Talking Like a Lady

To continue with the "Like a Lady" thoughts here are the things that stuck out most to me regarding Talking Like a Lady.

2. Talking Like a Lady

"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

Proverbs 31:26

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that is may benefit those who listen."

Ephesians 4:29

• While these scriptures encourage us to "talk" with Wisdom and to be Helpful with our words and to Build each other up- we have a tendency to use our "talk" or words to be harmful and to hurt.
• Ways to NOT talk like a lady:

1. To have a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:16-19)

2. To be a gossip (Luke 18:9-14)

3. To grumble and complain (Philippians 2:14)

• Ways that were presented to avoid harmful talk:

1. Be aware of what you say

2. Pray the scriptures: "May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14

3. Pray often to control your tongue

4. Remember Philippians 4:13- "...I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

5. Fill your heart with goodness and goodness will come out. (Matthew 12:34-35)

As Ladies we can be helpful or harmful with our words. We need to make a choice to speak with words of wisdom, and with the goal of being beneficial to those around us. Speak with helpful words to our husbands, children, families, friends and strangers.

"But I tell you that men will have to give an account for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37

"Dear Father, help me to be a woman after your own heart. I want to use my words to build up my husband, children and those around me. I want my words to be a light in the darkness. I love you, Father. Amen."

Walking Like a Lady

Recently, I attended a Ladies Retreat encouraging us to be the "Ladies" God desires for us to be. The weekend was so uplifting and refreshing for me that I want to share some thoughts with you. It also gives me another chance to meditate on the scriptures that were presented. The topics included: Walking Like a Lady, Talking Like a Lady, Sitting Like a Lady, Dressing Like a Lady, Acting like a Lady, Thinking like a Lady, and Worshiping like a Lady.

1. Walking Like a Lady

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14

• We are called to walk in the Light and in turn we are able to be the Light in the world.

"Anyone who claims to be in the light, but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness: he does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded him." 1John 2:9-11

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." 2John 1:6

• We can only walk in the light if we also walk in love

As Ladies...We need to walk in Light and Love.

My hope is to continue sharing these thoughts with you over the next few days.

" Dear Father, I want to walk with you daily. I want to feel and see your light. I want to learn to love as you love so that my path may be clear and straight. I want to walk with you, Father.Amen."

Thoughts...

I have been reading "At Home in Mitford" by Jan Karon. I love it when you read something in a book that makes you stop and meditate on the thought. In this wonderful read an older women who has lived a very full life asks this question to her friend...

"Did you ever think that just when people grow old and have so much to tell, that's when people want them to hush?"

As I though about this question I realized that the thought was very true. I feel strongly that God has placed a special spot in my heart for the geriatric population. I work in two nursing home and rehab centers. The age population ranges from around 70 to 100+ years old. Let me just tell you that I learn something EVERYTIME I take the chance to slow down and just listen! When you look into these sweet people's eyes you can just see they have so much to share and so much wisdom just bursting to come out. However, our society sees them often as burdens and too slow to keep up.

I also took this thought one step further...

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanders or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God" Titus 2:3-5

God gives us so many opportunities to share the wisdom we have been blessed with. More then that he has blessed each of us with older and wiser women to honor, respect, and learn from. I looked around our church family this morning and noticed how blessed I was to be be in a family that has "grey hair". I am encouraged to be around these special women and learn from their full lives. I also looked around and noticed the range of young girls/women that I have the opportunity to instruct and encourage. We need to be women who lean and learn from each other.

Listen to the sweet elders around you...they have "so much to tell."

Philippians 4:8