Proverbs 31:20

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.


Stretcheth- The Virtuous Woman had NO problem giving to the poor. Her heart had a willingness to give.
2 Corinthians 9:7 - “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Many people have physical needs, but who are ‘the poor’? The poor are not people on welfare who WON’T get a job, but those who are truly struggling to feed their family and pay their bills. I personally do not suggest giving money to those who appear to be poor, but to give them food or other necessities such as shampoo, razors, bathroom tissue, etc., if you are able. These days it’s hard to tell who really needs money or if they just want money for drugs or alcohol, or even junk food. It is also difficult to discern between who is needy and who just simply takes advantage of others who seem to have more than they do. These days, many people tend to be people-users, unfortunately. But the Lord showed us one day, after spending several hours and quite a bit of gas helping someone, that if we were expecting something back from that person in return for what we had done for them, then it wasn't truly doing it out of a pure heart to please God. That was when He really showed us what 'being USED of God' truly means. If others do use us or take advantage of us, we must remember Who we are serving and Who gave us the money or abilities to help them in the first place. He owns it ALL! Giving to the ‘poor’ is not just an Old Testament teaching. Paul says in Galatians 2:10 -”Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” Sometimes, we may be aware we are being defrauded by helping someone who really doesn’t need help, but perhaps God will honor our heart for giving.

More importantly are a person’s spiritual needs. We should always be available to help others spiritually, as well as be concerned for their souls. A gospel tract is a great way to witness to others, especially if we’re too shy to talk, or if we don’t feel confident enough in the Scriptures to tell someone about how to be saved. But we should always listen for God to speak to us and lead us to those who are needy spiritually. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 - “Quench not the Spirit.” Sometimes people will be brought into your life unexpectedly, needing help, and God will use us just because we are willing. Again, being 'used of God'!

We can also give spiritual help by encouraging others that are already saved, but just need a friend sometimes:
-a lonely, single mom
-a divorced woman
-an elderly lady
-someone struggling with the cares of life
-someone whose spouse is in the hospital or nursing home
-a young child whose parents really don’t care about his/her well-being

I would not suggest to a young lady that you should prepare food for a single man. They may get the wrong idea, and it is simply a bad appearance. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 - “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” When we had the cooking class at the church we used to belong to, there was a single man, also a church member, living in the apartment next door to the church. Whenever we had leftover food, we would prepare containers to deliver to people. One particular evening, a young teenage girl in the class wanted to deliver a container to him. I explained to her that even though it may be perfectly innocent, it may happen that someone not knowing her purpose could see her going to or leaving his apartment and get the wrong idea, thus hurting his and her reputations and testimonies. It doesn't take much for rumors to start, whether it is among the public or within the church house. This is also similar to hugging men or communicating too much with them, even in church. I don't hug other men, and I do not like when other women hug my husband, unless we are related. It's just an all-around unclean thing. Call me possessive if you like....I am! :)

God will give us the strength and help we need to help others. We must be submitted and surrendered to Him, and just be willing. I have a friend whose husband left her for another woman, just shortly after their first child was born, which was over six years ago. They went through a divorce, etc., and she had many long, tear-filled, lonely nights. MY words could encourage a little, but it was God's Word that ultimately gave her the help and comfort she needed. She was concerned that she would be alone forever. Actually, to this day she is still single. But I helped her realize that by being in church, being faithful to God and serving Him with her life, if God saw fit to give her another husband, He would do so in His time. And of course, the best place to find a husband would be in church. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 - "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."

The words ‘stretcheth’ and ‘reacheth’ show us that The Virtuous Woman made extra effort in helping others. Generally, any time we do help others, it requires sacrifice of something, whether it be money or time. Giving money may be the easiest, but it may not be what the person needs from us. They need our attention and time, and to know that we care, which may be more difficult to give. It may never be easy, but God does expect us to sacrifice ourselves for the benefit of others.

GOD’S WORD WORKS!! And it is the answer for everything!

Proverbs 31:18-19

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good;

Have you ever said things like, "Oh, I don’t think this is very good,” or “I can’t do that as good as...”, when we really believe inside that it IS good or better than someone else's? This is false humility, a quality that the virtuous woman surely did not possess. She knows that what she makes or does is of great worth or value and good quality, because she isn’t a slacker who does things only half way. Sometimes we just want to get sympathy from someone or attention to make us feel better about ourselves. We shouldn’t look for man’s approval, but God’s. Colossians 3:23-24 "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

If our heart and actions are pure and right before God, our true humility will be evident. We just need to be real before God, and others.

1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Do we want to be humble, or do we want God to humble us?

Her candle goeth not out by night...

Some days, our job seems to never end, even when it’s time for the lights to go out. We wear many different hats during the day, but we must always remember to save energy for our husband....he has needs, too. Put the children to bed early enough to spend quiet time with him.

Suggestions:

-Don’t put your children first whenever possible. Your husband was with you before your children were, and will be with you when your children are grown, married, and out of your home. Obviously, the smaller the children are, the more attention they demand. But don’t allow them to steal your attention away from your hubby for unnecessary reasons. Sometimes, just let the baby cry, as long as you know he doesn’t need anything. They need to see that you love each other. Children gain security knowing their parents want to be together.

