R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - PG 13

Disobedience, idol worship, a woman doing a man's job, deals, deception, murder, rebellion, lust, and violence are found in the book of Judges. This past week, I began reading the book of Judges and all I can say is, it has the makings of a Hollywood movie. From the Israelites turning from God to Baal worship, Jael driving a tent peg through a man's temple, Gideon putting out his fleece and Samson, the man of strength yet weak in spirit, losing it all because of a woman. The theme of this book is "And the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord." This book should have a rating of PG 13.

Judges has been known to be a graphic book. There was a story in Chapter 11 that was a bit disturbing to me. I read it a few times before and even noted in my Bible "be careful what you ask for." Starting in verse 30 and it reads like this: "And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD : 'If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.' 32 Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands. 33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon. 34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, 'Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break.'36 'My father,' she replied, 'you have given your word to the LORD. Do to me just as you promised, now that the LORD has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. 37 But grant me this one request,' she said. 'Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry.' 38 'You may go,' he said. And he let her go for two months. She and the girls went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. 39 After the two months, she returned to her father and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin.From this comes the Israelite custom 40 that each year the young women of Israel go out for four days to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite."

I don't know what this man, Jepthah, was thinking when he told God that whatever comes out of the door of his house he would give to God as a sacrifice. Now, I don't know if they had dogs and cats as pets in those days and possibly he was hoping his family pet dog (maybe he barked too much) would come running to him. The scripture says that he had no other children. So I wonder if he and his wife weren't doing so well and maybe he was hoping that she'd come walking through the door to greet him. I think that is why this story bothered me so much. What was he expecting to come through his door? His wife? Pet? A servant he didn't like? Maybe his mother-in-law?

The story of Samson is quite a disturbing one as well. Here is another barren woman desiring a child. She conceives this child who is to be set apart from everyone else for God. He is to have no wine or unclean food and most of all, never to cut his hair. So what happened to Samson? A rebellious teen who is probably had such strict parents that he rebelled and did as he pleased. God gave him strength unlike any other and he abused his gift. It is possibe he was very prideful. The fact that he stopped at the lion carcass that he had mamed earlier with his bare hands and reached in, with the bees swarming, and ate the honey, tells me something was not right with him. (Judges 14:5-9) Would you eat honey out of a dead animal? Then he defiles his family by giving it to them to eat too.  Maybe his parents were too permissive because he was their only child and spoiled him rotten. Maybe they didn't know what to do with him. No Dr. Phil in those days. In chapter 14:1 & 2 says, "Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, 'I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.'"Pretty demanding if you ask me. He intermarried, the very thing God had warned the Israelites about. Here is a Nazirite man who is supposed to be set apart, doing exactly what God had told him not to. Yet when he called on God to help him out of a bad situation, God was there. Then what does he do? He goes to Gaza and spends the night with a prostitute. Only to end up meeting Delilah who deceives him and as the scripture says, "nagged him day after day until he was tired to death" to tell her the secret to his strength.

I have to ask the question, what is the strength of my spirit? It must be like when my kids keep wearing me down about something and then finally after the third time, I either give in or put my foot down and say "no!" I do know that when I'm tired my spirit it tired and I find myself much more easily swayed. It says that Samson was asleep when Delilah tested what he said. Over and over she tested him and wore him down. Although he was physically strong, his spirit was weak. He abused his gift of strength from God for his own purpose. Jesus said that we are to pray and watch because the "spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Mark 14:38) In Samson's case it was just the opposite.

Finally the end of the story, after he's lost not only his strength, but his eye sight, which I believe is significant. Everything he did prior to this event, it was what he wanted because he "saw it". Now he was blind to everything and could only focus on his purpose as to why God chose him. This is why it is better we choose to humble ourselves before God sooner instead of later so we don't bring humilation upon ourselves. Now Samson was ready destroy the Philistines that God had originally intended for him to defeat. He destroyed more Philistines that day than in all of his "strong" years. You see, no matter what, God's purpose will prevail, even if we mess it up. I think that is the moral of the stories in this book. We can learn a lot of lessons from the people in this book so we don't have to learn the hard way.

