Proverbs 31 Woman

I wrote this awhile ago for a different blog and thought I would share here on Eating Eden... to encourage my fellow sisters in Christ! 


Proverbs 31 Woman:

I am a beloved child of God. A follower of Christ. A Christian. I read, believe & try to live my life by the Word of God - the teachings in the Bible - what I believe is divinely inspired and written by God Himself.

I live my life for my Savior, Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for my sins. I am not perfect. I have many faults. I am a sinner. I always will be. We are all sinners. But through Jesus Christ, I am forgiven and promised an eternal seat in Heaven, by his side.

He is the Lord of my life, and that means I submit my will & my life to His plan and purpose. He is my shield in the storm, my peace in turmoil.

I raise my child from a Biblical standpoint. I will train Him up right. This means I pray for him, I teach him, I guide him and I do my best to model Christ-like behavior to him.

I am a Godly wife. God has chosen to bless me with a loving husband, a wonderful child and a beautiful home. I manage my household, tend to my family, pray for, support and lift up my husband. He is a Godly man who loves, respects, cherishes, cares for and exhalts me.

This does not make me [what some would call] "old-fashioned". I am not a "weak" woman. I am not "afraid" of men. I am not stupid, nor am I "non-thinker".

I am strong. I am valued. I am respected, honored, cherished, exhalted, virtuous, smart, capable, more precious than rubies, enriching, trustworthy, energetic, helpful, dignified, wise, kind, full of laughter and love, and PRAISED by God.

I have heard a lot of woman say that the Bible is sexist... that woman do not hold as high of value as men. But, Genesis 1:27 tells us that both man & woman were created in God's image. Both man and woman are created equally. 

God created woman to be a helper for man. The Hebrew word used [for helper] was ezer, which simply means "to aid or to help". God is described the same way! Therefore, the word 'helper' is not meant to be subservient or derogatory. When God helps me, I do not feel better than Him. I feel grateful and blessed that He has helped me. Women are described in the same as God!

Striving to be a Proverbs 31 Woman is not a "death-sentence". It does not mean that we are weak women who grovel at the feet of our husbands. Instead, we are to take charge over the care and needs of our family, and manage our homes... and even maintain our own businesses! A Proverbs 31 Wife is not mistreated by her husband or children; she is praised and appreciated! Being a Biblical wife does not mean we are giving up our "independence" as women, or are we the "lesser" of the sexes. It means we are following God's perfect design.

I have also heard Epshessians 5:22-24 taken out of context: "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." 

The key words of this verse are "as to the Lord" - this means the submission must be within the context of God's will... if a husband asks his wife to do anything that does not line up with God's Word, she is not to do what he asks. If we read on to Ephessians 5:25, we will also notice that husbands are told to love their wives "just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." In this kind of love, a husband must give himself up, or sacrifice himself for the love of his wife: 

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives just as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, non one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church - for we are members of his body."

Looking at Jesus, we can see how God Himself treats women. Jesus always respected women, and he gave us examples of how women should be treated. In the time of Jesus it was not customary, nor considered appropriate, for a Jewish man to talk with a Samaritan woman in public. But, Jesus did not concern himself with traditions or customs of the time! He talked to women in public and treated them as equals. He showed no favoritism between men & women; he forgave their sins and healed them just as he did men. After he was put to death, women were the first people to see the angels and the first to see Jesus resurrected from the dead. 

If God felt that women were responsible for anything other than serving men, he would not have chose women to be the first witnesses of the rebirth of Christ. They were the first believers in the Resurrection; technically being the first ones saved by Christ's blood.

Women were in fact, the first born-again Christians!

Being a Biblical woman does not mean we are subservient beings, merely controlled by men. 

It means we are:

- Created equally as men; created in God's image.

- Have equal rights

- Are business & property owners, judges, leaders, fighters, heirs

- Are church founders, teachers and prophetess

- Are co-heirs in Christianity

- Are to be loved, respected, honored, cherished and praised!

We must remember that when something in God's Word seems wrong to us, it is not God who is wrong. God is perfect in all ways, and His Word lasts forever.

As September approaches...

As September approaches, warm August evenings give way to cool Autumn nights; a woman reaches for a sweater. The cool air in morning holds a hint of crisp days ahead. The woman can smell the leaves turning. She watches their golden and scarlet tips stretch for the sky; holding onto the sunlight. Just a few weeks longer. The farmer's field and orchard are dotted with orange and red and yellow, as the harvest of the season unfolds. Corn stalks sway in the breeze, rustling, telling her of their remaining time. 

As September approaches, the woman's family prepares. She is learning much about herself in this Season - joyfully embracing her role as a Wife and Mother. She is the keeper of her home, working with her hands in delight, showing kindness on her tongue, loving her husband and child, smiling at the future and His plan for her life. 

The woman crafts with her hands, creating a cozy home for her family to settle into once the bare boned structure of the landscape appears. A mother and a wife pouring her love into each sweater she folds, each blanket she turns down, each fruit she pulls from a plant, each jar and crock she fills - an attempt to savor the taste of the land's bountiful blessings from the long, sun-filled days. 

