Friday, January 27, 2012

Day 10: Being the Proverbs 31 Woman


"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."  Proverbs 31:27


It's going to be hard to say goodbye to this wonderful blog series, but here we are at Day 10.  I have been so encouraged by the other 12 ladies and their 10 blog posts about the Proverbs 31 woman.  Much valuable information was learned and shared amongst us all.  If you haven't gotten a chance to check out what the other awesome ladies blogged about, scroll down toward the bottom of this post and there is a list of them all with links to each of their blog pages.  Such blessings in them all!

I think all of us stated somewhere in the past 10 days that being the "Proverbs 31 woman" was a tad intimidating to us.  It is such a high standard of living for one person.  God knows this.  I don't think He is expecting us to be all of that all at the same time, and on top of that--instantly.  All of the characteristics that were described throughout the entire section of scripture are things we should strive toward.  None of us is perfect--especially me!  But, with God's loving guidance in our lives, we can begin to take on more and more of these qualities.  These things do take time.  Praise God for that!

One of my all-time favorite websites for Christian women is the Proverbs 31 Ministries at http://www.proverbs31.org/ .   I love Lysa Terkeurst and Renee Swope.  They are excellent women of faith, in my humble opinion.  They are REAL women with REAL issues.  It gives me comfort to read their stuff.
Also, I really like (in)courage at  www.incourage.me  This a really REAL group of ladies who love the LORD like I do and encourage each other daily.  This is how I got involved in the blog series and got to meet these wonderful ladies.  There is community page where anybody can post.  Everyone is so sweet and encouraging and you can "come as you are."  Great stuff!

My prayer for each of you is that you get plugged into a group where you can encourage and be encouraged as you learn more about God's Word.  It's a fantastic journey and I don't know where I would be without Him.  Praise to you, O LORD!  Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.
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Check out these other blogs as well about 10 Days of Proverbs 31.  Good times!  Great information. Blessings all around.

Photobucket
13 Bloggers, 13 topics, one Great God.
A series on the different aspects of Proverbs 31. Here is a list of the bloggers and their topics.
Hope you all enjoy!! Feel free to explore the blogs. We have some very talented women participating.

3 comments:
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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Day 9: Watching over Relationships



"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."  Proverbs 31:27


Day 9....Wow!  I can't believe this series is almost over!  It has been so much fun.

I would like to lightly touch on relationships in the home today.  Watching over the affairs in your home can include relationships.   Other Proverbs 31 verses touch on this more in depth, so I won't reinvent the wheel here.

I want to talk about 3 specific relationships:  You & God; You & Your spouse; and You & Your children.

Your relationship with God is the most important relationship you can ever have.  As you are watching over your household, you will turn to Him many times throughout the day for help, guidance, and praise.  Prayer is so very important in anything you do--if you want to be successful.  Also, reading your Bible and learning His Word is imperative as well.  How can you trust our LORD if you don't really know Him?

The second most important relationship you have is with your spouse (if you are married.)  The two of you have become one on paper and are working on becoming more like one everyday.  It is a tough thing to do.  But it is also so much fun!  As you both get busy with the day-to-day tasks, don't forget to spend time together.  My husband and I do a small devotional each evening and pray together.  We also schedule a "date night" at least once a month to get out alone together.  We do have to intentionally schedule a date night since our schedules fill up so quickly.  Be intentional about your marriage.  Work together on making it what God has in mind for it.

The third (and most certainly not last) relationship that is important is with your kids.  We all have different parenting styles.  Different things work for each of us differently.  It is imperative though for us to teach our kids about God and His Son Jesus.  We need to show our kids by example what it means to rely on God for everything and see God in anything.  Teach your kids to pray.  Nurture that relationship in each of your kids.  Also, spend time with your kids and teach them all throughout the day.  Every moment is a teaching moment, whether you intend it to be or not.

Watch over all of these relationships diligently.  Seek Godly counsel when things aren't going right.  Always pray and ask God for wisdom.  Relationships, especially in our homes, our so very important.

Join me to tomorrow for our last day, Day 10, of Proverbs 31.  I'm looking forward to it
___________________________________________________________________

Check out these other blogs as well about 10 Days of Proverbs 31.  Good times!  Great information. Blessings all around.