-Don’t let the children come between you two and play one of you against the other. If daddy said no, don’t feel sorry for him and let him have his way, even if your husband is gone to work. Stick together on everything, even though you may think your husband is wrong about something. Dad is the law, Mom is the grace. We women are too soft, sometimes. Besides, Proverbs 23:13 says, “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.” He won’t be damaged for life, with proper correction. We should also not 'wait 'til dad gets home!!' Our children will eventually not look forward to daddy coming home, if he is their only disciplinarian. We moms MUST be consistent in correcting our children WHEN it is needed. It's unfortunate that correction is not a black and white matter. Sometimes it takes getting to the bottom of a situation to seek out the wrongdoing. But when a child directly disobeys a command the parent has given, he/she is in violation of Scripture, and it should be dealt with immediately.

Also, what are we telling our children when they do something wrong? Why is what they've done wrong? Is it wrong because Daddy says it is? Is it wrong because that's just what we've taught them? Why is it bad? What standard are we going by? Is it our opinion? We must have the Bible as our standard, because that is God's Word. What they have done is wrong because GOD's Word says it is wrong. We should be able to point these things out to them in the Bible. One verse that is very clear is Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."

-NEVER argue about the children’s discipline in front of them, but discuss it privately. Don’t even ACT like you think your husband is wrong in front of the children. Kids pay very close attention to these things.

-Don’t let them criticize their daddy.

Her candle goeth not out by night...

This doesn’t mean she just stayed up late, especially watching TV, reading books, or being on the computer. If we aren’t careful, Satan can steal our time using these things, even when they all seem to be ‘harmless’ shows or books. If we haven’t read our Bible or prayed, we shouldn’t be doing these other time-consuming activities. Ephesians 5: 15-16 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

The virtuous woman, as we have already seen, is very productive. But productive doesn’t always have to mean cooking, cleaning, sewing, ironing, etc. We can also invest our time in others, as long as we are not forsaking the needs of our first ministry, which is our home, husband, and children. Get your children involved in serving the Lord, too. Some things we can do are:

-make cookies for someone

-help someone clean their house

-babysit for a couple so they can have a date

-take their kids to the park for a couple of hours

-write a note of encouragement to a missionary

-take a lady friend out to lunch

We are seeing a steady pattern with the virtuous woman: hard working, unselfish, humble, and godly. Our example will have a lasting, eternal effect on how our children turn out. What is our goal as a Christian woman? Don't we want to raise our children in an atmosphere that is Christ-centered, where they can enjoy life and serve God now and in the future?

Since the time I wrote most of this devotion sometime in 2010, we've experienced having one of our sons, his wife, and our grandson, move out of state with the intention of serving God in a Spanish ministry. It was very heart-wrenching seeing them leave, and especially sad knowing I won't have our grandson close as` he grows up. But it's very comforting to know that they are serving the Lord with their lives. THAT is what we raise them for...FOR GOD'S GLORY. We certainly made mistakes over the years, but God's grace has helped us through thus far, and following His Word is the most important thing we can do as Christian parents.

GOD'S WORD WORKS!!!!

Proverbs 31:17

I've enjoyed looking back over these devotions we had done last year. Sometimes they have been more of a help to me now than they were when I first wrote them. My prayer is that whoever reads them will also find some help from the Word of God.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

Again, we see the virtuous woman as one that is not afraid to work hard, and involved in doing much physical labor. God does not want us to have strength as a man, but at least work hard so that we have strength in our arms.

1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little:...

The Bible points out that exercise does profit something, but we should not be obsessed with our physical body-building. Some good examples of things that would help her strengthen her arms, while being in the position God wants her to be, are:

-lifting, carrying, and holding babies

-unloading groceries

-carrying heavy laundry baskets

-scrubbing floors

-vacuuming

-kneading dough

-stirring things

-carrying in wood for your husband

-if you're like me, moving furniture :)

This does not mean we should not allow our husbands/sons to carry things for us when they are around. (Hopefully they will offer to.) It is not that we are weak, but it shows respect for us as the weaker vessel.

1 Peter 3:7 “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life.”

Solomon, the wisest person that ever lived, said in Ecclesiastes 9:16 “Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength:”

“Spiritual strength” is more important than physical strength. God wants us to have HIS strength. Phillippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

In looking through my Bible's concordance for verses with the word ‘strength’, almost all of the verses referred to God’s strength. We find His strength in His Word. Jesus Christ says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” And Paul in verse 10“...for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

There were times when Paul felt alone: 2 Timothy 4:16-17 “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out to the mouth of the lion.”

At times we also may feel alone:

-in the world

-in our family

-in the church

-from a lack of appreciation, maybe even from our husband

The Apostle Paul encouraged himself in the Lord...sometimes it may not come from anywhere else.

David also encouraged himself in the Lord: 1 Samuel 30:6 “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

By faith we must trust in God’s Word; that is where our strength must come from. Think of people that must feel so alone sometimes, like those who have lost their spouse, or who have been abandoned and left with children to raise by themselves. They may get encouragement from family or church members, but ultimately, their comfort, help, and strength must come from the Lord. I don't understand how someone who hasn't trusted the Lord can make it through difficult times without Him.

