Treasure Bible Study Guide April - June 2024

TREASURE

Helping Women Fulfill the Great Commission

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BIBLE STUDIES

Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well reminds us no one is beyond the reach of grace.

Look at the beauty of Esther and reflect on dimensions of that beauty being overlooked.

Spinach In My Teeth

James uses the idea of looking into a mirror as a metaphor for our interaction with the Word. How is this applicable in our lives?

FEATURES

IN

Thoughts

Amy ....................... 4 How do we make sure we are balancing a proper perspective of self? Giggles

Have you ever gotten the church giggles from a church sign? Behind

Take a look at the ministry in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Join us in our 2024 theme of Reflection.

TREASURE (ISSN 8960038) is produced quarterly by Women Nationally Active for Christ of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, Inc., 5233 Mount View Road, Antioch, TN 37013-2306. Copyright privileges reserved. A 2024 Member of Evangelical Press Association.

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TREASURE

ISSN 8960038

Volume IIII, Number 2

Editorial Staff

Ruth McDonald, Editor-in-Chief

Phyllis York, Managing Editor

Tori Matlock, Design

WNAC Board

Amy Johnson, Michigan

Sharon Dickey, Texas

Jonda Patton, Kentucky

Sarah Sargent, Ohio

Tracy Payne, Oklahoma

LeeAnn Wilfong, Missouri

Khristi Shores, Oklahoma

Jessica Edwards, Tennessee

Katie Postlewaite, South Carolina

Contributors

Carol Reid, Tennessee

Annette Baines, Virginia

Beverly Brantly, Florida

Charity Brown, Asia

Amy Johnson, Illinois

Sarah Sargent, Ohio

Phyllis York, Tennessee

Ruth McDonald, Tennessee

Tori Matlock, Oklahoma

About the Colunnist:

Amy Johnson chairs the WNAC board of directors. She is head of accounting at Stark Enterprises, a Michigan-based general contracting company. Amy graduated from Welch College in 1998 with a B.S. in Business Administration. Amy enjoys women’s ministry, working with children, and being outdoors

Thoughts From Amy

BY AMY JOHNSON

As a teen, I had a fancy radio alarm clock with a built-in cassette player. (Yes, going back a few years)! When I got married, this alarm clock came with me. Although the cassette player no longer worked, the radio did, and I loved the dim blue display numbers. Even though it took up a lot of nightstand space, my husband was okay with it, but he questioned my sticker. The sticker had three simple words: “I love myself.” I honestly do not recall where this puffy sticker came from or why it was put there. But I do remember often thinking, yes, I do love myself, and it’s worth getting up today, because Jesus loves me too. I don’t think I ever saw the sticker as a prideful, self-centered love, although I do see where it might not be the slogan to live by.

How do we make sure we are balancing a proper perspective of self? It is important to have self-worth, but we must be careful not to have pride.

When you look in the mirror, it’s easy to see the flaws. Your outward appearance may not be quite what you were going for that day. Or perhaps you look and see deeper inward flaws. Other times, it may be a perfect hair day, accomplishing exactly the look you were going for, and you think, “Girl, I’ve got this. Let’s get this day started!” You leave the mirror with a puffedup sense of self-pride. Paul stresses the importance of abiding in Christ in Colossians 2:6-7.

Contemporary Christian artist King and Country has a song titled Priceless that goes perfectly with our theme, Reflections. The opening lyrics are, “Mirror, mirror, mirror on the wall, telling those lies, pointing out your flaws, that isn’t who you are.” Later, the song mentions being clothed in white, every wrong made right, and refers to the adjectives irreplaceable, unmistakable, incomparable, and beautiful.

These adjectives describe who we are in Christ. Yes, the mirror shows our surface perfections and imperfections, but we are created for so much more. Remember whose you are and live a life abiding in Christ. I haven’t been able to find another dim blue light clock display, and although the puffy sticker didn’t make it, my now retro radio alarm clock still does the job on my nightstand.

M r , M r ,

On The Wa

The Struggle Lov g

Self d

Lov g Oth s

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall

BY Annette Baines

For years, my family lived near a community of people who would not allow anyone to photograph them, believing it to be a direct violation of the commandment, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” AlthoughmAmish people have been photographed over the years by those wishing to depict their way of life, they forbid posing for portraits.

Outside the Amish community, “image” seems to be everything. The value of self-image in today’s culture has created a plethora of issues, from narcissism, which is the extreme of self-love, to low self-esteem, which can lead to extreme self-deprecation. This conflict of “image” and how people view themselves has been elevated, in large part, through the entertainment and sports worlds. Reflect with me for a moment about the Hollywood culture, Miss America Pageants, school beauty contests, and such. All these things, regardless of our personal opinions, create issues in both young people and adults, pertaining to one’s self-image and self-worth.

Now, with the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) being such a big part of college sports, it seems like one’s image has overshadowed one’s character and integrity in a university’s recruiting process. Character traits like team spirit, integrity, loyalty, etc.,

appear to take a back seat to how much money and success a name, image, and likeness can generate for an organization.

The social media frenzy has fueled issues surrounding image. I realize we cannot make a blanket judgment on all social media users, but evidence suggests much of social media is the attempt of many to present themselves as something not reflecting who they really are. This is just another example of an over-fascination with one’s image and how the world views them.

How did we get to this place in our culture? It is clear the issues surrounding one’s self-image are built upon a foundation of lies, a scheme of our enemy. Satan knows he can debilitate us, even those who are followers of Christ. Yet, we are not without hope. We possess truths found in God’s Word to help us put all of this into a proper perspective. Truth is always the answer and must be the “mirror” to which we look to understand what self-image and self-love are all about.

