The following is a devo I wrote back in Septmeber for a Ladies Night Out. It is the second installment on Who do we admire? This is what I mentioned in part 1 when I stated God wanted me to showcase one of my many talents.
Women as Jewels
By liz gibbs
What is a jewel? Wordreference.com gives us two definitions.
1) A precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry and 2) a person who is as brilliant and precious as that piece of jewelry.
We will gain a little information about the first and gain a little insight into the second.
We begin our study of jewels with the most organized of jewels systems - the monthly birthstones.
The birthstone tradition can be traced back to the first century. The stones were used in the breastplates of Jewish High Priests. There were 12 stones in the breastplates, which symbolized the 12 tribes of Israel. Each stone was dedicated to one of the 12 months.
Exodus 28:15-19
Fashion a breastplate for making decisions -- the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. It is to be square -- a span long and a span wide -- and fold double. Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there shall be a ruby, a topaz, and a beryl; in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald; in the third row a jacinth, an agate, and amethyst; in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings. There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons, of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
It is believed that each tribe related to a month as follows:
December -- Manasseh January -- Benjamin February -- Dan March -- Asher
April -- Naphtali May -- Judah June -- Issachar July -- Zebulon
August -- Reuben September -- Simeon October -- Gad November -- Ephraim
We will focus on September since today, September 19, is the start of out time together, which is represented by the jewel sapphire and the tribe of Simeon. Simeon was the second son born to Leah. The tribe of Simeon was one of the 6 tribes charged to stand upon Mount Gerizim the Mountain of Blessing.
Each birthstone has characteristics that define those born to the month of the stone. Those characteristics of the sapphire are patience, confidence, happiness, and loyalty. It denotes stability and harmony. Estee lauder, Agatha Christie, Lily Tomlin, Grandma Moses, and Ann Bancroft were just a few women borned in September. These women were mentioned because they were famous actresses, writers and businesswomen. Which brings up a question? Remembering the second defintion of jewel, which is a person who is as brilliant and precious as a piece of jewelry. Does a woman have to be famous to be a jewel? The answer can be found in Proverbs 31: 10-31.
Most of the women of the world are not famous. They are normal everyday people who work and live average lives yet every one are jewels and treasures. Every woman has the ability to be as treasured as the jewels of any crown. Her talent could be teaching the children. She could be a wonderful cook. She could be creative, giving, and/or loving. She could be a good listener. She could give of her time. She is a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend. She works both outside the home making a living and inside the house making it a home. She is a Christian.
I would like to close with a few thoughts from a book God Called A Girl about a woman who started out just a girl of about sixteen but became a great jewel, Mary, mother of Jesus.
Mary wasn't a beauty queen like Esther or a widow like Ruth. Some would probably even say Mary was just a small-town girl. There was nothing significant about her until the moment the angel of the Lord stepped on the scene. When Mary was born there was no earthquake, no lightning bolt, no angels blaring trumpets announcing that the world would one day be changed by this simple girl. She was from Nazareth. If there was a nowhere, Nazareth was in the middle of it.
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross stated that: Women are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.
In closing, the book God Called A Girl also noted:
Although God called many great men of faith to incredible tasks in the pasts, there came a time when a man would not do. So .... God called a girl. And that girl changed the world. That same God is calling again, and this time He's calling you. Are you willing to step forward and answer the call?
Are you willing to be someone's jewel?
My prayer: I would like to thank you, Lord, for all the jewels in our lives and the jewels reading this. I ask for your blessings on all women that we recognize what makes us jewels. Be with us that we continue to grow in your word and in your love to become jewels to those we touch.
Hope everyone enjoys and benefits from this post.
In Him
---liz
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Friday, July 07, 2006
Who do we admire?
I hesitate to say that this is a two part series, for God may say no, it should be more. We will see.
