virtuous woman Archives -

January 15, 2021January 14, 2021

Proverbs 31: A Virtuous Woman – A Beautiful Heart.

I can’t believe these are my last two verses of my Proverbs 31 reading journey. I have learned so much from these verses about a virtuous woman. I pray my notes have been as helpful to you in growing your relationship with the Lord, as it has been helpful to me.

I wish I could say I have instantly become a virtuous woman, but it is a journey. Everyday just trying to love Jesus and my family more.

So let’s discuss the last two verses – Is your heart beautiful?

Since having a baby, I know for sure the woman’s body changes. Not in a bad way, but things never completely go back to the pre-baby body. I even started getting my first gray hairs when I was first married around the age of twenty-five. Oh how soon, we as women learn that “beauty” does not last.

I believe God made men and women different. There is something special and beautiful about a woman’s body. I read an interesting book that argued how women are the “crown of creation.” Other than the Sabbath rest day, we are the last thing that God created.

That should make us a feel a little special. 😉

As women, I feel we are all beautiful in our own different and unique ways. Some of us have luxurious hair, or gorgeous skin. Some of us have a perfect smile or dreamy eyes.

One thing I notice, as women, we often forget we only look “perfectly beautiful” maybe ten percent of the time.

Most of us especially as mothers, we have pulled back hair, with baby hairs growing back ( postpartum hair loss is no joke), we have no makeup on, we most likely have sweatpants on with a food stains somewhere on us.

While I am blessed to have a husband who would still tell me I look beautiful, I know that is not the word I would choose.

I am reminded of the Bible story when Samuel is going to choose King David to be king of Israel.

Based off appearance, David was not Samuel’s first pick. But God said –

So let me ask – Is your heart beautiful?

Most people are remembered for their beautiful character and heart, instead of just their beautiful face.

True beauty is a pure heart, a clean tongue, serving hands, a kind spirit, and a love for others above yourself.

So as a virtuous woman, on the days you are wearing sweatpants, know that your lasting beauty comes from the Lord. While its okay to dab on some concealer and coat your lashes with mascara – The beauty the Lord provides you with is a beautiful heart.

I also really like the KJV version – “Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

It says let her “deeds” publicly praise her, not let her words or other people praise her.

Are we living as virtuous women for verbal praise?

I know sadly, sometimes I do. As a mom, sometimes I selfishly want to hear – “Good job!” “You’re amazing!” “I don’t know how you do it!.”

A virtuous woman instead of waiting for her own praise, should be praising the Lord. We should daily be praising – “I praise you Lord for giving me my children.” “Thank you Lord for my husband’s job. “ “What a blessing this meal is.”

Let my works praise the Lord and not myself.

I hope as a virtuous woman my deeds declare:

She loved her children.

She cherished her marriage.

She served her church.

She was an encouragement to others.

She showed Jesus through her words and her actions.

So remember :

Is your heart beautiful?

December 11, 2020December 10, 2020

Proverbs 31: A Virtuous Woman – Blessed & Praised!

Happy Friyay! I am excited to share what I have learned about being a virtuous woman from Proverbs 31: 28-29. I found so many good thoughts just from reading those verses and looking at Bible commentaries.

From these verses I learned:

Little Eyes are watching you.

Your Husband wants to praise your excellence.

Be Jesus to your family.

Isn’t this verse just goals for motherhood and being a wife.

In the Benson Commentary it says: “Her children arise up – Whose testimony is the more considerable, because they have been constant eye witnesses of her whole conduct and therefore, must have seen her misdemeanors, if there had been any, as well as her virtues.”

Our children are our CONSTANT eye witnesses.

We can put on a show for the church ladies, but our kids see us when we are on the phone and they just knocked their plate on the floor while karate kicking their brother. 😉

They SEE how we react, either with godly correction spirit or “momma is about to lose it” spirit.

Her husband praises her.

Just like our children, our husbands see the true us.

And just like with our children – when we are repeating ourselves for the 16th time to our husband. We SHOULD say it with kindness. 😉

It is our small actions that we do everyday that we will be remembered by with our children and husband.

“The words of praise which the husband in Proverbs 31:28 is supposed to have addressed to the ideal wife.” -Barnes Notes on the Bible

The ESV Bible says – “many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

The NIV Bible says – “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Notice her husband praises her… the world doesn’t praise her…. the church doesn’t praise her…. her friends do not praise her… Whose praise are we living for?

In her husband’s eyes, she surpasses them all. As a wife and mother we are to serve Christ first, then our husband and children.

