I CAN because HE IS my God!

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not to your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct thy path.

I am a sinner saved by grace, called to a purpose I am incapable of fulfilling...but God.  At the end of each year usually between Christmas and New Year's celebration I reflect on the past year and ask the Lord to give me wisdom and discernment as I enter the next year.  During that time in 2017 the Lord revealed a few things to me:

-Secure your foundation (who is your Paul, Timothy and Titus I must be accountable to Him and others)
-Build (refresh and renew our home, prepare for more hospitality)
-Live (trust me and walk in obedience do life as He leads me)

In essence I see the Lord drawing me HOME...our home and His home.
By His grace our home has always been a place where He resides.  There is no doubt His holy spirit is here resting, ruling and abiding in this place and in this season He wants to use me here not just to bless our family but a as a place in which He will bless others.

So, I've been taking steps to prepare my heart, my mind and my home for His glory. This is a sacrifice in many ways.  Please pray for me that I will walk in obedience to His will.


I am feeling grateful for my blessings...

my husband and our children, my gifts and talents and the fruits of the spirit that God gives me each day to embrace my many responsibilities and tasks "...To whom much is given, much is required..." Luke 12:48

I have reflected on and referred to that scripture from time to time when I've not wanted to do that which is required of me.

FRUIT OF HER HANDS has been a joyous adventure this past 2 years.  I am grateful to God for the many things I have been able to create and sell in the marketplace.  I am most grateful for the many people I have been able to meet and those I've been asked to make things specifically for.  THANK YOU!  

Giving God Our Best

It's a New Year...an opportunity for a refreshed and renewed heart in Him.  This is what we each are offered.  The beginning of a new year can give a glimpse of hope and a bit of aspiration.  Don't let this occasion pass by, embrace it and get back on the road that God has for you to travel on with faith and zeal.  With Him all things are possible!

Really, this message is for me.  God has revealed this leg of my journey of life to me and I am embracing it!  Not because I can do this, but instead because I know I can't do it without Him which means I will need to draw nearer unto Him...closer to Him is where I like to be. God has called me to "know" that my husband's heart does safely trust in me (still, 20+ years later) and to put my merchandise in the marketplace.  "She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant."  Proverbs 31:24.  These aren't new callings, but are areas of my calling in which God specifically wants to use me in during this season.  He has called me unto humility and service to Him, to Walter (my husband) and to others.

During this season (His season) I know I will have great need of Him because I will be stretched spiritually,  mentally and physically. Please pray for me and I'd like to pray for you.  What has God revealed to you as you begin this new year?  

Remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you..HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The Pursuit of Virtue

Monday, was the second day of Virtue Family Fun Camp and so the journey begins!  Ladies, if you are in need of inspiration, encouragement and/or accountability, come join us for this summer series...Called to be...A Virtuous Woman.

I am so excited to share what God is teaching me about me.  Thus far, I know that I have been called, for the question has been posed, "Who can find a virtuous woman?"..., Proverbs 31:10a.  That is to imply that I must accept the call or responsibility to "be" virtuous.  I do, I accept my call and I know my worth, "...for her price is far above rubies", Proverbs 31:10b.  This is the value placed upon me by my husband;  I am certain that he knows I am a rare find ;) and I must reflect that worth daily.

I accept the charge to be trustworthy, "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her...", Proverbs 31:11a.    I want Walter to be confident of my submission to him and his well being.

I choose to make it my business to know his heart and mind and to help him accomplish that which God has called him unto; I want to compliment him.  Even with my greatest desires and sincere heart, I must admit, this requires my submission to God and his Holy Spirit, first, that I may be filled with fruits that I lack.

I know that my presentation at home and in public are what makes Walter feel safe with me, not threatened, nor shamed. "...so that he shall have no need of spoil", Proverbs 31:11b.  It is a privilege to manage his affairs and to do him good.  For me, the difficulty is to be considerate of him, always, no matter what his state: physically, mentally or spiritually.  I know that my commitment and covenant unto him can not be conditional, "She will do him good and not evil all the days of his life", Proverbs 31:12.

I must be wise and discerning, willing to make sacrifices, having knowledge to make good decisions for him and our household. Wow! Lord, what a call!  I know I can NOT do this on my own.  I  have need of You continuously throughout each day, for my duties are great. I have need of my sisters in Christ as well to walk along side me that we might sharpen, inspire and empower one another.

As reflect on the Proverbs 31 Woman this summer, one of the greatest blessings I have is to embrace this journey with my daughter as she too has accepted the "call" to be a virtuous woman.  I have the pleasure of watching her pursue God for herself.  She is reading a couple of books this summer to give her wisdom and insight that she might be the woman God has called her to be.  As I engage in conversations with her and she shares what God has said to her and how He is leading her, I am humbled by her love and passion for pursuing Him and his will for this season of her life.  Won't you join us?  We meet each Monday at Lazelle Woods Park, Lazelle Rd. Virtue Family Fun Camp begins at 1:30 and includes a Bible study, book review and prayer, 3:00-4:30. Comment for more information.

Your Abundance...Others Blessings!

It's gardening season and many people reap a harvest, what about you?  And what do you do with all those herbs, fruits and vegetables?  I hope you share them.  As for me, we rarely have extra crop, but please know that we are willing to receive!  Your abundance is others blessing.

It's a good idea to let others know when your pickins are ripe and have them join you for a meal or take them to work or church and share them.  As we all know the cost of food is expensive and we should let not one morsel go bad or a fellow to go without plenty....so share your harvest today!

Who Can Find A Virtuous Woman?

The apostle Paul is often admired as a "true" man of God, one many admonish.  Well, the Proverbs 31 Woman is my "Paul", the woman in whom I see Christ in and through, the woman I look up to...desire to be like.  She has been the model woman of God to me since I became a Christian.  I like to think I am like her in some ways.

As this year began, I sought the Lord for material to study that my heart and mind will be refreshed and renewed. He lead me to Proverbs 31:10-31.  I was instructed to take my time and study this Word, carefully, pondering it in my heart and to align my life as He leads.  I must say, I am excited!  For I am back at home with a more normal daily agenda and I am ready to embrace this season of life with integrity and grace.

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10, nothing like getting straight to the point.  This scripture, personally translated says to me, "Can You, Michele, Be Found To Be A Virtuous Woman?".  To be virtuous is to be morally excellent, upright before the Lord.  A Virtuous Woman is a woman of strength, wisdom and grace, a woman who fears God.

This question caused me to pause and examine my heart, my conduct and ask God to search me and reveal to me that which is not of Him.  The one thing the Lord showed me was the need for me to daily ask the Lord to fill my heart with the "fruits of the spirit".  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law", ' Galatians 5:22-23, that my responses to life will be a blessing.

...For her price is far above rubies.  For some, to be like the Proverbs 31Woman is an unattainable idea, for me she is a mentor worth following.  She is rare, she is full of value.  Thank you Lord for leading me along this path.

What do you think about the Proverbs 31 Woman?  Will you pray for me as I study this Word...will you join me in this pursuit of excellence?