Finding Balance In Our Closet.

    Track pants have their place too. Hear me out, ladies. I am all for getting dressed up and being out together for myself and for hubby. It also doesn't hurt that 90% of my wardrobe is 'Sunday Best,' and I haven't worn pants publicly in 4 years. I will also be one of the first people to encourage you to get dressed up for your hubby, but I'm also coming to the conclusion that there is a happy medium as well. Track pants/ lounge wear have their place.

    What I mean by all this is that there have been plenty of times when I deliberately put on an outfit for hubby's attention, and times when I wear it just for myself. There are also times when we are relaxing, and I'm in my PJs. There have been times when we are sitting down to watch a movie, and I'm in a nice dress or skirt, and hubby will suggest that I put on pj's so that I can be more comfortable. I lovingly tell him that I am comfy. And we move on. There are also times when we sit down for a movie, and I automatically put on pj's.

    One evening a few weeks ago, I was washing off my makeup before winding down for a movie on a Saturday night. I felt bad because I was taking off my makeup and that he couldn't enjoy it anymore. He reminded me that he had been enjoying it all day and, of course, that I don't need makeup to be beautiful.

    He also regularly tells me that I look sexy in my PJs. I usually give him the 'you have two heads' look. His explanation is that by wearing my PJs, and so on, around him, it says that I am comfortable around him. I would hope after 11 years of marriage I would be comfortable around him. Either way, it's cute and sweet. He isn’t wrong, though; how you dress says a lot about yourself, and your relationship to those around you, whether you are at home or out in public.

    By no means am I saying to change into your PJs the second you get home. I'm just saying we don't have to be put together all the time either. I’ve also heard it suggested that you should be put together at all times at home, and even if you are cooking and cleaning that day that you can still put on a “house” dress that may be older, that you no longer wish to wear publicly, but is still comfortable and you can move about freely while you do your tasks. This agument also has it’s place, but I think we need more of a balanced approach.

    I have heard it suggested that some women dress up for work and then once they are home, change into sweats. Meaning that they give the world outside of their home their best but then aren't putting in any effort into how they look at home. Again, I think it's more about balance and not shaming anyone. Maybe some days you are more put together than other days. I work in a factory and put little effort into my appearance for work. Yes, I do wear skirts to work, but they are no longer a part of my “Sunday Best” wardrobe. They are stained from paint and other things at work. Some evenings I put myself together more than others. Then on the weekends I am 'Sunday Best' for most of the weekend. Recently, hubby has joined Blessing and me for our daily walk; we head out the door a few minutes after I get home. I don’t bother getting changed because I am sweaty and know that I will sweat on the walk as well, so I shower after our walk. One day last week I didn’t sweat very much, so I told hubby I would take a quick “sponge” bath and get a little cleaned up and then change into a nicer outfit for our walk. I knew it wasn’t really a hot day, so I figured the chances of needing another shower after the walk were slimmer. So I quickly got cleaned up, changed into a nicer skirt outfit, came to the living room, and jokingly, with a big smile on my face, said to hubby, “Okay, I’m pretty now.” he smiled and said to me, “You are always pretty.” I know that I am pretty without a nice outfit on, but the outfit did make me feel better.

    So, let's find the happy medium between Sunday Best and never getting out of your sweats. I also know that getting dressed up and putting yourself together looks different for every woman. Not every woman is the pink skirt girly girl that I am. God created us all different on purpose. For some, it is a nice pair of jeans and a pretty top, and that is also beautiful. And some women don’t wear makeup at all or wear minimal makeup, and again, that too is beautiful.

    So ladies, let's aim for balance. Relaxed outfits when the moment calls for it, and dressier outfits when those moments arise as well. That being said, dresses can be really comfy. I have a handful of sundresses and skirts that I can easily relax in, and with summer coming to a close and fall heading our way, I am so excited for sweater dresses, tights and scarves.

    Again, not here to condemn or anything else. I’m just hearing a lot of talk on both sides of “the issue” and wanted to balance them out.

I pray this blesses, teaches, encourages, and lovingly challenges you in whatever way you need today.

Have a blessed Sunday, friend.

~Hannah

Unexpected Lessons and Blessing from a Bike Accident.

    On June 30th, I received a phone call that no wife wants to receive. It was a hot day. I was biking home from work. I had just turned onto my street and was pulling my phone out of my pocket to text a friend and co-worker that I had enjoyed my ride home that day. She had wondered if it was too hot for me to ride that day and asked if I wanted a ride. I politely declined. As I pulled out my phone and started to text her, my phone started ringing instead. I looked at the caller ID and saw that work was calling me. I answer. My poor boss got the privilege of breaking the news to me that my husband had been in a bike accident and was being taken to Chatham Hospital via ambulance. She said there was a witness and would text me the number so I could call them and get more details. Alrighty then, not exactly how I expected my afternoon to go.

