Guest Post: Christine Alfaro ~ "Prayer in Action"

Christine is my Dear Sister in the Lord. We met at our marriage ministry bible study and found out we share the same anniversary, August, 8th. (I married my husband Ray on 08/08/08 and she married Octavio on 08/08/09, Yes, we are both newlyweds) Another thing we have in common is that we both like to blog. I have been taking some time away from blogging recently while I'm in the process of starting a Social Media Managing business, it has taken up a lot of my time as I'm still doing the 9 to 5. Lord willing, one day I will have the opportunity to just work from home. So, please keep that in prayer for me. Friends, I have invited Christine to share what the Lord has put in heart and I hope you will be as blessed and encouraged as I was.


                                             PRAYER IN ACTION

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  ~ Phil. 4:6-7


I’ve seen prayer in action. I’ve been blessed by prayer and even more blessed to pray for others. God is always awake and ready to listen.

One of my biggest jobs as a wife is to pray for my husband. My intercession can help in our relationship, it can help him to cast out fear of failure, negative thoughts, and bind the enemy back who seeks to destroy my husband and my marriage.

God tells us in Philippians 4:6a “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” This literally means to tell God everything. Discuss everything with Him. He is the only one who can help you and He longs for you to ask. If your husband is struggling at work or with the kids, then you're struggling too. Lift him up to the Lord and watch Him heal.

The next part of the same verse is Philippians 4:6b-7 “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Anything your heart is stressing about will come to peace when set before God. Not everything we ask for will be granted, for God knows what is good for us and what isn’t, but He promises to set your heart at peace. Prayer not only lifts up those we love, but more importantly aligns our heart with God’s will. I’ve prayed and had some amazing things happen. The most amazing has been how God uses it to change my heart.

I challenge you, whether you are in a good marriage or one on the edge of divorce, start to pray fervently (with all knowledge that you will receive an answer) and see what happens. God has joined you as one with your husband. When you pray for blessing in your marriage God is faithful to respond. If you’ve never prayed before, just simply talk to the Lord as you would a friend, tell Him everything even though He already knows. Pour your heart out to God and He will pour His heart into your life.

To read Christine's Blogs go to
http://christinealfaro.blogspot.com/

Building up or Tearing down?

"Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land." ~ Prov. 31:23

At the top of every man's list of needs is "Respect".  A man desires to be respected by everyone including his wife. It is no coincidence that in Ephesians 5:33, God calls wives to respect their husbands. 

Did you know that you have the ability to lift up or tear down your husband?  Yes, our actions and our words have so much power and influence. Many of us are more verbal than our husbands. Well, at least, I know I am,  because I always have a lot to say about anything and everything. Sometimes we can challenge our husband's decision making or make them doubt their leadership skills. Submitting to and encouraging our husbands to be leaders can be very challenging but it is possible if we spend more time listening and less time talking.
"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." ~ James 1:19-20

E.V. Hill served for many years as a Pastor at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. When E.V. first began in the ministry, he was a hard worker who wanted to provide for his wife, but he was also a young preacher who struggled to make enough money just to pay for the necessities.

Pastor Hill’s wife appreciated his efforts to protect and provide for her, even though some months there wasn’t enough money to pay all the bills. One night, he came home and noticed immediately that the house was dark. When he opened the door, he saw that his wife, Jane, had prepared a candlelight dinner. He loved the idea, but when he went to the bathroom to wash up, he flipped the light switch and nothing happened. Then he went to the bedroom and tried the lights. Again… there was nothing. The entire house was dark.

He went back and asked his wife why the lights didn’t work. Jane began to cry and said, “You work so hard, but it’s rough. I didn’t have enough money to pay the electric bill. I didn’t want you to know about it, so I thought we would just eat by candlelight!”

Dr. Hill described this experience with deep emotion: “My wife could have said, “I never had this happen in the home I was raised in.” But she didn’t berate or blame him. Instead she said, “Somehow we’ll get these lights back on, but tonight let’s eat by candlelight.”

"Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife." Prov. 25:24

A Generous Spirit

"She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." ~ Prov. 31:20

This quality of the Virtuous Woman is manifested by her unselfishness and desire to live for others. She cares for not only the people in her home, but also her neighbors and relatives. She shows an interest in her community and uplifts everyone with her kindness and encouragement. She gives others a sense of emotional and spiritual security.
 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Phil. 2:3-4

Her skills have earned her a very profitable income which she is willing to share with the poor and needy because she knows her income is a blessing from God.

