Women in the Word Wednesday: A Journey Through Proverbs 31 - One Virtue at a Time

Now that I'm jumping back onto the blogging bus - I thought it would be a good idea to spend Wednesday's in the Word. I cannot stress enough how important it is to be in the Word of God often. It is such a source of strength and encouragement and is truly a road map of how we should lead our lives.

Beginning last week - I started leading a group of ladies in my church through Courtney Joseph's study of the Proverbs 31 Woman. (You can find all of the resources for this study on her website at www.womenlivingwell.org).

I thought this would be the perfect place to start our Wednesday series of being in the Word.

Trust is the first virtue we encounter in this chapter.

“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.”

Proverbs 31:11

"Does your husband have full confidence in you? Does he fully trust your spending habits, your training of the children, your ability to run the home, your words that you speak about him when he is not in the room, your faithfulness to him in regards to flirting with other men, your emotions and temper, and the choices you make?"

The husband of a VIRTUOUS woman has full, secure confidence in her and trusts her and because of his security in her – he will have no lack of gain.

Isn’t it awesome that we have the opportunity to be such a treasure to our husbands?  Proverbs 19:14 says that

“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents but a

prudent wife is from the Lord.”

A prudent wife is a blessing from God. But what is a prudent wife?  Prudent means acting with or showing care and thought for the future, being wise, sensible and understanding. Truthfully – some of those characteristics just aren’t traits I possess on my own – but are things I must seek after and ask God to help me with.

·       Do you struggle in any of these areas?

Reading through many of the verses in the book of Proverbs – we are reminded over and over that choosing to walk in wisdom and righteousness, putting our trust in God and heeding the instructions in his Word will lead to a blessed, joyful life. Why then do we find walking in this sort of obedience so difficult? Because it is in our nature to be selfish. It comes naturally for us to think of our husbands –“well he sure doesn’t do this…or he doesn’t always make the best decision or I don’t see him heeding the Word and walking in wisdom…”

At the end of the day – we are on this journey to become the Proverbs 31 woman – NOT only to please our husbands, NOT just to be praised and adored by our children, NOT just to remembered any certain way, NOT even to provoke a change in our husbands – but simply because this is the kind of woman God has called us to be…and it is our responsibility as a women of God that desire to please Him to walk in obedience.

Are you striving to become that Proverbs 31 woman? How are you intentional in your daily life - to be that virtuous woman?

Tasty Tuesday - Bruschetta Chicken

*This recipe was originally found at Bruschetta Chicken www.food.com & tweaked a bit by yours truly

I really need to work on my photography skills. This pitiful picture absolutely does NOT do this recipe justice. This recipe has become a family favorite - and is perfect for summer tomatoes!!

Ingredients

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast   **(I used chicken breast halves)

1 large egg, beaten

1/2 c. Italian Panko Crumbs

3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil  (to cook the chicken in) **vegetable oil is pictured but EVOO is best

3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil  (to be used in the bruschetta)

2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp. chopped fresh basil

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. onion salt

1-2 tomatoes, chopped

salt & pepper to taste

shredded mozzarella cheese  (to be used for topping)

Directions

*Whisk together 3tbsp. of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Stir in the basil, garlic powder, onion salt and tomato. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Allow to sit and marinate for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

*Dip each piece of chicken into the egg and then press into the panko crumb mixture to coat.

*Heat the oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan or skillet.

*Place the chicken in the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until chicken is no longer pick in the center, and has a golden brown color.

*Reduce the heat to low, leaving the chicken in the pan. Spoon the bruschetta over the chicken and top with mozzarella cheese. Cover the pan and cook just long enough for the cheese to melt.

*Serve the chicken with a side of veggies or salad and ENJOY!!

(again - the pictures just don't do this recipe justice. This was AWESOME! You will not be disappointed.)


Share some of your favorite go-to chicken recipes in the comment section below.

Morning Madness

Why is it so easy to become angry? Why must frustration become my first reaction?

This morning started out as perfect as a morning could start out. I actually got out of bed early (I only hit ‘snooze’ one time – win for me!). I made myself a wholesome, healthy breakfast – sat down at the dinner table and soaked in just a few moments of alone time, enjoying my omelet, the sunrise and a chance to check my email in peace.

My first little princess wondered out of her room – curled up on the couch and was content with her blanket and cartoons. I still had a whole hour to get ready before I had to get out the door.

Fast forward 15 minutes – apparently my husband and I miscommunicated about the plans for the day – and my serene morning quickly turned into chaos. Now I only had 45 minutes to feed the kids breakfast, pack their lunches, pack my lunch, get myself ready, drop them off at day care and get to work.

My gentle, kind and quiet spirit quickly turned to stressed, frantic and loud. Fighting ensued between the girls – discipline was dished out for bad attitudes and disrespectful behavior, and my demeanor was on a downward spiral.

I was frustrated and everyone in the house knew it.

Have you been there? Has it been your intention to show grace, have patience and speak softly – but you just keep missing the mark? That’s my intention every time – but more often than not, I react based on my frustration rather than reacting with wisdom the way God would have me to.

