She rises while it is yet night...

• She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household...

This is a difficult one for me these days. I confess, I am a bit of a night-owl. I haven't always been this way, I started off in a family of mostly early risers, and kept those habits for a long time.

As a newlywed, I got up with my husband at 5:00 am, then sat around for over an hour after he left for work at 5:20, till time for me to get ready to be at my job at 8:00.

I think it started gradually after our son was born. Hubby had a job that required early mornings hours, so he usually went to bed early, as did our son when he was younger. That quiet time when I was the only one awake was my time to do whatever I wanted. I read, I watched TV, I did crafts, I talked on the phone with a couple of night-owl friends. Except for a few short years when our son was in elementary school, I was a working-outside-the-home mom, so that was my only time to myself. Weekends the whole family would stay up later and sleep in the next day, so the habit became even more ingrained. As our son grew up and required less and less from me in the mornings, I started shaving that time back in the mornings little by little. By the time he left for college, I had it down to an exact science--I knew to the minute how long I could sleep and still jump up, get ready, and make it to work on time. Or mostly on time, anyway!

More recently, we relocated to a new area with my husband's job, so I was not working for the first time in many years. I wanted to take a few weeks to relax and settle in before beginning a job hunt, so I reveled in the chance to sleep in and just laze around. And laze I have done.

The problem is, now my time at home has stretched, and looks to stretch a little longer still, and it's time for some habits to die! I find myself running around in the late afternoons/evenings, trying to get things done, wondering where the day has gone.

I know that I'm more productive when I get up earlier, but it's hard to motivate myself to get up in the cold, gray mornings. Okay, we're in the south, so it's not cold. But it is gray. At least until the sun comes out.

I'm almost like a baby who has their days and nights mixed up. I'm not sleepy till late at night. Tired, maybe, but not sleepy. All the good shows come on then. I'm doing internet research. I....

I need to start going to bed earlier, so I can get up and not feel like a zombie for the first few hours of my day. It's healthy. It really is. This week I've been working on getting up a little earlier. I haven't mastered the going to bed earlier part, yet. But I'm working on it.

I'll keep you posted.

Until next time....

__________________________

She is not afraid...

• She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

I read an thought-provoking post at MommySnacks this morning, in"Can you see His hand?" Andrea talks about being thankful for Jesus's hands.

It reminded me of something that went around Christian circles awhile back, when everyone was always saying, "Seek the Lord's face, and not His hand", meaning, don't just look to the Lord for what He does, but look to Him for who He is.

It's a good thing to worship the Lord for who He is, to spend time in the presence of the Lord without always asking for things, but I've started changing the way I pray about that. "Lord, show me your face and your hands. Allow me to be in Your presence, but thank your for also taking care of my needs and my circumstances." I don't ever want to take Him for granted, but I do so appreciate the things that He does do for us, and what He's already done for us.

What does this have to be being "not afraid?" See my post here or below, about fear and worry in these times of economic uncertainty. During times of crises, worry, and fear, seeking the Lords face and His hands is what keeps us from being consumed with fear.

So spend some time with the Lord today; seek His face; but thank Him for His hands.

Until next time...

She is not afraid...

• She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

I don't think you can look at any form of media these days--TV, newspapers, internet--without seeing a lot of gloom and doom about the economy. Stockmarkets worldwide are swinging wildly up and down; banks are closing; huge corporations are declaring bankruptcy. The media is full of stories lately about the dust bowl years, and the depression era of the 1930's. A lot of people are scared and worried.

Even the experts agree, that while there were some problems that have come to light, much of what has ensued has been because people are reacting and not responding. They aren't always looking at what the core issues are. They miss the point.

I heard an excellent sermon this past Sunday that was along these lines. In Judges 6:1-10, the people of Israel were living in a time of fear and poverty. They grew their crops and tended to their animals, and every year for seven years their enemies came and stole everything away, leaving behind waste and destruction. They cried out to God because of their enemies, and He sent a prophet, telling them that they feared the gods of their enemies more than the God who had delivered them from slavery in Egypt, and brought them to the promised land. They were disobedient, and their worst problem was not their enemies, it was themselves. When they got their focus back on what it should have been, God raised up a deliverer, one who overcame the enemy, not through strength of force, but by being obedient to the Lord and allowing Him to give them the victory.

I know that sometimes we find ourselves in situations that are beyond our control or even influence. Death, illness, divorce, loss of employment, economic downturns are just a few of many things that can happen to bring us to a place of fear and poverty. Doesn't matter whether it's poverty of money and possessions, or poverty of spirit. If we don't watch it, we get so caught up our lack that we miss the point.

I certainly don't know what will happen with the stockmarket or big business, but God is still on the throne, regardless of the Dow-Jones average. All I can do is look to myself, to see if I am walking in obedience or disobedience, and look to God to supply the rest.

I am reminded of the words of an old song, "many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand, but I know Who holds the future, and I know Who holds my hand."

Until next time...

Kol Nidre

Tonight is Kol Nidre, the eve of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Jewish and Messianic people everywhere meet tonight to say the Kol Nidre prayer, which means "all vows". Traditionally, on this night you are released from all personal vows you made to the Lord in the past year. It also begins the 25 hour Yom Kippur fast.

Historically, the Day of Atonement was the most holy day in the Biblical calendar. It was to be an appointed time, a sabbath of solemn rest; a day of fasting; a holy convocation, or gathering; and a day of offering up of sacrifice.

