JanMary

1.He who has called me to His own eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will HIMSELF complete and make me what I ought to be, and will establish, ground, and strengthen and settle me. His promises make all of the suffering and struggles of 74 years, worth every tear, pain, trial and loss. They have been and will continue to be His "tools" of workmanship to shape me finally, at that day, into His glorious image.

1. Peter tells us: Be well balanced (temperate and sober of mind), vigilant and cautious at all times, (Not fearful but watchful because Satan is always at hand watching for his next opportunity to pounce) We are to: Withstand Satan: be firm in faith (against his onset, rooted, established, strong, immovable and determined) knowing the same sufferings are appointed to our worldwide brothers and sisters. Paul tells us similarly in Ephesians 6:10-17: Be strong in the Lord, (empowered through your union with Him) draw your strength from Him which His boundless strength provides. Additionally, We are to put on the armor of a heavily armed soldier which God supplies that we may be able to successfully stand against all the strategies and deceits of the devil. All of this tells us not IF we'll be attacked, but WHEN we are attacked to not be shocked or dismayed in fear, but to STAND IN THE LORDS STRENGH AND POWER WITHIN US. (8 hours after I answered Q2 yesterday I was attacked in one of the ways I'd described in my answer: While sleeping with physical symptoms. I've had a weird summer flu for 10 days, and was worn out and weak. While I was asleep I was awakened by very painful, burning pains in my legs. When I got out of bed and stood, the pain stopped, so I tried to go back to bed. As soon as I laid down the pain started again. I knew this was an attack and it was unsettling. I got up and prayed, bound and took authority over Satan and his minions, and praised the Lord, The attack went on for several hours, and I was deprived of most of a night's sleep. When my husband woke up around 3:00 a.m. I asked him to pray with me, which he did. The pain persisted and even got worse, from painful aching to sharp pains. I stood in the Lord's strength and was reminded I was hidden in His secret place, in His stronghold and His high tower. I pled the blood of Jesus over me from head to foot. I prayed in my prayer language for several hours, and exhausted I finally asked the Lord to fight this battle for me. He did! I was able to sleep for a few hours. It felt like an object lesson....about how Satan was prowling, and attacked when I was weakened and weary from the flu, and how persistent he is, and yet how he must yield to the superior power of our Lord and the authority of Jesus.)

1. To be ignorant of an enemy is to be a "sitting duck". Gerald R Ford, former President of the United States said while a young Lt. Commander from our navy during World War II, that "because we were unprepared militarily for war, the enemy was emboldened to fight and fight and fight and was much harder to defeat". The enemy had a strategy and we were on the defense for much of the war. Had we been militarily strong and on the alert, the enemy may not have attacked. Also being aware of Satan's existence is the reason Paul taught us: "We war not with flesh and blood but with powers and principalities and kingdoms of darkness". If we're in denial about Satan's existence we fight in the flesh against people! People are often his "weapons" to blindside and attack us.. Our war is not with people! He readily uses non-believers to wage war against God and His kingdom. 2. This verse teaches us that Satan is wily, clever, invisible, intelligent, always on the prowl seeking a victim to devour. He's never satiated and never stops. He came to steal, kill and destroy. He never sleeps and will attack us even while we sleep through dreams, physical symptoms, disturbing much needed sleep through fears. 3. Peter said Satan prowls LIKE a roaring lion....that's all he's got! He was defeated at the cross but still prowls and growls trying to intimidate and frighten. At the cross when Jesus cried IT IS FINISHED! Satan's' authority was finished and Jesus' delegated His authority to all born again believers. His blood bought back what Adam relinquished to Satan when he chose to disobey God's command. But if we're ignorant of the truth, Satan can even use believers to injure others. I learned this first hand when a deacon in our church seized with jealousy told a lie about me, and stirred up anguish for me, my family and within the church. Several months later a dear Christian friend betrayed and attacked me when I stood up for what was right and she got angry when she was opposed. This also caused great anguish for me and for the Bible study group. This is when I realized that Satan can have a "foothold" in lives not totally committed to and surrendered to the Lord! I was shocked when the Lord revealed this to me, but it's when I was able to do spiritual battle with the real enemy and though it was very difficult, to finally forgive my brother and sister in Christ, and to be on guard in my own life for any leeway I might give to Satan through ignorance or pride. (Pride was the foothold Satan used in both people who attacked me)

