Alphabet Faith Stories: Quiet Quinn

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Blessed quietness.

Proverbs 15:1: “A gentle (quiet) answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (NIV)

Word-Reference definition of quiet:

  • The quality or state of being quiet; tranquil
  • To cause to be quiet (calm); to become quiet
  • Silent
  • Still or barely moving
  • Making little or no noise or sound

Phrases with the word quiet:

  • In a quiet manner
  • Quiet storm
  • Keep quiet about
  • As quiet as a lamb
  • Quiet down
  • Quiet achiever
  • Quiet place
  • Quiet rest

Q: Quiet Quinn’s Story:

“Growing up in a Christian home with seven brothers and sisters was not easy for Quinn. There was constant chaos and loud talking during every hour of the day at her house. She longed for “blessed quietness” to study and do her homework. She often studied in her room which she shared with her sister or the local library where it was completely quiet.

At school Quinn had a few close friends but she was considered shy and an introvert by most. She kept her opinions to herself even when she had one. It wasn’t until her junior year in high school that Quinn finally found her voice. One of her English teachers who was in charge of the debate team program assigned every student a specific week/time throughout the school year to be on a team. Quinn was chosen for an assignment just before Spring break. She and her team members would have two weeks to prepare and come up with a strategy to debate the other team. Their topic would be “Christianity in Today’s Modern World.”

Quinn thought the topic would be an easy one since she was a Christian and had been taught about the meaning of salvation since she was a small child. However, after getting together with her team mates, there were varying degrees of opinions, including the very existence of God in today’s “modern society.” Her team was to research and come up with a unified explanation for debating the other team’s opposing argument.

After almost two weeks of discussion, Quinn’s team came up with a resounding unified conclusion and asked Quinn to represent their findings at the beginning of the debate. Quinn was hesitant until she remembered the scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7 which says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be silent and a time to speak…” This was Quinn’s time to “speak.”

The one-hour debate was a huge success and everyone from the community who attended that night was astounded at the debate between the two teams. Quinn had used her voice to speak up that Christianity was definitely relevant for today’s modern world for a number of reasons found in the Word of God.”

The Word of God tells us that we are to “give an answer for what we believe”–we need to speak up and not keep silent in today’s world and trust God to give us words of wisdom needed to reach others for Him.

May we all find our voices and speak up for Him the one who loves us all.

Blessings,

Yvonne

Alphabet Faith Stories: Patient Pam

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Patience is a virtue.

Scripture for patience:

Romans 8:25: “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (NIV)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of patient:

  • Bearing pains or trials calmly without complaint
  • Manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
  • Not hasty or impetous
  • Steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity

Inspirational quotes on patient/patience (Inspirational Words of Wisdom):

  • God’s love is patient, persistent, and persevering
  • Patience and diligence, like faith, remove mountains
  • Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty
  • Showing kindness, patience and faith, in yourself when you do make mistakes

P: Patient Pam’s Story:

“From the time that Pam could stand on a step stool to reach the countertop to help her mother bake, she fell in love with baking. She would tell everyone that she wanted to be a “baker like her mother” when she grew up. Her mother had a side business at home of making delectable, yummy delicacies for birthday parties, weddings, tea parties, and other occasions.

As the years passed by and Pam continued to help her mother bake cakes, pies, cookies, and other decadent desserts after school and on weekends, she told her mother that she planned to enroll in a culinary school when she graduated from high school in order to learn other aspects of the business. Pam’s mother was delighted and showed enthusiastic support when Pam was accepted into the prestigious School of Culinary Arts in Kansas City, a two-year program.

After graduation, Pam was offered a position as Head Baker at a local 4-star restaurant who were known for their delicious desserts. Pam was given a five-year contract with a very good salary but knew that she wanted to open her own bakery someday. As Pam waited patiently and worked diligently at the restaurant, she also researched locations where she would open her own bakery and decided that she would contact a real estate company in her hometown to see what buildings were available. After six months of looking, she finally found the right building to start her business.

Pam leaned on her faith and scripture in Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (NIV) It would take another year before Pam’s business would be up and running due to renovations and getting the building up to the proper local codes.

When that day finally arrived, Pam and her mother cut the ribbon together. She owed so much to her mother for showing her how to bake at an early age and encouraging her to follow her dream of becoming a baker and opening her own successful business.

It has been ten years since Pam followed her dream of opening “Pam’s Bakery and Cafe.” She also began teaching the art of baking to high school students one night a week, encouraging them to follow their own dreams as well. After graduation, many of them continued to further their education in the culinary arts.”

You may never open your own bakery, or you may have had dreams of opening one but never pursued those dreams. God has a plan for your life in whatever He has for you to do. Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” God will reveal His plan for you if you remain joyful, patient, and faithful.

Blessings,

Yvonne

Alphabet Faith Stories: Obedient Olivia

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Obey God

Scripture on Obedience:

Colossians 3:20: “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” (NIV)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of obedience:

  • Submission to the restraint or command of authority; willing to obey
  • An act or instance of obeying
  • The quality or state of being obedient

Phrases pertaining to obedience:

  • The obedient child
  • The obedient dog
  • Obedient to those whom he feared

O: Obedient Olivia’s Story:

“Olivia learned at an early age that it was important to listen to and obey her parents. She knew that it was important to hold your mom’s hand while crossing the street together; playing quietly at the table when they went to a restaurant with friends; sharing toys with her brother and sister and taking turns during play time; and other meaningful lessons to help her grow into a wise and caring woman.

Now that Olivia had children of her own, she practiced teaching them what her parents taught her in a loving and thoughtful way, because she knew that one day they would all have to make the right choices for themselves and learn from those choices.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it.” (NIV) Because Olivia was a caseworker with the Department of Family Services, she processed a number of children who had no idea what it meant to obey their parents because they came from very poor families who, oftentimes, were on welfare and had a poor outlook on life in general.

Olivia met some desperate mothers who wanted to teach their children discipline and exercise control but they did not know how to do it themselves. So, with God’s guidance, Olivia decided to offer a class on discipline and behavior for mothers who reached out for her help. She had 20 mothers sign up for the class to be held in the gymnasium at the local high school. Olivia passed out guidelines and valuable resource information to all in attendance. She even offered babysitting services at the school for the younger children. Local volunteers also taught the children good behavior and lessons while their mothers were in the classes each week.

Several weeks went by, and Olivia began noticing positive attitude changes in both the mothers and their children. One mother told Olivia that she had tried some of the advice that she was given on her own daughter, and she was beginning to see a “light on the other side of the tunnel” with her child’s attitude and behavior toward her. Each week other mothers began to share their own positive experiences and stories with changes in their children’s behavior as well.

In Olivia’s experience as a caseworker, she often told mothers that children needed to be given boundaries, structure, and guidelines regarding what was appropriate and what was not; otherwise, they would not be able to make wise decisions and right choices when necessary. Children would often push the boundaries just to see what they could or could not get away with. The boundaries let them know what was expected of them and they felt safer with them. They also respected those in authority more often than not.

Through Olivia’s obedience at following God’s leading in her life, she felt blessed and knew that the Lord had given her an opportunity to make a difference not only in the lives of children but in their parent’s lives as well.”

Just as children are commanded to obey their parents, God also wants us to obey Him. John 14:15 says, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (NIV) Let us obey His leading in our lives as we follow His commands.

Blessings,

Yvonne

Alphabet Faith Stories: Neighborly Nancy

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Who is our neighbor?

N: Neighborly Nancy. Luke 10:27–“He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (NIV)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of neighborly:

  • Of, relating to, or characteristic of congenial (friendly) neighbors
  • Helpful and friendly
  • Familiar and helpful: friendly

Phrases often used with the word neighbor:

  • Neighboring tone
  • Neighbor note
  • Neighborship
  • Neighbor like
  • Neighborly (brotherly) love
  • Love your neighbor as yourself
  • Forgive your neighbor as Christ forgives you
  • Neighborly way

N: Neighborly Nancy’s Story:

“According to Nancy, a weather forecaster for a local TV station, she predicted that severe thunder storms were on the horizon for that afternoon and the next 2-3 days. Since most of the surrounding area where she lived consisted of farms, she had hoped her prediction would help them to prepare beforehand for the severe weather ahead.

After leaving the TV station enroute to her home, she noticed dark clouds hanging low in the distance ahead of her. It looked like the thunder storms were right on schedule and she hoped to reach home before the rain began.

