Elizabeth George's Blog, page 4

Budgeting for Christmas

With all the gifts and donations sought after, and given, during the holidays, our finances can quickly become out of control. But a little bit of prayerful planning will make better use of all our resources and re-align our focus on God’s priorities.

First things first... before you break out the calculator and spreadsheets, pause and pray. In any area of life, a good motto to have is to make no decision without prayer. And that is really important when you’re talking about your finances with both donations and gifts.

Now is a good time to ask ourselves: What do we have that we did not receive? The answer is: absolutely nothing! Generosity comes in many forms: our time, service to others, and monetary donations. When planning your holiday budget, consider Deuteronomy 8:18. There we are told that it is the Lord your God who gives you power to get wealth. And the apostle James reminds us that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights (James 1:17).

The fact is, if you love God, your love and gratitude for Him will spill over into your giving to others. It’s an outworking of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew that where your treasure is, there is your heart also (Matthew 6:19-21). Make the words of Jesus your prayer, and an attitude of your heart: freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8). And remember, even if we are giving to others or to a church, we’re also giving to God as an act of worship. Another issue is not how much we give, but our heart attitude when we give. Proverbs 11:25 states, “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”

Ask God to help you become a generous soul as you give both material and non-material blessings during this holiday season. Remember you can give of yourself. Your presence alone can be a source of comfort. By God’s blessing, I’ve grown to enjoy giving. A simple way that helped me is by regularly asking God, “Who can I give to that is in need? How can I bless others with the blessings You’ve given me, especially during this season?” Financial giving was part of the answer, but my giving went beyond money. It touched every part of my soul and possessions. You and I have groceries in our cupboards, clothes someone else could wear, baby items a mother may need, encouraging books to edify others. By God’s grace and transforming power, He can give us open and generous hearts to meet the needs of those around us, and serve and bless others this Christmas season.

RESPOND:

Lord, help me to give generously of my time and resources during the holiday season. Thank you for blessing me abundantly with all that I need. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

This Christmas and Advent Gift Tags printable features festive gift tags for the holiday season:

REFLECT:

How can I bless others during this holiday season?

REMEMBER:

The generous soul will be made rich.

A Happy Heart

I’ve been experimenting for years with what I call my “attitude helpers.” They help me get my work done with a happy heart—even the things I don’t like doing!

Prayer always helps—Pray about your attitude toward your daily tasks, the people you serve at home, and your tasks at work. Ask God for His help and His attitude. He can definitely turn your heart into a fountain of joy.Use Scripture for a pep talk—Make a list of verses right out of God’s Word that encourage you while you take care of your responsibilities. My favorite is Psalm 118:24—“This is the day the Lord has made; [I] will rejoice and be glad in it.”Do your work “as to the Lord”—When things seem unbearable or impossible, Colossians 3:23 comes to the rescue: “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” This reminder pours fresh joy into an empty heart.Tackle your tasks wholeheartedly—As you face difficult or repetitive tasks, make a conscious decision to tackle them energetically and joyfully. A halfhearted attitude will produce halfhearted results—and you sure don’t need that!Tackle your tasks energetically—Whatever project you face, take on the challenge. Roll up your sleeves, “do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10), and finish fully. You are on a mission!Tackle your tasks creatively—To help make each task exciting, ask yourself, “How can I do this differently? What would make this more fun, more enjoyable?” And my favorite? “How can I beat the clock: do this faster, finish sooner, zip through it?” Do whatever you can to make a game out of your work.Tackle your tasks joyfully—The key to joy is to look at your responsibilities at home and school with anticipation rather than dread. See your tasks as challenges rather than drudgery. Look at each demanding job and decide to do it, to do it well, to do it as to the Lord, and to enjoy doing it. Oh, what a difference joy makes!RESPOND:

Lord, help me to work with a joyful heart. Give me strength to wholeheartedly accomplish my calling. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

“Nurturing a Heart of Humility: The Life of Mary” by Elizabeth George is a Bible study on the life of Mary. This Bible study makes a great resource for women’s small groups, Sunday School, and personal reflection.

REFLECT:

What tasks am I currently avoiding? How can I make them more enjoyable?

REMEMBER:

Ask God for His help with your attitude!

Thanksgiving Gratitude

This Thanksgiving we are thankful for God, each other, our family, and you, our treasured friends in the faith. May God open up the windows of heaven and bestow blessings like you've never experienced. May He make His face to shine upon you. May He heal your body, heart, and mind. And may He draw you close to Him.

