Hope #7

... we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:3-7, www.solascriptura.com



We thank you Father for sending the Holy Spirit, a constant source of Your Holy presence in us. O'God, Your thoughts toward us exceed number. That is a reality we have a hard time grasping. Can we do any less but to look to You, all day, in every circumstance. We truly never need to walk alone.

You came that we might have abundant life. Thank You Father for helping us to understand that it is Your desire that we experience goodness and mercy, at Your hand, even if others try to discourage us. Help us to be an encourager to such people, we pray.

May we draw near to you, constantly. In Jesus' Holy name, we pray, amen

Bruce Caldwell

Marriage #2

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.



Proverbs 31:10-31, www.solascriptura.com



Father, now we know why Solomon had so many concubines. His wife was exhausted! (only joking)Your word tells us that "she shall rejoice in time to come." In our world today few women live in households where doing such things as Solomon cites here is even possible. A woman doing all these things would indeed rejoice... in a time to come.

You say, "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." Father, our wives and daughters are a wonderful blessing to us but less because of the work of their hands than the convictions of their hearts. We praise You and thank You for our wives and daughters. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.



Bruce Caldwell