The Pearl of Friendship Part 3

Pin It I just wanted to mention one more note that I came across.  This was in relation to that post 2a about friendship…….
From my Baptist Bread last Sunday “but now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a  brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:11  We are instructed not even to eat with people that claim to be saved, but live like they are lost……The truly anointed can be continuously weakened by the people you associate with…Friend, not only does your association affect you, but it alters your family.  No friendship with an evil companion should be allowed to have influence on your family.  No friendship is worth your family!
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Being a Good Friend

Luci Swindoll says, “Be good to your friends!  Give them your time and interest.  Listen to their problems.  Enter into their joys.  Work through your difficulties in every way possible.  Be faithful and involved.”  Many of those same ideas are found in proverbs:

9.  Read Proverbs 11:13, 16:28 and 17:9.

Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

What do these verses teach about being a good friend?

A faithful friend keeps a friends confidence…You won’t say bad things about your friends…A friend conceals/overlooks a sin, seeks love and peace.  He who repeats the sin to another divides friends…

A friend covers an indiscretion with prayer and love and forgetfulness…does not keep bringing it back up again. 

A friend does not spread what they have heard.  A good friend is a peacemaker.  A good friend keeps control of her tongue….a trustworthy friend keeps her mouth shut.

vs. 16:28 refers to froward….to turn this way and that…is changing…your friend may be one way with you and another way with someone else….

Being a good friend is possessing and showing trust and loyalty…  A good friend has the good sense to keep confidence at a good time.

10.  What does a friend do according to Proverbs 17:17? A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

A friend loves at all times. A friend stands by her friend in hard times. 

Friends must be constant to each other at all times. 

Don’t be a talebarer…don’t share everything.

A friend is not to be a thorn but a help….

A brother is born to be with us in the troubles , times of adversity.

11. Proverbs 27:6 talks about the “wounds of a friend” as being faithful.  What do you think this means?

A good friend will tell you the truth even if it hurts…it wounds but helps. 

We love that person it is to help not to hurt…

The strings of the tongue are tied to the heart..what is in the heart comes out of the mouth.

A good friend may offer rebuke or criticism, but she does it for our good.

12.  What characteristic of friendship is described in Proverbs 27:9?

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

The heart rejoices from the wise counsel/advice of a friend.

A good friend gives good advice.

Ointment and perfume…are healing and delightful things…things that bless you and make you feel good.

Being a friend is a characteristic of Jesus.  He was a friend to all and stuck closer than a brother.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That is all for this evening ladies…more when I have some time.

God Bless~~

I Love Righteousness Part 5

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I LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS

Part 5

"God is in the generation of the righteous" (Psalm 14:5)

Will we walk righteous lives so that God will come and manifest Himself in our generation? Will we pay the price for God to come and show Himself mighty on our behalf?

Righteousness is associated with Truth

God is known as a God of truth and righteousness, and just as He is, so He wants us to be in this world. See Proverbs 12:17 and Zechariah 8:8. Just as righteousness and justice, and righteousness and peace are twins, so righteousness and truth are always coupled together. You can't have one without the other. Solomon testified that his father, David, walked before the Lord "in truth, and in righteousness" (1 Kings 6:3).

David reminds us in Psalm 15:1-2 that the only one who can abide in God's tabernacle is the one who "works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart."

Truth is not an external thing. It is something we must have in the depths of our hearts. More than speaking the truth, we must be truth. Unless we are committed to truth in the innermost part of our being, we can be tempted to compromise which is the opposite of standing for truth.  How easy it is to exaggerate, or to say something that is only half the truth in order to cover for ourselves. It is not easy to speak the truth when it exposes our mistakes and shortcomings, but if righteousness is part of ou rbeing, truth will be too.

If we want our children to walk in truth in their core being and not just on the surface, we will have to show them by example.

Righteousness is associated with the Word of God

Psalm 19:9 says, "The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

See also Deuteronomy 4:8; Psalm 119:7, 106, 123, 138, 144, 160, 164, 172; Matthew 7:14-17; Hebrews 5:13; Revelation 16:7 and  9:2.