As we join our families for a day of gratitude, feasting and celebration, please meditate on and share these beautiful words of thanksgiving from David, the man after God's own heart.

Psalm 139

1 You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely.

5 You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, [a] God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand—

when I awake, I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!

Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!

20 They speak of you with evil intent;

your adversaries misuse your name.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,

and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?

22 I have nothing but hatred for them;

I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

RESPOND:

Thank you, Lord, for a day to remember Your blessings to us. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

This printable is perfect for the Thanksgiving season, reminding us to be grateful, thankful, and content.

REFLECT:

Take time to remember specific blessings from the Lord this year.

REMEMBER:

God has blessed you richly this year. Remember His blessings!

Thanksgiving Hospitality

Abraham’s servant Eliezer traveled hundreds of miles in the desert climate. As he prayed beside a town well, the lovely Rebekah appeared. After first drawing water from the cistern to satisfy his thirst—and even taking care of the camels’ thirst—Rebekah respectfully answered the man’s questions regarding who she was and whether her family had a place for him to stay. Rebekah replied with her name and an invitation for food, lodging, and fodder for the animals. Inside Rebekah’s family home, Eliezer would be the recipient of assistance, refreshment, shelter, and rest. We have the same opportunity as Rebekah this holiday season.

Opening Your Home

Do you see opening your home at Thanksgiving as a gift from God to be used for the comfort and well-being of others? A Christian home is earth’s sweetest picture of heaven and a welcome relief in our stressed and weary society. Many folks are lonely, especially during the holidays. A question to ask ourselves in this holiday season is, “Who can I open my arms and my heart and my home to?”

Consider the teens you know who live where parents are seldom home, where few meals are served, and where apathy reigns.Think about the little ones next door who could rest a moment in your warm, peaceful kitchen, a welcome respite from the angry shouting under their own roof.Ponder the needs of a widow or widower who has no one to talk with.Count the singles you know who are on their own.

Consider opening your home and inviting people over to share your holiday meal with you. If the people you invite over for Thanksgiving Day aren’t available, why not deliver a meal to them the next day? Or freeze small portions to send home with them the next time they visit your home. It may be that you live by yourself; pray about hosting a potluck to fill your table with smiling faces and full hearts…including your own.

As you open your home, offer a listening ear, an encouraging word, and a heartfelt prayer to those in need. Hospitality is a matter of the heart—your heart. All who enter your door offer you opportunities to minister. Welcome them into your sweet home—a home where Jesus lives in the heart of the hostess.

RESPOND:

God, guide me toward chances to minister this Thanksgiving through neighborly kindness and hospitality. Help me open up my heart and home to people who are a part of my world. Give me a servant’s perspective in all that I do. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

This “Gather Together” printable is a perfect gift for guests at Thanksgiving.

REFLECT:

Ask yourself, “Who can I open my arms and my heart and my home to this Thanksgiving?” Then, talk to your family and pray together about making plans to open your home.

REMEMBER:

Hospitality is a matter of the heart—your heart.

Accepting the Unacceptable

Acknowledging that God’s ways are not our ways has made a real difference in my life, and accepting that truth can make a difference in yours, too. Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”

This verse taught me how to accept the unacceptable. The following principles, drawn from this verse, gave me a lens through which to look at everything that happens to me. I offer them to you as well.

Principles to Accept the Unacceptable

I don’t have to understand everything—What freedom this acceptance brings! Imagine, no more digging or dogged determination to get to the bottom of an issue.I don’t need to understand everything—What release this attitude brings! Why? Because it’s an attitude that acknowledges that God is in control.I can’t understand everything—I am finite and limited, but God—who knows all and understands all—is infinite and limitless.Why ask “Why?”—The man Job in the Old Testament never asked why when he was suffering. He worshiped instead. Notice very carefully what carried Job through his ordeal.

Unlike the stance of the stoic to grin and bear it, Job grabbed on to facts about God. Facts like, God is too kind to do anything cruel, too wise to make a mistake, but too deep to explain Himself.

