Many young Christian girls are searching for Christian husbands. This is a very important task. It is an idea that begins to form at a very young age. Girls may picture their prince charming with blue eyes, brown eyes, smart, funny, tall, and maybe muscular. These lists can become endless. As you begin to mature, the spiritual attributes and personality become more important. The spiritual requirements on your list should never be compromised.

Choosing a husband is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. I can understand how some of you may believe that it is very difficult for one to find a Christian man. It may be difficult but not impossible. We believe this because

God’s word assures us. In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus says, ” Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh recieveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” These words should give you comfort. As His faithful children we know that God takes care of our every need. All we need to do is ask. When I was younger and in search of a husband myself, I encountered this same worry. Growing up in San Antonio and attending a Spanish speaking congregation made it difficult to find my Christian mate because the girls outnumbered the boys. I remember talking to my parents about how I was afraid of never finding the strong faithful Christian man I was in search of. Living in this world may make this seem very difficult but God’s word assures us that it is achievable through perseverance and remaining faithful ourselves. My parents comforted me by telling me to keep a close relationship with God in prayer and they assured me that He was preparing someone for me. Prayer is very instrumental in this process. As young girls you don’t realize that your parents and grandparents are also asking the Heavenly Father for your same petition. “They would have no greater joy than to hear that their children walk in truth” III John 1:4. Make sure you always keep God very close in your dating years. Always seek Him first. Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Delight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Where do we find ourselves looking for a mate? Are we going out with ungodly people into ungodly places where a faithful Christian should not be found? Do we show ourselves to be faithful on a daily basis? What type of a mate are we attracting? My mother use to always tell my sisters and me, “Remember who you are and who you represent.” These were and are words that constantly remind me to always stay true to His word. These are words that I am passing to my children. The men that you should be in search for need to fear God. How often are they attending worship services? Do they have an active role in the worship service by preaching, waiting on the table, leading a prayer, leading the song service, or teaching a Bible class? Do they respect their parents? Are they kind to others? How do they interact with children? These are just a few questions you should be asking yourself. Remember, husbands are to be the spiritual leaders of the home. As I was dating I remember my boyfriend who is now my husband asking me several Bible questions just out of the blue. I can remember feeling a little overwhelmed and put on the spot. He wanted to know where I stood on my Bible knowledge. He also prayed for our meal on our first date. These actions very quickly made me know that I had found the spiritual leader of my home. If a man respects God’s word he will always respect and love you because he knows this pleases God.

Always keep in mind that Christian men are also searching for a Christian wife. They want a woman who fears the Lord and one who will help him build a Christian home. Our ultimate goal in life is to obtain Heaven at the end. Having a Christian husband encouraging you as you do him is the best life possible. I encourage you to always stay true to the Lord. Always remember that God takes care of His children and if you remain true to Him you too will obtain the “Gold Medal” on the left hand.

By Elisa Clinton

Spring 2013 Issue V6 N3

The post Every Girl: “The Gold Medal on the Left Hand” appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

My husband was a faithful Gospel Preacher. He and I talked about his dream to be in full time mission work when he retired. That did not work out. He became very ill and passed away in October of 1978. At his passing, I was 47 years old. I moved to Howe, Texas and began working for Bealls department store in Sherman, Texas.

During the 1980s, I had the opportunity to go on three Campaigns for Christ to Montego Bay, Jamaica with a group that Brother Andy Kizer, preacher of the Howe Congregation, arranged. I would use part of my vacation time to do this. The Montego Bay campaigns were very successful as the congregation there grew and was able to move from meeting in a rented hall to having a building of their own.

In 1995, I started going to Jamaica with a group directed by Brother Eugene Jenkins. Brother Jenkins also directed one of the sessions at the Little Blue Bible Camp each summer. He asked me to be a teacher and counselor there. For several years each summer I would go to Jamaica two weeks and camp for another.

In June 2007, on one of the campaigns to Jamaica, Brother Fred Rhodes and I were out knocking doors. As we walked along, I mentioned that I wished I could do this full time. At that time, Brother Fred was in mission work at the Marshalltown Iowa congregation. With Brother Fred’s help and the Lord’s guidance, I realized the dream my husband and I had had.

It was time to “sprint to the finish”!

In November of 2007, I retired from Bealls department store and began working in Marshalltown under the oversight of that congregation. I stayed there for a few weeks and then came back home to prepare for going back in April. Brother Fred and his wife, Dorothy graciously let me live with them for six months out of each year for the next three years. I would go up there in April and return to Texas in November.

In 2011, I turned 80 years old and my children felt I needed to “work from home.” So now, my work is overseen by the elders in Leonard, Texas and I work in and from my own home. I still go to Jamaica twice a year, Mexico once a year, Costa Rica once a year and travel in the states to various congregations for door knocking and Bible studies. Places in the states include Lebanon, Tennessee; Davis City, Iowa; Kinder, Louisiana; Mt. Pleasant, Texas as well as my home congregation of Ivanhoe, Texas where I also teach Bible class in quaterly rotation. I have also attended various lectureships around the country like the one in Independence, Missouri.

When to retire? There is no time for retirement in the work of the Lord. John 9:4 says “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” And I Corinthians 15:58 says “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord”.

Some will say, “I can’t do all that walking and teaching.” Do you like to talk on the phone? Some like to text, do you? Some of the new Christians in Iowa set up Bible correspondent courses by phone because they cannot walk. One Christian brother corresponded to a lady in another state by email and she obeyed the gospel. There are always Bible classes to teach in our home congregations. If you do not want to be a teacher, be a helper. Some people like to write letters and send cards. You can visit the shut-ins or do some baby sitting while others are knocking doors. When you think about it, there are a lot of things to do even at 70 or 80 years old!

Hebrews 12:1 “…and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

The beloved apostle at the end of his life could say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:7 The time of his departure was close but he was still working, teaching, and writing.

As long as we can talk, walk and listen, we cannot retire. Let us all be ready to

“SPRINT TO THE FINISH!”

Revelation 2:10 “…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life!”

By Vella Puckett

Spring 2013 Issue V6 N3

The post SPRINT TO THE FINISH LINE – “NO TIME TO RETIRE” appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

In Hebrews 12:1 we find the words, “and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” This passage indicates the Christian life is like a race. And in 1 Corinthians 9:24 we see there is a prize at the end of a race and we are to “run, that ye may obtain.” When we attend track meets we see different kinds of races. As we look at the Christian race, we see that it can resemble many of those kinds of races. There are straight easy stretches, curves, hurdles and relays. Let’s look at the relay race.

