The reason many people accept cultural values is so they won't offend non-Christians.
True believers, however, know that popularity is a false God. We trust our Lord who said:
"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:19
Elizabeth was the wife of the priest Zechariah and the mother of John the Baptist. Both she and her husband were descendants of Aaron and therefore members of a priestly family. The couple, "advanced in years" (Luke 1:7), had no children, much to their sorrow. But one day while Zechariah was burning incense in the temple, an angel appeared to announce that a son who would "be great before the Lord" (Luke 1:15) would be born to Elizabeth. After Elizabeth conceived, "for five months she hid herself" (Luke 1:24).
In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, her kinswoman Mary heard from the angel Gabriel that she, too, would bear a child, and the young virgin set out to visit the older woman. At the sight of Mary, Elizabeth cried out. "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (Luke 1:42) As she heard Mary's words of greeting, the infant in her womb leaped for joy - perhaps the first stirring that confirmed life. When her son was born, Elizabeth's relatives and neighbors joined her in rejoicing but could not understand why she insisted that the baby be named John, saying "None of your kindred is called by this name" (Luke 1:61). After the temporarily dumb Zechariah endorsed the choice in writing, Elizabeth had her way. There is no further mention of Elizabeth or Zechariah in the New Testament; the cryptic note that their child "was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel" (Luke 1:80) suggests to some that John was given over for raising to an austere religious sect, perhaps the Essenes.
Who's Who in the Bible Reader's Digest. (1994). Edited by Robert V. Huber. Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
Mary mother of Jesus:
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/who-was-mary-the-mother-of-jesus.html
Anna
https://www.gotquestions.org/Anna-the-prophetess.html
Martha and Mary
Phoebe
https://womenofscripture.com/phoebe-in-the-bible-romans-16-role-explained/
Priscilla
https://womenofscripture.com/priscilla-in-the-bible-role-ministry-aquila/
Junia (jo͞on-ē-ǝ)
In Paul's letter to the Romans, the name Junias appears for the only time in the Bible. Near the end of the letter, Paul sends greetings to Andronicus and Junias, "my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners; they are med of note among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me." Romans 16:7 Since the name Junias is otherwise unknown, scholars have suggested that Junias is actually Junia, a Jewish woman and possibly the wife of Andronicus, If so, she would be the only female apostle named in the New Testament. The masculine name Junias may have been created by medieval copyists as a means of explaining this unimaginable occurrence.
Who's Who in the Bible Reader's Digest. (1994). Edited by Robert V. Huber. Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
Herodias (hĭ-rō-dē-əs) and her Daughter Salome (sə-lō-mē)
A granddaughter of Herod the Great and the sister of Herod Agrippa I. Herodias married her paternal half uncle Herod II (whom Matthew and Mark call Philip, and seem to identify with Herod Philip the tetarch) and bore him a daughter, Salome. But she deserted her first husband to marry another half uncle, Herod Antipas. This union was condemned by John the Baptist, who said to Antipas, "It is not lawful for you to have her." (Matthew 14:4) Infuriated by the Baptist's accusation, Herodias sought to have John killed. But Antipas hesitated because of John's popularity. She got her wish, however as a result of a notorious incident at Antipas birthday feast. Antipas was so taken by Salome's dance at the banquet that he promised to give her whatever she wished. After consulting with her mother, Salome asked for the head of John the Baptist - which Antipas gave her and which she presented to her mother. The first -century A.D. Jewish historian Joesphus also held Antipas responsible for the death of John, but he did not mention the banquet scene of the complicity of Herodias and Salome.
Herodias encourage Antipas to go to Rome to seek advancement commensurate with that of her brother, Agrippa I. But instead of advancing him, the emperor Caligula deposed her husband and banished him to southern France in A.D. 39. Although the emperor offered to spare her, Herodias chose exile with her husband and there disappears from the pages of history.
Who's Who in the Bible Reader's Digest. (1994). Edited by Robert V. Huber. Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
Sapphira (sǝ-fī-rǝ)
https://womenofscripture.com/sapphira-in-the-bible-acts-5/
The root of discouragement is unbelief. Perhaps you are discouraged because you think you aren't making enough money (and your aren't convinced God can supply your needs). Or you are frustrated in your job (and you refuse to believe God can help you be content). Or maybe you are worried about health problems ( and you don't even stop to consider that your life is in God's hands). Discouragement is a large cloud that, like all clouds, obscures the warmth and joy of the sun. In the case of spiritual discouragement the Son of God, the Lord Jesus is eclipsed in our lives...