Self-Love vs Self-Esteem

In chapter 22 of Matthew’s gospel, a Pharisee, who was also a lawyer, asked Jesus which of the com-

mandments was the greatest. Jesus answered him by saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39; ESV). It is interesting to note that while there are two commandments that go hand in hand in this passage, “loving yourself” is not one of them. When Jesus says we should love our neighbor as ourselves, His assumption is this is something every human being already does. Jesus does not condemn this idea of loving ourselves, but we should understand what it means to develop an inappropriate love for self. Maybe the question we should ask is, “Can we love ourselves too much?” Loving ourselves too much can range from an unhealthy view of who we really are, (both too negatively and too positively), to becoming a full-blown narcissist. In Greek mythology, Narcissus was led to a pool of water where he stared at his own reflection, fell in love with it, and continued to do so until he died. I am certainly not suggesting most or any of us have loved ourselves to the point of becoming narcissistic, but we must be cautious to guard against it.

Warning Signs of Loving Self Too Much

A preoccupation with physical appearance

Both men and women struggle with this in an age where beauty and physical fitness, in some contexts, is a litmus test for acceptance and success. However, women seem to be a target of past and present societies (Proverbs 31:30; 1 Peter 3:3-4; 1 Timothy 4:8). While physical beauty and looking your best is desirable, it is the spiritual beauty of the godly woman that boasts of eternal value.

An unhealthy need for admiration and affirmation

There is certainly nothing wrong with being affirmed or admired in the proper way. I love it when my husband affirms me as a wife, mother, Mimi, and pastor’s wife. As important as it is for him to speak those things over me, it is just as important for me

to receive his admiration and affirmation in a way that encourages me, rather than inflating my ego (Proverbs 29:5; Matthew 6:1; John 5:44; I Thessalonians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 1:31). We must remember it is the Lord’s approval and acceptance that we must embrace, and He has been gracious in His Word to remind us often of His thoughts toward us. Psalm 8:4-9 says, “What is man that you are mindful of him…Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor” (ESV). When I feel the need for admiration or affirmation from others that may result in unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, I turn to the One who created me and remember His words.

A strong desire to be the center of attention

Everyone likes to be noticed. Everyone likes to be heard. Everyone likes to be praised by others. Do you see the friction here? There is nothing evil about desiring the things that encourage us and give us an emotional and mental boost. Sometimes these are the things that let us know others care. However, when we love ourselves too much, we can find ourselves in pursuit of these things in an unhealthy and even ungodly way. We chase after relationships that are not emotionally or spiritually safe. These relationships only feed this desire for attention and lead to self-centeredness. Potentially, they can lead down a path where God is replaced by self in our daily lives. In the familiar words of our present culture, “It is all about me!” (Philippians 2:3).

Having established too much self-love is unhealthy and spiritually dangerous, let’s look at what it means to “love our neighbor as ourselves,” particularly focusing on the Scripture’s assumption we love ourselves. If Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves, surely there is an explanation for what this means and how we can define self-love in a healthy way.

In an interview with John Piper entitled “You Don’t Need More Self-Love”, he debunked the idea people need their self-esteem boosted and loving them-

selves equals self-esteem. Piper explained that for years, Christians have interpreted this command to mean the reason people didn’t love others was because they didn’t love themselves adequately. He went on to explain that this false teaching meant self-love always equaled self-esteem. As Piper said, “…this scheme colossally missed the point in several ways.” (Read the entire interview at desiringgod.org.)

The Meaning of “Loving Ourselves”

Loving ourselves is not something we have to be taught. Think for a moment about our newborn babies. In those first few months, our precious little babies demonstrate not only that they were born with a sinful nature but also a lifelong love for themselves. Yes, we all love ourselves, and without proper guidance and instruction, self-love can turn into the things discussed earlier and even more. However, we can also demonstrate how to love ourselves in the way Scripture assumed, a way that helps us know how to love others.

I love it when God’s Word uses the example of marriage to drive home a truth. Marriage is one of the most powerful relationships to demonstrate God’s relationship with us. In discussing the topic of appropriate and inappropriate self-love, this example is right on target. In Ephesians 5, the Apostle Paul is writing to the people of Ephesus, instructing them on marriage, and speaks to the husbands about how they should love their wives. He first reminds them of how Christ loved the Church and gave His life for them. Paul then states, “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it (Ephesians 5:28-29a; ESV).” Did you notice the first phrase of verse 28? When speaking of husbands loving themselves (their own bodies), Paul uses the words nourishes and cherishes. The Amplified Bible adds the word “protects” in verse 28a. This is a great insight into what Jesus may have been talking about when He said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Here are a few questions to ponder when considering how

one loves themselves in the context of nourishing, cherishing, and protecting.

When you are hungry, do you eat to satisfy your hunger?

When you are sick, do you go to the doctor, take your medicine, rest, etc.?

When you are thirsty, do you find something to drink to cure your thirst?

When your physical body needs attention, do you practice personal hygiene?

When you are in danger of any kind, do you seek a place or person of refuge or safety?

When you are lonely, do you call or seek out a friend?

If you are a student and want to make good grades, do you study?

When you are afraid, do you seek comfort?

These are just a few ways we love ourselves, and many others will come to mind as you meditate on and evaluate the way we nourish, protect, and cherish ourselves. This can translate into wonderful ways of loving others. You see, loving ourselves is just wanting the very best for ourselves. Believers and unbelievers can love themselves in these ways. However, considering the two Great Commandments, it is only in the follower of Christ proper selflove and a genuine love for others can function in unity. In addition to helping us show love to others, appropriate self-love takes the focus off ourselves, which in turn keeps us protected from unhealthy and inappropriate self-love.

It is not difficult to understand the concept of appropriate and inappropriate self-love. However, practicing the scriptural principles that help us stay on track regarding this issue is not always easy. God’s Word gives us a wonderful passage in

Warning Signs of Loving Self Too Much

A preoccupation with physical appearance. An unhealthy need for admiration and affirmation.

