Our Giving

God does not look at what we do not have,

He looks at what we do have.

Photography by Amanda T.

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 2 Corinthians 8:12

Are we giving God what we have?

Self-Defense

By Gail Puruth

“Please forgive me for what you think I did.”

We’re excusers, defenders, and egotists by nature—our fallen nature. Our knee-jerk reaction is self-defense. And as Christians we often Christianize it with "un-apologies"—some as creative and meaningless as the one above.

Image from reusableart.com

But there’s more:

• “I’m sorry you were offended” — a way to apologize without admitting blame.

• “ I’m sorry if I did anything to offend you”— vague enough to keep our ego intact.

• “Please forgive me, but….” — giving us the ability to tack on excuses and accusations thus voiding the apology.

• "You misunderstood" — allowing us to justify rude or selfish acts by explaining our motives (i.e. it's not what I did, it's what I thought that matters).*

We can’t do anything about others' un-apologies, but we can ask the Lord to free us from the bondage of our own self-defense.

Capture us by your love, Lord, so we can honestly repent of sin.

See James 4:8-10 and 1 John 1:8-10.

Unfortunately, all of these un-apologies I've heard or used myself.
* There are times when explanations are in order, but we often use this excuse to explain away things we've done wrong. Just because we didn't mean to be rude doesn't mean we weren't rude!
~~~
About Gail Puruth
Gail Purath has been married to her best friend for 41 years, has two married children and seven grandchildren. Her blog Bible Love Notes (http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com) features one-minute devotions each weekday.

Time Management

By Ana Renee

When we skim through the qualities of the Virtuous Woman, it can almost be overwhelming to see everything she was able to accomplish! The virtuous woman had two qualities that enabled her to manage her time well: she “worketh willingly with her hands” (vs. 13) and “eateth not the bread of idleness” (vs. 27). I believe that by applying these to our lives as well, we can better manage our time. But how do we get there?

When trying to change any area in our life, we should apply two important things: prayer and work. God always hears our cry for help, but He does not always just hand us our desire – He often wants us to work on changing. If we start our days armed with prayer and a mind to work willingly, we will be one step ahead in our day.

Photography by Ana Renee

There are several other things we can do to help us manage our time wisely. Here are just a few ideas:

~Write a list

       In the morning, we should make a list of “things to do today” and check that list for projects to do during free time.

       If we are not a list-writer, we can keep things going by planning the next project to do while we are in the middle of our current project.

~Prioritize

     Before doing fun things first, we should look through our list and realize what must be done first.

~Keep our eyes open                          

       We need to look around and see other needs around the house to do, not being blinded by, “it’s not my job.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 says “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;” Whatsoever includes things outside of “my job.”

~Ask others

       Before doing our pleasure, we should practice a servant’s spirit by asking a parent or sibling, “Can I help you with anything right now?” We will most likely get an answer!

~Schedule pleasures

       Sometimes, our pleasures drown our desire to do what we need to do. If such is the case, we need to set goals (such as: do not check email until ____ is done, do not call friends until after 2:00, etc.). Part of the joy of doing pleasures is knowing that we have all of our duties finished and are truly enjoying “free” time – not stolen time.

~Keep the top priority

       Above all other projects, pleasures, and duties, we must remember to give part of our day to God. Bible reading, Bible memorization, Bible study, and prayer are all necessities that must never be neglected. If we are having a hard time squeezing them into our schedule, then we need to rearrange our schedule.

What are some things that have helped you to manage your time more wisely? Please share them in a comment!

Little Corners

"I don't expect to reform the world, 

but I want to help enlighten my special corner of it."

From Wise and Otherwise, by Isabella (Pansy) Alden

We all have our "little corners" to work in, but with higher ideals we often overlook what we can do now, in our current corners: surprise our sister by doing her chore . . . send a friend an encouraging card . . . volunteer at church . . . the option are endless.


How will you brighten your corner today?

Two Sides - Part Two

This short story is by an unknown author, originally titled “A Story for School Girls,” taken from “The King’s Daughter and Other Stories,” published in 1910.

Even though it is about school girls, it holds a valuable lesson for any girl. I pray that as you read it, it will encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

                                            

~~~~~

       “I tell you what it is,” said Marcia Lewis,” Miss Capron has no business to be so awful cross. Only think what a sight of marks we got. Let’s act just as bad when we go into school again, and she will have to dismiss us, and then we’ll all go down to the falls and have a nice time.”

       “Wouldn’t it be grand,” said Nellie Jones.

       “Splendid!” replied Mattie Lee.

       “Why! What is the matter?” asked Mary Paine, who had been absent from school during the day until then and was surprised to find her usually pleasant companions so excited. When she had heard the whole story, she looked very sad. “Poor Miss Capron! How could you treat her so?”

       “It is just what she deserves for being so cross,” said Lottie Barnes.

       “Oh, you have been looking at the wrong side, girls. I have heard a story of a lady who began to find faults in her son’s wife. The more she looked for them, the more she found, until she began to think her daughter-in-law the most disagreeable person in the world. She used to talk of her failings to a very dear friend.

       “Finally, her friend said to her one day, ‘No doubt Jane has her faults, and very disagreeable ones, but suppose for awhile you try to see what good qualities you can discover in her character. Really, I am very curious to know.’

       “The good lady was a little offended at her friend’s plain suggestion; but finally concluded to try it; and long before she had discovered half her good traits, she began to regard Jane as a perfect treasure. Now you have been doing just as this lady did, in looking for faults. Let us be like her the rest of the afternoon in looking for pleasant things. Let us see how many smiles we can get from Miss Capron.”