In the relay, we watch with intense anticipation as the baton is passed from one runner to the next. If the baton is dropped or not passed in time, that team is out of the race. Even though the starting runner or leg, as it is called, may have gotten off to a great start and may have passed the baton successfully to the second leg, if the baton is not passed successfully the next two times, the race has ended for that team. The Christian race is similar to this in that it is our responsibility to successfully “pass the baton.” The baton in this race is the Bible, the inherent Word of God. Romans 10:17 says “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

As a child growing up in a Christian home, I had the blessing of having a mother who loved teaching Bible classes. I watched diligently as she spent many hours in Bible study and in preparing visuals. I also was blessed to be in her Bible classes for many years. The baton was being passed to me. You see, children learn what they live.

A Christian mother is so important to the family, the church and society. We are reminded in 2 Timothy 1:5 of the influence of faithful mothers and grandmothers such as Timothy’s mother Eunice and grandmother Lois. My mother continues to be a faithful influence spending many hours in Bible study and Bible class preparation. At the age of 82, she is in full time mission work teaching not only in several places in the United States but also Jamaica, Mexico and Costa Rica. Her influence has not only been passed to me, her daughter but also to her granddaughters and great granddaughters.

In the book of Ruth, we find the example of a faithful woman named Naomi. Because of famine, she and her husband and two sons went to the land of Moab. There her two sons married and now she had two daughters-in-law. But sadness came at the death of her husband and sons. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem and told her daughters-in-law to return to Bethlehem and told her daughters-in-law to return to their people. However, one daughter-in-law, Ruth refused to return to her people. Ruth knew she had a faithful mother-in-law, “thy God shall be my God.” She knew she had a kind and trusted mother-in-law and wanted to be part of her family, “thy people shall be my people.” What a wonderful relationship! Naomi was blessed to have such a wonderful daughter-in-law and we see that the faithfulness of Naomi was passed to Ruth. Ruth is the great grandmother of King David which means she is in the lineage of Christ!

Are we “passing the baton” to our daughters, daughters-in-law, granddaughters and great granddaughters? Is the Bible the most read book in our homes? Is worship to our Lord and King the most important thing we can do when that opportunity comes? Are we teaching Bible classes and teaching these girls how to be good Bible class teachers? Are we keeping faith in the family? Faith can only remain in the family if the Bible is the most read book, if Bible facts are the most facts taught, if Bible principles are the most

principles practiced and if God’s commands are the most sincerely believed and obeyed.

I have a responsibility to do my best to “pass the baton.” I am blessed to have a Christian mother who passed it to me. I am blessed to have “passed the baton” to my daughters and my daughter-in-law as they are all faithful Bible teachers. And my three beautiful granddaughters? Yes, we are “passing the baton” to them. The oldest one is now a Christian and is learning to teach Bible classes as well. And the two youngest ones love to “practice” teach.

Matthew 6:33 says to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” It must be first if we want to successfully “pass the baton” and keep faith in the family.

By Lavonna Clinton

Spring 2013 Issue V6 N3

The post Passing the Baton appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

When my husband, Mike, and I were dating, we discussed many aspects of life. One main topic was that of careers and personal goals. The subject of Mike becoming a preacher was discussed. Mike’s dad was a preacher. His uncle was a preacher. He even had cousins who were preachers! So, wanting to be upfront and honest, I let him know right away that I had no desire to be a preacher’s wife. To this Mike replied, “That’s good. I don’t want to be a preacher!” I was so relieved! But why? Why didn’t I desire to be the wife of a gospel preacher? Well, let’s see…. Preacher’s wives were outgoing, helpful, available for anything and everything. They always had kind and uplifting words for the women of the congregation. They were to be the example of a good Bible class teacher. They were never discouraged or depressed in any situation. Preacher’s wives were to have enough Biblical knowledge to sit down and write a sermon or help her husband write sermons. I can think of many women who fit this description. I had great respect for each of these women who were preacher’s wives. But, I didn’t put myself into this category. I was not someone who could fill this role. The responsibility was too great! What set these ladies apart?

Little did I know that after only 41/2 years of marriage, I would find out what being a preacher’s wife really meant. Mike was asked to be the preacher for the Ivanhoe Church of Christ. He and I prayed and discussed this request at great length. Mike accepted the position and suddenly, I was a preacher’s wife. What?! Ok. I will try. I began asking other women who had been or were currently preacher’s wives for advice. They were wonderfully helpful and here is what I learned. Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” This passage described my image of preacher’s wives perfectly. This is what made one successful. This is the driving spirit behind a preacher’s wife. It was not because of some position they held. It was because they were faithful Christian women; women who were striving to be pleasing to God. They were godly examples because of their love for God. I knew this. I loved God as well. However, I needed to look further. What could I do to grow to be a stronger more faithful woman?

In II Peter 1:5-8 we learn what is needed. “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of on. Thankfully, the Lord blessed us with a congregation who was not only loving, kind and sincere in their worship, they were PATIENT. The first time someone introduced me as the preacher’s wife, I wanted to hide. They couldn’t possibly mean me? Yes, it was me. I did my best not to make any blunders.

The New Testament gives us great examples to learn from. Consider Pricilla in Acts 18. She was a godly woman and the wife of Aquilla. Pricilla was active in teaching and working with her husband. In verse 3 we read that they were tentmakers and opened their home to others including Paul. Verse 26 shows us that Pricilla was willing and able to teach others. Another example we can look at is the wife of Peter the apostle. The Bible does not call her by name or make direct reference to her. However, we know Peter had a faithful wife who was a godly mother. Peter was an elder for the church at Jerusalem (I Pt. 5:1). He had to have met God’s qualifications of an elder to serve as one (Titus 1:6-9). We can conclude from these facts that ‘Mrs. Peter’ was faithful to God, an obedient wife, and a mother who taught her children the scriptures. Not only was Peter an elder, he was a preacher of the gospel. This made ‘Mrs. Peter’ both an elder’s wife and a preacher’s wife. What a tremendous influence she must have had on the sisters at Jerusalem.

These examples and scriptures bring to mind the many sisters who have had great influence on me. I love them and have deep respect for them. Their advice and wisdom from experiences are true treasures. Some have passed away now and others still have great influence on those around them. These sisters have taken time to answer questions, listen attentively, and give books such as “A Helper Fit for Him”. When asked about her ability to relate to other sisters in Christ everywhere, Sister Faye Tarbet replied “treat every sister like she is ‘the best friend ever’. What great advice and Sister Tarbet did this well! I thank God for each one of these sisters. It is my hope and prayer that I can be an example and source of encouragement to a new preacher’s wife, too. So when the time comes and your husband decides to go into ‘preaching’, be excited, supportive and obedient to God and your husband.