    We hung up, and I called my friend/coworker and asked for a ride to the hospital. I told her that there had been an accident, and that there was a witness, and I would call the witness on the way. She gets in her SUV and picks me up. While I was getting ready to leave our apartment, I saw a text from my father-in-law, saying that hubby had been in an accident and to use his car to get myself to him and bring him home. At first, I declined because I already had a ride planned, but once I dialled the number for the witness and discovered that the witness was my father-in-law. You see, when I first got his message, I didn't understand his involvement in the accident. Once I understand his connection, I asked my friend to drop me off at the shop to get his car and find out what happened.

    After hubby's last accident a couple of winters ago, when I found out about it after the fact and saw that he was physically okay before I knew about anything, I wondered how I would respond if I knew about an accident before seeing his condition. Well, that day was the day. I was panicked, but not hysterical. I simply needed to get to my husband. I was safe to drive.

    My Father-in-law gives me the run down of what happened, hands me the keys and tells me how much gas the car has and that the A/C was working. I thanked him and was on my way. I drove out of the shop parking lot, and the tears started coming. I quickly tell my emotions to get in line. I consider calling my mom and talking to her while I drive. I quickly decide not to call and simply pray. Pray to my heavenly Father. The God of the universe. So I start praying and worshipping. While I drove, I prayed for his safety, his healing, praising God for His goodness and worshipped Him for who He is. In case this was the end, and I was about to walk into a critical or life-threatening situation, I thanked God for the 11 years that we have been married. I didn't want to have to look back on this prayer time with any regret. I didn't want to question God. I just wanted to pray and worship. So I did. I wanted to be able to look back, even if the accident was fatal and say that God is and was still good and in control. I am proud of myself for how I reacted to the news and for worshipping God in the process. So, for the next 30 min I worshiped and prayed. Once I arrived, I figured out which parking lot was the correct one, and then, praise God, found the perfect parking spot close to the door. I parked and headed for the main entrance.

    I got directions to the emergency room and asked for hubby. After what seemed like a very long minute, I was led into triage. I went around a corner made by curtains. There is a slit in the corner, and I see a foot. Looks like hubby's foot. But I didn't want to believe it was him until I saw his face. A second later, I'm led to the opening of the curtain and see hubby's face. Relief. I was preparing for the worst: wires, cables, etc. nothing. Praise the Lord. Just a relieved husband smiling, and I, his wife, smiling back at him, equally relieved. The doctor working on him asked if he belonged to me and I to him and then to eachother. We said yes, we belonged to each other. Then the doctor filled me in on the details of his accident and the testing they wanted to run. The Dr. had a student working with her, teaching her about the ultrasound machine. Hubby and I quietly talked, and then I gave him a foot massage.

    The ultrasound didn't show anything. They ordered an X-ray for his left shoulder and pelvis. We also agreed before all of this that hubby was cognitive and of sound mind. At the scene of his accident, he was seizing or something and was shaking. He then asked me to get him some food; seconds later, the doctor told him not to eat until after the X-ray.

    We waited for the X-rays and then the results. Broken collarbone. They gave us a sling, a list of prescriptions to fill, a temp dr note, and a business card for a surgeon. If the surgeon didn't call in two weeks, we were to call them. We left the hospital at 7:30. I was impressed. I arrived at the hospital at 3:30; I think he arrived at 3, and we left together at 7:30. Ultrasound, X-rays, results, and prescription list in4.5 hrs. Rather impressive if you ask me.

    We drove home, and I quickly ran up to our apartment to get him a new shirt. Then off to Walmart to fill his prescription just before closing. Then through the drive thru to get supper. We spent the next few days getting adjusted to hubby's new one-armed life. I am not naturally a caregiver. I can cook, clean and run a household, but nursing someone when they are sick? Forget about it. This has been a point of tension in our marriage for years. So there were a few arguments to be had in the first few weeks. Along with dealing with, or better yet, not dealing with my own issues. At the three-week point, I finally came to the end of myself and told God, hubby and myself that it was time to start doing things God's way. I also know that I wanted to get better at taking care of hubby. So I prayed. I knew that I wanted to do better with caring for him. I wasn't there for him during his depression years ago, and I regret that. I didn't want to regret not taking care of him this time. So I prayed and asked for a better servant heart, and He gave it to me. I'm not flawless, but I have come a long way in the last few weeks, and we are both grateful for the change.