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - Silver and Gold

The phrase “silver and gold” often makes me think of a song sung by Beryl Ives in one of those Christmas clay-mation movies.  But instead, this phrase was something I read in Exodus about God telling Moses to tell the Israelites to go and ask the Egyptians for clothing and articles of gold and silver (Exodus 11:1-3).  God was going to strike the Egyptians one more time with a plague and after that Pharaoh would let them go. Exodus 12:35 & 36 says “And the people of Israel did as Moses had instructed; they asked the Egyptians for clothing and articles of silver and gold. ³⁶ The Lord caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So they stripped the Egyptians of their wealth!” (NLT)

I’ve always heard that the Israelites left Egypt wealthy and had everything they needed for their journey.  I’ve wondered about some of the items they received from the Egyptians, silver and gold.  What would they need with silver and gold in the desert? Maybe the silver and gold could be used when they reached the Promised Land to buy and sell with.

I began reading and looking at the scripture in more detail and it was soon after they reached the wilderness and Moses was up on Mount Sinai getting the Covenant or Law that they used that wealth to build a golden calf (Exodus 32:1-7).  What I really find interesting is that Aaron told them to remove their "gold earrings." Imagine how many earrings were piled up? What caught my attention was that it was gold earrings, not "jewelry." I realized that the gold earrings had been what marked their slavery in Egypt.  In ancient times, slaves were marked by a ring in their ear or nose. In their ignorance, they must have thought they were doing something good. 

When Moses returned with the law, the first two commandments had had already been broken, no other gods or images. The people may be broken the law, but Moses was so angry he literally broke the law.  God was angry and wanted to destroy this stiff-necked people, but Moses pleaded with God not to destroy them.  In Moses anger with them, he in turn melted the gold down into dust and had them pour it into the water and drink it.  I know God must have been angry that they made an idol out of it to worship, but they didn’t yet know about the law that Moses had been working on with God.  So to some degree they were ignorant.  Yet, I wonder if God was angered because that gold was for something else.  Kind of like when He blesses us financially and we spend it on our own pleasures before we give Him his portion. With God it’s all about sharing.

As I read on, I realized that God had them get these precious minerals for the building of the tabernacle. In Exodus 25 God gives instructions on what to use to build the Ark of the Covenant which is where the Law would be kept and the tabernacle that would hold the Ark and for His presence to dwell.  It was important for God to be able to come down and dwell among the children of Israel.  I’ve heard that gold represents “diety” in the Bible.  God being the great I AM would require a dwelling place that represented who He is.

After reading about all this silver and gold, I was reminded of Peter and John going to the temple and meeting the lame man there. Interesting that it was at the temple (formerly the tabernacle) where this event happened right after the Holy Spirit had come to them in the Upper Room.  Acts 3:6-10 says “Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” 

These two stories, I think are divinely connected.  Under the Old Covenant, God was restricted to live in a building that He instructed man to build for His presence to dwell.  And even then, only the Priests were allowed to even go into the tabernacle and temple.  God needed the silver and gold to physically show them who He was and to give Him a dwelling place.  But after Jesus died and rose again, God was no longer bound to a building, but instead released to dwell in man.  Because of that no longer was silver and gold a necessity.  God’s spirit was now able to dwell in man and there was no longer a need for the temple.  Instead we are the temple (2 Corinthians 6:16 & 19 ). Interesting that the first act that Peter and John did after receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they demonstrated God’s power in them by healing a lame man.  They were now living under the New Covenant which Jesus bought and paid for with his own blood that every one of us has the opportunity to receive. A gift of eternal life which more precious that silver and gold.

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - Possessing Promises

 In the back ground I hear the swell of violins, horns, a bass drum and cymbals as God is telling Joshua that "it's time to possess the land."  Like something you might see at the end of a motion picture as your heart's been racing throughout the movie. As the ending draws near and you finally catch your breath with relief. “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. ⁵ No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. ⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:2-9.