1. Peter tells us to "Cast" our fears upon Jesus Who cares for us.( A little book I used as a tool for discipling new believers said that our shoulders are not designed to carry the heavy weight of burdens, cares, and fears, therefore we are to see Jesus as standing by holding an enormous bag into which we cast or throw our cares. Sometimes I forget and start to feel weighed down until that "picture" of Jesus holding that big bag open to receive my "burdens" encourages me to hand them over to him Who is the only one capable of taking care of them. 2. He cares for us...He's our Shepherd Who leads and guides us into green pastures and by still waters to rest and be refreshed. The Shepherd is always in front leading, whereas a false shepherd embodied by our enemy drives with a whip from behind, pushing and troubling us, causing fear, insecurity and frenzy. 3. We are to cast or throw them to Him as soon as we realize we are carrying them....like a hot potato! Much illness is caused by pretending we're not afraid, or in self sufficiency, thinking we can handle the difficulties of life until we stagger or collapse beneath the load we were not equipped to carry. 4. One of the things He speaks to my heart most often is "Let be, and be still and know that I Am God."( Psalm 46:10) That is because It has taken so many years to unlearn the fact that I am no longer on my own with no resources and no one to help me. That all changed when He rescued me from that pit. I don't stay there for long any more but it seems to be my "default" position for a short time when afraid or troubled. And then the joy and relief comes when I "see" the One Who is standing by waiting for me to remember to unload into His open bag!

1. Being free from pretension (Authentic without artifice), "wearing the garb of a servant" ( inward attitude which shows on the outside in behavior and actions),freedom from pride, arrogance, boasting and disdain toward others, so that service unto the Lord is the focus of the one serving in leadership. 2. I think that's only revealed in prayer through revelation, because many wear faces of humility (false) due to years of covering poor self esteem, shame and guilt, having learned "the right way to speak and act" in order to "fit in" or to be acceptable in Christian circles. 3. Failing to discern invests a prideful, overbearing leader with a platform through which to "showboat" and to lead through intimidation and control. (Jezebel spirit)

1. Honestly? I have NO idea, other than having a church board who is willing to confront the power-monger (s) by following denominational and Biblical guidelines, with the leading of the Holy Spirit. We've been in 2 churches who experienced this sad and devastating situation. In the first situation, when confronted, the pastor spread lies and preached from the pulpit re: "his victimization". (He had "fired" an assoc. pastor who "no longer fit it"...code for was getting a degree in counseling and had begun to make suggestions re: Misuse of Power) Many in the congregation left, which is what we did. Eventually his ego became so out of control that he resigned, certain that he was next in line for a BIG job in the denomination. When the job went to someone less "qualified" he came back and said "I changed my mind! I want to stay on as your pastor!" But by that time the board had some backbone and told him "No, thank you. We have a search underway for a new pastor". The danger? Hundreds of wounded and disillusioned Christians, many of whom no longer attend any church, preferring the safety of T.V. church where they are not emotionally invested. The second scenario was a young, dynamic, former athletic superstar, who felt called into the ministry. He had a sweet spirit and was very humble, preaching about how his goal was a church which was DEEP, not wide. However as the church grew, his ego expanded with the growth, and WIDE replaced deep. He quickly started searching for a larger building, found one the church could not afford, so he lied to the board and the congregation, did some "Ugly" arm twisting in secret meetings with a "select group....code for other wealthy athletes, Doctors, and professionals who were his friends, some of whom were deacons and "elders"... asking them to make secret "loans" to the church. Next he lied to the congregation about all of this. When an assoc. pastor sought his guidance about a job offer in another state, he turned this into a personal affront calling it betrayal, and at the next church service called the deacons and elders to stand in front with him while he publicly "flayed" this dear brother in Christ. That was our last Sunday....we were slow to believe what "seemed to be going on", not wanting to be devastated again! The power-monger is still pastoring that church, however he has an entirely new congregation who has no idea why everyone left. He's very charismatic and "says all the right things"...but inside he's an egomaniac. The danger? More wounded, disillusioned Christians. (Sad Statistic: There are as many Christians who no longer attend any church, due to church wounds, as there are Christians who do attend church. Charisma magazine poll) As far as the other 3 parts to the question, I'm clueless. The truism: Money is power and power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. God help the body of Christ! Since I'm not in a position to be making the decisions queried in this question, my role is to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for those who do make these decisions.

