She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. Proverbs 31:16

I believe it is very significant that the word 'consider' is used here. The text didn't just simply say that she bought the field, but that she considered it before buying. It was a two step process, not a sudden impulse purchase.

Let us look at what it means to consider. Dictionary.com gives many definitions, but here is the first one:

–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.

So, consider means to think carefully about. The virtuous woman knows that each penny is important to her family. She will not spend any of them without first carefully thinking about the purchase.

In my early years of marriage, I often bought things on impulse. After seeing the item lay about, useless, I realized that I could no longer waste our household money on such items. Now, experience has taught me to carefully think about each item. Does it fit properly? Is there any reason I wouldn't want to continue wearing it for a long time? What about an item's usefulness? Would I actually use it, or would it sit around and collect dust? These are the questions I've learned to run through my head. I try to think into the future and imagine myself using the object. Would it get used or not? Would it be money well spent?

I still often make mistakes, but I try to no longer buy things on my first impulse. Everything is carefully weighed and I even try to talk myself out of it. If I can persuade myself that I don't need it, I leave it in the store.

There are so many things that we can learn from the virtuous woman. Today, let us learn to spend our household money wisely so that we can be better examples to our children and better stewards of God's physical blessings on us.

"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands." (Proverbs 31:13)

Ever since I was a small child, I've been facinated by handiwork of all kinds. Embroidery is one of my favorites. It is amazing how beautiful things can be made from scraps of thread or material. The Amish are known for their wonderful handmade items. I can picture women at a work frolic or sitting around their porches or living rooms while they work willingly on a piece.

But I believe this verse is talking about things that require much more work than the dainty items. To work with wool and flax, one must sit for hours combing the wool or at a spinning wheel. This is hard work from beginning to end.

Why does the virtuous woman do this? If her family is to have anything to wear or linens to sleep on, she must do this work. It is a labor of love. She works until her back is tired from bending over the wheel, or combs. But there is joy and love in her heart as she pictures her family using the item she is working on.

How often to we joyfully labor for our family? I often grumble and complain at a difficult task and wish that someone else would do it. But is this the right attitude? The virtuous woman worked 'willingly' at her task. All too often this is not the case in our homes. The problem is in our hearts. The work would be much more rewarding if we would only picture the end result, of the child or husband who would benefit from our labors.

I often remind myself that my children's attitude begins with my own. What am I teaching them if I show an example of grumbling and complaining? Let us all strive to have an attitude like that of the virtuous woman. Let us be willing to be a slave to our family because of the love we have for them.

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:11-12

Before we were married, my husband and I were asked to do a 'trust fall.' I held my arms across my chest and fell backwards, trusting that he would catch me, which he did. Trust demands a relationship with one another. Who would trust someone they didn't know? That would be foolish. Trust requires commitment. I had to follow through with my fall, knowing that he wouldn't let me be hurt.

So, when this passage says that the virtuous woman has the trust of her husband, there is a relationship with one another. They are committed to one another. Trust can be broken, but the virtuous woman has kept that trust in place. She has not violated her promise to him, nor has she given any indication that she will in the future.

Besides a relationship and a commitment, there is also love between these two people. "She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life," says verse 12. Love is seen in the actions that one does toward another. She loves him and will not harm him, ever.

How are we measuring up to this? Do we maintain a relationship with our spouse? Are we committed to one another? Are we showing love by our actions? If these things are the case, then the word 'divorce' shouldn't be in our vocabulary. The word should never come off our lips because this would hurt our husband. If we love him, we would never want to harm him.

Kristen Jenkins had this great idea that some ladies get together, memorize and meditate on a verse for a week and then discuss. The discussion can take place either through her blog comments, or we were invited to also write about the verse in our blogs. I thought it was a wonderful idea - and what a great way to write more frequently in my blog too!

"Who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10

What exactly does 'virtuous' mean anyway? Since I was a teenager, I took it to mean a girl who was innocent, pure, a virgin. One who had saved herself for marriage. Dictionary.com defines the word as this:

1.conforming to moral and ethical principles; morally excellent; upright: Lead a virtuous life.
2.chaste: a virtuous young person.

From this definition we can see that a virtuous woman is more than just pure in sexual purity, but lives a moral life in all areas of her life. In a world full of sin and iniquity, a woman such as this is to be prized! She would be as rare as the ruby!

