How to be a Godly Wife...

1 Peter 3:1-6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

3 In like manner, you married women, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate yourselves as being secondary to and dependent on them, and adapt yourselves to them], so that even if any do not obey the Word [of God], they may be won over not by discussion but by the [godly] lives of their wives,

² When they observe the pure and modest way in which you conduct yourselves, together with your ^[a]reverence [for your husband; you are to feel for him all that reverence includes: to respect, defer to, revere him—to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize, and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband].

³ Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] ^[b]interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes;

⁴ But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.

⁵ For it was thus that the pious women of old who hoped in God were [accustomed] to beautify themselves and were submissive to their husbands [adapting themselves to them as themselves secondary and dependent upon them].

⁶ It was thus that Sarah obeyed Abraham [following his guidance and acknowledging his headship over her by] calling him lord (master, leader, authority). And you are now her true daughters if you do right and let nothing terrify you [not giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you].

"You Shall Have No Lack"

Those are the words, I felt that the Lord had whispered in my heart on that early morning in the kitchen.

"You shall have no lack."

Each year our incredible church family had completely covered the tab of our Bible Quiz expenses.  In fact, the first year we started JBQ, our church spent over $10,000 on the Bible Quiz Ministry alone and yet, that was the year we (as a church) were able to pay of the church mortgage! Wow!  Isn't that how He works?  But this year was different and it had been announced that our Bible Quiz Ministry was going to be Parent-funded. This was a year to "trust that He would be our Provider".  Because if  anyone understands this incredible ministry, the traveling can be expensive....but without a doubt, completely worth it.  As the Leaders of the BQM, we felt the financial insecurity of knowing that the funding would be completely ours to take care of.  Fund raisers, cake auctions, church dinners, etc....as a homeschool mom of four with a home-based business, I knew I didn't have the time for these things.  My plate was already full and running over...but that most beautiful morning the Lord confirmed to me that all would be taken care of!  I rejoiced in my kitchen like it was Friday night at an old-time Campmeeting!   I had heard His voice before and knew those words would be TRUE!  He has never failed to keep His promises to me.  However, whenever, whoever or whatever...it would happen, even if it didn't appear that it would. 

The first test came with Extravaganza in IL and OH.  We needed several thousand dollars to raise for both Beginner, Junior, Intermediate and Senior Teams to have the awesome opportunity to compete there.  A one-time Wednesday night offering brought in the entire amount needed!!! Wow!!  The Lord really did it!  From January to June, we never lacked in finance.  Through each tournament and competition the need was supplied.

State Finals came and went and we were privileged to place 2nd in the Juniors Division.  Our Intermediate team also placed 2nd.  Two teams going to Nationals in Branson, MO and St. Louis, MO. But He said that we would have no lack....

I'm sitting here this morning, only weeks away from traveling to Branson, MO with my little quizzing machine, Lan-man.  This time we are bringing the entire family.  A week in Branson with a budget that reminds me that the Lord is a Faithful God!  I have it all on paper.  It's in the thousands.  We are going budget-conscience.  I'm scanning my brain for ways to raise money, but each time I remember His words.  My Parallel Bible led me to the chapter that is probably most familiar: Psalms 23.  This time I read it in the Amplified Version.  It all became clear to me now:

"THE LORD is my Shepherd (to feed, guide and shield me), I shall have no lack." 

Has there ever been a time in my life when I lacked?  Only during those times that I didn't trust Him.

He's a God of abundance!  My God is more than enough......

Jealous!

 ¹²Therefore say, Behold, I give to Phinehas the priest My covenant of peace.

13 And he shall have it, and his descendants after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.

Sunday, July 1, 2012 Illumination....

^{What a beautiful morning to experience these verses!!
2 Corinthians 4:6-10}
For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

⁷ However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.

⁸ We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;

⁹ We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;

¹⁰ Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [^[a]resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies.

verses 15-18

¹⁵ For all [these] things are [taking place] for your sake, so that the more grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more people and multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may increase [and redound] to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.

¹⁷ For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],

¹⁸ Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.