The B-I-B-L-E

The B-I-B-L-E
Yes that's the book for me.
I stand alone on the Word of God
The B-I-B-L-E.

The B-I-B-L-E
I'll take along with me,
I'll read and pray and then obey,
The B-I-B-L-E.

By F-A-I-T-H,
I'm S-A-V-E-D,
I'll stand alone
on the Word of God,
The B-I-B-L-E.

The B-L-O-O-D
That Jesus shed for me,
Cleansed me from sin,
I belong to Him,
The B-L-O-O-D.

Thanks so much for the fantastic time of food and fellowship today!

Reminder: Our Sowers Class Brunch is set for Sunday, December 6th!
Please plan to bring a delicious dish to pass!

Please pray about an upcoming opportunity to pass out 1,000 copies of Darwin's Origin of Species book.
Email me back if you are willing to do the Lord's work!

Praises:
-Gail's cousin, Cindy, is doing well after her breast cancer treatments.
-Please keep Mr. & Mrs. Good healthy and safe!

Prayer Requests:
-Lee, Anne and Ryan Niepagen need your continued prayers as they mourn the loss of their 18 year old son/brother, Jared, who died.
-Ken's dad met with a cardiac doctor and after countless tests, he has two options: 1. have a heart transplant or 2. get a pump that will work beside your heart
He will continue to have more meetings and will need to make some difficult decisions.
-Continue to pray for Alex, who is 12. He has been in Peoria for the past three weeks with H1N1. He has been in a coma and needs our prayers to be able to come out of the coma, with his recovery, as well as for his family.
-Please be in prayer for Cole, a boy in college, that fell, cracked his skull, and has a lot of bleeding in his brain. He is in St. Louis and unable to come back to Bloomington with his family.
-Be in prayer for all of our class members, health needs, unspokens, and our travels. May we have a wonderful week, where we tell others about our wonderful Lord and Savior, and come back next Sunday to share the blessings of our week!


BUDGET 101:

IMNOWHERE - What does this mean??
Did you guess, "I AM NOW HERE!"

MYOUR $ - Now, what do you suppose this means?
If you guessed, "It's not my money. It's not your money. It's OUR money . . . then you guessed it correctly!

Work together on a budget and you won't have to go from offense, to resentment, to bitterness, hatred, and then revenge.


Psalm 1: YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO MEDITATE ON THE BIBLE!

1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME-HONORED PROOF OF THE BIBLE.
USE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US!


Proverbs 31:10-31 (King James Version) - A VIRTUOUS WOMAN

10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.


Proverbs 31: A Model for Today's Woman
You might be surprised at just how up-to-date the advice of an ancient king can be.
(Linda Elliott)

Imagine a busy woman running a household, rushing to work, making business decisions, juggling meal planning and shopping, and volunteering her time for worthwhile causes, while radiating cheer to her children and charm to her husband.

Sounds like today's supermom, doesn't it? Actually, this wife, mother and pillar of the community was described nearly 3,000 years ago in the Bible. Women have been struggling with priorities and time management for millennia. The advice in the 31st chapter of the book of Proverbs, which talks about this supermom of old, is just as relevant today as it was then, because wisdom from God is timeless.

This passage is not the description of a woman who has had it all together from the start, but of a woman who has grown in character and spiritual maturity through life's experiences. Wisdom is not just timeless; it takes time.

Timeless wisdom comes from God, not from talk shows and trash TV. To achieve happiness, right character and success, women need down-to-earth advice to help them learn concrete lessons; they don't need illusions. Charm and beauty tips abound, but to find real help-to be competent in home, community and business-there is no better place to look than the Word of God.
Applying wisdom


The ideal place to learn wisdom is the home. Whether we work outside the home or not, our home should be our haven, a place where we can practice what we learn in the company of those closest to us. (Of course, women learn wisdom from all aspects of life in and out of the home. Many women may have to manage a full-time career outside the home.)

Home and family have always been the foundation of civilization. Solid, successful, loving families build stable neighborhoods, towns and cities that in turn form strong nations. Yet in newspapers or television newscasts you will see evidence of the breakdown of society. Something is terribly wrong when divorce, family dysfunction and delinquency are so common that they make boring headlines. So what is the solution? Can government programs solve our problems?


The Bible shows that the answers lie closer to home.
Pick your priorities

We all have 24 hours in each day. But we have different talents. Some of our strengths are obvious; others lie hidden. Wisdom applied properly can help us maximize our abilities.

Becoming an effective woman takes focused effort. Proverbs 31 can be a fundamental part of this effort, offering guidance to females who are single or married, have children, careers, or any combination of these.

