10 Days of Proverbs Archives - Teaching What Is Good

10 Days of Proverbs - Day 10

By Kate, on January 27th, 2012%

Well, we’ve done it. We have spent the last 10 days looking at Proverbs 31 in light of organization/preparation. Some days I shared some practical tips, some days we did a bit more of a study, some days were meditations on things God brought to my mind using Proverbs 31 as a spring board.

In winding up this series, I’d like to mention again how VITAL and ESSENTIAL this woman was to her family and her husband. Over the years I’ve known some husbands who see their wives only as someone to submit to them. They don’t see them as a spiritual partner, as a parenting partner, as an intellectual partner or as a partner in any sense. For them, her value is merely in her work in the house and the conjugal rights it affords to them.

Hopefully you’ve been reading the other bloggers in this series because they have been sharing some WONDERFUL things about this Proverbs 31 woman. Some things I’ve learned about her in these past days of study:

she’s resourceful
she takes initiative
she has confidence in who she is and what she can accomplish
she has great leadership skills
she’s a financial partner in the home
she’s strong of body, mind and spirit
she’s courageous
she’s trustworthy
she’s hardworking
she’s generous and kind
she’s dignified
she’s a teacher
she’s wise
she’s a great blessing for her husband
she’s a blessing to her children

This shows us a woman who is not slave in her home nor is she subservient. Yes, she is a submissive wife BUT she sees her own value and place of honor in her home. She is a powerful force for good in her home and family. She is a woman devoted to God and surrendered to His will and that gives her great might and influence. God blesses her and exalts her for all to see.

This is a wonderful woman for us to emulate, not just in how hard she works, but also in understanding the spiritual strength she gives to her family for generations to come. May we all continue to grow as we follow her example of godly humility and confidence in who we are before the Throne of God!

10 Days of Proverbs - Day 9

By Kate, on January 26th, 2012%

She senses that her gain is good…Prov 31:18a

Anne from Shadow Wonder commented on my Day 4 post on this verse and I wanted to expand on and discuss that a little more on today’s post.

As a refresher, Anne said, “I had never noticed before that scripture shows this woman actually recognizing that her actions are good and beneficial. What a wonderful thing to learn (especially for someone who fears that such fulfillment is sinful pride instead of a God-given blessing).”

Is it really sin for us to look at our accomplishments and think, “now THAT was good!” Does humble mean convincing ourselves that we are no good? How do we take the example of our Proverbs 31 gal when she looks at her life and senses that her gain is good, that it has value, that it is excellent (all words used to describe towb , the Hebrew word for “good” in this verse).

I’d like to look at some reasons why we can delight in the “goodness” in our lives:

we are created in God’s image (Gen 1:27)
we are sanctified, we are saints (1 Cor 1:2)
we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession (1 Pet 2:9)
we are being transformed into the image of Jesus as we behold the glory of the Lord
we are being renewed in our inner man day-by-day (2 Cor 4:16)
we are being renewed in the spirit of our mind (Eph 4:23)
we are new creatures in Christ with the old things having passed away (2 Cor 5:17)

All of this comes down to the fact that, when we walk the surrendered life with our Lord, He is doing mighty and supernatural things in our lives. He is changing us into HIS likeness. And when we are living a transformed life, we are pleasing to Him. When we are pleasing to Him we cannot HELP but recognize the Spirit’s working in our lives as GOOD AND EXCELLENT!

Living in the power of His work in our lives gives us great confidence to know that “our gain is good”. It is not any pride in US. It is boasting in HIM!

Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God. Ps 20:7

10 Days of Proverbs - Day 8

By Kate, on January 25th, 2012%

…for all her household are clothed with scarlet. Prov 31:21

I was talking to my husband about this verse and it’s interesting how this it compares with:

Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments…1 Tim 2:9

Over the years I’ve known many women who hold to a view that we need to dress as plainly as possible, that frills or frippery of any kind are vain and sinful. They use the verse in 1 Timothy 2:9 as a proof text. Now, I’m sure that these gals are sincerely seeking to walk in obedience to the Lord in this choice but from looking at Prov 31:21, I see a different point of view.