    I also have a new respect and appreciation for caregivers. I had no idea how exhausting this would all be. Working full-time and then coming home and taking care of hubby full-time has been exhausting. I don’t mean to complain by any means, just being honest. I am grateful that his injuries were not worse by any means, but I am exhausted and done with that sling. So, to those of you who are long-term caregivers, I tip my hat to you. I had no idea. And I will keep on taking care of him until the bone has healed.

    I am thankful for it all, though. It has been quite the journey, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but it has changed me for the better and for that I am grateful.

    The moral of this story is that God is good, hubby is healing, and I am a changed woman. Glory to God.

    I pray that this encourages, teaches, and blesses you in some way today, friend.

God Bless

~Hannah

Look To God, Not Your Circumstances.

    I finished writing my last post about the Holy Spirit and thought, 'Ah, I can put my feet up.' Holy Spirit quickly told me that I needed to be fed (Spiritually) because hubby is going through a rough time and needs me." I thought, 'Okay,' so I opened up Spotify and found one of my favourite podcasts and looked for a title that spoke to me. I quickly found this one and started listening. “Before God Changes Your Situation, He Does This First”. It touched my spirit and soul and fed me so beautifully that I just had to share it with you. I spent much of the time listening to it, holding back tears. Tears of joy and relief.

    We have all had hard seasons. We may be worn down, discouraged, whatever verb you like. You may find yourself praying and asking whether this hard season, or valley, as the speaker refers to it, will ever end. Will things ever change? Will I ever change?

    Thankfully, as believers, we do know that things will eventually change because the Bible tells us that if it's not good yet, then He isn't done with you yet. But in the meantime, this episode touched a deep place in my soul.

    God meets his people in dry places through His word and His Spirit.

    Ezekiel 37:1-14

    The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' I said, 'Sovereign Lord, you alone know." 4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath into you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.'" 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what Sovereign LORD says; come, breath, from the four winds and breath into those slain, that they may live.' 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet- a vast army. 11 Then he said to me. 'Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, 'our bones are dried up and out hope is gone, we are cut off." 12 Therefore prophecy and say to them: "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people , will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.""

    The people of Israel had been in a valley for a long time, and everything felt hopeless. But God does not leave His people there. Right in the middle of the vision God gave Ezekiel, God asked him a question. V3. Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel answered "Sovereign LORD, you alone know."

    Before God would change their circumstances, he was changing their perspective and calling Ezekiel and the people of Israel to look to Him and not their circumstances. God knows that we are forgetful people and need regular reminders. He also knows that we are human and have a limited perspective. So God wants us to turn our eyes off of our circumstances and turn towards Him and allow Him to change our view point before He changes our circumstances.

    Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the mountains -where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

    It's easy to lose hope when we are more focused on our circumstances rather than on God. It's not easy, though; we have to remind ourselves daily when we are going through struggles. But when we lift our eyes to God, He reminds us of His unchanging character.

    We see Ezekiel practicing changing his perspective in the passage from the valley to God and His unchanging character.

    How about you and me, friend? Do we believe in God's unchanging character? Or do we need a little reminder? It's okay if we need a reminder from time to time. We are forgetful people, after all. We have to renew our minds and remind ourselves, myself especially, friend, that the God of the Bible who takes care of His people and kept His promises then is the same God we serve today. I think we often forget that the people in the Bible were regular people just like you and me and struggled with all the same things you and I struggle with today. Or at least similar things.

    The speaker talks about how life in the valley becomes possible through the word of God and the Spirit of God. We see the power of God's word demonstrated when God tells Ezekiel to prophesy over the dry bones, telling them to come to life. Ezekiel didn't have any power in and of himself. But he was willing to be used by God, so God used him and demonstrated His power through Ezekiel.

    Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

    Psalm 119:25 I am laid low on the dust; preserve my life according to your word.

    Psalm 119:50 my comfort in my suffering is this: you promise preserves my life.

    Psalm 107:20 He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

    Grab hold of God's word when you are in the valley, and set your eyes on Him who cares for you. The one who holds all things together. Read the word and meditate on it. Let it encourage you and remind you of God's unfading love and goodness. He may not restore your circumstances right away. But watch Him restore your viewpoint. Watch Him change your perspective.

    Much of the time we think that in order for our situation to be fixed, He has to fix the circumstances. The truth is, though, that He doesn't have to. A) Because He is God and it's His creation, and therefore He can do whatever He pleases. He doesn't have to explain anything to us. But, more importantly, B) He knows that if He changes our perspective and we look to Him instead of whatever circumstances we are walking through, then the work of restoration has already begun. Plus, it teaches us to look to Him to fix things, and not ourselves. God often starts the restoration process in our hearts before He changes anything about our circumstances.

