A Godly Woman (Proverbs 31:10-31)

[Pat]

Let's talk about what is a Godly Woman.

We can find a really good outline in Proverbs and I've read it at least once a month for most of my married life.

Here's the verses in New King James Version...

Proverbs 31


The Virtuous Wife

10 Who[1] can find a virtuous[2] wife?
       For her worth is far above rubies.
       11The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
       So he will have no lack of gain.
       12She does him good and not evil
       All the days of her life.
       13She seeks wool and flax,
       And willingly works with her hands.
       14She is like the merchant ships,
       She brings her food from afar.
       15She also rises while it is yet night,
       And provides food for her household,
       And a portion for her maidservants.
       16She considers a field and buys it;
       From her profits she plants a vineyard.
       17She girds herself with strength,
       And strengthens her arms.
       18She perceives that her merchandise is good,
       And her lamp does not go out by night.
       19She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
       And her hand holds the spindle.
       20She extends her hand to the poor,
       Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
       21She is not afraid of snow for her household,
       For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
       22She makes tapestry for herself;
       Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
       23Her husband is known in the gates,
       When he sits among the elders of the land.
       24She makes linen garments and sells them,
       And supplies sashes for the merchants.
       25Strength and honor are her clothing;
       She shall rejoice in time to come.
       26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
       And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
       27She watches over the ways of her household,
       And does not eat the bread of idleness.
       28Her children rise up and call her blessed;
       Her husband also, and he praises her:
       29"Many daughters have done well,
       But you excel them all."
       30Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
       But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
       31Give her of the fruit of her hands,
       And let her own works praise her in the gates. [/list]


Footnotes


31:10 Verses 10 through 31 are an alphabetic acrostic in Hebrew (compare Psalm 119).
Literally a wife of valor, in the sense of all forms of excellence





Let's first of all discuss Verses 10 & 11 and see what these verses means to us in the 21st Century.


New King James Version...

10 Who[1] can find a virtuous[2] wife?
       For her worth is far above rubies.
       11The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
       So he will have no lack of gain.




King James Version...

10   Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11   The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.




New International Version...

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.



(Al, you can keep us straight!)

[Marilyn]

10. It is hard to find a good wife, because she is worth mor than rubies. 11. Her husband trusts her completely. With her, he has everything he needs.  NCV

10. A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.  11. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has any reason to regret it.  The Message

[Pat]

 

Well, now that we have five versions to look at, let's talk about those two verses...

What would be a characterist of a godly woman according to these verses?

[Marilyn]

Here is a woman who is godly, and concerned for her husmand and family. She is trustworthy, honest, a willing servant to her husbands needs. He has no reason not to trust in her or to want for anything that she is willing to provide for him. By servant I do not mean it in an demeaning was. I godly servant who puts God first yet still provides for her family. I think I am getting ahead of verses 10 and 11.

Marilyn

[Al Moak]

How we focus on money, things, etc. in our lives!  But here our God says that the godly wife is worth more than rubies!  The husband of such a wife ought to arise each and every morning with thanksgiving to God for her! - more thanksgiving than he would with money, precious stones, etc.

[Pat]

Yes, Marilyn, I would agree with your post...  "Trustworthy" is a very important characteristic of a godly wife.  If we can't be trusted, it would be awful.

Thanks Al for your input too.



Let's move on to verses 11 and 12 now...

I hope others will join us.

[Pat]

Verses 11 and 12

NIV:

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.



King James Version

11   The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12   She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.



New King James Version

11The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
       So he will have no lack of gain.
       12She does him good and not evil
       All the days of her life.

[Marilyn]

Here is a woman whose husband has no reason to lack any confidence in her, she is not only trustworthy but she will keep his confidences in her heart and not go out in the world to gossip and complain about her home life. She is a valuable asset to her husband, she treats him with all the respect due him. She is his most valuable asset because she puts everything she has into her marriage, with love and respect.

[Pat]

So, as Christian wives we should be encouragers then.  Would you agree?  

