Your Price Dear One, is Far Above Rubies!

I came across this image the other day, and you know what I liked most about it? Pretty much everything! I love the colors, the warmth, the way the man is carefully helping her through the door, and I love this man's devotion to his wife. So beautiful. Notice the extra stone that's placed outside the door to ease her step.

I'm reminded of my parents. They came from a time when money was scarce and people made due with the little they had. My grandparents (on my mom's side) raised eighteen children through the great depression, which meant that they learned to be resourceful or go without. In fact I've been told that my grandfather made my grandmother's wedding ring out of a silver dime. Wish I had seen that one!

This mindset carried on throughout the years when my parents set out to start their own family. As a result we experienced everything from a bedroom door made out of a cardboard box to toys made from upcycled spools. (Dad would have been quite the hit on Pinterest!)

Many of those creations weren't worth more than a handful of change, but they were priceless relics nonetheless. A towel rack below the sink, where Mom could dry her hands, hooks beneath the cupboards to hang our cups, a bicycle rack made from scrap lumber... These are the love notes that were printed on the canvas of her heart.

When times got better and they could afford more, Dad continued to create Mom gifts by the work of his hands.

It got me thinking about my own love notes. What am I writing on the canvas of Michael's heart? What do I bring to my children? When I put care into serving my family and all that I do,  I'm weaving my presence throughout the tapestry of our home. With every sock that I wash and pants that I hem I'm inscribing my heart upon theirs.

Next time you're inscribing a love note in your home, consider the value of virtue. A gift may cost merely a handful of change, but your price dear one, is far above rubies!

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. ~ Proverbs 31:10-15, KJV

You are loved by an almighty God,



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A Woman Who Fears the Lord, She Shall Be Praised

I live up in Manitoba, Canada where spring is deceptive at times. We can have beach weather one day, and as soon as everybody exchanges their warm clothes for flip flops and tank tops, we discover that we're expecting two inches of snow.


I'm cautious when it comes to planting my garden, because I've learned over the years not to trust the warm weather. But I wasn't always this smart--we've had several years where I planted early in the spring and spent countless nights covering my plants with bed sheets and table cloths due to frost warning.

My yard looked silly at times with several bed sheets draped over the plants, and of course I looked ridiculous because I was the only woman on the block that was too anxious to follow the one rule of thumb, "Wait until May Long Weekend to plant."

When it comes to plants, I love the beauty of annuals. The colors and the variety of flowers take my breath away. Once the garden is full, I can hardly resist buying yet a few more, but I've come to discover one thing--their beauty fades quickly. I put the flowers in on May long weekend and they start fading by August.

Each spring I'd invest in more flowers, until one day I discovered perennials. The beauty of perennials is that their strength lies beneath the face of the earth. It doesn't matter how severe our winters are or how many feet of snow cover the garden, they return each and every year stronger and healthier than they did the year before.

Perennials can withstand frost in the early spring because their root remains untouched. Long-lasting beauty and strength add to their value, much like the heart of a woman who is grounded in Christ.

A woman who's heart takes root in the Lord possesses a beauty that lasts longer than her youth ever will. She is a strong force in the face of tribulation and trials because she knows that her heart is safe in the hands of the Lord. The beauty within her, draws the heart of her husband close to her own.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. ~ Proverbs 31:30, NIV

"More of you, Lord, less of me." Those are the transforming words of a beautiful woman. Words that hold the power to unlocking a treasure that lies beneath the skin of this fading world.

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You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene

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I'm over at Roo Mag today where I share a post about enjoying treats in moderation.

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She Watches Over the Affairs of Her Household

Has there ever been better direction for time-management than that which comes from, Proverbs 31? I'm reminded of one popular rule in dieting, "Don't waste calories by diving into the bread basket." Here, the same rings true about life:

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. ~ Proverbs 31:27, KJV

My job as a keeper of the home is to watch over the affairs of my household. This means that I need to engage myself in the home, watching over the affairs of each and every person therein. Where are my children? What video games are they playing? What books are they reading? Who are their friends? Is anything troubling my husband?

These are a few of the things we notice when we're actively involved with the family. With one look my husband can tell when something is bothering me, and I can tell in a split-second when Nathaniel is guilty about something. The more face-time (and I'm not talking about iPhones here) I have with these people the more I'll understand their needs and how fulfill them.

