31 Day Challenge

Vs 30

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

As I watched the Miss America pageant last night, I found myself conflicted.  As women I think we are naturally drawn to pageants, stages, celebrities and pretty things.  Because we’ve grown up with these things idolized and applauded it’s difficult to turn off those longings or desires.  I think it’s safe to say that every little girl wanted to be on that stage at some point in her life.

But as I read about the Proverbs 31 woman, I’m contented to discover that so much of what I idolized about beauty queens is not that much different from this Godly woman that we read about in Proverbs.

The Proverbs 31 woman:

• is noble
• is worth more than rubies
• has earned her husband’s confidence
• works hard
• is disciplined
• serves her family
• is a business woman
• is strong
• is a good steward of her resources
• helps the poor and needy
• decorates her home
• dresses well
• is married to a respected man
• has dignity
• laughs
• speaks with wisdom
• gives faithful instruction
• is not idle
• is blessed by her children
• is praised by her husband

Isn’t the Proverbs 31 woman so much of what we long to be?

Isn’t that what a lot of our pageantry is about?

I think the defining difference is in the last part of verse 30: “but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”  While all of these other qualities are good, without the fear of the Lord these things become deceptive and fleeting.  I believe that is why all our attempts to aspire to these qualities end up feeling empty, shallow… hollow.

What stands out about the Proverbs 31 woman to you?

Jenni Catron

Oops, I apologize on the delay of this post.  I had it done 3 days ago, but with the snow I forgot to post.

This might surprise some people that know me, but I hate change.  Not so much changing and growing, but having to change plans.  I’m a planner, and I passionately embrace routine. I get up the same time and do the same routine each day, even on weekends.  I like to plan my workweek and schedule a certain way. I like to visit the same restaurants and typically order the same thing.  On the occasion I order something different, I’m usually not happy with what I get.  Basically, when I’m following my routine, everything goes smoothly.

Over the last 30 days you have created a routine or rhythm of spiritual nourishment.  You’ve experienced the impact of God’s word on your day as you’ve read and reflected on these words of wisdom.  I find the last part of verse 8 fitting…

but give me only my daily bread.

At first glance this verse speaks directly to our physical needs and provisions, but the idea of daily bread is also reflective in spiritual nourishment.  In the book of Exodus we find the Israelites wandering in the dessert for 40 years.  During that time God provided daily provisions of meat in the evening and bread in the morning.  They called the bread manna (Exodus 16).  The tricky thing with this bread and meat was that the Israelites were instructed by God to only gather enough for the day, if they tried to take more then they needed for a daily provision, it spoiled.   The Israelites learned the principle of trusting God to provide for their daily nourishment.  Jesus also referred to this in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6)

I like to think of God’s Word as my “manna”, the daily provision God provides me each morning that sustains me through my day.  Remember I’m a routine guy, and on the rare occasion I miss a morning dose of “manna”, my whole day is affected.  I have more difficulty making good decisions, I respond to people poorly, and I find I’m less gracious and more judgmental as the day goes on.

You’ve found rhythm and routine through 31-day challenge and it doesn’t have to end tomorrow.

⁵ “Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

What have you learned most during the 31 day challenge?

Pat Rowland

Each day of my life I feel grateful to be able to get up and do something that I believe God truly created me to do!  I don’t say that to brag, but out of relief after so many years of searching and falling smack dab on my face. My job holds many unique experiences, and each day is always a little different than the day before.  As I read through Proverbs 29, I thought about the different experiences I had just this week and how they aptly applied to Solomon’s words. 

This week we collected supplies to be shipped to Haiti.  We are all aware of the earthquake that hit the region two weeks ago and each day brings new stories of devastation. Although we ache for the pain and loss currently being felt across Haiti, if we are all truthful, we know that conditions there have been deplorable for years.  Haiti has always been a nation in crisis.  Never has it been in the best interest of the Haitian government to seek justice and protect their citizens.  Rather, it has most often been characterized by greed and destruction.  Have you seen or heard anything from the Haitian government that would indicate they are seeking to help their people since this crisis began more than two weeks ago?  Of course not, because they are a government set up simply to make money for a small group of ruling elite.  Unfortunately, as stated below in verse 4, justice grants stability, but greed and bribes tear it down.  Although God gave us his warning through Solomon long ago, we continue to see governments fail and lives destroyed because of the quest for financial reward over the preservation of basic human dignities.

⁴ By justice a king gives a country stability,
       but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down

On another occasion this week, I got to spend some time talking to a young man that is addicted to crack cocaine.  It was interesting to talk with him, and I was amazed by his clarity of thought as he discussed his life and the many poor decisions he had made.  He told me that his mom and dad were addicts and had never really taken any interest in his life.  In fact, at the age of 14, he overheard them discussing ways to put him out of the house.  Quickly, this young man became a product of the streets.  He began to sell and use drugs and fathered several children with many different women.  As I visited with him, I truly heard his plea for change, but began to understand his struggle as I realized that he had never learned any other way.  As I looked at verse 15, I realized how much we have screwed up the parenting model, and each day all of society pays the price.

¹⁵ The rod of correction imparts wisdom,
       but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

Of course, my young friend’s story is a bit extreme, but it represents why we must take the role of parenting very serious.  God calls us to give correction and to help impart wisdom.  This is not something that should be left up to others.  How many times have we taken the easy way out and given our child a pass on something only to later see the behavior repeated, but in a more blatant fashion? 

*What role has greed played in your life?  Have you seen it on a smaller scale destroy friends and families as we’ve seen it destroy entire countries?

*Are you taking an active role in the discipline and correction of your child/children?

I would love to hear from you today…..

Ryan Bult