This is a very simple, yet beautiful lighthouse on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. It is a blessing to live so close to this wonderful horizon and to look on it as we play at the beach!
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Tales from a Mother
at the feet of Jesus
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Wordless Wednesday *Linky* Sullivan's Island Lighthouse
This is a very simple, yet beautiful lighthouse on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. It is a blessing to live so close to this wonderful horizon and to look on it as we play at the beach!
A Wife of Noble Character: Prepares for the Day
Proverbs 31:15 -- "She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls."
This verse makes many good points. However, I'm going to go ahead and dismiss the point that it is a requirement to get up before the sun rises, though it is a viable option and the best for choice for some. Also, I don't have servant girls, but I do manage my household. Let me break it down so I can explain further.
The takeaway I get from this statement is we need to make time to pray and prepare for the day.
Mark 1:35 -- "Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray."
I know if Jesus needed time to pray, to be alone with God, I definitely do. This time doesn't necessarily have to be before daybreak. I personally think better in the morning, but I have a really hard time getting up before the sun. This time is going to be different for everyone, the point is it is important to have alone time with God.
I have a young child so I do get up and prepare breakfast in the morning. However, it is usually simple like cereal or yogurt and fruit. I don't think they accounted for Pop Tarts as breakfast when this Proverb was written. There isn't a whole lot of preparing in this day and age unless you just want to do it. I believe there is more to understand from this verse than just making breakfast though.
Romans 12:11 -- "Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically."
Get up and get moving. Quiet time is important if you choose to do that in the morning, but afterward get started on a productive day. Get excited about what the day has to offer and figure out ways to serve God enthusiastically -- don't get caught up in the stress and exhaustion of routine. Find ways to spend meaningful time with others and make the most of everyday.
Well, I don't have servant girls, but I do manage my household and make sure everything gets done.
Luke 12:42 -- "And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them."
I interpret this to mean that God believes I am his faithful and sensible servant because I accept the responsibility of managing my home. For me this usually means getting chores done, making sure my daughter gets meals and has every opportunity to learn and explore new things. It means making sure everyone has what they need when they need it.
This again is going to look differently depending on who you are and what stage of life you are in. It's okay that it is all going to be different, no two women of noble character are going to be the same because God made no two people the same.
A wife of noble character has much responsibility for those around her. She is the center of making it all happen. Take time to spend alone with God, take time to prepare and make time to get it all done. Easy right? Maybe not, but definitely an amazing goal to work towards. Rely on God and ask for help -- He will see you through it.
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"She gets up before dawn."
The takeaway I get from this statement is we need to make time to pray and prepare for the day.
Mark 1:35 -- "Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray."
I know if Jesus needed time to pray, to be alone with God, I definitely do. This time doesn't necessarily have to be before daybreak. I personally think better in the morning, but I have a really hard time getting up before the sun. This time is going to be different for everyone, the point is it is important to have alone time with God.
"...to prepare breakfast for her household."
I have a young child so I do get up and prepare breakfast in the morning. However, it is usually simple like cereal or yogurt and fruit. I don't think they accounted for Pop Tarts as breakfast when this Proverb was written. There isn't a whole lot of preparing in this day and age unless you just want to do it. I believe there is more to understand from this verse than just making breakfast though.
Romans 12:11 -- "Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically."
Get up and get moving. Quiet time is important if you choose to do that in the morning, but afterward get started on a productive day. Get excited about what the day has to offer and figure out ways to serve God enthusiastically -- don't get caught up in the stress and exhaustion of routine. Find ways to spend meaningful time with others and make the most of everyday.
"...plan the day's work for her servant girls."
Well, I don't have servant girls, but I do manage my household and make sure everything gets done.
Luke 12:42 -- "And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them."
I interpret this to mean that God believes I am his faithful and sensible servant because I accept the responsibility of managing my home. For me this usually means getting chores done, making sure my daughter gets meals and has every opportunity to learn and explore new things. It means making sure everyone has what they need when they need it.
This again is going to look differently depending on who you are and what stage of life you are in. It's okay that it is all going to be different, no two women of noble character are going to be the same because God made no two people the same.
A wife of noble character has much responsibility for those around her. She is the center of making it all happen. Take time to spend alone with God, take time to prepare and make time to get it all done. Easy right? Maybe not, but definitely an amazing goal to work towards. Rely on God and ask for help -- He will see you through it.
Monday, June 17, 2013
A Wife of Noble Character: Like a Merchant's Ship
Proverbs 31:14 -- "She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar."
A woman is "like a merchant's ship." What does that mean? I believe this is one verse that will benefit from being read as a whole and being broken up into separate parts.
I want to focus first on the idea as a whole. Since the woman is like a ship, she can hold and bring food from all over. She seeks out the best and brings it back for herself and her family. She is resourceful and trades with other in the network of merchants. This means that she provides no matter what obstacles are in the way.