Mike has been preaching for more than 15 years now and I have completely changed my mind. I DO want to be the preacher’s wife! It has been and is a blessing to be a preacher’s wife! I love our home congregation. They are an extended part of our family. They are my brothers and sisters at Ivanhoe. Usually, I do not even think of myself as being ‘the preacher’s wife’ and am often surprised when referred to as such… I am simply a member of the Lord’s church.

By Tammie Dickison

Spring 2013 Issue V6 N3

The post I Didn’t want to be a Preacher’s Wife! appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

I like to read about Queen Esther because her life was very interesting. She went from Jewish orphan to Persian queen. Mordecai,

her cousin, raised Esther after she became an orphan. Later when King Ahasuerus was looking for a new queen, she was one of the beautiful young virgins taken to the palace to be presented. After Esther was at the palace, she treated everyone including the servants with kindness. Esther was not only pretty on the outside, she was pretty on the inside. When she became queen, Esther still listened and respected Mordecai. She did not tell anyone about being Jewish because Mordecai told her not to. However, Mordecai found out that Haman, the King’s highest official, was going to have the Jews killed and their homes taken away. He then sent messages to Esther. He told her that she needed to help save her people. Esther was scared, her being Jewish was still a secret! She made the excuse that the king had not called her to see him in thirty days. No one could go before King Ahasuerus unless he called them. He could have them killed, even the Queen! Mordecai reminded Esther that even though she was the queen, she would still die like the rest of the Jews. He also told her that she may have been put in the position of queen for this very reason. Esther chose to be brave!

Queen Esther and the Jews fasted and prayed for three days. This was a race against time. These things would happen within a year. On the third day Esther went to see the king and requested that he and Haman join her in a banquet. King Ahasuerus accepted her invitation! After requesting a second banquet Esther got the courage to tell the king that the “wicked Haman” was trying to kill her and her people. Because she was brave enough to speak out, the Jews were able to fight for themselves and be saved.

By Meagen Folkes

(Meagen is one of our Young Readers/Young Writers.)

Spring 2013 Issue V6 N2

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Having been a participant in track during my high school years, I visualize the Christian race on a runner’s track. Hebrews 12:1-2 says “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the founder and perfector of our faith…” ESV

However, to begin the race, we do not approach the starting line unprepared. Preparation is imperative for a successful race. When does this preparation or training begin? Training begins with future parents and parenting begins with future spouses. When looking for that spouse, choose someone whose number one goal is Heaven. Having a spouse with the goal of Heaven strengthens the endurance of the Christian race and keeps the focus on the finish line. Matthew 7: 13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”KJV

As a couple becomes parents the priority of running the Christian race is already set. Therefore, the preparation for the child’s training has already begun. Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up an child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Ephesians 6:4b “…but bring them up in the nuture and admonition of the Lord.”

As a young child, I remember attending church services at every opportunity. This was a “get to go” not a “have to go.” God was the center of our family. Christianity was the way of life. It was there in every aspect. We began our days with prayer and ended our days with prayer. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and

shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and whou liest down, and when thou risest up.” It didn’t matter how busy we were, supper was usually eaten together. Conversations almost always included Biblical discussions from what happened at school, to where we wanted to go, or what we did at home. Dad and Mom had a book, chapter and verse for everything. II Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” I Peter 3:15 says “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

Many people think of Christianity as a religion filled with “DO NOTS. “This perception can make for a sad countenance. Dad always said “Christianity is a religion of “DOs.”

For example:

DO obey your parents. Ephesians 6:1

DO pray. I Thessalonians 5:17

DO study. II Timothy 2:15

DO tell the truth. Proverbs 12:19

DO have respectable friends. I Corinthians 15:33

DO keep yourselves pure. James 1:27b

“DO all in the name of the Lord.” Colossians 3:17

Having the “DO” mind set resulted in happy Christian parents with a happy home. The happy home was another step in the preparation for the children’s upcoming race.

When does the Christian race begin? At baptism. I was baptized into Christ at age eleven. I was at the starting line! The race had begun. Did the study and parental training end? No, personal study increased and parents cheered me on with love and support.

Being a young Christian can be a challenge. The devil is waiting on the sideline of the track with many distractions and obstacles. One of these obstacles is peer pressure. Peer

pressure comes in many forms. Talk like this, dress like that, date that boy or go to this place. But what does God say? “Remember thy creator in the days of thy youth.”

Ecclesiastes 12:1 I remember times when temptation was strong and the words of my Dad would echo in my head, “Remember who you are.” “Bring honor to the family

name.” Who do we belong to? We belong to God. Whose family name are we to honor? The physical name yes, but more importantly the spiritual name of Christian. Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” We are to honor God and wear the name Christian.

One of the biggest hurdles of the race was leaving home. The devil waits for the children to leave the protection of the Christian home. I Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.” But suited up in the Christian armor, the child, now adult is ready to face life’s challenges. Ephesians 6:13-17

I am thankful to have grown up in a happy Christian home, which began with my parents being raised by Christian parents as well. It is however, a sobering thought to now be in the parental position. God has blessed my husband and I with two children who are now Christians themselves. Our oldest is now a senior, is about to leave home for college. I know the devil is waiting to “pounce” on him and every other young Christian as they leave the protection of their Christian homes to make their own way in the world. I pray these young adults stay the course, run with endurance, and keep their armor on and their eyes on the finish line. Look to Jesus!

Through prayer and daily study we can all stay focused on the finish line and the reward of Heaven. So that when we cross the finish line, like Paul, we can say “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” II Timothy 4:7

By Sheri Folkes

Spring 2013 Issue N6 V3

The post Training for The Race – “Parenting From The Eyes of a Child” appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

Have you heard

About the Big Race?

It’s the one with the crown

When Jesus we face.

Like any race

There are things to know

Preparation is a must

Before we go.

The things to know,

Where are they found?

Right there in the Bible book,

Truth that is pillar and ground.

Studying the Book

I learned what to do

Wow! What a great race

I want to teach others too!

Following God’s Word

Obeying His commands

On the mark, set, go

The race began.

But hurdles come

To slow me down

I will not be hindered

As I go for the crown.

