|
THIS CHRISTIAN WEB SITE IS ONLY
ONE OF THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIAN WEB SITE PROGRAMS AND CHRISTIAN WEB SITE
STUDIES FROM
THE MOST AWESOME CHRISTIAN WEB SITE
COMMUNITY KNOWN AS ...
CHRISTIANITY OASIS
CHRISTIANITY
OASIS ON
LINE ...
WHERE CHRISTIANITY IS C-O-O-L
|
THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN
A RECIPE
STEP #6
WELCOME BACK
|
Today's
Virtuous
Vitamin
is
~LOVE~
God
is
Love |
|
|
Proverbs
31 ...
Verse 14
She is like
the
merchants’
ships; she
bringeth her
food from
afar.
|
Welcome back! Glad
you're here to share
another verse from this
great Proverb that we're
studying together.
Metaphors are such cool
little things, but
sometimes they can
confuse people. When you
read this verse, you may
think that it means that
a woman should get out
and about to get things
for the family. Ah, my
friend, but you must
look at things
spiritually. Do you
suppose maybe king
Lemuel's mother meant
that a virtuous woman
would go to great
lengths to provide what
her family needs? That
doesn't mean going to
the most expensive
stores or to shop in
different cities, states
or even countries. That
doesn't mean that the
things you obtain for
your loved ones have to
be novelty items,
imports, one of a kinds,
brand names, designer
labels or anything of
that sort. It means that
you put your heart and
soul ... Your love
and devotion ... Your
blood, sweat and tears
into all that you do for
and give to your loved
ones, no matter what the
cost. Do I mean cost as
in money? No, I mean
cost as in effort.
A virtuous woman is
like a merchant ship
because her dedication
is so very valuable and
that's a novelty that
doesn't wear off. The
LOVE that you
include in everything
you do and make, truly
makes you unique.
Love is an
ingredient that far too
many people have ceased
to include in all they
do, and it's very sad,
because Jesus said
that's how people will
identify us as
Christians ... By our
love.
|
John
13:34-35
A new
commandment
I give unto
you, That ye
Love one
another; as
I have Loved
you, that ye
also Love
one another.
By this
shall all
men know
that ye are
my
disciples,
if ye have
Love one to
another. |
Your time, and your
love are a
sacrifice ... A gift ...
To God. When you spend
time, serving His
children with love,
you're doing a wonderful
thing for yourself as
well.
|
1 Peter 4:8
And above
all things
have fervent
charity
among
yourselves:
for charity
shall cover
the
multitude of
sins. |
The time that you spend
doing things for people
with love
is so precious in God's
eyes. You even get EXTRA
grace for it, like Peter
said above. What a
bargain! Love
will hook you up with a
deal like that. We so
often forget, and think
we're doing things for
people, instead of doing
things for Jesus, but
don't forget:
|
Matthew
25:40
... Verily I
say unto
you,
Inasmuch as
ye have done
it unto one
of the least
of these my
brethren, ye
have done it
unto me. |
IN GOD'S IMAGE, BE
CREATIVE!
We touched on this a
little in the last step
... Let's talk about it
a little more. Roll up
your sleeves, get
creative and learn how
to improvise. Reach
inside and bring out the
creative side of you.
You are God's child, so
believe that you can,
because you were created
in His image, and He
created everything, so
it's in there, you just
have to bring it out.
You're one of a kind.
Your creativity comes
from the Lord ... You
inherited it!
Look at the last half of
the verse:
...
she bringeth her food
from afar ...
Your food ... your
fruit (virtues) could
not be imported from a
better source. You
really never know what
you can do unless you
try. You will surprise
yourself ... Or rather,
what I should say is ...
God will surprise you. A
china doll bought at the
store, pales in
comparison to a teddy
bear that you can make
out of needle and
thread, some old
buttons, an old
sweatshirt, some cotton
balls and your special
ingredient ...
LOVE. A china
doll will probably sit
up on a shelf and gather
dust because it may get
broken if handled to
roughly, but a teddy
bear can be so treasured
that the fleece gets
loved off of it, right
down to the bare bear
threads!
|
Psalms 86:10
For thou art
great, and
doest
wondrous
things: thou
art God
alone. |
LOVE ISN'T LOVE
'TILL YOU GIVE IT AWAY
Remember that one of our
challenges in this
program is to look at
things from different
points of view. Let's
meet the challenge with
the topic of love.
Many people have been
hurt in their lives so
deeply that they're
afraid to love
again, because they
don't want to experience
the kind of pain that
the loss of love
causes, ever again. I
have to ask you ... If
God is Love,
and you feel love
for someone, but don't
share it, aren't you
keeping God from them?
How many times have you
selfishly kept God to
yourself by holding back
love?
|
1 John 4:16
And we have
known and
believed the
Love that
God hath to
us.
God is Love;
and he that
dwelleth in
Love
dwelleth in
God, and God
in him. |
|
1 John 4:18
There is no
fear in
Love; but
perfect Love
casteth out
fear:
because fear
hath
torment. He
that feareth
is not made
perfect in
Love. |
Look for that verse
again later in our
program, too.