The thing is, moms are busy. There's no doubt about it, but yet I see some incredible moms who manage their house well, raise God-fearing children, have a great marriage, and still find time to write books, take classes, run small businesses, or work outside the home--the Proverbs 31 woman was a prime example of that. But how is it possible for anyone of us to do it all and still be engaged with the family?

It isn't. There isn't one of us who can do "it all," but we can manage to get a lot done when we put our affairs in order. That's where the second part of this verse comes in when it talks about eating the bread of idleness.

Consider the old saying, "There's a place for everything, when everything is in its place." While that's true, I'll also add this, there is no place for anything when junk is in it's place. I can't find the space to put my bath towels when my hall closet is packed with sewing supplies dating back as far as 1992. I can't find room for soup ladles in a drawer that's accumulated broken and useless utensils for the past 23 years.

We can visualize this problem when it comes to the drawers and closets in our home because the stuff eventually starts to fall out, but it's a little harder to see when we're talking about the closets and drawers of our life. What I mean by this is that the storage spaces we refer to as "time" tend to fill up with phone calls, watching television, browsing the internet, hanging out our friends, being over-committed, sitting out in the sun, over sleeping, and the like.

Any one of those things are okay, but just like anything else, they can add up to cramped spaces. The question to ask yourself is what is most valuable to you? Prioritize faith and family first-- the rest will fall into place. Be willing to shed some "idle bread" and you'll free up valuable space in your life.

You are loved by an almighty God, 

 

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7 Thieves that Rob You of Time

Weekly Contributor, Kim Brenneman

Before exposing the time thieves let’s look at what the scriptures say about time and how we are to use it.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ~ Ephesians 5:15&16

We understand God's will for our time when we study the scriptures. It’s certainly not found in this common thought, “I just listened to my heart.” This phrase is often used to explain a questionable decision. What guides every little decision you make from the moment you rise up until the moment you fall asleep?

Jeremiah 17:9 says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind,to give every man according to his ways,according to the fruit of his deeds.

It is natural but wrong to trust our hearts to lead us in our use of time. And so it takes deliberate thought and effort on our part to seek God’s priorities.


The verses preceding Ephesians 5:15-16 teach us many things about living the Christian life. A short list includes:

• Be imitators of God
• Walk in love
• Be moral
• Be pure
• Let there be thanksgiving
• Do not associate with the sons of disobedience
• Walk as children of light
• Discern what is pleasing to the Lord
• Take no part in and expose unfruitful works of darkness

Another short list from the verses following 15-16:

• Do not get drunk but be controlled by the Spirit
• Address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
• Give thanks always and for everything
• Submit to one another
• Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
• Let the wife see that she respects her husband
• Honor your father and mother

Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 further guide women. The Proverbs 31 lady embodies everything listed above in a practical way. She is strong and dignified, trustworthy and excellent; she’s not idle and laughs at the days to come. In Titus 2 we are specifically instructed:

• To be reverent in behavior
• To be not slanderers or slaves to too much wine
• To teach what is good and so train the young women to love their husbands and children
• To be self-controlled
• To be pure
• To work at home
• To be kind
• To be submissive to our husbands

When we don’t keep our priorities in line with scripture we rob God of His best use of time in our lives. Are we running from God’s will? The reason we run from God’s will is the heart (Jeremiah 17:9). We need to put off the old woman and put on the new by the renewing our minds (Ephesians 4:22). We need God to perfect our hearts everyday through prayerful repentance.

In no particular order here is a list of seven thieves that rob us of time.

1. Television and Books - When I stopped watching daytime television as a young mom, I taped Philippians 4:8 to the front of the idiot box which reads, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
   
   That verse also led me to avoid certain genres of books. Both television and books can be means of escapism. We don’t need to be caught up in someone else’s imaginary world. God gave us a life to live! What we are to be is controlled by the Holy Spirit. We can relax and have down time without offending Him.
2. Computer - We need fellowship with other believers but often we exchange relationships with real people in our physical community for relationships with people in a narrow little band of online people that believe every little thing exactly like we do. The Proverbs 31 lady was in her community, her husband was honored at the city gates because of her renown, she extended her hand to the poor, and more.
   
