"The Scavenger"

¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

Proverbs 31:14 says this woman is like the merchants' ship going afar to bring food.  T. Nicol contends that the Hebrews were a pastoral and agricultural people, and had no inducements to follow a seafaring life.  Yet, we know that Solomon and Hiram were partners in a Tharshish fleet arriving with fine imported goods every three years (1 Kgs. 10:22).   The Proverbist yet again illuminates the extraordinary character of this Proverbs 31 woman.  She is from a people that by nature are not prone to travel by sea unless absolutely necessary but she thinks and moves outside the box of tradition to the advancements around her in order to secure what is needed for her family. The more I learn about this sistah……I think to myself she is a Bad Mamma Jamma!!!!

The word scavenger carries with it several negative connotations but I want to focus on the more general definition of scavenger: a person who searches through refuse for food minus the refuse J   This Sistah is willing to not only search diligently for and to secure what is readily available to her but for the well-being of her family she is willing to go to great lengths and travel great distances in order to secure provision for her family.  We know that food provides vital nutrients to strengthen the body thus rendering it functional for activity.  Without proper nourishment her family can’t thrive so this sistah is all about life for her family.  Matthew Henry contends, “What her own ground does not produce she can furnish herself with, if she have occasion for it, by exchanging her own goods for it; and so she brings her food from afar.  Not that she values things the more for their being far-fetched, but, if they be ever so far off, if she must have them she knows how to come by them”.  Thus, she has a “by any means necessary” spirit.   If she has to travel to a foreign land to get what her family needs her passport is on her person at all times J

We all remember participating in various scavenger hunt exercises.  The Proverbs 31 woman is the only player in this scavenger hunt for she makes the list and then she obtains everything on the list.  When I think about a scavenger, I am reminded of my favorite childhood video game, Pac-Man and they later came out with Ms. Pac-Man (Pac-Man with a red bow).  They would go throughout the maze eating dots and fruit that were available and trying to escape the ghosts.  I think of the Proverbs 31 woman as the original Ms. Pac-Man but instead of eating up everything, she goes to and fro gathering up everything she can to provide her family with sustenance to go to the next round.

To all the Ms. Pac-Man Sistahs out there, I salute you!!!!

Walk It Out Application:

This week reflect on routine and also novel things that your family may need to go to the next level.  After identification is action, so seek near and far to secure everything needed for your family. 

God Bless You Sistahs!!!!

Minister Anna P. Shanklin

Next Week’s Topic:  The Early Riser (Proverbs 31:15)

"The Hard Worker: Ain't Got Time to Die"

¹³ She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

Proverbs 31:13 starts a review of the character of this woman as an industrious pursuer of what will fortify and strengthen her household.  Verse 13 says first that this woman seeks wool and flax…….seeketh (darash) in the original language means she applies to practice, study, follow and seek with application.  Thus this woman makes it her business to gather the materials she needs meaning she doesn’t just gather things aimlessly but she pursues with a plan the things needed for her household.

Oh how many times ladies do we have people in our lives dictating and hinting at what should be our life pursuits, questioning our motives and outlining a systematic approach for us but a Proverbs 31 woman knows her purpose and she seeks the precise needed materials for the completion of the purposed work.  God is not mentioned but she can’t do this unless she is clear about her God-given purpose.

She seeks wool and flax which are materials used for making garments…covering.  So the Proverbs 31 woman seeks the materials needed to cover her family.   The covering blocks and repels direct exposure to the elements.  Oh, I feel like shouting on that one……because I am reminded and my heart is warm and my eyes are filled with tears as I think about all the AMAZING women in my life God sent to fortify me with love (great-grandmother (the original Anna P), grandmother, my lovely mother, my Nanny, 3 aunts (Mercedes, Theresa, Omae) and Mother Dear) who tirelessly sought and continue to seek the materials that to this very day provide a covering for my life.  The men were there and looking back I can give a testimony about them but these sistahs got together and made life oh so sweet.  So on the days when things are rough and enemy attacks come and I want to fight back in the flesh it is the power of the Holy Spirit and that fortification of love with a firm sense of knowing who God made me to be which was pounded into my head since age 2 J that affords me the strength to keep on keeping on.  I salute these covering Sistahs!!!!!!!

Wool is utilized for making fabric and garments and it is also a metaphor for whiteness (Isaiah 1:18).  Remember Rahab covered the spies on the roof with stalks of flax (Joshua 2:6).  This woman again is seeking the covering for her family.