In biblical times, scarlet was a color associated with royalty and the priesthood. The colors God ordained for the tabernacle were blue, purple and scarlet. The colors for the priests were blue, purple and scarlet. The color for cleansing was scarlet. It was a color that was associated with luxury. There are some commentators who say the scarlet color was not just the red dye, but meant a luxurious double woven garment, very warm and extravagant.

Think about it, this woman clothed her family with scarlet – the royal color, the fabric of warmth and luxury. She is a woman who works hard and exemplifies the abundance and overflow of God to His children in how she helps to provide for her family’s needs. And God is an extravagant God.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! Rom 11:33
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…Eph 1:18
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 1 Tim 6:17
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17
Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Ps 37:4
So David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever.”Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.”Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 1 Chron 29:10-12
Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? “For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me. “For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. “For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. “Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” Matt 26:6-13
“I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it. … “But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Ps 81:10, 16
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Rom 8:32

We can walk in the example of our God as we seek to create beauty and luxury in our homes and for our families. It is not wrong to create beauty. Frumpy does not equal spiritual. We can, even without great expense, display the creativity and beauty of the Lord in our homes by the careful choices we make. We too can clothe our family with “scarlet”.

10 Days of Proverbs – Day 7

By Kate, on January 24th, 2012%

She is not afraid of the snow for her household… Prov 31:21

We had a snow storm recently that left us with about 6 inches of snow. Now, compared to when we lived in North Dakota, that isn’t much. It did, however, close many of our businesses and send school students and staff home early. It reminded me of a story I heard by Chuck Swindoll years ago.

When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas…Make every effort to come before winter. 2 Tim 4:13, 21

Chuck (or Chucky-baby as he is affectionately referred to by my pastor ) talks about the 2 years that he pastored in New England (in fact, it was at a church that I attended 2 decades later). Growing up in the south he was not used to cold New England weather. Nor was he prepared for the rapid changes of seasons. In New England, in September there is usually a chilly week or two and then another week or so of absolutely LOVELY weather. Warm, sunny, and deceptively calm. Us New Englanders call this time Indian Summer and it is a time when we PREPARE our homes for the frigid winter just around the corner. We pull down (or put in, as the case may be) storm windows, put up plastic on outside windows, take in all summer furniture and in every way winterize the home.

Chuck thought all of his neighbors were CRAZY! It was 80 degrees. Why should he close up his house when the summer breezes were so lovely. So while home owners around him were shutting their homes up and battening down the hatches, he had his windows open and enjoyed lounging in his back yard.

Creative Commons License photo credit: Etolane

A week later, the temperatures had plummeted to 40 degrees with howling winds and he found himself outside in the icy temps putting on storm windows and storing up the summer paraphernalia while all those around him were snug and toasty in their homes, already prepared for the winter gusts.

Paul was telling Timothy in this passage above that he wanted him (Timothy) to bring Paul’s coat that had been left, and to please come before winter. Paul knew that it was important to be prepared for the winter weather that would come.

There is a spiritual truth here as well. We each have winter times in our lives. Times of feeling cold and distant from the Lord, times of hardship and struggles. For some of us, these times come monthly with the changes in our hormones. For others, they come with changes in our circumstances. Paul knew that the winter weather meant he needed a coat and he wanted to be PREPARED beforehand. He prepared his life so that when the winter chill set in, he didn’t have to run around trying to find one. He would be ready.

Just like the Indian Summer in New England is a SIGN of the coming change, we often see the coming changes in our lives that whisper a spiritual winter coming. We need to make sure that WE are prepared. We need to be sure that our spiritual closets are prepared and filled up with all we need to get us through those long winter nights. We need to be filled up with the Word of God written on our hearts, with our prayer lives deep and intimate. We need to clothe ourselves, as Is 61:10 says, with garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness so that we will not be naked and unprotected in times of adversity.

The Proverbs 31 woman is like this. She is a woman who thinks ahead and prepares. Not just for the physical times of trial and need, but for the spiritual times as well. She works within her home to build her family up in the trust and knowledge and goodness of the Lord so they are ready when times of challenge come.

