Chapter 12 {A Little Night Work}

"When you lose everything you want, you find the only thing you need."

HER DILIGENCE

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands to the distaff.

Proverbs 31:19

OK, so, so far we've learned that a beautiful woman of God rises early in the morning, works hard all day, has her own business, and THEN lesson number 12...here she comes,  God's beautiful woman also works behind-the-scenes, and into the night.  

It's true that work, work, work and more work lies behind every success.  We are considering the wonderful success story of the Proverbs 31 woman.  Clearly this woman is a woman of diligence--ever persevering, continually industrious, and constantly busy.  

She rises early to take care of her household and continues to work at the other end of her day, too.  She puts her evenings to good use as well. 

Here are a few "How-To's"

#1:  Evaluate you Evenings--Do you know how you spend every 20 minutes of your evenings?  Answering this question can be quite an eye opener!

#2:  Plan your Evenings--Just like you schedule your days, start scheduling your evenings!  One woman did her laundry, cleaned the kitchen, and then spent 30 minutes exercising.  You don't have to be up until midnight every night.  Just stay up a little bit after the rest of the family has gone to bed. 

This time doesn't just have to be for work, it could also be for your personal interests.  Read your favorite book, look up new recipes for the family, or give yourself a manicure!

#3:  Use your evenings--It's great to evaluate, plan and prepare but you have to USE your evenings.  God's beautiful woman "layeth her hands to the spindle" What do your hands reach for at night?  A snack?  A book? A favorite video?  Your pillow?  This chapter is about diligence; it's your invitation to you and I to make your evenings productive.

See you soon!

Sara Rose <3

Chapter 11 {A Taste of Success}

"Blessed are those who give without remembering and take without forgetting."

-Elizabeth Bibesco

HER CONFIDENCE

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

Proverbs 31:18

Seriously?  I thought we were supposed to be keepers of our homes, help meets to our husbands, comforters and nurturers to our children.  And now, on top of all of this we are not only have knowledge of our finances, but also we should be able to have our own business on the side!  Not something that would take over the daily tasks of being a wife and mother, but something that would create a little more "breathing room" in the area of expenses.  

This wise, wonderful mother in Proverbs 31 is giving us a formula for success--or in other words a formula for excellence!  When you and I pursue excellence in all areas of our lives, we can experience the kind of success that God's beautiful Proverbs 31 woman enjoyed.  

This woman had excellent TASTE, GOODS, RESULTS, and an excellent PURSUIT.

Elizabeth George calls the business of God's beautiful woman her "Proverbs 31 Project".  In her book she listed several women who did things from their very own homes in order to contribute to the finances of their family.  

I personal know several ladies who have small business that they run in their own home.  One young woman runs a small bakery, and sells her baked goods to local restaurants in the area.  Another woman in my church sells her own ointments.

Now, here are some "How-To's" on developing your own "Proverbs 31 Project"

#1:  Listen to Others--
Do you get compliments for something you do?  We will usually take the gifts God has given for granted.  We tend to think "Oh, anyone can do that!"  "It's not that great, someone else could do a better job!"  But we need to thank God for the abilities He has given us and try to use those abilities in a broader way.

#2:  Move Forward--
Did you good somewhere?  Did the recipe fail?  Keep moving forward!  Have the attitude Thomas Edison had: "Don't call it a mistake.  Call it an education!"

#3:  Develop Your Skills--
Just because your good at something doesn't mean you can't get better!  Are you good at making the world's best Colorado Cowboy Cookies? 

(see www.sweetteaandarockingchair.blogspot.com for the recipe)

 Go ahead and try giving the Alabama Mud Cake a try! 

(a favorite, also found on the same site )

#4:  Take Risks--
Scary?  Maybe just a little :)  But!  Be creative!  Try new things!

#5:  Do Your Best--
All you do, do with excellence.  As a result, your merchandise will be good!

#6:  Do Your Projects Unto the Lord--
With Him as the reason for your work, with Him as your Boss, with  His glory as your goal, you'll experience the blessing of His strength and His guidance.

#7: FAMILY FIRST--
God's beautiful woman isn't motivated by greed in her business.  A true Proverbs 31 woman will be motivated by the want to be a blessing to her family.  And not only her family, but also a continual blessing to others!  

So, take a step back before pursuing this "Proverbs 31 Project".  Who are you really doing this for? 

In the case of becoming a beautiful Proverbs 31 woman, take care of your family, and let God take care of how He chooses to bless you and any business efforts.

Good luck!

See you soon!

Sara Rose <3

Chapter 9 {A Field of Dreams}

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become your character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. 

HER VISION

"She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard."

Proverbs 31:16

I'll admit, here's another verse that is on my "Things to Conquer" list.  Along with getting up before the sun, the business side of life is something that my brain doesn't often comprehend. 

 But!  Never fear, it's on the list! =)

Ever heard of the findings of "right brain-left brain" research?  Supposedly one side of the brain controls the creative functions and the other side is our practical functions.

The woman who is beautiful in God's eyes has fully and gloriously developed both sides of her brain.  In the creative realm, she's a visionary--a person given to dreaming and imagining.  

When we, in the quest for our dreams, seek and follow God's wisdom and add our own hard work to the pursuit, everyone benefits.

Here are six P's for a beauty plan in seeing our dreams come true. 

*Patience--so that you will wait before you act when opportunities arise

*Prudence--so that you will carefully think things over while you're waiting

*Prayerfulness--so that you will seek the Lord's wisdom while you are waiting and thinking

*Petition--so that you will willingly consult your husband--or your parents =D--after you've waited, and thought, and prayed

*Purpose--so that God will guide your heart in the right direction, in HIS direction

*Perseverance--so that you will do whatever it takes to make your dreams come true

See you soon!