Now not only is she industrious in her gathering of the materials but once she obtains the materials for the covering the Bible says she works willingly with her hands. In the original language (willingly) means she delights and takes pleasure in working …..she desires and has a longing to work….it is not a mere since of duty but she enjoys the expenditure of energy necessary to cover her family.   She doesn’t just order it to be done but she works at it herself to make sure that it is done with her own hands.  Sistahs, she doesn’t mind working to keep covering over her family. She doesn’t get up mad because she has to go to the store and cook because she doesn’t mind bringing home the bacon and frying it up in the pan.   She doesn’t do the laundry with an attitude. She seeks the materials, she spins, she sews and then she dresses to cover that which God has given to her life.  Sistahs, the Proverbs 31 woman is a hard worker!!!!!!!! 

One theologian contends that all her labor is done in cheerful service and her will and her heart are in it.   She is happy doing the work because I believe she has a vision of her covered family as she is working with her hands. I believe this Proverbs 31 woman would paraphrase the words of the old negro spiritual…...and say…. “Too busy working to cover my family, Ain’t Got Time to Die”

Walk It Out Application:

This week let us reflect on all the amazing persons God sent and continues to send into our lives to help us along life’s way that are hard workers.

If you are waiting for your family, make sure things are organized and prepare your household for your family.  Wash the dishes with joy, do laundry and fold with a smile and prepare your meals with gladness and know that all of this will fortify you to be able to cover the beautiful family God has for you.

If you have a family then continue to do your work with joy in your heart and love in your actions this week and going forward keeping in mind a photo of your covered family.

God Bless You Sistahs!!!!

Minister Anna P. Shanklin

Next Week’s Topic:  The Scavenger (Proverbs 31:14)

The Do-Good Woman

¹² She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Proverbs 31:12 says that the virtuous woman will do good to her husband and not evil all the days of her life.

My original intent was to rush to “good” in my exegetical analysis of Proverbs 31:12 but the Hebrew illuminates the strong connection between do and good…..in fact as it is presented in this text  “do” in the Hebrew (gamal) specifically means you are giving, shewing or dealing fully with either in a good manner or an evil manner. Perhaps not rocket science to some but the language could just define “do” as an abstract action and leave whatever follows to further explain but in the original language “do” is not a neutral action it is coupled either with goodness or evilness.

Thus the author makes a point to emphasize that this Proverbs 31 woman is giving, shewing and dealing fully with the man in her life in a good manner and the writer goes on to not leave it to chance interpretation since “do” can be coupled with good and evil and also emphasizes that she is NOT giving, shewing and dealing fully with the man in her life in an evil manner.  Sistah’s the Proverbs 31 woman is clearly a Do-Good woman!!!

This is not a once in a life-time act……..she will do and  continues to do the man good and not evil all the days of her life………it is an everlasting Do-Good spirit this woman possesses……….this is profoundly deep.  We must therefore shy away from the tit-for-tat mentality that is so indicative of our culture today.   You did it to me so I am going to get you back…….You were mean so now I am going to be mean to you.  I know it’s hard but sistahs we have to make up in our mind that we are going to deal fully with all persons in a good manner and avoid evil.  I hear the Apostle Paul saying as he spoke about unity in the body and exercising gifts……. “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9).  There are countless testimonies of women who have labored in love and showed God’s love and transformed their families and communities through the love, mercy and grace of God.  I am led by the Spirit just now to Mrs. Coretta Scott King who could have decided on April 4, 1968 that she had enough and that evil had prevailed in the assassination of her husband, the honorable Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. BUT she remembered that she not only married the man but she married the mission and on April 8, 1968 the day before the funeral of the love of her life she got up with the same resurrection power of Jesus and marched in honor of the Memphis Sanitation workers who were on strike.  I believe it was her Do-Good spirit, strength and witness during a major life-altering season that led to a settlement that included union recognition and wage increases less than one week later.

Now don’t get it twisted or misinterpret the message, sometimes Do-Good means you have to exercise tough love and stand for what is right but remember all things work together for good…….LOL!!!!   And we NEVER advocate ABUSE in any form!!!!!!!!!!

