Real Woman Makeover-Day 9

Today Nancy Leigh DeMoss says about the Proverbs 31 Woman:

This woman is a lover. She’s a giver. She’s a servant. That’s her calling in life. You say, “I don’t think I want that calling.” Listen: You’re never more like Jesus than when you’re serving.

This series continues to challenge me in my ways of thinking about what makes me feel fulfilled as a woman and citizen of this Planet. The world says that we women must find fulfillment outside our homes and that is not what the Bible says. Nancy has been pointing out in better words and ways than I can how a woman's heart should be at home. She may do things outside the home but her first priority is to the health and success of her home and the people who live there.

This concept of putting my home first that Nancy has presented in her series has had the gears in my head turning for days. I have had opportunities to apply it with some amazing results. Yesterday I had a very busy day with many things to do for something outside the home. I took on the position of Committee Chair for our Cub Scout Pack and last night was our first Pack Meeting of the year. As I planned out my day yesterday morning I felt completely overwhelmed. Monkey is still home sick with a fever, Baby Girl seems to always need my attention lately not to mention I had dishes to do, laundry to fold and dinner to get ready for my husband to prepare while I was at the Pack Meeting. At the leading of God I made a conscious decision to put my home first yesterday and take care of my family before the other things. And to my great surprise (although it should have been NO surprise) the Lord helped me to accomplish what I needed to for the Pack Meeting! Everything went very well last night and for the most part my home was taken care of.

However, I did learn a few lessons yesterday. The one that comes to mind first is that taking care of a home properly takes lots of time. I will admit that I ran out of time yesterday for taking care of my home. Things were in better shape than would have been in the past. I did some laundry, dinner was 3/4 of the way ready for husband and the dishes were done. But I see places where I could have done better. Maybe I will make a few meals and freeze them for nights like last night for example. Now it's not that husband can't make a meal and he is willing to but it would have been a blessing to him to come home after a long hard day with a meal ready to go in the crockpot. I think there are ways for me to bless my family if I continue to learn how not to eat the bread of idleness (verse 27) and make sure I am prepared IN ADVANCE as well as I can be for events where I am using my talents outside the home.

One last thing Nancy shared today that I want to share, it's called A Little Place:

Where should I work today, dear Lord, and my love flowed warm and free.
He answered and said, “See that little place? Tend that place for me.”
I answered and I said, “Oh no, not there! No one would ever see,
No matter how well my work was done. Not that place for me.”
His voice, when He spoke, was soft and kind. He answered me tenderly,
“Little one, search thy heart of thine. Are you working for them or me?
Nazareth was a little place and so was Galilee.”

Here is the version of Proverbs 31:10-31 I read today from the New International Version:

¹⁰ ^a]">[a] A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

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

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

True Woman Makeover-Day 8

Today Nancy Leigh DeMoss says about the Proverbs 31 woman:

Here’s a woman that as she watches over the ways of her household, she doesn’t miss anything. She’s alert to the details of what’s happening in her family—not so that she can be the controller of her family, but that she can be a better servant to her family.--Taken from verse 27 in Proverbs chapter 31.

Today Nancy's message is so close to home for me I don't know how much I can blog about it right now. It's too raw for me to broadcast on the internet even though it's only my cherished friends who read this. I just can't share right now. I need to process it and more importantly pray about it. God needs to do some work in me before I can share it.

What I can share is a joke Nancy shared today. It made me smile.

Mom and dad were watching TV when mom said, "I’m tired. It’s getting late. I think I’ll go to bed." So she went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day’s lunches, rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons in bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the wash, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. She picked up the games pieces left on the table and put the telephone book back into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied the waste basket, and hung up a towel to dry.

She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled out a text book hiding out under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.

Mom then washed her face, put on moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth, and did her nails. Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I’m on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog’s dish and called the cat in, then made sure the doors were locked. She look in on each of the kids, turned out a bedside lamp, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks in the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still up doing homework.

Back in her own room she set the alarm, laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her list of things to do for tomorrow. About that time, dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular, "I’m going to bed," and he did without another thought.