Who else was girded?

David: Psalm 18:32 “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.”

Psalm 18:39 “For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.” His strength came from God, who allowed him to defeat his enemies.

Jesus Christ: John 13:4 “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”

Christ is our ultimate example of a servant. He(God), humbled himself to serve others. Philippians 2:7-8 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. We must have His strength to humble ourselves to serve others.

Surely the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 had others in mind when she girded her loins and strengthened her arms. She was probably putting forth much effort to provide things for her family, not for herself. (Food, clothing, etc.) We must put ourselves on the back burner, so to speak, and with our hearts and lives, serve God by serving others. And remember, we ARE serving God by taking care of our first ministry, which is our home, husband, and children.

GOD'S WORD WORKS!!!

Proverbs 31:16

Proverbs 31:16

She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

The virtuous woman considered, or gave careful thought, before purchasing this field. A field is a very large purchase. The verse does not say that she consulted her husband first. His heart may have safely trusted in her, and allowed her to do such things. However, I believe a woman such as this, who was submitted to her husband, would have consulted him first.

In making a purchase without being able to check with our husbands first, there are a few things to consider:

*Is it something we really need?

*Do we really have extra money for it?

*Does it work well?

*Could we resell it or return it to the store if he decides we shouldn’t have gotten it?

I believe a wife should always consult her husband on purchases that are somewhat costly, if at all possible. It should not be “my money/his money” in a marriage, or the attitude “I can buy what I want.” It should be OUR money no matter who ‘earned’ it. In the institution of marriage, the couple is ONE. Matthew 19:5 ....For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

In the previous verses, we learned that she may have had her own business, but that does not mean it was HER money. He allowed her to work.

Having spending money is different. If your husband allows you to have your own money to spend however you like, you could buy whatever you want. However, I think the virtuous woman would still have been frugal and considered her purchase beforehand. I feel guilty when I spend money foolishly, except on eating out!

Consulting our husband first will help because he may see things from a different view. Men usually do. They are not emotional as we women are, or maybe not as impulsive. Would you want an emotional husband? Who would straighten us out when our hormones act up?!! God made us different. If there are 100 light bulbs on a wall, and 99 of them work and one does not, the man will look at that wall and say, “Oh well, 99 are working.” And he would be just fine with that. But the woman will look at the same wall and say, “I need that ONE light bulb fixed!!!” We think differently, and his thinking can save us from poor purchases.

Obviously, the virtuous woman worked ‘willingly with her hands’ and had fruit from her labors, and planted a vineyard, and also maintained it. Surely she had her children working with her (although the Bible does not say). It develops good character in them. I doubt that they were indoors watching TV or on the computer while their mother was working feverishly pulling weeds. We must train them to work.

It appears that she made a wise investment because later in the chapter, we see that she sells her merchandise(verse 24). What could it have been that she sold? Grape juice, jelly, jam? What if she began the lineage of the family who provided the grape juice(new wine) that Jesus Christ drank?? What an important task!

No matter how small or unimportant we may think our job is, it is GREAT in the sight of our Lord. Our ministry of our home, husband, and children is the most important job of all. We are to be encouragers, nurturers, spiritual guides to our children, teachers of good things, (Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;....) and so much more. Homes are falling apart because the mom is not home to guide her children. Don’t allow the world to make you feel inferior because you aren’t a ‘successful’ person by their standards. We may not always be the perfect wife and mother, but I know in time our children will appreciate all we did for them while they lived with us. Someday, I hope to hear the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" for the efforts I've put forth as a wife and mom. Earthly gain is not my priority, but that our children grow up to love God with their hearts, and that they will want to serve Him with their lives, wherever He may lead. (Yes, even if it means taking my grandson away and live in Texas!)

One day YOU will be the older teaching the younger, in one way or another. What will your example be?

GOD'S WORD WORKS!!!

Proverbs 31:15

Here is the next devotion in the Virtuous Woman series. I hope this and previous posts have been a blessing to you, and that they have helped in some way. I don't know that it is possible to ever achieve the Virtuous Woman in its entirety. However, through the help of the Lord Jesus Christ, through trials, finding our weaknesses, and learning from our mistakes over the years, we can become the woman that God desires and whom our husband desires.

Proverbs 31:15

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

This is a difficult verse for me to teach to others, because I don’t live it myself at this point in my life. There was a time earlier in our marriage that I did wake early to make breakfast for my husband, and pack his lunch, at 3:30 a.m. so he could be at work at 5 a.m.

At first, in studying this verse, I tried to pick verses such as Psalm 127:2...It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Nevertheless, the virtuous woman rose early.

Her example is basically:

-Not lazy, but a hard worker. She was industrious.

-Not wasteful of her time. Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Satan will use many things, if we allow him, to steal our time doing unproductive things.

-Not selfish. The verse doesn’t say anything about when she had her meal, but served her family and maidens first. She put her family before herself. Meal times as a family are special. When we were first married, we ate meals on TV trays in front of the TV. We realized we had no communication between us, so we began eating together at the dining room table. It’s a great time to catch up on events of the day.

