Roll Away the Stone

Many years ago, I studied the Hebrew word "galal" which is the word commit used in Proverbs 16:3. There was an image in my Bible describing this word which said "The picture is of a camel, burdened with a heavy load when the load is to be removed, the camel kneels down, tilts far to one side and the load rolls off."  Today as I looked at that word, I read that from the word galal comes the following words:

Galilee - literally Circuit or District
Gulgolet - Golgotha, Skull or Head

Today when I read the words that come from galal, I saw that Galilee was where Jesus grew up and started his ministry at around age 33 and Golgotha, skull was where he was crucified. I saw this as the beginning and the end. Jesus says in Revelation 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega." which is the beginning and the end.  Also in Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."


Since the word galal means to roll, roll down, roll away,or remove, it made me think of the rolling away of the stone when Jesus rose from the dead.  When the stone was rolled away, life appeared.  Jesus conquered death. The Lord wants to take away the heavy stones in our life so that His life can appear.

Scriptures
Proverbs 16:3 - Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.
Proverbs 21:5 - The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

Observations: (1) the commit part is like the rolling away of the big stone that was in front of Jesus' tomb (2) our thoughts are established when God is the beginning and the end of all things (3) Giving my cares to the Lord leads to plenty but if I try to get everything done quickly I will be left hungry.

Application:
Each day and each moment as the burden seems heavy and my workload seems hard, I need to stop, kneel down in prayer and roll these heavy burdens and loads onto you Lord trusting that you will take care of me. I can have confidence that you are leading and directing my steps.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you send angels to roll away the stones of death and barrenness. Thank you that we can give our cares and worries to you because you care for us. Thank you that you tend to us as a gardener tends to his prized vineyard.  Thank you that you go before us and you go after us. You hedge us in. You are the beginning and the end.  Thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light.  I kneel down in prayer, tilt over and roll all my cares to you. The song that comes to mind is "What a Friend we have in Jesus".

Lyrics to What a Friend we Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged— Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge— Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear; May we ever, Lord, be bringing All to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright, unclouded, There will be no need for prayer— Rapture, praise, and endless worship Will be our sweet portion there.

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged— Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge— Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear; May we ever, Lord, be bringing All to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright, unclouded, There will be no need for prayer— Rapture, praise, and endless worship Will be our sweet portion there.

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,.
   All our sins and griefs to bear!
   What a privilege to carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
   Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
   Oh, what needless pain we bear,
   All because we do not carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
2. Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
   We should never be discouraged—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Can we find a friend so faithful,
   Who will all our sorrows share?
   Jesus knows our every weakness;
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
   Cumbered with a load of care?
   Precious Savior, still our refuge—
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
   Take it to the Lord in prayer!
   In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
   Thou wilt find a solace there.
4. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
   Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
   May we ever, Lord, be bringing
   All to Thee in earnest prayer.
   Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
   There will be no need for prayer—
   Rapture, praise, and endless worship
   Will be our sweet portion there

Thinning Out is Needed for Bearing Fruit

Thinning can be Painful

While gardening, I had to thin the radishes. Many of the radishes were crowded and I had to pull hundreds of radishes. It really bothered me as I felt I was wasting the food and the harvest. I was tempted to leave a few bunched together because I really thought this would yield a better crop. When I was done, I had huge mounds of the radish leaves.  The leaves looked very healthy and lush. It was important to plant them heavily and far apart to assure development of some seeds. The bottom including the root had the start of a radish on it. It took me a long time to thin the radishes. I had to keep looking over the radishes to see if I missed radish plants that may crowd out another plant. Again, I was tempted to just leave them alone as I reasoned they would yield more.