The Virtuous Woman is a giver and interested in charity. She takes the time to care for the poor and needy in her life. She cares for the less fortunate, makes sure all of their needs are met and is interested in volunteering in many worthy causes.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,”  without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? ~ James 2:15-16

A woman I always admired was Princess Diana. She was one of the most popular royal figures of Britain's history and known for her generosity.

Princess Diana of Wales was a humanitarian who used her position, power and charismatic personality to give financial and emotional support to the victims of poverty, disease and drug abuse. She was also known as mini Mother Teresa of Britain.

Princess Diana helped people in several ways. Throughout her life she was very active in supporting and financing many charitable organizations. She helped underprivileged children, and drug abuse and AIDS victims. She also championed the AIDS awareness campaign. In 1987, she shocked the whole world by publicly shaking hand with an AIDS victim. By doing so, she showed to the world that AIDS victims need compassion and kindness. It helped change the world’s opinion regarding AIDS. She also used to undertake surprise visits to hospitals and mental asylums. She possessed a rare ability to make people happy by just holding their hands and hugging them.

Princess Diana played significant role in international campaign against use of anti-personnel landmine. Thus, making the world a safer place to live in. In fact, she had influenced the signing of Ottawa Treaty, which put an international ban on stockpiling, production and use of anti-personnel landmine. The international anti-landmine banning campaign for which Diana had worked for also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

Princess Diana was associated with many fund raising charitable organization. Many charitable organizations raised substantial amounts of money by just one appearance of the royal Princess. She was the Vice President of the British Red Cross Society and served as a member of the International Red Cross advisory board. She was also the patron of the British Deaf Association.


"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

Virtuous & Vigorous

"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." Prov. 31:17 (NIV)


In the New King James version this verse reads as; "She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms" Prov. 31:17 (NKJ)


The virtuous woman vigorously goes about her daily duties because many depend on her. She is healthy and strong, exercises regularly, has a good diet and gets enough rest.

Vigorous is defined as, Strong, energetic, and active in mind or body; robust, with force. Synonyms are "active" and "healthy".




There are many women in the bible who are great examples of vigor and vitality. One that stands out is Ruth. She refused to abandon the care of her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi. After the death of Father in-law, brother in-law and her husband, Ruth followed her mother in-law, Naomi to Bethlehem. Of course they were very poor. However there was hope, it was the time of barley harvest. There was a law in Israel that said the poor people could walk behind the harvesters, who were cutting the barley with simple tools, and pick up any of the stalks that the cutters had missed and it was theirs with no price to pay. Ruth knew about this and said to Naomi that she would go and find a field being harvested and glean the barley. Ruth was not afraid of hard work but she was courageous in another way as she would have to face a field full of harvester's eyeing her up and down and maybe some harassment too. But God was looking after her.

Ruth worked among the gleaners. This was a rough, rowdy group of mostly men who did backbreaking labor in the hopes of scraping up enough to feed their family. Through her many ordeals, Ruth remained a quiet, hard-working, dignified young woman who trusted in God.

The virtuous woman's inner strength and trust in God is what gives her, vitality, vigor and outer strength. She is not slothful or lazy but a great example of diligence. The virtuous woman seeks her strength from the Lord in the morning through prayer and at the end of a long day of hard work she seeks the Lord for rest.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." ~Matt. 11:28-30

Whether you're a stay at home mom, or work outside of the home, here are some of the benefits of working hard:

* Hard work brings a profit "In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty" ~ Prov.14:23

* Work done in a slack manner is as good as a piece of work which is later destroyed. Both are valueless ~ "He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer" ~Prov.18:9

* Diligent work leads to control of one's situation "The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor." ~Prov.12:24

* Work can be very rewarding "A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him" ~Prov. 12:14


Accept work as God's divine design for you. "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it" ~Genesis 2:15

"For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat" ~2 Thes.3:10

Wise & Frugal

"She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard". ~ Proverbs 31:16

This verse shows us that the virtuous woman spends her money wisely and makes it work for her. She uses her earnings to provide for her family. What she chooses to do with the money is something that keeps producing over time, for example, the vineyard that keeps on producing grapes for wine, she sells the wine and plants more vines, buys more land, or does something else with those funds. The virtuous woman excels at what she does and is a financial asset to her home.

While reading this verse, I could not help but to think of Marylou, my mother in law. My husband and I just returned from a mini vacation to Arizona to celebrate Marylou's 74th birthday. Spending time with my mother in law is always a pleasant experience and very inspiring too.

