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

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...

Foolishness bring me down...

Take it from me..blog link up

Comparison… is just Foolishness

Let me first by saying I feel that I have a blessed life.  I have a wonderful husband, who I love and respect.  He’s an awesome Daddy for our 4 girls.  I have 4 amazing daughters, each so precious and treasured beyond belief.  (Yes, though I like breaks once in a while)  I have all the things needed to survive, plus more.

Now, maybe I am the only one…but I sometimes I find myself comparing myself to others.  This is not a good thing either.  I feel like if I “just” had that or just had “this”, it would be make my life complete.  I know that’s not the case, but I still compare myself to others.  I know the Bible says that God does not approve of this and he wants our standard of measure to be the Bible, nothing or nobody else.  Yet, I find myself doing it from time to time. 

I know when we compare ourselves to others that it can steal our contentment.  Here are some areas that I compare myself to…

Comparing me to my gal pals

I know its not comparing apples to apples, but I still find myself doing it.  I have friends that are thinner than me and I think if I was just their size, I would be happier. Or friends that have property that I dream of.   If I just had that life would be complete.  I would LOVE to live on 5 acres with a few animals and a smaller home. (Less cleaning)  I would love to be so comfortable with speaking in public, like they are.  You know who those people are in your lives, they appear that they have it all together and everything is perfect…but they have their “quirks” too. 

Do you compare yourself to your Mama?

Well my Mom keeps a perfectly neat and tidy house.  I remember growing up and hating Saturday, cleaning day.  It had to be done perfectly to her standards, that’s what I thought. (I always wanted to be outside)  Did you ever have to clean before guests came, but wondered why b/c it was already clean, I did!  I love my Mom, she’s the best and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Her cleaning drills, I did not love!  (Sorry Mom) I don’t remember though if it was always perfect when we were little.  If I had to guess I’d say there may have been crumbs on the floor, dishes in the sink, laundry needing to be folded or dusting that needed to be done.  I feel like I have to try and get everything done before she comes, b/c I don’t want her to judge my messy house.  WHY??  I remember when I was older my Mom keeping a tidy home…so maybe when my girls are older and help out a lot more I will have that too!  Wishful thinking…I still want a house cleaner once a month to deep clean!  (A girl can dream right?)

Tit for tat with hubby

 Especially when the girls were younger, I would say things like “I was up all night with her, while you SLEPT!”  These days it doesn’t go that way anymore…they all mostly sleep all night.  I know it’s not a good idea to keep track of who does more…not for anyone.  Who cares who takes out the trash or mows the lawn or cleans the toilets?  We are a team and we work together.  Remember that saying, “there’s no I in team”.  My hubby busts his butt outside the home, so I do as much as I can here to keep a nice home.  It’s really not worth arguing about who does more or comparing the things your hubby may or may not do with girlfriends either.  Remember the vows you took the day you married him and all the love you felt!  Rekindle it if need be! On a side note, my hubby and I are all good!!! (This was a struggle earlier in our marriage though) 

So I need to remind myself before going down the comparison road, I need do I want to choose the road to pride or the road to intimidation.   The Bible says pride comes before destruction. “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) If I refuse to obey him and stay out of pride, then God will no longer be able to honor me, he will allow me to make a public fool out of myself.

If I choose the road of intimidation then I am falling victim to the sin of intimidation, which is rooted in fear.  The spirit of fear is something that comes from Satan.  God equips us with power, love, and Jesus. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy1: 7)

By comparing myself to others I am missing out and falling into the traps of Satan.  I am never going to be able to compare myself and say, “Well looky her, we are the same…by golly!” I know that can’t happen.  Comparing only leads to pride or intimidation, which when I do find myself in that, it’s usually intimidation. 

I am going to try very hard to stop doing this, and remind myself that God has forbidden those choice b/c he loves me and doesn’t want me to be crushed by either choice.  God made me for a specific purpose and has a plain all laid out just for me.  WOW!  It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.  I will have to remind myself daily to have faith and never doubt it. 

I need to focus on the job God has laid out for me to do here and do it with 110% as unto Jesus.  “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. (Col. 3:17, 23)  I need to be able to be comfortable talking out loud in public and talking about salvation in Christ.  That doesn’t mean being in someone’s face all the time, just ask God to give me those opportunities to speak to them and give me the right words to say without getting nervous and scared about people judging what I say. 

Comparison blocks the spout where God’s help comes out. You simply cannot do what He’s called you to do without His help. So pull the plug on comparison and throw it in the trash where it belongs. That will allow the power of God to begin to flow into your life again. 

How awesome is our God..

1 Corinthians 4:7

For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

A verse that struck me...

“Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that's not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.”
Colossians 2:9-10 MSG

This is the longest translation of this verse, but very easy to understand.  

AMEN!!!!!