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.
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
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