As a believer, Yom Kippur is another chance for me to pause and remember that Yeshua Ha'mashiach, Jesus the Messiah, has made atonement once and for all for all of my sins.

Prophetically, it's in the portion of the Biblical year that has not yet been fulfilled, along with the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, or Rosh Hoshana) just past, and the Feast of Tabernacles or booths (Sukkot), which begins next Monday night.

Here is a link to a You-Tube video of a cantor saying the Kol Nidre prayers.

Until next time...


_____________________________________

What does "virtuous" mean?

• Who can find a virtuous woman?

What do you think of when you think of a "virtuous woman"? What does "virtuous" really mean, anyway?

According to dictionary.com, virtue is defined as "moral excellence; goodness; righteousness", and virtuous is defined as "conforming to ethical and moral principles". So a virtuous woman would be a woman of moral excellence, goodness , and righteousness, conforming to ethical and moral principles.

On a more personal level, when I first think of a virtuous woman, I think of an almost saintly person--a real "church lady"--able to perform as a superwoman and keep a sweet look on her face all at the same time.

A lofty aspiration, but is this passage of scripture really discussing only saintliness as we usually define it--the goodness and morality mentioned earlier? The problem with thinking this way is that the scripture was not written originally in English. Especially if we're looking at it in the KJV, common usage of words may have changed since it was first translated. So, lets dig a little deeper. KJV translates this as "virtuous woman"; NKJV, "virtuous wife; NAS, "excellent wife", and the Amplified Bible states it as "capable, intelligent, and virtuous wife". So, again, I think of a certain quality of "goodness", and maybe efficiency thrown in for good measure. From the passage, it's obvious she is a real worker bee, and now she is morally excellent, good, and righteous.

This is getting worse and worse. I mean, er, harder and harder to live up to.

But wait, there's more...

According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the word translated here as "virtuous" is a Hebrew word that can best be transliterated in English as chayil. The definition of chayil is "army, wealth, virtue, valour, strength..great forces..might..power..strength." What's more, this word chayil is translated as virtue, virtuous, virtuously only about 4 out of 243 instances that it's used in the Bible. By far the single biggest use of this word is translated as "men of valour", as in David's mighty men of valour.

When I first started studying this, it was as if a light-bulb went off over my head. Being a virtuous woman is not about being meek and mild and sweet and "good"--all of those things that I have trouble being. Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) that we all need to bear. But being a virtuous woman is about more than that. It's about being a strong woman. A woman of valour and honor. A woman of moral excellence, and yes, a "good" woman.

Wait a minute--aren't women supposed to be "the weaker sex"? You know, most of us are physically weaker than most men, in the tests that men use to measure strength. We probably can't bench press more than the men we know. We probably can't jump as high or run as fast or as far as most men. I think we're capable, though, of strength of a different sort. We may not bear the physical burdens in our families, but we often bear other types of burdens. Our work may be measured differently from what most men term work, but it is a noble work, and one that we are peculiarly equipped to do. Men may be the bricks upon which we build our family, but we are the mortar that holds it all together.

I'll be talking later on about what it means to be a strong woman of God, but for tonight, let me leave you with this. God has a peculiar place for each of us as godly women to fill. We are virtuous--not by our own strength, or by our own goodness, but by His strength, and His goodness.

Rise up, you women of virtue; rise up, you women of valour and strength, and take the place that God created you to take.

Until next time,

It's a love/hate relationship

• Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies

I don't remember exactly when I first discovered the virtuous woman found in Proverbs 31. I do remember how taken I was with the qualities and virtues extoled by the writer of these scriptures. The whole passage reads like poetry to me---"Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies...the heart of her husband safely trusts in her...she is like the merchants' ships, she brings her food from afar...she girds herself and strengthens her arms...she considers a field, and buys it, with her own hands she plants a vineyard..she is not afraid of the snow for her household, for they are clothed with scarlet...she stretches out her arm to the poor and needy..her clothing is tapestry and purple...she opens her mouth with wisdom and kindness...she looks well to the ways of her household...her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband praises her...give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her".

A beautiful passage of scripture, one that has been the subject of many Mother's Day sermons and Women's Ministry devotionals. One that has no doubt been the source of both inspiration and guilt for many woman through the ages. One that is the topic of many books, as well as websites and blogs. So, you may ask, why another one?

That's a good question.

Like I stated earlier, I can't remember when I first started reading about the virtuous woman. Trying to imitate her. Loving her. Hating her. Feeling guilty about all of the ways that I fell short. But as I started really reading and studying, I found so much there that I hope will bring insight and blessing both to my life and I hope to yours.

Having a website/blog of this sort is a new endeavor for me. There is so much that I want to discuss and share that it seems overwhelming and exciting at the same time.

New content will be added quickly, so please check back often. If you would like to subscribe through a feeder or become a "follower", please see the sidebar.

Thanks and God Bless You,
Charlene

A Virtuous Woman

• Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
• The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
• She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
• She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
• She is like the merchants' ships, she bringeth her food from afar.
• She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat toher household, and a portion to her maidens.
• She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
• She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
• She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
• She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
• She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
• She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
• She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
• Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
• She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delvereth girdles unto the merchant.
• Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
• She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
• She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
• Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
• Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
• Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
• Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:10-31, KJV