Proverb 31 Woman

Single Friends, wives, mom's and especially myself included: We sooo often jump to judge our men and set the standards super high with our personal and spiritual lists what they have to have and what they shouldn't have. We so easily at the same time forget that those God fearing men that we want so bad are most likely doing the same thing for the woman around them. I am not saying that we should lower our standards by no means, but we need to take a look at our own hearts and lives and work towards modeling our lives after the woman that Christ wants us to be from pictures in Scripture. Sister be soo lost in Christ that your man has to seek Christ that much more to find you and win your heart. Keep your standards high but discipline yourself to strive to meet those same godly characteristics! 

The Virtuous Woman

Posted: 31 Mar 2012 06:00 AM PDT

Proverbs 31 has been, and always will be, the supreme poetic tribute to the godly woman. Consider the following acrostic a simple tool to remember eight of her enduring qualities.

VALUABLE - For her worth is far above jewels (v. 10).

INDUSTRIOUS - She looks for wool and flax, and works with her hands in delight.  She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is still night, and gives food to her household, and portions to her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong. She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night (vv. 13-18). She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.  She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple (vv. 21, 22). She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen (v. 24). She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness (v. 27).

RESPECTABLE - Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all” (vv. 28-29).  Give her the product of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates (v.31). Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land (v. 23).

TRUSTWORTHY AND TACTFUL - The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good and not evil all the days of her life (vv. 11-12).   She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue (v.26).

UNSELFISH - She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.  She extends her hand to the poor; and she stretches out her hands to the needy (vv. 19-20).

ORGANIZED – Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future (v. 25).

UNUSUAL – An excellent wife, who can find? (v. 10).

SPIRITUALLY-MINDED - Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised (v. 30).

This is her secret: She is godly, loving, and kind to all because she first and foremost fears the Lord. Her love for God governs everything she says and does and leads her to a life of self-sacrifice. May her tribe increase!

Grace Church Book List

This is a list of books that comes from John MacArthur's church that he considers are "Must Have" for any church leader. I have the majority of these books in my personal library and they are all great titles to own and pass on to others when the need permits! I thought I  would post the list so that everyone can get a hold of it! Also if you are looking for other great reads under the books tab on the home page of my blog I have lots more to look at! Grace and Peace 

1. The MarArthur Study Bible 
2. Fundamentals of the Faith.
3. All Things New (Peter Jeffery)
4. Living by the Book (Howard Hendricks)
5. Life in the Body of Christ (Curtis C. Thomas)
6. Trusting God (Jerry Bridges)
7. Knowing God (J.I. Packer)
8. The Gospel According to Jesus
9. How to Worship Jesus Christ (Joseph S. Carroll)
10. Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands (Paul David Tripp) 
11. Self-Confrontaion Manual (John C. Broger)
12. Counsel One Another (Paul Tautges)
13. When People Are Big and God Is Small (Edward T. Welch)
14. Christ and Your Problems (Jay E. Adams)
15. Encouragement Isnt Enough (Jay E. Adams)
16. Idols of the Heart (Elyse Fitzpatrick)
17. Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety (Elyse Fitzpatrick)

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

So Good to Me by William Matthews

This has been a really encouraging song that has been playing in my head lately!! The lyrics are soo truth and straight from God's Word!! :) There is nooo denying that the Lord has been SOOOO SOOO good to me, always has and always will!

Purpose In Our Suffering

This is an article that a close friend and mentor shared with me!1 It has been so true and powerful in my life during this time and has been a huge source of encouragement straight from God's Word! Thought I would share the goodness! :)

36 Purposes of God in Our Suffering
March 20, 2012 by Paul Tautges | 0 comments

Joni Eareckson Tada has given us many books on the subject of God’s tender care for His children in times of suffering. Joni strikes the chord of authenticity with us so well because suffering is the world she lives in 24/7, literally. My personal favorite is When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty, co-authored with Steve Estes, a pastor in Pennsylvania. The following list of God’s purposes in our suffering is from one of the appendices in that book.
Take some time to meditate on the wisdom of God as He works out His perfect will through our suffering. No wonder James, the brother of our Lord, commanded us to “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2)!

