Scriptures I am pondering......

this month. I am planning to with lots more effort this year memorize more Scripture. I was able to do that since november and in december I did, but not as many as I had hoped. It really has helped me when I am tempted to sin to recall Scripture. So I thought I would send these your way to encouragement you. When I am tempted to grumble I remember these verses from Philippians 1:14-18,

" Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the Word of life, so that in the day of Christ you may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should rejoice in me."

We should do all to the glory of God and without questioning!! That is so hard! And without grumbling when things are not going our way, we are to submit to the Lords will.
But even more importantly when we have to do something that we don't like will we submit to God. God wants us to do it, then we should even though our flesh says no. Ladies I urge you to do things that are really only done with Gods strength and not our own. Remember we are not our own, we are Gods temple and we are redeemed by His blood, therefore we are not our own. So remember next time you want to grumble, as I really need to remember also, do it with a joyful Spirit of the Lord.


Another set of verses from 1 peter that has really helped me when I am tempted to be vain and want to go and see myself in the mirror to assure myself I am just right( hair, clothing, etc.) is  1 Peter 3:3-6.

" Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold , or the putting on of clothing-but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

Now yes I know you have heard that verse a billion times, but we are commanded to be beautiful by an imperishable beauty that only comes from a love for the Savior and Creator of the Universe! That is an amazing and beautiful gift of a gentle and quiet spirit in the Lord. Only the Holy Spirit can give us that demeanor and attitude. I pray daily to be able to have a Spirit of the Lord. Now this does not mean we must not talk or laugh out loud. It means we know when to say something and when not to say something. We encourage others by our speech and don't put them down. This means we gentle, which does not mean we flit around and can't be strong too. We are gentle with our words and actions, remembering that we are to treat others as Christ treated us, with compassion and mercy. So this is my interpretation of that very familiar Scripture. The Lord has shown me this over the past 10 years since He drew me to himself. Praise God for His Holy Spirit to show us his way through His Word!

So next time you are tempted in an area to complain remember we are not to grumble, but be joyful doing the Lords work! That is so hard for me most of the time, but the Lord has put it on my heart to try to be better at that. So I thought I would share that with you all. Also remember next time you are proud of your nicely put together outfit, with the perfect shoes, hair, and jewelry to remember that your demeanor and gentle and quiet spirit in the Lord is even more beautiful.

In Christ,
Rebecca