As I think about the definition of “do” meaning “dealing with fully”, I am reminded of the TV Game Show: Let’s Make a Deal!!!!!!!  I want us to make a deal to be Do-Good Sistahs………..now I know someone is wondering what is behind the curtain………….well it my prayer that as we seek to be Do-Good Sistahs that we get Do-Good Brothas…….Hello Somebody!!!!!! J

Walk It Out Application:

Let’s Make a Deal Sistahs to start and continue for those already on the journey to treat the men in our lives in a good manner.   They have a heavy mantle to carry as the leaders of our families, communities and the world so let’s rally together to build them up and not tear them down.  From the mailman to the computer technician to the Pastor to the bus driver to the restaurant waiter to the President, let’s honor and respect the male role models in our lives.  We should make it a point to speak life to them, to pray for them and support them in any way we can.  It is our prayer that as we sow seeds as Do-Good Sistahs then we will yield a crop of Do-Good Brothas!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Happy Sowing and Reaping Sistahs!!!!!!!!!!!  Hallelujah!!!!!!!!

Next Week's Topic:  "The Hard Worker: Ain't Got Time to Die"

God Bless You Sistahs!!!!
Minister Anna P. Shanklin

The Preserver

 ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Proverbs 31:11b says that as a result of the trustworthiness of this virtuous woman, her husband does not lack profit.  In the Hebrew, the phrase “in her so that he shall have no need” is all together (chacer) meaning that there is no lack or decrease or need surrounding him as a result of her character.   The term spoil in the Hebrew transliterated (shalal) means gain usually as a result of war.

                                                                            

Thus, Proverbs 31:11b says that this woman is so awesome and stupendous and just plain bad (J) that her husband is not lacking in any area and furthermore there is no need for him to go out and risk life and limb in battles and wars to obtain that which is needed for the home because she is there to assist him in the building up and preservation of the home front.  The Proverbs 31 Woman is a preserver………….WOW!!!!!  To preserve means to maintain in safety from injury, peril or harm; to keep or maintain intact or to prevent from decaying or spoiling. I truly believe that it is the Spirit of the Living God in this woman that the man trusts because no flesh can compare to what this woman possesses. Also, because she is so in tune with doing things God's way that her husband doesn't care what comes his way he knows in his heart that she has been created, fashioned and positioned for him to preserve what God has ordained as his field of authority.

I love how Matthew Henry puts it…… “He needs not be griping and scraping abroad, as those must be whose wives are proud and wasteful at home. She manages his affairs so that he is always before-hand, has such plenty of his own that he is in no temptation to prey upon his neighbours. He thinks himself so happy in her that he envies not those who have most of the wealth of this world; he needs it not, he has enough, having such a wife. Happy the couple that have such a satisfaction as this in each other!”

               

This woman seeks to build-up and protects her husband.  I began thinking to myself how does this woman arrive at this state of character.  Well, I venture to say that she must scout out the areas of potential lack with respect to the home and ministry and then seeks to address the area before it has the potential to cause lack/decay.   Awh, thank you Holy Spirit……just like preservatives in our foods…….the preservative is in the food…….in the mix and is added prior to completion of the food as protection against decay.     So as the food is cooked or stored for long periods of time the preservative is already in place to prevent and ward off decay.   Sistah’s we have to be alert since our adversary is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8).   We must be in the mix and stay in the mix of our families and communities to scout out the areas of potential decay.  If there is an area of decay then we will serve as reconditioning agents by introducing folks to the ONE who makes all things new, Jesus Christ.  We will be active in the struggle…..we can make a difference………..it took 45 days but Zimmerman was arrested.   Stay on the wall Sistah!!!!!  Sistah, you are a PRESERVER!!!! 

Walk It Out Application:

For this week’s application…I invite you to focus on one area in your personal life where you can increase in the idea of preservation.   Each morning and every night speak life to yourself and say I am a PRESERVER and work hard this week on preservation in the area where you are weak so that you can be prepared to be the PRESERVER God intends for you to be and the PRESERVER the man needs for the fortification of the home front .   For example, if following up on certain things is a weakness then make a things to do list for the week and make every effort to complete those things for the coming week even if all on next Friday....LOL!!!!!  Also scout out an area in the community where preservation is needed and seek to contribute prayer and time to actively assist in that area in your community.   We must pray and march!!!! I am a firm believer that the prayer warrior needs the picketer and the picketer needs the prayer warrior!!!!

Sistah, your motto for the week is “I AM A PRESERVER; NOTHING WILL SPOIL IN MY PRESENCE!!!!  I AM A PRESERVER, JESUS CAUSES FLOURISHING WHERE THERE IS DECAY”

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)

THE ONLY WAY TO PRESERVE IS TO INTRODUCE THE PERSON/SITUATION TO JESUS!!!!!

