TWO PRECIOUS GEMS

TWO PRECIOUS GEMS

There are but a few Godly women,

Their beauty is in their behavior.

You will know one when you find one;

She exemplifies the Creator.

Her concern is not designer clothes,

She is cloaked in the Designer.

Her beauty within is radiant;

Loveliness comes no finer.

It isn’t her social status,

That sets this woman apart.

It isn’t the makeup applied to her face,

But God’s Word applied to her heart.

An appropriate name for this woman is “Pearl.”

For each gem is one-of-a-kind.

With a spirit that is pure and radiant,

Through life’s trials she has been refined.

Her Divine beauty was lovingly molded,

From the time she was a girl;

For another woman prepared her heart,

This gem is the Mother of Pearl.

Becky Wall

I wrote this poem with my own mother and grandmother in mind.

A MOTHER GIVES LIFE A CHANCE

The following article appeared in the May 8, 1994 issue of the Christian Standard, a national weekly published by Standard Publishing Company.

MOTHER’S DAY is a day our nation has set aside to focus attention on motherhood—one of the least appreciated of all professions, yet one of the most instrumental in shaping the world. This occasion provides a special opportunity for children to honor their mother for sacrifices made on their behalf, and for fathers to turn their attention to the one who bore and nurtured their children.

Unfortunately, abortion has cast a dark shadow on this most honorable profession. Those of us who were born prior to the legalization of abortion may wonder if we would even be alive had abortion been legal when we were conceived. With this thought in mind, I’d like to recount one mother’s story. Her name is Eve.

Eve had just been married a short time when she discovered she was pregnant. They were poor, and so was the timing, but the couple accepted their fate and even looked forward to their firstborn. Although complications occurred with the delivery of their baby girl and Eve nearly died, they were as thrilled with their new creation as if she were God’s first.

Eve’s child was only three months old when she became pregnant again. So, one year and ten days from the birth of their first daughter, they welcomed another.

When her first two girls were only two and three years of age, Eve discovered she was pregnant again, this time with twins. But with help, they built another room and welcomed the twins--more girls--a month earlier than their due date. When she brought them home from the hospital, they were frail, blue, and wrinkly. No one, not even the doctor, gave them much hope. But Eve nurtured and loved them to good health. She now had four girls, ages four and under.

When the twins were two years old, the father’s sister (a single parent) died and left two homeless children, ages five and six. These children were welcomed into the family and the three-room home, and Eve proceeded to raise them as her own. Obviously a move became necessary, so they moved--several times.

Two years later, Eve conceived again. The couple joked that Eve always seemed to get pregnant in between his jobs. But, alas, this was no joke, so they were quite distressed at first. Nevertheless, they accepted the situation and had another girl.

Fifteen months later, with seven little ones already underfoot, Eve once more became pregnant. She was at the end of her rope. They already had so many for which to care. Even though her husband had a steady job, they still couldn’t afford another child. The doctor had warned Eve not to have any more children because of her age and health. Nevertheless, she endured the pregnancy, and this time was blessed with a son and a namesake.

This mother is mine. She had every right by today’s standards to abort any one of her pregnancies, but she rose to each occasion clothed in the virtues of patience, self-sacrifice, and unconditional love. She was blessed with a sense of humor and was armed with a strong faith in God instilled in her by her own mother.

Perhaps by Providence she was given the name Eve, which means the mother of many, the giver of life. For this life I adore her, as do her other children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, not to mention our proud father. Her example is motherhood at its best, worthy of honor.

 
To all the mothers who have endured similar circumstances, I extend my respect and appreciation. Without them, one-third of my friends and peers would be missing, as is the case with each age group since Roe vs. Wade. Mother’s Day might be a good time to ask your mother to recount her own history of pregnancy and childbirth. Then ask her if she is sorry that she was not allowed a “choice.”

--Becky L. Wall

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Proverbs 31:28-29

CAIN AND ABEL: HIS BROTHER'S KEEPER

HIS BROTHER’S KEEPER

(Genesis 4:1-16)

Adam and Eve had a son;

Cain was their first boy’s name.

They had another called Abel,

And they loved them both the same.

After sin had entered the world,

It was necessary to toil,

So Abel kept the flocks,

And Cain worked the soil.

Both of the boys had learned to tithe,

A portion of their gain.

One day they both gave an offering,

But Satan influenced Cain.

Abel brought the best he had,

From the firstborn of his flock.

Cain brought some of his fruits —

The part he could spare from his stock.

Cain gave his tithe begrudgingly;

Abel gave the best he had.

So his tithe found favor with God,

Which made Cain jealous and mad.

The Lord asked Cain why he was upset,

Though God already knew.

He told Cain that if he’d done right,

His tithe would find favor too.

The Lord continued to lecture Cain.

On how he should have done right.

Cain may have rolled his eyes,

And wished God out of sight.

God said sin would master Cain,

If he didn’t master sin.

And that sin was crouching at the door,

Even then, Cain let sin in.

