A Beautiful Song

Practice went very well. Other than the fact that performance was the next morning, and this was the first we had practiced together...let alone at all...we were able to get a pretty good feel for what we were aiming for and how to make it happen. The song was beautiful. A vocal solo accompanied with piano and violin, it was sure to hit the mark and speak a message of hope and comfort to the listeners. We recorded the last run through for reference, then enjoyed a little chit-chat before parting ways for the evening.

The next morning, arriving bright and early for the sound-check, we began to play it through. Everything was going well until half way through when all of a sudden the mode changed and something just didn't sound right ~ almost as though one of us was playing in a different key even. Being the violinist, I checked my music, quickly scribbled out the day before, to make sure I was still playing the correct notation. It was in an unfamiliar key with six sharps, but that shouldn't be the problem seeing I was still right on according to what was written. I quickly tried to scan the vocalist's part, not quite sure what was going on, but she was still moving forward and a little confused as well. The pianist, with calmness of demeanor and quick-wittedness worked to return to the written order of chords, and after a couple measures of "recalculation in route" met back up in the original chord progression just in time for the first key change. The rest of the soundcheck went alright, and we were able to end on a good note. But we definitely needed to run through it again and correct the mis-hap before it was time to present it...

In the back room, after a few other scheduled practices, we got together again to iron out anything that might be a "tripping hazard" during performance. And the most recent encounter was the first topic to be brought up. "What happened on the second verse?" I asked. The pianist replied in a humored, but self-corrective way, "I never do good for sound checks. But my pride got in the way and I got lost. It works like this, I sit down and think, 'I got this', then along with all the extra activity that is happening during that time, I get distracted which makes me lose my place."  

His comment struck a very familiar sounding chord in my own heart. "...pride got in the way and I lost my place..." That comment echoed in my heart for the rest of the day, and I knew the Lord was using this to remind me in a very tangible way of what so easily and commonly happens in our every-day lives. Prideful assumption that we can handle _______, producing a lack of focus on what really matters, therefore ending in a lost estate of a mess to try to find our way out of. So often we forget that constant vigilance is necessary to keep our heart focused on Christ and what He has set before us. Without our vigilant focus being on Christ, we then lose our place in one of two ways: either, we lose our place in the terms of we forget where we are and what we are supposed to be doing, or we lose our place of constructive influence or position in the lives of those who are watching and observing our lives, therefore becoming a disgrace to the kingdom of God. 

As children of the King, we are representing the King of kings and Lord of lords. What a shame when we allow pride to get between our hearts and our Guide. It distorts and corrupts that which God intended to be a beautiful song ~ speaking to hearts and entering into lives, drawing people to the Savior. We rather becoming a byword and a gazing stalk ~ repelling others from Him because of our distasteful and expelling attitude of pride.  

May the Lord help each one of us to stay humble and in the presence of mind to remain focused on Christ. As we keep our eyes and hearts on Him, He will lead us, shaping our lives into becoming a beautiful song for the glory of His name and the edification of those He wants to touch through our lives.

In closing, by the time we were to present the prepared message in song, we all were in a right state of mind, focused and attentive, and the Lord used it beautifully. It was smoothly presented without a noticeable glitch and we were able to support the message through compelling and confident presentation.  

 God is good to give us reminders along the way, even using real-life situations of lesser importance to reveal deeper truths that will draw us closer to Himself. My prayer is that as you journey through life, dear reader, you will be sensitive to the Lord in the everyday lessons He wants to reveal to you. Don't let a moment pass without recognizing His work in your own life, providing you opportunities, one after another, to grow in a more intimate understanding of Him and drawing nearer to His heart. His ways are past finding out, but He encourages us to seek Him, because He promises to reveal Himself to those who's hearts are truly searching for Him. But the only way He will be found of us is if we come in humility of heart, because He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." 

~ James 4:6-8,10 ~

His Heartbeat, My Own

"Delight thyself in the LORD; and He shall 

give thee the desires of thine heart."

~ Psalm 37:4 ~

     Far beyond our wishes, deeper than our wants, higher than our loftiest dreams, God has a plan for each one of us. For Him to give us the desires of our hearts means much more than merely granting our requests; it implies that He will develop within our hearts the desires that He intends for us to have and which He will fulfill. Ultimately, it is the essence of uniting our hearts to the heart of our Father. It is when we have drawn so close to Him that His heartbeat becomes our own---His will becomes our will, His plans become our plans, His desires become ours. 

