trbccoffeebreak

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)

At one time, I owned a large Day Care.  One of our methods of discipline for the children was a “time out” chair.  You know, it is a chair away from everyone and the child can sit and just think about what happened or cry until their anger is gone.  Do you know there are times when I need a “time out” chair?  Sometimes I’ll snap at my sister, be aggravated with a co-worker or even get into a, “Did not!” “Did too!” argument with my brother.  I need someone to come over to me and say, “Melissa, you need to sit in the time out chair.”

At those moments, I am anything but a godly, Proverbs 31 woman.   I think of the mature things I should have done or said.  I see myself as I wished I’d been: calm, gentle, and dignified.  How do I sometimes drift so far from the woman I want to be?

When I see the word dignified, I imagine a self-controlled woman making deliberate choices about what she says and does.  I imagine a woman whose personality is unchanged by circumstances and exhibits grace under all challenges.  Proverbs 31:25 tells me that dignity is something to be desired.  I believe that a woman clothed in dignity is one who knows who she is in Christ and chooses to act in ways consistent with her high calling as a high child of God.

Now when those frustrating times begin to get the best of me, I have to remember I am a woman chosen by God .  He has given me the strength to deal with daily challenges, and I can be a woman of dignity.

“Lord thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be a woman of dignity.  I know You see my potential.  Please help me give up my selfish nature and replace it with Your gracious spirit.  I know I need Your help.”

For His Glory

Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23 & 24 (NIV)

“The more I study, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I know. The more I know, the more I forget. The more I forget, the less I know, so why study? “ As a teacher, I laughed and laughed when I read this on one of my student’s t-shirts. That afternoon at parent pick-up, her mother had a shirt on that said, “The older you get, the more you realize how little you know.”

I think for us this is definitely true. I especially think this is true regarding our own character. For example, you may have always thought of yourself as a forgiving person, but then someone hurts you.  Suddenly, you discover you’re not as forgiving as you thought. We don’t really know our hearts the way we might think. We need to ask God to show us what we’re really like so we can grow and change. God knows everything there is to know about us, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

King David wanted so much to please God that he opened himself up completely to God’s scrutiny. Psalm 139:23 & 24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”   David knew that he might not like everything God had to say about his character, but he knew it was important to hear from God. David had the right attitude – what about us?

“Lord, please reveal to me my heart and help me as I strive to make it a heart that is pleasing to You.”

 For His Glory

 Melissa Tucker
TRBC Coffee Break