Fear the Lord

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(Pro 31:30-31)Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

These verses explain what makes the virtuous woman so valuable!

Favour(good deeds, kindness) can be deceitful. Anyone can do good deeds towards others, it doesn't mean they have the right motives. And outward beauty doesn't hold any real value! But what makes her worth more than rubies is her fear of the Lord!

As it is used here, fear means to give honor and reverence to God. Her fear was the reason that she helped those in need, took care of her household and respected her husband. Every action that she took was weighed against God's word.

To be the virtuous woman we must examine ourselves daily to make sure that we have a pure heart and are following all of God's commands! We must strive to please God not man(Acts 5:29). This attitude will make us more valuable than rubies!

Serve Christ

 Just joining in our Proverbs 31 study? Click here to read more!

Via

(Pro 31:29)Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

The virtuous woman excelled. That is, after all, what she strived for. But what made her surpass others? Her attitude! She had the heart of a servant. In all that she did her main goal and desire was to please God!

As a Christian we must become servants of Christ!

(John 12:27)If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

How do we serve Him? By following Him, obeying his commands.

(John 14:15)If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

Obey just the commandments that are convenient to us? Or just the ones that we think are a good idea? No, we must obey all His commands!

It's so sad to see those who think that because they keep a few of God's commands that they won't go to hell. I don't understand where they get this logic. If you tell your child to pick up their toys and they only pick up 2 is that good enough? Or are you going to explain that you want them to pick them all up?

Partial obedience is disobedience. We can't just pick and choose what we obey!

Think back on the Israelites moving the ark in 2 Samuel. God had given clear instructions regarding moving the ark when He gave them the instructions to build it. It was to be moved by members of the Levi tribe, carried by poles inserted through rings on the ark. They were not to touch anything other than the poles.(Exodus 25, Numbers 3)

But instead of doing this, they place the ark on a new cart. It was new, so it was probably pretty nice. They must have thought that God would like this new cart. But they hit a bump and the oxen pulling the cart caused it to shake. Uzzah(who was close by) reached out his hand to steady it. Surely his intentions were pure. He was just trying to keep the ark from being damaged. But he disobeyed God. And was killed for violating this command.

We must obey all his commandments! And in order to do this we must be like those Christians in Berea.

(Acts 17:11)These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

They were ready to receive the word-their hearts were open to learning the truth! But they didn't just believe what Paul told them. They searched the scriptures to make sure that what he said was the truth!

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

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Linking up with these blogs: Raising Arrows, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Heavenly Homemakers, Time-Warp Wife, Deep Roots at Home, Our Simple Farm, Raising Homemakers, A Mama's Story, Women Living Well, The Alabaster Jar, Thankful Homemaker, These Five of Mine Plus Two, Changed by the Maker, Working Kansas Homemaker, Our Simple Country Life, Homemaker By Choice

Can't I Just Get A Thank You?

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(Pro 31:28)Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

The virtuous woman has worked hard. She has put so much time and energy into raising her children in "the way they should go" and all that is finally paying off for her. Her children call her blessed, they respect her. But not just her children, her husband praises her too!

Don't you have those days(or weeks, months) where you feel like no one's noticed any work you've done around the house? When, just for a moment, you feel like you're doing all that work for nothing? I do. I think that we all have days like that. Days when we forget that the reason we're doing the work isn't for praise from our children or husbands, and it isn't for an earthly reward. We are doing it because God has commanded us to be keepers of our home(Titus 2:5).

It is so easy to forget this though. We crave a "thank you" from our family, some kind of recognition for our work. Is it wrong to want this? Absolutely not! But if the only reason we're doing the work is for praise, that's an issue. We must work heartily for the Lord, remember that we are serving God by serving our family. He is the one who will reward us. 

(Colossians 3:25) "Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ"

And remember all the things God has done for us and blessed us with. Have you thanked Him?

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

I would love for you to join us on Facebook, Twitter, or our email list! 

Linking up with these blogs: A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots at Home, Raising Mighty Arrows, A Mama's Story

Slow to Speak

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Via

(Pro 31:26)She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

The virtuous woman helps others, makes clothing for herself and her family, and so much more. Not only does she do those thing she tackles the most difficult beast to tame-her tongue (James 3:5-8). She speaks with wisdom and kindness. Does she let her overwhelming tasks get the best of her? No, she does not allow the stress to take over, to loosen her hold on her tongue. 


Oh what a hard task this is sometimes. It is easy to just say what's on our mind. Just as we use a filter to keep the grinds out of coffee we must filter our speech! How do we do this? 

(James 1:19)Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

We must be slow to speak, think about what we're saying. I love the picture to the left! It is such a good tool to use when deciding if we should say something!

We also need to be careful in the way we say something. Once we say something we can't take it back, only seek forgiveness for what we've said. Hurtful words can leave an impression on others. If someone's doing something wrong we can let them know in a way that says we love and care about them. And we need to be sure that we're not coming across as having an "I'm better than you" attitude. We should use constructive criticism.

I'm reminded of a song:

O be careful little mouth what you say
O be careful little mouth what you say
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little mouth what you say

Have you been slow to speak?

Linking up with these blogs: Raising Mighty Arrows, Raising Homemakers, Good Morning Girls, Women Living Well, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home, Our Simple Farm, 

Laugh Without Fear

 Just joining in our Proverbs 31 study? Click here to read more!

Via

The virtuous woman clothes herself with strength and dignity. We've read about her outward garments and now we read here about her inward "clothing", the virtues she adds to her life. Let's take a closer look at each and why we should clothe ourselves with them.

