The Nail and the Toothpick

 

This devotional is about having strength to withstand temptation and peer pressure. And also strength to keep going when we want to give up. Where can we get the strength we need from?

A Second Mile Girl

 

Lessons from Rebekah #2

Do you have the character trait that Abraham's servant was looking for?

If You Wait until You can do it Perfectly...

Last week I started mowing our lawns. My 6 year old son asked if he could help. I let him, thinking he'd get tired of it pretty quick as we have large lawns. But he surprised and impressed me! He kept on going until he had done at least half of them.

He didn't do a perfect job. I had to go over places he had missed and I finished up around the edges. But he did his best and he did a good job. He didn't wait until he was able to do it perfectly. He'll get better by doing it.

Sometimes the only way we learn how to do things is by doing them! If we wait until we know how to do them, it never happens. But if we just start and do what we can do, we figure it out by experience along the way.

Before I started this blog, I didn't know how to start a blog. A friend later said to me "I wouldn't have a clue how to start a blog." I thought, 'I didn't know either. You just google 'how to start a blog' and follow the instructions step by step!'

Is there something you believe God wants you to do but you don't know how? Don't wait until you can do it perfectly. Try taking the first step!

 

What Does It Mean To Seek?

 What Bible verses come to your mind when you think of the word "seek"?

These are the first three that come to my mind.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness...
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found...

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above...

Now when you think of the word "seek", what definition comes to your mind?

The first word that comes to my mind is "look."

Yesterday when I was reading my Bible, I was reading Colossians 3:1 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above..." To help me think about the verse more, I looked up synonyms (different words for) the word "seek". I was struck with the words I read. They are stronger words than the word "look!"

        explore      inquire      leave no stone unturned      follow

        scout         pursue       investigate                           run after

        hunt          chase         look high and low               track down

        search for

When it comes to knowing and obeying God, are these words that describe you?

Or would the antonyms (opposites) of the word "seek" describe you more accurately?

 

        ignore        quit          give up         shun        forget        disregard

        neglect       laze          discard         lose         drop          be idle

        abandon     relinquish

Which of these two sets of words describe you? I hope that you may be a real seeker of God!

          

Not In Vain

 What job has God given you to do right now?

This is a song of encouragement based on 1 Corinthians 15:58

You are Never too Young to Make a Difference

 Lessons from David and Goliath #2 (1 Samuel 17)

1. David was young
When David told Saul that he would fight Goliath, what did King Saul say? "You can't do that. You are too young, and Goliath has been a soldier since he was young." (v33)
What did Goliath think when he saw David come to fight him? He scorned him because he was young. (v42)

What did David think about being young? It seems like he didn't even think about it. He had full confidence that God would help him because God had helped him as a shepherd.

 What did God think about David? David's age made no difference to God. God helped him win the battle because David trusted him and put his faith into action.

Do you ever feel that you can't do anything for God because you are too young? God doesn't think that way. You are never too young to trust and obey God.

There may be some things you can't do because of your age, but there is always something you CAN do. If you focus on doing those things, other opportunities will open up at some point. David learned how to trust God as a he looked after his father's sheep. But before long he had a bigger opportunity. Because he had learned to trust God in the small things he was ready and prepared when the bigger opportunity came.

What can you do right now? Most likely you can read the Bible and learn to pray. That is the most important thing--a personal relationship with God! Learn to pray about all your needs and learn to trust God to help you. If you learn to trust Him in the smaller things, you will be able to trust Him in the bigger things. What opportunities do you have now? Are you using them? 

When you are older, some opportunities you have now may be forever gone. Make the most of your time being young! Ask God to use you while you are young and to open your eyes to what you CAN do right now.

Lions and Bears Prepare You for Goliaths.

 Lessons from David and Goliath #1 (1 Samuel 17)

We have been reading through 1 Samuel in our family devotions and we have just finished the story of David and Goliath. I couldn't help but see lots of lessons in this story for teenagers/youth. So I am planning to share them one or two at a time. Read the story for yourself for the full benefit.

1. David's challenges as a shepherd prepared him for Goliath.

"David said...The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:37

David was a shepherd boy. Growing up I was a farm girl. I helped my dad a lot on our family farm. I had my heart set on being a missionary so shifting cows and pulling weeds to me seemed very unimportant. I wanted to do stuff that really counted! I regret that I didn't realize that anything God has given us to do is important! 