I know that lots of times during my 40 years of marriage, I sure didn't!    That's sad to remember now.  When I lived in Northern Ireland, I was so homesick that I remember doing things just to get my husband irritated.  Later on, I did apologize for this though.  

[Sonifo]

I have never been in a discussion like this, but I am excited about it.  I hope you are patient with me and help me through this.  I think I will learn a great deal from it.  Thanks!

Sorry Pat for starting late.  

Verse
10. I feel that Rubies are a precious jewel and to find them is very rare. So to find a virtuous women is rare.  There is not very many out there.  When a man does find a women like her he must not let her go for she is worth lots.
11. Her husband trust and puts his home and children into her hands without worry.  He has faith that she will take care of difficult situations correctly and in a Godly manner.
12. I feel that man feel good when they get home and see a clean home and the everything in order.  They work hard all day and want to come home to an orderly house.

I do think we should encourage our husbands in everything they do.  Even though men come across as being strong, I feel they need a bit of encouragement to make them feel they are making the right decisions.  

I agree Pat it is hard to be a good wife.  It is something I have to work on everyday.  It has to be the hardest challenge for me to have everything orderly when he gets home.

[Marilyn]

I feel that not only should we encourage our husbands but that as older women we should follow Paul's instructions to encourage and to teach the younger women in how they are to conduct themselves.

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good.
that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the wordof God may not be dishonored."  Titus 2:3-5

I was a very submissve wife, and as I look back I think that my husbands, took advantage of that submissiveness and that is why they all were so violent toward me. But I was also a complainer and a sniveler. I am not making excuses for myself, because after awhile I did stand up for myself toe to toe and fight back, literally that made them angrier.

[Pat]

Welcome Sonja!  You're not late!  We've just started!    I think that we probably will be able to learn a lot from just reading these wonderful verses.  I remember years ago having a book that was written on just these verses.  I haven't the foggiest idea what the name of it was or where it's gone now but I probably passed it on to some younger gal who might benefit from it.

So, I think that we agree that we should encourage our husbands--something I found difficult when being homesick!  

So up till now in just the first two or three verses we find that a godly wife should be...

• Trustworthy
  She is the kind of woman/mother/person/wife that God wants her to be.
  
  
• Encourager
  I'm sure that in this point, a godly woman would be a person who would encourage her whole family and would understand just what the needs of the family members are.
  

I was a submissive wife most of the time, Marilyn.  It was when I was submissive that I was happiest.  When I rebelled and decided that I could make all of the decisions, etc. that was when  I was unhappy in my marriage.  I'm happy that these times didn't last long.

I wouldn't say that my husband ordered me about though.  He was so kind and loving that he would never do that but when decisions had to be made, we discussed them together and he made the final one but I found that it was usually a decision that I would have chosen as well.

[Pat]

Sonja, I just went back and re-read your post...

It is something I have to work on everyday.  It has to be the hardest challenge for me to have everything orderly when he gets home.

This is something that we as Christian women have to work on 100% of the time I believe.

As far as having the house orderly, that might not always be possible.  It depends on what kind of day you had with the children.  It depends on what you do in your day...do you work full time?  Do you homeschool?  Is your day filled with many things that must be done besides just laundry and housework?  A thoughtful husband will realize this and be understanding.

I worked full time when my children were young and my husband did his share of housework to help me.  

I know of some though that expect that even though a wife is working a full time job in order to make ends meet, they also expect that all meals be made, laundry and ironing done and cleaning too without lifting a hand to help.  This, in my mind is not a loving husband.


But what do we as Christians do about this?  Do we do as I did in Ireland and rebel?  

I don't think that so.

Prayer is such a wonderful tool.

[Marilyn]

I not only had to deal with all the chores, kids and dogs, but at times there were motorcycle parts all over mykitchen and once even a Truck engine on an engine stand while he was building it. Then another time allhis tools were being sorted out in my kitchen and he left allthe tool boxes in my kitchen for days. I'm glad those days are over. The motorcyle parts and engine were the most recent,.   like 6 years ago.

