a price above rubies .4

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. Proverbs 31:13

The main emphasis of this verse is the this lady works WILLINGLY with her hands. This thought encompasses many of the following verses and is the heart issue of them. Though we will look at her specific tasks, and other ladies will be lending some thoughts on those, the BIG issue is that she is willing to do what needs to be done during the different seasons of her family's life. 

Seeking wool and flax implies that she either gathers the raw materials to create fabric [very likely], or she acquired the fabrics needed to make clothing for her household. Linen comes from flax and was used for various undergarments, inner tunics, and lamp wicks. Flax seeds can also be ground and used in breads or can be eaten whole and are very nutritional [another topic]. Wool was used more for outer tunics and could be used as a blanket at night. 

In thinking of these uses of flax and wool [and there are more!] we can see different  responsibilities that this implies. 

As a wife and mother it is my responsibility to

a price above rubies .3

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12

Here we see the phrase all the days of her life. It is implied in verse 11 that this is a continual, diligent process: my husband's heart resting safely in me [I am overwhelmed every time I think of that]. But here we truly see that the heart issue is the part that is my lifelong task. 

Oh, my heart. so full of wickedness that I am full of conviction as I type this.

This virtue of my husband's heart being able to trust in me IS doing my husband GOOD. And I must strive for this all the days of my life!

If I act or speak in any way that causes my husband's heart to loose trust-no matter the 'minuteness' of it

works for me .2

taming the hair bows

[inspired by]

a cork board with no home

  [medium sized screws] 

[and extra ribbon]

lightly spray painted white

  [craft glue]

a pack of magnets
[from the craft store or walmart]

works for me .1

How do you store your lids?

This is my 'everything' cupboard. It includes all plastic storage containers, baking dishes, plastic picnic plates, salad spinner, casserole dishes, hand mixer, and standing on the side are my cupcake pans and cookie sheets [hiding]. 

containers are stacked by shape
circle, square, rectangle

And then came the day when my lid drawer became a sippy cup/snack bowl drawer [when we had child # 3 on the way]. I tried to put all my lids in one container to sit in the cupboard-did not work. I may have tried some other ideas but really have no recollection of what they were-just that they didn't work either. 

the shelf is only half the cupboard
(normal, I think)

Enter: 

$Tree 'garment bags'

I had bought a couple packs since they were 2/$1,

a price above rubies .2

*[But we are at war FOR him!
to keep him.]*

...so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Proverbs 31:11b

The term spoil carries a negative connotation. There are many ways to describe it, but I love concise definitions. Spoil: an excessive gain at the expense of another [most commonly used in reference to war].  *[Are we at war with our husband? I certainly hope not!]*

If his heart is safely trusting in me then he can be content with the life we have

:7-10

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? 

or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 

If I ascend up into heaven,

 thou art there:

if I make my bed in hell, 

behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning,
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;  

even there shall thy hand lead me, 

and thy right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139

a price above rubies .1

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her...  Proverbs 31:11a. 

Safely trust means to be secure or have confidence in.

While I have heard and read and agree that this entire passage [verses 10-31] is a collection of the Virtuous Woman's entire life's work, this one thought is the crux of her virtue and can only be achieved through daily dilegence. 

All the days of her married life, 

her husband's heart is safe in her hands. 

~~

There is so much that could be said here. Indeed, I have read several books on this subject. 

But I will suffice it to say that if I, as a wife, 

:1-6

O LORD, 

thou hast searched me, 

and known me.

  Thou knowest my down sitting 

and mine uprising, 

thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path 
and my lying down, 

and art acquainted

with all my ways. 

For there is not a word in my tongue,
 but, lo, 

O LORD, 

thou knowest it altogether. 

 Thou hast beset me behind and before, 

and laid thine hand upon me.

 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; 

it is high, 

I cannot attain unto it.

Psalm 139

pen & paper

Do you have a friend who could use an encouraging note? Did someone do something nice for you. or your child? 

Why not make a note custom-chic with a unique envelope.

