Don't Copy the behavior of the world...

I recently bought a new devotional study that a good friend recommended.  Jesus Calling (Thanks Jenna)  It has the perfect words for me to read over my coffee each morning.  It doesn’t take long, but it’s always the right words for me on that day! 

Today is no different….one of the verses above.  It kind of relates to the Proverbs 31 woman things I have been reading.  You read that and think, “How can I ever measure up to her?”  This was written about one woman, not many.  We don’t have to measure up to each and every one of those standards though.  Unless our pursuit is for Him, then we can’t accomplish anything and still honor him. 

Am I living for God or living from Him. I can try to each of those things mentioned on my own willpower but it wouldn’t be unto God and that defeats the purpose.  Keep in mind that Proverbs 31 is an acrostic poem; from verse 10, each line begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. http://www.bible-researcher.com/acrostics.html  (it is said that a mother wrote this for her son, her desire for him). It is not a set of rules to follow.  Not everything written in the Bible should be literally, certainly in the books of wisdom.  It’s more of a learn by example.  Our focus should be on God and making our relationship with Him intentional and real.

With that I take a breathe of fresh air and know that God is in control and I just need to rely on Him and ask Him to help guide me by putting other Godly woman in my life, so we compliment each other.  I can learn so much from her wisdom.  (Thanks to those woman) ;) We all have some of those qualities in us, who cares if it’s not all of them.  We are not perfect, only God is!

So, in Top Ten Tuesday fashion…We are all more precious than rubies, unique and created for our husband!

Top Ten things I can do try and be like the Proverbs 31 woman:

1.   Franklin can trust me to love him always! (even when we get on each other’s nerves)

2.  I will be a hard worker and strive to do my best.

3.   I like to help others.

4.  I don’t fear the fierce season changes here in Florida, haha!  I can buy my family warm clothes. J (Easy)

5.  I can laugh without fearing the future, b/c I know it’s in God’s hands. He knows all, and we just need to do the best we can while we have the time here.

6.   My husband does praise me all the time, even though I brush it off.  I need to stop that and learn to say “thank you Honey!”

7.   I do fear the Lord, a respectful fear, not a judgmental fear.

8.  By a witness to those around me and share Jesus

9.  Give everything up to Jesus and follow Him, give it my all! (something I work on daily)

10. Be still and be in God's words, renewing my mind.

Lord, I will strive not to put idols before God, such as money, clothes, homes, etc.  I will be content knowing that God is in control and I will desire him, knowing he will keep me grounded from the idols of the world. Thank you for telling us we can’t be perfect, there is only one perfect one and that’s you.  Help me not to become lazy and conform to the “normal” of the world.  I don’t want to just fit in, make my attention unto you. Show me what you want from me.

Amen


posted on Many Little Blessings

Does my Husband Trust me?

Continuing on the Proverbs 31 wife...

“Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.”

Proverbs 31:11 (NLT)

This is a tough one for me…I am TRYING to do it better and each summer it gets a little better to handle, even though I don’t like it. 

Back-story for those of you that don’t know (which may be many of you…) Each summer my husband and brother-in-law travel to McLean, Illinois for a corn and soybean run.  It typically lasts anywhere from 4-6 weeks, favoring the longer.  The first year I was in tears, had so much anxiety about preparing for his leave.  (I give the utmost love to the women who have to live months with their spouse overseas, my brother’s family being one of those- Love you Michael and Jeannette!!)  Anyway, I was not reading a whole lot in the Bible, busy with a 3.5mos. old baby, 2yr., 4yr. and 5.5yr. old.  Needless to say, I was consuming myself with our youngest baby and little girls.  I didn’t know how I was going to manage without him here everyday.  I had my family nearby, but still not the same.  When he left I think I cried almost every night, even nights when I was talking to him.  I know I was making it even harder on him.  It was wearing us both out.  I needed to see him and found tickets out to visit him reasonably priced.  I took our youngest and dropped the other 3 with my BELOVED mother-in-law.  She’s an amazing woman!!!  It was so nice to have his arms hugging me.  After that 4-day trip I felt better and eagerly waited for his return home.

OK, not sure I made a lot of sense there, but to catch up you, he’s been going out there since 2008, so this summer will the 5^th year.  It doesn’t get any easier and I still get panic stricken as the days dance nearer every time, but I have learned to dive into God’s word and let him work in me.  I find that if I turn it all over to him and just pray everyday for safety for them and comfort for us we will get through it. 