[Sonifo]

Another thing is we must not speek out with out first thinking.  Like Janet had mentioned in the NEM thread.  We must learn to keep our mouths shut as to not embarrass the family.  Women tend to open their mouths to soon and speek irrationally.  Is that the right word?
I tend to open my mouth when I know my husband is making the wrong decisions and we usually get in an arguement over it, but in the end he usually realizes that he did make the wrong decision.  But I should learn that no matter what, he will make those decision with or with out my approval and I should keep my mouth shut.  

[Pat]

Good point, Sonja!

I think that these discussions should always be done in private and definitely never in front of the kids and always after pausing to reflect as to how it will affect the bond between you both.

"Irrational" is a good word!   Not endowed with reason.  Affected by loss of usual or normal mental clarity; incoherent, as from shock.  Marked by a lack of accord with reason or sound judgment.

[Marilyn]

The men also need to learn to keepthier mouths shut. I have had to listen to insults, belittlement and rage in front of company, over things he was in the wrong about to begin with, all I did was keep my mouth shut. Even in front of Gilbert. My dog would even run and hide.

[Janet]

Marilyn---I've been there, done that!  Loooonnng story and not one I care to even remember.  I am so glad things aren't that way now!

[Marilyn]

I don't blame you one bit Janet. I don't care to remember all that stuff either. Every now and then It all comes back and I just have to tell satan to get behind me. and Plead the Blood.

[Pat]

Well, I'm so sad that you experienced marriages that left much to be desired.  That's so sad.   But even in these situations, I'm sure that our Lord can be exalted.

Now we'll move on in our little discussion here on Proverbs as given to us by God  in chapter 31.  I enjoy reading this and did so at least monthly during my marriage and many times more often.

Let's go to verses 13 to 17, shall we?


KJV:

13   She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14   She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15   She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16   She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17   She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

NKJV:

13She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.

NIV:

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.

[mieka]

strengtheneth I often have such a hard time to read these.

I undarstand why there different books now.
KJV:
NKJV:
NIV:

Is it possible that some of the meaning is gone in the new books? Is this why we look at all of them?  

[Pat]

I tend to use the King James Version, Mieka most of the time but I like the New King James Version.  I really like to compare the way each version is written.

[Judy McKenna]

I just ccame in this morning... had to laugh tho Marilyn, when you talked about engine and other tools in your kitchen

I had a car battery in my living/dining room years ago when our old wreck of a car wouldn't start in cold weather.  Norm would bring it n every night to keep it warm; then put it in the car every morning before he could drive to work.

This went on for a whole winter!!

[Marilyn]

Here is the transaltionf rom the New century Version.

13  She looks for wool and flax and likes to work with her hands.
14  She is like a trader's ship, bringing food from far away.
15  She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family and feeds her servant girls.
16 She inspects a feild and buys it. with money she earned, she plants a vineyard.
17  She does her work with energy and her arms are strong.


Here is a woman who loves and cares for every member of her family including the servants. She prefers to keep her hands busy, sewing and weaving or whatever she can do to stay busy caring for the family. She goes out to find the best food to prepare for those she loves, making sure the meals are nutritionally balanced and healthy.  She sells some of the clothing she makes  to help with family expenses and makes good investments., with the money she has earned.

[Pat]

Thanks Marilyn!

I'd say, then, that a godly woman/wife/mother is industrious.  She works hard to benefit family and others.


I remember earlier in our married life, things were very tough financially at one point and I learned to sew clothes for the kids and grew to enjoy this so much.  Whenever I made a dress for myself, when Janice was wee, I always made her a wee dress "like Mum's" and she loved it!

[Marilyn]

Having spent much of my childhood with my Grandmother, I learned at a very young age to Sew, crochet, I helped withthe canning, inthe garden feeding the animals, riding on the tractor with my uncle disking the vineyards. They were tenants that cared for the vineyards of the owner. After my first marriage the budget was very tight. I learned how to make tortilla and would get up at 5: am to make the tortillas for my husbands lunch, I was 17 years old. I still raise early between 5-6 to feed my animals  
During WWII my mother and grandmother sewed tents for the Army until mom went to work for the Ordinance depot then my aunt and grandmother made the tents.

