A Virtuous Woman Series- Proverbs 1

As stated in my previous post, I am beginning a study of the women of Proverbs. I will not be going verse by verse but jumping here and there to wherever a type of woman is mentioned.
This post is a little different in that I am doing most of the first chapter of Proverbs. It is basically an introduction.
God is a God of structure. What is the first thing He did when he created the world? Gave it structure. The book of Proverbs is no exception. He starts off telling you who wrote the book (the wisest man who ever lived 1 Kings 3:10-15), why the book is written and most importantly, Proverbs 1 shows you how to benefit from the book:

Proverbs 1:1-6

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the 

words of understanding;

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and 

judgment, and equity;

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge

and discretion.

A wise man will hear, and will increase

learning; and a man of understanding shall

attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a proverb, and the

interpretation; the words of the wise, and

their dark sayings.

If you won't accept what this passage tells you, you may as well close Proverbs and never read it again.

To understand a proverb and it's interpretation we must hear and attain. In other words, reach.

These things He tells us must be sought after, we must learn from them and reach for more.

Being the wise man He is speaking of takes work. You must listen and put actions to those words.

Not only that though:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of

knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and

instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

God is not secretive. God tells us how to get knowledge:

The fear of the Lord

There is no knowledge or wisdom without the fear of the Lord.

There is no wisdom nor understanding

nor counsel against the Lord.

Proverbs 21:30

I haven't looked into this for myself yet but I would hazard a guess that the first eight chapters of Proverbs deal with knowledge and from chapter nine on, it deals with wisdom:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of

wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy

is understanding.

Proverbs 9:10

No, it is not the Lord's fear. It is fearing the Lord. Being weary of his existence and:

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for 

whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he

also reap.

Galatians 6:7

It is knowing God will reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:27). If that does not terrify you, nothing will.

As you know this is a study series on the women of Proverbs.

Be warned now that without the fear of the Lord, you will gain nothing from it.

The last part of this chapter is a good and fair warning (the bold text is my doing):

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her

voice in the streets:

She crieth in the chief place of

concourse, in the openings of the gates: in

the city she uttereth her words, saying,

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love

simplicity? and the scorners delight in their

scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will

pour out my spirit unto you, I will make

known my words unto you.

Because I have called, and ye refused; I

have stretched out my hand, and no man

regarded;

But ye have set at nought all my

counsel, and would none of my reproof:

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will

mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as desolation.

and your destruction cometh as a

whirlwind; when distress and anguish

cometh upon you.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will

not answer; they shall seek me early, but

they shall not find me:

For that they hated knowledge, and did

not choose the fear of the LORD:

They would none of my counsel: they

despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of 

their own way, and be filled with their own

devices.

For the turning away of the simple shall 

slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall

destroy them.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall

dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of

evil.

Proverbs 1:20-33

A Virtuous Woman- A Woman's study of Proverbs

Who can find a virtuous woman?
For her price is far above rubies.
Proverbs 31:10

I think womanhood is beautiful.
Women have power men cannot buy. We have influence men cannot buy. We have the advantage of authority without the burden of it.
The tragedy of this current world is that it is trying to break God's natural design of things. Womanhood is no exception.
I don't believe women should be kept back and given less opportunity then men simply because of their gender. I do believe that men and women each have very different strengths and that we thrive in our natural roles.
Yes, natural roles.
There is a natural place for a woman and a natural place for a man. We have characteristics and strengths that are natural for our genders. Not all characteristics are good but we're only human.
Something I've always wanted to do is a study on the women of Proverbs.
Proverbs mentions women a lot- wisdom is personified as a woman.
There is the strange woman, the foolish woman, the virtuous woman, and the wise woman.

Have you ever read Proverbs? I've read one chapter of Proverbs (31 chapters, 30-31 days in a month) almost every day for years now. You know the fascinating thing about it?
It is not a doctrinal book.
It is a book of wisdom.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE SAVED TO BENEFIT FROM IT.
You should get saved to avoid hell, destruction and judgement.
But Proverbs will help you get through any kind of life situation- student, teacher, stay at home mom, working husband, singles, any person in any walk of life will benefit from it.

Proverbs 1

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the 

words of understanding;

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and 

judgment, and equity;

To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge

and discretion.

You want wisdom? go to Proverbs.

The best preachers I know quote Proverbs constantly throughout their sermons.

Not a day goes by where I do not quote a Proverb to myself.

This verse, for example, has saved me many times:

He that is slow to wrath is of great

understanding: but he that is hasty of 

spirit exalteth folly.

