Going Far Above Rubies

Sunday morning I had the privilege of sitting with our girls aged 10-18 while Tammy Fieseler provided a short seminar of her Far Above Rubies program. I’ve made copious notes, so you’ll be reading thoughts from the program for some time to come.

I thoroughly enjoyed her description of God’s call. The opposite of one of Moses’ excuses:

And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. (Exodus 4:10 KJV)

When God called her, Tammy’s response was that the only thing she could do was talk, incessantly. His answered that was what He was calling her to do, and He would supply the words. He has done so, from His word.

I believe she could talk all day, and I could listen. Though our girls might not. So she breaks the sitting sessions with story time and games that are perfect in appropriateness. Each their own teaching lessons. Appropriate is a key word – what is appropriate for the daughter of the King? His book is both specific and leaves us choices. We choose to follow God, or follow Satan.

Whether in sitting or activity, Tammy retains the girls’ attention, keeping it focused on our Lord and His work in their lives. Part of Tammy’s focus is modesty. Christian women are told to dress modestly. How those definitions are applied fluctuate with societies and interpretation. Afghans require their women to be covered from head to toe whenever in public. Americans allow a tremendous amount of skin to be uncovered in public. Teaching our girls why neither is appropriate, and discerning what constitutes modesty is part of the lesson. (As an aside, the example is mine, not Tammy's.)

Oh, her visuals!! Not just the actual visible objects used in her presentations, but the visuals her words conjure remain as examples, too. One not only stuck with me, but I’m determined to remember it and eventually memorize verses to accompany the witness. It’s a hand full, a hand full of fingers.

The thumb tells us that God loves us.
We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 KJV)

The index finger tells us that all men have sinned.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV)

The middle finger tells us that the sin has a price.
For the wages of sin is death; (Romans 6:23a KJV)

The ring finger tells us that Jesus died for our sins
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

The little finger tells us to accept His salvation.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9 KJV)

There you are – the gospel story literally in the palm of your hand. Memorize applicable verses (there are more than one for each item) and your witness will always be at hand.

Please pray with me that God will continue to bless Tammy’s ministry.