 

Next Week’s Topic:  “The Do-Good Woman” (Proverbs 31:12)

God Bless You Sistahs!!!!
Minister Anna P. Shanklin

The Trustworthy Woman

 ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her………………………………………..

Proverbs 31:11a says that the virtuous woman’s husband’s heart doth safely trust in her.  In the Hebrew, heart (leb) means the inner man, mind, will, moral character, seat of appetites, seat of emotions and passions and seat of courage.  In the Hebrew, trust (batach) means to have confidence in, to be bold and secure.  Thus, Proverbs 31:11a says that this woman who we desire to emulate possesses the quality such that the very essence of her husband’s being (his heart, mind, soul, will, character, appetites, emotions and passions) is boldly secure and confident in her virtue.

No matter what her husband has to do or where he has to go…..he can be confident in her virtue and her ability to manage home and family.  He can be confident that no other force can come alongside attempting to wreck the home front and persuade this woman to turn away from the commitment of their union and God’s mission for their union.  Even if one is not married one should strive to possess the quality of trustworthiness as the Proverbs 31 sistah.  If the Proverbs 31 woman’s husband could sing as Whitney Houston did in 1990 (teary-eyed)…… He would switch the lyrics to “All the Man that I Need” and sing “All the Woman that I Need”:

She fills me up
She gives me love
More love than I've ever seen
She's all I've got
She's all I've got in this world
But she's all the woman that I need

You are a trustworthy woman yielding yourself to God’s will and purpose for your life and fortifying the people in your life that God has trusted to your charge. Sistah, you are a Bad Mamma Jamma!!!! 

Walk It Out Application:

For this week’s application…I invite you to view God as your husband and identify one area that you need to build or increase trust in for growth as a Proverbs 31 woman.  It could be dedication to more time in prayer or fasting, managing our thought life, our mouths, following-up on items, increasing service to others or sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to name just a few areas.

The Proverbs 31 woman husband’s heart doth safely trust in her.  Can God trust you?

Next Week’s Topic:  The Preserver (Proverbs 31:11b)

God Bless You Sistahs!!!!
Minister Anna P. Shanklin

The Woman’s Worth

¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Worth is defined as the quality that renders something desirable or valuable or useful.

Proverbs 31:10b says that the virtuous woman’s price, value, worth is far above rubies.  There is debate over the exact meaning of rubies (paniyn) in the Hebrew.  In the original language it may refer to a precious stone, coral, pearls or mother of pearl.   Job 28:18, Proverbs 3:15 and Proverbs 8:11 speak of wisdom being more precious than rubies.  The high priest’s breastplate was full of precious stones in Exodus 28.  It is clear from God’s Word that rubies indicate something of great value.  Proverbs 31:10b says that the virtuous woman’s worth is far above rubies indicating even in the original language that this woman’s value is far greater in price than something that is considered of great value. Sistah, you are VERY valuable and don’t you forget it.  Often times we find ourselves underestimating our value and worth based on erroneous assessments from society but God’s Word says that you are valuable.  You are valuable because God says you are valuable!!!!!!!!!!!!

Walk It Out Application:

For this week’s application…I invite you to focus on what God’s Word says about you.  I urge you to find an affirmation of your worth in God’s Word.  My favorite Scriptural affirmation is found in Psalm 139:14:

¹⁴I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Every morning, I want you to look at yourself in the mirror and state your Scriptural affirmation.  You can count on meeting forces throughout the day that attempt to cause you to question your worth but sistah hold fast and say to yourself only what God’s Word says about you!!!!  Whenever you feel low think of the hymn, Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, Jesus washed me white as snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Sistah, you are worth more than your weight in gold!!!  Sistah, you were worth Calvary!!!!!!!!!!

Next Week’s Topic:  The Trustworthy Woman (Proverbs 31:11)

God Bless You Sistahs!!!!
Minister Anna P. Shanklin

A Virtuous Woman

^10aWho can find a virtuous woman?

Since our quest is to become more like the Proverbs 31 woman……we can’t become that which we don’t have insight into its identity.  We must know who she is and the Word of God tells us that she is virtuous.  Virtuous is defined as having or exhibiting virtue or being morally excellent according to Webster.   A definition for virtue is strength or courage, valor.  In Proverbs 31:10a, virtuous in the Hebrew means strength, power, might, to show oneself strong, a force such as an army.

