The Wife of Noble Character

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more that rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for the tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
She can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the break of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Concerning the downfall of the world..

There is so much unrest and fear these days concerning our government and world politics. No doubt, a lot of it is just skepticism and conspiracy theory but I think a lot is simply due to the fact that our government is made up of humans, many of whom are not God-fearing men and women. I believe we need to be cautious, but I do not believe we need to be fearful of what is happening now or of what is to come.

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Romans 13:1

Every single leader that has ever been in power in the history of the world has been placed in their position by God. Good or bad, the leader was put in a place of authority because God had (has) a plan. He is outside of time, therefore, He can see the past, present and future that we experience. Its hard for us to grasp because, well, we're human and our brains cannot understand things of God unless He reveals them to us and some thing we just do not need to know. However, I've been able to 'understand' (in whatever capacity I am capable) this: Say you watch a movie. Later you watch the same movie with a friend who hasn't seen it yet. The character walks down the dark hallway to the creaky doorway.. 'Don't go in there!' your friend quietly exclaims. They fear what is behind that doorway because they haven't seen it yet. But you, having seen the whole movie, know that it is just a fluffy little kitten playing with a ball of string - nothing to fear, but the fact that it is unknown, makes it a little scary to someone who can't see it. Even though you KNOW the outcome, you couldn't change the outcome. (for analogy's sake: God COULD change the outcome, but he WON'T, because he does not take away our free will)

We don't know what is going to happen, other than the world is going to end as we know it. Even though we trust God, it can be quite scary to think about. But God has seen the future, he knows what is behind the creaky doorway of government, politics and the unknown future. Maybe its just a cute little kitten, maybe it's a hungry beast..either way, God will protect us and whatever the outcome, God will be glorified according to his good and perfect plan.

"...'it is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur..;" Revelation 21:6-8

There is nothing we can do to prevent -or escape- what is to come. We can try running. It might 'work' for awhile. Our government may be full of liars, cheaters, idolaters, unbelieving and immoral people, but can you name one corporation, school, church, family that isn't? This government is going to fall. The market will crash. We will lose everything. Everything this world has to offer, that is. We may be able to escape this country's downfall by fleeing somewhere else that seems to have it together, but sooner or later, that country will fall. Instead of trying to avoid the inevitable, we should stand strong where we are, stand up for our beliefs and stop trying to run away from what God has already seen accomplished. Everyone that sins, everyone that wrongs another -whether in government or business or family or otherwise- which happens to be every person, will answer to the just and sovereign God who promises to save us from eternal death and suffering if only we trust in his name, his Son as the savior and redeemer of our lost and broken souls.

"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in our family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." Luke 12:49-53

Why are we surprised that marriages end, that children are disowned, or disown their parents? Jesus said it himself; families will be torn apart. The enemy does not want families to stick together, especially God fearing families, because if they stick together, that keeps them strong and if they are strong, he will be defeated. We need to stand strong (by praying and asking God to intervene with HIS strength) against the enemy and not let him take our families away from us!

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep you head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:3-4

If we don't stand up against the enemy, we will fall into false doctrine, we will lose our families; we won't be witness to the life that is in Christ. The only way to have hope and confidence in our future, in government, in marriage, in family, in every single aspect of this life, is to be always in the Word, always in communion with God the Father. If we lose sight of what God's word says, the only thing we have to look forward to is destruction, defeat and certain death.

We can run away -from family, from work, from responsibility, from hardship, from home (from a deteriorating country)- but in the end, we will only hurt ourselves, and everyone in our lives. As families, as husband and wife, we make a commitment before God to love and serve each other and God -no matter what- and we are to raise up our children according to God's word and his will. Nowhere in the Bible does it say life will be easy. God never said that accepting him and loving him and serving him would make your life easy. In fact, it says that disciples of Christ will suffer and that through suffering, you will develop perseverance, character and hope. When we don't persevere in (and out) of trial, we lose hope; the hope in Christ that we will be with him in eternity. Without that hope, we have nothing.

Lord, help us to always come to you with our fears, concerns and desires. Be with us in our homes, with our families; in marriage and with our children; and give us the strength to endure the trials that go along with living for you. Give us discernment when making decisions, especially concerning our leaders. We know that you appoint them, and ask that you give us insight and comfort in knowing that you have a plan and you will protect us and use us to glorify your name. Thank you for your promises, for you unconditional love; the perfect example of how we are to love others. In Jesus' name, amen.