Sunday, 20 May 2007

Sunday School Class Proverbs 23:10-11 What happens when God takes up the case of the defenseless against you?! 

Choruses: Something Beautiful; I will serve Thee; Such Love 

Scripture reading: #630

Sunday evening - Vesper's from 5-6 tonight. The life of Christ chronologically - after the 'Sermon on the Mount.' 

Wednesday Study Class 7-8 p.m. Teaching our children how to live effectively as Christians in society: Noblesse Oblige – obligation of benevolence

What a woman! 

10. A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

15. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 16. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

19. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29. "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs chapter 31 shows us a woman of character: strong personality, wise, entrepreneurial, dignified, relaxed, joyful, respected, charitable, compassionate, thrifty and shrewd!

A woman of character:

·        strong personality,

·        wise,

·        entrepreneurial,

·        dignified,

·        relaxed,

·        joyful,

·        respected,

·        charitable,

·        compassionate,

·        thrifty

·        and shrewd!

This is not a snapshot of the 'perfect wife' to be used as some measuring stick for purposes of comparison, but rather as an encouragement for girls of all ages to take charge of their life and destiny!

A man with a weak ego and insecurities will gravitate toward opportunities to victimize a woman...and so will those religions that thrive in such sociological environs.

A good marriage will create an environment in which a 'Proverbs 31' woman can thrive. Such an environment will encourage a healthy, open and thriving family system.

As those nuclear family systems gather, homogenously, social systems assume the pattern of the family systems and a healthy, open and thriving social system emerges.

That is how church patterns, ideologies, polities and dogmatism develop and indeed perpetuate - either for good or for evil. Those church systems influenced by the insecurities of weak men and closed, cloistered family and social systems will perpetuate the evil of inequality, inequity and totalitarianism.

Churches seeking the open and thriving social system such as is patterned by Judaism through its early pre-monarchy history, and reflected not only in Proverbs 31 but also in the role of women as Judges, will find their congregations experiencing the dynamics of grace and liberty.

Girls, GO FOR IT!! Ladies, develop that strength of character which brings: strong personality, wisdom, entrepreneurial vision and success, dignity, peace, joy, respect, charity, compassion, thrift and shrewdness!

Prov. 31:31 “Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

And let God deal with the man who gets in your way...don't look back.