It is very easy to obey the Word of God when it suits us, isn't it? It's not so easy when we face persecution or even suffering for our obedience. Obedience to the Word of God is the opposite of giving in to situational ethics.

A young couple decided to have a vasectomy after their two children. Many years later they were convicted of cutting off their fertility and reversed the situation. They were now open to having children, but each time the wife conceived she miscarried. She then lost a precious baby son at birth. This was too much for them to bear. They were being obedient to God and His Word and yet experiencing nothing but heartache. How could they continue?

The husband came to us and confessed that they could not go on trusting God. He wept with us as he shared that he could not put his wife through this suffering any more. We lovingly and gently encouraged them in the Lord and to keep trusting their God who would never fail them. In great trepidation they decided to continue being obedient to the Word of God and to be open to more children if God should choose.

God did bless them with another conception and this time they rejoiced at the birth of a precious little girl after so many years. Their joy was unspeakable! Oh what they would have missed if they had stopped because the journey was too hard. But that wasn't the end. God continued to bless them and they are now the blessed and happy parents of five beautiful children since their reversal.

Deuteronomy 6:25 says, "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us."

Righteousness is associated with Prayer

Proverbs 15:29 says, "The Lord hears the prayer of the righteous." I certainly like this promise, don't you?

Of course we all know the wonderful promise in James 5:16, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." See also Psalm 34:17 and Proverbs 10:24. Our righteousness falls short if we are not people of prayer. If we want the righteousness of God to fill our home, we need to fill our home with prayer. Families can accomplish mighty exploits for God as they pray together around their table. God hears the prayers of righteous parents and children. How many answers to prayer do families miss out on because they do not pray? What tremendous power is missing in the church because families do not pray! What would God do in our godless society if families prayed?

1 Peter 3:12 says, "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers."

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Oh God, I pray that you will help me and all your people to pay the price in prayer for you to come and move in our generation.  Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I am doing my part to bring God to this generation.

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week. If you are printing this devotion and need it to be smaller, highlight and change to a smaller font.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

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Happy Birthday to me……A month of Thanks giving Day 3

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Happy Birthday

to me !!!

 

Today, I am giving thanks that I am alive in Christ….I was baptized on my birthday 7 years ago…so it is a special birthday of sorts.
I am so thankful that Christ finally found me…for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, for the blood that was shed for me…I am truly not worthy of this ultimate gift.
Let us all celebrate today in the gift of our new life!!!

The Pearl of Friendship…Part 2a….

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I just happened to be reading my Baptist Bread…and was reading from October 23rd…and I thought the following went right along with the last post about avoiding bad relationships….  The Lord’s timing is so wonderful!!

 

“And I am this day weak, though anointed…” 2Samuel 3:39a

The author goes on to say: “I would like to initially say that sometimes we are weakened by our continued association with some people. ..with brethren who have compromised the truth, buddies who have wavered from the old paths.

A man needs to stand where he started!  Be careful with your personal relationships and make sure that your acquaintances draw you to God, not away from Him.

I have had a few friends over the years that their gripping, complaining, critical attitudes were not conducive to strengthening my walk with the Lord.  Some even used language unbecoming to a believer or participated in activities that I knew were not appropriate for a child of God.  Honestly, there are just some folk you ought not to run with.  Paul said, “Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33)

This influence of the wicked in the life of the righteous travels down many roads. 

• Teenage girls should never look for a man to marry who sits in the back row of he church all the time.
• Neither should a young man seek a girl who is disrespectful of her parents (especially her father).
• Men should never have relationships with women they are not married to, as these are always inappropriate long before they become intimate!
• Ladies need to bury the town gossip beneath a pile of “ignoring her completely!”

Continued association with these folks will render one a spiritual weakling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isn’t this so true about friends…It is so reassuring to read something like this and not feel that you are completely off your rocker because you are particular about who you allow to be close friends….many are acquaintances…few are close….. it is just the way it has to be….there are many acquaintances that I have that are Christians…..but there are not many that truly pursue Christ with all their hear, all their soul, all their mind….and are truly willing to be separate from the world….

There are many that are willing to make compromises to appeal to fleshly desires of the heart…. 

