Proverbs 31 Woman

Proverbs 13:18 says, “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction:  but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.”

“The instruction of discipline is God’s ordinance.  Little do those who refuse it know, what a blessing they cast away! (Hebrews 12:10,11)  Poverty and shame are often the Lord’s rod for his wayward children (Luke 15:12-16); two dreaded evils— the one bringing them to want; the other hiding their heads; both disappointing “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.”  (1 John 2:16)  Young persons! learn to dread the liberty of being left to your own choice.  Dread the first step in the downward course, refusing instruction…Know your besetting temptation, ‘as the horse and the mule’  (Ps. 32:9), impatient of restraint.  If godly remonstrance be slighted, all may end in poverty and shame, embittered with the poignant sting of death-bed remorse. (chap. 5:11)…If we be humbled under his reproof, we shall be raised to his throne. (1Pt. 5:6)  Pleasant indeed are his words to his well-disciplined child.  To have our ears open to receive discipline, is to walk in the path of life and happiness (chap. 6:23.  Job 36:10-12); the honour of conformity to our Divine Saviour.”

Why do we waste so much time spinning our wheels to “arrive”?  Where is it we are trying to go?  Who are we trying to keep up with?  Is the grass really greener on the other side?

Resting in His love, mercy, greatness, and trusting that His sovereign plan is what He wants for us is not always easy or reachable in a given moment.  When an accident happens or job loss occurs, for example, it may be really easy to kindle bitterness and questioning.  Some people learn through health challenges that they must rest in the Lord.  When we realize afresh our utter dependence on HIm, when we are sick or needy or hurting we are broken by Him and we learn more of humility and our need of a Saviour.  We must always cling to Christ or Lord, He who endured every kind of suffering, pain and affliction.

The Proverbs are so much a HUGE TREASURE CHEST of wisdom……….more gleanings are coming.  I’m struck by the breadth of issues covered; foibles and follies of human relationships are dealt with throughout the book.

The Boyntons have some great new resources available. The Prospering Homemaker is now available in e-book, DVD, or printed book formats. Loaded with money-saving tips and personal stories, this information is bound to encourage moms, young and old, in their role as homemaker. And for those of you who would like to get out of debt or re-direct your income in other ways, this material is for you! So, check out their website today: http://radicaldebtelimination.com/

From Charles Bridges in his commentary, Proverbs:

“So rare is this treasure, that the challenge is given —- ‘Who can find a virtuous woman?’  Abraham sent to a distant land for this inestimable blessing for his beloved son.  Perhaps one reason of the rarity of the gift is, that it is so seldom sought.  Too often is the search made for accomplishments, not for virtues; for external and adventitious recommendations, rather than for internal godly worth…Truly her price is above rubies.  No treasure is comparable to her.”

A lifelong study of mine is going through the book of Proverbs in the Bible.  Presently, I am reading through the Proverbs, in addition to  studying from Proverbs commentary by Charles Bridges.  This particular commentary is from The Geneva Series of Commentaries.  I am just reading/studying a few verses at a time.  I keep a spiral notebook on the table and notate each verse that includes a specific word.  In my notebook, the first page has WISDOM at the top.  On it are already listed and written out over 20 verses about wisdom in just the first 3 chapters of Proverbs.   The next several topics are: instruction, understanding, justice, judgment, equity, subtilty (this is needed, by the way, to tell the difference between truth and error), knowledge, discretion, learning,  and many more.  I am already on my second page of notes pertaining to wisdom.  Here are a few verses:

Proverbs 3:13-18

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold; she (WISDOM) is more precious than rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared to her.  Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour; her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace; she is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her:  and happy is everyone that retaineth her.

