Beautiful Piggies

Proverbs 11:22

A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

I came across this verse during my quiet time today. I don't know if I've ever read that before, or if I did, perhaps it just never struck me as it did today.

Think about that....what a WASTE to put an expensive gold ring in the nose of a pig who will go around grubbing with it's nose (and therefore, that ring). Nobody will want the ring, perhaps nobody would even recognize it as gold because of it's filth! Really, when you think about it, it's kinda gross.

So, then.....a beautiful woman without any discretion.....she is just like that pig! What a waste! It doesn't make sense! What good is her outer beauty if the inside is still lacking discretion?

Discretion is: "the quality of being discreet, esp. with reference to one's own actions or speech; prudence or decorum: Throwing all discretion to the winds, he blurted out the truth." "Synonyms : judgment, wisdom, discrimination, sense."

Which then made me realize that, just as we pray for Wisdom, we should pray too, for discretion. What a gift! Beauty AND discretion!

Titus 2:5 ,speaking to older women teaching younger woman, says, "...that they may make the young women sober-minded, to be lovers of [their] husbands, lovers of [their] children, sober, pure, keepers of [their own] houses, good, subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be evil spoken of. "

There's a purpose for having discretion, did you catch it? "...that the word of God may not be evil spoken of."

I don't want to add more here, just giving you something to ponder.
Remember, I enjoy hearing back on what you think of this stuff. Am I on track? Am I outta my head? Let me know!

A peek at The Miracle

Well, I have to say, I was so scared when DH first mentioned that he was going to be working on heart issues (his own). I thought, "There is no way I can dig into all the hurts and dreams that I've hidden away." I remember at first he was kind of frustrated with me because I was less than enthusiastic to talk through things with him. Then one night, we were emailing back and forth (our archaic method of IM) and I was just getting more scared and sad and such and was wishing he would just call me on the phone....and he DID! He realized I was struggling and so he called me. We talked and I told him how scared I was to drag up all that stuff, that I was afraid to hurt anymore. And rather than brushing it off or blaming me, he just said, "I know, and I am sorry and I hope some day you can forgive me for the way I have been." It was 11:30 his time when he called me and he had walked back to his room to call me. Well, when we hung up, I just layed on the floor and cried my heart out to God, layed out my fears and all. I gave it all up to Him and promised to walk this road out with the Father, trusting Him in order to trust DH. Well, while I was laying there crying and praying, my Hubby walked all the way back to the computer lab (at MIDNIGHT!!) to email me and again apologize and ask forgiveness and tell me that he was praying for me! I didn't realize until just a few days ago, but that was the moment I truly gave my heart to my Husband (I had taken it back because of the hurts). And the next day I felt so light and wonderful! It was amazing! I'm telling you, I have become a different woman since then!! It's still been hard at times....we had to face stuff from our past and acknowledge that it was a lie (for example, I had a VERY poor self image because of stuff in my childhood and thought myself unlovely.....to combat this lie DAILY, DH calls me his Beautiful, or Gorgeous, etc.) I am telling you, this is God....there is NO way that we could do this on our own. I had been praying for such a long time for true love for us, but I NEVER ever imagined it would be like this. We are so in love, it feels incredible! We spend hours chatting at the beginning and end of every day (his morning is my night). I could go on and on because it is truly the most incredible thing imagineable. It is a modern day miracle!

'Nuff said for now....I KNOW I'll have so much more to say!

Little Boys

Well, since I caught the Pink Princess being a lady, I figured I should give due time to little boys being the man. So here is Little D filling in for his Daddy on the yard work! I think it is so neat that our children want to emulate us. BIG responsibility though! Little eyes always watching. Reminds me of my need to pray for wisdom and grace in this "business" of child raising!

Little Girls

My little girl found my wedding dress and has been having the time of her life dancing around in it! Fa-la-la!! We talked about weddings and she was so excited when I told her that she would get a special dance just her and her Daddy. I am so thankful that she is happy with who God made her to be!!

Whole-Hearted Worship

Well, now that I've finally gotten back into my quiet time and reading my study on Women of the Bible, here's a neat thing I'm seeing this week. The "woman of the week" is Michal, Saul's daughter and David's wife.

1 Samuel 18:20 Now Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.

1 Samuel 18:27 David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.

Interlude of many years where they are separated, Michal becomes the wife of another man, and then David becomes king and demands her back...