I’ve run so long

I’m tired and worn

But I can’t stop now

Gabriel hasn’t blown his horn.

Jesus is strong, providing help

I continue to run In the Big Race

I sprint to the finish, winning the crown

When I behold The Lord’s glorious face!

By Lavonna Clinton

Spring 2013 Issue V6 N3

The Spring 2013 Issue’s theme is “The Big Race”. All the articles in this issue are written by women from the same family. From the matriarch Vella Puckett to her great-granddaughter Meagen, these women set the example of not only running the race but supporting each other and encouraging others along the way.

We, the FWNL team, hope you are uplifted, strengthened, and motivated by the articles this family has shared with us.

The post The Big Race appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

Strength. A word meaning muscles that lift hundreds of pounds, feet that run miles, and energy that never seems to run down. Yes, but looking around us, even at our own frail bodies, we realize that God is not commanding us to be so physically strong. Some are born unable to run or even walk. If God’s command to love Him is with physical strength alone, then He would be showing partiality and we know God is not partial (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:6).

So how DO we love God with all our strength? What is that strength? From Strongs, Thayers, and Vines Dictionaries, the word “strength” in this verse doesn’t mean so much physical strength, but means “overly”, “in extreme”, “above and beyond”, “very”, “to the utmost”, “muchly”. It‘s a superlative strength.

As we mature spiritually, we rise to this strength, grow to it. God doesn’t “feed” it to us every so often while we sit and wait for it. Yes, it comes from God, but it comes when we desire in our hearts to seek Him through His Word, when we truly learn who He is, when we ask His help for the trials and challenges we face, and when we recognize that He is the only one who can supply the strength we need to get through life (Philippians 4:13).

Paul tells the Ephesians (6:10) “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Then he goes on to tell them how…by putting on the “whole armor of God”, with the Word, The Sword of the Spirit in their hands, to stand firm and pray. Each piece of armor has a purpose in supplying strength, but it’s useless without the Sword of the Spirit. It gives examples of strength, and reminds us of the love God has for each of us. It builds our faith (Romans 10:17). It gives us hope (Galatians 5:5; Ephesians 1:18; 4:4; Colossians 1:5). It equips and guides us for every good work, on whatever path, throughout our lifetime (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalms 119:105).

Throughout the pages of the Bible we find many examples of loving God with all strength. Abraham was told to move his family to a strange land. That was hard enough. But look at the strength of character, faith, and determination to do God’s will when he was told to “go and offer Isaac”. We’re not told of the agony and heartache he must have gone through. But his love for and faith in God gave him the strength—physically, emotionally and spiritually—to do as God asked.

Others, like Queen Esther, risked her life for her people. Job lost everything he had and all of his children…ALL at the same time. How could he bear that burden? How could he NOT curse God? He knew his only hope was in God.

Then Paul, while facing death, writes letters from prison that express his faith, hope, love, and yes, even joy. He examples the “Greatest Commandment” for us, showing us how we, too, can love God with ALL our hearts, ALL our minds, ALL our soul—our very innermost being—and with ALL our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strength. Paul had “a thorn in the flesh”. We don’t know what it was, but it bothered him. Evidently he was physically hindered, but never do we see Paul using that as an excuse. His strength shone through in his courage to do what God wanted him to do. His faith and hope in God and God’s promises are always evident. He loved God with the entirety of his being, every day of his life, from the bright light on the road to Damascus until his death at the hands of a Roman government.

Even though we are not like the Apostle Paul, there are many things we as women can do. Look at the life of that virtuous woman (Proverbs 31) and see all she did, not only for her household, but for others as well. Study Esther. look at Dorcas, who sewed for people. Look at Lydia, who was a business woman. Look at Priscilla, who helped her husband Aquila in his teaching the Gospel. Look at the women who were with Jesus and the Apostles.

There are many things we can do as Christian women to love God with all our strength. Many of those things are not public and may seem to go unnoticed. But God knows every call you make, every card you send, every word of encouragement you speak, every prayer you pray, every class you teach, every time you stand up for the Truth. Even a “cup of water” is important to Him (Matthew 10:42; Mark 9:41).

Loving God with all our strength goes beyond the words “I love You, God.” It goes beyond the mere physical. It is a decision of our hearts and minds. It’s something we DO. But loving God cannot be done alone. Strength to love God as we ought must be shared with others. As His Church, we must be unified in faith, love one another, encourage one another and “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). For our love to properly go upward to God, it must go outward to others.

To love God with a superlative strength, we must have determination. Our minds must be ever learning. Our character must be courageous and watchful, always standing for Truth with every ounce of strength and zeal within us. Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength must be our way of life. Our Eternal destiny depends on it.

By Beth Howard

Winter 2013 Issue V6 N1

The post Love the Lord Your God with all your Strength appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

I don’t know about you, but there are many times at the end of the day when I feel like I cannot find the energy to do one more thing. No matter how simple or routine that one more thing is. For instance, I will lie down in bed to go to sleep and remember that I have forgotten to brush my teeth. So, now I am laying there having that mental conversation, “I really need to get up and brush my teeth. But if I get up, I will probably not be tired anymore and then it will be even later when I am tired again.” You get the idea. In the end, what helps me decide is a simple question; do I want to possibly pay several hundred dollars on a dental procedure for fillings or other dental work? So, I choose to get out of the bed and brush my teeth because of the ultimate consequence that could affect my pocket book. Consider if you will the mental motivation to get myself out of bed. It seems as if it is a motivation that is not always present in my life! This is the same motivation that I need when I want to exercise… or refuse that wonderful dessert…or read my Bible…or spend the time I need with my kids teaching them God’s truth. Why is it that sometimes I find the energy to check Facebook or watch television, but I can’t find the same determination for the things that are most important to me? I love the way I feel when I eat right and exercise. I love reading God’s word and spending time with my children. So, what keeps me from being constant in these practices or disciplines? I wonder if perhaps, maybe, I do not love those things like I ought. Perhaps, I am not loving the Lord like I ought. Perhaps, my actions are saying that I love the pleasures of this world more than those heavenly treasures?

