Oct. 20, 2009 - What does the Future hold?

Over at The Homeschool Lounge I am involved in a monthly, verse by verse study on Proverbs 31.   This month we are studying verse 21.

Proverbs 31:21  She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

When I first read this verse I saw two things

1. the physical
2. the spiritual

The physical realm

This mother, this woman was an industrious woman and this verse gives a glimpse not only to her industry but also a glimpse into her heart.  She is at peace as a consequence of her productivity. 

Snow is a harsh climate; it takes its toll on life, especially when you are not prepared.  This woman is prepared.  Her family are ready for whatever season is ahead, their clothing will keep out the cold, and they will be okay.  So too will her servants, all that live in her household. 

We have learnt from other verses in this passage that this lady didn’t just pop down to Target and buy these clothes, no, it took effort, she worked hard.  To get the colour scarlet was hard work – it was a process so it required effort, but it was also rare so therefore expensive.  She had worked hard to be able to afford this quality.

This woman had peace in her heart because she knew her family was looked after and safe from the elements.

What can we learn from this? 

1. It is my responsibility to provide for my family – I need to be aware of what their needs are, and ensure that things get looked after
2. It takes hard work to provide for my family
3. Though I may be able to pop down to Target I need to be diligent, and work hard, at using my money wisely. 
4. The reward of my efforts is not only the physical care of my family but there will be peace in my heart knowing I’ve done my job well.

The Spiritual Realm

As with a lot of things we can learn a spiritual lesson from a physical application.

Just as we don’t know what type of season we have up ahead – it could be a bad winter or a mild winter – we don’t know what is up ahead for our children.  We don’t know the society they will live in, we don’t know the challenges they will face.  And yet we have the task to prepare them, to dress them as it were so they will be able to live out the rough times.

Just as the woman in Proverbs 31 knew what her children’s needs where if they were to face the winter ahead, we too need to know what our children’s needs are, not only their physical needs, but more importantly their spiritual needs. 

• Do they need salvation?
• Do they need a personal relationship with Jesus?
• Do they need encouragement to follow Jesus?
• Do they need to become more and more like Jesus?

We have been called to be spiritual mothers to our children just as we have been called to be physical mothers.  We need to see them through their spiritual birth, we need to nurture them, we need to train them in spiritual things, we need to shoot them out to be workers for Christ just as we do all those things in the physical world.

The New Testament is always making the shift between the external, the things of the flesh, and the spiritual, the things of God all the time.  There are a couple of verses that talk about us putting on, or getting dressed, in the spiritual sense.

Eph 4:22-24  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Eph 4:24  And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness

Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ

We are also told to ‘put on the armour of God’ – to be clothed in truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. (Eph 6:10-17)

Do our children put on the new man?  Do they put on their armour every day?

Now we can’t orchestrate their salvation – that is a thing between them and God. So what can we do?

1. We can pray for our children’s hearts
2. We can ensure that nothing in our life is a stumbling block for them so that they will see Jesus
3. We can be their teacher and disciple them in the ways of the Lord

The woman in Proverbs 31 was not afraid of the future.   What does the New Testament say to that –

Roman 8:15

For you have not received the spirit of bondages to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father.

2 Tim 1:7

For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Once again there is so much to learn from the Proverbs 31 lady. 

• She knew the needs around her
• She knew it was her responsibility to meet those needs
• She worked hard to meet those needs
• She had peace in her heart because she had done her best.

There comes a time in all our lives that we are not in control – the woman in Proverbs 31 was not in control of her life.  She didn’t know what the season was going to be any more than you and I know for sure what is ahead.  And yet, she had done the things she was called to do – and she had peace in her heart.  I too will not be afraid of the future.

Sep. 14, 2009 - Proverbs 31v20 Meeting the Needs of the Needy

Prov 31:20  - She stretched out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She stretched out her hand to the poor.

The word hand here though it means our physical hand, it comes from a root word that has the connotations of humilty, to bend down, to bow. 

The word stretched out is more than just doing – it is an active powerful word that indicates “break in pieces”.  Her attitude, her actions made change.