My last post was about Zenith. I knew that when I started. Several were doing an update about camp, so I did too. While I was writing that, I was praying that God would show me or tell me what to say in the next post. Several ideas have come to mind. I have chosen this one because God wants me to do my part to uplift women (especially my girl friends). Also, God wants me to present my talents. He has given them to me and I believe He wants me to share the products of those talents.
Who do we admire? Everyone has someone, maybe many. Someone in sports (I have a few here), in theatre ( I have several here), or just about town (I also have some here). It does not matter if the category is big or small, perhaps we have one or perhaps we have--- say 12. The point is we all admire someone, but who.
What got me to thinking about this was a comment a friend made. She told me that she admired me for giving up a week of my vacation to spend time at camp for our high schoolers. I did not feel I had done anything great because it was time off from work (Yea!!!)and I wanted to be at Zenith. It really did not feel like a sacrifice to me. God has given me the insight into what to respond to this comment. I want to share it.
As women, we are faced with role models who are thin, tall and glamorous --- you know the type--- super models, women on television or in print. I for one, find this to be a discouragement. For you see, I am short and heavy set ( one could even say fat). So where do I look for a role model, that woman I admire.
While attending West Texas A&M, I took a history course about women in history --not women of history. There is a big difference. Women of history are those famous women we know by their deeds or actions. For example Betsy Ross or Martha Washington. This course was about the role of women since our country was founded. It started out by saying women were brought to America solely to help with repopulation. It went to on tell about the role women played in our country as it experienced major events. Like how many women faught on the front lines of the Civil War and both World Wars. America is what we are because of the efforts of our women to survive and to attain the best conditions possible. And these women should be admired.
Anyway, we had to write a paper in this class about a living Texas woman who we could interview and collect journals and pictures from. This post is about the process I went through for this assignment. Coming from Vernon Texas and the Waggoner Ranch, I instantly decided I would interview Helen, one of the owners of the ranch. This decision was made because I knew there were several books published about her, so finding the journal information was going to be no big deal. On further instruction from my professor, it was revealed that our subject had to be at least in her 70's. Helen did not fit this category so I had to begin my search again.
After some thought and prayer, I changed my focus to someone who, first fit the requirements of the class, but mostly someone I truely wanted to get to know better. There were several women from my church that would be prefect. June was my choice.
June is a woman who is so sweet, never says a bad thing about anyone, and who is always so classy. Perhaps she was the choice because I remembered a cookout that we spent together where she was giving all of us a lesson in manners. How it was not proper to lick the plate clean all while she was licking her plate clean. I truely felt that God wanted me to do the paper on her because she is a remarkable woman and her presence in my life was what I needed. ( also my presence in her life was called for as well.)
She attended Texas Womens and became an English teacher. She married a man she met while at home from college. She left teaching to become a mom. She has lived throguh the depression and WWII. She told tales of her childhood. I learned that she is always dressed in her jewelry even on days that she is sick and in her gown and robe. (her daughter told me that.)
Why do I admire her? She grew up in the church. She raised her family as ( and converted her husband to be) Christians. Even as she had to tend to her husband in the later years of his life(which was strictened with mini strokes and failing health), her faith never wavered. She believes in the Lord with every fiber of her soul. I have learned and grown in my faith because of her. She has become a great friend. It was the right choice to make for the paper. The other lady is a great ranch icon but I knew I would never be like her because I would never have her money, her estates, or her fame. But June, I could see myself being like her. It is her walk with our Lord that I want to follow.
One final note on the jewelry,( it might seem like such a trival thing but perhaps that is what makes a difference.) There are days that I am in a bad mood or not feeling well so I dont want to bother with putting on my jewelry. Then an image appears of June in her gown and robe and earings and a necklace that cooridnates with that robe. So I go fine my stuff and yes my day becomes brighter.
Coming soon ---part 2 Women as Jewels. (yes as I mentioned at the begining, I hated to label this a two part series. I now know that it will be at least 3 parts.)
Love to all who reads this. As women, I hope this lifts you up. That is my prayer to all.
In Him
----liz
My last post was about Zenith. I knew that when I started. Several were doing an update about camp, so I did too. While I was writing that, I was praying that God would show me or tell me what to say in the next post. Several ideas have come to mind. I have chosen this one because God wants me to do my part to uplift women (especially my girl friends). Also, God wants me to present my talents. He has given them to me and I believe He wants me to share the products of those talents.
Who do we admire? Everyone has someone, maybe many. Someone in sports (I have a few here), in theatre ( I have several here), or just about town (I also have some here). It does not matter if the category is big or small, perhaps we have one or perhaps we have--- say 12. The point is we all admire someone, but who.
What got me to thinking about this was a comment a friend made. She told me that she admired me for giving up a week of my vacation to spend time at camp for our high schoolers. I did not feel I had done anything great because it was time off from work (Yea!!!)and I wanted to be at Zenith. It really did not feel like a sacrifice to me. God has given me the insight into what to respond to this comment. I want to share it.
As women, we are faced with role models who are thin, tall and glamorous --- you know the type--- super models, women on television or in print. I for one, find this to be a discouragement. For you see, I am short and heavy set ( one could even say fat). So where do I look for a role model, that woman I admire.
While attending West Texas A&M, I took a history course about women in history --not women of history. There is a big difference. Women of history are those famous women we know by their deeds or actions. For example Betsy Ross or Martha Washington. This course was about the role of women since our country was founded. It started out by saying women were brought to America solely to help with repopulation. It went to on tell about the role women played in our country as it experienced major events. Like how many women faught on the front lines of the Civil War and both World Wars. America is what we are because of the efforts of our women to survive and to attain the best conditions possible. And these women should be admired.
Anyway, we had to write a paper in this class about a living Texas woman who we could interview and collect journals and pictures from. This post is about the process I went through for this assignment. Coming from Vernon Texas and the Waggoner Ranch, I instantly decided I would interview Helen, one of the owners of the ranch. This decision was made because I knew there were several books published about her, so finding the journal information was going to be no big deal. On further instruction from my professor, it was revealed that our subject had to be at least in her 70's. Helen did not fit this category so I had to begin my search again.
After some thought and prayer, I changed my focus to someone who, first fit the requirements of the class, but mostly someone I truely wanted to get to know better. There were several women from my church that would be prefect. June was my choice.
June is a woman who is so sweet, never says a bad thing about anyone, and who is always so classy. Perhaps she was the choice because I remembered a cookout that we spent together where she was giving all of us a lesson in manners. How it was not proper to lick the plate clean all while she was licking her plate clean. I truely felt that God wanted me to do the paper on her because she is a remarkable woman and her presence in my life was what I needed. ( also my presence in her life was called for as well.)
She attended Texas Womens and became an English teacher. She married a man she met while at home from college. She left teaching to become a mom. She has lived throguh the depression and WWII. She told tales of her childhood. I learned that she is always dressed in her jewelry even on days that she is sick and in her gown and robe. (her daughter told me that.)
Why do I admire her? She grew up in the church. She raised her family as ( and converted her husband to be) Christians. Even as she had to tend to her husband in the later years of his life(which was strictened with mini strokes and failing health), her faith never wavered. She believes in the Lord with every fiber of her soul. I have learned and grown in my faith because of her. She has become a great friend. It was the right choice to make for the paper. The other lady is a great ranch icon but I knew I would never be like her because I would never have her money, her estates, or her fame. But June, I could see myself being like her. It is her walk with our Lord that I want to follow.
One final note on the jewelry,( it might seem like such a trival thing but perhaps that is what makes a difference.) There are days that I am in a bad mood or not feeling well so I dont want to bother with putting on my jewelry. Then an image appears of June in her gown and robe and earings and a necklace that cooridnates with that robe. So I go fine my stuff and yes my day becomes brighter.