A boy - a messy, busy, bundle of delight - relishes the last of the warm breeze, squeezing out hours of shortening days, uncovering earth, finding the last of summertime treasures with wide-eyed wonder. Innocently unaware of seasons ahead. A son pouring his love into each kiss he gives, each smile, every laughter, each rock he turns over, picture he paints, berry he picks - he savors the season, his parents love and warmth, the moment, every day. 

A man with strong hands creates a safe home for his family to settle into once the bare boned structure of the landscape appears. A father and a husband pouring his love into each log he splits, each item he checks off his list - an attempt to savor the daylight hours, he races against the season; sweat lined brim and dirty palms, utilizing the land's bountiful blessings to keep his family warm from the long, dark days.

As September approaches, this woman bows down before her Creator, humbly, listening as He softly speaks - create the most appealing and treasured place on Earth, a warm home for all those I have placed in your care, He tells her. Light will shine forth from this place and all within will be nurtured and content. Build the temple of your child's heart, create and keep a home that witnesses the righteousness of my design for family. It will be so beckoning, so warm with Christ, so right, that others may desire to have that picture hanging over their own hearth  rather than the one they have chosen. I have equipped you to fulfill this, in which have given you.

Tears stream down the woman's face and she thanks Him for His blessings, His Word, His strength, His love, His promise and purpose for her life. She takes ahold of His hand, turns her face towards the Heavens. The sunlight kisses her cheeks. The wind rustles the leaves, a few dance as they glide to the ground. She delights in these last warm summer breezes, and she is filled with joy for the coming seasons. She breathes deeply and smiles, as September approaches...

Dark leafy greens, nuts & legumes help beat stress!

Whole foods contain an arsenal of nutrients than can lower the stress hormone cortisol, says Jennifer Fournier, a registered dietician at the Center for Integrative Nutrition at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

The family of B vitamins found in dark leafy greens, nuts and legumes "helps our brains make neurotransmitters that deal with stress," she explains. Start with a healthful diet and supplement with a B-complex containing all eight B vitamins.

A study in Human Psychopharmacology also found that stressed-out workers who took B vitamins reported less strain and a lighter mood.

So, eat your greens! ;)

Article courtesy of Vegetarian Times

Blackberry Crisp

Ingredients
5 tablespoons maple syrup, divided
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
6 cups fresh blackberries 
3 tablespoons sugar
16 tablespoons flour, divided
1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon, salt, divided 
2/3 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons oil 


Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Coat deep baking dish with cooking spray or oil. 

Whisk together 2 tablespoons maple syrup and vinegar in bowl. Place blackberries in large bowl, and drizzle maple mixture over them. Add sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, and 1/8 teaspoon salt to berries. Toss to combine. 

Transfer to prepared baking dish. 

Combine remaining 13 tablespoons flour, oats, pecans, brown sugar and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt in separate bowl. Drizzle oil and remaining 3 tablespoons maple syrup over dry ingredients. Use fingers to combine thoroughly until small clumps form. Arrange topping clumps over berries. 

Bake 30 to 45 minutes, or until topping is lightly browned and berry juice are bubbling just around edges or crisp. 

You could also make this crisp with blueberries, or a combination of berries, if you wish. 

Serves 8. 

Recipe courtesy of Vegetarian Times

A Bit Longer

I kiss our son on the head, and pull the covers up snuggly around his neck... I love gazing at him while he is sleeping. Most mornings he has snuck into our bed early, just before the sun rises. I usually wake to find him cozily tucked next to my husband & I - between our pillows - with sheets and warm knit blankets wrapped around his feet. My wonderful husband heads into the kitchen to put on coffee, and I sleepily thank God for the day, and snuggle with our son... a bit longer. 

The dog is strewn out at the foot of our bed; he yawns as I arise and follows me into the kitchen as I pour a cup of coffee and groggily put on shoes. My faithful ole' companion and I head outdoors. There is a slight chill in the air and I think to myself that I should have grabbed a sweater. I shuffle out to our shed. The sun is just peaking over the treetops now, a reminder that summer is still here... a bit longer.

As I enter the shed, six heads pop up, offering me a welcoming chirp and occasional cluck. There is much excitement as I approach the coop; they happily venture outdoors when I open their hatch. They scurry and scratch, finding tasty morsels of insects that tempt their taste buds. We will have fresh eggs soon... only a bit longer. 

I grab a basket & walk through our garden; it is bursting forth with bright color - tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, pepper and red onions beckon me over to them. Swiss chard stretch out their vibrant slendor arms and wave at me with outspread leaves. The start of a fall crop is poking their heads - greens, carrots & beets. The end of summer brings a wide array of warm and cool weather goods to store, can and preserve. Winter is coming... a bit longer. 

I stand up; the warmth of the sun shines on my face. I sip my coffee and savor the smooth flavor as it dances warmly on my tongue. I breathe in the fresh morning air. His provision is so rich;  He is so good. I marvel at His creation - the plants swaying in the gently breeze, the abundance of food dangling from garden plants, the dew glistening in the sunlight, the birds softly chirping, the busy squirrels running to & fro, the blue skies and puffs of white clouds, sun rising above me. I hear my husband close the patio door and turn to see him sink into a chair, a Bible in his hand. Yes Lord, you are good, and I will soak here in Your Presence... just a bit longer. 

By: Mindy, © 2012, Eating Eden