And those people are great…one hopes that perhaps they will be won over by the steadfastness of other’s for their pursuit of the Lord and not look upon those other’s (me ) like we have gone over the deep end and are just out of touch with reality and just too conservative….

I feel like I need a banner sometimes….lol…If you are seeking for Godly counsel, make sure that is what you want, because that is what I will give and although I will do it in love, it may still hurt….I am not willing to give into the ways of the world…and what the world’s thought processes are.

The Pearl of Friendship continued Part 2

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Avoiding bad relationships

3a. Read Proverbs 22:24 and 25.

“Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Pro 22:25  Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”

What kind of relationship should be avoided?

A relationship with an angry person/ do not go with a furious person…people who are hostile about everything…..people who are contentious…

3b.  Why?  So that you do not become like them and get snared* to do evil things. 

*The idea of a snare is to get trapped in something from which you cannot escape…..Snares are not out in the open, they are concealed as soon as you see it…get out.

4. Read Proverbs 20:19.

“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”

a.) What kind of person should be avoided according to this verse?

A talebarer, a gossiper, someone who talks too much…. Keep in mind that a flatter is much different than someone giving a compliment…a flatter’s intentions in their heart usually want something.

b.) Why do you think Solomon gave this warning?

They may be insincere or just plain false.  We know from the bible that a fool is known by his words…If your heart is saved, there should be good flowing out of your mouth not deceitfulness.

5.  Proverbs 23:20 and 21 and 28:7 refer to another relationship to avoid.

“Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:” “For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Pro. 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

a.) What is it? Winebibbers/Drunkards as well as gluttons.

b.) What is gluttony? Excess in eating…all the time…extravagant appetite for food.  Luxuory of the table…voracity of appetite….also found in Strong’s…excessive an moral character where you are out of control.

*righteous men…driven by their passions which are out of control.

c.) What character trait that we have already studied in Proverbs is the opposite of gluttony?  Self Control!

 

6. According to Proverbs 24:1 and 2, what is yet another relationship to avoid?

“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. “

Do not desire to be with evil men….those type of people that plan troublemaking or devise violence…. do not desire to be with these type of people….

How can you help your teenagers see the wisdom of this verse?  For starters…memorize the verse…get the word of God in your mind in your heart.  Model this behavior in your home…don’t watch T.V. programs that promote this type of behavior.

 

7.  Read Proverbs 19:4 and 6 and 14:20. 

Proverbs 19:4-Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

Proverbs 19:6-Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

What do you think these verses teach about friendships?  There are many who want to be your friend when you are paying the tab---but once the money is not for their benefit they tend to disappear.  those with money will always have those seeking after them for monetary favors…  Seek friends for their Godly qualities not for material possessions.

 

8.  The prodigal son in the story Jesus told is a good example of this kind of relationship.  Read Luke 15:11-15 with the thought in mind that the prodigal’s  “riotous living” included companions. 

Luk 15:11  And he said, A certain man had two sons:
Luk 15:12  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Luk 15:13  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Luk 15:14  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Luk 15:15  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

What happened when the money ran out?

No one was around when all the money was gone and he found himself working feeding pigs.

This type of person was living according to worldly passions…”Living it up”…  This type of person had rebellion in their heart…was dissatisfied with what was in his Father’s house….This type of riotous living is usually done with friends not by ones-self…and when these type of friends get together there are no restraints no controls…

True friends don’t change and turn with the weather…Christ is a friend that loves at all times.

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I’ll leave you with this for today as there is much to get done here around my house…enjoy

The Pearl of Friendship….A study from Proverbs on Friendship

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Hello all, I commented on a blog today that I had just finished up a study in the book of Proverbs from the bible on Friendship.  The author of the blog wrote back and asked to hear more about it. 

So, I thought I would do a few posts to share what I learned from the past several weeks going through Proverbs and various other sections of the bible on what Friendship is.

 

So to start off is the verse for this topic: Proverbs 17:17 a friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Establishing Good Relationships

1. Read Proverbs 13:20.  What does this verse suggest about establishing relationships?

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Comments from our class=choose wisely, walk with people that are wise and make good decisions.  Those that are friends with poor morals and decision making will be destroyed.  Never make a friend, someone who does not love the Lord.