1. Arm twisting is "man playing God", whereas scripture teaches us that Holy Spirit calls and anoints us according to our gifting. In my early days when feeling "twisted" into service, the Holy Spirit led me to say "No" but I felt guilty doing so. Later He showed me that if I jump into a "place" under pressure, I may be hindering the reluctant candidate that He IS calling into that position from stepping into their calling and purpose for that time and place...maybe they are just wanting to be certain before saying "Yes". He has shown me "When uncertain, Wait!" 2. We are one body with many parts, mutually dependent upon one another. The Lord puts us together in our seasons and places to function within the body. When one is "pushed" into service the interconnected body is weakened, and is lacking the gifts of the "intended" individual who was either overlooked, hesitant to respond until certain of the calling, or disobedient to the call. (Rom.12). The body may end up with 2 "heads" vying for the lead, or 3 "legs" and one "arm" and a dysfunctional, weak body limping along instead of flourishing! 3.I would say that when one is "chosen by the flesh", their leadership will be "in the flesh." The result may be a pastor who is a good speaker, with no pastoral gifting, or a deacon with leadership skills but has no anointing due to immaturity and lack of Bible knowledge, or a teacher with strong opinions that disagree with the canon of Scripture, or a children's ministry teacher who shames children into learning....and on and on.

1. Jesus is our "elder Brother" and He came to serve rather than to be served. He championed women, rather than shutting them up and shutting them away, or diminishing their place in service or worship. He served with the ultimate love, grace, wisdom, humility and respect for all, yet knew Who He was and stayed within the limits of His calling and mission. He was not impressed with status, wealth, position, gender or piety (false, that is). Elders, pastors and overseers minister and serve under His Lordship and anointing, therefore they are to follow in His footsteps in regard to their duties. Treating their responsibilities and their flock as Jesus treated His, is required for successful ministry in His eyes and heart. When spiritual leaders "play" to the crowd or the media, and start believing their own "press releases" in regard to numbers, wealth, buildings, public platform, etc. they are failing in administering His calling and the body suffers and is weakened.

1. My first thought when I read this question, was that after I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior and was baptized, that was a manifestation of having died with Christ and when I came up out of the water I was raised to new life in Him. My will dies daily as I surrender it to the Lordship of Jesus to live out His will and purpose for me each day, rather than my own wishes. If I truly believe that I have already died with Him, then dying for persecution is His way of taking me home to glory in His timing. His will, not my own is the way He calls us to live. To fear death or shrink from it will keep us from glorifying Him in all things. And isn't that what we all want at our core? 2. If we live contrary to the above, we shun our Jesus, preferring our life and its' temporary pleasures to glorifying Him and having the privilege of "testifying, even unto death" our love for Him. As I watched the video of the Egyptian Christians lined up on their knees in their orange jump suits with Isis murderers wielding their swords behind them, I wondered what those men were thinking and feeling. I saw no fear or tears on their faces. I wondered how I would behave if faced with this kind of death, and prayed that whatever way He choses to take me home, I will not make Him ashamed. His Word says no one can snatch us out of His hands, not Satan nor terrorists, nor car accident, nor illness. Our days were all written in His book before time began (Psalm 139), and our death date is known only to Him. So I must trust Him in this as in all things. When Peter questioned Jesus about how John would die, Jesus said in essence "what is that to you? Take up your cross and follow Me", telling Peter he too would be crucified...Jesus also said in John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow Me, to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform to wholly, to My example in living and IF NEED BE IN DYING... 3 .To me it means that He is God, Sovereign over ALL, and He has called me to walk with Him in trust and faith. (Not that it's always pleasant, or without fear and trembling at times) His "marching orders to me were: " Feed on Me, Rest in Me, Abide in Me".....so wherever that leads...even unto death. He has always been faithful to me....my prayer is that I will be faithful to Him as I rely on Holy Spirit's strength to face each day, wherever He leads.