And your children can help!

take an old calendar

open an envelope you have and trace it

with really cool pictures

or  you can find a printable template HERE

and cut a template

score the dotted/folded lines

fold in the sides & add glue

fold up the bottom to stick to the sides 

allow it to dry for a few minutes

[depending on the glue type used]

add a letter

[handwritten are the best!]

fold over top and glue or sticker it closed

front view of unfolded template

this kind of envelope can dress up 

even a piece of notebook paper 'card'

and it's ready for a stamp

let's hit those mailboxes with some REAL mail!!

and teach our children how to write a letter 

{more later}

linking up at
Raising Homemakers
Our Simple Country Life

forgiven

I am forgiven. Salvation is deliverance from the eternal consequences of sin and is accomplished through forgiveness by Christ' blood.

Forgiveness is a continual thing. God no longer sees me and the blackness of my heart (and it is black). He sees the Work of Christ. Jesus is my substitute. Not only did He take my sin upon His very being on the cross, He gave His righteousness, His innocence to me.

 

God sees His perfection when I come to His throne and cast my cares. This is forgiveness. This is why He even hears my prayers. 

Yes, I can hinder my own conversation with God through unconfessed sin, even after salvation {this happens only once and is complete, there is no need to ask again}. But I must repent of sin daily and specifically in order to maintain that fellowship in which He sees only Jesus' cleanliness of heart. 

for today: Am I living in my forgiveness? Have I remembered that the righteous blanket of His Blood is covering my soul right now? Does it show?

...in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace... Ephesians 1:7

sharing others {2}

A great post I read this morning: 

How to {help} Raise Grateful Kids

Perspective can always adopt gratitude 

~ ~ ~ 

and gratitude always parents joy.

examples

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea...But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. I Corinthians 10:1-6 [portions]

We probably all know the story of the nation of Israel leaving Egypt and their subsequent wilderness wanderings. Paul tells us that we can learn from their decisions make centuries ago. They were our examples. They {the Israelites} were baptized, and ate spiritual meat, and drank of the Rock which was Christ {verses2-4}, but yet they went astray and lusted after evil things-which are described in the verses following. And again in verse 11 we are told that they are an example of what not to do.

A thought that struck me was this: do I see people who claim to be saved being led astray and mock them and their "christianity" or do I see them as an example to me to learn how NOT to lust after evil things as they also lusted? 

[a side note: we should always be in prayer for those we see going astray and confront them Biblically when necessary, love them always, but we should never condemn them on impulse.]

Then another thought came to me that was even more convicting: What am I an example of to others? Do I show others what the rewards are of living a life consecrated to God? Or am I an example that others should heed of the consequences of lusting after evil things? 

the evil things listed 

in verses 7-10 include: 

idolatry {what is getting in my way of serving God with my whole being}

tempting Christ {do I test His goodness through taunting}

murmurings {do I complain or whine when a situation seems impossible or even is just a little different than I desire}

For today: Let my actions for today be as such that those around me {namely, my children} will see the rewards of a life lived for God and also that the one I was made to help {my man} can benefit from those rewards!

living of the gospel

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. I Corinthians 9:14

We ALL know {and I'm talking to believing ladies here} that we are to preach the gospel and teach all nations and be witnesses, but do we live of the gospel? 

If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior then our job is to preach/teach the gospel to others. To be a witness of what we know to be true-Jesus can save and change a person. BUT, do we live of the gospel? Of meaning "route, progression, procedure, program or curriculum."  Is the gospel our ROUTE? Is it our PROCEDURE in life? Have we made the study of it our PROGRAM or CURRICULUM? 

On those days when I am 'stuck' at home and do not come in contact with anyone besides my own children, who have  heard the gospel many times already, I tend to feel as though there is no part of witnessing I can do. But on the contrary, there is much I can do. I SHOULD do, but often {always} fall short of doing.

I need to LIVE OF THE GOSPEL: 

It should be the route {path to a specific destination} and procedure {set of steps taken} I take in my chores {have you ever asked God what needs to be done first? me either}. 

It should be THE study of my life: be on my lips continually as I instruct the precious souls in my care each day.

For today: I am asking the Lord to guide my thoughts to remember His love for me when dealing with my children.

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