Proverbs 31:13

Week 4
"She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands" Proverbs 31:13

Ok, so I have no idea how to select wool or even know what flax is...But I do understand the other part of this verse. I think in application of today's society, the first part may be a little dated when comparing to our lives. I feel that whatever everyday chores we do we should do with eager hands and an eager heart. 

Do I actually get eager to get home from work to wash clothes, cook supper, and straighten up the house? No I wouldn't use eager as the adjective I have in mind. :) But we should be eager to perform those tasks that wives and mothers are expected to do with a happy heart. I think that is something that a lot of ladies probably relate to. We do all these things, sometimes grumbling to ourselves or aloud to others. Wondering to ourselves what the point of the chores are because it is simply going to get messed up again.This is not the attitude we should have. We should be eager to make the house clean and orderly for our family to show our love and respect for the home that we've created together. 

We should also be eager to do these things because God trusted women with the role of housekeeper. Once again I think of The Invisible Woman video clip I posted earlier. Others may not see and appreciate what we do, but God does. He appreciates all the things we do in love for others.

Colossians 3:23 ESV

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 

1 Timothy 5:14 ESV

So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.

When I put off housework, it takes forever to get things organized and clean again. Since I started this Proverbs 31 Journey, I have vowed to myself to keep a neat and orderly home to show my family my love for them. I cleaned really good before we had the whole family over after church a few weeks ago. Since then, I have done a few things every afternoon to keep the house clean and in order. I make sure before I go to bed that there are no dishes in the sink or laundry waiting to be washed. Then one day I swept, one day I dusted, one day I moped the floor, etc. This is so I don't have so much pile up at one time, nor do I overwhelm myself with a lot of chores at one time. When that happens, I know I don't have an eager heart to clean. But as long as I stay on top of things, I have a real happiness in my heart knowing the house is clean and presentable if we had guests to drop by.

Titus 2:5 ESV

To be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Since I have been caught up with my housework, I have actually had more "me" time. Instead of staying busy washing, cleaning, etc. I have more time to read, relax, and reflect (my new favorite hobbies). I have really been enjoying my Nook Color. I keep a book open on there all the time as well as the Message Bible app I downloaded. For church and studies, I use the NIV version, but in trying to read the Bible through, I have found the Message Bible flows more like a book and I find it easier to understand. I am still in Genesis, but plan on reading through the entire Bible. I have no idea how long it will take, but we shall see.

Proverbs 31:12

 Week 3

"She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:12

She brings him good, not harm. I know sometimes I probably hurt my husband's feelings at some point. Am I bringing him good when I hurt his feelings? No. Is it possible to bring anyone good every day of your life??? Does that mean we won't have a bad day every now and then? No...I believe it means that consciously I need to try every day to bring joy to my husband. Make him feel good. We all need "boosters" for our self-esteem. We should be constantly building each other up!

Not only should I bring him joy, but make sure my words and actions portray the joy he brings to me. This means not talking bad to him, tearing him down and not talking about him to others tearing down his reputation. This goes back to vs. 11. He should have full confidence that I will bring  honor to him.  Not to say I don't get frustrated at times when he forgets to take out the garbage, or tracks mud onto the floor I just swept. But those are little things. " Don't sweat the small stuff!" Be thankful for every day you have with your spouse and try to bring them joy. It will bring joy to you to see the one you love happy.

Big picture- Build him up so he knows how much I value him as a friend, husband, provider, and father. I don't think I tell him in words enough how much I appreciate him. This I need to work on.

I tend to show my appreciation more than thanking him by verbally telling him:

Maybe it would be in the form of making his favorite meal, or buying him a little happy, leaving him a love note, sending him an unexpected sincere text to make him smile, sharing a private joke with him, finding time in our busy schedules to have some intimacy at a random time during the day, offering to rub his back when he gets home from work, doing a chore around the house that he normally does, giving him a free night to spend with his buddies, or maybe it's as small as laying out his clothes for him if he's running late.
But just like we tend to overuse "I love you", It probably wouldn't hurt to overuse "Thank you for everything you do to love, provide, and support our family"

I feel like one of the most important things in keeping your marriage "alive" is bringing each other joy. I feel like I have the heart of a servant. I used to waitress we first got married. I really enjoyed it! I liked making sure my customers needs were met. This made them happy and in return made me happy. I actually really enjoy fixing my husband and son a plate when supper is ready and delivering it to the table or living room. Making other people happy brings me joy.

Mark 10:45
"For even the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"

This week I am praying for God to help me always bring good not harm to my husband, family, and friends. Help the words that come out of my mouth bring only good and build others up. Help me to steer clear of idle gossip. This helps no one!!

 Proverbs 16:28

A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

 Proverbs 11:13

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Proverbs 31:11

Each week I pick a different verse to study and reflect on and pray about. Looking at it everyday seems to bring new challenges with the verse. I read over my notes and seem to find more that God's telling me to add. I think I could spend a month on one verse and still not digest everything! 
 
Proverbs 31:11 "Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." NIV

Full confidence means absolute trust in all areas. My husband should be able to trust me in all aspects of our marriage. Several things came to mind as areas I struggle with when I read the devotion from Women Living Well on this verse. Courtney, the author of the bible study booklet, highlighted 7 different areas in which your husband should have full confidence in you.

