Proverbs Study - Lesson 5

Today I become officially one full week behind in this Bible study! Oh well, among all I'm learning from this Proverbs study and the "Parenting" book club are multiple lessons about realistic intentions and priority setting during the summer months. But I shall persevere and not give up - I do hope you'll stick with me!

I gobbled up this lesson on discernment and discretion. I do so want to be the woman described in the introduction. And I was blessed with some time the other day to complete most of the lesson with little interruption - that in itself was evidence of God's grace. (I always think summer is going to be relaxing and my time will be my own...)

The most telling part for me in this chapter were questions 5 & 6 on page 44, dealing with accepting rebuke and learning from failure. I was stumped when asked, "What is your attitude when you fail?" and I really had trouble coming up with an example. I slowly began to realize if I'm not failing, then I'm not trying hard enough! Sounds funny, doesn't it? But it's true. This goes right back to the "Hugging the Beam" video in my last post. What's more, that very same day I read Jen's comment on Lesson 3 and realized that failure is not the only area of my life where I'm employing avoidance tactics. So much to think about....

I had read four pages and pondered 23 questions before realizing that I had no idea why this lesson is called "A Ring in a Pig's Nose." Proverbs 11:22 holds the answer: "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion." (NIV)

The audio teaching which accompanies this lesson (3/22/04) is wonderful and well worth a listen. I've often prayed for discernment, but this teacher explains exactly what discernment and discretion are, and she teaches us practical ways of pursuing both, exhorting us to action even while we pray and wait on the Lord.

This entire Proverbs study from the get go has been a delightful challenge for my perfectionistic bent. First off, we started with Volume 2 without first completing Volume 1 - that in itself goes against my naturally sequential way of thinking (right, Sharon? lol) Then along come all these weekly lessons which point us toward grace and away from works, toward reliance on God and away from reliance on self. And here I am running a week behind in both my studying and blogging - something heretofore against the rules in my book. My old self would have sacrificed sanity to avoid this situation, or else given up the remainder of the project because it was not runing according to plan. How sad. Then this week I did something really rash: I went back and listened to the introductory audio segment (which was recorded 6 months before these lessons, preceding the Volume 1 we haven't done!) right smack in the middle of the Volume 2 study! Scandalous for me, I confess, but extremely valuable and instructional and inspirational despite being out of order! I'm even considering listening to all the Volume 1 teachings (perhaps out of sequence just for sport) without using the workbook! Oh yes, God is doing amazing things in my life!

Blessings and discernment to you!
Eleanor
Romans 12:2

Proverbs Study - Lesson 4

I woke up on this beautiful, sunny, windless, peaceful and cool morning (obviously I'm either dreaming or in NJ, not FL!) all stressed out because I'm so far behind on my book club and Bible study postings. So I'm sitting on the porch with my coffee and my Macbook, while my cockapoo and basset hound "protect" me from the mallard ducks floating around in the bay, and before I start to write I check in for the first time in a while with Vicki Courtney's blog, Virtue Alert.

I ripped this video right from Vicki's blog because it fits in so well with our study on security:



As Christians we don't have to "hug the beam" because El Shaddai, God Almighty, is our security. If you haven't yet listened to the audio teaching for Lesson 4 (3/1/04), I highly recommend it - the speaker is more upbeat and dynamic than the others I've heard in this series, and she unpacks Psalm 91 so thoroughly, you will never sing "On Eagle's Wings" the same way again.

I pray that God will reveal himself to you this very day.

Blessings and peace,
Eleanor
Romans 12:2

Proverbs Study - Lesson 3

This post finds me happily in NJ, but unhappily under-the-weather, having spent two days in an enclosed vehicle with my infected son. No escaping the sore throat and sneezes under those conditions, I guess.

Anger and patience. Hmmmm. What to say about this lesson. Well, this is an area I struggle with tremendously, daily even. Most people might not guess this about me, because my anger is usually confined to the privacy of my own home. Can anyone relate to that? Why is it that I am the least patient with those I am responsible to love and respect and protect more than anyone else in the world?

I have been in a vicious cycle of confess/repent/fall for years, but I refuse to believe that I will be stuck with this anger problem forever. It didn't take studying the "Portrait of Anger" (pg. 29-31) or the "Benefits of Overcoming Anger" (pg. 33) to make me long for deliverance from this cycle of sin, to no longer be a fool who gives full vent to her anger, but rather a wise woman who keeps herself under control (Proverbs 29:11) It's not that I haven't made any progress over the years - God has given me little victories along the way, but I still have so far to go. I admit I was hoping for miraculous and instantaneous healing through the pages of this chapter (or at least some sure-fire "how-to"s) but so far no sign of that. And while the author points out that

"God expects us to become patient, gentle women in control of our emotions. He has given us all we need for the task - His Spirit and His Word." (pg. 29)

the message I got from "The Process of Overcoming Anger" section (pg. 32-33) was more like "Just Do It," even though we're told, and rightly so, "We cannot overcome anger by an act of our will." (pg. 32).

I believe what's missing here is an exhortation to prayer and perseverance. It's not a matter of trying harder or following a list of instructions or simply wishing - it's a matter of crying out to my Heavenly Father and admitting I am powerless on my own. If I'm truly convicted and really serious about my desire to change, I must commit myself daily and open myself to the Holy Spirit day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. I must pray for God to transform my heart and change my bad habits. Perhaps what I need to do is really focus on this area in my quiet time (well, first I need to focus on investing in some quiet time, huh?) rather than just adding this petition to my laundry list of prayer requests.

If anybody else struggles in this way, I can recommend some worthwhile reading. While the Word and the Spirit are all we ultimately need, that doesn't mean that God can't work through biblically sound resources to teach and enlighten us. One book I came across in Books-A-Million (love their Christian section!) some months ago which deals with anger in marriage is From Anger to Intimacy: How Forgiveness can Transform Your Marriage by Gary Smalley and Ted Cunningham - offers great insight into the source of anger and practical advice and counsel that doesn't overwhelm. Then just the other day I was listening to a Focus on the Family podcast and heard an interview with Julie Ann Barnhill speaking about her book She's Gonna Blow!: Real Help for Moms Dealing With Anger - I haven't read this book, but I am familiar with the author whom I find to be a reliable, Christ-centered parenting expert with a wonderful sense of humor. A couple books I have read pertinent to this topic, which I try to keep in circulation among my mom friends are When You Feel Like Screaming: Help for Frustrated Mothers, and Scream-Free Parenting: The Revolutionary Approach to Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool - I've gotten positive feedback on both these books from those I've lent them to - life-changing is how I describe the latter.

I didn't get a chance to listen to the audio teaching yet (2/24/04 "The Path of Patience") - maybe I'll do that while I'm driving to the Phillies game tomorrow and add my comments if I gain some further insight or encouragement.

Hope your summer is all it should be. I applaud you for your commitment to this study, and I encourage you to stick with it and check in here when you complete each lesson. Next up, Lesson 4 - A Study on Security - sounds comforting already.

Blessings to you,
Eleanor
Romans 12:2

Proverbs Study - Lesson 2

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)

What exactly does it mean to fear God? Here's what I think it means...



I could listen to that song over and over again (and I have!), and I believe it offers an excellent illustration for this week's lesson. In my own words, to fear God is to acknowledge who he is and thus be appropriately filled with awe and respect and reverence for his power and majesty and perfection and love...I could go on and on.

In this time and place it is so easy to take our focus off God. In our day to day lives, marked by busyness and materialism and worry and competition, we tend to forget God's sovereignty, instead vainly attempting to wrest control for ourselves. Self-sufficiency and success are measures of value in this secular world. There's a certain holier-than-thou arrogance that pervades our culture, as if our money and education and technology qualify us for god-like status. But in truth we are but dust compared to the greatness of the One True God.

As soon as I took a look at Job 38 this week, I knew God was after me for something, because I immediately realized that this was the OT reading just this past Sunday at church. I've learned that when God repeats himself he's trying to get my attention!

To summarize the four chapters Job 38 to 41, God is basically saying to Job (speaking from a storm no less), "Who do you think you are? Why don't we take a moment and compare resumes." Obviously, Job's pales in comparison, and he admits, "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." (Job 42:3) But note there's no sense of oppression here, and even while God puts Job in his place, he does so without demeaning him or undervaluing his worth. Job experiences an "Aha" moment here. He continues, "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you." (Job 42:5) I can relate to that so well. It reminds me of my memory verse from a few weeks ago: "Then Jesus told him, 'I have come to judge the world. I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.'" (John 9:39 NLT) We can think we know someone or something but only really be scratching the surface, and it will always be like this with God. "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Turn your thoughts to God, and worship Him in thought, word and deed. "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)


Once again, if you have the time, the audio provides some additional commentary (scroll down to 2/17/04), although you can skip over the handful of worship songs interspersed throughout - all you can hear is the piano, unfortunately.

As I close today, let me say that I am humbled and encouraged by the comments posted to this study thus far. You ladies are really taking this seriously, and your reflections are full of wisdom and value. I pray God continues to work through this blog and the study guide to reveal himself more and more to each of us. Any time spent in the Word is of value, and when we share our insights and discoveries with each other that value is multiplied as only God can do.

Now I know there are at least ten of us who bought the book, and I hope even if you're not commenting that you're finding the time to do the study on whatever time table works for you over the summer. I'm finding that though the lessons themselves can be worked through relatively quickly, the food for thought that is provided therein is bountiful and there is lots to "chew on" and ponder with the Lord.

I'm trying to keep to a regular schedule and finding that I really have to plan ahead (against my nature). I'll be on the road a couple days next week (have Macbook will travel!), but I'll make every attempt to keep up with the weekly lessons.

Grace and peace to you,
Eleanor
Romans 12:2

Proverbs Study - Lesson 1

How did you do? Have you done your homework? I'm eager to hear your feedback - it's always a little strange getting started with a new study, especially by an author we're unfamiliar with. There's always kind of a "getting to know you" period between me and the book. So what did you think?

First off, the fact that Lesson 1 is about mentoring with an emphasis on discipline made me realize that God is up to something because the GWS book club that's running concurrently with this study is covering the same subject. We're reading "Parenting by The Book" and we're learning to recognize the culture's faulty parenting principles and replace them with reliable Biblical truth. So there has been a huge overlap in my reading and blogging this week. Of course this study really just scratches the surface of this topic. If you'd like to join us as we really dig deep into Biblically-based child rearing, check out the book club on this same blog.

I also listened to the audio teaching that goes with this lesson (scroll down to 2/10/04 and play or download), and I thought it was well worth the time. The speaker did a good job of fleshing out the workbook material and offering practical application for the basic principles.

To summarize, the author shows us scripturally that we are all called to pass along our faith to the next generation in some way, whether it be parenting and grandparenting (spellcheck wants to make this word "grandpa renting"! LOL), interaction with children and youth, mentoring other women, or some combination of the above. She then points us toward the qualities integral to Godly mentors and elaborates on two mentoring skills, encouragement and correction.

I found many of the questions to be somewhat obscure - not sure if I'm reading too much into them or not enough. If you were stumped by any in particular, we can compare answers via posting comments.

The question that grabbed my attention more than any other was #2 on page 16, which probes Proverbs 20:7. "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him." The author asks, "Does this mean we must be perfect?" Trick question. We know that Jesus was and is the only perfect human being, and that besides him "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) So what is the principle here? Try your hardest? Somehow that seems a little lame. And just how close do we have to come for our children to be blessed instead of cursed?

Here's what the Lord spoke to me through this verse. First of all, we must be careful not to turn it around and falsely conclude that a blameless life, even if achievable, would make us righteous. On the contrary, Ephesians 2:8&9 makes it clear that "it is by grace you have been saved,--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." There is nothing we can do to earn salvation from God. We could never be "good enough" no matter how hard we try. But thanks be to God, Jesus did all the work for us on the cross, and it is our acknowledgment of that and our submission to Jesus as Lord of our life that makes us acceptable to God. Grace is defined as giving what we do not deserve, and Jesus' perfect life and sacrifice on our behalf is that gift. Paul tells us elsewhere that "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." (Romans 8:1) "No condemnation" means that upon judgment we're declared "Not Guilty" - we are "blameless."