Proverbs 14:29

The last part particularly helps me, because of it I never rush into anything. I always weigh my options, get other people's opinions and make sure I am fully prepared for any decision.

That includes shopping- big and little things.

Have you ever known someone that rushed into starting something and failed because they didn't get the proper materials or people in place? Have you ever spent more money than you needed to because you didn't take the time to gather your facts or wait for a good deal?

In the moment, emotion driven decisions are not good:

and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

Proverbs 19:2b

God does not speak well of haste.

That's just one of the ways Proverbs has helped me. It will help you too if you give ten minutes to reading it in the morning. While you eat breakfast perhaps.

I'm looking forward to my study of the women of Proverbs.

We'll see where God takes us. 

Preach the Word- Look and Live

I found this website by God's will about 4 years ago now and it is my go to place for anything and everything doctrinal. Of course, I search the scriptures and make sure that I am studying doctrine for myself.

The Pastor of this church is Dilbert Terry. He knows and preaches the Word like no one I've ever heard:

Look and Live

I love how they have preached through almost every book of the bible! I've particularly loved 1st and 2nd Samuel, Revelation, and his series on the Minor Prophets. His series on the Home is very edifying and helpful- I've listened to it a few times. I've also enjoyed his series on Church History.
This sermon by a guest speaker was very good: Ants

If you do not know where you are spending eternity and want to avoid a lake of supernatural ever burning fire please go to this link and a preacher will show you how to get to heaven:
Plan of Salvation

Why We Need Church

Church has a very special place in my heart.

Church is something I know from my earliest memories. It has always been apart of my life.

When I was about ten years old I found myself wondering if I would attend church when I was an adult. I decided I wouldn't because I would have to dress up in uncomfortable clothes and be sociable.

I have to laugh when I remember that because I cannot imagine life without church.

Without going into much detail, my husband and I moved our lives from beautiful downtown Vancouver to not so pretty Surrey. We continued to attend our church downtown for almost a year until my husband got a job deeper into Surrey. We then chose, by God's grace, to leave our downtown church and look for a church closer to home so that we could expand our family out here and establish ourselves.

We were looking for a church from October to January and it was no picnic. We did meet some lovely people and visited a few nice places. The thing was, at all the churches we attended, it never felt like home.

It's funny to think that a place could feel like home the first time you go there but that's kind of what a church is.

I don't want to delve into the doctrine of the church I just want to express how much a church can help a family.

Finally, for my birthday, God gave us a church. It was the last church on my list of KJV Baptist churches in our area. We had prayed for one for so long.

We walked in and were greeted by young children who were immediately taken by my son and he was taken by them. The church is small and friendly. They bear each other's burdens and are closely knit to each other.

The biggest blessing in being led to this church is the transformation in my son.

He's learned to play with other children, he's learning what structure is and how to abide by it, he's learning to sit quietly. He gets excited when we pull into church.

He gets excited because he's loved there and he can be a two year old without having to worry about getting into trouble for doing what is natural to him.

Another thing about church- prayer. Never underestimate the power of having a church family bowing their knees with you when you need it the most. A good pastor watches over the flock of God and pays special attention to special needs. I don't think we will ever realize how much our prayers do for others.

It is also so nice to be able to relate to people who have the same heavenly father.

Earlier this year I felt the need to make a few valentine's and send them to some special people. I had the option of mailing them on Monday or Tuesday. My flesh was lazy and leaning toward Tuesday but I felt very sure that I needed to mail them on Monday. I mailed them on Monday morning and on Tuesday evening I got a text message from a very dear church friend saying she received the valentine's  on a really rough day when she needed it the most.

It just goes to show how God takes care of others through us if we are willing to be used.

If you feel a lack of support as a wife and mother, find a church. It is not easy being a wife and mother and you need all the support you can get. Church has many wives and mothers who understand so well the struggles and needs you have. They know exactly how to pray for you and how to help.

I will leave you with this, God didn't create the local body of believers for His benefit. He did it for ours. He's lived on this earth and He knows how tough it is in this world. Of course, He is the only one we will ever need and He is ultimately our rock and fortress, but He has given us the church to help, strengthen, and edify us. It is a gift.

Word Study- Covetousness

I was studying Colossians one day and came across this verse:

Mortify therefore your members which are upon

the earth; fornication, uncleaness, inordinate

affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness

which is idolatry:

Colossians 3:5

That list- fornication, uncleaness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence were all things I understood; but covetousness which is idolatry stuck out to me.

I know what covetousness is- I mean, it's defined for you right in the ten commandments- but why associate it with idolatry?

Now, I know enough about God and the bible to understand why you would put it like that. I mean, wanting something so much you worship it seems to be an alright explanation right?

