Daily Treasure

“And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light”  (I Samuel 25:36).

As we return to our study of Abigail, we see another example of her godly wisdom.

Upon returning from what could have been a disaster, Abigail found Nabal doing what he did best—partying and becoming drunk.  Abigail had dreaded facing him. In wisdom she decided to wait until he was sober enough to hear her story.

Often times when the timing just isn’t right to share, say nothing.  It’s best to just wait and pray before proceeding.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for the health of Creative Access workers.

“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away.  Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and whereever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.  And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.  And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more”  (2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NLT).

Mirrors don’t lie, they say.  What you see, is what you get.  Same’s true with the mirror of Christ in our lives.  The more of Him we inhale, devour, take in and seek out, the more of Him we’ll reflect.

In our words.

In our deeds.

In our thoughts.

In our choices.

In our reactions.

In our routines.

As we allow Him to work within us, the world sees more of Him.  Small steps, choices to obey, decisions to put aside self-seeking ways, takes us farther from our old selves and closer, inching closer, to His likeness.

Whom do you want others to see—more of you or more of Christ?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that today’s Mission: North America Offering would provide much needed funds for Home Missions operations.

“ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God ” ( 1 Corinthians 10:31).
“…The choice is yours, not mine”  (Job 34:33 NLT).

What will you do with today?

Work.  Laundry.  Mow the yard.  Run errands.  Go shopping for groceries.  Exercise.  Clean house.

Our lists look similar, don’t they?

But have you added “glorify God” to the list you’ve made in your planner?

For example…

I’m going to work to glorify God.  I’ll be honorable in all my dealings.  I’ll be a good steward of my boss’s time and materials.  I’ll be grateful that I’m standing in line at the timeclock and not the unemployment line.

I’m going to throw the clothes in the washer, hang them out, fold them and put them away to glorify God.  Thankful for the family that wear them.  Praising God for the health to do it.

Mow the yard to the glory of God, etc.

Get the picture?

Anything you do today can be done to God’s glory!  He wants just that.  He’ll allow just that.  He has created you for that purpose.  It’s up to you…

“…The choice is yours, not mine.”  Job 34:33 NLT

The children you teach, the news you receive, the data you enter, the customers you wait on.  The choice is yours, to God’s glory, or not?

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for students seeking God’s will at Free Will Baptist Bible College’s Welcome Days this weekend.

“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her” (Proverbs 31:28).

We end our special prayer focus with missionary wife Khristi Shores.  She and her husband, Mark, serve in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Mark praises his wife, though she doesn’t live for that.  It’s not about pride or a struggle for self-worth; rather, Khristi and other missionary wives give God the praise and glory for things they have accomplished.

Missionary wives, you are indeed “rubies”  (even by Proverbs 31 standards). You are “priceless” and worthy of praise.

As all our home missionary wives serve the Lord in their called fields, let us remember the sacrifices and challenges they face for the salvation of souls.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that home missionary wives would see themselves through God’s eyes and not fall prey to either pride or low self-esteem.

“She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms” (Proverbs 31:17).

Jeff Cates is impressed with the quiet strength of his wife, Sondra.  The Cates serve as missionaries to Canyon, Texas. He notes, “Sondra did not originally sign on as a preacher’s wife (God later called her husband into ministry).”  Thank God for women who are willing to stand by their husbands, committing their lives to do God’s will.

We are all “works in progress.”   Let us pray for one another—that each of us will display the traits of strength and honor as we lean on the Lord for help each day.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for personal integrity and spiritual strength in home missionary wives as they tackle the challenges of this day.

“She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness” (Proverbs 31:27).

Today’s word of the day is “industrious.” Its dictionary meanings include “working energetically and devotedly; hard-working; and diligent.”  According to home missionary Howard Gwartney, his wife Patsy fits this definition. Howard and Patsy serve in San Tan Valley, Arizona. Those who labor tirelessly for the cause of Christ always manage to find a way to,  as Howard put it, “get things done.”  Patsy is an example of how women can juggle church, home and a full-time job.  Being idle is not an option. Matthew 6:33 obviously works for Patsy Gwartney.

Missionary wives rely on God’s strength to accomplish what they need to do.  They send this message to us today, “So can you.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for good health and stamina in home missionary wives who balance mission responsibilities with a full-time secular job.

“She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12).

Many times when we think about missionary wives, we forget they lead lives much like ours, only busier. Robyn Osborn, who serves with her husband, Tim, in Oakland, Tennessee, can attest to that fact.  She is wife, mother, homeschool teacher (for several years she was both a teacher and a student completing college degrees) and last but not least, a missionary. Her husband and family admit that even with all the demands on her time, she is filled with goodness. She obviously has her priorities in order. May our goodness be a trait our family can’t help but notice.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Ask God to grant wisdom and patience to home missionary wives involved in education, either as teachers or as students.