2 Samuel 6:16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

2 Samuel 6:20-23 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!"
21 David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."
23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.


Is this the same woman? What's going on? Wow! Yes, it is the same woman. She loved David when they married, she wanted David, and she saved David's life (from her father, Saul). Then they are separated and all we hear is that Saul gives her to another man. When David finally does come back for her, she is not happy and thankful about it, but appears to have become a bitter woman (and who really knows why, perhaps she was mad that David took so long, or perhaps she loved her new husband, or perhaps she was just tired of being a pawn for all these men, who knows...)

So, David brings the ark of the Lord back.....pretty exciting time for Israel. David knows this is a miracle of God, a blessing to Israel, and he openly worships God with wild abandon.....all else is forgotten as he dances and praises in the presence of his loving Abba

And Michal looks out the window and what does she see....she sees her man making a fool of himself (that's what SHE sees). Why wasn't she down there rejoicing with him, why wasn't she sitting at the window, at least, and praising God in her own way......no, she did none of that. She looked with scorn at her husband. She looked with bitter eyes rather than eyes of love, she judged her husband according to her own bitter heart. And she suffered for it.....no children, no legacy. Ouch!

Who are you? Are you David, worshipping with pure delight and wild abandon before God? Or are you Michal, looking with scorn on those who have a truly intimate relationship with the Father, and pouring out that bitterness on others?

Father God, I pray for a pure heart, eyes that see only You. Abba, You alone are my heart's desire, may my life be an expression of my love for You!

Dry Spell

Well, I've had a dry spell in writing lately. And I do know why...I haven't been spending a lot of time with the Author and Creator of Life! Yup, and just like a flower without water, I begin to wither when I don't have that daily sustenance! Let that be a lesson to me (and you)....I need it!! And I'm not talking about quick "snacking" on the Word, I need to be feasting, maybe I could even say gorging on the Word. I need it, I crave it, and it is one addiction that is VERY good for you....there is never a bad return on THAT investment, guaranteed!!

Back home again

Well, after a week's stay tending to my sister and her family, we made the trek back to our own home. Prayers are still needed for little sis; her arm is out of a cast, but it is still broken (called a "stable break") and stiff and painful. She has several good neighbors up there though, and I think they'll be watching out for her.

As to getting home....wow, it's nice to be back in familiar territory, though I thoroughly enjoyed my time with sis and her family. There's just something about your own space, ya know?

Well, I haven't talked much on the marriage relationship lately, and for good reason...I am stunned! God has begun a HUGE miracle in our marriage. I don't think I could put it into words even if I really wanted to (I'm enjoying savoring it with my sweet hubby!) When I first realized it was happening, I was so scared of the pain and hurt that would be dug up and exposed. However, I also knew that dh was praying for me and this was definitely the direction God has for us right now. So, through tears of release, I jumped into this "thing" (trust me, there is NO word to describe it) and am amazed, in awe, shocked beyond belief. And the best part, I am falling madly and desperately in love with my sweet man...and that is truly a gift from God. And better yet, my man is falling deeply and passionately in love with me...that is the most incredible gift I think I could ever receive and I know that can only be coming from the hand of our very gracious God. To Him alone will be all the glory that this marriage will shine forth.

How's that for tantalizing tidbit....sorry I can't say more, I really just am unable to. When and if God wills it, I will certainly share it with you as an encouragement of God's sovereignity!!!!

I'm away from my desk

Hello! If you are a regular reader here, I am sorry there hasn't been many posts lately. I am currently in Idaho tending my youngest sister and her family as she fell and broke her elbow last Sunday. I'm thankful that I'm able to come and do this for her.

At lunchtime today, Lil' Sis was talking on the phone and mentioned that I was here. She was saying how great it was that I would come and do this, and that she felt kinda bad but was also very thankful...you know, all that nice stuff. My children were sitting at the bar, eating sandwiches and just kind of looking at me to see what I thought. What a great learning moment! I leaned over and reminded them how neat it was to have family to help when we're in a tight spot.

My sister and I haven't always seen eye-to-eye, but in the grand scheme of things, that doesn't matter. What matters is that God made us family, and we're to care for one another. Yes, this time it is me helping out her, but I'm sure that if need be, I too, will be helped in time of need. Pretty cool! I love having family.....they kinda haveta like ya, you know?