I want my husband to be able to go on this summer job and have full confidence in me as his wife.  I want him to know that I will be solid emotionally and spiritually so he can rest on my support in his long hours of the summer.  I want him to trust me with the money and that I spend it wisely. (Screwed up real bad with that one-year and never doing it again!!  So not worth jeopardizing marriage over it)

I want him to know that I will do my very best at training our daughters wisely.  I want to know that I will run an orderly home.  I will keep his reputation in tact and not speak poorly of him.  I want him to be 100% sure of my love for him and no other man, no emotional connections made with other men.  I want him to know that under pressure I can keep my emotions in check, self-control!  Most of all, I want him to know that when urgent situations come up that I can make a wise decision, or at least who to call for help.  We have an amazing church family and I know everyone would be willing to help me out, as long as I ask! (key word there, ask!)

I am by no means perfect, hence for my need for God in my life.  I don’t always make the best decisions, but I want to be more like the Proverb 31 woman, a woman whose hubby can truly trust me.  I will continue every day to make a conscious effort to gain these qualities, it may take many, many years and I will never be 100% perfect, only God can do that, but I can strive for it!

Lord, I come to you knowing my flaws and I asking you to help me commit to being a better wife for my husband.  I long to be a wife that my husband can trust in each dynamic of our lives together.  Without your help and words I am nothing, but with your help and guidance I can do great things.  Please God, help me make the right decisions when it comes to our daughters, our home, money, be faithful to only him, keeping my emotions in check and give me the strength to make the right choices always.  I know I have people in my life willing to help out when needed and that I need to use my “big girl” words and ask for the help.  In your name I pray…

Amen




These are the 4 AMAZING reasons why I gotta get it right, so they can be good wives one day for their husbands. 

GOD is Constant

Welcome Wednesday

Good Morning all...


Over the next little while I want to share some thoughts to think about when reading Proverbs 31. I am by means no expert, nor would I ever lead a Bible Study about this or get up and talk about it in front an audience...typing it out is way easier for me and I can get all my thoughts out with feeling embarrassed and judge, (yes another struggle of mine).  I need God everyday because of all these insecurities and inadequacies.  


I am part a group that meets at our church 2 times a month, called Mom2Mom.  It's a great way to get out of the house and socialize and learn with other Mom's.  I always look forward to going, eager to learn what God wants to show me.  Yesterday was no different!  I was especially excited because we were having a guest speaker, Jill Feck.  She has an amazing heart for God and is full of wisdom to share, she homeschools her 4 children, and leads Bible Studies for women and married couples.  She is virtuous woman, indeed!


Yesterday Jill talked about how we are to make God our constant in our lives, and one of those ways is by "submitting" to our husbands.    She shared how we can make our marriages better and how to make those changes in being a Proverbs 31 woman.  She had a great breakdown about what those verses mean today. (I need to get them and I will share them with you.) 


In the meantime, I am going to share some things that I got out of it, How to Treasure your Husband by keeping God our Constant. 


Proverbs 31:10 "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies."


Well!  Where do we even start. I often think, am I that to my hubby?  Don't I want to be that treasure to him, YES!  Here are some things that I should NOT do:

• I should not rival my husband

   [rival]: 1. a person who is competing for the same object or
              goal as another, or who tries to equal or outdo
              another; competitor.

   

       2. a person or thing that is in a position to dispute

          another's superiority: 

          Dictionary.com

• Complain about all the housework I do
• Charge everything just because I want it or it's on sale. (learned this lesson-not doing it again)
• I should not be greedy or selfish
• he doesn't want to hear me gossip and I shouldn't be doing it with others either.
• I should not spend my day in leisure, while he's out working for our family. (examples: shopping just because, emailing, unless with purpose, web browsing, late movies and sleeping in- I am convicted)
• I should not disrespect or criticize him. 
• letting outer beauty over-rule inner beauty, such as worrying about weight.

WOW, feeling so convicted...no day like today to start praying and asking God for the strength to change me.




 Lord, I am guilty of so many of those things.  Please guide me in making the conscious decisions to take a step back and re-evaluate the way I speak to and of my husband.  Guide me in my devotional time and make it meaningful and apply it to my life.  I want to be in your word everyday and focus on those things for my family. In your name I pray. 
AMEN! 

I realized that we need an updated picture...