Discouragement is Satan's device to thwart the work of God in our lives. Discouragement blinds our eyes to the mercy of God and makes us perceive only the unfavorable circumstances. There is only one way to dispel discouragement, and it is not on our own strength or ingenuity. It is to turn in faith to God, believing that He Loves us and is in control of the future. The Bible says, "Wait on the LORD... and He shall strengthen your heart. Psalm 27:14.
- adaptation from "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham
Excerpts from Grace for the Moment:
The purpose of life
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. Matthew 22:37
Mine deep enough in every heart and you'll find it: a longing for meaning, a quest for purpose. As surely as a child breathes, he will someday wonder, "What is the purpose of my life?"
Some search for meaning in a career. "My purpose is to be a dentist." Find location but hardly a justification for existence. They opt to be a human "doing" rather than a human "being." Who they are is what they do: consequently they do a lot. They were many hours because if they don't work, they don't have an identity.
For others who they are is what they have. They find meaning in a new car or a new house or new clothes. These people are great for the economy and rough on the budget because they are always seeking meaning in something they own.... Some try sports, entertainment, colts, sex, you name it.
All mirages in the desert of purpose.,..
Shouldn't we face the truth? If we don't acknowledge god, we are floatsom in the universe.
The Dungeon of Bitterness
If you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sense. Matthew 6:14
Bitterness is its own prison. The sides are slippery with resentment. A floor of muddy anger stills the feet. The stench of betrayal fills the air and stings the eyes. A cloud of self-pity blocks the view of the tiny exit above.
Step in and look at the prisoners. Victims are chained to the walls. Victims of betrayal. Victims of abuse
The dungeon, deep and dark, is beckoning you to enter..... You can, you know. You've experienced enough hurt..... You can choose, like many, chain yourself to your hurt..... Or you can choose, like some to put away your hurts before they become hate.....
How does God deal with your bitter heart? He reminds you that what you have is more important than what you don't have you still have your relationship with god. No one can take that.
Study begins September 17 9:30
As a general rule, women had fewer rights, social status, and power than men in the ancient world in which the Bible was written. But Jesus regularly defied these social conventions, fulfilling his mission and purposes through faithful women and giving them dignity and purpose.
In this One book Daily-Weekly study, Suzanne Nicholson highlights the qualities of several women in the New Testament that Jesus asks all believers to faithfulness, persistence, and a boldness to follow him even at great personal cost to ourselves. These stories help us to better understand not only our own calling, but the very nature of the gospel itself.
Obeying and Honoring God
Isaiah 29:13: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”
I dearly love this quote from Max Lucado:
Is there any emotion that imprisons the soul more than the unwillingness to forgive?
If you suffer for doing good, and you are patient, then God is pleased. 1 Peter 2:20
As we study women of the Old Testament, I find remarkable women in my path and marvel at their contributions to God's Kingdom. Here are excerpts from two such women found on Christian radio stations, Leanna Crawford and Samantha Ebert. Even if you've heard them before, I invite you to listen to these songs and read the excerpts below. God is surely speaking through these women!
Excerpts from: Still Waters (Psalm 23) by Leanna Crawford
"Write scripture on your heart for when you need it 'Cause anxiety hates Psalm 23. So just say it to yourself 'til you believe it"
Lord, I believe You can set mе at ease Turn this broken piеce in me to peace and quiet
I know there's
power in Your word So I'll say it over and over 'til my soul's
reminded
Still waters run through any valley I
could find I'm laying fear down here at Heaven's riverside
Your
word has been true in every season of my life
Oh, the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall
not want
He leads me by still waters 'til my fears are gone
Though
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Oh, I know You
are with me, my Father, my friend
Your goodness and mercy will
follow me all of my days
I know by Your still waters I'm safe
Excerpts from: Flowers by Samantha Ebert
Well, blue skies and hillsides feel so
far away
And I wrote in my notebook that I've seen better
days
Than the ones as of late
I can't bear that weight
I wish something would change
'Cause
I'm losing faith
So I brought it up in a desperate
prayer
Lord, why are you keeping me here?
Then He said to me,
"Child, I'm planting seeds
I'm a good God and I have a good
plan
So trust that I'm holding a watering can
And someday
you'll see that flowers grow in the valley"
So whatever the reason, I'm barely
getting by
I'll trust it's a season knowing that you're by my
side
Every step of the way
And I'll be okay
When I'm on the mountain and looking
down below
I'll see a valley of flowers that needed time to
grow
And I'll thank you for the rain
The hurt and days of
pain
And I'll bring it up in a grateful prayer
Thank you,
Jesus, for keeping me there
You know just what I need and you've
planted seeds
'Cause you're a good God with a real good plan
And
you hold my world in a watering can
So I can have peace 'cause
flowers grow in the valley