   Online communities can be a venue of encouragement and relation to others, but spend more time getting to know your neighbors. Be salt and light!
   
   Computer rabbit trails also steal time from our first priorities. Be careful, be wise, make a plan for the time you spend online and use a timer.
3. Poor Planning  - Do you wonder what you’re supposed to be doing when you look around at a big mess? Do you drive like crazy and never accomplish anything of real purpose? Do you stare into the cupboard and wonder what you’re supposed to make for supper? You’re wasting time. Plan your work and work your plan. Work on being efficient and you will accomplish so much more.
4. Health and Sleep - When we don’t take care of our health we get slow and sleepy. When we take care to eat and drink right, take supplements, get exercise and sunshine, we have energy to be our best.
   
   Women are often sleepy and sluggish when they need to take better care of their health. Rise up and go for a walk! Maybe you need to walk on over to the doctor to have a chat about it, or to the health food store for B vitamins, or to the pantry to throw out all the junk. Get healthy!
5. Over Committed - Are you over committed? Start prioritizing and making your allotted hours in the week fit God’s top priorities. Who or what is getting the best of your time? When we try to do everything we do nothing well. Focus on your first priorities and then carefully, thoughtfully, and prayerfully refine them before adding to them.
6. Telephone, Email, IM and Gadding About - We women like to talk and oftentimes this gets us into trouble. The Bible warns against the misuse of our tongue in 1 Timothy 5:13, "And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not."
   
   It’s an old, old problem. Don’t be an idler, gossip, or busybody going about from house to house via the telephone, email, IM, or visiting. Save your talk time and be meaningful with it. There is no need to say the same thing five different ways in your conversation. In doing these things you are stealing your own time, God’s time, and the correspondent’s time. Give thought to your words.
7. Disobedient Children - Disobedient children take your time through cleaning their messes, repairing their destruction, threatening and repeating, arguing with them, and mental anguish. Unruly children are not enjoyable. They will rob you not only of time but also relationships. Your friends may avoid your family because of your children. Babysitters don’t want to have to deal with them.
   
   Do something about it. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Pray for wisdom. Enforce consequences and make the consequences mean something. Spend time with them teaching them respectful behavior. It takes time and deliberate thought and action on your part to teach them obedience and manners.

Blessings,

Kim Brenneman

Kim is the joyful wife of Matt and the blessed mother of nine children.

When not busy homeschooling and farmschooling, she enjoys writing, gardening, cooking, reading, sewing, and crafting.

Kim lives on a farm in Iowa where her family grows beef cattle, corn and beans, and operates a micro-dairy selling cheese at farmer’s markets. She loves to write and speak about her passion for home and family. She is the author of Large Family Logistics: The Art and Science of Managing the Large Family. She blogs about the same subject at:
http://largefamilylogistics.blogspot.com.

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I'd Rather Have a Proverbs 31 Woman Than a Victoria's Secret Model

Alex Eklund, a student at Baylor University, posted a status on Facebook stating, "I'd rather have a Proverbs 31 woman than a Victoria's Secret Model." Since then, other Baylor students and their friends have reposted, made graphics, and even a page has been made for it all because of the positive reaction it received from the people that saw it. Here are Alex's thoughts on the movement's beginning as well as some of his goals for the movement and what he believes the message means to so many people.



I LOVE this, don't you?! You can find Aaron's page on facebook here!

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene

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Is Proverbs 31 Attainable? and a Titus 2sday Linkup!

Guest Contributor Jessalyn from from Desiring Virtue

We’ve all thought it as we respectfully highlight and underline our way through Proverbs 31: “Who is this woman, and why does she have to be so perfect?” I’m sure you would agree that she sets a pretty high standard for the rest of us imperfect wives! Often I find myself rebuked and discouraged after reading through this foundational piece of instruction for my calling as a God fearing wife.

But let me ask you a question: Isn’t this the case with our Christian lives in general? Aren’t we called to the highest standards as children of the Lord? Displaying the character of Christ is not exactly an easy thing to do; in fact it is impossible in this fleshly body. This truth, however, does not change the fact that we are called to live out Christ’s holiness in our everyday life!

I was first encouraged to relate these two callings by a very wise man leading a marriage class at our church. “Wives,” he said, “when you feel like you will never be the Proverbs 31 Woman, remember that you are also called to walk as Jesus walked, which is a far more difficult task.” Jesus is the incarnation of Wisdom in every area of life, the Proverbs 31 woman is simply an example of a wise homemaker.

