Proverbs 31 Introduction

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Posted by Jessica | Posted in The Holy Word | Posted on 01-02-2010

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This entry is part 1 of 22 in the series Proverbs 31 Hands On

Just a Blink Readers: Hang on with me…I may be going off the deep end with my next post series (which may take form in monthly or daily posts depending on how it goes). hmmm…I sure hope there are floaties in the deep end. Anyway, there will be plenty of craftiness and photos of the kids, so don’t run screaming from the screen just yet.

Wisdom from the Ages

Proverbs 31: 10-31 is a passage from the Bible that is actually a Hebrew poem about wisdom. The poem describes a woman that makes very wise and loving decisions about how to live her life. She serves others, she is a business woman, she is thoughtful and the list goes on.

I want to study the traits of this wise woman found in Proverbs 31. I am a hands on learner. Reading can only get me so far. I will task myself to try all the wise things the Proverbs 31 woman does in her wise, wise life.

10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I am using my New Year’s Resolution, Enrich, to act as a guide for the love and logic behind my Proverbs 31 task.  However, I’m going to need a whole lot more than love and logic to get me through the process. I am going to need a lot of faith.

Love,

Jess

P.S. How much are rubies? And how the heck do I use a spindle?

This Is What It’s Like To Be Held

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Posted by Jessica | Posted in The Holy Word | Posted on 22-01-2010

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Sometimes He calms the child. Sometimes He calms the storm.

Ryan and I walked toward the doctor’s office from the van. He was visibly nervous about seeing the eye specialist.

I led the way and he followed me.

While in the parking ramp, we shoved our necks into our jackets to avoid the brisk chill. Yet, without gloves, he held my hand and I held his.

In the sky-way, we leaped in unison over every stripe in the carpet. Passersby could hardly contain their smirks of joy as they watched Ryan tramp through the sky-way in his clacking yellow rain boots.

Ryan’s fearful grimace softened into laughter as I challenged him to a speed-walking contest down the long corridor to the eye doctor’s door. He kept an incredible clip for having 5 year old legs!

He made it through the appointment just fine. He is so proud of his behavior with the doctor. Of course, he was probably just beaming because the Dr. told Ryan that he should play video games while he wears an eye patch (he has to wear the patch 2 hours everyday for 2 months to correct his vision). So, now Ry is telling everyone the Dr. told him he has to play video games everyday.

This is what it’s like to be HELD

God holds my hand when I head into new territory.

Life with twins was going to be “busy” “crazy” and “overwhelming” or so I thought. My life has those qualities sometimes. But, overall, I have abundant joy and a new and unexpected work-horse drive for chores (except, for ironing–that drive still hasn’t kicked in yet).

He leads the way and I follow Him.

I experience what it feels like to be held, daily. Someone out there is praying for me (us), if it is you, please — keep it up!

I trust that God is here to help me, refine me and push me during the storms of my life. I trust that God is here to show me a way to be content and useful in every situation. Whether it has holiday decor in it or not; whether it has new 8 hours of sleep in it or not; and frankly if it has brushed hair in it or not.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Love,

jess

Happy Thanksgiving

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Posted by Jessica | Posted in The Home Front, kids | Posted on 26-11-2009

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Big sister, big brother and two little sistersCropped DSC_5091

I am grateful for my kids! Molly, Ryan, Claire and Leah

I am also grateful for glue guns, flavored coffee and good books.

May your attitude of gratitude lift your eyes to God and thank Him today and everyday!

Love,

Jess

Apple Core Inspiration

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Posted by Jessica | Posted in The Holy Word | Posted on 17-07-2009

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Quiet

I holler at the kids; interrupt at dinner parties and chat up my mom friends at the park.

Still, I am feeling a vacant sort of quiet in my head.  The noise of my own thoughts seem too loud so I stop listening and keep on doing things anyway.

On auto-pilot and cruise control for parenting, working, family bonding, cleaning, enjoying, creating, worshiping. Until…I found this photo, in my archives, of an apple corer.

apple-cutter

Change

A whole apple represents me. Blades of daily life split me apart; tearing pieces away from my very center. All that was left? Fleshy fruit waiting to brown with a pile of seeds standing alone.

Or so I thought.

In reality, I am an apple, willing to nourish and refresh others.

Even when bowls of mac-n-cheese spill over the highchair, or another opportunity for time with my husband gets side-tracked by much needed “to-do” work on the laptop, *cough* see above, I can give a section of hope to my loved ones.

When every slice of me is served up for the taking, I am still centered. God stands with me as the core of my strength.

When I my shiny, red exterior has been sectioned off by the mini-van hustle, job responsibilities, hyper kids, and unmet wants and desires. God provides seeds of regrowth, made just for me.

By Definition

The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength. {2 Timothy 4:1}

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