WFW: Psalms of Lament

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? (Psalm 22:1 NIV)

When Our World Turns Upside Down

“Pain to deep for words” “Inexpressible joy” “Unspeakable evil”

These simple phrases reveal the truth that sometimes, we’re unable to put strong feelings into words. Recently, I wrote “10 (New) Ways to Instantly Become More Attractive.” The general message of the article was that we should adopt a positive attitude and minimize our troubles. That is certainly true to a point; others do find hopeful people appealing.

However, God knows that there are legitimate occasions in our lives when we need to “vent” about an intensely negative experience. And sometimes our own vocabulary utterly fails us. In his loving grace, He has provided a whole collection of Old Testament literature that we can use to aid us in our prayers and worship.

Known as the Poetic Books or Wisdom Literature, they’re positioned between the Law and the Prophets. The Law (Pentateuch or Torah) consists of the first five books of the Bible, including Genesis and Exodus. Largely historical, they are God’s words to man. The Prophetic Books (Joel, Malachi etc.) are God’s enforcement of the Law through the prophets, they reveal the nature of the heart, and they are spoken in oracles.

Five Books of Wisdom

The Poetic Books or Wisdom Literature consist of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. They are man's words back to God and affirm our human experience and emotions.

1. Ecclesiates. For instance, Ecclesiastes is an expression of “cynical wisdom” which acts as a foil against adopting a Godless outlook on life. This atheistic view denies the reality of a resurrection, a final judgment, and the saving grace of God. Ecclesiastes is intended to help people over the age of forty embrace life in a fresh way as they reflect on their blessings.

2. Job. The beauty of the “speculative wisdom” found in the Book of Job affirms the truth that humanity is corrupted by sin and under the dominion of Satan. Job experienced six levels of depression as he encountered the complete collapse of his world. Depression is a human emotion and part of the human event.

In conversations with four “comforters,” Job argues that life is unfair; suffering is not necessarily the result of personal sin; and this life is not the way God originally intended it to be. We are reminded that God is the solution to the problems of life and not their cause, and we can trust in God’s sovereignty and righteousness.

3. Proverbs is the quintessential book of “prudential wisdom.” It contains memorable maxims and common sense applications of the Ten Commandments that young people can learn in order to make responsible choices in life.

4. Song of Songs. The beauty of the Song of Songs is to be found in its celebration of the Jewish concept of yada (to know); it promotes sexual love within the context or “wise choice” of marital fidelity.

5. The Book of Psalms is filled with prayers and musical hymns addressed to God rather than by God. Affirming the emotions, they express truth about Him in poem form. The poetic vocabulary of the psalms is full of metaphors and imagery in order to evoke a response that is heart-centered, rather than to express a system of doctrine that is to be taken literally.

How the Psalms Encourage

The psalms can be used as a beneficial guide to prayer. As a formal means of expression, the psalms aid the worshipper in expressing difficult thoughts or feelings. The second benefit of the psalms is by example. They demonstrate how we are free to be honest with God in expressing our joy, anger, discouragement and other strong feelings. Finally, the psalms demonstrate the importance of reflecting on what God has done. Disciplined mediation of the psalms helps to fashion in us a life of holiness and mercy.

Three Categories of the Psalms

1. Psalms of Orientation. “Life is good.”
• Songs of Creation. 145, 104, 33, 8
• Songs of Torah. 1, 119
• Wisdom Psalms. 37, 14
• Songs of Retribution. 112
• Psalms of Well-being. 131, 133

2. Psalms of Lament or Disorientation. “Lord, how long?”
• Personal Lament. 3, 20, 22, 44, 13, 86, 35
• Communal Lament. 74, 79, 137
• Regret over sin. 51, 32
• Laments of hate. 137, 109
• Darkest Psalm. 88

Interestingly, the Laments (complaint-anger) are the largest group, numbering more than sixty corporate and individual laments.

3. Psalms of New Orientation. “Thank you, God!”
• 23, 30, 100, 66, 91

I’m indebted to the book, How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Fee and Stuart for some of the information above. Also used were notes from a Northwest University Exegesis & Hermeneutics class.

“Much Christian piety and spirituality is romantic and unreal in its positiveness... But such a way not only ignores the Psalms; it is a lie in terms of our experience.”—Dr. Walter Brueggemann

Photos: {dpade1337}, M3Li55&40 & vial3tt3r7 (Flickr)

Related: For more Scripture quotes and sweet Christian fellowship, join Amydeanne and the other sisters for Word-Filled-Wednesday at The Internet Cafe. WFW is about celebrating the gift of creativity through God’s Word.




Up Next—Humor: A Deacon's Ordination

Did you discover a favorite Psalm during a time when life was especially painful?

