30-Day TRUE WOMAN Make-Over Day 16

Day #16... a day set apart for God... a day where I can corporately join other believers in worship, prayer and the Word... another day to live out all that I learn here in these devotionals, and all that I teach to the next generations!

Today's topic is: TRAINING OUR DAUGHTERS

Today's verse is Proverbs 31:16 -- "She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard." (In the Amplified it reads, 'She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]')

"In Titus 2:3-5, we are told to 'Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.' Older women, is a term used loosely here, and in most cases we don't want to see ourselves as the 'older women' in this verse. However, we all have a generation behind us, which we are 'older' than, so we all fit into this category. The 'younger women' category most of us fit into as well, although in seldom cases those 'older' than us may no longer be living to share the truths they have learned (but hopefully you gleaned something from them before they left the earth spiritually.) Therefore we are all 'teachers' and 'learners'." (Taken from DAY #1's devotion found here)

Some of us are not 'mothers' by name, meaning we have no children of our own (yet), but we have the role of teaching and training the young women of the next generations... I am blessed beyond belief to be a part of imparting the truth into the lives of the next generation. I love children, t'weens & youth, and love to impart into their lives and watch them 'blossom' into who God has designed them to be. I also however love the 'older', mature women in my church, who are imparting into my life as well. I know that some of them don't know how or that they have an impact in my life, so that I why I always want to be 'real' and 'practice what I preach', so that the young women watching me may be blessed as well.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old, they will not depart from it." Early education (school or church) is important. We need to reach them before the world reaches them, and takes their innocent faith-filled hearts trying to conform them to the image of the world. We need to help God transform their young pure hearts, and minds to the knowledge of Him. ("Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 NIV)

Our 'daughters' need to learn exactly what we are learning through this 30-day Make-over. Each of these life principles and Spiritual principles need to be lived out, so that they may see and experience the JOY of knowing Jesus as King. If we do not live out our faith joyfully, they will not want any part of it. Nancy worded it like this in today's devotional... "One of the killers of the faith of Christian young people is that they do not see that their parents’ faith has joy in it. Your kids will most likely reject your religion if it is a joyless religion." To me, it's not religion, it's a relationship! But that's another topic of discussion...

This teaching/training/living out the truths is important at ANY age. It does not matter that your 8 year old is not worried about having kids, but if they have a dream/vision from the Lord about their future children, we cannot laugh it off, and not train them NOW, we need to take our responsibility serious, and show them now how to treat their husband, how to train their own children, and how to make life and Biblical principles real in their own lives. They learn by our example... There is an old poem that was written regarding how children learn what they live.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.

If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.

If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.

If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves

and in those about them.

If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.

If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.

If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with acceptance, they learn to live.

If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.

If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

If children live with fairness, they learn justice.

If children live with friendliness,

they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

by Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

We have to show them the example, we cannot let the world teach our daughters about modesty, honesty, purity, etc... because the world does not believe in it. They allow our 'girls' to wear tight clothes (tighter than a school bag full of books); short dresses, skirts & shorts (shorter than a english paper); and low, revealing shirts or dresses (lower than the Grand Canyon)! (examples taken from today's devotional) The movies, tv shows and magazine ads all portray these 'awful' images to our young ladies, and they begin to think they have to dress like this, or act like that to be accepted in the world today. WE HAVE TO STOP THIS BEHAVIOUR, DRESS & ATTITUDES NOW! We must lead by example... especially if the young ladies in our 'circle of influence' do not have a mother, or a mother-figure who is a Christian/true woman of God.

The 'virtuous woman' in Proverbs 31 is just that... she is leading by example (for all of us who read about her). In verse 16 today, we see that "She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard." This woman 'considers' a field... she doesn't just take and spend her earnings on something the world offers, she inspects, closely examines and weighs her options before buying this land.

The word 'consider' by definition means:
–verb (used with object)

1.to think carefully about, esp. in order to make a decision; contemplate; reflect on: He considered the cost before buying the new car.
2.to regard as or deem to be: I consider the story improbable.
3.to think, believe, or suppose: We consider his reply unsatisfactory.
4.to bear in mind; make allowance for: The arrest was justified if you consider his disorderly behavior.
5.to pay attention to; regard: He considered the man for some time before speaking to him.
6.to regard with respect, thoughtfulness, honor, etc.; esteem.
7.to think about (something that one might do, accept, buy, etc.): to consider a job in Guatemala.
8.Obsolete. to view attentively; scrutinize.
9.Obsolete. to recompense or remunerate.


–verb (used without object)
10.to think deliberately or carefully; reflect.
11.to view carefully or thoughtfully.


She thought carefully, deliberately, and with attention before purchasing this land. Now this land purchase was not for herself, but for the betterment of her family. She didn't just rush into the decision, she carefully and thoughtfully planned out every detail. After she purchased the land, she went on to use her earnings and plant a vineyard as well. This vineyard would provide for her family and herself. She would gain more out of what she reaped and sowed, than the cost of the property to begin with.

