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Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

April 28, 2017

A Proverbs 31 Bible Study {Week 4}

She considers a field and buys it; 
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 
She sets about her work vigorously; 
her arms are strong for her tasks. 
She sees that her trading is profitable, 
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 
Proverbs 31:16-19

This week we see a wife who is a capable, intelligent woman. She has a good savvy business mind; which is very needed when raising a family, especially on one income in these economic times.

The first thing we see is the Proverbs 31 woman considers a field, she doesn’t just quickly buy it.  This doesn’t mean every woman needs to go into real estate and horticulture — the principle here is that this woman uses her mind.  She is smart, patient and wise with her finances and doesn’t just purchase things on a whim.  She considers it, prays about it and talks to her husband about it.  She seeks her husband’s council and approval before making any purchases.  She would never make a purchase without consulting her husband first.  She spends her money wisely and unselfishly.  And I would say she’s a saver, since she obviously had the money saved up to purchase the field.

She doesn’t just buy the field, she plants a vineyard in it.  She is obviously a hard worker.  When she has a special project like this, she gets at it and get it done.  She doesn’t get to the middle of the project and decide it was too hard and give up.  She works hard, eagerly and vigorously.

The Proverbs 31 Woman was a BEAST y’all!  She took pride not only in her spirit and mind but also her body.  She treated her body as if it were a temple.  WHY?  Not to be beautiful in the worlds eyes, but to be fit and ready for anything GOD called her to do!

We need to have diligence and a heart that’s willing to work.  Our home is the place where our children’s hearts are molded and where they grow spiritually, emotionally and intellectually.  Our home is where our husbands come after a hard day of work to find comfort and to relax.  A home with a hardworking woman is a complete blessing to her family.

Remember last week we studied a bit on Verse 15 {She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants} and how it ties to Verse 18.  A lamp is always kept burning at night in Eastern houses.  Since the houses are very small, the careful housewife has to rise at midnight to replenish the oil.  While she is up, she often then begins her household work by grinding the corn or preparing something for next day’s meals.

I was curious about Verse 19, so I really studied it and researched the meaning.  This verse tells us that she performed the work of spinning her flax into thread.  The distaff definition is a staff for holding the flax or wool in spinning.  The spindle definition is a slender round rod or stick with tapered ends by which thread or yarn is twisted in spinning by hand and on which it is wound.
We also see a reference to spinning in Exodus 35:25 And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.

She was such an industrious lady!  My goodness, even spinning her own thread to make her own fabric to make her family clothes.  Wow!  As I’ve said before, I’m not friends with sewing at all.  But there are lots of other ways we can apply this to our own lives and do with eager hands to provide for my family.  I enjoy loom knitting and can whip up a mean scarf in a few days.  There are so many different things we can do with our hands…sewing, knitting or crocheting to name a few.

These verses show a woman who endures, who keeps going, who is strong for all that she must do and be.  This week, be willing to get your hands dirty, work hard and show an amazing work ethic.  And as we discussed last week, do it without complaining.  Remember, your most important work will be done inside the walls of your home!

Filed in: bible study, proverbs 31 • by Amy • Leave a Comment

April 21, 2017

A Proverbs 31 Bible Study {Week 3}

Welcome back to week 3 of our Proverbs 31 study. I hope y’all are enjoying it as much as I am! This week we’re going to look at Proverbs 31: 13-15.

She selects wool and flax 
and works with eager hands. 
She is like the merchant ships, 
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark; 
she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 
Proverbs 31:13-15

 

This week we see a picture of a woman who is clearly not afraid to work and is certainly not lazy. Lets dive in a little deeper and see how we can relate these

Verse 13

Not only is she a woman who works hard to bring her husband good – but she does her work with an outstanding attitude.  She willingly works with “eager hands.”  I’m going to be honest y’all, there are some chores I just don’t approach with eager hands.  Shoveling out the chicken coop being one of them.

Sometimes what we need is a change of perspective!  Each boring, mundane chore we complete for our family is a labor of love.  As you grocery shop, cook dinner, fold the laundry and clean the toilets – remember that these small tasks all added together equal a well nurtured home and family.  Without speaking one word your actions speak volumes of love to your husband and children.

I wanted to research the mention of wool and flax.  I know wool has been used for clothing since early times. I was thrown off by the mention of flax, I automatically thought of flax seed. But I’ve learned that flax was largely cultivated for the manufacture of linen. It would be dried, peeled, hackled and spun first and then would be ready to be made into linen. So, not only does she make their clothes, she actually makes the material as well.

