Aspire to Inspire

    "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or
    addicted to much wine, but to teach was 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 (NIV)
Yesterday as I was running errands I saw a church marquee that read "Aspire to Inspire before you Expire".  I was immediately reminded of what has been called the Titus 2 woman.  Now most of us has heard of the Proverbs 31 woman.  I even receive a daily devotional from the P31 Ministries and regularly check the blogs of the women who write and speak for this ministry.  However, God has also regularly reminded me of the other instructions to women in His word.  I personally have been challenged and inspired by the Titus 2 women. 
 Paul gives instructions to Titus, who he has left behind in Crete.  Included in these instructions are the things that Titus is to teach various groups.  In Titus 2:11-14 Paul goes on to tell Titus why he needs to teach the people the things he had instructed him to teach.   Paul states that it is because God's grace, through the form of His Son, Jesus, has appeared for the salvation of all, to redeem all.  Only those who truly receive Him as Lord and Savior are saved.  Paul further states that the same grace that saves us aso trains us.  Therefore, Titus needs to teach the people so that the Word of God will not be maligned, blasphemed, or dishonored.
This is why we, as godly women need to study the instruction that God wants us to received from his Word given to Titus through Paul, and thereby down the generations to us.
Because of my age I tend to focus on the first group that Paul talked about in his intructions.  The older women who were to be taught to be reverent in the way tht they live, to not be slanders.  Other versions translate the word slanders as false accussers or malicious gossips.  In study of the word reverent found in Strong's dictionary I think Paul mean that the older women should be modest in deportment as well as devout.  Paul often tell women that they are to be modest in how they dress and behave.  Further Titus is to teach the older women to avoid drinking too much wine to the point of addiction.  It appears that the olderwomen of Crete had a reputation for being malcious gossips, engaging in slanderous talk and drinking too much wine.  Lastly the older women were to be taught these things so that they would then teach what is good.  Paul then tells Titus what good things the older women are to teach the younger women.
They are to teach them to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, kind, and lastly subject to their husbands.  For me personally the things that the older women are to teach the younger are things that the older women need to do themselves.
If we pick up Paul's words in 2:12 we learn that the grace of God not only brings us forgiveness/salvation but also teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright nd godly lives in this present age.  This again is further instruction for how those who have been saved by grace are to behave. 
So if I am going to follow the instructions on that church marquee I need to aspire to life according to these instructions so that I can inspire other women, particularly younger women, to live as God has instructed through his Word.  I most certainly don't do that and therefore, I need to turn to God for help.  I need to turn to accountability partners to remind me when I am not following these instructions.  I desire is to be a good older Titus 2 woman.  Therefore my prayer today is:
Father God,
Help me to live according to your instructions.  Help me to be modest in my deportment (bearing).  Help me to not engage in gossip and slander.  Help me to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions to live a self-controlled, upright and godly life inspite of the temptations of the present worldly age.  For your help, guidance, and instruction I give you thanks and praise.  In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Still at it

I have spent the last two nights working on updating my website for "My Creative Yarns" in the hopes that maybe I can finally spark so interest in this venture and make it profitable.  Plus then I would have a viable reason to keep downloading all of these really cute patterns I keep finding.  Still do not have the page the way I want it.  What I see in my creative mind is just not ending up on the computer screen.  I've got this collage thing going on but just can make it look like I want it too.  Plus then I still have to put together a catalogue and price list.  That one will be a little easier because I'm going to simplicity there and not eye catching/get them to want to spend money look for the webpage.  This is taking time away from my writing.  I am suppose to be working on getting the first three chapters of the novella I wrote for Nanowrimo back in November ready to send into a contest.  I also need to spend a little time on the other WIPs I have going on.  I did get the closets cleaned out and reorganized last weekend now just have to find time to take four large black garbage bags of clothes and another bag of books down to the Downtown Rescue Mission.  Hope to get around to that next week.  I also want to get back to reading and studying but just can't seem to make up my mind just what.  Have recently finished some really good fictions.  Possibly when I get this website done will be able to talk myself into doing some serious study for awhile.

Back Again

It has been several weeks since I posted.  Have not really been reading anything, nor have I been writing.  I seem to be unwilling to stop knitting long enough to do any of those things.  Also when I am not knitting for the last week I have been listening to a Webinar I signed up for entitled "Getting Revived" from A Woman Inspired.  The speakers are Christian Women speakers and I have really enjoyed the ones that I have heard.  They have been inspirational and informative.  Plus they have not been the normal ones I hear.  A change up can sometimes provide me with new insight and inspiration.  The most recent on was called "Becoming and I6 Woman".  I6 standing for Isaiah 6.  Some really good stuff about how to become and I6 woman and also what you can expect to have happen if you do become an I6 woman.  I heard about them from one of the women in the ACFW.  My knitting has been afghan squares for the SE Asian orphanage.  I am using these squares to learn and practice new techniques. 
Another reason I have not been writing is that I am a little down right now, as we having some financial issues and everything I try to earn extra funds just is not panning out.