Reflections on God's Word

by Victoria Robinson

Does your lifestyle put you in the way of someone else? Do your choices cause others to stumble? Our Lord and Savior told his good friend Peter that he was a stumbling block. The apostle Paul made it a point to avoid being a stumbling block to those in his life. He even went so far as to work night and day so that he would not be a financial burden to other’s.

One way we can cause others to stumble is to exercise our freedom in a way that is hurtful to those around us. For instance, there are those who do not struggle with overeating. Yet they should be careful how they eat when around a sister who lacks self-control. Serving a luscious chocolate ganache cheesecake might be an unwise choice. Instead they should consider the needs of their precious sister. Would it not be wiser to eat the cheesecake when they are in a different setting. The cheesecake is not necessarily evil, but the enemy can use it as a stumbling block to someone who has a weakness. Out of love, we should always be looking to the needs of others.

Dearest girlfriends, let us ask our heavenly Father to reveal to us if we are causing others to stumble.

by Victoria Robinson

Making presumptions can be foolish. Like seeing the warning lights blinking, the safety crossing gates down over the road, and a train coming down the railroad track with the whistle blaring, yet presuming you can race to make it across the tracks before you and your car are crushed into oblivion. This is pretty much what the Israelites did when they presumed upon the mercy of God when they raced into the promised land against the warning given by Moses. As they soon found out, one should not make presumptions. They were fiercely attacked and beat down. All the presumptions we may make are not as obvious.

Some foolish presumptions people may have …

• I am a good person—I will go to heaven

• I have a husband—I cannot lose him

Each of the younger women must be sensible and kind, as well as a good homemaker, who puts her own husband first. Then no one can say insulting things about God’s message. ~ Titus 2:5 CEV

The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ~ 1 Corinthians 7:4-5 NIV

• I have great strength—I cannot fail

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. ~ Psalm 20:7-8 NIV

• I have wealth—I will never be in need

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ~ 1 Timothy 6:17 NIV

Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. ~ Proverbs 23:5 NIV

by Victoria Robinson

When we think of a fruity lady, we usually think of the ladies who are “interesting” and most people wish to avoid. Yet there was a very famous “fruity” lady who most people would have  never avoided. Her name was Carmen Miranda and she cornered the market as being known as a fruity lady. She is best known for her role in the 1943 Busby Berkeley movie, The Gang’s All Here, in which she sang “The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat” while adorned with a seemingly gargantuan piece of fruit-laden headgear. The spunky Miranda with her distinctive fruity hats was very popular in the movies from the 1930’s to the 1950’s. Even if you have never seen the movie, you are most certainly familiar with the Chiquita Banana advertisements with a woman in a over-the-top banana headdress.

The Word of God is full of “fruity” ladies. Lydia, Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary,  Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis, to mention a few. The apostle Paul commended all these ladies in his letters and one could conclude they were all showing the fruit of righteousness and fruit of the Spirit. To be a “tutti frutti” lady does not require a fruit filled hat, but does require a fruit of the Spirit filled heart. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Dearest girlfriends, let us become “tutti frutti” ladies filled with the fruit of the Spirit.