“…because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires”. James 1:20

I know this is an area of my life that needs work – and I’m willing to bet that some of you struggle with the same thing. (Let’s be honest – I think some mornings our kids wake up with the intention to drive us insane!)

But when we react with grace and patience when they’re expecting us to fly off the handle – we’re modeling self-control.

When we show gentleness and kindness when they expect punishment and harsh words – maybe, just maybe, they’ll learn to react the same way.

If your morning started out like mine – take heart in knowing, it’s not too late to start over. Admit your wrong doing, ask for forgiveness and move on with your day determined to react with wisdom rather than foolishness.

Ministry Happens in the Mundane

I started this blog a few years ago - with the hopes that God would use me to encourage weary working mamas like myself.

I planned and brainstormed to write about topics that I felt were relevant and that, honestly, would draw readers in.

I kept a notebook full of series ideas. I had grand plans. And then I failed.

I would write - and plan - and write - and plan...and then I'd stop for a month or so.

And then the cycle would start over. I wanted people to come to my blog and leave changed. I wanted to make a difference. I, I, I.

I knew (and still know) that God has called me to this type of ministry. But when I failed on my blogging venture - I felt like my ministry was over. I mean - there isn't much ministering going on if I'm not writing something for people to be ministered by, right?!

LIE!

There was - there is ministry going on. It's happening every morning as I make breakfast for my littles, as I tie shoes, pack backpacks and brush blond ringlets into ponytails.

Ministry happens when I choose to be gentle instead of yelling - and when I apologize for the times that I do yell. 

It's ministering when I put hot food on the table every evening - even when my body aches from a full day of work - when I greet my husband with a kiss, when we kneel to say bedtime prayers, when I clean up kids who get sick in the middle of the night and didn't quite make it to the bathroom.

Ministry happens in the mundane. 

Motherhood IS ministry. Working to be a Godly wife IS ministry. Being a good friend, offering a helping hand to someone in need - all those little things that we do every day are really making a HUGE impact for the kingdom.

No - I don't get 100 'likes' when I put a band-aid on a boo-boo. I don't get 'shares' when I offer someone my shopping cart in the grocery store. No one notices when I tuck that little note saying 'Mommy loves you' into the lunch box - but God sees. The heart of the recipient of those small acts of grace knows. 

I know - mama, I know - that these little mundane tasks that we do everyday can be exhausting - are often done in vain - and more often taken for granted.

Understand that what you do matters - you don't have to be Ann Voskamp or Lysa TerKeurst to have ministry. Don't feel like what you do for the kingdom is insignificant because your name isn't on a book or on the itinerary at a national conference. 

You are raising up arrows. 

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one's youth. 

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." 

Psalm 127:3-5

When It All Goes Wrong...

It has been one of those days - the kind where you just want to shut yourself up in a room - cut the lights out and make the world disappear for a little while.

We were running late (as usual) - the girls were fighting, tattling and just driving me up the wall. I responded with yelling and threatening and complete chaos ensued. I rushed them to the car, I rushed them to put their seat belts on, I rushed them to school, I rushed them out of the car and the I rushed myself to work.

I unlocked my office door - thankful that I was, at least, the first one there - dropped my stuff beside my desk and started my morning.

Checked my email

Checked my to-do list

Checked my calendar

Checked my attitude...

Checked my phone

And all of these posts regarding Lent filled my Instagram feed. I sat there - feeling like a total failure! 

Here we are 40+ days out from the recognized crucifixion of our Savior and I am drowning in the mundane, every day, 'makes no eternal difference' madness.

I am side tracked, unfocused and missing the mark.

My priorities are totally out of order. For a minute I felt sorry for myself...and then I remembered...

We have brothers and sisters in Christ giving their lives up for Him - facing persecution every day - and living for Him despite the risk - and here we are...HERE I AM in America -

comfortable

safe

with freedom...

And we're restless, we're bitter, we're angry, we're rushing...why?

Because my jeans are snug and I've gain ANOTHER pound. Because the kids pick at their breakfast and at one another and I'm late for work. Because it's 5 degrees outside today and its inconvenient for me...and the list goes on...

Friends - I confess - my priorities are SO out of order. God often ends up at the bottom of my list - I put everything else, everyone else, first - I get frustrated, and upset and cry and at the end of my day I go crawling to Him, complaining about the mess I'm making of my life - when what I really need to do is start off my day in WORSHIP of the one true King.

Thanking Him for hanging on that cross and taking on My sin...

Thanking Him for conquering death...

Thanking Him for returning on that 3rd day - proving He is the one true Messiah - and offering us redemption for our ridiculous ways.

I am convicted and shamed with tears running down my face as these fingers desperately hunt for the keys on this keyboard.

I am feel like a farce - I write blog posts hoping to encourage you as a mom - today I want to encourage you as a child of God.

I, too, am guilty of putting husband, child, job and ministry first - when Jesus is the ONLY one who should hold first place in my heart.

So, during this Lenten season - I will spend more time at the foot of the cross. I will spend more time today - and each day hereafter - seeking His face first!

Will you move your focus to Him with me? Have you become distracted? What changes will you make in your life to seek God first?