PG31 THANK YOU 4 SHARING THE JOURNEY

Congrats! You made it! You stayed the course, you joined in with ladies around the country in this challenge! God is good, isn't He? I trust and believe, and know that something in you shifted. Whether it was your attitude, your study and prayer time, your venturing outside of the box to do something different, or even getting involved in an online study, I am so THANKFUL that you decided to join us!

I want to share with you that many did not publicly accept the challenge, but over 50 women were participating at any given time! This study will be left online, so if you want to recommend it to that Sister who just wants to push herself to go higher, it will still be available.

I would love your feedback on the challenge, what you learned, what God revealed to you while studying, and where you grew. Feel free to drop me a line here or on FB or Twitter, where yes, more young ladies were participating! I'd love to hear from you!

If you would like to join me for another Challenge, go to www.thenextgenerationleaders.blogspot.com
Beginning June 11th, we will kick off our S.A.L.T. Sessions (Spirit and Life Truths) with the Charity Challenge! Stay tuned for more and subscribe now to the blog to get the updates delivered to you!

Let's Pray:

Father,
I thank you for my precious Sisters in You, for every woman who took the challenge. I pray your abundant favor, grace, and increase on their lives, as they go out and make your name great in every sphere of influence they operate in. Keep them, continue to speak into them and reveal your intent and purposes for them beyond this study in Jesus Name, AMEN!

PG31 Challenge #31 PUBLIC AFFAIR

Today's Verse:Proverbs 31:30-31 KJV,NLT

 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Key Word: PUBLIC

Reflect: If we will believe the media, this is what we could conclude: being nasty,rude, trashy, disrespectful, arrogant, adulterous and irreverent is the way to get what you want in this life. Those of us who live in reality and operate in maturity know this is simply maketing, image creation, and persona packaging. Sadly, there are many who pattern their lives and behavior after Reality TV, Soap Operas, and Music Videos.

One study showed that exposure to media depicting ultra-thin actresses and models significantly increased women's concerns about their bodies, including how dissatisfied they felt and their likelihood of engaging in unhealthy eating behaviors, such as excessive dieting. (Science Daily 2008)

You could find many more cases of Women being affected by what they see. Why? The eye gate is an entry point into your soul and spirit. The Word of God tells us that the eye is the window to the soul. There is a constant attack on you as a Virtuous Woman to darken your eyes, to cloud your view of how you see yourself and more importantly, how God sees you. As a Virtuous Woman, you are beautiful inside and out, but lasting beauty comes from the inner you. The Inner You is what will continue to grow beautiful with time as you nourish your Inner Man. Yes, crows feet and wrinkles may appear, but your Spirit Man doesn't have to wither with time. It can be as Beautiful and Vibrant as you want it to be.The Aging process comes due to sin and we try to fight it, but it will come nevertheless. In God's Beauty Contest, your Spirit Man is front and center. Yes, man looks on the outward appearance, but God is looking on the heart. Give your heart it's beauty treatment today in the Word of God. Pour out your heart to God and lay it bare. Let Him take the ugly things, attitudes, and emotions out and fill you again with His Beauty. I dare you to wade in the Beauty of Holiness today under the Living Water who is Christ Jesus.

ProACTION: Write out Proverbs 31 and place your name in it. Declare it over yourself today.

See below:

^b]A wife of noble character who can find Shantae?
Shantae is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Robert   has full confidence in me
    and lacks nothing of value.
¹² I bring him good, not harm,
all the days of my life.
¹³ I selects household goods 

    and work with eager hands.
¹⁴ I am  like the merchant ships,
bringing my food from afar.
¹⁵ Shantae gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for those she oversees.
¹⁶ Shantae considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ I set about my work vigorously;
    my arms are strong for my tasks.
¹⁸ I sees that my trading is profitable,
and my lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In my hand I holds the reigns

    and grasps the purpose of what I need 

²⁰ Shantae opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in the blood of Christ.
²² Shantae makes what her house needs for covering;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Robert is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ Shantae makes creative things and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with goods.
²⁵ Shantae is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction and kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷ Shantae watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Shantae's children, natural and spiritual  arise and call her blessed;
    Robert also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but Shantae surpasses them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but Shantae, who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Honor Shantae for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

PG31 Challenge#30 NOT SUPER...SURPASSING WOMAN

Today's Verse:Proverbs 31:29

 "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!"

Key Word: SURPASSING CAPABLE

Reflect: Most of the Women that I admire have not yet graced the cover of any magazine. They are Pastors, Teachers, Professional women who are starting their own companies, and Homemakers who are raising their children with an eye towards eternity. As a Woman of Virtue, your greatest legacy is in what you impart to the next generation that will live on after you. Will you leave a great invention? Will you leave a great work of art or a literary work for others to read? Will you find a cure and leave a generation with hope? Will you leave a legacy of righteousness that your children will carry on? Yes, there are many things you could be doing to satisfy simple needs in the present time, but as a Virtuous Woman, you are looking towards the future, making plans for Next while diligently fulfilling your purpose in the NOW. Don't settle for mediocre, average, or normal today. Instead, press on and SURPASS. Surpass all expectations, labels, limitations, and estimations. God has given you the power today to have Record-Breaking Success! As you put him at the forefront of your family, friends, finances, and future by Faith, everything else will be added to you (see Matthew 6:33). God celebrates when we look like Him (see Ephesians 3:20)! No, we are not Superwomen. We are surpassing Women, Women who excell in life because the Excellent ONE lives on the inside, empowering us!

