#264 - Time with the Lord Anyways!

Hello & Welcome back to both of us!! :) Many of you most likely know that we just welcomed the birth of our 3rd child on December 30th! :) Timothy Isaac Josiah McCart. He is just now 4 weeks old. So….. at the McCart house we are learning to settle in to a "new" normal. Obviously still adjusting. I must say though, our little champ did a great job last night of sleeping almost 7 hours straight! Yay!! I'll take it!! :)

Meet Timothy! Born: December 30th, 2013 - 8:46am. 

Proud Big Brother Tyler Jr (4) and Trinity (2) meet Timothy hours after he is born.

Timothy weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces and was 20 3/4th inches long. 

Nonetheless… I do look forward to getting back into a blog routine (along with many other things). No pressure, I'm going to ease back into things, but getting on a regular schedule is my goal. Since I've started blogging, when Tyler Jr was just a newborn himself, we have had THREE kids!! :) Tyler Jr, Trinity & Timothy. Which leads right into the topic for today…. spending time in the WORD despite some of lifes changes and adjustments! So…. let's get started! :)

Proverbs 31:15-16 - She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks. (16) She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

As my 3rd time around with a major life-event, I must say I am reminded of the importance of having a regular time with The Lord. The last month has had its "whirlwind" type schedule of sleeping, dialing in a newborn, helping him sleep through the night, recovering from a C-section, etc, etc and to be honest, I most definitely have not been perfect! There have been many mornings where I have missed my time in the Word, which has reminded me even more why it is so important!

Let's take a look at this Proverbs 31 woman and her example. I want to look specifically at THREE things that she does in preparation for her day.

1. She rises while it is yet night. - Any of you who have children, especially toddlers, know how crucial this aspect is! Once children get out of bed, the idea of quiet is almost a far fetched possibility. Not impossible, but pretty unlikely. Our Proverbs 31 friend, a mother, must have witnessed this first hand. In order to get some QUIET in, she needed to rise while it was still dark and while her family was still sleeping in order to get some solid spiritual food in her spirit! 
2. Get spiritual food! - The value of feeding her spirit took place even before feeding her flesh. It didn't say that our friend prepared breakfast for her family first… but that she first got spiritual food. She first spent time, in the quiet, still dark outside, feeding her spirit! 
3. She considers! - Once up, she has sought the Lord, now she seeks the Lord about what to do for the day! The Holy Spirit knows what is going to happen with our day before it happens! He knows how the day is going to unfold and He knows just what tasks should be on our plate! When we seek HIM first, it allows us to go about our day without doing things that could be done in vain. Have you ever tried to get laundry done, only with interruption after interruption, taking 2-3 hours just to get ONE load folded and put away?! Not saying this is the case all the time, but when we seek the direction of the Holy Spirit, He may have directed us to NOT do laundry on such a particular day. He inevitably knows when certain tasks will just take WAY TO LONG for a given day. When we SEEK the Holy Spirit, when we CONSIDER what tasks to take on for the day, we can gain INSIGHT and DIRECTION on the God-specific tasks that should be on our schedule!

Today… I encourage you, can you find a way to fit some time with the Lord in, in the morning? 

Find some time with the Lord today ANYWAYS! Even thought life may throw a curve ball, throw a curve ball back! Decide to get some time in with the Almighty! Set your alarm now for tomorrow morning. 5 minutes early? 15 minutes? 30? Steal away for 5 minutes in the bathroom if you've already missed the morning hours…. Just START! Even if you start with just 5 minutes, He can direct your day in a way that you and I can never do. At least in a way that will wind up the most fruitful and productive! Because after all, isn't that what we're looking to do? Produce the best fruit? And on some days…. that may just be playing in the snow with your kids! :) #memories 

Have a blessed day!

Obedience. (quick post!)

Proverbs 7:1 - MY SON, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments (for use when needed) and treasure them. 

Just wanted to share a quick verse today.  It's very appropriate that this was the first verse I read. Have you ever had scripture convict you of something you should be doing? Or have you ever had a prompting or the Holy Spirit tell you something that you need to do? Here, in this verse, we are reminded to KEEP HIS WORDS. Obey.

I'm still working on crucifying the flesh... specifically when my alarm clock goes off! Say a prayer for me if you think about it! I NEED to wake up earlier!

What about you? Is there anything you are working on? Are you "keeping HIS word?" Are you being obedient to what His last direction was for you and your life? 

#174 - Is there enough Time in Today?