Coming soon ---part 2 Women as Jewels. (yes as I mentioned at the begining, I hated to label this a two part series. I now know that it will be at least 3 parts.)
Love to all who reads this. As women, I hope this lifts you up. That is my prayer to all.
In Him
----liz
My camp Adventure
----Zenith---
Let's roll back the hands of time. Not too far --- just about a little over a year --- to Zenith 2005.
I had been asked by our youth minister, Chris Robey, if I would like to be a counselor at camp. Always up for an adventure, I agreed and had a wonderful time. My group were the sweetiest girls and the most awesome og guys. I was able to meet many people from other counselors to youth ministers to staff. Worship was amazing. Now coming from a youth spent growing up in another church, I had only been to camp once. Zenith was a totally new experience (or as I am fond of saying --- adventure.) I won't go into details about Zenith 2005 because this post is about the here and now. There was one problem. it was not long enough to truely build and deepen the new relationships that had been started.
I left camp already making plans to be at Zenith in 2006. So much so that when my office put up the new calendar on 12-31-05, I claimed the week of Zenith as my vacation.
Ok. We are back to the current camp.
I was given a great opportunity once I arrived at camp. I had applied to be a counselor but God had other plans for me. Rather those plans were of greater benefit to others or myself does not really matter. As I told Chris on Sunday night, "This was what God wanted of me, so I was alright with being on the support staff." If God had wanted me to be counselor, I would be but God wanted me to try something new. Maybe because others needed my help or I needed the freedom.
Overall, I had more freedom. I worked at Z central and did dorm checks. I was able to be with our youth group when they ate, I was able to visit with the girls from our youth group at the close of day. I was able to go on a food run for our boys (which does not sound important to many of you but when the boys are teenager atheletes--- they are always hungry.) I was able to spend time with freinds who attend college at OC. I was able to develope the relationships that were created the previous year. Those friend like Nike, Angi, and Natalie. They are great women of faith and I enjoyed my time growing in their friendships and their walks with God. I also was able to get to know the youth ministers better. Gary was someone I got to know in 2005. he led a class I attended at camp in 2005. We got to talking (believe it or not about Chris.) Long story short. I had recently recovered from a broken foot and we had talked about this. He contacted Robey later and told him that I should not try the hike we were due to go on beacuse it was to soon. When I saw in at LTC in Tulsa in April, he remembered me and asked about my foot. I had to tell him that I was greatful for the advice about the hike. Seeing the youth ministers at camp this year was like seeing old friends --- those that you have known for years and have gone through the good times and the bad times toghter ----like your best friend from grade school.
My goal for camp was to bond with the youths from our yourh group. There were so many that I had not had the opportunity to build a relationship with. One young man had been a memeber and leader of our group for several years and he is now a senior. I have not been able to attend the mission trips that he has gone on. he was on another trip when we went to hike in Colorado. We had been missing our chance to bond. Zenith 2006 was the chance. Camp ended. We returned home. We had our weekly Bible study in the park. After the Bible study, Skyler came up to me and hugged me. "I wanted to tell you that I was sorry you did not get to counsel at camp." "I appreciate that. I did not know you knew about that." "Yeah Robey told me one night. He said you were spending the week ---chillin." Looks like those bonds are forming.
One final thought about camp that also came from Bible study. We were asked if the everything in the Bible was relevant. I responded by saying "It is when you need to hear it." Due to the freedom I had because of my camp duties, I could have attended any class on the schedule. I had decided to attend Robey's class on the morning that our interns went to his class. "crying Out" was a message I needed to hear, especially that part where the father was holding his son tight to protect him from the storm while repeatedly saying, "I love you. I am here for you, I will protect you." My Heavenly Father is there for me during the storm I am facing with my job. He is always saying "I love you. I am here for you. I will protect you." I am sure the other classes had messages for me, but I was compelled to hear those words at that time.
Camp was awesome. I can not wait for next year. If I had a 2007 calendar, I would already mark my days for camp. ( and I will as soon as I get one.) What will I do at camp next year? I am prayer about that and I will do the work God has in store for me.