Have YOU thought of those times of calamity and how you can prepare for them? Not just physically but spiritually. How do you build strength and preparation into your lives today so you will not be out in the cold?

10 Days of Proverbs – Day 6

By Kate, on January 23rd, 2012%

“She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.” Prov 31:24I have always wanted to be a homesteader. In my single years my dream was to live in upstate Maine, teach in a one room school house, have a small plot of land with chickens, goats, sheep and a cow. I wanted to be able to see no one’s house from my front porch. I wanted to learn to shear, clean and card wool, spin and weave it. I wanted to raise the bulk of my food from the land around me.

Then I married a man who loved the city.

We compromised and lived in small towns but close enough to big cities to get there easily. BUT for many years my heart still longed for that homesteading dream. I thought I had given it up (and I never resented the choices we made) but I’d read magazines and, more recently, blogs and those desires would pop up again.

The reality is that I will never be a homesteader. And God was so merciful to me in taking down a different path. The truth is that I do not have the energy for it. My desire is there but my stamina is not. Physical issues over the years have taken a bite out of my OOMPH. Now, a good day for me is rising early, having time with the Lord, getting my exercising in, school done, the house cleaned, dishes done, laundry done, computer time in, mentoring other gals, and time with the family before they (and I) go to bed.

I am not an entrepreneur. I am not crafty or creative. I don’t make things, I crochet badly and periodically forget how to knit while I’m trying to do it! Even if I did I’m terrible at putting myself forward to say, “Buy from me!” So what in the WORLD am I doing blogging about this verse??

For me it is all about doing what I’m able to help my family. My way of helping our family has been to make things from scratch and to learn to do without other things that are more luxury items than necessities. Not all the time, but as a lifestyle. I have trained my children to be comparison shoppers. They look for bargains; they shop yard sales and second hand stores and don’t care about brand names. They either don’t care about fashion or they create their own. THIS is my legacy of this verse in the lives of my children.

What do you do in your home to bring in a heart of provision, even if it comes through saving rather than spending?

Linked with Women Living Well

10 Days of Proverbs – Day 5

By Kate, on January 22nd, 2012%

“…her lamp does not go out at night.” Prov 31:18bI talked a little about this the other day but today I’d like to elaborate a bit more. One of the other verses in this passage says that she rises while it is still dark. She gets up early in the dark and stays up late into the dark…DOESN’T THIS WOMAN EVER SLEEP???

Let me give a little bit of insight here. This was written before the advent of electricity or gas lamps. This was written when you went to bed when the sun went down so you could rise again when the sun rose. They used oil lamps when it was dark, but the oil was a precious commodity and was not wasted staying up playing Wii until 1 am!

Creative Commons License photo credit: jalalspages

This woman stayed up past sundown in order to continue with her work in meeting the needs of her family. On a practical level, I don’t think it matter so much of we stay up late to get our housework done or rise early to get it done or if we are able to get it done throughout the day. The question is: are we working in our homes to keep it going? Are we being keepers of our homes? And are we willing to die to our flesh to take care of these needs?

Now, that last line: “die to our flesh” sounds really harsh! But that is exactly what Jesus us to in our lives. Our flesh wants to take the easy way, wants to indulge in pleasure, wants to pursue make things fun for us. There is nothing wrong with pleasure and fun so long as we do not sacrifice our responsibilities for them. And for the Proverbs 31 woman, her responsibilities were keeping her home, feeding and clothing her family, and helping provide through her own creativity and resourcefulness.

Some of the things I’ve had to examine in my own life over the years:

am I shirking my duties at home while being involved in outside activities (I’m not talking about a job that you and your husband have agreed upon) – could be bible studies or prayer groups or other “good” things
am I frittering my time away each day on Facebook or searching blogs (even good ones like THIS! ) or watching TV?
am I enjoying my Kindle way too much and by the time I look up it is supper time?
am I expecting my husband to come home from his work and do mine too?