Strength:  the quality or state of being strong; capacity for endurance; power of resisting attack; one regarded as embodying force or firmness 

The ability to endure is one that every Christian needs to have! We must be ready to endure, to persevere. The race of our Christian life is not an easy one, nor did God say it would be. Our eyes need to stay on the goal-Heaven! I think Paul said it best (Philippians 4:13-14) "...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

The ability to resist attack is another virtue everyone needs. We must be ready against our "adversary the devil, as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour."(1 Pet 5:8). Now I don't know about you, but if I knew there was a roaring lion in my neighborhood I would be prepared! Think about all the steps you would take to protect your family! But the devil is out there, ready to attack us any chance he can get! Prepare yourselves-study, pray, avoid situations where temptation may arise! Can we avoid it all? No, but when those temptations do arise remember that God will give us a way of escape!

Dignity: the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed

Do you ever feel unworthy, useless? I think that is something that we all struggle with from time to time. But as a dear friend reminded me in a recent devotional-our worth comes from above! We must be careful not to judge our worth by what others think. God thought that we were worth sending His only Son for us even though we were sinful! (John 3:16, Romans 5:8-9)

Now notice the last part of the verse "she laughs without fear of the future". She can do this because she has clothed herself with strength and dignity. We don't have to worry about what's going to happen in the future. God has a plan! It may not be what we had planned but He knows what's best for us! 

(Romans 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Linking up with these blogs: Thankful Homemaker, Our Simple Farm, Women Living Well, Good Morning Girls, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots At Home

Strive for Excellence

 Just joining in our Proverbs 31 study? Click here to read more!

Via

(Pro 31:24)She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

The virtuous woman not only spins wool & weaves the fabric to make clothing for herself and her household; she also makes linen to sell! But notice the word "fine" she makes the best quality she possibly can! She strives for excellence!
Today we seem to have a the faster the better mentality. We rush through things, many times with out giving them the time they deserve. This can be detrimental to us. When at a local christian bookstore recently, I saw a book that was full of 1 minute devotionals. Not let me go a head and say, I don't think there's anything wrong with these type books. But if we're only spending 1 minute in God's word a day that's an issue! We have to make time for studying! 
What about other things, like cleaning? Is getting through with other things fast bad? Not at all, as long as we are doing our best! We must remember that we are to do all things "for the Lord"! Yep, we must heartily scrub those floor and fold those clothes!  This means not grumbling or complaining about our work! This is something I struggle with sometimes. It's easy to fall into complaining about the work to be done. Here are a few things I like to do to help that not happen:

• Have some soft music playing-classical music, hymns, something that will keep you relaxed.
• Sing while you work(or whistle :))-I like singing along when I have hymns playing. Helps me to keep my mind on the right track. (Phil 4:8)
• And if you start thinking about complaining-pray! 

What do you do to make sure you are working "for the Lord"?

Linking up with these blogs: Raising Homemakers, A Wise Woman Builds her Home, Women Living Well, Our Simple Farm, Deep Roots at Home, Far Above Rubies, Good Morning Girls, Delight Thyself, , Homemaker By Choice

Talking About Your Husband

 Just joining in our Proverbs 31 study? Click here to read more! 

Via

(Pro 31:23)Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

The virtuous woman's husband is well known among the men. What does this have to do with her? What can we learn from this verse?

We know that she is trustworthy. He trusts his wife with all things including his reputation.  She handled this responsibility carefully and made sure that she did not tarnish his reputation.
How did she do this?

She spoke only good things of her husband. Was he perfect? No. Did do things that upset her? I'm sure he did! But she didn't tell everyone about them!

(Pro 14:1)Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

When a group of women get together often talk goes to life at home. How easy it is for us to say "Let me tell you what my husband did..." It seems like with some this even turns into a competition, trying to see if they can beat the others stories. We must refrain from doing this! We must be slow to speak!

(James 1:19)Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath 

That's a tough one sometimes. Taming our tongue is not easy but we must work at it!

(Pro 16:28b)a whisperer separates the best of friends

Speaking badly of our husband can damage our relationship. Think about how you would feel if your husband told his friends some of the things you did wrong! Many don't think about this! We can't forget it though. It's far too easy to get caught up in the moment when others are speaking of their husbands. We have a few options here: keep quite, leave the conversation, or say something good about your husband!

Make sure your husband is known by the good things he's done and not the bad! :)

Linking up with these blogs: Deep Roots at Home, Our Simple Farm, Good Morning Girls, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Becoming a Strong Woman of God, Time-Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Heavenly Homemakers, Homemaker By Choice, Delight Thyself

All Nighter

   Last night, I stayed up all night. Doing what, you might ask? Cleaning-yep, you read that right! Now before you decide I'm going crazy, let me explain why.
   College students pull "all-nighters" often before an large assignment is due. Just as they are, I am trying to get caught up on my assignment. But this assignment is much more important than any that a college professor may give. This assignment was given to me by the greatest teach ever--God.

          (Job 36:22)  Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

 The assignment?

(Tit 2:3)  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

(Tit 2:4)  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

(Tit 2:5)  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

   I know that some consider me old fashioned but in our home I do all the cooking, cleaning, and laundry.(Ryan does the occasional load of laundry when I forget to wash his work/nursing uniform--I am human!) No, I don't do it all because he won't help, he does offer! I do it because I believe that is the wife's job. Unfortunately, I have gotten behind on this job lately! I did start to organize our 2 bedrooms a while back. However, the lack of finishing left piles of things everywhere!  

   I've recently started a new job which will become full time after my training. Thus bringing my job count to 3(Keeper at home, Old Navy and Flooring Supplies). In an effort fulfill my God-given duty and reduce stress I want to start with a completely clean home! :) Then, I will follow a cleaning schedule each week to help me stay on top of things and keep from becoming overwhelmed!