Do you feel like what you have to do right now is unimportant? Are you looking forward to the future when you can do what you are dreaming of? Marriage? Motherhood? A Career? Missionary? Some kind of Ministry?

What are you doing right now? Schoolwork? Work? Learning an instrument? Learning to cook? Helping with your siblings or helping your parents? Whatever you have to do right now is IMPORTANT! David's time as a shepherd was preparing him for bigger things. The skills he learned and his relationship with God was preparing him for Goliath.  Would he have trusted God with Goliath if he had never learned to trust God with lions and bears? Would he have been able to kill Goliath if he hadn't first learned how to use his sling to kill wild animals? 
Whatever you have to do now is preparation for the future. Will you be like David and make the most of your 'shepherd boy' time? Or will you waste it dreaming of when you will 'fight Goliaths'?
Whatever is in front of you right now--no matter how monotonous or unimportant it seems to be--give it to God. Give yourself to God and ask Him to teach you to trust and know Him NOW. Ask Him to help you to be faithful in what you have to do now, so that you will prepared for future challenges.
The Bible says "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." Luke 16:10

Make My Life Valuable

(Notes from teen journal)

The Choices You Make TODAY...

Preparing to be a Help Meet

(Lessons from Eve #1)
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18

When you think about getting married in the future, what comes to your mind?

 Having someone to love YOU, provide for YOU, give YOU a home...?

 

Or having someone for YOU to love and be a help and companion to?

Eve was created to be a help and companion to Adam.
A lot of wives today are not much of a help or a companion to their husbands. We are naturally so selfish and focused on ourselves and what we want. When we think about marriage, we don't necessarily think about being a help!

What are some ways you could prepare to be a helpmeet?

(Even if you never marry, these tips will still come in handy.)

 

1) Learn skills

Cooking, driving, gardening/yard work, looking after children etc.
Cooking is a big one! It's best to learn as much as possible before you are married, as once you are married meal planning becomes a big daily responsibility.
You don't want your husband to be like the newly wed guy who said, "My wife really worships me. She puts before me three burnt offerings every day!" :)

Help!!

2) Learn to keep a tidy room/house.
It's one thing to have a bedroom to keep in order, but it's another thing to have a whole house to look after. It's good to learn to keep your room clean and tidy and then it won't be so overwhelming when you have a whole house. Also, I can assure you, your husband will appreciate coming home to a clean orderly house!

3) Keep your heart for your man.
When you are married, you will have to stay faithful to your man. But if you are used to switching boyfriends regularly and flirting with anyone, how will you stay true to your man? God only has one man for you, so why not keep your heart pure until He shows you the right one?

4) Respect your father and/or any other authority in your life.
If you don't respect your father now, you probably won't respect your husband. Your father has much more experience than your future husband, so if you can't respect your father for his rules, authority and decisions, you won't respect your husband with his little experience/wisdom. Even though he isn't perfect and makes mistakes sometimes, respect him. Your husband won't be perfect either!

5) Learn to be content and thankful.
If you're not happy and fulfilled as a single woman, you won't be content as a wife either. You will not automatically become fulfilled once you are married.

Also, if you learn to be content and not covetous, you will be a big blessing to your husband as you will help save money!

6) Start praying for him.
As a wife, you'll need to pray for your husband that he will make the right decisions as he leads the family. Why not get in the habit now? All young guys need a lot of prayer! Even if you never marry, I don't believe your prayers will be wasted.

7) Make a list of all you want your husband to be, then learn to be that yourself.
It's easy to have expectations and yet not come close to meeting them ourselves. If you learn to be what you want your husband to be, you'll attract the type of husband you want.

8) Learn how guys think.
Males and females think very differently! If you learn how he thinks and what he needs, then you will be a better and happier wife!! Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus is a good book to learn how men think.

9) Study the Bible to see what God says to women.
What does the Bible say about how girls/women should live and act? What does God expect from wives? Why not find out?

Wanting is Not Enough!

A famous violinist, who was very old, was playing his last concert. The whole world came to hear him play. After he got through playing a young violinist came up to him and said, "Sir, I would give my life to play like you." The old man looked at the young boy and said, "Son, I have given my life to play like me."