There is no grading agenda for what level of excellence you are at as a wife. Each family has different needs and seasons they go through.

A virtuous woman serves her family as Jesus would. We have to be Jesus to our family before we can truly be Jesus to anyone else.

So remember:

Little eyes are watching you.

Your husband wants to praise your excellence.

Be Jesus to your family.

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

November 6, 2020November 5, 2020

Proverbs 31: A Virtuous Woman – Styled in apparel, words, and actions.

Hey guys! I am so happy to finally be completing my Proverbs 31 virtuous woman study. It has been a year since I last uploaded a blog about Proverbs 31. Milo wasn’t even born yet with the last one I wrote. Now he’s 16 months old!

Massive facepalm moment but I was busy about learning how to be a mom. Then goodness gracious hasn’t 2020 been everything but normal! 😉

But now, here I am, ready to finish. So today I want to blog about verses 25-27.

This verse is so short but has so much meaning behind it.

How many of us when we get up in the morning are like, “oh now let me put on my strength, and where is my dignity… the washing machine maybe!”

Now I understand that those are not physical items we can put on. But what if we tried to today.

Our strength is from the Lord.

What if we prayed every morning for the Lord to clothe us with His strength.

She is also clothed in dignity. Now dignity means “the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.”

Another word for it could be clothed in righteousness. Not our own righteousness of course, but Christ.

I recently have been trying to memorize the Bible verse Galatians 3:27.

When I think about getting dressed in the morning, how much more would it change my appearance knowing I was to be clothed with God’s strength and Christ righteousness.

Now, it might not change my clothes so much because I understand those days of sweatpants for stay at home moms.

But it would change my attitude towards positive thinking, knowing I have God’s strength to get me through this day. It would change my “glow” knowing I should strive to be a reflection of Christ to my son and husband.

Whew that little part is a lot to take in… I am still working through these realizations myself. But the verse doesn’t end there.

“She laughs at the time to come.”

Another version says she “rejoices in time to come.”

Some commentaries mentioned how this could be talking about the end time and her faith in God. I think it somewhat has to do with now.

Even if “time to come” means tomorrow, two weeks from now, 5 years from now, or the last days on earth, her faith is in God.

I strive to continue to build my faith to be like this verse.

I like how it says she laughs or rejoices in Proverbs 31:25. She is still showing womanly beauty with her smile, while showing confidence in her Lord to guide the rest of her days.

As a stay at home mom, this one is a big accomplishment. My son is only 16 months and I already can tell he makes my temper flair some times. I can only imagine when he’s ten.

“She opens her mouth with wisdom.” Now, you don’t have to be a scholar of some sort to have wisdom. I was always taught wisdom comes from experience. That’s why a lot of older people have more of it. 😉

I pray as a mother, I don’t forget the importance of the simple words of wisdom. Words I say everyday can actually be pretty wise – “Brush your teeth.” “Clean up.” “Don’t touch the hot stove.”

All of those things actually have consequences. Don’t brush your teeth – cavities. Don’t clean your room – even bigger mess to clean later. Touch the hot stove – burn.

More important simple words of wisdom are – “Let’s pray about that.” “What does the Bible say.” “Jesus loves you.”

May I always remember the importance of simple wisdom.

“The teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”

Another version says, “gives instruction with kindness.”

How many times do I bark instruction to my family? Too many times to count sadly. What if I just changed my tone and spoke with more kindness.

I know on days when I try I feel so much better, and my family seems happier.

So everyday before you are about to repeat yourself for the tenth time to your kids AND husband ( 😉 ) breathe AND speak with kindness.

I actually like the NLT version a little better – “She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.”

“She carefully watches everything in her household.” This is something I have been striving to do. I have really picked up an interest in traditional homemaking. There are several great YouTube videos and blogs with lots of great ideas.

But most importantly, I have been realizing my home is a blessing and a job. The Lord has blessed me with a home to take care of. While many of the chores are not my favorite thing to do, they are something that God has made me a steward of.

“Suffers nothing from laziness.” This is another thing I have been challenging myself with. I often tend to put things off because I want to watch a show, check Instagram, or finally have a moment to myself.

I have challenged myself to do as much as I can now. If I have 5 minutes – wash Milo’s sippy cups, if I have 15 minutes – the bathroom actually takes a shorter amount of time to clean than you think. 😉

Dust or fold laundry while you watch a YouTube.

By applying this to my life, my home has been easier to clean, and I am actually getting a lot of things accomplished.

I encourage everyone to write a schedule for yourself, check yourself to see if you are being lazy in anyway.

