Good Morning Sunshine ( An earth shattering challenge awaits you!)
"Her children rise up and called her blessed her husband also and he praises her"
I don't know about you, but my kids don't "rise up" easily each morning. One moans and groans her way all through the process of breakfast and getting ready and the other one is a screamer about being "cold" and "I don't wanna go" and struggles to get even a few bites of breakfast in before the next step of dressing for school. It's not like they have much to choose from in way of clothing...they wear uniforms. And then there is the nightmare of too many people using too few bathrooms. Fortunately, by 7:30 or so they are out the door and the house is again the quiet sanctuary it never has been before!!! Even my oldest was never the morning person school required her to be. She just was "uncommunicative" until about 10 am or so. Now, if allowed to wake on their own, they are lovely children and then I just have to unglue them from the television or a computer game.
As for my husband...He's SO NOT a morning person!! At least he's quiet about his disgust for the am routine and realizes that it's a must in order to accomplish his task list for the day, but I let him get himself ready and not ask of him to do much with the girls as this slows him down thereby making everyone a bit later than warranted.
The praising me part? Both my girls LOVE hugs and LOVE TO GIVE those hugs to all and any who will accept them.. they are a testament to me because, although they are crabby and grouchy in the morning, their teachers really enjoy them in their classrooms, many family and friends report back to me that they are the sweetest little things...(I only wish this behavior was more prominent in our household) and can't see how they could be soooooo much the opposite! Spending a day in my shoes to view my kids would SO open their eyes!!! They also brag to their friends about me and I've had many a compliment via a conversation with other moms about what my girls said about me to others. That's my biggest blessing! I have never heard from anyone negative reflections about me from my husband and he is always telling me how grateful he is that he married me and that I'm doing such a wonderful job with the kids. How he would be TOTALLY lost without me if he had to deal with the kids on his own....(he would, too) and that I cannot die first as he wouldn't know any of the phone numbers he would need cause I have them all memorized in my head. (I have a funny memory that way)
Today...try to say at least 4 nice things about and to your husband and children....let me know the outcome cause I think the change could be earth shattering!!!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Leading Citizens....(even if it's just your own family in building of their faith)
"Her husband is well known, one of the leading citizens"
My husband isn't a "leading citizen" as in political circles, he has however placed himself in positions of some influence in our community. He is on the parish council and strives to put forth strong Christian values into his decisions and discussions with others in the professional circles in which he participates. A leader doesn't have to be out in the public eye and I feel is better when not as noticed for his/her face, but for the effectiveness of their influence. When you think of it...Jesus wasn't as visually recognized by the public as his teachings....people from far away "heard of him" and followed...more than those who "recognized" his face!! Now, just to be clear, I didn't marry my husband because he was well known or a big leader in our community, but I recognized that his profession and his desire to make a difference in the lives of our community meant more, even if not well known.
As such, I have always tried to promote his ideas of being a part of a group/council/board of professionals that is working toward a goal of community improvement in any way. Being on such boards has made him a better known person in our area and therefore, a more positive influence on others. We've built stronger relations with local businesses because of the work he has been able to do with each of them...and increased our circle of influence in this manner. As example....a local repair shop has been a great place for our vehicle repairs...over several years and vehicles, including my daughters. Because of this relationship, the shop owner contacted my husband for his services and established a stronger bond of professional courtesy and we have reaped some benefits over time for the services rendered from both parties! We have also referred others to this business for repairs on their vehicles and thus increased business for the shop owner and my family/husbands reputation in the business world as well! Kindness and good ethics make for a great way to grow in business, leadership and strength in the community and in your faith. Not sure where in the bible it is stated, but "faith without works is dead" and we always try to ensure we work with faith-filled people and local businesses in order to spread His Word to all we encounter!!
"Her husband is well known, one of the leading citizens"
My husband isn't a "leading citizen" as in political circles, he has however placed himself in positions of some influence in our community. He is on the parish council and strives to put forth strong Christian values into his decisions and discussions with others in the professional circles in which he participates. A leader doesn't have to be out in the public eye and I feel is better when not as noticed for his/her face, but for the effectiveness of their influence. When you think of it...Jesus wasn't as visually recognized by the public as his teachings....people from far away "heard of him" and followed...more than those who "recognized" his face!! Now, just to be clear, I didn't marry my husband because he was well known or a big leader in our community, but I recognized that his profession and his desire to make a difference in the lives of our community meant more, even if not well known.