    We also need God's Spirit, also known as the Holy Spirit, to help us along the way. In fact, we need the Holy Spirit just as much as we need the Word of God.

    The speaker also made the connection between God breathing life into creation and into the dry bones in Ezekiel and encouraged us today that He is still the same life giving God that we get to serve as well.

    Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

    The speaker encouraged and reminded us that not only do we celebrate God's restoration after the valley is over, but it's something we can trust in the process. As hard as it may be, and it is hard. Instead of complaining and asking God to change the situation and get you out of the valley, try praying and asking Him what He wants to teach you in the valley. I'm a firm believer that the trials we go through here on earth are not only a testament to God's faithfulness but also a teaching point and encouragement to those around us. We can also thank Him in advance for the restoration that He will do down the road.

    The miracle of Ezekiel is not only breathing life back into the bones, but it's also restoring His people back to Himself. Ultimately, our circumstances don't matter. Our relationship with God does. By no means am I saying it's easy, but it is worth it, and in time God will bring you through it, and you will be stronger for it.

    As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and are called to walk by the Spirit.

    Ephesians 2:4-5: But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.

    Galatians 5:16 so I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

    Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

    Romans 8:5-6 Those who love according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

    1 Thessalonians 5:19  Do not quench the Spirit.

    Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

    So even when we are in the valley and life is just not going well or the way we expected. We need to remind ourselves that our hope is in Christ, and not on the things of this world. Again, easier said than done. We lift our eyes to God. We keep trusting, keep obeying, keep pressing in because we know that He is not done with us yet.

    The only way we can get through the valley is by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. The good times and the bad times are both invitations from God to us to have a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. Plus, at the end of the valley, it's it better to be able to say that you clung to Jesus rather than walked away from your faith or blamed God? Personally, I want to be able to say at the end of the valley that I clung to Jesus with everything in me. That being said, I have definitely had my seasons of walking away, so to speak and getting mad at God for not taking care of the situation the way I wanted Him to. I have become a stronger believer since then and spend less time mad at Him when something doesn't go the way I want.

    But I too needed this reminder when I hit play on that episode to look to God and not my circumstances. I pray this encouraged you today, friend.

God Bless

~Hannah

Understanding the Holy Spirit

    I opened up Spotify a few weeks ago and started listening to “Proverbs 31 Ministries” and found an interesting episode about discerning between the Holy Spirit’s voice and you own. Something that I struggle with at times.

    The guest speaker started by saying how oftentimes, people don't properly understand the Holy Spirit and His role because of their upbringings. Whether that be what their parents taught them or what they learned in church.

    Joel 2:28 NIV “ 'And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your son's and daughters will prophecy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” She told the listeners a story about how the Holy Spirit woke her up one night and gave her this verse. She had already been seeking God and wanted to know who the Holy Spirit is and what our relationship with him is like. The speaker quickly recognized that this was the work of the Holy Spirit. The speaker didn't know what the verse was until she opened up her Bible and read it. It was a very special moment for her that hasn't happened since. This experience taught her that the Holy Spirit longs to have a relationship with her and with all of us too.

    Over the years, whenever she would ask people about the Holy Spirit, they would send her to Acts 2. Which is where Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to send the Holy Spirit to them when He goes to heaven to be with the Father after He was raised from the grave. One problem with this method, though, is that Acts 2 is not where we first learn about the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:1-2 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.”

    Pentecost then happens, and the disciples were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Pentecost becomes a symbol of the start of the early church. With signs and wonders. The problem with directing people to Acts 2 for an understanding of the Holy Spirit is that it doesn't look like our everyday lives, and we will likely struggle to relate. The speaker explains how if we look at Acts 2 without any knowledge of the Old Testament, it may seem strange or different. But when you look for the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, you will find Him everywhere. As you look for Him through the Old Testament, you will see Acts 2 as more of a culmination of the Spirit's power and presence since the beginning of time. Showing up to Acts 2 with no prior interaction with the Holy Spirit is like showing up to your wedding day without ever meeting your spouse before hand. There is no history. Nothing to build on. Just a big important event.

    The speaker encouraged us listeners that the reason why we so easily miss the mention of the Holy Spirit is due to language and terminology. The Hebrew word for Spirit is Ruach which can be translated breath, wind, air or angel. So depending on how the translators translated your version of the Bible, you will see these different word choices. As you might imagine, the average believer doesn't know many Hebrew words and could likely miss some of the mentions of the Holy Spirit. I know I have. So you may have to look extra close to find Him. But I promise He isn't hiding too hard because He really wants to be found by you.