Good morning! :) I pray all is well with you?! Things here are great. Went to bed a bit early, starting out the morning awesome, and the Word of God is ALIVE & ACTIVE like a two-edged sword! Hebrews 4:12, "For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart." The WORD is ALL of that! That is powerful! Well, praise God that we serve a RISEN Savior! That even today, we can commune with, be directed by & enjoy a friendship with a living God! I'm thankful for that!

Proverbs 31:15 - She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

This morning as I sat down to have my Quiet Time, I began to journal.... and this morning I began listing out ALLLLLL the things that are on my mental "To-Do" list. In a way I was kind of whining to the Lord. Not really totally whining, but just trying to figure out what has the most priority on it, because all the things are important. I was just journaling out my thoughts to the Lord, kind of in a "HELP" mode. Have you ever done that? Either in your mind, on paper or out-loud? You think, "How is it humanly possible to get all of this done today? I just need more time." Well... those were some of my thoughts.

I read through Proverbs 26, nothing really jumping out at me except the obvious.... "don't be a fool!" It talked a lot about "the fool." I then proceeded to jump over to Proverbs 31. Though I have read this chapter what seems like hundreds of times, I just felt like this amazing woman must have some insight into planning. I just knew that she surely had it together in this area of "accomplishing" and "getting things done." I mean, she is the infamous Proverbs 31 woman! She is the woman who "excels them all" as it says in verse 29. Surely she could reveal to me the secret. Right?

I read through the chapter, through my underlining, circled words, highlighting, scratches in the margins... and as I completed the chapter, I was still just drawn back to one of my favorite verses. Proverbs 31:15. I say "favorite"... but it may just jump out at me because it is still something that I know I need to work on. Now, don't you go and tell Tyler to read this devotion! He doesn't read all of them, but this one, he could very well come out saying, "I told you so!" But, praise the Lord for Tyler. He's an amazing husband and probably the #1 thing he's learned over the years is to cast ME on the Lord. He doesn't try to change me, he just casts me on the Lord. He lets the Lord deal with me and make me better! Which is good.... probably the stubbornness of my childhood may just rear up and buck if someone tried to "make me do something." However, the Lord has His way of prodding us, doesn't He?

So, I'm reading Proverbs 31:15, "She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks." Sure, we know that Franklin Covey wasn't around when this was originally written. As well, she wasn't able to go down to her nearest Office Depot to pick up a DayTimer. Right? But.... imagine with me, if you could read while closing your eyes, I'd have you do that... but just imagine this... She, our Proverbs 31 friend & example, wakes up, crawls out of bed leaving her sleeping husband still there, she quietly puts on her house-shoes (slippers for those of you up north!), brushes her teeth and pulls up her hair, then slips downstairs. The house is quiet, the windows reveal the darkness still hanging outside, the birds are even still sleeping and the only sound is the occasional chirp of a cricket. She gets the coffee ready and pours herself a cup, most likely doctoring it with honey or something good for you (OK, she might not even drink coffee... just go with me on this. *wink*) There at the table, she sits down and begins to get her "spiritual food." She begins getting in the Word, listening and talking to the Holy Spirit. She is not beyond learning. She is pulling out gold nuggets from the Word, she is learning, she is growing. After her spiritual hunger is filled, she moves on to listing out the tasks and assignments of that day, including what the maids are to accomplish. I would imagine, she also lists out those things that SHE wants to accomplish that day. With the direction of the Holy Spirit, she prioritizes & is led with a plan for the day. Since she is in-tune with the Holy Spirit, and has already been communing with Him, if she writes something down that would be done in vain, HE prompts her not to do that today, it wouldn't go well, the person that you need to talk to wouldn't be there, so don't go to the "Market Store" today. She LISTENS to the promptings, wraps up her list/schedule of activities for the day, begins to prepare breakfast for her family, slips back upstairs to put on her clothes for the day, a touch of make-up, her hair in a neat pony-tail, and the hustle and bustle of the house begins! The house awakens. The birds begin to chirp, the kids begin to arouse, and everyone wakes up hungry and ready to eat, the smell of bacon already pulling them out of bed.

Sounds like a "dreamy" morning, doesn't it? Peaceful, but planned. Just the idea of "coming out with a plan" for the day sounds grande, doesn't it? I know I went through a season of doing really good at this! I accomplished a LOT with "planning my day." As I read this morning, I was prompted that ALL of my things can get done if I would only have a plan. "You can't just fly by the seat of your pants if you want to accomplish all that I have for you," I felt the Holy Spirit prompting.

So... this morning, I'm getting my notebook back out. "6 Things Before 11:00" was one of my goals. It allowed me to accomplish a lot. God has big plans for me, so I need to PLAN in order to get done all that He has for me!

Do you need to plan too? Is there enough time in today? There is EXACLY enough time to accomplish the things the Holy Spirit wants me & you to accomplish, we just have to ask Him!

XOXO!

Be blessed! ~ Amy J

#72 - Slow Down and Ask

Good morning! Welcome to the 1st reader in Nigeria! :) HELLO! Great to have you joining us in the Word! :) Well... so far this morning I have completed 2 cups of yummy blonde coffee, 1 fruit smoothie, just took my vitamins and am drinking a glass of water with a red straw. A nice, thick, red bendy straw! I love straws. I am a straw user! It's so much more fun to drink with a straw, don't you think? 


Today's Reading Schedule: Proverbs 20, Psalms 20, 50, 80, 110, 140, Proverbs 31:10-31 (AMP)

Proverbs 20:18 - Purposes and plans are established by counsel; and [only] with good advice make or carry on war.

Psalms 20:1a, 4 - MAY THE Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May He grant you according to your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans. 

Psalm 140:6 - I said to the Lord, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my supplications, O Lord. 

Proverbs 31:16 - She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]... 

The alarm clock goes off. She rolls over in bed and knows that this time she must get up. She can't afford to hit snooze again. Rubbing her eyes, she crawls out of bed squinting to read the red numbers on the clock. Dang it, she thinks. I need to get moving. Hurriedly, she rushes into the bathroom, jumps in the shower, quickly washes off, wakes up and gets out. I'll just pull my hair up again today. No time to wash it this morning. She throws on clothes, brushes her teeth, grabs her make-up and heads downstairs. 'I don't have time to put on my make-up, I'll just have to do it on the way to work again. I guess I won't be doing eye-liner today.' As she passes the kitchen table she sees her Bible laying where she laid it yesterday after getting home from church. 'Man, I really need to wake up early to have a Quiet Time. Maybe I'll get around to it tomorrow.' She pours the coffee that is left over in the pot, grabs a banana and heads out the door.


Another day in the life of a busy American Christian. The gnawing sensation there, in the back of her mind... like many people, she knows a quiet time would be a 'good idea' but she just hasn't been able to make it happen.  


As I read Psalm 20, immediately verse 1 jumped off the page. The words "ANSWER YOU" rang in my mind. In order to "answer" a question or cry needs to be made. It's hard to answer when there is no question. The verses today expressed dialog, expressed that of the need for conversation. The verses expressed plans and purposes being divinely orchestrated via counsel of godly men and women of God, or counsel directly from the Holy Spirit. But the prerequisite to COUNSEL, the prerequisite to ANSWERS begins with a QUESTION. Begins with DIALOG. Begins with time, set aside to seek the ONE and ONLY. To seek our Savior, our Guide, our Help. To spend the time with Him that will draw us into our direction, the time that will draw us into His will for our lives being discovered. So that OUR PLANS would divinely line up with HIS direction for us. Like what it talks about in Proverbs 16:3 (amp), "Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed." Isn't that AWESOME?! When we ROLL our works upon the Lord, HE will cause our thoughts to become agreeable with HIS will. And then, with our thoughts in agreement with what HE wants for our lives, WE are able to establish plans. OUR PLANS. And HE will cause OUR PLANS to not only come into play, but to succeed. But it all begins with dialog! It all begins with TIME spent before the throne of grace. Time spent, where the alarm clock is set early, we REFUSE to hit the snooze 3-4 times, but that we DEFY our flesh and get up. We get up, KNOWING in advance that our time getting with the Lord WILL BE BLESSED. That He will talk to YOU. He will direct YOU. He will ANSWER YOU! And we are able to truly say that our plans and purposes are being directed by COUNSEL. Counsel with the ONE and ONLY true God. Because of that time with Him, that time in HIS presence, our desires are coming into alignment with His desires for us. They are becoming ONE. Our plans are coming from a time spent with Him. Our desires, that are becoming our very own are born out of a time spent before the throne. Our desires and His desires are ONE. 


