For our Mommy & Tots fellowship group today, we concentrated on Proverbs. It was wonderful to read good, thought-provoking, godly articles; discuss them; share prayer requests; eat yummy food; and watch our children play together & learn about something called sharing. 🙂
My dear friend Elizabeth brought pumpkin muffins and a plate of super-juicy orange slices. And, by the way, Gabriel now has apparently decided that oranges are his favorite food. He had never had them before. He’s hooked!
The material for our conversation and fellowship follows, for your enjoyment & edification:
“The woman of wisdom is tall in faith, but humble in spirit; light in burdens, yet heavy with grace. She does not always put herself first, but willingly steps aside and moves for the good of another. Her marks are kindness; her law is love; her heart desires purity; her eyes seek truth. She may or may not be well-known; the wise woman may or may not be successful in this world. She may be rich, or she may be poor. The woman of wisdom may have great talent or possess none; may have friends or be alone…………..
Every woman of wisdom is unique, but every woman of wisdom is beautiful and has much to give and share. Her light is ever glowing, as she waits, watches, day and night, on opportunity to serve, to pray, to wait, to love, to ponder God’s word. And every woman who knows the Lord Jesus Christ can be a woman of wisdom. It is not beyond the reach of any, for Christ is always working in us, and He sculpts our lives with increasing purpose, as we, through the process of time, give more and more of ourselves to Him. Indeed, wisdom is a treasure to be won, and we will have a life of wisdom in due season if we continue in His grace and do not faint in our walk with Him (Galatians 6:9).”
~from www.aparsonswife.blogspot.com~
Get Wisdom
Published by nancyann June 4th, 2007 in Feminine Virtues
The world’s definition of wisdom is the power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc.; good judgment; discretion; sagacity.
Though this is a good working definition, the Bible has far more to say about wisdom, and it takes wisdom to understand wisdom. But let’s give it a go. If you just read through the book of Proverbs and take note of every reference to wisdom, you will learn a lot about it. Here are just a few things from Proverbs.
We are to get wisdom, pursue wisdom, seek wisdom, find wisdom, love wisdom, exalt wisdom, take hold of wisdom, and keep wisdom. All those who succeed in finding wisdom find life and grace, for wisdom is precious (better than gold, silver, or rubies), her ways are pleasant and peaceful, and she bestows safety, preservation, long life, promotion, riches, honor, and happiness on those who find her. Proverbs 19:8 sums it up: “He who gets wisdom loves his own soul.”
That sounds pretty appealing to me. What in the world could hinder us in finding such a great thing as wisdom? Lots of things, like laziness, selfishness, worldliness, ambition, distraction, greed. Which is to say, foolishness and sin keep us from pursuing wisdom. But at the bottom of it all is the unbelief that keeps us from fearing the Lord, for as we know, that is the beginning of wisdom.
God Himself is wisdom: “The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew” (Prov. 3:20).
And He bestows His wisdom on those who seek it: Proverbs 8:17, “Those who seek me diligently will find me.”
Wisdom is a woman, but so is foolishness. So we must choose which kind of woman we want to be.
Wisdom keeps company with prudence, discretion, and knowledge. Wisdom builds while the foolish woman destroys; a wise woman receives instruction, heeds counsel, walks circumspectly, redeems the time (Eph. 5:15), chooses wisdom over riches, and understands the will of the Lord. She does not forget wisdom, but she keeps it, she does not turn away from it or forsake it, but rather embraces it.”Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom. In all your getting, get understanding” (Prov. 4:7).
how little do we think to what they may grow.“
~Charles Bridges, Commentary of Proverbs~
Mothers in Proverbs
Published by Nancy Ann December 22nd, 2008 in Childrearing
According to Proverbs, mothers are to lay down the law, particularly to their sons. “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck” (Prov. 1:8-9).
Mothers sometimes think that Dad is the one with all the authority around the house, particularly when it comes to dealing with the boys. But this is just false. God has established the authority of both parents in the home. Sons are to be well acquainted with the law of their mothers, and this is a good thing. In fact, God tells the sons that this instruction and law are like a crown and a necklace.
Mothers need to establish their authority over their children when they are little (particularly the boys), but that includes bringing them up by means of godly instruction, not just by use of raw authority. Children must obey both parents, and both parents must exercise their authority with wisdom and humility, knowing that they answer to God for how they are bringing up their children.
A mother who refuses to give instruction and correction not only damages the child, but also guarantees her own sorrow. “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Prov. 29:15). “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother” (Prov. 10:1).
Mothers have countless opportunities to shape, mold, teach, admonish, correct, and instruct their children in wisdom. Many things get in the way; many things clamor to distract mothers away from this their central task. But a wise mother will keep her eye on her duty and work hard at this important business of training up the next generation. A son who is indulged will grow up to be a shame and a heaviness. A son who grows up with a heavy hand will be embittered and rebellious. But a son who receives instruction with patience and love will be wise.
“My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee, when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman” (Prov. 6:20-24).
So much Wisdom in Proverbs and Nancy Ann has so much wisdom to share with us younger ladies! 🙂
Being a Mother must be humbling…. I have never been in that position 😉 but I can imagine, should the day come, I will feel so inadequate…
Mmm, oranges sound really good right now; I haven’t had one for a while!