One thing any experienced Christian knows is that God doesn't do things 'just for the sake' of doing it. He has a will and a purpose and it will happen. When it comes to his Word, he does not mess around (just check Proverbs 30:6 and Revelation 22:19 if you don't believe me). If it's in there there is a reason.

So I looked. If you want to learn something in the Bible then remember this passage:

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and 

whom shall he make to understand doctrine?

them that are weaned from the milk,

and drawn from the breasts.

For precept must be upon precept,

precept upon precept;

line upon line, line upon line;

here a little, and there a little:

Isaiah 28:9&10

Precept must be upon precept, line upon line. I don't think there can be any doubt to what that passage is talking about-

God will teach knowledge to those who study the bible using the Bible. None of this 'originals', what does the greek say, business. What sort of God would give you a book you wouldn't understand on its own?

So went to Thy Word is True and typed in covetousness.

The very first time God uses covetousness it says:

Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men,

such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness;

and place such over them, to be rules of thousands, and rulers

of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Exodus 18:21

Hating covetousness is in God's top three qualifications for leadership!

He then says in Proverbs 28:16b-

...He that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

God also shows us a way out of covetousness:

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies ,

and not to covetousness.

Psalm 119:36

Turn your heart toward God and his Word and He'll turn your heart from coveting.

I did not really intend to talk about covetousness today but it is where the Lord lead me.

After I studied all the verses containing covetousness, I looked at covetous and covet.

It says in Luke that the pharisees derided Jesus out of covetousness- and look at what they ultimately did to him!

Needless to say, I have a problem with covetousness. It's getting a lot better since I did my study but the flesh doesn't go down without a fight.

We live in a covetous society, don't we? We all have to have the bigger better or at least equally good thingmajig as the other person. We always have to be the better person.

A preacher once said this: nothing shows you are weak more than being unthankful.

I didn't like hearing that but it is true. It takes God's grace and strength to be happy for the nice things other people have. Those nice things come with a price- think about it.

God says this:

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

1 Timothy 6:8

And this:

Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5

Covetousness is idolatry because we put what we covet above our love for God. We erect a fleshly idol and cast aside his promises, commandments, and love.

Any seasoned Christian will tell you- God gives to us freely when He is first in our hearts and we glorify him.

Like I said, I love to knit. One day I felt the urge to go to Value Village and look at the needlework section. I meandered my way back there not expecting to find anything but lo and behold- I found three crochet needles I had been looked for for a long time and best of all- circular needles in almost every size for 2.99!

Sure I would go to Michael's and look longingly at those same new needles, but getting them second hand, for next to nothing, by God's gentle nudging made those Value Village needles more precious than gold.

I could list verse after verse of God's promise to take care of us but I'll leave you with this:

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts 

unto your children, how much more shall your Father

which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 7:11

Preach the Word- Help in time of need

I love good sermons.

A good sermon carries you for a while. It can deeply convict, deeply move, deeply comfort, or do all three.

Good sermons are hard to come by.

Good preachers are hard to come by.

I had some trouble this weekend. It's not rare, I make a lot of mistakes and they all get me into trouble. The thing about trouble- especially trouble that arises from a personality defect- is admitting to it and growing from it.

God is good. He 'knoweth our frame' and is ever merciful. He knows when we want to change and gives us the tools to do so. After I got myself into trouble this weekend I went to God in prayer and listened to this sermon by Reg Kelly:

Vanity- Under the Sun- Pastor Reg Kelly

The next day I listened to this:

Do Not Fret Over Evil Doers- Pastor Reg Kelly

No, they are not the most in depth, convicting sermons you will ever hear, but they helped me a lot.

They helped put my life in perspective and put my priorities back in order.

They helped me move on from my mistake and look at it objectively and biblically.

God does not leave us hanging when we are in the wrong. He has so many ways for us to go to Him to learn and grow.

Another great help is taking it to God in prayer. Sometimes you can't talk to the other party. Sometimes you should'nt lest you say something you'll deeply regret. Take it to God and He will handle it for you.

I hope this was a help to you!

Salt and Vinegar

Before I do or say anything on this blog I want to dedicate it to God.

The vision of this blog is to glorify God and to reach souls.

I hope to be  bless, edify and strengthen others and through that be blessed myself.

I hope to encourage young mothers, like myself, who have no idea what they're doing but by God's grace will bring up God fearing children.

I hope to encourage young wives, like myself, to reverence their husband and make wise choices for their homes.

I hope to share my home with you, my failures and my successes.

This is my vision.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

-Proverbs 29:18