1. I would say that people see us as non believers or hypocrites who say we believe one thing but do another. It says we are no threat to Satan because we've been neutralized and are useless in the Kingdom of God. It says the devil is winning the battle in our flesh, and that faith is nonexistent or at least non operational. It says "we fit right in" with the world. 2. Persecution that I've suffered is excruciating, but has shown me that it's because of Jesus in me that I'm suffering, that I've entered into the "fellowship of His suffering". It's a very humble place and one that always brings His comfort. The most painful persecution was from a church member who called me "radical" and "out there" because I believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God! Also a church deacon who lied about me due to apparent jealousy, and betrayal by a Christian friend... but we are to count it all joy! I realized that as believers we are works in progress and if Satan has any place in our lives, he can and will use us to hurt or persecute sisters and brothers in Christ. Forgiveness heals!

1. Jesus told us that "the servant is not above the Master". As He suffered so will we. When I was a new believer years ago and my family was suffering catastrophic losses and humiliation, I cried out to Him one day, complaining that we had lost our home due to the economic downturn, and "we are homeless!" I heard in my spirit "I know child. Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man had no place to lay His head." I was shocked! "You were homeless Lord?" " I owned nothing but the seamless tunic my mother wove for Me." Then I said "But because we were evicted, the sheriff will come in the morning to make sure we have vacated our things! The neighbors will see...it will be so humiliating! "I know child. I was hung naked on a cross as a criminal between two thieves for the world to see and to mock me" That's when I learned that He has always gone before us in suffering ....He knows all too well, and understands what we are going through. When we suffer for following our Lord, it's actually a privilege, and it's vindication that we are following Him well. The "silver lining" is that His love and comfort are constant, we are growing stronger in faith and character, we are being made an example to those around us of genuine faith "under fire"....somehow He is more visible in us when we are tested and tried and we have His reassuring promise that He will never give us more than we can bear, and that there will be an end to the trial.

1. Since trials are the Lord's "tools for shaping and molding" us into His image, we thwart His work when we try to avoid persecution. In order to avoid it we must deny Jesus Who lives in us and has commissioned us to "Go and make disciples". His intent was for us to live out His character and to be His hands and feet and love to others, rather than to try to be accepted by "melding" into the common way the unsaved live. 2. I can't say that I have been distracted by it. I've felt the pain and discomfort, released it, forgiven and moved on! The times I've been persecuted are when I've been doing what He's asked me to do and just continued on my way. The most confusing persecution has been from Christians!. I've been called "radical" (not in a good way) and "out there" for believing the Bible, and for believing His promises when they look impossible to be fulfilled. (I've learned in His Word that they ARE impossible but for His miraculous intervention!)

1. It demonstrates insecurity, low self esteem, immaturity and "crying out" for recognition which is an invitation to exalt self in pride. It also demonstrates not yet knowing who one is in Christ...His beloved child, cleansed, forgiven and whom He rejoices over with singing and dancing. His child who is totally and completely accepted in the beloved! His child who can NEVER to do anything to cause His PERFECT love to lessen or His love to increase. 2. He has blessed me with the gift of evangelism, mercy, encouragement, and I'm experiencing prophetic gifting which has been growing over the years. I am His vessel to use as He wills...My part is to yield to Him. When He chooses to flow through me, is the greatest experience I've ever known! Doing exactly what I was created for....In sync with my Heavenly Father and Creator for His glory!

