A Woman of Provision

“She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also, while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” Proverbs 31:14, 15            

This was a woman of provision and love.  She tended to and kept her household,  including her maidens,  with love and generosity.  This lady not only a laborer but she is also one who considers others before herself.  She is not content with mediocrity. Her vision is to tend to others and to provide a welcoming and God-fearing atmosphere to those in her home.  The Bible tells us that she travels far off to retrieve her food.  Most of us travel only a few minutes to the local Wal-Mart, which is a blessing!  Imagine having to spend a day or hours traveling just to buy food.  Keeping her household fed and happy wasn’t just a mundane task.  This woman labored to keep her family and those to lived with her fed and happy. 

In the world of fast-pace, have it now, we often times forget about those small things that make the difference.  In those days, supper couldn’t be zapped in a microwave. Tedious planning and cooking took place.  I love to cook but don’t get me wrong, there are some days that I thank God for a good ‘ole fashion microwave!  However, I can certainly see the look of appreciation and gratitude in my husband’s face after spending the day cooking and baking.  We have so many luxuries afforded to us today that often times we forget about those small things that show our care and love.

The next part, I must admit is a bit difficult for me to write.  I admit openly that I am very fond of my sleep.  I often times tell my husband that I am simply too delicate to go to bed at midnight.  After a few toss and turns in the morning, I will eventually get up however grumbles and mumbles soon follow.  So as I read my soul becomes a little convicted that this woman rose while it was still night to feed her household.  It would be far easier for me to sugar coat and say this was Old Testament times, that’s what women did but I believe there is purpose in every word recorded in the Bible.  Now, I’m not saying at 5AM a five course breakfast is served, 12PM hot lunch, and a spread for dinner at 6PM.  What I am saying is that she put forth effort to take care of her family.  They knew that when it was time to rise she had considered them.  Her family knew she cared, the gratitude for her effort may have not always been there, but they knew by her actions that each were loved and cherished. A little time and effort stays with those that love you.  It’s not always easy.  It’s not always hard.  However, I’m sure that this virtuous woman hit her knees each day and asked for the strength.  Our Father is faithful and just to provide all that which we need.  Need energy, He can provide. Life’s tough, His yoke is easy.  Pray that you may be found putting in the energy and effort your husband and children need.

Now that we are all fat and sassy after the 10 pounds we’ve put on from Thanksgiving let’s talk about Christmas!

Let me say, this is by far my most favorite holiday! I ADORE the smells and decorations and just the way the house feels during Christmas. Today I’ve convinced hubby to put up the tree. So, in a bit we’ll make hot chocolate, turn on the Christmas tunes, get out the tree and decorate. I’m so excited. It’s kind-of sad how thrilled I get about a fake tree that’s stored in the attic all year. Oh well, don’t judge, I love it.

Hubby and I want to start some new traditions this year (like the reading of the REAL Christmas story before opening presents) but we don’t really know many. So help a sister out. Got any great holiday traditions you would like to share?

I’m busily cooking our Thanksgiving feast with all of the wondrous aromas wafting through the air. The turkey smells glorious and man-alive I wish this thing had smell-o-vision. However, my feast for two might become a feast for 200.

Our Thanksgiving Menu:

Turkey (duh)

Stuffing

Corn

Green Beans

Fried Apples

Sweet Potato Sticks

Salad

Rolls

For dessert? Coconut cake. Yes, I know it should be the traditional pumpkin pie or apple pie but we’ve had those numerous times in the past month or so. So I made a coconut cake and yes it is the most delicious thing I’ve ever put into my mouth. You should be envious.

Ahh… the day of turkey, dressing, corn, rolls, pie…. yum.

Though I do enjoy it all, I really want to focus this year on the word Thanksgiving not just the food.

My Top 20 Thanksgiving Things I’m Thankful  For List (say that 3 times fast)

1. My salvation by grace through faith

2. My husband whom I adore

3. Family, new and old, all dear to me

4. The promise of provision

5. The loving and gentle words spoken to my husband and I from the Lord recently.

6. Our home

7. My husband’s job

8. Our church

9. Our ministry

10. Blessings great and small

11. Friends

12. Prayer

13. Our pastor and his wife

14. The Word

15. My washing machine and dryer, imagine life without one!

16. Our ends always meet

17. Heaven

18. Jesus’ death and resurrection

19. Opportunities that have been given to us as of late

20. Joy unspeakable and full of Glory

So often we look around us and wonder why the Lord doesn’t do miracles anymore. In Biblical times, the lame were healed, blindness was reversed, the dumb could speak, the dead were raised, and miraculous things occurred to those who sought Him. We look around today and the news doesn’t publicize the mother of three who didn’t think she could feed her children throughout the winter but with the prayer and faith in Jesus’ promise to provide, she fed her children and herself abundantly. The news certainly doesn’t publicize the cancer that was healed by no-doubt the prayers of saints. However, just because we can’t flip on the evening news and see miracles doesn’t mean that they don’t happen.

It seems as though we are getting our news from the wrong station.

Let us plug into the Heavenly Evening News. He’ll tell you that guess what? Jesus is still at the right hand of the Father. And better? New souls were added to the Book of Life (and they were highlighted in red). Those prayer requests you’ve been hitting your knees about more and more these days? He’ll grant them. More so? Jesus himself will anchor the news and tell that soon, very soon, He’ll return. The best part? He’s taking you (if you are a blood-bought child of God). Miracles do happen. Did you just breathe a breath? Miracle. Is your heart beating? Miracle. Have you been saved? Miracle.

Miracles still happen.

My normal grocery day is Friday. Now, there are a few reasons why you will not see my happy behind at the grocery store on Friday. First, Hubby and I are having our Thanksgiving that day. Second, I refuse, yes refuse, to find myself in the madness that is Black Friday. Perhaps it’s not as bad as it seems. All I know is when I’m put into the middle of women or men fighting over a deal I get a bit disgruntled and very annoyed. I’m very much an anti-crowd kind-of-girl. I get up and go to the grocery store by 7AM just to avoid the crowds and lines. There’s a part of me that just wants to grab all of the items, put them in my basket, and stick my tongue out at the adults acting like children (thus promoting myself to child-like as well). So I stay clear.

Thus, I go to the grocery store today. Let’s be honest, I really don’t want to go on Tuesday but, Wednesday is going to be a mad-house with the last minute shopping and who has time to go on Thursday? And as for Friday? I’ll eat turkey while the others trample through stores. And that’s okay with me. May God be with those of you brave enough (and have the patience, bless your souls!) to trudge out to the stores at 5AM on Friday.

The holiday season is upon us. Black Friday ads are playing repeatedly on tv, everyone has a sale or a must have item, Christmas shopping is about to get ugly, money will be spent that some never had in the first place, and the little ones will be receiving more toys than they really need.

Is this really what the holidays are about? It’s a bit disturbing.

Don’t get me wrong, we all like to get presents, especially something we really want. But we’re all spending money on material items that at the end of the day don’t add up to much. I’ll be the first one to step up, raise my hand, and say “I have spent too much money on Christmas presents this year.” I even had a budget that I strictly stuck to. Yet, I’m looking at my list of presents to buy and wondering why those simple gifts really matter?

I’ve decided, with the full support of my husband, that next year we’re making our Christmas gifts for our family and friends. It’s too much otherwise and we all forget the true meaning of Christmas.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel   multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:9 - 14

And in the sweet words of Linus “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”

A Willing Worker 

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. Proverbs 31:13

            Our society as a whole is very lazy. We’re self proclaimed couch potatoes and it is no wonder. Endless hours of mindless entertainment can be found in countless forms from television to internet. So many things fight to keep our attention and to keep us from being productive. At the end of the day, that lack of productivity causes us to scratch our heads and wonder where the time has gone. Work never sounds like too much fun and we are a society centered on fun.            