[Pat]

That sounds like both of my grandmothers AND my mother, Marilyn.  I really tried to be like my mother in my marriage but at the same time, I really tried to be a godly Christian wife.  I know that many times I failed but the Lord was always wonderful in the "forgiving department"!    And I'd start again.

[Sonifo]

Life seems to be a bit easier now.  We don't have to sew because we have second hand stores. We also don't have to slave in the kitchen because we have bread makers and other cooking equipment to help us.  I think it is great because we are able to spend more time with our kids.  I love spending time with them.  I love to color and play.  I love to listen to there stories and dreams and goals that they have. And gives me more time to spend with laundry.

[Sonifo]

I thought a little more and even though I do not sew or have maids or have a vineyard.

I think in todays day in age. We women should make sure our house has plenty of food in the pantry, we should pay the bills on time, we should give some of our time to the needy, make sure we spend quality time with our kids and make sure she keeps herself in good shape.  she is very important to the family and if she gets sick then the whole family feels it.  I think that is very important that we keep ourselves healthy.

[Marilyn]

How right your are Sonja. It is very important for all women to keep themselves healthy and to stay 'up" on all the latest health issues, and the healthiest foods for her family and herself. Too many of us become dependant on Vvitamins and suppplements instead of healthy foods. I think aslo as women we need to uplift each other and help one another and  if there is family crisis we need to pray together. A prayer partner can be so valuable. She should be a woman that you and trust not to tell your most secret things to anyone else. This is where being "trustworthy' comes into pay. I find that the fervant prayers between my prayer partner and myself bring down the glory of God and He moves quickly to answer our prayers. One time it was only 10 minutes and the prayer was answered in a way that neithr of us expected. My car had been stolen by someone and taken to Anaheim Ca. We prayed and 10 minutes later my landlord called me and said they had recovered my car and would bring it to me on the following Sunday. Just last weekend a friend called and we prayed and we no sooner finished praying when she got an email that was the answer to the prayer.

[Judy McKenna]

Oh my goodness... didn't our grandmothers have it tough without the convemiences that we have!

Marilyn - I've never heard of that version of the Bible that you mentioned earlier.

Have you a "Message Bible"?  I gave my son one for Christmas.  I must remember to ask him how he likes it!

[Marilyn]

Yes Judy I am reading through The Mesage bible this year. I also hve the following
King James
New century Version,
NIV
A parrellel with the KJV and the New Living Bible
NASB (New American Standard Bible)
NKJV

[joyce robson]

Wow, what great postings...

Trying to digest it all.

Hey, Marilyn, hurry up and post again--don't like the number on your postings above.

[Marilyn]

Joyce what do you mean by "I  don't like the number on your Ppost.? What number.

In going backand reading over the posts here, I can't believe I wrote with such depth, it had to be God that put it in my thought.

Pat when are we going on to the next verses.

Marilyn

Edit I just dawned on me I'll bet the number of my posts at that time was 666. Right Joyce???

[Pat]

Yes, it was 666 Marilyn.  HAHAHAHA!  


Yes, let's go on to the next verse now.  I'll go and get them and put them in here so that they will be in front of us.

[Pat]

Before we do go on though, have you all had a look at the quilt in our Hooks and Needles area of the forums that Ruth Gray sent?

I think that this is a wonderful expression of a lady's characteristic of being "Industrious" don't you think?  Here's a link to it...  Grandma Ribbel's Quilt.  She didn't have the money for a bill so charged people 25 cents per name to embroider the names on a quilt to get the money to pay the dentist/doctor or whatever it was!  I really was touched by this.

[Pat]

So far, we've come up with these characteristics of a Godly woman as set out in Proverbs 31:

• Trustworthy  (vs. 11)
  She is the kind of woman/mother/person/wife that God wants her to be.
  
  
• Encourager  (vs. 11-12)
  I'm sure that in this point, a godly woman would be a person who would encourage her whole family and would understand just what the needs of the family members are.
  
