Proverbs - Sluggard!

Proverbs 6:6-11

Don’t Be A Sluggard

 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

                         In the summer time I do not enjoy housework!  Hot water, vacuums, folding hot laundry out of the dryer, and cooking are just not appealing when the weather tells you to sit down and drink lemonade.  I always think it is strange that during the warmest summer months we have an ant problem.  It’s almost like the Lord knows I need to go to the ant, consider her ways and be wise.  He brings these ants to me in order to wake me up from my sluggish, summer ways and be about looking well to the ways of my household.  The precious seemingly insignificant creatures are here partly to teach us lazy humans a thing or two.  In the summer, ants look for water and they are militant about it.  One time I went into my laundry closet and there was an organized line of these tiny creatures going up the wall of my laundry closet, on to the shelf, up the iron and into the small opening where I put water in for steam pressing.  Talk about diligence!  They found water in the laundry closet!  They also reminded me that ironing was necessary in the heat of summer as well as the cozy times of winter!  Thank you Lord for these little lessons!

Proverbs - Diligent in Business

Proverbs - Pause and Perceive

Proverbs 31:18

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

Pause and Perceive

When we read about the Lord creating all we enjoy, we see a pattern.  He stops at the end of the day and beholds that what He did was good.  Ladies, do you ever stop and behold what you have done and its goodness?  So often we run to the next task forgetting the sense of accomplishment in what we have just completed.  We rush to clean the next room, not stopping to take in the order we just brought to the previous.  We rush to correct our children and train them in the way they should go without soaking in the times they do go in the way they should.  Journaling can help us do this as well as a time to pray at the end of the day thanking the Lord for all He has done through us.  We will be careful not to take the credit but let us stop and enjoy the good things He does through us.  This will give us the determination and sense of purpose we need for all we have yet to do!

Proverbs - Wake UP!

Proverbs 31:15

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household,

 and a portion to her maidens.

A lot of women cringe at this verse at first sight.  They hate waking up early.  There can be seasons where this might not be as necessary given your work schedule, responsibilities or health, but oftentimes it is quite the good thing if you have a family that starts their day early.  It is a good thing to rise up before the rest of the house, whenever that is, and make sure that our family is waking up to a smile and good food.  Our husbands and children can wake up to love and care.  They can smell the bacon or see the cereal set up for them and start their day feeling loved and taken care of.  Ladies, we are not called to be served but to serve.  What a privilege!  Maybe you can set the table or get some muffin mix mixed up the night before.  You can be praying for them before the alarm wakes them up and you can set the tone of the day.  Be honest and consider if you might not be fulfilling this part of the ministry to which you are called.  Wake up!  You might even hear His lovingkindness in the morning before you hear the babies, husband and children’s voices!