As I was thinning radishes, I saw many comparisons in the thinning out process to our spiritual growth in Christ. Things have to be removed or thinned out so they don't crowd out the best growth God is doing in our lives. Thinning out also assures proper root development and a better "fruit" that tastes good and healthier for the one eating the fruit.  If the plant is too close together, the radishes may be woody tasting or spongy feeling.   The radish also could be too small. This reminds me of God stating different fruits produced in His word. In Deuteronomy 32:32 it says "For their vine is the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of gall their clusters are bitter." Then in Genesis 49:11 which says "Binding his donkey to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes." Right before this in verse 10 it talks of Shiloh coming and to him shall be the obedience of the people.  I like how in the choice vine there is so much abundance of grapes that he washed his garments in wine and clothes in the blood of grapes.

 Jesus says the Father is the Gardener, he Jesus is the vine and we his children are the branches. We can not bear fruit apart from  him. The vine is the trunk of the plant that grows out of the ground. I think of it as the root system.

 Jesus says in John 15:1-8:

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener(vinedresser). ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Our Father is the Gardener and Jesus is the true vine. We are to be the branches that bear fruit. We are to be fruitful.  The Father like any good gardener has to prune us to get rid of the dead branches that will not bear fruit.



Scripture:  Proverbs 31:16 - She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

Observation: 1. process of Proverbs 31 woman (a) She considers (considering stage) (b) she buys a field(Exchange) and (c) Plants  a vineyard (purpose)
2. Reason she bought the field was she was to plant a  vineyard.  Our purpose to bear fruit for the Father's Glory showing ourselves to be Jesus' disciples. Vineyard is a picture of fruitful harvest.

Application: Submission to thinning as what good, healthy plants fights against the thinning process. To think more about the harvest rather than what is being thinned out now. This reminds me of the song "Bringing in the sheaves" lyrics which says Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Prayer:  Lord, I don't want to be a degenerate branch. I don't want to produce bitter grapes of fall. Lord, I want your abundant fruit to grow out of me and feed many. Thinning does not feel good when it is happening but I desire to walk in your ways and in your commands. I would rather obey you than men for from you my expectation comes. Thank you Father that you are the gardener and you see and observe everything in me. You know what needs thinning and what needs tending to produce fruit for your glory. Thank you Jesus that you are the vine. I pray I remain in you with a deep abiding rather than reasoning what will bring growth apart from you. Thank you Holy Spirit that produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self control.

An Ordered Strategy - Planned, Private and Prolonged

Planned, Private and Prolonged Prayer Strategy
Have you ever wanted Order? I know I desire order but many times I find myself in chaos as I tackle too many activities at once. God's Word is my refreshing spring, my living water and it is God breathed to give me life and life abundant every day. I get down right crabby when I don't have time with Jesus. Many times I have seen prayer as the battle ground in which gives me His orders for the day. I do offer up prayer throughout the day and sometimes there is no order to it other than what is on my heart to pour out to God. It is just me talking to God. There are times God places specific people and things on my heart to pray for and this is God directing prayers to be prayed. I have kept prayer lists with certain people, things, places, authorities to pray for each day of the week. As I read Proverbs 31:15, Psalm 5:3 and Mark 1:25 today, I really focused on asking God what prayer strategy he wanted in my life daily.

We think about a strategy or cleaning schedule but do we think about a strategy or schedule for prayer?  Jesus had a strategy. It was planned. He rose a long while before daylight. This is an important fact because the night before, the whole town was at Jesus' door. It was late as Mark 1:32 says it was after the sun set. Jesus had healed many who were sick and demon possessed. He may have only had a few hours of sleep that night but he still got up early to pray because it was already planned. Jesus also had a private/solitary place where he prayed. He didn't just stay where everyone was because he probably knew he would be disrupted. Then the purpose he went out and departed early to be alone was to pray.

Simon and others were looking for Jesus. Simon told Jesus that everyone was looking for him. This verse tells me that Jesus' time of prayer was prolonged.
Jesus could have stay to help everyone that was looking for him but he had direction from the Father after he prayed. Jesus knew he was to go to the next towns to preach.  Jesus had order to his day: (1) He had a planned time to spend with the Father in prayer (early in the morning while dark); (2) He had a private place and (3) he needed a long time/prolonged time in prayer. After prayer, Jesus knew how his day was to be ordered. He was to go to new towns and not stay where he was despite everyone in the town looking for him and needing him.