A strong desire to be the center of attention.

Philippians 2:1-11. Over the years, I have heard most Bible teachers identify the theme of Philippians as “joy”. While I agree joy is an important theme, I believe this passsage gives greater insight into the major theme, which may just be “the mind of Christ.” Three times in these 11 verses, we find the word mind. Paul challegnes believers to understand if they are really a part of Christ, they are to strive to be of “the same mind,” and he emphasizes it again by saying, “and of one mind (Philippians 2:2; ESV).”

The admonition to be of the same mind was so strong in Paul’s view that he correlates their one-mindedness to the fulfillment of his joy. Paul follows his passionate plea for the Philippian believers to be of the same mind with some instructions for how to accomplish this in everyday life. The question then becomes, how does this help one to avoid the dangers of inappropriate self-love and from becoming narcissistic? Philippians 2:3-4 gives us a few directives, if received and obeyed, will keep us on the right path regarding our relationship with ourselves and others.

A Strategy For The Proper View of Self

Our ambitions must be selfless, void of a haughty spirit, and have pure motives.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit…” (Philippians 2:3a; ESV).

We must humbly think of others as better than ourselves.

“In humility, count others as more significant than yourselves…” (Philippians 2:3b; ESV).

We should look out for others and not just care about ourselves.

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others (Philippians 2:4; ESV).”

These three principles, when applied, deal with one’s motives, attitudes, and actions regarding caring for other people. All of these together place the proper

focus on loving others as we guard against the improper love of self.

Jesus: Our Greatest Example

Paul follows these instructions by giving us the greatest example of how they were lived out in the life of Jesus. Scripture gives us not only clear commands to obey but an example to follow. Jesus is our greatest example, and we should strive each day to become more conformed to His image— a bright reflection of His glory. Let’s examine what Jesus actually did to show us the way.

Being God, He did not take advantage of His divine status (Philippians 2:6, ESV).

Being God, He humbled Himself to become a man who would be a servant of others (Philippians 2:7, ESV).

Being God, He was obedient by suffering the cruelest of deaths, death on the cross (Philippians 2:8, ESV).

Why did Jesus endure this and do it so willingly? Why did he think of others first instead of looking out selfishly for His own desires and ambitions? The writer of Hebrews gives us some insight in Hebrews 12:2. As the writer inspires us to run the race of faith with patience, he also gives us the key to endurance. He writes, “looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12:2; ESV).” When we are tempted to think too highly of ourselves or even too lowly of others, we need to consider Jesus. He lived the perfect balance during His earthly ministry and will gladly help us do the same if we will only look to Him.

Just For Women

God’s Word and these principles certainly apply to all humanity. However, as a woman and a pastor’s wife for thirty-seven years, I have seen more women struggle with the issues of self-love and self-loathing. I, myself, have had moments wrestling with these issues. It is easy to get caught up in the comparison game and allow thoughts to penetrate your mind of whether you really do measure up. The moments of comparison can also cause a conceited spirit when we think we are

better than someone else. When either of these scenarios exists in our lives, we become less effective in loving and helping others. Life becomes all about us, and our motives and pursuits become selfish. Women and young girls in our culture easily fall prey to pursuing things that make them feel better about themselves as well as those things they believe will cause people to accept them. This potentially leads to an unholy pursuit of unsafe relationships and a plethora of other things that develop the kind of self-love we are trying to avoid. We struggle with loving ourselves too much. It is in our nature. However, once we become a follower of Christ, we will spend a lifetime allowing Him to transform us into His image and likeness. Then and only then will we keep a proper perspective of self and others in check. Remember. Consider Jesus!

Questions to Ponder?

1. Do you struggle with loving yourself too much? If so, how does it manifest itself in your life? (Words, deeds, relationships?)

2. Do you identify with any of the warning signs of loving yourself too much?

3. What are some other ways besides those listed that you express proper self-love?

4. What actions can you implement to develop a strategy to avoid inappropriate self-love?

5. How can you adjust your lifestyle to make sure you are spending enough time “looking to Jesus?

For Deeper Study

“Victory Over the Darkness” by Neil Anderson Freedom in Christ Ministries – www.ficm.org Do a personal Bible study on “one another” passages in Scripture.

“The Danger of Self-Love” by Paul Brownback

About the Writer: Annette Baines currently resides in Chesapeake, VA where her husband, Jay, serves as Lead Pastor at Great Bridge FWB Church. She has served in local church ministry for 37 years as a speaker, writer, teacher, and leader. However, her most cherished ministry has been her family.  Annette loves being a wife, mother, and Mimi to seven grandchildren.

God Sees YOU

BY BEVERLY BRANTLY

— PSALM 139 —

The world knows what we want it to know, what we show when out and about. It sees the face we wear to move about with others. It doesn’t see the deep-down heart of us. The dirty little parts that we think no one knows about, even the thoughts that are far from Christlike.

That God could know me, really know me, and still want a relationship with me is almost more than my finite mind can comprehend. Understanding that He loves me even when I have those unchristian thoughts is totally off the chart.

Yes, every thought that runs through our mind that is not God-centered is still known by our loving, kind Father. I’m sure He doesn’t enjoy knowing them; how could He? We must fill His heart with pain when He searches deeply into our hearts and sees the real us. Yet, don’t miss this: He still loves and works in us, molding and shaping and loving us to transform us into the person He knows we can be.

Jesus sees our every move; He knows our heart’s desire and wicked thoughts, yet He still loves you and me. He still prays for us and intercedes for us to God the Father.

Beverly Brantly is a 74-year-old mother of a 15-year-old daughter who has kept her active and tired. She has been a member of First Free Will Baptist Church in Seffner, Florida, for 45 years. She has 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, so life is good.