I think we need to take stock of our lives, our homes and our relationships in the home. We need to look at how we spend our time. Sometimes our homes are untidy because there are crises going on and we need to focus on them. Sometimes our homes are untidy because we homeschool and during the day lots of things are happening. But sometimes our homes are untidy because we are not keeping our lamps burning at night. Sometimes we just don’t want to bother with the work when we can invest in pleasure.

Does your lamp go out at night or do you faithfully fulfill your responsibilities in the home, even if it means working long after the family is in bed (or rising before they do to get it done)?

Shared on Women Living Well link-up.

10 Days of Proverbs – Day 4

By Kate, on January 21st, 2012%

“She senses that her gain is good…” Prov 31:18aToday I’m taking a slightly different turn on my topic. I’m not giving helpful tips for organizing or planning. Today I want to look at our benefit to our families.

Over the years I’ve run into many women struggling with guilt over wanting to stay home or those who do stay home to raise their children. The world tells us that an individual’s benefit in the world is to be a “productive member of society”. Of course by productive they mean profit-making. In my high school years and on up it was impressed on me over and over that women entering the work force was the ultimate goal. By college my mindset was set in concrete on that thought.

Then God got a hold on my heart and mind and began to change some of my views.

I began to realize that working was not the way He was calling me to make a difference in the world. It was through a life of dedication and surrender to HIM. Then, when I fell in love and got married, He changed my heart even further to see the absolute responsibility He was placing in my hands with the children He was blessing me with. Again, it wasn’t work that was my higher calling, it was raising up these children to be arrows for His purpose, so they will fly straight and true to pierce the hearts of the lost with the Truth of the gospel.

Please know, I am NOT saying that it is wrong or right for a woman to work outside the home. That is a decision for each husband and wife to make TOGETHER before the Lord. In our home, it happens to be that I do not work outside the home.

Now, getting back to my verse today, whether we work outside the home or work solely inside the home, we are able to bring GAIN or profit into our homes! I am not an entrepreneur BUT when I work hard to save money from my grocery budget to pay a dental bill, I am giving profit to my family. When I shop second hand stores to save from my clothing budget to help with the heating bill, I am giving profit to my family. When I don’t buy that sub sandwich I’ve been craving so I can have fruit on the table for my children, I am giving profit to my family. My hard work WITHIN the home can be profitable for my family without having a job outside.

Here comes the kicker: when I do these things I can find satisfaction in that. In verse 18 where it says she “senses” her gain is good, it doesn’t mean believes or thinks it is good. This word, ta`am, literally means to taste. In the NASB every other time this word is used, it is translated “taste”, like in Ps 34:8 where it says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good…” I’m sure you’ve read, heard or used the expression, “Such and such is so great I can almost taste it!” This is the same meaning I think applies to this word in verse 18. This woman has such an understanding of her value in her household and of the profit/gain she brings that she can almost taste it.

THAT my dear sisters, is confidence! Not confidence in herself, but confidence that she is doing EXACTLY what God is calling her to do with a heart and passion toward excellence.

How about you? Do you struggle with guilt over the situation you are in? Do you question if you are really a help and benefit to your family in what you do? Do you feel judged by others over your choices?

Remember, if we are walking surrendered to His will and in a right and unified relationship with our husbands, it doesn’t matter what others may say – or what the enemy may try to get you to believe. You too can “taste that your gain is good.”

10 Days of Proverbs – Day 3

By Kate, on January 20th, 2012%

She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night. Prov 31:18

Creative Commons License photo credit: pierre pouliquin

I’ll confess it. In my flesh I am a SLOTH! You know, those animals that hang upside down from trees and
may never leave the tree in their own lifetime. They move incredibly slowly and some would rather starve to death than go to another tree for food. If I had my druthers, I’druther stay in bed ALL THE TIME! I love to lie abed and do nothing. I love to snuggle under the covers and read or write. I love to do nothing at all and just listen to the sounds outside. When I was in college and I was bedridden for 4 months, aside from the pain I had, I was a happy camper!