       Mary Paine was one of the oldest girls in the school. She gave the girls subjects for their compositions and helped them out of al their troubles. So being a favorite they consented, half reluctantly, to do as she said.

       Miss Capron dreaded to ring the bell. The fifteen minutes passed, and she felt compelled to call her scholars. They entered in perfect order.

       Each took her seat quietly and began studying in real earnest. Frequently, however, a pleasant smile would seek an answering one from the teacher, and then one would be added to the rapidly increasing row of smile-marks. The good order and close application to study, and the winning looks, soon caused a continual smile to lighten Miss Capron’s face, till the girls finally rubbed out the marks, saying it was of no use to try to keep account.

       Marcia Lewis wrote on her slate, “It’s smile all the time.”

       Before Miss Capron dismissed the school at night, she said, “My head ached sadly before recess, and I fear I was impatient with you. Your good conduct since has convinced me that I must have been in fault. I thank you, my dear girls, for your love and kindness, and hope you will forgive my faults as freely as I do yours. School is dismissed.”

       Instantly she was surrounded by all the girls and showered with kisses.

       “We have been very wicked,” said Marcia Lewis, “and it is not your fault at all.”

       Little Libbie Denny then related the whole story of the conspiracy, and when she told the part that Mary Paine had taken, Miss Capron put her arm about Mary, and kissing her, said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”

       “Well, my dears,” she added, “which was best, looking for frowns or for smiles?”

       “Oh, the smiles!” they all said together.

       “I wish you might learn a lesson from this, to remember all through your lives. Overlook the bad and seek for what is good in everybody; and so you will help to make both yourselves and others happier and better. What is the lesson, girls?”

       And each voice responded, “We will overlook the bad, and seek only for what is good in those around us.”

THE END

 ~~~~~

I love the quote, “Suppose for awhile you try to see what good qualities you can discover in her character.” Many times, it is easiest to look a person and notice their faults – the little things that bother and annoy us. We all have at least one person that we can find many negative things in their character. I want to challenge us to take Mary’s suggestion: “Suppose for awhile you try to see what good qualities you can discover in her character.” Sometimes it is hard to get out of our habit of fault-finding, so I suggest you pray as you begin to look for the good in others.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3)

Two Sides - Part One

This short story is by an unknown author, originally titled “A Story for School Girls,” taken from “The King’s Daughter and Other Stories,” published in 1910.

Even though it is about school girls, it holds a valuable lesson for any girl. I pray that as you read it, it will encourage you in your walk with the Lord.

                                             

~~~~~

       It was recess at Miss Capron’s school. The girls stood together in one large group, talking very earnestly.

       “I think it was a shame,” said Marcia Lewis, “for her to make me face the corner for an hour, just because I spoke half a dozen words to Nellie Jones.”

        “I think so, too,” chimed in a half a dozen other voices.

        “She delights in showing her authority,” said Lottie Barnes.

        "So she does, or she wouldn’t have kept Anna Mory and me on the recitation seat, for missing one or two questions in arithmetic.”

        “Don’t you think she is dreadfully cross? I guess if we should try to keep account of al her cross words and looks, we would have to be pretty busy.”

        “Wouldn’t that be a nice idea? Let us make a mark on our slates every time she is cross, and see what a long string of marks we shall get.”

        “Oh yes! Let’s do it! Yes! Yes!” chimed in a dozen voices in full chorus.

        Poor Miss Capron! With a sinking at her heart she saw the unloving looks in her scholar’s faces as they entered the schoolroom after this stormy consultation. She had a severe headache that afternoon, so that, altogether, she did not wear nearly so smiling a face as usual; and the girls, prejudiced as they were, found ample occasion for setting down their cross-marks.

        Pretty soon Lottie Barnes held up her slate to view, displaying a long row of marks. Anna Mory imitated her example; then Lottie Jones; and in less than two minutes the whole school followed suit. This, of course, called for a reprimand from Miss Capron; and then there was a terrible clicking of pencils. Soon Marcia Lewis dropped her slate on the floor, and next instant every slate was on the floor.

        “Girls, girl!” said Miss Capron sternly; “you seem to have banded yourselves together to trample on the rules of order. I shall proceed no further with recitations until you have become quiet and orderly.”

        But even this seemed to fail of producing the desired result. The girls were quiet only a few minutes. Nellie Jones remembered that she had in her pocket a bottle of snuff for her grandmother, and in ten minutes the schoolroom resounded with sneezes. Next. Little paper balls began to fly mysteriously from all sides, and every girl appeared intent upon her lesson. Presently, a half-suppressed titter from Marcia Lewis awakened an answering one from Mattie Lee, and one after another joined, until at length there was an almost deafening peal of laughter.

        “The very spirit of mischief seems to have made headquarters here this afternoon,” said Miss Capron. “It is useless to try to proceed with recitations, while my whole attention is needed to keep you in order. I will give you another recess of fifteen minutes, and if you do no succeed in getting rid of your excess of fun and frolic, I shall take very prompt and decisive measures to help you.”

        The girls felt some little twinges of conscience, but, after all, were quite delighted with the success of their experiment.

~~~~~

This seems such an awful part to end the story, but I promise it’s not finished yet! Come back tomorrow and read the rest!

Thinking about the way these girls were acting, do any Bible verses come to mind that they were violating?