What about bad days?

"She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27 (NASB)

God really is amazing, and has such an incredible sense of humor. You know, while I was in the shower this morning, this exact thought went through my mind, "What about bad days? Did the Proverbs 31 Woman ever have a bad day?" Did they forget verse 32 where she laid down and took a nap, or asked her husband to watch the kids so she could go to Starbucks for a break? Did she ever just not feel like (fill in the blank) and not do it?"
As I looked back at the past two weeks I see days that I neglected my schedule (the kids were sick, I was sick, we had appointments, blah, blah, blah), days that I wanted to nap more than I can remember wanting to nap than when my babies were only weeks old; days when my chores were not completed the way they should have been and moments when I did not encourage my children to complete their chores or daily disciplines the way that they should. And then, this morning at church a word of Prophesy is spoken over me where which I am told, "Concentrate - you have many decisions to make in the coming months and years. God will use others and His word to show you what to do, but you must be self-disciplined"

What other word can best describe the Proverbs 31 woman than self-disciplined?

• She gets the job done no matter what it takes (v.11)
• She works hard enough to even make a profit (vv. 11-15)
• She delays her own gratification and pleasure to invest her profits and then tirelessly works those investments for further gain (vv. 16-19)
• She generously participates in the larger community by giving to the poor (v. 20)
• She has no fear of the future (vv. 21-27)
• She is honored, respected, admired, praised and rewarded (vv. 28-31)

What is self-discipline? Well, it is obedience to God's word and His call on our lives. It can be defined as "the ability to regulate one's conduct by principal and sound judgment, rather than by impulse or social custom"*. It is 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, and training to run the race with endurance and fight the fight with power and strength! But not our own strength, the strength that the Lord gives us. In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul tells Timothy, "For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline". God has given me a spirit of self-discipline. I don't have to earn it or muster up the power or the will to do the right thing over and over again. But I do have to be diligent and self-disciplined to seek the Lord and concentrate on His word and the promises contained in it.
So, if the Proverbs 31 woman really did exist, then we can be certain that she wasn't perfect, and perhaps she did have "one of those days" every now and then! But the important thing here is that those days did not mark her character. Her nobility, her strength and dignity and her diligence are what she is remembered for. Because she did not "eat the bread of idleness" on a regular basis, on those days when she needed a break, she was allotted it with ease and pleasure (I speak out of assumption, not based on biblical teaching) by those around her who knew her hard work and desired to reward her with rest. She is a woman of composure, patience and self-possession who was productive, dependable and influential. By seeking to live a life marked with self-discipline, we all can be known as women with a genuine sense of calling and purpose for our lives, and with self-discipline governing the practical and spiritual areas of our lives, verses 10 through 29 of Proverbs 31 will be second nature to us and no longer an impossible mountain to climb. Then we too, along with this woman will, be given the product of our hands, and our works will praise us in the gates (v.31)

The Next Generation

"She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet" Proverbs 31:21 NKJV

There is a very commonly used adage around Christian circles that says, "there is only one interpretation of the bible, but there can be many applications". This verse, for me, falls into the "many applications" portion, and always has. Clearly, a family in Jerusalem would have to worry about very cold (and in this case, snowy) winters, and this mom and wife is not afraid for her family because she has provided for them the clothing necessary to make it through these frigid conditions comfortably. And not only are they clothed in wool (v.13), but she makes them beautiful by dying them Scarlet, or deep red. So, yes, the interpretation of this verse is literal - she takes care of their needs and cares about the quality and condition of her family's attire; however, the application for me, every time I have ever read this passage, even before I had children is about Jesus Christ.
I, rather, have read this verse as, "She doesn't fear in times of trouble because her family is covered by the blood of the Lamb". She has raised her children in the way that they should go. The law of God is written on their hearts and His statutes are their daily desire. What a great desire I have to say to my children some day, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity..." (1 Timothy 4:12). How great will it be to encourage and exhort our children to serve the Lord with boldness while they are young adults, because we took the time and care to ensure, while they were babes, that they were "covered in scarlet", the Scarlet of the Cross!
Oh mothers (and fathers), may we endeavor to encourage our children to be bold for Christ, at every age, and never let them be held back from doing what they believe God has called them to do or to be for His kingdom! Oh that our children would be a refreshing example to those who may have waxed cold over time. May our little ones stay firm in the Lord and grow up to confound those who might try to discredit them because of their age, because of their faith, purity and knowledge of spiritual and worldly things. May the Lord shine brighter and more pure in our children in order that more may come to know Him in the next generation than in any other before. Let us parents not grow weary in well-doing, but let us stay strong in the power of His might so that we may encourage and equip the next generation to be bold for Christ.
For now, at least for my household, it is still my responsibility to clothe them. My children are young and are not yet at that "age of accountability", but just as I wouldn't send them up to the mountains without shoes or jackets to fend off the winter weather alone and unprepared, neither will I send them into the world without the cloak of Christ guarding their little hearts and minds. There will come a day when they chose Whom they will serve and put Him on, with boldness and conviction, to serve Him with all their hearts, all their minds and all their strength!