ProACTION: Give/sow financially into the life of a Surpassing Woman or consider giving 31 dollars to a local Women's Charity. Search out a Women's organization in your area that glorifies God and connect!

PG31 Challenge #29 Let The Praise Go ON

Today's Verse:Proverbs 31:28

 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Key Word: PRAISEWORTHY

Reflect: One of the things that can put a smile on your face faster than anything else is a compliment. For the Virtuous Woman, "Thank You's & I Appreciate You" can vary. You may be too busy to hear the applause for being encumbered by many things or on the other hand you may be in a place in your life where it seems as if no one is noticing how much time, effort, and mindpower you put into running your office, your school, your household well. Rest assured God knows and he cares. As I reflect back on my years in teaching, one thing that has kept me encouraged is the letters, cards, and even the return of some of my most difficult students back to the classroom to say, "Thank You!" Whether you have natural children, adopted children, god-children, or like me, children who adopted YOU, someone notices the care and concern you show. So, My Sister, don't be weary in well-doing for you will reap if you do not faint. If you're married and it seems as though the praise has stopped flowing, talk with your spouse and communicate your feelings, and remember that praise flows both ways. If you're single, well, this is definitely a characteristic that you want to look for. The mate God has ordained for you may love you, flaws and all, but he will also point out and praise what is good about you. This is part of a healthy relationship. So, Sisters, take heart and continue the work that God has graced you for, making every effort to walk out a life that is worthy of praise!

ProACTION: Take time today to praise ten females that you don't normally spend time with or talk to on a regular basis. If you are single, write 31 qualities you desire in a mate (none can be physical attributes) For those who want to go the extra mile, find and journal 31 verses in the Bible in regards to relationships and/or love.

PG31 Challenge #28 FRESH BREAD

Today's Verse: Proverbs 31:27 NKJV

 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Key Word: IDLENESS

1. not working or in use: not working, operating, producing, or in use
2.  lazy and unwilling to work
3. frivolous: frivolous and a waste of time

Reflect: Have you ever heard the saying, "an idle mind is the devil's workshop"? This is a phrase that can become so overused that it loses its meaning. Parents use it when they want their children to actually get up and do something besides loaf around. Churches use it to describe the member who warms a pew but does not contribute to the life of  the ministry. When allow something to idle, according to the definition, you are saying that it can't work, operate, or produce. You're also saying that it could work, but it won't, and finally you are saying that you'd rather waste time than fulfill purpose. As Virtuous Women, we have to be aware of time stealers. Even good things, that are not God things can become time stealers. I encourage you today to make every minute count. The 31 minutes you pray at the beginning and end of your day, really are some of the most critical times of your existence. Your prayer life is positioning you to carry out and complete the natural assignments for your life. If you're too busy to pray, you really are too busy. God has blessed your agenda to be full. It only makes sense to hand the agenda over to Him, to ask His blessing, His wisdom, His covering on it. Instead of eating the bread of idleness, ask for God's daily bread, the direction for your life that never grows stale. He's got fresh supply waiting for you in the place of prayer!

ProACTION: In your Downtime or Me time today, Ask God to show you where you have idle time. Commit that time to doing something to build up the Kingdom of God.

PG31 Challenge #27 LAW ENFORCEMENT

Today's Verse:Proverbs 31:26 Wycliffe Translation

 ²⁶ She opened her mouth to wisdom; and the law of mercy is in her tongue. (She opened her mouth with wisdom; and the law of love, or of kindness, is upon her tongue.)

Key Word: LAW

1. binding or enforceable rule: a rule of conduct or procedure recognized by a community as binding or enforceable by authority
2. a piece of legislation

Reflect: As I was talking with my husband the other day, I was brought back to a time in my life that was particularly unpleasant, but yielded an important lesson. I was not raised in a "Christian home". My family environment was one where everyone was versed in the art of profanity. Cursing was as natural as breathing. Thankfully I had many positive role models within my immediate family that modeled something other than the profane. But, for the most part, my atmosphere was continually bombarded with profanity. Of course this law of the land eventually had its effects on the way I talked, spoke, and communicated. After giving my life to Christ, this was my nemesis. I had to renew my mind, and train my tongue to practice another law: the law of kindness. You and I both know  that people are not always obliging in helping you to practice law: you know, the law of kindness. IN fact, some people are willing to go to extra lengths to see you fail in your efforts to renew your mind and renew your tongue. I encourage you today that if you are struggling in this area, whether in thought life, speech, or you are simply realizing that your conversation is continually negative, trust God with your mouth today. Ask the Lord to fill your mouth with good things and your mind with good thoughts. Ask God to teach you the law of kindness. Then, connect with a community of young ladies who are speaking the language of kindness, who can hold you to improving yourself in this area. You cannot expect to fill your ears with worthless talk and be renewed at the same time. You must make some adjustments. With God's grace, you'll find yourself speaking the language of the Kingdom of God, the language that heals and transforms our environment and our inner man. Let the Lord enforce His law that is written in your heart.

ProACTION: In conversation today, call out those who are not operating in the law of kindness. In media programming, change the channel or go to another site if you hear profanity. Reflect today on how many times you had to actively combat negativity and profanity. I would love to hear your thoughts today!