Proverbs 31 Challenge: Giving

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 31:20

According to the National Philanthropic Trust, 89% of American households donate to charity. Wow, America sounds pretty giving, right? Right. Until you find out the median household income is around $52,000 and we only average $1,600 in annual donations. If I were better at math, I'd find out what percentage that is exactly.

I think we all like to believe we're pretty giving. No one wants to consider themselves a scrooge, after all. I'm even tempted to say, "Hey, if that's the American average, then means I'm above average! No need to change anything!" Even if you give your full tithe, sponsor a child, and donate to your local Christian radio station, there's always more you can do.

The Proverbs 31 woman wasn't stingy with her donations. She didn't wait for a disaster to strike in order to give. Her hand was open to the poor; she reached out to them. She wasn't one to wait, expecting the poor to come to her and beg for help. She looked for them and looked to help them.

I'm sure this doesn't mean she simply gave them money. Donating money is probably the easiest thing to do in America. It doesn't take much sacrifice, since money (even during recession) is abundant. It doesn't take much time or effort, either, especially with text message and online facilitators. Worst, it doesn't fill the most urgent and desperate need: the need to hear the gospel. Giving money is good, but it should only be the beginning of our giving.

This week's challenge might be to start carrying a bit of change in your purse or car to hand out to people in need. It might be to make a habit of volunteering at a nearby shelter. It might be to commit to sponsoring a child in Bolivia and writing to him for the next 10 years. Whatever you may choose to do, reach out to the poor giving not only your money, but also your time and the gospel.

Check it Out!

There are so many awesome links to share this week, I have no idea where to start!

I quit my job this Monday and I'm going to have a full week and a half free of both work and school! Can you tell I'm excited? I've been filling my tentative schedule for that time with house projects, DIY's and seed starting plans. Can't wait!

Aside from excited, I'm also a bit scared. Relying on just one income is going to be a huge change for Richie and me, but I keep reminding myself that I'm doing this whole school thing and taking big risks for the sake of our family, including our future monkeys. And thinking of future monkeys, of course, reminds me of this post in which a mom of four explains to her beautiful kids why she doesn't want them to be happy.

It also reminds me of Jen Lula's lovely maternity photos. Her blog is on my list of daily reads and her pregnancy posts so far have been wonderful to read.

While we're on the subject of children and pregnancy, Albert Mohler wrote about the 100 million baby girls that have been killed either in the womb or shortly after birth in countries such as China and India. Its truly heartbreaking to read about parents' hatred toward their own helpless baby daughters.

So how successful was the controversial Focus on the Family Super Bowl ad? Boundless shares a letter.

What if the ad had only reached one person? Would it have been worth it? Jon Acuff reminds us that numbers don't really matter.

So I guess the focus of today's links is obvious and it couldn't be more appropriate. With Congress positioned to vote on a health care bill that would allow our tax money to fund abortions, we need reminders to stand up for the helpless and pray for our leaders.

Photo of the Week: Fremont Flowers

Fremont, CA is a beautiful town. It's full of tall trees, green grass, and surrounded by hills worthy of an appearance in Narnia or Lord of the Rings. On our little walk that ended up being a pretty huge walk, Sarah and I saw more flowers than you could find in all of Las Vegas. People must have thought we were crazy to be so excited about simple flowers like these.

                     

Change in Northern California

Ever experience something so monumental, you can't seem to process it? Has it ever happened that after such a monumental event, more monumental little things keep happening until you can't process anything at all? That's how I feel right now and I have no idea how to write this blog post.

I guess I should start by explaining why I was in Northern California this weekend. My husband, a select group of our youth group, plus a close friend who is pretty much responsible for the whole trip, and I traveled 11 hours to San Jose solely to attend the Transformed Conference put on by Living Waters.