It would almost seem that the first chapter in Joshua is the perfect ending to the story of the children of Israel coming into the Promised Land.  Instead, it's a new beginning of a new story or chapter as they cross over the Jordan River.  God instructed Joshua that once again he had to send spies to check out the first city that they needed to conquer.  Conquer?  I thought God was giving this land to them.  This is where my thoughts begin.

God was going to hand this land over to them, but it didn't come without a fight. When God gives us promises we have to "drive out" the inhabitants of doubt in our lives.  The first instruction God gave to Joshua after crossing the Jordan, was to build a memorial of twelve stones from the Jordan River.  This was to serve as a reminder for generations to come of them crossing the Jordan on dry ground (Joshua 4).  

What really caught my attention was the names of the inhabitants of Canaan.  Back in Genesis 9 when God cursed Ham for having looked upon Noah in his nakedness, he sent him away.  Canaan was a son of Ham. Genesis 10:15-20 says "Canaan was the father of
Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, ¹⁶ Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, ¹⁷ Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, ¹⁸ Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans scattered ¹⁹ and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha. ²⁰ These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations. These are the names of the inhabitants of the land that the children of Israel were to conquer.  That's when I realized that God wanted this land redeemed.  Just like He wants our heart's redeemed from sin.

Before Joshua and the people could begin taking their inheritance, God instructed them to go through a circumcision, again (Joshua 5:2).  They did this once in the wilderness, but this was a new generation that God was with. Under the New Covenant, God is concerned with the circumcision of our heart (Romans 2:29).  This is why it is important for us to daily "clean our hearts" of the trash that gets thrown in.  Whether it's by others or by our own admission. They were also to celebrate a Passover supper to remind them of what God did for them in Egypt.

After the fall of Jericho, God became angry with His people because of "sin in the camp." It was one person, Achan. He had taken a robe from Babylonia some gold and silver and had hidden them under his tent (Joshua 7:20-21).  Some translations call these the "devoted things."  Unforgiveness is kind of like these devoted things.  We treasure our hurts from other people in hopes that it will punish them.  When in reality it destroys us.  God doesn't want us to be devoted to our unforgiveness of others and even against ourselves.

In Joshua 9, Joshua and his men come across the Gibeonites. They were deceptive people in the fact that they had heard what the Israelites were doing to the cities in Canaan and thought if they came to them as travelers from a distant land they wouldn't kill them.  Just as they thought, Joshua believed them and made a peace treaty with them.  Because Joshua had made an oath to them, they were never driven out of the land and this caused them grief throughout history.  I think we often make "peace treaties" with our circumstances.  We say, "it is what it is." That's okay because often we can't do anything about our circumstances. I like to look at it like this. The definition of "circum" is to go around. The definition of "stance" is a position while standing.  Put this together and life is going to happen around us, but it's our stance that holds us in place with the hope of victory. We can live with our circumstances if we choose to live victorious rather than defeated.

After they had driven out the inhabitants and allotted the inheritance Joshua 21:44 & 45 says this, "The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. ⁴⁵ Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."  God wants to fulfill his promises to his children, us.  We have to fight against the inhabitants of sin and unforgiveness.  It is crucial for us to keep our heart's pure and humble before the Lord. Jesus fought the battle for us at Calvary. He already won the battle. We already have victory. Like the Passover before they conquered Jericho, Jesus is our Passover sacrifice that conquered sin and redeemed us so that we could possess the promises of God in our lives. 

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - Dirty Laundry

By 9:30 am this morning I had 3 loads of laundry done.  This is like most Friday mornings as far as the routine goes, but it wasn't just any Friday, it's Good Friday.  The one day a year that we reflect on what Jesus did with our dirty laundry.  

Each one of us is born with an "empty hamper" so to speak.  But from the first temper tantrum in those first days because we aren't getting what we want, the first piece of dirty laundry gets dropped in that "dirty clothes box" as we used to call it. From that day on our "hamper of sin" continues to fill up.  It's not until we realize that there is one who takes that laundry and washes it for us and makes us clean.  

Revelation 22:14 says, "Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life." (NLT) You see, when we bring our dirty laundry to the cross, which is what  Good Friday is all about, it's like bringing your life that has been soiled with stains that are unable to be removed to the Salvation dry cleaners.  Jesus is the only one who can remove those "hard to get" stains from your life and make you clean.  We then are clean with His righteousness and can now be dressed for eternity.  It is sad that there are some who choose to live with a hamper full of dirty clothes, when Jesus gave His life so they may be clean.  

There is an old hymn that I often think about when I think of the blood Jesus shed for us.  The lyrics say:
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.

I pray that this "Good Friday" you would take your "dirty laundry" to the One who can wash you white as snow.  If you have already been laundered, then I pray you would remember that day that Jesus made it possible for you to be one of those who are "blessed" who will be able to enter the gates and eat from the tree of life.  I pray you will be thankful for this gift that no man that has ever existed, exists or will exist could give to you, except Jesus Christ the Messiah.  He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).

 

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - Property Virgins

In real estate, it is all about getting more for your money, whether it is land or houses. In Orange County, that is difficult to do. Most of the homes are so over priced. The sad part is a few years ago, the housing market was so high and now all those people are losing their homes. Most of the houses on the market are short sales or bank owned.

As I have been studying the Israelites in the book of Numbers, it occurred to me that like the television show "Property Virgins," these people were first time home/land owners. All they knew was "renting." Having owned a home once and now as a renter, there is a kind of freedom in that comes with owning something that you can make yours.

The book of Numbers is about God allotting land to the twelve tribes. The map looks very much like the U.S. today. Boundaries are given to Moses by God for each tribe to settle in. But in doing so, like a contract that is written up for the potential homeowner, it comes with rules and regulations. The difference for the Israelites is that their property was an inheritance. They did not have to pay for anything, but like an association that many subdivisions have today, there were rules to be followed. The rules in associations are to keep the neighborhood peaceful, but many people break the rules and there is a consequence. Usually a fine to be paid and unhappy neighbors.

I discovered many things over the past few weeks in studying the book of Numbers and now that I am into Deuteronomy that God is requiring of His people and that is obedience. This all began to unfold for me when I came across Deuteronomy 4 verses 1 and 2. It says, "Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. ² Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you."

Prior to this "association policy" in the book of Numbers two sentences caught my attention in regards to the property these people were about to receive. It is sandwiched in a passage as Moses is assigning property (boundary lines) to the tribes. It says "... 'This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.' " ¹³ Moses commanded the Israelites: "Assign this land by lot as an inheritance..." (Numbers 34:12&13) Boundaries bring inheritance. Inheritance isn't only about prosperity, it's about safety, health and well-being. God was very specific on the boundaries He was giving to His people. The reason being was that their enemies were surrounding them in the countries outside of the Promised Land.

Something interesting about this prompted me to go back a few chapters to Numbers 26 verse 52-54. It says, "The LORD said to Moses, ⁵³ "The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names. ⁵⁴ To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed." Now normally when one would read this, the reader understands the fact that a larger group of people require more land and the smaller group, not so much. But going back to the land and inheritance I realized that it is possible the smaller tribes lost out on some of their inheritance due to their disobedience. A consequence to a previous action. Let me recap on what happened earlier in the book of Numbers.

Shortly after the twelve spies returned from the Promised Land, ten of them brought back a negative report and their negativity spread throughout their tribes. God was very angry at them for this and because of this, the scripture says that these people were struck down by a plague before the Lord. (Numbers 14:36 & 37) They died! The subtraction begins. In Numbers 16, Korah and some others took it upon themselves to rise up against Moses. They decided that Moses wasn't the right leader for them and wanted to take him out. Um, I don't think that was so smart of them to think they knew better than the Lord. God is the ultimate authority and whom He chooses is the last word. It's kind of like people wanting to fire their pastor. There is no blessing in that because God opened up the ground and swallowed up their whole families. (Numbers 16:31) Another subtraction. Then in Numbers 21, the people started complaining again about not having what their "flesh" desired and fearful of the unknown. So God sent poisonous snakes to kill off the grumbling. (Numbers 21:4) The third subtraction of people.

So now you see where I am going with this. People were lost along the way due to rebellion and complaining. I'm sure this is the reason some of the tribes became smaller and therefore, lost out on some of the land that was promised to them.

