i have been thinking about this for over a week.
i am not usually so wordy…
i don't want to give a sermon…just some encouragement.
the study book Women of the Bible that our group finished in may…
but i just finished now (i skipped some lessons) had an entire chapter on prov.31.
it has been helpful to my struggles.
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Proverbs 31:10-30 (New International Version)
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
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(the words in color are directly from the book….)
how did you feel when you were first introduced to this Prov. 31 woman…
overwhelmed?
angry that God expected all of this from you?
guilty?
determined to become her?
if you are beaten down by this 'perfect' woman, take heart.
i have good news for you.
She is the IDEAL woman God wants to develop all women to be as they follow Him.
did you catch that?
GOD is the one working the transformation.
'He who began a good work in you, will be perfecting it until the day of Christ Jesus…Phil 1:6'.
Seeing what you can become(by His grace and work) should be a catalyst, not a condemnation.
if you are a perfectionist, an understanding of the truth will set you free from trying to be
or do for Him, so that you will allow Him to make you the woman He wants you to be.
the foundation of all horizontal relationships is the vertical relationship – our relationship
with God gives us the security to be real and vulnerable.
it is walking in God's grace that makes us agents of grace to others.
Even our abilities to grant forgiveness & ask forgiveness is tied to our relationship with God.
we cannot make ourselves into a virtuous woman.
but if we walk with God day after day, yielding our lives to His control,
He will keep making us more like Jesus.
The virtuous woman of proverbs 31 is not a standard or yardstick to measure up to,
but the goal toward which women should be moving.
she is the woman God is developing women to be today as they follow Him.
The first step we can change is not gritting our teeth & trying harder to be the perfect woman.
it is surrender.
the most imp
ortant word in the christian community is not commitment, but surrender.
we can be committed in the flesh, but surrender is admitting what we cannot do in our strength.
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it was just what i needed to hear.
and maybe you did too?
i highly recommend the study book Women of the bible.
it's a lot of homework but i have learned so much…i really enjoyed it and i am ready for book 2 this fall.
Kameron - CONGRATULATIONS on winning thew best eye candy award!!! I do love coming over to see what you have taken pictures of each day!!
kris - Oh my gosh, that has so happened at our house (the stinky cat breath in the middle of the night thing). LOL
Sophie - Such gorgeous children!
And Annie is so sweet (:
pve - the cutest t-shirt arrived today! lurve it! 🙂
pve
A pocket full of posies... - Annie’s stories are my favorites!!!
One of your pillows is “starring” in my post today! you are also referenced and linked! (oh, maybe I should have asked first!- hope it’s o.k.?)
Blessings!
Jill
http://www.jmdesignandco.blogspot.com
Kat - LOL! Wow, Emily’s breath surely must have been super stinky for her to smell it from another room! Too cute!
Vera - Great pics. Oh gosh, Annie is SO cute!
Just FYI… you might have to make a trip to Arkansas later this year… I have a folder on my computer where I stick pictures that inspire me for decorating our new nursery, and today I realized that a good 50% of them are just pictures of your house and your Etsy creations – so maybe you just need to come decorate it for me 🙂
Jill Jones - Love the photos. The story is FAB! Hilarious.
Magchunk - Oh my gosh, that cracked me up. Reminds me of boyfriend’s pals the morning after a house party… but coming from a four year old it’s just precious.
Nice shots. I am lusting after your camera. My silly digital is such a joke.
Jess - Great pics, I wish we lived closer to you. I would so love for you to do ours. Gimme a heads up if you’re ever in South Carolina!!!
My kiddos have had some c’wazy dreams too. And I can think of nothing worse than poodle breath! Our little stinker could kill with his breath.
Kate - Your pictures are lovely. You always seem to capture the energy of the moment. I love that. Our cat has terrible breath, too. Your story made me choke on my tea!
Holly - Annie is too cute!
Lisa K in FL - I love that little Annie – she’s a hoot 🙂
Shelly DeBoer - Meg,
How do you get that lovely yellow glow like in the picture of the cutie with the big brown eyes. I believe I have the same camera as you and wondered if you do any certain settings or if it is a certain time of evening. I see it in alot of your pics and love the look. If you get time you can e-mail me at ms4deboer@yahoo.com
Annie sounds like she keeps you in stitches alot! It gave me my first laugh of the day.
Dana D @BoysMyJoys - ROTFL like c’wazy!!!
Annie gives you enough funny material to write a book!
Sharla - so c’wazy!