SHINE ON SWEET LADIES!!! Too Blessed to be Stressed!!

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SHINE ON SWEET LADY: You are too Blessed to be Stressed!!!

Most days, if it were up to me, I would hide under a bush and just hide out there from life’s stress.  But is that wise???  What does God say about me and my merchandise?  Do I have merchandise?!?  I am one of his children and I am fearfully and wonderfully made in his image!!  Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!! By the Grace and Mercy of God, I am too blessed to be stressed so I think I will shine……for HIM!!  Hide it under a bush…..OH NO!!  I’m going to let it shine! Let’s take a look together, into Gods’ Word for HIS wisdom on a woman and her merchandise to find ways to keep shining for HIM.

Before I get much further, I want to introduce one of the “special guests” that I referred to in our welcoming blog.  Kim Turner is not only a special guest, but she is also a true friend and partner.  She is our Pastors wife and someone to turn to when in need of wise counsel.  Kim has encouraged me and directed me on how to start this blog page.  My thoughts for this blog are for she and I to be co-owners and contributors for this blog page but we are still learning how to build our blog and we are still in the formulating phase of building and growing this blog. She and I have been studying Proverbs 31 together for many weeks.  We have compiled our thoughts together in this blog post to give us all more insight for our daily walk as women. We have learned and studied that Wisdom is better than rubies.  Stay tuned for more to come from and about my friend, my sister in Christ and co-worker in Christ, Mrs. Kim Turner.  I love you Mrs. Kim!!

Proverbs 31:18

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 

In this verse I start thinking about her merchandise.  What is merchandise and what is it about the merchandise we are looking to know in this verse?  Websters 1828 defines merchandise as objects of commerce; wares (items offered for sale, pottery, manufactured articles of a specific  type), good, commodities( raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought or sold, such as coffee or copper etc)., whatever is usually bought or sold in trade.  Every woman has merchandise, and we will discuss this more in a few minutes but first let’s look at the first part of the verse.

We understand that SHE PERCEIVES that her merchandise is good.  PERCEPTION is an act or process of the mind which makes known an external object. What ones’ mind notices about any thing, any person, any place, any substance, any situation or as in this verse….HER MERCHANDISE.  Perception is how WE look at something.  Everyone has a perception, or outlook, but this is specifically pointing out how SHE PERCEIVES her merchandise. 

Our first thing is to notice that we are nothing outside of Christ but with Christ we represent HIM.   Galations 2:20 in the KJV Bible says, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me:  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  He will take us just as we are but wants us to devote to him in all areas such as loving and living like him.  He wants us to know that we are special in his eyes and that we can do all things through and by HIM.  Philippians 4:13 states, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  So many times, we are down on ourselves and have such low self-esteem, or just anxious about things.  There are so many verses that shows us what God thinks of us and how he can help us do HIS will for our lives.  This includes whatever the merchandise he has prepared for our journey and this may vary for each and every woman or young lady.  We are all unique and individual to him and he has a plan for us all.  We must get past looking at others, comparing, being envious, being jealous,  and so much more that brings strife among the brethren at home, work, school, church and YES!!!…..in our own minds!!  HIS word tells us that he cares for us and wants us to be successful in all that we do in our lives and especially with OUR OWN MERCHANDISE.   Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  There are so many other helpful words from the Lord such as  Proverbs 3:5-6 and Philippians 4:6-7.

Now let’s talk about our merchandise?  Our merchandise is from the plans and will of God in our life and is laid out in the Bible for how women should act, behave, dress, talk and so much more.  This can include our duties and responsibilities in the home as well as at church, school, workforce or wherever God has lead you to work and serve for his glory and honor.  1^st Corinithians 10:31 tells us Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  In this verse and everywhere else in the Bible, ALL means ALL.  Every jot, tittle, word, deed, facebook post, action etc. should bring glory to God.  This takes practice and self-control for the Christian.  Often times we are not being led by the spirit of God in some of our actions.  Can you remember a time when you have lashed out at your husband or even a parent or friend and you were grieved over that word or action?  Maybe you found satisfaction in that moment, but did it bring glory and honor to God or to the self/flesh?  This takes purposeful, conscientious control from the Holy Spirit and guidance and is a progressive type of growth in our Christian walk each day.  We can then perceive that our merchandise is good because God is good.  Good is the quality or satisfactory of our merchandise, or you might say the condition of our merchandise.  If we are doing it with the right heart for God and with integrity it will be blessed in the eyes of God.

We could discuss merchandise further to be a homemaker or side hustle job and so much more. It could be a career such as nursing, dental hygiene, photography, artist, musician, Pastor’s wife.  It could be homemaker and spending time, effort and energy into being fugal, couponing, meal prepping, saving on dry cleaning by taking time to do your own.  Merchandise can be talents, spiritual gifts and things that we produce.  There is not a cookie cutter pattern to how a woman should claim what her merchandise is and the value thereof.  However, the Bible does explain women’s roles and responsibilities in her home and how she is to look well to the ways of her household.  Maybe this is hired out, maybe this is done by the lady herself.  Again it varies but study the scriptures further to know how the woman is to dress, behave and care for her children and home.  Timothy and Titus have so much more to offer in studying these topics further.  No matter what we are doing we should do it as unto the Lord for HIM, as a testimony for HIM.  Therefore we should always work hard and always remember to give him the glory. Also always have integrity in everything we do because HE is worthy and he knows what and why we do what we do.  Integrity simply means doing the right thing even when no one is looking or will see because God always knows and always sees everything that we do.

Next, let’s take a look at the end of the verse.  Her candle goeth not out by night.  A candle is a light, a portable light or luminary.  Light shines in darkness.  Light is used to see, for our vision.  The purpose of light is to shine when it is dark.  Otherwise we would not need a candle or light if it was not for darkness.  So we can look at this as she works long hours and stays up late when darkness falls and has to light the candle to see to do her services to produce her merchandise.  This merchandise could be to finish the chores, care for the sick children, prepare a meal, sew clothes, make products, write a paper, study and so much more.  Another thing to think about with her candle not going out at night is when it seems like things are looking dark and dreary all around us, and others don’t see good in our merchandise, we do not let our candle go out because others fail to see the good that God has started and doing in our lives.  That is exactly what the enemy would like to see in us and our merchandise.  He would like to see us fail, falter, get discouraged in our responsibilities as women and producing our merchandise.  Women are wonderful and God has a great design and service for us in this world.  Let’s shine for him in every area of our lives and be an inspiration to each other and for our Lord. 

Hello!! This is Us! Kim is on the end right, with her daugther Faith. My daughter Brooke is next to Faith and I am on the left. Thank You for reading our blog!! May God Bless You So Richly!!