True Beauty

Reflections on Esther

BY CAROL REID

I love the true story of Esther. I remember when my mother read it from the Bible to my brother, sister, and me, and we demanded chapter after chapter, eager to see what happened next. There is history, romance, humor, risk, and justice, all wrapped up with a satisfying conclusion. Jewish congregations still read the book aloud every year as part of their Purim celebration, hissing when Haman’s name is read and cheering for Esther.

My first impression of Esther was all about how beautiful she was—the Cinderella story of the Jewish orphan who became queen because of her great beauty. As a child, I didn’t understand the forced compliance to the king’s decree and what it meant for a virgin teenager with no say-so in the matter.

I loved Esther’s courage and ingenuity in finding a way to rescue her people. Her bravery won the day. But in my context, the prettiest woman in the land who asked to talk to her husband never seemed to be taking a huge risk. Again, I missed some of the cultural overtones.

Later, I loved the story for the poetic justice—as Mordecai was honored by the king in the way Haman planned for himself, while Haman eventually hung on the high gallows he built to punish Mordecai. Scripture tells the whole story, and often those twists reveal God’s justice—and His sense of humor! The ethnic and political implications were hard for me to understand. Considering the turmoil in the Middle East today, they are still hard to comprehend!

Let’s look again at the beauty of Esther—of the queen and the scriptural account of her role in history—and reflect on some dimensions of that beauty we may have overlooked.

The Set Up

The Bible could have left out the first chapter of the book of Esther. Beautiful Esther would still enter the scene with the royal search for the loveliest lady in the land. But Queen Vashti sets up the story. She serves as a contrast to Esther that we don’t want to overlook.

We don’t fault Vashti for not doing what the king asked.

Ahasuerus (or Xerxes) was a powerful ruler. He gave a six-month party (Esther 1:4) to show off. He was on a seven-day drunk (verse 10), surrounded by his men friends, when he sent for Vashti. Some commentaries believe that when the king asked her to come in her crown (verse 11), he meant only her crown—nothing else. The king was not happy about her refusal. Enraged, burning with anger—her husband’s bad temper provided another reason Vashti felt it was better to continue as hostess of her own party (verse 12).

But the king wouldn’t let it go. He called his cabinet together and made a big deal out of the queen’s refusal. Those wise men worried that Queen Vashti’s behavior would give permission to women all over the realm to show contempt to their husbands as well (verse 17). Let’s press the pause button for a moment.

Is that what your husband thinks too? When you refuse, second-guess, overrule, or reject his opinions, does he feel your contempt instead of your respect? Beware of the unintended consequence of your attitudes. Learn the lesson from Vashti—who lost her husband and home and perhaps her head. Her refusal was worse because of the public situation. Should she have done what Ahasuerus demanded? I don’t know. But maybe she should have called on her own wise counselors for advice. Maybe there was a compromise she could have offered. Maybe a creative alternative would have defused the situation. Just be aware of your own attitudes—even when your solutions seem much better than your husband’s ideas. Find a way to show respect as you work together.

Vashti’s refusal to obey the king focuses not only on the threat that would come to Esther but portrays her as the foil—the opposite of the heroine in the story. She serves as a contrast to the next queen, showing in relief “what not to wear.”

All of this sets the stage for Esther’s “beauty pageant”— except this pageant was not voluntary.

The Contest

By royal decree, all the beautiful young virgins were taken to the king’s harem (Esther 2:3). Imagine that your

daughter or cousin were selected. Imagine that she was betrothed to a wonderful young man whose parents you had known for years. Imagine that she struggled with anxiety because of the traumatic exile from her homeland. Imagine that she had already suffered horrendous losses of her loved ones. We don’t know Esther’s whole story. We know she was being brought up by a cousin, Mordecai (verse 7), but we don’t know what their family looked like. Was he married? Were there other children in the home? What were the circumstances of their exile?

Like Daniel and his Hebrew friends, Esther was taken to the king’s palace. No objections, no questions, no arguments were tolerated. The brightest and best and most beautiful became captives. She was renamed and indoctrinated with a foreign culture.

Perhaps worse, her fate was sealed one way or the other. If she did not win the title of “Miss Persia,” she didn’t return home with her Miss Congeniality sash and a college scholarship. She was stuck in the harem of the heathen king—from then on. All the losers stayed in the harem as the king’s sex slaves. What were the chances that she would win? Let’s just say, even if she was the prettiest girl in the world, the panel of judges was narrowminded. Only King Ahasuerus decided—and remember Vashti. Even the contest winner was not assured a long life and happiness.

Added to all of this, Esther was a Jewish exile. Her people had been conquered and her homeland was devastated. What were her chances of becoming queen? No wonder Mordecai, her guardian, advised her to keep quiet about being Jewish (verses 10 and 20).

Esther’s Survival Strategy

How would Esther survive such a difficult position? How could she protect her honor and her commitment to God? How could she meet the devastating circumstances piled on her, not of her own doing?

Here are four strategies she practiced that can work for you in your devastating circumstances too.

1. She kept in touch with her roots and the people who

loved her. Her guardian Mordecai visited the palace every day to check on her (Esther 2:11). You see him at the gate to communicate with Esther often in the book of Esther (2:19; 3:2; 4:3). Though she did not disclose her heritage, she communicated regularly with her cousin. She found strength in her people. She probably made many friends, but she did not forget her roots and was anchored in the truth and traditions of the Jewish people. She claimed her Jewish family and kept in touch with them. A year of palace living and preparation was not enough to change her values or her faith.

2. She cooperated and found favor. Esther was obedient to Mordecai’s instructions (Esther 2:10). She heeded the advice of Hegai, the person in charge of the harem (verse 9). She wisely chose to do what those who were in authority asked her to do (verses 10, 15). This brought favor from everyone around her (verses 9, 15)—even the king (verse 17). Remember, this had been a year-long preparation (verse 12), and we don’t know how long Esther had to wait for her turn among the other beautiful young women. We only know that the wedding feast was four years after Vashti had been dethroned (compare Esther 1:2 with Esther 2:16).

