As we continue to wrap up 2012, and bring 2013 into focus, this week's theme is VISION.  Psalm 119: 49-56 is one of my favorite passages to meditate on when my vision becomes dim, or patience is waning, or the path seems rough.  

The original Hebrew word for "word" in verse 49 is, "dabar" (Strongs 1697) and is used in the following manner(s):
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
    a) speech
    b) saying, utterance
    c) word, words
    d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

VISION must always be that thing, speech, word, business, matter, etc., in which God has spoken into your life.  The New Living Translation of the Bible calls it "promise."  When God has given us a Vision or Promise (something He has specifically spoken about or over us), then that thing must become what we center our focus upon, especially in times of temptation and difficulty.  It must be at the core of our daily efforts and plans; it keeps us from distractions and wrong decisions.  It must be the thing we remind ourselves of daily and seasonally; we reflect to keep track of progress and focus.  

VISION should not be something we just pull out of a magazine or steal from our neighbor's floor plan!  Vision must be GOD spoken, conceived, and breathed (see Genesis 1:26 & 2:7).  Neither can we take someone else's Vision or Promise and expect GOD to breathe into it!  

VISION is what renews our hope, and strengthens our resolve as changes come about and time continues to pass.  

When we are clear about the thing, matter, business God has spoken to us; when we have clearly understood His speech and words concerning our path; VISION becomes effortless, and our efforts become productive, because God's Hand works in concert with ours.  And if God is for us......yeah, you know the rest!!!

Where is your VISION???  THIS is your reminder to start the New Season off right: Write the VISION and make it plain! (Habakkuk 2:2)

Lets have a good old fashioned “talk” about how we women build the houses God has given us for OUR benefit and enjoyment, and HIS Glory and Kingdom!

Our Physical House - “Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ” ~1Cor. 6:19 (NLT)
Are we using wisdom in how we nourish, rest, and exercise our physical house? Is it strong and thriving or falling apart? How about how we adorn it? Is it glowing with Glory, or glitter? How and where are we investing our physical and emotional energy, which directly impacts our physical house?? Are we wisely appropriating our time, energy, food choices, outer adornment, and emotional resources; or, are we tearing our physical house down through poor choices in these areas?

Our Natural House - “Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.” ~Prov. 31:31 (NLT)
Can our natural deeds toward our home, husband, children, finances, business, ministry, and others bring us praise? Or do they bring us reproach? Is what our house is built upon reflecting peace, character, generosity, beauty, Love, and Faith? Or does it reflect, confusion, chaos, laziness, division, strife, and Self? Are we using wisdom to create a strong foundation for a praiseworthy natural environment; or, do we tear down our environment everywhere we go? Are we welcome in business, financial, and ministry endeavors...known to be an agent for growth and vision? Or does our participation incite division, poor strategies, and lack of vision and progress? Are we running our husband and children in the ground, or are we building them up so that their living return to praise us? Are we squandering our finances; or, are we carefully spending and/or investing our seed in good soil for a fruitful return?

Our Spiritual House - “For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.” ~2 Chron. 7:16 (NLT) *This is my favorite version of one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible!!!*
Our spiritual house has been chosen as the place where God has, in latter days, chosen to take up residence, place His name, and usher His will into the world! Do we daily, moment by moment take heed how we build our spiritual house? What foundation have we used, or have we built our own? Have we adopted a foundation other than the one that was already built? (See: 1Cor. 3:11) Are we building with precious stones and materials, or materials which can not stand in the day of judgment  (See 1Cor. 3:12-15);  or, even in earthly circumstantial testing? Are we using wisdom to build our spiritual house day by day, bringing forth more and more Glory to God; or, are we tearing down our spiritual house day by day by shaming the Name and Character of Jesus Christ who purchased us with a great price? Do the fruit of The Spirit flow through us in abundance? Or are the works of the flesh the fruit of our our daily living? Are we living in our own strength, power, and righteousness; or, is the brokenness and cross of Christ the source of our strength? How are we, spiritually speaking, representing the place where God has chosen to place His Name to be HONORED FOREVER???

The Bible says, “But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” ~Luke 7:35, and, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” ~Luke 8:16-17

Let us be intentional about how we build the houses God has blessed us with and given us charge over. It is impossible to say that we build with wisdom, when evidence speaks to the opposite. If our houses are strong and resilient, fruitful and faithful, a sweet aroma and beautiful character, especially when tested and opposed, then wisdom is shown to be at work! Let us build as Wise Women!   

Fortunately, most Christians may never have to suffer the way Christ suffered.  PRAISE GOD!!!  However, suffering is required to be named among the righteous.  There is no way around it; and, if we don't suffer for Him, we can never lay claim to reign with Him.

So where do we find all this suffering??  One thing that I have learned in my Grace walk with Christ is that the majority of American Christians will suffer in the flesh (see 1Pet. 4:1), primarily as a result of seeking to live a holy life, i.e. righteousness.  I have experienced great suffering in my body due to walking a life of sacrifice of the flesh, as opposed to a life of indulgence to the flesh.  When I lived as a fornicator (as a Believer), I suffered very little even in ADMITTING I was a fornicator.  Yeah there was that twinge of guilt, but nothing more.  I even went so far as to admit that I LIKED being a fornicator, and had no plans to change!  This was so easy, not because I wasn't a Believer (although some would make that argument. I was a Believer, just not a Christ-Follower, see: 1Pet. 2:21), but because the only person in my life challenging my lifestyle was my pastor during the preached Word of God!  Everyone else around me, including my Christian friends, was doing the same thing I was doing!!  So of course I had no discomfort in my sinful lifestyle.  

Yet, for the most part, fornication is viewed as a "sinner's" sin.  Will we suffer in the same manner concerning the "believer's" sins???  Do we indulge in and harbor : unforgiveness, bitterness, gossip, backbiting, strife, complaining, ungratefulness, division, self-righteousness, pride, criticism?  These are things that run rampant in the church, and take a great deal of personal flesh suffering in order to overcome.  BUT the suffering only starts when we recognize that our lives filled with these attributes are not only a shameful representation of our Savior, but also are a hindrance, hurt, and hypocrisy to every person we meet.  Suffering starts when we see our sin as God sees it.  The suffering starts when we read God's word as a mirror, and see the full scope of the sin in which we are indulging.  The full/true suffering comes when we begin to give up the pleasure received from these sins, and experience instead the pain that comes from not indulging them; refusing to participate.

The effort to reject what is considered "a natural part of life," is enormously painful.  The suffering that accompanies that effort, is what the Bible calls suffering for Christ's sake. The result of that suffering is called righteousness.  If you are not suffering for Christ and righteousness' sake, GET BUSY and start getting uncomfortable!!!  Refuse to participate!

Message us for more information about how you can tap into the Grace of God which empowers us to "refuse to participate."