I was recently trying to decide what to talk about for a devotional at the bridal shower. The bride works for one of my favorite grocery stores. Perhaps you’re fortunate enough to live near one of the 418 Trader Joe’s in the world. I decided to do a little research about this chain of stores. For several years Trader Joe’s has ranked first or second as consumers’ favorite grocery store. (Who wouldn’t […]
Read More →Too Fast.
Do you have little children — you know, those charming, unpredictable, exhausting little ones that always lead people to say, “Oh, they grow up so fast. Enjoy these days while you can”? I remember sweet white-haired ladies and elderly gentlemen saying those sorts of things to me while our six young children and I all marched through grocery stores or poured one-by-one out of the van. Those comments were so […]
Read More →Less Is More.
I’ve had a garden every summer for the past thirty-five years. It’s generous to call some years’ efforts a garden. Different years meant different babies newly arrived or still in the works during garden seasons. Babies were born in April, May, June, August, September, October (of different years, obviously 🙂 ). Those years were a bit more challenging. I called the gardens of those years my treasure hunt gardens. Go out and […]
Read More →A Giveaway Winner!
Thank you all for your responses to our giveaway! It is so encouraging to hear what God has been teaching you through His Word. And thank you for all your words of thanks and encouragement. I count it a privilege to have studied together with you all! My prayer is that the lessons we learned in our study will stay with us and change the way we view and live […]
Read More →Feeling Stuck
I hear a child’s frustrated crying in the kitchen. I go to investigate, and I find my 2-year-old son pushing with all his might against a chair, angry that it’s not moving. He has plans, but something has gone wrong. Soon I realize why he’s upset. The back of the chair has run into an open cupboard door and stopped his movement. But his head is down, his brow is […]
Read More →Prayer Makes Things Happen
“The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16, NASB). Do I really believe this verse? If I do, why don’t I pray more? Our sermon on Sunday was on prayer. I came away challenged to make prayer the first thing I do: – When I get up in the morning – When I’m tempted to say things I shouldn’t – When I don’t know what I should do about something – When misunderstandings occurs – When I’m […]
Read More →Time for a Giveaway!
I’m already looking forward to our next study in November! I’m praying for all you ladies who are still working your way through Proverbs31. I’m so glad you’re not quitting just because we’re not posting any new lessons. If you get done, and you haven’t done some of our earlier studies, check the archives. There are five other studies just waiting to be done! 🙂 I’m also continuing to pray […]
Read More →Thirty (One) Days in Proverbs 31 for Busy, Busy Mamas, Day 31: A Mighty Woman of Valor
Remember that list of military images we’ve been keeping as we’ve studied the verses of Proverbs 31? Today we are going to look at that list one more time, while we consider the closing verse of the chapter. Assignment: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s gracious work in your heart as we draw our study of this chapter to a close. Pray that knowledge will become wisdom, and that what you have learned […]
Read More →Thirty Days in Proverbs 31 for Busy, Busy Mamas, Day 16: Her Candle
We’ve looked at the valiant wife rising up early to feed her household and assign responsibilities for the day. We can probably all agree that getting up before the rest of the family certainly does bear good fruit. But now verse 18 says her candle doesn’t go out at night either! No wonder this kind of wife is hard to find! As we take a closer look at this verse, […]
Read More →Thirty Days in Proverbs 31 for Busy, Busy Mamas, Day 1: The Root
The virtuous wife of Proverbs 31 is one inspiring lady! Look at all she accomplished — spinning, weaving, sewing, real estate, farming, shopping, ministering to the poor, managing her household. But she can also be a bit discouraging. How in the world did she ever manage to do all those things? I can remember days when it was a challenge to even get out of my bathrobe before my husband came […]
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