Photobucket
13 Bloggers, 13 topics, one Great God.
A series on the different aspects of Proverbs 31. Here is a list of the bloggers and their topics.
Hope you all enjoy!! Feel free to explore the blogs. We have some very talented women participating.

1 comment:
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Day 8: Moving



"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."  Proverbs 31:27


Today, I want to talk a little about moving.  You know--that sometimes dreaded task that all of us have done at least once in our lives.  Moving can be exciting, too.  Going to a new place, a new house, a new adventure.  Maybe it's just to a new house; but, many times it's to a new job in a new town where you know next to nobody.  That can be a little scary, to say the least!


My husband and I, along with our 2 teen kiddos are going through this very thing right now.  In fact, we will be moving 5 hours away to a new job, new home, new town, new everything next week!  Eeek!
This "10 Days of Proverbs 31" blogging I have gotten the opportunity to participate in has been a very timely reminder for me.  It has helped me in closing things down here at our current home and getting everything up and going at the new place.  


There are many things to worry over do when getting ready for a move to new house--regardless of the location.  This is not an exhaustive list, but it does contain many important things to do.


1.  Sell house or close out the lease on your current place.  (PRAISE ALERT!  Our house was only on the market for 10 DAYS when we accepted a fantastic offer from a pre-approved couple looking to buy their first home.  God is SO good!!)
2.  Close out utilities at current home and get everything turned on at new place.  (electricity, water, gas, phone, Internet, TV, etc.)
3.  Submit a change of address or forwarding order to your local post office.  This way, you can get all of your mail at the new place.
4.  Get all medical records (health, dental, vet, etc.) if possible.  You may want to talk to your doctors to see if they recommend a particular doctor in your new town.  Sometimes, you have to wait to get your records requested by the new doctor.  Also, get new prescriptions from your doctor to take to a new pharmacy near the new place.
5.  Get all the information when checking your kids out of their current school in order to enroll them in the new school.  Many schools are doing all of this electronically, so it may be as simple as signing a paper.
6.  Try to use up all the food in your house before you move, if possible.  Plan meals according to what is in the kitchen.  *This may not be important if you are just moving to a new house in the same town.
7.  Before the movers (or you and 5 of your closest friends!) start packing boxes to move your things, pack 3-4 days worth of clothes for each family member to carry with you.  This is just in case there is a problem with the delivery or delivery date.
8.  Spend time with close friends and family members before the move.  They will hate to see you go, but will rejoice with you for your new adventure.  Also, they help break up the monotony and craziness of the move.
9.  Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray, pray!  God will guide you through the process and help set your mind at ease.  (This probably should have been Number 1 on this list, but since we should pray all the time, I don't mind too much it being number 9..)
10.  Make one last check of the old house before you leave.  It's amazing how many things you can miss because they have been in that place forever and you just don't "see" them anymore.  Have someone else who hasn't lived there do a walk through to check for items missed.  (I ALWAYS miss the over-the-door hooks/hangers in the bathroom and bedroom.)


Like I said, this isn't an exhaustive list by any means.  It has helped me in "watching over my household" while getting ready for this move.  Please be in prayer for my family as we embark next week on this new adventure.  Doing God's work is always rewarding, but can be a little scary, too.  I'm so glad GOD is on our side during this whole thing.


Do you have anything else to add to my list of things to remember when moving?  I would love to hear any suggestions you may have.  Thanks!
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Check out these other blogs as well about 10 Days of Proverbs 31.  Good times!  Great information. Blessings all around.

Photobucket
13 Bloggers, 13 topics, one Great God.
A series on the different aspects of Proverbs 31. Here is a list of the bloggers and their topics.
Hope you all enjoy!! Feel free to explore the blogs. We have some very talented women participating.
1 comment:
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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Day 7: Idleness Part 2

pic by http://thecuriousquilter.wordpress.com
"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."  Proverbs 31:27


Yesterday, I talked about idleness.  We shouldn't be idle when it comes to watching over our homes.  But, is there a possibility of watching too much?  Can we drive ourselves crazy with worry and anxiety while watching over our homes?