My husband and I are trying to form the habit of having a daily family devotional. We always start off strong and then fatigue sets in. We are tired and ask, “Will one night really make a difference in our children’s life?” It may not. It probably will not. But…perhaps…it just might. Perhaps we discuss something that night that stays with them and helps them flee the devil when the time is right. What then? Is it possible to put a value on that particular night? If I could see the future and know that it would make this lasting impression, could I find the energy then? I think I would be so excited about that study and time together that I would probably stay up all night in the excitement of knowing that our child would be protected from that Roaring Lion, the devil, on the hunt. Whatever ounce of mental strength it took to make that night happen, I would consider it a blessing! These eternal consequences, I must keep always at the front of my mind. As Proverbs 3:13-14 states, “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding. For its profit is better than the profit of silver, And its gain than fine gold.” This is the kind of Godly wisdom and understanding that our children need. It is the kind of Godly wisdom that we all need. This Godly wisdom to help in this world of pleasure and sin is of utmost value.

The devil is always trying to squeeze his way into any Christian’s life. The temptations are all around us each day to keep up with and be like everyone else. The only way to combat this imperfect world is by attaining this perfect wisdom only found in God’s word. Romans 12:2 states, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Doesn’t that sound great? This is exactly what we need when we are weak and not able to find the energy for the truly important things. We need a transformation, a renewal! We must read God’s word every day! When our days are busy and our plates are overflowing with things to do, we must remind ourselves that in order to prove what is good and acceptable and perfect to God, we must read His word to find out. This daily reading will develop a love for God that will start in the mind, but will grow into an active, outward love for the many souls lost in this world. Showing others that the Lord lives in us, as well as how comforted we are by Him, should show those outside of Christ where to go and the greatest thing to attain.

I know that when I fall short from making the best decisions, I can take comfort in God’s word. His word will get me back on track to the person I want to be, and He desires me to be. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” As Christians, we must be a determined people with a mindful purposeful mission. A group that has an end goal for Heaven, but also a daily goal of reaching Heaven and taking those we love with us. There is nothing more important in this life than pleasing God and attaining that heavenly reward! We must keep this great reward of spending eternity with God at the front of our minds, so that with God’s help, we will find the energy we need for His work. I have a dear friend whose grandmother once said, “If we miss Heaven, we’ve missed everything!” and I guess I cannot say it any better than that.

By Dana Alsbrook

Winter 2013 Issue V6 N1

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“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart” – Helen Keller. I found this to be a beautiful quote. The older I get, the more “emotional” I seem to be. I find myself weeping more often at worship, at funerals, during weddings and when babies are born. I can sing songs to the Lord and listen to the words and before long I can be lost weeping in worship to my King. When I was younger, I seldom cried. While some people might be brought to tears by things like this, others do not show their emotions outwardly. Think of the men in our lives. Some men are more prone to showing emotions; others are not. King David was known as a man after God’s own heart, and he was very forthcoming with his emotions, whether he was heartbroken (Ps 51:17), or jubilant (Ps 59:16,17). Take a look at the apostles. They all had different personalities. Obviously, people are different in how they show their emotions. An outward display of emotions is not necessarily a test of the inward heart.

I found this quote sad, (by political cartoonist and poet, Michael Leunig, who does not profess Christianity,) “Love one another and you will be happy. It’s as simple and as difficult as that.” While quite profound, without any guidance, the author and his audience are left without the hope of true happiness. Jesus said something similar once, but He gave His audience clear guidance and hope for our future. In Luke 10:27, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…; and your neighbor as yourself.”

In the English language, we either view the heart to be the organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system of our bodies, or the emotional feelings held by an individual. But here are three examples of different ways heart is used in the Greek NT. Among others, it is translated as mind, soul and emotions.

The first way the heart is translated is as the Mind, (Luke 3:15) “all were wondering in their hearts”; (Luke 5:22) “reasoning in your hearts”. The second way the heart is translated is as the Soul, (Acts 2:37) …they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” And finally, the third way the heart is translated is as our Emotions, (John 16:22), “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Consider Matthew 12:40, “for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” For just as Jonah was in the CENTER of the big fish, Christ foretold that He would be in the HEART (or CENTER) of the earth for three nights. Likewise, we must make Christ the very CENTER of our being! And how can we do that? In every area of our lives! We can start by following His commands. Christ said, in John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

Christ did not leave us to flounder without further encouragement and guidance. His Word continues to be a lamp with the message that we need to help us see a clear picture of how the Lord wants us to show His love to Him. 1 John 3:10-23, “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another… But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”

Loving the Lord with all our hearts might feel emotional at times. This can even be a good thing, so long as this emotion results in an action. Love is well described in 1 Cor 13, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have be come a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal…But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

These are all emotions. Christ told us what the greatest commandment and the greatest emotion is: Love. I may become more emotional the older I get, but will I become more loving? Will I become more loving to Christ through my brothers and sisters? It is my prayer that regardless of our emotional level, each of us always chooses godly, loving action over clanging cymbals.

By Laura Warnes

Winter 2013 Issue V6 N1

The post Love the Lord with all your Heart appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” (C.S. Lewis) I absolutely love this quote because it snaps me back to reality when I read it. I am more than just a physical body. I was put on this earth for a purpose. I was not made just to enjoy earthly pleasures. My soul was created by God and that soul is what will live on and on in eternity after my earthly body has deceased. So, why then would I want to spend more time worrying about what I wear or what I eat than what my soul is in need of? If I really focus and keep in mind that I am here on this earth for one reason, to love and obey the Lord with all my soul, then it will make my daily physical life easier. I will always have HIM on the forefront of my mind. It will help me with my daily struggles in life and I will be an example for Him because my soul will shine through my earthly body. I will want to do exactly as He tells me because I want my soul to live with Him in Heaven forever.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your SOUL, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” This was told to the children of Israel right after Moses read to them the Ten Commandments from God. They had just been told how to live in a pleasing way to God and then they were told to love the Lord with all their souls. If they truly loved the Lord with all their souls then they would keep His commands in their hearts, teach His commands to their families and be so drowned in Him that His Word would be seen all over their lives. This is how we love the Lord with all our souls.

In a world so full of people not worried about their souls, it does a heart good to hear real life examples of people who really and truly live for Jesus. That is why I love the example of Lois and Eunice so much. Even though they are only mentioned in one tiny section, it encourages me to live better because of their example. 2 Timothy 1:1-6 says, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” How amazing to be acknowledged in this light by the apostle Paul! Lois and Eunice loved the Lord with all their souls and that is what they lived for. They did just what God commanded; they kept His commands in their hearts and taught them to their children. Timothy proves this by the life he lives. Their legacy lived on. This is what I want! I want to be so imbedded with God and His word that I not only teach it to others, but it shows through my life decisions. I want my children and my children’s children to be in Heaven with me one day.