I cannot picture the virtuous woman doing the following:

-Watching soap operas and eating bonbons, or shows like Oprah...or TV in general.

-Playing computer games all day.

-Reading romance novels filled with ungodly lust.

-Talking on the phone for hours. If I call my friend from Missouri, Tammy, we usually talk for an hour or so, but I try to continue working at the same time.

-Gossiping. Gossip is not just necessarily talking about negative things about other people. It can be just telling information about someone that the other person does not need to know. Many people (Christians) use the excuse of prayer to tell others private information...”Pray for _____, she has really been going through it....” 1 Timothy 5:13,14 “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle, but tattlers also and busy bodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”

The Bible says: Phillippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Virtue: a voluntary desire for, and obedience to, TRUTH.

Our home reflects our attitude, what we think about, and what we do with our time. Those things will also reflect in our children.

So what did she do with her time? Verses following speak of her making things, such as clothing for her household, and fine linen and girdles, and selling them to the merchant. She had her own business.

Examples of women in the Bible that were industrious:

*Tabitha(Dorcas)-a widow that made coats and garments. Acts 9:36-42

*Lydia, seller of purple. Acts 16:14-15

*(Aquila and) Priscilla were tentmakers: Acts 18:2-3 She helped her husband.

I do not believe, though, that the virtuous woman had a business that required forsaking her children or husband. I believe that Lydia, if she had children(the Bible doesn’t say, but does speak of ‘her household’), that she would have taken them with her. I doubt she would have left them with another lady to go make money. They are our first ministry. Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

What are some things a wife can do to help make money and yet not forsake her first ministry?

Some examples are:

Make food and sell it, sew for others, clean houses, babysit, help teach others’ children.

Other ideas: make crafts to sell at holiday bazaars, take clothes to consignment stores to sell, have a bake sale, have a yard sale.

Sometimes doing nothing can also be a good thing. An example of this is sitting on the yard swing with your husband and enjoying a cup of coffee/cappuccino together, or snuggling on the couch after lunch. Video games, computer games, or a movie may be a fun way to spend a little bit of time with your children. There should be a BALANCE of these things, though. Again, our home reflects what we do with our time, and those things will also reflect in our children.

She arose early! UGH!!

Most people enjoy reading their Bibles in the morning. Personally, I prefer to at night, but that does not always work out, and my mind is usually on what I’m making for breakfast or the laundry that needs to be done, etc. However, Proverbs 8:17 says: I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. And also, Psalm 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD: in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Since the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 had an organized, successful, and productive life, she must have gotten up very early and spent time with the Lord in prayer, in the quiet of her home before the family arose.

Christ arose early on the third day, after paying the penalty for MY sin on the cross and then by descending into the pit of hell for three days. I should desire to get up early each morning to thank Him for what He did for me. James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Not to make excuses for myself, but to acknowledge that I’m far from perfect, and far from being the virtuous woman in the Bible. Whether it is because of health reasons, because I am not a morning person, or simply to avoid facing my daily responsibilities, I struggle with this verse in my life. Some people excel in areas that others do not. We may never achieve the “perfect virtuous woman”, but we should try. God wants to spend time with us, so we should take the time to spend some with Him. Even if we do not begin our day with Him, He should be on our minds throughout the day as we work.

The life we are living is the life we are teaching.

GOD'S WORD WORKS!!

Proverbs 31:13,14

As we continue through the book of Proverbs, we will see in many of the verses to follow that the Virtuous Woman was very industrious, and seemingly always busy. It is important that we not be idle, but we have to remember to keep our focus on the Lord and what our priorities are. He should come first, then our husband and children. As we grow in our relationship to the Lord, then we will also grow in our relationships to our husband and children.

Proverbs 31:13, 14

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

Two words stuck out to me, the first being “seeketh”.

This means the virtuous woman was:

*diligent--she shops for good deals

-watches for sales, looks at weekly grocery ads to see what’s on sale

-stocks up on needful things that are on sale

-uses coupons on items you normally would purchase, not on things that are unnecessary

-buys off-brand items as much as possible(cheap is not always best, however)

*She would not spend money foolishly, but on what would benefit her family...their needs, not just their wants.

*She would not be hasty in her decisions on purchases. We may miss out on a blessing by buying on impulse instead of being patient and waiting on the Lord. Last year, we were in need of a queen-size bed and another twin bed. When we had company visit from out of town, we didn't have sufficient places for them to sleep. We had gone shopping for a new queen bed, but since they were out of our price range, we decided to wait. Within two weeks or so, we were able to acquire a queen mattress, then a box springs, then a frame, then an oak headboard, all for $10. About the same time, we acquired a twin mattress set in the same manner. The Lord supplied those needs just at the perfect time, and at a more than reasonable price. He is just so good!

Another good example of waiting on the Lord is from an excerpt from Mrs. Jones' book, The Virtuous Woman:

["One fall, I really wanted to make my little granddaughters fancy velvet dresses. I went to all my best bargain stores but all in vain. The very lowest price was ten dollars a yard! How could I spend the money God had given me so foolishly? What could our missionaries do with the money it would take to make three velvet dresses? All things considered, my answer was, "No." Now there are some things that grandmothers desire in their hearts that only God understands.