I can relate to that young boy. I look at people and admire their abilities or their character and I want what they have.  But often I forget what it took for them to get where they are. I just want to have what they have without any work! Are you the same?
To get good at something, you need to work hard and practice. You need to cut out other things that hinder or distract.

Do you ever look at someone and want what they have?
      ...a close relationship with God
      ...a great knowledge of the Bible
      ...closeness to God in prayer
      ...a talent--playing a musical instrument, art, speaking, writing, a sport, etc.
      ...a character quality--patience, self control, friendliness etc.

These things don't just happen. You may want lots of good things, but unless you are willing to put the time and effort in, you'll never get there.
Even when someone has a natural talent for something, they still need to practice and work hard to develop and improve their God-given ability.

If you want to know God, you need to do something.
If you want to know the Bible, you need to do something.
If you want to learn how to pray, you need to do something.
If you want to be good at something, you need to do something.
If you want to have great character qualities, you need to do something.
Of course, you should pray and trust God for them. But don't stop there! Use the means God has given you. Don't be a sluggard!

Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Does Your Word Mean Something?

(Lessons from The Little Maid)

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

2Kings 5:4-5

When you say something, do people take you seriously?

Does your word mean something?

The little maid's word meant something to Naaman and his wife. Why?
If she was a lazy, unreliable and dishonest worker, would her word have meant anything? If she had lived in a way that brought dishonor to God, would her words about God have meant something? If she had lived as though God wasn't real, would they have believed that her God could heal Naaman?
She must have had a good reputation. She must have lived a life that backed up her words.
Two people may say the same thing, and yet you believe only one of them. How they act or live may disagree with what they say.
My husband and I met someone who was always full of big ideas and promises of things that he would do. After awhile I realized that it was only words. What he said he would do, he never did. So then when he would come out with a new idea, I would just think, “Yeah, whatever!” His word meant nothing to me because I knew his word was only words.
What about you? If you had been the little maid, would they have listened to you? Or would they have thought, “Yeah, whatever.” “She can't really mean that.”
People have to choose whether or not to believe you, but you should live in a way that gives them no good reason not to.
If you tell people about God, do they have reason to take you seriously? Has He made a difference to your life? Has he made you a better person? Is there any reason they should want what you have?
When you make a promise, do people believe you? Do you keep your promises? Are you reliable?
When you say, "I love you", do people have reason to believe you? Do you show love by your actions?
Do your words mean something?

Give of Your Best to the Master

by Howard B. Grose

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth.
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave.
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

 

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart.
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave.
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

 

Give of your best to the Master;
Naught else is worthy His love.
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above.
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save.
Give Him your heart’s adoration;
Give Him the best that you have.

 

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth.
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

 

 

The Jar

“No sir, I didn't finish my homework. I ran out of time,” admitted Samantha.
“Some things are too important to ignore,” replied her teacher. “You must complete your homework every day.”

“Sorry I'm returning my library books late,” said Shania. “I didn't have time to read them earlier.”

Mr. Pania sighed. “You've all got 24 hours every day, and 7 days every week. You don't 'find' time for important things. You MAKE time for priorities, so that you can reach your goal.”

When his students came to class the following day, Mr. Pania had a large glass container on his desk. He began placing tennis balls in the jar, asking his pupils to indicate when the jar was full. “It's full now Sir,” they called out.

Silently, Mr. Pania raised a bag of pebbles and carefully trickled them into the jar. He shook it gently and the pebbles rolled into open spaces between the tennis balls.

“Is the jar full yet?” he asked.

“Yes sir!” replied the children.

Now Mr. Pania produced a bucket of sand and slowly poured fine sand into the jar. It filled up all the tiny spaces between the balls and the pebbles.

“Is the jar full yet?” he inquired. “Yes Sir!” they all responded.

Now the teacher took a bottle of water from his bag. He took the cover off and poured one whole litre of water into the jar, where it was soaked up in the sand. All the students began laughing.

Mr. Pania had their attention.

“This jar,” he explained, “represents your life. The tennis balls are the important things—God and your family, your health and your responsibilities. These things are your priorities, and time must be made for them. Then the pebbles fill time and space between the important parts of your life—your sports, entertainment, belongings and fun. Any extra time and space is for the frivolous events and unimportant pastimes, games and hobbies.”