While having coffee with Marylou one morning, I noticed the pile of newspapers on her dining table. Marylou started to sort through the pile while sharing about her most recent trip to the grocery store where she saved more than $70 by using coupons. I thought to myself "Yeah right, who has time to go through tons of newspaper and cut out all of those coupons?" I work full time, there is No Way I could ever find the time to do this." I'm usually the one who let's out a big sigh when I see the person in front of me take out a big wad of coupons to pay for groceries. Marylou added that not only did she save money, but also received $4.00 back! OK, Now she got my attention. Marylou bought over $100 worth of groceries, saved over $70 and also got money back! Coupon Clipping is not the most exciting hobby but if it saves that much money and I can get cash back, why not give it a try.



Everywhere you look in Marylou's home, it is evident that she spends wisely and knows how to use her skills to make profit. Her home is filled with items she has made herself including; sofa covers, lamp shades, aprons and table cloths. She makes floral arrangements out of buttons to decorate her home or to give away as gifts. Her backyard is filled with fruits and vegetables she has planted herself. She bakes for church fundraisers and would much rather whip up a meal in seconds than go out to a restaurant.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" Ecclesiastes 9:10




My husband has shared with me that his mother used to buy antique furniture at yard sales or estate sales, she would take the furniture home to refinish it and reupholster it herself and sell it for profit. It was always an ongoing joke in his home to be careful where you sit because your chair might be gone when you return.

"Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms shall be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." ~ Proverbs 24:3-4

In Matthew 25 the Lord tells the parable of the Talents(coins).It is a story of a man who is preparing to leave on a journey and entrusts his possessions to his servants. He distributes his wealth among three servants, apportioned to them on the basis of their abilities. To the first he entrusted five talents, to the second two talents, and to the third one talent. The first two servants quickly set to work with their master’s money. The third servant did not invest his master’s money at all; he dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. When the master returned, the first two eagerly met their master, apparently delighted in the opportunity to multiply their master’s money. Both were commended as “good and faithful servants”; both were rewarded with increased responsibilities in their master’s service; both were invited to share in their master’s joy.

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"~ Matthew 25:21

Up before the Sun

"She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls." ~ Proverbs 31:15

For the past two years, due to my husband's early work schedule, I have been getting up before the sun. It was very difficult at first but I must admit that I've started to enjoy the early mornings. I've discovered that this is such a peaceful, quiet time, free from all distractions and noisy neighbors. It is a perfect time to sit in quiet meditation, reading and praying.

Getting up early allows me to get a good start on the day as I can accomplish so much before 6am. On days I have slept in, I feel as if I have accomplished very little because part of my day is already gone. I would much rather get up and take care of the tasks which demand my attention and diligence.

In Mark 1:35 we read that Jesus got up early to pray "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed"

David was also in the habit of early morning prayer: "In the morning shall my prayer come before thee" ~ Psalm 88:13


As we read in Proverbs 31:15, the virtuous woman is diligent and knows the benefit of rising early. She is not idle or lazy and her main priority is to care for everyone in her home. Not only does the Virtuous woman rise early to provide for her family, she also provides for her servants.

Servants? Wouldn't it be nice to have them? What this scripture is trying to emphasize is that she does not lie in bed just waiting for others to serve her. She takes initiative, is dedicated, disciplined, has strong work ethics and is very organized. She is the manager of her home and is in charge of planning and delegating in order for everyone to have an effective, productive day.

Getting up "while it is still dark" is not the easiest thing to do. It is clear that the virtuous woman walks with God and her discipline is a result of her love for God and others.

"We cannot do anything apart from the love of Christ." 1 Cor. 13:1-3





HOW TO GET UP BEFORE THE SUN

* Don’t make any drastic changes. Start slowly, by waking up just 15 minutes earlier than usual. Get used to this for a few days. Then cut back another 15 minutes. Do this gradually until you reach your goal time.

* Perhaps you are used to staying up late watching TV or on Facebook like me; I suggest going to bed earlier and if you are having trouble falling asleep, read while in bed. If you are really tired, you might fall asleep much sooner than you think.

* Place your alarm clock far away from your bed. If it’s next to your bed, you’ll just shut it off or hit snooze button. If the alarm clock is far from your bed, you will have to get up out of bed to shut it off. Just don't go back to bed.


* Reward Yourself. You might be forcing yourself to do something very difficult by getting up so early. So why not make it pleasurable with a cup of coffee or tea while you read or meditate.

* Take advantage of all the extra time. Don’t wake up early to just waste time. Get a jump start on your day! I like to use that time to get a head start on preparing my husband's breakfast and lunch. As soon as he leaves for work, I read my emails, check my Facebook and plan the rest of my day. By the time 6am rolls around, I’ve done more than most people do in one day.



"Go to the ant, consider its ways and be wise!It has no commander,no overseer or ruler,yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there? When will you get up from your sleep?" ~ Proverbs 6:6-9

Got Skills?