Money

Children

Home

Reputation

Faithfulness

Emotions

Choices

I know the hardest things I have from that list is Money, Home and Emotions. 

I am a math teacher...I can budget, but I fail at this in our marriage. I am praying for strength this week in working on our family budget and learning to spend wisely. I am not a wife who goes shopping all the time, I rarely buy things for myself and when I do they are normally on sale. I am a pretty thrifty shopper, but still it's hard to have any money left at the end of the month. I am praying that God will help me be a better "budgeter" for my family this week.

 Romans 13:7-8 ESV Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

The other area that seems the hardest for me is home. I am not a wonderful "Betty Crocker, Martha Stewart, June Cleaver" type of wife or mother. I try to keep the clothes washed and dishes washed, but that doesn't mean that the laundry actually got put up or that the dishwasher has been emptied...The laundry is probably still in the basket or on the couch in my bedroom and the dishes are probably in the dishwasher. If you look in the corners you will see cobwebs or dust bunnies I am sure. I try to keep the house "picked up", but don't give it the attention I should. I realize that when I get home from work I'm usually tired and just to be honest-lazy. I am praying this week that God shows me how to find the time and energy to keep an clean and neat house for my family. I don't make many home-cooked meals, and when I do it usually involves boxes and cans; I know that's not home-made.When my husband is off of work one night this week, I will do my best to make a nice meal that we can sit down at the table and eat together. I want to make that a priority, not eating in front of the television every night, but actually eating at the table and having family discussions. I feel like a clean and orderly home will show my family that I love them. We definitely overuse the "I love you" phrase at my house. I want my actions to show them I love them just as much or more than I say I love you.

A friend posted this video on Facebook and I realized that it sort of fit into what I was saying about being a good housewife. I should do it out of love for my family and even when it seems no one notices the little things, God does.
1 John 3:18 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW) Dear children, we must show love through actions that are sincere, not through empty words.

 

Emotions... I sometimes do not tell my husband or anyone else what is on my mind. He is my best friend, but I am guilty of not sharing all things with him. Instead I keep it to myself. This can be a good quality, because I try not to say things in anger or talk about useless drama with him. I just need to remember that sometimes I need to express my feelings, and do it in a loving way. If something is bothering me, he can't read my mind and I am soooo guilty of just saying "I'm fine" or "Nothing's wrong" with a smile on my face.
I learned as soon as I got married that it doesn't do any good to yell at my husband when I'm upset. He always told me that he could hear fine... I have learned over the years of our marriage to keep thoughts to myself that will not be helpful to our marriage. But I need to let my emotions settle down if I'm upset, and then convey my feelings to him instead of keeping them inside. I guess it boils down to fear... I am afraid that I will make someone upset at me or disappoint them if I let my emotions get the best of me or speak what's on my mind. I have always seemed to worry about what others thought about me. I believe one of my spiritual gifts is that of a "peacemaker." My grandmother had this gift, and it is definitely a good gift to have, but I need to know when to keep the peace and when to speak my mind in a loving Christ-like way. This week, God is showing me to be bold and courageous for Him. I need to be a light for God and let good emotions show to others in my life, starting at home.

Another thing God has laid on my heart is a women's devotion group, so here it goes. I'm not much of a leader and definitely don't feel like I am "good enough" to lead a Bible study, but it is God who is speaking to me and if He needs to speak through me. Just starting small with one friend and hoping to grow in our friendship and our relationship with God. Who knows what God has planned. We know according to Jeremiah that His plans are to propser us and give us hope for the future.

Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

 1 Peter 3:13-14 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."

Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

 

 

 

Proverbs 31:10-31 Journey (Vs. 10)

First off, I had the most amazing day on Sunday! I was able to see our 7 year old son be baptized as a believer of Jesus. I don't know any greater joy I could witness as a parent than to know that my child will be in heaven with me in eternity.

Last week, I started a Proverbs 31 study on the wife of noble character. I am going to take a verse a week to study, pray, and reflect about. I downloaded the study from Women Living Well. Subscribe to Women Living Well and get a FREE copy of the ebook ~ "The Proverbs 31 Woman – One Virtue at a Time." From that study guide, I decided how to incorporate these qualities to be more like the Proverbs 31 woman. WOW, that lady is amazing!!!! It's encouraging to read how she serves her husband and family and lives for God.
Proverbs 31:10 "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." NIV
After studying and praying about this verse, I asked God to help me be a woman of great value, not only to my husband, but my family and friends as well. A Proverbs 31 woman is not only high-minded, honorable, and dignified; but also strong like a ruby. In research, I found that the ruby was worth 8 times more than a diamond during biblical times. Rubies are also very strong gems. I also prayed for God's strength in whatever trials may come my way.

Go to www.womenlivingwell.org to subscribe and get a copy of this guide.

Valentine's Day

My Hubby and I made an advice book for our son for Valentine's Day. No calories or cavities. :)

Windows down and Cruise with Andy the Elf

Andy must have had a good time last night when we went to bed.  This morning JR found him cruising in his remote control dune buggy.  I told JR he probably was listening to "Cruise" by Georgia Florida Line. (That's JR's favorite song for the moment.)

Football player and my love note

Andy, our elf on the shelf, decided to play a game if football last night while we were sleeping. JR keeps wondering where he will find the magical elf every morning. It has been much easier to get him out of bed! :)

JR has my heart... He drew my this picture at school yesterday. Will little boys always love their mom like this?