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He Can Trust Her

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“The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.” Proverbs 31:11 (Amplified)

I’ve always thought the study of the Proverbs 31 woman was a bit intimidating as well as a little painful. What woman can be all that and a bag of chips? How can she be all of those things at all times? Is that even possible while we live in this flesh?

In context we’re looking at the ideal woman as described by a mother who is giving her son the description of what he should be looking for in a wife – the kind of wife we all pray our sons would be wise enough to marry. But are we that kind of woman? Are we at least striving to be that kind of woman?

As we read through Proverbs 31:10-31, we find a woman of very noble character. Yet, one of the greatest traits touted by Mrs. P31 is that of trustworthiness. As the Amplified so beautifully says, her husband was confidently secure in her. He relied on and believed in his wife – and as the Scottish minister, George MacDonald, once said –

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved. 

From the framework of Proverbs 31:11, we’re told her husband “confidently” trusted in his wife in the area of their finances. In fact, as you read through each verse that describes this Wonder Woman of the Bible,  you find that like a sweet perfume, Mrs. P31’s trustworthiness permeated every area of her life.

Her husband could trust his wife to…

  • Be a frugal shopper (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Be wise with their finances (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Not be sneaky or deceptive about her spending (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Not pressure her man to make more and more money (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Not be materialistic (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Not try to persuade him to do something unethical or desperate to make a buck (Proverbs 31:11)
  • Do what is good for him (Proverbs 31:12)
  • Be a diligent worker (Proverbs 31:13-14,19,24)
  • Not be lazy (Proverbs 31:15)
  • Care for others (Proverbs 31:15,20)
  • Be a wise investor with their finances (Proverbs 31:16)
  • Be a woman of dignity who is prepared for their future (Proverbs 31:21,25)
  • Take care of the needs of the family and the home (Proverbs 31:22,27)
  • Encourage, support and promote him (Proverbs 31:23)
  • Carefully chose words of grace and truth, and guard what she says about him (Proverbs 31:26)
A study of the P31 women can be truly daunting when we try to place our own lives beside hers. She stands tall and lives large! She’s the ideal woman – the one whose steps we we’re to follow.
But I don’t think we’re to be discouraged by her – we’re to be encouraged to be women who rise to the occasion – to set our standards high and seek to be women who will garner the ultimate praise – ‘her husband and children rise up and call her blessed.’
I’ve heard people say that in a marriage, trust is everything. If a man can’t trust his wife, it’s like knocking the legs out from under the foundation of their marriage. Trust is the seed that feeds love.
Marriage may survive when the embers of fizzle out love, but when trust is destroyed, the marriage is on dangerous ground.
So, use this post as an opportunity to evaluate your life as a wife. Can your husband really trust you in the areas that are mentioned above? Are there any areas you need to work on? 

Hard to find

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My name is Kathy and I was once an obsessed collector of Beanie Baby Bears.

The bear I worked the hardest to find was the one that commemorated Princess Diana. Plush, royal purple with a white rose on her chest, Ty© released “Princess” in December 1997 just months after Diana’s death. Admirably, Ty© donated the profits from the bear to the Princess Diana of Wales Memorial Fund.

“Princess” was almost impossible to find. I combed stores. I stood in lines. Finally, I found the object of my affection. Now it’s in a storage container somewhere.

You know what’s harder to find than a Princess Diana Beanie Baby? A virtuous woman of noble character. Here’s how the wisdom of Proverbs puts it:

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies. Proverbs 31:10, NLT

The author of this acrostic poem compares a virtuous woman to the rarity of a valuable gemstone. The Hebrew word, which means “a precious stone,” is translated as “ruby” more often than “jewel” in popular versions of the Bible including the KJV, NIV, ASV, and the NLT. Either one is accurate.

I chose to use a version that translates it as “ruby” because of the unique value the ancient world put in this particular jewel. The ruby was known as “the king of gems.” Some used it as a talisman to warn its owner of danger. Many ancients believed that the ruby – ground to a fine powder and placed on the tongue – could cure blood diseases, stop bleeding, ensure good health, and treat indigestion.

Throughout the history of mankind, rubies have been considered a prized possession. Treasured by royalty and held in awe by the common man, this scarce gemstone commanded extremely high prices. Even today large rubies are hard to find and are therefore more valuable than diamonds of the same size.

