by tascha |
What is growing me today!
Proverbs chapter 5 gives warning to a young man about the dangers of the “strange woman.”
I would like to think that there is not a whole lot for me, a Christian, trying-to-be-Godly woman to really get out of that.
But, there is much there for me. There is an example, several explicit illustrations, of what I should not be as well as character traits I need to guard my own daughters against developing and principles I need to teach my son.
I know that, in general, people can be a little touchy about the subject of the “strange woman.” Many people have used her as a launching point for dwelling on dress and “modesty.” I am not going there!
A totally different thought struck me this morning as I read this chapter.
…the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: but her end is bitter as wormwood… [Proverbs 5:3,4]
How often do I speak as honey purely with the intention of getting my own way-which in turn often has results that are bitter as wormwood…?
… ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now … depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her…Lest thou give thine honour unto others… [Proverbs 5:6-9]
Are my ways moveable? Do I allow my “mood” to affect {move} how I treat my family? Sadly, that is something I struggle with at times-to the point that my husband canst not know [my ways]. When I allow how I feel to so deeply affect how I act, I am a detriment to the Lord’s ministry in my husband’s life as well as my own testimony to my children {and others}… and the honor of our family is harmed.
Now, I know that this “strange woman” spoken of here is an harlot, and I know that the Bible is teaching young men not to seek out a woman with these traits as she will lead them to ruin; but as a Christian, trying-to-be-Godly woman… I need to guard my own heart against those tenancies.
…because I cannot forget that I have 3 little girls and a sweet baby-man looking at ME to see what a Godly woman should act like.
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{{As I close this post, I feel I must say this…. I realize that some of the thoughts I am sharing during this 31 days may seem a bit strong. I apologize if I come across that way. I am truly only sharing things the Lord has shown me about my own life, about the lives of my children and what to teach them.
I totally get it that some people may not see or understand the same thing I do. I do not always see a passage the same as another, but we can edify each other that way.
That is the beauty of studying Scriptures on a personal level. That is the beauty of our God! I pray you are blessed and encouraged!}}
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by tascha |
For nearly 2 weeks I have posted each day of things the Lord has shown me either from personal Bible reading to in the simple day-to-day of being at home with my children.
Today, I have read several familiar passages {as was in my scheduled reading} and 1 of my usual “daily devotionals” and there has not been one particular thought or lesson that has made itself shareable. Several previous posts have been brought to mind though. {:) -ever learning:
~ [being a more faithful witness of His Love] ~ [personal responsibility] ~ [how I can have strength] ~ [seeing my own faults in my children’s needs] ~ [learning to live as His child from my own children] ~ to name a few}
Often the Lord shows me things that simply are not meant for me to share with the world, because my desire for this blog is to not be divisive. I do realize there are some who do not agree with 100% of what I share, but my prayer is that nothing I write can be taken and turned on the Lord to say: Look, she claims to be following Jesus and yet she is constantly having other Christians criticize or rebuke her for this or that. That makes my testimony of no effect for God’s glory.
Some things the Lord shows me personally are quite controversial, such as with dress standards or music our family will listen to or even how I plan to vote…I have personal, God-directed, husband-approving {yes, that is important to me!}, philosophies and opinions about all of those areas.
And there are blogs out there where the blogger’s simple desire to to share everything… and that’s fine!
But that is not my blog’s purpose. I strive to only speak of how God is changing my own heart.
Some posts I hesitate to publish because I am uncertain of the reaction, and I must be sensitive to my family’s place of influence in our church. I do not want to come across as pointing a finger at anyone. The “followers” number often fluctuates and I wonder… was it something I wrote or did they just really not understand what this blog was about when they first started following? [I don’t actually write to grow a “following,” but I do notice those things.] Most of my posts are first read by my husband. A few posts have been read by close, Godly friends before I hit “publish.”
One verse in my reading today that perhaps prompted these thoughts was in Proverbs 13:10- Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well-advised there is wisdom.
While I wish to speak only truth, and I strive to do it in love, I also wish to do so with a visible humility so as to avoid contention due to my personage.
My heart’s desire is to not come across as someone who gushes that she has found all the answers because even though the principles I do find and share come from Scripture, I will never have ALL the answers [and neither will you 🙂 ].
And aside from
salvation, there is much of our life as Christians that is simply to be governed by the two great commands Jesus shared in Matthew. I wrote a little about that on
{day 1}. But I do praise the Lord that I know where to FIND the answer to anything I need.I suppose that is it for today. I was
still... the Lord showed me things I have already written about that need more attention in my own life.
