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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">November 27, 2012</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>JUL
9 - PROVERBS 31 - MOTHER AND WIFE</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>1.
31:1 (31:1-7) LEMUEL: WARNINGS CONCERNING WINE AND WOMEN. “<font size="3">The
words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">(Some
think this was Bathsheba to Solomon, and that she is the model woman
who follows.) Father, may we remember th</span><span style="font-weight:normal">e</span><span style="font-weight:normal">
admonitions and instructions of our mother, and our father also. As
David and Bathsheba instructed Solomon, so may we receive Your
instruction Father, even through church leadership. </span><b><i>Hallowed
be your :name.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal">2.
31:9 (31:8-9) ADMONITIONS FOR JUSTICE. </span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">“Open
your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and
needy.” </span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">How
often Your Holy Spirit through Bible writers reminds us of the poor
and needy! Let us heed the Spirit’s admonitions. Let us plan always
to meet these needs. </span></span><b><i>Your :kingdom come.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal">3.
31:11-12 (31:10-12) THE MODEL WOMAN. </span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">“The
heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
</span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="font-style:normal">12
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">She does
him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” </span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">A
prudent wife is from You, O Jehovah, and her husband finds good and
favor from </span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Y</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">ou.
So have You blessed us Father, through our mutual prayer. Praise be
unto Your Name, O Jehovah Father. </span></span><b><i>Your :will be
done, As in heaven, so on earth.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal">4.
31:14 (</span><span style="font-style:normal">31:</span><span style="font-style:normal">13-19)
HER CEASELESS LABORS. </span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">“She
is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.”
</span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">What
a prudent wife is this, O Father: always looking for bargains; always
stretching dollars; always making a house a home; always seeking to
move in a servant spirit. We thank You for such wives, O Father.
Forgive us when we have failed to appreciate Your wonderful gift to
us. “</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Enjoy
life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that
he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life
and in your toil at which you toil under the sun” (Ecclesiastes
9:9). </span></span><b><i>Our :daily :bread Give us this day.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal">5.
31:20 (31:20-22) HER WORKS: DESERVING RESPECT. </span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">“She
opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.”
</span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Bowels
of compassion is Your attribute Father, and so often You place this
in our wives. So often a man needs this insight that our wives give.
Blessed are You O Jehovah, Creator of the Universe, Who has blessed
man with faithful wives! </span></span><b><i>And forgive us our
:debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal">6.
31:23, 26 (31:23-27) HER CARE FOR HER HUSBAND. </span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">“Her
husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the
land. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="font-style:normal">26
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">She opens
her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her
tongue.” </span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Strength
is upon Your man Father, when You en-gift him with such a wife. We
thank You O Jehovah, for such a wonderful gift. May we ever be
grateful to You and her for such a gift. </span></span><b><i>And
bring us not into temptation.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="font-style:normal">7.
31: 28, 30 (31:28-31) HER PRAISE AND GODLINESS. </span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">“Her
children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he
praises her. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="font-style:normal">30
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal">Charm is
deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to
be praised.” </span></font></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">What
a blessed home do You make Father, when You give such a wife and
mother as the glue to hold it together! </span></span><b><i>But
deliver us from the evil </i><span style="font-style:normal">one!</span></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:normal">This
is a remarkable insight You have given us, O Father! May all men,
husbands, sons and daughters, walk in thanksgiving and praise for
such a wife and mother. Father, we bless you! Father, we praise You
for ever and ever. Amen!</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:normal"><b>Our
Psalm for the day: 9:11 (9) I WILL RECOUNT YOUR WONDERFUL DEEDS!
