As I’ve been slowly reading through the Word this year, I’ve been sort of [...]]]> Though I have a number of very favourite or treasured verses I continually recall, there are a few that give me great encouragement and great hope.  Some I have copied and posted in my home, some I have highlighted or underlined and some I have recorded alongside God’s work or answers to prayer, continued petitions, blessings and other heartfelt matters written  in journals.

As I’ve been slowly reading through the Word this year, I’ve been sort of surprised at the number of verses I’ve underlined or highlighted.   I’ve been continually blessed and encouraged  by dated notes beside significant verses or passages.  Some dates or notes point to events I’ve forgotten — others remind me afresh of the great goodness of the Lord.  Still others remind me of the great faithfulness of the Lord.

And so, it is these two things that have prompted this writing today: The Goodness and Faithfulness of the Lord.  Sort of hand in hand with the verse in Philippians 4.8 that says: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

God’s Goodness and God’s Faithfulness

Then they that feared the LORD
spake often one to another:
and the LORD hearkened, and heard it,
and a book of remembrance was written before him
for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
—Malachi 3.16

And we do need to be reminded to think on these things, don’t we!?!  For if we don’t determine to think on these things, we tend to think on things that are not true, things that are not honest, things that are not just, things that are not pure, things that are not lovely, things that are not of good report… we tend to drift from virtue and forget praise… we tend not to think on these things.

We must be daily in the Word, we must be daily in prayer, daily in praise and thanksgiving…

That verse in Malachi that I quoted above has particular significance for us — for it is packed with information, admonition, instruction and edification!   As you read it and reread it, you will see it, too.  There are so many things to take away from this verse!  Fear the Lord.  Speak often to one another about Him.  He will listen! He will hear!  He will inspire the writing of His dealings… and it will be for those who fear Him — those who love Him and think on Him.

Your life is a marvelous opportunity!  Your life is a blessing!

So, I’d like to admonish you (or encourage you, at least) to write!  Write what He has done for you.  Write what He has done in you.  Write what He has done through you.  Write what He has done in answer to prayer.  Write a book of remembrance…  let it take time… let it take the rest of your life… but start writing a book of remembrance.  Share your stories with others!

Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, count your many blessings: see what God has done.

As we have “spell-check” to alert us to misspelled words – or a grammar-check to alert us of grammar mistakes, this verse serves a divine speech-check — except that we never get a second chance to say the right thing first.  This verse then would be our speech-filter verse.  The word spoken is spoken – no highlight, delete, re-speak… [...]]]> “She openeth her mouth with wisdom;
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”
proverbs 31.26

As we have “spell-check” to alert us to misspelled words – or a grammar-check to alert us of grammar mistakes, this verse serves a divine speech-check — except that we never get a second chance to say the right thing first.  This verse then would be our speech-filter verse.  The word spoken is spoken – no highlight, delete, re-speak… what’s said is said.   We might tend to say the first thing that comes to our mind — and may not stop and give attention to whether it’s wise or kind.   So then, as we carry on through the day or when we have opportunity to teach or share a thought — we might test our comments by filtering them through this verse.

O, how our lives need filtering.   The filter could be described as the continually abiding life.  This filter might be reveling: am I abiding in Christ? Is what I am thinking and/or saying from the Lord?  This filter is sort of a product of the engrafted Word — learning and continually gaining more understanding from the Bible; having our life committed and yielded to the will, the way and the leading of the Lord by the Holy Spirit.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence;
for out of it are the issues of life.”
–proverbs 4.23

I cannot count the number of times I’ve said things — and then said or thought:  O, I shouldn’t have said that!  Or, I can’t believe I said that!  More and more I am seeing that the things I/we say are not from nothing — they come from somewhere.  Has this thought come from a yielded heart, a content life — for encouragement or edification — or is this word or thought borne of bitterness, pride or some other selfish thing?  More succinctly, is this of the Lord or of the enemy?  Ouch.

Second chances we might receive to say the right thing might not come right away — if at all.  We usually know –instantly– that we’ve said the wrong thing or that we spoken in haste or anger or foolishness.   But sometimes we say things we honestly have no idea that the words came across as angry, critical or judgmental.   I am coming to see more and more that humility and forgiveness go a long way — for retrieving  a misspoken word is not like autocorrect for misspelled word.

