tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64249301790298230922024-03-13T08:29:57.491-07:00MrsProverbs31"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised" (Proverbs 31:30)MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-85454316475363584702011-11-15T20:13:00.000-08:002017-10-11T07:26:57.254-07:00Zoua<div>
Ever since I was young, I had always admired my sister. She has always been good to everyone. She had a great smile and she always shown it, even when she was sad.<br />
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We were separated for several years during the Vietnam War, so the most crucial years were stolen from us. She was the second child and I was the last of five. We were 2-3 years apart between each child, so she’s ten years older. Therefore, the closeness was not there-and the separation didn’t help any.<br />
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However, she cared for me. She helped my mom buy my first car for my high school graduation present. She loaned me money to start my quilting business. But what I admired most about my sister was that she always passed her sound advices to me.<br />
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One of her advice to me was, “Don’t engage in talks about your husband,” (that was before I got married). She said when other people brags about their husbands don’t brag about yours, it will only lead to jealousy. And when they talk bad about their husbands, don’t talk about yours in such a manner, it would mar his reputation and your devotion to him.<br />
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The most recent advice she gave me was just before my father-in-law passed away. She said, “your family is not mom (my mom was sick with liver cirrhosis and on hospice care), but your husband and his family. Go take care of your duties to your father. [Charlie] and I will take care of mom. If anything happens we will call you.” I was heart-sick to leave my mom, but at the same time I was confident she would do as she said.<br />
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You’ll have to be Hmong to understand this particular advice. But I appreciated it so much. I knew that her care of my mom would not take my place, but she did her best. Because of her encouragement I was able to help with my father-in-law’s funeral, providing the best I knew how to honor him. When my mom passed away (the Sunday after we buried my father-in-law), she put mats on the floor in her living room and slept there while I slept on her futon in order to keep me out of fear. She was and is always thoughtful and considerate.<br />
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Zoua does not know the Lord and she’s not well versed in English, but I know that if her daughters read this they would be very proud of their mother and hopefully share it with her. I hope you will join me in prayer for her and her family’s salvation.<br />
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Maum, kuv zoo siab ua Vajtswv tsaug uas kuv muaj ib tug niam laus uas zoo tshaj plaws. Ua koj tsaug rau koj txoj kev hlub kuv. Txawm yog wb ib leeg taug ib txoj kev los, kuv paub koj yeej hlub kuv. Thov Vajtswv foom koob hmoov rau txiv laus neb kom noj qab nyob zoo thaib khwv tau nyiaj txiag los duav neb lub neej tsis tu ncua. Kuv hlub koj.<br />
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<em>“And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” ~ John 3:36</em></div>
MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-71924822807098148972011-11-14T19:33:00.000-08:002011-11-14T19:43:34.053-08:00My Mother-in-law<div>Note: I wasn’t going to blog about my mother-in-law because I was saving her for Mother’s Day, but the Lord is persistent in promenading her in my head. The thank you part to her will be written in Hmong so that whoever read it to her will not have to translate.<br /><br /><br />One of the things I appreciate most about my mother-in-law is that she’s very generous with her advice. She encouraged me to drive a stick-shift car. She said so and so drive stick, “so you can do it, too, you’re bright and intelligent. It’s nothing.” If she hadn’t said so I probably made all kinds of excuses and missed out on all of the fun.<br /><br />She once said to me that in order for a family to succeed in life the wife has to take an active role in her family-she must do the leading. At the time I was offended, because I’ve always heard others said that a man should take lead in his family. I started to disagree, but she was adamant about her statement, so I dropped the subject. Years later as my relationship with Christ grew more personal, I began to understand what she was saying. And, I agreed.<br /><br />Although she doesn’t drive or even know how to dial the telephone, she has a good common sense about life. She’s not afraid to dish out her opinions where it is most needed. And, she’s not afraid to be herself.<br /><br />However, the greatest gift she gave me was four days with my mom before she passed away in August 2011. She put aside her mourning for her husband- we just buried him on Monday, August 8, 2011, and on Wednesday I flew to see my mother who passed away on Sunday, August 14-to babysit our children so my husband could return to work and I go visit my mom. Those four days with my mom were more precious than gold. I’m so glad I listened to her advice, otherwise I would never have seen my mother before her passing.<br /><br />Niam, Kuv zoo siab ua koj tsaug uas koj muaj kev hlub kuv. Koj txhawb kom kuv mus xyuas kuv niam, kuv thiaj tau mus tus nws ob peb hnub ua ntej nws tu siav. Vim yog koj muaj kev hlub koj thiaj muab koj txoj kev quaj txiv thawb ntiag rau tom qab es koj tuaj pab Txhiaj Vuab wb zov wb cov menyuam kuv thiaj tau mus xyuas kuv niam. Qhov uas koj ua nov zoo tshaj nyiaj thiab kub. Kuv yuav nco ntsoov mus txog hnub tsis muaj kuv.<br /><br />Ib xyoo tim nkaus los txog lub kaum ib hlis ntuaj uas yob lub tebchaws Mekas no los nco txiaj ntsim ntawm lawv lub neej. Kuv thov qhia rau koj hais tias kuv zoo siab uas Vajtswv pub kuv los ua koj tus nyab. Kuv yog tu tau koobhmoov vim koj yog ib leej niam uas zoo. Ua koj tsaug rau koj txoj kev hlub peb txhua tus uas yog koj cov menyuam. Thov Vajtswv foom koobhmoov rau<br />koj.<br /><br /><em>Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live,…to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. ~Titus 2:3-5<br /></em></div>MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-23569983814943543042011-11-10T19:05:00.000-08:002012-05-14T12:14:59.915-07:00Abia<div>Abia. What can I say my awesome daughter? As she said, she’s forced to grow up fast. She’s had her challenges just like all the other teenagers. She’s had her ups and owns, but she’s always fast about turning around. She gets mad quick (short temper), but she’s quick to forgive and forget. She lives the verse in Ephesians 4:26, “…Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” She doesn’t even let the sun go down. She just bounces right back.<br /><br />However, what awes me the most about her is her passion for righteous living. She speaks out about her peers when she sees they do something against the rules and regulations or the unspoken moral rules. For example, one year one of her “friends” was acting pretty intimate on the bus with another boy. It bothered her so much that she told the teacher about it. And, when he didn’t do anything about it, she was so upset she came home crying and told me how awful and mad she was at her friend for acting so disrespectful in public.<br /><br />She has a lot of acquaintances, but no close friends. Her perspective of life just doesn’t fit in with the society. And, she gets lonely and sometimes, she wonders why, but she doesn’t mourn about it. She knows and understands that she’s chosen the narrow path and she refuses to compromise. I am so proud of her.<br /><br />She has always been very definite about her path of life and career choices. She’s got a great plan in place and looking forward to accomplishing it. She motivates herself to succeed and works hard to improve. She’s the parent when we go shopping, because she would remind me that if it is not a need, I need to put it back on the rack. If I make a list of things to buy, she will stick to it better than me.<br /><br />She is a good cook. Whatever I want to eat, she can cook. Sometimes, she gets burn out about cooking, especially during the summer when she has to cook for her siblings. But, she does it and they love her cooking. Her father encourages her about cooking better than her mother. Darn.<br /><br />Abia, I appreciate you. You are growing quickly into a woman of faith and righteous living. I love you. I am proud of you. I know you will observe the laws of the Lord and live to give Him glory.<br /><br /><br /></div>MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-11357800222225912762011-11-08T19:25:00.000-08:002012-05-14T12:14:59.918-07:00Maysia<div><br /><font color="#660000">Disclaimer: I do not obtain permission for praises. So, if you see your name and you don’t agree, please talk to me. I will pull your article out. These names are not organized in any order. I prayed for God’s recognition of people who has made an impression in my life and I simply write as the names come up.<br /></font><br /><font color="#660000">And, I’m sorry for the missing days. I was sick and then fall behind because of that.<br /></font><br />Maysia. I’ve known her for six years and of her for about 10+ years. I’ve never taken the time to sit down with her. She’s younger and we don’t have quite as much in common. She’s quiet and I’m loud and talkative. She’s calm and I’m pensive.<br /><br />She’s been in my Bible study class for the past three to four years. I’ve observed how she responded to each question and most of them are quite measured. She’s very observant and thoughtful. She’s gifted with children and crafts.<br /><br />One of the things that she made an impression on me is the way she answered her study questions. Some of her answers awed me. And, she didn’t answer often, but when she did, her answers were carefully worded. Another thing is she’ll do something unexpected, whether it is with a phone call or a gift. She’s always surprised me. She has a very quiet spirit.<br /><br />Maysia, I appreciate all you’ve done as a student and friend. You are thoughtful and kind. I am grateful the Lord has brought us together as a family and friends. It has been an honor to know and study His Word with you. It was such a blessing for you to call me when my mother passed<br />away, even though I didn’t actually talk to you, it was good to hear your voice and that you cared enough to take the time to call. I truly appreciate that. Thank you for always being thoughtful and kind.<br /><br /><em>Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their<br />heartfelt advice. ~Proverbs 27:9<br /></em><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-475266078213200312011-11-05T20:21:00.000-07:002011-11-08T19:24:11.832-08:00SR<br />SR<br /><br />November 5, 2011<br /><br />SR is a recent college graduate, currently working with children in her community. I met her on my flight to Springfield, MO to visit my sick mother. She was my seatmate.<br /><br />We were strangers, but she talked to me. And, I found out we had a lot in common. When the plain had a few rough bumps, she reached out to make sure I was okay. And, when we were ready to land, she prayed for my mom and me. She had great conviction. She gave me her cell phone number and email address so that I can let her know the outcome of my mom’s health. She is a strong witness to everyone she meets and the children she works with.<br /><br />SR, I’m not sure we will ever meet again, but I want to thank you for helping me hold on to my faith and listen to the voice of my God with extra care. Though my mom went home to Jesus, I will always remember you and pray for you. May everyday that you live bring God great glory.<br /><br /><em></em>The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. ~Isaiah 52:10MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-89274484821880714972011-11-04T21:36:00.000-07:002011-11-08T19:24:11.839-08:00Kristina<br />November 4, 2011<br /><br /><br />When we were younger, she was one of the girls sitting inthe back of the room, putting on make-up and giggling with silly jokes. I remember it used to irritate me so much that I wanted to send her out to the hallway. But, I don’t ever remember it bothered her a bit that her actions bothered me. She was just there to meet her friends and have a good time. And,she was faithful to show up for every church and youth events.<br /><br />When I married my husband and came back to finish my last semester, she approached me and said she needed to talk. We took a walk and she opened her heart to me for the first time. Shortly, afterward, she married her husband and moved away. We were thousands of miles away from each other. I thought I would never see or hear from her again.<br /><br />But, years later, when I moved to South Carolina, she found my phone number and called me. She wanted my husband and me to go talk to her husband about God. We didn’t feel it would be right for us to tread on someone else’s territory, so we referred her to a local pastor of our denomination. However, she was determined to have us over. After much prayer and discussions and a few more calls from her, we decided to meet with her and her husband.<br /><br />The trip was three hours away, so we decided to leave on Friday night in order to spend more time with her family. When we arrived, it was quite late, but her husband was still at work because he worked third shift. She waited up with her children. I should’ve known the enemy would compete to steal our time with her. She was busy trying to engage us with home movies. I thought, “Something is very strange about her behavior.” She acted as though she was trying to avoid the very subject she invited us over. So, after everyone went to bed, I walked through her house and prayed.<br /><br />The next morning, after breakfast, I urged my husband to sit them down for a talk for she was still being Martha. And he did-a very good job. He said he would contact the local pastor for a follow-up. A few months after our visit, Kristina’s husband accepted Christ and attended church with her. Though, he’s not very active, she never gave up and continued to keep in touch with me on a regular basis.<br /><br />She’s a changed woman. Her ministry to senior adults is compelling. She has six children, is self-employed; sells life insurance and estates, but she makes time to transport the seniors in her community to the stores, to doctor appointments and translate for them-for free, of course. When I visited her, I had to go with her on her errands to a spend time with her. She makes herself available for her family, extended family, friends and her community and, now her church. She is Mrs. Proverbs 31 in my eyes. But, she doesn’t think of herself that way. She gets frustrated, stressed out and bummed out, but I know none of them, only from hearing her say so.<br /><br />Every time I see or talk to her, she’s always on the way to a business meeting, to an appointment with a client, or run an errand for someone. I’ve never been able to enjoy a still moment with her. She’s so full of life. She’s thoughtful and generous with everyone. And, she has no servant.<br /><br />I just had a conversation with her last night. (While we were talking, she was making eggrolls for her daughter’s soccer team’s victory celebration.) She said her friends from our youth changed. She felt like they don’t have much in common anymore. I told her I believe she’s the changed one. She’s become mature and responsible. I always learn something from her through our conversations.<br /><br />Kristina, I am impressed and proud of the woman you’ve become. I am grateful to the Lord for bringing you into my life. If I am authorized by God to crown you Mrs. Proverbs 31, I would. You’ve developed a closer walk with God and become an example for your family, friends and community. I am privileged to be your friend. May God bless you!<br /><br /><em>Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. ~Proverbs 31:31</em><br /><br />MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-5771374797420718972011-11-03T17:46:00.000-07:002011-11-08T19:24:11.847-08:00So sorry for today<div>I'm sorry, my reader friends. I'm feeling a little under the weather. I do not feel I can do the next person justice if I post her tonight. I'm going to sleep so I can be clear-headed tomorrow and do a good job at it. I'll be back.</div>MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-22346484185704816922011-11-02T19:53:00.000-07:002011-11-02T19:59:59.680-07:00RebeccaParenting is such a mixture of joy and frustrations. Sometimes, I just love them to a whole. And, sometimes I get so frustrated, I just want to cry. I was frustrated with my daughter because she accused me of being an unfair parent. She wanted me to make her the same pillow I made for her sister. She would not yield when I explained that I didn’t make her sister a messenger bag or a purse either. She stuck to her desire. She wanted the same pillow. I had no more of the same materials. I sent her to bed.<br /><br />Next day, I went to work and came out for break time. Rebecca was sitting in her office. I said “hi” to her. I asked her how she was doing and she returned with the same question. I don’t really remember how we arrived at my daughter’s tamper tantrum the night before, but Rebecca simply said, “Why don’t you tell her that…” I came home. I pulled my daughter aside after dinner and we had our little talk. I explained to her that if she wanted to trade with her sister and she agrees, she may do so. But, I made them different things because they are different persons. And, the things I made are expressions of my love for them. I haven’t had the same tantrum since.<br /><br />Now, why don’t I think of that? Because I was simply reacting to her tantrum without logically thinking and listening to what she’s actually saying to me. Rebecca doesn't talk much to me except hi, hello, and how are you doing. But, once in awhile we have snippet conversations. And, she brings out the best in me. She’s encouraging to talk to. I know I can tell her things and it would stay between me and her. <br /><br />Rebecca, you are a gem. You taught me the value of saying a few words that are worth a lot. I am blessed to have known you and work for your family. Your willingness to help us with labor work has taught me the value of humility and hands-on leadership. You remind me of the following quality in Proverbs 31.<br /><br /><em>She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue</em>. ~Proverbs 31:27<br />MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-63328935718819652372011-10-31T22:15:00.000-07:002011-11-02T19:50:34.840-07:00Melody<div><div><br />When the Lord put a desire in your heart, you always wait expectantly for news that allows you to put your foot in the Jordan River so He can part the water. No matter how long it has been, He won’t let you forget it. He will always keep you at peak interest for that is His heart’s desire for you.<br /><br />For many years now, the Lord instilled in me the desire to become a Christian speaker to a group of people I am afraid of - women. I started, then stopped, then started and stopped. I told the Lord I had nothing interesting to tell. Nothing I’ve been through was unique (1 Cor. 10:13). My life had not been easy, but neither had it been thrilling or thriving.<br /><br />So, the Lord took me on a journey of challenges which were very common: Last year, our house was hit with a tree. Two weeks later, before the adjuster came to evaluate the disaster, our kitchen was caught on fire. We had to move out for two months. It was hard for our children. It changed their attitudes on life.<br /><br />Also, this past couple of years have been especially challenging to my family due to family illnesses. In August of this year, we lost my father-in-law to cancer and my mother to liver cirrhosis – back to back. This left a hole in our hearts and we battled this on a daily basis. It was hard for the children, my husband and me. We couldn’t talk to one another. There was nothing to discuss. We already knew what each is going through. The only way to make it go away is to bring them back, but we already knew the answer to that.</div><div><br />Though, I tried to stay positive, I became depressed. I had “nightmares”. I couldn’t sleep at night and extremely tired during the day. I made numerous mistakes at work. And, I bump heads with my co-workers. Graciously, they calmly corrected me. This humbled me tremendously. And, I went back to the throne of grace. I asked Him to renew my courage and strength and open doors for me to serve Him; to cause me to see and wisdom to recognize His directions.<br /><br />Then, one evening, I was cooking and was in a pretty good mood, actually. The phone rang, I answered, this excited lady at the other end was talking a million miles an hour (well, that’s a little bit of an exaggeration, but she was talking quite fast). She told me she went to the Women of Faith conference and she’s taken on their challenge to become a woman of faith-to present the love of Christ to women and invite them to join her for the next conference.<br /><br />I didn’t really understand her at the time. But, I told her I would think about it because I don’t have many ladies and I wasn’t sure it was worth her time to make the trip. She said, “I think I would come, even if it was just you.” She said as long as I was willing to listen, she would come and talk with me because if she could make a difference in my life, it would be worth her time. She sounded confident and comforting.<br /><br />She was willing. She didn’t care if she was presenting to 10 or 1. She just wanted a chance to make a difference in someone’s life. She made such an impact in my life that all I could think of the next day was what she said to me. The fact that she was willing to travel for nearly two hours just for me, tickles me. It caused me to reflect on my own willingness to serve.<br /><br />Thank you, Melody. You brought me back to writing and you’ve inspired me not to give up and take each assignment, large or small, as life changing opportunity. For as long as I live I will always remember your words that brought me back to His work. May God bless you and keep you moving contagiously about His kingdom. You are a woman who fears the Lord. I am grateful to our God and to you for the opportunity to have spoken with you and for your courage to wake me up from my pity stupor by making that call.<br /><br />“The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary...” (Isaiah 50:4a).</div></div>MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-22900131857726623842011-01-23T08:48:00.000-08:002011-01-23T09:02:23.084-08:00Wait on God<span style="color:#660000;">Psalm 62:1 "My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation." (NASB)</span><br /><span style="color:#660000;"></span><br />When I started MrsProverbs31, my sole purpose was to encourage women to have a more intimate relationship with God. I wanted them to be encouraged to have this relationship regardless of what the world thinks of them. We as women, live in a self-fulfilling prophesy. We want to be the best, not just in one thing, but in all things. We want others to see us as worthy and desirable to be around. Thus, we work harder to present ourselves as worthy to the world, forgetting His purpose for us-to wait on Him, allowing Him to use us to present His glory to the world.<br /><br />God alone is master and creator, and from Him alone comes salvation. In order to fully experience salvation and the blessing of doing His will, we must be willing to wait with great anticipation as He unfolds His power and goodness moment by moment through us. If we understand that only God can provide salvation for us, and without Him, we can do nothing, then we know that the best thing we can do for ourselves is to wait on Him.<br /><br />If we are still unwilling to wait on Him and for Him, then this intimate relationship with Him has not been manifested in us and our claim of it is defective. Waiting on God should be a joy and our brightest hope. Only when we are willing to be dead to ourselves, allowing Him the full power in us, will His glory manifest through us.<br /><br />May we experience the joy of waiting on Him.<br /><br />"My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation." -Psalm 62:1MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-40369000735314243932010-05-19T18:44:00.000-07:002010-05-19T19:11:09.336-07:00Spam CommentsDear Readers,<br /><br />I notice that there has been some Chinese comments with links to adult sites and at the moment I cannot delete this particular comment (it has been coded in such that I can't figure out how to delete). I do not endorse these disgusting comments nor am I associated with these sites. I'm sad to say this is an attempt to defame the Word of God and discredit my ministry. However, I know God is working and aware of this situation. In the meanwhile, do not click the links.<br /><br />Thank you and may God richly bless you!MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-85330872019082765682010-02-13T20:15:00.001-08:002010-02-13T20:20:06.442-08:00Love is a Choice<em><em>Then the Lord said to me, “go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to their gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” ~Hosea 3:1, NKJV</em></em><br /><br />We do not know Gomer’s background, whether she was a prostitute to begin with or she was unfaithful to her husband. Nevertheless, she was a harlot. After Hosea redeemed her and brought her into his house, she chose to return to the street. Many times, Hosea redeemed her and many times, she returned, but Hosea chose to go back again and again under God’s instruction. Gomer had a choice to live a life of respect and peace, and yet, she chose to return to a life of destruction.<br /><br />The Israelites were no different. They intermarried, they changed their beliefs. They followed other gods. They turned to other gods, made by man. They forgot their Lord who was their bountiful provider (Hosea 2:8). Gomer was an example of the Israelites' unfaithfulness to the Lord, and Hosea was exemplifying the Lord’s love for them.<br /><br />Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, celebrating love for one another. We choose to give gifts of love to those we care about most. Many times we receive and many times we give. It is all done with choice. We choose the ones we care. We choose love. Just as we choose to love others, so God chose to love us, even when we are unfaithful to Him. Prophet after prophets, He declared His love to us, and yet many choose to return to the pagan world.<br /><br />Finally, He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins. His love is so great, He became man so that we know He truly understand us completely and yet He has authority to change circumstances and protect us. God chose to love us. Christ chose to die out of love for us. What will we choose to do?<br /><br />Father, thank you for Your love for us. May this day not only be a day of us loving one another, but a day of remembering Your love for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.<br /><br />Happy Valentine’s Day!MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-19918880221848330552010-02-09T19:07:00.000-08:002010-02-09T19:26:11.033-08:00FortyI recently celebrated my 40th birthday. God inspired me to write a thank you letter to people who have influenced my growth one way or another. After I wrote the letter, I asked my husband to read it, he did. He asked me what the purpose of my letter was. “Why is forty so significant to you?” he questioned.<br /><br />After listening to him for a bit, I grabbed my Bible and looked up forty. I found several passages about forty. “This will be a very long letter,” I commented.<br /><br />“Why are you looking up forty in the Bible?” He exclaimed. “I wanted to know why you’re writing this letter. How did these people specifically affect you in a way that would cause you to write them?”<br /><br />“Ohhh…I’m sorry. I thought you wanted me to explain the significance of the numb forty in the Bible,” I answered.<br /><br />I proceeded with the letter without the Bible. However, the number forty intrigued me. There were a lot of mentions in the Bible about forty: the Lord caused it to rain for forty days and forty nights; the Israelites’ rebellious nature caused them to wander in the desert for forty years; After Jesus’ baptism, He fasted for forty days and forty nights in the desert (Matt. 4:2); After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples for a period of forty days (Acts 1:3). Thus, the number forty is important in biblical history. <br /><br />Turning forty is also important to me. It inspired me to think of all the people who has influenced me and steered me in this direction. The saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” rings true in my life. There were so many people who helped my mother raise me. Without them I wouldn’t be alive. In my adult life, there are a lot of people who taught me the lessons of life-how to love my children; how to respect my husband, how to stay close to God, etc. <br /><br />Turning forty caused me to reflect on the necessity of relationships: how we affect one another-positive or negative. It gives me a new perspective on life. I am most grateful for God’s grace. Daily, I ponder on His love and mercy. I am in awe of His goodness. Like the Israelites, I have a better understanding of what being obedient means. <br /><br />Lord, I thank You so much for this reflection. I know that I need others' help