Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Proverbs 31 Challenge


A few months ago, my family started something new.   The Lord put this on my heart.  I was curious, how could I pray more effectively for my family.  What did they pray for?  I wanted to pray deeper than, "Lord meet the needs I don't know." I was nervous to talk with my husband about it.  I know that sounds strange, but my prayers are personal, and sharing them seemed intimidating almost embarrassing.  This stirred in my heart for a few days when I heard a radio pastor talking about the book of Nehemiah and how it was instruction on how to build something.   I felt as though God was saying read Nehemiah, and learn to build.  It was the perfect Segway.

My husband has started a new career.    He is now an insurance sales man.   Not just any insurance, he is selling health insurance.  When he came to me and said, "I want to sell health insurance."   I am pretty sure my inner dialogue went something like this, "Are you crazy?  Have you lost your mind?  Do you watch the news?  No one wants to be in health insurance right now, they don't even know what the health insurance laws are going to be!"  Before I could open my mouth, he followed it up with, "I just feel like this is where God is calling me."




When God calls you to something; the point is to be obedient.  Even when you can't possibly see the plan.  So, I asked him to read Nehemiah with me, and to pray for our new business together every night for 30 days and lets see what God will do.

We called it the 30 day challenge.  As a family we were going to read the Bible and pray together every day.  (sidebar) This is where I found the verse that is the secret to life.  Proverbs 20:24  " The Lord decides what a person will do; no one understands what his life is all about."  It's almost like God is telling the kids, "Hey because I said so!"

As a family we started in the book of Nehemiah and learned about building.  Then we moved to Job and on to Proverbs.  Tonight was our last night in Proverbs.

I was dreading it.   All Bible reading women know Proverbs 31.  It is the book declared as the standard for the Godly wife.  As we started to read, my hubby was ready.  He and I often joke about being what we call P31.  He was ready to give me a hard time and laugh, but something really interesting happened.

My women friends, do you read the Bible with your kids?  Do you have a daughter?  I do, and she is 11, and how she saw Proverbs 31 was a gift from God.  God's word is written for kids too.   I think we get caught up in thinking we need to create entertainment, or fill in with activities when we teach the word.   The truth is, we don't.  The bible says that the Bible is God breathed, and it is often called the living word, because the Holy Spirit can reveal in the same scripture different perspectives for different stages of life.  I was comforted by an older wiser women once before that Proverbs 31 is not just a day in the life of a woman, but it is many seasons, and not meant to be lived out as an expectation of weekly duties.

Back to my point,  Here is Proverbs 31:

31 These are the words of King Lemuel, the message his mother taught him:

“My son, I gave birth to you.
    You are the son I prayed for.
Don’t waste your strength on women
    or your time on those who ruin kings.

“Kings should not drink wine, Lemuel,
    and rulers should not desire beer.
If they drink, they might forget the law
    and keep the needy from getting their rights.
Give beer to people who are dying
    and wine to those who are sad.
Let them drink and forget their need
    and remember their misery no more.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
    defend the rights of all those who have nothing.
Speak up and judge fairly,
    and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

The Good Wife

10 It is hard to find a good wife,
    because she is worth more than rubies.
11 Her husband trusts her completely.
    With her, he has everything he needs.
12 She does him good and not harm
    for as long as she lives.
13 She looks for wool and flax
    and likes to work with her hands.
14 She is like a trader’s ship,
    bringing food from far away.
15 She gets up while it is still dark
    and prepares food for her family
    and feeds her servant girls.
16 She inspects a field and buys it.
    With money she earned, she plants a vineyard.
17 She does her work with energy,
    and her arms are strong.
18 She knows that what she makes is good.
    Her lamp burns late into the night.
19 She makes thread with her hands
    and weaves her own cloth.
20 She welcomes the poor
    and helps the needy.
21 She does not worry about her family when it snows,
    because they all have fine clothes to keep them warm.
22 She makes coverings for herself;
    her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material.
23 Her husband is known at the city meetings,
    where he makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.
24 She makes linen clothes and sells them
    and provides belts to the merchants.
25 She is strong and is respected by the people.
    She looks forward to the future with joy.
26 She speaks wise words
    and teaches others to be kind.
27 She watches over her family
    and never wastes her time.
28 Her children speak well of her.
    Her husband also praises her,
29 saying, “There are many fine women,
    but you are better than all of them.”
30 Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you,
    but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned;
    she should be praised in public for what she has done.
As my husband read and we giggled a little about,"waking up early to feed her family."  My daughter looked up at me, and said, "mom, I think you are all of these things." She was sincere.  She thinks I am these things.  While I know that I am not all of these things, she sees me at my best.   That my friends is refreshing.

