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

Time to Grow Up

    I have written on this topic before, but this time it's different. It's also harder because I'm about to be more vulnerable and admit to a more awkward sin in my life. Up until recently, I was a grown-up who threw temper tantrums when I didn’t get my way. Really grown up, eh? Hubby has been rightfully calling me out on it for years, but I wasn't listening. Okay, I was listening but not changing.

    A few weeks ago, we were watching a movie, and I threw a temper tantrum. He rightfully called me out, and then he gave me a word from God. I needed to spiritually grow up as well. I needed to move from spiritual milk to solid food. Something changed that night. God got a hold of me.

    I don't recall what all went through my head and heart that night, but something shifted. Weekend mornings are usually hard because I would rather do my own thing than make breakfast for my family. Which usually end in a fight or argument of some sort

    Well, the next morning, it was the weekend, and I don't recall which day. I made up my mind to make breakfast for hubby and me. I was still struggling with my attitude, but it was a start. I reminded myself that part of being a grown up was doing things that we don't always want to do, but know that we should do them or that we know that they need doing. I was still heightened, and it still landed in a small disagreement. But smaller than usual. Progress.

    I believe within a day of hubby's last 'you need to grow up' speech. God gave him another word for me. God wanted to remind me that I am His daughter. I decided that the next day, when I have my quiet time with the Lord, I would start a Bible study on being a daughter of God. I found a plan that I had saved in my 'You Version' app a long time ago and restarted it. I do find that You Version Bible studies are not always accurate; sometimes, the passages they use are not in context, so you need to be mindful. That being said, the study I read over the next few days was all on point and everything I needed to hear. Praise the Lord.

    I can't fully describe all of what God has done over the last few weeks in me. All I know is that I am a changed woman. Not flawless by any means. But changed. I feel free.

    I have repented to hubby and God, and I do ask that if anyone reading this has experienced one of my childhood temper tantrums, that you would forgive me. I apologize, and I am embarrassed by how I once acted.

    And now it's time to move on and move forward into this next season of life with Christ. I feel more at peace and calm. More than I have ever felt before. Not every day will be perfect by any means, but that's where God's grace comes into play. Progress isn't always linear. Sometimes it's two steps forward and one step backwards.

    I'm practicing apologizing to hubby and not defending or explaining myself. Simply apologizing and asking for forgiveness. Which is a huge step forward for me. I am also practicing saying, 'yes, but give me five minutes,' when hubby asks for something when I'm in the middle of doing something. The old me would get up and storm around while I did what he politely asked for. This new practice is definitely a work in progress. But again, progress isn't linear, and praise God for His grace.

As always, I pray that this blesses, encourages, and maybe challenges you in someway shape or form today, friend.

God Bless

~Hannah

Comparing Platforms

    I recently looked on YouTube for hair care ideas, routines, etc. I researched it a long time ago, and every so often, I go on and see if there is anything new. Usually, there isn't. To my pleasant surprise, there was new information. Or at least new to me. I was very excited about all the info and couldn't wait to share it here with you. But, in the process of being excited, I questioned if anyone would see it. Personally, I go to YouTube for hair information. Not an online blog or article. At least for the most part. And yes, I know that there are people who read my blog, and it blesses me when I hear any feedback. And yes, I know that if you are a regular reader, you already read that blog.

    Anyways, I thought that because I go to YouTube for hair info, I assume everyone else does. But I'm not a YouTuber. And even if I did make a video, I doubt everyone would see it because you need to make a whole lot of videos before anyone's algorithm picks you up. I also don’t think I have the confidence to talk into a camera and make a video. I also know that the amount of time and energy that it takes to edit videos is crazy, and I don’t have it to give.

    I also thought about making a video about what I have learned over the years since I got back into sewing. But, again, some problem. I have hemmed and hawed about both of these items and what I wanted to do. I eventually wrote about all the hair things I learned about. Although I don't like how I structured that post. I'm thinking of redoing it. Making it into two posts. One about all that I learned and another about what my routine looks like. I have considered making a youtube channel for sewing turotirals, but I know that this is not the correct season for that. Maybe down the road. Or maybe I’ll just write sewing tutorials instead.

