Sour Apple - Sweet Core

Sour Apple – Sweet Core

1968 Westover AFB, Massachusetts

                                      

During the Viet Naam War, we lived on Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee< Massachusetts.  I was expecting my first child, Ralph’s second son.  Ralph’s unit was going to Guam with the B52’s.  Half of the men on base went six months at a time, then the other half when they came back then rotate again, and so it went.

I was a twenty year old Southern gal stuck in “Yankee Territory” having my first child North of the Mason-Dixon line alone, and I could not drive.  My husband was my sunshine, my moon, my waking joy, my sustainer - - my world.  He was worth leaving the South for; however, his leaving shattered my world. 

I remember a friend driving us to the hangar, our painful good-bye, then going to a parking lot in view of the planes by the flight line.  I could distinguish my beloved from all the others in the trail of “ants” of drab olive disappearing into the plane by his distinctive walk. I can still see it in my memory clearly!  He climbed the steps, turned, and waved.  We stayed until the plane was out of sight as it took my heart, my joy, my world with it.

[Backing up so you can understand: My life worth mentioning began when I married Ralph.  My childhood was not a happy one.  We did not know what the peace and love of a Christian home was.  We had little peace in our home.  I had little guidance as to how to live my life.  I had thought that I was a Christian based on an experience at age fourteen, or that my Father was a preacher, but I had not been converted. 

From the moment I met him, Ralph shined Jesus Christ!  He kept me under the sound of the Gospel in a good church, and read the Scriptures often.  He lived what he said he believed.  All the ladies in our little church we joined while meeting in a little pizza parlor were attending Child Evangelism Fellowship Teacher Training Classes, so I went with them.  I found out that each of us must come as we are to God by faith and believe in Him, repenting of our sins, and trusting His work on the cross by His mercy to save us.  On November 29^th 1967, at age nineteen in our little third floor tenement, God convicted me so strongly early that morning that I prayed asking Him to forgive my sins and to save me.   I was filled with joy and peace that I never knew before. Then, I learned that we must all also grow in the faith and in our walk with God.  I grew in knowledge rather rapidly, but I had few trials to test my faith.]

So back to the day Ralph left for Guam, this was a hard time for me.  When I returned home to our little apartment on base I cried.  I cried until there were no more tears to cry, then sobbed some more.  I felt like my life was gone with my beloved.  After grieving for two days this way, being unable to lift myself out of this terrible grief, I turned to God and prayed.  I remember telling Him that I couldn’t bear the emptiness, and because no Christian should be so defeated and sad that I wanted either to die or be relieved of this awful grief.

The next morning, our dog woke me by licking my face and I was laughing.  I was laughing! I remembered my night time prayer and became aware of God’s peace in me.  I was conscious of His goodness to give me His joy.  Those next few months I studied God’s Word, grew in faith, saw miraculous answers to my prayers, and was wonderfully close to the Lord in a way never duplicated after this. 

God provided all my needs physically, spiritually, and socially during the next few months as I awaited the arrival of my first baby.  Ralph came home to a three week old son and a new wife.

I call an experience like this a sour apple with a sweet core because God allowed me to suffer to teach me that I could rely on Him for all my needs.  He became sweeter than anything.

Basketful of Bittersweet Apples

Basketful of Bittersweet Apples

                                         

When I was a young mother with three children, Ralph Jr. age 5,

Steve, age 3, and Sarah, several weeks old, it was my turn this particular morning to drive carpool for several kindergarteners to private school.  I had let Steven and Sarah sleep until the last possible minute, devoting my time to getting Ralphie ready.  Since the round trip was only forty-five minutes, I did not take the time to feed Steven Breakfast nor to nurse Sarah.  It was such a nice Spring day that I let Steven go barefoot and in his little cut-off pajamas that were unhemmed and frayed.  So, off we went picking up two other children on the way!

We had this marvelous “Old Betsy,” a 1965 Chevelle Malibu bought new by Ralph before we married and kept as a friend and faithful servant of our family.  “She” always worked well with very few problems, one of which we could get irritated with.  Occasionally at first, then more frequently as she aged, her linkage would stick in first gear.  This could be remedied by lifting the hood, putting your hand down by the hot engine and manually “jiggling” the linkage arm.  I got so good at it that I could accomplish this rather quickly in the dark at a stop light and never get burned.  But I always got grease on my hands.

This lovely Spring morning of early May 1974, in a glorious display of New England Spring blooms, two blocks past the second kindergartener’s home, Betsy’s linkage stuck at a stop sign.

I did all my usual jiggling and then all else I could reason to do to no avail.  Grease was under my fingernails, on my face and arms, as well as all over my hands; and I had not enough towels to clean myself properly.

I decided the most expedient thing to do to get the children to school on time was to use my friend’s car and worry about Betsy later.  Picture this: a greasy lady with an infant in one arm and a three year old in the other (He’s barefoot, remember?) and three five year olds with metal lunch boxes loudly banging as we all run back the two blocks.  I am sure we were a conspicuous parade!

I managed somehow to get them to school on time driving my friend’s car.   I returned my friend’s car and returned to Betsy.  Upon the advice of my friend’s neighbor, I whacked Betsy in the linkage with a mallet, to which she promptly responded favorably, and we were on our way home.

Since we lived three miles past the market, I felt it prudent to stop for bread on the way home; so we stopped and went in.  Steve, shoeless had to ride in the carriage, so I carried Sarah, now wide awake and hungry.  The bread is always at the back and opposite side of every grocery market when you are in a hurry:  today was such a day.  I got the bread and started for the checkout miles away where a line was forming just to make my morning more exciting.  I became aware of Steve’s condition while standing there.  His little legs and face were smeared with the grease from my hands and arms, he had dirty feet, and uncombed hair.  Add to this his raggedy little pajamas and he was a pitiful sight!

This dear, hungry, dirty little tyke looked up at me and started asking for bread.  Of course, holding the baby and with greasy hands, I couldn’t oblige, but exhorted him to wait until we got home.  To this he cried, streaking his already dirty little face.

Then my hungry little baby cried out her complaints and tried chewing her way through my dress for breakfast.  Within seconds, her diaper overflowed soaking the front of my dress as I held her close to me.  Then her cries “triggered” my ample supply of “breakfast” to come soaking through the front of my dress.  The express line was VERY slow that day.

My lovely, peaceful, and nostalgic pleasure in the beautiful New England Spring was somewhere else other than in that market.  I imagined what everyone was thinking and I wanted to vaporize; but I had to pay for that bread!  As we finally got to the cashier and I was tearfully paying for the bread, a precious elderly woman behind me reached out and patted my arm and said “Don’t    worry about this, Dear, I’ve been there, too.”

I managed a slight smile and got out of there quickly; however,  I never forgot that lady.  I knew she knew what all those frowning people didn’t.  And we both shared the same glorious humiliation in similar circumstances that motherhood had carried us into.

I have never forgotten that lady’s face nor her words.

When you see someone with a basketful of bitter apples, and you know the taste, help them carry it and get through to the sweet wine in the end.  They will never forget you.

An Almost Eaten Rotten Apple - funny

Rotten Apples – I almost ate one

                                    

One day when doing laundry in a hurry, I almost grabbed a nibble from a small pile of chow mien noodles that were lying on the dryer.  Being in such a hurry, and not really being one to snack much, I passed them up and kept about my work, never thinking about them again.  A little time later, my son, Steve, then about three years old, came crying to me holding in his hand his little “pets.”  He said through tears, “Mommy, my pet worms all died!”

There in his little hand were the “chow mien noodles”    from the dryer.  He had collected them from the driveway after a rain the day before, and had placed them on the dryer for safe keeping.

I cannot describe to you my thoughts then.  I only remember relief that I didn’t snack while working!  This was a rotten apple not eaten.  Now it is sweet wine in my memories. God is good.

My Darling - My Apple Tree

My Darling – My Apple Tree

Before my beloved “retired” and began driving truck I wrote this in my journal one morning.

Each morning I get up first, make a cup of coffee for my husband, go back to the bed and sit up snuggling him while he drinks it to wake up.  This morning, Jan. 19, 1989, as I stroked his head, I remembered over twenty-two years ago that same head with golden curls.  His head was in my lap now, but then, in my memory,  in the church before we met.   I admired those curls.  He was magnificent to behold!  As I hold him now, waking him to labor to support me and the children, I think how much love we have been blessed with.  I have had bushels more sweet apples in our twenty-two plus years than many people enjoy in a lifetime.  His hair is thinner, darker, and straighter now, and his pace is slower; but his character is stronger, his heart tenderer, his emotions more mature, his attentiveness sharper and quicker, his love for us all is deeper and greater.  His walk with God was evident when I met him, and proven true and pure now.  I am blessed.  Thank You, Lord for my husband, my ever-bearing “tree” of sweet apples.

Sorcery, a Quick Study

    What the Bible Says about Sorcery, Witchcraft, and Fortune Telling

This is a rather short little study which has been quickly re-studied.  Although I have read some on the subject through the years, and have heard some good men preach on the subject, I have done little of my own research as such in the subject.  Therefore, I present my humble offering with apology, as it is, a quick study, and not an exhaustive and authoritative thesis on sorcery and the like.

In order to know God's directives in this area, let us look at Leviticus, chapter 19.  God is instructing the people of Israel, His people in His ways and laws.  He instructed Moses to broaden, or fill out the basic Ten Commandments with practical instruction.  The people of Israel had been in Egypt for 400 years in a totally pagan society whose people worshipped almost anything that moved.  They had been polluted with ungodly thinking; many had forgotten God's promises and His character.  God instructs them in everything thoroughly and basically in every area of life.  He gives commandments, cautions, results of disobedience, and promises of blessings to those who obey and keep His commandments.  This is why it is the right place to begin to know what God's attitude and instruction is concerning our subject.

 God did say in the Ten Commandments to love Him with all our heart, to worship only Him, and to have no other gods before Him.  Although God did not give a specific commandment not to seek mediums, etc. along with the first Ten, He does give that specific commands in Chapter nineteen of Leviticus: verse 26, "You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes." Again in verse 31, "Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God."  Again in Chapter 20, verses 6-8, "If a person turns to mediums and wizards, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.  Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God.  Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you."

First of all, God is clear about whom His people are not to associate with: those who do not know Him, and who exercise mystical powers not from Him.  God's reason: "I am the Lord your God."  God is enough.  His mysteries are past finding out.  He alone is worthy of our worship.  Notice He uses the word "whoring after them" in reference to people seeking wizards, etc..  Notice also, God instructs, "so make yourselves unclean by them."  there is a principle that is rooted simply in the Ten Commandments:  God is to be our ONLY God - our focus of worship, and the One Whom we seek for answers to whatever we think we need.  We are not to tell fortunes.  We are to seek God.  We are not to seek anything that turns our hearts and minds away from Him.  God considers all this spiritual unfaithfulness.  This is immorality before our God.    

Looking forward into Deuteronomy chapter 18, verses 9-14 we see the same subject addressed.  God is clear and further connects these things to other sins not named in Leviticus.  " . . .you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.  "There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination, or tells fortunes, or interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium or a wizard or a necromancer, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.  And because of these abominations, the Lord your God is driving them out before you.  You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners.  But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this."  These sins against God are listed together with the admonition, "God has not allowed you to do this."  God later had Israel put out of their land because of these very things.  He wants His people to be holy, and to be faithful to Him. 

In Exodus chapter 22, verses 18-20, God gives the instruction for the punishment of sorcerers, along with other immoral acts:  "You shall not permit a sorcerer to live.  Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.  Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction."  God was and is serious about obedience and purity among His people.  God gives the same sentence to mediums and wizards in Leviticus 20:27.  In Deuteronomy chapter 13, verses 1-5 God also gives the death sentence to similar sins.  In Malachi 3:5, God speaks through Malachi to show again His attitude toward sorcerers among others. "I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against the adulterers  .  ."   Verse 6 "For I, the Lord, do not change;" 

The mystery and excitement of witchcraft supplants the holy excitement of true worship and praise to our holy God, our Creator who loves us and provides for us.  They become spiritual substitutes, as we see running rampant today among the teens who practice  Wikken, witchcraft, and an assortment of mystical entertainment, all which yield emptiness and hopelessness.  Sorcery and witchcraft requires no obedience, no holiness, no boundaries; and it draws in the thirsty children who want freedom and hope.  Fortune-telling and sexual sins offer excitement for awhile, but the same emptiness.  Only God gives more than He requires.  Only God has true hope.  Only our wonderful Creator, our Heavenly Father can love us, help us, cleanse us, save us and give us eternal hope and eternal life; but God will not share His glory with another.  God alone has words of life and can satisfy the thirsty and hungry soul.

Let us look into the New Testament.  As early as Acts Chapter 8, verses 9-25 shows the account of Simon the magician.  He claimed to receive the Lord, then wanted "Christian" mystical powers, then repented of this when rebuked by Peter.  God's holy Spirit is not to be adulterated with earthly mysticism.  Later in chapter 13, verses 8-12, Paul called Elymas, a magician, a "son of the devil, an enemy of all righteousness, full of deceit and villainy  .  ."   Again, a slave girl in chapter 16, who told fortunes was found possessed by an evil spirit whom Paul cast out.  There is an account of several believers in Ephesus in Acts Chapter 13-20, who were convicted of their sin of sorcery out of fear when evil spirits overpowered some of the exorcists there.  When Christ Jesus was extolled there, their response was to burn all their books of magic arts publicly.  Then verse 20, "The Word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily."

God's attitude toward these sins did not change.  Mystical powers were still sin.  Satan is named as the source by Peter.  The Old Testament believers did not know Jesus in His fullness and what all He would do to obtain their salvation, but now we know.  They were to obey God because He said so, but we can obey God out of love for the Lord Jesus Who gave Himself for us.  We have mercy, grace, love, and a clear record of God's vast love for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Should we not be more fervent, more careful, more holy, more committed, more of everything good we can strive to be than the Old Testament believers?  Romans 12:1, "I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 

Finally, God tells us through John in the book of Revelation what is the eternal end of people who practice such things as condemned in Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Malachi, and Acts.    Chapter 9, verses 20,21 tells us that evil people did not repent of a list of sins among which are sorceries.  Chapter 18 lists sorcery as one of the sins of the great Babylon in verse 23.  In Chapter 22, sorcerers are named with dogs and sexually immoral, murderers, idolaters, and everyone who practices falsehood  to be "outside," and not allowed to enter the blessed city with Jesus.  Sorcery, fortune-telling, witchcraft, idolatry, and sexual immorality all lead to God's anger and must be forsaken and repented of because they are essentially and eternally incompatible with the character of God and the character He desires for His people whom He redeemed with HIs blood.  Protect your children who are in their formative years from even thinking a little sin is harmless; but rather, teach them to honor God with purity of life, forsaking all else.  Idolatry has always been sin.  It still displeases God and sin separates us from God.  Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."    Dabbling in sin of any kind, even what the world disguises as harmless and innocent and childish, not only dishonors God and our Lord Jesus who died for us, but it harms the faith of the ones participating.  Dear reader, will you cling to Christ and His truth, forsaking all else, and teach your children to do the same?

In Defense of Saint Nicholas

Did you ever play the game "gossip"?  Do you recall how very different the ending was from the beginning?  The story of Saint Nicholas is like that.  No one really knows much about him except a collection of varied stories, a few of which are quite similar.  I read a few of these on various web sites and they confirmed what I have heard for many years.  The few things these accounts of Saint Nicholas' life have in common are:  Nicholas of Bari was probably the Bishop of Myra, after being the pastor of Lycia, both near Asia Minor near Finike, Turkey.  He lived in the 300's,(4th Century) and when Maximian took power, he was imprisoned for his faith.  When Constantine took over, he let him go free to preach again.  He was born to wealthy parents who died while he was young.  He gave the money away.  One fairly consistent story was that he rescued three daughters of one man by giving him the three bags of gold.  Exactly when he was considered the "Patron Saint of children," is not clear, either.

Over the two hundred years before Martin Luther came on the scene, many stories had developed about this much loved Catholic pastor, varying from nation to nation.  December 6th was the date celebrated as a Catholic feast day for sainted Nicholas of Bari by giving of gifts in his name.  When Martin Luther began preaching, he tried turning people's hearts toward Christ by emphasizing that the Christ Child gave gifts.  So on it went through the centuries. 

In 1882, Clement Clarke Moore wrote the poem, "A Visit From St. Nicholas" later named for its first line, "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  Before this poem, there were no mention of snow, reindeer, flying, and such; so this poem changed the fantasy surrounding the traditions.  However the tradition of Nick giving gifts was central to the poem.

In New York City in 1934, two songwriters, Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, got together and wrote a musical fantasy about the familiar Christmas fantasy visitor, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."   This added the attributes of knowing what you think and do in secret to the powers of Santa Claus.  This is where my theological spirit bristles.  This is heresy plain and simple.