As such, I have always tried to promote his ideas of being a part of a group/council/board of professionals that is working toward a goal of community improvement in any way. Being on such boards has made him a better known person in our area and therefore, a more positive influence on others. We've built stronger relations with local businesses because of the work he has been able to do with each of them...and increased our circle of influence in this manner. As example....a local repair shop has been a great place for our vehicle repairs...over several years and vehicles, including my daughters. Because of this relationship, the shop owner contacted my husband for his services and established a stronger bond of professional courtesy and we have reaped some benefits over time for the services rendered from both parties! We have also referred others to this business for repairs on their vehicles and thus increased business for the shop owner and my family/husbands reputation in the business world as well! Kindness and good ethics make for a great way to grow in business, leadership and strength in the community and in your faith. Not sure where in the bible it is stated, but "faith without works is dead" and we always try to ensure we work with faith-filled people and local businesses in order to spread His Word to all we encounter!!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
TRUST NEVER GETS RUSTY WHEN COATED WITH GOD'S ANNOINTING OILS!
Is your heart safe with your husband? Is your husbands heart safe with you?
"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil"
He completely trusts her to do all the right things! No suspicion of selfish acts that would not include his heart in the consideration. He could bring co-workers home for dinner unannounced and never worry about the dinner not being enough, that the house wouldn't be cleaned up and tidy, that the kids would not be well behaved! AMAZING TRUST!!! I know that if I sprung such a surprise on my husband, who by the way HATES change, I would be shot full of those evil eye looks that we give them! I'd have so many holes through me I would look like Swiss Cheese!
Recently a friend confided to me about the flirtations of another man toward her. She did not return these affections and told her husband that this man continued to make each encounter with him very akward. She really could not avoid some of these encounters as they were part of an ongoing activity she attended with her daughter. Both my friend and her husband are deeply in love with each other and neither is concerned that she would stray from her marriage.....as akward as this situation is, the husband doesn't feel the need to confront the flirt, only trusts that his wife is sure in her love and trusts that she wouldn't betray his heart! WOW...I'm overwhelmingly impressed with his trust. So many others would eventually begun to flirt in return and then start that horrid downward trend into infidelity! It is just this kind of diversion that takes our eyes from Christ that He is describing in Proverbs. He has trust that once we are in a solid relationship with Him, we will not look elsewhere for our hearts desire....it will ALWAYS be with Him!!
I know that God trusts me as I Him.....I diligently am working toward His vision for me and I will follow His direction with it until it is completed.....I hope that other things will not try to sway my heart from this...and trust that He will give me the blinders to stay on course with it.
It is only by trust that such a strong marriage can take place. With a clear vision and direction from the creator, we are able to "finish" the job of raising our children up, trusting in Him to guide our steps, words and actions.
Is your heart safe with your husband? Is your husbands heart safe with you?
"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil"
He completely trusts her to do all the right things! No suspicion of selfish acts that would not include his heart in the consideration. He could bring co-workers home for dinner unannounced and never worry about the dinner not being enough, that the house wouldn't be cleaned up and tidy, that the kids would not be well behaved! AMAZING TRUST!!! I know that if I sprung such a surprise on my husband, who by the way HATES change, I would be shot full of those evil eye looks that we give them! I'd have so many holes through me I would look like Swiss Cheese!
Recently a friend confided to me about the flirtations of another man toward her. She did not return these affections and told her husband that this man continued to make each encounter with him very akward. She really could not avoid some of these encounters as they were part of an ongoing activity she attended with her daughter. Both my friend and her husband are deeply in love with each other and neither is concerned that she would stray from her marriage.....as akward as this situation is, the husband doesn't feel the need to confront the flirt, only trusts that his wife is sure in her love and trusts that she wouldn't betray his heart! WOW...I'm overwhelmingly impressed with his trust. So many others would eventually begun to flirt in return and then start that horrid downward trend into infidelity! It is just this kind of diversion that takes our eyes from Christ that He is describing in Proverbs. He has trust that once we are in a solid relationship with Him, we will not look elsewhere for our hearts desire....it will ALWAYS be with Him!!
I know that God trusts me as I Him.....I diligently am working toward His vision for me and I will follow His direction with it until it is completed.....I hope that other things will not try to sway my heart from this...and trust that He will give me the blinders to stay on course with it.
It is only by trust that such a strong marriage can take place. With a clear vision and direction from the creator, we are able to "finish" the job of raising our children up, trusting in Him to guide our steps, words and actions.
Monday, June 4, 2012
You HAVE SPARE TIME....this will challenge you to find it!!
"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." KJV Prov 31 v 27
We are all busy!! But with what? I know that my schedule is loaded with "things I need to do", but is all my time spent in doing them? What if I were to be productive during the times that I "play" on the computer? What then would I accomplish? I'm not saying that we all don't need some down time, but here's a way we can find it! Take a good, honest look at your day...split it up into 15 min. segments and see if you can fill in each block with something that you're doing that is productive toward your goals for that day/week. Do that for say...three days....let me know what happens. Then, start next week with your calendar and BEGIN with time for the Lord..., time for you, and then time for hubby and family. DONT FILL IN ANYTHING ELSE before putting these things in first. Then fill in your must do's (work schedule, appointments, kids scheduled activities and so on) MAKE SURE YOU PUT IN TIME FOR YOU AND THE LORD! Make these things priorities and I'll bet you that you'll find time for all that you need to do without difficulty! I know that seems overwhelming to think about...I know I feel busy all day long, but I too need to "re-organized" my days and weeks every so often to keep up with what God has planned for me and my family. LET ME KNOW!! I would LOVE to hear your results!!