in my walk with Jesus. I pray that I will not turn to left nor the right. Please, help me to never take others for granted. Help me to show my gratitudes daily. In Jesus’ precious Name I pray, Amen.MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-29396018405209899832010-02-01T19:51:00.000-08:002010-02-01T19:59:53.177-08:00His HandiworkThis past weekend’s weather taught me a lesson on the power of God. All we received was cold and a few drops of rain. No snow and no ice. However, to the North and East of us was a different story. Our family was supposed to go to Hickory, North Carolina for the Sunday Service – my husband was to preach. However, on Saturday evening, the elder from that church notified my husband that the church was closed due to snowy weather. They had a blizzard. We, on the other hand, had dark cloud on Saturday and sunshine and cold wind on Sunday. As we head for church, I couldn’t get over the fact that on my side of the neighborhood, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the weather other than the coldness. And, yet, the blizzard hit the North and the East. It was Sunday, January 31, 2010 for all of us, everywhere. <br /><br />I couldn’t get over it. I kept on pondering how it could be that on one side of town, churches were cancelled while on the other side, people were enjoying the sunshine and dry weather. “Oh, God, only You can fashion such vastness and beauty.” I felt utterly limited by this incomprehensible act of God. As far as my eyes could see, everything was perfect. And, yet, just beyond the horizon, there were blizzards all around. No matter how hard I tried to feel the pain these neighbors felt, I couldn’t. All I could feel was the sunshine and cold chills. <br /><br />God, indeed, is the great “I AM”. His Word says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). This past weekend’s experience said it all. Only God could’ve divided the experiences of the weather so uniquely. Even, the earth sings a different song to the Lord at the same time. <br /><br />Lord, thank You for teaching us about Your mighty power. Remind us daily that You are in control. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-60776473381068582172009-11-25T15:54:00.000-08:002009-11-25T15:56:14.041-08:00<span style="font-size:180%;">Happy Thanksgiving</span>!MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-20231400549101941872009-11-15T03:57:00.000-08:002009-11-15T04:17:19.853-08:00He PaysMatthew 20:1-16<br /><br />Landowner is God<br />Works are believers<br />Vinyard is the Kingdom of Heaven<br /><br />Those who work the longest underneath the beating of the hot sun received salvation. Those who came last-probably didn't even have to face the sun-received salvation. Those who came in between received salvation. God extends salvation as payment for our willingness to come to Him. He pays us to believe in Him.<br /><br />It is interesting that Jesus used the word, "pay". He pays us to believe in Him. He pays us to do the Will of the Father. He pays us to tell His story. He pays us to take care of our husbands. He pays us to raise our children. Then, He pays our children to pass on the torch. He pays. We don't work for nothing-and when we work out of love for Him, it isn't work. He made us. He can choose to treat us as slaves, and yet He chose to give us freedom and pays us.<br /><br />Father, help us not to take Your gift of salvation for granted. Help us to understand that it is by Your grace alone that we can come before Your throne as children of the Most High God.MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-49766787129768563322009-07-04T10:27:00.000-07:002009-07-04T10:28:43.086-07:00Freedom“<span style="color:#cc0000;">…Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.</span>” ~Matthew 15:28<br /><br />Independence Day is a fine holiday to celebrate. Freedom is no small feat. It takes determination, faith, and belief-it takes breaking out of the traditional belief and practice. Freedom cannot be accomplished without wisdom and knowledge of the opponent’s plan of execution whether the battles are of the mind or body.<br /><br />One extraordinary battle a woman had to fight was the answer to her request of healing for her daughter. She heard that Jesus, the Son of David, was in town. He was the one with the power to heal her daughter of the demon-possessed disease. So, she made the trip to see Jesus and presented her request.<br /><br />Surprisingly, when she presented her request, Jesus ignored her. He just went on as though He didn’t hear her. Then, she asked again and again until He finally answered her by saying that “it’s not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” Hearing this, she acknowledged the fact that though she was not a Jew, Jesus was capable to give her blessings that many Jews did not claim.<br /><br />One thing Jesus clearly showed me was that for centuries the Jews have been told they were the chosen race and they bluntly blurted it out to others. They believed it and preached it to the nations around them. They put themselves in pedestal: they were the chosen race after all. They were chosen and for them that meant that they were favored by God, not just any god, but the Sovereign Lord. They made sure that everyone around them knew about it-they were bragging. So, this Gentile woman came and wanted Him to heal her daughter of demon-possessed. And, Jesus, wanting her to know the truth, turned around and called her a dog. I would’ve been so offended-if I have just looked at the surface, but listen to this wise woman. She wasn’t taking anything that was reserved for the Jews. She simply acknowledged the fact that she understood the Lord has chosen the Jews as His chosen race and yet He was big enough to spare her the blessings which the Jews didn’t claim.<br /><br />One thing Jesus wanted to hear from this Gentile woman was her verbal confession of the truth-although, the Jews were His chosen race for displaying His magnificent power, they were not the only one to receive His love and protection. For generations, this woman was repeatedly beat down by the Jews community that they were the chosen ones, not her. She was not worth it to receive His blessings, but she knew better. She presented Jesus with the truth that not every Jew claimed that promise, therefore, she could certainly take what they didn’t claim and Jesus granted her request at that. Jesus wanted to know whether she would choose to believe what the Jews told her or believe in Him who is the author of Life and freedom-from demon-possessed.<br />Today, millions of Americans celebrate Independence Day because our founding fathers believed that freedom was given to everyone, not just the British government. They were willing to pay taxes with representations, but they had none and with all their heart, our founding fathers believed they needed to break away from the tradition. They needed their freedom. They fought to gain their freedom.<br /><br />What about you? Have you been imprisoned by the traditions of your mental education? Do you believe the things you were taught or told that you are not good enough, not smart enough, or in my case, not rich enough? Have you been told that you were destined to fail? Today, Jesus wants you to believe otherwise. He wants you to believe that He can set you free from the traditions of thoughts and beliefs. He wants you to know He is the way, the truth and the life. Take that chance, make the request, and be freed from your prison. Freedom in Jesus is truly free. Will you accept?