We went to West Virginia to visit friends. They lived on top of a mountain in the wilderness. It was a beautiful place, but it was far from any major city. The men went hunting and left us to visit. The conversation settled on our common interest in sewing, and she suggested we visit her favorite fabric store. Off we went, down the mountain. We probably traveled about twenty minutes after we reached the base of the mountain. We came to a fabric store in a small, country town. What met my astonished eyes as we entered the store but a huge table of velveteen? Would you believe? It was priced at $2.50 a pound! That was a pound not a yard! The Lord said, "Go on, Mamaw, have a desire of your heart." I truly believe that God gave me this bargain because I refused to yield and waste the money he had trusted to my use."]

Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

*She saves their money whenever possible. Times may get tough now and then, so making things from scratch can save a lot of money, although it takes more time. By keeping basic items in your pantry, there are many simple things you can make to add to a meal and make it a bit more special: Biscuits, muffins, breads, quick breads, and rolls. These are filling, and stretch a meal nicely.

Some easy to make things with basic ingredients are:

Pancakes, waffles, muffins, biscuits, cookies, cakes, breads, and pies.
-Items to keep on hand: Flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda and powder, eggs, milk, oil, butter, cocoa, oats, yeast, dried fruit, fresh fruit like bananas, oranges, and apples.

-A few extras can make something extra yummy: Chocolate chips, coconut, frozen fruit(blueberries for muffins), cake mix, brownie mix, canned cherry or apple filling, canned pumpkin.

*She does not “poor mouth”- that is, constantly talking about not having enough money for this or that, and making your husband look like a poor provider. This also shows that we haven’t trusted in the Lord to supply our needs, and that we are dissatisfied and discontent with what we have been given.

If we have needs, our Heavenly Father knows all about them. Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

We are to pray to Him to supply those needs. 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

We just need to be faithful with what He HAS ALREADY given us, and He may be able to trust us with more. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

We can also help save money by making clothes, buying them at garage sales or thrift stores, or sale items.

The second word in these verses to discuss is the word, “willingly”.

What is our attitude, or willingness, to do these things, to help save his/our hard-earned income?

What was Christ’s willingness for us?

2 Peter 3:9 God is“not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Because of this, He willingly gave us His Son:

2 Corinthians 8:9-12 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor , that ye through his poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

Maybe we can’t do EVERYTHING, but we can try. Christ gave it all for us! We just need to be willing to try.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Christ was a servant. By serving others, we are serving God.

1 Thess 4:11-12 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

By serving God, we are being a testimony to them that are without(the unsaved).

His Word also says, “that ye may have lack of nothing”. God will supply our needs if we have a willingness to work with our hands.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Isn’t our ultimate goal to serve God, be a good testimony, and hope that others will come to know Jesus Christ as their Saviour? We are not here on earth to serve ourselves and be happy. Our lives are so short, James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life: It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. But we can make a difference for God while we’re here. By working willingly with our hands, we are serving God.

God’s Word Works!!

Proverbs 31:12

Next, we will look at verse 12 of Proverbs 31, another very vital one that will help any marriage. Since I have included an excerpt from a book written by Shirla Jones, it has turned into a quite lengthy devotion. I hope you will still take the time to read it in its entirety. Her book was a great help to me, as I know it will be for many others as well. :)

Proverbs 31:12

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

*Woman was created FOR the man: Genesis 2:18 "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."

*We are an ‘help’ for him, created to help meet his needs, etc. This can also mean meeting his physical needs, even when we are not 'up to it'. In general, problems between a husband and wife revolve around three things: money, the children, and sex. I know that this is a sensitive subject for some, but it is a very vital part of any marriage. In the book, "The Virtuous Woman", by Mrs. Shirla Jones, there is an excerpt I would like to include in this devotion. As married women, or young women preparing for marriage, I believe it is very necessary information to know and learn. It is not in its entirety word for word, as I have used bits and pieces throughout the other parts of these devotions, but I have gleaned what I feel is the most useful information pertaining to this subject.