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Marriage: ABCs of Being a Helpmate

How to Support Your Husband's Call to Servant-Leadership

A. Admire his manly qualities
B. Bless him in the bedroom
C. Cook his favorite foods
D. Dress like a woman
E. Exercise for health and beauty
F. Forgive him for forgetting the small things
G. Give him lots of smiles
H. Heed his advice, accept to his solutions
I. Iron his clothes
K. Keep your house in order
L. Laugh at his jokes
M. Mother your children well
N. Nagging is out. Asking with confidence is in.
O. Open your mouth often to say, “Thank You”
P. Play outdoors together
Q. Quit trying to “improve” him
R. Respect his efforts to earn a living
S. Submit to his leadership
T. Trust that he has your best interests in mind
U. Understand his need to be needed
V. Vulnerably share your feelings
W. Walk and talk together, side-by-side
X. eXplain your needs for empathy and romance
Y. Your schedule should include sex
Z. HiZ ego is sensitive; tread with great care

In American football, there's a quarterback and a receiver. The same is true on the playing field of life called marriage. From the list above, can you tell me who is who?

This entry was inspired by a pastor's wife named Laura at Living by Faith.

Photos: wildphoton (Flickr)



Coming Up—Book Review: God Knows Your Love Language

What else would you add to this list?

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Overview of the Feasts of the Lord

God's Timeline to Completion

Are you a “big picture” person? Do you comprehend the meaning of symbols rather easily? If so, no doubt you love studying the Old Testament feasts and ceremonies.

Leviticus 23 is the single chapter in the Bible that sums everything up for us. God’s eternal plan—from chaos to completion—is ingeniously revealed through the character and timing of the seven annual Feasts of the Lord.

While we are no longer required to observe the feasts as Christians
(Col 2:16-17), we still can learn a great deal through their study. If we look at human history and how it intersects with these seven feasts, we can accurately determine where we are on God’s timeline to eternity.

God Shows Moses the Right Way to Throw a Party

On Mt. Sinai, God gave Moses the dates and observances of seven special annual feasts. Sacrifices and offerings were a major feature of the feasts, and they were to be strictly observed by the Jews. Even Jesus was careful to celebrate the Passover just before his crucifixion.

If you imagine the Tabernacle’s seven branched lamp stand, you notice that there are two groups of three lamps on either side of a central dividing lamp. The feasts are arranged similarly on the Hebrew calendar. There are three feasts in the spring (March and April) and three in the fall in (September and October). The seventh feast of Pentecost or "Weeks" falls in May between the two groups of feasts in the spring and fall.

Names of the Feasts

1. Passover or Pesach
2. Unleavened Bread or Chag Hamotzi
3. First Fruits or Yom Habikkurim
4. Pentecost (Weeks) or Shavuot
5. Trumpets or Rosh Hashana
6. Atonement or Yom Kippur
7. Tabernacles or Sukkot

Spring Feasts

1. Passover: This is the Feast of Salvation in both the Old and New Testaments. The blood of lambs delivered the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, and it delivers Christians from slavery to sin. It’s no coincidence that Jesus was crucified at Passover, just as the Hebrews were instructed to sacrifice a lamb so the angel of death would pass over their homes before they left Egypt.

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Leaven (yeast) symbolizes sin or evil in the Bible. The Hebrews were instructed to eat unleavened bread (matzah) for seven days to symbolize a pure walk with God. In the New Testament, Jesus himself is called the “Bread of Life” and believers are considered pure by walking in relationship with Him.

3. First Fruits: Celebration of the Barley Harvest. On this day, the Israelites were to celebrate the fertility of the land that God had given them. This was the time of harvest for their early planting of barley, and they were to “wave a sheaf before the Lord.” The modern church calls this celebration Easter after Ishtar, the pagan goddess of fertility. However, the deeper meaning of Easter for true believers is a celebration of the risen Christ, who is the “first fruit” of all the souls who will be resurrected after Him.

Pentecost

4. Celebration of the Summer Wheat Harvest. Fifty days were carefully counted out and on the appointed day, two loaves of bread baked with leaven were waved aloft as an offering to the Lord. This is symbolic of the church being comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. On the day of Pentecost directly following Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit was poured out on a large group of Jewish believers so that they would have the power to witness "to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

Fall Feasts

5. The Feast of Trumpets takes place during the fruit (grape and olive) harvest in September. The call of the trumpet was to alert the field workers to immediately stop their work, and assemble at the Temple for worship. Many Bible scholars believe this feast represents the Rapture of the Church which will take place just before the Great Tribulation begins.

6. Atonement or Yom Kippur is the day of confession, and the highest of holy days for the Jews. This somber holiday does not have any Christian meaning, since Christ has already provided atonement for our sins.