We become like the people with whom we associate.  Choose friends who will lift you up to a higher level, who will challenge and stretch you.  Conversely, making unwise choices will eventually cause harm.

2a.  What imagery is suggested in Proverbs 27:17?

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Iron sharpens iron; the idea of honing a knife.  If you can visualize a small knife being drawn across a stone to sharpen the edge, help smooth out the imperfections and restore it to a true sharpness, take the dullness away.

2b.  How does this apply to friendship?

Friends keep each other from foolish activities and speech….This also goes to our husbands as well as our best friends…being an encouragement and steering us….A friend should bring out the best qualities in the other person …”People can help each other improve by their discussions, criticisms, suggestions and ideas…”

If you have no friends you need to make the effort to make friends..give of ourselves…..

~~~~~~~~~~~

I will close with this for tonight as the next section has eight parts and that is just way too much to get into this evening before bed!

Good night and be blessed!

 

I love Righteousness Part 4 Nancy Campbell

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I LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS

Part 4

"I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have

declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not

concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great

congregation" (Psalm 40:10).

David, the Psalmist reminds us that we must not hide righteousness in

our heart. Righteousness is not static but an attribute that moves and

flows through our being.  Let's look at more ways it works out in our

lives.

Righteousness is associated with Thankfulness

Psalm 140:13 says, "Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy

name." The spirit of righteousness exudes thankfulness. It is a

spontaneous overflowing of praise to God, in the good times and in

the bad. It also shows gratefulness to others. It is the opposite of

grumbling and complaining.

Instead of grumbling about your circumstances, thank God that He is in

control and will never leave you or forsake you. Instead of Instead of

complaining about your husband, appreciate him. If he takes out the

garbage, thank him. If he doesn't, praise the Lord anyway. If he helps you

with the dishes, thank him. If he doesn't, be grateful for him anyway.

Thank him for working hard to provide for you. Thank him for choosing

you to be his wife. Thank your children when they help you. Forget

thinking you are righteous if you have a complaining spirit.

Righteousness is associated with walking in
Light

Psalm 37:6 says, "He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light."

See also Psalm 37:6; Proverbs 13:9; Micah 7:9b; Matthew 5:14-16; 13:43;

2 Corinthians 3:18 and 4:6. When we walk in righteousness, we walk in

the light. We are transparent before God and before one another. The

woman who walks in righteousness in her home has an open face,

shining the light of the glory of God before her family. The righteous

woman is the opposite of the one who thinks she is "righteous" but looks

as though she has been baptized in lemon juice instead!

Righteousness is associated with Persecution

We should not think we are out of the will of God because we are going

through hard times. This is part of life. In fact, if we are not suffering

because of our witness for Christ, we should check out whether we are

really walking in righteousness. Righteousness is opposite to spirit of

the world and we can expect reaction and persecution.

Psalm 34:17 and 19 say, "The righteous cry, and the Lord hears, and

delivers them out of all their troubles.... Many are the afflictions of the

righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Don't despair;

even in persecution, God is with you. Be encouraged by the following 

wonderful promises:

Proverbs 11:8, "The righteous is delivered out of trouble."

Matthew 5:10, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness'

sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

2 Timothy 2:12, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him."

1 Peter 3:14, "If ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye." If we

suffer for our own stupid mistakes and wrong decisions we must bear

the consequences, but if we suffer for righteousness, we can rejoice!

See also 1 Peter 4:12-14. We won't be surprised because we understand

that righteousness is associated with persecution.

Righteousness is associated with Posterity

God has promised that the children and grandchildren of the righteous

will be blessed. Whether we walk in righteousness, or in

unrighteousness will determine the outcome of our posterity. What a

responsibility for parents. Our descendants will be affected by the

decisions we make today. Read Psalm 37:25-26, 29; 103:17; 106:30-31

and Proverbs 11:21b.

God's plan is for us to build godly generations that will continue following

the Lord. The opposite is happening in the church today with so many 

Christian couples separating and divorcing. They are so concerned about

their own pleasures and desires that they do not take time to think of

their children and  grandchildren. Their selfish motives override the

negative impact their decision will have on posterity. The course of their