I was thinking about the title verse one day this week as I was cooking dinner. It had been an exceptionally busy week and I thought about what I had and had not done for the week. My week hadn’t been consumed with television and internet but I felt very rushed to get things completed. I looked around and mentally made a list of what I needed to get done. I thought again and again, I need more time, there’s no time! Occasionally, I think that I don’t have much time and I wonder how time flies by. The fact is, there is very little time. The last days are upon us and we must be busy.            

The virtuous woman was a willing worker. She provided for her family as a wife and mother should. She took care of them and supplied those things that were needed. Yet, I know she also served God. Perhaps she was a Sunday School teacher or maybe she sang in the choir. We weren’t told her particular service, what we do know is that she was not an idle Christian. She was a worker for the Lord. Absolutely times got hard and it seemed as though there was very little time. No doubt she became discouraged. However, her effort and willingness to be a employee for the Lord reaped the benefits. 

You have approximately 75 years to make a difference for the Lord. What will your life entail at the end of the day? Will you be just an observer or a worker in the greatest industry every created. No application required. The retirement is out of this world and the reward is beyond imagination.

Today is a free day (so far, I’m actually writing this post on Monday). Our past few weeks even though we’ve had the best of intentions, overtime, family gatherings, work, obligations have clouded our days off and together. So, I really don’t know what to do with today. Maybe a lazy Saturday?

Actually, I know what I need to do. Mmmhmmm. I need to get my behind into the dining room and finish scraping wallpaper. I’m planning on painting it a lovely color of yellow. I really thought it would look wonderful off of our green kitchen. We’ll see. I may decide I don’t like it and have a redo.

I just hate scraping wallpaper and painting. It’s one of the worst for me. I so desperately want someone to do it for me. Any takers? Plus, I guess that it doesn’t help that I’m really no good at it. It tests my patience far too much. Somewhere in the midst of things, I get frustrated/done, and I make a mess. So, my goal for this room is to chill out. I’ll let you know how that goes.

It’s that time of year again, a time of thanks, giving, family, friends, cooking, baking, and the doubled grocery bill. My husband does have to work Thanksgiving day (he’ll get 2 hours or so to spend with family and I can visit him at the firehouse at any time during the day) so we’ll only get to see each other a few hours. In response, I’ve decided this year we would have our own Thanksgiving. We’ll spend time with family on the holiday but Friday after (no, I do not fist fight for the “Black Friday” deals, I can’t deal with it) will be our celebration. My hopes are that when children come along, we’ll have a day without chaos and running around to truly appreciate the blessings and give thanks for what we have been given.

So in preparation for our Thanksgiving, I started early. Here’s the deal, we all know Thanksgiving and Christmas is coming, if the Lord tarries, it’ll be here again next year so plan early. We’ve had an abundance of apples this year thanks to our neighbor. So, with anticipation of apple pies, fried apples, and apple butter I’ve cut them up and froze them with specific instructions on the bag. This one is saved for Thanksgiving fried apples.

And the apple butter saved for our neighbor to say thank you:

 Next, I’ve taken advantage of the stock-up sales our local grocer has offered. I’m aware not everyone has an IGA or Houchens but they’ve had a fabulous deal, canned green beans, corn, or peas 39 cents a can. So, I stocked up. We’ll use some of these for our Thanksgiving.

We also had a garden this year. I can’t tell you how many pints of green beans or corn I’ve put away. Not to mention all of the other goodies I’ve froze and stored for the holidays.

Making stuffing? Grab the ends out of the bag (or if you make your own the scraps) of bread and freeze for stuffing later on. Need onions? Buy in bulk when they are on sale and dehydrate them. Store in a pint jar and use as needed. What about seasonings? Grow your own. When it turns chilly, dehydrate those as well.

Planning ahead has lightened the load in terms of finances this year. With last minute Christmas shopping and end of the year bills, it’s nice not to have to worry about buying enormous amounts of food for the holidays.