"She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands"~ Prov. 31:13

There's a woman in the bible mentioned in only a couple of verses in the book of Acts, but what we read about her tells us so much of the type of woman she was.

"One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God" ~ Acts 16:14

Lydia was from the city of Thyatira, a small city known for its commerce in Asia Minor. Also know for it's abundant crops and the manufacture of purple dye. She is described as a dealer of purple cloth. Purple cloth was very expensive and it was a sign of nobility or royalty. It is my guess that Lydia was more than likely, a very wealthy businesswoman.

As we read in Acts, we learn that Lydia was a worshiper of God and a woman whose heart God opened, meaning that she believed and responded by trusting Christ as her Savior when Paul shared the message of the gospel.

She is also described as a willing servant as she invited Paul and his friends to stay at her home. As soon as God opened her heart, she became a willing servant who helped the missionaries. Later we read that Paul returned to Lydia’s home where he met with believers. She opened up her home for fellowship and prayer meetings. Lydia dedicated the rest of her life to being a "faithful servant" She was also a key person in the establishment and development of the church in Philippi. She was probably someone that heard the words that many of us long to hear;
“Well done good and faithful servant. Come and share My happiness” ~ Matthew 25:21

Lydia is a great example of the virtuous woman as she was a godly woman who provided for her family by selling purple fabric, a business which she enjoyed. The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 finds great satisfaction in her work because she is wise and knows that it is a gift from God. She enjoys her work and does not see it as a boring chore. Believe it or not, we can find pleasure and satisfaction in our work.

"I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God."~Ecclesiastes 3:12-13



In today's computerized and electronic society we no longer have the need to work with our hands. Most of the women I know don't find pleasure in making clothes for their family and they would much rather go to the mall. We all know how expensive that could be. The virtuous woman finds ways to save money by learning how to sew, crochet, knit and mend clothing. She uses her resources in the most cost-effective way she can.



When I was a young girl, I remember watching one of my aunts knit and crochet for countless hours. I was able to learn from her and now I find pleasure in knitting scarves as Christmas gifts or finding new, fun and exciting projects to work on through out the year. Just imagine how much money you could save by "making" Christmas gifts this year instead of buying them. In today's economy, everyone is feeling the pinch. Many people are being a lot more frugal these days and gift buying is creating more stress each year. Making a gift is not only a good way to save money but it is also a great way to give something unique and personalized.

Whether you are a business owner like Lydia, work full time, part-time or are stay at home mom, it is important to love what you do. Have you found a skill that you are good at and enjoy?

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings" ~ Prov. 22:29

A Trustworthy Woman

"Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." ~Prov. 31:11


What is one of the main qualities a man looks for in a woman? The answer may surprise you. At first a man might be attracted to a woman's appearance or personality. However, when thinking about making a life-long commitment, men want a woman they can TRUST.

Let's take a look at the story of Mary. She was chosen by God to give birth to "His only begotten Son" ~ John 3:16. When you read about Mary, the bible does not say anything about her appearance, her attractiveness or even her personality. The only thing we know about her is that she was "highly favored and blessed among women" ~Luke 1:28
When Mary gave birth to Jesus she took her newborn child and was able to hide him for two years. God knew that He could trust Mary to keep this secret to herself and she did.

Can you be trusted to keep a secret?

If a woman cannot be trusted by her own husband there can be no relationship. Marriage is made to be a partnership and both the husband and wife must show compassion and consideration for one another. They can learn about each others interests, try to work together as a team and provide encouragement to one another instead of putting each other down, fussing or constantly arguing.
"It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman." ~Proverbs 21:19

A man with a virtuous wife is confident. He knows that he can always trust her. When a wife shows respect and does not demean her husband he will be eager to listen to her opinion and trust her with his deepest secrets.




A virtuous woman is an asset to her husband.
She uses all of her creative talents and any abilities God has blessed her with. She always wants the best for him and "brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life" ~Prov. 31:12

God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."~ Gen 2:18
God created Eve to be Adam's companion, to be his helper, to provide support and to be his encourager.

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband." Proverbs 12:4

Strong & More Precious than Rubies

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." ~ Proverbs 31:10



This is a new blog series on the Proverbs 31 Woman. Each week I will be reviewing the characteristics of the virtuous woman listed in this Proverb.
In verse 10 it asks; "Who can find a virtuous wife?" It almost sounds like a challenge. Well, in fact it is challenging for women to strive hard for the qualities of a virtuous woman.


So let's start by defining the term "Virtuous Woman".

The expression "virtuous woman" is from the Hebrew "ishshah chayil" and literally means "Power of Mind and Body" The word "chayil" is what God uses to describe His idea of a "Real" woman. The Hebrew Dictionary explains that the term "chayil" was used to describe great forces and armies. A woman said to be "chayil" would possess a certain strength, might, and power. A strong, capable woman with strong convictions.

A virtuous woman is different from all other women in this world. She has been set apart and recognizes her calling. We all have a unique calling. Throughout our life our calling may have surfaced a few times in different ways that we might have ignored. When we discover our calling we will experience a deep sense of peace.

To be "set apart" means that God has a specific purpose for our life. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." ~Jeremiah 29:11


The first characteristic of a virtuous in this proverb describes her value; "For her worth is far above rubies."


Yes, a virtuous woman has more value than rubies because rubies are rare and hard to find. Rubies also have more value than diamonds. According to gem expert, Chris Ralph, "The very finest, top quality ruby is so rare that it has been the world's most valued gemstone for thousands of years. In fact, even today, flawless top quality rubies are more valuable and rare than top quality colorless diamonds. A 16 carat ruby sold at auction for US$227,301 per carat at Sothebys in 1988."

"She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her."~ Proverbs 3:15-18

Self Control in God's Strength

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7


Self-Control is the last Fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22 but it does not mean that it is the least important of all. Self Control happens to be what holds all of the other Fruit together.
“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls”
~ Proverbs 25:28

Self-control usually involves putting others before ourselves, behaving in an appropriate manner, speaking when we need to speak, controlling our tempers and not having an outburst every time things do not go our way. It means ignoring minor mistakes and not trying to prove that we are always right.



It can be very frustrating to want to overcome temptations, and then fail over and over again. This can be especially hard if you are a Christian and feel discouraged in your desire to grow in the Lord and overcome sin. Without Self control, how can we fight off temptations that come our way?
“For whatever a person is controlled by, to that he is enslaved” ~2 Pet. 2:19.

How can we have more Self Control?
It will not happen overnight, but there are some key things we can do to obtain the kind of control God wants us to have.

First, we must guard our thoughts and desires. Change cannot only be outward or it may only be short-lived. We see this through "yo-yo dieting," or those who repeatedly quit drinking, or smoking.

Jesus told His disciples that "Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man" ~ Matthew 15:18-20

Therefore, we must guard our hearts and minds from meditating on sinful things. "Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." ~Phil. 4:8



This may require turning off the TV from time to time, it may require getting rid of some magazines in our home or even canceling the subscription. There may be some songs on the radio that we need to stop singing, or places that we can no longer frequent if we are going to have the self-control God wants us to have.

What are we putting "in our heart"? Are we "keeping" or "guarding" it as we should?
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" ~Matthew 12:34.

A Gentle Spirit

‎"Let your gentleness be known to all." ~ Phil. 4:5

Have you ever met someone with a "gentle spirit"?

I had the opportunity of meeting someone like this 10 years ago. She was my biological mother. From the moment I met her, I felt her love and gentleness. She was a godly woman, tenderhearted, never raised her voice to anyone and never lost control. Everyone who knew her enjoyed her company and she always had kind words to say.

When I met my mother, I thought there was no way possible that I could be related to this woman because I was the complete opposite. Life had made me bitter and angry at the world. I saw gentleness as weakness and always walked over anyone in my path before they could walk over me. But there was something about my mother's gentle spirit that made me want to spend more time with her. We were able to spend three years together and became the best of friends until she went home to be with the Lord. My mother taught me that being gentle does not mean being a doormat. It only means having strength under control. She also taught me that there are gentle ways to be bold and stand up for what is right and gentle ways to lead.

Gentleness is one of the fruit of the Spirit and should be part of our nature. God allowed me the opportunity to spend three years with the most gentle person I've known in order to harvest this fruit in my life.

(Picture of my mother holding me when I was 3 months old. Shortly after this picture was taken, she sent me to live in El Salvador and I didn't see her again for 34 years)


Just as my mother showed me how to develop a gentle spirit, Jesus showed his disciples gentleness in his answers as they asked him so many questions. He never lost patience with them or raised his voice, He always spoke kindly.

In 1 Kings 19:11-13 "The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

God was not in the powerful wind and was not in the earthquake, was not in the fire, on the contrary, the Almighty God spoke from the "gentle whisper".

Got Faith?