7. The Feast of Tabernacles is a concrete reminder that God provided shelter for the Israelites when they were wandering in the wilderness. Each year, observant Jews build “booths” or temporary structures outside their homes for worship, eating, and sleeping. For the Christian, this joyous feast celebrates God’s desire for union with mankind, and his plan to dwell permanently among believers for all eternity.

Are We There Yet?

A review of the first four feasts reveals that Christ was crucified at Passover, buried on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and he rose on the Feast of First Fruits. The Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost to empower believers to witness to others and to live holy lives. We have not yet seen the fulfillment of Feast number five, Trumpets. Therefore, there are still some exciting things yet to come on God’s eternal timeline.

I’m indebted to Hebrew4Christians for the information above. Note that the feasts of Hanukkah and Purim are not Levitical Feasts appointed by God. They were added to the Jewish calendar by the Rabbis in order to commemorate two important historical events in the life of Israel.

Recommended Resource

For further information, do consider this book, The Feasts of the Lord recommended by Beth Moore in her excellent Bible study “Stepping Up." I bought a used copy for my library; it’s well-worth your denarii.

Related: Ready for some more thought-provoking posts? You’ll find them at the Christian Carnival ii here.

Photos: maxnathan, HaleyHyatt, kmoney & Fonzi's Cousin (Flickr)


Up Next—Marriage: ABCs of Being a Helpmate

What aspect of these seven feasts impresses you
the most?

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Word-Filled-Wednesday: Rev 2:22

Between the city street and the river, the tree of life was visible from each side. It produced twelve kinds of fruit, each month having its own fruit. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Rev 2:22 ISV)

Reflection: Eternity's Endless Harvest

Can you imagine life without the four seasons? Apparently that's what life in eternity on the renewed earth will be like. (Imagine canning and pickling all year round!) Even in our fallen world, the diversity and abundance of God's natural bounty is astounding.

Last Sunday, we left the city and bought fresh corn on the cobb, strawberries, blueberries, and nectarines at a country market. The heady fragrance of all the produce ripening on the fruitstands was heavenly! This time of year, many North American homemakers are busy stirring their pots full of sweet concoctions. One blogger in southern California just posted an article about making fresh lemon jelly from her own lemon trees. Awesome!

One of my favorite weekend outings is a trip to Uwajimaya market in Seattle's international district. Prickly aloe vera, star fruit, and other unidentified Asian vegetables never cease to amuse and amaze me. I look forward to eating an array of fresh, colorful salads in the company of good friends, forever. What do you look forward to in eternity?

For more Scripture quotes and sweet Christian fellowship, join Amydeanne and the other sisters for Word-Filled-Wednesday at
The Internet Cafe. WFW is about celebrating the gift of creativity through God’s Word.


Related: Marriage Monday

By the way, speaking of fruit-bearing, the general topic for Marriage Monday in two weeks will be "Adding Kids to the Mix." Let's talk about one of the most important aspects of marriage, the "fruit of the womb." Agreed?

Since many of us are busy with back-to-school activities, I want to give you ample advanced notice. Choose one of the four title options below now, so you can be prepared to link up for Marriage Monday on Sept. 13, 2010.

If you're new to Chrysalis, and you would like to get involved, you can learn about the Marriage Monday meme here. Please join us!

Choose One Title and Run With It

1. Raising Boys: What NOT to Do
2. Public, Private or Homeschool? Why our Decision Works for Us
3. Killer Time Management for Busy Families
4. Favorite Books our Kids Will Keep Forever

Photos: jenicra84 (Flickr)



Up Next—Overview of the Feasts of the Lord

What do you look forward to in eternity?

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Bible Study: Romans Road to Salvation

7 Powerful Verses for Witnessing

For centuries, serious Bible students have been memorizing seven key verses found in the book of Romans. Carefully selected, they lay out a clear path to salvation. The next time I find myself witnessing to someone from the Scriptures, I intend to have this “Romans Road to Salvation” tucked into my mental suitcase and ready to go. Would you like to join me?

1. Rom 3:23. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

2. Rom 6:23. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

3. Rom 5:8. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

4. Rom 10:9-10. "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

5. Rom 10:13. "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

6. Rom 5:1. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

7. Rom 8:1. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

I never get tired of hearing the Gospel message, do you? It still thrills my heart! Via GotQuestions.org. Also, many thanks to April at April in January for inspiring this post.

Related

Ancient Rome was well-known for its superior system of roads. Roman soldiers built over 53,000 miles (85,000 kilometers) of roads by hand to connect every part of the empire.

The Roman saying "All roads lead to Rome" was literally true. A merchant could begin his journey on a Roman road in northwest Africa, journey around the entire Mediterranean Sea, end up in Rome having never left a Roman road. For road construction techniques and a map of these roads across Europe, click here.

