Time Deposit

A true woman say "Yes, Lord."

She makes personal sacrifices with her time and resources for Kingdom of God.

• Ephesians 5:15-17 “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Someone once told me to look at my time as money.  I have been given 24 hours each day.  How am I going to spend it?

I want to be wise. I want to budget well.  I want to invest in the future.   

There is no guarantee for more time.  There is only today’s time.  Once it is gone, I can’t get it back.

I must rule over my time and manage it well.

Maybe you and I need to write out a budget for our time.  Most of us don’t need to ask, “Lord, is this what I should be doing with my time?”  Sadly, we already know the answer.

Good news:  You have just been given brand new time to spend.  

Further study:  Read Jesus’ words in Matt. 25.

check out www.pamwood.org

Juicing

A true woman say "Yes, Lord."

She makes personal sacrifices with her time and resources for Kingdom of God.

• Romans 12:6-8 “God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well.  So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well.  If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.  If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously.  If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

Just yesterday I was given a gift, the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer.  I have read the manual, and watched the instructional DVD. I am proud to say that I have already juiced 4 carrots, an apple, and a beet.  After a trip to the produce section of my local grocery store, there will be more juicing taking place. 

Why?  The gift is to be taken out the box and used. 

God has given you gifts.  Are you using them?  It would be foolish to just keep your gift in a nice box over in the corner of the room.  Open it.  Take it out. Share it with others.  Use it for God glory.  Just see what happens.

Pray that God will open up an opportunity for you to use your gift today.  (That’s a prayer that He always answers!)

My gift promises to make me healthier, stronger, with more energy and vigor.  I have a feeling using your gift will do the same.

P. E. Time

A true woman say "Yes, Lord."

She makes personal sacrifices with her time and resources for Kingdom of God.

• Romans 14:19 "So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another."

We all have someone in our lives that are difficult to deal with.  You know the type, they are those annoying ones, those emotionally draining personalities.  

The woman that when you hang up the phone from her call you feel worse for it.  

The person that the glass is half empty.

The girlfriend that takes extra walking on eggshells when she is around.

The family member that seems to rub you the wrong way or always says the wrong thing.

We all have “them.”  So what are we to do with “them”?

P. E. Time. Live at peace (if it is possible) and encourage them.  P.E.  takes time and energy.  It is changing your thoughts toward “them” and investing  in “them”.  

After all, isn’t that what God has done for you?

p.s.  One more question that comes to mind...Why do "they" never know that they are "them"?

Good Sam

A true woman say "Yes, Lord."

She makes personal sacrifices with her time and resources for Kingdom of God.

• Luke 10:25-37

I have read and taught on the Good Samaritan many times.  However this morning I saw something new.  Don’t you just love that about the Bible.

Let me explain.

Jesus was discussing the Most Important Commandment with a expert of the religious law. (verse 27)  The man asked “who is my neighbor?”  to justify his own actions, when Jesus begin the illustration of the Good Samaritan.  

This story is a great reminder to me to love everyone and to treat everyone with kindness and the way that I would want to be treated.

Here is what I have missed:

To love others like this, I must Love God first and trust Him with my life, my time, my resources.   

When I see someone in need and I hear that small voice within me say, “Help your neighbor”, I am trusting God with my planned out day.  I am relying on God with the money that is being spent.  I am leaving the results and matter in God’s hands.  I am just being obedient to say “Yes, Lord”.

Both commandments are needed. 

God's Word

A true woman says, “Yes, Lord.”

The Word of God is her compass, motivating her to live intentionally and counter-culturally.

• Isaiah 40:8  “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of our God lasts forever.”

God’s word is eternal.  God’s word is unchanging.  God’s word is right.  

God’s word is a delight.  God’s word teaches and instructs.  God’s word brings me understanding. 

God’s word gives me hope.  God’s word is comfort.

God’s word is a resource. God’s word is a treasure.  God’s word is greater than silver or gold.

God’s word is true.  God’s word is Truth. God’s word is wise.  

God’s word is life.  God’s word is a light.  God’s word is the way.  

God’s word is living.  God’s word is active.  God’s word is sharp.

God’s word saves.  God’s word revives.   God’s word redeems. 

What is God’s word to you at this moment?

For further study see each verse of Psalm 119.

News Flash

A true woman says, "Yes, Lord".

The Word of God is her compass, motivating her to live intentionally and counter-culturally.

• Psalm 119:1 “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.”

As I sit down to my computer with my coffee at the dining room table,  in the other room the television is on with the newscaster reporting the news.  I can’t help but over hear the reports and interviews.  Here are just 3:

•   A story of a young man who abandoned a piano on a sand bar in Florida.  The reporter said “I heard your mother did not want you to come forward and take responsibility."
• The money made by a movie that just came out.  The premise “A guy and a girl agree to have sex wherever they want, whenever they want, without all those pesky emotions getting in the way.”  They are “friends with benefits.” (quotes from the movie review by Associated Press)

• A woman jailed for fraud.  She tried to receive insurance money from the San Bruno fire, although she did not even live in that area or have any damages.

I am meditating on what it means to live counter-culturally and it seems as if every report is evident that I do.  But it is always easy to compare yourself against the top news stories.

The comparison is to be against the Word of God.  The Bible is to be our standard.  We are to let it be our guide.  

The questions for you are not  “do you take responsibility for your own actions” or "are you sexually active" or  “do you lie”?  

 Your question is “Do you obey the Word of God?”  

If your answer is “Yes”, then I guarantee you are walking against the culture.