Women in the Word Wednesday - 2012 Summer Study Wk 7

Today I am linking up with Good Morning Girls for "Women in the Word Wednesday"

Thursday, June 21st
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11
- Proverbs 19:17

1 Thess. 4:11 says "and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you," and Proverbs 19:17 says "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done."

These verses are so important because they reiterate that we should mind our own business, not being gossips and that we should be kind to the poor. As I told my mom yesterday, I know that I am needy right now, but I also know that there are plenty of people who are much less fortunate than I, those who have no food in their bellies, no roof over their heads, and for that I should give back what I can, I should help. Too often do we spend time thinking "woe is me" and "how hard this life is for me" that we don't stop and think that we should be grateful for what we have, because it is often a lot more than others. I struggle with this A LOT, especially lately while I have been unemployed and slowly going broke. Today I am praying for a thankful attitude toward the blessings that I have, the necessaries that I have so that I can survive. Yes, maybe I don't have the extravagances, and yes, that sucks, but what I do have is a lot and I need to be continually thankful for it.

Friday, June 22nd
- GMG Reflection

Today I continued in my Living a Divinely Inspired Life devotional and todays reading focused on David and the raid that occurred at his camp, specifically the events of 1 Samuel 30:1-20. He lost everything, but he listened to God who assured him he would get it all back and he did! This is encouraging to me because it shows we can get back what we have lost, the Lord will help us and guide us, as long as we believe and listen to him. What a great message!

Monday, June 25th
- Proverbs 31:21
- Proverbs 27:23
- Proverbs 31 Woman book p. 24-25

"When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for all of them are clothed in scarlet." - Proverbs 31:21


I honestly was not sure what this verse meant by saying they are "clothed in scarlet" and what it had to do with snow and winter months. I did think that it meant the color, but then I realized that it made no sense at all, so I did some research. Apparently to be clothed in scarlet it means to be double clothed. The Proverbs 31 woman does not worry about her family in the winter months because she is able to provide her family with warm clothes, they are clothed in scarlet and therefore protected and warmed from the cold. Now that makes sense! 


As for Proverbs 27:23 it states, "Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds." Generally I think this means that we must show a positive and welcoming regard for our flocks, we must take good care of them, making sure they have everything they need. 


Tuesday, June 26th
- Psalm 46:1-2

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea" I think this is so timely for all of us lately. We must never forget that God is our refuge in these tough and troubling times. I have been worrying about money SO MUCH lately and it is driving me crazy! I did finally get hours at my job, now that they got the HR fiasco sorted out, but still, it's not many. I am trying to think of it as some hours are better than no hours, which is so true, and hopefully after I show them the good worker that I can be they will schedule me for many more hours! We will see!

Wednesday, June 27th 
- Proverbs 31:22
- Titus 2:9-10
- Proverbs 31 Woman book p. 26

"She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple." She just does everything, no? Not only does she rise early, make purchases for her family, feed her family, clothe her family, but she also makes coverings for her bed! What a woman! I like that we see the type of clothing she wears, that being fine linen and purple. To me this shows that she not only cares about making sure her life is in order and taking care of her family, but she also cares about her appearance. When I see that she is clothed in purple I automatically think royalty, and I'm not sure why, I suppose it's because purple seems to be associated with regal-ness, etc.

"Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way." Honestly, I am unsure why we are reading this verse along with the other one, is this to say that women are slaves? I know that is not what it is literally implying, it just seems to be the "implied" meaning by having this verse assigned here with the other. I suppose we could just think of it as individuals must do their best to make sure things are done well, without protest, showing their worth and value. By doing so they will glorify God because not only will they be teaching by their words, but also through their actions and how they live life and serve others. 

Women in the Word Wednesday - 2012 Summer Study Wk 6

Today I am linking up with Good Morning Girls for "Women in the Word Wednesday"

Thursday, June 14th
- Proverbs 14:23
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Proverbs 14:23 says "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." I wonder if this is where the saying "talk is cheap" comes from. I mean, that is essentially what is being said here, right? 1 Thressalonians 4:11 says "and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you" I like this verse about leading a quiet life. It doesn't necessarily mean "quiet" in the sense of not making a sound or not speaking, but quiet in the sense that you shouldn't be out there causing trouble, picking fights, or trying to involve yourself in matters that don't concern you. It also says you should work with your hands. I like that it says that specifically because it means you should get right down to it, right in the heart of it, as closely connected to your work as one can be. What a great mental picture.