Believing true facts about God should erase all doubts. We can stop asking ”Why?” and start looking at ”Who” stands behind the scene. It is God in His absolute sovereignty, and this calls us to worship. When we worship, we can rest in God despite unexplainable and seemingly unacceptable situations, and we experience the rest of faith and the peace of faith. We can learn to:

Let it go—Pry your grip off your problem, and let it be gone forever. Oh, the freedom you will experience, even without any change, when you accept the unacceptable.Let God be God—And what is He? Un-understandable, unsearchable, inscrutable, inexhaustible, unfathomable, and impossible to grasp.Let go of your right to know—Stop demanding answers from God. Cease saying to God, “I’m not getting up from prayer until You tell me or show me why this is happening!”Accept these as God’s ways—Again, note the emphasis on God. Whatever has happened to you, it has to do with His ways, and they are “past finding out!” Again, you will never understand or find out, so you must accept the unacceptable.RESPOND:

Dear Lord, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of Your wisdom and knowledge, O God! How unsearchable are Your judgments and Your ways are past finding out. Your greatness cannot be imagined. You are greater than all language, and no words can express your majesty. You are above all, outside of all, and beyond all I can even imagine. You are without limits. When I speak of You I cannot refer to amount or size or weight, for You are beyond measure. You are not less or more, large or small. You are simply God, the infinite One. A human mind has no capacity to comprehend You. What I can do is praise, adore, and worship You.” Amen. (prayer by Robert Savage)

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In “The Remarkable Prayers of the Bible: Transforming Power for Your Life Today”, Jim George looks deeply into the prayers of some great people in the Bible.

REFLECT:

What lies am I believing, instead of the truth about God?

REMEMBER:

Believing true facts about God should erase all doubt.

Practice Wise Living

“Make a wish!” How often have you said or heard this statement on your birthday or one of your children’s birthdays before blowing out candles on a cake? God, in essence, made a similar statement to King Solomon thousands of years ago. In fact, God told Solomon he could have anything he wanted. Anything!

That’s right. Let’s see...how about a new car, a new house, new clothes, new…anything! You probably know this story found in 1 Kings 3. What did Solomon ask for? Wisdom! He asked for “an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9).

The next time you pray or “make a wish” (so to speak), follow Solomon’s example. Don’t waste your breath on physical or earthly desires and needs. Instead, go for the biggest and best of all: wisdom.

As a believer infused with the light of Christ, you have access to His wisdom and prudence. So the question isn’t “Do I have wisdom?” but “How do I learn and apply the wisdom and discretion I’ve been given?” Can these attributes of wisdom be found in your life?

Wisdom walks carefully.

Are you meticulously careful about the life you lead? Keep your mind on God’s Word and watch over your lifestyle as you walk with God.

Wisdom evaluates its time.

The time you have in this life is so brief. Don’t let it be stolen by uselessness. Instead, make every minute count for eternity.

Wisdom follows a standard.

God’s standards are revealed in His Word. It is exciting to witness His plan for your life unfolding as you study His Word, pray for wisdom, and practice wise living.

Wisdom lives under God’s control.

You don’t have to live under the “control” of alcohol, sex, power, or the world’s other offerings. Wise living comes from being filled and controlled by God’s Spirit. Ask Him to be your source of contentment, excitement, and comfort. Let Him guide you every day.

God’s ultimate wisdom and plan for you is to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Paul isn’t referring to the Holy Spirit’s indwelling at salvation here. He is giving a command for believers to live continually under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He is charging you (and me) to walk in wisdom as you live moment-by-moment under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

What a difference that will make in your heart, in your conduct, in your priorities, and in the ways you choose to use your time.

RESPOND:

Lord, help me to practice Your wisdom and discover the joys of being obedient and faithful. I know the truth because it is in Your Word. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

“A Woman After God’s Heart Bible” by Elizabeth George helps readers to discover the transformative power of God’s word.

REFLECT:

Do you turn to God’s Word and to Him in prayer to guide you every day? Who in your life is wise?

REMEMBER:

“Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

Four Ways to Get Wisdom

How to Get Wisdom from God

Some years ago, our family vacationed in Montana. One morning we drove over a short bridge with a sign that read “Missouri River”—which caused one of those “Wait a minute!” moments.

Our family had been to St. Louis, Missouri, and we had seen the impressive width of the Missouri River just before it empties into the mighty Mississippi. This river in Montana was minute when compared to what we had witnessed in St. Louis.

So Jim backed up our camper to make certain we hadn’t misread the sign. Sure enough, it was the beginnings of the Missouri River, and we were not very far from its source.

