I Am Not Proverbs 31

I have to admit I have had a like-dislike attitude towards the Proverbs 31 woman, maybe it's because she intimidated me. Her accolades are astonishing, her accomplishments are remarkable.

She dabbled in imports and exports. She was savvy with real estate. She started her own business, a vineyard and a seamstress. She is charitable, noble, wise, respected, honored, confident, calm and loved. Her husband was incredibly proud of her and she respected him greatly.

PHEW!

At times, I felt this was an impossible and unreachable feat. This passage crippled me.

I thought I would never be "her"...how could I ever be this woman of noble character. Children calling her blessed, her husband lacks nothing of value. I felt the polar opposite.

I must continue reading....verse 30.

".....the woman who fears the Lord..."

Fear-  (verb) regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider or exalted or be in awe of.

She feared the Lord! This woman was obviously educated with the Word to be in awe of God. She considered Him, she dwelled upon Him, He was on the forethought of her mind. Could it be that she took His bread and consumed it, that she drank from the living water, to sustain her through all her endevers?
"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Phillipians 4:13

It was through God, her faith in Him, her love for Him that she was able to do what she did.
Yes, people "praised" her...but God got the glory.
I realized that her accomplishments, her successes....were not hers, they are God's.
Isn't that why we do, what we do (should do)...to bring God the glory.

"I will show the holiness of my great name...." Ezekiel 36:23

In my own might, I am no Proverbs 31 woman...but in His might I can be. Not for my glory or for me to be praised, but for Him, for His Kingdom, so His holiness may be evident in the life I live, so that others may come to see His grace.

So today, and prayerfully everyday after...through Him, I will strive.

"Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for oursleves, but our competence comes from God." 2 Corithians 3:4-5

Jesus, I Love Thee...

Jesus, I love Thee....

This song has been playing in my heart this week. I do appreciate old hymns, the words are soulful, healing...they have substance.

As I was singing (make a joyful noise) the third measure grips me every time.

"I love the in life, I will love Thee in death;

And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;

And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow,

If ever I loved Thee, Lord Jesus, 'tis now."

Will we love Him through death?

The death of a marriage, of vows?

The death of a dream for son over taken by an addiction?

The death of a lifestyle for a sister being blinded by the world's lies?

The death of a infant, new life abruptly taken without reason?

The death of  ideas when a diagnoses is terminal?

Can we, will we say...

"If ever I loved Thee, Lord Jesus, 'tis now."

As Good As Old

My young at heart daugther asked why people used the expression "good as new".

I explained that when something is new that it normally has more value, more appeal in it's best condition...it is good, because it's new.

She pondered a moment then said, "That is not always true. My Ellie (her since birth, beloved pink stuffed elephant) is better now since she's worn. Her smells, her soft spots, I wouldn't want her to be new again."

I reflected on her statement... the beauty of the old, the wisdom in the worn, the nostalgia of bygones...things are better with age.

Beauty in the Broken.

 Arthritic hands praising the Lord through music and song on the time worn keys of a piano.

  

Wisdom in the Worn.

Tattered, written pages of a father's old bible, studied, absorbed, taught.

Mercy in Music.

Depth of meaning from hymns of past. The desperate words of longing to be in union with God and praise of His grace.

Hope in History.
The tear stained pews that have held prayers for forgiveness and redemption. The souls that have been saved, saints that were made.

Yes, there is value, good beyond adundance in the old.

"Remember the days of old, consider the years of all generations..."
Deuteronomy 32:7