["God planned the intimate part of marriage before the fall! He created the woman for the man. Adam called her, "bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh..." Genesis 2:23
To become one with our husbands, our lives must be so intertwined that we can sense the needs of our husbands. Our sexual private life is just a part and expression of our deepest affection shown for each other. As we share that bed, we also share our deepest feelings and desires. We might share our fears and anxieties. There, in the quiet dark away from the rush of the day, we can express, safely, our innermost thoughts. We can freely express the love God has given each for the other.
Deliberate, conscientious preparation should be made to insure the bonding God intended. The virtuous woman prepares her spirit, mind, and body for her husband. As she begins her day, she prays, first submitting herself completely to the Lord. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." James 4:7
The virtuous woman prepares her mind for her husband by thinking of his good qualities through her busy day. She might remember the last time they made love, and of the thrill and comfort they experienced.
The body is the last prepared. Before her husband's arrival home, this wise woman refreshes herself. She takes a bath, if necessary, combs her hair and brushes her teeth. If possible, a short rest is advisable. This is relaxing and refreshing. She is prepared for an enjoyable evening with her husband.
After she is personally prepared, she must provide privacy. Your children should have their own rooms and beds and never even expect to sleep with mother and daddy. It is better for your children to sacrifice privacy and convenience rather than for you and your husband. It is important that your husband is first (after the Lord, of course). He was first in your life and he should continue in that position after the children arrive and continue throughout your life. The children will be gone in a few years, and it will be you and your husband for many. I mention this because I have observed that the children's feelings and desires are sometimes allowed to come before the parent's.
It is time for bed and that special time alone. This may be a time of just reading, listening to a radio, stereo or just talking. You may desire a sexual experience or you may not. You may both be tired and just say, "I love you," and go to sleep.
Let's think about our part in the sexual experience. Sometimes we are the ones who initiate the lovemaking, sometimes, our husbands. It is good for our husbands to know that we enjoy them as much as they enjoy us! Our husbands enjoy touching and caressing just as we do. In lovemaking, we should express our love for our husbands just as we expect them to express their love for us. It should be a rare occasion that we refuse our husbands. "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
Notice, in verse 5, God shows equal consideration for the husband and wife. Some have been incorrectly taught that sex is just for the man. God's Word teaches us differently. "...and thy desire shall be to thy husband..." Genesis 3:16
Our attitude about sex may be influenced by our background or an unhappy childhood experience. We may have a poor attitude, or a healthy attitude. Whatever our attitude, it should be conformed to God's Word. We should accept and enjoy this part of our life as fully as possible. "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled..." Hebrews 13:4
The virtuous woman is wise; she understands her husband. He is not always the greatest lover of the century but neither is she. Sometimes lovemaking is a brief experience, while at other times, it reaches absolute ecstasy. This wise woman understands that her husband's body and her own is not a machine that performs sexually the same every time. Health, fatigue, and emotional stress can affect our lovemaking. This virtuous woman is sensitive to these conditions.
She is never too old for sex. Her body will change but her mind and spirit remain the same. Because sex is an expression of love and oneness, it is ageless. The virtuous woman is good for her husband her whole life! Her love for her husband should grow deeper and mature as she matures.
The virtuous woman is valuable because her husband can trust her in all areas of their home."]

The statement about never being too old for sex reminds me of something Darren's grandmother told me once. She was at least in her 70's, and I don't recall how we were even on this subject, but she said, "Joe and I still enjoy sex. It may take a while, but we still enjoy it." It's funny in a way, but a blessing to know that we should be able to enjoy the physical part of marriage for many years. :)


*We are not created equal with men. We are referred to as the weaker vessel. 1 Peter 3:7 "...giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel.... " The man is weak, but we are weaker. Would you want to be equally as strong as your husband? Or stronger than him? Someone is going to be the weaker. It is our pride that makes us not want to be weaker than our husband.

*Marriage is not 50/50...it is 100/100!!! ...'all the days of her life.'
Ephesians 5:21-23 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

*A worldly view is that the couple should share equally in the chores of the home. God only commands the young women to be ‘keepers at home”, not the man. (Titus 2:4-5)This philosophy began with the women’s liberation movement, when women wanted to be treated equally with men, and when women began working outside the home and were not able to complete their usual tasks.

*This does not mean we only do him good if he does good to us. Ephesians 5:24 "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."

Some women say, “I'm not going to be subservient to a man,” or “to my husband,” like it’s a degrading thing.
The meaning of the word, SUBSERVIENT: 1: useful in an inferior capacity; 2: serving to promote some end; 3: obsequiously submissive(marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness,(an example of this would be the woman who wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair. Not that we 'worship' our husbands, but we honor and reverence him. Ephesians 5:33b "and the wife see that she reverence her husband.").

WHY NOT be subservient?
Would we be subservient to our boss in a secular job? To the pastor in the church? Of course! So why not in the home, for our own husbands that God has given us? (Satan has perverted our thinking in this area.)

Let's look at Christ as a servant: Philippians 2:7-9 "But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:"
Jesus Christ was God in the flesh, yet He came to earth to be a servant. Who washed the disciples' feet? And the apostle Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 9:19 "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And in 1 Corinthians 7:22, "For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant." We serve others BECAUSE of what Christ did for us, not just to 'please men'.

Doing good for our husbands includes being encouraging, supportive, and in general, being a blessing. Being sure he has a packed lunch, ironing his clothes, shining his shoes, getting his coffee, etc. FIND OUT things he likes and how he likes them, and try to do them for him.
THE LITTLE THINGS can be a big blessing!! Write him a note occasionally and put it in his lunch or somewhere he will find it when he wakes up. Buy him a little treat when you go shopping. Send him a text message or an email during the day to tell him what a wonderful man he is, or how thankful to God you are for him. Just let him know you love him, and don't give other women a chance to gain his attention.
DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO CRITICIZE YOUR HUSBAND! -No matter what his faults may be.

Examples of doing evil would be:
-Doing things behind our husband’s back.
-Spending money foolishly.
-Lying to him.
-Criticizing him, especially to others, even jokingly.
-Purposefully doing things that you know irritate him.
-Thinking he isn’t important enough that you should do something for him.
-Talking negatively about him to your children.
-Telling personal things about him, especially his faults or lack of character.
-Comparing him to other husbands.
-Manipulating him.