Where Does Wisdom Come From?

As we think about the nature of God, we need to remember this one important truth: Everything has a source—except God. God is the source of all things, including wisdom.

Wisdom from God comes in a variety of ways. While the Missouri River has one source, it has many tributaries that add to its size and power as it flows toward its destination. The same is true with God’s wisdom.

Four Ways to Gain Wisdom

1. You gain wisdom by walking with God. The foundation of wisdom is to know and recognize that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). As you honor and esteem God, live in awe of His presence and power, make the choices He advises in His Word, and love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, His wisdom becomes your wisdom.

2. You gain wisdom from reading God’s Word. Reading the Bible can make you wise. Hold it first in your heart and mind, and obey it. As you gain wisdom from God’s Word, it will make a powerful difference in you, in your life, and in your day.

3. You gain wisdom from being with God’s people. Going to church and worshipping God starts your week with a solid focus. As you fellowship with others, you realize they have wisdom to share with you. In Proverbs 1:5 we note, “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” As a key principle in Proverbs 12:15 states, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”

4. You can also gain wisdom through having godly mentors and teachers. Watch their lives. Ask them questions and read the wise advice of others through Christian books. In both cases, you are learning and growing as you seek the wisdom of other believers.

Wisdom is available and freely given—Proverbs 1 makes it abundantly clear that God wants His people to be wise and safe (Proverbs 1:2 and 1:33; Proverbs 3:13). In fact, God has made sure that wisdom is readily available to any and all. It is right in the Bible—your Bible—available to you day by day. As Proverbs 3:13 marvels, “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom.”

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, please give me wisdom! I need it to manage this day in a way that pleases You and bears the mark of Your wisdom on it. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

In ”50 Most Important Teachings of the Bible”, Jim George highlights key teachings every believer should know.

REFLECT:

Do I ask wise people questions and read the wise advice of others through Christian books?

REMEMBER:

God wants His people to be wise.

The Secret to Wisdom

Do you want in on a really good secret? I read it in James, and I’m excited to share it with you. James wrote, in essence, “Let me tell you a secret that will revolutionize your life as you encounter the various trials life sends your way. A secret that will bring about greater endurance, character, wisdom, and faith in you!” Doesn’t that sound exciting?

As we dream about gaining wisdom and possessing these desirable qualities, James tells us the secret: if you want wisdom, all you have to do is ask God for it. Do you want wisdom for handling your problems?

Wisdom for Handling Problems

We can go to the only source of truth—to the giving God who bestows wisdom for managing life’s trials—and ask. Are you growing as a woman of faith? As a woman who asks God wholeheartedly, trusts Him completely, and doubts nothing? Are you completely convinced that God’s way is always best? Or do you sometimes treat God’s Word like it’s advice you can take or leave?

Do you grapple with what to choose based on your feelings, the world’s advice, and God’s commands? Do you believe God cares about you? That He is powerful and good and watching over you?

These are serious questions, and the answers will reveal where you are in your walk with God.

Walking in Wisdom

How many times a day do you need to ask for God’s wisdom? As I write these words, it’s almost noon, and I’ve already counted on God’s wisdom several times today. Isn’t it wonderful that all you have to do is ask Him for guidance with a heart full of faith...and wisdom will be given to you?

The next time you face your trials or dilemmas, instead of praying for the removal of your test, ask God to give you the wisdom needed to handle it His way.

Stop, look, and listen before you move ahead full speed. Stop before you do anything. This gives you time to consult the Lord before you act. Look to the Lord. Boldly ask, “Lord, what do You want me to do here?” Listen for His wisdom.

A heart of faith believes God hears your cry for help...and He answers. Proceed because you know God’s wisdom is best. Respond to Him in obedience without doubt.

These actions and attitudes of faith make up the secret to wisdom. You will face trial after trial, but you now know how to face them!

RESPOND:

Lord, I’m asking today for Your guidance. Help me to discover the secret to wisdom, to discern Your Word and Your will so I can move forward as a woman growing in You. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

This printable is an easy reminder of five simple steps to increase in godly wisdom.

REFLECT:

Do you try to solve problems on your own? How can you remind yourself to turn to God first?

REMEMBER:

Ask God for wisdom!