This virtuous woman is a specific picture of applied wisdom. She is the ultimate homemaker and represents the wisdom of God lived out in the daily and mundane tasks we often find ourselves overcome by as homemakers. She is purposefully described as uncommon and rare. The writer acknowledges that she is not your everyday woman, she is the ultimate woman! It is no wonder that we find it so difficult to find ourselves in her, weak and sinful as we are.

Yet, as I alluded to earlier, the standard that we are called to in this text does not diverge from the rest of Scripture. It is not in addition to the commands we already have, rather it is an application of the way of wisdom in our specific calling as wives and homemakers.

For instance, take verse 15 into consideration:

“She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.”

Now, we may not all be able to relate to this (apparently) wealthy woman’s management of her maidens, but we can all relate to the inherent benefits of rising early to serve our families. The concept of being disciplined in the area of sleep, however, is not relegated to this passage alone. Throughout the Bible we are given instruction to not overindulge in this area of our lives. Passages like Proverbs 20:13 give stern warnings about the consequences of slothfulness and encouragement to seek the rewards of a disciplined sleep life:

“Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.”

This type of discipline is encouraged throughout the Word of God, but in the instance of Proverbs 31 it is specifically applied to the life of a wife and homemaker. How wonderful to have this picture of practical wisdom to look to as we aspire to be homemakers who glorify the Lord!

The question arises, “Why does this woman bring glory to the Lord?”. How does my effort to be the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 bring glory to my God? The virtuous woman brings glory to her Savior not because of her works, but because of her faith in the One who can make it all a reality. In a very real sense, the realization that we are unable to attain this woman’s perfection, is the only way we will ever be able to resemble her!

The wisdom that the virtuous woman displays in her homemaking is just as impossible as every other example of wisdom found throughout the Word of God. What hope does any woman have of reaching these goals? The only hope any of us have is in God himself. When we are tempted to despair in our calling to be wise homemakers, we must remember these precious truths:


“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
~ Proverbs 9:10 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,
who gives generously to all without reproach,
and it will be given him.
~ James 1:5 ESV



God calls us to impossible standards, but he also provides us with his own power to attain those standards. The Gospel of Jesus Christ didn't just have the power to save our souls from an eternity of torment, but has the power to daily infuse our lives with Christ's holiness. What is left for us to do, but admit our own inability and rely on the incredible reserves we have in Christ?

It is for this very reason that I titled my blog “Desiring Virtue”. I know that I am not the Virtuous Woman in Proverbs 31, but I desire to be! I know that I can confidently desire to be virtuous because my God delights in bringing his children to sanctification. It is his desire for each of his daughters to grow in wisdom, daily growing closer to the image of Christ, and therefore closer to the image of the Proverbs 31 woman.

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven.” (Colossians 1:21-23 ESV)

By His Grace, Jessalyn

www.DesiringVirtue.com

About the Author:

When Jessalyn isn't scraping crushed goldfish out of the carpet or changing her spit-up, soiled blouse for the unteenth time, she might be seen blogging at DesiringVirtue.com or snuggled up on her bed, coffee in hand, engrossed in a volume of Spurgeon's Sermons.

Her love for the God who saved her soul from the pit compels her to live out her callings as wife, mother, and homemaker through the grace of God in a way that brings glory to his name.


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Today and every Tuesday, I want to invite bloggers to link-up any blog posts that will encourage women to joyfully live out their roles as wives and keepers of their homes I'm looking for posts on marriage, parenting, housekeeping, or recipes.

All you have to do is enter the direct link from your post into the linky tool below!

I'd also like to ask you to link back here with the {TITUS 2}SDAYS code (below) so that other bloggers can join in too!

