Proverbs 14:1,2,3 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.  He that walketh in uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Without thinking things through to the end, sometimes I begin the process of tearing down.....

every cutting word
every negative attitude
every thought of superiority
every lazy motive
every time I am discontent with the life God has created for me and my family
every time I am positive I can do better than my husband....

Without thinking things through to the end, I tear down the very ones I love the most!   It is so important to keep my thoughts under control, which is hard to do in this emotional female body!
It takes great determination to keep my mind on  Christ and His kingdom, and His Word, and remembering the rewards that come from building my family up.
The things that help me as a wife, and mother are:
fellowship with godly women
corporate worship
the Word
prayer,
KLOVE ....
Maybe you have some different things that help you keep your mind under control and focused on Christ....
love jackie

first commandment

My husband is so good about following directions!  He doesn't seem to struggle with "doing things by the book".
I however, struggle with following directions or rules even after I have read them....
It just goes against my nature to be "law" abiding :-o

So how in the world can a person like me ever please God, when the Word of God clearly says in
John 15:10  "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my
Fathers commandments, and abide in his love."

Well, the answer is found in John 3:16 and Mark 12:28-30
"For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

"And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well asked him, which is the first commandment of all?
Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is.....The Lord our God is one Lord:
and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all they strength.  And the second is like namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these."

These are the verses I cling to....
and God loves you so much with a selfless, generous love!  He spared not even His own Son to purchase you, now you no longer need to be a slave to sin and flesh but have been freed to love Him with all your life and freed to love those around you no matter who they are or what they have done.

Just love!

Get to know your Lord.  Read the Word and let Him whisper lovingly to your heart......you will begin to obey His commandments!  You will want to please Him when you understand the depths of how He actively loves you.
love jackie

WWJD

The Gospels are filled with stories of how Jesus interacted with people who didn't really fit in.  Not just regular stories, amazing stories of how HE treated them in such a way that was empowering and  sometimes culturally offensive to everyone of that time period.   Jesus interacted with people that were of a different race, different genders, had known sin, or disease, and of every occupation (as well as religious leaders).

Surely Jesus desired that all of these people would embrace the truth.
So WHAT DID JESUS DO?

*He healed the sick
*He fed the hungry
*He delivered the oppressed
*He told people to tell others what God had done for them
*He praised people for their great faith
*He Humbly obeyed God

What didn't He do?

* hold to prejudicial norms
*condemn
*argue theology
*act superior

It maybe that you are the one who feels like you don't fit in.....remember this,  Jesus wants to be your Savior.  You need only call upon His name to be saved, and you will for ever belong to the family of God!  And that, my dear one, is a very amazing relationship!
love jackie

New year Resolute

Things you would like to see come to pass this year?
Spiritual growth plan?
Seek God’s will above all, don’t presume you know it!
James 4:15
If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that…….

Believe that His will is perfect and good…
Jeremiah 29:11
I know the plans I have for you…..
Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution!  If it goes directly against His Word, it is NOT HIS WILL.

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead, allow them to motivate you further; (6) don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

God’s plan is always the best plan, anything else is at best 2nd best.