These Lessons were written by my first Wife,
Sister Norma Bagwell, before she died in January, 2009.
December 30, 2003
(Tuesday)
What has
God taught you in this last year? What would you like to
accomplish in the coming year? These should be thought provoking
questions. At least they are in my life.
A few days
ago my husband asked me that first question. I did not
hesitate when I answered him. If you will promise to ask
yourself those two questions, I'll tell you my answers.
Firstly
this past year I feel like God has tried to teach me to not look
back so much. I believe He has shown me that there are so
many things right now that He still wants me to do for Him.
When you start getting older and you are in your late fifties
the devil can try to make you focus on things you cannot do
anymore. This was the strategy he was using on me.
Most everybody knows of the health problems I have been trying
to work through this year. I appreciate the prayers of
every one of you. The fact that I was not able to travel with my
husband every week has been very discouraging to me. Satan
would like to make me think my usefulness was over. The
best part is how God through His blessed Holy Spirit spoke to my
heart and told me there is still much to be done.
When God
opened up this web-site and this internet ministry He told me
there was something here for me. Please continue praying
for me. I am only trying to be obedient to my Lord.
I want to think like the Apostle Paul did in Philippians when he
said, "I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 3:14)
Now we come to
that second question about the new year ahead of us. I
need to spend more time studying my Bible in the year 2004, the
Lord willing. There are so many promises in Psalm 119 if
we love God's Word. In Isaiah 26:3 we are told that God
"will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee."
In January
Brother Bagwell and I plan to study the Book of James.
Next time I would like to start a little Bible study from James.
Between now and then would you read that little Book (of James)?
See what God tells you. Let me hear from you. I'd
like to know you are out there reading.
God bless you
and we wish you a blessed new year to the glory of God.
--- Norma Bagwell
December 22, 2003
(Monday)
It is
Monday morning and it's three days before Christmas. Our
family is like yours. We are all busy doing those last
minute things we said we wouldn't wait this late to do. We
have a hundred things on our mind: last minute shipping,
trips to the Post Office, a bank deposit to be made, bills to
pay, etc. You know the routine.
With all
this going on please allow me to be a bit personal today.
I need to stop and praise God.
Every year
at Christmas while we sit around the table to eat our meal, my
husband always asks everyone to name something for which they
are thankful. God has blessed our family and we have so
much for which we can praise Him.
Our youngest
son John was married this year in August. Now we have a
new member in our little family. I want to stop right now
and thank God for Lacie. We love her with all our hearts.
I was hoping I
could write this without tears but the thought that someone will
be missing at out table this year makes me sad. As many of
you know our daughter Joy lost her husband this past summer.
He had been sick with Crohn's Disease for a long time. We
will all miss Bobby, but he is in heaven waiting for the rest of
us. Even in that sad note I have a praise. I want to thank
God for His grace and love that He has shown toward Joy.
The Lord has truly been with her. I also want to thank
everyone who has prayed for her.
I want to say
a word of appreciation and gratefulness to every one of you who
reads this "Ladies Page." Brother Bagwell and I wish you
all a merry Christmas and a blessed new year.
In closing
today I want to thank my Heavenly Father for sending His only
Son to this earth to be born of a virgin; to live a
sinless life here in this wicked world; and to willingly die for
my sins. "Thank you Jesus for what You did for me on
Calvary. I want to love and serve You more in 2004."
As 2 Corinthians 9:15 says:
"Thanks be unto God for his
unspeakable gift."
--- Norma Jean Bagwell
December
16, 2003 (Tuesday)
I saw this article the
other day and it was a blessing! I thought you might enjoy
it as well.
Hundreds and even thousands
of years before Jesus the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, God has
spoken many prophecies about His coming. He spoke them
through men like Moses, David, Isaiah and Micah. In order
for Jesus to be the true Messiah, He had to fulfill every
prophecy that was ever spoken and written about said Messiah ...
AND HE DID! Every single one!
HERE ARE JUST A FEW ...
* He would be born of
a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) ... and He was (Matthew 1:18-25)!
* He would be born in
Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) ... and He was (Matthew 2:1-6)!
* He would heal the
sick and make people whole (Isaiah 5:3) ... and He did (Matthew
8)!
* He would be
crucified (Psalm 22:14-17) ... and He was (Matthew 27:31)!
* He would die for
our sins (Isaiah 53) ... and He did (John 1:29, John 11:49-52)!
* He would be raised
from the dead (Psalm 16:10) ... and He was (Matthew 28:1-10)!
The many prophecies about
Jesus' Second Coming have not yet been fulfilled ... but one day
they will be! Every single one!
In celebration of His
birth, His life, His death, His resurrection ... and in
anticipation of all that we have to look forward to when He
returns ... HAVE A WONDERFUL GLORIOUS WORSHIPFUL REVERENT
CHRISTMAS SEASON!
Jesus says:
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, Which is and Which was
and Which is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8
Now that message was on a
Christmas card!
--- Norma Jean Bagwell
December
11, 2003 (Thursday)
Today I want to study with you the godly Virgin Mary.
Let's especially focus on her Psalm of Praise know as the
Magnificat. (Luke 1:46-55) It's her heartfelt adoration of
God that flows so freely in this passage!
In
these days of great pressure on Christian ladies, it is so
refreshing to see a Bible example of a Christian mother who
loved her Bible and let it become her model of conversation!
(Remember Mary spoke the words of this Psalm of praise to her
cousin Elisabeth in everyday conversation! No gossip is to be
found here! Just words of exultation to God and
exhortation to Elisabeth, the priest's wife!)
Also notice the traits of God she "gets in" this short speech:
His holiness, mercy, power, goodness and faithfulness!
Luke 1:46-55
46 And
Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And
my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For
he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold,
from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For
he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is
his name.
50 And
his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to
generation.
51 He
hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He
hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted
them of low degree.
53 He
hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath
sent empty away.
54 He
hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his
mercy;
55 As he
spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Here is the Virgin Mary’s Hymn of praise to God for the kindness
shown to her by His choosing her to be the mother (of the
humanity) of our Lord Jesus! It is one of the greatest songs of
praise in the Scriptures. The thing that has impressed my
husband and me is the way Mary so fluently drew from the Old
Testament as she magnified God! Let me show you what I mean.
Verse 46 seems to refer to such Scriptures as 1 Samuel 2:1 which
says: "And Hannah prayed, and said, My
heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD:
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy
salvation." Also I believe she was familiar with Psalm
34:2-3 --- "My soul shall make her boast
in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together."
Verse 47 might refer to Isaiah 12:2-3
which declares: "Behold, God is my
salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH
is my strength and my song; he also is become my
salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the
wells of salvation." Or maybe she remembered Isaiah
45:21-22 which says: "Tell ye, and bring
them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath
declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from
that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no
God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is
none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of
the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."
Verse 48 is easily seen as parallel to 1
Samuel 1:11 --- "And she vowed a vow, and
said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the
affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget
thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child,
then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and
there shall no razor come upon his head." Or maybe 1
Samuel 2:8 --- "He raiseth up the poor out
of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,
to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the
throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the
LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them." And look at
Genesis 30:15 --- "And Leah said, Happy am
I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his
name Asher." Or Malachi 3:12 ---
"And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a
delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."
And verse 49 alludes to the Mighty God ---
Genesis 17:1 "And when Abram was ninety
years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto
him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou
perfect." Or, Psalm 24:8 --- "Who
is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the
LORD mighty in battle." Or when she spoke of "great
things," she may have had in mind Psalm 126:2-3 which say:
"Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen,
The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done
great things for us; whereof we are glad." And
when she called our God HOLY she perhaps had the Psalms in mind!
Psalm 99:3 --- "Let them praise thy great
and terrible name; for it is holy." Or even
Psalm 111:9 which says: "He sent
redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for
ever: holy and reverend is his name."
Verse 50 well may be alluding to Exodus
20:6 --- "And shewing mercy unto thousands
of them that love me, and keep my commandments." Or even to And
the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The
LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in
goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving
iniquity and transgression and sin...."
And verse 51 echoes Deuteronomy 4:34 ---
"Or hath God assayed to go and take
him a nation from the midst of another nation, by
temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a
mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors,
according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt
before your eyes?" Or again Isaiah 52:10 ---
"The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in
the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall
see the salvation of our God." Look at her verb
"scattered" and then read Psalm 89:10 ---
"Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou
hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm." The
term "imagination of their hearts" comes from Genesis 6:5 and
8:21 with a dash of Deuteronomy 29:19-20!
Furthermore verse 52 definitely quotes
part of 2 Samuel 6:6-8 which declare: "The
LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave,
and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he
bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the
dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set
them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne
of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S,
and he hath set the world upon them." Or Psalm 113:6-8
"Who humbleth himself to behold
the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth
up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of
the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even
with the princes of his people."
And verse 53 continues with a glimpse of
Psalm 34:10 --- "The young lions do lack,
and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want
any good thing." Or maybe even Psalm 107:8-9
"Oh that men would praise the LORD
for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to
the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and
filleth the hungry soul with goodness."
Verse 54 seems to reflect the truths of
Psalm 98:3 --- "He hath remembered his
mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of
the earth have seen the salvation of our God." Or Isaiah
44:21 --- "Remember these, O Jacob and
Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou
art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of
me." Or even Micah 7:20 --- "Thou
wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to
Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of
old."
And lastly, verse 55 which simply
summarizes a host of Old Testament verses that promise great
offspring to Abraham and his sons (as the sand of the sea or the
stars of the heavens)!
One lady writer who is sort of an expert
of Mary says she here quoted the Old Testament (not counting
allusions or illustrations) at least 15 times.
If any lady in Scripture knew her Bible
... it was the Virgin Mary! She is obviously familiar with the
writings of Moses and the Psalms as well as the prophets and
books of history! (Nothing is left!) Would that all we
Christians emulate her in this area!
--- Norma Jean Bagwell
NOVEMBER 19, 2003 (WEDNESDAY)
A few years ago a Pastor's wife
came to me and asked me to share a verse with her that meant a
lot to me. At that time I didn't have to think very long
because one of my all-time favorite verses was right there on
the tip of my tongue. It was out of my mouth so quickly.
I think she was surprised that I didn't have to get out my Bible
and start looking. The verse we shared that day was Psalm
119:165. It says:
"Great peace have they which love Thy Law;
and nothing shall offend them." There's a lot in
that verse which can help us today.
With the world's situation as it is and every news program
mentioning terrorism, Americans are constantly thinking about
peace. Many of our leaders fear that we may never know
real peace again.
Isn't that strange? I know a God Who has a Name that means
PEACE. (JEHOVAH-SHALOM) The Hebrew word for peace is
"shalom."
Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:14 that: "He
is our Peace ...." In Philippians 4:7 we find
"And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus."
I would say
that peace that "passeth all understanding" is the same peace
called "great peace."
Then a person who knows Jesus as his or her personal Saviour has
the greatest peace there is, if what? IF they "love Thy
Law!" The whole chapter (Psalm 119) refers to God's Word
as the Law over and over.
If
you love a person you will want to spend time with them.
If you love a book (your Bible) you will spend time with it ...
reading. When love is present your conversation will give
you away. I think you see what I mean here.
Now look at the last part of the verse: "And nothing shall
offend them." In Hebrew the verb "offend" actually means
"to trip someone, to cause to stumble and fall."
One more verse I love about peace is Isaiah 26:3.
"Thou
wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee
because he trusteth in Thee."
If
I love God, and I put my trust in Him, and I keep my mind
centered on Him, and I stay in His Word, it will do two things
for me. Number one, He will give me the greatest perfect
peace! Secondly, He will keep me from falling.
(I mean the kind of falling where one cannot recover or get up
again.)
That verse gives us a lot to ponder!
It
has been probably six years ago that I gave this Psalms verse to
the little Pastor's wife. I saw her a few months ago and
she's still talking about that verse and how it helped her!
I trust it may help someone else today as they read Psalm
119:165.
--- Norma Bagwell
NOVEMBER 13,
2003 (THURSDAY)
I am thinking that David must have had a lot
of confidence that his God would take care of him. We need only
to take a stroll through the Book of Psalms and see the Names
and Titles of God mentioned there.
Sometimes God takes on the title of a weapon.
When David fought the giant, he used little stones and a
slingshot. Later in the Book of Psalms David called God his
"Rock." Psalm 62:2 says: "He is my Rock and my Salvation; He is
my Defense; I shall not be greatly moved." This is repeated in
verse six. David was very confident in his God.
In Psalm 62:7 David says that God is "the
Rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God." In Psalm 61:2
David cries "lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, for Thou
hast been a Shelter for me and a Strong Tower from the enemy."
In the fourth verse of Psalm 23 David talks
about the comfort he experiences from his God. He mentions a
dark lonely valley, but David will "fear no evil" because God is
with him (Jehovah Shammah). He speaks of a rod and a staff that
will give him comfort. How can a rod and a staff bring comfort?
David was a shepherd himself and he (Psalm 23:1) refers to God
as his Shepherd (through life).
First the rod is a stick that hangs
from the shepherd’s side in a long narrow pouch attached to his
clothing. It is about 2 feet long. Usually it is chosen from a
young straight oak tree. It is taken from the root of the tree
and has a "club" at the end. Sometimes metal spikes are driven
into the club so they can kill attacking animals with a single
blow from the shepherd. He can beat off enemies of the flock
such as eagles, snakes, wild animals, bears, wolves, mountain
lions, coyotes, and even robbers!
Remember those poor little sheep are
defenseless. They have no claws or horns or tusks or fangs or
shells or speed. They have only the shepherd and his rod to
protect them from danger and death.
While the rod is used to defend the sheep,
the staff is used to lead and guide. The staff is a longer stick
(about 6 feet). It helps the shepherd to climb over rocks and
check out crevices and caves before leading his sheep there. The
staff has a crook at one end which helps the shepherd guide his
sheep. The crook can be placed around the neck of a wayward
sheep and pull him back into the fold.
Now I can understand more fully why David
said "Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."
Have there been some times in your life when
you thought you felt the "crook" of the Shepherd’s staff around
your neck pulling you back when you might have wandered far away
from God? I feel like most of us have. That is really a comfort
to know God is watching over me ... even when I stumble and
fall. And I do often. God is there to put me back on my feet
again.
Do you know God in this way? Can you read
through the Book of Psalms and call God your Strength? Your High
Tower? Your Buckler? Your Defense? The Rock of your salvation? I
am glad today God can be those things to me. I feel defenseless
like the little sheep, but "the Lord is my Shepherd."
--- Norma Bagwell
NOTES FROM NORMA (NOVEMBER 7, 2003 ---
FRIDAY)
I am no match for the
devil, and you aren’t either! The only way we can defeat satan
is to have Someone Else fight our battles for us. I’m so glad I
know Someone Who can do just that. His Name is Jehovah-Saboath!
Well, knowing this, I think I’ll just
"go in the strength of the Lord God!"
(Psalm 71:16) Give me some marching orders. I can fight this war
with the help of the Lord of Hosts. (Jehovah-Saboath) Here
are two examples in Scripture. I will mention them briefly. I am
hoping you will be familiar with these situations. Both are
found in the Old Testament.