Confession: I was more excited about traveling some place new and having a slightly better chance than usual of meeting Kirk Cameron. I was more excited about hanging out with Sarah, one of my best friends, and going thrift shopping* with her. I was more excited about taking photos and enjoying the cool breeze and being close to the Golden Gate bridge and exploring. I was even more excited about my outfits. This is all painful to confess.

Even when we arrived at the venue and took our seats, I was more excited about everything but the word of God. I hadn't really traveled 11 hours to hear brilliant men of God preach and learn from them. I had traveled for the sake of traveling.

All I'll say for now is that by the end of the first session, my whole outlook had changed. I felt conviction and by God's grace and strength was able to humble myself and change on the spot pretty quickly. Somehow, my typically stubborn pride let go easily enough and I was able to submit to God as I should have from the beginning. I know he's the one who deserves all the honor and glory for it because every time I've tried to overcome my pride alone, I've failed horribly.

From that moment until this one, God's been teaching me through his word preached by faithful men like I hadn't experienced in some time. I'd like to share it all with you, but its so much and covers so many topics that we'll have to spread it out over the next few weeks. The upcoming journal entries will be on evangelism, modesty, decisions, and ministry. I hope you'll come back and stick around so I can share all this with you.

*Our little thrifting excursion ended up making the whole group late to the conference and I still feel terrible about it. Sorry, guys. Sarah and I will find a way to make it up to you.

Style Idea 10: Nor Cal Adventure

If I weren't as poor and busy as I am, traveling would most likely be my favorite hobby. This past weekend, I got to visit Northern California for the first time and loved it. Our stay was shorter than I would have liked and we were preoccupied with things more important than spontaneous adventure (namely, the Transformed Conference put on by Living Waters) but when I get to return I think I'll pack an outfit like this. It would fit perfectly with the area's glistening green hills, lawns full of grass (a rarity in Las Vegas), towering trees, gigantic flowers, and random stretches of semi-wilderness. 

 

Brown Ruffle Purse: $68.00 Urban Outfitters

Romantic Blush Dress: $168.00 Anthropologie

Black Bloom Sash: $95.00 Percy Handmade

Black Sandals: $59.95 DSW

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Investing

She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

Proverbs 31:19

Distaff? Spindle? I'm sure there are ladies out there who are familiar with both terms, but if you're like me, you might need to look them up. Proverbs 31:13 tells us the virtuous woman seeks wool and flax, materials that can be used to make threads and fabrics. Today's verse is the second part to that.

A distaff is a staff with a fork at one end used in hand-spinning thread. A chunk of wool or flax can be put on the fork so that fibers can be draw out and spun using a hand-held tapered rod called a spindle. In verse 19, we see the virtuous woman take on the work she had collected material for.

As I'm sure you can imagine, spinning thread by hand is hard work that requires patience, diligence, skill, and time. The Proverbs 31 woman doesn't shy away from the work, though.

I think the busyness of life today keeps many people from trying, or even wanting, to do things that require as much effort and practice as spinning thread. We want things done quickly and easily so we can move on to the next item on our to-do list. Taking the time to gain a skill is just too time-consuming.

While working smart and saving time are valuable, some things are better when we invest time in them. Think about what areas of your life this is true for. Maybe instead of microwave meals you could start cooking or instead of entertaining yourself with television shows you could start reading more. Instead of relying solely on others' teaching you could also study the Bible for yourself. Investing a little more will reap huge gains.

Photo of the Week

                          

Ever since Richie and I moved out on our own, I've been making waffles almost every Sunday morning. Its the best part of the weekend and it gives me something to look forward to on slow Thursdays like today.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

The story of the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4 really stood out to me last week. It jumped from the pages, meandered through my thoughts, convicted me, called me to change.

People tend to think I'm shy. The truth is, I don't really feel comfortable starting conversations or even leading conversations because I'm always afraid of being pushy. I seem to always think that people are not interested in what I say or don't want to talk to me; I don't talk much so they're not forced to talk to me. Its really just an excuse and I'm being over-protective of myself.