<a href="http://www.time-warp-wife.blogspot.com"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Atm-ApY4ldP-O7eR0519OFOKnockEQmXWToMkyuK6e87X32qO3bIoYXncuITHrXifevqNtD260If98D1sxiflVBqLGIdIl-9vaL_gQgW5hOYk9GzU947F_vYU-H_JiCHlEFmiTsElVI/s1600/Titus_2sdays_button.png" /></a>

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Her Noble Character

Introducing guest contributor, Olivia from Her Noble Character

An Excellent Wife

The other day I spent some time in Proverbs 31:10-31, a very popular passage about “an excellent wife.” Sometimes, I admit, I treat the familiarity of those verses as a license to read through them quickly and not very productively. Rather than actually focusing on them as inspired words of God to be carefully studied and applied, I sometimes move on from them simply with positive feelings about becoming a homemaker someday, or even about preparing now. But thankfully God cares quite a bit about maturing me and makes sure to direct my eyes and heart, as I read the Bible, to specific things I should pay attention to.

I read about the rare value and specific tasks of this woman in Proverbs 31, and how the home was the center of her activity and influence. It wasn’t that she never left, but that she was intentional as she went out, apparently always seeking the improvement of her family. I saw that her husband was a well-respected man and, based on the context of this passage, I think it’s likely she had something to do with that. She had very honorable character herself - marked by peace, kindness, wisdom, and diligence. Because of all this, she was appreciated by her husband, her children, and everyone around her.

The Reason
This time as I read these verses, I was drawn to the reason behind her ways. It looks like this woman is, in part, summed up with a statement about her motivation for this lifestyle - she fears the Lord.

It’s not that she can sometimes be found doing her job as a homemaker and other times be found worshiping the Lord. Living our God’s design for a wife is an act of worship to Him! And this isn’t the only place we might make that conclusion. Titus 2:4-5 and 1 Timothy 5:14 both tie the home-oriented activity of a wife with the honor of God’s Word and her faithfulness to Him. As we grow in our reverence for the Lord, we will become more purposeful about living by His design, even in the “little things” like working hard at preparing food. I also think it’s neat how Proverbs 31:13 says that this woman “works with her hands in delight.” She’s glad about what she does. And that’s the same word used in Psalm 1, in speaking of one whose “delight is in the law of the Lord.” If this woman fears God, she’ll be serious about following His instructions - and she’ll take pleasure in doing it. What a wonderful thing that our God acts toward us with love when He directs us by His Word!

Preparing for Marriage

I am reminded that all I’m doing to get ready for marriage to Jonathan is not a separate thing from preparing for marriage to Jesus Christ. If I fear the Lord, I will obey Him. Once I become a wife, then faithfulness to God - practically speaking - includes prioritizing my husband and and our home, among other things. And that requires some preparation. I need my heart prepared. I need my home prepared. I need wedding details prepared. The problem comes if I stop acknowledging this and lose sight of the fact that I want to be married, and have a wedding, for the glory of God. And that’s something I’ll always have to remember later as well. I’m sure marriage will be very fun, but there are even greater purposes in view than having fun. And yet it will be a delight to enjoy each one of God’s intentions for my marriage as He uses them to prepare me for full maturity in time for the ultimate wedding in Heaven. I encourage you to join me in directing your fear of the Lord to practical obedience in each of your roles as a Christian woman!

____________________________
Olivia is an aspiring wife, mommy, & homemaker who just completed a Women's Ministries degree. Join her as she shares what she's learning about being a woman for the glory of God.

Visit her blog at:




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Radiant Love

Faith has the power to produce a love so radiant that it shines light on even the darkest of days. Radiant love is more than a choice, it’s more than a feeling, and it’s far more than emotion. It resides in the core of your being and extends to reach past the five senses. It’s enduring and respectful--glorious without limit; it’s powerful and passionate, invigorating yet challenging, painless and painful--it’s human. Yet with all of its imperfections, it’s perfect in every way.
Radiant love isn’t something you long for—it’s something we all can experience when we reshape our role as a wife. The moment we begin to accept, appreciate and understand our husbands, we begin to find that same admiration and respect mirrored back.

Is it self-seeking to want a loving and devoted husband who thinks you’re the greatest thing since the iPhone? Definitely not. While other men may complain about their wives, it gives a man a sense of pride to know his wife is different. She’s unique--she understands him when no one else does; she looks up to him as her protector and the one who provides; her admirable character is one he can trust.

When children see their parents are truly in love, they gain a sense of security and well being. The atmosphere of the home changes, because order is now how it should be. When you’re a radiant bride that your husband is proud to call his, you are a jewel in his crown.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her – Proverbs 31:28

Photo credit: Michael Schacht