This all came together for me about the boundaries God has set up for us. God has given us guidelines and rules, like a Property Management company, for our good. That living inside the boundaries we will receive the inheritance promised to us. That trusting in the Lord with all of our heart, doing the things He asks us to will bring prosperity and success. It is when we complain and distrust, and rebel against Him that we step outside of our safe zone and put ourselves out there for the enemy to attack.

The reason it took so long for these people to inherit the property the Lord wanted to give them was because He truly wanted to make them virgins. One of the definitions of the word virgin is pure and undefiled. God truly was wanting "Property Virgins" to inherit the land He was giving them. It wasn't about the land being pure, but the people. He cares way more about people than property. Psalm 16:6 says, "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."

So today I ask this question, what boundary lines have you crossed that God has not laid out for you? Could God call you a "property virgin"? Where or what is your Promise? Maybe you are in your Promised Land, but you are still fighting off the former inhabitants (previous habits of the sin nature). What is God telling you to do to overcome these idols of the world? I want to encourage you today to examine your heart and ask the Lord for forgiveness. I believe before long, you will see the blessings of the Lord chase you down. The sooner we get it together, the sooner we'll be on the other side.

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - The Curse of Fruitlessness

Last night, one of the last things I said to Jeff before we went to sleep was what I read yesterday in my devotions. It resonated so much in my spirit that it was the first thing on my mind this morning. It was about the fig tree in Mark chapter 11: 12-14.

It reads, "The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reach it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again.' And his disciples hear him say it."

Why did that have such an impact on me? I think it is because five verses later which according to the scripture was the next day, that fig tree was mentioned again. Very rarely do you see something picked back up again in the scripture if at all. Mark 11:20 and 21 says, "In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said Jesus, 'Rabbi, look! the fig tree you cursed has withered!'"

There is a very important message here, that I think we often skip over. Sometimes we interpret the cursed fig as the power of Jesus words or even the power of the tongue. But there is more here than just what we say. Let's take a look at it from another angle.

According to my study reference in my NIV Study Bible, it says that fig trees were common and inexpensive. It takes them three years to mature and produce fruit. Then when they do produce fruit, it is only in late spring and early autumn. If one would read this, it would make you wonder then why Jesus was frustrated with it. Did Jesus show some impatience here because he was hungry? No, maybe Jesus was giving his disciples an illustration of why it is important to bear fruit in and out of season. You never know who might be walking by and running on empty and needing some "fruit of the spirit."

Let's just say in this scenario, we are the fig tree. After three years into our "transformation" process of becoming like Jesus, we still aren't bearing the fruit of the spirit. In Galatians 5:16-25, Paul talks about living by the Spirit and what it looks like. "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

What I find interesting about this particular idea of the fig tree that Jesus cursed, is that the first time the word "fig" and "cursed" were mentioned in the Bible, was back in the third chapter of Genesis. Maybe Jesus used this illustration to remind them that fruitlessness began with the fall of man. That it has always been an issue since God cursed the soil. After Adam and Eve had sinned and had eaten "the fruit" from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they clothed themselves with fig leaves sewn together. (Genesis 3:7) Just a thought, it never says what the fruit was on the tree, but what if it was figs and they used the leaves hoping it would "cover" their mistake? Then God shows up questioning them as to who told them they were naked. (Genesis 3:11) Then God cursed the serpent. (Genesis 3:14) But more importantly God said to Adam, "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:17-19)

I wonder if the reason this "cursing of the fig tree" was mentioned the next day was because maybe God wanted to highlight the importance of bearing fruit. Why as followers of Jesus we need to be bearing the fruit of the Spirit all the time. As I mentioned before, you never know who will need it. Think of yourself like a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter. Always available for whoever is hungry.

