Day 4 - She is Like The Merchant Ships!

Day 4 - Proverbs 31:14

"She is like the merchant ships; bringing food from afar."

Hi,

This published before I had a chance to write anything!  Then I wrote and was totally done and it didn't save.  So....I move on, maybe God wanted me to write something different. 

I found this Amazing site for learning all about the Proverbs 31 woman.  Click the link below to be redirected. 

http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/homefam/prov31.htm

I am still using "Discovering the Treasure's of a Godly Woman" which I love because it is like a workbook so you can refer back to changes you would like to make, reflect on what you are doing right and also gage your spiritual transformation as you go through the chapters, verse by verse.

Definitely worth purchasing this book Used on Amazon.

So, today I find this website and am totally convicted about something the author writes about because I need to change this about my shopping habits. 

First of all let me say that this week I did have a victory in this area.  I earned 100. dollars on my website and used it to further my blogging efforts and also purchased fabric to make presents and other items to sell. 

So this week I can tell my husband.  I earned 100. dollars with my home business honey, and used the money to increase my business and make gifts to save us money during Christmas!  I was feeling very proud of myself....but then I read this take on what the Proverbs 31 woman probable did.

"Today the wife usually says to her husband, "Dear, I need some money because I'm going to town to do our weekly grocery shopping." The virtuous woman said, "Dear, I'm going to town but I don't need any money because I'm taking some of the fine linen which I have made and will trade it in for some items of food which you will really enjoy." How can he complain about that? "  (middletownbiblechurch.org)

WOW - I am totally convicted.  FIRST of all.....she MADE the fine linen!!!   I went to JoAnn fabrics, walked to the sale items, and used a 40 percent off coupon. 

Although I am happy with my profit and purchases.  My goal is to be even better at frugality and resourcefulness in order to optimize our household budget.

In fact, my husband and I had an argument about finances again today.  He wants to manage the money.  I am having a hard time transferring this over to him. Tomorrow I will sit down with him, without my attitude....and happily make the transition.

Back to the Proverbs 31 woman....

So, not only would she travel to purchase her food and items for her household, but she traded items that she made or used her profit from the vineyard she purchased for food for her household. 

I can tell you that as a stay at home mom shopping the deals is easy. Running around to several different stores with my girl friends has been fun. 

However, when I was working 20, 30, 40 hours per week.....I just wanted to go home, I didn't care about shopping deals. 

***This is the trade off for staying home full-time.  I may not be working outside the home anymore.  BUT I am working inside the home....which is, I am finding, much harder than I thought! 

It is refining my character as a wife for sure by forcing me to allow Jeff to lead the household.  I have to give up control.  I need to be more accommodating and not fight with him on things he wants to make improvements on. 

I hope my comments have encouraged you to identify areas in your frugality and ability to manage the household finances like the Proverbs 31 woman. 

Also - I should clarify....as you can see, this study is not daily because it is taking me much longer to apply these principles to my life than just daily trying to squish them in...Spiritual Transformation takes time and thankfully we have a patient and loving God!!  AMEN!

2 Peter 3:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

I am so grateful for our loving and understand Father because I need a lot of molding!

Blessings,
Jenny

Day 3 - "She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands."

Proverbs 31:13 "She selects wool and flax and works

with eager hands"

Hi Ladies,

What a wonderful scripture to read on this day as it is the first meeting of the Coffee and Crochet Club.  One way to fulfill our goal of Proverbs 31 living is to appreciate the womanly art of sewing and working with our hands to create useful things for our family.
This scripture calls us to to be working with eager hands and also shopping for the raw materials so that we may be able to make the things we need for our home....if you read further in this proverb you see that this woman would make warm clothing for her family, provide clothing to the poor, sell what she made for a profit, she makes coverings for her bed, and I am sure that is not all she made...OH AND she made herself fine clothing as she was clothed in fine linen and purple.  Her family was also well dressed and warm as they were clothed in scarlet a fine, beautiful and warm fabric of the time. 

Sewing, crocheting, knitting, crafting, scraping, are all wonderful ways to fellowship with other woman and your daughters, to delight in the beauty of womanhood!

Also learning a discipline such as sewing, embroidery, knitting, crochet, or other skill that takes time and effort will not only create a feeling of satisfaction once the work is complete but also fine tune the spiritual disciplines of self control, patience, hard work.

Last week I selected the yarn, fabrics, and needles I would be using for this weeks projects.  I made sure to shop on the day of the sale and use the coupons I found in the mail and newspaper; saving me upwards of 30 dollars.  I will be able to make, 2 scarfs, 2 aprons, a Cloche hat, and several pot holders and hot mitts, all for about 60 dollars.  Not bad in my opinion for fine clothing, household items, and great Christmas gifts.

Below are several pictures I took of the making of the scarf and the many uses for the scarf once it is finished.

SO SOFT, Warm and Feminine!!!

Other scriptures tell us to also be busy at home. 

Titus 2:5

New International Version (©1984) "to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

I hope that you will delight in using your eager hands to making something wonderful for your friends and family, and of course, for yourself.

***This is one way that we can be frugal and save money on gifts, clothing, household needs such as; curtains,  pillows, hats, mittens, scarfs, bedding, place-mats, table clothes, hand bags, tote bags, aprons, dish towels, hand towels, napkins, and so much more. 

We can also make money doing these things thus helping us to work less outside the home and so fulfill the scripture that a woman is the keeper of the home.

Kisses and Hugs,
Jenny

Spiritual Transformation - 31 Days to Proverbs 31 Living

Hi Everyone,

Our current focus in church has been spiritual transformation.  This has come at a very good time for me personally since I have been through a major lifestyle transformation since I was hit by a car while riding my bike home from work on August 18th. 

The Good Lord saved me from serious head, neck, back or broken bone injuries however, I was left with several lacerations, bone contusions of the foot, ankle, knee, hip, elbow, and a shoulder injury as well.  Needless to say I was bed ridden for over 6 weeks. 

I was forced to go on disability and drop out of grad school and even though I attempted to go back to work, I was not able to handle the 30 hours per week at the desk due to the hip injury and the general fatigue that comes from healing from an accident like this.  It was a very confusing time for me and a very humbling experience.  I have a healthy fear of God now that I did not have before.  I was going 100 miles an hour in the wrong direction.  Neglecting my home, my husband, my church, my God most of all.  Maybe it took for me to be hit by a car to see that I was going in the wrong direction.  Well it got my attention and I intend to make some major changes.

First I had to Surrender.  In fact, during the time I was in bed was when I began writing this blog.  The scripture Proverbs 3:5-6 resonates with me daily....."trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

This is meaningful because at the time of the accident I was very happy and absolutely positive that I was doing everything God wanted me to do for Him.

It was not an easy road to Surrender.  However, my husband and I have learned a great deal about our spiritual selves.  Our weaknesses, our strengths, and we are growing.

I have chosen to examine Proverbs 31 daily in this study.  Why?  Several reasons.  I feel that God is telling me to slow down, to listen to his word about a woman's role, and to live His way....not the 21st century ideal of the working super mom.  Again, I must say that I have had to work outside the home and do not judge those who do.  I do encourage you, if you are committed to a Christian life, to simplifying your life to please God. To live as Jesus lived.  It may be necessary to totally revamp your life.  Quit your job, learn the womanly art of frugality.  Learn to do without.  This is not a Western ideal and will be difficult and take time .  However, according to scripture....it will bring us the most happiness....Below is a scripture that was discussed this morning and was very convicting to me and my husband about the Greed we have in our Westernized lifestyle.
Proverbs 28:25

The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper.
Proverbs 28:24-26 (in Context) Proverbs 28 (Whole Chapter)

 I shudder to think of the many many quarrels and horrible fights my husband and I have had over money!! This morning I was so convicted by the sermon. This is my pledge to daily do something different to live more simply, more graciously, more frugally, more Sacrificially! I can be so selfish.

Over the next 31 days, as I now stay home full time and will be adjusting our household budget to a new income you will be with me through the ups and downs, triumphs and tribulations of learning to sew, cook more frugally, do without, GIVE MORE, become more resourceful, perhaps start an at home business?  What ever it takes to make this work is what my heart is telling me to do.

The point of this study...."31 Days to Spiritual Transformation" was inspired by many Godly woman I follow daily who are listed in my Favorites.  I am so grateful for their direction, wisdom, and willingness to share their lives and have been inspired by them daily.  

Personally, I will be using Proverbs 31 as my guide daily, I will be posting the scriptures daily, verse by verse and with pray, meditation, repentance, and a humble heart....I will try to change into the woman that God wants me to be today.

I hope that you will read along and perhaps join me in the journey to developing the qualities of the Proverbs 31 woman. 

Blessings,
Jenny

A Proverbs 31 woman in training