The Christian Gospel spread relatively quickly throughout the Roman empire, thanks to these amazing highways and byways that were already in place in the first century.

Related: Join Jennifer Bartlett and the other brave and committed folk for Memory Monday at Joanne's blog, The Simple Wife. Also, Barbara H. began a meme, The Week in Words not too long ago. Every Monday, she invites bloggers to post their favorite quotes for the week and link up at her blog,
Stray Thoughts.

Photos: clive_reedman (Flickr) & Historic UK.com

Coming Up—Word-Filled-Wednesday

Are there other Bible verses you would add to
this list?

Read More

Art & Architecture: The Tabernacle of Moses (VIDEO)

Spiritual Object Lessons in the Wilderness

Have you ever been wilderness camping? Do you remember setting up a tent, struggling with the pegs, and attaching a fly to keep off the rain? Then you went scavenging for firewood and looking for a source of water. Do you remember how relieved you were to inflate your air mattress, throw out your sleeping bag, and finally crawl inside, exhausted? Imagine camping every day of your life for forty years… in the desert.

That’s the way the Israelites lived immediately after God led them out of their life of slavery in Egypt. No wonder they complained! Yet, God himself chose to dwell among them as they camped and journeyed through the wilderness, expressing His holy presence as a pillar of cloud in the daytime and as a pillar of fire at night.

On Mt. Sinai, Moses was instructed to fashion a portable tent to serve as a place for sacrifice and a unique meeting spot between sinful humans and a Holy God. Designed to emulate God’s heavenly throne room, the Tabernacle contained important object lessons for the ancient Israelites, and also for modern worshippers like you and me.

Presented in three segments, the following 3-D computer-generated videos allow us to take a privileged walk through the Tabernacle of Moses. Hard-to-visualize passages of Scripture spring to life as we proceed through the courtyard, into the tent, toward the holiest place, and even beyond the veil. I guarantee that the Table of Shewbread, the Altar of Incense, and the Ark of the Covenant will no longer be fuzzy mental images. And you’re going to feel as if you’re walking on holy ground, just as the priests once did.

View Part 1 (9:56 mins)

View Part 2 (10:2 mins)

View Part 3 (6:05 mins)

Related

1. The Tabernacle Model Kit for Families and Schools (Top illustration)

2. The Inflatable Church. This is modern mobility to the max!

3. Remember to join the Carnival of Homeschooling for Christian fellowship and educational enrichment.

Illustration from A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place by Beth Moore (pdf)



Related: Take a minute to visit my vintage apron
i-store, Susannah's {Kitchen}. And do remember to check out the ever-popular Carnival of Homeschooling.

Next—Memory Monday: Walking the Roman Road




Your thoughts and reflections?

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13 Bible Trivia Questions: Patriarchs & Matriarchs

Test Yourself First. Then Test Your Kids!*

1. The 3 Patriarchs are

Jesus, John the Baptist and Virgin Mary
Jesus, Abraham and Muhammad
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

2. The 4 Matriarchs are

Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mary Tudor
Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Rachel
Sarah, Rebecca, Leah and Mary

3. Sarah is the wife of

Isaac
Jacob
Abraham

4. Rebecca is the mother of

Isaac and Jacob
did not have children
Esau and Jacob

5. Leah and Rachel are

friends and wives of Jacob
sisters and wives of Jacob
daughters of Isaac

6. Hagar is

the wife of Abraham and mother of Ishmael
the handmaid of Sarah
both

7. Abraham’s father is

Noah
Adam
Terah

8. Where was Abraham commanded by God to offer his son, Isaac, up as a sacrifice?

Mount Sinai
Mount Moriah
both

9. Which Patriarch was also called Israel?

Abraham
Isaac
Jacob

10. How old were Abraham and Sarah when they gave birth to Isaac?

Abraham 100, Sarah 90
Abraham 1000, Sarah 900
Abraham 59, Sarah 32

11. Who were twins?

Rachel and Leah
Jacob and Esau
Hagar and Sarah

12. Where was Abraham born?

Jerusalem, Canaan
Ur, Chaldea
Giza, Egypt

13. Where is The Cave of the Patriarchs located

Hebron
Jerusalem
Bethlehem

Source: Bible Jokes & Study Online. *Get the answers here. (No peeking!) How did you score? (On my first try, I missed two.)

Related: 20 Random (Bible) Trivia Questions. Also, visit my vintage apron i-store, Susannah's {Kitchen}. And do remember to check out the ever-popular Carnival of Homeschooling.

Photos: erin m & Nick in exsilio (Flickr)



Up Next—Model of the Old Testament Tabernacle

Have your children started school yet?

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Random: Sunshine AWARD

15 Special Honorees:
Marriage Monday Sisters

We really love sunshine, especially up here in the Pacific Northwest. Did you know we’ve been having a record-breaking heat wave? It’s 95 degrees F today. Love it!

Licks-and-wags go to Blue Cotton Memory for honoring Chrysalis with the Sunshine Award. Yippee and thank you!

Sunshine Award Rules

Now for the best part—the award transfer. It’s my pleasure to “pay it forward” to 15 deserving honorees. Each special blogger listed below has added much sunshine to my life through her participation in our monthly Marriage Monday meme. Thank you, sweet sisters! There are no rules for this award, just my request that you share the love with at least one other blogger (when you have the time of course). Simply copy & paste the graphic.

In no particular order…

1. Constance at Slim Pickin’s From My Brain
2. Denise at Shortybear’s Place
3. Angela at Refresh My Soul
4. Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage
5. Tonya at MotherWit
6. Faith at Gold in the Clouds
7. Susan at Forever His
8. Joy at Couple’s Love Book
9. Toia at Designer’s Original
10. Donetta at A Life Uncommon
11. Julie at The Surrendered Scribe
12. Alicia at Confessions of a Snowflake
13. BP at Raindrops & Rainbows
14. Miriam Pauline at MiPa’s Monologue
15. Gemini at The Road We Travelled

Marriage Monday Blog List (Free Link Juice!)

Many of these award winner’s names are listed on the Marriage Monday Blog List. Please join our community! There are no dues and no waiting periods. If you would like a boost of “link juice” to increase your search engine page rank, click here for three easy instructions. I’m happy to add your name to the list—and I’ll also invite you to be "friends" on Facebook.

Seven Things About Myself

Did you attend my Christmas Party in July? If so, you might remember that one of the party events was The Versatile Blogger Award. It's nice to share the awards around, so I haven't duplicated any honorees today. As Christmas party hostess, I was so busy caroling and nibbling on fruitcake, that I forgot to follow all the VBA rules. Here then, are the factoids that I left out:

1. I usually don’t talk about myself unless I’m asked.
2. However, I do talk on and on, when someone shows an interest!
3. My life has been filled with the good things that mean the most to me: love of God, my wonderful husband, and our precious children.
4. We have a crazy orange calico cat who is an “eating machine” and a very loud meower. His name is Rusty and he’s nearly fifteen. (Our third child.)
5. Reading, blogging, theology, bible study, gender, educaton & learning style theory, art, photography, interior design, food, and travel are my passions.
6. I also love aerobic dance, jazzercise, hiking, boating, bicycling, and beach walking. Oh, and laughing!
7. The best conversations with girlfriends are all about interesting articles, experiences, and information. But I’m happy to talk about our feelings too.

Photos: **Mary** & Mommamia(Flickr)


Up Next—Bible Study: Trivia Quiz

Did I forget you? If so, please copy the button, and consider yourself a winner!

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10 (New) Ways to Instantly Become More Attractive

Friday Fave Five... Times Two

Last spring, Simple Mom published an article with an enticing title. “10 Ways to Instantly Become More Attractive” immediately got my attention. Apparently, it got your attention too!

This week, I took up the challenge to create an additional ten-point list to celebrate the waning days of summer—and the sad end of swimsuit season.

First, the condensed version:

1. Part your lips and smile broadly!
2. Stop talking, and ask people questions about their lives.
3. Look for the humor in every embarrassing circumstance.
4. Offer to assist strangers with simple tasks in public places.
5. Take the long view of your life.
6. Take care of your health.
7. Refuse to gossip.
8. Use the word “You” twice as much as you use the word “I.”
9. Act like Pollyanna.
10. Buy a pair of great sunglasses.

1. Part your lips and smile broadly!

It’s true—we attract more flies with honey. How often do your check your rear view mirror when you’re driving? Probably quite a lot. Me too. This week, I got up close enough to the mirror to study my face. When I forced myself to smile, immediately I felt better. After a few minutes of forced smiling I actually did feel happy.

2. Stop talking, and ask people questions about their lives.

Then listen with interest. If the topic is a tad boring, steer it to something you’re genuinely excited about. The Queen of England is considered a fabulous conversationalist at state dinners. Why? She’s learned the art of asking questions.

3. Look for the humor in every embarrassing circumstance.

Last winter, one of our lawn sprinkler pipes burst. For half an hour, we enjoyed an impromptu landscape “water feature” that shot up fifteen feet into the sky. Just like a house on fire, all our neighbors came running up the street to see what was going on. I was completely mortified. However, like a skilled improv artist, e-Dad kept the crowd laughing until the shut-off valve was found. Needless to say, now our neighbors think he’s wonderful!

