The Wealthy Woman

Challenge:

 Read through each line of this little paragraph and 

write down your own answers to the questions

before reading on! 

The Wealthy Woman

     What does a wealthy lady look like?  Perhaps what comes to your mind is the rustle of silk floating down a marble staircase, or maybe the glimmer of candlelight reflected from a diamond brooch.You would not be alone in your thoughts; many people have a similar view of wealth.  But what does the Scripture say?

     "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."  1 Peter 3:3-5     Think again of the diamonds and silk.  Are these not vanity and outward adorning?  If God's view of wealth and ours differ, should we not change our views?  Should we not replace the elegant woman with jewels, silk, and chic coiffure with a modest, contented lady in simple attire seeking to be a blessing to others?  Still more, should we not ask God to make us ladies of wealth in His eyes? (Written by a friend of mine who hopes that the Lord will use it to bless and encourage those who read it.)


This was thought provoking for me.

What do I value most? So much so, that I would consider someone 'wealthy' if they had it? 
Is that what comes to my mind first when I think of wealth? Why not? Does it mean that I truly value it? Or that I just wish to think that I value it?
What do I think is truly beautiful? What is gaudy?
Do I dress in a way to please those around me, or my Lord? How much or little is too much or little?
Am I vain?
What if I am?
What does God think of me?
What if the simple beauty costs me as more spiritual labor than the silks would cost physical labor? Is it worth it to me? Am I tenaciously persistent in going after that beauty?
What is getting in the way?
Am I choosing 'good' over 'better' and 'best'?
How can I practically fix it?
Can I go do it right now?


Hope you were challenged as much as I was!
In Christ

Tibits For Thoughts

"The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers,
not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
  to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God may not be blasphemed."
Titus 2:3-5

  
 I don't have a husband to love, but I can save my love for him by guarding my thoughts and only thinking what is:

" ...true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, ... Virtu(ous and),... Praiseworthy.." about any fella I meet. No, I don't have children to love unconditionally, but I can learn how to love by practicing it with * 'unlovable' siblings. Discreet? I can practice that! Chaste? Uh huh! Homemaker? (does scrubbing toilets count?) Even if I don't want to... I can. Good?... Isn't that what the Christian life is about? Serving God as He conforms us to the image of His Son? Obedient? I may not have a husband, but I sure can practice before I meet 'im! 

Another thought:

~Discreet
"curbing ones desires and impulses, self-controlled, moderate."

~Chaste
"exciting reverence, venerable, honorable, sacred, pure from carnality, modest." 
~Good
"useful, salutary, good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent, distinguished, upright, honorable."
God has His own good time for your husband and my husband. How could He bless us with a husband to serve if we are not serving Him ? God says 'when a man finds a wife he finds a good thing.' How can God give a husband one of us, if we are not 'a good thing' ?


One last thought:
Is our focus in the right place? As women, we are created to be a helper for man, and we have an innate need and desire to do just that. The desire is a good thing. It is a gift from God. But when we put as the #1 our desire to be married (and to be loved as the idol of a man's heart? ... and to be served... and thought of first...and... ... ... to be worshiped? (adored?)) we pull our idea of marriage out of our pockets and shove it at God saying, "what you think is best really isn't." (That makes God a liar.) "I know you are holding out on me." (That makes God malicious.) "This is the blessing I want. Give it to me." (That makes puts you in the place of the All Knowing God as god.)
 Do you see how we mock Him?
 Do you see the need for a little more trust and faith?
"James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and reproaches not; and it shall be given him."

"Romans 12:2, and do not be conformed to this world, ( we must beware of the lust of the flesh girls) but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."
But!!!
Whaaat is 'transforming' our minds?
simply put, it is putting into our minds God's thoughts, and kicking out our old-sin-nature thoughts.
"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7
What we think is the 'real us.' It dictates how we act and what comes out of our mouths. The dirt inside our minds cripples our faith.
So what should we think? 
True Things...

God is capable of doing anything.
God is working all things out for my ultimate good.
God's timing is perfect.
God has me here in this season of life for a reason.

 








*To be honest there is no such thing as an 'unlovable sibling.' we just use that as an excuse to let ourselves off the hook.

A 'snapshot' of Romans

"This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes."

~Martin Luther

This video was made by Mr. Currado, a man I highly respect and look up to. I hope that it encourages you and gives you a perspective of Romans that you have never seen before.

 

Let Us Run The Race Before Us-

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud

of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight,

 and sin which clings so closely, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter

of our faith, who for the joy that was set 

before him endured the cross, 

despising the shame, and is seated at the 

right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured from sinners such

hostility against himself,

so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."

-Hebrews 12:1-3