And finally, here is the version of Proverbs 31:10-31 I read today, it's from the New American Standard:

¹⁰An ^A)">(A)excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far ^B)">(B)above jewels.
¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
¹²She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
¹⁴She is like ^C)">(C)merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵She ^D)">(D)rises also while it is still night
And ^E)">(E)gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷She ^F)">(F)girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
¹⁸She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
²⁰She ^G)">(G)extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are ^H)">(H)clothed with scarlet.
²²She makes ^I)">(I)coverings for herself;
Her clothing is ^J)">(J)fine linen and ^K)">(K)purple.
²³Her husband is known ^L)">(L)in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴She makes ^M)">(M)linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
²⁵Strength and ^N)">(N)dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
²⁶She ^O)">(O)opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the ^P)">(P)bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
²⁹"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
³⁰Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who ^Q)">(Q)fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

Real Woman Makeover-Day 7

Nancy Leigh DeMoss says:

"We come to verse 26 today where we’re told that this virtuous woman opens her mouth. Now, this is the first verse that says anything about this woman talking. That should tell us something. This is not a woman who talks too much. She’s not known for her talking.

There are other qualities that she’s known for—her servant’s heart, her compassion, her tenderness, her diligence—but when people think of this woman, it’s not what she talks about that’s the first thing that comes to mind. 'She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.'

I love this verse. Well, maybe I shouldn’t say I love this verse. What I really mean is, I need this verse, and it’s a verse in Proverbs 31, probably more than any other, that I come back to over and over again. 'She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law [or the teaching] of kindness'—wisdom and kindness.

Pow! This verse hits me right in the gut! All the other attributes that Proverbs 31 talks about a virtuous wife possessing seem do-able but this one, to speak with wisdom and the law of kindness, seem impossible to me without God's constant help. You see I'm a talker, a big talker. There is a family joke that I "starting talking at 9 months old and haven't stopped since". I tend to just let it all fly out without much thought to what I'm going to say ahead of time. Occasionally this has been a benefit to me but 95% of the time it's a curse. So as I read verse 26 today I thought, how on earth am I going to speak wisdom and be kind when I do it to boot?

What's funny is for years I have thought that taming the tongue was harder for me than most people but it seems that it's a problem very common to humanity. We all need to watch what we say because words are so powerful. James 3:7-8 says " ⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, ⁸but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

I have been making an effort to speak kindly to my family in the past week. Once I was more conscious of it I will admit I think I was speaking unkindly more often than I realized. I have this "tone" that I use that emits all my irritation or anger. My husband calls it "snapping". "Why did you just snap at me?" He'll ask and when he does 1/2 the time I'm unaware that I just "snapped". My husband and my kids noticed my efforts to be kinder in my tone. It is a very good discipline to work on speaking kindly to our family!

Now I just have to work on speaking with wisdom. That is a very hard thing to "work on" really. It seems to come from maturity and experiences. However, I do think I have the wisdom already to work on being slow to speak. I need to use that wisdom to my advantage and think before I utter a word!

Here is the version of Proverbs 31:10-31 I read today, it's the King James Version:

¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

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

¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Real Woman Makeover - Day 6

Nancy Leigh DeMoss says:

"Verse 13 says, “She seeks wool and flax and willingly works with her hands.” We talked about how this woman works hard. She’s diligent. She’s industrious, and you’ll see that theme throughout the chapter. There isn’t anything lazy about her. And how she works at home—her work centers around her home, particularly in those years when she’s in the child-bearing and child-rearing years, but even beyond that as she makes a home for her family.

Then, I want to pick up on one other word in that verse. She willingly works with her hands. The New International says, “With eager hands she works.” It’s literally with delight of her hands, and this suggests—now, hold on here, because you may not believe this—that she actually enjoys her work. She does it with enjoyment. She puts her hands joyfully to work."

When I worked in the mental health field one of the most frustrating things was when a patient wouldn't take their meds consistently. When we would ask them why they went off their meds they would always say the same thing, "Well, I was feeling better so I figured I didn't need them anymore." I almost fell into this trap today with my "meds" or listening to the messages from Nancy Leigh DeMoss from Revive Our Hearts.

This past week Nancy has opened my eyes to the Lord's plan for me as a homemaker. For the first time I began to feel my load lightened and I didn't feel like a total failure. The light was dawning and I was starting to feel better when..........I decided today that I didn't need to listen to the message today. I can skip 1 day, I thought. Plus, I'm so busy today. I don't have time. But for some reason I reconsidered and decided to listen to Nancy. And of course, the end of this story is totally predictable, the message today was very important for me to here TODAY!