1. Suffering is used to increase our awareness of the sustaining power of God to whom we owe our sustenance (Ps 68:19).
2. God uses suffering to refine, perfect, strengthen, and keep us from falling (Ps 66:8-9; Heb 2:10).
3. Suffering allows the life of Christ to be manifested in our mortal flesh (2 Cor 4:7-11).
4. Suffering bankrupts us, making us dependent upon God (2 Cor 12:9).
5. Suffering teaches us humility (2 Cor 12:7).
6. Suffering imparts the mind of Christ (Phil 2:1-11).
7. Suffering teaches us that God is more concerned about character than comfort (Rom 5:3-4; Heb 12:10-11).
8. Suffering teaches us that the greatest good of the Christian life is not absence of pain, but Christlikeness (2 Cor 4:8-10; Rom 8:28-29).
9. Suffering can be a chastisement from God for sin and rebellion (Ps 107:17).
10. Obedience and self-control are from suffering (Heb 5:8; Ps 119:67; Rom 5:1-5; James 1:2-8; Phil 3:10).
11. Voluntary suffering is one way to demonstrate the love of God (2 Cor 8:1-2, 9).
12. Suffering is part of the struggle against sin (Heb 12:4-13).
13. Suffering is part of the struggle against evil men (Ps 27:12; 37:14-15).
14. Suffering is part of the struggle for the kingdom of God (2 Thess 1:5).
15. Suffering is part of the struggle for the gospel (2 Tim 2:8-9).
16. Suffering is part of the struggle against injustice (1 Pet 2:19).
17. Suffering is part of the struggle for the name of Christ (Acts 5:41; 1 Pet 4:14).
18. Suffering indicates how the righteous become sharers in Christ’s suffering (2 Cor 1:5; 1 Pet 4:12-13).
19. Endurance of suffering is given as a cause for reward (2 Cor 4:17; 2 Tim 2:12).
20. Suffering forces community and the administration of the gifts for the common good (Phil 4:12-15).
21. Suffering binds Christians together into a common or joint purpose (Rev 1:9).
22. Suffering produces discernment, knowledge, and teaches us God’s statutes (Ps 119:66-67, 71).
23. Through suffering God is able to obtain our broken and contrite spirit which He desires (Ps 51:16-17).
24. Suffering causes us to discipline our minds by making us focus our hope on the grace to be revealed at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:6, 13).
25. God uses suffering to humble us so He can exalt us at the proper time (1 Pet 5:6-7).
26. Suffering teaches us to number our days so we can present to God a heart of wisdom (Ps 90:7-12).
27. Suffering is sometimes necessary to win the lost (2 Tim 2:8-10; 4:5-6).
28. Suffering strengthens and allows us to comfort others who are weak (2 Cor 1:3-11).
29. Suffering is small compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ (Phil 3:8).
30. God desires truth in our innermost being and one way He does it is through suffering (Ps 51:6; 119:17).
31. The equity for suffering will be found in the next life (Ps 58:10-11).
32. Suffering is always coupled with a greater source of grace (2 Tim 1:7-8; 4:16-18).
33. Suffering teaches us to give thanks in times of sorrow (1 Thess 5:17; 2 Cor 1:11).
34. Suffering increases faith (Jer 29:11).
35. Suffering allows God to manifest His care (Ps 56:8).
36. Suffering stretches our hope (Job 13:14-15).

Out of His deep love for us God is more interested in making His children like Christ than He is in making us comfortable. The glory He receives from redeeming depraved sinners like us and remaking us into His image will be the song that fills the halls of heaven for all eternity (Rev 5:9-10). Since that will be the case in the future, let us pursue joy in the Lord here in the present.

The Least Of These!!

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40

   I was so humbled and reminded of the truths in this verse today. Soo much has been going on in my life both internal and external with different situations and hard circumstances that I have had to deal with. I was feeling really sad and lonely just sitting, thinking and working on some test questions for class this week. I got a text from my friend Amy asking if I wanted to go to the hospital with her to visit her Dad there. He just recently had a stroke about a week ago and is in the hospital recovering. As we got to the hospital and saw Amy and the love and care that spilt out from her whole body towards her earthly Father was soo sweet to witness. This verse began to play over and over in my mind as I saw the Heavenly Fathers love pour out of her as she served and cared for her Dad and Mom during this tough time! Once again I was able to be there to support her and encourage her and take my eyes off of myself and my situation that is not soo terrible in light of it all. Yet again I am blown away at how the Father cares for us and knows us so intimately so as to give us all we need in the moments we need it most. As the hymn says, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of creation!"

God's Guidance

Isnt it the craziest, yet at the same time most blessed and rewarding thing!? This relationship that we enter into with the Lord. This last month or so has been quite the storm to say the least, it has been filled with answered prayer, frustration, joyful , and depressing times. One of my good friends recommended a book to me a few weeks ago and I went ahead and ordered it. It just came in the mail last night, a night when my spirit was waring and fighting with my flesh (I am sure you know the feeling). That time when you know what the Lord has called you to but its easier to just ignore it and continue on, as if we can ignore God and think He will leave us alone! YA RIGHT!!! 

On the cover of Elisabeth Elliot's book "God's Guidance" there is a picture of a lighthouse. As I sat there just staring at the cover of this book I could not help but feel this calm and peace as I was reminded that no matter how strong the winds may blow, no matter how battered your sails may be, no matter how much fog is surrounding you as a Child of the King you have the promise that you will never be left or forsaken in ANY storm. Praise God that He is our everlasting lighthouse, whose light never dies , and who is faithful and gracious in leading us safely into His harbor of safety and rest. 

God in His Word does not give us advice, He reveals His very will! There is no option here whether to obey or follow if we feel like it. James 4:17 tells us that if we know the right thing to do and don't do it then it is sin. As we step out and make that decision everyday that we are going to follow Jesus there will be storms that come our way gaurunteed. But in these steps of faith we have to believe and remind ourself's  that the Father can be trusted that He is sovereign over all. 

Elliot say's this about faith: "It is faith that has strength to wait for the rewards God hold's, strength to to believe they are worth waiting for, that they are worth the price."

Father may you be all satisfying to us and may we everyday count the cost and decide yes to following you and trusting you with EVERYTHING!!! Amen.