A Proverbs 31 woman? What does that look like and how do we begin? Daniah and I talk about how Proverbs 31 isn't all that intimidating. Really! https://www.facebook.com/tlvbiblesociety/videos/2587151514644198/
Posts
Are you trustworthy with someone's heart? Proverbs 31:11--All kidding aside, women have a lot more power than they realize. As with any superhero and superpower, we can use it for good or evil or just for our own purposes. This passage hints at the impact we can have on our husband's wellbeing and success. It also speaks of a sweet intimacy and friendship that can bless our socks off. After over 40 years of marriage, I've learned that more than anything my husband wants for me to be happy. He loves when I affirm or compliment him--and he's the least vain person of anyone I know. It took me a long time to realize this, unfortunately. The first years of our marriage--if I am truly honest, the first 10-15 years of our marriage--my husband didn't trust me. It had nothing to do with fidelity, it had to do with his heart. He was never certain that other than the LORD, there was no one I loved more than him. Or respected more. Or wanted to spend more tim...
What two things would you pray for? Proverbs 30:7-9--This is a fascinating couple of verses. Essentially, we can pray for a simple, honest life. A life without falsehoods and lies. Living a lie or with lies. A life without excesses. Too much poverty or riches. Making a choice to live with integrity and honesty seems like a logical option for us as followers of Yeshua, but choosing to not be wealthy? Why? If we have what we need, because we work hard for it, perhaps it leaves us more in the place of gratitude. But, if we don't have to work hard and get what we want, perhaps we leave the place of gratitude and enter the outer world of entitlement. I suppose that works for lack as well. We leave gratitude and enter "why can't I have it?" Maybe that's the whole point, gratitude. Each of us has a threshold of wants and desires that can push us out of being thankful for the blessings God gives us each day. When we feel that push, maybe...
How do we temper our temper? Proverbs 29:11--Our temper has to do with our state of mind. We can get angry, but if we let that anger affect our state of mind, it's extremely difficult to control our behavior. Unless, we learn how. There's a secondary definition of temper. As a noun, tempered metal produces varying degrees hardness or elasticity. Even chocolate can be tempered to be used in a more stable, artful way on sweet treats. I like that image. The tempering process involves heat, as you can imagine, but even more important is the cooling process--from metal to chocolate how the product is cooled determines its strength and usefulness. Here's where we can see how tempering our state of mind is critical to controlling our anger. "Cooling" our state of mind to keep us from venting our anger can be done in many ways. I find these three steps helpful: Count to 10--my grandmother used to tell us to count to 10 before responding. The ...
Are you working your "land?" Proverbs 28:19--For those of us who aren't farmers or gardeners, what can "working the land" mean to us? Simply, it means we do the work we're responsible for--what we're given to do. And in that process, make the best use of our resources to accomplish it. When we put on the apron, we smile and take the food order with gratitude--even during the lunch hour. We put on the coveralls and pay attention when the customer tries to describe the odd noise his vehicle is making. It's looking in the fridge and pantry at dinner time and making the best with what's there rather than running for take-out. Sounds a lot like stewardship. How? If we believe the LORD has given us the "land"--whatever that may represent--then "working" it well is our honor as well as responsibility. To spend our emotions and time trying to run after something He didn't give us is not only foolish, ...
How are your flocks doing? Proverbs 27:23-24--From my daily readings and meditations on the book of Proverbs I've come to appreciate several "old-fashioned" words. One of those is prudence. Today's verses are probably one of the most beautiful illustrations of a prudent person. First, a reminder of the definition of a prudent person. A prudent person has the ability to: govern and discipline themselves by the use of reason be shrewd in the management of their affairs employ skill and good judgment in the use of resources. Verses 23-24 speak of the wisdom and prudence of holding wealth lightly. Wisdom cautions against the sense of entitlement, even with royalty. If we are observant with our money, property, and job, we can spot potential problems in the future and make plans to manage the situation as best as possible. This is not about fear, this is about wisdom. When we pay attention to our "flocks" and the tren...
Do you keep or share secrets? Proverbs 26:22--Oh my. This is a powerful lesson. First, let's take a refresher of the definition of gossip: a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others. This person also has no compunction to pass on unsubstantiated information--otherwise known as rumors. It's probably safe to say that a gossiper gives away private, personal information that doesn't belong to them. What do we call the person who accepts--or listens to--this information? As I think about it, the gossiper is like a thief. They may have been given custody of this information, but it was never theirs to use. So the person receiving this information is receiving stolen "property." We don't always know when we might be purchasing something stolen--especially on the internet. A savvy person would check to be sure the person selling is the rightful owner. However, it's different with gossip. We know the...