Absolutely!  But, God's Word says:
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" Matthew 6:25
We are not supposed to worry.  That's a hard thing to do when we are in charge in watching over the affairs in our household.  There seems to be so many things that could go wrong.  That's really a lot of pressure for one person.  So what do we do about the inevitable worry & anxiety? 

1.  Don't worry about tomorrow.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  Matthew 6:34
2.  Give over all worry and anxiety to God immediately.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."  Philippians 4:6
3.  Use your resources.  Ask for help.  If you need help and support, ask friends and family.  Don't feel like you have to watch over your household all alone or on your own strength.  God will always help you.  Your friends and family can help as well.  This task can go through seasons of being overwhelming.  It is for everyone.  Rely on God and use your resources.  "And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."  Ecclesiastes 4:12

No need to worry over your household.  God has His mighty hand over it all.  We can do this, gals!  We can do this.  I'm praying for each of you as you work more towards becoming Proverbs 31 Women.  More tomorrow :)
_______________________________________________________

Check out these other blogs as well about 10 Days of Proverbs 31.  Good times!  Great information. Blessings all around.

Photobucket
13 Bloggers, 13 topics, one Great God.
A series on the different aspects of Proverbs 31. Here is a list of the bloggers and their topics.
Hope you all enjoy!! Feel free to explore the blogs. We have some very talented women participating.
1 comment:
Labels:

Monday, January 23, 2012

Day 6: Idleness



"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."  Proverbs 31:27




Idleness.  I tend to get a little defensive around this word.  I guess because I grew up with parents that frowned upon idleness.  It was such a terrible thing, it seemed, but did I even really know what the word means?


My Thesaurus says that idleness is inactivity, loafing, laziness, and sloth just to name a few.
Not very flattering terms, huh?


So, we are not to eat the bread of idleness.  We are not to be inactive, a loafer, lazy, or slothful. 
Easy enough, right?
Or is it?
Is it wrong for us to have a day every week where we just take it easy and enjoy being around our family?  No.  Even God rested on the 7th day of creation.


I think that being idle is when most of your time is spent doing nothing.  Sitting around and watching TV or staying online all day isn't good.  That would be idleness.  Occasionally watching TV and getting on the computer (like you are right now while reading this!) is no problem at all.  We need to be active in keeping up with our homes.  I really don't think that overdoing it and running ourselves down is the idea, but keeping busy and avoiding laziness is a good idea.


But then again, the passage I am basing my 10 Days of Proverbs 31 on is Proverbs 31:27.  It says "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat of the bread of idleness."


  Two thoughts cross my mind:
1.  That verse is a complete sentence.
2.  Maybe it is a complete thought and both parts are related to one another.


So, we are supposed to watch over the affairs of our household AND not be lazy or idle about it.
What is the "it?"
The "it" is "watching over the affairs of your household."  We need to keep at it.  We need to continually be watching over the affairs of our home and not back down.  This phenomenal woman that Proverbs 31 is describing watches over her home and is not lazy about it.  She is actively watching over her home.
She doesn't back down.
She doesn't take a vacation from it.
She doesn't sit idly by and wait for things to happen before she acts.
She is proactive.
She is busy.
She is watching.  Always.


It reminds me of what 1 Peter 5:8 says:
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
That gets me up on my feet!  Let's not wait for the devil to take over our households.  Lets be watchful like we are commanded.  Let's watch over our precious homes and families and the affairs concerning them with diligence and not be lazy or idle.   


But, can we do too much "watching" by ourselves and get run down?


More on that tomorrow......
__________________________________________________________

Check out these other blogs as well about 10 Days of Proverbs 31.  Good times!  Great information. Blessings all around.


Photobucket
13 Bloggers, 13 topics, one Great God.
A series on the different aspects of Proverbs 31. Here is a list of the bloggers and their topics.
Hope you all enjoy!! Feel free to explore the blogs. We have some very talented women participating.

1 comment:
Labels:

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Day 5: Keeping an eye on......Cleanliness in Your Home

Some of my dear church friends doing the dishes together.


"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."  Proverbs 31:27


In keeping with the unspoken weekend theme of home drudgery  tasks, I want to talk a little about cleaning house and laundry.
Keeping an eye on the affairs of your home includes house cleaning and laundry--caring for the tidiness of what you live in.  This can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be.  A good plan always wins, I say!
Proverbs 21:5 says:  "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty."
  
