In Pursuit of the Proverbs 31 Woman Giveaway with Amy Bayliss

Hey girls–You are in for a treat!

I’ve asked my cyber friend Amy Balyiss to guest post today while I work on my edits to my latest manuscript (and hang out with my youngest who has a snow day today)

See? Here is the view this morning from my back deck:

So, while I fix some coffee for me and some hot cocoa for the man-cub who will be packing to go on our church youth group’s ski trip this weekend, you can enjoy her post.

Don’t forget to leave a comment. You may be one of SEVEN winners of her new e-book!

Now, meet Amy:

Amy Bayliss is a small town Cajun girl living life in the big city. She and her husband Ryan have four children, all boys, ranging in age from toddler to teen!

Amy is a writer, blogger, and she has been “following” Jesus since before Twitter made it cool.  She is the author of Pursuit of Proverbs 31. You can visit her at her personal blog, Cajun Joie de Vivre.

From Amy’s Heart: I gave my life to Christ at the age of 21 but it took me several more years to grasp what that really meant.

I got caught in a vicious cycle of “doing” in hopes of pleasing Him. I thought the verses in Proverbs 31 were my ticket to holiness.

What I discovered was that it isn’t just about the words on the pages. It is about the heart behind them.

Our Father never intended for us to mimic this lady the way we have. He created each of us uniquely. Why would we confine ourselves to a template?

On my journey to discovering the Proverbs 31 woman I found Jesus. He loved me, taught me, and at times, corrected me.

I realized that as long as we pursue Him and have a “fear of the Lord” then the natural outcome is that the work of our hands is blessed. It doesn’t happen the other way around.

We each get different results because we are unique individuals with different gifts and callings but the common thread is that we make God our priority. We acknowledge Him above all else.

In this book I cover the traits that come as a result of putting God first. We are blessed with clarity to be the best wife to our husband, the best mother to our children, the best homemaker in our home, to top it off, we are resourceful, creative, and yes, even organized. Each result is uniquely yours.

I wrote Pursuit of Proverbs 31 in the hopes that other women would be freed from the bondage of good works and freely receive the love our Savior has for them and the abundant life He has promised.

It is my hope that you find yourself, the person God created, as you read through these pages.

I would like to give away 7 copies of Pursuit of Proverbs 31. In order to enter you need only comment here, on this post, and let us know what questions come to mind when you think of the woman of Proverbs 31.

Although that is the only requirement for entering, I’d be thrilled if you’d consider subscribing to our updates, “liking” our page on Facebook and “following” us on Twitter.

Thanks for having me, Karen!

193 Comments

  1. The Proverbs 31 woman always seems so out of reach. Sometimes, I still feel new to this whole mothering thing, even though our daughter is two. I learn something new everyday, and the more I find out and learn, the harder it seems to get, because I keep having all these ‘idealistic, perfectionistic, 1950’s era thoughts/ideas/dreams’ running through my head of things that i want to be. With God’s help, each day is a new day to realize that I need Him in order to ‘raise a child the way they should go.’

  2. It’s easy to give up when we focus on the works and attributes of the Proverbs 31 woman. It makes a lot of sense, though, that these character traits she displays are because her heart is rooted in God. Amy’s e-book sounds like a motivating read that would draw us closer to God. I would love a copy!

  3. Obviously she didn’t have special needs children! A lot of days I have no energy to do much of anything because I am running constantly to doctor’s appointments, therapy appointments, picking up prescriptions, making sure my kids get their medications when they are supposed to, making schedules for in-home support workers, doing lots and lots of paperwork and dealing with the school! I would so love to be more like the P31 Woman and be organized!!!!!!

  4. I would love to figure out how to display more than one attribute of the P31 woman at a time! She must have been overflowing with fruit of the Spirit… sometimes I feel like mine are little sprouts in a weed patch! :)

  5. This may be just the kind of attitude I need to take on right now. I have been “working” so hard to be the perfect wife, mother, homemaker and feeling like I am failing. I can’t succeed in my own ‘works’ but only through Him can it all come together correctly. Thanks for the post and the generous offer in your giveaway!

  6. I would also love to read this book, I appreciate how the author suggests we be ourselves and not try and be like someone else. We all have gifts and abilities from the Lord, learning how to walk in daily faith and draw on the Lord to use our gifts would be helpful.

  7. I have always wanted to be a Proverbs 31 woman…but there are so many days that I fail. All I can do is give it to Jesus and continue on. I would love to read this book…

  8. Sounds good!
    My only question is – I’ve been taught Prov 31 TWO ways.
    1) it’s simply a way for a young man to learn his alphabet… sort of.
    2) She wasn’t a REAL woman.

    But I understand the noble qualities we could strive for.
    Thoughts?

  9. It has brought tears to my eyes to read the comments and thoughts here. I am so blessed and honored to have been able to guest post here today. I pray that all of you ladies get the answers that you seek. He will provide them. I know this book will offer much guidance to each of you. Thank you so much, Karen. I am deeply honored.

  10. To be honest, I am familiar with proverbs 31 but have yet to read, study and digest it. Since becoming a mom of 3 toddlers, I’ve let my faith life slip but have recently made it a priority again. I look forward to studying it. Thank you for the great post!

  11. The Proverbs 31 woman has always been intriguing to me. I am someone who strives to be like her but to hear your words, “she is not our template” how liberating. What a beautiful example of a woman who fears the Lord and the work of her hands are blessed. I think we read right past that and read about all the amazing things she does and wonder how she does it all. I would like to win a copy of your book but would purchase it for a fresh revelation of this amazing woman!

  12. The question that ALWAYS comes to mind when I think of the Proverbs 31 woman, or for that matter when I think of being a woman, is HOW?
    I just want to know how to do everything I am supposed to be doing with my life everyday and still fit it all in without being exhausted, stressed or overwhelmed. The way things go for me, is something always falls through the cracks, which just leaves me deflated and frustrated.
    So just tell me HOW.

  13. When I think of the Proverbs 31 woman I wonder just how much her maidens helped her and how that compares to todays “maidens” known as a dishwasher, washer and dryer, electricity, etc. I also wonder if NOT getting up before the sun “disqualifies” me, lol!

    I’d love to win a copy of this book, the title sounds just fabulous!

  14. the question that comes to mind?? well when it comes to the proverbs 31 woman it would have to be how does she do it all?? I struggle with getting myself motivated to get off my butt for any length of time during the day and don’t seem to be able to do even an eighth of what she does.

  15. Oh how I have strived to become just a little bit like her! Did she really only have 24 hours in her day? I’d love to read this book and gain some perspective. I get so discouraged feeling that I can’t measure up or even come close to being the wife and mother God wants me to be!

  16. If I could ask her one question, it would be, “Do you ever sleep???” Honestly, though, I hold her up as an example of the characteristics that I want to have…things to strive for, but not to beat myself up over when I can’t do them all each day. It’s a lifetime pursuit and I pray that my children will call me blessed after they’re all grown!! Thank you so much for this encouragement!

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