Do you know your true value? Proverbs 25:4--I love this passage. Forgive me for waxing poetic, but to me, it's a reminder of who I was, who I am, and who I will be. As miners search for the precious metals like silver, God pulled me from the ordinary. He saw who I could be, even in my very rough state. Once I stand before Him, I'm filled with impurities. Before He even begins the purification or refinement, He covers me. He covers me with the purest of the pure--His Son's righteousness. And that is how He will always see me. In the meantime, He begins purifying me by "fire." It's not always comfortable. Yeah, I don't know that it is ever comfortable, but there's no denying the difference. As I'm purified, He sends me to the refiner who molds and shapes me into what He always saw me to be. My purpose--written before time--is shaped by experience, design, and joy. Each of us were created for such a time as this. Each of us ...
Are your answers honest or truthful? Proverbs 24:26--This seems like an odd proverb. There are some cultural contexts that I'm sure play a role in the significance of a kiss on the lips. Not all kisses on the lips are romantic. As I thought about why one would respond with a kiss on the lips that is not of the romantic nature, I figured whether romantic or not it is emotion driven. Can we get emotional about honesty? Oh yes! Especially when all around us are lies, half-truths (which still are lies in my book--er, His Book), silence, and deflections. How utterly refreshing is someone who is completely, unashamedly honest. Children can be honest--especially the reactive ones. Don't you sometimes crave honesty? Have you ever had a conversation where someone is dancing around telling you the truth because they don't want to hurt your feelings? Sometimes we don't really want to know the truth--but if we truly do, that shuffle around our feelings can be...
Are you ready to apply? Proverbs 23:12--What does it mean to apply ourselves? We have a task before us and we work hard to accomplish it? It's actually more than that. To apply ourselves is to work until we master something. That can mean a theoretical approach, but I feel like it really means a more practical approach. The old "getting our hands dirty" method. Discipline as it pertains to children is generally about following rules and an ethical code of behaviors. If the rules aren't followed, then some type of punishment is issued. The idea being we train little ones to be able to function as law-abiding citizens able to control their conduct. As adults, we think of being disciplined as being consistent, organized, perseverant. Someone who sees something through to completion. Someone who does what they say they're going to do. The fruit of discipline is dependability. We grown-ups need to apply ourselves to discipline as much as children...
What kind of eye do you have? Proverbs 22:9--Long after my encounter with a sparrow that inspired my book Making Eye Contact with God , passages pertaining to the eye still resonate with me. In this verse, it is the bountiful eye. In the Bible when an attribute is connected to the eye, there's a physicality associated with the adjective--an action. In this case, bountiful is tied to generosity, but it's an active generosity. A person with a bountiful eye not only sees the need, but actively seeks with discernment those in need. Those that others might overlook because they don't meet the definition we have of one in need. One with a bountiful eye views bounty differently than others--they may not have as much as others, but they live richly in God's favor. When we have a bountiful eye, it may draw us to someone we just "feel" we should invite over for a lunch after services. Or, we pack a box of non-perishables in the back of our ...
Making plans? Be sure to invite diligence. Proverbs 21:5--Several days this week we've spoken about plans and projects and creativity. How the importance of prudence, dedication, and perseverance are to the success of these things. Today's Proverb adds another ingredient: diligence. To be diligent is to apply a steady, earnest effort to a project or work. Diligence has more emotion than prudence. Diligence takes prudence and teaches it to dance. One definition associates the diligent as being enthusiastically meticulo us to detail especially as it pertains to the law. I like that. Diligence will seek after GOD. Their understanding of what it means to serve the Master's Plan is acute. They see the spirit of the law as well as the letter of the law. Diligence is the smile in the details because it knows that rushing through will have negative results. It smiles because it sees the future success. I like diligence. Let's invite it to our p...
How is your "kingdom?" Terri Gillespie, Author July 20, 2018 at 5:00 AM · Proverbs 20:28--Last time I checked, there are no kings or queens in North America. So, does this Proverb not apply to us? Surprisingly, it does. A leader of people can be parents, a CEO, teacher, manager, a mayor, president, small business owner. Anyone who oversees people, who are responsible for their well being and livelihood, are like kings or queens. Before we let that go to our heads, GOD is pretty clear about what type of leader we are to be. We are obligated to operate with integrity, truth, and--ready for this?--lovingkindness. Lovingkindness does not mean we are pushovers. It means we manage, parent, and oversee in a way that is in line with Biblical principles. This verse says that not only should the king/leader hold these values, but that the office of the king/leader should as well. That means there should be systems in place that ensure the leg...