    Before listening to this podcast, someone pointed out to me that the Holy Spirit was on scene in the very beginning. Genesis 1:2. He is mentioned as Spirit of God. Personally, I took that verse for granted like many other seasoned believers.

    The speaker gave the analogy of a picture with lots of other items hidden in the picture for you to find. Hidden so well that at first glance nothing looks out of place, and then when you look close you see the random items. This picture is to remind us that the Holy Spirit is all through the Old Testament and is also working all through our lives as well.

    The next discussion point was about how we address Him. Do we call Him Holy Spirit or the Holy Spirit? The speaker chooses to say Holy Spirit versus calling Him the Holy Spirit. Her argument is that we don't refer to God or Jesus as 'The God' or 'The Jesus' so why call Holy Spirit 'the Holy Spirit '? She makes a valid argument that you are speaking to a real person, which you are and therefore can drop the 'the.' Personally, I tend to go back and forth between calling Him Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit. I see the speakers argument for not calling Him the Holy Spirit. I think I have seen examples of both in Scripture. The grammar program that I run my posts through before publishing them says that 'the Holy Spirit ' is correct, and I think my phone does too. When talking to hubby, I think I say it both ways, but I can't swear to it. At the end of the day, I think it comes down to your conviction and relationship with the Holy Spirit.

    The speaker encouraged us and reminded us that the Holy Spirit is with us in the chaos and uncertainty of life. We see this in Genesis 1:1-2 and how, in the midst of darkness and the unknown and the water, the Spirit is there with us.

3 ways to awaken a vibrant relationship with the Holy Spirit. There are more than 3 ways, but these are the three the speaker talks about.

1. Stay alert to his hovering. Psalm 139.. God formed each one of us with intententionity and care.. she also encouraged us that with God creating us all so differently, naturally the way the Holy Spirit communicates with each one of us will also be different. He speaks to us in deep, meaningful ways to each of us. Maybe it's a Bible verse that means so much to you and yet little to someone else. Or a verse you have read many times, and yet, today, it comes alive in a new way. Or maybe the lyric from a worship song, and when you hear it, it feels like your heart put to music, and every time you hear it, you can't help but get choked up.

2. Ask Holy Spirit one question a day. You could ask about your purpose, identity or service. Then reflect on this question throughout your day. Be in conversation with Holy Spirit. Get to know His voice. Then journal about what happened. This technique can help you track the work and role of Holy Spirit in your life.

3. Talk about Holy Spirit to others. Ask each other what the Holy Spirit is doing in their lives. Just like laughter and joy, it's contagious. The more you talk about Him to others and talk to Him yourself, the more you will recognize His voice and prompting.

    And finally, what do we do when we are questioning if a prompting is from the Holy Spirit? Keep pressing, keep praying and asking. Does the prompting get stronger? Or does it go away? Don't be afraid to bring your questions, your doubts and concerns to Him, who cares for you. Read your Bible; if possible, ask others to pray with you/for you. Compare the nudges you sense with the character of God. If the nudges are from the Holy Spirit, then everything will line up. Don't be discouraged though. If the prompting wasn't from God in the end, His grace is sufficient to cover it. Ex you thought you felt a prompting to go and talk to someone. So you do, but nothing really comes of it. Or at least nothing you expect. That's okay. Maybe God wasn't telling you to talk to the person, but it may have still made their day or encouraged them in some way that you may never know about.

    Listening to this episode encouraged me that I am not alone in questioning/discerning the difference between my inner voice and the Holy Spirit, and I pray you found encouragement through it in some way as well.

As always, God Bless.

~Hannah

Becoming a Proverbs 31 Women Part 2

     Becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman Part 2

    Day 4 was about maintaining your mindset.

    Proverbs 31:16-18 “She considers a field and buys it, out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her world vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and he lamp does not go out at night”

    

    Proverbs 31:24 “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.”

    1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

    She worked inside and outside of her home and ran her own business. Her family is well looked after. Anyone else tired yet? She did not spend time scrolling on her phone. Although that too has its time and place too. The idea/ principle has also been suggested to me over the years that God gives us each enough grace to complete the tasks that He has give us to do. Meaning that some people can handle more than others and that there is no need to compare. I suspect the same can be applied in this case as well.

    The author reminds us that we are all different and should not compare our gifts and talents with those around us. This is becoming increasingly hard with social media, if you ask me.

    Proverbs 31:10 suggests that it is hard to find a woman like her. She is different in a good way. Not every woman can be her.