    Anyways, the other day, I was sitting on our bed editing a blog post. Hubby came in and hung out for a bit. We talked about my blog, and he encouraged me. He is so sweet and supportive when it comes to my blog. He doesn’t care for them himself, but is happy for me and how God has used me to help and encourage others. I told him about what you just read, and we started talking about all the different platforms there are and how God calls us to different ones. I told him about the cop that I just started following in the States. This cop feels called by God to be a cop and to make videos and then post them online. In the first video of hers that I saw, she addressed the topic of God calling her into being a police officer and how being a woman has given her unique oppertunities to encourage those who are in trouble with the law for different reasons. She was at the scene of a car accident once, and one of the people involved was a young woman who needed her mom, who was not there at the moment, and this officer held her and let her cry in her arms. There was also a time when there was a little child in a situation, and because of the abuse that little boy had suffered at the hands of men, he didn’t trust men and wouldn’t talk to or hug the officer (I don’t remember the particulars). So she stepped in and took care of the little boy. I was in tears for the majority of that video. I went to the comment section, thanked her for what she had said and told her that she had just “earned” herself a new follower.

    Hubby talked about how he likes YouTube and how podcasts are also a great platform. I agreed. I then felt reassured in my spirit that the platform that God has given me is my blog, and I am so grateful for it and blessed by it. I am also equally thankful and blessed that God has called other people to make podcasts or videos and post them on whichever platform He directs them to.

    

    So, I’m going to continue enjoying the platform that God has blessed me with and be blessed by others who have content on other platforms. While Blessing and I were out exercising the other day, I was meditating on this post and thinking about how, at the end of the day, this is all just a comparison game. One of which I do not wish to be a part of. God has made each of us unique with our own gifts and talents, and instead of comparing our lives to others, we should be lifting each other up. I was thinking about how there was someone in my life for a season who was a very quiet person, and whenever I was around them, I felt calm and at peace. I enjoyed their presence. I talked to another quieter person and said how sometimes I wish I were a quieter person because sometimes my big personality gets me into trouble. This person’s response was that she wished she were bolder and less quiet. So, instead of equally enjoying our own personalities and each other, we were simply comparing ourselves to each other.

    I pray that this encourages you in whatever platform or lack there of that God has called you to. Not everyone is meant to have an online presence, and that is good, too.

God Bless

~Hannah

God has each of us on our own beautiful journey.

Journaling Over Social Media

    When I first started writing my blog, I would journal whatever was on my heart and then type it up on my computer and edit it. It was quite a lengthy process, and I struggled to find the time to complete it. But I love writing in a physical journal, so I would. I eventually transitioned into typing it on my phone instead of my journal. I noticed I had more time to sit for a minute on my breaks at work or out and about, and typing on my phone was faster and more convenient. Then emailed it to myself and finished editing it on my computer. Much faster and more convenient to write it as well.

    Recently, I was taking notes after listening to a sermon. I tried to type it on my phone as I had before, but it felt awkward and cumbersome. So I returned to my journal and loved the process. Yes, it took twice as long, but I enjoyed it.

    I found myself doing the same thing after listening to a podcast the other day. Feeling awkward taking notes on my phone, so I went back to my journal. For both messages, I brought my journal to work with me and wrote during my breaks or sometimes scrolled on my phone instead. I decided last week to do a social media fast, yes, some of you are reading this on Facebook. I post it from my blog website to Facebook, but I don't look at Facebook, check notifications or start scrolling. I simply post and leave.

    The other day, I was going through my bookshelf and getting rid of some old books. I saw a handful of journals, both new and used and started longing for them in my soul. At work the next day, I was journaling a reflection of what God taught me through the recent podcast I listened to, and I thought about how kind God is. I am no longer mindlessly scrolling on social media; I'm redeeming the time and using it to journal instead. He has given me the desire of my heart back with journaling, and at the moment, I'm enjoying it during my breaks at work. That being said, there is nothing wrong with social media. It has its place. It's a tool, not a toy. And for the next little bit, I'm enjoying putting down that tool and picking up my pen and journal instead. There is something very therapeutic about journaling.

    So friend, if this encourages, challenges or blesses you in any way, then that is a blessing to me aswell. So, lets put down our phones a little more often and pick up a book or a journal or whatever it is that God is calling you back to and see what God has in store for us.

Happy Sunday, friend

God Bless

~Hannah

Surrendering Certainty

When I opened up Spotify to listen to a podcast recently. I asked the Holy Spirit what podcast I should listen to. He directed me to 'The Proverbs 31 Ministries podcast'. One of my regulars. I opened up their podcast and looked for an episode. I came across this one, “How To Trust God When You Don’t Have All the Answers” with Abby McDonald. I started listening and instantly knew it was the one. One of the first things that Abby talked about was “2x4 moments.” I smiled and shed a tear. For me, it means I have checked and double checked with God, and He lovingly conforms again, usually by saying, 'I already told you,' and it feels like He is hitting me upside the head with a '2x4'. I shed a tear because not only was it relatable, but it also showed me that this really was the episode God wanted me to hear.