4. Offer to assist strangers with simple tasks in public places.

Another embarrassment. One afternoon this week, I was pushing my grocery cart through the parking lot a little too quickly. Suddenly, I hit a speed bump. The bags in my cart were violently jostled around, but all my eggs survived unbroken. However, my 24-roll package of bathroom tissue bounced off the cart's bottom shelf and landed smack on the pavement. A sweet lady appeared out of nowhere, helped me gain my composure, and kindly rescued my lost load. I will remember that woman's random act of kindness forever!

5. Take the long view of your life.

I try to keep Rom 8:28 in mind at all times: “All things work together for good…” Most of us know a myriad of hurts, losses, and disappointments. But God promises that he will create something beautiful out of the compost of our lives. He’s the Master of Redemption, not only of his creation marred by sin, but in our personal lives as well. The knowledge that “the good guys win” keeps me encouraged when the going gets tough. People are attracted to others who consistently display a positive attitude of hope.

6. Take care of your health.

As Moms, we know that martyrdom and over-giving to our families can quickly lead to burn-out. Ask for help if you’re not getting adequate rest and personal time. A low carb diet, regular exercise, vitamin supplements, daily social interaction, plus attitudes of gratitude and forgiveness all contribute to robust good health. I thoroughly enjoy my evening waterfront walks with e-Dad. A healthy body equals a healthy mind, and also makes us attractive toward others.

7. Refuse to gossip.

Talking in a negative way about friends and family undermines the confidence of the people we’re sharing our frustrations with. They wonder if we talk disparagingly about them behind their backs too. Cutting off negative conversation can be especially difficult when we are angry or hurting. However, when we uphold the reputations of all of our friends to one another, we are perceived as attractive and trustworthy.

8. Use the word “You” twice as much as you use the word “I.”

As someone said, “God gave us two ears for a reason. We should listen twice as much as we speak!” We should try to keep our focus outward rather than inward—most of the time. We can learn a lot from successful salespeople. Intent on service, they keep the customer’s question, "WIIFM?" uppermost in their mind. (What’s in it for me?) The most attractive marketing professionals focus on the customers’ needs and how to solve their problems. Trying to impress a client with how many years they’ve been in business or how many awards they’ve won is usually fruitless.

9. Act like Pollyanna.

Life putting you through the ringer? Downplay it in conversation. Sucking on lemons? Learn to make lemonade. Try to tease out the silver lining and put a positive spin on your situation. I love e-Dad because he is always quick to view the glass as half-full instead of half-empty. This week I spent time meditating on Phil 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." If you do the same, you'll be a magnet for others.

10. Buy a pair of great sunglasses.

A nice pair of sunglasses and some fresh lipstick on a warm smile are very appealing, aren’t they? Hollywood stars know that dark glasses arouse our curiosity by creating an air of mystery. (I bought a pair of sunglasses that mimic the shape of my face and I wear them early and often.) A few wardrobe separates that fit your body well—whatever your body type—also communicate a message of self-respect and say, “Let’s get acquainted.”

Join Susanne’s popular Friday Fave Five meme at Living to Tell the Story. It's a wonderful way to reflect on the positive things going on in our lives. (Oops, looks like I really overshot my limit of five points today. I hope you’ll forgive me this time, FFF sisters!) This week, Susanne bent the rules a little too. And in honor of her 100th post, she's offering a Starbucks giftcard to one random linker who joins the party.

"Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion." (Prov 11:22 ESV)

Top & Bottom Photos: HamedSaber & tanakawho (Flickr) Middle Photo: e-Mom



Up Next—Random Blessing: 15 Sunshine Award Honorees

Now it's your turn. What would you add to this list?

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Book: "Making Work at Home Work"

A Valuable Resource for Mompreneurs

The U.S. economy continues to falter, and predictions of doom and gloom abound. Dubbed the “He-cession,” job loss has severely affected such predominantly male sectors as finance, real estate, construction, and manufacturing. Fortunately for our English-speaking relatives, Canada and Australia have weathered the recession relatively well. Whether the Euro will survive is unclear, due to the sovereign debt of individual countries within European Union.

So how are you and your family faring economically? Sometimes, difficult times call for difficult measures. If you’re a SAHM or SAHHM, have you considered re-entering the workforce? Maybe you’re a WAHM—or would like to be. If you’re wondering how feasible it is to start a home-based business, the following resource might be of interest to you.

Author and mother, Mary M. Byers has written a book designed to address the challenges of work-at-home Moms. Making Work at Home Work: Successfully Growing a Business and a Family Under One Roof (Revell, 2009) shows mothers how to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set without sacrificing the well-being of their families. The book covers important topics like:

• developing a successful business philosophy
• balancing time between work and family
• setting realistic goals
• handling the challenges of being both "Mommy" and "CEO"

Book Review

The following review by Ellen P. Lafleche-christian contains helpful information about this book:

“Many people would rather work at home than leave the home every day for work.
I know that I would certainly rather stay home with my family each day than go to work at an outside location. However, working at home brings with it a whole new set of challenges…

Mary M. Byers showcases twelve work at home women and their businesses and talks about what they've learned about working at home. She also teaches you how to schedule your time, manage business expenses, know when to take a break, avoid stress with your relationships, manage childcare when necessary, plan for the future and work smarter so you can make more.