"She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness." KJV Prov 31 v 27
We are all busy!! But with what? I know that my schedule is loaded with "things I need to do", but is all my time spent in doing them? What if I were to be productive during the times that I "play" on the computer? What then would I accomplish? I'm not saying that we all don't need some down time, but here's a way we can find it! Take a good, honest look at your day...split it up into 15 min. segments and see if you can fill in each block with something that you're doing that is productive toward your goals for that day/week. Do that for say...three days....let me know what happens. Then, start next week with your calendar and BEGIN with time for the Lord..., time for you, and then time for hubby and family. DONT FILL IN ANYTHING ELSE before putting these things in first. Then fill in your must do's (work schedule, appointments, kids scheduled activities and so on) MAKE SURE YOU PUT IN TIME FOR YOU AND THE LORD! Make these things priorities and I'll bet you that you'll find time for all that you need to do without difficulty! I know that seems overwhelming to think about...I know I feel busy all day long, but I too need to "re-organized" my days and weeks every so often to keep up with what God has planned for me and my family. LET ME KNOW!! I would LOVE to hear your results!!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Not for women only!!
The description of the type of woman that King Lemuel's mom would like him to live his life with is what starts this chapter. It's difficult to find the right spouse and then to have a relationship that will last for more than a few years...most especially now when divorce and living together is so rampant. Recently a friend described to me a method by which a friend had approached her marriage and I was amazed....and awed at how simple and yet so difficult this process could be, yet so utterly successful and blessed when put into practice. She approached it very suscintly. With her intended she laid out what she expected...down to a "t". and if he chose not to comply with these concepts, then it was off! No marriage and no more relationship! something that is amazingly straightforward, and yet nearly no one does this anymore!! Why do we not think long term when we consider marriage? We as a society think only in the moment and no longer consider what happens because of one moment into the next!! King Lemuel's mom knew this and warned him be very careful about giving away "himself" and avoiding drunken sprees as these will weaken his effectiveness as a king and ruler.
As a woman and spouse working toward attaining the Proverbs 31 virtuous woman, I couldn't agree more with the kings mom.....no king wants to worry about children out of wedlock or to have to make important decisions while hung over and thinking more about the next bout of drunkenness and not fully aware of his surroundings and words.
I want a husband who is equally partnered with me and who has the same goals for our family and life! Not only do verses 10-31 describe and individual, but I believe it subtly describes how Christ wants us as his "brides" to behave during our lives as his church! So...this isn't just for women, but men can also glean a lesson on the ideal husband as well!! Read it together and see if you can begin to realign your relationship in someway to the highest ideal of marriage as we earthly creatures can imagine. Our husbands are suppose to be able to handle that family matters first and foremost, but they won't be able to if we don't agree on what that's suppose to be and how to handle each matter. It's a concept that isn't used anymore because we are such a selfish, me centered society, but WORK TOGETHER....it's a long ride and should be considered very carefully before entering into this world of marriage, parenting and leading our children into adulthood.
The description of the type of woman that King Lemuel's mom would like him to live his life with is what starts this chapter. It's difficult to find the right spouse and then to have a relationship that will last for more than a few years...most especially now when divorce and living together is so rampant. Recently a friend described to me a method by which a friend had approached her marriage and I was amazed....and awed at how simple and yet so difficult this process could be, yet so utterly successful and blessed when put into practice. She approached it very suscintly. With her intended she laid out what she expected...down to a "t". and if he chose not to comply with these concepts, then it was off! No marriage and no more relationship! something that is amazingly straightforward, and yet nearly no one does this anymore!! Why do we not think long term when we consider marriage? We as a society think only in the moment and no longer consider what happens because of one moment into the next!! King Lemuel's mom knew this and warned him be very careful about giving away "himself" and avoiding drunken sprees as these will weaken his effectiveness as a king and ruler.
As a woman and spouse working toward attaining the Proverbs 31 virtuous woman, I couldn't agree more with the kings mom.....no king wants to worry about children out of wedlock or to have to make important decisions while hung over and thinking more about the next bout of drunkenness and not fully aware of his surroundings and words.
I want a husband who is equally partnered with me and who has the same goals for our family and life! Not only do verses 10-31 describe and individual, but I believe it subtly describes how Christ wants us as his "brides" to behave during our lives as his church! So...this isn't just for women, but men can also glean a lesson on the ideal husband as well!! Read it together and see if you can begin to realign your relationship in someway to the highest ideal of marriage as we earthly creatures can imagine. Our husbands are suppose to be able to handle that family matters first and foremost, but they won't be able to if we don't agree on what that's suppose to be and how to handle each matter. It's a concept that isn't used anymore because we are such a selfish, me centered society, but WORK TOGETHER....it's a long ride and should be considered very carefully before entering into this world of marriage, parenting and leading our children into adulthood.
Friday, June 1, 2012
A challenge to you...find something you love to do...and give it away!
"Give her the fruits of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates" verse 31 from KJV
Many times I have worked hard at something that I enjoyed doing and then got such thanks for the gift. I LOVE to crochet gifts for others...blankets, sweaters, many other things...I just enjoy the craft so much and really love to give them to those I know will truly appreciate them. I just gives me such a thrill! Many people have made comments on how they like the gifts they've received or just on the workmanship. I really feel great about how well I do these projects, but more than that...I've built a solid reputation for good craftsmanship as well...and have been specifically asked to make things for someone...which of course I do.
Recently I saw a story on the television of a little boy who kept trading things he wanted for the next bigger, better thing until he was able to get an all expenses paid Disney World Vacation! He then gave this vacation to a family who had lost a loved one in the line of duty in the war! What a kid! Then when ABC did a story on this kid, they rewarded him with his own vacation package...which he gave away to another deserving family!!!!....When asked why he did this...he said he just wanted to make someone else happy and this is what he thought a family who was grieving would enjoy and make them happy. WOW!! and he was only 9yrs old!
Neither of these two little stories are were of great cost to those involved....they used creativity and thought out of the box to bring the love of Christ to another in some small way...and it was returned many times over!
My husband tells me that I at times go about accomplishing things in the most labor intensive way. He likes to do things really efficiently and as quickly as possible. There are some things that you really cannot do in any manner other than slow and steady. In the end, your product is the best it can be and you'll be so satisfied and proud of the outcome that no one can say enough about the results of your work!! To me...that's the highest praise anyone could give. I know God is behind each of my skills and talents. When I get the kudos for anything, it's because I did the work with the knowledge that God is in each and every inch of it!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
BE PREPARED!!
"She doesn't worry about her family when it snows, their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear."
That good "ole moto of both Girl and Boy Scouts!! BE PREPARED. As I read through a book that is suppose to help me become more organized and help me to keep the house clean enough that it looks like it cleans itself?!, I am slowly minimal-izing all the stuff I've collected and the kids have outgrown. Getting into the habits of seasonal changes such as Spring Cleaning and Winterizing the house, home and family...such a arduous task. But well worth the efforts when all is said and done. As I implement the ideas that this book brings out, I am amazed at how often these ideas reflect the Proverbs 31 woman!. There are places in this "cleaning itself house" for give away items, cleaning stations for quick pickups, every area has its deep cleaning tools handy, so many "prepared for anything" stops along the way that blend into the overall view of the house. And once implemented this is going to make my overall housecleaning faster, easier and better cleaned all the time! Still working on finishing the book as of yet, but I do intend over the summer to put this into action and train up my girls in the same method as I believe it will be best for us all around!. I know that this concept of a virtuous woman is truly what I want to reflect to my family, friends and be a blessing to all I come across, but mostly, I want to reflect my gratitude, praise and worship toward my God who loves me beyond all comparison and has provided me this example and those family and friends who I can hold up as strong examples which I can emulate in my life.
"She doesn't worry about her family when it snows, their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear."
That good "ole moto of both Girl and Boy Scouts!! BE PREPARED. As I read through a book that is suppose to help me become more organized and help me to keep the house clean enough that it looks like it cleans itself?!, I am slowly minimal-izing all the stuff I've collected and the kids have outgrown. Getting into the habits of seasonal changes such as Spring Cleaning and Winterizing the house, home and family...such a arduous task. But well worth the efforts when all is said and done. As I implement the ideas that this book brings out, I am amazed at how often these ideas reflect the Proverbs 31 woman!. There are places in this "cleaning itself house" for give away items, cleaning stations for quick pickups, every area has its deep cleaning tools handy, so many "prepared for anything" stops along the way that blend into the overall view of the house. And once implemented this is going to make my overall housecleaning faster, easier and better cleaned all the time! Still working on finishing the book as of yet, but I do intend over the summer to put this into action and train up my girls in the same method as I believe it will be best for us all around!. I know that this concept of a virtuous woman is truly what I want to reflect to my family, friends and be a blessing to all I come across, but mostly, I want to reflect my gratitude, praise and worship toward my God who loves me beyond all comparison and has provided me this example and those family and friends who I can hold up as strong examples which I can emulate in my life.
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