In John 4, Jesus is in the middle of a long walk from Judea to Galilee. He stops in Samaria despite the differences (read: hate) between Jews and Samaritans. Hundreds of years prior to the time of Jesus, the Jewish inhabitants of Samaria began to intermarry with the Gentiles that had been sent there when Israel was exiled. Contact with Gentiles meant ceremonial impurity. Contact with the impure meant impurity too. So, since the Samaritans were constantly impure, according to Jewish standards, any Jew who wanted to remain pure could not have contact with them.

Jesus arrives in Samaria at around noon, sends his disciples out to buy food, and takes a seat by a deep well. A woman enters the scene, planning to draw water while no one else is around. She visits the well during the hottest time of the day when she knows she won't run into anyone. You see, she's not just another ceremonially unclean Samaritan; she's also unclean because of her obvious sin: she's had five husbands and now lives in adultery with a sixth man. Whether she was ridiculed or just felt shame for her reputation is not known, but its no coincidence that she avoids people.

What would I have done if I'd been the one sitting by that well? Honestly, I probably would have smiled at her and returned to staring at the rocks by my feet. I would have just sat there in silence, waiting for her to either speak to me or leaver after drawing her water.

Jesus took a different approach. He spoke to her first. It was simple, really: "Give me a drink." He started the conversation, knowing who she was, knowing the challenges that would come in their conversation, knowing how sassy she would be in some of her replies. He spoke to her instead of waiting for her to approach him.

The funny thing is, she later takes the initiative too. When she realizes who it is she's speaking to, she runs into the village full of the people she'd been avoiding to tell them the good news. She had found the Messiah, the Savior of the world! Did her shame matter any more?

So why should my pride and possible popularity matter? I know there are people around me like the woman by the well, people who are ready to embrace Christ when they hear about his forgiveness because they've been prepared by the Spirit. What do I have to be afraid of if there are some who are ready to believe? I also know I am the woman by the well, saved by grace from gross sin by a loving God who chose to reveal himself to me. I found the Messiah and nothing else should matter.

Style Idea 9

The weather in Las Vegas is lovely today! Its just perfect for lunch at the park but I'm unfortunately stuck at the office. This quarter's classes are almost over and I've noticed that having studied color theory has affected my wardrobe choices. I love using complimentary colors and analogous schemes in outfits!

Striped Spring Dress: $24.00 Tulle

Knit Cardigan: $18.90 Forever 21

Marble Bracelets: $4.00 Charlotte Russe

Mustard Purse: $26.80 Forever 21

Lovely Blue-Green Flats: $34.99 Mod Cloth

Proverbs 31 Challenge: Thankless Work

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

Proverbs 31:18

After five verses (Proverbs 31:12-17) detailing the virtuous woman's hard work, we get to see that it is not in vain. She works hard and works well and profits from it. She experiences first-hand the good things her efforts bring.

Have you ever felt all the hard work you put into things goes unnoticed? There's no real reward for polishing a kitchen sink, aside from the satisfaction of seeing it sparkle. Maybe you arrive home from a difficult day of work and all you have as a reward is tense muscles and a headache. Many times, the long hours you dedicate to a ministry go unnoticed. Thankfulness is not guaranteed when you take on hard work.

I don't think it was any different for the woman of Proverbs 31. She probably felt discouraged at times like we do: "What's the point of doing the bed, anyway? Its not like it really matters to anyone." She didn't let that permanently become her perspective, though, because she knew, she experienced, the good things her hard work brought.

Even though the work we do may seem to go unnoticed, it is not pointless. Think about what would happen if you didn't do the laundry, fax that paperwork, help the kids with homework, or prepare that meal ever. What would your family's, coworkers', fellow church members' lives look like if you never did any work? Just avoiding that is a huge reward!

This week, why don't we help another lady who might feel unappreciated? Lets encourage her to keep working hard all the marvelous things she does. Write her a note, send her a card, or give her a small nicely-packaged gift. It will mean the world to her to know that someone does notice all the things she does.