Our Proverbs 31 friend has established priorities. Sure, in this verse it is talking about how she is CONSIDERING taking something else on. She is CONSIDERING it. But, BEFORE she commits to adding another thing to her plate, she looks at her current obligations. Would bringing this "one more thing" on disrupt her current obligations. Would she not be able to fulfill them? Since she is the ULTIMATE WOMAN, and we know from Proverbs 31:15 that "she rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food..." She IS spending time before the throne of grace. If things or obligations would get in the way of her FIRST priority, spending time fellowshipping with her Lord, after consideration she would CHOOSE NOT to take on this additional thing. She CONSIDERS wisely before accepting more to her plate, and she knows when it is best to say NO. What a Spiritual, Biblical, wonderful word.... NO. Sometimes a word more of us need to know. NO. 


What's keeping you from regular time with the Lord? Are you too tired when you wake up? What's keeping you from going to bed earlier? Do you need to say NO to that late night movie? Do you need to say NO to Facebook? NO to twitter? NO to the 11:00 News? Or, do you just need to jump in a cold shower to wake you up in the morning? 


I'll close with some Words I felt the Holy Spirit told me this morning.... 

Those rushing out to their jobs, waking up to late to spend time with Me, feeling rushed and a sense of chaos accompanies the rest of their day. 'Slow down to speed up.' Priorities. Many people are too busy and do not even have a list of priorities. They do not slow down long enough to even see where they are going, they are just in a hurry to get 'there'. For many, I would change their direction. They would be able to do what they love for a living, not just make a paycheck at a job. Their un-fulfillment would change to a daily excitement  to embrace the day. But so many don't slow down long enough to ask. 

Today, tomorrow, slow down and ask. Slow down to speed up. Slow down, get quiet before the Lord and watch how a normal "chaos-filled" day, will change to a day filled with peace. A day where things just line up. A day where you actually get things done early. A day directed. 


Slow down to speed up. Slow down and ASK for direction from a God who is longing to spend time with YOU!

#44 - Change Starts with Me

Good morning! Did you know that as a Christian you can expect and believe for God's favor?! The sentence or two from Friday... not sure if you had a chance to read it, but it is POWERFUL! Confess God's FAVOR upon your life today! "FAVOR FAVOR FAVOR! God's favor rests upon me now and is changing circumstances, situations, rules, regulations, policies, laws and even my mistakes to prosper! God's FAVOR is working for me now! AMEN!" Now, that is good stuff! If I were a preacher I'd say, "Don't shout me down when I'm preaching good!" Do you have a situation that you need or would love to see turned your way? Confess God's favor! As a believer in Jesus Christ, as a born again child of God, your FATHER wants to bless you and wants to see you blessed. He wants you to walk in being the head & not the tail. Confess FAVOR! But... do more than that! BELIEVE IT! Say it, and then smile. Shake your head in awe, look up to the heavens and just THANK GOD that when GOD is for you, WHO can be against you! Child of God, there is no way around it, YOU HAVE FAVOR! 
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!! HALLELUYAH! As we SPEAK, God's FAVOR is working for us NOW! WOW! What a good thing!!


Well... it seems like awhile since I posted something. We had a great trip to Hilton Head. Tyler's job is a definite blessing, but how awesome it will be when daddy gets to be a stay-@-home dad with me!! We are blessed now, but that will be a whole new realm of blessing. We thank God for AWESOME growth in our business, our passions & our calling! Open doors all the time! To do what we love! Imagine this.... getting paid to do what you love! Now that is heaven on earth! It's happening now, we call it done in JESUS name! I'm pretty jacked... I read 2 books this week. I am on my own accelerated reading program. Nothing changes until something changes. Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results! I am changing me. I am starting with me. I am excited about becoming a better me, reading books that inspire, that encourage, that move me on. Filling myself up so that I can pour out, so that I can give more. Who knows, if you are empty you have nothing to give. If the glass has no water in it, you can't pour out ANY water to share with others. I'm going to FILL UP as fast as I can so that I am overflowing... so that I can continue to pour out and fill back up again. VALUE. The law of value. "Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment." Bless people by exceeding their expectations. Are you serving? Are you adding value to others? 


Ok... let's get rolling this morning. Quite a long intro, ey? I was amening myself! ;-) haha! I needed to hear it, to be reminded! 

Proverbs 3:5 - Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

Proverbs 31:15 - She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household....

