What NOT to Wear...

She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.  She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 

Proverbs 31:21-22

This excellent wife is prepared for winter.  And why shouldn't she be?  It comes at the same time every year.  God is a God of order and he has placed seasons for us.  We have time to prepare for winter, but we have to act. I also think this wife has placed a certain, undeniable trust in her Lord.  Winters are brutal.  More so are spiritual winters or droughts.  We ought to prepare our hearts and souls for those cold, spiritual warfare days, when depression has the tendency to set in, with the word of God hidden in our heart, putting on the full armor.  We know those days will come, just as we can expect the first frost to hit the ground; so we must prepare, stock up, buckle down, be ready.   Let us not fear the winters of this earth and of our hearts, knowing that the Lord has given us everything we need, we only need use these resources.

Ms. "Perfect" also seems to dress nicely.  Though, it is proof in these verses that is not where she places her value.  Like I alluded to above,  God is a God of order, we ought to dress ourselves nice and neatly to the glory of God.  1 Corinthians 10:31  makes that clear.  God is also a beautiful artist, he's the great coordinator.  My cousin mentioned this to me once after a trip to the zoo with the kids.  She said if you walk through the reptile house, you will see the most beautiful coordination of colors- things we often copy on our clothes.  And why shouldn't we?  God is the God of beauty. I've been blessed tremendously each time I consider my Lord and my husband when I put together an outfit.  

So let us prepare our homes and our hearts for the impending winters we will face and let us dress ourselves well, not richly, for the glory of God and the joy of our husbands!  

Disclaimer:  This is not me telling you to go out shopping, so don't blame me, but this is me telling us to go read our bibles and spend time in prayer! I can tell you it is lots of fun to dig through your closet and put together outfits you normally wouldn't put together.  Go google some reptiles images and have fun! 

An Open Letter to Myself (School Year 2012-2013)

Dear Mendi,

I want you to read this letter every time you are weary, pouty, or just plain ready to give up.  There is no doubt that you will feel this way at least once over the course of the next 9 months.

Pray!  Pray, pray, pray.  You know that things always work out better when you have your attention and mind stayed upon the Lord.  Seek him!  Homeschooling is an excellent example of your dependence upon God.

Things can't go perfectly, just in case you forgot.  You are a sinful human raising sinful little humans.  You can be prideful and hardheaded and so can your students.  There will be times when you feel like screaming, and there will be times when you do.  It's in these times that you need to remember that every day isn't like this. Repent to God and ask your children's forgiveness.  That really teaches them a lot.

Remember that you are teaching children.  Let them be kids.  Remember you are teaching children while caring for a 9 month old and running a family business.  Go with the flow.

You are doing a fine job,  the fact that she's getting a one on one education tailored to her style of learning is a good indication that she's going to turn out just fine.

There are going to be bad days, get over it.  When that dark cloud hovers over your little schoolroom remember that tomorrow will always be better.  Remember that the Lord gives us trials to turn our hearts and prayers to him.

Don't forget why you are doing this.  You can give them every tool in the world to be a genius, get into what ever college or university they'd dream of, but if they know not Christ, it's all a waste.  It's for naught.  When they need math, first give them Jesus.  Show them the grace of Christ that was shown to you.  When they falter in their handwriting, give them Jesus.  They may never know how to spell idiosyncrasy, but if they can spell mercy and understand the word propitiation personally because that is who Christ is for them, they have it all.  Remember why you taught Dylan to read, so that she would have the power of God's word at her fingertips.  Don't ever forget that.  Your effort is in vain if it is not for a Gospel mission.  Show them grace in your dealings with them.  Remember how much long suffering the Lord has displayed and bestowed upon you, and give them that all the more.

Be a blessing to your children, they most certainly bless you.  Be an example to others and be not a burden to your husband.  Let his heart trust you in raising and educating his children.

Read this often.  You will forget these things all too quickly.

Pray. Pray. Pray.  Read your bible and apply it to your life- all of it.

Sincerely,
Mendi

Seeing the Physical with Spiritual Eyes

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.  She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.  She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.  She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.  She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.  She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.  Her lamp does not go out at night.  She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.  She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy." Proverbs 31:13-20

Honestly, I had a really hard time finding a break in these next sets of verses in Proverbs 31.  This all seemed like a lot of "doing" and not a lot of "being" on the surface at first glance.  There seems to be much work and busy hands.  Yet, when you look at this through spiritual eyes and you see this woman, this bride, as not only a man's wife but the picture of the Bride of Christ and what she ought to be doing  on this earth until her Lord, her bridegroom returns, there is so much more here!  As the Bride of Christ, the church ought to be steadily out seeking to commit ourselves to Kingdom work.  Our hands must be willing to do what we are called to do.  We ought to be wise with the talents the Lord has given us, good stewards of the blessings he's poured out on our heads and use those things to spread the Gospel, provide for the needs of the family of God, and also seek to stretch out our hands to the needy, the widowed and the orphaned. We have but little time upon this earth to do what we've been commissioned by God to do, so we ought to, "make the best use of time." (Colossians 4:5)  

But also, as an earthly wife, this woman is a planner, a provider, a strong and able woman with a wise and keen mind.  Her beauty lies in her strength; that is what she dresses herself in.  But, as strong and wise and busy she is; She is also kind, tender and compassionate.  She not only looks to the needs of herself or her family, but she's looking for ways to be a blessing to those around her and even strangers.  What a beautiful picture of the Gospel.  Aren't you thankful that the Lord didn't limit his showering of grace and mercy upon the Jews only but also to the Gentiles?  I am very, very thankful for that.

So, where does that leave you and I?  Are we planners and need-meeters to our families as we most assuredly ought to be?  We should also be finding ways to be blessings to those around us.  Maybe there is someone around you that has every physical need met, but I submit to you that the most poor and needy are those without Christ.  I don't know about you, but I have far more people like that in my community and my own family than those with monetary needs.  And didn't the Lord say, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul?"