But God, in His wisdom and mercy, calls us to something more than sloth-dom. He calls us to be active and busy in our lives. Not busy for the sake of being busy, but being busy for His glory! God knew, even from the Creation, that work was a good thing for us. Adam was created TO work. Man was given the responsibility to tend the garden, keep dominion over the land and animals and raise up offspring to follow the same path. Of course all of this work was without hardship because it was before The Fall. There was no slothfulness then, no shirking of responsibilities, no sensing that work was a drag. It was all a joy and, I believe, part of Adam (and Eve’s) worship of God.

Since God created us to work, I must continually take a long hard look at my life and evaluate my character before the Lord. I love how He works in my life to change me. He gave me a husband whom I can love and minister to and He gave me 8 children to raise and educate along with a home to keep. These are the circumstances in my life He uses to push and challenge me to die to my flesh and live for His glory.

Creative Commons License photo credit: mysza831

I’ve grown and learned over the years. I’m not the same slothful person I was. I even enjoy working and keeping my home and caring for my family. I’m not a morning person but I can say that my lamp does not go out at night (at least not until late). Over these many years most of my best housework was done after the children were in bed; folding laundry, getting the dishes done, changing sheets, cleaning bathrooms. I’ve come to have a sweet appreciation for getting all the work done.

The reality is, though, when you are a homeschooling mom of 8, there are seldom times when the work STAYS all done. It is there to do anew the next day. Sometimes I accomplish it, many times I don’t. BUT I continue to learn and be stretched by my sweet Lord as He shows me the delights of walking in surrender to His will in working hard for His glory.

What have YOU found in your life helps you to keep your lamp burning long at night? Or are you more of a morning person and get your work done before the family ever rises?

10 Days of Proverbs - Day 2

By Kate, on January 19th, 2012%

Have you ever looked at the Proverbs 31 woman and think:

“YIKES! I could never be like her. She’s not a real woman. She’s an ideal. She’s probably old and has lived all these years and taken a lifetime to do what she does. Yeah, I can want to be like her but I’m not going to get my knickers in a knot over it.”
Want a bit of a reality check? This was part of the teaching that King Lemuel’s mother taught him…what he was supposed to look for in a wife. This was the kind of woman he was to love and honor as a future bride. So, the character qualities listed here are things that should have been in (while still growing) the young woman he would marry.

I’m not trying to guilt anyone, least of all me. BUT I am trying to remind us all that even if we are not fully showing the character of the Proverbs 31 woman, there is SO MUCH that we should be learning and so many ways we should be seeking to grow in these character traits. I fall so short of this woman, but I am still learning, still growing, still finding ways I can excel more after 34 years of walking with the Lord.

This past week we had a snow storm. It was touted as a snow storm but there wasn’t much snow, just a lot of wind. However, the day before the storm hit I went to the store for my weekly grocery shopping and IT WAS PACKED!!! Certain shelves were empty. It made me think of this verse:

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet. Prov 31:21

Creative Commons License photo credit: PetitPlat - Stephanie Kilgast

One of the things I’ve been working on this past year in particular (although it has been a focus for many more than that) is keeping my pantry well stocked. About a year ago we had a pay period where we were left with only $25 for our groceries. That’s 2 weeks of feeding our family of 10 with a normal budget of $250 on only 10% of that amount. My daughter and I went through our pantry, fridge and freezer and wrote out everything we had. From those items we made a 2 week menu. We created new recipes to match our ingredients and it was amazing! Every night we had more than what was needed, everyone was filled and satisfied and we even had enough for a dessert every night! We seldom have desserts but I decided I wanted everyone to feel the bounty of the Lord in their lives through the luxury of a dessert.

We didn’t have gourmet meals and we didn’t have meat every night, but we had nutritious, healthy, hearty and tasty meals.

I really made it a priority to make my pantry more prepared. I set aside a small amount from my budget each pay period for stocking up (it can even be saving $5 out of my $250). When an item we use goes on one of those GREAT sales, I buy as much as I am able with the Overflow Money. I am working toward the place of having a full month’s worth of food in our pantry to sustain us in case of a financial crunch. But in that preparation, I try to make sure that there is a feeling of ample supply; like the desserts I did those 2 weeks. So I plan in items for cookies or cakes or treats. I’m not quite there yet, but close. Eventually, I’d love to build that pantry stock up to 3 full months. Not just for our own family but so I can also be more generous with taking meals to others. There have been many times when I hear of someone in the hospital and I’d love to bless them with a meal only to realize we are struggling as it is.