It is biblical to plan.  We do need to trust in the Lord and believe that He will make our paths straight as well.


Making a housekeeping plan is simple.  Write out what needs to be done and then decide which days you will do what.  Bathrooms need to be cleaned at least once per week for sure and the kitchen needs to be cleaned up  everyday.  Plan according to your needs, of course.  If you have 2 bathrooms, and only regularly use 1, then the second one doesn't need to be cleaned every week.  


Also, plan to do a little each day if possible.  Before the kids were born, my husband and I used to clean house once a week--on Saturday.  That's all it needed.  Once the kids came along, it became a daily thing.  I was overwhelmed with my full-time job and two busy kids, so i had to devise a plan to get it all done regularly without losing my mind.  A little each day works best in my family.  It seems like nothing to have to clean just one room a day.


If you still have no idea where to start, pray and ask God for wisdom.  He will gladly give you that, too!  He may just reveal something to you that you never would have thought of. 
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Check out these other blogs as well about 10 Days of Proverbs 31.  Good times!  Great information. Blessings all around.


Photobucket
13 Bloggers, 13 topics, one Great God.
A series on the different aspects of Proverbs 31. Here is a list of the bloggers and their topics.
Hope you all enjoy!! Feel free to explore the blogs. We have some very talented women participating.
1 comment:
Labels:

Day 4: Meal Planning



"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."  Proverbs 31:27


Meal planning is one of my favorite things to do in watching over my household. We have to feed our families, so it only makes sense that it is part of the "affairs of our household."
I do understand that some of you do not find meal planning to be a fun task.
You may be thinking:
"What am I supposed to make?"
"Is this healthy for my family?"
"I'm not good at cooking, so I don't know how to make anything good."
In today's age, we have so many conveniences in cooking that our Mothers and Grandmothers didn't have. So many easy recipes and pre-made, healthy foods are available.
I'd like to share what God has laid on my heart regarding meal planning. I got so discouraged years ago when my kids were toddlers about what to feed them besides macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. My husband and I did not want to eat that everyday, but the kids were not about to eat asparagus at 4 years old! So, I prayed about it. God really does care about every aspect of our lives. Just ask, and He will provide the solution to any problem. What an awesome God we serve!

This is what works for me.

1. Decide how many days for which you are going to plan meals. I wouldn't recommend doing a daily meal plan. I would recommend a weekly or bi-monthly meal plan. This way, you can make efficient trips to the grocery store and you always have fresh food on hand.


2. Take inventory of your fridge, freezer, and pantry. This will help with shopping, too!


3. Sit down and decide what meals you would like to make on each day. Do a "3 meal day" or just do a supper meal plan. Like I said, whatever works best for your family. Try to plan meals that use what food you still have on hand.  Also, pick things that you like.  Pick something for everyone.  Maybe do a day for each member of the family.  It will be a fun family activity and everyone will look forward to "their" day.


4. I like to use a calendar to write the meal plan out and put it on the fridge. It's easy to see and everyone in the family knows whats coming up. Plus, you don't have to try to remember what you planned for that day with all 400 other things going on inside your brain.


5. Go grocery shopping. Keep in mind the food inventory. Don't buy what you already have on hand. Don't forget staples like flour, sugar, milk, etc.


6.Stick to the plan! However, if something unexpected happens in the middle of the week and you need something quick to fix for supper, do not hesitate to swap out that meal for something else you had planned. This happens at our house a lot. I'm sure none of you know at all what I am referring to! :)


God wants us to be prepared, and according to Proverbs 31:27, He wants us ladies to watch  over the affairs of our household.  Eating is a major affair in our homes, I would think.  Let's watch over that, too!
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Check out these other blogs as well about 10 Days of Proverbs 31.  Good times!  Great information. Blessings all around.


Photobucket
13 Bloggers, 13 topics, one Great God.
A series on the different aspects of Proverbs 31. Here is a list of the bloggers and their topics.
Hope you all enjoy!! Feel free to explore the blogs. We have some very talented women participating.
No comments:
Labels:
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