The word poor can be described with words like: afflicted, humble, wretched, needy, weak, lowly, depressed, downcast.  These people had a physical need.

yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Reacheth forth – this is a deliberate, intentional act

Hands – though the hand continues to be a physical part of her body, there is strength and power in her hand, and there is an aspect that it refers to her portion (inferring the things that belong to her.)

Needy – these people are in great want – oppressed, abused, they need help, deliverance from trouble, especially as delivered by God.

With an attitude of humility this lady brings about change in the lives of the needy around her; people who are afflicted, weak, depressed, people with physical needs.  She does all that she can to help them and she is successful!  She breaks in pieces their needs!

But… she also brings her spiritual portion, to share with those in need of God – those who need deliverance of spirit, those who are oppressed she shows them life, she shows them Jesus!

Who are the people in need around us?

1. Our children – when I saw this verse in terms of a spiritual need – my children came to mind.  God has placed these children, who need Jesus, in my care.  Do I bring all that is at my disposal to show Jesus to my children?  What is at my disposal?  My relationship with Jesus – do I show my children what this looks like?  My prayer life – do I pray for my children’s spiritual well being.  My love – do I love my children even at their worst – just like Jesus loved me, just like Jesus loves the needy?
2. My friends – We all go through physical and spiritual struggles – am I there for my friends?  Do I bring them Jesus?  Do I give them my practical help, my time, my strength?  Do I do all that I can to help them in their time of need?
3. The people that I meet – this is probably the most challenging because often we aren’t invited into their lives and yet their needs are so great.  Jesus show me how to meet these peoples needs.  

How to bring change in the lives of people who are in need?  I wonder if there isn’t wisdom in the sequence of this double barrel verse in Proverbs.  The first portion is addressing the physical needs, the second is addressing the spiritual.  As we build relationships with people, helping them, providing for their physical needs, we will be there when they come to their darkest hour, and recognise their need for Jesus.

Am I willing to invest my time, my energies to the needs of other people?

Jul. 15, 2009 - Spinning and Weaving for our Children

Every month I participate in an online study on Proverbs 31 over at The Homeschool Lounge.  Here are my thoughts for this month's verse - v.19

Proverbs 31:19

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.

Regardless of what translation you look at this verse pretty much says the same – it is a very simple verse.  Simply:  she spins her own thread and weaves her own cloth.  Now is that a challenge to us today?  How do we follow this verse in the Bible?

To start we need to remember that King Lemuel’s mother was painting a picture and when you take the whole passage into account I believe she was describing a type of woman that would be worthy of being the kings wife, that there were character issue that drove this woman to be like this picture.  The last few verses are like the last brush strokes for this picture – and they are all about her heart and her fruit.  There are heart lessons we need to learn, even as we read a simple verse about spinning and weaving.

What character trait drove this lady, who was a busy woman and a wealthy woman to sit at the spindle – a task surely below her station in life?  This lady was humble, productive and involved. 

Humility:

No task was too small for this lady, every task deserved her best.  Including spinning and weaving.  Society has built up woman to say that this task is worthy of your abilities but this task is not.  Do we drink from that attitude?  The act of spinning and weaving was the first step in providing for her family – there is no disgrace in that.

I can imagine this regal woman sitting at her spindle – not disdaining it, sighing, being bored, only driven by duty – no, that is not consistent with the other aspects of her character we see in the other verses.  I believe she saw the purpose behind her task – to cover her children (and no doubt those in need as we will find out as we read on).  I believe she sees value in all that she is doing – not value for herself to be built up, but value for her husband, her family, and value for the kingdom of God.

Productive:

The character trait of productivity comes through in many verses in Proverbs 31.    The words ‘stretches’ and ‘grasp’ are active words – this task requires hard work, she maybe sitting but her hands are active.  As I reflected on this verse the word “Idleness” came to mind.  Idleness brings a picture of not doing bad, not doing good – that is, doing nothing!  How do we use our time?  Do we have moments where we aren’t doing anything bad, neither are we doing anything good?  As we consider our habits we can be reminded of the woman in Proverbs 31 – she sat and kept her hands busy, she had purpose even in her moments of sitting still.

Involved:

As I considered the task of spinning and weaving and producing the fabric in order to clothe her family I had to wonder if that was what I should be doing today.  I don’t believe so – I don’t believe it is wrong to do so, but neither do I believe it is an imperative in scripture.  What is the equivalent in today’s world – what does this verse have to say to me, living in the 21^st century?

I believe that Proverbs is full of truths and principles that will change our lives if we live them out.  These truths reflect God’s character and His desires for us. I also believe that there are spiritual lessons we can learn from the principles that govern our physical world.  As I considered how this woman was involved in her children’s lives I started to see a spiritual parallel. 

This woman was involved in providing for her children’s physical needs – as mums in the 21^st century we need to be involved in providing for our children’s physical needs too – but as always, God is looking at the heart.  We need to be involved in our children’s spiritual needs too.  We cannot leave this to another to spin and weave.

Do we see the task of providing for our children’s spiritual needs a task worthy of our efforts?

Do we protect the need to be involved in our children’s spiritual well-being?

Do we take every opportunity to sit speak into our children’s hearts?

Jun. 15, 2009 - What do I gain?

Many of the verses of Prov 31 have made a modern day woman cry out and say “I can’t do it!” but v18 kind of rubs the salt in the wound. 

We’ve already read that this woman

·         Is virtuous, excellent, strong

·         Her husband trusts her

·         She’s busy with her hands

·         She’s an astute consumer

·         She herself provides for her household needs

·         She is wise with money

·         She is strong, (she seems to exercise!)

And now we read that she rejoices in her gain – she is profitable – and that she seems to work through the night as well!  When does this woman ever stop!

 Prov 31:18  She senses that her gain is good, and her lamp does not go out by night.

This verse tells us that she sees the benefits of her productivity, she knows that the benefits are there and that they are good!   These benefits are hers today – she experiences them.  Do we see the benefits of our productivity?  The world thinks in terms of wealth and affluence but God’s kingdom has a different set of value so we need to be careful not to look for gain in areas that God doesn’t look for gain.

Paul said,   But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Phil 3:7  Paul recognised all the things that he previously held to that he thought put him in good stead in the eyes of God, but when he met Jesus this changed.  God sees ‘gain’ differently.  We need to see things as God sees them.

I have re-written Paul’s decree with myself in mind, a woman who has pursued Prov 31 -

…though I myself have reasons for such confidence.  If anyone else thinks she has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:  I was brought up by a Prov 31 woman, who trained me in the ways of keeping house and managing household, I am able and skilful.  I have studied with zeal books on the subject, helping others to pursue excellence.  But ….. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ ….

My housework, my striving for orderliness will not gain me Christ, nothing I do in my flesh will gain me Christ.  Christ will transform me: transform my habits which will affect my household, my finances, my days but He must come first.  My goals must be in Him. 

·         Does He want me to have a perfect house?  No, He wants me to train my children and be hospitable to those in need.

·         Does he want me to be a successful business woman?  No, He wants me to be a good steward with what He has given me in order that I may give to others.

·         Does he want me to run a charity organisation or successful ministry?  No, he wants me to be aware of the needs of the people around me and the people I meet down the street.

The answers might be different for you but be sure of what He does require of you.

To love the lord your God with all your heart and

to love your neighbour as yourself.

Do my skills, talents, upbringing, expectations, dreams get in the way of this happening? 

Do I look for gain where God looks for gain?

May. 20, 2009 - Proverbs 31v17 She girds herself with strength

Over at the Homeschool Lounge I am involved in a Proverbs 31 Bible study.  We are not following any guide just sharing our thoughts and challenges with each other.  Why don't you join us?

Proverbs 31:17

She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

As I studied these words various thoughts came to me – let me outline them simply.

She girds herself –

• This is something that she does, to herself and by herself.  She does it. 
• This is what prepares her for anything that comes – like getting dressed in the morning.  She wears this ‘strength’ all day – it makes her alert, prepared, able.

Strength –

This strength isn’t just of a physical, muscle kind.  This is a position of strength.  She had might in the material sense, social, political, as well as personal and physical.  These things were used to her end.

But there is a connection with this word that means fortress and stronghold.  This made me see that she wasn’t in it for herself.  A tower doesn’t stand there, strong, just for it self’s sake – no, a tower is there as a safe haven for others to run to.  This woman was strong in material possessions, in social standing, in political position, in personal and physical areas in order to help others.

Makes –

By using her strength she becomes strong.  By being brave and bold she becomes brave and bold.  By being firm and determined she becomes firm and determined.  By being persistent and alert she becomes persistent and alert.  This is a being and doing word all at the same time.

Her arms –

The arms have a two fold purpose

• It is a symbol of power, of activity and strength
• It is a symbol of nurture and comfort

I was surprised to see that the root word had the picture of sowing seeds – both in the field and in the sense of becoming pregnant.  This is significant to a woman – our ‘arm’ is to be both strong in the field and nurturing with our family.

Strong –

• to be alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard

Some quick challenges to think about:

1. What am I doing to prepare myself for my day?  Am I girding myself?
2. Am I a safe haven, a tower of strength and refuge for my children? For other people?
3. Am I becoming stronger day by day?  Stronger in my faith, my beliefs, my convictions, my actions, my habits (good ones?)
4. The world says being a mum is a weak position to take – the bible says nurturing takes strength.  Who do I believe?

Apr. 26, 2009 - Beyond the Chit Chat

At the conference I was at recently one of the key aspects was the relationships we had the opportunity to build and strengthen.  On the first night we were encouraged to ask the following questions of each other as we chat together – the answers take you quickly beyond chit chat.

What are you living for?

And

What’s holding you back?

So over to you?  If you want to answer these questions on your blog, leave a comment here and I’ll pop over and visit – we can get to know each other!

What do I live for?  Relationships and Discipleship are the two words that are strong in my heart.

Relationship with God – I’m not sure that I ‘live for’ this though I know I should.  What stops me?  Busyness, taking on too many projects, being distracted with things that aren’t helpful in my relationship – things that don’t really make God smile.

Relationship with my family and friends.  This too gets challenged by my busyness.  I get priorities out of whack and things start to look a little different than I really want them to.

Discipleship won’t happen unless I make time to build relationship first.  I have been challenged afresh to speak into my children’s lives – not just with their life skills but with God’s Word – building them up in their faith.  If I am going to take hold of every opportunity to speak into their heart I need to

1. Have the Word of God in my heart in the first place
2. Spend time with them so that I see the opportunities

So what are you living for?

And

What is holding you back?

Apr. 22, 2009 - Purity - it starts in the heart

James and Simone Boswell did a session on purity.  I appreciated this session because they presented purity as more than abstinence – purity needs to touch every aspect of our life.  Here is an outline of some of their thoughts.

Spiritual purity - Ps 119  How can a young man keep his way pure?

·         Worshipping God

·         Church fellowship

·         Study the word

·         Life of prayer

Intellectual Purity – See to it that no one takes you captive (Reference???)

Do our thoughts line up with God’s thoughts?

·         Creation / Evolution

·         Sexual revolution – roles of men/women, family structure, societies expectations

Emotional Purity – Ps 51:10

·         Our imagination – fantasies

·         Our feelings

·         Are we people pleasing?  Are we living for God?

·         Pefectionism or excellence

·         Emotional attachments

Ps 139:3

Physical Purity  - 1 Thess 4:1-7

It is more than abstinence

Purity Guidelines to live by:

·         Teach about God

·         Pray for and with our children

·         Study and pray ourselves, require our children to do this for themselves

·         Go to church as a family

·         Demonstrate service in the church and community

·         Avoid soaking ourminds with anti-God culture

·         Teach to use time wisely

·         Encourage to choose friends wisely

·         Offer an alternative world-view (proactively teach this)

·         Dress in a way that does not provoke temptation

·         Ask ourselves

o   Is it God honouring?

o   Does it de-sensitise us?

Apr. 22, 2009 - Words for the WIFE

An acronym (of sorts) by AnneMarie Ezzo

W is for

Women, worshipful, wisdom, wholehearted, welcoming (not only hospitality sense but also welcoming new ideas), words (use words that edify),

I is for

Individuals, industrious, intelligent (we can hold interesting conversation), insightful, intuitive, initiators, intimate

F is for

Faithful, forgiving, frugal, friend, fun, fears the Lord, full of faith, faithfully prays

E is for

Encourager, elegant (tasteful andpleasing in our how we dress and carry ourselves), equipper (helpmeet – equip him), equal (though we have different responsibilties), excellent (not perfection), emotional (and yet with self control)

Are you these things?  I know as I heard this list there were one or two (or three or four) that I need to work on!

Apr. 22, 2009 - Families of Fire

While I have been away I had hoped to post something every day  – something I had been challenged by each day at the GFA Conference. But things got busy and getting an internet connection got harder so that didn’t happen.  But as I travel home and begin to reflect on the last week I’ll post some thoughts.

Families of Fire – Conference theme

Since it is taking me two days to get home (not that I’m travelling all that time but lots of wait-over time) I have time to sit back and reflect on what I have heard but most importantly what it is that God wants me to remember – what is it that He has put on my heart.

The theme of the conference was Families of Fire: Raising families on fire for Jesus. 

Isn’t that our heart cry!

Going to conferences often change you – they are often a mountain top experience with God and you walk away changed.  But often unless you think about that change it disappears into the busyness of life as you come down that mountain.  I have that opportunity to sit, reflect, pray and record the things that God has laid on my heart over the last few days.

I asked God to give me one thing that I could carry home and it wasn’t until the very last session that I knew what God was challenging me with – More!  More of Him, more of family, more of the body of Christ, more of God’s priorities.  This isn’t a to-do list though there are things in my life that I need to change and ‘do’ in order for me to have MORE but first of all is the truth that I need more of Jesus in my own life.  My own relationship with Jesus has to be growing and alive – I have to be on fire for Jesus.

Unfortunately the allogory with fire is a limited one – as are all allagories we use.  In our human world fire has its positives – it helps purify, it gives warmth and light, it is powerful – but there is also the negative such as bush fires which destroy and devastate.  So when we think of fire it isn’t a consistent – we tend to see fires start and then they are put out, or they eventually die out.  I don’t believe that is the fire of God though – He wants our fire to be consistent – we need to be continually on fire for God, passionate about His love and always spreading his love further and further afield (rather than being extinguished!)

Mar. 10, 2009 - Proverbs 31v16 The Industrious Woman

The Industrious Woman

Proverbs 31:16

She considers a field, and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

My first thoughts when I read through this verse was that she was an industrious woman who used her mind and hands for the benefits of her family but as I started to think some more I saw that she was more than just productive.

• She had a plan, she was intentional.
• She was prepared, she was ready to seize opportunity
• She was strong and capable, able to do the work
• She had was dedicated, and saw the project to the end

She had a plan

She considered this field – I don’t believe the purchase of this field was a quick impulse decision.  She considered before she bought.  This means she thought about it, she had a plan – a business plan, she had a purpose for this purchase.  I know from personal experience that when you start to devise such a plan that it consumes your thinking, your mind is fixated upon it.  It is during this time that many of the ‘bugs’ are ironed out and your objectives become clearer.

She was prepared

Now, I have a suspicion, that this lady considered these things for a long time, long before this field came on the market.  I don’t have any biblical proof for this but a good plan is a generally a plan that has substance and foundations.   She was prepared ahead of time to take on this project.

• She knew how to do business, possibly even write up a business plan.
• She knew the market, and what would make a fair price.
• She knew about the vineyard business – where to buy stock, how to grow a vine, and what to do with produce.
• She had the funds (from the profits from other ventures)

She had this all thought out.

When the opportunity arose for her to go ahead with this idea she was ready.  We see the word “buy” and there are images of going to a Real Estate office and making a transaction.  But this lady wanted this field so badly she seized the opportunity, there was a sense of urgency – the time was right!

She was strong

This woman did the work herself.  I’m not sure she did it by herself but she was involved.  Up till this point her work was head work, the dreaming, planning, organizing but now it required hard work.  She didn’t shy away from doing hard stuff.

You don’t just become strong over night (or with the purchase of a field).  No, she was strong because she kept herself busy and active – fit and able.  Her body was able to do the physical tasks she set before herself.

She was dedicated

When I plant a veggie garden it is a bit of a hit and miss affair.  But the word that is used for this vineyard is that she established a vineyard.  Established means that it happened, it was a success.  A successful, established vineyard produces fruit.  It takes 2-4 years for a vine to produce a crop but then, a healthy vine will produce more and more each year – for up to 70 years.  This was a long term project and she stuck it out.

Lessons to learn today

Proverbs 31:16

She considers a field, and buys it:

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

Consider your life

We need to consider each aspect of our life:

• our relationships
• our responsibilities,
• our talents, and
• our mind. 

What does God want for each of these areas in our life? 

How can we use each area for God’s glory?    

God has given us a mind for thinking and a body for doing.  We need to take the knowledge of what God wants and put it into action in our lives.  This makes us intentional and purposeful, with a plan, just like Prov 31 lady.

But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

James 1:22. 

Are we prepared?

Though we don’t know all that God has install for us we need to prepare ourselves the best way we can. 

·        Develop your relationship with God – spend time in prayer

·        Know the Word of God

·        Recognise your gifts and talents and spend time developing them

·        Keep your physical body strong, ready for anything

·        Live your life without regret so your reputation is untainted, and not a hindrance for the things God asks us to do

·        Hold onto your plans lightly – be available to God

We need to be committed.  God never promises that life will be easy but He does promise a helper, the Holy Spirit.  We need to determine in our heart, which way we will go – will we serve God or will we serve ourselves.   God’s plans are very rarely short term – He has an eternal perspective, much bigger than we can comprehend.  He doesn’t ask us to understand it though,  He does ask us to trust Him (long term)

Trust the LORD with all your heart,

and do not rely on your own understanding.

Prov 3:5

We may not go out and buy a field, we may not plant a vineyard, or even have a home-based business, but our life can be intentional, productive and industrious – we need to trust God, and walk with Him.  We have to be ready to seize the day, seize the opportunities God puts in front of us.

Sep. 16, 2008 - Mommy Homework - Living out the High Call of Proverbs 31

Cindy Rushton's Mommy Homework- Your Assignment This Week…

So, is it possible? How are YOU reaching for this call? What does it look like in your life? PS–Let’s get real with each other about how we are reaching for godly womanhood–TODAY.

Note from Belinda:  This assignment ties in very nicely with my current study of Prov 31 so it was a good opportunity to look at a bit of an overview and also to look for real-life application.

The key thought for me has been in the definition of excellent.  Using both the Hebrew origins and the English dictionary I have come to see that the Prov 31 woman is one who is strong, capable, and efficient.  She is noble, dignified, her actions affects others, she is alert and courageous in the face of danger, she is intelligent and qualified for the task that God has called her to.  At no place has this verse ever been interpreted as “perfect” though that is often the interpretation we carry around in our heads.

I like to look at the character trait that drives her to the actions that she is so well known for – productive, resourceful, decisive, diligent, self controlled, compassionate and so many more.  I believe that she is relational focused; that her desire is to support her husband and build relationship with her children and care for others.  The major point is though is, she fears the Lord.  From this perspective she is someone that I see as my role model, someone I aspire to.  It is do-able.  Afterall, she didn’t do it in her strength – she lived her life in worship (fear) of the Lord.

I don’t put the calling of being a Prov 31 woman higher, or harder than the calling of being a follower of Christ; a Christian

• I am called to put other’s first – my husband, my children, or others in need,
• I am required to be a good steward of the resources God has given me – time, money, energy,
• I am to have control over my tongue and speak words of life,
• I am to trust in God for all my needs, and recognize that when I am weak, I am strong, through Him who has called me. 

If I can say that I am walking in my calling as a Christian (relying on the grace of God as I grow more like Christ) then I have to be able to say I am also walking in my call as a Prov 31 woman.   Just as our life as a Christian is a journey, where we grow and change, then our skills as a wife, homemaker, businesswoman, neighbour is also a journey, where God’s grace will teach us and forgive us as we mature.

What does Prov 31 look like in my home?  Of course this isn't 100% all the time kinda stuff - but I am characterised by these things - that is it happens more than not:

• My husband trusts me; He trusts my discernment, my decisions, my heart
• I am on the watch to keep our family holy and separate for God
• I look for the best ways to care for my family’s physical needs
• My mind is able to discuss financial and investment issues
• My heart and home is open for those in need
• I don’t fear for the future, though at times it is unknown
• My husband is respected as a man, in his business, in the church, and in the town
• I study the Word in the hope of being able to speak words of wisdom

Areas I would like to see more of in my home (as I see it today)

• There are times in my day that I know I fritter away, idleness
• I am not physically strong and don’t look after my physical body the way I should
• I need to be a wiser steward of our finances

Sep. 14, 2008 - Proverbs 31v10 and the Dictionary

I did a quick search on Prov 31:10 using several main translations.  This is what I found:

NIV - A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

NKJ – Who can find a virtuous wife?  For her worth is far above rubies.

Literally a wife of valor, in the sense of all forms of excellence

New Living - Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies.

New Revised - A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

NAS – An excellent wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.

I checked out the definitions of these highlighted words in the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary online.  I have summarized this long list – remember that these words describe the wife that is precious…

Noble:  dignified, being above everything that can dishonor reputation

Virtue:  Strength; that substance or quality of physical bodies, by which they act and produce effects on other bodies

Valour:  Strength of mind in regard to danger; that quality which enables a man to encounter danger with firmness; personal bravery; courage; intrepidity; prowess.

Capable:  Possessing mental powers; intelligent; able to understand, or receive into the mind; And a second definition for capable would be summarized to be “qualified for”

Wow!!  I want to be this woman.  Not only do I want to be strong and able (as per the definitions I get from the Hebrew) but as I add that to our own rich language and cultural understandings I want to be dignified, affecting others, have strength of mind, be able minded and courageous for the task at hand. 

Though this is a pretty impressive list I believe it is something that can be worked on. This list gives clarity of issues that I need to assess in my life instead of blanketing it to mean “excellent” and not knowing what that really looks like.

What areas of excellence do you see in your life? Or do you want to see in your life?

P.S. This word is still not translated as "perfect". We must get rid of this picture in our minds!

Sep. 14, 2008 - Proverbs 31 - the Pefect woman - What!!! That is not what I read

Prov 31:10  An excellent wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.

The word excellent is translated into many other words, in our English Bibles:

Able, capable,
Army (82 times!)/armies, elite army, forces, troops, warriors,
Excellent/excellence, worthy,
Great, might/mighty, nobly, power, strength, strong, very powerful,
Valiant (41 times), valiantly, valour (18 times)
Retinue,
Riches, wealth (25 times), substance,

At no time has this verse ever been translated to read “Who can find a perfect wife?”  Never.

My first port of call when I am trying to understand a word that is used in Scripture is to use the Strong’s Concordance, where the word is connected with the original meanings of the original language that the text was written in.

When I looked to see the Hebrew origins to this word, excellent, I found that “strength” was the first meaning listed.  Strength.  Read verse 10 again using the word strength/strong…

A strong wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.

Strongs 2428 (listing the words that are close to the Hebrew meaning)
strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army
1. strength
2. ability, efficiency
3. wealth
4. force, army

What about ability – able…

An able wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels. 

An efficient wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.

A mighty wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.

Who does not want to be found strong and able?  Forget the perfect there is a much better standard, a real one, an attainable one and one that we train ourselves in.  I say train because the Hebrew word also uses an indication of military – the army trains to get its edge, I can train, you can train to get your edge too.   I for one want to be a strong, mighty, efficient, able wife!  Want to join me?

Aug. 19, 2008 - Revised Post - Diamonds and Perfection

Last week one of the homeschoolers gave a short speech on Diamonds.  She actually had a $72,000 diamond with her to show us.  Just for proof – here I am.

Apparently this diamond has many flaws in it so a jeweler would recommend it to be in a necklace not a ring because people look closer at rings than they do necklaces!  Go figure!  I reckon I’d look pretty close at either if it cost $72,000!

We all enjoyed seeing such a huge diamond but there was a moral to the story.  If such a beautiful gem, and expensive gem can still have flaws then it kind of puts a different slant on perfection and value doesn’t it!

We need to see ourselves as gems, worth far more than $72,000 in God’s eyes, He sent His son to die for us – that is how much we are worth to Him (already, now, today!)

Thanks to Luke’s comments I am going to expand my thoughts on perfection, and write them a little less statically.

So often we live to a man-made standard of perfection, always striving to be good enough. Our actions will never be good enough to be right with God.  This is why Jesus came.

If we are to focus on our actions, what we don’t do, how we can’t do enough, we will be riddled with guilt.  Once again this is why Jesus came.  There is no guilt in Christ Jesus.

God desires our hearts.  He wants our worship, our love.  And yes once our hearts are full of love for Him we find that we want our actions to please Him too.  No longer is our life striving to please but rather an act of love and worship, strengthened by His grace and love for us.

In my previous post I did say “But nowhere does God require perfection”.  Let me expand because Matthew 5:48 does say, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

As women, as homeschool mums, homemakers, and wives we often look at our lives and see ourselves lacking.  We don’t keep a tidy house, our ironing is piling around us, meals aren’t what we desire, and are we doing enough with our children?  We have an ideal homeschool mum, wife, mother, haunting us in the back of our head.  It is that standard of perfection that God doesn’t require.  And yet so often it is that standard that we judge ourselves on.

As I researched the word perfect as used in the Bible I found that it was translated with a few different words - pure, without blemish, mature, blameless.  These words indicate a moral completeness, and Scripture is clear that this is made possible because of Jesus.

This morning I enjoyed the study of Matthew 5, in connection with the word perfect and there is so much more to be gleaned.  But my thoughts keep returning to the diamond.  The diamond was assessed as valuable even with the blemishes that the human eye could see.  The same goes for me and you – regardless of the human blemishes we can see, God sees us differently, He has made us perfect.

Apr. 14, 2008 - Fellowshipping with the Body of Christ

1. Not to forsake the gathering together (though we know that whenever two or more Christians are together we are “gathering together” but we want to do this specifically on Sunday – to be a part of the body of Christ gathering together in the town, in the country, in the world (time zones apart!!)
2. To build relationships in the body of Christ – regardless of denomination.  We belong to the body of Christ, because of the Jesus and the cross – that is why we belong in the same family.

So this year we are going to be visiting different churches, not as visitors but as local brothers and sisters.  I hope that doesn’t sound too “lofty” and “spiritual” but we hope it will be a reality – that as we regularly touch base with Christians, across the town, that we will build relationships, that we will be able to help out with any of their church and needs (working bees, ministry initiatives etc) and support them in any personal needs as well.  This is what friends do – more so brother and sisters.

We already know many Christians in the town, so it won’t be like facing a new church every week though the expressions of worship will differ and this will be in itself a learning curve, especially for our children.    We are also challenged though that building relationship takes more than going to church together.  If we are truly to build relationships with a wide circle of Christians we need to open our home, free up our schedule and be hospitable. 

Aug. 8, 2007 - Our challenge today

Today in our family devotions we were looking at the scriptures that encourage us to be diligent, to do everything with all our might, and to see that in everything we do we are serving the Lord. 

I asked the children, “When we study today, how is that serving the Lord?”

Nomi replied, “We study so we can be prepared for whatever God wants us to do, so that we can preach the hard stuff about God not just the easy!”.

Good answer.

Our challenge today is to do everything as a service to God. Writing, playing, fixing, building, working, and talking.

Apr. 22, 2006 - To influence others to good

My Devotional reading for today quoted this from an unknown source….

“No one can influence another for good, beyond the amount that there is God in him.”

If God is in me my response, the way I try and influence my children, will be much more gracious, loving and giving.  They way I try and influence my children will be characterised by desiring the best for them rather than out of inconvenience for me!

I need God in me!

Nov. 28, 2005 - Spiritual Responsibility

• Do you nurture your own relationship with God or do you rely on someone else?
• Do you deal with your relationship with God in the same manner you deal with earthly relationships?
• Do you meet with God, daily, with a Quiet Spirit?