awesome women-the Prov 31 woman

My boss sent me this following story.
Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed." She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phon! e back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse. Mom then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails. Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed." "I'm on my way," she said.! She put some water into the dog's dish and put t he cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework. In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals. About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he did...without another thought. Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer...? CAUSE WE ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL.....! (and we can't die sooner, we still have things to do!!!!)

You know when I read this, I felt so much better. I thought I was the only obessive woman that was alive. Five years ago, I would have read this story and I would have felt guilty. But you know this is the Proverbs 31 woman. Matter of fact, it takes 21 verses to explain all the things she does.

It's amazing how the enemy takes the good we do in life and corrupts it. How many women feel today what I felt 10 years ago. Guilty-I often felt guilty for the expectations I had set for myself.
At the same time I know that the "doing" was also a distraction from taking time to "refill my tank" to dive into the Word, to fall to my knees or just to sit in his presence. We are such a crazy and busy society! It is so hard to find balance, and for many they never do. They quit before they see the fruit of their labors.

I have to tell you folks. I praise God that he sustain me through this time of my life. God is so totally awesome! We women might be the silent busy ones in the background that helps others become successful. But that is okay
you see the Word says "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price [is] far above rubies"
See that- I am a person of value! more than the price of rare rubies
I just never realized it or believed it. It took me 40 years -22 of which I was a born again Christian-to understand God's calling of my life-as a woman-More specificall-A Martha

I love my life! I love the life I have travelled with all the pain and crisises I experienced
I am a standing testimony that God is faithful, that He is no respector of persons and that He loves us NO MATTER what!. How can I step back now, that the kids are grown not to share the message of God's love to other women
God loves you for who you are NOT for what you do!
The key is to fine balance-so my words of wisdom-
Women if you are struglling find another woman to come along side you-to pray with you-to tell you your okay-to tell you when your overdoing it-to help you run the race when your tired
Still Standing
Roxana

...having done all, to stand

I have been reading all my family and friends’ blogs, commenting to them via email and I finally decided it was time to move into the 21st Century and blog (what kind of name is that?) Anyway, I have been moved by much of what I have read in Lauren, Dennae, Dennis, and the blogs of others and I realized I am so blessed to have so many uncompromising Christians in my life.

So let me begin with why I picked the title of my blog..Still Standing,
After the devastation of Katrina, we all saw many things “not standing” and some of those were people. I don’t mean the ones that passed away, but those who remain living and “lost their faith” in the goodness of people and of God.

My life motto is about standing and the song I have chosen to describe my life is Casting Crowns’ latest song, “Lifesong”. The scriptures are rich with the words about standing. In Eph 6 talking about putting on the armor, Paul says, in verse
13 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, STAND and my prayer for my girls has always included in what Paul writes in Phil 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so …., I may hear of your affairs, that you STAND fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (No problem there girls! Your doing great! I’m proud of the two of you. Paul is always encouraging people to STAND strong in the Lord, In Phil 4 he begins with “So stand fast in the Lord and goes unto talking about rejoicing, being anxious for nothing, and finishes with the beautiful words:

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

(This describes my husband, my knight in shining armor, who always seems to have an inner peace that puts me into turmoil) (smile) (Love you babe)

And finally, by one of my favorite STANDs in Rev 6:17 Behold, I STAND at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

I see the devastation in New Orleans and I know that people without Faith can take no comfort in the promises of God. And I know the people who have called themselves Christians are being put to the test.

Now is the time to stand in the gap! For some of us that will mean giving up money and time, some of us will go there and help, some of us will stay here and help those who are in Phoenix. Some of us will give up being with our loved ones as they go and others will give up material things to buy for others. All that is good, but what they need more than anything right now, is for us to do Spiritual battle. We are so very willing to GO and do something, but you know its difficult to stand and pray, stand and intercede, I mean STAND and do Spiritual Warfare. You see running the race, sometimes calls us to stop and STAND. To take up our weapons of warfare and cover the backs of our brothers and sisters; 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 “ though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

The hardest thing to do, is this type of warfare, its easy to go and work with people, you see some good right away/ Its much harder to fall on your knees and envision every high thought that will enter those people’s minds, every reason they might have to fear, to have pain, to be anger, to have grief and sorrow. The hardest thing to do is STAND in the gap against SATAN and against what those people see as their reality, their reality is that harm has been done to them. Their reality is that everything that meant something is gone. My reality is so much different. My reality continues to believe in the sovereignty of God, the goodness of God, the eternal hope of God, the peace and the love that He has to offer, plans for good, plans that prosper and gives hope.

“Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I understand living through their type of devastation. We lost EVERYTHING when I was a child (except our lives), my husband and I lost 2 children and have gone through much lost. I know God was faithful then, and God is faithful now. The goodness of people and the faithfulness of God was there then and its here now. I know what I could have used then and I know what they can use now. They need for me, for us to STAND in the gap.