<br /><br />Jesus, Lord, thank You for this piece of truth. As we celebrate Independence Day, help us to remember that true freedom is found in Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-63060701407557356542009-05-09T20:40:00.000-07:002009-05-09T20:49:17.943-07:00Motherhood PrivilegeAs I reflect on my motherhood experiences, there were many hurtful moments because I didn’t appreciate my position as a mother. My love and my care for my children were genuine. But, I was overwhelmed with responsibilities with little understandings from others. I felt I was constantly misunderstood, mistaken, and mistreated. The harder I tried to be a good mother and wife, the more I felt less of me. I lost myself in the midst of motherhood and joy was nowhere in sight. I cried many times in front of my children and alone in my bathroom.<br /><br />I called out to my Father in desperation and He answered me by changing me. He transformed my mind and my thoughts to look at my children and husband through His eyes. And, I saw love, patience, self-control, kindness, gentleness, joy, goodness, and faithfulness blooming around me. I cried alone, but this time with joy.<br /><br />Along with joy came the response ability which enabled me to cling onto my Father and little by little, I found myself faintly reappearing and the dark cloud quietly disappearing. And, I am grateful that He made me realize before too late to enjoy my children. I just watched a home-made video of my middle daughter’s birthday and we had nothing on the table except, a home-made cake sloppily labeled with her name on it. But, the children were waiting with anticipation to eat the cake. And, they enjoyed it. The most important thing I saw in that video was health and the presence of all of us.<br /><br />I learned that children may act like they want everything the world can give them and what their “rich” friends have, but at the end of the day, they always return to their mom for protection, healing, comfort, and wisdom. Though, I am a little short of the above, it comforts me to receive their hugs with love. I realize that being a mother is a privilege, not a burden.<br /><br />Happy Mother's Day, my friend.<br /><br />Father, thank You for the privilege of motherhood. Thank You for placing me in the company of joy, peace and love.MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-1942108934850816412009-04-10T06:02:00.000-07:002009-04-10T06:13:46.818-07:00He Who Has EarsI awoke to a gentle knock on my bedroom door. “I’m coming,” I said as I slipped out of bed, realizing that my children have day camp at my friend’s church. Another knock came shortly after, and I repeated, “I’m coming, just get ready.” I scrambled around to look for my sweat pants and went towards the bathroom, the third knock came. Again, I said, “I’m coming. You guys just get yourselves ready.” Just as I entered my bathroom door, another knock came louder than the first ones, and it aggravated me, so I yelled out, “I’m coming, GO get ready.”<br /><br />“See, Pretty,” said Princess.<br /><br />When I came out of my room, I peaked into the girls’ room and surprise to see them sitting comfortably on their bed with their PJs still on. I said, “What are you doing? You knocked my door and I told you to get ready, why are you still not dressed?”<br /><br />“Well, I knock on your door, and I didn’t hear anything,” said Pretty.<br /><br />“She told me to do it,” Princess said pointing straight at Pretty.<br /><br />“Just get ready,” I pouted.<br /><br />I thought about how many times we cry and beg Jesus to come into our aid, and we never take the time to listen to what Jesus said. We demand for His attention, but never take the time to listen and hear His directions. We stand there and watch for Him to come out to help us, take us to our destination, but, we’re not ready. Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9).<br /><br />Jesus was teaching in parables and required the attention of His listeners. Were they paying attention to the details of the parables? Did they even hear Him or were they on dreamland? Are we any different than His disciples? We’re knocking, but are we listening? Or are we like Pretty and knocking without hearing?<br /><br />Today, if you’re waiting on God to answer a prayer, put your hope and faith together, and listen, perhaps, the answer has already been given, and all you got to do is act. You don’t have to keep on knocking. Trust and obey. He is on His way to take His part in your life. But, are you ready? Are you prepared to take your part to meet Jesus?MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-57654868491203890872009-04-07T18:11:00.000-07:002009-04-07T18:16:49.839-07:00Pray for my friend's familyTo all who may come across this, please pray for this lady I wrote about on my previous entry. She passed away yesterday. Pray for the family. It has been a very difficult journey for them. I do not know of their spiritual background. But, I do know that she loves the Lord and I know she's up there looking down.MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-55098926041517402442009-04-03T19:54:00.000-07:002009-04-04T21:07:08.999-07:00Cherish Our Loved Ones<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">“See, I have engraved you in the palms of my hands, and your walls are ever before me.” ~Isaiah 49:16<br /><br />At the beginning of March 2009, my uncle passed away due to cancer. It was emotionally draining because he was my closest father figure. Even now, I think about him often and the chance I lost in loving him. I regretted all the times I spent in resentment toward him for something he didn’t do for me long ago. When he passed away, all that came to my mind was all the good he was. And, although I tried to hold back, tears gushed out. The funeral was emotionally moving.<br /><br />Two Sundays ago, a lady in our Sunday school class who has been battling cancer came with exclamations of joy for no cancer was found in her body. She was so happy she came to Sunday school just to tell us the Lord has healed her and she had nothing but gratitude to express. It was moving for me, because I kept on thinking about my uncle when they told him that he was cured, and, a week later he was gone. However, my heart moved to joy and I was filled with tears for all the good the Lord was doing all around me.<br /><br />But, today I witnessed her unmoving body in ICU. No life was apparent and her family was present. I witnessed the tears her daughters shed and the sorrows they showed, I felt powerless, I stood there motionless and tried to speak, but no word would be of comfort to them. I spoke to her and asked her to fight for her daughter’s sake. I said, “I don’t know if you could hear me, but I came to visit you…I want you to fight for your daughter’s sake, for the sake of those who have been praying for you, and for my sake. I’ve been encouraged by your courage and strength. I may be selfish, but I want you back for a little longer. Please, come back.” As, I spoke her daughters sobbed and their uncle stood by. I prayed for her and one of her daughters ushered me out to the waiting room to meet the rest of the family members.<br /><br />I left physically, but my thoughts were digging for answers to comfort her family and what will happen to her. I was deeply moved by what I saw, I lost track of my directions. I have no idea of the directions I came and I had to ask the workers of the hospitals for help, they ushered me out of the building.