Scriptures:
Proverbs 31:15 - She also rises while it is yet night and provides for her household, and a portion for her maidservants.
Psalm 5:3 - My voice you shall hear in the morning, O Lord. In the morning I will direct it to you and I will look up.
Mark 1:35 - Now in the morning having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place and there HE PRAYED.

Observations:
1. The word direct in Psalm 5:3 is arak. Arak is most frequently used in Moses writings regarding the priests setting in order the sacrifices.  It can also mean an army "set in array" in preparation for battle.
2. In Mark 1:35 - Jesus woke up extremely early(He went out), he went to be alone (he departed) with the Father and He prayed.
3. Proverbs 31:15, I observed that in order to give to family and household  it is important to have that quiet time in the morning to cry out to the Lord. 

Application:
1. What ordered strategy do you learn from Jesus?
2. How does this ordered strategy help you to love God more and others more each day?

Seeking God's Kingdom first means acknowledging God's presence. It is putting him First and allowing this first love to change you moment by moment as you submit. God is renewing my mind and heart daily as I sit at His feet.  I learn from Jesus that I need to be committed to a planned time, a place that is private and more than just a few minutes with the Lord in prayer. I need prolonged time with the Lord.  I may think I know what my family needs but I may be wrong. I need new direction each day from the Lord to know where He wants me to be and what He wants me to do. Lord set in array the duties for my day. Prayer sustains us and give us spiritual effectiveness. I do not want my agenda dictated by the demands of the day or people but by what the Lord wants me to do.

As a Mother, there are many demands. We need Jesus to instruct us and direct our days.

Prayer: 
Abba Father, I write many schedules and plans but you are the one that orders my day. Without prayer, my day is just a list of duties and things I accomplished. Lord, please forgive me for the sin of going my own way by trying to meet needs without knowing where you are directing me. Sometimes, I get so busy meeting needs of family and others. I want to go where you tell me to go and do what you tell me to do. Thank you for ordering and directing my days. May I love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love others as myself. May the planned, private and prolonged time I have with you. I love how Jesus says regarding to go to the next towns and preach there also "FOR THIS PURPOSE I HAVE COME FORTH." Each day, you have a purpose for me and I thank you that in you these purposes are known. Thank you for giving us strength and power to say no to the things that are not your perfect will and to say yes to your will.

Water from the Well

After reading Genesis 24:15-20, I couldn't stop thinking about how Rebekah worked eagerly with her hands to serve a stranger and all his camels. Our reading for our Proverbs 31 study included Genesis 24:15-20, but if you read verse 10 you see that there were 10 camels and if you read verse 11 you see it was evening time.  These two facts add much meaning to the story.  First, Rebekah had most likely worked hard all day and then in the evening when she met Eleazar, Abraham's servant, she willingly and quickly served him and the ten camels.  She not only gave the camels water, she came them water until they finished drinking which shows she probably had to keep refilling the water.  She didn't just walk to well to get water for camels, she RAN to the well.  I think it is safe to say that most of us are that eager to serve the people in our lives much less animals (camels).

This was not little job that Rebekah willingly, eagerly and quickly did. One camel usually drinks thirty to fifty gallons of water at one time (maybe more if traveling all day). If you multiplied this by ten the least she would have drawn was probably 300-500 gallons of water and possibly more. 