There may be some of you who make clothes for your family, but this chickie right here isn’t one of them. Sewing and I are not friends. But there are lots of other things I can do with eager hands to provide for my family. I enjoy loom knitting and can whip up a scarf in a few days. There are so many different things we can do with our hands…sewing, knitting or crocheting to name a few.

Also, in our modern times we are blessed with inexpensive clothes. I might not be able to sew but I can shop a mean clearance rack, normally with coupons in tow.  Even further than that, doing the laundry and ensuring our family has clean clothes to wear.  I know laundry can seem like a never-ending task…washing it, drying it, folding it and putting it away.  Believe me, do I ever know that.  I have a teenage boy who changes his clothes a minimum of 3 times a day.  Yeah, I know, unreal right?  Laundry is a task we should approach with eager hands as well.  Y’all know whats written in the Bible there isn’t any arguing with, right?  So when God says to do our work joyfully and eagerly, and we actually do it without grumbling, that is what is honoring to God.  Think it’s impossible to do your laundry with joy?  Nothing is impossible with God.  When you sit down to fold it, pray and ask God to help you to have joy in your heart about it.

Verse 14

This woman is willing to go to great lengths to get good food for her family. The Proverbs 31 woman didn’t have a refrigerator, so she would have had to travel to the market daily.  Sometimes she would have to go a long way to get all of the things she needed for the day. I even read y’all that she might have had to travel the whole way to Egypt just to get corn for her family. Thank goodness for grocery stores, can I get an Amen? But she was willing to go as far as she needed to go to get food because of her love and care for her husband and children.

I think it’s important that as women, we learn how to cook good meals for our family.  With the access to the internet and Pinterest, there really isn’t any reason we wives shouldn’t be good cooks.  Casseroles are so easy and yummy.  We literally have thousands of recipes at our fingertips.  While turning to easy meals is convenient (think Hamburger Helper or fries and fish sticks) they aren’t the most nutritious.  With a little extra effort we can prepare a good, healthy, home-cooked meal for them to come home to.  I tell my family all the time that one of the ways I show my love for them is through my cooking.  Be willing to go the distance to get the meal done, cooking for a few hours if need be.  I like to cook homemade bread, rolls or cinnamon rolls once a week for my family as a treat.  Yes, it takes time…but seeing how much they enjoy it makes it totally worth it.  And if you have a bread machine, that makes the task even easier but equally as tasty!

Also, take the time to clip coupons and save your family as much money as you can.  There are so so so many coupon websites out there that you just print the coupons right off of {HERE, HERE and HERE}.  With a little searching you can find which local grocery stores accept printed coupons and they may even double or triple coupons!  Grocery shopping is another task we can approach with an eager heart.  Braving those busy stores can seem like a big chore at times, but remember you’re doing it for your sweet family.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Colossians 3:23

Verse 15

Why did she rise early?  To provide food for her family and to provide portions for her servant girls.

The word portions in this passage actually means work.  She rises early not only to feed her family but to also delegate the days work that needs to be done.  I would guess none of us have servant girls, unless you have a housekeeper.  In that case, lucky you!  I would say your dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and sweeper are our modern day servants.  And they sure do lighten our work load tremendously compared to Biblical times.

This verse really caught my eye.  I found some really interesting info about it.  A lamp is always kept burning at night in Eastern houses.  Since the houses are very small, the careful housewife has to rise at midnight to replenish the oil.  While she is up, she often then begins her household work by grinding the corn or preparing something for next day’s meals.  So this also directly ties to verse 18, She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

So it’s the middle of the night, the house is quiet, what would this be a perfect opportunity for her to do? What did Christ do early in the morning {Mark 1:35}? Pray! What a great lesson for us as well. You know how much easier it is to concentrate in a quiet household. That would be the perfect time to spend time with Him through prayer, being in His Word, giving thanks and praise. I actually write 90% of my blog posts early in the morning while everyone is still in bed.

So I encourage you this week to do your chores, even the ones you hate, to the glory of God. Maybe try getting up a little early one day to spend some time in prayer. Maybe go for a walk and pray at the same time. I call those “walk and talks”. What better place to talk to God than in the beauty He created!! Create a warm and loving atmosphere for your family to come home to with eager hands and a joyful heart.

This weeks study guide

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And this weeks free printable

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Filed in: bible study, proverbs 31 • by Amy • Leave a Comment

April 20, 2017

An Open Letter to my Son’s Girlfriend

Dear sweet, beautiful girl…

When I first heard that you were dating my son, I may have rolled my eyes.  It wasn’t anything against you, I promise.  I just wasn’t into the possible drama that would ensue.  I didn’t want my household dynamics to change.  I didn’t want to lose time with him to someone else.  Basically, I was selfish.  I had a hard time believing anyone would be good enough for my son.