So what makes the woman described in Proverbs 31 so rare? It’s her “virtuous” or “noble” character. The Hebrew word used to describe our “rare as rubies” woman is used 85 in the OT as a human attribute, but only three times for a woman. The word means “might, strength, power; able, virtuous, valor. It is most often translated as “army” and “valor.” Our rare lady was a warrior woman of strength and character who fought daily for her family. Mighty rare indeed.

Do you know a “rare as rubies” woman? I would love to hear about her today!

Abiding Fruit

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I long for my life to be one which bears the unmistakable mark of a Christian. When people interact with me, I want them to see Christ and His characteristics in me.

But when the baby is crying, my oldest is trying to tell me every detail of his very important dream, my toddler is…well, being a toddler, I’ve lost track of time and we need to be in the car, like NOW, but no one seems to carry the same urgency that I have, and, oh my gosh, I’m still in my pajamas…well, I’m not sure there is much evidence of Christ in me in those moments.

Why is it so hard to do what I desire to do?

If you know this familiar struggle then I’m glad you are reading this. Not (only) because it makes me feel less alone, but because this Fall we are going to take a journey through the Bible to find out how we can have the abiding fruit of Christ in our lives.

We’ve partnered yet again with Inspired to Action’s Maximize Your Mornings Challenge, and have hand-picked thirteen different passages of Scripture to help us understand how the fruit of the Spirit can become evident in our lives. Each Monday, beginning September 19th, we will have weekly Bible study posts for you!

If you are not already diving into a specific study in the Word, we would LOVE for you to join us in making the Abiding Fruit study part of your time with the Lord. You can download the study guide here. Anyone is welcome to join in the study, regardless of whether or not you are doing the Maximize Your Mornings challenge.

This study guide is unique in that we will be guiding you to new passages and YOU will be doing the studying! Each week we will read and study the same passage over the course of five days. Using different study questions, we will observe the passage with a new set of “glasses” each day to help us dig through another layer of Scripture.

If you will be doing the study we’d love to hear from you! Just give us a shout out in the comments and let us know what you are looking forward to as we dive into the fruit of the Spirit. And, if you haven’t already, go ahead and subscribe to Do Not Depart so you can receive the Bible Study posts straight to your inbox!

We are excited about getting to dig into the Word with you!

_______________

P.S. Don’t forget about the AMAZING giveaways over at To Overflowing and Living Devotionally. We’re having a party to celebrate the release of our ebook Savoring Living Water: How to have an effective quiet time. Here is a list of all the greatness you can win:
Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman (a signed copy!)
A “HelloMornings” coffee mug (I LOVE that the verse on the back is Psalm 143:8!)
Parenting from the Overflow by Teri Lynne Underwood
Two “Clipsie Daisy” super-cute hair clips
ESV Study Bible
31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae
Classic Bible Commentary
Warrior Prayers, with Leader’s Guide by Brooke McGlothlin
An embroidered tote bag

The party ends Friday night, and nine winners will be chosen, so run and enter while you can!

You Don’t Scare Me!

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Possibly the most intimidating woman in all of Scripture is Mrs. Proverbs 31.   She gets up early and stays up late.  She cooks, she sews, she shops.  She manages her home, her business, and her family.    Her children “rise up and call her blessed” … that alone qualifies her for the “rare” distinction she’s given in verse 10.

However, we don’t think her inclusion in Scripture is merely to create insecurity and hopelessness in the hearts of godly women everywhere.  In fact, we have quite the opposite impression:

We believe Mrs. P31 offers us an example of characteristics that please the heart of God … not a “to do” list of daily activities.

As we examine those traits and attitudes, we believe you’ll be joining us in saying, “You don’t scare me!” but will instead be celebrating the example she provides of a heart and life that please the Lord.

Join us for the next three weeks as we dig in to Proverbs 31:10 -31 and we believe you’ll be encouraged and challenged!

Share with us … What is your impression of the Proverbs 31 Woman?

Do you know the bones of your Bible?

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I stayed in a hotel last week. I wanted to know the weekend’s weather. But I couldn’t find The Weather Channel.

So I had to laboriously flip through the channels, one by one, until I found it.

Do you ever drive through a new city but can’t find a radio station you want?  Or go to your library but can’t locate Juvenile Biographies?

Or been asked to read Micah 6:8 aloud in Sunday School, but you can’t find it (it’s after Jonah, before Nahum)?

Just how well do we know the bones of our Bible?