Making Work at Home Work is a great tool for the work at home mom whether you own your own business or you are a direct sales representative. For a bloggers like me who are trying to manage an income from our blogs, her ideas helped keep me on track and motivated.

I really love the Appendix that she included that's filled with quick and easy dinner recipes for work at home moms. What a huge help when we are pressed for time or working on a deadline. I can't wait to try the creamy lasagna recipe!

If you're a working mom who's struggling to make working at home work for you, I highly recommend that you read this book. Mary Byers will get you started on the path you need to follow to be more organized and successful.”

One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. (Acts 16:4 NIV)

Related

• “Summer Survival” at Mary M. Byers’ Making Work at Home Work blog.
• e-Mom’s Bio (Includes some of my WAHM history)
• Works-for-Me-Wednesday at We are THAT Family
Photo: DesertMonsterBell (Flickr)



Up Next—Personal Life: 10 (New) Ways to Instantly Become Attractive

If you work at home, what are your best resources?

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Family: Susannah Wesley's 16 Rules

A Mother with a Mission and a Method

"I am content to fill a little space if God be glorified."—Susannah Wesley

Susannah Wesley was the mother of 19 children, including John and Charles Wesley, the founders of Methodism. Although she faced much adversity, she dedicated her life to instilling Christian values into each child. Susannah's sacrifices paid off; her children went on to change the world.

Susannah is famous for the 16 rules she laid down in her home.

1. Eating between meals not allowed.

2. As children they are to be in bed by 8 p.m.

3. They are required to take medicine without complaining.

4. Subdue self-will in a child, and those working together with God to save
the child's soul.

5. To teach a child to pray as soon as he can speak.

6. Require all to be still during Family Worship.

7. Give them nothing that they cry for, and only that when asked for politely.

8. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is first confessed and repented of.

9. Never allow a sinful act to go unpunished.

10. Never punish a child twice for a single offense.

11. Comment and reward good behavior.

12. Any attempt to please, even if poorly performed, should be commended.

13. Preserve property rights, even in smallest matters.

14. Strictly observe all promises.

15. Require no daughter to work before she can read well.

16. Teach children to fear the rod.

This excerpt has been quoted from Family of Destiny: Encouraging Words for Christian Families. If you would like to read more about Mrs. Wesley's life and family, click here.

What is Methodism?

"The roots of Methodism comprised a group of 18th-century Oxford University students called the “Holy Club,” amongst whom were its founders, John and Charles Wesley. The term Methodism is a pejorative college nickname for that group, which described the methodical approach they used to study the Bible.


Gathering regularly for Bible study, prayer and self-examination, the group began a tradition that would lead to the second-largest Protestant denomination in America and a worldwide membership of approximately 11 million people, of which 8.6 million live in the United States." Discover more here...

Related: The Carnival of Homeschooling is a wonderful resource for thoughtful Moms and Dads. Also, Barbara H. hosts a meme on Mondays called The Week in Words. You're invited to link any quote you've posted on your blog during the past week.

Top Photo: AdWriter (Flickr)



Up Next—Spiritual Growth: 10 Ways to Instantly Become More Attractive

Was Mrs. Wesley too severe? What would you add to (or remove from) her list?

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5 Bible Study "Rock Stars" in the Spotlight

Friday Fave Five

Giggling. Yes, I can count. I know there are only three women
in the photo!

We’ve turned the corner into August, and I’m starting to think about autumn Bible study options. Are you? The following Bible teachers are enormously popular among Christian women. In fact, a significant number of random visitors to Chrysalis arrive as google searchers on a quest for biographical information about them.

You might be interested in learning a little about the personal lives of these teachers too. They are listed in order of their popularity in the searches. (Kay Arthur is the favorite by far!)

1. Kay Arthur — Precept Ministries International

2. Beth Moore — Living Proof Ministries

3. Kay Warren — Say Yes to God

4. Jill Briscoe — Telling the Truth

5. Elisabeth Elliot — Daily Devotional

Please join Susanne and the others for her popular Friday Fave Five meme at Living to Tell the Story. Good times and good friends!

Each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (1 Cor 1:12-15 ESV)

Top Photo: Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer and Kay Arthur from Deeper Still,
The Blog. Collage created in Photobucket with media images.

Up Next—Family Life: Susannah Wesley's 16 Rules

What other names would you add to this list of beloved Bible teachers.