Friday, June 15th
- GMG Reflection
- Living a Divinely Inspired Life Devotional (Day 1) --> Genesis 12:1-3, Psalm 139:13-18

I am reading a devotional called "Living a Divinely Inspired Life" and todays verses were Genesis 12:1-3 and Psalm 139:13-18. The focus of the reading was about our purpose and about asking God to show us what that purpose is. I think this reading was extremely timely for me as I am suffering through a sort of depression. I feel like I have no purpose. I spend days here at home, often with little to no social interaction with the outside world. I have recently deactivated FB again for studying, which has been helpful for getting more done, but has also left me feeling so disconnected from life. I miss hearing about people and what's going on in their lives. Yes, maybe I was living vicariously through them on FB, but still, it was some sort of connection, no matter how slight.

Monday, June 18th
- Proverbs 31:19 
- Proverbs 31 Woman book p. 20-21

The verse states "in her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers." I had to look and see what a distaff is because I was unsure as to what it was. According to Merriam Webster it says a distaff is "A stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound for spinning" I suppose this verse means that she makes things on a spinning device.

The Proverbs 31 woman weaves her own clothes, she works with her hands. Not only does she rise early, burn the late night oils, travel far to provide food for her family, etc. but she also makes clothing! What a woman! What a standard for us to aspire toward. While I may never make my own clothing, I can make other things for my family, and I should!

Tuesday, June 19th
- Colossians 3:23
- Ephesians 6:7

The focus of the two verses was to work happily at whatever we are working on, with a feeling that we are working for the Lord as opposed to working for people. Work as though we are working for a higher power and a greater good. I think this is a great thing to remember because we need to work and sometimes if we work with a higher power in mind maybe we will be more happy in our work.

Wednesday, June 20th 
- Proverbs 31:20
- Deuteronomy 15:7-8
- Proverbs 11:25
- Proverbs 31 Woman book p. 22-23


The book passage focused on the virtue of Proverbs 31:20 which says "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." We see here another trait of this miraculous woman, she has helping hands that help the poor. Today I prayed for beautiful hands, not in the literal sense, but in the sense of giving me hands that are beautiful because of the work that I have done for others, because of the kindness they have shown in providing food or money, or other resources to someone who is in need. Today I pray for beautiful hands for all of us. The other two sets of verses we read focused on the same realm of helping others, particularly those in need. Deuteronomy 15:7-8 says "If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. ⁸ Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need." To me this means that we should not be stingy when it comes to the poor, but rather we should give back freely. This is definitely something that I need to work on. I pray that I will be able to be more giving to others. And lastly Proverbs 11:25 says "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." As a blogger I followed stated this is the "water and be watered" verse. We must give in order to receive, we must water in order to be watered, we must refresh in order to be refreshed. What you give out to the world really will come back to you, so you best make it something good and something you want to receive again

Women in the Word Wednesday - 2012 Summer Study Wk 5

Today I am linking up with Good Morning Girls for "Women in the Word Wednesday"

Thursday, June 7th
- James 4:13-15

"look here, you who say, "today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog - it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "if the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." - James 4:13-15

This set of verses really spoke to me that we should not put things off to tomorrow. Tomorrow is uncertain. While this is nothing new to me, I felt like it was timely to read these verses today. It reminded me that if there is something that God is speaking to me to do, I should do it now and today, and I should not wait. Applying this message to my life I came up with this simple line... I need to stop procrastinating on living my life! I need to stop putting things off. It has been VERY hard for me to not procrastinate on my life, largely because I am post-law school limbo while I try to pass this stupid Bar exam. Most attorneys don't want to hire me as an assistant, because they figure I will be gone when I pass (which isn't really true... have you been out in this economy?) and most other jobs worry that I am too "overqualified" and that once I find a job that I truly want, ie. in the legal field, that I will be fast out the door. Which is more true in looking at these two circumstances. Obviously. With my life being in limbo I am kind of putting things off to tomorrow, saying things like, I will do that "once I pass..." or "once this happens, then this can happen..." I need to stop putting off things to tomorrow. Granted, some of the things I can't do until I have passed, but other things I can.


Friday, June 8th
- Reflection for GMG

Well today we didn't have reading for GMG, just reflection, so I read in my devotional about living a divinely inspired life instead. Todays message was about how God is the potter and we are the clay, how we must allow him to mold us to fit the life he has planned for us. The corresponding verses were Isaiah 64:4-9. I enjoyed them because they talked about how even though we are sinners, we are still clay for Him to mold. We are still His. I think this is a great message, especially for when we may fall off course.

Monday, June 11th
- Proverbs 31:17
- Nehemiah 8:10
- Ecclesiastes 9:10
- Proverbs 31 Woman book p. 16-17

Todays verses were Proverbs 31:17, Nehemiah 8:10, and Ecclesiastes 9:10. The focus was on being a strong, energetic, hard worker. This is another characteristic of the Proverbs 31 woman. She performs the household tasks vigorously and with strong arms. This is definitely something for me to aspire toward, considering that even though I do clean house, I definitely do so in a passive fashion. Nehemiah states that "the joy of the Lord is (our) strength" I think this is a great correlation to the proverbs verse because it shows us where she gets the strength that she has to do her work. It comes from her joy of the Lord. Also, Ecclesiastes states "whatever you do, do well" I think this is important to show that we do need to work hard and not just passively. A job well done will always be better than anything else.

Tuesday, June 12th
- Psalm 118:24
- Philippians 4:13

Todays reading was great for me because it included one of my most favorite Bible verses, Philippians 4:13. I have loved this verse forever. I am one who refuses to give up. One who refuses to think of something as impossible. These past couple years with law school have really tested my strength and resilience in the face of adversity. However, Philippians 4:13 reminds me that nothing is impossible and that I can do all things and persevere but by the grace of God. This was a great reminder for me today as I am facing another barzam study depression of sorts. It feels like this will never end! I've started having dreams that I'm studying for this stupid test for years and years and years to no avail. Even typing it now makes me sad.

Today I am praying for strength and for the will to never give up on my dreams, because they can AND WILL be achieved!

Wednesday, June 13th
- Proverbs 31:18
- Proverbs 31 Woman book p. 18-19

Todays reading was Proverbs 31:18 which says that "she sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night." I think this is fascinating because now we see that the Proverbs 31 woman not only rises early, but she also stays up late. She stays up late making sure she makes a profit for her family. Her lamp does not go out at night. She burns the midnight oil, so to speak. Well, at least I know I have the "night owl" aspect down! However, I doubt her nightowl-ness involved watching endless amounts of TV and reading books. I suppose if I want to be more like her I should be working into the night. Ah yes, the golden standard. 

Women in the Word Wednesday - 2012 Summer Study Wk 4

Today I am linking up with Good Morning Girls for "Women in the Word Wednesday"

Thursday, May 31st
**Missed my quiet time today

Friday, June 1st
- Genesis 24:15-20

I like this story and I think it is great how she fills the water happily. I think this goes along with the Proverbs 31 woman in that we should be happy and willing to help others. Even in tasks such as filling up water.

Monday, June 4th
- Proverbs 31:15
- Proverbs 5:3
- Mark 1:35
- Proverbs 31 book p.12-13

The reading for today was very insightful and eye opening. Considering I used to be a HUGE morning person, I still can't imagine waking before the sun, like the Proverbs 31 woman in verse 31:15. And now, it's VERY hard for me to get up early. Probably because I am such a night owl and tend to stay up much too late. I think that becoming a morning person again is a huge aspiration for me, especially once I have a job again. I would say that my lack of morning person-ness is largely tied to the fact that I have essentially been unemployed for over a year. I don't see much point in early rising if I have nothing that I am supposed to do! And I know I need to kick that mindset! So today I am praying for God's help at becoming more of a morning person again. I will admit that I do get more done when I rise early.

Tuesday, June 5th
- Proverbs 31:16

The verse was Proverbs 31:16 and the verse reads "she goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard." My first observation was that she does the work of inspecting things before making her purchases. She is thoughtful and thorough. She is self-sufficient in getting things done. I think this verse is empowering to me because it shows that as a woman you can make important decisions and you should. However, we do need to remember that we cannot just go into decisions willy-nilly, but like the Proverbs 31 woman we must consider before we buy. The Proverbs 31 woman has a dream and she follows it. Like her, I want to be able to follow my dreams.

I am praying again today for the Lord to help me to continue to try to rise early. Just because my good intentions failed today does not mean I should give up!

Wednesday, June 6th
- Proverbs 16:3
- Proverbs 21:15
- Proverbs 31 book p. 14-15

"Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed" - Proverbs 16:3

"Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers" - Proverbs 21:15

From reading these verses it has reaffirmed to me that if you have a plan, you should pray to God for assistance. He will help you. Also, evildoers do not want justice because they will have to face their wrongs. I need to keep praying to God to help me reach my dreams.