Devotionals | Above Rubies South Africa | Linnie and CJ Lues

It's My Body!

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 21:07:07 +0200

I can choose what I want to do with it...

And abortion is legal...

But What is Legal Isn't Necessarily Right!

Apartheid was legal but it wasn't morally right. Slavery was legal but it wasn't morally right. Slavery in centuries past and abortions in this century were defended and promoted by the same arguments. Consider a case in the USA: In 1857, the US Supreme Court decided, that according to the US Constitution: "black people were not legal persons. They were the property of the owner. He could buy, or sell, or even kill them." Those who supported slavery argued that no one was forcing those who had moral objection to slavery, to own slaves. But they said: "Don't force your morality on the slave owner. He has the right to choose to own slaves if he wishes."

Just over one hundred years later, in 1973, the US Supreme Court decided that unborn people were not legal persons. They had no civil rights, no human rights and were therefore, legally the property of the owner (the mother). She had the absolute legal right to keep or to destroy her unborn baby. The pro-abortionists say: "No one is forcing you to have an abortion. But don't force your morality on the mother. She has a right to choose to kill her developing baby if she wishes."

The Shabbat Meal

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 21:03:30 +0200

Isaiah 58:13, "Call the Sabbath a DELIGHT."

Years ago I read a book of the history of the Jews. In this book, a Jewish man stated that the whole of the week revolved around Shabbat. They would start anticipating it during the middle of the week leading up to it, and then ponder on the joy of it for the next few days until it was time to lead up to it again. When I first read that, I thought it was rather "over the top"! However, now that we celebrate the Shabbat meal ourselves, it has become my own experience.

I believe the Shabbat meal is the glue that has held Jewish families together for centuries. We would do well to emulate it. Why is it so significant? It is not only a meal where you bring out your best china and silver ware and prepare a special meal, but where blessings fall upon the family. Let me tell you what we do for our Shabbat meal. You can take what you feel would fit into your family. If it does not suit you to do it Friday evening, you could celebrate it on Saturday evening as you lead into your day of worship on Sunday.

The Day of Preparation

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 21:02:02 +0200

Mark 15:42, "This all happened on Friday, the day of Preparation, the day before the Sabbath."

Did you know that there is actually a day that is called the day of Preparation? Most versions of the Bible translate Preparation with a capital P. It is a significant day. An important day.

The day of Preparation is the day before the Sabbath, the rest day. In the very beginning of time, God established the principle of a day of rest. It is His gift to us. But, as with many of God's gifts, we often do not realize their importance, or even their blessing. I have to confess, especially being a workaholic, that although I have always known the principle of the day of rest, I have not always been successful in doing it.

How do you have a day of rest? There's still so much to do. The meals have to be cooked. The house has to be cleaned. This and that has to be done. But God never tells us to do something without giving us a way of doing it. Here it is:

You cannot enjoy a day of rest,

unless you have a day of Preparation the day before!

Feminine Power

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:59:50 +0200

Part 1

Genesis 3:17 RSV, "And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you."

I wonder if you are aware of the influence you wield over your husband--for good or for bad. We have feminine power and charms that can subtly turn the hearts of our men.

Satan knows this and he makes the most of it! He used this knowledge to tempt the man in the very beginning. Satan knew that if he was to tempt Adam first, that Adam would have stood up for truth and told the serpent to get off! It was a different matter with Eve. She was more easily persuaded, but more than that, the serpent knew that she had the power to sway her husband.

Basically men want to please their wives. They want to make them happy, because that makes them happy. Just as women have a weakness to deception; men have a tendency to be influenced by their wives. This may not be obvious in their initial reactions and response to what we say, but in the end, our words and influence can determine their behaviour and course of action. We can build up our marriage or we can destroy it. We hold this power. It is in our hands. No wonder Proverbs 14:1 says, "Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands."

Dressed for the Job

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:59:02 +0200

Luke 12:34 NIV, "Be dressed ready for service..."

What do you do when you get out of bed in the morning? Do you get dressed, or wander around in your robe or dressing gown?

I believe that what you do depends on your understanding of the task you have at hand. If you think your career of mothering and homemaking is insignificant, you may not be motivated to get dressed immediately. However, if you understand that you have the most important career in the nation, you will get dressed for the job. You will be up and ready to report to your Heavenly Employer.

Does your husband ever go to work in his pajamas? What an embarrassment that would be! Does a business woman go to her office in her nightgown? Laughable! But what do you do? How do you go to your work?

You have a greater work that is waiting you as soon as you get out of bed. It is your anointed, influential and eternal career of motherhood. You are employed by God, yes, Almighty God Himself, to keep your home and raise the children He has given you to be mighty in His kingdom. This is no mean task. Nor is it part-time work. It is as important as a politician. You are determining the destiny of the nation. But it does not happen automatically. It takes work! It takes work to run a home smoothly and keep it in order. It takes work to teach and raise children to become well-rounded, confident and godly adults.

A Prickly Pear

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:56:37 +0200

Song of Songs 2:2, "As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters."

What a beautiful description of the bride of Christ. In the previous verse Christ is described as the Lily of the Valleys and now she is described as the lily. What Christ is, we are to be in this world as the Scripture tells us in 1 John 4:17.

What do you think of when you think of a lily? I think of...

1. PURE AND SPOTLESS. I am sure your mind immediately thinks of the white Madonna lily with which we are so familiar and yet which also grew in Israel. This beautiful flower has been an emblem of purity for thousands of years. This is the picture of the bride of Christ in this sinful world.

2. HUMBLE. Our Bridegroom is called the Lily of the valleys. Where He is we will be too. The lily does not grow on the heights but in the fertile valleys. The true believer is not high-minded and proud, but has a humble spirit.

3. BEAUTILFUL. Jesus said that even King Solomon, the richest king in all his glory, could not compete with the beautiful lily.

Top 10 Time Wasters for Women

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:52:48 +0200

Written by Nancy Campbell

The Telephone.

You can waste hours of time talking and gossiping on the telephone. Not only is it time-wasted, but this is usually when your children get into trouble, or be naughty because they realize the phone has taken mother’s attention away from them.

The TV.

I would rather live life than watch it! Teach your children to ‘live’ life, rather than watch it go by. Remember that the day is for work, the evening is for relaxation. A good rule for your home is to never turn the TV on during the day. (It’s still a time-waster in the evening too!)

Reading novels when there is work to be done.

Don’t be tempted to read a novel during the hours of the night, only to wake up too tired to cope with your children during the day.

Self-Pity and Worry.

Thinking about yourself is a deadly time-waster. You can’t adequately nurture your children or bless others while you use all your emotional energy on yourself.

Lack of organization.

If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it. It is important to have long-range goals, and a goal for each day.

Left to Cry

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:51:25 +0200

My story begins in the spring of 1966. My mother and father conceived me out of wedlock in their early twenties. Their identity and the facts surrounding life prior to my entrance to this world are unknown. I was born in a hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and soon after birth I was sent to the Rock-a-Bye House to await adoption. Six weeks passed and Albert and Phyllis League adopted me. Mom and Dad had already adopted two boys - I was number three. They had a very special gift for loving children and overflowed with love. When I was four years they adopted my sister, Becki.

We spent most of our lives on a horse farm in Maryland. I met Jesus when I was 11 years and one of the first scriptures I learned was, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). I always loved school and worked hard to be the best at everything. I experienced many stomachaches and worried much. I remember having nightmares and spending most nights curled up in a ball sobbing. Sometimes I would say, "Jesus, please don't leave me."

MOANHOOD OR MOTHERHOOD?

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:23:37 +0200

“Who can find a virtuous woman

for her price is far above rubies.”

Proverbs 31:10

I am often drawn to this text as I pray for God to mold me into the woman He desires me to be, no matter how much against the stream of normalcy it seems.

My Interlinear Bible, which is translated directly from the Hebrew, inspires me when I read, “Who can find an able woman? For her value is far above jewels.” The word “able” hit me with a giant thud. I wasn’t as pricked by the word “virtuous” as virtues seem to abound in the feminine sex! I’m only being slightly sarcastic! But “able”! “Able”?

As mothers and wives we often spend wasted brain space mulling over just the opposite. Do these words sound familiar? “I can’t do it anymore!” “I don’t have the energy!” “I’m drained! I have nothing more to give.” “I’m too tired! I’m completely exhausted and wasted. I can’t do one more thing!” We talk ourselves out of any last vestige of energy, and by the power of our minds we feel even more tired than we really are!

A CROWNING JEWEL!

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:21:36 +0200

Where do you fit with your husband? You may have read the famous quote of Matthew Henry on the creation of the woman, "The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam, not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved."

The Word of God also tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:7 that the "woman is the glory of the man." As the glory of the man, she is also a crown to honor her husband.

Proverbs 12:4 says, "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones." I love the Amplified version which says, "A virtuous and worthy wife – earnest and strong in character – is a crowning joy to her husband."

Isn’t it interesting that God says a virtuous woman is a crown? She is not to be trodden underfoot. She is not to be looked down upon. She is not inferior. She is a crown. A crown is worn upon the head. A crown is something that is dazzlingly beautiful. It is usually made of gold and ornamented with precious gems. It is a token of honor.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:17:23 +0200

Recently I was reading a booklet entitled, “Train Up A Child” by Doug Duncan. He tells the story of a New Zealand sheep farmer who diversified into raising goats. This farmer noticed a difference in the way the sheep and goat mothered their young. The ewes would stay in close proximity to their lambs, always ready to protect. The goats, however, would invariably herd their young together into one spot on a knoll and leave them while they went off to forage for the day.

I checked this out with my father. Considering he has been a world champion sheep shearer and shorn well over a million sheep in his lifetime, I thought he would know a bit about sheep! He confirmed that ewes will never wander away any further than earshot form their lambs.

As I thought about this, I wondered if this is the reason we now call our children ‘kids’. Is it because we have become a society of ‘goat mothers’, who are quite prepared to leave our little ones and go off for the day? Of course, you’ll remember how often God talks about separating the sheep from the goats!

HOME DESTROYERS

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 18:50:00 +0200

1 Timothy 6:8, "Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content."

Reading through Proverbs recently I noticed that it mentions five things that destroy the home. I prefer not to write about negative things, but, on the other hand, we can't wipe any of God's Word under the mat. And God's negatives always turn to positives. When we read His warning signs which mean, ROAD BLOCK, WRONG WAY-GO BACK or DEAD END we know that it is not the road to take, even though it looks beautiful and such an easy road. We must swerve back on the road God has planned for us from the beginning of time. God has never changed his plans. His ways are still the only ones that work effectively. Jeremiah 6:16 says, "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

Let's look at some of these WRONG WAY signs.

1. GREEDINESS

Proverbs 15:27, "He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house."

No wonder one of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house... thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife... nor any thing that is thy neighbor's." (Exodus 20: 17) When we see friends with things that we don't have it is easy to hanker after them too. Most people like to be like everyone else and have everything that their associates have.