“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt,
that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
— colossians 4.6

I’m again reminded to use a double filter when speaking:  Is this comment wise?  Is this comment kind?  This double filter would sure prevent many misunderstandings, hurt feelings, rude or inconsiderate comments.   Problem is, we often have hurt feelings over what someone’s said to us — but we tend to forget we ourselves are just as guilty of speaking without grace or speaking without charity.  I am so often reminded of this as I think on past offenses or wonder why someone has said this or that hurtful thing.  And I have to again filter it — and it’s a decision to do so — only this time, I must filter it through the filter of love: love bears, believes, hopes and endures all things.  (1 Corinthians 13.7)    I think that it’s in the remembering of this that much ground is spared in maintaining and for mending relationships and friendships.

Sweet speech, loving kindness and graciousness are always a blessing — speaking otherwise always destroys.  Time and time again I am having this matter tested in my life — and continually I am learning more need for refraining, rephrasing answers, rewording comments, reworking thoughts and speech.  All of the different humbling experiences have been truly for my good — and I’m thankful to have the blessing of correction and second chances.  Proverbs 31.26 is a wonderful speech filter.

“Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:
for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
– 1 peter 5.5

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” —John 14.15

O, sisters in the LORD—could this be *the* year for you?

This is when the real change will occur… when we finally seek to know and to live the truths of God’s Word…when we lay our lives at His feet, when we give Him everything we’ve held on to: hands down… when we accept and apply the teaching of [...]]]>

Could This Be *The* Year For You?

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”
—John 14.15

O, sisters in the LORD—could this be *the* year for you?

This is when the real change will occur… when we finally seek to know and to live the truths of God’s Word…when we lay our lives at His feet, when we give Him everything we’ve held on to: hands down… when we accept and apply the teaching of the Lord Jesus—demonstrating our love for Him by our obedience to Him…  When we finally reckon with: If you love Me you will obey Me.

Could this be the year that you really get down on your knees and confess before the only Holy and Righteous LORD, who loves you endlessly, that you’ve been trying to “go it on your own” and that you are indeed willing that He would use you in whatever way He would choose and that, the Holy Spirit being your guide, you would willingly submit to His will and His ways?  Could this be the year that you allow the Holy Spirit free reign in your life?  Could this be the year that you would seriously begin to regularly rise early to drink from the rich well of God’s Word? Could this be the year that you would resolve to live in obedience to your husband—not because of what you will gain, but because of the LORD’s command that you do so? Could this be the year that you would cherish the blessings of the LORD: your children?

Could this be the year that you would redeem the time, that you would study the Word for yourself—that you would become a woman of the Word, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Could this be the year that you would wisely choose the activities in which you would become involved, making sure that they are in line with your husband’s aims for your family, that they are Christ centered and Christ honouring?

Could this be the year that you would weigh very carefully the books you read, the places you might go and the decisions you might make? Could this be the year that you begin consulting your husband before you begin new projects, from attending a Bible study to following the leader of a weight control program, ordering from a catalog, accepting an invitation to another home-party, or taking on another women’s ministry?

Could this be the year that you come home—I mean really come home—to serve your husband? Could this be the year that you daily anticipate and prepare for the return of your husband each day? Could this be the year that you take up those tender things and tender ways you used to do and be for your husband? Could this be the year that you “fall in love all over again” with the man the LORD created
and “fitted” you to help? Could this be the year that your husband will never forget?  Could this be the year that you look forward to meeting his needs? Could this be a year of fresh loving romance for you two? Could this be the year that you anticipate meeting his needs by getting enough rest, ordering the evenings, eating properly and exercising so that you are refreshed for him?  (“Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.  Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.” -Proverbs 5.18-19)

O, if your love for your husband has decreased, if your desire for him has gone… pray the LORD will help you delight in him once again, pray He will love your husband through you and that you will once again desire him.  God is a God of miracles, nothing is too hard for the LORD.  (Jeremiah 32.27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”)

Could this be the year that you would determine to be a contented wife, I mean really contented—content with him, his salary, your home, your  automobile, your possessions? (Hebrews 13.5) I have heard many many times, there is nothing that pleases a man more than a contented wife… he can deal with a little clutter from time to time, he can deal with a little overweight, he can deal with delayed dinner, a forgotten appointment—but a discontented wife closes off the spirit of the man and drives him away.

Could this be the year that you come home—I mean really come home—as a servant to your family?  Could this be the year that they know without doubt that you love them and *desire* to serve them, teach them, help them, prepare a home for them, are not inconvenienced by them, are not tired of them, are not waiting for them to hurry up and grow up so that you can get on with your life?  If you’re a mama… this *is* your life.  Could this be the year that you will *enjoy* what God has designed for you?  (“He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.”—Psalms 113.9)  O, if your gladness or desire has waned, pray the LORD will restore your love for the children… pray that He will help you see them as He sees them—as blessings. He loves children… and He will help you love them… (Genesis 18.14 “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?…”)  You can trust Him to help you love them the way He wants you to love them and care for them as He would have you to care for them.  He can restore your love for them — for motherhood and for your home.

You know, my sweet sisters in the LORD… this could be *the year* for each one of us. This could be the year that we all come home… and *do* those things we know that the LORD has directed in His Holy Word.

2Timothy 3.14-17
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Could this be the year of obedience—regardless of what others say or think or do?

Once again the Lord Jesus said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” —John 14.15

As we embark on another year,  I pray that you would join me in seeking all the above — that you would join me in truly seeking to be an obedient woman, keeping the commandments of the Lord Jesus, following Him, delighting also in Him: earnestly seeking Him.

With love to you, In Jesus—pamela spurling

Reprint… originally written in 2000, revised 2006 Letters to my Sisters

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the value of a life, the influence of a life, the consequence of a life, the purpose of a life, and the final testimony of a life.  As I have been studying for a Titus2 meeting I’ve been mulling over this month’s topic (from 2 Peter and the list of character qualities) and this month’s topic is charity.  We know from 1 Corinthians 13 that without this — without charity, [...]]]> At its very best.

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the value of a life, the influence of a life, the consequence of a life, the purpose of a life, and the final testimony of a life.  As I have been studying for a Titus2 meeting I’ve been mulling over this month’s topic (from 2 Peter and the list of character qualities) and this month’s topic is charity.  We know from 1 Corinthians 13 that without this — without charity, we are nothing.

So one of the questions that continues to be before me is this:  what is my motivation for ________?  (filling that space with whatever’s before me. I ask myself this question — and want to be more and more mindful of this question when I do this or that thing, think this or that thought, say this or that word — share this or that story.   What is the motivation for doing this activity?  Am I motivated by love or is it some other motivation?  Is my action, word, thought, etc., motivated by love or selfish ambition?  Love or personal gain?  Love or retaliation?  Love or fear?  Love or manipulation?  Love or deceit?

When I stop and ask myself this question or these questions, I am challenged to do what’s right… challenged to be honourable.  When love is the motivation for doing, saying or thinking a particular thing, then I/we desire to do it, say it, think it as the Lord Jesus would have us to do it, say it, think it.  This sort of bearing, believing, hoping all things sort of love is a strong motivator to be — and seek to become more — gracious.

So then, I have come to this conclusion:
This is life at its very best:
Graciously doing, at any given moment, what needs to be done..

From Webster’s 1828 Dictionary: GRA’CIOUS, a. [L. gratiosus.]

Thou are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful.
Nehemiah 9

All bore him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded from his mouth.
Luke 4

This, from our website…

More Information here. Letters To My Sisters will be much like The Welcome Home messages I used to send to subscribers.

And as for our friend’s wedding… well, it was so beautiful… more on that later! This morning found us sort of dragging and [...]]]> I’m happy to share that the list service that helped me with The Welcome Home messages in the past will also be helping me with the new: Letters To My Sisters email letter subscriptions.

This, from our website…

More Information here.
Letters To My Sisters will be much like The Welcome Home
messages I used to send to subscribers.

And as for our friend’s wedding… well, it was so beautiful… more on that later! This morning found us sort of dragging and slow. After the mountain of table linens and towels is conquered, I’ll post a note and some pictures. I’m grateful for the many who prayed us through the week, through the baking, through the storm and electrical outage… and then for all who helped us with the wedding and reception. God is so faithful and careful with us – each one.

Dear Sisters Are you feeling alone and in need of inspiration for the task the LORD has given you as a wife, mother and handmaiden of the LORD? Are you in a place that seems difficult, without mentors or encouragement for the narrow path ahead? Perhaps you are what might be called a “first generation Christian” and perhaps you’ve had few role models or godly examples of just how to be a loving mother, [...]]]>