“What would happen if I had poured sand in the jar first?” he asked.

“There wouldn't be enough space for the balls,” answered Samantha.

“That's correct,” beamed Mr. Pania. “Take care of the big things, and then let the little things fill any remaining spaces.”

Shania put up her hand. “What does the water represent Sir?”

Mr. Pania held up the empty bottle. “The water is God. He is part of everything. Remember that whatever your dreams or goals may be, that God should be a part of them,” he said.

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

A Servant's Heart

(We're not quite finished with Rebekah yet, but I've gotten a bit stuck there, so we're doing Phebe for a change! :) )

Lessons from Phebe

“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.” Romans 16:1-2 

In one particular way, Phebe was very Christ like. She had a servant's heart. Jesus was also a servant. It was Him who washed the other disciples feet. Jesus was by far the one that everybody else should've have been serving. He was the King of the Universe! Yet here he was kneeling down doing a servant's job.

Jesus then said to the disciples, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

John 13:14-15

We are saved to serve not to sit on the shelf!

Phebe served the church. She looked for ways to help. She wasn't just a pew-warmer. She didn't just come and 'exist' at church. She wasn't a cozy comfy Christian; she was a servant. Her life didn't revolve around herself.

But the church is Christians, so being a servant of the church doesn't just mean being helpful at the church building.

Being a servant starts at home. I remember as a teenager, I wanted to go overseas to be a missionary. I wanted to do 'honorable' work. Helping down the farm and around the house wasn't so worthwhile to my thinking!

It's easy to want to do work that is what we call 'honorable' or 'spiritual' like teaching Sunday school, singing an item or playing the piano, but what about sweeping floors? Do you only want work that people will look up to you for?

Are you willing to serve? Willing to wash dishes, willing to babysit, willing to clean?

Do you have a servant's heart like Phebe and, ultimately, like Jesus Christ?

After talking about being a servant Jesus said, “ If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13:17

Being selfish and serving yourself doesn't make you happy, but serving others does!

 

You may look very Christ like in the way you talk, act or dress, but if you don't have a servant's heart, you're not like Jesus. 

If I was a teen girl again.... part 2

7.Learn to be content.

If you're not content where you are right now, you probably wouldn't be content somewhere else. If you're not content being a daughter, you probably wouldn't be content as a wife.

8.Learn to be hardworking.
Enough said!

9.Memorize Scripture.
You'll never regret memorizing the Bible.

10.Learn to serve.
In order to be happy as a wife and mother, you need to be happy to serve!
"It is more blessed to give than to receive."
11.Be a good example to your siblings.
If you want to be a good mother one day, start by learning to be gentle and kind to your younger sisters and brothers or other young children you know.
"The light that shines the furtherest shines the brightest at home."

12. Keep your heart for your future husband.
Just remember that every guy will be some girl's husband (if they get married, of course) someday. Be careful to think about and treat every guy with purity.
If you do this, you will never regret it when you are married.

If I was a teen girl again.... (part 1)

If I was a teen girl again, there are some things I would do differently. But there are other things that looking back now, I'm very glad I did do.
Here is a list of 12 things I would make sure I would do if I could live my teen years over again.
Whether you marry and have children like I have or whether you stay single, I'm sure all these things will come in handy!
1. Learn how to keep your room in order!

This is one regret I have from my teen years. Up until I was about 15 or 16 I kept my room neat and tidy most of the time. But then I started to get very busy---teaching Sunday School. being a leader at Girl's Brigade etc.-- so I decided that my room wasn't a priority. I got married with the mindset that keeping your house clean and tidy is not a priority because spiritual things are far more important. Now I have a whole house to keep in order, a husband and 2 children with all their things not to mention myself! I have learned that keeping your house in order is a priority (not the first priority, of course) and I am trying to relearn how to keep things organized.
But if I had gotten into the habit when I only had my own little room to look after, I think the change would have been much easier.
2. Learn to treat your father with respect.
 If you get married, you will discover Mr. Right is Mr. Right not Mr. Perfect! All men have their faults and make their mistakes. So if you learn to respect your father in spite of his faults it will be easier to respect your husband with his faults. And if you never marry, you will always be under some authority, whether it's your pastor or your boss etc. So learn to show respect.
3. Learn practical skills like cooking.