<br /><br />I continued to wonder and contemplate on her condition. What will happen to her and how soon before I know the outcome? “Lord, help her. Please, comfort her daughters.” As I started my car, my mind shifted to my mom. What would I have done if that was my mom lying there?<br /><br />Then, I thought about my aunt. What has happened to her and how is she doing without my uncle? So, I reached for my phone and called my aunt. No answer. And later on, I called my mom. The sound of her voice seemed to bring some comfort into my heart.<br /><br />As I hung up with her, I continued to wonder about how often we forget to treasure the presents God gave us. He wrapped and decorated each present-our loved ones in their special characters, and no other present or person can replace this particular one. How have I showed my loved ones my appreciation of their presence in my life? Have I fully expressed my love to them? When our friendships on earth end, will I cry cries of regret or sing with joy?<br /><br />As I wondered on, all the blessings the Lord has brought into my life rushed into my mind. He reminded me of the verse He gave me last year, “See, I have engraved you in the palms of my hands, and your walls are ever before me.” Just knowing that He is in total control and He sees my every move brought comfort to my heart.<br /><br />Today, if you find yourself wondering on and on as I did, rest assure that you are engraved in the palms of His hands and your walls are ever before Him. There is not an inch in your life that happens without His knowledge. If you accepted Christ as your personal Savior, you are permanently engraved in His hands and all your ways are before Him. Some experiences are harder to bear than others, but He is still in control. He knows. And, He promises to supply ample ways for you to overcome your challenges.<br /><br />God bless you! </span>MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-85690971610745073572009-02-13T12:35:00.000-08:002009-02-13T12:42:50.077-08:00Nothing’s Free, My Son<em><span style="color:#000066;">For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.</span> ~John 3:16, NKJV</em><br /><br />Christmas was coming close and my children wondered what presents they would receive, if any. We didn’t have any money and my son said, “Mom, why don’t you go back to Salvation Army and get us toys there? It’s free.”<br /><br />“Nothing’s free, my son. Somebody pays for those toys. Nothing is ever free. Someone always pays. No matter how you get them, someone paid the price,” I snapped at him, remembering those people who rang the bells at Walmart, Kmart and Target and those who bought the toys.<br /><br />A little taken back, “I know, but at least you don’t have to pay for them,” he inserted.<br /><br />There’s a principle in what I’ve said to my son. The price has to be paid for by someone. Nothing ever comes without a price. We may never personally pay for it, but someone did and we were blessed enough to receive without an obligation to repay. That’s our free gift. The greatest free gift that was ever given to us was Salvation bought by Jesus Christ. It was a great price to pay, but He paid it for us, out of love.<br /><br />I remembered one Sunday, I was prepared to teach my Bible lesson, but only two ladies showed up and our husbands didn’t want to stay. My children were antsy and didn’t want to stay long enough for me to teach my lesson. So, we cancelled the session. I was so upset and hurt. And, I remembered asking God in tears, “Father, I don’t understand. How could everyone chose earthly activities over spending time with You?” I felt the burden to love them was so heavy and the pain was too hard to bear. But, He gently reminded me that He understood. It was the pain He felt on the cross when all the sins of the world were put on Him. And yet, He chose to bear them out of love. I, too, if truly love God, should do the same out of choice.<br /><br />Tomorrow, February 14, is Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love that was paid for by someone with a great price and given to us free. Let us celebrate with gratitude. Let us never take our loved ones for granted. Most importantly, we live because He lives, so let us celebrate the love He gave to us, FREE.MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-56584938801515643942009-02-11T09:26:00.000-08:002009-02-11T09:28:34.597-08:00The Glory of Christ in Us“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.”<br />~John 17:22<br /><br />We went fishing this past weekend. As most of the times, we caught no fish. My daughter was not satisfied so my husband took her to the other end of the river to fish. Still there was no fish. We stayed for awhile and a man showed up with his fishing pole and started to fish. He caught one fish after another and my children were so surprised that he caught so many fish. Everyone gathered around his bucket of fish with excitement. He gave some of his bait to my husband and my son and they each caught one fish. Within 30 minutes of this man’s presence, he caught 5 fishes and met his limit. So, he offered his fishing pole to each one of us and no one would take it. He insisted that I fish. I was a little embarrassed so I declined, but he kept on handing me the fishing pole and said, “I will cast it because I know how to put it right into the fish’s mouth.” So, he cast it and gave me the fishing pole to hold on.<br /><br />He stayed until it was nearly dark and his wife called. I still have not caught anything so I handed the fishing pole to my son. One by one we each took turns, but no fish. So, we handed him his fishing pole. He turned to me and said, “Would you like my fish. I just like to fish, I don’t eat them?”<br /><br />“But, I thought you said trouts taste good?” I responded.<br /><br />“I do like them, but my wife can’t stand them,” he smiled down at me.<br /><br />“Oh, she’s one of those who don’t eat fish?” I inquired.<br /><br />“She eats those from Captain D’s,” he said with his hands in his pockets and big grin on his face.<br /><br />“Well, then, I would be glad to take them. I love fish and this would make my children very happy. Thank you,” I exclaimed.<br /><br />“No problem,” he responded.<br /><br />I instructed my son to transfer the fish from his bucket to our little foam cooler. Then, he offered one to the other man fishing beside us. The man gladly took the fish and put it in his cooler. As, my son handed him his empty bucket, he offered some baits to the other man and some to me? We took the bait from his hands and thanked him. I made a remark to the fact that he fished but didn’t keep his fish, he said, “Oh, I’m having a great time.”<br /><br />As I reflected back, he enjoyed teaching my children how to cast their fishing lines and hold it until the fish bite. It made me wondered if he had any grand children of his own. Nevertheless, he made me calm because of the way he conducted himself, he wasn’t talking too much or shushing my children, but rather calmly taught them how to fish. And, before he left, he gave them enough baits to fish for the remaining of their time.<br /><br />This reminded me of the time when Jesus was getting ready to go to the cross and prayed to His Heavenly Father. He reminded the Father that He has given us His glory that was given to Him so that He and us can be one as He is one with the Father.