Mission Faithwalk

  It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood  shall be  on his own head, and we  shall be  free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood  shall be  on our head if a hand is  laid  on him. (Joshua 2:19) The Lord will return his blood on his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he and killed them with the sword, while my father David did not know  it : Abner the son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah. (I Kings 2:32) then hear from heaven and act and judge Your servants, punishing the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness. (II Chronicles 6:23) His mischief will ...

                 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate . (Proverbs 31:30-31) Today’s passage tells us that the things the world tends to think are vital to women’s lives, the ability to delight, please, or manipulate others, and beauty, aren’t as important as fearing the Lord. The world also tells us that fearing the Lord is being phobic or living in constant terror. But fear also means to revere Him, which means to respect Him. What does that mean? The short answer is that she loves the Lord her God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength and loves her neighbor as herself. The longer version is that she lives in a way that gives those around her confidence that she will do them good. She takes an interest in her life and fulfills her responsibilities. She take...

                 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” (Proverbs 31:28-29) One of the problems immediate family members have is that, quite often they know the others in their family too well. Oh, if we are polite or loyal, we’re likely to be mildly positive or silent about those we know best. Some of us might even heap on praise because their looking good makes us look good or our praise makes us look good. See what good relatives we are? Granted, some people consider me jaded or cynical, but what would you think about someone who regularly told you what a bad job their parents did in raising them, or that they were rather pathetic? Now, the king’s mother may have been one of those perpetually positive, over-the-top sorts, especially when giving advice, but let’s go with it. What is needed to earn this sort of praise – honestly? Let’s s...

           She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31:26-27) Ah, WDA (Wisdom, Direction, and Attitude) in action. My favorite prayer is answered in this woman. What comes out of her mouth is worth listening to, but she doesn’t just tell others how to live their lives, she lives what she speaks.  We don’t learn to be like her by paying for a webinar. We learn by the way she lives.Granted, she didn’t have social media vampires living in her home, but the gossip machine existed in a more basic form. Instead, she not only didn’t join in the gossip, but she also gave them very little to gossip about. “Yep, Ruby’s house was in order today. Did you know she bought a shovel to replace the one that snapped in half? She made 12 sashes for the businessmen. Her attire was practical, well-made, clean, discrete, and in good condition. Not o...

                 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. (Proverbs 31:23) Oh, I can hear the feminists groaning already.  Part of what makes her a Proverbs 31 woman is the social status of her husband? I admit, as a single, I feel a little uncomfortable with this. But what’s really being said here? This verse is in the middle of the verses shared yesterday. It’s in between the clothing in scarlet and purple and in strength and dignity. In a sense, then, one might say her husband is, by his connection with her, clothed in scarlet, purple, strength, and dignity. And she is, by her connection with him, respected in the city gate and among the elders/rulers of the land. Those who go to the city gate (effectively the courthouse of the day) didn’t have to worry about this husband’s wife or children being involved in the incidents over which the elders judged, or that he wo...

            She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.   She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple…She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. (Proverbs 31:20-22, 24-25) Have you ever heard the saying that the cobbler’s children have no shoes? I’ve heard a story of an obstetrician who didn’t realize that his wife was pregnant. Sometimes, those who are closest to us aren’t given the attention that we give to those who are customers, neighbors, or otherwise “important.” The Proverbs 31 woman doesn’t do this. Yes, she helps the poor and needy. Yes, she makes and sells linen garments and sashes for merchants. But she also clothes her household in scarlet, and herself in fine linen and purple. S...