Another event came in 1949.  The song, "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" which was written by an advertising executive, Robert May the year before, was recorded in song form by Gene Autry, adding more details to the fantasy of Santa Claus as he was called by this time. 

All of this was probably well intended to bring about good behavior in children, and give them good dreams of anticipation as well.  This is where I have more scruples with this fantasy.  People have forgotten to make a difference between fantasy and reality.  This tradition started out beautiful.  The fantasy was cute, even heartwarming.  However, fantasy is just fantasy.  Good fantasy in small measure is healthy for children.  It is essential, however, that they know the difference, and enjoy or use the fantasy for what it is, not confusing it with truth.

Truth is truth.  Truth is not fantasy.  Fantasy is not truth.  When one fails to keep them separate, and promotes what is fantasy as truth, it becomes a lie.  Lies are not nice.  Lies displease most people. Lies destroy careers and relationships.  When lies are found out, it breaks hearts.  Most folks correct their children when they lie while knowing the truth.  People in a court of law take truth seriously.  God takes truth seriously.  Now if you, Dear Reader, are not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, having repented of your sins, and having received Jesus by faith into your life, you will probably not have any scruples about lying nor about dishonoring our holy God.  Therefore, my arguments, and Biblical evidence will not impress you even a little.  So, I address the rest of my little article to affirmed Christians.

For me to go with this, is proving not only my boldness, but my sincerity and passion for my Lord.  I have been criticized, mocked, shunned, and publicly humiliated, because of my stand on this subject.  I love my Lord.  He is the Creator of all things.  He is God, and there is no other.  He is Lord of all, and He will carry into eternity with Himself those who believe in Him and receive Him into their lives.  God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus was promised in Genesis and many of the prophets to come as the Savior of sinners, the sacrificial Lamb whose blood would cleanse and propitiate the sins of God's people.  When God convicted me of my sins, and saved me and I prayed the sinners prayer, He came into my life and made me a new person.  I think this is very special.  He forgave me, because Jesus took my punishment.  I want to honor God with everything I do, say, and write, and all that I am.  Therefore, I set forth this little article as one small means of refuting lies, for the sake of the honor of my precious Lord Jesus Christ.  Perhaps this will open the eyes of at least one Christian, thus bringing honor to God.

First of all, I would like to look at a few of the Scriptural attributes of God, the ones that people attribute to Satan Claus.  Yes, anything substituting as God disguising itself as God is of Satan, and no other name is appropriate.

God is omnipresent.  This means that God is personally present everywhere at the same time.  Omnipresence is essential to the Godhead as Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.  He is a Spirit who fills Heaven and Earth. Jeremiah 23:23-24.  King David spoke of His omnipresence in Psalm 139:7-12.   How sad for the children who believe a fairy tale is true, that the character is omnipresent.  How else could he deliver all those toys to millions in one night?

God is omniscient.  This means that He knows all things, both actual and possible; past, present, and future; completely, perfectly, simultaneously and eternally. 

Psalm 147:4,5, Job 37:16, and Proverbs 15:3 show us examples of God's omniscience.                                                                                Although I've never heard anyone apply this complete description to the santa Fantasy, one song promotes the idea of omniscience: "he sees you when you are sleeping, he knows when you are awake, he knows when you've been bad or good  .  ."  I know this has been a very strong influence on the traditional Santa's attributes.  The children are told and believe all this about their Santa Claus.  How sad that their most moldable years are wasted on believing  in the wrong person.  How it must hurt the Savior when His little ones' hearts anticipate the wrong "deity!"  I fail to understand how Christian parents can dishonor the Lord Jesus in this manner!

God is omnipotent.  God is able to do whatever He wills in harmony with His nature or perfection.  Job 42:12 tells us that God's power is unlimited.  Jeremiah shows us that nothing is too hard for God.  Jeremiah 32:17,27  God can do what seems impossible to us.  Matthew 19:26  When children believe santa can fly, grant them their requests, know all about them, they prove their faith in him by asking him to bring them things, change family situations, bring daddies home, etc..  It would be far better to show them they can ask God anything and He is able to give them what they need.  It would be far better for them to be amazed at God and His power.  James 1:17 tells us that God is the giver of every good and perfect gift.  Would it not be better for children to be grateful to God, thus increasing their love for Him while they are very young by telling them the truth?  "This gift is from Mother and Daddy.  We are able to buy good things for you because God loves us and helps us work." 