"Your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." Matt 5:34


Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live." So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, Who touched Me?' " And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." Mark 5:21-34


Chapter 11 of Hebrews contains other examples of suffering the early Christians endured. I will not go through every example, However I will point out that in Hebrews 11:39 it says: “It was by faith”. This means God honored them for their faith and used them for His glory.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him"~ Hebrews 11:6

No matter how much suffering you are going through right now or how impossible your situation may appear to be, determine in your heart to keep your faith and believe that God is on your side fighting the battle for you. He wants you to trust him because your faith is important in order to have victory. Are you willing to trust him?
"The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." ~Exodus 14:14

Effective ways to increase your faith:

1. Believe

Like the apostle Thomas, we want solid evidence. We are trained to only believe what we can see. But the Truth is that the Holy Spirit, our Helper is invisible and dwells within us.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."~ Hebrews 11:1

2. Read God's Word Daily

Life is busy enough and making time to read the bible on a daily basis can seem to be almost impossible. The Bible helps us draw close to God and build our faith in times of trouble. Reading Bible stories about people who had great faith such as Abraham, Joseph and David can teach us that God rewards those who put their faith in him.
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." ~2 Timothy 2:15

3.Pray Daily

Prayer can be one sentence or as long as you want it to be. Prayers bring our focus back on God instead of our problems.
"Rejoice always,pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ~1 Thes.5:16-18

4. Look for Praise Reports

It's so exciting when God answers prayers! People love to share praise reports because it's an opportunity to tell others how God brought them through a trial. God uses other Christians to encourage us.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God" ~1 Corinthians 1:3-4

5. Think about how God has answered your prayers.

As I look back on my life, I can see how God has rescued me in so many situations and provided an even better solution than I hoped for. If God worked in my life in the past, I can be sure that He will do the same today and in the future.
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." ~Hebrews 13:5



"I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" ~Ephesians 3:16-17

A cup of Goodness

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord." Ephesians 5:8-10

What makes a person good? Sometimes religion can get us to focus on rules, regulations and even rituals. But, God is looking at our heart. And He is looking at our life. Is it full of goodness? Are we living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Are we living a life that is true and dedicated to God through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ?



Do Good Anyway ~

People are often unreasonable,
illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

~ Mother Teresa


"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." ~ Phil. 4:8

"Acts of Kindness"

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ~James 2:14-16


Many years ago, while in college, I found myself completely broke with not even enough money to buy Top Ramen or Mac 'n Cheese. I wouldn't get my financial aid check for a couple of weeks and home was 400 miles away. When I returned from class one morning, my roommate told me that she bought enough groceries for the both of us and she invited me to go with her to stay with her parents on the weekends, they only lived 45 minutes away. We developed a beautiful friendship and I will never forget what she did for me. A simple act of kindness and love had such a lasting impact on me.


"For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" ~Matthew 5:46

The following is a true story I read in "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul"

One night at 11:30, an older African-American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her -- generally unheard of in the deep South during those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be a big hurry! She wrote down his address, thanked him and rode away.

Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. to his surprise, a giant combination console color TV and stereo record player were delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. The note read:

Dear Mr. James:

Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes but my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." ~Heb. 13:2



"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." ~Phil 2:3

The Story of the Good Samaritan

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' " And Jesus said to his disciple, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." But his disciple, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor? "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." ~ Luke 10:30-38

Much Patience Needed...

"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near."
James 5:7-8

This scripture reminds me of the story about a Frog and a Toad. Their names were Frog and Toad. Toad always admired Frog's garden and he wanted one too. So one day Frog told him: “It is very nice to have a garden, but it is hard work.” Frog gave Toad some flower seeds, and Toad quickly ran home to plant them.

“Now seeds,” said Toad, “start growing.” He tried very hard to make his garden grow. He shouted at the seeds, read them long stories, and sang songs to them—but they didn’t grow.

“What shall I do?” cried Toad. “Leave them alone,” Frog said. “Let the sun shine on them, let the rain fall on them. Soon your seeds will start to grow.” Then one day, little green plants appeared. “At last,” shouted Toad, “my seeds have stopped being afraid to grow! But you were right, Frog. It was very hard work.”


Like Toad waiting for his garden to grow, I used to wonder why things didn't happen according to "my" plan. I would get impatient and make things worse by trying to do things on my own instead of allowing them to happen in God's time. It was not until I finally "let go and let God", I started spending more time in prayer, in fellowship, and depended completely on Him for everything. Now I've come to realize that while I was being impatient, He was patiently waiting for me to surrender.I could have avoided so much heart ache, disappointment and frustration in my life if I had only trusted in God. All I need to do was to get rid of my own personal agenda and let Him be in control. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. ~Prov. 3:5-6

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" ~James 1:3

I can recall several times in my life when my faith was tested, but one that really stands out is the day of my wedding shower, a day filled with joy, and celebration. We celebrated with friends and family until late evening. When it was time to leave, we walked towards the space where I parked my car and noticed that the space was empty. Immediately, there was a sinking feeling in my stomach and I just froze in disbelief that this was happening only days away from my wedding day.