future generations will be changed forever.

Every Friday evening at our dinner table, Colin reads Proverbs 31 and

then blesses and praises me. I then read Psalm 112 and bless him by

acknowledging lovely things that I can share about him. It is such a

wonderful tradition that blesses our marriage. Psalm 112:1-3 say, "Blessed

is the man that fears the Lord, that delights greatly in his commandments.

His seed shall be mighty upon the earth: the generation of the upright

shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house; and his

righteousness endures forever." I often comment that our children and

grandchildren are blessed because my husband walks in righteousness.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Oh Father, I don't want to hide your righteousness. I thank you that

your righteousness is associated with joy and thankfulness. Save me

from walking around looking as though I am baptized in lemon juice.

Instead, please help me to walk in a spirit of gratefulness. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:
I am walking in righteousness to bless my future descendants.

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep

them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin

them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week. If you are

printing this devotion and need it to be smaller, highlight and change to

a smaller font.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are

welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by

sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

If you would like to change your email address information or to

unsubscribe from the Above Rubies Womens Email Devotional list,

please use the link provided below:

PO Box 681687, Franklin, TN 37068-1687, U.S.A.

To unsubscribe or change subscriber options visit: http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?zByMTKwstCyMbEycbJyctEa0HAwcnKxMHA==

I love Righteousness Part 3 Nancy Campbell

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I received this in my email and thought it worthy of sharing...enjoy

I LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS

Part 3

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all  these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

Jesus commanded us to seek after righteousness because His kingdom
is a righteous kingdom. Let's keep seeking to understand more of what
it means to walk righteously.

Righteousness is associated with Boldness

Proverbs 28:1 says, "The righteous are bold as a lion." Don't you love
that? Righteousness is the opposite of timidity and fear. If we are walking
in righteousness we will not fear, but will be bold to proclaim God's truth
and salvation. We will speak out like Peter and John did when they were
commanded not to speak about Jesus, "Whether it be right in the sight of
God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot
but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:18-20).
We will be like the disciples who spoke boldly for the Lord, whether they
were in the synagogue or in the market place. Check out the following
Scriptures: Acts 4:13; 9:27, 29; 13:46; 19:8 and 18:26. We never have to
apologize for speaking God's truths, even when it is counter-culture to
society around us. We never have to be intimidated. God's truth is worth
speaking boldly.

Righteousness is associated with Hating Evil

Psalm 45:7 RAV says, "You love righteousness and hate wickedness." If
we are walking in righteousness, we will hate evil. We will hate evil like
God hates it. We will not only hate it, but stand up against it and expose
it. See also Ephesians 5:11; Psalm 40:9-10; 94:16 and Proverbs 13:5. It
is the opposite of compromise. There is too much tolerance of evil today.
It is amazing how we can begin to accept things in our humanistic society
as if they were normal. When prayer was taken out of public schools,
did God's people rise up, take action for righteousness and take their
children out of the public school? No, we carried on as usual.
Recently, while having to sign some forms in Australia, I found no place
to state my status as a wife. No place for Wife! No place for Husband!
Only Partner! When a nation does not honor the sacred institution of
marriage, the first institution that God set into being, it stands in a
dangerous place. But somehow we get used to doing it Satan's way
instead of God's way. Unless we speak out against evil, it becomes
more and more entrenched in our way of life and accepted as normal.
The standards that are regarded as normal for Christians today were
considered horrific when I was a child. If a husband committed adultery
with another woman, he was looked upon as an outcast in our little town.
And yet today, Christians accept this behavior without blinking an eye!
Do we take a stand against abortion and homosexuality or do we accept
it as part of our culture? Do we really hate evil like God hates it?

Righteousness is associated with Justice

Psalm 97:2 says, "Righteousness and justice are the habitation of his
throne." See also Psalm 33:5; Jeremiah 23:5 and  33:15. Justice is "the
use of authority to uphold what is right. It is acting as a judge and
rendering the proper verdict-God's verdict." So often we judge according
to our own verdict instead of God's verdict. But if we walk in
righteousness we will have true discernment. It is the opposite of
situational ethics where we decide on a matter according to our