     It has been said, "A woman's heart must be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her." I have often wondered about the application of such a statement, of how it is actually played out. Through the past months, the Lord has been deepening my understanding in that truth as I have sought a closer relationship with Him. No, it is not some mythical idea that is only good for "wise talk", neither does it require one to live a super-spiritual, isolated-to-God life as a Christian "nun" who can never enjoy the sweet pleasures of life. Instead, it offers that a lady who is truly delighting in the Lord and growing in her walk with her Savior will be a woman who inspires a brother in Christ to find his deepest joy and satisfaction in Christ before seeking to win her affection. 

     Recently, I was encouraged by the testimony of a Godly woman who truly lived out this truth. The story of how God brought Robert Wolgemuth and Nancy Leigh DeMoss together was deeply inspiring. My desire is that you, too, would be encouraged to seek first the kingdom of God, drawing nigh to Him, delighting yourself in Him and letting His desires become your own as you see how God so beautifully orchestrated the lives of two humble, surrendered servants, in His perfect time, to bring glory and honor to Himself. 

  ~Robert & Nancy~ 

Click on the link above to view their story  

The Three Sisters ~ Wisdom

"And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge..." (Exodus 31:3)

     Let's take a look at one of these three sisters, the first of the three essential keys to thriving relationships--Wisdom. Before moving too far ahead, we must first ask, "What is wisdom?"  

Wisdom ~ The Right Response to Truth

     "Wisdom [is] the right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and the best means of accomplishing them. This is wisdom in act, effect, or practice. If wisdom is to be considered as a faculty of the mind, it is the faculty of discerning or judging what is most just, proper and useful, and if it is to be considered as an acquirement, it is the knowledge and use of what is best, most just, most proper, most conducive to prosperity or happiness. Wisdom in the first sense, or practical wisdom, is nearly synonymous with discretion. It differs somewhat from prudence, in this respect; prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in avoiding evils; wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good."  ~ 1828 Webster Dictionary

Wisdom & A Virtuous Woman

     There are several similarities we have found shared between the descriptions of wisdom and a virtuous woman. Did you know that God bestows the same value to a virtuous woman as He does to wisdom?  One of the richest descriptions of value shared between them is that their price is above rubies.

     "[Wisdom] cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: 

for the price of wisdom is above rubies." 

(Job 28:16-18)

    "Who can find a virtuous woman? 

for her price is far above rubies?"  

(Proverbs 31:10) 

Could it be that such is the case because a virtuous woman manifests true wisdom?
    
 The second description of value is that they are a crown to those who embrace them.

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, 

when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: 

a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee." 

(Proverbs 4:7-9)

"A virtuous woman is a crown..." 

(Proverbs 12:4a)

     A crown brings honor and admiration to the one it adorns. It is a beautiful symbol of the greater authority it represents. In the case of wisdom, that higher Authority would be God.  For, as it brings grace and honor to the one whom it adorns, it ultimately brings glory to the One Who gives wisdom. 

     A virtuous woman is a crown to her earthly authority, namely her husband. (For those of us who are not married, Proverbs 31:11 states that a virtuous woman will do her husband good ALL the days of her life--she can bring him honor through her wise living even if she has not yet even met him!) However, we can also bring glory to the Kingship of Christ as single young ladies, and part of His diadem, through our wise decisions and actions of discretion. As others see our conversation in wisdom, they will be able to see our King more clearly.   

"Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my 

God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 

Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding 

in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, 

Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." 

(Deuteronomy 4:5-6) 

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your 

good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." 

(Matthew 5:16)

Where Can I Get Wisdom?

     "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof... Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding... And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:12-15, 20, 28)

     True wisdom can only be found through the fear of the Lord, as discussed in the previous post, An Excellent Spirit. Without a healthy fear of God, without a desire for righteousness, wisdom will be forever out of your reach, though always at your fingertips. Like a young child, who is blindfolded, tries to strike a piñata for the treasure inside, yet he cannot see what it is that he endeavors to aim for and, therefore, he is never quite able to strike his mark successfully, so is a person who attempts to strike the treasure of wisdom, yet is blinded from clearly understanding what it is that he strives for because the fear of God has not removed the blindfold of sin. But, once that blindfold has been removed and the soul begins to view life from the new perspective, responding to his circumstances with the fear of God, he will then be a life into which wisdom can freely enter. 

     "I do fear God," you may say, "And I have a strong desire for wisdom, but I just don't have it." James 1:5-6a answers that by saying,"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering..."  If you are truly walking in the fear of God, and you sincerely desire to know wisdom, then you must bow before the Giver of wisdom and seek to know His heart, asking Him to give you His wisdom, and be open and ready to receive it, for, according to His promise, He will give it to you. As you seek Him with all your heart, endeavoring to make His desires your own, He will give you the discretion and sound judgment you need to make wise decisions and act according to wisdom. 

Wisdom Applied

*You must desire it

     Solomon desired wisdom more than any other thing he could have been given. He longed for the sound judgment necessary to rule his kingdom well. Above riches, fame, popularity, and even his own comfort and well being, he desired that which would help him win the hearts of those under his jurisdiction, something that would enable him to guide the land so that others could thrive, something that would out-live even his own time on earth--and that was what he was given. 

    No one is going to force wisdom upon you. You are not required to have thriving relationships within your home. However, if you do want to have flourishing relationships with those around you, then you must desire wisdom with all your heart, you must want to truly know how to meet the needs of others, even if it means realizing where you are wrong or sacrificing your own comfort. For, if wisdom is not your desire, then wisdom will not help you and nothing that even the wisest person on earth may say will aid you in building lasting relationships.     

*You must exercise it

     King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, made some foolish mistakes. It is not enough to know wisdom--to be aware of every end goal, knowing just how to respond properly in every situation--if we neglect to utilize the wisdom God gives us. If you seek wisdom, God will give it to you, but you must use it.

*Don't waste time  
     Time is short. We never know how long we will be on this earth. There comes a day when wisdom backs off from those who did not heed her and laughs as they crash to their doom. Also, consider this, dear sister; as "forever" as this season in life may seem, we do not know how much longer we have under our father's roof, living with those dear, precious ones who call us "sister". Many a sister has walked away, gone off to college, or gotten married and left scars that will forever ache within the hearts of their siblings. But, if things are going to be different for us, we have to desire a change that will send ripples even farther than just ourselves and our circumstances. We must personally pray, "[Lord], teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

Something "Tangible"

The Wisdom From Above is:

Pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, 
without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Psalm 111:10)

An Excellent Spirit

"He that hath knowledge spareth his words: 
and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit." 
Proverbs 17:27

   Have you ever wondered how Joseph could keep his attitude right all through being hated and completely rejected by his own brothers, sold as a slave because of their pride and greediness; then thrown in prison after being falsely accused and given no fair trial and then forgotten by his only hope of release before he arrived to the position of being second in command over all Egypt? 
 How could Moses lead that whole throng of griping and complaining people through the wilderness for forty years and still have the patience enough to intreat the Lord to spare their lives multiple times when God, Himself, was ready to start over again? 
 What about Daniel? We talk about things getting bad here in America, but Daniel was a captive. None of his family, that we know of, was there with him, probably because they were all killed. He went through four complete government hand-overs and then was thrown in the lion's den because of a rash law that was made... And still, he was known throughout all the kingdom as a man of an excellent spirit!

   We all dream about having that perfect disposition of a big sister who is adored by all who see her, or of that big sister who "never gets in trouble"; the unaffected attitude that can easily roll with the punches, or that we can talk to any time of day about anything and receive encouraging, unassuming guidance and exhortation. And nothing is so inspiring than seeing a person who is of an excellent spirit despite the chaos and troubles around. What exactly is it that makes that so idealistically attracting? And why does it seem forever unattainable?

   The reason is this: satan is the father of lies and he is so cunning in deceiving us into believing that every good and perfect gift is completely out of our reach, and we've already blown it anyways... therefore there's no hope even trying to match up and amount to anything in our own family. True success can only happen "out there". So, may as well send our siblings on their way (because they won't listen to us anyway) and not weary ourselves over trying to meet their criteria of being a big sister to them. 