So to get back to the proverb, it is only by God's grace that we are considered righteous and blameless. "The righteous man leads a blameless life" is a proclamation of God's transforming love, rather than a challenge impossible to achieve. But the truth of that should indeed inspire us to lead Godly lives and demonstrate His goodness to others. We're commanded in Deuteronomy 6 to impress God's commands upon our children, and that is directly preceded by the command for us to "Love the LORD your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5) If our focus is on our heavenly Father, and we rightfully live in gratitude for his most precious love for us, our relationship with Him can't help but spill over to our children and those around us. Loving God is the best thing we can do to bless our children.

Spend some quiet time with God this week. Thank him for his love. Ask him to draw you closer to him and to help you see your children and others through his eyes. Purposefully do something for someone just because God has done so much for you.

I pray God's blessing upon you and yours this week as we move on to Lesson 2 - "Fear" the Lord. Be sure to read "Table Talk" on page 26 & 27 as well.

Grace and peace,
Eleanor
Romans 12:2

Proverbs Summer Study Starts Today

Alright, friends, we're really moving now! Today's the day we launch "Proverbs: Ancient Wisdom for a Postmodern World." If you already have a book, go ahead and get started. If you haven't gotten the book yet, go ahead and order it (here or here is probably your best bet) and then join in.

This week, please read "How to Use This Study Guide," "What You Need to Know About Proverbs" and do Lesson1: "Raising Up the Next Generation." Next Wednesday look for a follow-up post here. If you'd like to hear a teaching on this lesson, click here. The lecture is about 30 minutes, and I've listened to part of it, but I'm not sure if it's intended for the start of the lesson or to follow up on the homework. But the new me (the one who left perfectionism behind) isn't going to worry about that! If you prefer to download it, click here, scroll down to 2/10/04 "Pass It On" and click on "Download." Then you can put it on your ipod and take it with you, right?

In any event, let's start off this study as we usually do - with an icebreaker. This time it will be a virtual icebreaker, and it will serve the double duty of introducing yourself and practicing posting comments, which I hope to see a lot of throughout the next 9 weeks! :-) Now in the intro you will read that "a proverb is a pithy and wise saying" and that "proverbs are principles that are true in general terms" and which "show us the way the world works and how to live wisely in it." So let's each share a favorite proverb - doesn't have to be one from the Bible. And make sure you give your name.

Here are two to get you started, the first from the Bible:
"It is better to live on a corner of the roof than to share the house with a nagging wife."
Proverbs 21:9

and the second from Poor Richard's Almanac:
"Fish and Visitors stink in 3 days."
Ben Franklin, 1736

May the Lord fill us with His wisdom as we journey through this study together.

Blessings to you,
Eleanor
Romans 12:2

Proverbs Study begins next week

If you plan to join us on our journey into Proverbs you should order your workbook if you haven't already done so. I have one unclaimed copy still available and up for grabs ($10). Plenty available from Amazon and Christianbook.com for as low as $4.98 plus shipping.

Next Wednesday I'll be kicking off with an introductory post and assigning the first chapter. Follow my schedule of one lesson per week, or work at your own pace - you will be able to comment on any post at any time, so there's no need to get discouraged if you fall behind - no such thing :-)

Do not hesitate to let me (Eleanor) know if you have any questions about the study or how this is going to work. You can do so by posting a comment below. This will definitely be a learning experience for all of us - very experimental but something that I trust God to use in our lives.

Please be in prayer that our hearts and lives will be changed by this study, that God will reveal himself to each of us, that He will bless and strengthen my efforts to reach women through this blog, and that all whom He wants to participate will be led by the Holy Spirit to do so.

In His Service,
Eleanor