circumstances and how it suits us at the time. True justice makes a
decision according to God's Word, even when it doesn't fit in with
our lifestyle.
Righteousness and justice are twins. They are constantly coupled
together. Just as righteousness and justice are part of God's character,
He wants them to also be part of our character. That's why He
commands us in Jeremiah 22:3 NASB, "Thus says the Lord, 'Do justice
and righteousness."
Psalm 106:3 NASB says, "How blessed are those who keep justice,
who practice righteousness at all times!"
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:
"Oh God my Father, I pray for righteousness to return to this land.
Pour down righteousness upon the earth. Give me the courage to
stand up against evil and to hate evil the same way you hate evil. Amen."
AFFIRMATION:
I will not keep silent in the face of evil.

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and
keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out
and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week. If
you are printing this devotion and need it to be smaller, highlight and
change to a smaller font.
If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are
welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by
sending a blank email to subscribers-on@aboverubies.org

If you would like to change your email information or to unsubscribe

from the Above Rubies Email Devotioanl list , please use the link

provided below:

PO Box 681687, Franklin, TN 37068-1687, U.S.A.

To unsubscribe or change subscriber options visit: http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?zByMTKwstCyMbEycbJyctEa0HAzMLJycnA==

Keeping it Simple...

Pin It Hello once again...Last time I was here was just over a year ago! Well I am back to start blogging here on a regular basis.

For the time, my page is going to be simple....kind of like my house...lol....but at least this way, you will focus on what I am sharing!!

I have lots on my heart, I don't know if I will always get it out...they always seem like such deep thoughts but at the same time...short...so trying to make a blog post out of them...doesn't seem like there is enough to bother writing it down....:)

So for the time...feel free to spread the word if you know who I am from Xanga :)

Looking for elegant Winter Table decorations

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I am looking for your ideas...I have 3 months to find what I need.

The end of January, I am providing the refreshments for our Teens after a Sunday evening service.  I will bring all the food and the beverages....we are only talking about 20 people.

What I would like to do is make it really special for them.  I want to decorate the tables and serving table as if they were being treated to a Gala Event....

These are such a wonderful group of teens that are so in tune with what the Lord would have for their lives and they are not compromising in seeking the Lord.  I want to show them how much they mean to me by making them feel really special.

So what ideas do you have for decorating a serving table and possibly 2 or 3 sitting tables???

I was thinking maybe white table cover with possible some blue gilttery netting to give sparkle on the serving table and possibly some branches that are white with icicles on them...for height.....http://www.save-on-crafts.com/icedbranches.html .  This second one, scroll halfway down and maybe a scoche more and you will see some beautiful vases with branches and white flowers....http://www.mustloveweddings.com/forums/showthread.php?t=553&highlight=winter&page=4

or maybe doing something with snowmen/snowglobes of snowmen....and if I can find small ones at the dollar store maybe I could do something with a verse attached to them????  http://www.ehow.com/way_5241555_winter-wedding-decorations-budget.html

This one if you scroll down to see the candles...I like the sparkliness of this one... http://www.bride.ca/wedding-ideas/index.cfm/2008/11/28/Winter-Wedding-Ideas

I love these colors...but didn't want to necessarily do ornaments because that holiday would be overwith...but translate those colors and sparkles to something else... http://www.ehow.com/how_5126129_affordable-winter-wedding-decorations.html

I am open to anything though, so brainstorm and get back to me!!!

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Ok see these little beauties.....

Remember my thought in my previous post about the food for the Teens after church in January....I was thinking of having something like little snowmen/snowglobes to give away....
I am thinking that a little miniature pair of mittens would be adorable made out of felt....but I would make my own...out of white....
what do you think????
If you were going to include a thank you note....what scripture would you include that somehow might go with white mittens....
something on purity?
If they were stitched with red....would you do something about white as snow and something about the blood of Christ....
What about friendship..... or God's hands or hand in hand with God.......
I need help on this part!!!!
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This was another one that I saw: http://the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/2007/10/mitten-ornament-tutorial.html


I could do white batting with red velvet ribbon......???
It doesn't have to be red at all, but I was just trying to think of something to relate it to Jesus somehow...