He asked his younger brother,

To go with him to the field.

Abel gladly went along;

And it was there that he was killed.

The brothers had grown up together;

The family just had each other.

And yet in a jealous rage,

Cain killed his younger brother.

The Lord asked Cain where his brother was;

Cain showed God no respect.

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” he smarted;

His own life would soon be wrecked.

The Lord greatly punished Cain;

For Abel’s blood cried out from the field.

Because the ground had swallowed his blood,

Cain’s crops would no longer yield.

Cain would become an outcast.

He thought that was too much to bear.

And yet when it came to his brother,

He didn’t seem to care.

He feared he would one day be killed,

Though that’s what he did to his brother.

He dreaded separation from God,

And, in fact, would not see his mother.

God listened to all of Cain’s fears,

Then on him He put a mark.

The mark was meant to protect him,

Wherever he should embark.

He settled east of Eden,

In a land that he called Nod.

His punishment was merciful,

But the worst was separation from God.

Becky Wall

beckyowall.blogspot.com

ECCLESIASTES 3: IT'S ABOUT TIME

IT’S ABOUT TIME

(Ecclesiastes 3)

There is a time for everything,

A season for every activity.

It’s part of God’s design,

Based on practicality.

There’s a time to be born and a time to die,

A time to plant and uproot.

God’s order of things cannot be changed;

In fact, the point is moot.

A time to kill and a time to be killed,

Not desired, but nonetheless true.

There’s a time to heal from hurts,

Emotional and physical too.

There’s a time to tear down and a time to build,

Or build and later tear down.

It’s an ongoing building cycle,

Within every city and town.

There’s a time to weep and a time to laugh

To mourn and even dance.

Whether we cry or rejoice,

Depends on the circumstance.

There’s a time to scatter stones,

Meaning people or things to spread.

Other times stones are gathered;

When the people by God are led.

There’s a time to embrace and a time to refrain;

It depends on who or what.

There are those who deserve a hug,

But one who tempts does not.

There’s a time to search and a time to give up,

Especially when searching among rubble.

Seeking the lost is an ongoing search,

But don't go looking for trouble.

There’s a time to keep and to throw away,

A time to tear and mend.

Give up what cannot be fixed,

But always keep a friend.

There’s a time to be silent and a time to speak;

And tho’ silence can be like gold,

When salvation is at stake,

It’s time to speak up and be bold.

There’s a time to love and a time to hate;

We should all hate what is evil.

Yet we love what we shouldn’t and shun the good,

And it brings our lives upheaval.

There’s a time for war and a time for peace,

And though the latter we seek,

War is sometimes necessary,

And the bold must protect the weak.

Time goes on as it passes away;

It flies or it seems to stand still.

We try our best to borrow it,

And time we claim to kill.

One day time will surely end;

A new heaven and earth will evolve.

The idea is a mystery,

That in heaven the Lord will solve.

Becky Wall

ECCLESIASTES: SQUARE PEGS FOR A ROUND HOLE

SQUARE PEGS FOR A ROUND HOLE

(Based on Ecclesiastes)

By the grace of God, Solomon was king,

But one day it wasn’t enough.

For he had strayed away from God,

And it left him feeling quite rough.

He could sense a big hole in his heart;

He didn’t know how it got there.

His desire was to try to fill it;

It was more than he could bear.

He tried to fill it with wisdom;

Then he found his search was amiss.

The more he knew, the more he grieved;

He discovered that ignorance is bliss.

He then sought after pleasure,

But all he got was pain.

He found he was chasing the wind.

His pursuit was all in vain.

Surely women could fill the hole,

So he married wife after wife.

A thousand wives and concubines,

Yet all they brought him was strife.

He tried to fill the void with work,

But that only brought him stress.

Since his riches would only perish;

Better less with quietness.

This is the end of the matter;

I won’t say more, though I can:

Fear God and keep His commandments,

For this is the duty of man.

Satan will offer many square pegs,

In an attempt to steal your soul.

God can bring peace and happiness;

Only He can fill your hole.

Becky Wall

DEBORAH AND JAEL: TWO WOMEN WIN A WAR

TWO WOMEN WIN A WAR

(Judges 4-5)

The Israelites were held as slaves,

In Canaan for 20 years.

But once they turned back to God,

He took away all their fears.

Jabin was Canaan’s king.

Sisera was the army commander.

They planned to attack the Israelites,

And their army was so much grander.

With 900 chariots of iron,

Jabin's army was widely reknown.

Though Sisera had the means and might,

A woman would pin him down.

Deborah was a prophetess;

She was also judge number four.

She judged under a palm tree,

Until she went to war.

God had instructed Barak,

To deploy 10,000 men,

But Barak was in no hurry;

After all, God didn’t say when.

So Deborah had to remind him,

To battle the multitude.

But Barak was a bit of a coward;

He lacked the fortitude.

He said that he would go,

If Deborah would go with him,

But if she did not go,

He wouldn’t war against them.

Deborah agreed to go with him,

Tho’ she warned him he’d get no glory.