Sara Rose <3

Chapter 8 {A Pattern for the Household}

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
 That's why we call it the present."

HER DISCIPLINE
"She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household,
and a portion to her maidens."
Proverbs 31:15

If you are even slightly like me this verse makes you almost cringe.  Although I tend to be more of a morning person, the thought of waking up while it's still dark is not my favorite thing to do.  As soon as I see that it is still dark, this girl normally will head back to her warm bed!  Now that I have a job, there have been a few mornings where I have to be out of the house and on my way, but I've always seen sunshine when I opened my eyes. =)
This verse is definitely something I have put on my "Need to Conquer List".
In this chapter there are 3 disciplines taught to us by a woman who lovingly cared enough for her home and for her family, that she rose while it was still dark in order to ensure that everything would be prepared BEFORE her family awoke.

Discipline #1: An Early Start
When Proverbs 31 was written a woman got up early for several reasons.


Tending the fire at home--
First she would tend the lamp, this lamp had to stay lit all night so that it could help start the fire the next morning.  It was also the ideal time to get a head start on the meal preparations for that day.

Tending the fire of her heart--
Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
A Proverbs 31 woman not only tends the fire of her home, but she also ensures that the fire in her heart has also been tended.  She rises while it is night to find a quiet spot to spend with her God.

Tending the fires of their hearts--
The Law of Moses instructed each mother to teach and to train her children God's law.  The Proverbs 31 woman first fills her own heart with God's truths, but also teaches her children the same truths all day long.

Discipline #2: Food for the Family
This woman's daily bread needs for her family was a major reason in rising early.  Her family depended on her to provide the most important mainstay with each meal.  The bread!   But there is an exciting image behind this verse!
"The Hebrew word used here for "food" actually means "prey" and refers to the prey of a lion.  God's beautiful woman here is being likened unto that of a lion hunting for the prey it needs to survive.  She is pictured as lioness prowling at night to obtain food for her household.  Besides being an army (verse 10), a warrior (verse 10), a worker (verse 13), and a powerful ship (verse 14), she is now a lioness (verse 15)!  The image of this woman continues to point to a woman with tremendous strength and courage.

Discipline #3: A Plan for the Day
While it's assumed that God's Proverbs 31 woman gave her maids a portion of the food in which she had prepared she also gave them work.  She issues them a decree or a work "ordinance" which outlines their daily work assignments.  This woman also has her own daily work to plan and organize, but her maids also need their daily portion for the day.  Eager not to lose a minute of time, she has to be ready for them--early!

See you soon!

Sara Rose <3

Chapter 7 {An Enterprising Spirit}

"Don't waste your time looking back on what you have lost.  Move on, for life is not meant to be traveled backwards."

-Unknown Author

HER PROVISION

"She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar."

Proverbs 31:14

Like the merchants ships of her day, this Proverbs 31 woman sets sail and glides on and on...searching, looking , seeking and obtaining what she wants to provide for her family.  Motivated by love for those she cares about, she sets forth on a mission with vigor and anticipation, willing to explore beyond the familiarity and convenience of her neighborhood market.

Here's how:

#1.  A heart of love is the first thing on the list.  Without love we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2), and so, without love we will want to do nothing! So...

Pray

Make your home your first priority

Spend time with other women. Listen to women who speak with heartfelt love about their husband, their children and their home.  You'll find the enthusiasm contagious!

#2. A vision of loveliness gives wings to an enterprising spirit.  As a creative individual, nurture you own vision of loveliness and offer your family your personal expressions of beauty.

Surround yourself with beauty

Make your vision of loveliness a reality

#3.  God's assignment to love your family in the practicalities of daily life gives an enterprising spirit of direction.

Become a wise shopper

Search for the unusual

Consider bartering

Become the "resident artist"

See you soon!

Sara Rose <3

Chapter One...A Rare Treasure

I'm starting a new journey.  One that I hope that I know will change me, and for the better.  With all of the new changes going on in my life, I've decided to try and mold my life and my walk with the Lord, after possibly the greatest woman who has ever walked the earth.

The Proverbs 31 Woman.

Scary? Yeah, I know. 

I used to believe that this was just a "daughter-in-law wish list" that a mother had for her son.  Until I read that many daughters had done virtuously.  Then I realized that the Proverbs 31 woman wasn't some "once in a lifetime" type girl.  She was actually someone who became the model for millions of other young women, and that several others had been able to accomplish what she had done!  Did King Lemuel ever find this model woman?  I have no idea.  But I do know that today marks my journey towards becoming (or at least getting as close as I can) a Proverbs 31 woman.

So here begins my journey.  The start of a new beginning.

Let's begin.

Chapter One is a look at the Proverbs 31 woman from a distance.  An outline of who she was.

Already, at the start of the book, I've learned something new.  Now I'm not familiar with the Hebrew alphabet, but what I found interesting is that King Lemuel's mother organizes the "must have" list, in alphabetical order for her son.  This mother was a homeschooler :)  Which makes me happy.  She was teaching her son at an early age what kind of woman to pursue.

Another thing that had impressed me, was that this chapter isn't written by King Lemuel's father, or some other wise counsel given to the young king.  But rather by his mother.  She was giving her son a list of characteristics of a woman that would be needful and helpful to him as a king.  I wonder if this mother was someone who was the Proverbs 31 woman, or if she was telling her son to find someone that had been better than she had.  It's another one of those Bible mysteries I intend to solve in Heaven.  :) 

Also, much to my relief.  I have learned that this woman wasn't created overnight.  She didn't become the model woman instantly.  It took time, it took training, and I even bet that it took a lot of prayer and patience.

So, with God's help, a lot of prayer and some hard work (we'll even throw in the chocolate ;), I hope that by the end of this journey I will be half the young woman that God desires.

See you soon!

Sara Rose <3