Category Archives: Women

Christian Growth, Relationships, Uncategorized, Women

Together, Friends Face Adversity

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Do you experience the blessing of true friendships? Are there friends who stand beside you through crisis experiences? If so, you’re blessed indeed.

The value of friendship cannot be measured. Faithful friends are there if we falter or fall; with compassion, they offer support and encouragement.

Ruth became friend, family and provider for her mother-in-law, Naomi.

Together, they faced death, relocation, and poverty.

“But Ruth replied:

Do not persuade me to leave you
or go back and not follow you.
For wherever you go, I will go,
and wherever you live, I will live;
your people will be my people,
and your God will be my God.
Where you die, I will die,
and there I will be buried.
May Yahweh punish me,
and do so severely,
if anything but death separates you and me (Ruth 1:16-17 HCSB).”

Together, friends face adversity and challenges.

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Women

TAKE ME AWAY!

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Wishing CALGON TM, could take you away?

From time to time, we can all feel overwhelmed.

“Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah  (Psalm 61:1-4 NKJV).”

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Women

Blondes-the Brunt of Jokes

photo credit: Nicholas Erwin <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/58210871@N06/40271118500″>Happy Mothers Day!</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

 

I was naturally blonde until my early teens.

For the next several years I cheated; I dyed my hair. I hope I wasn’t the brunt of dumb blonde jokes.   

Some blondes are beautiful.

“A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout (Proverbs 11:22 HCSB).”

Pity the dumb blonde. She lacks common sense.

“… develop common sense, you who are foolish (Proverbs 8:5b HCSB).”

Some blondes are foolish.

“The fool says in his heart, ‘God does not exist (Psalm 14:1a HCSB).” 

He does exist; He lives.

He loves.

He knows the number of hairs on a beautiful blonde’s head!

“Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted (Luke 12:7a HCSB).”

 

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Men, Women

THE ACCUSERS

photo credit: huub zeeman <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/27555616@N04/26782229047″>Amsterdam, Dam – 2018</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a&gt; <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/”>(license)</a&gt;

 

Men are making the news.

There are two sides to every story.

“Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.  Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’

She said, ‘No one, Lord.’

And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more (John 8:1-11 NKJV).”

If caught in the act, where was the man?

‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death (Leviticus 20:10 NKJV).”

 

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Bible Studies, Children, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Family, Women

Hannah Prayed…

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                                          Hannah prayed for a son.

“Deeply hurt, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears.  Making a vow, she pleaded, ‘Lord of Hosts, if You will take notice of Your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give Your servant a son, I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut (1 Samuel 1:10-11 HCSB).”

The LORD God gave Hannah the desire of her heart.

“Hannah prayed:

My heart rejoices in the Lord;
my horn is lifted up by the Lord.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
because I rejoice in Your salvation.
There is no one holy like the Lord.
There is no one besides You!
And there is no rock like our God.
Do not boast so proudly,
or let arrogant words come out of your mouth,
for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and actions are weighed by Him.
The bows of the warriors are broken,
but the feeble are clothed with strength.
Those who are full hire themselves out for food,
but those who are starving hunger no more.
The woman who is childless gives birth to seven,
but the woman with many sons pines away.
The Lord brings death and gives life;
He sends some to Sheol, and He raises others up.
The Lord brings poverty and gives wealth;
He humbles and He exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the garbage pile.
He seats them with noblemen
and gives them a throne of honor.
For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
He has set the world on them.
He guards the steps of His faithful ones,
but the wicked perish in darkness,
for a man does not prevail by his own strength.
Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered;
He will thunder in the heavens against them.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
He will give power to His king;
He will lift up the horn of His anointed (1 Samuel 2:1-10 HCSB).”

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Christmas, Devotionals, Salvation, Women

Favoured & Faithful

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Mary was favoured.

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:26-37 KJV).”

Mary was faithful.