This example shows us that we need to be deliberate, careful and attentive in our thought processes, our purchases, etc. If we are so, then the ones watching us will learn from us and continue the process. For example, I don't tell Bible stories/Historical events just for the joy of telling them, I tell them so that I can also help those listening to apply it to their own lives as well. I carefully and deliberately study the story, so that I can get out of it what I believe (through Holy Spirit's wisdom and guidance) they need to hear. (Even if it is for JUST ONE!) This also proves the same with 'special occasion art' that I like to do with the children I teach. (Special occasion meaning, Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc...) I try to have the thing we are making be useful, to be something the parents will not just hang for the moment (like a picture), but something they can keep or cherish for a lifetime. It is sad to me when I see children working really hard on paintings, or crayon pictures, only to show their parents, and then watch or know their parents throw them in the trash. Now I do know that you can't keep EVERYTHING that your child makes, or WOW what a mess of papers you would have... but sometimes I know the art gets left in their cubby, only for us to throw it out later. That child sees that their parent is not really interested in their work, and therefore may stop trying, or continuing to make pictures, or whatever the case may be.

They (the younger generation) are also ALWAYS watching us. Sometimes we think they may not be 'looking', but they are. (Like I said above, some women do not know that they have impacted my life, because I see or hear things from them just in passing sometimes that have meant a lot to me, or that I have taken to heart to pass on to the next generation as well.) There is also another poem regarding this... "When You Thought I Wasn't Looking".

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,

and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw you feed a stray cat,

and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw you make my favorite cake for me,

and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I heard you say a prayer,

and I believed that there was a God to talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I felt you kiss me goodnight,

and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw tears come from your eyes,

and I learned that sometimes things hurt,

but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I saw that you cared,

and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking,

I looked....

and I wanted to say thanks for all the things

I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

~Author Unknown~

 
So be on the lookout for those who are looking to you as an example. They may be your own kids, someone else's kids, or even those in generations above you.
 

BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING!

 

30-Day TRUE WOMAN Makeover - DAY 1

 "The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle [a] his mother taught him: " - Proverbs 31:1

So according to the '30-Day True Woman Make-over', Day 1 focuses on "A Biblical View of Womanhood".  Who are we as a woman of God? Who's view do we take when we look at ourselves as Christ-following women? Do we look at God's view, or the world's carnal view? How many times do we find ourselves trying to live up to the world's view of a woman, a wife, a mother, etc? Magazines, books, newspaper and internet articles, TV shows and more are bombarding our lives and minds with what the world thinks that we should be. No woman should ever desire that which is not what God desires her to be. Most cases, this is not what the world wants you to be.

God has created and designed us to be who we are. He has hand-crafted each of us, not mass-produced us. Too many times we try to fit ourselves into the mold of those who have gone on before us. (Or those who are around us, which seem flattering to the eye alone.) The Word says that God looks at our heart, in 1 Samuel 16:7 the Word states that the Lord says, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." We need to look towards people's hearts, and their spirits, and try to be like them in that way. In Titus 2:3-5, we are told to "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Older women, is a term used loosely here, and in most cases we don't want to see ourselves as the 'older women' in this verse. However, we all have a generation behind us, which we are 'older' than, so we all fit into this category. The 'younger women' category most of us fit into as well, although in seldom cases those 'older' than us may no longer be living to share the truths they have learned (but hopefully you gleaned something from them before they left the earth spiritually.) Therefore we are all 'teachers' and 'learners'.

I myself, am a people-person - I love hanging out with people of all ages, shapes, sizes, etc... I love to glean information, knowledge and wisdom from my 'older' generation, yet I also love to teach and train the generations behind me. I also enjoy learning from them as well. I love the idea that God can reveal many different things to different people even regarding just ONE Scripture. This leads us into today's verse, "The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle [a] his mother taught him:" Some may wonder why the author put this verse in, he could have just went into the traits of the Proverbs 31 woman... yet this is an IMPORTANT part of Scripture.

Going along with one of my favourite verses in the Bible, (Proverbs 22:6) "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (or in another translation, "Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it" (NKJV) or in simpler terms, "Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost." (The Message) We are meant to teach and train our children (or those children in our sphere of influence). Here it shows that King Lemuel was reminded of the teachings of his mother. It doesn't say how old he was, nor what they did that day, nor what they were wearing, or how his mother looked, it says "an oracle his mother taught him". He remembered the words of his mother, whether it was a lesson taught as a whole, or parts of words that he heard his mother telling him in his youth. We are all called to teach and train (as in Proverbs 22:6), as we need to set examples for those generations behind us. Even if it is just sharing a story from your own experience, it can be seen as a time of learning. A 'teacher' by training/education & gifting, is a different view all together. They are CALLED to teach and train, and have gained a 'position' to teach, and therefore mostly everything that comes from their mouths should be a way to teach and train those around her/him. WOW! What a thought-provoker... as I myself am a 'teacher' by training, a Registered Early Childhood Educator. It does say in the Word "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1) Everything we say and do is seen by those around us, and we do not want to lead anyone astray by things that we say or do, because in the end, God will judge us on what other's did or said because of us. "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37)

The Word continues to say in James 3 that "Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue." (James 3:5-8) Yet, taming the tongue is a topic all on its own.

I am excited about this NEW JOURNEY! Proverbs 31 will show us some of the traits in becoming the woman that God desires us to be, but it does all start with relationship. We need to have that relationship with God first and foremost, so that we can sit at His feet and gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding. We want to sit under the teaching of our earthly parents, teachers & mentors, like in this first verse of Proverbs, but most importantly we should want and desire to sit intimately with our Heavenly Father (and not just at His feet).

(*Editor's note: Check out my FRESH AS A DAISY Devotional regarding this make-over challenge, and our relationship with God, and the 3 R's of Life here.)

May the Lord bless you as you continue this journey along with me,

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING,