{Verse 13 - Point 4}

Proverbs 31:13

“ She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands."

…She seeketh wool and flax…

Wool:  the fine, soft, curly hair that forms the fleece of sheep and certain other animals, characterized by minute, overlapping surface scales that give it its felting property.
 Flax:  a slender, erect, annual plant having narrow, lance-shaped leaves and blue flowers, cultivated for its fiber and seeds.

The virtuous, godly woman "seeks" wool and flax, these two basic materials to use in making clothes and garments.  The term "seek" could mean that she "seeks with care" or "cares for" the wool and flax. She carefully collects and gathers and cares for the wool and flax that she will use in making clothes for her household and perhaps for others as well.

Nowadays, we do not go seeking wool or flax, nor do we carefully gather and care for it… so how do we think about this part of the verse in THIS century? I think the key thing to think about is her desire to provide what she could for her family. It’s not like she could go to the store and buy all she needed, she was willing to put forth the work to give the needs of the home.

 Are we willing?

If something needs to be done around the home as a Mother or Wife … are we willing to do it? This can include so many things that apply to our lives now. Cleaning, cooking, getting groceries, making sure our husband & kids have appropriate clothing, laundry… think about what you can improve on in this modern day world we live in. This means that I can’t focus on learning how to crochet doilies (not that there’s anything wrong with that), sewing every piece of clothing my family owns, or dressing in couture to greet my husband at the door when he gets home from work (not that there’s anything wrong with that). But, I need to acknowledge and incorporate tools and issues that are apply to the lives of us 21st century women. It’s different for us all; none of us live the same lives… But, in general, there are things we can focus on to be a better help-meet to our husbands & mother to our children.

…And worketh willingly with her hands…

The word "willingly" is from the word meaning "delight, pleasure."   She takes great delight in her work.  Rather than being a laborious and boring chore, it is pleasant and enjoyable. 

Like I said earlier about crocheting & sewing… Most of us women don't delight in making clothes with our hands, maybe an every once in a while kind of hobby… but it’s so much easier now to shop for clothes at the mall … Instead of learning from us mothers how to sew and knit and crochet and mend, many children are too busy watching television or playing computer games.  Now, please do not take this as you should be doing all of those things, but instead look at the principal of that statement. Do we spend more time at the mall shopping for clothes with our husband & kids, or are we taking our free time to really bond and spend time with our loved ones? Possibly teaching our children something new, learning something about our soul mates … HOW are we spending that time with them? Are we putting it to good use, or could we do better? I think we ALL can do better & some are already better than others at this & it may come quite naturally to you, but I think in every woman there is room for improvement. So, think about that this week – challenge yourself & use time management wisely - try to work on your problem areas!
 ;-)

“The wise woman uses her time
 and individual resources in
the best way SHE can.”

L. Adams

{Choose Proverbs 31 |not| A Victoria's Secret Model}

Ladies:

Are you striving to be more like GOD or more like the world? Here's a challenge for you. STRIVE to be a Proverbs 31 woman rather than a Victoria's Secret model. Listen to this video, take a moment to read Proverbs 31 and really challenge yourself to strive to be unlike this world. The Lord knows your future and every day you should be preparing yourself for God's plans and what you're going through now.

DIG
DEEP into His word and find out what His plans are for you. Pray like you never have - HAVE that relationship with God.

 It is SO important!

Always here for you gals! Praying for EACH one of you!
 (Share with all your gal pals, especially great for teen girls!)

 Link:

http://youtu.be/4WAFFMF4iZY

{Verse 12 - Point 3}

Proverbs 31:12
"She will do him good and not evil all the days of
her life."

“She will do him good and not evil…”

The Virtuous woman’s’ husband can safely trust in her (v. 11) because he doesn’t need to worry about her being a financial “burden” & because he knows that she will do him only good, and not evil.

Proverbs 18:22
  "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor from the LORD".

 Of course, every man wants to find a “good thing” right? Who doesn’t have ego & pride and who doesn’t want the best in everything? Men & women! But when that man makes a choice to have you as his wife … what does he see in you? What DID he see in you, that he loved so much to decide he wanted to spend the rest of your lives together?

Are those things that he sought after before marriage still there? Did he find a “good thing”?

Take a second and think about your marriage. Think about you and your husbands relationship. Are you doing YOUR part? Or are you worrying about everything HE is doing wrong? That is SO easy for ME to do, for sure! I get so side tracked harping on everything he could be doing better or right… When if I would just take a breath, a step back & really look at how I’m contributing to our marriage, I would realize that this is a team effort & I need to focus on MY wrong doings and what I can improve on to become a better wife and help meet for my husband.

Think about it.

The virtuous woman deals out to her husband that which is good.  She “dishes” out to him and serves him that which is good and not evil.  She wants only God's highest & best for him.  Her life & her deeds are a constant benefit & blessing to her husband.

Are we benefitting & blessing our husbands through our actions & words?

"...All the days of her life.”

In doing good to her husband she is consistent.  She doesn't serve him that which is good one day and that which is evil the next day.  Her husband can count on her to do him good and to be a blessing to him.  He can count on her to do this today, five days from now, one year from now, ten years from now, and all the days of her life.  She is not up and down, hot and cold… wishy-washy...  Her godliness is marked with consistency. Now, don’t get me wrong… we ALL have our “bad” days… It is TOUGH to be consistent in some things, especially when it’s easier to just let that day go and not do good but do evil or say evil things to our husbands… Make it a DAILY goal to remember that we are to respect, love, honor our husbands. And, if that evil is outweighing the good … we should really get on our knees and ask the Lord to help us EVERY DAY to turn that around! Is it tough sometimes? Well, yes – we all know that. But is it POSSIBLE with the Lord on our side …. A B S O L U T E L Y!

Philippians 4:13
“I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.”


Is the good outweighing the evil?

Just how consistent are we?

L. Adams

{The 21st Century Proverbs 31 Woman}

Take a second to listen to this video! Comparing the Proverbs 31 Woman back then, to the Proverbs 31 of this century! Very Encouraging!

Are we fulfilling *OUR* calling? Not comparing to others callings, but are we fulfilling the things God has called us specifically to do? Think about it! :)

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=DKD6WLNX

{Verse 11 - Point 2}

Proverbs 31:11
"The Heart Of Her Husband Doth Safely Trust In Her, So That He Shall Have No Need Of Spoil."

The Virtuous Woman is Trustworthy...

I’d like to focus on that today – being trustworthy…

Trustworthy: deserving of trust or confidence; dependable; reliable:

Are we truly trustworthy? Many of us would say yes right off the bat, but what would OTHERS say about us? More importantly, what would our HUSBANDS say about us being trustworthy? A husband wants to have the confidence in his “superwoman wife” to be able to trust her while he is focusing on supporting his family. If you’re a homemaker, as I am, how do we do at home? Do we put forth that effort for the house to look nice when our husband comes home? Do we even think of him when we’re doing it? Your husband gains financially at work… does he gain emotionally at home? Or, does he have a “lack” of gain at home? Does your husband LOOK FORWARD to coming home, or does he dread it? Are we treasured by our husbands? Do we welcome our husband home with loving words and actions, SHOWING that we appreciate what he does and are proud of him?

This is something I think we ALL can work on. I definitely can. Sometimes when my husband gets home, I am so exhausted from taking care of my son and being pregnant that he is the least of my concerns. I am SO wrong when it comes to that. God, Husband, Children… is what the “order” should be… what order are we putting them in? And – anything can be added to that list: finances, shopping, groceries, friends, other family, hobbies, etc. the list could go on and on and we need to take a step back & “organize” this list and make sure those first three are in CORRECT order. Life gets to us, sometimes Its just NOT going to be easy and sometimes we just don’t feel like it … I know the majority of you gals are shaking your head yes right now thinking … Yep! Sometimes I just want to throw my hands up and GO TO BED… Haha, I HEAR YOU. It is TOUGH. Like I’ve said before – marriage is work – the question is, are we willing to put forth that effort to WORK at it? Is our husband worth that? Of course, we say… but are our actions showing that? Are we the qualities we should be?

Genesis 2:24 

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Proverbs 18:22

“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord.”

Proverbs 21:19

“It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.”

Ask yourself these questions:

Are you and your husband really one flesh….?
Did your husband find the wife that is a GOOD thing….?
Would he rather live in the wilderness than with you because of your bitterness, anger & complaints….? (eeeeek!)

Are you TRUSTWORTHY?

Our husbands want to have confidence in us in EVERY way possible. Does he KNOW that you aren’t going to run to family and friends when an argument comes up? Does he know that the things that should stay private in a marriage really are private? Are we being 200% committed or is something or someone lowering that percentage?

Ladies, lets really pray that the Lord will help & guide us this week. Ask Him to help you be the wife you need to be. To be faithful, kind, loving, caring & to be PROUD of your husband and what he does… to welcome him home with loving words and actions… This will be easy to some and harder to others… Let’s organize our list an make sure that the LORD comes first, our husband second, children third, etc… See how Christ will work in our lives when we stop putting the blame on others (our husband) and start recognizing that maybe WE are the issue. Focus on YOUR actions this we and focus on the words that are coming out of YOUR mouth…

Are you trustworthy?
Would your husband agree with you?

Trust that the Lord is going to work in your life this week & on… Be in prayer and indulge in His Word!

Psalm 9:10

“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”

Love & Prayers,

Linds

{The 22 Points Of The Superwoman Wife - Point 1}

First off, I’d just like to say THANK YOU. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog & enjoy this journey with me. I am starting out with Proverbs 31. I feel as though the Lord has really laid it on my heart to dig deep into this passage & truly STUDY it. I know some people may frown upon this because I’m so “young” and have not even been married three years yet, but this is for ME more than anyone. I want to GROW & growing with your fellow sisters in Christ and being able to discuss issues and whatnot is an even better way to do it in my opinionJ. I wanted to do this publicly because I feel like we all can relate to feeling the need to be that “superwoman” & it this can truly apply to our lives if we let it. I love Proverbs 31 & have set a goal for 2012 to become a better wife & help meet to my husband. That – can be challenging sometimes, as we all knowJ. But even if you aren’t a wife yet, please do not let that hinder you from participating in this. If you are not a wife it can be preparation for the future & can apply to relationships you have now.

I would like to go through Proverbs 10-31 & really take a second and just DIG IN to EACH verse & really meditate on it and study it and try the best we possibly can to apply it to our daily lives. These will be called: “The 22 Points Of The Superwoman Wife” – Maybe it will be the biggest challenge for 2012 for us, but to strive to be a virtuous woman  is something I want so badly that I am making it a GOAL & hope that you do too! We ALL have room to grow & to become better as Moms, wives, sisters, daughters, aunts, cousins, etc. Just being a better person period & striving to live less like the world & more as our Savior.

So… each and every day remember to start your day with PRAYER and DIG IN to God’s Word. Priorities are a MUST, and if we can’t put God first, we will never get anywhere & it will CERTAINLY become so much more difficult to be that “Virtuous Woman” … I know it’s tough being a Mom & making sure we start out our day with GOD rather than with the baby, dishes, breakfast, etc. At least take one minute to pray…. Just start that day with prayer while brushing your teeth, making coffee, etc. It will make a world of difference just asking the Lord to help you & give you strength for this day. I honestly pray in the mornings for the Lord to help me each second of the day to be more kind, loving, generous, giving & selfless and for me to just be the Child of God I need to be. It takes a minute if that. Then when nap time comes or that first break you get, dig into His Word.

If you have ever read Proverbs 31, you will notice that in the beginning of the chapter it lets us know this is the advice of a MOTHER, the Mother of King Lemuel. Something that I found interesting was this is kind of like a Proverb TO her son. Advice from a Mom to a Son… Keep that in mind while you’re reading…  I can think of so many times in life where I have had to call my Mom to get advice from SO many areas. It is just comforting to be able to pick up the phone and know your Mother is there for you and has wisdom to freely give you.

If you have never read Proverbs 31 & would like to click here!

Now, to change gears a bit… sometimes I find it challenging to read Proverbs 31 because I feel as though I could never live up to that type of woman. She seems so perfect, kind, and gentle & has such a willing servant’s heart… We’ve got to admit – sometimes that just seems plain POINTLESS – whether it’s in a friendship, marriage or any relationship we have. We get frustrated, angry, tired, upset & sometimes it is just too hard to live up to this “Superwoman” she is. How many of us feel up to the task of being that woman when we wake up in the morning? Certainly not I - BUT Do NOT be discouraged!

[Here we go  – The 22 Points of the Superwoman Wife]

{Day 1 – Point 1 – Verse 10}
Proverbs 31:10: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies…”

Virtuous woman - Or "woman of power" or "woman of firm character."
Virtuous: Having or showing virtue, especially moral excellence.

We are constantly being told by the media and the people around us that we

are not good enough, and most women today are desperately in need of

encouragement, not another list of things what to do or who to be.  

The first part of this verse says “who can find a virtuous woman?” - Saying that this type of Woman is very scarce. Are we striving to be that “virtuous” woman? To be faithful, honest, honorable, moral, praiseworthy, kind, patient, loving, etc.? Is it hard? Well, we all know the answer to that. We are not expected to be perfect by any means… But the Lord wants us to have the desire and to make that effort to be the best wife, mother & woman He has us to be. Proverbs 12:4 lets us know that a virtuous woman (a woman of strength) does not make her husband ashamed… Do we want our husbands to be proud of us? To be this woman that Proverbs 31 speaks so highly of?

“For her price is far above rubies…”

She is far more valuable and worth far more than rubies.  The Bible tells us this “gem” (ruby) It was very valuable (Proverbs 20:15 & Job 28:18).

Who can find a virtuous woman (a woman of strength)?  She is like a rare gem.  Precious stones are precious and costly because they are so rare. Are we striving to be one of “rare”? If you could go out along the roadside and collect hundreds of rubies anytime you wanted to, then they would not be worth much.  It is the rare, hard to find gems that are worth so much. Are we showing this much worth to our husbands & being the help meet we should be? The virtuous woman is a beautiful woman, not necessarily on the outward appearance, but certainly inwardly (Proverbs 31:30).  She is not only a rare gem but a beautiful gem.

Are we striving to be this hard to find, rare & virtuous “ruby” we should be?
Make it your prayer & desire EVERY day.

Love & Prayers!

Linds