You may think that six months of oil of myrrh treatments and six months of spice massages sound wonderful, but if you’ve lived in a girls’ dormitory you know the drama that can develop. Confined to one space, away from family, under pressure, facing competition, cat fights inevitably would crop up. But the inerrant Scripture pronounced that somehow Esther found favor with everyone who saw her (verse 15). This speaks volumes about her sweet nature and cooperation with others.

3. She made the best of a bad situation. What were Esther’s options? She could have wallowed in despair. She could have complained and cried all day, every day. She could have been bitter and difficult. But instead, Esther learned to please the king. Even without realizing the future of her nation would be at stake, she participated in the preparations with purpose. And she must have delighted Ahasuerus (see verses 14 and 17).

4. She accepted her opportunities. Mordecai’s first

summons was about two men who were planning treason. He became an informant and sent word of the plot through Esther (2:21–22). This was the warm-up, though it played a major role in setting afire the anger of wicked Haman. When later the threats were against all the Jews, the stakes were higher. Again, Esther courageously intervened. She stepped up, even at personal risk, to do what God had put her in place to do (Esther 4:14–17). She used the resources within her capabilities. She set strategy and prepared the way to her husband’s heart. God did the rest.

5. She kept praying. When threats came that could destroy her life and the lives of her people—and yes, the lineage of the Messiah—she first had a prayer meeting. Mordecai had already been praying and fasting, making quite a spectacle at the city gate (Esther 4:1). Her people had been mourning and weeping and dressing in sackcloth and ashes (verse 3). This was far from palace life, though, and Esther could have tuned out the needs of others. Instead, she asked them to fast and pray. She and her maidservants also began a three-day fast (verse 16). She would not bring up the subject to her husband without bathing it (maybe soaking it?) in prayer. This is an excellent strategy for all of us when we face a difficult situation or a hard conversation. Let’s talk to God about the trouble before we talk to others. Let’s ask Him

to prepare the way for us to effectively present our case and get the glory from the results. Whether your issue is with an employer, a friend, your husband, your children, your parents, or your neighbor, spend time on your knees before you bring it up. Let God do His part. You might be surprised at the results.

Esther’s Beauty Secret

What is your best beauty secret? My friend Tillie once told me about some Estee Lauder cream she had discovered. “How much does it cost?” I asked. “Who cares!” she exclaimed. “It works!”

Do you sleep on a silk pillowcase? Use a special cream or make-up brand? Do you drink 64 ounces of water every day? Esther’s beauty secret was not so secret. This beauty is imperishable—it will never fade. It keeps getting better as you get older. You don’t need to pay any money for it, though sometimes it may seem quite costly. The good news is that it can be your beauty secret too. This is the beauty secret of 1 Peter 3. Somehow Esther knew it even centuries before Peter wrote of it. (Who would have thought he was an expert on beauty? Remember, though, he was inspired!) It was the beauty secret of Sarah too. She was so beautiful at age 89 that a king took her to be his wife, and God had to get Abraham out of a sticky situation (Genesis 20).

The Bible’s best beauty secret is submission.

However, our culture has turned up its nose at this secret. Women have listened to the advertisers and influencers of our day. They are more willing to try cucumber and apple cider vinegar than to listen to the Scripture and learn from the women there.

Yes. The Bible’s best beauty secret is submission. (Some of you might have laughed out loud.)

This is not easy. This is not convenient. This is certainly not popular, but it is truth. It is God’s truth, plainly stated and reinforced by examples of women in the Bible. It is definitely countercultural, another upside-down truth of Christ’s kingdom that flies in the face of this world’s culture.

So, look first at 1 Peter 3:1–6. A detailed study is for another time but notice that submission is the key to winning our husbands to Christ (verses 1–2). Our internal qualities are more important than our hair, jewelry, or wardrobe (verse 3). A gentle, quiet spirit not only gives us enduring beauty but also pleases God (verse 4).

Take a look at the way Esther modeled this scriptural principle. She submitted to Mordecai (Esther 2:20) when he took the role of her parent. She submitted to Hegai, the keeper of the harem, when she was sent to the palace (2:15). She treated her husband, the king, with utmost respect and honor (Esther 5:4, 7; 7:3; 8:3–6). She submitted to God (Esther 4:16) and the position He placed her in. Instead of responding with bitterness and despair at her situation, Esther displayed inner beauty that only enhanced her outer beauty.

We may all wish we could turn back the clock on those wrinkles, age spots, and extra pounds. But here’s a guarantee for ageless beauty. No matter your income bracket, swimsuit size, or genetic blueprint, it works. It has some stiff requirements—like biting your tongue, preferring others, and dying to self—but a gentle, quiet spirit will make you beautiful from the inside out. Even more, it will please our Heavenly Father.

How do you get from here to there? You have a good mind and good ideas. You are not stupid or in any way “less than.” So how can you protect yourself and speak up for your ideas without turning into Vashti?

Here are four ideas to cultivate.

1. Spend time in God’s Word and prayer. Allow Him to shape your thinking and change your heart. You might need to stop receiving some of the culture’s messaging in order to listen more closely to Him. I’m guessing all of us need to spend more time on our knees and less time on social media.

2. Talk with a role model. Find someone beautiful and ask her to speak into your life. I hope you have someone flesh and blood nearby, but don’t forget the possibility of books too. You might find an author you connect with. You might read biographies about a woman from history. Seeing how she translated the gentle, quiet spirit into her routines will encourage you to do the same.

3. Truly value others. Help your husband know how much you respect him. Show your employer honor by your words and your work ethic. In every relationship, esteem others above yourself. Forget the self-help gurus. This is scriptural (Philippians 2:3).