Scriptures: Genesis 24:15-20

¹⁵ And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder. ¹⁶ Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up. ¹⁷ And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”
¹⁸ So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink. ¹⁹ And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.” ²⁰ Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

Observations:
1.  Quickly let her pitcher down for Eleazar when he asked for a drink
2. She offered water for the camels without being asked
3. Draw water until all ten camels finished drinking ( I like how it says finished drinking not that she just drew water for the camels)
4. Quickly emptied her pitcher to get water for the camels
5. Ran (didn't walk) back to draw water for the camels

Application:  The spiritual application for me is to draw from the Living Well, Jesus. He says if we draw water from him, we will never thirst again.  Many times throughout the day, I read and meditate on God's word.  Without God's living word, I do not have anything to give others.  Also, the evening time is when I am most tired but looking at Rebekah God give me hope that the Lord will give us the energy we need to be a servant to our husband, children and others.  I enjoyed seeing the picture of Rebekah running Running to serve not only family but strangers in the evening after all her chores throughout the day.

Prayer: Lord, may I run eagerly to serve the people you have put in my life because in doing so I am serving you. May my serving always come after drawing living water from you.

Women as Pillars and Cornerstones Fashioned for a Palace

After reading today's reading in Proverbs 31:14 and Proverbs 9:1-2, I was reminded of Proverbs 144:12 which says "Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants, And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace. We are corner pillars (or cornerstones) fashioned as for a palace."

  Likewise, many scriptures have been coming to me about how we are a royal priesthood. For example, 1 Peter 2:9 says "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." I have read this many times before but lately these scriptures have been coming to me to show me our royalty in God's Kingdom.

My part is to declare the praises of God who called me out of darkness into His wonderful light. Whenever I think of seeking first His Kingdom, I am reminded that it is not just my time with the Lord in the morning. It is my praises all day long. Many times, my willingness to work hard for God or to work hard in the house is frustrated as it is about me and what I accomplished rather than who God is and what He has accomplished.

Pillars are important. Pillars help support the roof from caving in. Pillars provide support. God doesn't just say pillars though. He says pillars FASHIONED for a palace. When I think of fashioned. I may need to be cut, sanded, carved by the Master hands for His purposes.

Scriptures from Today's Proverbs 31 Study:
Proverbs 31:14 -She is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from afar.
Proverbs 9:1-2-Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

Observations:
1. There are 7 pillars hewn (I did a posting on the 7 pillars of wisdom on May 21, 2012 so you can read more there)
2.  We can not build a house without God's wisdom or in our strength
3. Steps of preparation, mixing and setting (a table)

Applications:
1. I am a pillar made for God's royal palace
2. To follow Godly wisdom and not demonic or worldly wisdom in what i am to accomplish in a day

Prayer:   Lord, I could look accomplished from the world's wisdom or from others but I want to lay down any praises of men. I want to praise you. My job is to declare your praises of you who took me out of darkness and into your marvelous light. Thank you that you are making all the preparations. Thank you that you are mixing in me the qualities that only come from you so that I may sit at your forever table and feast with you. Lord, may your Kingdom reign here on earth, in our earthly tent body and this earthly physical home. May your spiritual realities of the physical realities open my eyes anew to you. Praise you for your goodness and your finished work on the cross.May I continue to meditate on royal priesthood, pillars hewn out to be made for a palace, chosen people and holy nation. Your promises are true. In Jesus' name be glorified.

Willingly and Eagerly Working Unto the Lord In My Home

Many times, I have cleaned the house and then it seemed messy within an hour. I have been upset that others  didn’t notice the work I did.  When I worked outside the home, I felt I accomplish something because things looked finished. I sometimes fail to sit back, look and see how the blessings God has given while being at home. I forgot at times that my identity is in Christ not in what I accomplish.  I must admit I like “mind” work more than physical work. For the majority of my life, I was in school. I was trained to be a lawyer. My mind likes to think, ask questions, learn, read. I do not like routine tasks.  I don’t mind certain aspects of housework but I don’t like laundry

Today, when I did my daily tasks it was a joy. My three year old dried all the dishes from the dirty refrigerator that we cleaned. He enjoyed drying and putting the containers all in order. He had a system down that I never taught him. He worked eagerly and willingly. Seeing his example in wanting to help and doing it so orderly encouraged me. We listened to hymns and songs as we worked. Sometimes we talked. Sometimes we listed to the music. Sometimes we worked in silence. We accomplished more than was on my list and it was a joy. We even had time for homeschool, to make banana bread, do a science experiment, and read the Bible all before 1:00 pm. This  hardly ever happens. Working willingly and eagerly onto the Lord made a big difference in our home today. Today the routine, ordinary tasks became extraordinary as I did them onto the Lord and with my son.