“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:38 KJV).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Missions, Salvation, Women

Women on Mission

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The Lord God frequently does what we least expect. If we try to put His activity in a box He is sure to escape its confines. Resurrection morning was not scripted by any of the disciples.

Before daylight, a close knit group of faithful women began a mission of love for their departed Lord and friend. Laden with spices to anoint His body, they reverently approached His tomb. They likely discussed the problem of getting inside to perform their task. The large stone sealing His tomb created a barrier they needed to overcome.

The sight of His open tomb caught them by surprise. The stone lay off to the side, giving complete access to the burial place (that had been given by a wealthy Council member). The kindness of Christ follower Joseph of Arimathea did not go unnoticed.

The women humbly entered the tomb and discovered the tomb was empty; Jesus no longer occupied the grave!

Suddenly, they encountered two men in radiant clothing. The natural reaction of fright gripped the women; in awe, they fell to the ground.

The men asked a penetrating question, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead (Luke 24:5b NAS)?”

The messenger continued, “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again (Luke 24:6-7 NAS).”

Yes, they remembered Jesus telling them of his death and resurrection. To rise again? That had not seemed possible. Alive? They saw Him die! Three days had passed since His lifeless body had been sealed inside the tomb…

The morning skies brightened. Hearts cold with grief now pulsed with hope and joy.

Culture, tradition and prejudice prevailed. Women held few places of influence. Against all odds, women were the recipients of the angel’s resurrection announcement. Matthew said, “And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to his disciples (Matthew 28:8 NAS).”

Catch sight of frail women lifting their skirts and breathlessly running to tell Jesus’ disciples.

Before carrying out their mission, they came face-to-face with Christ. He encouraged the women and gave them His personal message. “Do not be afraid; go and take word to my brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see me (Matthew 28: 10 NAS)”

Women…

*Women were first to see the open tomb.

*Women were first to hear of His resurrection.

*Women were first to see the risen Redeemer.

*Women were first to carry the Gospel message. Jesus lives; He conquered death.

The disciples rejected their message.

“And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them (Luke 24: 11 NAS).”

Jesus later appeared to His disciples in His resurrected body.

Proof cancelled out rejection.

He lives and He is coming again!

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Children, Christian Growth, Parents, Women

Stem the Tide

 

‘Hush… America sleeps.’

The unborn are aborted; in a stupor, we allow it to happen.

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The bright future that God planned for his children will go unfulfilled.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV).”

This is spiritual warfare. Evil forces are forcibly evicting the unborn from protective wombs.

What can we do to stem the tide?

Pray. Pray. Pray.

Stay informed.

Support national, state and local right to life groups.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward (Psalm 127:3 KJV).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Women

Ripples of Peace

Pam Ford Davis

“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, ‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’ But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said; ‘Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And the woman was made well from that hour (Matthew 9:20-22 NKJ).”

I visualize this woman’s medical chart… “Diagnosis: Severe Anemia and Chronic Depression.” Doctors had been unable to offer her relief and she found faith in Jesus as her away of escape from illness and entrance to restored health. She did not want to approach him directly and formed a plan of merely touching the hem of His garment. She came to understand touching the hem instantaneously touched His heart. He heard her unspoken prayer and proclaimed words of encouragement and healing.

The flow of blood ceased. Jesus released a rivers flow of living water!

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Sprit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7:38-39 NKJ).”

The unidentified woman would one day experience the full benefits of living water; ripples of peace sealed His promise.

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Women

A Beauty to Behold

Pam Ford Davis

I waste my time in any imaginations of being a beauty to behold; I guess I am not in danger of breaking any mirrors or cameras as I pose but am not a portrait painter’s dream for glory either. Photographers will not be placing candid snapshots of me in their portfolio in hopes of advancement and passersby likely give me a second glance. Poor pitiful Pam.

What is beauty? Is it face-paint or skin deep? “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him (Isaiah 53:2 NRS).” How could I be so blind? I do not gaze upon beauty in a mirror reflection or see it revealed on a model’s runway; beauty is soul deep.

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