To Clarify

I am not one to use my blog to stir up controversy…at least not on purpose. You’ll find cakes, cute stories about my kids, and my own random musings, but you will not find me intentionally being controversial.

When I recommended Dr. Piper’s article yesterday, it wasn’t so much to draw attention to the end of the article with his comments of concern with regard to something written about discerning the “voice of God”. I recommended it because of the compelling way with which he describes his encounter in God’s Word. It simply left me wanting to read scripture like he reads scripture.  It gave me fresh faith for reading God’s Word.

I have no idea what the other guy said (beyond what was quoted) or even whether or not I agree or disagree (I never read his full article). So when I recommended Piper’s writing, please know that it was in no way a “stance” on an issue concerning how we hear God speak today. I hope we all agree that it is absolutely stunning that God would make Himself known to us through His infallible Word, and we have access to “His voice” every single day. Amazing. That’s all I meant by recommending the article.

Random (very)

   About my latest cake…

This is my nephew’s birthday cake. He turned two in early March. I cringe that you photo-gals are looking at my pitiful photo. I just don’t know what I’m doing. Any tips, Bethany?

About my being a blogging slacker…

It has been really busy over here. In addition to normal life, I was planning my teaching for the ladies retreat, and then making the preparations to leave Jason with the kids for that retreat. We had a wonderful time as God met us as He faithfully does for each retreat.

About my little Proverbs 31 series…

Okay, I am only on verse 13, but I will not succumb to legalism . I do plan to continue walking through this chapter verse by verse and writing about it here. It would be unrealistic for me to write each day, as I’m sure you’ve guessed by now.

About the gorgeous spring weather…

It is gorgeous outside!  Spring is really here.  I am inside typing while I watch my kiddos ride their skateboards/bikes on the front side walk. It’s amazing to have windows open, and peace and quiet in the house. Ahhhhh! Thank you, God for spring with all of its fresh beginnings. I plan on celebrating spring Girl Talk style this Monday which is Jason’s day off.  What a fabulous way to do the fun “Easter” stuff but keeping it separate from celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. Thanks again to the “Girls“.

About March Madness…

I am winning again, but only by one. My boys have brackets this year. I am enduringWe are enjoying watching college basketball ad nauseum on the weekends. 

About John Piper’s latest extremely helpful bit of writing…

I love this by John Piper. Read it to find out how you can hear the voice of God as well.

I told you it was random!

Proverbs 31:12

Proverbs 31:12  She does him good, and not harm,  all the days of her life.

I don’t have to look far or think hard to find a real-life example of this verse to emulate. My mother has done my dad profound good and not harm all of the days of their married lives (over 40 years). It could be argued that my mom did the ultimate good by visiting a church each week until my at-the-time agnostic father’s curiosity compelled him to go to the meeting with her. This church is where they both heard the gospel, believed, and have worshiped almost every Sunday ever since.

From the very beginning of their Christian lives, my mom did my dad good through her gift of hospitality. She willingly opened her home to host church meetings at my dad’s request. As time progressed she did him good as a capable care group leader’s wife. Her competence in hospitality was only surpassed by her competence in insightful counsel. And when the time came for my dad to become a pastor, my mom continued to do him good. She would rather not have a public ministry at all. She loves being behind the scenes. However, in order to do my dad good by supporting his ministry, she has used her administrative gifts to lead a thriving women’s ministry complete with weekly Bible study (childcare provided!), quarterly women’s meetings, an annual Ladies’ Christmas breakfast (the biggest outreach our church has for unbelievers with 60% attendees being guests!), and a bi-annual ladies’ retreat (coming up next week…stay tuned for the post-retreat blogging).

My mom has done my dad good whether it was through caring for his children or caring for his sister and parents. My mom has done my dad good by making him a success in his ministry rather than selfishly pursuing her own interests. Even more, her interests are his interests. Her vision is his vision. Her life is his life. By the grace of God she has done him good and not harm all the days of their married life so far!

Proverbs 31:11

Proverbs 31:11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

When I was pondering verse 11 the other day, I kept trying to think of what areas Jason should be able to trust me in. I found myself asking questions like this:

1. Can he trust my marital fidelity? does he know my heart is his and no one else’s?

2. Can he trust me with his reputation? do I make him look good? am I careful not to share anything that would cast a negative view of my husband?

3. Can he trust me to live within our means?

4. Can he trust me to run the house in such a way that shelters him from unnecessarily taking on burdens of home management?

5. Can he trust that my heart is here at home serving him and our children? am I pursuing my own interests to the neglect of what serves him?

6. Can he trust that when he is not in the home (away for extended periods of time) that I will run things the way he would want me to?

I found this teaching by Nancy Leigh DeMoss to be helpful for verses 11 and 12.

What insights do you have about this verse? I’d love to hear from you.

Proverbs 31:10

Proverbs 31:10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

excellent: The amplified refers to her as capable, intelligent, and virtuous. We begin with a description of who she is rather than what she does.

wife: I find it interesting that being a mother isn’t what this lady is known for. And yet because of the season of life I am in, when children seem to be all-consuming, I tend to evaluate my mothering more regularly than my wife-ing (what’s the word?).

who can find? This type of gal is not easy to find. And yet when I look at the single girls in our church I can see many who would be a great find for a smart guy. These ladies are proving their excellence in the workplace, at home with their family, in their ministry responsibilities, etc. You go girls!!!

more precious than jewels: How is this possible?  How is any of it possible? When I look at myself, I see okay-ish on a good day, not excellent. When I see the word jewel it reminds me of another treasure that makes it possible for me to become more like the rare, cherished, and excellent wife.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Yes, I aspire to be like my friend: an excellent wife.  The truth is that I am a simple jar of clay; the equivalent of a cardboard box, as one pastor put it. And any progress I make in excellence will be because of the treasure of the gospel showing that the surpassing power indeed belongs to God and not to me. 

Father, help me not to make the mistake of reading these verses and trying to be more excellent in my own strength. Thank you for the treasure of the gospel. It is only because of the gospel that I can grow in excellence. Show forth your power in our lives as women  for Your glory.

A Great Blog for Women

I don’t know Lydia Brownback, and in fact had never heard of her before reading that she has been chosen “King for A Week” by Tim Challies. This lady is a professional writer/editor and not only is she pleasant to read, she has wonderful insight to living for ladies. Check out her blog, The Purple Cellar.

Visiting My Dear Friend

I decided to visit a good friend of mine. We have one of those relationships that didn’t begin as a natural fit. You know the kind. You’re sort of forced together because of the gospel but if left to your own preference you would probably never be friends. Part of the reason for our rough beginning was the fact that she seemed so perfect. In comparing myself with her I was always frustrated by how inferior I am to her. Just the mention of her name induced an internal, “ugh, not her again…”  But by God’s grace, as I got to know her something changed. Rather than feel intimidated, frustrated, and even at times put off by her excellence, I began to see how compellingly beautiful she truly is. I began to want to be like her. Maybe you’ve met her. She is my dear friend, the Proverbs 31 woman.

 

Nancy Leigh DeMoss is in the middle of a series about the Proverbs 31 woman. She issued a challenge: 31 days with Proverbs 31. I am taking the challenge. I am beginning with verse ten rather than verse one, but I want to revisit my old friend and learn from her once again. My plan is to read and meditate on one verse per day praying that God will inspire me afresh to pursue the beauty of biblical womanhood as it is described in this precious passage of scripture.

 

As a sort of accountability for me, and as time permits, I will try to post about what I’m learning as I read this verse by verse. I hope it will be a discussion via comment box.

 

What do you think of my friend?