And then I met you.

The first time I saw the two of you together I knew you were a sweetheart.  I could see the way you looked at my son, how you hung on his every word and how easily he made you laugh.  I knew, at that very moment, it was my time to step aside.

My job as his Mama was to welcome you into my family with open arms.  I pray I did that well.

Years ago, as I held that sweet little toe-headed boy in my arms and gently rocked him to sleep, I began praying for you.  As I watched my son grow, I prayed that God would create a woman to love him just for who God made him to be, and that He would bring you both together in His timing.  Oh, if you only knew how much you have been prayed for.  I prayed for your protection, your purity and your heart.  I prayed for a girl who would always love Jesus more than my son.  That’s exactly what we got.

Throughout the years, I couldn’t possibly imagine another woman coming first in his life.  He was my baby, my firstborn, my sweetheart, my bubby and will always be.  But I never want you to think that because he is my heart and soul that I will always agree with the things he does.  Know that if he hurts you or disrespects you, he will have me to answer to.  And believe me, no one wants that.  He has been shown by his Father and his Pap how to respectfully treat a woman and please have no doubt that he is being held to that same high standard.

As much as I try to be, I am not a perfect Mother.  I will mess up.  And sometimes those mess ups are real doozys.  But please understand that when I do, I am more devastated then you could ever imagine.  And if you ever feel like I have overstepped or hurt you in some way, I pray that you will sit me down and talk to me about it.  Our relationship is very important to me, and I hope you never doubt that.

There are a few things I want to share with you today…

1.  You are beautiful, don’t ever let anyone tell you different.  Not only were you blessed with physical beauty, but you have a heart like no other.  Always remember God gave us, as women, the gift of softness, femininity and beauty. It’s our responsibility to convey those with respect.  Allow your appearance to reflect your pure and virtuous heart. Know your worth and reflect it on the outside.

2. This boy of mine.  He is tenacious.  He is faithful.  He is generous.  He is a spitfire.  He is ridiculously stubborn.  But, when he is in, he’s all in.  You never have to doubt his commitment.  He loves deeply, with everything that is in him.  He is ten­derhearted, in that hard, rugged way.  But, I think you know all of that.  Be careful with him.  Your words have great power to build him up or to tear him down. Never forget the power you have.  Proverbs 14:1 teaches us that “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.” Yes, yes, and yes.  That is a hard concept to grasp.  I’m still trying to get it right after 24 years of marriage.  Choose the good.  Choose the joy.  Choose the love.  Choose tenderness and compassion.  You’ll be blessed so much more with those.

3. You are a daughter of the King and a complete gift.  Treat yourself with the respect that you deserve as a lady.  Don’t unwrap the beauty of who you are for anyone.  My son has been taught to do the same for you.  Please protect your heart, your mind and your body.  It will be worth it.

4. Remember to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and strength, and love your neighbors as yourself.  These truths, combined with the strength of your wonderful character, have the power to change the world.

5. God has amazingly big plans for your life!  Always follow His lead, even if that means taking the hard road.  I promise, He will take you amazing places.

It takes a special girl to fit into our crazy.  And somehow, you do it with ease.  You walked into our lives and it felt like you were always there.

And watching the absolutely adorable relationship you have with his sister makes my Mama heart melt.  You purposed to create a special bond with her.  You two are more like sisters, minus the fighting over clothes thing.  Thank you for loving my sweet girl, she thinks the world of you.

And thank you for loving me.  Thank you for the thoughtfulness you put into the words you say.  And the way that you say them.  Your kindness is the sweetest.  Your beautiful heart shines from your face.

Writing this, it might sound like I have it altogether.  Would it surprise you to know I’m crying?  Probably not, because that’s something we have in common.  We’re both criers.  And I know you have tears running down your face reading this.

It’s hard to have a boy so wonderful as mine and know you’ll have to give him up someday.  My Mama heart will be breaking all around the edges.  I’m being honest.  But I know as sure as I sit here, tears rolling down my cheeks, that there’s no girl in the world I’d rather release him to…than you.

This.  This is why.  I’ve never seen my baby so happy.  Ever.  I’ve never watched him protect and love someone like he loves you.  I’ve never watched someone make him a better man just by their presence.  And I’ve never been more sure of God’s plan for his life than when I see the two of you together.

I love you, pretty girl.  Thank you for sweetly loving my son.

Filed in: parenting • by Amy • 3 Comments

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Wife & Mama • Iced coffee seeker & curator of chaos • Collector of words & magic • Obsessed with laughter & bright lipstick • Dreaming & homesteading in the hills of PA

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