August 6, 2008
Daily Nuggets on Proverbs 31
Hello friends! I will be posting a daily devotional of Proverbs 31:10-31 for the next month.
Each daily reading we will explore the notion of becoming a WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER. I will be working on memorizing this entire passage by the end of the month, and I encourage you to join me!
Copyright 2008 Lori Loomis. All rights reserved.
MONDAY
OUR GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE
Genesis 2:18
“The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Psalm 33:20
“Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.”
• Both of these words help/helper are translations of the same word (ezer). The word is used to describe our function rather than our worth. How does this truth compare to what you had been previously taught?
• List some ways you can be a helper to your husband.
TUESDAY
HER VALUE
Proverbs 31:10
NASB
“An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.”
AMP
“A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman–who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.”
NIV
“A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.”
• What words are used to describe this woman’s character in all three translations?
• If you met a virtuous woman, what would she look like/act like?
WEDNESDAY
FROM HER HUSBAND’S PERSPECTIVE
Proverbs 31:11
NASB
“The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.”
AMP
“The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.”
MSG
“Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.”
• Define the word trust, and how to go about gaining it.
• How is her husband’s life is affected by her character?
THURSDAY
HER MOTIVATION
Proverbs 31:12
NASB
“She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.”
AMP
“She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.”
MSG
“Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.”
• What does this verse tell us about her intentions and her priorities?
• How would you spend your time differently if this was your goal?
FRIDAY
JOYFUL SERVANTHOOD
Proverbs 31:13
NASB
“She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.”
AMP
“She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].”
MSG
“She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing.”
• “She looks for/seeks out wool and flax…” What does this tell you about her?
• With what attitude do we see her performing these tasks?
SATURDAY
NOTHING BUT THE BEST
Proverbs 31:14
NASB
“She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.”
AMP
“She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household’s food from a far [country].”
MSG
“She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.”
• What does this verse tell us about her desire to please her family and give them a good quality of life?
• Why do you think she is compared to a merchant/trading ship?
August 2, 2008
Take the Essential 100 Challenge!
Ever tried to follow those THRU THE BIBLE IN A YEAR plans, only to stall out somewhere in the middle? Here is an AWESOME alternative to get you excited about reading the Bible!
The Essential 100 Challenge is an exciting way to read through the Bible during the year! Read two passages a week for 50 weeks and in a year you get a “big picture” of the Bible without getting bogged down. Takes approximately 20 minutes per week. You can learn more about The Essential 100 here: www.e100challenge.com This is great for beginners, teens or anyone who wants to fit a THROUGH THE BIBLE schedule into their current studies. Here are all 100 readings:
1. Creation–Genesis 1:1-2:25
2. The Fall–Genesis 3:1-24
3. The Flood–Genesis 6:5-7:24
4. God’s Covenant With Noah–Genesis 8:1-9:17
5. Tower of Babel–Genesis 11:1-9
6. The Call of Abram–Genesis 12:1-20
7. God’s Covenant with Abram–Genesis 15:1-21
8. Isaac’s Birth and ‘Sacrifice’–Genesis 21:1-22:19
9. Jacob and Esau Compete–Genesis 27:1-28:22
