Joy To The World!

   As Melissa and I get ready to do our annual Christmas cookie deliveries later this afternoon, I am watching the snow fall and finishing up my last emails and tasks at my office.  You know each year now as I get older, I appreciate more and more the quiet, simple, pure joy of the Holiest of Seasons!  I am more motivated by the things I do for others than by wondering what others will do for me. Today, not withstanding, in our over the top PC policed society that has inundated us with secular messages, homogenized worship, Winter Breaks in our schools and practically jail time for saying the dreaded phrase, "M----- C--------, I am still encouraged.
  As a Christian my job is to tell "The Good News."  The Bible doesn't speak of accepting defeat but rather proclaiming victory!  We are not to sit idly by and give in to a world destined to fail because of it's total abandonment of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  We are to rejoice people!  I've read the Book, know the ending, and will see the coming of my Lord again!  We are victors and will reign with Him but we need to have our lights shine before us.
  God has taken care of the rest with the birth of His Son in Bethlehem, His life changing ministry, His death and ultimate resurrection, and His promise to return for His church!  We must plow the fields and reach the lost.  We can do this and do great damage to the secular world by being Ambassadors of Christ.  Fill the void!  Give gifts other than material items.  God has given us an abundance to work with.   Love, joy, peace, encouragement, time, effort, prayer, support all have huge impacts and cost us no money.  A toy or gadget, jewelry, or money are all nice gifts but many are relegated to the dust heap of our lives soon enough.  But the total giving of yourself in the measures of time, effort and emotion will reap lifelong benefits!
  This Christmas season in the midst of kids and grandkids, friends and parties, gift giving and receiving, meals shared and laughter, please remember the precious Child who was born, lived, died and rose again for all of us. There are plenty of lost souls out there who need our love and light.  Please take the time to truly reflect Christ by giving the true gifts that matter.  God bless you all my family and friends and may the peace of Jesus Christ be with you now and always! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

 Luke 1: 30-33
  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

You can keep the chocolate bunny, I'll take the old rugged cross!

  I was in the local grocery store yesterday, stocking up for my annual Easter Sunday feast for "La Famiglia."  As I retrieved my cart, I turned around around and was greeted by an enormous display of Easter candy.  Chocolate eggs,  jellybeans,  sweet treat baskets of all sizes, more chocolate bunnies then there are residents in my town.  Great marketing I thought.  The store certainly knows how to entice people to buy, especially children dragging along with mom grocery shopping.  All they have to do is kick up the whining to a pitch that would make mosquitoes flee, and bingo, 6 more cavities for the dentist to fill!  I think the grocery stores and dentists are in cahoots around the holidays.  Any way, the message I am trying to convey is that the store knows how to market it's product, who to expose it to, and how to profit from the sales.  Swallowed  eagerly by hook, line and sinker by millions of Americans every holiday.  With this mass marketing blitzkrieg comes the message too.  The bunny is Easter.  He rewards you, satisfies you, keeps the kid's busy and buzzing off the sugar high, and most importantly falsely exemplifies the meaning of this most holy season.   We have reached a time where the Easter egg hunt for the kiddos replaces the Greatest Gift we and they have ever received!
    Now I'm not trying to denigrate or indict parents out there as I and my wife were just as guilty when our brood was growing up.  However, we had one major caveat, the bunny was a treat, not the Meaning!  My wife and I for many years always had Easter at our house in Wisconsin with all my brothers, sisters, spouses and all their kids and grandparents for the weekend.  There was all the usual commercialized revelry for the urchins, but on Good Friday evening and Sunday morning it was different.  Those were worship times.  My wife would organize a beautiful service and we would all as a family gather in the living room and light candles, read the Easter story from the Bible and have music and prayer.  We would try and experience the real agony of the cross and then the joy of Resurrection Sunday, so everybody would take to heart the enormous gravity and impact that event had over two thousand years ago and still does today. It was meant to plant seeds, and it did!  My father would often come over afterwards and whisper to me, "Ricky that was nice."  My mom would make sure all the kids and my siblings would be listening so as not to treat the message lightly.  Soon after though it was business as usual, with kids sugar wired running around and moms and dads laughing and visiting, but the work was done.  The message was presented, received and still makes a impact in our family today.  You see, getting caught up in the revery of our secular world today can be harmless if handled properly.  But a chocolate bunny will never comfort you when you are hurting, alone, or with sickness, in relationship problems, have lost your job or house.  He won't fill that void in our soul or mend a broken heart.  A Humble Carpenter will!   It wasn't pretty.  As a matter of fact His judgment, trial, crucifixion and death was among the most horrific and cruel acts ever recorded in history. He gave all for us!  But His resurrection has brought hope, renewal, new life and joy for countless people since.
   So try and take time to go to church or have it at home, read the story, meditate on the impact and pray as a family.  In our world of uncertainty and turmoil that we live in today, it's nice to know that there is hope beyond what we can see!  He lives people!  He lives!  He wants to live for you!  May God keep you and bless you this Holy Easter Season!

Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

This Carpenter is not on Angie's List.

Yesterday was the annual Christmas cookie tray delivery day.  Melissa and I team up every year to give our good friends another reason to watch their cholesterol and blood sugar, wind up their grandchildren with tons of sugar goodies and basically destroy all thoughts of holiday eating restraint!  After all, nothing says I love you like a great big tray of home baked goodies along with some eggnog.  Ahh, the joy of the season!  Anyway, as I was sitting in the truck waiting for my wife to come back from dropping off a tray, I was listening to the some music on the radio.  Not just radio but I have Sirius/XM radio.  Every station from news to music to sports to weather to, well you know what I mean, is available.  Well between the overwhelming smell of sweet baked cookies and the Christmas music channel I was overdosing on bliss.  I needed a dose of reality to give me that healthy shot of cynicism we all get everyday from the news.  You know, the antidote for contentment.  So on went Fox News. 
  Well that was a colossal mistake!  The first five minutes of mayhem, disasters, wars and  sadness were enough for me.  I quickly turned off the channel and went back to my merry mix of holly magic!  Now I don't know if this time of year makes me more sensitive, but I was both saddened and dismayed by the news, more so than usual.  We have a lot of problems in our world and country.  They seem to be getting worse.  That being said, I was taken aback by my reaction a bit.  Does this season mean so much to me as a Christian that I have more sensitivity to the things that are going on around me than any other time of the year?  Am I being desensitized the rest of the time?  Heaven help me if that's the case.   I am not being the representative of Christ that I often write about and proclaim and that bothers me.
  You see it's relatively easy to give of oneself to the people we love and hold dear in our lives.  And it should be.  Everybody needs the gravy for their meat.  But it's the meat that takes the most time to prepare. Setting aside all the doublespeak and parables for a moment, what about those that don't get a tray of cookies and a hug?  What about those who are the lonely and downtrodden.  Those that are suffering or in despair?  They need joy and peace too.  We are not in an exclusive club.
  Two thousand plus years ago a bright star shone over Israel and led the shepherds to come and visit a lowly manger where the Gift was lying.  God in all His infinite wisdom, sent the joy and peace we so often crave deep down but find so elusive sometimes.  That first Christmas morning all despair and hopelessness, sadness and tragedy, hate and divisiveness were all put on notice.  You see entrusted to a carpenter named Joseph and his meek and loving wife Mary , was and is, The Prince Of Peace, The Bright And Morning Star, Immanuel,  and Mighty Counselor!   As the angel said then, "Peace on earth and goodwill to all men!"  Jesus still is the answer.  He hasn't changed, just we have.  But we don't have to.  This evening when you begin to sit down with your families and friends for the Christmas Holiday , or attend church, take in the enormity and power that is Him.  Listen to the Story.  Soak in His promise and love.  That warm fuzzy feeling is not from the eggnog but rather from the inevitable power instilled by His love that cannot be removed by any atheist campaign, societal ills or prejudicial remark.  Light always conquers dark and if we just put more good in the world the evil will flee.  So spend time with Him this year and get to know Him.  Christmas may leave the calendar but won't leave you the rest of the year.  May God keep you all and richly bless you this Holiest of seasons and into 2015!

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Thanks Is Important, But More Giving Is Needed!