As you think of verse 21 of Proverbs 31, ask how can YOU change your life or planning so that YOU won’t be afraid of the snow for your household. What are those little touches to make your family feel clothed with scarlet? Maybe using your good china instead of everyday dishes? Maybe cutting some pretty flowers for the table? Maybe doing more baking to keep special treats around to make them feel luxurious?

These things take planning. Like I mentioned yesterday about the ant, we need to look ahead and know what might be coming and plan to meet it. I challenge each of us to sit down and come up with a plan…even a tiny bit of preparation can go a long way to easing a difficult time. What ways do YOU prepare for those snowy times?

10 Days of Prov 31 - Day 1

By Kate, on January 18th, 2012%

“I’m just not an organized person. I can’t change.”

Have you ever heard this? Or said this? I sure have! I am not, by nature, an organized person. For many years I used it as an excuse to have my life in disarray. In college all of my “stuff” was in a huge pile on my desk. I had a friend one time do me a favor by taking her Olga Organized superpower skills to order my desk. She was so proud of herself. BUT I COULDN’T FIND ANYTHING AFTER THAT!!!

As time went on in my life I began to realize something. Just because I am not by nature organized doesn’t mean I can’t learn organizational skills! But, unfortunately for me, that meant work – sometimes hard work. YIKES! Not exactly what I was looking for.

Then I thought, “What’s the big deal? So what if I’m disorganized and cluttered and untidy? Is this a bad thing? Doesn’t it just show my individuality?” (Talk about stretching excuses!!) Isn’t it wonderful, though, how God doesn’t leave us where we are but pushes us to become more like Jesus? I began to read the scriptures and eventually saw more and more the order of Creation; that God is a God of order and not of chaos. OUCH! Very convicting.

For the next 10 days I’m participating in the 10 Days of Proverbs 31 blog hop and, surprisingly enough, I’ve been asked to write on Organization and Preparation from verses 18, 21 and 24. Some of the things I’ll share are things I’ve learned, some of the things I’ll share are things I’ve failed at. But all of them will be focused on how we can be growing in grace as women being tranformed into the image of Christ – part of which is learning orderliness and looking ahead to plan and prepare.

When you think about it, there really are many passages in the Word that talk about this. A few that come to my mind are:

The 10 virgins in Matthew 25, 5 of whom were prudent and the other 5 were follish. The prudent looked ahead to make sure they were prepared for contingencies and had extra oil with them “just in case” the bridegroom was late. The foolish ones just went with the flow and ran out of oil. They had to run to buy more when theirs was gone and they were not there when the bridegroom came and were shut out of the wedding feast. Their lack of preparation left them out; they were foolish indeed.

Another passage is in Prov 6 concerning the ant. This was the first passage of scripture we had our first child memorize when she was 2 (yes, I said 2!) It is all about how the ant works without being told by someone else to have provisions set aside and gathered for the winter. The hard work of preparation when the weather is good for planting and of gathering the provision when it is ready makes her survive well when there is nothing available elsewhere. But the sloth sleeps and and doesn’t work or prepare and lives in poverty and want as a result.

The other one is in Luke 14 where Jesus challenges His disciples with the parables of the builder who first calculates the cost of the building before he builds so he doesn’t end up with a foundation and no money to finish it. Or the king who considers if his army is strong enough to encounter the opposing army before he sets out to fight.

The first part of being organized and prepared is learning to consider, look ahead and count the cost of what we are doing. So, join me on this journey as I learn and explore the wonderful mystery of Organization. Share your comments about what you’ve learned and can teach me or even where you struggle and we can grow together. And be sure to check out the other blogs in our 10 Days of Proverbs 31 hop that are listed below. And grab the button below, post it on your own blog to share the fun around!