4. Give yourself time for the process to work. Probably, if you are opinionated and expressive, others are not going to recognize your gentle, quiet spirit by next weekend. Sorry. There’s no magic pill or instant fix. But over time, when we allow the Lord to work to make us more like Jesus, we can follow His example of humble submission to the Heavenly Father and His will. And we can let the beauty of Jesus be seen in us.

God used Esther’s legendary beauty to save the nation of Israel and prepare the way for the Messiah. Even if you never win a beauty contest, He can use your gentle, quiet spirit in spectacular ways for His glory.

About the Writer: Carol Reid has always been involved in Christian education. She served thirty years at Welch Library and continued her ministry as an editor at D6 Family Ministries. Though she is officially retired, she continues to work part-time at D6, teach the toddler nursery at church, and help care for grandchild #5, Samuel. Carol’s husband, Dr. Garnett Reid, went to Heaven last September, so she is sorting through his books and papers to try to find good homes for them.

Giggles

BY SARAH SARGENT

Have you ever gotten the church giggles from a church sign? I love a funny or thoughtprovoking church sign. In many ways, I think of changeable signs as a forerunner for social media—a way to draw attention to your church.

Last November, our church’s sign needed to be changed. My dad and I went back Sunday afternoon to change it. When we arrived, I began removing the old message while he went in to get the letters for the new message. The new message was “Remembering and honoring our veterans.”

I had removed the old letters as my dad approached with the new message. I offered to take the left side while he did the right side of the sign. When I finished my side, I walked over to his and realized he was still working on remembering. After teasing him about his lack of speed, I grabbed the last three words, sat down on the brick flower bed/sign holder, and tried to finish this up quickly so we could get home. I added the last word and began to space them out evenly. Out of my peripheral vision, I noticed movement near my feet. I glanced down, and crawling towards me was a snake. I jumped up! Screamed! And took off running across the churchyard. Dad, in turn, took off running across the yard. (He grew up in the south end of Columbus, and when you see people yelling and running away, you follow and ask questions later.) Once I stopped running, probably 20 yards away, Dad asked me what happened. I told him there was a snake by the sign. We started creeping back because he wanted me to point it out to him. He saw it and said it was probably a garter snake. I looked at him and said, “I will teach, clean the toilets, work in the nursery or the youth room, but I will NEVER change this sign ever again.” I HATE snakes! It may have been a garter snake, but it was a black mamba-anaconda to me. I wanted nothing to do with it ever again!

Can you imagine what the people driving by must have thought when they saw those crazy Christians shouting and running across the yard? I have no doubt there were giggles then and when my dad retold the story the following Sunday morning. Sometimes, the church sign gives you the giggles, but sometimes, it’s the people running around the yard screaming.

About the Colunnist: Sarah Sargent loves to laugh and loves making others laugh even more. She is a third-generation member and leader in FWB Women’s Ministries. Sarah currently serves as president of the women’s ministry at Reynoldsburg FWB Church, president for Ohio FWB Women’s Ministries and on the WNAC board. She is a proud alumni of The Ohio State University, loves all things Disney and her labradoodles Regal and Lexi.

2 eggs

Banana Nut Cake

1 ½ cups sugar

2/3 cup butter or margarine

3 bananas, mashed

1 teaspoon baking powder

Dash salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 tablespoons buttermilk

2 cups four

1 teaspoon soda

½ cup nuts

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs. Sift dry ingredients together. Add alternately with bananas and buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and nuts and pour into greased oblong pan. Bake in moderate oven at 350° for 35 minutes. Frost, if desired with lemon or caramel frosting.

Recipe Submitted by: Mrs. Cleo Pursell, (Torrance, California). Wife of Rev. Paul Pursell. Writer, speaker. Favorite verses, Isaiah 54:4-6.

Note: This excerpt comes from Bible and Mixing Bowl in a Woman’s World, published in 1962. The net proceeds from the sale of this book helped fund the Memorial Student Loan Fund, later became Dr. Mary R. Wisehart Student Scholarship. The co-editors were Mrs. Roy O’Donnell (Mt. Olive, North Carolina) and Mrs. Eunice Edwards (Nashville, Tennessee).

Published by WNAC. Each page of the book contained two recipes, a meal plan, a devotional thought or poem, and a brief biography of the recipe's author.

Join us for Fellowship, Games, and Giveaways!

Monday, July 22 at 8:30 pm

TCC Ballroom B

Tickets - $12

We won't let the absence of ice cream bring us down this year. More than make up for it in laughter, fellowship, memories, and, of course, coffee, soda, and water for that Florida heat!

James uses the idea of looking into a mirror as a metaphor for our interaction with the Word.

Spinach In My Teeth

BY CHARITY BROWN — JAMES 1:22-25 —

How many times have you gone to wash your hands, looked up at the mirror, and realized you had something in your teeth that most likely had been hanging out waving at everyone you talked to for hours? I’m always like, “How in the world did nobody have the heart to tell me about that?” It’s kind of like those dreams where you are missing at least one major article of clothing, and once you realize it, you’re like, “How have I been walking around like this?” The fact that I have those dreams on a semi-regular basis probably says something about my mental health, but I’m not sure what.

James uses the idea of looking into a mirror as a metaphor for our interaction with the Word. A major theme in James is that believers should be active in their faith. Faith without action cannot even be regarded as faith. In James 1:22-23, James tells us to be “doers of the Word, not hearers only.” Anyone who is a hearer only is “like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror” and walks away and “at once forgets what he was like.” Many of us (me included) are guilty of reading the Word, even studying or listening to it being preached, and then walking away

from it without allowing it to change us. We forget what we just heard and don’t put it into practice. We hear what the passage is saying and may even feel some conviction, but we walk away and do nothing about it. This is where my metaphor from earlier breaks down a bit. Most of the time, when we have spinach in our teeth or when we are missing a major article of clothing in a dream, we don’t know about it. What James is saying here is that we do know about it. He is assuming his audience is “looking intently” at himself. The Greek word here implies careful consideration. This message is not just for those who are not carefully considering what the Word is telling them to do. In fact, this message is for those who do carefully consider the Word, who study it rather than just listening passively. Knowing the Word inside and out is not enough.