    For Abby, a '2x4 moments’ refers to a moment when you seek after God for an answer, and when He gives it to you, it's crystal clear with bells and whistles. If I recall corectly, she mentioned that leading up to those moments God did answer, but they were queiter answers that she may have missed.

    She goes on to tell a story of how God's leading in a situation was unmistakable. Now. That being said, there were months of prayers leading up to that answer. It wasn't instantaneous for her. She shared that after God gave her and her husband the answer.  Then they started moving in the direction of the answer, but as they did that, they had some roadblocks. Which I imagine we either have experienced those situations or will someday. So, every time a “roadblock” would appear and they started questioning God, they reminded themselves that God did, in fact, give them clear direction earlier, and they clung to that.

    She shared that as the years went by, she has less of these big '2x4 moments’ and now receives smaller nudges. On her walks with her dog, which is one of my ways to connect with God, too. God has now given her a ministry to help encourage others when they are struggling to hear God's voice. She reminded me and anyone else listening to that episode that God also speaks to us all differently, and it's beautiful to watch. I have recently come to love how differently God speaks to hubby and me. Or at least I’m working on it. I still struggle to compare how the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us, but I am working on it. Sometimes when one of us is praying for something, God will tell the other person the answer, and we can then enjoy the confirmation of whatever we needed/wanted to know.

    She shared how she connected with and understood God while she was growing up, and how everything changed about her perspective of God when she had her own children. She learned that God wants to hear about all her desires. She noticed that not only did her children trust her and felt safe with her, but they also freely and openly came to her with their requests. Just like how God wants us to come to Him. She learned over the years, like many others I imagine, that God also speaks through our hearts or a burning we feel in our soul. After seeing her children approach her the way they were, it encouraged her to approach God the same way. She noticed that God was shaping and moulding her into the woman that He wanted her to be. Which is such a beautiful thing. The idea that as we seek God, He moulds us into the men and women that He desires us to be.

    She spoke on the story in John 10. The story of the Shephard and His flock, and how in vs 9 Jesus says that He is the gate and if anyone enters by me, he will be saved. From this verse, we learn. 

1. The sheep aren't standing around waiting for direction. They are moving around. They aren't waiting for someone to tell them to graze in the place that God has led them to. They simply grazed. It also reminded me that after we pray for an answer, we are to wait, well, what do “waiters” do? They serve. So, while we wait for the answer, we continue with our daily tasks and serving others.

2. They are enjoying the provisions that God has already given them. Ouch. That preaches. I don't know about you, but I have definitely complained about something I prayed and asked God for. They also aren't waiting for another door. They have already walked through the gate, Jesus. How many gates do we want God to open up for us, but He already has, we just don't want to go through it. I'm walking through one of those doors as we speak.

3. The Shepherd, Jesus, never leaves the sheep (us). He is always with us.

    Abby admired that more often than not, she questions His voice rather than act on Him. We ask for a sign and then question God when he gives us one.

    She hit the ball out of the park when she said that the question that the serpent asked Eve, 'Did God really say that?' is the same question we are asking today. Now, we are asking with a different spirit, but the same question. We think that if God just gave us all the answers, we would have more faith. But that's not how faith works. Hebrews 11:1,2 NKJV “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtain a good testimony.”

    She reminds us that we think the more info we have, the better. But our world of tech and the internet at our fingertips has taught us the exact opposite. We have so much stress, anxiety and worry these days. We have more answers than ever before and less peace of mind. Because God is infinite and we are finite, He knows that we can only handle the information that we need for today. He isn't keeping it from us to harm us, rather to protect and love on us.

    In Matthew 11:28 NKJV “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.” He says He wants us to bring our burdens to Him. Even if we don't feel like He is there or listening. He is there. He is likely working behind the scenes. We are trying to carry a yoke that doesn't fit us. We are trying to take on more knowledge than we can carry because we think it will help us, but in reality, it just hurts instead.

    God taught the speaker and is now teaching me to not only trust God's voice but also His character. Because God is trustworthy. I'm reminded of the phrase 'WWJD', what would Jesus do? When you are in a situation, and God feels quiet, think about how He would respond and do your best to act accordingly.

    She reminds us that when we fall for the deceiver and try to be like God and have more knowledge, we are being like Eve and failing. God gave Eve all the knowledge she would need for her life, and we need to trust that God has given and will give us all the knowledge at the correct time. He wants us to have freedom, and part of that freedom is freedom from worrying about tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 NKJV "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

    He wants to speak to us and have a relationship with us if we will only listen. If we are honest with ourselves, we may come to see that we treat our faith like a checklist or a to-do list at times. But God wants so much more for us than that, and if we will approach God with an open heart. He will reveal Himself to us. Something I'm working on. I have recently discovered that the Holy Spirit talks to me through reading plans. I don’t absorb very much of the Bible if I just read it. But if I follow a reading plan, the Holy Spirit uses it to transform me.

    It can also feel frustrating when you are earnestly seeking the Lord and an answer for something, and he hasn't answered yet and so you don't know what to do.

God also can't speak to a heart that is closed off to him. So check and see if your heart is turned off from him. Also, don't get upset and turn your heart off to God when He isn't answering you. I am guilty of that.

    If you are struggling to hear from God while waiting for an answer. Ask a friend to pray for you and with you. It's funny, just the other day I was feeling frustrated and waiting on God to answer a prayer. I got home and shared with hubby my frustration. He prayed, and God answered. Unfortunately, I didn't like the answer and wanted to pray again and get a different answer. But that's not how God works. So I accepted the answer and moved on. I decided to be grateful for the answer I had received and go from there. Don't close the door of communication with God. Keep it open. Be honest with Him. Emotions are okay. Good Infact. God gave them to us so we should bring them to Him. Read through the Psalms for comfort. The Psalms are full of lament and worship. Pray through the Psalms and share your heart with God.

I pray this encourages, challenges and blesses you today, friend. It certainly did for me.

God Bless

~Hannah

Hair Growth Routine & Guide

    Six months ago, I chopped my hair off. It was causing me issues, so I cut it off. I should have spent some time figuring out why my scalp was struggling, but I didn’t. As per usual, 2 months later, I started to regret it. Not the haircut itself, but the loss of length. I still stand by that decision, though. I have since decided to get back on track with my hair growth techniques that I used in the past. So I decided to go back to YouTube and see if there was anything new for hair growth. I researched as a teenager, and every few years, I look for updates. I figured there wasn't going to be anything new because there never is. Well, I was wrong. Okay, it may not be new information, but it is to me. Some of what I am about to share I already know and just maintaining it in my routine, or getting back on track, and some is new information.

    When it comes to products, don't judge a book by its cover. Meaning give the product you are using more than 15 min before you decide if you like it or not. Use it a few times to determine if it is good or not. This point isn't really a hair growth technique, more just interesting information that I didn't know about prior.

    

    Hot oil treatment. I have been doing hot oil treatments on and off for years now. Warm up a combination of olive oil, coconut oil and castor oil and apply it to your scalp and through out the rest of your hair down to your ends. All of these oils have their own benefits, I don't remember which ones were which, just that they complimented eachother. I also have a hot oil cap. So I apply the oil, cover my hair with a plastic bag, then put the cap on, plug it in and turn it on and sit under the heat for about 30 min. It's my understanding that to get the full benefits from the oil, it should be warm. Hence the cap. Plus, it’s really relaxing to just sit under that heat for a bit.

    You can detect the quality of your shampoo and conditioner by how many days you can go without washing. Again, interesting information/perspective. I have spent the majority of my life washing every other day. And when it's short, every day. I figured some people could go longer between washes if they had dryer scalps and such, or more often if they were more oily.

    Heat. Using heat on our hair tends to be a rather controversial topic. The second you mention growing healthier hair, everyone says throw out the heat tools. And sure, they aren’t wrong necessarily. You can use heat protectors for both blow drying and straightening. Yes, there are two different types of heat protection. You can use a cooler setting on your hair dryer, go all natural and get rid of all the heat tools or not change a thing about your styling tool usage. Personally, I am in the latter. I blow-dry it after each wash, and I don’t use heat protection. I am debating using a heat protector for blow drying, though. I was also encouraged years ago by a hair dresser that our hair can take some damage. It's not totally helpless and weak. That being said, my hair does not currently look good if I air dry it. It looks better if I air-dry it. I used to be able to do either one, and it would look great. Maybe once it's longer, I will be able to go back to that. I am also trying to research why it doesn’t look good air-dried at this time.

    Well, one video I watched suggested giving your hair two days of rest before using heat again. Which I get. So wash and blow-dry on day 1, and then on day 4 wash and blow-dry again. After watching this video, I started wondering about my hair and if I could get more days between wash day. I started questioning my shampoo and conditioner. Long story short, I learned that I have an oily scalp and need to change my shampoo and conditioner. I learned that I cannot have any oils or hydration ingredients added to it. Some people can even if they have oily hair. I cannot. So I went to YouTube to find some review videos on different shampoos for oily hair, and lots were suggesting L'Oreal Paris and other brands that I didn't know. When I went to Walmart, I figured I would read the labels and see which was the best choice. I kept seeing bottles that advertised oil and hydration, things I don't want. From the few minutes of searching. The only bottle I found that didn't have hydration attributes in it was L'Oreal Paris Hyaluron Pure shampoo and conditioner. So I brought it home and am using it now. It's been a few washes, with more time in between them, and I can see less oil on my scalp.  A few more washes, and I should have a good feel for this new shampoo and conditioner.

