Sunday, July 31, 2011

Handfuls on Purpose

In Ruth 2:16 we see Boaz told his workers to "let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose". He was referring to them letting some of the corn fall on purpose to provide more for Ruth - more than she'd normally glean or have to work for.

How often does God give us "handfuls of purpose"? Do we handle it as a blessing or squander it away? The next time you receive an unexpected blessing, remember God gives us things we don't deserve way more frequently than we realize. But, it's those handfuls of/on purpose that are the extras - like sprinkles on top of ice cream - that make it so much more special.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

No matter how good we do, our motives may always not be pure. But, the LORD knows our hearts.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

It's Hot Outside!

In the heat of summer we often lose our inhibitions as we shed clothing normally worn. We rationalize this because of the heat, or vacation (when we aren't at home or in our usual surroundings), or simply because everyone else is doing it.

Romans 14:21 says: It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

As we are in the midst of our summer, we as ladies should look closely at this verse and remember something... when we take off our clothing due to the heat, we are also exposing our bodies for others to see. Why is it ok to do this in the name of summer or vacation, but not other times? When we expose ourselves to men, we often cause them to think about things they might not ordinarily consider about us. We know men are "wired differently" and they often think about sexual things more frequently than we do. So when we open the door for them to have these thoughts, we are actually opening the door for them to sin, or stumble, or be made weak. I don't want to cause another person to sin in any manner. I want to try to always be aware of how I come across to others, male or female, because I'm presenting myself as a Christian, or "Christ Like". And, I certainly don't want to cause another person to fall into sin because of my actions, or apparel (or lack thereof).

 1Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;