When we were in Israel, I was amazed at the many crops of fruit trees throughout the region. There were all kinds of crops. Unlike the U.S. where we can only grow citrus in Florida and Southern California, grapes in Northern California, apples in Washington, etc. The fruit crops were everywhere. Even in the desert regions they grew dates. Fruit is served at every meal, which is why I believe Paul paralleled the characteristics of the Spirit to fruit. We need to serve them up all the time. There are so many things stirring in my spirit about this that I could go on and on. But I'll stop and leave you with this final thought. Above is a picture of a fig leaf that I brought home from a tree in the Old City of Jerusalem. When Jeff pulled it from the tree, it was as large as his hand. When we got back to the hotel and I pulled it out of my bag, it had shrunk considerably. As you can see it is half the size of my hand. When I got home from Israel, I laminated it to keep as a reminder of what a cursed life is like. A cursed life is limited. The only thing that can bring a life of abundance and fruitfulness is abiding with Jesus (John 15:5) and living by the Spirit which will produce a life that will be Christ-like.

R.E.A.L. Women Devotional - The House That Wisdom Builds

Growing up in church, we used to sing, "The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock." If you are familiar with this song, you will know there were some hand motions that went along with it. As children, our favorite part was the hand motions for the foolish man because his house went splat. (Song is based on Matthew 7:24-27)

Last weekend at our women's retreat, we focused on truly what a Proverbs woman is. It doesn't matter whether you are single or married, live alone, with roommates, with family members and so on, you still have a home to build. Proverbs 14:1 says, "A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands." The Lord gave me a picture of the home of a wise woman and the home of a foolish woman.

Before any construction can begin, there are some important people needed. First an architect, second a contractor and a blue print. Lastly an inspector. The Lord showed me that God is our architect, Jesus is our contractor, the blue print is the Bible and the inspector is the Holy Spirit. God already has your design in mind. His Word gives us direction. Jesus is the contractor because of his death and resurrection he made building a wise home possible. The Holy Spirit on the other hand is the one who helps us keep in check as to whether we are living to God's standard.

Like the foolish man in the song, who builds his house on the sand which is unstable, so is the foolish woman's home. The foolish woman's foundation is built on fear. A few years ago, I began listening to how often I and other ladies would use "I'm afraid, I'm worried, or I'm scared" in their conversation. I was shocked at how often we say it without thinking twice. I'm as guilty as anyone. Fear also means reverence. When we live in fear, we worship our circumstances instead of God.

This brought me to the thought of what kind of walls a foolish woman's home has. The are walls of anxiety or worry, control (of everything around her), anger and complaining. When a home is built on fear it compromises everything else that is built on it. Romans 8:15 says "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave to fear, but your received the spirit of Sonship." When we accept Jesus as our "contractor" we are no longer slaves to the fears of this world. What I mean is in bondage by the chains that we are bound to. Maybe similar to someone who is under house arrest.

The home of a wise woman, is the complete opposite of the foolish. Her home is built on a solid foundation, the rock of faith. A foundation built on faith can withstand any storm. Psalm 111:10 says, "Fear (or reverence) of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom." (NLT) A wise woman is one who is confident because she knows her "architect" has the best plans in mind. She has a relationship with her "contractor." She's willing to submit to her "inspector" and daily goes over the blueprint to make sure she is sticking with the plan. The walls of a wise woman's home are peaceful instead of anxious, self-controlled instead of in-control, joyful instead of angry, and thankful instead of a complainer. A home built with these four walls can stand up in any kind of circumstance.

What if half of your home is built with wisdom and there are times it is built on foolishness? James 1:8 says "a double-minded person is unstable in all they do." This reminds me of the show on HGTV called "Holmes on Homes." Mike Holmes is a contractor who comes in and finds all of the mistakes that neglectful contractors have made on home improvements or repairs. He comes in and tears everything out and starts over. Who does that sound like? Jesus! Even if you have found yourself in a home that has been compromised by fear, the good news is that Jesus will come in and make all the repairs and make you like new. Not only does he make the repairs, but he already paid for the labor and materials at the cross.

I pray today that if you are finding yourself in a home that needs some improvement, go to your Architect, Contractor and Inspector and ask them to make your "home" one of faith. Read your "blueprint" and get the Great Architect's plan down inside of you as you lay a new foundation. A house built on wisdom will withstand any storm.