Often times we spend so much time on the portion of the Scripture, “Who can find” instead of focusing on being virtuous.  So what happens? Yes, we are discovered for someone finds us or comes upon us or falls in with us (the original Hebrew word “Qal” for “find” covers all of these meanings in verse 10a) but what they find is empty because there is no virtue. King Lemuel’s instruction is illuminating that finding this woman possessing the virtue is not so common….not about finding any woman but a virtuous woman.  I would venture to say……it is like an archaeological excavation without revelation!!!!!

Well, since the essence of my name “virtuous woman” means that I am strong, possess ability and I am a force such as an army, being especially warlike then I must be about the business of warfare.  I am not a pristine non-confrontational princess but I am a warrior princess.  I need to be about fighting the enemy.   This woman is resolved and brave not because of anything external but because of the internal power of God.  I know someone is thinking are you skirting around the virtuous woman being morally excellent?  No, for morally excellent for the virtuous woman means she is at warfare against the tricks of the enemy that attempts to distract us from holy living.  I don’t expect to get an Amen.  

Too often we are in the business as sistahs of attacking each other instead of our enemies.  The enemies we need to be fighting are poverty, racism, sexism, classism, churchism [somebody will get that around bedtime], educational/employment disparities in our communities and injustices of all kind in the world, the list goes on and on regarding our specific enemies.  So, I am not virtuous for the cause of sitting on anyone’s mantle as a piece of unbreakable art but my virtue says that I am a force to be reckoned with and I am a warrior. 

We often equate virtue in this context as some lofty idea/some self-righteous portrait attainable by some and unattainable by others based on outward appearance or pedigree or we diminish it to something tangible such as wearing lap scarves, communion head-pieces, Kasper ASL suits, involvement in civic and church affiliations but the Hebrew doesn’t lend to any of that as a definition of virtuous.  Yes, I will become active in my community and my conduct should be a reflection of my virtue but my affiliation without warfare against the wiles of the devil doesn’t equate to virtue.  The Holy Spirit just spoke and said it is like a powder puff with no powder.  But on the other hand, you can be dressed to the nine and looking good when you go out and be a confident Proverbs 31 woman because you have spent time on your face before the Lord in prayer and actively engaged in warfare……we can’t judge a book by its cover……so sistah, don’t hate on another sistah!!!!!

As we look at the rest of Proverbs 31, the woman possesses all of the characteristics and accomplishes everything outlined in the Scripture because of her strength, courage and warfare ability.  It is her virtue that sets her apart from the rest.  She stands out in the crowd not because she is lashing out at everything in sight but because she is disciplined and about the business of being at war against the enemy and with mediocrity.  She is striving to be a reflection of the True and Living God because she knows that she wouldn’t exist if it had not been for the Lord who is on her side!!!!!

Walk It Out Application:

This week as Virtuous Sistahs, we are like CeCe Winans and we are waging war against the enemy.  Spend more time in prayer and fasting.  Speak to yourself constantly reminding yourself each day that you are a Warrior Princess, a force to be reckoned with and you have the strength of the living God to attack the enemy.  There is a war going on and if you’re going to win you better make sure that you have Jesus deep down within for this battle can’t be fought with bullets and guns…Sistahs, wake-up, smell the coffee, take off your toot-toot skirt and put on your military apparel for there is a war going on!!!!  When you feel discouraged, pray Warrior Princess, when you see injustice, pray and do something to combat that injustice Warrior Princess.  When you are mistreated, I KNOW IT’S HARD, but remember you are duty-bound to show the love of Christ so pray and show love Warrior Princess.    I hear CeCe saying:

We are waging war, were taking territory, fighting unseen enemies, like never before were waging war

We’re going into battle, as we claim the victory, over the enemy, I’m tired of principalities messing with me and the devil stealing from me

I’m ready to win, my weapon of power lives within. I can’t be defeated!!!!
In Jesus’ name, He rules and reigns!!!!!!!!

Never being defeated, anymore……..Were waging war!!!!

Go Forth, Meditate on Ephesians 6:10-18 for you need the Full Armour of God…Warrior Princess!!!!!

Next Week’s Topic:  The Woman’s Worth (Proverbs 31:10b)

God Bless You Sistahs!!!!
Minister Anna P. Shanklin