I want to go a little deeper and focus on the simile. "She is like a merchant's ship." First of all those ships are grand, sturdy and incredibly effective. This means that she can ride the waves of adversity and still remain afloat. It means she will withstand the test of endurance as time and circumstance crash against her. It means she is efficient with what and how she goes about her tasks. It means she will raise her head, as the masks do, and continue to her destination. I means she knows which direction to go and how to get there. It means she can provide and carry out duties for her family, the community and within the world of trade and business.
The verse continues with "she brings her food from afar." This not only includes the dependability to provide for her family, but also at what lengths she will go to do it. Most importantly, this verse tells me that a wife of noble character is a traveler. At the very least is willing to travel and communicate with people who life far away to conduct business. This is very exciting when you think of the stereotypical woman being entirely domestic. She goes where she needs to go, interacts with others and is not afraid to travel to get what the family and the community needs.
At first this verse was hard to work with, now it is one of my favorites. Women are strong, sturdy, resourceful, efficient, dependable, hard working, travelers and merchants. Still, the wife of noble character is looking to God for guidance and safety and taking care of others before herself. Again and again, these verses will show that women are able to take care of many things outside of the traditional roles for women; however, it is not to the glory of the woman to hold over a man's head nor a man's glory to restrict her from duties she is willing and capable of doing, the glory goes to God. By putting God first in our lives and working together as husband and wife and as a coed community, we make the unity of the church and we make God proud to call us His children.
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I want to focus first on the idea as a whole. Since the woman is like a ship, she can hold and bring food from all over. She seeks out the best and brings it back for herself and her family. She is resourceful and trades with other in the network of merchants. This means that she provides no matter what obstacles are in the way.
I want to go a little deeper and focus on the simile. "She is like a merchant's ship." First of all those ships are grand, sturdy and incredibly effective. This means that she can ride the waves of adversity and still remain afloat. It means she will withstand the test of endurance as time and circumstance crash against her. It means she is efficient with what and how she goes about her tasks. It means she will raise her head, as the masks do, and continue to her destination. I means she knows which direction to go and how to get there. It means she can provide and carry out duties for her family, the community and within the world of trade and business.
The verse continues with "she brings her food from afar." This not only includes the dependability to provide for her family, but also at what lengths she will go to do it. Most importantly, this verse tells me that a wife of noble character is a traveler. At the very least is willing to travel and communicate with people who life far away to conduct business. This is very exciting when you think of the stereotypical woman being entirely domestic. She goes where she needs to go, interacts with others and is not afraid to travel to get what the family and the community needs.
At first this verse was hard to work with, now it is one of my favorites. Women are strong, sturdy, resourceful, efficient, dependable, hard working, travelers and merchants. Still, the wife of noble character is looking to God for guidance and safety and taking care of others before herself. Again and again, these verses will show that women are able to take care of many things outside of the traditional roles for women; however, it is not to the glory of the woman to hold over a man's head nor a man's glory to restrict her from duties she is willing and capable of doing, the glory goes to God. By putting God first in our lives and working together as husband and wife and as a coed community, we make the unity of the church and we make God proud to call us His children.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Happy Father's Day!
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“A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.”
Proverbs 4:4 -- "My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live."
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And on this day to remember and honor Fathers, let us lift up the Holy Father, the one who made this life possible and who continues to guard and guide us everyday.
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Dear Lord,
Today, just like everyday, I simply want to lift praise up to you. I want to thank you so much for the people in my life, including all the fathers, and for making this life so amazing. There are always hard times, but knowing that you are Lord and are present in every detail of this world gives me hope. Only through you can we know real joy and peace. Thank you for providing that for us. Thank you for sending your Son to sacrifice His blood to cover our sins so that we may be eternally with you. I pray for all those who are lost and stumbling in this world. I pray that you would watch over them and water the seeds of faith that surround them. None of us are perfect, but thank you for loving us regardless. Thank you for guarding and guiding me through all of my days. Amen.
Friday, June 14, 2013
A Wife of Noble Character: Avoids Idleness
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This verse focuses on avoiding idleness. We should gather supplies and willingly be productive. It is when we sit idle that we begin to get in trouble (including but not limited to gossip and generally meddling in other people's business). Having noble character means you care for others and not cause trouble for them.
2 Thessalonians 3:11 -- "Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business."
We are warned to stay out of other people's business. It only causes trouble. It is so easy to fall into gossip and be a part of the social clique. But we are called to be better than that. We are called to encourage our neighbors and our friends -- to lift them up not to tear them down.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 -- "Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before."
The answer to avoiding gossip is to mind your own business and work with your hands. Focus on bettering the world around you and willingly seek out projects that help others and your family so you are not tempted by idle hands.
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