Side note: I just said "Hi" to my neighbor, Rick. Had a little "mini-conversation". That's another thing I've tried to change, or improve on. Being NICE to people! What a concept! In the past, I would be so caught up in ME, where I'm going, or what I'm doing... what "I" am trying to accomplish. Head down, focused. Walking fast, let's make a bee-line in and out of this place so I can get to the next thing, so I can accomplish the next task. I'm working on a time-frame here. No time to smile at people. No time to say hello. No time to have a conversation or to listen. Go Go GO!!! Anyways... it felt good to say hi to my neighbor Rick. He is typically a quieter guy... and he stood there and talked to me for a minute. :) It was nice. He's off work for a few days. Good for Rick. This weekend in Hilton Head... I made it a point to smile at people. Something free to give, but often priceless to receive.  Sometimes people just need a smile or kind word. I'm working on not focusing so much on ME!


Well, bless the LORD! To lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your HEART & MIND. To not rely on your own insight or understanding! Wow. Really think about that. I know I often think that I "know" things. For me... I think the biggest area I need assistance in this is my "daily agenda". To be directed by Him with my activities. This is my choice. As I clear my mind, I confess, "Lord right now, I lean on, trust in & am confident in YOU for my day. For my purpose, for my direction, for things to accomplish. With ALL my mind & ALL my heart, I trust in you! Father, I know that in my own insight or in my own understanding I am limited, BUT when I team up with you, my insight and understanding is LIMITLESS! Through you, I can understand all things. I can be divinely directed. Father, right now I CHOOSE to be directed by YOU! I rely on YOU, not upon myself!" 


Our Proverbs 31 friend... what I've in a bit held out from... dreaded... she rises while it is yet night and gets spiritual food for her household. I guess in reading it, it doesn't necessarily say that she gets up "before" her husband, but rising earlier would bless my husband. For me to be able to get spiritual food for myself, to serve my spouse & son better, to prepare myself more for the day, to not feel rushed upon when the boy is going to wake up. To rise earlier would be better. It would also allow me to bless my husband on another level, to rise while it is yet night and get PHYSICAL food for my husband. To make him breakfast. I already know that he would LOVE that. It would be a blessing to him. SO... a new goal. Rising earlier. Once up, I will be ready to go. Rising earlier will allow me to get more done in the morning. Prepare better. Read in the morning. Plan. Complete other tasks. 


What can you commit to today? Leaning on the Lord, more than on yourself? Rising earlier to prepare for your day? Spending more time in the Word? Giving to others? Smiling more?


What are you going to do? Change starts with me. Changing your world starts with you!

#12 - The Unfair Advantage

Good Morning.... jacked about my morning coffee....as usual. Sitting on the porch again enjoying a nice morning. Sometimes it is hard to believe how quickly this time goes in the morning....it's like the time just flies! One thing that I have really been excited about is my desire to get up. If you know me well at all.... in the past I have never been much of a morning person. I typically have been the person that can sleep any time, anywhere & for LONG lengths! I actually woke up this morning before my alarm clock. But you know what? I think that as we draw into a closer and more intimate relationship with the Lord, we will crave that time to get up. The more you get of HIM, the more you will desire it! That your time in the Word will become a time like Christmas mornings! :) How exciting.....and me being a gifts person... I LOVE GIFTS.... it's exciting to have each morning being like Christmas morning! Where you wake up and you are just excited to hear what the Holy Spirit is going to reveal to you this morning?? Where is He taking you? Where is He leading? And what is He going to tell you this morning? You know, He does speak to us still IF we are willing to listen. Listening is developed.... so, If you have never really feel like you have been led directly by the Holy Spirit.... do not grow weary.... that leading is developed with a relationship. The more you get in the Word, the more you spend time, the more you focus on meditating and really ask questions.... the answers will be revealed. And when you get to that point, the point where you hear His Voice, where you can call on Him and He will answer, now that is a sweet place to be! So, let's get you there!!


This morning was JAM PACKED! So much that I definitely won't be able to go into depth about it all.... but very interesting.... and like normal.... new!

Proverbs 8:17 - I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me. 

Proverbs 31:26 - She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

The Face of Wisdom.... we are going to search out who Wisdom really is, how to attain her & what value she brings. We see that Wisdom originated from the beginning, before the "7 Days of Creation", wisdom was. As you read through Proverbs, wisdom is referred to as "she."  