    Silk bonnet. I have been sleeping with one on for 6 years and love it to pieces. I think every woman should wear them. They prevent friction from your cotton pillow case. And because you don't wake up with bed head, it greatly reduces the amount of time brushing and handling it in the morning, aiding in keeping it cleaner longer. I was wearing a cotton bandana to work for a few reasons, but with my recent decision to up my hair game. I have switched to silk bandanas instead. Better for your hair. I will also wear it anytime I leave home. To protect my hair from the elements, including my bike helmet and my sun hat.

    Diet and exercise. We all know we are what we eat. Our hair is the last 'organ' to receive nutrients after everything else gets taken care of. So make sure you are eating healthy so that there are enough nutrients to go around. That, of course, looks different for everyone. Your hair especially needs iron, protein, biotin, omega -3, vitimans C, A and E.

    Exercise is also important. Moving our bodies and getting our heart rates up gets our blood pumping and endorphins flowing. That also looks different for everyone.

    Haircuts. Many people have bought into the idea that you have to trim your hair regularly in order to keep it healthy and growing strong. To get rid of the split ends. Which is both correct and incorrect. Yes, get a trim when you can see/feel your ends splitting. But if you trim every 6-8 weeks, you are likely just cutting off any progress that you have made. I also learned though one of the videos I watched, that your ends are not protected, which is why they eventually split and that to prevent that, you can use hair oil. I haven't looked into it much yet, but the principle sounds interesting. We never hear of people talking about split 'mids' just ends. Meaning that by constantly trimming off your ends, all you are doing is shortening your hair.

    Drinking lots of water and keeping your body and hair hydrated.

    It's also best to use a special hairbrush when brushing wet hair. The tangle teezer is  apparently the easiest and is good for thin hair, so I will likely invest in it shortly. Otherwise, I don't brush my hair when it is wet. I do use a barrel brush when I dry it, but I'm not trying to get tangles out when I'm drying it. Oh, I was led to believe for a long time that hair brushes were bad and wide-tooth combs were the only acceptable “brush” to use. Turns out that was also incorrect. There is a hairbrush for pretty much every part of your hair care routine, but you don’t need them all, though. And apparently, according to one YouTuber, the only time to use a wide-tooth comb is when you curl your hair and want to separate them a little and loosen it up. But of course, everyone will have a different opinion and experience with all of this information. Do what works for you and your hair.

    I also use leave-in conditioner after I shower. And at some point, I suspect I will use some hair oil for my ends once it gets a little longer. One of the videos I watched suggested that your hair only grows as far as your products/routine will allow. Again, interesting theory, likely has some exceptions, but still something worth looking into. I expect my hair is too short to bother with hair oil yet (it's now passing my collar bone.) but we shall see.

    I also only wash my roots, and the runoff washes my length, and I condition from my ears down. I do not need to condition my scalp. My scalp produces its own oil quite nicely and therefore doesn't need extra help. Also, your length and ends don't get dirty. You can likely see how far down your hair shaft the oil from your scalp has gone when you wash your hair. I noticed that I can see the line even more prominently now that I switched to a silk bandana for work and wear in general.

    Proper sleep. I don't have any evidence to back it up, mind you, but I do notice that when I'm sleeping well, my skin does well. Our cells are healing themselves while we sleep, so we need to give them their proper time to do so. So I suspect that our hair also benefits from proper sleep.

    Lastly. Scalp massage. Not only can it be relaxing, but it also stimulates the blood flow to your follicles below the surface of your scalp, encouraging hair growth. Some say to use your fingertips to avoid damaging your scalp. You can also buy massage tools. I just use my nails and scratch my scalp instead. Technically not a massage, but it does feel nice.

    Well, there it is, friend, my updated hair care routine that no one asked for. LOL I so enjoyed learning all this new information about products, routine, tools, etc that I just had to share with you all.

God Bless

~Hannah

My new silk bandana for work. Not a glamorous picture by any accounts, but an honest one. Taken right after I put my bandana on upon arriving to work. My favourite way to wear it is with the bow at the tip of my forehead.

Lessons from a Broken Vehicle

     About a month ago, our vehicle fell apart. It needed some repairs and was scheduled to be fixed. Then, on April 28th, hubby was on his way to pick me up from work when the exhaust fell off. He pulled over a block from my workplace and texted me, explaining what had happened. I walked to him, and we assessed the situation. The exhaust line had let loose and was now dragging on the ground. We decided to drive it slowly to the shop where his dad/our mechanic would assess the situation. As we are driving, I'm sitting in the passenger seat, looking at the back wheel via my side mirror. The tire didn't look straight, but I thought maybe I was seeing things. So I dismissed it. Turns out I was seeing things. The control arm for the back right tire broke off, taking the exhaust with it.

    We quickly realized that the vehicle was not going to be leaving the shop any time soon. Hubby was handed a set of keys for one of the vehicles that the shop ownes, in efforts to keep us on the road for a few days. We enjoyed that rental for the rest of that week. Hubby handed the keys back over on the following Monday. Holy Spirit directed hubby to purchase a bike so that he could commute to work.

    Before our vehicle was even scheduled to get fixed, we had been praying for a new vehicle, and God told us that one was on its way. No idea when or how, but it was coming. In faith, we are claiming that vehicle.

    This whole experience has been humbling and has taught us a lot. It has also been freeing. It's been freeing in a sense because unless we get on our bikes or walk, which we can do, we can't really go anywhere. Allowing us to just relax at home after work and on the weekends. After supper on the first Friday after the vehicle fell apart, before taking Blessing for her walk, hubby and I were sitting on the couch talking about how we couldn't go anywhere that weekend and how it would be relaxing because we would be 'stuck' at home and would have no obligations or expectations. Not that we had any in the first place that weekend. Hubby suggests that I am enjoying it that much more because I'm a homebug and enjoy being at home to sew. Which is true. That being said, I've been hangout out in the land of overtime at work for a while, so once I bike to and from work and do the extra hours, all I want to do is plop on the couch.

    It has been humbling because we have to rely on someone else to help us with groceries and errands, of which a friend/coworker has lovingly stepped up and offered to help in whatever ways she can. Thank you, Tara. It has given us a new perspective and shown us what it is like for those who don't have a car. Regardless of reason. I think part of how it has humbled me is that I almost feel embarrassed that we don’t have a vehicle, and yet, on the other hand, I’m not really minding it at all.

    This experience has also taken away our desire for takeout. Now, that being said, we don’t eat a lot of takeout anyway, but on the days when we want something different, or I am too tired to cook, we will hop into the car and go through the drive thru because it is convenient. Well, it’s no longer convenient. Because it’s not a 15-20 min bike ride each way, and if you are bringing it home, it's likely going to be cold when you get it home. So, it's no longer convenient. Yes, we could have it delivered, but that’s expensive, and we don’t want to pay a delivery fee.

    

    Our church is a 40 min drive away, so we simply watch online. Which we do from time to time when we can't attend in person for whatever reason. For a long time, I have not found Sundays to be restful because at 9am we leave for church and don't get home until 1 or 2pm. Our church is worth the drive, though. Once we get home, I take Blessing for her walk, and a little while after getting home from that, it's time to make supper. This Sunday, we slept in til 7, which I often do on a Sunday. Giving me plenty of time to get ready for church. I made breakfast and got ready for the day. The morning was relaxing and slow until it was time to sit down and watch church online. Powerful message. Part of our Sunday routine is getting lunch out on our way home. That first Sunday, we ordered pizza and had it delivered. Since then, we have simply been making lunch at home and saving our budget for other things. Without driving to Sarnia and back, Sundays are now restful for me, and I am so enjoying it. Yes, we look forward to owning a vehicle again and being able to attend in person, but for now, I am enjoying this season. We also acknowledge the importance of corporate worship and being with your church family in person. But again, we are thankful that we can watch online and thankful for this slower season.

    We are also enjoying not paying the current gas prices. We did have to buy hubby a bike so he could commute to work. So you could say that instead of paying gas money , we moved some of that budget over for a bike for him. But that will be paid off soon, and we will officially be saving our gas money instead.

    When the vehicle broke down, I didn't have any plans on sharing any of this with any friends, family or writing about our situation. We didn't feel the need or want to share about it. We were simply just dealing with it and walking with God through it. It was a week and a half before I told my friend/coworker about it when it came up in conversation, and she then offered to help with groceries. But with it being such an interesting season with lessons I did not expect, I wanted to share all this with you.

    For hubby, it hurt his pride a little because he has always had a vehicle, and now he doesn't. It's also about freedom and lack thereof for him. He misses the convenience of owning a vehicle and the ability to simply get in the car and go for a drive. Whether that be 30 min down the road or a day trip. That being said, we are choosing to be grateful for all that God has given us. We have all that we need.