Do you remember Hannah and Elkanah? For some
reason God had closed Hannah’s womb, and she had no children. As
if this wasn’t enough of a problem, Elkanah had another wife.
Her name was Peninnah, and she had children. Hannah went yearly
to worship and sacrifice at Shiloh with her husband. She was
constantly provoked by this other wife. Finally through her
bitter tears she prayed "Oh Lord of Hosts,
if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy maid servant,
and remember me, and not forget thy maid servant, but will give
thy maid servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the
days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head."
This story and her prayer can be found in 1 Samuel 1:6-7 and
10-11. God did answer Hannah’s prayer and gave her a son named
Samuel and she gave him back to the Lord!
Then there was a little shepherd boy named
David who had heard of a great giant of a Philistine. When the
giant learned that David was going to fight him, he mocked David
and laughed saying that he would kill the little shepherd and
feed his flesh to the birds and the beasts. David answered
Goliath and said, "You come to me with a
sword, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the
God of the armies of Israel, Whom thou hast defied. This day
will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite
thee, and take thine head from thee..." This account can
be found in 1 Samuel 17:42-47. It happened just a David said.
God helped him kill that God-hating giant!
Ladies, our warfare is spiritual. Ephesians
6:12 says: "For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places." We have three
giants that we fight in our Christian lives every day: the
world, the flesh, and the devil. Our Jehovah-Saboath will help
us! We can anchor our trust in the "Lord of Hosts" and depend
upon Him. Call on Him by His Name! He is the Lord of battle. He
is the Lord of victory. Actually our victory has already been
won at Calvary! Colossians 2:15 says: "And
having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them
openly, triumphing over them in it."
THE POWER IS THERE! LET'S CLAIM IT!
--- Norma Jean Bagwell
NOTES FROM
NORMA (NOVEMBER 3, MONDAY)
Have you ever been through a
trial or a conflict and you just couldn't seem to find God?
I mean the burdens were so heavy. You felt like you were
taking 3 steps forward and 2 steps back. Your spirit told
you to hold on because God was aware of your circumstances and
He did care. The satan was telling your mind that it was
no use to pray. The old devil would say "You've used all
those verses on God is my Refuge and Strength and look
where you are now!"
I have been
there! And more than once, I must confess. The other
day I was so stressed out and I was looking for some material on
one of the other pages I was writing for the web-site.
Nothing was going right. Then I believe God showed me
something beautiful! He showed me that one of His Names
(Jehovah Shamah) means "I AM THERE!" That thrilled me to
death! He WAS there and He DID CARE what I was
experiencing at the time.
Perhaps
today someone out there has had similar feelings. You were
so desperate to find God but where was He right then?
Maybe this truth from God ... using His Name "Jehovah Shamah"
will encourage YOUR heart!
The history
behind this name of God (meaning Jehovah is there!) can be found
in the Old Testament in Ezekiel. Read Ezekiel 48:35.
We won't take the time right here for a history lesson.
Can't you see why the Israelites were so happy to think about
returning to their homeland. That's where God's Presence
was; in that sweet city of Zion they would find safety, security
and tranquility because "God was there." (Jehovah Shamah!)
I won't sing
today, but I am reminded of a song:
"Standing
somewhere in the shadows you'll find Jesus. He's the One
Who always cares and understands!"
--- Norma Bagwell
NOTES FROM
NORMA (OCTOBER 29)
Everybody wants to have
a good name, a good reputation. On October 22, I saw this
verse: "A good name is rather to be
chosen than great riches." You have no doubt heard
my husband mention reading the chapter in the Book of Proverbs
that corresponds to the day of the month. Now if you
haven't tried this yet, I challenge you to do it. Brother
Mike and I have been reading Proverbs like this for over fifteen
years. I know I have not been perfect, and I've missed my
share of days along the way. Nevertheless, it has proven
to be a great source of wisdom to us. In fact the very
definition of wisdom can be found in Proverbs. (This will
make a wonderful study for another time.)