  
• Industrious  (vs. 13-17)
  Our Godly woman works hard to benefit family and friends.
  
  
  

Now let's move on to verse 15...

King James Version

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.



New King James Version

She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.


NIV

She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

[Marilyn]

She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family and feeds her servant girls.  NC

She rises early to prepare the food for the family and her servants. She thinks of her family and others first. This is certainly an attribute we should all seek for. She is humble and thoughtful.

In verses 13-17 we covered this didn't we?

[Pat]

Yes, sort of...  I thought that we could go back and do just verse 15

Maybe we've finished this section.

We'll wait a little while to see if others have any ideas.

[Sonifo]

Pat, are you trying to tell me something?  I don't get up when it is nite.  I don't even go to bed at nite, I go to bed in the morning.  hehehe...Is this a bad thing.  My husband and I like our nitetime to spend time together since he gets home so late.  

Believe it or not I used to get up before 7:00 and go for walks or rollerblade.  I might start that back up when it gets warmer.  

[Pat]

LOL...  Nope, Sonja...  not trying to tell you a single thing!  

I guess what the scripture is telling us is that we as godly Christian women have our priorities in order.  I guess a good word to describe this would be "disciplined".

[mieka]

  Is it more different to try to be a Godly woman, if you do not have a husband and children?

[Pat]

I wouldn't think so, Mieka.  I would just say that as a single person, you'd have different priorities.  

It's still so important to be a godly woman no matter if you're married or single.

[Pat]

Well, let's look at verses 24 to 27.

Proverbs 31
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
       And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25Strength and honor are her clothing;
       She shall rejoice in time to come.
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
       And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27She watches over the ways of her household,
       And does not eat the bread of idleness. [/list]

[Marilyn]

Strength and Honor. The godly woman, is strong in the Lord getting strength from Him through prayer and supplication. She knows that God is in control of all things. Life and death. Good and bad. Success and calamity, will all be worked out by God for the good of his children. She has this faith in her heart and nothing will deter her from her faith in God.

Wisdom and kindness. She is so secure in her love of God and the wisdom that he has given to her in all things. She has the peace of God that transcends all understanding and therefore thewisdom and kindness that flows forth from her lips and in her actions has been planted the by her Father in Heaven, she uses it wisely.

Watching over the ways of her family she sees to it that each family member and her servants remain true to their God, and teaches them all to revere Him and walk in his ways. She does not spend idle time gossiping of getting into other peoples affairs but tends to her family and her God.

[Pat]

Thanks Marilyn for your post.

Now, we'll wait a little longer and see if Sonja comes in.

[Sonifo]

ok..I need to work on some things in my life.  Good things don't always come out of this mouth.  I am a little sassy.  

I don't understand the honor part?  Could you elaberate.

[Pat]

My understanding on these verses would be that our woman is not lazy.  She is always keeping busy and does what is needed to provide the proper kind of environment for her household.

[Marilyn]

I totally agree Pat. Did I get too verbose in my "interpetation?" Rather my understanding of the verses. Did you want to explain '"honor" to Sonja?

[Pat]

I thought you would, Marilyn!  

Well, I looked up the word and I get this:

• To hold in respect; esteem.
  
• To show respect for.

So, that is how I felt for Jack.   I respected him.

Is that what you meant, Marilyn?  That we should respect our husbands?  If so, I would agree with that entirely.

[Marilyn]

Yes that's what I meant. Are we following each other around the forums or what.? ;DI read one post and go back to the index and you have answered the last of my posts already.

[Sonifo]

ok I get it know..Strength and honor are her clothing.  We should always honor or husbands and others around us.  It is as important as wearing cloths.  Sorry I need to keep up with you girls.  

So far I have learned that keeping the house together for the family is very important.  I need to stucture and organize things to keep the house running smoothly.  I must honor my husband and be kind and say word with a kind tongue.  I must not let anger and frustration get the better of me.
How am I doing?

[Pat]

What a busy few days I've had!  I'm sorry about not getting back here.  Running back and forth to Hamilton with my neighbour to the Regional Cancer Centre has been a trying experience for me but important to do.  Yesterday I went to the dialysis unit as well and saw so many of the patients and staff from when Jack was going there.  Many tears.




Now, back to our study...

Sonja, I think that you are doing a wonderful job with your family from what I have read and learned both here on CP and on DPC in your lovely family photos.

Your children seem to honor you and so does Mike and that comes from you honoring them I feel.



Let's move on...

I think we've almost finished this little study.

I think that in verse 18, we learn that a Godly woman makes wise use of money.  That's true in our modern day life, don't you think?

Let's look at verse 26

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

Comments?

[Marilyn]

I think it is extremely important in this day and age, to be very careful with our money. I for one find that at times I squander more than I should and then cut back on the things that I really need. Doing things backwards I think.

In this verse She opens her mouth with wisdom.==She doesn't paricipate in idle words, but uses wisdom when she speaks to others. In other words she weighs what she is about to say so that no negativity comes forth.


On her tongue is the law of kindness==In the NCV it says "She teaches others to be kind." To me though it means that she speaks kind words, ie,1. What a lovely new hairstyle you are wearing today. 2. would you mind letting me help you today? 3.May I show you how to do that? She is kind to everyone, friends,husband, children, servants.

We have to so careful about our words. We have been studying on Words in the last 5 Bible studies. Our thoughtless words can be condemning ever to our own lives. and We can hurt someone worse with words than  any other way.



Sonja: you are doing just great.

[Sonifo]

Let's look at verse 26

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

I think you were right, Marilyn we should say those things but I also think we shoud be wise in our choice of words when talking with other women.  I know from my own exsperience that women get together and start to spread rumors.  I try so hard not to be a part of it and actually will stick up for the other and usually it will stop while I am there anyway.  It is so easy to get caught up in others affairs.  

I also think that when we are disiplining our children we should use the correct words and wisdom God has given us to punish them in the way He thinks is right.  It is so easy to yell and say go to your room to the children but God wants us to go further...He wants us to sit and discuss the reasoning why what they did was wrong.  And give them the understanding of why they shouldnt do it or help them to change their bad ways.
Any mother can yell at the kids but only a wise mother will guide her child to make the right choices.

[Pat]

What a wise post, Sonja!  

It's so important that we don't gossip.  It's easy to get caught up in it as you say when we get together with others.   And speaking to our children and disciplining them correctly is also very important.  I was guilty over the early years of doing my share of speaking loudly to the children and now I'm so sorry about this.  I'm glad I found out from some Christian ladies that this was not the correct way to discipline.  Choosing our words very carefully is so important.

[Marilyn]

I too am guilty of yelling at my kids. I don't think I knew any better at that time.

About the gossip and rumors, Since I have been a Christian I have tried to avoid those kinds oif things. I had a friend that was very bad about talking about others, I would tell her I didn't want to hear I. Finally she got real upset withme and told me "Marilyn you never want to hear anything bad about anyone. " My reply was "that's right so don't tell me anything". That was one of the reasons the friendship ended, plus that she went to church and was telling lies about me saying that I told her all the things she was trying to tell me. No one believed her because theyknew what she was like. So she sopped coming to our church and went someplace else.

[Marilyn]

Are we ready for the next verse yet?

27.  She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28.  Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her saying:
29.  "Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all."   NAS

Pat: I hope it was okay to post these 3 verses.

[Kathy]

That means she's not LAZY ?   and looks after her family.  

May God forgive me of so many things that I am not, or have not been.  I, too, see so many ways that I failed and wish I could go back and start over...but that is not to be.
Each day is a new day..I can only ask forgiveness and go on.

I just came here today and am glad I got in on the end of this "Godly Woman".  All of you have some great ideas.

The last two verses are beautiful and such a testimony to a Godly Woman.

[Pat]

Kathy, great to see you here.  

It's true that as we look back in our lives, we see so many things that if we were to do things over, we'd certainly do them differently!  I know that's true of my life.  Many big areas of my life I'd surely change.