In Him
---liz
Let's roll back the hands of time. Not too far --- just about a little over a year --- to Zenith 2005.
I had been asked by our youth minister, Chris Robey, if I would like to be a counselor at camp. Always up for an adventure, I agreed and had a wonderful time. My group were the sweetiest girls and the most awesome og guys. I was able to meet many people from other counselors to youth ministers to staff. Worship was amazing. Now coming from a youth spent growing up in another church, I had only been to camp once. Zenith was a totally new experience (or as I am fond of saying --- adventure.) I won't go into details about Zenith 2005 because this post is about the here and now. There was one problem. it was not long enough to truely build and deepen the new relationships that had been started.
I left camp already making plans to be at Zenith in 2006. So much so that when my office put up the new calendar on 12-31-05, I claimed the week of Zenith as my vacation.
Ok. We are back to the current camp.
I was given a great opportunity once I arrived at camp. I had applied to be a counselor but God had other plans for me. Rather those plans were of greater benefit to others or myself does not really matter. As I told Chris on Sunday night, "This was what God wanted of me, so I was alright with being on the support staff." If God had wanted me to be counselor, I would be but God wanted me to try something new. Maybe because others needed my help or I needed the freedom.
Overall, I had more freedom. I worked at Z central and did dorm checks. I was able to be with our youth group when they ate, I was able to visit with the girls from our youth group at the close of day. I was able to go on a food run for our boys (which does not sound important to many of you but when the boys are teenager atheletes--- they are always hungry.) I was able to spend time with freinds who attend college at OC. I was able to develope the relationships that were created the previous year. Those friend like Nike, Angi, and Natalie. They are great women of faith and I enjoyed my time growing in their friendships and their walks with God. I also was able to get to know the youth ministers better. Gary was someone I got to know in 2005. he led a class I attended at camp in 2005. We got to talking (believe it or not about Chris.) Long story short. I had recently recovered from a broken foot and we had talked about this. He contacted Robey later and told him that I should not try the hike we were due to go on beacuse it was to soon. When I saw in at LTC in Tulsa in April, he remembered me and asked about my foot. I had to tell him that I was greatful for the advice about the hike. Seeing the youth ministers at camp this year was like seeing old friends --- those that you have known for years and have gone through the good times and the bad times toghter ----like your best friend from grade school.
My goal for camp was to bond with the youths from our yourh group. There were so many that I had not had the opportunity to build a relationship with. One young man had been a memeber and leader of our group for several years and he is now a senior. I have not been able to attend the mission trips that he has gone on. he was on another trip when we went to hike in Colorado. We had been missing our chance to bond. Zenith 2006 was the chance. Camp ended. We returned home. We had our weekly Bible study in the park. After the Bible study, Skyler came up to me and hugged me. "I wanted to tell you that I was sorry you did not get to counsel at camp." "I appreciate that. I did not know you knew about that." "Yeah Robey told me one night. He said you were spending the week ---chillin." Looks like those bonds are forming.
One final thought about camp that also came from Bible study. We were asked if the everything in the Bible was relevant. I responded by saying "It is when you need to hear it." Due to the freedom I had because of my camp duties, I could have attended any class on the schedule. I had decided to attend Robey's class on the morning that our interns went to his class. "crying Out" was a message I needed to hear, especially that part where the father was holding his son tight to protect him from the storm while repeatedly saying, "I love you. I am here for you, I will protect you." My Heavenly Father is there for me during the storm I am facing with my job. He is always saying "I love you. I am here for you. I will protect you." I am sure the other classes had messages for me, but I was compelled to hear those words at that time.
Camp was awesome. I can not wait for next year. If I had a 2007 calendar, I would already mark my days for camp. ( and I will as soon as I get one.) What will I do at camp next year? I am prayer about that and I will do the work God has in store for me.
In Him
---liz
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