But this is 2011, we whine. My Bible is on my iPhone; I look up a verse by typing in the name.

Or I can google a few key words and find the scripture I need. Or if I have to, I can always flip to the Table of Contents in my hardcopy Bible.

Who needs to memorize the books of the Bible anymore?

We do!
And now as much as ever.

When we trade in our human memory for a digital one, we lose advantages of knowing our way around a Bible.

Why learn the bones?

1. See the big picture
Without knowing the overall skeleton, you can lose sight of the central theme of God’s consistent love that holds the Bible together. When you work a jigsaw puzzle, you look at the picture on the box first–and often, then you put the edge pieces in place for its structure.

2. Delight in details
But while the Bible is one big love story about God, it’s also a series. Many smaller stories are captured in its 66 individual books. Each story holds value. By keeping books in context (Song of Solomon is a book of poetry; Ezekiel is a major prophet), you can more accurately interpret what you’re reading and can better apply it to your life.

3. Look for help
Once you know the general order of the books, you can look more efficiently for specific helps. If you have a friend in deep mourning, direct her to the Psalms for comfort. Or if you’re struggling with a child’s rebellion, turn to Proverbs for wisdom.  Be prepared for opportunities.

4. Use it easier
The more familiar you are with the books (Luke come before Acts), the easier it is to find your way around. You’ll be less frustrated when looking up verses to share and you’ll waste less time in your studies.

5. Find your story
Will you be more Christlike by memorizing the books of the Bible? Probably not. But the more you know the book, the more you’ll know the Author.  And you’ll discover easier how he wants YOU to participate in the story.

Where to start

Begin with the big bones. Memorize how the library is set up: two main divisions (Old and New Testaments), then subdivided into smaller sections (books of Law, books of History, etc). While these are man-made categories, they’re still helpful in interpreting that poetry books are more metaphorical, for example, and that Pauline epistles are doctrinally-rich and very practical.

Then, if you haven’t already, memorize all 66 books. It’s not too late. And it’s not that difficult (music helps greatly!).

To go even deeper, learn a summary from each book; read more about the approximate 40 authors; put together a timeline.

God has breathed life into the bones of the Bible.
It’s his book for our lifetime.
Let’s put it in our heart for eternity.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21

Resources

Some of my favorites:
Bible Gateway – a searchable online Bible in over 100 versions
E-Sword – free downloadable Bible study software
Katie’s top 10 online Bible study tools
66 Love Letters by Dr. Larry Crabb
What the Bible Is All About for Young Explorers based on the classic by Dr. Henrietta Mears
Reproducible Maps, Charts, Time Lines & Illustrations by Gospel Light

How familiar are you with the overall structure of the Bible?
Are you teaching your children the books of the Bible?
What’s your favorite Bible study resource? Please share!

{Resource Review} Savoring Living Water

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Before we share a great resource for you, we need to share something with you.  Our friend Kristi will no longer be writing here at Scripture Dig.  She’s been offered the opportunity to serve in a much larger way in her local church and in order to give that the attention it will demand, she will be stepping down from Scripture Dig.   She’s written more about this decision on her blog.   We will miss her presence here but know that God is at work in the ministry He has laid before her.    We invite you to join us in praying for her as she endeavors to follow God’s direction in her life … and she’s promised to come back and visit here at Scripture Dig.  We’ll hold her to that!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes a resource comes along that meshes perfectly with our vision to “Encourage, equip, and empower others to dig into God’s Word” … Savoring Living Water:  How to Have an Effective Quiet Time fits the bill perfectly.

One of the very first themes we covered here at Scripture Dig was Daily Time in the Word.   We’ve shared what our own Quiet Times look like and invited others to share about theirs in the My Time to Dig posts.    We believe wholeheartedly that that of the main tools we have to grow spiritually is consistent, quality time spent engaging with the Bible.

That’s where Savoring Living Water comes in.    In seven concise, yet full, chapters, Katie Orr and Lara Williams offer solid information and suggestions for developing a vibrant personal time with the Lord.   Covering topics from what time of day to what kind of resources, Savoring Living Water is a resource for both the new believer and those of us who are “more seasoned” in our faith walk.

With five appendices and a companion journal added to the end of the book, Katie and Lara give us not just the “Why” and the “How” but tools to help us get started and put into practice the principles they teach.

Perhaps, though, the key component that drives this book, is the heart from which is it written.  From the first words, the passion Katie and Lara have for this topic are evident but equally revealed is their desire to be an encouragement to others.   