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Word-Filled-Wednesday: Gal 5:16

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Gal5:16 ESV)

Walking in the Spirit and abiding in His love is a choice, and keeps us from sinking into the sticky muck of sinful speech and behavior. Meditating on this verse has also reminded me of bold Peter, who stepped out of the boat and walked across the water to meet his Lord. Now that is faith in action!

Related: The Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee was the setting of Peter’s miraculous walk of faith. This summer, I’ve been following Asbury Seminary professor, Ben Witherington III’s blog posts about his family trip to the historic “Lands of the Bible 2010.” Fabulous!

Witherington’s description of the Sea of Galilee begins like this: “Call it a sea, call it a lake, call it Kinneret, the Sea of Tiberias (see John 21), or the sea of Galilee, it is certain a beautiful place, but a sea, by any normal modern definition,
it is not…”

If you’re as fascinated by Bible geography as I am, you can enjoy Ben's photos and learn more here…

For more Scripture quotes and sweet Christian fellowship, join Amydeanne and the sisters at The Internet Cafe. WFW is about celebrating the gift of creativity through
God’s Word.


Photo: BingoLittle (Flickr)



Up Next—5 Bible Study "Rock Stars" in the Spotlight

What does "walking in the Spirit" mean to you?

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Welcome to Marriage Monday

An Interview with My Husband

There’s something intimate and romantic about shopping with our husbands in mind. Have you noticed? Early in our marriage, I noticed that taking e-Dad’s personal food preferences into account really filled up his love tank. That old adage is really true: “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!”

Scripturally, women have a special relationship to food. For instance, when we study Eve’s temptation in the Garden, we notice that Satan drew her attention to a special piece of forbidden fruit. Notice that she fell into temptation in three key areas: lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and boastful pride of life (1 John 2:16).

Genesis 3:6 says that Eve took the fateful bite based on the fruit’s beauty; its nourishing qualities; and its ability to “make wise.” Satan deliberately hit a trinity of "hot buttons" that God has built into every woman. In fact, modern research reveals that the areas of deepest concern to mothers are home, healthcare, and education.

Every man battles temptations too, but his three corresponding areas are uniquely male. It’s no secret that our husbands face stronger temptation in the areas of sex, money, and power.

In fact, when we study Satan’s temptation of Christ in the wilderness, we notice that he tried to sway our Lord to sin with his eyes (Lk 4:5), his flesh (Lk 4:3), and his pride (Lk 4:9). Setting Jesus’ celibacy aside, it’s easy to conclude from passages like this, that men have been specially commissioned to procreate, provide for, and lead/protect their families.

e-Dad's Favorite Foods Revealed

And frankly, I'm grateful for that! Periodically, as a way of showing appreciation for all his hard work, I sit down with e-Dad and ask him what he’s been craving. (Last week he requested more ground beef e.g. BBQ Cupcakes). You’re invited to eavesdrop on our latest conversation about food.

1. Would you name three dinner entres that you really enjoyed lately?

E-Mom is noted in all the Realm for her delicious and savory faire!

• Your Mexican chicken enchiladas

• Your zesty seven layer bean dip and chips

• Your cheesy lasagne (can't have too much lasagne)

• Also the Greek salads you make (Hmmm, is that three yet?)

2. In your opinion, which ones flopped?

The coriander steak, although I know you will perfect it eventually. It's more challenging and very different from most of the delicious meals you prepare. The goal of reaching the level of the Thai restaurant we visit, will be rewarding and I will fully support your future efforts at perfection. I know from experience that it will be worth it.

3. Which foods would you like more of?

It is rare for me to turn down Mexican food. (I remember travelling and laughing all around the midlands of England looking for hours for that non-existent Mexican restaurant we heard about). I always enjoy your Mexican chicken enchiladas, especially the recipe with salsa verde and sour cream.

4. What would you like to see banished from our menu?

I think I have had enough "stir fry" to last for a while! I also think I have had enough Mac and Cheese. (Oops, can I say that in America?)

5. Secretly, what dessert have you really been craving?

• Whipped banana cream pie. Hmmm, this interview is making me hungry.

• Add to that Whipped Chocolate Mousse and Burnt Creme, but not mixed together!

Thanks honey! I’m going to tie on my apron now, and cook you a scrumptious bowl of Mac and Cheese!

Choose a Title to Go

If you would like to link a post for Marriage Monday today, you'll find an introduction to today’s topic, “Romantic Food Faves” here. Snag one of the four titles listed and run with it. You’re welcome to link up any time up until midnight on Wednesday. You can copy the code for one of the new graphics here if you want. Thanks for joining us for Marriage Monday today!

Related: You’re invited to join the Marriage Monday community. Instructions for joining the Blog List are here.

Photos: funadium (Flickr)

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