I'm
not original in using this verse in Proverbs 22 because I'm sure
many a preacher has used it as his text when delivering a
message on the Names of God.
Would
you stop and just think about it. I know a God Who is so
wonderful, so important, so great and powerful that He has
hundreds of Names and Titles to describe Himself.
Most
of all He is my Savior. In Acts 4:12 I find:
"There is none other Name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Hebrews 5:9 tells us: "And being
made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation."
That's right! No one can take it away!
2
Timothy 1:2 says that God is "able to keep
that which I have committed unto Him against that day."
If
you are not convinced yet about my eternal salvation,
look at John 10:27-30, where the dear Lord Jesus compares His
children to sheep. "My sheep hear My
voice, and I hear them, and they follow Me; and I give
unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
My Father, Which gave them me, is greater than all; and no
man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and
My Father are One."
Another great verse is Titus 1:2. "In
hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie,
promised before the world began."
I
think I'll sing another song:
"Thank
you Lord for saving my soul. Thank you Lord for making me
whole. Thank you Lord for giving to me thy great salvation
so rich and free."
and
...
"I know
I am saved; for Christ set me free. He purchased my soul
on the cross of Calvary. I know I can sing, for Christ is
my King. I'll see His face in glory by and by."
I
better go for now ... but I've only started on God and His
Names!
--- Norma Bagwell
Notes from Norma ... Saturday,
Oct. 25th
Singing
is a wonderful way to praise God! I love to sing.
Many times the words of a song can trigger some thought of
praise.
There is a little song I
learned when I was young:
The birds upon the
treetops sing their song! The angels chant the chorus all
day long! The flowers in the garden lend their hue ...
So why shouldn't I? Why shouldn't you? Praise Him
too!
My God loves music.
After all, He made the tiny little birds to sing!
I have sliding glass doors
in my kitchen-dining area that go outside to a deck on the back
of our home. I love to watch the birds. They are
beautiful to me. I have had as many as three feeders out
there at one time. I collect porcelain birds of all kinds.
My family all know what they can give me for birthdays, Mother's
Day, Christmas, etc.
You know, those little creatures remind me of how
attentive and tender-hearted my God is. He hears the
little songs of the birds. I know God loves and cares
about me so why don't I praise Him more than the birds do?
Psalm 119:164 says:
"Seven times a day do I praise Thee because of Thy righteous
judgments." I will never run out of things to
praise God about!
Psalm 150:2 says that I should
praise God for what He does ("Praise Him
for His mighty acts!") and for Who He is ("Praise
Him according to His excellent greatness!")
Let's sing a song and praise
our God for "Who He is to us and for What He does!"
--- Norma Bagwell
Notes from Norma ... October
21, 2003
Please
forgive me while I give a bit of personal testimony here. Dr.
Mike Bagwell and I were married in August of 1964. Both of us
were students at Tennessee Temple College in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. The fact that I was marrying a preacher was no
surprise because Brother Mike was called to preach at age 15.
Very early on, before we were married, I began to look at the
responsibility of being a preacher’s wife. I always looked at it
like it was an honor (and never a drudgery) to marry one of
God’s men. I still don’t feel worthy, but I am so blessed of God
to be married to that man.
I meet people often who make
statements like this: "Being a pastor’s wife ... now, that’s a
hard job. I would be afraid I couldn’t do it."
Well, the "job" (as they put
it) can be hard or easy. It could be both a joy and blessing ...
or just a mere task! This all really depends on you and what you
want to make of it. And since there really is no job description
for the pastor’s wife in the Bible ... we don’t have much to go
on.
The pastor’s wife is just
that. She is his wife. She is the helpmate to meet HIS needs.
She is not hired by the church. She is appointed by God! By no
means should she be expected to fill the role of assistant
pastor.