God’s Word is a powerful mirror, one we can look into and see our true selves rather than the version of ourselves the world sees or the version that we imagine we are. Charles Spurgeon puts it this way: “The Scripture gives a truthful reflection of man’s nature, it lets the man see himself, not as others see him, for others make mistakes, nor as he would see himself,

for he is very apt to be partial to his own soul, but the Scripture makes him see himself as God sees him… The holy Book does not flatter human nature, neither does the true preacher attempt so base a work, but in plain and downright honesty of truth the witness is given, ‘They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one.’” If we carefully read, study, and consider the Word of God, we will see what it tells us about who we really are and walk away and do something about it.

I don’t know exactly what it looks like to be open to this conviction whenever we read, listen, or are with other believers who might point us to Him. But these kinds of changes started to happen more often when I started to be more intentional about allowing Him to work in me instead of just reading and listening to check it off my to-do list. I’ve never really struggled with having a consistent time in the Word. But I have always struggled with having consistent prayer times and silence before Him. I have never really struggled with attending church and listening to sermons, but I have always struggled with applying what I heard and being open with others in community about my struggles and sins. In other words, I have lived so much of my life as a “hearer” and not a “doer.” I said that being intentional helped me open up more to the Spirit’s instruction. That intentionality wasn’t my own idea. Living overseas helped force me to be intentional. Others around me had already learned the importance of being intentional and vulnerable. They were modeling it for me. They were opening up to community and the Spirit’s movement. They were sharing what He was teaching them and convicting them of. I realized He wasn’t doing much of that in me. I realized I never talked about what He was convicting me of. I have always talked about my knowledge of the Word. I have gotten by with sounding like I knew the Bible well. I have been reading through it at least once every year for many years. I have a degree in theological studies. I have taught classes at church. I have led Bible studies. I have gone overseas

to do His work—but I have not allowed His Spirit to convict me daily, and I have certainly not shared those convictions in community for mutual accountability and encouragement.

It shook me when I was surrounded by people who were doing that with each other and with me. And the Spirit began to work in a new way in me, bearing fruit and challenging me. And He continues to do that work in me, to humble me and remind me that I am no more sanctified than the brother or sister with

When was the we admitted struggles before Lord and others?

their long list of don’ts, no more sanctified than the brother or sister who offends me or hurts me.

Obviously, not everyone struggles with pride in the same way, but we all struggle with something. When was the last time we admitted our struggles before the Lord and before others? I’m not talking about the

ones we admit to so easily like, “I’m really struggling with anxiety,” or, “I’m struggling to love myself.” My confession of pride even came with too much fear of what you think of me. No, I’m talking about, “I’m struggling with hateful thoughts toward someone; I’ve been rejoicing in their sorrows.” Or “I’ve been struggling with the desire for men to find me attractive.” Yes, these are real struggles that I have only rarely brought up in community. Why? Am I afraid people will judge me? Yes. Do I really let my fear of

being judged override my desire to be cleansed of these sins? Yes. I do. But I shouldn’t. That fear puts me firmly in the hearer-but-not-doer camp. This leads to my final point, which I have been hinting at from the beginning. Living in community

ensures that you are holding the mirror of His Word up to yourself and others on a regular basis. It means that they are also holding the mirror up to you. It’s always a little mortifying to be told you have a huge piece of spinach in your teeth, but then you can do something about it instead of just wondering why people seem to be staring at your mouth. Having a brother or sister confront you with your sin or with lies you believe is way more mortifying than having them point out something in your teeth. But how much better are we when we realize they were right? Let’s stop just hearing when we read or when we listen to a sermon or Sunday school lesson. Let’s do, and let’s help one another do too.

For discussion:

1. In what ways are you “hearing” on a regular basis? (e.g., daily time in God’s Word, listening to sermons, etc.) How can you grow in this area?

2. In what ways are you “doing” on a regular basis? (i.e., do you have any method of applying what you read and hear?)

3. Think of a time that you or someone you know was noticeably active in living out their knowledge of the Word. What did that look like?

4. What does spiritual community look like for you right now? Do you have people in your life holding up the mirror of God’s Word to you? What might it look like to pursue this kind of community and provide it for someone else in your life?

5. Read and consider Galatians 6:1-2. What would it look like to put this into action?

About the Writer:

Charity Brown is an English teacher and overseas worker. She along with her husband Reese and three-year-old son Zeke lead a team of teachers in a closed-access country in Asia.

Problem! Mine or Theirs?

BY CHARITY BROWN

A few years ago, I was working with someone (a brother in Christ) with whom I did not see eye-to-eye (to say the least). If I’m honest, there were things I found annoying about him to begin with. Then he said a few things off-handedly that offended me, and that did it. I wrote off any possibility of true friendship and biblical unity with him. I would do the bare minimum in my relationship with him to avoid feeling guilty, but I would not pursue community with him. I would not bring my grievances to him because I was sure it would not make a difference and he would not change.

Months went by, and there were many times I would read the Word thinking, “He really needs to hear this.” Or I would listen to a message and think, “Surely he should be feeling conviction about this right now.” Then, one day after reading in 1 Corinthians, the Spirit convicted me. What if He had a plan to teach me something through this relationship? What if He was using this relationship to grow me? What if I had been needing those messages and passages every bit as much as he did? What had I missed out on while focusing only on his imperfections rather than my own? And how might the Father have used me in his life had I allowed Him to convict me, change me, and use me to show His love instead of focusing on

how my co-worker was seemingly not showing me love?

