Challenge Review Time!

{taken at Pedernales Electric Coop in Johnson City, Tx}

Hey all! I think I've come to realize that Tuesdays are my blogging days. Lately I've been posting on Tuesdays because of the challenges going on in the blogosphere! Forgive me for not posting as often as I was before. Christmas is such a busy time of year, and its no different for me! Here are my entries for the challenges!

Courtney @ Women Living Well, who is hosting the Peace on Earth Challenge, says:

Here's this week's challenge: Christmas is just 4 days away and so much of our time is often spent helping the children to remember the "Reason for the Season". Now it's our turn. Once the kids are in bed get yourself a HOT drink (again we are warming the body as we warm the soul.) Get ALONE and turn out the lights by your Christmas tree, a lit fire, or a candle and just be alone with God. Pray, talk to him, I encourage you to sing Christmas carols or songs praising him, and just rest with Jesus.

I haven't had the chance to do this weeks challenge just yet. I have planned some time with Brian tonight. But its in question because of the possibility of him going out on another job for the next few days. If he does go out, he'll be back Thursday afternoon. I can't wait to turn the lights out and just gaze at the Christmas Tree, and pray. I'll probably flip my iPhone over to some Christmas tunes too! It's a PLAN!

Brittany @ The High-Heeled Housewife, is hosting My Favorite Things Challenge.

December 20: My favorite encouragement from the Bible

I have to admit...I have several favorite encouragements from the Bible. God's word is so effective on me, and I take everything he says to me to heart. However, I do have 2 verses that I try to live my life by, as well as a verse that I try to fulfill even though I am not married yet.

Phillipians 4:13~I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
This verse speaks to me, because when I often feel discouraged, I pray to God to show me motivation and strength. This is usually what pops in my head after I've talked to God. It comes to me as "With God, all things are possible." I am so blessed! Jesus sacrificed himself so that I could have a wonder-FULL life! Every moment I get, I praise him, thank him, and ask "What can I do for you, Lord?!"

Joshua 1:9~This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
This verse applies as well to my life. God wants me to be strong and courageous. He doesn't want me to ever be afraid or discouraged. He is with me no matter where I am, or what I am doing. He wants the best for me, and wants me to be at my best at all times, so that Satan can never reap the benefits of my discouragement, weakness, and cowardness.
Proverbs 31:10-31
This is a long one, but it speaks for itself. I got this off of another blogger who got this from an unknown source online. This is a study of the verses of  A Wife of Noble Character-Proverbs 31 Woman. It explains each verse for us wives {to be in my case} to live by! What an amazing woman she is...I strive to be this woman, every day.

vs. 10 - "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies."
She is “priceless!” She is a woman after God's own heart.

vs. 11 - "Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value."
A virtuous woman inspires absolute confidence in her husband. He can “safely trust in her” (KJV). She is not impetuous, scatterbrained, or unpredictable. Rather, she can be trusted. Her husband can be confident in her. She will never deliberately let him down.
vs. 12 - "She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life."
The Proverbs 31 woman “brings him good” — that is, her husband. She is not a “liberated” woman as defined by modern feminists. She is God-fearing (vs. 31), a woman of God, and also very much husband- and family-oriented. And these are seen throughout this chapter as positive traits. She brings him good. There does seem to be biblical wisdom in the modern-day axiom that “behind every good man stands a good woman”. She is an asset to her husband. She will never intentionally bring harm his way.

vs. 13 - "She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands."
She is skilled and capable in working with fabric. The modern counterpart would be skill in things like quilting and sewing. And notice that “she works”. There is no hint of laziness in this woman who is praised by God. And she “worketh willingly with her hands” (KJV). She is “willing to get her hands dirty”, as the old saying goes. She is no prima donna! A woman of God is not “above” manual work.

vs. 14 -"She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar."
She understands that the duties of a wife and mother include ensuring that her family is well fed. A virtuous, biblical woman, may I suggest, will excel in this area. She will not only go about to learn the necessary cooking skills, but she will study sound nutrition and will ensure that her family is fed nutritiously, not with a high proportion of out-of-the-box junk food.