    Our identity should not be wrapped up in what we do or the gifts we have been given. Rather, in what Jesus says about us. We have been given these gifts in order to bless those around us, but they are not who we are. Yes, they can add to our identity, but they are not the most important part of our identity. For example. When someone asks us who we are, our first response should be that we are children of God. Then we can mention our athletic abilities, or the paintings we have painted, cakes we have baked, dresses we have sewn, books we have written, etc. Or the titles we hold. We are first a child of God before we are a wife, sister, friend, employee, etc. Because all those earthly titles can be taken away, but the title of Child of God can’t be taken away.

    She sees the value in her work. Not only is it helping others, but it is also producing income for her family. I have a tendency to not only undervalue myself, but my work as well. My excuse is often that “it's not my main income source,” so therefore I shouldn’t charge more. And because I love the task that I am doing or the service I am providing, it is wrong to charge for it. But both are false. If God allows it, we should be charging for the goods and services we provide that are outside of our main source of employment. Heck, maybe they will become our main source of income. I’m looking forward to building a business around sewing down that road, and maybe I need to charge more for my services. We shall see what God says when the time comes.

    Today’s challenge asks us to look at our lives and ask ourselves if there are areas where we are holding back because we do not value our gifts or are second-guessing our work? Where are my overthinkers today?

    Day 5 is about strength and dignity in action.

    Proverbs 31:17 “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.”

    Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

    Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

    2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” I’ve never quite understood boasting in our weakness. I guess we could say it like this, “I can’t, but God can.”

    As present-day Proverbs 31 women, we need to manage our time well. It's not about squeezing in every task. It's about prioritizing both the tasks and time. And if you are able, multitasking. It's also not about doing more and burning out. It's about sitting down with God and asking Him what He wants us to do in this season and every season to come. He will give you the strength to do all the things He has called you to do.

    She is also not focused on her outward appearance. She is dressed well and likely takes pride in her appearance, but she is more focused on the Lord and her relationship with Him and the tasks that He has given her.

    Today’s challenge asks us this: What does walking in strength look like for you practically today?

    There are a handful of verses that the Bible study leaves out, but I think are equally important.

    Proverbs 31:15 “She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.”

    She is up at the crack of dawn preparing for the day and takes care of not only her family but also her servant girls. She could task her servant to prepare breakfast for her family, but that's not who she is. She serves others first. Also, it's okay if you are not a morning person. I’m sure that there are some Proverbs 31 women out there who are night owls.

    Proverbs 31:19 “In her hands she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.”

    We modern women have the advantage of going to the store and buying the fabric; we don’t have to make it first. Can you imagine how much longer it would take to make a pretty sundress? Oh, my goodness. And here I thought cutting out or creating a pattern was time-consuming.

    Proverbs 31:20 “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.”

    Proverbs 31:21 “When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.” She is always prepared for the season ahead.

    Proverbs 31:22 “She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.” Again, she is well dressed but not consumed by her outward appearance.

    Proverbs 31:23 “Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.”

    Proverbs 31:26 “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” She doesn’t say the first thing that comes to her mind; she thinks through what she wants to say and decides if it is helpful or necessary. Something I know I struggle with, and I imagine many others do as well.

    Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”

    Proverbs 31:29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

    Proverbs 31:31 “Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

    At the end of the day, the Proverbs 31 woman is a blessed woman who knows her worth, works hard and loves her family. The list of things that she does may seem daunting to some, but I imagine that there are many of us who love and fear the Lord and are born-again believers who could have a similar list written about us.

    I pray that this encourages, blesses, challenges and teaches you today, friend. If you find yourself feeling condemned while reading this section of Scripture, don’t let the enemy get the best of you. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit what you should be working on to become a Proverbs 31 woman.

    God Bless

    ~Hannah

Becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman Part 1

    The topic for Day 1 was recognizing your worth and value.

    Proverbs 31:10. “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”

    Noble character: a person possessing high moral principles, integrity and a magnanimous spirit. Ex. Courage, honesty, and selflessness.

    

    I am in the process of becoming a Proverbs 31 woman and a wife of noble character. I am better at practicing the qualities that a wife of noble character possesses when I am not feeling worthless or irritable. Holy Spirit is doing a lot of work in me at the moment. I realize that those are both feelings and should not be allowed to dictate things, but sometimes they do. I struggle with my emotions. But I desire to be a blessing to my husband and those around me, and now I'm thinking about it and wonder if I can be a blessing to myself. Is that a thing?

    2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

    Every word, every sentence of the Bible is helpful and useful for teaching. We can learn something valuable from every word even if it doesn't apply to our current situation. We can still learn from it.

