A Moment of Hope

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 31:10, Mighty Men and Women of Valor

by Marilynn Chadwick "Who can find a woman of valor..." Proverbs 31:10 OJB "The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor." Judges 6:12 ESV In this series, we caught a glimpse into the heart of the Queen Mother (Proverbs 31:1-9) as she fervently prayed for her son who would one day be king. We saw this same heart displayed by Queen Margaret of Scotland as she prayed for and trained her own children, some who also became kings during the 11th century. But here's a startling truth: If we believe in Jesus, we are sons and daughters who are a royal priesthood. Royalty is no longer reserved for priests and kings or those born into royal lineage. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are part of God's royal family. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9 NIV). Yes, we are God's royal priesthood. Citizens of a kingdom not of this world—a kingdom that dwells in our heart. As we live in that newness of life, our good works bring glory to God. "Dear friends, I urge you… Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God..." (1 Peter 2:11,12). God sees within each of us the courage and strength he put there. Let's look at how the Bible portrays a man named Gideon. The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said to him, "The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor" (Judges 6:12 ESV). God called Gideon to save all of Israel during one of the darkest times in their history. And yet, Gideon felt afraid and utterly without strength. His own family was a mess. "How can I save Israel?" he cried out to God. "My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." God replied, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" (Judges 6:14,15 NIV). Maybe you struggle with inadequacy and fear like Gideon did. Perhaps God is whispering to you right at this moment as he whispered to Gideon: "The Lord is with you mighty warrior, man or woman of valor. And because I am with you, you will have strength to prevail!" God's words to us are the same words he spoke to Gideon. "Because I am with you, you will defeat your enemies." Let's dare to learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs courageous men and women of valor who are willing to boldly carry God's love into a broken world. There is a place—a household and a community somewhere—that desperately needs your love. There is a cause that has your name on it. Our greatest mission is to reach the world for Christ. Let us become men and women of valor who dare to do something courageous for God. Perhaps we'll discover unexpected courage as we step out in faith to give life to others. Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here [https://www.marilynn-chadwick.com/] to order your copy today!

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 31:8,9 - The Real Princess Diaries, Part 2

by Marilynn Chadwick "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8,9 NIV Continued from yesterday… [https://sites.libsyn.com/404141/site/our-favorite-proverbs-proverbs-3145-the-real-princess-diaries-part-1] Just as the Queen Mother in Proverbs 31 diligently instructed and prayed for her son that would be king, Queen Margaret of Scotland taught her own sons in 11th century Scotland. So respected was Margaret for her wisdom that King Malcolm placed her in charge of all Scotland's domestic affairs. She was often consulted on other state matters as well. Malcolm could neither read nor write, so Margaret read him stories from the Bible. Her example had an impact on Malcolm's entire reign, helping him become known as the "just ruler." Together they prayed, fed the hungry, and served the needy. Margaret had a heart for Scotland's poor, showing special kindness to orphans. She fed the hungry every morning in the castle, even before she had her own breakfast. She was also known for her deep life of prayer, rising early for prayer and reading the Bible with King Malcom. Margaret worked to strengthen the church in Scotland and helped change areas that needed reform. She also encouraged ordinary Scottish people to live as faithful Christians, emphasizing prayer and a holy lifestyle. Margaret helped bring a more refined culture to the somewhat barbaric Scotland of the 11th century. She promoted the arts and education and encouraged traders from other lands to bring beautiful articles of clothing and furniture to the people. She even introduced the tartan plaids, the distinctive costume for which the Scots are known. Biographers depict Queen Margaret as a strong, pure, noble character, who had great influence over her husband, and through him over Scottish history, especially in the area of reforming the church. Some called her "The Pearl of Scotland." In 1250, Pope Innocent IV canonized Margaret as a Saint, acknowledging her life of holiness and extraordinary virtue. When we consider Queen Margaret's vast service to Scotland, we should also notice the impact she had on her eight children. Besides educating them, she instilled a strength of faith and character that set the foundation for three of her six sons to become Scottish kings during what was known as Scotland's "Golden Era." As she did with King Malcolm, she is said to have influenced her sons to become just and holy rulers. Queen Margaret was born into royalty—not what you would call an ordinary woman. But she shows what can happen when a woman of great influence chooses to use her position to accomplish God's purposes. Strong in faith, kind to the poor, wise in matters of culture and trade, devoted to her family, Queen Margaret of Scotland gives us an example of true nobility. Her life of daily abiding in Christ and giving her life away to others influenced her husband and children, as well as all of Scotland. Who can measure the impact on all of Christendom, because of the life of this one Woman of Valor? Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here [https://www.marilynn-chadwick.com/] to order your copy today!