It is a joy for us at Scripture Dig to recommend Savoring Living Water:  How to Have an Effective Quiet Time to our readers.      Savoring Living Water is available on Amazon for the Kindle and Barnes & Noble for the Nook as well as a PDF version.   For each copy of Savoring Living Water purchased, the authors are donating $2 to One Verse,  a translation company that seeks to provide the Scriptures in as many languages as possible.  

We are happy to be giving away a copy of this ebook to one of our readers.    Your answer in the comments  to the following question is your entry:

What is the biggest hindrance in your life to having a consistent, effective quiet time?

{You can read more about Savoring Living Water on their website and we encourage you to like their Facebook page for ongoing encouragement.   And please check out the One Verse website to learn more about the amazing work this organization is doing!}

Advice from King Lemuel’s Mom

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Pick up your toys. Take your plate to the sink. Don’t talk to your brother like that. Share with your friends. Do not correct adults. Stay in the yard. Flush then wash your hands…..

I’m teaching my boys many lessons right now. At five and four years old, they need constant reminders on how to act and react. King Lemuel’s mom had some lessons for her son too. I’m sure you are familiar with Proverbs chapter 31 as an example to wives. But, let’s look at it in its context–advice from mom to son.

King Lemuel’s mom started off the oracle in Proverbs 31 by asking, “What are you doing my son? Son of my womb? Son of my vows?” Sounds to me like an exasperated momma! Let’s look closer at the areas she addresses in her reproof:

  • Have self-control. She specifically mentions heavy drinking as destructive behavior. Her point is to stay in control of your words and actions. We must help our children with this at every stage. Already, I have to help my five year old control his emotions, especially his anger. I give him time and space to cool down and then we talk about ways he could have handled the situation differently. I clearly remember times when I was a teenager and did not have self-control. As a result hurt myself and others. We can instruct and guide our children in this area, but above all, we must pray for the Holy Spirit to act in their lives and produce the fruit of self-control.
  • Care for others, especially those who cannot care for themselves. She mentions the mute, destitute, poor and needy. “Open your mouth,” she instructs her son the king. We can also encourage our children to care for others. Our church does an outreach each year and prepares hundreds of meals for homeless and hungry people in a near-by city. Each year we have more children involved in this outreach. Our youth group is also involved in helping others through local ministry projects and mission trips like World Changers. Children and teens can make a difference in the lives of others, especially when given the opportunities.
  • Marry well. As we will learn more about in the coming weeks, the rest of chapter thirty-one is King Lemuel’s mother describing the excellent wife. This is the part of the chapter we are most familiar with. She tells her son an excellent wife is hard to find, but worth the search! I know many moms of little ones who are already praying for the future spouses of their children. I know moms of teenagers who are really praying! Help your children know what qualities to look for in a spouse. Help your son know where to find an excellent wife. King Lemuel’s mom goes into great detail describing the ideal wife. We can learn from her as we pray for our children’s future spouses.

King Lemuel’s mom probably taught him many lessons. These three stuck with him and he recorded them for generations to read. As we learn from this mom, we can also prepare our children to have self-control, help others, and marry well.

What lessons are you teaching your children right now that you hope will impact their future?

Savoring Living Water is (Almost) Here!

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Lara and Katie have been busy working on their new ebook, Savoring Living Water: How to have an effective quiet time.

The ebook releases tomorrow, and they have loads of fun things planned. You’ll want to be the first in line to snag your copy of Savoring Living Water as soon as it is available!

Be sure to check out their (Lara’s and Katie’s) posts today for more info on what’s in store. (It may involve prizes!)

No use hiding ~ A weekend riddle

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Do you remember the first time you hid your sin? Adam and Eve first tried in the garden, and we’ve been grasping for fig leaves ever since. Knowing I was born with instincts to hide, my mother chose Numbers 32:23b as the first verse I memorized, “… be sure your sin will find you out.” That truth prevented me from grabbing fig leaves out of my closet more often than I did.

Agur knew what my mom knew:   we all have a sin nature and the instinct to hide it.

In Proverbs 30:18-20 Agur presents truth for everyday life that makes sense to young and old. This man mines truth out of daily things like churning butter (v.33) and nose bleeds (v.33). A closer look out of our fig leaf coverings reveals a truth in his riddle not to be ignored.  He begins by admitting three things that are too wonderful, even “four I do not understand” (v.18).