And He reminded me of my need to be peaceable and show humility in all things I write.
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by tascha |
Some days, I just feel kinda lost. I don’t know how to get a certain principle across to my children, or I am unsure how to respond to something unkind a supposed friend said.
And some days, I just feel like any good I try to do means nothing.
And then I read encouraging words from God’s Word:
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3
Each day I have the opportunity and privilege to intentionally commit my day and all its works unto the Lord– only then can it really have any meaning anyway.
And when I do this {you see, I don’t first thing every day… hence those lost thoughts that happen}, the Lord establishes my thoughts for me.
He directs my mind to think the way I need to.
He gives me wisdom to instruct my children with the proper attitude and the appropriate words.
He gives me the strength to be hurt and yet forgive without being asked for it.
He gives me the discretion to understand that, while my “good deeds” are filthy rags, when I ask Him to do the works through me… His goodness is mine. And I can rejoice in that!
I am not well today. I had to cancel plans with a dear lady… and that made me sad. But my thoughts can still be right and good when I commit the works I am able to accomplish today to Him.
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Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
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I’m also on Instagram!
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by tascha
Busy day yesterday!
In my Proverbs reading yesterday the verses that really stuck out were the first few: When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: and out a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite… [verses 1 & 2]
In context, the verses go on to speak about not being envious of what others, particularly those with more, have that I do not. And I have often heard contentment when I read this passage.
But today, I saw something a little different… though in relation to contentment.
I saw self-control… or temperance.
We must have control over our appetite. Here it speaks directly of food, but we all have appetites for many things: food, books, friends, travel, money… it is all just stuff.
I have a less consuming desire for “stuff” when I am desiring the Spirit’s control.
And here my thoughts traveled….
Temperance is a part of the Fruit that the Spirit produces our lives when we allow Him to work. [Galatians 5:22,23]
And I must exercise {allow God’s Spirit to teach me!} control in my life in areas and situations that cause tension or stress. {from appetite control… hm}
Many times as a mother… my children bring tension {stress} through myriad of situations. Maybe I am in a hurry because of a lack of proper planning, and they are just pokin’ along. That brings some stress! Or one of them has a melt-down for whatever reason, and I “lose” my control.
How can my children learn what temperance is if Mommy’s life doesn’t have it!?
When I know that I will be a “single mom” [in no way implying I have any idea what single moms really feel!] for a few days… I get a little stressed. I have grown to rely on my husband as the better half of my brain, the more controlled disciplinarian, the more patient teacher, a part of me/us!
We are a team, and we work well together. {These times also give me a burden to pray more for my single parent friends!}
And while that is wonderful and in God’s design for husband and wife to become knit together like that, I must never loose sight of God’s working and growing my own life as an individual… and that as an individual, I must learn temperance.
I must allow the Spirit to bring control and calm into my life, not my husband.
So, my thoughts took an interesting route to get here, but yesterday {and today! and probably many tomorrows…} I am desiring the Spirit to produce a control in my life that can only come from Him!
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Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
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I’m also on Instagram!
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and I’m on Twitter!
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by tascha
Several verses in Proverbs speak of how living in the wilderness or on a rooftop is preferable to living with a contentious or brawling woman… reminded me of a post towards the beginning of the {31 days}.
Just as there is something for me to learn from the “strange woman” there is something I can learn from this woman of contention. And it came up again in today’s chapter.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. -Proverbs 25:24
and was there a few days ago:
It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. -Proverbs 21:19
Contentious people basically look for things to argue about. They are characterized by an argumentative spirit, often creating controversy for the sake of being right. I think I’ve done that before.
Brawling gives the idea of noisy, squabbling, fighting people. I know I’ve squabbled once or twice… Angry… I suppose that doesn’t need an explanation.
And I have a responsibility to teach my own girls [and now a boy, too!] how to allow the Lord to control their spirit and NOT be contentious or brawling or angry! Even as children.
2014
I suppose my best defense against being a woman of contention is to study the Scriptures and find out how to …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. – I Peter 3:4
Because, while the context of that verse is a Christian woman’s ability to have a powerful witness to an unsaved husband, the principle can hold true for a Christian woman to have a powerful testimony for the worth of her saved husband to her… as well as a witness of God’s place in her life to an unsaved world.
The hidden man… a meek and quiet spirit is an ornament… of great price to God!
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Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
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I’m also on Instagram!
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and I’m on Twitter!
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This from the Proverb for yesterday. 
And the fact that he is harder to be won than a strong city seems to imply that I should try to win a friend back. If the friendship was broken over something offensive I did or said, etc., I should care when a friendship is broken or hindered.