   But before we get too caught up in that train of thought, let's take a moment to consider a few things: If we are born again into the kingdom of Christ, redeemed by His atoning death on the cross and received into the family of God as heirs of God through Christ, then He has given us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these [we] might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (1 Peter 1:3b-4). We have been given the grace and strength to soar above the "normal" state of captivity into the marvelous freedom of walking with Christ. As our relationship with Him is strengthened, so will be the other relationships He brings into our lives and He will take us by the hand and teach us to nurture them as He nourishes us.

   That's a mouthful to read, and a stake to chew on, so let's take a deeper look into how our relationship with Christ affects our relationships with others. We really do desire to have strong, thriving relationships with those He has placed in our lives, and we do long to be the sisters we know we ought to be, but where do we start?       

     If you are familiar with gardening, you would recognize this term as essential to the strength of all plants: The root system. This is what obtains the majority of nutrients and gives the plant stability. In our lives, the tap-root in this root system to spiritual growth is the fear of the Lord:

 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;

and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)

 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: 

but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

   The fear of the Lord is not being scared of God. Imagine that you were suddenly placed on a tight-rope walk 200 feet in the air, with nothing more than a small cord connecting you to the anchor rope that extended above where you stood. Some may identify more than others, but consider that you had a fear of heights. Would it be the high rope you stood upon that made you afraid? No; your fear of heights would not be directed at the place of hight, but at the ground. You would be afraid of even thinking of the possibility of slipping from where you were anchored and crashing in a devastating heap on the hard ground situated quite opposite from your perch. So is one that has the fear of God. She is not scared of God, but rather shudders at even the thought of slipping away from Him, for she knows that her life would surely end in destruction. 

   So, how do I get the fear of God? Take heed to the words of the wisest man on earth, King Solomon: 

 "My [daughter], if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."  (Proverbs 2:1-5)

   You must come to the place of knowing that you don't have it all put together, and you must set your heart to seek Him with everything in you. You must purposefully search for God. Then, you must soften your heart to hear what He says. And when you have found Him and have made Him your hearts abode, then He will teach you what it is to walk in a manner that will glorify Him and edify others--He will instruct you in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. 

   These three sisters -- Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge -- are the three keys that open the door to having flourishing relationships with others. And having them will enable us to be people of excellent spirits. In the next three posts, we will be covering each of these three keys individually, and asking God to open our eyes and hearts to see others the way He sees them. He is the giver of life, therefore He holds the secrets of how to live it. 

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him;

and he will show them his covenant." (Psalm 25:14)

"For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path." (Proverbs 2:6-9)     

In His Diadem

  In His Diadem is a blog designed specifically for young ladies journeying through life. A diadem is not just any type of crown, but it is one that most ornately adorns the head of a sovereign. Unlike a typical crown, a diadem is set with precious jewels of costly value. 

     Proverbs 31:10 says, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Rubies are one of the most valuable, most expensive of gems. The writer of this passage likens the value of such gems to the value of a virtuous woman. Not only are they hard to find,  but they are not easy to be, and those who set out to be one must pay a price that requires giving up much that this world has to offer. 

     As virtuous women, like precious gems set within the diadem of our Sovereign and Lord, Jesus Christ, we have the privilege and vital responsibility to be a part of the visible adornment that will proclaim to the world the majesty of our King through the testimony of our lives. Yet, while we are here on earth, the Lord has established pictures through our physical relationships and interactions that are just samples of the heavenly reality. 

     Those pictures are displayed through our relationships with our earthly fathers, our brothers, and, should the Lord will that we marry someday, with our husbands. Just as we adorn the diadem of our Heavenly King, we also hold a priceless responsibility to bring honor and respect to the men God has placed in our lives--whether that be our 5-year old little brother, or our 95-year old grandfather--through our conduct of virtue, grace, and purity. This is not an easy task, but being a woman whose price exceededs that of rubies is not a cheep achievement.

     We are two sisters, Anna and Elisabeth. This journey of virtuous womanhood is a road we are still treading ourselves, and we do not even pretend to claim to have it all figured out. However, as the Lord is teaching us what it is to be in His diadem, we desire to pass on the truths we learn from His Word so that you, too, might grow in the grace of our Savior.   
   
   It is a journey. But, by His grace, we can shine as lights in this dark world, richly sparkling forth the beauty of His holiness through our conduct of purity, faith, and charity. May you, dear sister, be challenged, inspired, and encouraged as you learn, with us, what it is to declare His glory in our everyday lives.

In His Diadem,
Anna & Elisabeth