Every year about this time my mind starts to form an intimate and heartfelt circle of thoughts and memories both from my past and hopefully those to be. I don't know, but it seems to be an automatic reaction that stirs inside of me almost like that of the changing of the seasons.  Call me sentimental I guess.  But this time of year is one that I've come to consider the great window of opportunity and I have embraced it more heartily as I've gotten older.  It is the time to give and I don't mean the obvious material gifts and such.  I mean to give my family and friends real lasting gifts.  Thank yous and smiles, hugs and laughter, prayers and encouragement, visits and time spent, a bigger ear and smaller mouth.  See, you get the picture.  The greatest gift of all is giving of oneself.  Not by just going through the motions like some bored teenager who knows it all and whines to their parents about going to Grandma and grandpa's house again, but true giving.  You know, the gift!  L-O-V-E!  Yes, that word we don't use often enough.  The one we guard as if gold but seldom expose it even to our closest and dearest friends and families.  Now, we do share quite an array of other emotions though and all of them have their effects both cumulatively and temporarily,  positively and too often negatively.  But none affects our lives such as the one emotion that truly expresses our life's purpose and the divine will of our Creator and eternal soul.  We are meant to give love and receive love but to often we don't.  Oh, what a difference we could make. 
  If I may let me give you an example.  I often speak of my wife in these circumstances because she more than anybody I know,  practices what she preaches.  For those of you who don't know, she is an ordained minister and profound spreader of love.  She does it so often and willfully that her countenance is changed permanently.  She gives of herself whether it's asked or more often not.  And I have to tell you the cumulative effect of her love is felt by countless people.  We often joke and call her Joyce from the movie "Just Friends".  For those of you who've seen it, you know what I mean!  Anyway,  she just cares and gives so openly and without prejudice, it makes some people uncomfortable sometimes.   That is until they see her true motivation and heart.   I have seen tough teens, cranky old folks, hurt and lost single mom's, and many other folks have their lives impacted by her in a positive way.  She is a mentor to many and counselor to a few more.  But she often deflects it all off of herself and gives glory to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  She is an endless well of good grace and the world is better off because of her.  Imagine the impact we could have if we adopted such an order of giving and grace.! 
  Just over two thousand years ago a simple carpenter's son, walked this earth and gave of Himself so completely and unabashedly that He went to the cross for us and His impact is as unending and  transformational today as it will be tomorrow.  Christ lived by the great tenets of giving thanks and love in equal portions.  The world was and is better for it.  Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."   We need to embrace the opportunity to give more love to each other.  So start simple, say it  to someone near and dear to you who needs to hear it, and say it regularly.  You'll soon see the difference in them and be encouraged to go further.  Difficulties and differences in life often happen for the lack of love and compassion not the abundance of.  May you all have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!!  Oh yea, don't worry, you're still getting a cookie tray too!!

First Corinthians 12:4-8 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Renovation Realities!

Happy Indian Summer friends!  Sorry I've been away these last few months.  We have been renovating a 100 year old stately home into a duplex this past year and this summer we've finally finished the project for the most part.  Whew!!!  What an ordeal!  I guess I can describe it in a way that most of you would understand if you've ventured into these waters before.  It was quite plainly, exhilarating and exhausting!  Yep, that about sums it up.  You see when you renovate a building that is this old it is always full of surprises.  Some good, but most having you gnashing your teeth and like Larry the Cable Guy, asking the Lord for forgiveness after muttering countless words you shouldn't under your breath.  Couple that with always stretching a budget to the extreme and the usual contractor problems and the ride is truly a roller coaster.  But when it's finished, you look back and look at each other and smile.  You know the kind of smile that starts deep inside you and wells up to stay on your face a few days.  Call it pride or whatever.  I call it soul satisfying gratitude and I have to say folks the house came out beautiful! 
   But, in doing this project which at times was equal parts agony and ecstasy,  I learned a few things.  As usual they weren't taught by myself.   I was the pupil and it was the Lord who taught me and the revelation He revealed to me was that I, myself, was actually quite similar to this old house.  Let me explain, please.  Whenever you renovate a building the process is usually like this.  You walk through and assess the job.  You then create a concept for the transformation of the building.  You draw it out then price it for materials and labor.  You then commence implementing the plan.  Sounds logical right?  Ahh, but therein lies the rub.  You see once the work starts you often find the hidden problems and in this house there were quite a few.  Old houses are not built by today's modern computer designed and cut standards.  Walls and floors are notoriously out of plumb.  Plaster walls are not the same as drywall to demo.  Old wiring and plumbing is well to say the least, dangerous!  I found nails in places where screws should have been and visa versa.  Hidden compartments, dead critters,  leaks and water damage and "Uh oh this isn't gonna work," were more common than not.  You would make some progress then hit an obstacle and have to change your design on the fly.  In finding this out, I realized a lot about both patience and persistence.  Needless to say we adapted, overcame, and worked through everything but at times it was a monumental struggle. 
   Now does any of this sound familiar?  It should because we are that old house and God is doing the renovation.  From the time our Father called our bodies into earthly being, He had a plan for us.  He designed us, conceived us, built us cell by cell in our mother's womb, then looked down and smiled when we were born.  But like all other temporal and earthly designs, we are subject to wear and tear through out our lives. Physical and emotional pain, takes it's toll.  The circumstances of life often hurt us to our core.  We become worn down and worn out. That's when God has to renovate us.  When we strip a wall, or pull out old wiring or plumbing, it's similar to God chastising us.  He corrects us by gently but sternly causing us to look within ourselves and remove all the old worn out problems and attitudes and replace them with new, better and more practical aspects of ourselves which reflect His perfect will and desire for our lives.  But in order to do this we must commit to the stripping down of our own walls.  To taking our own physical and spiritual house down to the foundation and rebuilding it.  It is then and only then after removing the old and replacing it with the new, that you become the house that God says, " Now I can dwell in thee."  Like the home we renovated, I experienced all the feelings and frustrations God does when He's trying to fix us.  But being the Master Builder, He never gives up, always adapts on the fly and with our newly humble attitude, transforms us into a palace fit for the King!  So if you want to truly have the perfect home to live in I suggest calling 1-800-NeedGod.  He's not on Angie's List but I couldn't find a bad review about Him!