I understand as a mom, somedays you just need to lay on the couch and snuggle your teething toddler. But someday’s toddlers are the perfect companion to tag along around the house while doing chores. 🙂

I feel like I could write blog post on each of these verses alone. I hope we can continue to dwell on these verses the rest of the week.

Remember

Put on some strength and dignity.

Smile with confidence from the Lord.

Speak with wisdom and kindness.

Don’t be lazy. 😉

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

May 17, 2019May 17, 2019

Proverbs 31- A Virtuous Name – Smile – God Saw!!

Once again, I am trying to be happily unaccomplished. If you haven’t read my latest post about the Proverbs 31 woman, check it out here!

I had planned for this post to go up much much much sooner, but as we discussed… I am happily unaccomplished.

So now I am so excited to share with you more from my Bible study about the Proverbs 31 woman!

I hope and pray that your heart gets the same blessing that mine did. Just from pondering a few verses about the Proverbs 31 Woman.

Proverbs 31: 23 – “Her husband is known in the gates; when he sits among the elders of the land.”

Do you leave a good name for your husband? Does your husband leave a good name for you?

Isn’t it amazing how my character is not only a reflection of me, but of my husband as well.

Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.”

When my husband and I became married, we became one. Not only am I a character reflection of my husband but I am a character reflection of Christ.

Take a moment and take some time to think, to reflect on your character…

How am I seen through my husbands eyes? What do his friends think of me? What does my community think of me? Am I a reflection of Christ?

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

So to review what all this woman ALREADY does:

-seeks wool and flax

-brings food from a far

-provides food for the household

-considers a field and buys it

-stretches hands to distaff and holds spindle

-extends hand to poor and needy

-makes tapestry for herself

-AND NOW makes linen and sells it.

She is a woman of many talents…. But aren’t we all when we stop and think about it.

Think about even the small things we get done during the week.

-Dresses kids… or husband in my case 😉

-Grocery shopping

-Cooks multiple meals a day

-Works a full/part time job. (Being a mom is a full time job just on its own.)

-Cleans the house

-Helps a friend whether through action or just listening

-Does something for herself whether that’s a hobby or just trying to get 5 minutes alone. 😉

The blessing in all this is the Lord sees all your labor! Even when no one else does.

So my note to myself this week, is to remember that even my small and most repetitive tasks are important and can be done with a cheerful heart.

And when no one sees my work, or thanks me. God knows…and He saw.

Leave a good name!

Make some linen,

Or whatever your task at hand might be 😉

Smile… God saw!!!

Happy Friyay!

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

April 12, 2019April 12, 2019

A Virtuous Woman – Being Happily Unaccomplished.

I wonder if the Proverbs 31 woman had as much of a hassle with her schedule? Did she ever feel like she is chasing a never ending list? Or that she considered herself a failure when she didn’t get everything on her list done.

I slightly feel that way while writing this. This was suppose to be uploaded 2 weeks ago… but life happens – sickness, business, work, church, family. Even my daily devotions have been put on the back burner. Did the Proverbs 31 woman struggle like this?

I can not say for certain, but I imagine so. I remember the story of Martha and Mary when Jesus came to their house.

Mary sat down by the Lord and listened to Him. But Martha, was me. I am the girl running around the house before anyone visits, marking my check list, trying to accomplish everything in one day.

Martha finally asked Jesus. I imagine she said this with her hands being tossed in the air while she asked: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone. Tell her then to help me.” (Luke 10:40).

I feel that Martha was waiting for some “oh Martha, you have done so much, the house is spotless, the food smells delicious…”

But instead the Lord said, “Martha Martha…”

Imagine your name… “Brittany, Brittany…

“Martha, Martha, you are so anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 41-42

Instead of cleaning, Mary chose to spend time with the Lord. Instead of cooking an elaborate meal, she chose time to spend with the Lord. Instead of checking a list, she chose time to spend with the Lord.

I want to be like Mary. The greatest thing I can do every day is to spend time with the Lord. As long as I accomplish that, everything seems to fall into place. I am then more encouraged to use my time and talents as gifts from God.

I encourage you, write this verse down. I did and kept it on an index card in my room all through college. Or write it in your planner as a reminder every day.

I initially planned to just write a short introduction and continue on with Proverbs 31: 23-24… But my heart now feels content.

I needed this and I hope you did too. I did not get done my initial idea, my schedule will now be a little off, I spent more time than planned writing this post….

But that’s okay.

“Brittany, Brittany has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

What will you chose?

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt