30 Days of Love: Day 5

Proverbs 20:6

Many a man claims to have unfailing love,

but a faithful man who can find?

Take some time today to pray for them. And if/when you see them, remind them you'll always be willing to faithfully pray for them. Not just the big things, but the little things too.

30 Days of Love: Day 4

Proverbs 13:23

To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
    and a word in season, how good it is!

Take some time today to encourage and compliment them. Whether it's as simple as giving the a high five, and reminding them how cute they look, your words are precious to them. :~)

30 Days of Love: Day 3

 Proverbs 14:29

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

When you get annoyed with someone, are you slow to anger or quick? Do you show understanding? Today I challenge you to be patient with them. Give them soft answers when they annoy you.

30 days of Love: Day 2

Proverbs 3:3  

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.

We often forget that other people need to be loved, so remind them how much you love them and think of them often. Nothing is more uplifting than saying those 3 simple words earnestly, "I love you!"  

A Journey of Becoming a Young Woman of Faith - #15 Homemaker

Proverbs 31:10-31

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She dresses herself with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes bed coverings for herself;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.

I challenge you to wear strength and dignity. To open your hands to the poor and needy. To speak with wisdom and teach the kindness of the Lord. To fear the Lord. As I write this I can see trumpets in my head, as a fanfare as we have completed the devotions I have written. I challenge you girls to start your own journey of becoming a young woman of faith!

A Journey of Becoming a Young Woman of Faith - #8 Big Sister

Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to do it.

As big sisters we are faced with decisions about using our time. We can use it wisely with our siblings and a wee bit of me time or we can use it for ourselves and have a wee bit of family time. We often focus on ourselves instead of others which leaves us with cranky siblings. We are then withholding good from our siblings. When we show the love and kindness they are more ready to listen. This will be short, sweet and to the point. I'm not going to elaborate as usual. If you are able to do anything for or with your siblings: do it! 

I challenge you to do something like what I'm about to do. I'm about to go play a board game with my sisters. I've found when I do something like a board game they are happier, focused and in a way more willing to listen. Serve your siblings a slice of your time now.

Proverbs day 27

Study Proverbs 23:15-16 and 2nd Chronicles 1:7-12

Q. How have I been wise this month?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

God definitely appreciates it when we make the right choices. When we are wise with our actions, and use our wisdom to increase the kingdom of God, God blesses us in innumerable ways. 

I hoped you enjoyed the Proverbs devotions! :) 

Proverbs day 26

Study Proverbs 12:14 and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Q. Did I run the race for God's reward?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love? 

This excerpt has always been one of my favorites. Running for God's reward is a little strange, everyone is different, it could be goals or qualities. Ask God what it might be for you. Train your mind and body to attain the goal which God has set. 

Proverbs day 25

Study Proverbs 20:15 and Deuteronomy 6:8-9

Q. What verses can you memorize?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love? 

Memorization is a key part of reading God's word. If we keep his word in our heads all the time, we won't be as likely to let or thoughts wander. Proverbs such as these are a very good place to start. I've memorized Ephesians 3:14-21, a powerful prayer that discusses the greatness of God. Learning verses can be key to your Faith. 

Proverbs day 24

Study Mark 13:22:37

Q. Am I ready?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

If Jesus knocked on the door today would we be ready? Whether it is passing on to heaven or The day of the Lord, would we be ready? I think that most of us Christians would be, but what about all the lost people, still in the dark? How can we reach them? 

Proverbs day 23

Study Proverbs 17:1 and Genesis 14 

Q. How can I prevent strife?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

Abram and Lot separated as his herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen were causing strife. To end the strife, Abram let Lot choose where he wanted to go, Lot chose the path that looked the easiest, greenest and lushest. Abram went the other way and because Abram did the right thing, God blessed him. If we choose the right path, God with bless us in innumerable ways. 

Proverbs day 22

Study Proverbs 17:17 and 1 John 3:11-20

Q. Have I been a good sibling/friend?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

Verse 17 really applies to this. If we want to "fix" the relationships we need to be able to help anytime, listen anytime, and always ready to forgive and love. This can be hard as we are easily drawn to ignore our siblings and pay more attention to friends. 

Proverbs day 21

Study Proverbs 22:11 and Galatians 5:16-26

Q. Did I have a pure heart?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

The fruits of the spirit are a good standard for life. They help you remember that God doesn't want a smidge of you to "work" for him he wants the whole you. And in order to do that we need to constantly cleanse our hearts by living out the fruits of the spirit. :~) 

Proverbs day 20

Study Proverbs 26:1 and 1st Peter 2:12

Q. Did I act foolishly?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

Yes, I acted foolishly today, and I act foolishly everyday. Unfortunately we live in such a fallen broken world that it happens too often. Remember the Parable of the wise and foolish builders? The wise man built his house upon the rock and the foolish built his house in the sand. If we have a firm foundation in God we won't act foolishly. 

Proverbs day 19

Study Proverbs 15:1 and  Colossians 3:12-14

Q. Did I give soft answers?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

Bear with each other and forgive one another. I know I have trouble with this all the time. And when you are tempted to argue with one another remember to love them even for the faults they commit. Humans aren't perfect. Only God is. He offers the premium forgiveness. 

Proverbs day 18

Study Proverbs 27:5 and Matthew 18:15-17

Q. Have I ever had to confront someone?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

(Hiding from his confronter) 

Confronting someone is never a easy chore, or task. God doesn't want to lose believers or even those who don't follow him. We always need to be ready to keep the church, as a whole, clean so we don't have to confront others at all. 

Proverbs day 17

Study Proverbs 11:2, Romans 12, and Matthew 6:3-4

Q. Was I proud today?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

I mentioned the other day that the people of God tend to follow a pattern, disobey, repent, obey, and so on. Pride goes through the same cycle. We are proud, we fall, we become humble. As the famous saying goes, Pride goes before a fall. 

Proverbs day 16

Study Proverbs 19:17 and Colossians 3:23-24

Q. Did I (fill the blank) for God?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

Everything, not just some things, every thing, do it for God. He is the one who enjoys it the most. You are not serving a human, you are serving the King of kings and the Lord of lord, do your best. If you wash the dishes, wash them for God. If you scrub the floors, scrub them for God. Do your best in everything! 

Proverbs day 15

Study Proverbs 27:9 and Romans 1:11-12

Q. Was I a encourager today?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

(You may have to click to the blog post to view the movie :)

When we encourage each other it builds us up in Christ. I think encouraging, like prayer takes many years to build up, unless you are a natural encourager. Do you hear a lot of encouraging or more discouraging words? If you hear a lot of encouraging words you should from those around pass it on! 

Proverbs day 14

(Life is finally back to normal, as it possibly can be. :)

Study Proverbs 22:1 and Isaiah 40:46

Q. Do I have a good name?

Q. How have I seen/felt His love?

There is billions of people in the world. Just like the stars, we each have a name. We might not be as readily noticed by people of the world, but God loves us because we are special to him. Even if we are not popular, poor, rich, young old, he loves YOU!