10. Jacob and Esau Reconcile–Genesis 32:1-33:20
11. Joseph Sold Into Slavery–Genesis 37:1-36
12. Prison and a Promotion–Genesis 39:1-41:57
13. Ten Brothers Go To Egypt–Genesis 42:1-38
14. The Brothers Return–Genesis 43:1-44:34
15. Joseph Reveals His Identity–Genesis 45:1-46:7
16. Birth of Moses–Exodus 1:1-2:25
17. Moses and the Burning Bush–Exodus 3:1-22
18. The Ten Plagues –Exodus 6:28-11:10
19. Passover and Exodus–Exodus 12:1-42
20. Crossing the Red Sea–Exodus 13:17-14:31
21. The Ten Commandments–Exodus 19:1-20:21
22. The Golden Calf–Exodus 32:1-34:35
23. Joshua Succeeds Moses–Joshua 1:1-18
24. Crossing the Jordan–Joshua 3:1-4:24
25. The Fall of Jericho–Joshua 5:13-6:27
26. Israel’s Disobedience–Judges 2:6-3:6
27. Deborah Leads Israel–Judges 4:1-5:31
28. Gideon Defeats the Midianites–Judges 6:1-7:25
29. Samson Defeats the Philistines–Judges 13:1-16:31
30. The Story of Ruth–Ruth 1:1-4:22
31. Samuel Listens to God–1 Samuel 1:1 – 3:21
32. King Saul–1 Samuel 8:1 – 10:27
33. David and Goliath–1 Samuel 16:1 – 18:16
34. David and Saul–1 Samuel 23:7 – 24:22
35. David Becomes King–2 Samuel 5:1-7:29
36. David and Bathsheba–2 Samuel 11:1-12:25
37. King Solomon–1 Kings 2:1-3:28
38. Solomon’s Temple–1 Kings 8:1-9:9
39. Elijah and the Prophets of Baal–1 Kings 16:29-19:18
40. The Fall of Jerusalem–2 Kings 25:1-30
41. A Psalm of David–Psalm 23:1-6
42. A Psalm of Repentance–Psalm 51:1-19
43. A Psalm of David–Psalm 103:1-22
44. Words on Wisdom–Proverbs 1:1-4:27
45. Proverbs of Solomon–Proverbs 16:1-18:24
46. The Suffering Servant–Isaiah 51:1-53:12
47. Jeremiah the Prophet–Jeremiah 1:1-3:5
48. Daniel in the Den of Lions–Daniel 6:1-28
49. The Story of Jonah–Jonah 1:1-4:11
50. The Day of Judgment–Malachi 1:1-4:6
51. The Word Became Flesh–John 1:1-18
52. Gabriel’s Messages–Luke 1:1-80
53. The Birth of Jesus–Luke 2:1-40
54. John the Baptist–Luke 3:1-20
55. Baptism and Temptation–Matthew 3:13-4:17
56. Sermon on the Mount-Part 1–Matthew 5:1-6:4
57. Sermon on the Mount-Part 2–Matthew 6:5-7:29
58. The Kingdom of Heaven–Matthew 13:1-58
59. The Parable of the Good Samaritan–Luke 10:25-37
60. Parables of the Lost–Luke 15:1-32
61. Feeding the Five Thousand–Luke 9:1-36
62. Walking on Water–Matthew 14:22-36
63. Jesus Heals a Blind Man–John 9:1-41
64. Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man–Mark 5:1-20
65. Raising Lazarus from the Dead–John 11:1-57
66. The Last Supper–Luke 22:1-46
67. Arrest and Trial–John 18:1-40
68. The Crucifixion of Jesus–John 19:1-42
69. The Resurrection and Appearing to the Disciples–John 20:1-21:25
70. Jesus Taken Up To Heaven–Acts 1:1-11
71. The Gift of the Holy Spirit–Acts 2:1-47
72. Peter’s Ministry–Acts 3:1-4:37
73. The Testimony of Stephen–Acts 6:8-8:8
74. Philip and the Ethiopian–Acts 8:26-40
75. Cornelius and Peter–Acts 10:1-11:18
76. Saul’s Conversion–Acts 9:1-31
77. Barnabus and Saul–Acts 13:1-14:28
78. The Council at Jerusalem–Acts 15:1-41
79. Paul’s Journey Continues–Acts 16:1-20:38
80. Paul’s Trial and Continued Journey–Acts 25:1-28:31
81. Life Through the Spirit–Romans 8:1-39
82. Fruit of the Spirit–Galatians 5:16-6:10
83. The Armor of God–Ephesians 6:10-20
84. Rejoice In The Lord–Philippians 4:4-9
85. The Supremacy of Christ–Colossians 1:1-23
86. Instructions from Paul–1 Timothy 3:1-16
87. Final Instructions to Timothy–1 Timothy 6:3-21
88. Good Soldiers of Christ–2 Timothy 2:1-26
89. All Scripture is God-breathed–2 Timothy 3:10-4:8
90. The Day of the Lord–1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
91. Love–1 Corinthians 13:1-13
92. Treasures in Jars of Clay–2 Corinthians 4:1-6:2
93. A Chosen People–1 Peter 1:1-2:12
94. James on Trials and Temptations–James 1:1-2:26
95. John on Love–1 John 3:11-4:21
96. John’s Vision of Christ–Revelation 1:1-20
97. Words to the Seven Churches–Revelation 2:1-3:22
98. The Throne in Heaven–Revelation 4:1-7:17
99. The Defeat of Satan–Revelation 19:1-20:15
100. A New Heaven and a New Earth–Revelation 21:1-22:21