    Psalms 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

    One of my favourite verses. I struggle to believe it someday, though; the morning that I started this reading plan was one of those mornings, and now that I'm writing and preparing to make it into a blog post, I feel like I'm retraumatizing myself with feelings from a few weeks ago that resurface regularly. The idea of triggering yourself is a weird feeling. I guess I never realized you could trigger yourself. Anyways, I'm fighting through these feelings because I want to write about this passage of scripture.

    While I was processing this Bible study, I was also struggling with how to separate my worth and my work in my everyday life. Meaning, how do I separate my adult responsibilities of cooking and cleaning for my family like every other responsible adult, but also reminding myself that it has nothing to do with my God-given value? Because work is not a bad thing. God gives us each work to do. It has been a few weeks since I started writing this post. Life has been busy. One of the mindsets I struggle with is the idea that when hubby asks me to do something for him, it somehow takes away my worth and value. Don’t ask, I can’t explain it. Anyways, I’m working on practicing reminding myself that it doesn’t take away my worth and that not only does hubby have value, but he is worth taking care of. If anything, taking care of others adds value to ourselves.

    The author of this Devo tries to encourage us that the P31 woman isn't real. Personally, I think she is. I think she is what God desires for all women. Not in a condemning way, but in an encouraging way. She is what we are aiming for, but we need to remind ourselves that we will not be perfect or check all the boxes. But we are to work towards her. But don't beat yourself up when you don't meet the mark. This text should bring freedom. I don’t believe we are all called to be a carbon copy of a P31 woman, but our own unique version of her.

This passage refers to all women, to the working wife, the working wife with kids and the stay-at-home mom and the housewife. We are all in there. All the elements of womanhood, so to speak, are in this passage. But not every verse is for everyone in every season. I guess some parts are literal and some are figurative depending on your season of life.

    The author reminds us that we are precious in God's eyes. The first verse in this passage talks about her worth, before her works are mentioned. When I first read that, I was so taken aback I didn't want to believe it at first and went and did a Google search to remind myself of what 'noble character ' really meant: that the word character refers to your personality, not your actions. I wrestled with the Holy Spirit over it for a bit. I wanted to believe that that was what I was reading, but struggling to accept it. The devotional portion of the Bible study stopped me in my tracks. I had never noticed that God says she is valued as a person before her wonderful deeds. I finally came to accept it. I went and shared with hubby what the Holy Spirit had revealed to me. I also realized that deep down I didn't want to work and earn my worth, and yet I feel that I have to. Yes, I know what Scripture says. I also struggle with that. If I just lost you on that, let me explain. Scripture says I don't have to earn my worth. Period. Okay, my struggle with all of us is that I don't want to have to work for my worth, but my head/heart (not sure which one is which at the moment) tells me that I do have to work for it, and that makes me upset.

    I went and shared all this with hubby. It felt like a big aha moment. I explained that I was feeling upset at the need to earn my worth. I said I understand what Scripture says and explained the disconnect. He then basically stopped me in my tracks and informed/reminded me that I was and am dealing with a spirit of religion. Religion says you have to work to get into heaven. But God says that it's a gift freely given. I don't think I realized that I had a religious spirit on me. Something I need to ask God's help on.

    Also, I'm feeling better now.  I worked through the negative emotions from earlier as I wrote out the first bit of this post and now am feeling better.

    Proverbs 31:11-12 “her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life.”

    After reading these verses, I asked myself how I am doing in this department. I believe 90% of the time I bring him good and not harm.  One of my struggles is along with working on my worth, is that I don't love myself, and that overflows into our marriage by me struggling to love him as well and not becoming reactive when something happens that triggers my issues.

    1 Cor 12:17-20. “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”

    Many parts, but one body.

    Proverbs 31:27 “she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

    Day 2 is about stewarding your relationships.

    

    The author starts by talking about the importance of trust in our relationships. Regardless if we are married and referring to our relationship with our husband or just our girlfriends. In our friendships, it could look like keeping any plans we make with our friends. Within our marriage and household, it's about being trustworthy, dependable and reliable, among other things. It's about keeping your word and completing whatever tasks you agreed to do in the timeline you agreed to. Our husbands have confidence in us knowing that we will make dinner for our family and that we will do our best to have it served on time. Or whatever the task is.

    The author then adds the passage about all the different parts of the body of Christ and how that is both played out in our friendships and in our marriages.

    Proverbs 31, verses 11 and 12 also speak to the fact that she respects, honours and submits to her husband. The text doesn't directly say that she does submit, but I imagine that she does, considering her character.

    She is a blessing to him and takes care of all the details of their life. She sees to it that his favourite snacks are refilled and his shower gel never runs out.

