by Naomi from Virtuous Daughters, October/November 2018~Volume 18, Number 4 Vessels are used in the Bible many times in connection with this topic of consecration. The only time this word actually appears in Scripture is in the context of the tabernacle or temple, as God gives His people instructions on how to serve Him best. The word "consecrate" means to "set apart" and to "dedicate," specifically, "to the service and worship of God."
In this sense, we as Christians are compared in 2 Timothy 2:20 to vessels, set apart and consecrated for the Master's use. "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." (2 Timothy 2:20-21) by Emily from Virtuous Daughters, February 2011~Volume 10, Number 11 Thy Word is like a garden, Lord,
With flowers bright and fair; And every one who seeks may pluck A lovely cluster there. Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; And jewels rich and rare Are hidden in its mighty depths For every searcher there. Thy Word is like a starry host: A thousand rays of light Are seen to guide the traveler, And make his pathway bright. Thy Word is like an armory, Where soldiers may repair; And find for life’s long battle-day All needful weapons there. O, may I love Thy precious Word, May I explore the mine, May I its fragrant flowers glean, May light upon me shine! O, may I find my armor there! Thy Word my trusty sword, I’ll learn to fight with every foe The battle of the Lord. (a hymn by Edwin Hodder) As seen in the words to this hymn, the Bible can be likened to many things. In Psalm 19, we are told that God’s Word is “more to be desired than gold” and “sweeter than honey.” Job said he esteemed God’s Word more than his necessary food. We know that the Bible is inspired and preserved by God, free from any error. It is a powerful “sword” for spiritual battles. Hiding God’s Word in our hearts will help to keep us from sinning. The Word of God produces faith, which is necessary for salvation. As 2 Timothy 3:16–17 tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” by Christianne from Virtuous Daughters, January 2008~Volume 7, Number 10
Grow in the Lord! by Amelia from Virtuous Daughters, February 2015~Volume 14, Number 11 During the summer months I really enjoy hiking. I particularly enjoy hikes that lead uphill and into the mountains because the view at the top is so beautiful and rewarding. Living in Alaska, there are plenty of such hiking trails. In addition to the majestic views from high mountainsides, I also enjoy seeing all the wildflowers. Although there are many varieties of wildflowers to be seen on almost any hike, there is one flower that I have admired hike after hike for a few years. It is called the windflower.
The windflower itself is rather plain. It grows just a few inches tall and has five simple, round, pure white petals. I have taken notice of this flower not so much for its appearance, but for where it grows, as it seems to grow in the most unlikely of places. I see this flower growing well above tree line fully exposed to the driving winds and sometimes harsh weather conditions we experience even during the summer. Besides this, it grows in some of the rockiest soil, oftentimes having less than half an inch of soil to grow in atop massive boulders. And yet these small windflowers bravely put forth their blossoms adding delicate beauty to the rugged mountain terrain. by Jennifer from Virtuous Daughters, April 2013~Volume 13, Number 1 Last time, we unpacked the glorious promise of Jeremiah 31:14, realizing that God wants to satiate our souls with living water and soak our lives in His all-sufficient presence. This is a wonderful truth to apply to our lives; but most of us fall short of living it as we should. We know that our Lord is all we truly need—that He alone can bring lasting satisfaction—but we focus our energies on earthly things as if they will fulfill and complete us. We convince ourselves that “if only” we could have this thing or reach that place or become this different person, we would finally be happy; and instead, we wind up empty and miserable. Our gracious Heavenly Father wants much more for us than this! He wants us to know true satisfaction, to walk through each day with joy, and to showcase His glory before an empty, miserable world. His vision for His children is not merely to survive the daily grind, but to thrive in the midst of its challenges. Here is a description of the life He wants for us. The last verse is one you will recognize. “. . . [A]nd they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord . . . [T]heir life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. . . . I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will [satiate] the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord” (Jer. 31:12-14 ESV – emphasis added; same for the following verses).
by Jennifer from Virtuous Daughters, March 2013~Volume 12, Number 12 We finished last time with the reminder that believers are “a royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9), separated unto God for holy purposes. A wonderful promise comes with this separation. God spoke it to the tribe of Levi in Leviticus 18:2: “Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren; the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.” God Himself wants to be our inheritance, our portion! No thing(s) He could ever give us would be equal to the gift of Himself. He said this to Abraham in Genesis 15:1b: “. . . Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” In Him alone is all we really need and more than we could ever want. No one else in all the universe has the ability to satisfy us fully; but our all-sufficient God can and will. Here is His promise to us: “And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness [abundance], and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD” (Jer. 31:14). Let's explore a little bit of what this promise means.
by Jennifer from Virtuous Daughters, February 2013~Volume 12, Number 11 God's family is diverse yet unified. He draws people with different gifts and experiences and melds them into one body, the head of which is Christ (Eph. 5:23). Members of the body may have unique functions (1 Cor. 12), but all of us share the same calling—the same identity and purpose in Christ. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet. 2:9).
by Sarah from Virtuous Daughters, July 2013~Volume 13, Number 4 At the end of the day, I was contemplating what I had done that day. God prompted a thought on my heart. How many times do I look into the mirror each day? I realized I look at myself quite a lot, and many times there are subconscious thoughts, such as, “Don’t I look adorable?” Other times, the mirror brings discouraging thoughts to mind, “Oh! That piece of hair just won’t stay put. I wish my hair looked like others girls’.”
"Waiting on the Lord" Series by Gina L. from Virtuous Daughters, October 2015~Volume 15, Number 7 Last year when our family of ten was living in a camper volunteering at a ministry in Flagstaff, Arizona, after five months of living in the same camper on a horse ranch—Sermon on the Mount—in Oklahoma, I finally had this wonderful opportunity to use a full-sized kitchen which was located in the welcome center next to where we parked our camper. With more thankfulness than ever, I resumed the daily task of feeding my large crew.
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