How can we be modern-day Lois and Eunice’s? By loving the Lord our God with all our SOULS! By knowing that our physical bodies will die and decay but our souls will live on forever. By letting our children and grandchildren see us make decisions not on what our physical bodies want, but by what God’s word says. By fulfilling our spiritual needs before our physical needs. Let us love the Lord with our souls so much that our examples will leave a legacy for generations to come!

By Alicia Bookout

Winter 2013 Issue V6 N1

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In August of 2010, I decided to become a Christian. I realized that I had sin in my life, but I also believed that Jesus was (and is) the Son of God and I loved Him. But I wonder; how much do we as Christian girls and women love God?

In Mark 12:30, it reads, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” First of all, we are to love God with all of our hearts. Someone once said that the “heart” the Bible talks about is not the thumper in our chests, but the thinker in our heads. This means that we are to love God whole-heartedly and not half-genuinely. Next, the verse says to love the Lord with all of our soul. If we live our life godly, God will let our soul go to heaven. The soul is the most important part about humans; therefore, God wants us to love Him with the most important part of us. The third way we should love God is with our minds. We should mentally love Him and think about God. If we are thinking about God, then we cannot be thinking about ugly and dirty things. In Colossians 3:2, it says, “Set your mind on things above and not on the things of earth.” This verse tells us that we should think of God. The fourth way that we should love God is with our strength. God wants us to have a strong knowledge of Him through His Word. We are to be strong and stand up for what is right. Also, we should use our strength in helping others; and in doing a service for them, we are doing it for the Lord. In Matthew 25:40, it says, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it to me.’”

If we love God the right way, we will go to Heaven. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15. God promises us eternal life with Him in Heaven if we keep His commandments. There is an old gospel song that says, “To know Him is to love Him; and to love Him is to serve Him.”

I am no expert, since I am 13 years old; but this is how I think we as Christians should love the Lord.

By Morgan Carter

(Morgan is one of our Young Readers/Young Writers.)

Winter 2013 Issue V6 N1

The post Loving the Lord appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

We do need to remember to make our Lord first in our lives each day. In fact, this should be in our thoughts at all times. As a verse to an old hymn says, “I love the Lord, because He first loved me.” How could we not love someone who gave their only son? John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but has everlasting life.”

Our love for our Lord should give us the strength we need to face every trial in our lives. Psalms 18:1 tells us, “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. We need to love our Lord as no one else in our lives. We need to make our Lord first in our lives and everyone and everything else should be second. Ephesians 3:19 says, “to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” As Christians, we are so blessed to have someone that loves us this much.

Christians are so loved by our father. He adopted us as his children. Ephesians 1:5 tells us, “Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” I love being a part of this kind of amazing love.

One night when I couldn’t sleep, I watched the movie entitled, “A Walk to Remember.” The movie quotes verses from 1 Corinthians 13. Love is patient; Love is kind and envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited nor rude, never selfish, not quick to take offense. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope and endurance. In words, there are three things that last forever faith, hope and love, but greatest of them all is love. This is how God loves each one of us, even though we aren’t perfect. This is how we need to love our Lord and each other. We need to always remember to love our Lord, because He has always loved us, even before we were born.

By Renae Goyne

Winter 2013 Issue V6 N1

The post LOL appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

It was a wonderful gift that I had asked for. I remember being so excited to start reading from its pages. I would spend most of my spare time in my bedroom reading page after page. The more I read the more intrigued I became. I started at the beginning and I would read until I couldn’t read anymore then I would read some more. The words and I became one. I began to understand the words. I began to understand what kind of person I should become. That bible became my best friend. I never got too far from my Bible. I took it everywhere with me. Yes, me and that book went many a mile together. We survived loss and changes together. As the years went by it became more and more seasoned as I grew. Its pages began to ware and the cover began to tare. But the words were still my companion. I knew it from cover to cover able to find any story in seconds. It was one of the best gifts that I have ever received. I don’t have that old raggedy book anymore. We were separated finally some years back. Its cover was completely wore away and some of its pages had been torn. I miss that old book like a long lost friend. I have a new Bible now but it just isn’t the same. We haven’t shared the miles together. It is all new and crisp. And I am not. I am thankful to have had that old book for so long. I learned so much from its pages. It has carried me through and it will continue to carry me through though we are no longer together. This new book will never quite take its place but it will carry on its legacy. So long old friend. And thanks again for helping me through the years.

Love and Light,

Deborrah Cole Neilson

Winter 2013 Issue V6 N1

The post My Bible, My Friend appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

When I first ventured into the dark, uncertain world of dating boys, I found the previous list of promises very flattering to hear. The boys had a way of “wooing” my heart into truly believing these words. I would quickly give up time, energy, emotion, thoughts, and even pieces of myself simply to hear promises I just knew were sincere. I wanted to believe that someone was mine forever, and that I was theirs. I wanted my forever.

I sit here typing this article as a 23-year-old single woman. In other words, every boy who promised to be my forever, bolted when things grew “old”, or difficult. Time after time again I found myself falling head over heels for a boy who promised me the world, yet delivered back to me a shattered heart. I traded in my trust in God, comfort in God’s word, and hope in God’s promises, for that offered by another human being who was equally as fragile and capable of mistakes as myself.

God offers us many powerful words of wisdom when it comes to promises in our life. He advises us, first of all, not to be too trusting in people (Psalm 146:3). Though a boyfriend, a friend, or even a parent may seem capable of promising you the world, only God can grant us stability, certainty, and ultimate safety. Even those who would never intentionally hurt us, or break our trust, may eventually let us down in a weak moment. But our God is not weak, He is perfect.

God also advises us not to be too trusting in ourselves (Jeremiah 17:9). God reminds us that our hearts are deceitful. One moment we feel one way, the next another. How can we “promise” anything to anyone when we are people of instability?

God advises us not to boast promises when we are uncertain of the future (Proverbs 27:1). We can be “certain” about what we plan to do in the future, leading us to offer vain promises, when the truth is, not one human being knows what tomorrow will bring.

God strongly advises against offering empty promises of our future plans (Ecclesiastes 5:7). We so confidently tell others, and even God, about how much money we’ll make one day, or what charity we are going to start. We tell others and God what kind of person we will be in the future. Why would we ever promise future plans and successes to a God who knows more about our futures than we?

God makes it very clear in His word that we should avoid making promises we are not capable of fulfilling. He makes it clear that we should not hang our hopes and dreams on the promises of others, as well as guarantee our futures based on our own ignorant promises.

He is our forever.