Nancy's message today from Proverbs 31 was about a woman's attitude toward her work. Like I said, I'm very busy today. I'm trying to clean my entire house because I have a super busy week ahead and I don't want things clean because things seem to go so much smoother with a clean house. Anyway, I am working hard today to clean up and I found that my attitude was stinking about it. And I was becoming short with my kids and husband when they "interrupted" my work. I took a break and listened to Nancy's message, "Working Joyfully", and I have a renewed spirit to finish what I set out to do this morning. Like Ms. P31 I am choosing to "work willingly with my hands" and joyfully!

Here is the version of Proverbs 31:10-31 I read today, it's from the Amplified Bible:

¹⁰A capable, intelligent, and ^a]">[a]virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.^A)">(A)

¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

¹²She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

¹³She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].

¹⁴She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country].

¹⁵She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.^B)">(B)

¹⁶She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]

¹⁷She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

¹⁸She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

¹⁹She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

²⁰She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

²¹She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.^C)">(C)

²²She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].^D)">(D)

²³Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.^E)">(E)

²⁴She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

²⁶She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

²⁷She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.^F)">(F)

²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],

²⁹^b]">[b]Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

³⁰Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!^G)">(G)

Real Woman Makeover-Day 5

As you may have read in my blogs this week I am learning so much from Nancy Leigh DeMoss about what the Bible has to say about being a godly woman, wife and mother I can hardly process it all! She has a set of "30 Day Challenges" on her website for her ministry, Revive Our Hearts. I'm currently taking the 30 Day True Woman Makeover and it is AWESOME! I get an email in my inbox everyday that leads me to a page on the Revive Our Hearts website where I can listen (or read) a message from Nancy on a section of Proverbs 31. She has some incredible insights and is definitely challenging me to see my role as a homemaker in a new way. I'm seeing being a SAHM in a way that seems much closer to God's thoughts on it than some of they ways I have thought about it in the past. I feel renewed, encouraged and more at peace. This week I have prioritized my tasks better and also felt much closer to God as I go about my day.

Here is one of the highlights from Nancy's message today that really spoke to me:

"I don’t like it when I hear people say to a woman, “Do you work?” Now, I know what they probably mean is, “Do you have a job that pays you a paycheck outside of your home?” But the fact is any woman who is a godly woman, a wife and a mother, works. And a godly woman works hard. Here is a woman who takes initiative to meet the practical needs of her husband and her children. She is a hard worker. She’s diligent.

That comes out throughout this passage. Verse 15 talks about her getting up while it’s still dark outside. Verse 18 talks to us about how she stays up late at night. She’s working in the evenings. Verse 27 says she does not eat the bread of idleness. She is a diligent woman. I saw recently a definition of diligence that I thought was helpful. Diligence is viewing each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to accomplish it."

I love that definition of diligence! One of the biggest changes I have experienced this week is due to Nancy's insights I have been seeing every task I do as for God instead of for me or for my family. Every job I do, from cleaning the bathroom to folding laundry to dishes is pleasing to God and for Him. When I take care of my family and my home I am pleasing my Lord. It's such a different way to look at it! I have found that seeing my daily chores as for God instead of for me has given me that extra "oomph" I needed to finish things that are especially hard for me to do (dishes, toilets!). This new focus of serving God with my homemaking my home is cleaner than it's been in a long time! It's not perfect, I'm currently looking at a carpet that desperately needs to be vacuumed but it's much better.

My husband doesn't know about this "30-Day Challenge" I'm taking but he actually said to me this week how much he appreciates the efforts I've been making to keep things more organized and clean. I also cooked every meal at home this week and he said he greatly appreciates that! One of the ways I need to take care of my husband is with his stomach. Take out food makes him very sick if we eat it too often. He can handle restaurant food maybe 3 times a month and we've been doing it more like 6-7 times and he has not been feeling well. I confessed to God that I have been putting my needs first in the area of cooking and will make a renewed effort to cut the eating out way down so my poor husband won't get sick. It's hard to admit how selfish I've been in this area but that's how I improve by seeing my failures and making changes with God's help! Yea God!

Here is the version of Proverbs 31:10-31 I read today, it's from the New King James:

¹⁰ Who^a]">[a] can find a virtuous^b]">[b] wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
²² She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Real Woman Makeover-Day 4

Today Nancy Leigh DeMoss says:

"It doesn’t say she does him good and not evil as long as he does her good—as long as he’s kind to her, as long as he remembers her birthdays and anniversaries, as long as he meets her needs. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. Why? Because she’s a covenant-keeping woman."

