all be that limp piece of lifeless meat being dragged out by a rope due to our unworthiness to be in His presence!
We come before Him halfheartedly, without reverence or fear and we do our halfhearted obeisance to Him while allowing anything and anyone to distract us in the process. Have you ever wondered what the Lord is thinking at that time?
When you are intimate with your spouse, it's usually behind closed doors, especially if you have children or other guests in your home. Why? Because that is private time, not to be shared with anyone but the two of you. You would not dare leave your bedroom door open and allow anyone to view or walk in an interrupt that precious time. You would not walk out on your spouse in the middle of intimacy to just say hello to someone or take a call, you would let that person pass by without so much as making eye contact and there is no way you're answering that phone! Unless there is an emergency, even the kids are ignored or sent away if they knock on the door. Why? Because some things are not meant to be interrupted. Some things are meant to be special, intimate, undisturbed, sacred, holy, reverential and worshipful. Isn't that what our intimate time with the Lord is supposed to be like?
The sanctuary of God is a holy place; a sacred place; a place where we are to reverence the Holy One. It's just like being in your bedroom with your spouse. Nothing and no one should interfere with that intimacy between you and He! The phone should go unanswered. The TV should not be on. The children will be there when your prayer time ends.
If we all begin to reverence Him and prevent anything or anyone from interrupting that time with Him, maybe that encounter with Him will not have to be a time of intense labor but a time when those miracles, signs and wonders are made manifest because we are once and for all on one accord intending to reach a common goal; ENCOUNTERING HIM and ONLY HIM!
The next time someone comes to you during prayer and taps you on the shoulder, just politely say, I'm sorry, now is not the time. Some will be offended at first, but I believe the end result will be well worth it!
In my home, our children know that when my husband and I go into our bedroom together, we are not to be disturbed. It took some time for it to sink in, and sometimes they need to be reminded, but we have taught them to respect our privacy and we also know that if they knock anyway, it must be of great importance. In much the same way, our time with the Lord can be established. If someone taps you on the shoulder during prayer, try saying, now is not the time. If it doesn't sink in, just remind them that I AM, in the presence of God, therefore I MUST get back with you.
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