Our picture of this Godly woman I think would suggest too that she doesn't neglect one thing or one person in order to take care of another.  She always has the "big picture" in mind.

She's kind.  She only speaks what is profitable to others.

But I would suggest too that the last verse (28) tells us that she's appreciated by her family.  She is blessed because she is a God-fearing woman.

Psalm 128:1 says, "Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways."[/i]

[Marilyn]

In this verse I see that she also keeps herself busy doing things for her family.

As I look at the last 2 verses, I can say that in my past I would never have expected any of my children except Gilbert to say nice things about me, But that was the past. Today i can only pray that I may be a good example to my children and g-kids and be remembered as someone who is worthy to be blessed.

We make so many mistake in life, just living the way we as humans live, we get angry, there are times when we neglect doing the things we should and think too much of ourselves and not others. We can only repent and pray to be better mothers and wives. Ask forgiveness and go on.

[mieka]

I have like this talk of a Godly woman very much. I have not share much here because I am try hard to learn it. It is a great help to me to learn and read this here.

[Sonifo]

I have really enjoyed this study Pat!! I hope to start a new one.  Thank you. I have learned a lot.

Thanks Marilyn for being a part of it.  

[Marilyn]

verse 30 NCV. Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.
31  Give her the reward she has earned; she should be praised in public for what she has done.

[Marilyn]

If we are to be praised, well that is hard for me to accept. I have a real difficult time acepting praise of any kind.  I like being behind the scene and not drawing attention to myself. Singing in the choir as I do I am only part of the group. There are only four of us who sing back up for the Pastors wife and one of us is a man. He and I share a mike. He gives me compliments on my singing and all I can say is thank you, it's the annointing not me. Although I guess we all like compliments now and then, me included. Frankly I can't even carry a tune without music to guide me or someone else to sing with me. If I had to sing  an acapella solo I wouldn't be able to do it..

[Pat]

Thanks Sonja and Marilyn...  

I enjoyed it too.  We'll see if we can have another one soon.

Let's re-cap:

THE GODLY WOMAN...

• is trustworthy
  
  
• is an encourager
  
  
• is industrious
  
  
• is disciplined
  
  
• is not lazy
  
  
• is content
  
  
• is sensitive and generous
  
  
• has foresight
  
  
• Does not fear the future or "what ifs"
  
  
• is proud of her family
  
  
• dresses herself and her family as best she can.
  
  
• is an inspiration to her family
  
  
• has a sense of personal dignity and self-confidence
  
  
• is kind
  
  
• has the big picture in mind
  
  
• is appreciated by her family

The characteristic that sums up these aspects of the godly woman is "love".  

As you go down the list, prayerfully ask, "Is this true of me?"

You probably won't see yourself in every item, but that doesn't mean you're not godly.  It may simply indicate which areas need attention.



This was certainly a good little study.  

[Marilyn]

This has been a very enlightening study. We as women should do more of this type of thing here on CP. Pat: what is our next study?

[mieka]

 
has foresight
Does not fear the future or "what ifs"
has a sense of personal dignity and self-confidence
has the big picture in mind

I need help with these.  

I did like this study ms Pat.  

[Pat]

I got this in my email today and I thought that it sort of went with this study that we had...

The Greatest of All is Love

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love, I am a housekeeper - not a homemaker.


If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my children learn cleanliness - not godliness.


Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.


Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.


Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.


Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.


Love is present through the trials.


Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.


Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.


Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart.


Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.


As a mother there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is love.

[Marilyn]

Pat that is so lively and tou ching. It certainly does go well with the Proverbs woman.

[Marilyn]

Pat how about a study on Queen Esther??

[Pat]

Hi Marilyn...

We'll keep that in mind.  I'm mulling over a few topics in my mind.

With my going away in such a short time, let's plan on starting one in September.

OK?  I'll pray about it and I'm sure that we can have many of these little studies over the next several months on so many different subjects.

We could even study together one of the Epistles--just a nice light study.  That's another though as well.

Anyway, talk to you soon.