One of the biggest things that I have been learning while listening to this series at Revive Our Hearts is that doing what's right in in my relationship with my husband and kids or in my job as a homemaker is to honor God and obey Him. My doing what's right is not conditional on what my husband or kids do or more importantly how I feel. What's right is right and deep down I know when I'm "off-track" and being lazy or doing things only to make myself feel good. I have become very good at ignoring that feeling in my stomach I get when I choose to do what I want to do instead of what needs to be done to keep this family up and running as efficiently as I can.

I have a bucket of excuses I pull out in order to quiet that voice that tells me I should be doing something else during my day. Here are some of my favorites, "I'm too tired. I'm still recovering from having Baby Girl (she's 2 1/2!). I need more 'me' time. Taking care of me takes care of my family because I'll be more energized to care for them." And the MOTHER of all excuses......"I have PMS." I have to see these for what they are, EXCUSES but not good ones. There are women out there who could say, "Well, I'm going to let the laundry go for another day because I had my chemo treatment yesterday." And they DON'T! How can I, a healthy, happy woman have any excuses for not doing what's right in my home????? No more excuses they are a damaging force in my life and in my home.

Then is the voice of discouragement I hear that sometimes holds me back, "I will never be able to get on top of all this stuff. I'm so far behind what's the point? Nobody is here to help me. I'm all alone. I'm a terrible homemaker. It doesn't really matter what I do. My work is not important." Any one of these discouragements can flatten me for an entire day or longer. These thoughts can't be from our loving Heavenly Father who wants what's best for me so where are they from? Yep, the enemy, my own flesh and/or the world and therefore empty and useless.

Since these thoughts and excuses are valueless in my life and I have made a decision to put these excuses and discouragements into a mental box and give them to the Lord. They keep me in the same place instead of moving me forward to be the wife and mother I want to be. The wife and mother my God can give me strength and ability to be. It's all about Him, I have to hit my knees daily to banish these thoughts and some of the bad habits I've gotten into. It won't happen all at once, little changes everyday will help me build up better habits. And I can't do this in my own strength. I will lean on God for the energy and the leading to transform me into a P31 woman. Not perfect but on the right path to being a blessing to my family and a covenant keeping woman. Amen.

Here is the New American Standard version of Proverbs 31:10-31 I read today:

¹⁰An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
¹²She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
¹⁴She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
¹⁸She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
²⁰She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
²²She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
²⁶She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
²⁹"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
³⁰Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates

Real Woman Makeover-Day 3

Dr. Nancy De Moss from Revive Our Hearts says this:

"Matthew Henry, that commentator, said that this (Proverbs 31:10-31) is a looking-glass for ladies that we should desire to look into and to dress ourselves by it. We’ve been reminding each other that, even though this lengthy, detailed description can seem overwhelming and intimidating to those of us who still have feet of clay and are not yet glorified, yet we ought to be encouraged because we know that as women of God, if we’re allowing God to work in our lives, He is sanctifying us.

He is molding us. He’s shaping us. He’s pruning us. He’s making us into this kind of woman who reflects the beauty and the image of the Lord Jesus, for indeed it really is His portrait that we’re looking at here. We’re seeing His heart, His character, His beauty in this picture. "

I will admit that I have been overwhelmed many times by the description of Ms. P31. I've found myself jealous of her and her talents. I've also found myself envious of one possession she has, maidservants (verse 15). I have often thought, Well of course she can do all that she has built in CHILDCARE! And a cook! And a maid! She also probably had lots of extended family and neighbors to help when she had the flu or needed to do her holiday shopping (for the Passover Feast or whatever!). Ms. P31 probably had lots of good friends to sit and pour out her heart as they did their laundry together. I imagine she had women who would hug her when she cried and tell her the truth when she needed to be held accountable. I will admit I have often idealized her life imagining it full to the brim with community. A community of women who were there to help each other no matter what the need. And I have often thought it was not only her relationship with God but the women around her who made her strong. I will admit often I have thought that I can never be Ms. P31 without a community of women to help me.