</b></span><font size="3"><span style="font-style:normal"><b>“Sing
prises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the people
his deeds!” </b></span></font><span style="font-style:normal">Father,
if we want to dwell with You, we must come up higher. Your dwelling
place is the Most Holy Place with</span><span style="font-style:normal">in</span><span style="font-style:normal">
the veil. You dwell between the cherubim. In Christ our Great High
Priest we will press in! We will learn intimately of You in the
spirit, and will indeed tell all nations of Your marvelous doings!</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-weight:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:normal">9:1
</span><i><b>I will praise You, O Lord. </b></i><span style="font-style:normal">It
sometimes needs all our determination to face the foe and bless the
Lord in the teeth of His enemies; vowing that whoever else may be
silent we shall bless His name; here however, the overthrow of the
foe is viewed as complete and the song flows with sacred fullness of
delight. It is our duty to praise the Lord; let us perform it as a
privilege. </span><i><b>With my whole heart. </b></i><span style="font-style:normal">Half
heart is no heart! </span><i><b>I will show forth all Your
marvelous works. </b></i><span style="font-style:normal">Gratitude
for one mercy refreshes the memory as to thousands of others. One
silver link in the chain draws up a long series of tender
remembrances. Here is eternal work for us, for there can be no end to
the showing forth of all His deeds of love.</span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">9:2
</span></span><b><i>I will be glad and rejoice in You. </i></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">God
loves a cheerful giver, whether it be the gold of his purse or the
gold of his mouth which he presents upon his altar. </span></span><b><i>I
will sing praise to Your Name, O You most High. </i></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Songs
are the fitting expressions of inward thankfulness, and it were well
if we indulged ourselves and honored our Lord with more of them. Mr.
B. P. Power has well said, “The sailors give a cheery cry as they
weigh anchor, the plowman whistles in the morning as he drives his
team; the milkmaid sings her rustic song as she sets about her early
task; when the soldiers are leaving friends behind them, they do not
march out to the tune of the ‘Dead March in Saul,’ but to the
quick notes of some lively air. A praising spirit would do for us all
that their songs and music do for them; and if only we could
determine to praise the Lord, we should surmount many a difficulty
which our low spirits never would have been equal to, and we should
do double the work which can be done if the heart be languid in its
beating, if we be crushed and trodden down in sou</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">l</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">.
As the evil spirit in Saul yielded in the olden time to the influence
of the harp of the son of Jesse, so would the melancholy often take
flight from us, if only we would take up the song of praise.”</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">9:4
</span></span><b><i>For You have maintained my right and my cause.</i></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">
If we seek to maintain the cause and honor of our Lord we may suffer
reproach and misrepresentation, but it is a rich comfort to remember
that He Who sits in the throne knows our hearts and will not leave us
to the ignorance and ungenerous judgment of erring man.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">9:13
</span></span><b><i>Have mercy upon me, O Lord. </i></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">Just
as Luther used to call some texts little Bibles, so we may call this
sentence a little prayerbook; for it has in it the soul and marrow </span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">of
</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">prayer.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">9:14
</span></span><b><i>That I may show forth all Your praise.</i></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">
</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">We
must not overlook David’s object in desiring mercy; it is God’s
glory. Saints are not so selfish as to look only to self; they desire
mercy’s diamond that they may let others see it flash and sparkle,
and may admire Him who give</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">s</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">
such priceless gems to His beloved.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">9:17
</span></span><b><i>And all the nations that forget God. </i></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">There
are whole nations of such; the forgetters of God are far more
numerous that the profane or profligate and according to the very
forceful expression of the Hebrew, the nethermost hell will be the
place into which all of them shall be hurled headlong. Forgetfulness
seems a small sin, but it brings eternal wrath upon the man who lives
and dies in it.</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">9:20
</span></span><b><i>That the nations may know themselves to be but
men. </i></b><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">One
would think that men would not grow so vain as to deny themselves to
be but men, but it appears to be a lesson which only a divine
Schoolmaster can teach to some proud spirits. Crowns leave the
wearers </span></span><i><span style="font-weight:normal">but men;</span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">
degrees of eminent learning make </span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">t</span></span><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">heir
owners not more than </span></span><i><span style="font-weight:normal">men;</span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">
valor and conquest cannot elevate beyond the dead level of </span></span><i><span style="font-weight:normal">but
men</span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">;
and all the wealth of Croesus, the wisdom of Solon, the power of
Alexander, the eloquence of Demosthenes, if added together, would
leave the possessor but a man. May we ever remember this, lest like
those in the text, we should be </span></span><i><span style="font-weight:normal">put
in fear. </span></i><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-weight:normal">C.
H. S.</span></span></font></font></p>
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