HOW TO FIND UNFADING BEAUTY

THE UNFADING BEAUTY OF A GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT

“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”

Proverbs 18:22

I am amazed at the number of women who actually think their husbands DO NOT need anything from them. Yes, it’s true; many husbands try to act cool and calm, like they have it all figured out. As men we even try to give our wives the impression that we don't need anything beyond intimacy and a good meal.

We are very good at exhibiting disdain, disinterest, isolation and stoicism.

Wives, I want to tell you a secret: it is all a facade. Inside, most of us are confused about who we are as men and trembling under a deep sense of failure and inadequacy. We've learned a few tricks to keep those things well hidden and we invest a lot of energy in keeping up the act.

But, your husband does need you. He needs you terribly. In fact, he will probably look to you to determine how he feels about himself.

Your husband needs your respect because he is constantly struggling with feelings of self-doubt and failure. As men, we've been designed for achievement and enterprise, but are frustrated by a world that does not cooperate with us. Your husband needs to know that he is enough; that he has what it takes!

He needs you to encourage him, affirm him, and even admire him. Your husband is longing to know that he is competent and desirable in your eyes. A truly successful marrieage is a testimony to the awesome power of a wife's loving embrace and her words of esteem.

Your husband also needs you to have a tranquil, contented spirit. The Bible calls upon you, as a woman of God, to develop “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.”

Another part of the secret I am telling you is that men find a woman who is at peace within herself, one who is confident and happy, to be irresistibly attractive. Your husband needs a wife who loves life and accepts the person God has made her to be. A man's world is filled with competition, injustice, stress, and responsibility. His wife has the incredible power to calm his heart simply by her own God-given tranquility.

If you have developed the habit of being demanding and demeaning toward your husband, this will turn him into a hollow shell of a man. It will kill his heart. It is exactly the opposite of what he needs from you because just when he needs you to affirm him, you kick him when he's down. Just when he needs you to calm him by your tranquil spirit, you heap on the anxiety and bring tension to an already troubled home. You may think that by “keeping after him” your husband will eventually get the message and give you what you want. It won’t. You will only push him farther away.

This Week's Prayer

Lord, please save the marriages that need saving. Save them all through Your undying love and grace. Give husbands the courage to Love as you did Your Church - with their very lives. Give wives the grace to love their husbands with patience and kindness. Amen.

A NEW YEAR. A CLEAN SLATE.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:2

Have you ever been to an ice show with children? If you have you know their favorite part of the show is often not the characters skating around on the ice and all the special effects. No. Their favorite part of the ice show is usually the Zamboni.

That’s right, the big machine invented by Frank Zamboni back in the early 1940’s, often captures the imagination and wonder of children – and adults – like nothing else on ice. I believe it is because it makes everything like new again! If you don’t know, the Zamboni is a big truck with warm water inside. It drives over the rough surface of skating rinks during hockey games, figure skating competitions … and ice shows. It spreads a perfectly even coat of warm water which flows smoothly over the existing ice and freezes instantly. Like magic the ice behind the truck is flawless and ready to be used again by the skaters.

Why am I telling you this? Because Jesus knows that our souls and our bodies need an occasional Zamboni!.Except, He calls it Fasting.

Why is fasting so important? Because it puts us in harmony with His Father. Along with prayer, fasting demands humility from those who wish to be close to Him. Fasting humbles and cleanses the flesh. And we cannot enter the presence of God unless we are pure in all ways. That is why we count on Jesus and obey His commands.

We also do as He did. Jesus went into the desert to pray and fast for forty days. He did this in preparation for His ministry. And this we do, as Christians and as a church, in preparation for the year ahead.

Yes, you can go a certain distance in God, experiencing many things, without fasting. But the greatest and most powerful blessings come to those who together with other disciplines, fast in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Fasting is not magic. It works because God has a plan for your life and He looks for those who urgently want to make the corrections necessary to follow Him. Fasting simply gives you a clean slate – a clean mind, body, soul and heart – onto which you can more effectively place God's focus for your life.

If you’re up to it, there is no better time than right now to fast and pray. What a great way to start the new year! For more information, here is a link to help you begin.

This Week’s Prayer

Dear Lord, this time is for You. Please make of me what You will. Strengthen me as I fast and pray. Give me a pure heart and mind. Cleanse my body and prepare me for the days ahead. I want to hear every word the Holy Spirit has for me so that I may follow the beautiful plan You have made for my life. Lead on, dear Jesus, lean on. Amen.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

A Christmas Prayer

By Raymond Bechard

Dear Lord,

I come to you on bended knee.

For in the night you made me see.

You gave me hope when all was gone,

And carried me to the light of dawn.

I journeyed long and traveled far,

To find the Babe beneath the star.

My search is over, I wait no more.

Up to heaven, my heart will soar.

You hold the hope for all mankind.

In your Spirit our lives we find.

And when I need your loving care,

Your Son answers my Christmas Prayer.

Amen.

COME IN! COME IN!

Come In!

By Raymond Bechard 

Come In! Come In!

Out from the storm.

Brush off that snow.

Come in and get warm.

Your heart and the ice,

The fire will melt.

When we sit together,

The love will be felt.

Rest in the comfort,

Of God’s loving Son.

Born this Day,

The Holy One.

Here there is peace,

No worries. No fears.

With our Savior Jesus,

The end of our tears.

Christmas is a gift,

From God above.

One filled with faith,

With Hope and His Love.

A CHILD

A CHILD

By Raymond Bechard

My Son . . .

I send you now to earth below,

To men and women who do not know.

Their hearts are empty and lacking grace.

They long to see my loving face.

Go as a child, not as a king,

Upon your birth, will angels sing.

Walk gently with them, for they live in fear.

Make them brave, for my Kingdom is near.

Remind them of peace and all is not lost,

Invite them all home, and You’ll pay the cost.

Show them I love them, every one,

Enough to give You, my only Son.

I NEED AN ANGEL

I need an Angel

By Ramond Bechard

I stood in the darkness, alone in the night.

I stood against evil, and danger and fright.

I looked up to heaven, to the Lord up above,

“I need an Angel,” I cried. “I need Your Love!”

From stars overhead came trumpets of joy,

To here in a manger, this small Baby boy.

Born to a world of anger and sorrow,

Promising hope and a bright new tomorrow.

Throughout all the earth God’s creatures gave praise.

They sang through the nights and into the days.

Their song flew to heaven, their mighty chorus soared,

“My Angel is here, ‘tis Christ the Lord!”

THE GIFT OF LOVE

The Gift of Love

By Raymond Bechard

From starlit night

To dawn’s new light.

From heaven above

The Gift of Love.

From miles around

They heard the sound

An angels’ shout

Come Out! Come Out!

From distant land

Cross desert sand

They sought His birth

Upon sweet earth

From lands afar

To Seek His Star

In this one place

A new Babe’s face.

From One so small

Hope for us all.

One voice will bring

Our hearts to sing!

On Christmas night

With candles bright.

From heaven above

The Gift of Love.