However, the thought I have this morning is that although living in a tight knit community of women would be ideal in some respects and a gift from God, God is not limited in fashioning my character if I don't have a gaggle of gal pals. Many women, godly P31 women, have been severely isolated from others. I think of the way Laura Ingells Wilder describes her mother in "Little House in the Big Woods". Now there is a P31 woman! She worked hard, was gentle with her family, her husband had everything he needed to be successful and she had a seemingly strong relationship with God. And Mother Ingells was completely isolated in that book! For help and company she had her husband, her very young daughters 24/7/almost 365 and that was it! I think once in the book they go to visit relatives for a couple of days but that was extremely rare. She didn't even have a telephone much less email to reach out an receive at least encouragement from her female friends and relatives. One part of the book always haunts my mind is when the entire family gets deathly ill after eating some watermelon grown with bad water. There's a scene Laura describes where she is barely crawling across the floor, burning with fever, trying to get everyone in the family a drink of water. Mother Ingells couldn't even get out of bed to get a drink of water for her quickly dehydrating family! I believe it was doctor who is going from house to house checking for people who had become sick from the watermelon that saved them. Otherwise the family would have died! Even without a daily community of women around her Mother Ingells was an excellent wife.

Another isolated P31 woman I can think of is Anne Grahm Lotz, Billy and Ruth Grahm's daughter. I heard her speak a few years ago at a conference and she talked about a time when she was a young wife and her husband lived in some very cold, isolated European country (Iceland I think?). I believe her husband was in the military and he would be gone for months at a time leaving her alone with 2 small boys in a tiny apartment. She didn't speak the language and had no woman friends or family close by for years. Yes, YEARS! But at that conference she talked about how close she drew to God in those times and how He drew close to her. I can't say for sure but I imagine she was walking the P31 path during those lonely, isolated years.

This morning as I listened to Dr. De Moss and pondered the things she said I realized that I needed to let go of the idea that having a community of women is necessary for me to walk the P31 path. It would be a fantastic blessing to become a part of a community of women with whom I could share the burden of homemaking. However, God is not limited and can enable me to be an excellent woman today with or without that community. And I am forever grateful for the dear friends and family I have miles away but I can still communicate with in a flash by email, phone or even FB! I do have a community of wonderful, godly women who encourage me and I will not take them for granted! Love you sisters!!!!!!!

In light of these realizations, I confessed my failures and excuses to God this morning and am making a new start. I will stumble many times in my efforts to walk along the P31 path but I trust God to empower and enable me every step of the way!

Here is the version of Proverbs 31:10-31 I read this morning (NIV):

¹⁰ ^c]">[c] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

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

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Amen.

Real Woman Makeover-Day 2

The past couple of days I have been listening online to Dr. Nancy Lee De Moss at Revive Our Hearts.com and have been greatly encouraged! In the past I have read Proverbs 31:10-31 over and over but until I heard some of the insights Dr. De Moss shares in her program about that passage it's as though I have been blind to it!

The main thing she said today that changed how I saw that entire passage in Proverbs was this: No human woman can become the Proverbs 31 woman on her own. Only through Christ and His strength can we aspire to be like Ms. P31......whoa. How profound! Total light bulb Moment! I have been striving for years to be like Ms. P31 on my own and failing miserably! So, I prayed this morning and asked for God's forgiveness in trying to succeed on my own. Starting today I have a totally new outlook and will begin to see Christ's strength to be like Ms. P31 and bless my husband, my children and my community!

The other thing that Dr. De Moss has said several times is that it's not what Ms. P31 does that women are to emulate but her heart, a heart that fears the Lord. A heart that is reverent to Him. I've been reading a different version of Proverbs 31:10-31 everyday. Here is the interpretation of that passage from "The Message".

^10-31 A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises! , a heart that has reverence for God.

May God be glorified in me and you today!

My Favorite Hymn

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

1. Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
 tune my heart to sing thy grace;
 streams of mercy, never ceasing,
 call for songs of loudest praise.
 Teach me some melodious sonnet,
 sung by flaming tongues above.
 Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
 mount of thy redeeming love.

2. Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
 hither by thy help I'm come;
 and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
 safely to arrive at home.
 Jesus sought me when a stranger,
 wandering from the fold of God;
 he, to rescue me from danger,
 interposed his precious blood.

3. O to grace how great a debtor
 daily I'm constrained to be!
 Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
 bind my wandering heart to thee.
 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
 prone to leave the God I love;
 here's my heart, O take and seal it,
 seal it for thy courts above.

True Woman Makeover, Day 1: Revive Our Hearts

God Bless you today!

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