Proverbs 31 Challenge - Lesson 15

Welcome and Blessings!

Proverbs 31:24
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchants.

The Widow of Zarephath found in 1Kings 17:7-24 is our story for today. Zarephath was a small Phoenician town, now Surafend, about a mile from the coast. God told Elijah to go there during the great drought and He directed a widow to supply him with food. When he came to the gate, he saw the widow and asked her for water and a piece of bread. She was very poor and told him she barely had enough oil and flour for her son and herself. Elijah told her to not be afraid that the Lord told him if she does this the flour and oil would not run out until God sent the rain. She did what Elijah told her to do and she fed him, her son and herself everyday until the rains came. The flour and oil never ran out. She became a believer in the God of Israel.

Sometimes it hard to remember that "the Lord shall provide," isn't it?
I remember several years ago I was always stressing about having enough money to cover everything. Stress. Stress. Stress. Worry. Worry. Worry. Then one day, while reading Matthew in my Bible, I came across verses 6:25-27:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to you life?"

Since that day, I turned my finances over to the Lord and I have never been unable to pay my bills and put food on the table. He is our Provider!

Gratitude
1. A Lord who provides
2. Art
3. Crafts

Ephesians 1:16
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,
Deborah

Two Challenges, One Story

Welcome friends! Hope you are having a blessed Sunday.

I was doing my Proverbs 31 Challenge and was all caught up and thought to myself, "You really need to get caught up in the Deeper Still Challenge!" So I checked the lesson and, lo and behold, it was the same story!

Proverbs 31:23
Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.

When you think of this verse, who comes to mind? Sarai/Sarah? Yes. She is perfect for this verse.
This story is found in Genesis 18 and is about the time when three men/angels come to visit Abraham. One of them tells Abraham that this time next year Sarah will have a son. Sarah is listening and laughs, for she is an old woman beyond child bearing years. The man asks Sarah why she laughed and she denies having laughed. He tells her she did laugh and to believe all things are possible with God. Sarah had a son and they named him Isaac.

The Proverbs 31 Challenge, Lesson 14:

The Deeper Still Challenge , Lesson 6:

As usual, I verse mapped the story.
I used all my brown washi tape to make the tree. I love how it turned out. We were supposed to paint the tree, but that is not my cup of tea. :) 

Gratitude

1. A Lord who provides

2. My job

3. My marriage

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,

Deborah

Proverbs 31 - Lesson 13

Welcome and Blessings!

Proverbs 31:22
She makes bed coverings for herself:
her clothing is fine linen and purple.

As I mentioned yesterday, today we will learn about Mary of Bethany. Mary was Martha and Lazarus' sister. We find her in Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44, Matt 26:6-10 and John 12:3 Today we focus on Matt 26:10 and John 12:3. They are the same story.
In this story, Mary takes a very expensive perfume, pours it on Jesus' feet and washes Jesus' feet with her hair. Some of the disciples are angry with the waste of money. "Jesus said to them,' Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.'"
It is believed by some that this act is symbolic of the oils used on his body when he dies.

The only thing I have added to Robin's beautiful graphics and backgrounds is my own never ending supply of washi tape. :) 

Here is the link once more to Robin Sampson's beautiful lessons on Proverbs 31 and women in the Bible. It will be available for one year.
https://biblejournallove.teachable.com/p/proverbs-31-bible-journal-class

Gratitude
1. RAIN!!!!
2. God's grace
3. Robin Sampson

Ephesians 1:16
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers

May I pray for you? Please leave a comment below and I will add you to my prayer list. <3

Blessings,
Deborah

Proverbs 31 - Lesson 12

Hello! I'm so glad you stopped by today.

Proverbs 31:21
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

I read that the color scarlet was believed to be a warmer color for winter.

For lesson 12 and 13 we will focus on Martha and Mary.
The first story about them is found in Luke 10:38-42. In this lesson we learn that Martha has invited Jesus to their home and begins to prepare a meal, while Mary sits by Jesus and listens to him teach. This angers Martha that Mary is not helping her and she asks Jesus why He is allowing Mary to just sit while she does all the work? Jesus says to her, "Martha, Martha you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:40-42)

I will admit I'm a Martha. The difference between me and the original Martha is I am shy and would have loved the fact that Mary was occupying the guests, keeping them out of my kitchen. lol. It is not that I wouldn't love to hear Jesus speak, but I would have to feed Him and clean the kitchen first. Of course, now I know who Jesus really is, so I may react a bit differently. *smiles*

Another story about the sisters is found in John 11 and is about Jesus raising their brother, Lazarus from dead. Lazarus had been dead for four days before Jesus got there. Jesus loved Lazarus very much and wept when he learned he had died. The sisters were so distraught and it was Martha's belief that Jesus was the Messiah and that God would give Him whatever he asked. Mary also believed in Him and He was moved in spirit by her grieving and rose Lazarus from the dead. This was done for God's glory and so that the Son may be glorified through it.

Gratitude

1. Lessons about believers

2. Biblical role models

3. Less smoke in our area today

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,

Deborah