While we continued talking, my husband had a few things to say about how he read it.  Then my daughter asked a question that never occurred to me to ask.   Y'know Proverbs 31 is the rules for a Godly wife, the book that we use to compare ourselves, and make judgements that are the results of a sinful world.  I never thought to ask the question posed to me, "Mom what does it say about a husband?"

What an amazing revelation!  We went back and found that this book has some great advice on the character you should look for in a man.  What does Proverbs 31 say about the husband?  A good man should:

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
    defend the rights of all those who have nothing.
Speak up and judge fairly,
    and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Her husband trusts her completely.
    With her, he has everything he needs

Her husband is known at the city meetings,
    where he makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.

Her husband also praises her,
29 saying, “There are many fine women,
    but you are better than all of them.”


The 30 day challenge has long past the 30 days and become a daily routine we all look forward.   As we grow a new business and approach the 6th grade and having a junior high student, I can't think of a better way to find our answers.  The days ahead are going to be filled with comparison.  They are going to be filled with questions about purpose and defining self.  As we look for definition, should it not be defined by the creator?

I challenge you to open your bible, pick a book and read it with your family.   You might find that the questions of your kids, will help you to see that what you thought looked like a fail, is really a win after all!

This is Miranda's Mindset, now let me hear yours!

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Goodness - Birthday Blessings

    It has been a long time since I have written anything.  Tonight I am overwhelmed with the desire to write about the Goodness of God.  Today, we celebrated  my daughter's 11th birthday.  I can't help but feel as though she is quite possibly the best example of God's goodness.

    During the Spring I taught a bible study class called Spirit Girls.   It was designed to teach 4th and 5th grade girls about the Fruits of the Spirit. (Galations 5: 22-23)  I felt as though I was equipped to teach this class.  I had worked in a private Christian school that focused on character education using the fruits of the spirit.   However, there is always room for learning when God is involved.   As I prepared the week we would spend on God's Goodness, I learned a few things.

    Kindness and Goodness are similar.   They have a major difference.  Goodness, is defined as a deliberate choice to do right, a firm persistence to follow only good.  Kindness is treating people with respect and being polite and mannerly.  The goodness of God is being able to tell someone TRUTH in love and stand firm, even when that TRUTH is hard.

     As I pondered this, I realize that, this is precisely why God gives children (for some maybe its your spouse).  This gift is given so you can experience TRUTH in love.  You see kids, especially young ones, have truth, and they don't mind blurting it out. As I think about celebrating my daughter, I think of the sweet truths she has utter to me.  Mom, you are too old to...... or mom, you should change, I don't think that fits.   Mom remember when you said....... well can I say that now, because I feel that word coming on.   The truth is, my daughter doesn't miss a thing, she sees all the good, the bad, and the ugly.  She has a way of giving truth. Sometimes that truth hurts, and sometimes it is so profound, that it can only be at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, shaping me to be a better mom.

     She is not only filled with Truth, but she is filled with love.   I had no idea when God gave me her that things were going to change the way they did.  I was afraid.   I was afraid to have a baby.  As a type 1 diabetic for 20+ years at the time, I just knew what would happen.   I had seen, Steel Magnolia's, I knew a baby would wreck my body and leave me needing a new kidney.   God says, "I did not give you a spirit of fear!" (2 Timothy 1:6-7)  He gave me a baby and he did change my body.  Only instead of wrecking it, he expanded it, literally.   It was not just expanding my belly and feet, but it was my heart that grew.  You see, God's goodness opened my heart.  He filled this new space with a sweet dimpled smile, bright sparkly eyes, and a giggle that I call my favorite song.  As her personality grows, I see that she loves people deeply.  When she says she is praying for you, you can count on her to pray.   He showed me through His gift in her, that love can be much deeper and wider than I had ever dared to love or imagine.  He whispers, my love for you is greater than this.  His love for her is greater than mine.  If that is not goodness, I don't know what is.

    If you want to see God's goodness, take a look at your kids (or maybe your spouse).   Look around for the person brave enough to tell you the truth, even when the outfit doesn't fit, or the words aren't right.   Look around for the person who loves even when the outfit doesn't fit or the words aren't right.  I think God's goodness is all around us, we just need to be brave enough to see it, accept it, and give it back.  I think God's goodness is right in our families, so don't miss it!

    This is my mindset, now let me hear yours!