Have you ever thought
about how much
love you put
into the things you do
for your loved ones?
When you cook a meal,
when you keep house,
when you mend a button
on a shirt ... Do you do
these kinds of things
with love
or is it mostly
obligation and
begrudgingly? Are you
angry that you have to
spend your
time on someone else? Do
you feel like they
should do it themselves?
Do you ever feel like
they "owe" you for the
things you've done for
them? Is it so easy to
forget that no matter
what you do, or who you
do it for, you're really
doing it for Jesus?
Remember this scripture
that we just read a few
moments ago?
|
Matthew
25:40
And the King
shall answer
and say unto
them, Verily
I say unto
you,
Inasmuch as
ye have done
it unto one
of the least
of these my
brethren, ye
have done it
unto me. |
I promise you this my
friend, when you find it
the most difficult to do
something with
love for
someone, is when it
counts the most.
Sometimes it makes us
just want to kick the
dirt and stomp our feet
and shake our fists ...
Because the Lord wants
us to do things,
especially love
people that we may
rather not want to. And
it's not even a natural
thing to be unloving, if
you think about it, it
goes against our nature,
because we are made in
the image of God,
therefore, we are
naturally Godly and
loving, however, because
of Original Sin, we are
tempted by the devil at
every opportunity to act
ungodly and unloving.
I'm going to show you
what Jesus said,
according to both
Matthew and Luke,
because both are so
riveting, and I don't
want you to miss the
importance of this
topic:
|
Matthew
5:44-46
But I say
unto you,
Love your
enemies,
bless them
that curse
you, do good
to them that
hate you,
and pray for
them which
despitefully
use you, and
persecute
you; That ye
may be the
children of
your Father
which is in
Heaven: for
He maketh
his sun to
rise on the
evil and on
the good,
and sendeth
rain on the
just and on
the unjust.
For if ye
love them
which love
you, what
reward have
ye? do not
even the
publicans
the same? |
|
Luke 6:31-35
And as ye
would that
men should
do to you,
do ye also
to them
likewise.
For if ye
love them
which love
you, what
thank have
ye? for
sinners also
love those
that love
them. And if
ye do good
to them
which do
good to you,
what thank
have ye? for
sinners also
do even the
same. And if
ye lend to
them of whom
ye hope to
receive,
what thank
have ye? for
sinners also
lend to
sinners, to
receive as
much again.
But love ye
your
enemies, and
do good, and
lend, hoping
for nothing
again; and
your reward
shall be
great, and
ye shall be
the children
of the
Highest: for
He is kind
unto the
unthankful
and to the
evil. |
Our Father wants us to
go the extra mile. My
dear friend, here comes
one of those times when
you're gonna want to
clench your teeth and
purse your lips and puff
and sneer at me (kinda
reminds me of what I
suppose Leviathan to
look like), but if you
think that the Lord led
you here because He
wants you to improve
just a little bitty bit,
I'm afraid we may not be
on the same page, so to
speak. I'm certain that
any amount of
improvement is
appreciated, but think
about it, potential
bride of Christ, giving
only minimal effort ...
Heck, anyone can improve
just a little. You're
not auditioning for a
bit part in an off
Broadway play here,
you're asking to be
worthy of being with
Jesus for eternity. Is a
little improvement
enough?
Take a look at this next
scripture and then I'll
help you to understand
it better:
|
James 4:7-10
Submit
yourselves
therefore to
God. Resist
the devil,
and he will
flee from
you. Draw
nigh to God,
and He will
draw nigh to
you. Cleanse
your hands,
ye sinners;
and purify
your hearts,
ye double
minded. Be
afflicted,
and mourn,
and weep:
let your
laughter be
turned to
mourning,
and your joy
to
heaviness.
Humble
yourselves
in the sight
of the Lord,
and
He shall
lift you up. |
Do whatever it takes.
Humble yourself to God
and He will be there
with open arms to help
you before you know it.
Stop experimenting with
sin, to see how much you
may get away with.
Cleanse your inner soul.
Stop playing games. Face
the fact that you have
allowed and maybe even
enjoyed the lifestyle
that includes sin, and
you will probably
experience disgust and
sadness and anger, and
all kinds of emotional
whirlwinds that the
devil would love for you
to hold on to and
continue in, but pull a
fast one on him and turn
it into repentance. And
then, my friend, you
will feel an
overwhelming relief ...
The freedom of Grace.
It's time to get down to
business ... God
business. Make a choice.
When you're face down in
the dirt, before you get
on your feet you have to
get on your knees ...
And then, precious
friend ... He SHALL lift
you up!
Remind yourself also
that even though this is
a 28 Step program ... It
very well may take more
than 28 days to be able
to claim that you're a
rock solid virtuous
woman. How long have you
been following the
world? Chances are, much
longer than 28 days.
Now, that doesn't mean
that if you've followed
the world for 28 years,
it's going to take 28
years to get back to
your child of God little
girl that you're seeking
for ... You must have
patience, but be
persistent.
