Showing posts with label Proverbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Proverbs. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Caution Work in Progress

Ever read over Proverbs 31 and thought to yourself,  "wow God, there is no way I can even compare?"  I have thought that many times.  I am very far from this women!  Reading in my Bible tonight I realize what God is trying to tell me with these verses.  He is telling me what I can do with all that he has given me.  He is showing me where I should go, the path that I need to take.  He is showing me the many opportunities I have to use these gifts he has given me.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares  the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a purpose."  
These verses in Proverbs are not new to me but I am always asking God to show me my purpose.  Here is God showing me my purpose!  How much clearer can he get?  I know I will not get there quickly, or without bumps in the road, but it gives me something to work on, someone I want to become.

Proverbs 31: 10-31 
10A 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 night;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her female servants.
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 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I am linking up with Time-Warp Wife and Women Living Well, and Moms Mustard Seed.

Forever Changing,
Liz

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Got Money?

Sometimes I think that the hardest thing about being a teen mom was that we really had no time to save up money, to build that cushion, just in case!  It's not that we didn't work, we had jobs, it's just that well we were self-centered.  It was our money and we could spend it right?  Turns out that paying for "everything" as a teen is not quite the same thing as supporting yourself, your family.  We were immature, so when we didn't like a job we quit.  We always managed, but never managed to get ahead.  With a second child at 18, and then a third at 22, I think we kinda gave up along the way.  Now I always worry about money and my husband always says "It will work out, God will provide!"  I have to say though, we are not poor either.  Not to long ago we had a message at church.  Did you know; if you keep food in a refrigerator, clothes in a closet, sleep in a bed, and have a roof, you are richer than 75% of the world? That if you make more than $10,066 per year, you are in the richest 16% of the world?
So here is my verse for today, "Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil." -Proverbs 15:16
  God will turn on a light when you are in the dark, but you still have to watch where you are going!  So when God gives us something we will "watch" what we are doing with it and leave the rest to God. Maybe this is God's way of keeping me grounded, centered on him.  I don't need wealth with turmoil, I need GOD!

Forever Changing,
Liz

Monday, January 3, 2011

What will you give me?

I am not sure about anyone else but my children were so good this holiday season!  They were helping each other with loads of laundry, cleaning their rooms, and even taking turns.  One day while my girls were being extra nice, I dared to ask them why they had decided to be so nice to each other.  Their answer, simply put, was that they were all getting new toys and they wanted to play with them.  They know the meaning of Christmas and really like to give to others during this time of year, but with all three of their birthdays in December and Christmas they do get a few toys.  Of course my reply was that of most moms, "you should do just because you love each other!"
A few days later we had this verse in bible study;
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men"
 -Colossians 3:23 
We talked about when someone asks you to do something, you should do it as if it were God asking you to do it.  Wow, I think this is a great verse for anyone, especially ME! There are a lot of things as a wife, mother, and even as a christian that I would rather not do but have to and sometimes I complain.  Sometimes I even have a hard time doing the things that I know God is convicting me of!  However I know;
"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" -Proverbs 17:22 
Please Lord, help me to have a cheerful heart for you while I work!

Forever Changing,
Liz