It took me a few minutes to realize that my car had been stolen. We filed a police report and decided that there was not much we could do until we returned from our honeymoon. However, on my wedding day, the car was found only a block away from where it was stolen. There was still nothing we could do until the insurance company completed their investigation that took several long weeks.

The settlement was only enough to pay off my car which was now inoperable. We had already spent all of our savings on the wedding, my husband was laid off and we had no money for a down payment on a new car. In desperation, I ended up buying a used car only to find out a few days later that it could not be financed and it had to be returned to the dealer immediately. My patience was running very low and I was starting to get discouraged. We prayed for God's will and to be able to trust Him.

What happened next was completely unexpected. After not being able to finance the used car, the dealer offered to sell me another car and at this point, I was willing to take any old clunker. Hours of waiting at the dealership felt like days but it was worth the wait because at the end of the day, I was able to drive out in a brand new car. God blessed me above and beyond what I even expected. It's amazing what can happen when we step aside, be patient and allow God to be in control.


"We glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
~Romans 5:3-5

My Father's Peace...

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus" Phil. 4:7

This past Sunday, I took my dad out to lunch for Father's Day. Time with my dad is always a great experience. He can brighten up any room with his great big smile. Nothing seems to embarrass him and there is something about my dad's personality that is so contagious and wonderfully humorous. He can make any waiter/waitress provide the best service and have them looking forward to his next visit. Watching him and listening to him speak about his recent adventures inspired me for this week's blog on the third Fruit of the Spirit, Peace.



In my dad's 66 years of life, he has experienced many situations where most of us would have probably fallen apart. Through several divorces, financial troubles, and recent health issues, he still carries around the biggest smile I've ever seen, he doesn't complain and just accepts situations for what they are. I have always admired him for his strength, his humor and most of all, his peace in the midst of serious trials.He's very positive, influential, and can make anyone laugh. If you've ever met my dad you would know what I'm talking about.

Even though he has never been a religious man he has always lived by what some call the "Golden Rule";"In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you" Mat. 7:12

I would like to think that I've inherited some of my dad's attributes such as his strength, his positive attitude and his sense of humor. I can also say that have learned to experience peace in the midst of trials. However, it's not a peace inherited from my earthly father, but a peace that can only come from knowing God, my Heavenly Father. It's a kind of peace which allows me to completely surrender everything to God and allow Him to do His will in my life. There is no real peace apart from knowing Him.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ~ John 14:27

Nothing is more beautiful than this peace. It's a peace that surpasses all understanding, the kind of peace that people see in us, especially when we display it through our trials. The kind of peace we can attain when we’re rejected, when we’re persecuted, when everything is extremely chaotic around us.

"Peace comes in situations that are completely surrendered to the sovereign authority of Christ. When we finally give up trying to discover all the whys and just decide to trust Him, unexpected peace washes over us like a summer rain."
~Beth Moore~

The following poem by an anonymous author gives a great description of God's peace.


My Father's Peace

And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.
My Father's peace,
which the human mind
cannot comprehend, will
guard your hearts and your minds
in my ways.
Truer peace and love,
you will never find.
My Father's peace,
will help you persevere through
your daily trials.
It's through my Father's peace,
that I was guided,
while I was on earth teaching,
His ways.
You have been given power,
and authority to over come all
worldly things.

Ephesians 3: 16-19
"I pray that out of his glorious
riches he may strengthen you with
power through his Spirit in your
inner being,
so that Christ may dwell
in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being
rooted and established in love,
may have power, together with
all the saints, to grasp how wide
and long and high and deep
is the love of Christ,
And to know this love
that surpasses knowledge -
that you may be filled to the
measure of all the fullness
of God."

My Father's peace,
gives you immeasurable strength.
My Father freely gives,
His peace to everyone.
Just believe in me, Jesus Christ,
your creator's Son.

Colossians 3: 15-17
"Let the peace of Christ
rule in your hearts, since
as members of one body
you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly as you
teach and admonish
one another with all wisdom,
and as you sing psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do,
whether in word or deed,
do it all in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through him."

Let my Father's peace
rule in your hearts in all
things.

A Life Full of Joy....

"I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you,and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing." John 15:11


Yesterday I read a story about an 85 year old woman named Nadine. She was asked what she would do if she had her life to live over again and she said; "I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else-just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle and a raincoat. If I had to do it over again, I would travel lighter than I have. If I had my life to live over again, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go rounds. I would pick more daisies."