Being that we're on the
topic of love,
I'm compelled to share
Jesus' words about what
will happen towards the
end of time:
|
Matthew
24:12
And because
iniquity
shall
abound, the
Love of many
shall wax
cold.
|
The Apostle Paul
explains this in detail:
|
2 Timothy
3:1-7
This know
also, that
in the last
days
perilous
times shall
come. For
men shall be
lovers of
their own
selves,
covetous,
boasters,
proud,
blasphemers,
disobedient
to parents,
unthankful,
unholy,
Without
natural
affection,
trucebreakers,
false
accusers,
incontinent,
fierce,
despisers of
those that
are good,
Traitors,
heady,
highminded,
lovers of
pleasures
more than
lovers of
God; Having
a form of
godliness,
but denying
the power
thereof:
from such
turn away.
For of this
sort are
they which
creep into
houses, and
lead captive
silly women
laden with
sins, led
away with
divers
lusts, Ever
learning,
and never
able to come
to the
knowledge of
the TRUTH. |
Is it just me, or does
that sound frightfully
familiar to the way
things are right now?!
Here ... Let me re-word
that so you'll get the
picture crystal clear.
Be certain of this, that
in the last days it will
be a dangerous time (for
your soul). People will
love their own selves,
they will be greedy,
braggers, prideful,
blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful,
unholy, homosexual,
promise breakers, liars,
without self-control,
violent, hateful of
those that are good,
betrayers, reckless,
conceited, lovers of
pleasures more than
lovers of God, claiming
to have a religion, but
denying the power of
God. Stay away from
these. They are the kind
of people that sneak
into houses and make
prisoners of silly
women, who are easily
persuaded by sin, always
learning, but never
seeing TRUTH.
Now, imagine that this
isn't only talking about
people you may have
heard of, it's at every
corner of every city of
every country in the
world. Let me ask you,
isn't this a perfect
description of what you
watch on television? You
don't have to go
out into the
world for your soul to
be taken hostage. The
world can creep right
into your own home, and
teach you endlessly,
burdening you with sins,
and blinding you from
the TRUTH. Notice that
Paul specifically warned
that women are
susceptible to this, so
I just want to warn you
... Be on guard ... Be
alert ... Protect your
virtue and don't let any
of these things affect
your ability or your
desire to LOVE,
because if it does, it
directly affects your
relationship with Jesus.
Dear friend, love
is the key. If you have
love in
your heart, you've got
it made, because Jesus
taught us that it is the
greatest commandment.
And if your love
for the Lord is strong,
being virtuous becomes a
much simpler task.
|
Galatians
5:14
For all the
law is
fulfilled in
one word,
even in
this; Thou
shalt love
thy
neighbour as
thyself. |
Whenever you have a
decision to make
(remember, most choices
in life are a test of
your virtue), and if you
can't decide what is
right, always imagine
how you're going to feel
after the
decision is made and
what consequences of
your decision will come
about. Don't be afraid
to analyze things ahead
of time, it's the smart
thing to do. That will
make it easier to decide
many times. Don't be
hasty. Consider
all the "what
ifs". The world may
think it's cool to be
spontaneous and
impulsive, but believe
this TRUTH, it's better
to be level headed and
ask the Holy Spirit to
guide you. He is your
friend and counselor. He
loves
you.
Remember again, what
this verse says, 'she
bringeth her food from
afar.' When you work
hard to maintain a
virtuous lifestyle, and
you've traveled a long
way, don't let the enemy
steal away the virtue
that the Lord treasures
in you. He's depending
on you to distribute
that treasure (your
virtues) that He imports
to you, to others too.
ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW
Perhaps the "food" in
this verse, is wisdom.
Maybe this means that a
virtuous woman will seek
the mind of the Lord
through prayer, through
the Bible, through other
Christians, etc., until
she is satisfied that
she knows TRUTH. A
virtuous woman will seek
the TRUTH, no matter how
difficult it may seem.
The TRUTH is ...
LOVE NEVER FAILS!
|
1 John 4:16
...
God is Love;
and he that
dwelleth in
Love
dwelleth in
God, and God
in him. |
And as always, reflect
on God's Grace, every
day of your life.
More enlightening coming
up in the next Step. I'm
happy we're sharing it
together!
|
STEP #6
Meditate on:
LOVE
Related
Study:
Music
Selection:
Don't forget
to write in
your
Personal
Journal!
Go back over
each Step
often to be
sure you
have not
missed
anything.
|
If you have any
questions about the
program, contact one of
the FEMALE CHRISTIAN
TEAM LEADERS in the
Christianity Oasis Chat
Room.
Or you can contact us
at:
VirtuousWoman@ChristianityOasis.com
To
continue our program,
select:
STEP #7
I’ll meet you there!
Take care and have a
SON-sational day.
|
If you have any
questions about the program, contact one of the FEMALE CHRISTIAN TEAM
LEADERS in the Christianity Oasis Chat Room.
Or you can contact us at:
VirtuousWoman@ChristianityOasis.com
|
WANT TO BECOME A
MEMBER OF THE MOST AWESOME CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ON THE INTERNET? |
|
|
DID YOU ENJOY THIS PROGRAM AND FIND THE TRUTH WITHIN? WOULD YOU
LIKE TO ASSIST US IN SEEING THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER THIS
TRUTH?
|
|
|
|
|