As many of you young girls begin a new school year, I challenge each of you to evaluate where your trust lies. Do you place more trust and hope on the empty promises of boys, friends, family, or self? Do you hang your hope on promises made from a fleeting world? Or do you trust in the promises of a God who was the “same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Make it your goal to guard your life from believing and following empty words. Make it your goal to filter your own words, avoiding offering boastful promises on what you do not know. Make it your goal to whole-heartedly believe in the God who will truly never let you down, forsake, or hurt you.

After all, He is YOUR forever.

You will never lose me.
“I will never leave you, or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Anytime you need me, I’m here.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7).
I will never hurt you.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
You can trust me.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…in all your ways acknowledge Him, for He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
I will always love you.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
I am yours forever.
“…lo, I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

By Jennifer Savage

Published in the Fall 2012 Issue Volume 5 Number 4

The post Every Girl: Forever! appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

What Christian home has not gone through troubled times and yearned for comfort and help? Our friends and fellow Christians often give consolation in these times but we stand in need of a higher source of strength. David, the king of Israel, was often in distress because of his enemies who sought to kill him. He turned to the Lord for His help as is often expressed in the Psalms.

God has always kept His promises as given through the prophecies, commands, and declarations of specific “promises”. After the Israelites captured Jericho and burned it with fire, God pronounced a curse upon the man that would rebuild the city. He would build the city with the loss of his firstborn and set up the gates with the loss of his youngest son (Josh. 6:26). This may seem like an incidental statement but God surely intended it as one of His many promises, and when the fulfillment came, some could easily appreciate God’s word. The city lay in ruins for over 400 years. However, in the days of Ahab, a man named “Hiel the Bethelite” rose up to build Jericho. When he did, he laid the foundation with the loss of Abiram his first-born, and then set up the gates with the loss of his youngest son, Segub- according to the word of the Lord, which He spoke by Joshua the son of Nun” (1Kings 16:34). Perhaps some had forgotten God’s promise, or thought it insignificant, or had lost faith in God because it had been so many years. We must remember that “time” means nothing to God, for with Him one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day (2Pet. 3:8). God’s word was being fulfilled though it took centuries to accomplish.

Another proof of the reliability of God’s promises is something we see after a rainstorm and the sun begins to shine. No matter where we are in the world we always delight in seeing the “rainbow” in the heavens. After the flood God set the rainbow in the clouds after the rains as part of the His covenant with mankind. Every time we see a rainbow with its many colors we are reminded of God’s promise that never again would the earth be destroyed by a flood, as in the days of Noah. The rainbow has stood firm for some 4600 years as a continual reminder of God’s promise that is being fulfilled. In Gen. 9, God did not use the word “promise”, but his statement of the covenant is equivalent to a promise. We can always rely on God’s promises.

In the New Testament, God assures us that He still keeps His promises. In Heb 11:11 Paul wrote “through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised”. Again, in Titus 1:2 Paul wrote “In hope of eternal life which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began”. As heirs of God’s promises we depend upon the fact that God cannot lie and He confirms His promises with an oath which He swears by greater than Himself (Heb 6:13-18).

Further, Peter states “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). Today when we have a need we need to do two things: FIRST, go to God in prayer and SECOND, to His word for His message in the Bible that might in some way relate to our problem. Paul wrote, “And we know that all things work together for good to them love God, to them who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). In context, this may relate to the events wherein God’s scheme of redemption was accomplished, but in principle we accept the fact the God can ultimately overrule evil with good, and allow ALL of it to result in a blessing for His people. The good may be fulfilled in this life, or it may be the next life before we know that God has worked a blessing for us.

By Jewel Tarbet

Published in the Fall 2012 Issue Volume 5 Number 4

The post God’s Promises appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

Have you ever broken a promise? Has anyone ever broken a promise to you? How did it make you feel? How did it affect your relationship with that person? In the course of a lifetime, relationships can be shaken, damaged and even destroyed, to the point we wonder, “Who can I trust?” The Bible emphatically answers the question. We can rest assured that God keeps His promises. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scriptures in the Bible are inspired by God. Hebrews 6:18 tells us it is impossible for God to lie. With these promises of God in hand we can then be assured that what we learn in the Bible comes from Him and it is truth! The Word of God has all the answers! In all our trials of life it thrills our souls to know that God’s promises offer HELP in our times of need.

God’s promises offer us:

1. Hope of Heaven

The feeling of lacking trust is a powerful one, but the hope one finds in God and His promises is even more so. Because of the hope of winning, the Olympic athlete strives for the gold. Hope of a crop puts the farmer’s hand to the plow, hope of triumph urges the soldier to fight, and the hope of the “incorruptible crown” inspires the child of God to run in the race of life. (1 Corinthians 9:24-26)

Hebrews 6:18 tells us that we can “hold to the hope that lies before us.” Verse 19 of Hebrews tells us that this hope is “an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast.” Barnes Commentary explains that this hope accomplishes for the soul the same thing which an anchor does for a ship. It makes it fast and secure. When the storm is raging and the compass, the steering, and the engines fail, the sailors still can have hope in the anchor. So it is with the soul of a Christian. During the storms and temptations of life, our mind is calm as long as our hope of Heaven is firm.

God, who cannot lie, promises hope of an eternal life to those who obey Him. And this promise was made before time began. Knowing God keeps His promises we must faithfully follow His word and obey it. For as sure as His promise of eternal life is true, so is His promise of eternal damnation to those who fail to follow Him. Faith is described in Hebrews 11:1 as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. God’s promise of Heaven can be our eternal home if we study God’s word, which produces faith (Rom. 10:17), then turn from sin (Luke 13:3), confess Jesus as the Son of God before men (Matt. 10:32, 33), be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and then live faithfully for God daily.

2. Endurance

In our lives we will encounter problems and situations which will cause us to make important decisions that could change the course of direction in our life. Sickness, death, and poverty could interrupt our lives as we know it. The question is, “How will we handle it?” Many times we try to fix it ourselves, and we temporarily take our gaze off of God and begin to focus on ourselves trying to figure out, “what can I do” about this situation. When we feel like we are just barely hanging on or treading water and about to go under in difficult situations, we must remember God’s promise to help us endure! He will help us endure whatever it is that is dragging us down. James 1:12 tells us, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” The crown of life is attainable! And all we have to do is trust God and endure when temptation and trouble comes along. James 1:2-4 tells us that God wants us to “count it all joy” when we fall into various trials because it will produce “patience” and to “let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” It has been said that a person’s real character comes out when they are in the midst of terrible, trying situations. When our faith is tested, if we produce patience instead of anger we will not only be professing we are Christians but we will be proving we are Christians by our attitudes displayed to others and we will be complete by God’s true standard.

3. Love

“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.” (John 3:16) Love does make a difference. God’s love is an active love. He GAVE. I Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”. (Girls, this verse is a good standard of measure if you want to know if the person you are dating really loves you and if you really have love. The person who loves like this would make a wonderful spouse and friend.) In John 13:34-35 Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Jesus loved us to the point of giving His life for us. He is asking us to love others as He loved us. That means loving even those who seem to be unlovable. There are people in life who are just not really nice to be around, but we are to love them anyway. How can we show our love? Jesus has the answer to that question in Matthew 25:36-40 when he explained that when Christians help those in need (clothing, food, visit the sick, in prison) we are doing it to God. When Christians love as God wants us to love we inherit the promise of eternal life.

4. Protection

God’s promises offer protection. God has given us His word to guide us along our way. Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” We need God’s word to help us throughout our journey to Heaven. Psalm 119:92 says, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts.” Have you ever been so stressed and burdened that you just thought, “this is it!  I can’t take it anymore!” But, thanks be to God that He has offered his protection from our storms of life. He is our refuge! He will give us strength. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) God loves His children and He wants us to talk to Him and tell him our desires as well as our fears. Philippians 4:6 says to, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. God tells us “in everything” to pray. Everything could include your wants, afflictions, embarrassments, and trials; and everything relating to your spiritual condition. There is nothing too sad, too bad, or too scary. Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses and was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. God tells us to “come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

The next time life’s experiences force you to stop and ask yourself, “Who can I trust?” Turn to the pages of the Holy Bible for your answers! God, our Father, is our hope, our strength to endure, He loves us, and protects us, as we walk in His ways. God keeps His promises. From Genesis to Revelation, we can stand on the promises that were made by God. We have seen those promises fulfilled throughout the Bible. God’s promises have stood the test of time and he has not and will not break even one of them!

By Debbie Soechting

Published in the Fall 2012 Issue Volume 5 Number 4

The post God’s Promises Offer Help appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

by Beth Turner

Published in the Fall 2012 Issue Volume 5 Number 4

The post I want to go Home appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

Why the hesitation? Because we know we aren’t perfect people? That we are sinful beings even though striving hard not to be? We want to believe we’ll go to Heaven, but there are so many things we haven’t done, or can’t seem to do. And at other times we do what we know is wrong, like Paul in Romans 7:19: “For the good that I want to do, I do not do; but the evil I want NOT to do, that I practice.”

We become Christians according to God’s Word, then our minds seem to immediately take a turn that says “I hope I’ll make it to Heaven.” Do we think God doesn’t love us anymore? That He’s waiting with pen in hand to write all our sins down and say “Gotcha”? Do we think God’s love and promises became null & void when we were baptized? Or, could we be so awestruck by God’s love that we only hope (but don’t truly believe) that God will let us occupy a little space somewhere in Heaven?

Maybe it comes with age, but it has taken a while to reconcile what I know God has promised with how I truly feel about the assurance of salvation. How do I know I have that blessed assurance God promised? God said it! And God does not, cannot lie (Titus 1:2). If God promised it, then it will be…IF we do our part. But baptism is only the beginning. There is no way we can be baptized then sit back, do nothing and expect that promise of Heaven to be ours. It’s a daily walk to be obedient in all the ways told us in the Bible. We must joyfully serve and love others in order to show love and obedience to God, as well as grow in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). That service, love, obedience and growth, coupled with God’s promise of grace and mercy, enables us to have the assurance of Heaven.

In 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul tells of the confidence we should have when he says “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” Paul believed unquestionably in God’s promises. Later in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Paul makes a personal statement to Timothy that we, too, should be able to make: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will give me on that Day….” He could have stopped there, but he continues, to include all who are faithful Christians: “…and not to me only, but also to ALL who have loved his appearing.”

Paul continues in 2 Corinthians 5:1: “We know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Paul tells us that the body we have here on earth, full of pain, suffering, temptations and trials, will be exchanged for a spiritual body after this life—a body that will live with God without suffering or heartaches. He goes on to say that we “groan earnestly”—deeply longing for—that heavenly body that’s prepared by God. This is not just some “feel good” writing Paul is doing. He is giving us comfort in this earthly trial-filled life.

In Psalm 1:1-3 David says those whose delight is in the law of the Lord is like a tree planted by the waters, bringing forth fruit in its season and whose leaves do not wither. Those persons have joy in service to God and in meditation on God’s Word. However, being “planted”—standing firm—isn’t always easy. Being joyful in service isn’t always easy. Sometimes we become discouraged. Paul encourages us in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 to NOT “grow weary in doing good.” Being “planted”—standing firm and living the Christian life—is an on-going process, a WAY of life. It’s a daily walk of doing, studying, praying, and seeking forgiveness as needed. It’s taking care of our salvation on a daily basis. The Hebrew writer encourages us (6:11) to not give up, to keep on keeping on: “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish (lazy), but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” He continues in 10:22-23 “…let us draw near with a true heart full of assurance of faith, having our hearts set free from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

Like David and Paul, let us take God’s promises and hold them in our hearts and rejoice. Let us lean on God, trust in His faithful promises and get excited about being a child of God, knowing we have a place prepared for us that will be a rest and reward from this life on earth. Let’s trust His promise of assurance of salvation and learn to pray with heartfelt yearning, “Come quickly, Lord, I want to go Home” and know the peace of heart and mind that one day we WILL be there with God and all other saved ones. I get excited thinking about it! I hope you do, too.

By Beth Turner

Published in the Fall 2012 Issue Volume 5 Number 4

The post God’s Promise of Blessed Assurance appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.

What a Smile can do:

It can brighten a day

It can show encouragement

It can show you care

It can show interest

It can show happiness

It can show peace

It can show understanding

What a Kindness can do:

It can show thoughtfulness

It can lift a spirit

It can be an example

It can spread to others

It can show love

It can change a life

What a Word can do:

It can destroy

It can belittle

It can build up

It can comfort

It can teach

It can save a soul

What Grace can do:

It can show compassion

It can forgive

What Christ can do:

He can give you eternal salvation

By Nancy Branson

Published in the 2012 Fall Issue Volume 5 Number 4

The post It is Amazing… appeared first on Faithful Women NewsLetter.