vs. 15 - "She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions to her woman servants."
This virtuous woman, this praiseworthy woman of God, is not given to “sleeping in” in the mornings. No! Rather, she is up before dawn to make sure that her household is well fed.

vs. 16 - "She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard."
Amazing! The Proverbs 31 woman is no wimp! She has the intelligence and business sense to evaluate a piece of property and to buy it. She has her own “earnings”, with which she buys the field and plants a vineyard.
vs. 17 - "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks."
The virtuous woman is not afraid of physical work.

vs. 18 - "She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night."
Like the bible’s virtuous woman, many modern women have their own home-based businesses. The woman in Proverbs 31 seems to have been a seamstress who sold garments and sashes. She apparently did her business well, working well into the evening, because “her trading [was] profitable”.
vs. 19 - "In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers."
The virtuous woman learns domestic skills. My beloved maternal grandmother was an excellent seamstress. Her husband had died and left her a widow with seven children at home. Her skills at making clothing were essential to keeping her children well clothed.

vs. 20 - "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy."
Her home-based skills have earned her a profitable income. She is ever willing to share this blessing with the poor and needy.
vs. 21 - "When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet."
The godly woman is fully aware of the priority of her family in her life over other things that might sidetrack her from her domestic responsibilities. She is an excellent illustration of the charge to younger women in Titus 2 (verse 5) to be “busy at home”.

vs. 22 - "She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple."
Not only do the skills of this woman of God earn her an income from the merchants, she also makes sure that her own home’s needs are well cared for. The Proverbs 31 woman does not neglect her own appearance. She uses her skills to provide attractive clothing for herself.

vs. 23 - "Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land."
Notice the God-approved division of responsibilities. She was at home, caring for her home and family. He was in a place of respect at the city gates among the elders of the land. The city gates are where much ancient commerce was conducted. So it is not unreasonable to surmise that the husband was conducting his business affairs there.
vs. 24 - "She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes."
Already mentioned earlier, she seems to have had a home-based business. The surrounding verses make it clear, though, that she did not do this at the expense of the well-being of her household.

vs. 25 - "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."
The virtuous woman has a sense of dignity. She is not frivolous or embarrassing in her conduct. She looks to the future and makes sure that her household is well supplied, so that she can “laugh at the days to come”.
vs. 26 - "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."
This godly woman speaks with wisdom. The virtuous woman will offer faithful instruction. The context of the surrounding verses places the location of this instruction in her home. She made the home a place of both love and learning.
vs. 27 - "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."
The bible defines the husband as the head of the home (1 Timothy 3:4-5; 1 Corinthians 11:3). However, his daytime responsibilities are outside the home, at “the city gates” (vs. 23). The wife-and-mother is at home, as this chapter clearly indicates. So it is her daily responsibility (not his) to “watch over the affairs of her household” (vs. 27). This is consistent with the apostle Paul’s counsel to the younger widows to “marry, to have children, to manage their homes...” (1 Timothy 5:14).The virtuous woman “does not eat the bread of idleness”. To this day I marvel at my wife’s energy and drive to maintain a nice, orderly home. “Idleness” is a word that is alien to her!

vs. 28 - "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:"
Children raised by an involved, dedicated, loving, at-home mom rarely grow up feeling estranged from her. Rather, they bless her! Likewise, the husband of such a virtuous woman will overflow with praise for her from his heart
vs. 29 - "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
That is the sentiment that a biblical, virtuous woman as described in this chapter will evoke in her husband’s heart — “You are the best!”

vs. 30 - "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be raised."
God is reminding us that beauty and charm are fleeting, temporal things. But that which earns genuine praise for a woman is that she is a God-fearing woman.

vs. 31 - "Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
A virtuous woman has a great reward coming from the Lord in eternity, along with the great fulfillment she will experience in this life for a “job well done”. And her virtues will not only be known and blessed by her husband and children (vs. 28), but also her reputation will precede her to the “city gates”. The godly woman, whose life is patterned after Proverbs 31:10-31, will be well known and highly respected in her community.


If you've managed to read this entire post, THANK YOU! I know its long, and ranty, but thank you for following and reading my every words!

God Bless,