My husband told me a long time
ago that all he wanted me to do concerning the church was to be
his wife first. Then ... if I felt led to teach a class (or do
other things), that was between me and God. These many other
duties however were not expected of me (at least by him) because
... I was his wife! (I do love to teach ladies or older teenage
girls.)
Also let me say this. The
pastor’s wife should not be expected to be in the nursery every
other Sunday. She needs to be in the service with her husband.
Now, my view of this may be a
little different than most pastor’s wives. But it is (in
following my husband’s counsel) where God has brought me on this
issue. After all, Titus 2:4 tells me that we more seasoned
ladies are to "teach the young women to be
sober, TO LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS, to love their children, to be
discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own
husbands, that the Word of God be not blasphemed."
I believe my view of being a
preacher’s wife well fits the Scriptures just cited. And (if I
may say this without boasting) my husband says he surely is
pleased! He quotes the verse in Proverbs,
"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour
of the Lord."
--- Norma Bagwell
Notes from Norma ... October
17, 2003
For the last few days I have been
finding verses about our words or our speech, etc. I’m thinking
about Christian ladies who are out there every day in the work
place. They may be surrounded by the world. Does it matter what
we say? Can our speech affect others? Don’t we need to be big
conversationalists (talking about anything and everything) to
make friends? Will people think we are not very smart if we
don’t talk much?
Let’s look at some verses in the Book of Proverbs for answers
to these questions.
Yes, it does matter what we say! Proverbs 15:1 tells us that
a soft answer can stop an argument! Proverbs 16:24 says:
"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and
health to the bones." Proverbs chapter 17, verses 27 and 28 tell
us how much we should talk. "He that hath knowledge spareth his
words: and the man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Even a fool when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he
that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."
Questions answered! Let’s obey the verses. (The quietest
person at the table ... just may be the smartest!)
--- Norma Bagwell
Notes from Norma ...October
13, 2003
This summer my husband and I started a neat little project.
When I finish telling you about it, Ladies, you might want to
mention it to your husband and you could try something similar.
Everyone does not have the same schedule we do, so your time
together may be much different than ours. We picked our
mealtimes to study our Bibles. It is mostly just the two
of us now since John (our youngest) got married in August.
Mike usually lets me pick the subjects. We spent
July in Jeremiah; August in Acts; September in Song
of Solomon; and now in October we are studying Old Testament
Prophets.
Those prophets are not as simple as you might suspect.
My husband always seeks a challenge, so he couldn't just pick
the Major or Minor Prophets! He's looking for obscure and
unnamed prophets!
In yesterday's Scripture (1 Samuel 9:9) we
saw a great truth! (My husband may preach a message about
this some day. So if he does, pretend you never heard it!)
The Scripture says that in Israel the people would seek out the
prophets when they wanted to hear God's Word about a matter.
The prophet was called a "seer." ("He
that is now called a prophet was beforetime called a seer."
1 Samuel 9:9) The name "seer" means simply "one who sees!"
He could see spiritual things which others would miss.
Now we do not have prophets today in the
same sense. (We have the completed Word of God.) Yet
we Believers today are expected to be able to see and discern
some things of spiritual value.
I believe God's Holy Spirit who dwells
within the Christian will guide us and teach us spiritual truth.
We need to seek the wisdom of God as we live our daily lives and
guide our families and teach our children.
The Book of Proverbs is an excellent source of wisdom.
Here are 4 verses from chapter 10 alone. Proverbs 10:11
says: "The mouth of the righteous
man is a well of life ...." And Proverbs 10:13
says: "In the lips of him that hath
understanding wisdom is found." Also Proverbs 10:21
declares: "The lips of the righteous
feed many, but fools die for want of wisdom." Proverbs
10:32 ends the chapter with these words:
"The lips of the righteous know what is
acceptable."
Remember ... a godly mouth will speak from a godly heart.
--- Norma Bagwell