Watching Out for False Teachers

One of my favorite descriptions and pictures of the Proverbs 31 woman is that of her watching over her family and home: “She watches over the ways of her household” (Proverbs 31:27). As wives, mothers, and homemakers, we wear many hats as we discharge our duties at home. And there’s no doubt that one of our most important duties is that of a “watchwoman.”

Just as the walls of the ancient cities were dotted with watchmen who guarded the towns 24 hours a day against hostile action, we too faithfully and carefully guard our children from harmful influences and sound a warning to our husbands when we feel the family is threatened.

Watching Out for False Teachers

Paul watched too. He checked on and encouraged the people who attended the churches under his charge. In fact, when Paul listed his sufferings for the cause of Christ, he ended his list by stating that “besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). He worried about false teachers promoting ungodliness.

As we pray against the ungodly influences that could cast darkness over our families, our children, and our hearts, what can we watch for? Look for three bright stars produced by sound, biblical teaching in 1 Timothy 1:6-7, "Some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm":

Godly edification—Sound teaching furthers the plans of God (1 Timothy 1:4).Good fruit—Sound teaching comes from the heart of a sincere teacher (1 Timothy 1:5).Glorious gospel—Sound teaching showcases the glory of God (1 Timothy 1:11).

Growing in Discernment

Do you want to learn and grow so you can understand the doctrines of the Christian faith better? So you can teach them to your children and help others? You can start by studying the Bible, attending Bible-study classes, and memorizing Scripture.

The more you know, the more effective your protection of your loved ones will be. How can you not be fooled by false teaching? Answer: By being familiar with the truth! Put W-A-T-C-H to work in your life today:

Want to be with God’s people

Ask God for discernment

Take in God’s Word

Carefully select a Bible-teaching church

Heed the warnings of Scripture

Keep watch over your spiritual well-being so you can help your family and friends distinguish light from dark.

RESPOND:

Dear Lord, give me a heart of discernment so I can watch for those who teach Your light and avoid those who don’t. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

“A Woman’s Guide to Making Right Choices” by Elizabeth George was written for women who are seeking guidance on how to handle life's many responsibilities in a Christian way.

REFLECT:

Am I watching out for the spiritual well-being of my family? Pray for wisdom as you seek to guard your loved ones.

REMEMBER:

Schedule time in each day to study God’s Word and make a plan to memorize Scripture. It is the sword of the Spirit!

Listen to God, Not the World

In Paul’s day, women were coming to faith in Jesus Christ out of pagan religions. They truly needed the godly teaching and example of older women in both the spiritual and practical things of God. But the same is still true today. Women who come to Christ need help as they seek to put off the teachings and standards of the world and put on the behaviors the Word of God teaches.

How do we keep from listening to the world? Here are some ways:

Avoid reading the women’s magazines on the newsstands or checkout counters. Or if you do, read with discernment. One glance at the touted contents on the covers will tell you they are filled with worldly wisdom rather than godly wisdom.Be discerning about women’s talk shows. Again, about five minutes of any one of these programs will commu­nicate that you are getting a dose of the world’s view of your role as a woman.Surround yourself with friends who are a godly influence.Stay in God’s Word. Your best choice of influence is always the Bible. Read it. Relish it. Rely on it. And let it rule your life.Read daily from a trusted book on godly living. I found out firsthand that the simple act of reading just five minutes a day keeps me sharp, keeps me thinking, and keeps me on our my toes when filtering out the influence of this world.

Are you a new Christian? Open your eyes and look around. Spot an older woman who’s been a Christian for a while and watch how she loves her husband, how she balances the responsibilities of work, family, and church.

Then go one step further—ask this older woman if the two of you could talk. It doesn’t matter where (let her determine the place). And remember, you’re not asking for a long-term commit­ment to a mentoring or discipleship relationship. Your meeting may work its way into that, but just ask to get together once.

Prepare yourself for the meeting with your questions gleaned from your reading and studying God’s word. Arrive with a set of questions and a Bible, a journal or notepad, and a pen. Share your questions with her, and then allow this wonderful woman to share her insights with you. Perhaps at some future time, God will give you the opportunity to pass it on to another younger woman!

RESPOND:

Lord, help me to walk in your wisdom and avoid the foolishness of the world. Thank you for leading me to You. Amen.

RENEWING RESOURCES:

This printable is a perfect reminder to seek wisdom and kindness as godly women. Purchase and download it here. 

REFLECT:

Who can I ask for godly advice for my life?

REMEMBER:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).