I wish I could say I got up from that quiet time and went to him to ask for forgiveness. But I did not. In fact, circumstances changed, and we never saw each other again after that year. I studied the Word. I knew what it was saying. I even saw myself in its reflection through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. But I didn’t do anything about it.

Quite a few years ago, I realized I was holding on to some bitterness. This bitterness was directed toward a few people in our denomination who I saw as “Pharisees.” I felt like many people were so focused on doing things perfectly that they had turned their faith into a list of dos and don’ts and were trying to force everyone around them to adhere to that list regardless of how biblical it was. I was tired of wearing skirts and dresses every Sunday and Wednesday. I was tired of memorizing verses in the King James Version. I was tired of following someone else’s list of don’ts that weren’t explicit in Scripture. And I was tired of pretending to be perfect. I remember reading verse after verse with these “Pharisees” in mind.

This attitude started in my teens, but it progressed as a college student who wanted to wear pants to class

and go to the movies, and it continued to progress as I later worked with brothers and sisters of other denominations who were enjoying some of their Christian liberties more than I was. These thoughts and feelings came to a head one winter as Reese and I were on winter break attending a conference with our organization. He and I were at different places in what we thought we could and should do regarding some of our Christian liberties. I was struggling with whether it was pharisaical to have this list of don’ts that we had. I wanted to be free. I grappled with it, and I read 1 Corinthians again. And as much as I wanted to think, “See? They’re just being overly conservative and old-fashioned. Paul literally calls the person who puts these kinds of restrictions on himself ‘the weak person.’” As much as I wanted to use that as justification to enjoy my Christian liberty, the Spirit convicted me with the words, “Be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling

block (1 Corinthians 8:9).” Was my “right” worth the possibility of causing someone else to stumble?

I hope sharing the ugly pride I experience daily helps you somehow. The Spirit made it through to my heart after I had resisted for quite a while. James is talking about being willing to allow the Word to change us. Allowing the Spirit to convict us and point out areas we have ignored. What would it look like to be open to this conviction every time we read, listen, or are with other believers who might point us to Him? What would it look like to follow through when we are convicted, to do instead of merely hear?

About the Writer:

Charity Brown is an English teacher and overseas worker. She along with her husband Reese and three-year-old son Zeke lead a team of teachers in a closed-access country in Asia.

“Be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block.”

1 Corinthians 8:9

BEHIND THE SCENES

Ardmore has been home for six months now. It has given us new challenges, loves, hopes, dreams, and many other things.

We moved to Ardmore in August to help with a church revitalization. We are still raising funds to help cover the cost of living while also working at Chick-fil-A. My husband and I will be the youth and family ministry leaders.

Already, our church has grown this year. We saw a salvation and three baptisms. God has blessed our time here, and we cannot wait to be in Ardmore full-time.

Although being in a new town is hard, we have found a new community to love and minister to. We have found a congregation of loving and giving hearts. Within a 15-minute drive of our church, there are 16,000 unchurched people. We are so excited to see the Lord work and move to help us meet needs, love those around us, and witness to these people.

Keep praying for us as we keep raising funds. Pray for us as we start and lead a new family and teen ministry. Pray for our town. Pray God would open hearts.

About the Writer:

Tori Matlock and her husband Cody Matlock were approved by the board of North American Ministreis last year in May. They began raising funds immediately and moved to Ardmore in August. They are the proud owners of two wonderful dogs, Lady and Lola. Tori loves reading, music, and cooking, and Cody has a huge passion for Kansas University basketball.

Just Being Ruthful*

BY Ruth McDonald

When’s the last time you looked in the mirror and thought, “I feel pretty!”

I have a six-year-old granddaughter who is objectively a pretty girl—and knows it. She recently gave me a chuckle when she preened in front of the mirror and said, “I just wanted to check and see if I’m still cute. And I am! I’m SO cute!” Oh, to be six again.

Has your Facebook feed been showing you before and after photos of Hollywood beauty icons of the past? Some have aged gracefully and are still beautiful, while others have opted for a few too many cosmetic surgeries with catastrophic results. And then there are those whose lives—and faces—have been marred by substance abuse and tragic life choices that have left them almost unrecognizable. The sad truth is that, without exception, nobody really looks better at age 80 than they did at age 20, at least not in Hollywood.

As women, we often fall prey to the cultural message that our beauty determines our worth. Cosmetic and fashion industries push that message like their livelihood depends on it—because it does.

“*Ruthful is an archaic English word (the opposite of ruthless) meaning “full of compassion.”

In this issue of Treasure, we are turning our faces and hearts to what the Bible says about true and lasting beauty. The Word of God acknowledges certain women were known for their physical beauty: Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Esther, and Abigail were all described as beautiful. But the emphasis of the Bible is undoubtedly focused on a different kind of beauty —“the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (I Peter 3:4).

Many years ago, I attended a conference and met several women who had spent their long lives walking with God on the mission field. I came home from that weekend telling my husband, “Those were the most beautiful women I’ve ever met.” To be sure, the world would’ve never measured them in that way as they were, in truth, kind of dowdy by fashion standards. The glow of the Holy Spirit, the joy of lifelong obedience, and the pleasantly lined faces formed by habitually resting in God’s promises made them stunning.

Don’t get me wrong. Not every older Christian woman has this kind of beauty. Lines are indeed a roadmap—a cumulative effect of years of facial expressions and attitudes. Bitterness, heartbreak, and anxiety mark a woman’s face over time. We all know life is hard and takes its toll on our bodies. But the Bible still promises, “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (Psalm 34:5). That’s what I saw in that group of beautiful older women—the radiance of having their eyes fixed on Him.

Whether you’re young and beautiful or old and weathered, look to Him. Accept His forgiveness, joy, peace, and, yes, beauty.

Ruth McDonald