“His Finances”, Proverbs 31:12, toothpaste, and tacos

I’m so glad you are here!  Since this week was about finances, grab the cheapest drink around, a glass of water!   If you are one of those crazy people who doesn’t like the taste of water, add some lemon juice or a lemon slice.  Strawberry water, cucumber water, orange water, and the like are yummy too.

This week I’m going to present you with a challenge!  In this chapter’s prayer, it says, “Show me how I can increase our finances and not decrease them.”  Your challenge is to find some way to save your household money (whether a small or large amount).  I, of course, am going to take my own challenge.

My first money-saving attempt was to make my own toothpaste.  We normally buy the more expensive fluoride free toothpaste.  I’ll save the “why” for another time.

Here is the toothpaste recipe:

Coconut oil toothpaste recipe

(I got the recipe from friend who has a large family.  They love it!  I changed the recipe though.)

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 5 tablespoons baking soda
• 1/2 small packet of stevia powder
• 6-7 drops of Shine + Essential Oil by Be Young (The original recipe called for 20-25 drops of peppermint oil)

1. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl   I mixed mine in a small Mason jar.

I wasn’t super happy with the results, but I’m sure I can perfect the recipe over time?  Anyone have any suggestions?  I don’t like the way the coconut oil melts in my mouth, and I think I would like the peppermint flavor better.

I also learned how to make my own Taco Seasoning!  I learned this from Hallee the Homemaker.  I changed the recipe to make it my own by removing the sugar and adding a tad more salt.

Here is the recipe:

• 1 tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp ground oregano
• 1 tsp salt

Okay, enough with the challenge already!  Back to our chapter!  With this horrid economy, I know that more than a few of you struggle with this “finance” issue.  Again, what a better time than now to pray about it?

Things that touched me:

1. “Only when we recognize that all we have comes from God and seek to make Him Lord over it can we avoid the pitfalls that money, or the lack of it, brings”  If you are like me or my family, it’s the lack of money that is bringing us trouble, but Stormie brings up an excellent point.  We need to focus on Christ and what he wants for our lives and not on the temporary struggles.
2. “It may not be possible to avoid every financial problem because God sometimes uses finances to get our attention and teach us things.”  I know that almost all of you are struggling in this area.  What can you and I learn?

Normally, I would say “Things I respectfully disagree with”.  This is more like things I struggle to understand:

1. I really struggled with the section where Stormie says, “So many money problems can be solved by putting all finances under God’s covering and doing what He says to do with them.  That means giving when He says to give.  When you do, God promises to deliver you, protect you, bless you, heal you, and keep you alive.”  First, I thought, “That’s not in the Bible.”  Then, I looked!  I found Psalm 41, and it said very similar things to what Stormie is saying.  I see that the scripture says that “he that considereth the poor” will have all the things Stormie brings out.  In my mind, giving and considering the poor don’t necessarily equate.  What do you think?  Here is Psalm 41

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.  By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
(Psalms 41:1-13)

Second, I thought does this apply to me.  Am I really promised health and life?  I mean, look at the life of Paul.  He knew how to be hungry and suffer need (Philippians 4:12).  He, of course, had an abundance of spiritual blessings.

God doesn’t owe me anything, but he blesses me anyway.  Our motive for doing the right things and giving to others or considering others should be in simple thankfulness and obedience and not for the reward.

Of course, I believe the Scriptures, and they do say all that Stormie said.  Am I the only one who doesn’t quite grasp this?

Proverbs 31:12 “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.”

When I first look at this verse, I think, “I’m not evil to my husband.”  I mean, I don’t trip him when he walks in the door.  I’ve never tried to poison him.  Okay, occasionally I give him the cold shoulder or a dirty look, but it’s completely justified. (Yes, this me talking to myself)

Well, wait  a second, the verse doesn’t say, “She will do him good and not evil on most of the days of her life except when it is justified to give him what he deserves.”  Right?

You mean that I have to be nice even when he doesn’t deserve it?

Yes, that is exactly what the verse is saying.

Okay, I’ll try not to be evil!  I’m remember that he’s not my enemy.

There’s more to it than that?  I have to be “good” to him?

I looked up synonyms for good on dictionary.com.  Here is what I found:

—Synonyms
1.  pure, moral, conscientious, meritorious, worthy, exemplary, upright. 2.  commendable, admirable. 5.  obedient, heedful. 6.  kindly, benevolent, humane, gracious, obliging. 23.  full, adequate. 24.  profitable, useful, serviceable, beneficial. 25.  efficient, proficient, capable, able, ready, suited, suitable, dexterous, expert, adroit, apt.

Wow!  I’ve got a lot of work to do.  Better get busy!  Catch you later!

Your assignment for week 4:  Read Chapter 4 of The Power of a Praying Wife “His Sexuality”.  What touched you?  Any disagreements?  Pray that your husband finds enjoyment and satisfaction in your sexual relationship  Also, study and ruminate on Proverbs 31:13.