Ezekiel 36:26 - A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Divine Creation by Professor Tino

   The other day I was out in the front yard of our house trying to get a section of garden prepared for some new perennials I want to plant.  As usual, with all of our kids mostly grown up and gone, I had my faithful but ADD afflicted dog Tino.  Now Tino is quite the character folks.  He's one half Scottish Terrier and one half Welsh Pembroke Corgi.  Or as we call him, a Scorgi.  He looks like a grizzly old fox but with shorter legs and with the attitude of a terrier.  For those of you who are dog lovers you know what I mean!  He also has the herding instincts of a Corgi.  This makes him quite the energetic lad.   Anyways, as I was spreading a load of dirt in the garden there was Tino standing guard as usual.  Smack dab in the middle of our two acres, puffing his fifteen inch high twenty seven pound frame up as much as possible.  His steely gaze taking in every movement and sound. His tall erect ears and darting eyes moving constantly back and forth, sending notice to all the squirrels, ducks and rabbits that this was sacred ground!  His sacred ground.  You see, Tino thinks he's the biggest and baddest dog in the neighborhood, no check that, the city.  He has the heart of a lion, the demeanor of a Doberman but the temperament of a cute little bunny rabbit.  He thinks he's tough.  First one to the fight and first one to get thrown out!  You can see why he's conflicted.  The first thing he does when I let him out the front door is sprint to the nearest oak tree and clear the area of any squirrels.  We happen to have a commune of them on our property.  Then he's off to another tree to do the same.  When he has finished dispatching all the little nut grabbers, he proceeds to disappear into the woods by the river and scatter all the bunnies and mallards.  It's somewhat amusing to see them dart out from the wood line and sprint furiously in all directions as this little tyrannical tornado disturbs them from their morning meal of clover and dandelions.  He actually reminds me of the Tasmanian devil character on the old Saturday morning cartoons I watched when I was a kid.  He's a virtual whirling dervish of spastic energy.  It is quite amusing to watch and the little guy provides us with endless hours of entertainment.  The only activity he likes better is a rousing, and I mean run till your exhausted game of fetch.  Sorry I'm wandering!
   I'll get back to my point for this essay on the disproof of evolution.  I am a big believer in that God uses all His creatures to teach us lessons in life.  So often it's just by observing His glorious living painting called nature. But that's another story.  Well, Tino taught me a whopper that made me smile at God and thank Him with a shake of my head and chuckle!  We all know about the wondrous attributes of man's best friend.  Loyalty, faithfulness, unconditional love, even when we don't deserve it, protectors and defenders of life and property.  The list goes on and each day whether on Facebook or in the news we read about numerous of tales of heroism, bravery or spectacular feats done by these lovable friends.  So, I'm wandering again.  Must be my old timers disease kicking in!  I am out raking dirt and I notice on my brand new sidewalk the largest pile of bird poop I had seen a a great while.  I look over to my black truck and there was the remainder of the bombing run.. Right across the grill and hood of my clean vehicle.  Isn't that always how it happens?  Anyway , I kept stepping over this virtual lake of excrement over and over again as I was trying to finish spreading the dirt before it rained.  My complaints on the ignorance of birds and their bowel movements were quite audible to my little friend.  Now, Tino at this time was over in the shade settling in after patrol to offer me company and his approval on my work.  Finally, after working my way down to the end of the planter I looked up to check my work and wipe off my sweaty bow, when I noticed the lake of poop was gone.  Not just gone but gone!  I checked my shoes to see if I had stepped in it.  Nope!  I looked up and down the sidewalk as if it got up and moved.  Nope!  Then I noticed Tino was missing.  I called, he didn't come.  I whistled he didn't come.  I walked around the house, all the way around.  Nope!  When I came back around the front again, there he was.  Sitting on the stoop, with the goofiest look on his face and his trail wagging.  He also had a big white and gray stripe on the center of his back!  Now I know there was no wet paint around folks.  Seems our little friend in his infinite God given wisdom, at least I'm convinced, decided to take care of the problem.  Mind you now, he was just freshly groomed last week!  There it was, wet, gooey and stinky right on the back of my little buddy.  Now you can look at this in two ways.  The evolutionist will say, that's what dogs do to over millions of years of natural order for a host of logical reasons.  To mark territory by erasing other animals scents.  To mask their own from enemies.  As far As I'm concerned that may be, but if that's what evolution is, then it clearly is regressing.
   Me being a pragmatist but trusting child of my Father thought otherwise.  The way Tino was looking at me was not as if he had done something wrong.  You know ears down, hiding with his little tail tucked between his legs.  No, he was sitting proudly up, tail wagging enthusiastically seeking approval.  I'm utterly convinced He was simply communicating to me that God told Him to help the crabby complaining child of His, me, and clean up the mess so I wouldn't step in it and become more foolishly enraged.  So clean he did.  For my benefit it became his mess.  Unselfish service without complaint, followed by the simple need of a pat, a treat, and a thank you.  Oh, and a bath.  Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Our little Tino, the wonder dog, is truly a gift from our Heavenly Father.   The Bible says that God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise every day.  I just wonder why I seem to always end up foolish.  Just God's way of keeping me humble I guess!  So stop and look around your little world and give your little friend more credit than you normally do and be amazed to watch our Great God prove that creation is all His for us to enjoy!  Silly rabbit that's why they call it the Theory of Evolution!

