Begin with the ending.

This Tuesday I am leading our ladies bible class on a study of the Proverbs 31 woman. Funny thing, I had this 'assignment' given to me by someone who doesn't know I write this blog. Oh, the irony. Anyway, tonight I am preparing for what I will say at the study. Do you feel like you could never measure up to the the woman mention in Proverbs 31? Do you avoid this chapter like the plague because you are so disheartened when you compare yourself to her? I hope not. This divine scripture is is so much more than the literal words written on the pages of the Bible. Let's look behind the words, what are the words describing?

The words talk about a woman who is loyal, respectful and supportive of her husband.
A woman who works hard to provide for her family.
She reaps the reward of hard work with her strength.
She provides food for her family.
She is a woman who cares for the needy.
A woman who is prepared for times ahead.
A woman who uses her skills.
She is wise.
She is kind.
She's not lazy.
Her husband and her children praise her for all that she does.
Finally and the part that is the foundation of all that she is: She fears the Lord.

Are any of these things unattainable? Call me naive if you must but I don't think there is a single Christian woman (married, single, children or no children) out there who cannot achieve all of these things. Look how this woman bears the Fruits of the Spirit mention in Galations 5: She is faithful and loving to her husband and family. She has goodness toward the needy. She has self-control over idleness. She speaks with kindness.  And these are just  few of the most obvious ones.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that any one woman could be 'perfect' but the characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman are in fact attainable if we begin with the very thing mentioned in v. 30, "fear the Lord."

Until next time, may Christ's love and blessings be upon you and yours.

More than what it has been

 This blog is supposed to be about "seeking" to be all the things in Proverbs 31. I feel like my infertility struggle is definitely a part of that BUT there is so much more in my daily life. So I was going to share my recent endeavors in domesticity. I have been working on getting our house cleaner and more organized. Recently I organized all (except one) of my kitchen cabinets/drawers. I also made homemade handsoap and laundry soap. It has been fun and hardwork! Here are some pictures of the things I have been trying
my hand at:

Organized Junk Drawer

Misc. Kitchen Supplies: BEFORE

Misc. Kitchen Supplies: AFTER

Spice Cupboard: AFTER

Spice Cupboard: BEFORE

Homemade Hand Soap (.70c)

We have the power...

to choose! God has granted us this very thing. I don't like it. Seriously! I want to relinquish power to God, so He can choose the path that follows His will for my life. I am simply afraid I don't know how to recognize that answer. Rob and I decided (once again but more seriously this time) to put the brakes on our foster care licensing and to really truly think/pray/talk about whether or not this is the path for us. I desperately desire to serve God and I thought that foster care was an answer to not only that but also for my desire to have more children. However, maybe God doesn't see that as a fitting path for our lives. Maybe He sees us serving in a different way. If that is the case, I will accept it. Although, if this is true than should we seek fertility treatments again? I. just. don't. know. I cannot see a clear answer and I am afraid that my wishes are clouding my judgment. Patience has never been my strong suit and I struggle with this daily. I am waiting upon God but I just wish that He would give me an answer before I go crazy!!

Until next time, may Christ's love and blessings be upon you and yours.

Time4Learning Review (Coming Soon)

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

It's Been So Long...

Since I've updated our situation as far as kiddos go. So for those who don't know Rob and I are currently working on our Foster Care License. This is so exciting to me! Rob is really nervous/wary of the whole situation but I know he has a generous and loving heart. It's just the change that gets him. I know that the moment we get our first placement he will be so accepting and caring. This is how he is, I have to drag him (kicking and screaming) into a change but once he has experienced the change he is so glad it happened. Anyway, my hope is   (and we are currently on the path) to be licensed no later than the end of April. Rob has to go away for training again at that time and I want everything to be finished before he goes. So we have told our agency that we only want girls, ages 0-3. We will foster and if the opportunity to adopt presents itself, I believe we will. If I may, can I ask y'all to pray for us as we go through this journey? We need all we can get!

Until next time, may Christ's love and blessings be upon you and yours.

Ranting?

I don't know why but this morning I woke up with an incredible urge to scream about the way I see so many Christians (myself included, so this is totally not  unrighteous judgment thing) falling into the schemes of the world and the convoluted "Christian" messages of this day and age. Soooo...I did  little studying and posted to my Facebook status. I'm sure it will irk some people but I kind of have an "I don't care" attitude today. Here's the post: ...but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. Mark 4:19 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. John 1:10 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. John 17:14 ...God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong...1 Cor. 1:27 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? Galatians 4:9 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 2:12
My soapbox for the moment: If we walk in the ways of God, how can we also walk in the ways of the world? We are calledIf the world accepts it as good and truth, it's highly doubtful that God also accepts it as good and truth. If a book is so loved by the world that is on the NYT Bestseller List (or a movie is a top hit at the box office, or #1 on the music list) it's probably not the best place to be seeking spiritual nourishment." In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." -2 Cor. 4:4 ...ok you can remove by soapbox for the rest of the year now. :)
Until next time, may Christ's love and blessings be upon you and yours. 

...Man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. -Matt 4:4

Our fleshly bodies cannot grow, function, or survive without the consumption of food. There are two categories into which we can put our food. First, there are foods like apples, broccoli, or a piece of salmon; these are foods that keep us running at our full potential. Then, there are foods like french fries, fried chicken and chocolate cake, these foods might keep us alive (and tastes amazing) but they certainly hinder us from a fulfilling life.

Drive by Mcdonald's or Whataburger at meal times and you will see that our society has become dependent on these foods that keep us from our full potential. Likewise, visit a vast majority of churches on a Sunday morning and you will see that that not only has our society become dependent on food that holds them back they have become dependent on a false pretense of God that is holding them back from living for Him to their fullest potential.

The Word of God is filled with truths that are hard to digest (much like a piece of broccoli) but the outcome of reading these truths is a spiritual growth that is fulfilling and enriching. However, it is obvious that our leaders have given in to the flow of this world and are offering up only spiritual french fries with a fluffy piece of chocolate cake. Their sermons and other teachings have become so weighed down with feel good notions that they are leaving out the word of God to make it easier for the 'flock' to digest. The big problem with the things that are easier going down is that they are hindering us from gaining all the power and might that the Word of God has to offer.

Romans 12:2 speaks to me in a big way: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. " We are called to be set apart from this world, a world that loves to self-indulge, focuses on sensuality rather than reality, a world that gives into the flesh never realizing the damage being done to the spirit. We are to discern what is PERFECT, what is perfect other than that which is of God? Certainly, not the opinions and prosperity preachings of man.

The Word of God reaches past our fleshly desires and penetrates the deepest portions of our souls. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.-Hebrews 4:12 "Sharper than any two-edged sword" sounds pretty painful and sometimes it is, particularly when we are being convicted of something we don't want to give up.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying the Word of God is not filled with lovely things that can comfort us and bring us great joy but what I am saying is that His Word is real and true and sometimes the truth hurts.

Until next time, may Christ's love and blessings be upon you and yours.