If you are able to, learn how to cook! You don't automatically know how to cook the day you have your own house to look after.
One newly married man was asked how he was enjoying his married life. "Great!" he replied. "My wife really worships me. She puts before me three burnt offerings every day!"
4. Learn to find enjoyment in monotonous work.

Being married, being a mother or having your own house isn't all fun and games. There's plenty of monotonous work to do--washing dishes, folding washing, dusting, changing nappies to mention a few. If you learn to find enjoyment in work, life is so much more fun and enjoyable! There are different ways to make boring jobs more interesting like listening to music, memorizing Scripture or praying for people while you work.

One Proverbs says "In all labour there is profit."
5.Learn to be cheerful always.
This is something I'm trying to learn from my husband! Cheerfulness is one of his strong points.
Bad days can be so much better if we have a cheerful attitude.
6.Learn to look for the good in people.
If you are always finding fault with your family, guess what? You will find fault with your husband and your children or whoever else you are around. It's important to learn to focus on people's good points.

Rebecca's Willingness to Work

“And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.” Genesis 24:19-20

Rebecca was not only kind, she was very hard working. But notice she was not only hardworking, she was willing to work hard! She offered to get water for ten thirsty camels which was a major job. Some people say she had to draw up to 25 gallons of water per camel. One gallon is around three and a half litres. There were ten camels so that equals around 946 litres (if I've worked that out right. Correct me if I'm wrong!) Whew! That's a lot for a girl to get all by herself.

The virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 is described as someone who ''worketh willingly with her hands.' She's not lazy! She doesn't try to get out of work.

You may work hard and yet be bone lazy. You may work just because you have to. If you could get out of it you most certainly would.

But God created work. It's good for us to work! God didn't create us to sit on a couch bored stiff or to watch other people's lives on a screen all day. How boring!

Another Proverbs says, 'In all labour there is profit.'

Whatever you do in life you will have to work. Whether you have a job or become a wife and mother, a lot of your life will be spent working.

Abraham's servant was obviously looking for a kind, hardworking girl. Rebekah fitted the picture.

But what about you? Could you have been chosen?

What is your attitude towards work?

 

Going the Extra Mile

“And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.” Genesis 24:17-19

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” Matthew 5:41

Rebekah was an extra mile person. She was only asked to pour Abraham's servant a drink, but she offered to get water for all his camels.

Going the extra mile means to make more effort than is expected of you. Another definition is 'going above what is strictly required.'

There is an American couple who organize mission trips around the world. They bring a group to New Zealand sometimes. I heard that one of their mottos is to leave a place cleaner than they found it. So whatever place they stayed in, they would make a bit of extra effort to make it better than how it was before. That's going the extra mile!

Whether we're a child, a teenager, a wife or a mother, there are things we are required or expected to do. Either we can just do the least or we can go the second mile and do a little extra.

There is a quote that says, “The difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary is the little extra.”

It's interesting to see how Rebekah's extra effort turned out for her own good. It found her a husband!

The Bible says in Proverbs “The merciful man doeth good unto his own soul...”

What is your attitude toward work and helping others? Is your attitude 'Is there anything you would like me to do?'

Go the extra mile!

Give It All You've Got

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Ecclesiastes 9:10

A group of people in the United States spread out in a huge, busy train station and at a certain time they all totally froze. They stood there like statues! The people around them were most astonished. After a few minutes, the frozen people started moving again. Meanwhile, another person from their group got it all on video camera, including people's responses! It is quite funny to watch.

This group has made many videos of pranks like that. What struck me was how much time and effort they put into them! Apart from having fun, there is absolutely no point to the videos, but they give it their best shot.

I felt ashamed. Do I put as much effort into things that are important?

“Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men.”

If you are at school or homeschooled, learn all you can. If you're learning an instrument, practice! If you have a job, work the best you can. If you get opportunities like teaching Sunday School, singing an item or helping out at a Children's Programme, put effort into it because it's important. Whatever you can do, do it the best you can for God's glory.

If people can put so much effort into having a little fun, shouldn’t we put so much more effort into doing something important for God?

Do we love God enough to give Him our best?