All the Days

One of my favorite passages of the bible can be found in Proverbs 31:30-31.  The passage in the NIV is titles A Noble Wife.  Even though I wasn't a wife while I was a teenager, this was still one of the passages I read continuously because I couldn't wait to be a wife and prayed I could be wife of noble character.
There was really one verse that I clung to as a teenager while I struggled greatly with self image issues was verse 30.  One day I will get to that, but there is a different verse I wanted to look at that I was reminded the other day.  I was going through my bible, which is the same one I used in high school, and saw a verse I had highlighted and had notes to the side of.

Lets take a look at the whole chapter, then we will examine a verse.

The Noble Wife

 ¹⁰ Who can find a noble wife?
      She is worth far more than rubies.
 ¹¹ Her husband trusts her completely.
      She gives him all the important things he needs.
 ¹² She brings him good, not harm,
      all the days of her life.
 ¹³ She chooses wool and flax.
      She loves to work with her hands.
 ¹⁴ She is like the ships of traders.
      She brings her food from far away.
 ¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark.
      She provides food for her family.
      She also gives some to her female servants.
 ¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it.
      She uses some of the money she earns to plant a vineyard.
 ¹⁷ She gets ready to work hard.
      Her arms are strong.
 ¹⁸ She sees that her trading earns a lot of money.
      Her lamp doesn't go out at night.
 ¹⁹ With one hand she holds the wool.
      With the other she spins the thread.
 ²⁰ She opens her arms to those who are poor.
      She reaches out her hands to those who are needy.
 ²¹ When it snows, she's not afraid for her family.
      All of them are dressed in the finest clothes.
 ²² She makes her own bed coverings.
      She is dressed in fine linen and purple clothes.
 ²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate.
      There he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
 ²⁴ She makes linen clothes and sells them.
      She supplies belts to the traders.
 ²⁵ She puts on strength and honor as if they were her clothes.
      She can laugh at the days that are coming.
 ²⁶ She speaks wisely.
      She teaches faithfully.
 ²⁷ She watches over family matters.
      She is busy all the time.
 ²⁸ Her children stand up and call her blessed.
      Her husband also rises up, and he praises her.
 ²⁹ He says, "Many women do noble things.
      But you are better than all the others."
 ³⁰ Charm can fool you. Beauty fades.
      But a woman who has respect for the Lord should be praised.
 ³¹ Give her the reward she has earned.
      Let everything she has done bring praise to her at the city gate.

The next couple of post I will probably talk about this, but lets take a look at verse 12.  It states "She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life."
Now since this passage its on being a wife I am sure a lot of us think "Ok, no problem.  I will do my best to be the best for my husband when we are married."  I am sure I thought the same thing.  But one time when I was reading through the verses, God spoke to me about what the verse meant.  Lets look specifically at the end of the verse: "ALL the days of her LIFE."  This verse doesn't say she brings him good in their marriage or during a certain area of her life, but it says ALL the days.  So guess what girls, you could be bringing your future husband good, or harm right now as we speak. 
I am sure for some this may seem odd to be thinking about.  Many of you may not even have the thought of marriage on your mind, but you should.  Of course I don't mean in the sense of your getting married tomorrow or in the next couple of years, but we should be thinking about it. 
There are people out there who think they should just live it up now while they are young, do whatever, and then when they are married, they will be honorable.  But this is not the case.  We should be striving to honor our future husband now! 
Are you living a life that would bring your husband good or harm?  Even some of the littlest choices we make can determine good or harm.  Are your dressing in a way that would honor him?  How would you feel if there were girls around him that dressed like you?  Would you have a peace about it and would you be jealous? 
How do you speak to others?  How do you treat the opposite sex?  How is your relationship with God?  Do you want a husband that as a strong relationship with God or just a so so?
You may not realize the choices you make now will have an influence on your future but they do.  And having a husband may seem like a long way away, but that doesn't mean you should only start honoring him when you say "I Do."  Live a life now that you know will bring good to your husband, where he knows he can trust you when you are in a marriage, because your past actions speak volumes.
Now maybe some of you haven't been living that life.  I'm not saying your husband won't be able to trust you now; there is forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ.  And when we turn from the way we have been living and strive to be a Godly woman, we will not only find a husband who is good to us, but one that we are good to in return.
Keeping a pure life will bring that good to your husband.  When your thoughts, words, actions, etc. are of a pure nature, you honor yourself, your future husband, but most importantly God.

A Heavy Heart

I am sorry I haven't posted in awhile, and my heart is heavy knowing what is spurring on this post today.

At a midnight premier of the new Batman movie, a shooting took place in Aurora Colorado, killing 12 people (last I heard) and hurting many others.  It is so scary to know that all these people went to go enjoying a movie that they had been waiting to see, and then we met with a dangerous situation. 

My mind went in a million different directions, thinking about what would come of this.  My heart went out to all of those people who lost loved one or their loved ones were injured.  My heart ached for the city of Aurora, knowing that even  those who were not directly affected, were still hurting.  It made me think of the many times I've gone to the movies with my husband and girl, or honestly anywhere, thinking we were safe when really something dangerous could have been lurking around.

It's at times like this that it is so crucial to cling to Jesus.  When an event like this takes place, we may feel frighten, unsure, confused, and the one thing that is constant through it all is Jesus.  You may not have gone through a tragedy like this, but we all have experienced some level of hurt or sadness that has made us feel like we are losing grip on what we thought we knew.  One verse from the bible that brings me comfort is this:

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

We are never left alone.  When the world is caving in around us, God is still there through it all, the one constant in our life.  He alone is who we should turn to when we need comfort, peace and understanding.

This is conducive to living a pure life.  I know it may seem like a stretch for some or just not even important, since we automatically think physical purity, but think about this for a moment.  When people go through an event that brings horrors to them, think about what they may turned to besides God.  Anger? Revenge?  Drugs?  Alcohol?  Sex?  The list goes on and on.  These are all things that can bring destruction to our lives.  They may be easier to turn to at the time, but the end result is not of healing or peace.  It usually leaves you still in confusion, distress, loneliness, and this list goes on and on.  Choices like these chip away a little at a time at our purity, or sometimes take a huge chunk.

Cling to the verse Deuteronomy 31:6 when dangers and trials come your way, and remember to cling to our Maker, our Lord.  Know that when these danger rise against us, we have someone who stands beside us, for us, and sometimes carries us when we need it.

Continue to pray for the people of Aurora Colorado.  The next few days are going to be scary and insane, and for a long time there will be hurt.  Pray God's peace and comfort for everyone.  And lift up the shooter's family.  It cannot be easy for them either to know it was a loved one of theirs that carried out this act.