As she passed one of her neighbor’s farms, she noticed that one of his horses had gotten out of the fence–no doubt frightened at hearing the clash of thunder which made him run down the hill toward the road. Nancy immediately stopped her car so she could use her phone to call her neighbor and let him know about the horse, but there was no service.

Since Nancy had experience working with horses–she helped on Saturdays with the children’s horse-riding therapy group at the Bar Ranch near her home–she began talking with the horse and he started to calm down. Within a few minutes, she noticed that her neighbor and one of his hands came riding over the hill to rescue the horse. Puzzled, Nancy wondered how he knew about the run-away horse. He thanked Nancy for helping to keep him calm until they could get there, and told her that another neighbor noticed the frightened horse running off and alerted the farmer. Nancy stopped at the right time to keep the horse calm until he got there.”

In Romans 13:10, it says, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (NIV) Nancy was a prime example of someone who honored her neighbor above herself by stopping to help her neighbor’s horse. She did it without question and wanted to help the frightened animal.

In Romans 15:2, it says, “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good to build him up.” (NIV) Nancy was willing to take the time at the end of her busy, tired day to stop and help her neighbor’s animal.

We may or may not have an opportunity to help our neighbor with a frightened horse, but God gives us other ways in which to help our neighbors–by being kind, showing love to one another in our words and actions, and forgiving one another as Christ has done to us.

Let us be the kind of neighbor that shows love in our “actions and deeds” so that others can depend on us for help and support whenever they need a helping hand.

Blessings,

Yvonne

Alphabet Faith Stories: Mature Martha

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Maturity and wisdom go hand in hand.

M: Mature Martha. Hebrews 6:1-3–“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.” (NIV)

Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of maturity:

  • The quality or state of being mature
  • Having completed natural growth and development
  • Having attained a final or desired state
  • Of, or relating to, being an older adult
  • Characteristic of or suitable to a mature individual

Phrases/quotes pertaining to maturity:

  • Maturity comes with experience, not age
  • Maturity is when we live by the truths that are in our heart and soul
  • Be the person you are. Never try to be another, and you will become mature
  • Our maturity will be judged by how well we are able to agree to disagree and yet continue to love one another

M: Mature Martha’s Story:

“As the matriarch and current President of the Christian Women’s Association, Martha often found herself in situations where she had to be mature and wise in leading the group of charitable women volunteers in the community.

Martha was responsible for, and in charge of, initiating many of the community’s fundraisers: tickets for the local charity ball to benefit the pediatrics ward at the local hospital; learning-to-read books for kids in first to third grade at Porter Elementary School; funds for the soup kitchens and Salvation Army in two counties; Middle and High School fundraisers to support the PTO; obtaining volunteers to help with the Christmas Shop at the elementary school (students were able to purchase inexpensive items for their family and friends); and many more.

As a former high school teacher, Martha tutored high school students two days a week in math and English to help prepare them for college preparatory entrance exams. Martha’s knowledge and experience over the years helped a number of students to pass their exams and prepared them to write letters of interest and fill out applications to numerous colleges.

Although Martha never married, her heart and soul was in her community and she shared her maturity and wisdom by living out the truths that were in her heart and soul to both her students and friends.

When Martha retired from teaching, she was awarded a monetary gift and plaque for her years of service not only to her students but to the faculty and friends that appreciated and valued her in high esteem. The plaque stated:

‘To Our Distinguished Martha who has served Smithville High School for 30 years, and for her untiring devotion and attention to all of its students, we wanted to personally thank you for all that you have contributed–with maturity and wisdom–that you imparted to the students that you have taught and to the faculty who came to love and respect you as a teacher.

Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Martha, you certainly have exemplified this scripture in your life and our school was so very fortunate to have you as one of our faculty members. We wish you all the best in your continued journey to ‘do good works.’

At the retirement party, Martha’s heart was full of praise and thanksgiving that she was able to live her life to the fullest every day because she truly believed that “she was God’s workmanship, created to do good works” and others felt her commitment and love.

Martha then became the President of the Christian Women’s Association and continues to do what God had prepared her to do.”

Like Martha, may we all have the maturity and wisdom to share our life’s experiences with others who need to be shown the love of God by helping with whatever God has prepared us to do because we truly are “God’s workmanship and were created to do good works.”

Blessings,

Yvonne