God is Truth.  God's knowledge, declaration (His Word, the Bible) and representations eternally conform to all things as they really are and will really be.  Psalm 33:4 tells us that God's Word is true.  Hebrews 6:18, and Titus 1:2 says God cannot lie.  God's truth is eternal Psalm 117:2.  Jesus is Truth.  John 14:6. God is Truth.  John 17:3.  The Holy Spirit is Truth.  John 16:13.  We are commanded to not lie. Colossians 3:9-11 "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all."  Would you like godly children?  Be truthful with them.  Turn their hearts to Him who loves them eternally and is real.  Teach them to love the lover of their souls; and not a fantasy, a vapor of nothing that cannot love them back.  When your children love God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, their love can grow and grow, and along with their love, their faith.  But if you destroy their faith by lying to them and cause them to love a nothing, and then they find out it was nothing, what have you accomplished in your child? 

Now, back to Nicholas of  Bari, the giver of all his wealth.  This is a beautiful story, and much of it is probably true.  Wouldn't it be good to tell children of many people even in our day who do this same thing when you tell them the true story of Nicholas?  From what we know about Nicholas, we can be fairly certain that he would certainly not want children requesting gifts from him in a greedy manner (similar to praying to a saint?) and in an idolatrous manner as the tradition of Santa Claus promotes. If he truly loved God, he would correct this idolatrous practice and teach the children to pray to God.  But first of all learn to love and give - not covet. Could you not tell them of their wonderful Creator God Who loves them, provides for them, and wants them to live with Him for eternity and paid the price for them to be able to do so if they will but receive Him?  Could you not relate to them the reason for giving gifts is to show how much you care for someone, and encourage them to be givers, sharers? (like Nicholas)  Could you not enjoy the story of the REAL Nicholas and enjoy the fantasy as fantasy of how the world wants very much to keep his kind of story alive so we can keep giving gifts?

Lying is sin.  Truth promotes righteousness, and pleases God.  Dear Christian, will you not consider the things I have written and pray about turning your children's thoughts and hearts toward Jesus at Christmas rather than encouraging them to cling to an idolatrous fairy tale?

Praying Blessing and Scripture for your Beloved

Praying blessing and Scripture for your Beloved

   Nothing can be more precious than praying God's Word over one you love.  When you are in the Word daily yourself, there will be many instances of blessing, or an incident that shows God's blessing on someone.  It is a dear thing to ask God to bestow this on the one you love.

  We may think then to ask God for that virtue to be increased for him, or for him to be strengthened against whatever temptation we are made aware of that may from time to time beset him.  Wives know their husbands better than any other human can know him.  A wife can pray those intimate requests for his soul as no one else can even know.

   Knowing that a man and woman are one, gives a Christian wife not only more perspective, but more responsibility to be one with her husband.  Whatever God calls her husband to, God certainly calls his wife to.  Humbling ourselves to follow and obey may seem at first a burden to many; but the blessings outweigh the burden when we yield our lives to our ultimate Lord, our Creator, Savior, and Dear Comforter and His directives.  Obedience to our husbands brings more blessings from God and our husbands than can be measured.  Proverbs 31:10,11,23 show ways a husband is blessed and how he regards his wife when she is what she should be.  She is valued above jewels.  Her husband trusts her in full confidence.  Verse 23 shows how her life causes him to be respected among his peers, thereby appreciating her.  Verse 30 shows her ultimate authority and source of praise: the Lord, Himself. 

   Coveting these blessings, however, cannot be the primary reason she would live in obedience to the Scriptures.  Although this little article is not about obedience, it goes to the same deep attitude within a wife.  This is the love, honor, and good of her husband from her heart to the glory of God, which in the end will be the honor of every wife who is faithful to these Scriptural principals.  The goal of every Christian, male or female, every moment should be to live to honor our precious Savior.  A wife honoring her husband in private in her prayer time brings honor to our holy God, because it shows an obedient heart to love, honor, and glorify God.

   May I encourage you, dear Sister in Christ, love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and your husband as yourself.    Pray for him in every way you can think of, and pray Scripture for him as you read, as you live, as you think, as you see his needs, thereby honoring God with your heart, and increasing your ability to love your husband as God wants you to; because God will be loving him and blessing him through you.  There is no joy like being used of God and seeing Him work through us.  This is, itself, a fulfilling honor. 

Sincerely, Judikay Abigail Davis Humes         March 2011