    Proverbs 31:27. “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

    She looks after her household. She pays attention to her family's needs and doesn't worry about what the neighbours are doing. She isn't comparing her home and the dirty dishes in the sink, although there probably aren't any, to the neighbours' highlight reel from their recent vacation.

    Culture these days tries to tell us that we don't need traditional gender roles or that romantic relationships can work between same sex couples. The Bible is clear, though, that it doesn't work. Traditional gender roles work because that's how God created us to function. Every marriage is a little different, of course, but for the majority of couples, traditional roles work.

    At the end of each day's reading, the author gives a challenge. Today's challenge asks us to make a list of the roles we play in our lives. Child of God, wife, daughter, employee, etc. It then goes on to ask us how we can serve more intentionally in those relationships. Not necessarily with more time/energy. But are there other ways we can be more intentional in our roles and relationships?

    Day 3 is about using what is in your hands.

    P 31:13-14 “she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.”

    Not only does she work hard, but she has a good attitude about it. I am a hard worker, but I don't always have a good attitude about it. She ensures that her family is well fed and looked after. She is willing to travel a distance and inconvenience herself in order for them to eat good food. She puts effort into feeding her family. Actually, she puts effort into everything she does. She doesn't just order in. That being said, ordering in does have its place.

    Exodus 4:2 “then the Lord said to him, 'what is that in your hand?' "A staff," he replied.”

    Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

    On the days that I have energy, I work happily. But on the days when I'm tired, or something else is wrong, I don't work with a joyful heart. A little convicting today. Holy Spirit, with the help of hubby, recently convicted me that it's not enough to do a task without complaining; our actions, particularly including our body language, need to be loving. Actions speak louder than words.

    The author talks about how many woman now work outside the home as much as inside the home. Holy Spirit is convicting me about making sure I give my best at home along with work. I give my best at work, but tend to not give my best effort at home. I apologized to hubby when I got home. Then started making changes.

We should also think about the gifts and talents that God has given you and ask Him if you can make a side hustle out of it. He might say no, or not yet, but He might say yes.

    Personally, I was raised with the opinion that even if you, as a wife, are not working outside the home, you should have some sort of job to help your family. Mom ironed shirts for a man and cleaned houses.

    God is not asking us to be perfect. But He is asking us to do our best with what He has given us and to love on those around us well. By human standards, the Proverbs 31 woman is an impossible standard, but with God, all things are possible.

    I pray that this post teaches, encourages, challenges, and blesses you today, friend.

    

    God Bless

    ~Hannah

Picking The Right Purse Style For Me.

    As a young girl, I switched my purse almost as often as I switched my underwear.

    I loved all the different sizes and styles of purses. I was likely in my late teens when I started to 'calm down' and stop changing my purse so often. To this day, I still have a collection of purses, though, a fraction of what I used to have, mind you.

    Anyway, I go back and forth on which purse style is best for me. Last year, I decided I wanted to have a smaller purse and be more minimalist and surprisingly I was decently successful. I am not by nature a light packer. I also struggle a bit with liking a certain style of purse, but afraid of the image it gives off.

    I watched a video recently talking about what style and size of purse you should use according to your physical size and personality type. The video had some interesting points and did direct me towards a style of purse that I do like and have used in the past. But I was still struggling with it. The style was fine, but I didn't truly love it.

    I was sitting on my couch the other day, thinking about it again and stressing over it. I told myself to picture myself sitting down at a booth at Tim Hortons. Then I asked myself what outfit I was wearing and was thrilled by the response. Then I asked myself what style of purse I had just placed on the table. I quickly answered myself. I felt relief and peace. I had picked the purse. A pink top handle style with a structured body. The style of purse that woman mostly carry on their elbow. I have had this style on and off over the years, and sometimes worry about the look/image it gives off. That I'm uptight, snooty, preppy (in a bad way), etc., but in all honesty, those are some of my characteristics, and I'm not ashamed of some of them.

    If you can't tell by now, I struggle with indecision, people-pleasing, and worrying about what people will think. All things I am working on.

    So, if you also struggle with being indecisive about one topic or another. Try practicing picturing yourself in a situation, and ask yourself what you are doing, or in my case, what are you wearing/carrying? I was pleasantly surprised to see how freeing it felt to honestly answer myself.

    I feel a little silly and embarrassed to be posting such a trivial and inconsequential post. Most of my posts are substantially more spiritual and, in theory, add real value. But not everything that we post online has to be super serious.

I pray that this post blesses and encourages you in whatever way you need today, friend.

God Bless

~Hannah