What a Sight!

"She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple" Proverbs 31:22 NASB

My grandmother said to me once, "you know, none of my husbands (yes, I know the implication here, but go with it for a minute) ever saw me without my hair curled and my make up fresh". She said this to me after a long day of work (she used to watch my kids for me when I worked outside the house) when I rushed in the house to get out of my suit, wash my face, put on sweats, a dirty tee-shirt and my hair up into a ponytail. I was "made up" all day long and all I wanted to do was be comfortable when I went into the kitchen to cook and clean. I thought she was crazy and even said, "My husband doesn't even like make-up". And didn't think anything of it.
About a year later, while pregnant with Cadel, I decided to put on a dress one evening before Juan got home from work. I curled my hair and put on make up. My husband isn't one of those husbands who doesn't notice small stuff - good and bad - but Juan always notices when something is "different". He walked in the door that night and immediately said, "Wow! You look nice!" And then, ready? He said, "Where are you going?" It was such a rarity to see me "nice" (not in sweats with my hair in a ponytail) that he thought for sure I had plans. I said, "No where!" and he thanked me for taking the time to look nice!
This year my church did a 40 Day Love Dare and one of the dares was to put on something nice, curl (or straighten) my hair and put make up on before my husband got home from work...so, since it was a "dare" sent out to the entire church, I had comfort knowing that I was not alone in looking like I am ready for the gym or to go to bed most of the day, but it did convict me. It convicted me that I don't take care of myself. Even after my thoughtful and astute husband "thanked" me for looking nice one night, I let an entire year go by without even thinking about making an effort to appear put together, and then, only because I was "dared" to do it by the leadership of my church. But why do I do this? Or why don't I take the time to put on nice things? To do my hair or put on make up? Is it because I am just too busy with homeschooling and being a mom of four? I don't know...what does Proverbs 31 have to say about this as a priority in my life?
The Proverbs 31 Woman is busy to be sure. She is a godly mother and a diligent wife. She is a manager of her home and her "servants". She is an entrepreneur and an enterpriser. She is creative and resourceful, but look! Do you see what else she is in verse 22? She is elegant. She is thoughtful about the aesthetics of her bedroom and about the quality of her own attire. After working all day, at the spindle, with her maidservants and out in the city selling to the merchants (oh yeah, and after she walked for miles and miles to make sure she found the best price and best quality food for her family), she is clothed in fine linen. Silk! Silk is how it is translated in some versions. And, it is purple. Purple is always a sign of elegance or royalty, but really, that is because of the time and care that went into making a garment that color. It took very careful and precise measuring and timing to get the proper shade.
Are you kidding me? She isn't covered up to her elbows in dirt and a haggard mess? Not only is she not dirty, but she is set apart. She is elegant and lovely outwardly and inwardly. 1 Peter 3:3 says, "Do not be 'merely' concerned with your outward appearance". I have always read this and given myself permission to be less than put together, but look at the verse! It says, "merely". It doesn't say not to be concerned at all. Of course we are to be concerned with our inward person and the condition of our hearts, but we can (and probably should) be concerned with the outward too!
So, to those of you who always look good - comment below and tell me how you do it :-). But to anyone who is even half as bad as me (I made a family schedule finally, this week, after two years of being home with my kids so that I make sure to get a shower every day), let's challenge ourselves to take care of us too! Just like the loaves and the fishes, we certainly need the Lord to multiply our time that even now doesn't seem enough to complete all of the tasks of our day, but we need to fit that time in there each day. Maybe it is 5 minutes before your husband gets home from work, maybe it is first thing in the morning and a refresher before he comes home, but we should do it. We don't have to look like June Cleaver, with pearls and a polka-dot dress (although, that does seem strangely fun), but take the sweats off and put on some nice jeans; take off that tee-shirt you wore to the gym this morning and put on a cute sun-dress and pull that ponytail out and throw a couple curlers in your hair while you finish up dinner or straighten the living room. A little powder and some lip gloss and we might just feel like a human being again! Try it with me...I'll start tomorrow (ha)!