Charles Bridges reminds us:

“Who does not admire this glowing picture of happiness?  This wisdom of this world affords no such happiness.  Yet cold and barren is admiration, without an interest in the blessing.  The happy man has found a treasure, where possibly he least expected it, under the chastening of the Lord.  David and Manasseh found ‘God’s house of correction to be a school of instruction.’  Under all circumstances, however, prayerful diligence in the search of wisdom ensures success.  The naturally wise man is a fool in heavenly wisdom.  The man of prayer getteth understanding, draweth it out to light, as out of the hid treasure…Here the wise man, himself enriched with the merchandise of fine gold points out to us a better merchandise.  It is the search for ‘the pearl of great price,’ MORE PRECIOUS THAN RUBIES, YEA, THAN ALL THINGS THAT COULD BE DESIRED.  So the Apostle judged.  So upon a trial he found it.  All the world’s show, all his former valuable ‘gain, he counted as dung and dross’ for ‘the true wisdom’ _ ‘the excellency of the knowledge of  CHRIST JESUS his Lord.’  NEVER WILL SOLID HAPPINESS BE KNOWN WITHOUT THIS SINGLENESS OF JUDGMENT AND PURPOSE.  THIS INESTIMABLE BLESSING MUST HAVE THE THRONE.  THE WAVERER AND THE HALF-SEEKER FALL SHORT.  DETERMINED PERSEVERANCE WINS THE PRIZE. (Philip.  3:12-14)

If you’re looking for an inspirational book to read to your children or as a family, go to the library and check out The Shoe Box, by Francine Rivers.  It is wonderfully illustrated by Linda Dockey Graves.   On the back cover it says, “Six -year old Timmy O’Neil comes to live with Mary and David Holmes on a cloudy day in September.  When Timmy arrives, he has very few things with him.  As he slowly makes new friends, he finds a chance to offer his small treasures to a very special someone.  A tender and moving story from beloved author Francine Rivers, retold especially for children ages 6-10.”

If I say much more I’ll spoil the adventure.  Francine Rivers even includes a page entitled:  How This Story Came to Be.  Themes of healing, mercy and joy shine through.  The Lord’s graciousness to adopt His children as His own is manifest in a special way.  Enjoy!

You’ve heard about the Boynton’s book, Radical Debt Elimination in the previous post. I wanted to share a few lines from section 13, the Conclusion. “A whole new life begins when your debt is paid off, and this book was merely the doorway. By continuing to employ the tools we discuss in our book, your income will increase without your taxes increasing. Instead of needing financial help yourself, now you can help others directly……People need to know that others care. Be the one that brings hope to the hopeless. While you were in deep financial bondage, you were not able to do this but now…..”

The book is organized well. There is an introduction, followed by 4 chapters which discuss 4 phases. Phase I is Determine Your Current Location which talks about where you are at right now financially. Then, in the next chapter we read about Phase II: Thinking Radically - Developing the Plan. The nitty gritty of preparing a budget is covered along with an explanation of reducing and redirecting one’s spending. Phase III is covered next: Executing the Plan. There are 4 sections within this phase: Radically Attacking Your Debts, Finding “Hidden” Money, Nickels & Dimes, and in section 10 there is an explanation of “The Malachi Factor”TM. Phase IV is titled Mission Accomplished! There is a discussion about streamlining cash flow and what’s next, after debts are paid.

I agree with much of the contents. God is sovereign and Mighty. His ways are not our ways. As we learn more of Him and His principles, we are better able to make wise decisions. Christ is our Great Redeemer and Life-Giver. He is our all in all.

Why talk about this book on a website called Prov. 31? God calls us to be good stewards of what He has given us. He wants us to be able to reach out and to help others. This may be in the form of explaining to them the claims of Christ, that He died on the cross to pay the debt that His people owed. This outreach may be in the form of reaching out to a family hurting because they do not know what a budget is or how to make one. The Boyntons have decided to write down and share the joys and trials they have gone through with the intent of reaching out to others. Jesus reached out to those around Him by giving bread, by bringing comfort to the sick, by welcoming little children. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to the Father except by Me.”

Happy New Year to all!

As we begin a new year, we often set new goals, make resolutions, establish priorities. An area sometimes neglected in the new year goal setting (or any goal setting period) is finances. A wise man of old summarized how to handle finances in three easy maxims: Earn all you can; Save all you can; Give all you can. Now each of these could be a message in itself and we may give more details in the coming months on these maxims, however, we have been listening to folks for years and a recurring struggle that folks are having is debt elimination.

For us just to say, don’t get into debt won’t really help those who find themselves in debt, whether $1000 or $10,000. In the next few blog entries, we will be discussing a book called: Radical Debt Elimination. Check out the website at: www.radicaldebtelimination.com/aboutourbook.html.