Proverbs 31 helps the process because it clarifies our priorities for us: God, family and career or community. These priorities may sound simple, but they are not always easy to follow. If we lose sight of them, our lives quickly get out of whack. To exercise wisdom is to make wise and consistent decisions and properly balance sensible priorities.

What should be on our list of priorities? Let's get specific and see what this chapter of Proverbs tells us.

God, our Designer and Creator, should come first in our lives. Indeed, without His revelation we cannot even understand our purpose for existing.

To fulfill that purpose, first seek to become a woman of conviction, strong in character, who is striving to attain moral excellence. In other words, know and do what is right, even when no one is looking. Put God first and ultimately all else will fall into place. Neglect God's wisdom and things go wrong.

Remember, knowledge is of little value except as it is put into practice.

Build your family

A marriage is built on trust, loyalty and support, not arguments, nagging and criticism. Strong marriages are based on God's principles of love, respect, cooperation and teamwork. Take the we-are-a-team approach rather than following the 50-50, give-and-take arrangement that keeps rekindling the battle of the sexes.

Serving as an asset to your husband should not be demeaning. Stand by him, remembering that he is standing by you. Sometimes that isn't easy, and the world around us doesn't make it any easier. Instead of "until death do us part," society pushes no-fault divorce. Instead of 100 percent commitment, Hollywood sells the fantasy of temporary bliss and self- satisfaction. But a happy, lifelong marriage is well worth the effort.

Verses 10 to 12, 23 and 28 of Proverbs 31 depict a situation in which a solid marriage leads to success in and outside the home.

Strive to be diligent and hardworking, and don't panic over trivial matters. When you have to burn the midnight oil, pace yourself. Don't burn out; find a routine and level that work for you. Tackle tough situations as they come up, and handle them without complaint or panic. Verses 13, 18 and 21 describe a woman who is motivated, industrious and confident in the face of challenges.

Abundant practical advice

Be a smart shopper. Bargain-hunt. Make ends meet by following a financial plan for the household. Avoid impulse buying, shop with a list, and don't buy groceries when you're hungry. Experiment. Maybe coupon clipping is a good idea, but perhaps a home-shopping channel is not. Principles that apply are discussed in verses 14 and 21.

Use your time wisely. The easiest way to add more time to the day is to rise early (verse 15). Start the day with prayer and Bible study to put things in proper perspective. Plan the day, and make a little time just for yourself. Recharge your batteries with some peace and quiet. Don't let interruptions rule your life. Solicit help from the rest of the family. When Mom is relaxed and in control, the whole family benefits.

Working outside the home is a reality for most women. Balancing a career and family makes for stressful living. That is why it is so important to remember our priorities and constantly review them. Business acumen is vital. A Proverbs 31 woman deserves praise in her own right, for her own value and accomplishments, not merely as an extension of her husband (verses 16, 24, 31).

Another vital key is also mentioned in this chapter: physical fitness (verse 17). It's easy to resist hard work and getting enough exercise, but we need to take care of ourselves. The best way is to fit exercise you enjoy into your routine.

Hobbies are good stress relievers. Be creative. Try out new, enjoyable activities, either with the family or by yourself.

Volunteer as you are able. You'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish with relatively little effort and time. Just as important, teach your children the value of showing concern for others and helping them take care of their needs (verse 20).

Don't be obsessed with clothes, but be neatly and appropriately dressed. Our appearance speaks volumes before we ever say a word (verse 22).

A good sense of humor helps. Life is short; enjoy it and cheerfully take things in stride (verse 25). Avoid idleness; don't be a couch potato (verse 27).


God's wisdom gives us insight many other people do not have. We learn from each others example, so don't neglect advice from older women. We are known by the company we keep, so we need to surround ourselves with wise women of all ages. Let's share our hard-won gems of insight (verse 29).

It may seem difficult to maintain a high standard, but it's worth the effort. The instruction in this chapter in the Bible is priceless. It's universal, timeless advice that encompasses many of life's circumstances. God wants us to become the best we can be (verse 30).

Sound like a daunting task? Not necessarily, especially when we patiently move forward a step at a time. Proverbs 31 gives an outline of real priorities for becoming a complete, effective and successful woman. You may already have followed quite a few of the above principles; others may require major consideration and reorientation. Plenty of resources are available for in-depth study of this chapter, not to mention the rest of the book of Proverbs, but this brief review can get you started.

Who is the superwoman of Proverbs 31? With time and help from God, it could be you!

Have a blessed week and pray for those that need the Lord in their lives!
Send me additional prayer requests you may have throughout the week!
Let's be prayer warriors!

God Bless!