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 31:4,5 - The Real Princess Diaries, Part 1

by Marilynn Chadwick In Proverbs 31, we catch a glimpse into the heart of the Queen Mother who had prayed for her son and devoted him to the Lord. Clearly the Queen Mother saw the potential dangers of royalty even more clearly than her son. She also knew she was raising a world changer. Let's continue our look into the teachings that were foremost in her mind as she trained the son who would be king: "The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him. 'It is not for kings, Lemuel—it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights'." Proverbs 31:4,5 NIV A long time ago there lived a real princess who actually did change the world. Her name was Margaret. She married a Scottish King and thus became Queen Margaret, one of the most beloved nobles in the history of Scotland. I became captivated by her story years ago when traveling with our family through the Scottish Highlands. It was easy to be mesmerized by the land of castles, kings, kilts, and battlefields. Years later, while writing the Woman of Valor, [https://www.marilynn-chadwick.com/] memories of Queen Margaret came flooding back to my mind. Perhaps you'll agree with me that Margaret embodies much of what we have seen in the Proverbs 31 Woman of Valor. Her story takes us back to the Middle Ages. Margaret of Wessex was an English princess born in Hungary to Princess Agatha of Hungary and English Prince Edward the Exile around 1045. Her parents fled as exiles to Hungary after the Danes took over England. When Margaret was ten years old, she and her family returned to England, where her father suddenly died before he could assume the throne. Several years later, Margaret and her mother, along with her two siblings, were forced to flee, once again, for their lives when William the Conqueror stormed his way through England. While sailing north, Margaret and her family were caught in a storm and shipwrecked on the coast of Scotland. They were aided by King Malcolm and put under his protection. Before long, Malcolm fell deeply in love with the beautiful and kind princess. Margaret and Malcolm married in 1070 at the castle in Edinburgh. We've been learning about the strong influence a Woman of Valor can have on her own family. We see such an example in Margaret, a deeply committed Christian whose faith influenced the rather uncouth Malcolm. He turned his heart to God, largely because of his wife. The couple had six sons and two daughters and raised all to become strong followers of Christ who transformed 11th Century Scotland. To be continued tomorrow… Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here [https://www.marilynn-chadwick.com/] to order your copy today!

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 31:1-9, The Training of a King

by Marilynn Chadwick Proverbs 31:1-9 was technically recorded by the unknown King Lemuel, but it is explicitly identified as an oracle, or "inspired message," taught to him by his mother. Therefore, the content and wisdom within these verses are traditionally believed by many scholars to be Bathsheba teaching her son, Solomon. We catch a glimpse into the heart of this mother who had prayed for her son and devoted him to the Lord. Let's look closer at the teachings that were foremost in her mind as she trained the son who would be king: The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him. 2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers! 3 Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. 4 It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, 5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. 6 Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! 7 Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. 8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:1-9 NIV). The Queen Mother's words are instructions about the kind of king he should be. Like any good mother, she warned him about the dangers of immoral women and over-indulgence in alcohol. But her cautions appear to have had more to do with his calling as king rather than just mere morality. She challenges her son to use his power to help the broken, "speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves," and "defending the rights of the poor and needy" (Proverbs 31:3, 5, 8, 9). If King Lemuel's mother prayed for this son before he was born and during his lifetime, surely, she also prayed for his wife. So, the description of the Woman of Valor in Proverbs 31:10-31 could easily reflect her heart's desire for her son's future wife. And isn't this the prayer for every mother of sons? I'd like to think these verses also represent a mother's specific hopes and dreams for the kind of Woman of Valor that her daughters would one day become.

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 31:2, A Queen Mother's Words for Her Son

by Marilynn Chadwick "Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!" Proverbs 31:2 NIV For centuries, people have been fascinated by royalty. The Bible is filled with stories of men and women of noble birth whose lives had eternal impact. While we are exploring the world of kings and queens, let's go back and take another look at Proverbs 31. We have been discussing the characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman, also known as the "Woman of Valor." To learn more about this incredible woman, read Proverbs 31:10-31, or check out our previous blog series by clicking here [https://sites.libsyn.com/404141/site/our-favorite-proverbs-love-makes-her-brave]. In the first portion of Proverbs 31, verses 1-9, we find a set of instructions from an unnamed Queen Mother to her son who would be king. These words are the teaching of his mother to King Lemuel. Bible scholars are divided about the identity of King Lemuel. Many think Lemuel, which means "devoted to God," was another name for Solomon. Others believe it was a name for King Hezekiah. Some have concluded that King Lemuel is the fictitious representation of the ideal king. Whoever it was, he had a wise mother. Her words are regarded as prophetic words of Scripture, "an inspired utterance his mother taught him" (Proverbs 31:1 NIV). The Hebrew word massa, has a variety of translations in English Bibles. The word is rendered "prophecy" in the King James and Revised Geneva Translations. Massa is translated "vision" in the Wycliffe Bible, the first English translation hand printed in the 14th century. This same Hebrew word, massa, is translated "declaration" in Young's Literal Translation in the 19th century. Proverbs 31:1-9 is one of the few Bible passages that clearly attributes its content to a woman's teaching and explicitly records it as Scripture. The word in this verse translated as "taught" implies much more than mere verbal instruction. It can mean "to chasten, reprove, discipline, correct, or instruct." This kind of training implies continual reinforcement. It doesn't happen quickly and best occurs within the context of a close relationship, such as a mother with her children. King Lemuel's mother begins her prophecy by referring to her son as the "answer to my prayers" (verse 2). In the verses that follow, she teaches him important life lessons about how to behave in a kingly manner. The passage serves as a sober admonition to parents to guard our children against the very same vices the Queen Mother knew would destroy a leader's character and reign. It's also a reminder for moms and dads to take seriously our responsibility to not only train, but to pray for our child and grandchildren, as well as the generations to come! Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor, Discovering the Courage and Strength God Gave You by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here [https://www.marilynn-chadwick.com/] to order your copy today!