1) Where has she been? - She has been: formed and brought forth by the Lord from the beginning (Proverbs 8:22). We see in Proverbs 8:23-30 that wisdom saw and was the helping "master & director" of Creation, the 7 days of creation, she has seen it all! She has seen everything take place. She has knowledge of how everything has happened since before "time" even existed. So, if you want to really learn & know from ACTUAL experience. Wisdom has seen it ALL. She has seen the pitfalls of man, she has seen wealth & riches acquired, she has watched successful marriages form, she has seen the answer to every question. She knows it all. She has been with God before "time" even existed. Wisdom would be the best companion to have with you since wisdom has seen all, been everywhere & knows all things. 
2) Where does she stand? - For you... where is she? It says in verse 2 of chapter 8 that she stands on the heights, where the 2 paths meet, wisdom is there? What 2 paths?? YOUR TWO PATHS! YOUR TWO PATHS OF DECISION! The road that leads the way you SHOULD NOT GO and the road that leads to where you SHOULD GO! Wisdom is there! Verse 1 says that she RAISES HER VOICE, she CRIES OUT! So basically, if you are listening when you get to that path, if you SEEK the Lord's direction....I envision at the top of a hill, two roads, on one side we see HER.... we see a real person of God.... and she is like a coach or umpire standing on the path that leads to where YOU, where I am suppose to go. She is standing there yelling, "COME THIS WAY! THIS IS YOUR PATH! COME THIS WAY!! OVER HERE! DON'T EVEN LOOK down that other road! That road, that path leads to bad things....even though right here at the fork, both paths initially look the same, THEY ARE NOT! Come THIS WAY, travel THIS ROAD!" So, wisdom is at your point of decision. Listen for her and it says she is crying out, she is raising her voice. The way of wisdom is not a mystery IF you are listening. TAKE OUT THE EAR PLUGS! 
3) What does she bring of value? - When you say "BRING IT".... you put up your hands to a friend in jest or fun, you motion for them to come.... "BRING IT!" Well, wisdom BRINGS IT BABY!!! SHE BRINGS IT! What value does she bring? She brings it all. Verse 14, she brings counsel, knowledge, understanding, might & power. You need strength? Mental? Physical - you need big muscles for your profession? - Wisdom has it! Spiritual Strength? - She is bringing that too! Verse 18 & 21 talk about wisdom bringing riches, honor, wealth, righteousness, it talks about her "filling the treasuries of those who love her". In these verses when it is talking about wealth & riches, we are not talking about the cliche or spiritual, "Oh...she gives me riches of happiness, of goodness, of love..." Though "wisdom" may actually bring all this, in these verses the actual Hebrew translation is talking about the BLING! It is talking about the money! Like the old movie with Tom Cruise when he is dancing around saying, "Show me the Money! Show me the Money!" - Well, in this case, wisdom is bring it! She is showing the money to those who love her! In verse 12 (KJV) it talks about wisdom bringing forth "witty inventions". Do you think if you, sought out wisdom and got this brilliant idea for an invention, it could bring you financial prosperity? Of course it could & would & will IF you seek it out. Wisdom is bringing the whole package here!   
4) What does she love? - Call her a romantic, call her conceded (for desiring & wanting your time) or call her "love language"  that of "Quality Time"... but wisdom loves those who love her! Wisdom loves those who seek her out early. Whose priority right when they wake up is to seek her out. Those who seek her out diligently, with fervor. I apologize to those of you who aren't morning people. I found no way around the meaning of early. When I read it in the Hebrew, I found no way around it meaning early in the morning. The first part of your day. The first priority above other things. Early. First. Most important. (Proverbs 8:17)
5) How do you find her? - You find wisdom by seeking. No way around it. You have got to look for her. You have got to search her out. You have got to seek. I heard a great quote the other day, "The finding is left for those who do the searching." 

• The Ultimate reward? - Along with everything else that wisdom will provide to you, in verse 35, whoever finds wisdom will also receive FAVOR from the Lord!

Ladies, (really men too! Men, you realize if you are single, this should be the woman you are looking for! This Proverbs 31 woman! Have you studied her? Do you even know what she looks like? Does she possess these qualities found in Proverbs 31:10-31?)....what does this mean to you? Our Proverbs 31 woman has ATTAINED wisdom. She is friends of and with wisdom. She has done all the things above. She is using the experience of the one who has seen everything since before creation. Now that seems like an unfair advantage! :) To have the one who has seen it all? Talk about an advantage over those walking in the world, or those who do not seek! The unfair advantage is for you! Seek out wisdom! Our Proverbs 31 woman has done this!


Today, give yourself an unfair advantage. Begin to seek out wisdom! Get in the Word. 

"The finding is left for those who do the searching."