I'm having another birthday next month and reading about Nadine who is nearly twice my age has made me wonder if I have lived a life full of joy. Most of my years have been a fun and smooth ride. But, of course there were moments I wish I could go back and change or even erase.

I realize now that those were the moments that have made me the person I am today because I know God had a plan and a purpose for my life. One thing I know for sure is that my life was filled with joy ten years ago when I came to know my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus desired that his disciples would experience the full measure of His joy. "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them" ~ John 17:13

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." ~James 1:2-4

Can we really have joy in midst of serious trials such as a death of a loved one, loss of a job or a home, perhaps even in the middle of traffic or trying to meet work deadlines and so many other everyday stress factors in our lives? Yes we can, only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ we come to know Him and His love for us. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

God is Love...

"Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love" ~ 1 John 4:8


In Galatians 5:22, the first and most important Fruit of the Spirit is Love.

It’s not always easy to love others, especially when we are surrounded by so much negativity and hostility in this world. As a Mental Health Worker, I teach Anger Management to children with severe behavior problems. I give God ALL the glory for this because what I teach comes from Him and not me. Some who knew me in my BC (Before Christ) days would tell you that I was definitely not a "happy camper". I could have used some Anger Management classes myself. I walked around angry, bitter, and cursed 100 words a minute. I thought everyone was looking at me the wrong way and wouldn't hesitate to tell them off. Oh Yes, little 5 foot Paty was always ready to throw some punches. But you see all of that came from my own insecurities. It was not until I accepted Jesus into my heart that He slowly started to chip away the anger, bitterness, hate, jealousy, fear and resentfulness in me. Only God could do that. Oh, He's not done with me yet. I'm still a work in progress. God continues to mold me, shape me and teach me more and more about His Perfect Love. Every day He surrounds me with loving people and He speaks to me through scriptures and devotionals. He even uses Radio and T.V ministry to show me how much He loves me.

Sunday mornings in our home start with Charles Stanley's televised message. Pastor Stanley is one of my favorite Teachers because his messages are clear, thought provoking and inspirational. This past Sunday, he taught about God's "Omnipotence" (being all powerful) and "Omnipresence" (being present everywhere). As I was listening to Pastor Stanley say that God knows every detail about our lives and already knows what we're going to do before we do it. I thought about some of the bad choices I've made in my life. You mean to tell me that God is in everything I do and everywhere I go? Is He in the mistakes I have made and continue to make? Even in the small things? Like yesterday when I decided to order that gazillion calorie, venti latte instead of a green tea? ...Absolutely! Well, if God is Omnipotent and Omnipresent, why would He allow us to make the wrong choices? He allows us to make our mistakes to draw us closer to Him, so that we may come to know Him and His unconditional Love.

How amazing it is to have confidence in knowing that God has been and continues to be and will ALWAYS be in every part of my life. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" ~Jeremiah 29:11

God loves us unconditionally, even when we have not made the right choices in life and have strayed away; "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose". ~Romans 8:28.

I know that God loves me and has kept me on the right path. He has a plan and a purpose for my life. I can recall several moments in my life when I felt God's embrace. Like a loving father, He has shown me how much He loves and cares for me by putting certain people in my path to redirect me. I see God's Love in others, a love that is so indescribable. I know without a doubt that "God is Love".

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him" ~1 John 4:16

Nine Servings of Fruit

"The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL" Galatians 5:22 ~♥~

Have you noticed that you can read the same scripture several times and it can have a different meaning to you, depending on what you are going through at that point in your life. I recently came across Galatians 5:22 in my daily readings and interestingly enough, I was able to somehow correlate this scripture to a "Healthier Way of Living".

You see, my husband and I are in the process of "Transforming" our eating habits by eating more fresh Vegetables and "Fruits" every day because research tells us that vegetables and fruits are critical to promoting good health. We all know people who are healthy and have amazing bodies and when we ask them what they eat, their response always includes; "fruits and vegetables". Why not emulate them because they seem to know what they're doing, Right? A friend recently invited me to go grocery shopping with her so that I may learn more about healthier food choices. I thought to myself "why not?, after all, I am trying to make better choices and just by looking at her, she is obviously doing something right."

Just as our daily servings of Vegetables and Fruits can promote better health and better bodies, the nine daily servings of Spiritual Fruit in the book of Galatians can promote our Spiritual Health. The fruit of the Spirit is a physical manifestation of a Christian's transformed life. When we have been walking with Christ, our lives will start to show His attributes. Our walk with Jesus is also a transformation process as it says in Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

As I was sharing with my husband about my desire to start a blog about the Fruit of the Spirit, he pointed out that the first of 9 fruits mentioned in Galatians is "Love" because "God is Love" 1 John 4:16 . It all begins with Him.