“…the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin” (v.19).

 

Like analogies on the SAT test, these four natural things share something in common. An eagle’s flight in the sky leaves no trace. A snake moving across a rock leaves no trace. A ship sailing on the sea leaves no trace. A man’s relationship with a woman leaves no visible trace. All four conceal evidence that they ever happened.

 

Like most riddles, a clue is found (verse 20): “This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and say, ‘I have done no wrong.’” We all have a sin nature and the instinct to hide it.

 

Sin may be easy to conceal when an adulteress cleans up, conceals evidence, and nonchalantly claims innocence, but it doesn’t change the truth. The eagle has flown. The snake has slithered. The ship has sailed. The man has loved. The adulterers have offended.  We may try to hide the evidence; we may try to hide our shame, but we can be sure our sin will find us out.

Adultery has many appearances. Perhaps Agur used the eagle, snake, ship, and man, so we wouldn’t fall into the trap of seeing only a beautiful seductress dressed in veils, inviting men to her lair. His riddle leaves me asking:

  • “How do I commit adultery against God by loving other things and keeping passions ‘secret’ while claiming to be a lover of God?
  • Does my public image reflect my private heart?
  • Am I committing spiritual adultery against my Love, then wiping my hands, covering my heart, and presenting false innocence to those around me?”

Lord,

Expose any wicked ways in me. Leave a trail behind me that leads me to confession and real cleansing. Thwart attempts I make at concealing my sin, and help me to be wholly Yours.

Are you snacking or feasting? {Guest Post}

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I’m no stranger to the drive-thru. Any drive thru. McDonalds, Starbucks, the Dry Cleaners, the Library- I love them all. They are convenient and quick, and when you are hauling four children around with you everywhere you go, convenience is king.

But the other day, I started thinking about how this love of convenience bleeds beyond just running errands, and has become a mentality affecting other areas of my life, including time spent in the Word.

Have you ever tried really quenching your thirst or satisfying your hunger with a sip from a water fountain and a handful of peanuts? Sure, it’s quick, but it’s not long before you are hungry and thirsty again. That’s what it’s been like trying to grow in my faith, by only reading a verse or two without really taking the time to fill up on the truth.

Just sipping.

Just snacking.

Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”   John 7:37-38

True satiation for our hungry hearts and parched faith comes through drinking from the living waters, from feasting on the bread of life.

I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.   John 6:35

Isaiah 55 reminds us what happens when we seek to grow closer to God by searching His words.  God calls the thirsty, the poor, and the hungry to Himself to be fed.

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.   Isaiah 55:2b

Did you see that bit at the end- “the richest fare”? Anything else we substitute for time spent in God’s word is sub-par, sawdust in place of substance. God’s truths, spirit breathed into the words of scripture, are what delights us, and gives life. (Psalm 36:9)

God’s truth gives life. Not just physical life, but taking the time to ingest the living quenches a starving spiritual life, it makes way for a living faith.

Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. (Isaiah 55:3, emphasis mine)

In my efforts to know God on a deeper level, he has constantly been reminding me that I cannot know his heart, if I don’t spend time in His word, at the table.  James encourages us to “draw near to God”, and that “He will draw near to you”. (James 4:8)

If we want an active, living faith, a faith that “yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater” (Isaiah 55:10) if we want a faith that produces fruit, then we must invest time in reading and learning the very words of God.

When we take the time to read Gods word, He says that His word is powerful and “will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10)

Time invested in studying the word of God, brings forth fruit and accomplishes great things for His glory.

Getting your “daily bread” from a verse or two on a desk calendar with no further study of the word is like snacking from the drive-thru instead of feasting on the “richest fare”.

I know this because I’m a recovering ‘snacker’.  All this time, I’ve just been cheating myself out of the good stuff.

How can you revamp your time spent in the word so that you leave the table full, with the sweetest honey on your lips? (Psalm 19:10)

Lets stop the snacking and start digging in to the good stuff, I promise you, once you start, the rewards will far outweigh the convenience of the drive-thru.


 

By Kris Camealy Always Alleluia

Kris loves Jesus with her whole heart, and is a stay at home mom and Compassion Advocate who spends her days homeschooling 4 kids, and playing wife to her amazing husband. The floors are covered in crumbs and the washing machine never stops running but she counts each day as a gift! In her spare time (ha ha ha!) she enjoys writing, reading and photography.

 

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