We must all strive to be so pure. This should be a Christian woman's goal, to be the woman that God wants her to be. Let us encourage one another to be pure in all that we say and do. ( 1 Thes. 2:12)

In my reading of the New Testament lately, I often come across verses such as this:

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." (Mark 1:35, ESV)

Jesus often broke away from the crowds (or simply his apostles) to go somewhere to pray. Now, we know we can pray anywhere, anytime, but there seemed to be something special to Jesus to get away to himself for a while.

We all need time away from the things that cause us stress (good and bad). Phones ringing, children fussing, babies crying, doorbell ringing...the list can go on and on. There certainly seems to be some benefit in going away somewhere to pray.

So, try it. See if you can sqeeze in 10-15 minutes or more each day to get away alone and pray. I once heard of a mother who actually went in to her closet to read her Bible and to pray everyday. Find what works for you and do it, I'm sure you'll be blessed by it!

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)

Everyone has something they are proud of. This time of year I hear a lot of pride for favorite football teams. I'm often proud of my children and their learning accomplishments. But there is something that I'm even more proud of than that.

I'm proud to be my Father's daughter and to live in this world that He created. This morning, as I began my walk in the 36 degree weather, I glanced heavenward and staggard. The breathtaking beauty of the stars above made me pause and stare in awe. I have looked into the eyes of a great horned owl (from an inch away), and I have touched the feathers on a live red-tailed hawk, among many other things. This wonderful creation still takes me often by surprise and I stand in awe once again.

The fact that there are those who make the claim that we came from monkeys or that this world simply appeared is like a dagger to my heart. This world no more appeared out of nothing than my microwave assembled itself in my kitchen! No, this world has an incredible design and therefore has a designer. To deny that fact is to declare ourselves ignorant of the truth. (Acts 14:17)

Next time you see that flash of blue as a bluebird flits across your path...take a moment to smile and thank your Creator.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." (Psalms 19:1-3)

(This article was in last weeks bulletin and I just had to share it with everyone.)
by James Pasley
There are many misconceptions that we may have, but here is one that I hear fairly often that is completely illogical and certainly unscriptural.

The first is, 'You can't legislate morality.' If by this statement it is meant that making a law won't stop everyone from committing a particular act, then we would all have to agree. There will always be some who will rebel against morality. However, I don't believe that this is what is usually implied by this statement.

Let's examine it closely. Legislate means basically 'to make laws'. Morality means 'conforming to the rules of right conduct'. So, let's put it together and see what we've got. To 'legislate morality' litterally means 'to make laws that are conforming to the rules of right conduct'. In other words making it illegal to do wrong.

Anytime any nation, state, or local government makes a law it is saying this is right and breaking this law is bad, therefore all legislation is an attempt to legislate morality. And for the safety and order of any society it is absolutely necessary to set in law standards that define what is and is not right conduct. Obviously some things are more dangerous and more destructive to society and therefore punished more harsly. For example: It is illegal to use certain 'cuss' words on live broadcast TV, and it is ilegal to murder someone; but the punishments are quite different. The first might cause a fine, someone to lose a job, or the company to lose its licence. The second might cause years in prison or even execution. In both cases, however, the government is legislating morality. Which of those two laws should we do away with? If we can't legislate morality we better do away with both, and all of the laws against theft/robbery, drug/alcohol abuse, rape/sexual abuse/child porn, libel/slander, child abuse/domestic violence, kidnapping/terrorist activities, bribery, liability for malpractice, etc., etc., etc.

Can you imagine the kind of chaos and mortal danger we would be in if we did away with all of these laws that are 'legislating morality'? What would it be like if an entire generation grew up not knowing these things were wrong and not fearing punishment for any of these actions? Get ready, it could be closer than you think. Even with these laws some people do it anyway, but many more are held back by the fear of retribution. Certainly, there are some moral people who would not do these things even if there were no law at all, but those are the people the law was written to protect. Paul stated it clearly in I Timothy 1:8-10, "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;" Even though he was talking about the law of Moses, specifically, the principle is true of all law.

No, when people say: 'you can't legislate morality' they don't mean get rid of all the laws. What they are really saying is: 'don't call the things I want to do bad. Don't tell me I can't do what I want.' I know because they are the first to try to legislate their lack of morality.