1. Every man and woman has been given a conscience and knows right from wrong even though they don't know the Lord. Giving an account for wrong actions involves admitting that the conscience has been violated, and guilty feelings are exposed. Pride does not ever want to admit to making mistakes or to wrong doing or sinful actions. 2. Pride, again is the reason. God hates pride! ...it keeps us separated from His cleansing and forgiveness...keeps us from admitting and repenting for our sin and restored relationships. Prov. 6:16: "Six things the Lord hates...seven are an abomination to Him: Pride: that overestimates oneself and underestimates others, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift running to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies even under oath, and He who sows discord among His brethren." 3. Realizing we must give an account should inspire us to think before we act in a rash way. He always gives us a way of escape from sin, if we will turn to Him for assistance to resist what we are being tempted to do. I Corinthians 10:13:" No temptation has overtaken you, such as is common to man, but with the temptation He will provide a way of escape." 4. Our attitude should be that of Jesus..to live in dependence upon Him, as He lived in dependence upon His Father. Also, the desire to bring Him honor and glory should put a "wet blanket" on the temptation to sin.

1. Peter is encouraging us to have the same attitude as Christ....that of "only doing what He saw and heard His Father doing" ...living His life to fully fulfil the purposes of His Father while here on earth. If I am focused on and tuned into the Holy Spirit's voice, (walking in the Spirit), I am less likely to enter into or entertain the cravings of the flesh which lead to sin. *My family is "at the Red Sea place again....shut in on all sides, pressed beyond what we believe we can endure, and I was telling the Lord several days ago that "I don't get it! I don't understand this! It's too much! I can't go through this again!" Then I said "What would you say to me this morning?...I must hear from you!" I sat with my journal and pen and waited...then I "heard" I love you! Rest in ME, I AM at work on this.........and the point Is: to bring me glory!" The tears started then and I "got it"....and said "That's what I really want for my entire life...to bring YOU glory! I can go on now with courage knowing that the outcome will be for our good and your GLORY! I'm sorry I was whining! Thank you for encouraging me! You're a good, good Father!

1. Yes, with great joy and devotion I asked Jesus to be my Savior and my Lord. I surrendered my life to Him and was baptized in obedience to the Word of God forty four years ago. This symbolized my identifying with Christ in His death, and when I came up out of the water, I rose with Him, a new creature in Christ. My parents christened me as an infant which involved sprinkling with water and the sign of the cross on my forehead, expressing their desire that I would follow Christ as I grew up. Water is a symbol of His cleansing and righteousness which He gave me in place of my sin and guilt. A friend who was seriously ill and could not be immersed in water due to her illness, was baptized by sprinkling. I believe she was obedient also. However we are baptized, I've discovered that many "deaths in Him" or surrenders are necessary for me to live fully in Him.

1. #3 Reconciliation with God: This one has been on my mind all day! I was reading Lamentations this morning and how godless savages ransacked the Holy of Holies which was to be entered only by the appointed and anointed priest once a year, stripping the holy things and taking them to Babylon! Holy Spirit brought to my mind that even Jesus was forbidden to enter the Holy of Holies while on earth. Now He is our High Priest...He IS the Holy of Holies and because of His sacrifice on the cross and redeeming me from sin, I LIVE in the Holy of Holies, so to speak. Since He will never leave me for one second, because He lives in me and I in Him (John 14:5). What a miraculous and amazing miracle that one day I was an outcast far from Him, and in one moment of reconciliation at the foot of the cross, I have freedom to boldly enter with my petitions or praise or tears at any moment I desire! How I praise and honor Him...what a wonderful Savior and Mighty God!