<br /><br />The word glory came from the Greek word kabod (pronounced, kay-bold). And it means glory or honor which associates with dignity, wealth, or high position. When Jesus left, He didn’t leave us without any part of Him, but He clearly stated that He gave us His glory so that we can be one with Him. Part of honoring His glory is to use the it to display His splendor, His compassion, and His love for the world. He taught us how to do His work by showing us, then he cast the first throw and handed us the pole to just hold on and wait, then He gave us the bait (equipped us) to fish some more, and instructed us to continue having fun. We weren’t instructed with hush words, but gentle and kind. Then, he showed us where to get more of the baits-read His Word.<br /><br />Meditating on this message that He instructed me to share, I feel His peace. He is consistent in His care of us. We have His glory within us and our job is to display it for the world to see. With the glory of Christ in us, we have nothing to fear. With the glory of Christ in us, we can do things we thought we couldn’t do. With the glory of Christ in us, nothing is impossible, not even an unwilling heart.<br /><br />Father, I know You love me. I understand the glory of Christ is placed within me. Manifest Your glory in me so that I may display Your splendor for the world to see. I pray You will remind me everyday that Your glory is in me. In Jesus’ name, amen.MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-66584700515482020062009-01-09T10:09:00.000-08:002009-01-09T11:31:13.673-08:00My Scribble of His Plan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUZcqXyq_RRI-vBTP0O0HHTiLfX39X0Y1l4TYUPGQUcm7rpbcHIzv7ZrOXPlCWSJiWAmSUe8UO7vIC7HYAQS-OEzA2D5NdeGBDccZO9hItlTwUjMk69hwK0wJX9SyVJ3r3RaHliY5svQ/s1600-h/DSC00649.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289358336639522626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUZcqXyq_RRI-vBTP0O0HHTiLfX39X0Y1l4TYUPGQUcm7rpbcHIzv7ZrOXPlCWSJiWAmSUe8UO7vIC7HYAQS-OEzA2D5NdeGBDccZO9hItlTwUjMk69hwK0wJX9SyVJ3r3RaHliY5svQ/s200/DSC00649.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Meet Lizzy. She’s charming, creative, kind, and simple. She loves to use her talent to tell stories. She loves Dora and Diego, erasers, and rocks. This is her rock. This is her art. She was trying to trace her rock onto my paper. The first attempt is the half circle around the right side of the rock. Then, she decided that it was much harder than it looks, so she tried the second time, the oval that ended with lots of spaces on top of the rock. And, finally the third attempt is the huge circle around the rock. She knew that it didn’t quite fit the rock, so she scribbled all over the paper, picked up her rock, turned around and show me her picture, told me it was Dora. Sorry, Dora, she really tried her best. I gave her a smile and told her how proud I was of her.<br /><br />Then, the Lord opened my eyes to my situation. How much I wanted to look like Him. I tried to imitate His actions and character, and copy His image, but all I did was made whole bunch of scribbles with my life. Nevertheless, He says that His plan for me is the rock, smooth to the touch and pretty to the eyes.<br /><br />He doesn’t care that my imitation was scribbles, He knows that I try and that I don’t have the eye and hand coordination to create the picture of the rock yet. He also knows that one day I will be able to draw the picture of the rock in its true form. It is a matter of time. I have to take time to develop and grow, to gain my muscles and strength in order to obey the orders of my brain to draw the picture of the rock. His plan for me is the finish product.<br /><br />Jeremiah 29:11 says that His plan for us is to prosper us and not to harm us. His plan for us is to give us hope and a future. Although our picture at the time may look like Lizzy’s picture of the rock and Dora, we know that we’ve not fully grown and coordinated. We know that no matter what our pictures look like, He will always be proud of us and our efforts. His encouragement is for us to keep trying and looking up for His smiles.<br /><br />When, my six year old daughter was Lizzy’s age, she drew the same pictures. She didn’t quite make sense on any of her pictures, but then she went to school and learned to draw pictures and make conversation bubbles for her pictures. Now that she’s six, soon to be seven, she can draw a story and tell you about it. If you look at her pictures, you can almost tell the story yourself. You know whether she’s drawing a woman or a man. One day, her stories will be complete sentences and clear pictures.<br /><br />So, if your life doesn’t quite make sense today. Remember the finish product. Put it down, and keep trying and keep looking up for His smiles. It won’t be long before you can draw the true form of your Rock.</div><div></div><div>Father, I know Your plan for us is good. You destined us for success. Help us to realize Your will for our lives. I praise You in Jesus Name, Amen.</div>MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424930179029823092.post-69523352171950182902008-12-23T14:23:00.000-08:002008-12-23T17:51:25.146-08:00Not by WorthYou might wonder what’s happening to me or why I didn’t blog for the last three months. You might be too busy to even come to this website. Perhaps, you didn't even know this website existed before today. But, the reason for the big gap in this blog is that I fell in the hole of "Am I worth it?". This hole was pretty deep. I felt utterly disabled to write anything worthwhile. I felt as though I am not worth it to pass on His message of Love, even though His Love is of grace and mercy. I couldn’t bring myself to put anything down, let alone bringing ideas out on the open to share with all of you.<br /><br />I spent time with Him alone, asking Him to validate His choice. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just me wanting all the prestige and honor of being His messenger. I made every excuse I could, then I said, “I know You can make the impossible possible, but I’m not sure I’m cut out for this ministry.” I was sure no one would listen to me or want to read what I wrote.<br /><br />Then He took me to John 6:29, “Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” You see, I was not looking at His glory, I was looking at my inability. I was not focus on the task He designed for me, I was looking at my failures. I was not approaching His throne with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I was coming to Him with utter disappointments. He simply told me to believe in the Power of Christ. My job is not to ponder on what I can or cannot do, but to believe in Jesus, and let the Holy Spirit guide me.<br /><br />This Christmas, I experience a new peace that passes all understanding. Yes, I am not worth it. I will never be worth it. Yes, I don’t have it. Yes, no one will listen to me on my own. But, yes He is able and willing. And, yes people will listen when I allow Him to use my mouth and my hands to carry His good News. Yes, all that is required of me is to believe. It is not by worth that He has called me to serve Him, it is by His grace and His choice. I am privileged to be a part of His kingdom work.<br /><br />Dear God, thank You for loving me passionately to send Your SON to earth. Let all your daughters experience the power of believing in the ONE You sent. Let this Christmas be a reminder of the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.MrsProverbs31http://www.blogger.com/profile/11002767455403546651noreply@blogger.com1