Scriptures:

Proverbs 31:13 – She seeks wools and flax and willingly and eagerly works with her hands

Colossians 3:23 – And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men (v. 24 – knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ)
Observations:

1.      She works with her hands

2.      Everything we do is for the Lord (not for husband, children, others)’’

3.      She works willingly (eagerly)

Applications:

1.      Whatever work I do, I am to do it as to the Lord with a willing heart not under compulsion (have to, should)

2.      If everything I do is as to the Lord, my expectation will not come from others but from the Lord.

Prayer:                                                                                                                                              

Lord, thank you that you have given me hands to work. Thank you that I had so much fun with my son today as we worked willingly today as unto you. Thank you that you see everything. You notice everything. Lord I pray for your power and strength to keep doing everything willingly and for you. May I rest and enjoy the blessing of my husband when he comes home from work tonight.

Goodness as God's Fruit

Many times I have believed that I am the one to do the good for my husband. We as women may think that in order to be a good Christian wife, I have to do a number of things to be considered "good". I have believed subtle lies over and over about how I am to be a good wife. Hopefully one day, I will take the time to write down those lies. I know God's word says that goodness is a fruit of the holy spirit. We can not produce goodness. Many of the "good things" like making healthy meals or keeping a well ordered house have not been the goodness that God speaks about. Those things are not bad in themselves but they do not make us good to our husband. They should flow out of us but they do not make us good. It is not Jesus' way + me doing all these Godly things for my husband that makes me good. I want my husband to see God and follow his ways. I want to be his helpmeet.   If I try to do good things and believe they make me a good wife, I may be turning my husband's heard after other gods (the gods of this world that say God's word is not sufficient).  The end result brings death and I am too tired for my husband. The Cross of Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit produce the only goodness in me that I can give to my husband.

Scriptures:

Proverbs 31:12 – She does Him Good and not evil all the days of her life

1 Kings 11:4

⁴ For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.

Observations:
1. We are meant for good to our husband just as God said in the beginning it is not good for man to be alone.
2. Solomon gave his strength to women (which was what Proverbs 31:3 said not to do).
3. Women/Wives hold great power of persuasion and appeal to get man to follow own ungodly ways rather than God’s way as men want to be respected.
4. I am to remain with husband “all the days of my life”

Applications:

1.       One of the biggest evils we can do is cause husband to commit spiritual adultery by bringing in our own ideas, agenda, ways, modern thoughts and mixing it with “Christianity”

2.      The good I am to do my husband comes from God’s sanctification within me.  All character traits of God flows from His goodness. God says goodness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that comes from him. There isn’t anything we can do to produce goodness.

Prayer: Just as I was saved by faith through grace, my sanctification is also through grace. Reading your word and meditating on your word as I go about my daily puts my mind on things above rather than things below.  I confess that I have tried to be a good wife and do all the things and many times I think I am doing them in your strength and power as I believe and trust in you. Recently, I have been seeing that I have started to believe a lie and act on that lie. The lie is that I need you Jesus + doing of works (spiritual disciplines and being godly wife and mother). Lord, please forgive me for relying on anything other than the cross of Christ in my sanctification. You are the one changing me. My disciplines and doing “good” to my husband does not sanctify me.  I just want to spend time loving you, praising you and thanking you and out of the overflow spend time with my husband loving him, praising him and thanking him.