WE JUST NEED TO MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD AND OVERLOOK SOME OF HIS FAULTS. WOULDN’T WE LIKE HIM TO DO THE SAME FOR US?

A marriage requires unselfishness, loyalty, humility, longsuffering, love, reverence, work, dedication, effort, but most importantly, Jesus Christ as the center. The closer we draw to HIM, the closer we will draw to each other.

GOD’S WORD WORKS!!!!

The Virtuous Woman, Proverbs 31:11

So many things have happened in our life since my last post. Wow, I thought it would be easy to do a devotion weekly. One of our sons, along with his wife and son, has moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to help with a church's Spanish ministry. It's hard saying goodbye, especially when I haven't gotten the chance to make cookies with my grandson yet. But isn't that what we Christians raise our children for? to serve God with their hearts and lives, no matter where He may take them? And our 20-year old son just got married this past weekend. So hectic our lives can be; but God has enough grace to get us through all situations, and He certainly has.

This next verse in Proverbs 31, verse 11, is one of the most important ones to me: "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil." I want to be someone that my husband can safely trust in. It would be devastating to me if my husband felt that he needed to check up on me constantly like a child out of control. There should be nothing between us and our husbands that would make one doubt the other. It was an honor when my husband said the words to me, "My heart does safely trust in you." That was almost as wonderful as hearing the Lord say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

The word 'spoil': goods or property seized from a victim after a conflict, especially after military victory. In the Bible, many times after a battle was fought, the men would take the property(weapons, food, clothing, etc.), sometimes in order to survive. This verse is referring to how a wife will spend, or not spend, all of their money. She will be frugal, or thrifty, when it comes to their money, and not buy unnecessary things. Her husband trusts her with the checkbook, knowing that she will be wise in her spending, so that he does not need to acquire 'spoil' from elsewhere.

Hopefully, she has a heart to serve God, and will desire to give money to missions, help the needy, and have a giving heart.

HIS HEART TRUSTS IN HER:

They have confidence in each other; he should not fear betrayal or violating confidence he has revealed to her.

-She does not keep secrets from him.

-She does not talk negatively about him, or point out his faults to others.

-She does not tell their personal problems to others.

-She does not read his emails without his knowledge. There are things our husbands may know that may hurt us emotionally, for example, and they may want to keep things from us to protect us.

-She does not discuss their personal, private, intimate life with anyone.

-She will not embarrass him by criticizing him in the presence of his children or others. Ephesians 5:33b and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

-She will be patient to acquire things that she feels are important or needed, so that she doesn't put added financial pressure on him.

-She prays for her husband to be all he can be for God, and supports him in his decisions. Even if she thinks he is wrong, she should not argue that, but let God reveal it to him in HIS time. And don't be one to say, 'I told ya so'. That would just be our pride.

-She is submissive to him, as the Scripture tells us to be. Ephesians 5:22-24 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."

-She takes care of his needs.

-She is, in general, an encouragement and a blessing to her husband.

-She makes the home a nice place for him to want to come home to. There is a difference between a house and a home. I have seen houses that are beautifully decorated and spotless, but the marriage relationship was a disaster. I would rather be happily married with an imperfect house, than for my house be immaculate and be absolutely miserable. Yes, we are to be keepers at home, and our home does make an impression on others. However, a good, Christ-centered marriage will produce a happy home, happy spouses, and happy children. If our children see us as real, God-loving people, they too will want to serve God with their hearts, and the home will naturally become a haven for the family. There should be a balance.

-She doesn't nag, or tell him what to do.

-She doesn't save the discipline of the children for him when he gets home.

-She listens to him.

-She helps build up his self-image. There will be enough people in the world being used of the devil that will try to tear him down, so the wife should be his BIGGEST FAN!!

GOD'S WORD WORKS!!!

The Virtuous Woman: Proverbs 31:10

PROVERBS 31:10

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Who can find a virtuous woman?

The first question is, Who is looking for a virtuous woman? And in looking for them, will they find one? God is looking for them, even if man is not. A worldly woman is easy to find, but who will be the exception?

For some of us, we were already married before we were saved. For others, you are younger and unmarried, or you may be older and single or divorced. God wants our focus to be on Him, but, as married women, it is more difficult to do so than for single ladies. 1 Corinthians 7:34 The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. In any case, however, God is interested in how we live as ladies.

Throughout the Bible, there are qualities of women mentioned, both positive and negative. Here are some examples:

1 Peter 3:4 (speaking to wives here) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Proverbs 19:14b ...and a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Proverbs 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

1 Timothy 3:11 Even so must their wives(speaking to bishops, or pastors, and deacons) be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

It seems that negative examples are easier to find than the positive.

Proverbs 7:10-11 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:...)

Proverbs 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

Proverbs 27:15, 16b A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind,

Proverbs 25:24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

[You can see I like the book of Proverbs. I figure, since Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived and wrote most of the Proverbs, reading them should give me wisdom. So every day, I try to read the corresponding Proverb for that day of the month, since there are 31 Proverbs. For example, today being the 7th of February, I would read Proverbs chapter 7.]

