Understanding God's Grace

During my quiet time with God earlier, I decided to study Proverbs 31 again, which is the chapter often labeled "Characteristics of a Nobel Wife." This chapter contains 31 verses of what a godly wife should look like. As I am reading however, I was reminded that the key to becoming this wife of noble character, is not to copy everything she does by buying a farm and learning to sew. Rather, it comes from knowing and understanding God more as a woman.

The woman in Proverbs 31 is a hard worker, she is a provider and nourisher for her family, she gives to the poor, fears the Lord, is wise, and is always joyful with no worries. Now if we try to be this woman in our own strength, we all know we will fail miserably simply because it is not natural to be that pleasant all the time.

However, if we depend on God to help us get there, we will most definitely succeed. You see this woman is generous to the poor because she understands God's grace in her own life. She knows that she is but a sinful woman whom God undeserving casted grace on in order that she may fall deeper in love with him. She is a provider and nourisher for her family not because her family is perfect and there are no arguments or disagreements, but because she understands the love of Christ and what he did for her--therefore she extends that love to the people around her.

And my favorite part...this woman is not constantly joyful due to Prozac pills or the mastering of "faking it." I believe that this woman could "Laugh at the days to come" (verse 25,) because she understands God's sovereignty and therefore she has casted all of her worries and struggles on him. (1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 6:34)

When we understand that God is sovereign, meaning he has everything under control and he has a wonderful plan laid out for each of us, despite what we think, want, or worry about--then we can come into a life with a beautiful spirit. When we stop trying to control and change and plan every detail about our friends, family, and future, then we can rest and find peace and joy in the one who already has it under control.

When we understand that we are sinful creatures who are destined a life in hell, yet amazingly forgiven by a God who owes us NOTHING--then we can extend grace and love to those around us.

When we understand that GOD HIMSELF came down from heaven in order to live a perfect life and suffer a horrifying death, SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE--then we understand mercy and grace and servanthood. Mark 10:45 says for even the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. If the king of kings is humble enough to serve lowly human beings like us, why would we think we were above serving people on the same level as us, like our friends and family?

To sum it up, the truth of everything is found in the holy Bible. If you want to have better relationships, seek God. If you want to be a wife of noble character, seek God. God has displayed his love for us in this: Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8.) The story of this amazing love and grace is found in the Word of God. Get in it and be transformed (Romans 12:2.)

The REAL Love Story

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Are you still sitting around wondering what true love looks like? Do you ponder if it even exists? Can a marriage even last till death or is it all just a fairytale. Is love just "magical comfort food for the weak and uneducated?" as Matthew Mcconaughey says in the movie Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.

The truth is their is only one way to experience true love and that is through Jesus Christ. The bible says that God IS love and those who know him know love. Without God it is impossible to truly love another person. This video puts it into perspective by using the name Love for God. Love is supernatural which means it's not something we automatically do. We automatically lustand want, but love is more than that. It takes power that we do not have in our own flesh. Once again, if you want to love and experience true love, there is only one source: God.

1 John 4:7-8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Whoever does not love does not know God,

because God is love.

People Can't Change People!

Sorry I have been slacking this past week. School tests, a long weekend, and more quizzes have kept me more than occupied and I apologize. However, I am back with more encouragement from my King!

Something that keeps popping up in my life and especially in my quiet times with God, is that people can't change people. I think this is very very hard for me to grasp because of my pride and overwillingness to help people at times.

It all started when I was venting to my mother about how upset it makes me when I see Christians deliberately walking in the wrong path after I lovingly shared the truth of the bible with them. I get so angry because I see these wonderful Christian girls and guys who come to me humbled for advice, then turn away and walk right back into the trouble they came out of. Why?! I just want them to be close to God.

But after talking with my discipler about this issue, God quickly pointed out that the problem was not the other people, but my own motives. Why was this making me so angry? Because they weren't doing what I advised them to do! Advised. Not commanded. That's the thing about other people...you can pray for 'em, you can preach to em, you can share biblical insight with 'em, but you will never change a person.

Lots of times you hear people say at sentimental events, "This woman made me into the woman I am today." This may be half true, in that she encouraged you to be the woman you are today, but no person can actually change another person. That's where God's sovereignty steps in. I grew up my whole life getting preached too and taught the right morals, but it didn't mean anything to me until God hit me on the head with a skillet and pointed out that my life was worth way more than I was living it.

A lot of times as women, (controlling nature being our downfall) we try to change people. We try to change our boyfriend's decision to wait for marriage. We try to change our husband's heart towards having date night. We try to change all sorts of things in our male counterparts, our friends, and our family. But the truth is, no matter how much screaming, yelling, pleading, and praying we do...it's still all left up to God to change the heart. A quote that clarifies this point for me is this:

Our responsibility is to pray, share, love, and serve others.

God's responsibility is to draw, convict, and change.

Perhaps if we would step back and let God be God (like we are always failing at,) then God would give us everything we need in this life. (Psalm 37:7 and Psalm 46:10 reiterate this.) Remember, only God can change the heart.