1. Persecution means some level of discomfort, pain and rejection. Our fallen nature naturally wants to defend ourselves. It takes a certain amount of maturity in Christ to quickly yield to the Holy Spirit for His response to our persecutors. 2. It's easy to be a lousy witness because that's the knee jerk response. Our old nature, though "dead to sin" can quickly "rise from the grave" and act ugly. We have to WANT to CHOOSE to yield to Holy Spirit in order to be the kind of witness which honors our Lord. 3. I would say "having a clear conscience" meaning that if I'm having "one of those days" and I'm carrying anger or unforgiveness in my heart, I'm less apt to engage with gentleness when feeling unjustly accused, or persecuted in other ways.

1. I would say compassion and courteous( tenderhearted) and humble are the most evident. 2. I think because I've been in 12 step Bible studies for many years, which foster wonderful caring, safe, loving and supportive relationships, church relationships seem guarded and a bit distant for the most part lacking intimacy and closeness. Most are warm friendly and helpful, though on a "surface" level. Home groups are helping to establish closer relationships. 3. For my part before I leave home I ask the Lord to help me see his people with His eyes, and to lead me to those that He knows need a hug, or a listening ear or conversation or prayer. I have been happily stunned at how He honors this prayer with anointed fellowship! I meet people I would not generally meet and try to remember at least their first name. (large church) This is coming from a place of inner healing for many years, and remembering when I was a new believer and timid, that typically no one spoke to me at church functions and I'd go home and cry.

1. The Lord considers us joint heirs with Him as His children, and when a husband mistreats His wife the Lord said he is unable to pray effectively and therefor his prayers will be "hindered"...(disregarded) .The Lord hates cruelty of any kind to one of His children. He apparently sees himself as ruler over an inferior and is a lie he's believing in order to control her. 2. Again, we are joint heirs with Christ...on equal ground at the foot of the cross where we received salvation. A wife mistreating her husband can hinder her prayers for the same reason as for her husbands prayers being hindered. We are to treat each other with love and mutual respect and honor.

1. He "should" because that is what the Lord has instructed husbands to do. Women are called the weaker sex because we don't have the physical strength and stamina that men have been gifted with, because we have been given different roles in the family. Women have been instructed to respect their husbands while husbands have been instructed to love their wives, as Christ loves His bride the church, laying down His life in sacrifice for her. I believe the "knowledge and wisdom" spoken of are the Lords means of softening husbands in their treatment of their wives...getting to know her emotionally and spiritually, not just sexually. This involves depending upon the Lord for this behavior because this is not typical in men's nature. Women are created in His image in that we long to "be known" and we spend much time sharing and relating with friends, forming deep relationships, but the main one we desire that kind of relationship with is our husband. It involves patiently listening, and relating in gentleness rather than demanding submission, or "caveman" domination. The kind and gentle and understanding "strategy" results in the wife respecting her mate and love blossoms in that kind of relationship, because of the bond of trust established from the time invested in "getting to know" his wife. Besides providing leadership and provision, this is how he demonstrates that he loves her. Women are gifted with relationship building skills of a deeper nature than that of men. 2. The self interest is manifested in "knowing what is good for him" in terms of how his wife will respond to his tenderness and demonstrated interest in "knowing her" in the way that meets her emotional and spiritual needs. He in turn earns her respect and her willingness to meet his sexual needs. 3. I think men instinctively want to dominate other men and women. It's the testosterone I think. "Just get the job done" and conquer, rather than allowing the Lord to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit of "Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Perseverance and Self Control." Those are the character qualities of Jesus to which we all respond, and those are the qualities to which every woman's heart will respond when demonstrated by her husband. (and visa versa) 4 & 5. Rebellion against God was the first sin in the garden producing the fallen nature. God said to Eve..".your desire and craving will be for your husband and he will rule over you." That I believe is the set-up for her wanting to dominate. That's why we are instructed to "fit in" with our husbands plans, give input as his helpmeet, but leave the outcome of his decisions to the Lord. When wives are submitted first to the Lord, the desire to dominate our husbands is quenched because we desire to please the Lord and to have a harmonious and loving relationship in our marriage and because the Lord is ultimately our husband and we trust Him for our well being. Also, if the husband is not submitted to the Lord, he may try to "rule over his wife" with harsh demands and even bullying or intimidation, which kills the spirit of the woman and ultimately any chance of a long and loving relationship. 6. Domination is not God's will for us....actually in marriage, mutual submission is required, in that the husband is to consider seriously his wife's suggestions, desires and wisdom before making his decisions. We are all on equal ground at the foot of the cross. No one is superior in value to another. Men and women are equal in God's sight as are the different races. In a psychological sense, domination suggests insecurity and low self esteem, anger and impotence....which are all things which the Lord can and will heal if brought to Him.

1. Inner beauty is our character and personality. It's the Lord who changes and shapes our lives and character, and Who develops and grows the Fruit of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23) BUT, our role is to yield and surrender to His process. We help to facilitate His fruit in us as we spend time in His Word, position ourselves to receive from sound teaching, and through prayer and yielding to His Lordship in our lives. Inner beauty is His character reproduced in us. "A gentle and peaceful spirit is precious to God" I Peter 3:4b. 2. We are new Creatures in Christ when we receive His gift of Salvation, and the process begins as we renew our minds with His Word, and begin to think His thoughts, and to see things from His perspective as we spend lots of time in His Presence, yielded to His Lordship. Phil 1:6 tells us that "He Who began a good work in us will continue until the day of His return, developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in us." "More of Him, less of me" 3. Our character is precious to God because that was the sole purpose for Jesus coming to earth....to buy us back from the devil's grip and to redeem us and remake us anew into His image through grace to populate the earth and Heaven. 4. Jesus' character is so lovely, appealing and attractive...we are drawn to Him because of His love and gentleness. His character in us make us appealing and lovely in the same way to those around us, including our husbands (for those who are married). That character bids a woman to fit in with her husband rather than battling for supremacy in the relationship, and to be the helpmeet God designed her to be to her husband.

1. Peter tells us to pursue inner beauty.....it will grow and outlast any physical beauty, and can be seen through faces the world would deem homely. Our appearance is a reflection of who we are and WHOSE we are. A wise pastor's wife once told our Bible study of young women: "when you get up in the morning, do the best you can to look your best, with what God has given you and with what you have, then leave the mirror and forget about yourself and focus on others". I feel better when I've styled my hair, put on modest makeup and clean, becoming clothing then I feel un-self conscious and that I represent my Lord in a positive and healthy way, and am ready to face the day as His ambassador. 2. If appearance is the most important thing, that borders on Narcissism and if it depends on whether hours of time in front of a mirror, or a large financial investment are required then it is out of balance. Being fit is important to me and I go to the gym several times a week, but I go when it does not interfere with duties at home or other obligations to family, church and friends. However, when one becomes a gym rat obsessed with the body's appearance, I would say that is out of balance. Our society shuns aging at every turn promoting surgery to avoid looking ones age, which too is out of balance. Keeping appearance in perspective is important. I feel "creeped out" when I see a woman's altered lips preceding her into a room and wonder at the expense that has made her face a caricature of who God made her to be. What is balance? moderation in all things! Good grooming is just a part of the day. Cleanliness is next to godliness was a motto I heard growing up. Modesty and a peaceful, pleasant, and joyful countenance is beautiful no matter how little makeup or money has been spent on clothing. The eye is drawn to inner beauty where Jesus shines and is radiant. A "sour puss" looks ugly no matter how much makeup tries to cover it up.

1. Our fallen nature is naturally rebellious and wants to be in charge! 2. No, We are to communicate, and to work together for mutual benefit and well being, willing to compromise and to relinquish the need to be "right" or in control. If in the final analysis, we can't agree, the Bible tells me to let my husband be the deciding factor in the matter. 3 It's wrong or sin to submit to being asked to do something illegal, harmful, or detrimental to well being or health.