Revelation 4:11
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Moms, The Mortar That Binds The Bricks!

My wife Melissa and I have the privilege of taking care of a five month old baby girl named Wren right now.  She is the daughter of a new friend of ours, a courageous and devoted young woman, who is raising two girls as a single mom.  Wren's mom is here in NW Wisconsin finishing her training as a game warden for the Indian tribal nations of the Great Lakes Region.  So we have her little one with us most evenings and I have to tell you she makes this grizzly old fart, smile, a lot!  Her innocence, unabashed wide eyed joy and helplessness touches me deeply.  As the father of five grown children, it takes me back to a time long gone and I often wonder where those days went so fast.  But this story is not about me and my sappy emotions, rather it's about mom's and the sacred honor and duty of motherhood.
  Seeing her on my wife's lap, getting fed or changed, played with or set down to sleep, there is a twinkle in my wife's eye and a warmth from her countenance that only comes from deep within the unspoken bonds that mother's and children have.  Even though she is not our own, I can see it in my wife's face, absolute joy, unspeakable joy!  I have to say I have been remiss in appreciating the special love and nurturing that God gives to women.  Come to think of it, it's the same way she looks and treats our own grown kids when they are around.  I guess I just took it for granted.  But to see her happiness and eagerness to take care of, comfort and protect that child, reassures me that all is well with God's divine nature in a women's DNA.  Us men, may be mainly the providers, protectors, disciplinarians and family stalwarts, or so we think, but we don't have the gift of making all things well in a child's world no matter what the circumstances.  Women, moms to be exact , they have it, and it's priceless!
  Think about all the times when your own children were growing up.  It was mom with the band aids and popsicles when they fell down and were crying as if there leg had just fallen off.  It was mom who picked the outfits out for Easter Sundays, first day's of school, Christmas pageants and countless other events.  It was mom who sang, read and prayed with them each day and most nights while dad's were working or slumbering in their easy chair exhausted from work that day.  Countless meals, meetings, sporting events, recitals, photo sessions, counseling sessions, and lectures filled almost every waking minute of the day.  Mounds of laundry, toys and bikes to pick up and still most times a smile, at least in my house there was!  Seriously folks, mom's are vastly underpaid and often times under appreciated.  Certainly albeit without meaning to, we take them for granted.  But it speaks well to the eternal reward God has for loving mothers and the crowns of righteousness they deserve to receive.  In this day and age of feminine emancipation and the degradation and demeaning of stay at home moms, the honor of servitude and it's nobility is proved over and over again in countless households across the world still. 
As far as I'm concerned there aren't enough flowers, Sunday brunches, gifts or platitudes we can give our wives and mother's.  It simply pales in comparison to the yeoman's duty they perform.   I have found that just the simple hug and thank you seem to work best for my wife.  Oh don't get me wrong she appreciates gifts, flowers, and dinners out like anyone else.  But a mom's real joy and happiness in life is often manifested in the lives of her children and grandchildren through the wonderful impact she had on them.  So Happy Mother's Day and Happy 39th Birthday to my wife and all the mom's out there!  We men won't admit it often enough but you are the greatest gift God gives us in this world outside of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Thank You!

Proverbs 31:26-31
"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many woman do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive , and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. *