But back to our topic, it seems God has a preference as to how He wants us to be. I would think that a man who has godly principles and lives by the Word of God would desire those same qualities as well.

....for her price is far above rubies.

Whoever is looking for a ruby knows that it will be worth searching for, purchasing, and possessing. One with such great price is worth much to them. There is value in them and what they are. This is compared to the Virtuous Woman. She is worth much more than rubies!

The Ruby:

Rubies are even more rare than diamonds. The most rare ruby was 8.62 carats, at a record auction price of over $3.6 million. God says that a virtuous woman is worth far ABOVE rubies! He puts great value on them, and He must know that they are rare.

There are several properties used to determine the value of a gem. One of them is hardness. The hardness of a ruby is just under that of a diamond. Not that we, as ladies, are to be hard and tough, but spiritually enabled to endure hardness, and all to the glory of God.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 says, Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. There will be many hard knocks in the Christian life, and many hurts, even from fellow Christians. That is why God gave us spiritual armour (Ephesians 6:13-16). With His armour and help (Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.) we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (Eph. 6:16).

Another property in determining gem value is durability. In 1 Peter 3:7, wives are referred to as the weaker vessel. That doesn't mean we are weak as a person, but weaker than the husband. We are supposed to be weaker than our husbands. Although we may be the weaker vessel, we can still be strong in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. How durable are we? God can use us to be a help to our husbands, a good example to our children and other women, and in leading others to Christ. All of these things have an eternal effect in others' lives.

Lustre is also a property used to determine the value of a gem. The lustre refers to its transparency. To possess gem value it must be TRANSPARENT, which is what the lustre of the ruby is. In the Christian life, it is critical that we be transparent to others, and not act or be a fake. We need to be who God wants us to be, and not try to hide our faults and mistakes to make ourselves look better than we truly are. Matthew 23:28, Christ says, Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Or in 2 Timothy 3:5 it says, Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. It is because of this type of hypocrisy that many people stay away from church. They see people that claim to be Christians acting totally different away from church.

Transparency can also be purity, and chaste. The word chaste means innocent, pure, undefiled, self-denying, virtuous(voluntary obedience to truth). The opposite of this is promiscuous, immoral. Sometimes the things she does may go unnoticed and she may be unappreciated. Seemingly, there is not much of a reward(income). Colossians 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. There are great eternal rewards of the selfless life of such a woman.

As I've said before, no one can attain the Virtuous Woman completely, but with God's help, we can be what He wants us to be, but we must be willing. His Word should be our guide for every aspect of life. Is there a desire and willingness in your heart?

GOD'S WORD WORKS!!

Introduction

Hello. This is the first time I have ever written a blog, and it is intended for ladies only. I'm excited about doing this, because the teaching on The Virtuous Woman has greatly impacted my life. It doesn't seem that long ago that I was one of the younger women being taught by the older. However, in the last few years I have had the privilege of teaching a cooking class at a church in Eaton, Ohio, in which Proverbs 31:10-31 became a part. The students were required to memorize that passage, but I didn't want them to just memorize it. I wanted it to have meaning in their lives as it has in mine. The Lord allowed me to study and prepare weekly devotions from each verse. The verse-by-verse devotions were inspired by the initial teaching I had by an older lady I truly admire as a wonderful example of the Proverbs 31 woman, Shirla Jones. My husband, Darren, was a wonderful contributor and help to me with each devotion. He is my best friend, a wonderful husband and father, and the perfect Spiritual leader of our home.

No woman can ever attain the Bible's 'Virtuous Woman' in its entirety. We all have faults and failures in one area or another. Jesus Christ is the only human that ever lived that was sinless and perfect. But, through Him, we can become the Virtuous Woman that God wants us to be. It's the same as salvation...it takes a willing heart and mind to accept God's way, and yield our will to Him. We must admit to Him that we are a sinner, that we need a Saviour to take that sin away, and trust in Jesus Christ alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." It must be a realization not just in our mind, but in our heart. Likewise, we as women can become more Christ-like through studying and applying God's Word to our lives, if we open our hearts to what the Bible has to say.

God has a purpose for each of us. Although Proverbs 31 is in the Old Testament, we can still glean much from it and learn from the examples given. In the New Testament, the Scripture clearly teaches us to be "Keepers At Home". Titus 2:4-5 says, "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." There is no purpose greater for us in our lives, than to be in our home, taking care of the needs of our husbands and children. Our desire is to be toward our husband. Being home with our children gives them stability and security. It keeps them protected from a sinful, cruel, and negatively influential world. As we will see from the Scriptures, our position as "Keepers at Home" is the most important and influential position we could ever have as ladies. Not only can we have a lasting and positive effect on our family, but by doing so, we will influence the world, and eternity.

You will notice that I refer to the Scripture often. The King James Bible, AV 1611, is the inspired, perfect, inerrant, preserved Word of God. It is THE Final Authority by which we can judge right from wrong, truth from error, and fact from opinion. The Bible says what it says, 2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. We must decide what we base our beliefs on, and my beliefs are based on this Book, God's Word.

So, in the upcoming weeks, I hope the devotions will be helpful and encouraging. They may even be life-changing for some...I know they were for me.