So off they went to war,

And then there’s a twist to the story.

While facing Sisera’s army,

As they waited on Mt. Tabor,

Deborah said to Barak,

“Up, for you’ve won this war.”

Down the mount Barak went,

Along with 10,000 men.

900 chariots faced them,

His courage had returned again.

But all of those fancy chariots,

Were exactly where God wanted them.

For they were stuck in the mud,

In conditions caused by Him.

Sisera fled his chariot,

He ran to the tent of a friend.

The rest of his army was killed,

And he would soon meet his end.

For the friend was not in the tent.

Just the friend’s wife was there.

She pretended to be hospitable,

But he was caught in her snare.

She waited until he fell asleep,

Then the act she performed was simple:

She took a stake and a hammer,

And drove the stake through his temple.

Her job was to set up tents,

So she had plenty of practice.

The stake went into the ground,

And the Israelites got their justice.

A woman indeed got the glory,

Surely Deborah stole Barak’s thunder,

But Jael could also claim credit,

For her tent-peg killed the commander.

Becky Wall

Judges 4:21 - But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.

MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH: I AM/AM I

I AM/Am I

(Based on Exodus 3)

"Am" is just two letters,

That means to continue to be.
It's a word that holds such meaning.
Add a word or two and you'll see.

To Moses God called out;

In a burning bush was He.

Moses replied, “Here I am,”

As if the bush couldn’t see.

“I am the God of your father,

And the God of Abraham,

The God of Isaac and Jacob;

Sad for their children I am.”

“I am sending you to Egypt,

To set my people free.”

Moses replied, “Who am I?

They’ll never listen to me!”

“I will be with you,” God answered.

But Moses questioned his task.

“If I say, ‘My God has sent me to you,’

‘What is His name,’ they will ask.”

“I AM who I AM,” said God.

“Say, ‘I AM has sent me to you.

He gave your ancestors life;

And He is your father, too.”

Moses made another excuse:

“Of speech and tongue I am slow.”

“Who gave man his mouth,” God said.

“It was I; I will help you—just GO!”

But Moses begged, “Send someone else.”

By then God’s anger was flarin’.

Moses may as well have said,

“Here am I; send my brother, Aaron.”

“Who am I?” many chosen ones ask.

“I am no one, can’t you see?”

But servants who are most faithful,

Say, “Here am I, send me.”

If the great I AM calls you,

To serve Him faithfully,

Though afraid and unsure of yourself,

What will your answer be?

Becky Wall

I AM:

the Bread of Life (John 6:35)

the Light of the World (John 8:22-24

from above...not of this world (John 8:22-24

before Abraham was born (John 8:57-59

the gate for the sheep (John 10:7)

the Good Shepherd (John 10:10-12)

the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)

God's Son (John 10:36, John 3:16)

Teacher and Lord (John 13:13)

the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)

in the Father and you are in me and I am in you (John 4:20)

"... before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58

EZEKIEL: AN ARMY OF DRY BONES

AN ARMY OF DRY BONES

(Ezekiel 37)

The prophet Ezekiel went to a valley,

Where he had once seen God’s glory,

But this time he would witness,

What is known as an allegory.

The valley was full of dry bones,

From an army slain in battle.

Though hope was lost for their return,

Their bones began to rattle.

The Lord told Ezekiel what to say,

To the bones in complete disarray.

Ezekiel promised their bones would be covered,

And be restored right away.

Flesh and tendons then covered their bones,

Then God breathed His Spirit on them.

Hope returned; they were raised from their graves,

Where for years they lay limb from limb.

God was teaching a lesson

To a spiritually dead Hebrew nation.

Though spiritually lifeless and cut off from God,

There was hope for transformation.

May this story teach each one of us,

Who from sin have not survived.

Whether a person or a nation,

There is hope we can be revived.

Becky L. Wall

TRIALS & TEMPTATIONS

(James)

Temptations and trials may plague you,

But consider it a pleasure.

Perseverance will result;

It will lead to strength without measure.

Perseverance must finish its work,

To be mature and complete,

So you are not lacking anything,

Sometimes that is quite a feat.

Pray to God for wisdom,

When you are feeling dumb.

If you will study your Bible;

No doubt He will give you some.

But when you ask, you must believe,

Without a shadow of a doubt.

Or you will be like a wave on the sea,

Blown and tossed about.

The doubting man gets nothing;

In all he does, he’s unstable.

The man is double-minded,

He treats God like He’s not able.

But the man who perseveres under trial,

Because he has stood the test,

Will receive the crown of life.

That reward should be his quest.

Be strong when trials come.

They change, but they don’t subside.

Temptation and troubles are here to stay;

Just hang on for the ride.

Becky Wall

Proverbs 2:1-11
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

Proverbs 2:12-19
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.

Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.
Surely her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.


If you really want to conquer temptations and remain strong through trials, read Proverbs, Chapters 1 and 2 -- the whole chapters. It's a quick read and full of wisdom, better than any therapist.