    It has now been 4 weeks since our vehicle broke, and 3 weeks since we have had a vehicle. At first, every time I took Blessing out for a bathroom break, I was surprised not to see our vehicle. It took about a week to stop looking for it.

    I thought that God would have brought us a vehicle by now. Heck, I figured it would have been within the first week. This afternoon, I was thinking about and comparing this season with our last vehicle less season a year and a half ago, when hubby got into a car accident, and the car ended up being totalled. We were only without a vehicle for a week that time, but it was a stressful week for us. It was also winter, which I suspect played a role in it because it is easier to get around on foot and bike without ice and snow. I also believe it has been “easier” this round because of how far we have come in our faith and relationships with God as individuals and as a couple, and that we have matured. Of which I thank God for the growth I am seeing in hubby and me.

    That being said, any day now, please Lord ;)

    Well, I’m not sure what the takeaway is for you, friend. But it has been an interesting experience for us. Maybe the lesson is to be thankful for all God gives and takes away.

God Bless

~Hannah

Beauty from Ashes

How To Be a Godly Christian Wife

    It’s been a topic on my mind for a little while. But I wasn’t really sure where to start. I came across a sermon from Lakepoint Church on YouTube about this very topic. I hit play and loved every minute of it. I laughed, I cried, it moved me, Bob. (I hope you got that reference) pastor Josh did such a great job preaching that I thought I would simply re-listen to it, take notes and share those notes with you.

    Pastor Josh started off by reminding/informing us that the enemy is after our family and our marriage. He points out that at the end of Genesis 2, Adam and Eve get married at the beginning of chapter 3, the enemy comes and tries to divide them. And unfortunately, he was successful. I have never looked at those verses like that together before, but I’m so glad I have now.

    

    His first point is that a Christian wife is a “Helper,” or as I like to say it and one translation, I think King James says it, “Helpmate.”

   

     He also first references Genesis 1:27-28: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

    

    Both men and women are equal in dignity and value. But different in function. God wants us to be fruitful and multiply. He wants us to enjoy our marriage bed, keep it holy, and then have dominion over the animals. We are to work together and complement each other. We are not to compete with one another, but to complement each other. God created men to be loving heads of their families and wives to be the respectful helper. If God created man and woman to be equal in function, then marriage and family would not work. I’ve heard many different analogies for this next point, and all have their place. Pastor Josh said it something like this, “if you marriage doesn’t have a head, then you have a corpse because you have a headless body. And if you and your husband both play the role of head, then you would have two heads on the body, and that's a freak.”

    

    The word “helper” also gets a bad rep. People think it is referring to an assistant or a glorified receptionist. When in reality, the same word is used to describe how God is our helper. It’s not a weak word, its a powerful word. When Jesus assended to heaven after being raised from the dead, He said that He would be sending His helper to us, meaninig the Holy Spirit, and when the word helper is used to describe God, many of the examples are in reference to military help. So to be called our husband’s helper is an honour, not a burden. As wives, we are called to help our husbands on the journey that God has given to them. Many of us have our own callings that God has put on our hearts outside of our marriages and families, but within the context of our marriage, our role is to be our husband’s helper.

    

    Pastor Josh goes on to remind us women that we have a special feminine power. A power that can be used for good or for evil. We need to use it for good and to build us our husbands. With this idea in mind, there are three types of marriages and how wives use their feminine power over their husbands.

    

    A wise  wife uses her power correctly. She builds up her husband. She encourages him. She does not tear him down.

   

     A foolish wife wastes that power. She doesn’t know or care about her power. Likely doesn’t know about it. She isn’t trying to tear her husband down; she just doesn’t know how to use her power wisely.

    

    An evil wife knows she has power and uses it against her husband. Manipulating and nagging him. Tearing him down and controlling him. As I’m writing these notes, I’m thinking to myself, “Oh my goodness, that was me.” Thank you, Jesus, that I am no longer that wife and am daily learning to use my feminine power wisely.

    

    He then made a cute reference to Winston Churchill and his wife. They were filling up their gas tank and noticed that the attendant was an old high school boyfriend of hers. Windson Churchill made a comment that if his wife had married that man, she would be the wife of a gas station attendant. She responded that he would have been the Prime Minister. Suggesting that regardless of who she married, that man would be the prime minister. A cute story shows the power that a wife has.

    

    Ladies, we have the power to build up or to break down our husbands and families. As someone who didn’t use her power wisely and, by the grace of God, has since learned to use it wisely, take it from me. Use your power wisely and watch things change in your marriage and family.