There are many books, programs, and people stressing debt elimination. “Just pay off the smallest debt, then use that money plus the money budgeted for debt elimination to pay off the next smallest………..da de dah………” What’s unique about the approach in the book Radical Debt Elimination is what the Boynton’s call The Malachi Factor (TM). “We coined the phrase “The Malachi Factor (TM)” from the last book of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi…..We had nearly $80,000 worth of debt that was eliminated in just six years (including the mortgage)! While we were paying off our debt, we added five children to our family. At the end of those six years, we had a total of eight children (we have nine now) and my husband’s annual income averaged $28,700 over the six years. We want you to see that it is not necessary to earn a huge paycheck to eliminate debt quickly…….”

Check out their website, check out the book and stay tuned for more information on Radical Debt Elimination soon!

If you happen to be looking for an interesting, musical, hands-on approach to learning science, check out www.lyricallearning.com !! Introduced to this several years ago, we have found out that there are several sets to choose from: Volume I called Lyrical Life Science, promotes scientific literacy through song. Chapters include Scientific Method, All Living Things, Intertebrates, etc. Volume II focuses on Mammals, Ecology, and Biomes. Volume III is about The Human Body. There’s also a set all about Geology.

Home Education Magazine says, “Lyrical Learning, a group with a solid grasp of science and a zany sense of humor….” Homeschooling Today says, “…a fabulous, comprehensive resource for teaching about the systems of the body…this belongs in the car where it can be enjoyed often. The quality of the music is exceptional and fun for the whole family.”

Each set comes with a CD of the songs that go along with each chapter, plus a textbook and a workbook. These aren’t overwhelming tomes but rather well put together 8 1/2 x 11″ bound books of about 40-50 pages for the workbook and 90-110 pages for the textbook.

The songs are very well done and help cement scientific terms and concepts. The tunes are well-known traditional, patriotic, and camp songs of long ago.

These are very reasonably priced and the 3 parts can be purchased separately or together.

Excerpt from Lyrical Learning. The Scientific Method.

The word science means to have knowledge of or to know, it also means the organized system of knowledge that comes from the observation, study and experimentation.

Many scientists spend their time making observations, asking questions and finding problems to solve.

We heartily recommend the Lyrical Life Science sets; however, we do add a disclaimer that in Vol. II about Mammals, Ecology and Biomes there is a chapter on pages 36-41 called Primates. We do not agree with the bent of this chapter; we believe humans are created in God’s image and are not offspring of apes.

Check out www.Lyricallearning.com and get your children hooked on science! That’s what happened with my 13 year old; she LOVES to study about God’s awesome creation! And Lyrical Learning helped a great deal!!

Today, as part of my devotional time with the Lord, I was going through another chapter of Gate Keepers of the Home - How to Guard Your Home by Nancy Campbell. The chapter dealt with how we can bless/minister to/encourage others. I share with you this entry from Matthew Henry’s commentary discussing Proverbs 11:25 which reads, “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

“So backward are we to works of charity, and so ready to think that giving undoes us, that we need to have it very much pressed upon us how much it is for our own advantage to do good to others, as before, v. 17. 1. We shall have the comfort of it in our own bosoms: The liberal soul, the soul of blessing, that prays for the afflicted and provides for them, that scatters blessings with gracious lips and generous hands, that soul shall be made fat with true pleasure and enriched with more grace. 2. We shall have the recompence of it both from God and man: He that waters others with the streams of his bounty shall be also watered himself; God will certainly return it in the dews, in the plentiful showers, of his blessing, which he will pour out, till there be not room enough to receive it, Mal. 3:10. Men that have any sense of gratitude will return it if there be occasion; the merciful shall find mercy and the kind be kindly dealt with. 3. We shall be enabled still to do yet more good: He that waters, even he shall be as rain (so some read it); he shall be recruited as the clouds are which return after the rain, and shall be further useful and acceptable, as the rain to the new-mown grass, he that teaches shall learn (so the Chaldee reads it); he that uses his knowledge in teaching others shall himself be taught of God; to him that has, and uses what he has, more shall be given.”