    

    Second point in the sermon. A Christian wife is submissive to her husband.

   

     Ephesians 5:22- 27 “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love our wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present to her himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

    

    Submission is not… All woman submitting to all men. That’s Islam. We submit to our own husbands. It's not all women to all men, just wives to their own husbands. Also, women can be leaders in the community or at work, but not at home. Because we as wives are called to submit to our husbands, but not to every man on the planet.

    

    It is also not submission to sin or abuse. We are not called to submit when our husband is leading us into sin, whether that be deliberate or accidental. We are also not called to submit to abuse. If he is abusing you, you don’t have to take it. I pray that no one reading this is submitting to abuse. Anyways.

    

    It is also not “no voice, no choice.” I’m bad for playing this card. The enemy will start attacking me worth and then I take away my own voice and choice when hubby wants my opinion or feedback on something. I will then tell him I’m submitting, and he calls me out and tells me that that’s not what submission is. And he is right. Its not. Submission is respecting our husbands and the decisions that they make for our marriages and families. The whole reason why God gave us to our husband is because they need our voices and input.

    

    It’s also not waiting until you think he deserves it. The Bible doesn’t say to submit if he does x,y or z. It simply says to respect and submit. I also deeply failed in this category for a long time. I was also encouraged not to submit if there wasn’t anything to submit to at the time. Thankyou Lord for working on me and changing me. I’m still a work in progress, but, by the grace of God, I am better than I was.

   

     What submission is..

    

    “Honouring his role as the loving head of the family and taking a posture that acknowledges, encourages and follows his leadership in both words and actions as the head of the family.” Pastor Josh.

    

    We don’t submit simply when it pleases us. We submit to our husbands in reverence to God.

  

     In reality, when both husband and wife are acting in their roles, both roles are easy. Submission is easy when you know your hubby loves you and is doing his best to care for you. Also, there are very few times when a husband will have to play the “submit” card. Usually it's when we wives are deeply in need of a break but refuse to take it. Our loving husbands will then tell us to go and take a bath, have a girls' day, or whatever fills us up.

   

    The pastor brings up the principle that the husband is the head and the wife is the neck, and therefore she can turn him anywhere she wants. He and his wife watched “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” and at one point, the mother tells her daughter that she can turn her husband anyway she wants. Wives, take it from someone who has tried this theory: it doesn’t work. Nor should it.

    

    Proverbs 12:4 “A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.” We are not the neck, we are his crown. We bring glory and honour to our husbands. We get to bless them. We don’t manipulate or control them.

    

    Pastor Josh reminded us that the crown signifies that there is something special about the person wearing it. Without your crown, you are just another person walking down the street. But, with a crown on, you are made important and special. I have two coworkers that I am close with and often talk to them about hubby. One day, one of them said that despite only meeting my hubby a few brief times, she knew he was a good man because of the way that i walk about him. She is correct, I do have a wonderful husband. Wives, by our words and actions, we are communicating who our husband’s is to us and hopefully his special how special he is to us. I have also been the wife who is decay in my husband’s bones and have been called out on it a few times over the years. Let me tell ya, not fun. Be his crown ladies, not decay in his bones. Trust me, it will bless you both.

    

    Third point in the sermon. A Christian wife respects her husband.

    

    Ephesians 5:31-33 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” 32 This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

    

    We respect our husbands with place and pros. We respect him by giving him the appropriate place in our lives. God first and then our husbands. Then, the kids and the rest of life. In my case, I struggle with putting my hobbies before my husband. I’m working on it though, and the nights that I would rather sew or worl on a blog post, I have to stop myself and think about what I am prioritizing. Because even if I’m not in the mood to watch a movie, I know that the nights I choose to watch a movie with him over sewing, we always have a great time together, and I am thankful for the choices I made. There is a place and time for hobbies and all the things. For me, it's usually during the day on Saturday, and then we will watch a movie together that night.

    The last point that the pastor makes is that a husband has a part of a man’s heart that is reserved for you, and whatever you say, he will believe. So speak life over and to him. Writing out that part sentence was more convicting than I was expecting. Not towards hubby, though, towards myself. Hubby has recently been learning this in his own life and has been encouraging me to do the same in my life. So use your words wisely, ladies, towards your hubby and towards yourself. Lift him up, don’t tear him down and pray for him.

“Encouragement in the mouth of a wife is strong in the heart of a husband.” Pastor Josh.

    Thank you for making it to the end of this post, friend. It's double the length I usually write. But when I started listening to the video on YouTube, I knew I had to share the message with you. I pray that it blesses and challenges you as much as it did me.

God Bless

~Hannah