Caryn Winclechter (CarynW_Photos) on Twitter

Dearest fellow readers,

I am so happy to report that Caryn Winclechter Photography now has a new and delightful Twitter account! It is there that I will be giving twitter updates on seasonal specials on photo sessions, new projects I'm involved with, and giving a heads up on all the latest events!

Thank you so much for your comments and feedback!

Please be sure to give me a follow, and show some love! Tell your friends and retweet me!

Love,

24. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchant with sashes.

A crown for our thoughts.

I've been getting into gardening lately.  Not just as a phase I"m going through, no; it is almost as if I have opened up Pandora's box and become addicted to the treasure I've found inside.  And now, for me, there is no going back to life without tilling.  I grew up with a green thumb for a father, and I never really  had an interest in gardening, especially not in high school.  Yes I really enjoyed eating fresh artichokes and watermelon from our backyard, but I never really appreciated all the hard work and thoughtful care that went into making things grow.  As my dad likes to say, gardening is a way in which we can closely examine the everyday miracles of God's creation.

Working with my hands is really helping me to better understand Proverbs 31:24.  This virtuous biblical ideal of our maiden paints an even more interesting picture of her when we learn about her merchant skills.  Indeed she is self-sufficient with her homemaking and shrewd investing, but now we understand that she takes it a step further by being involved in the local commerce.  The work of her hands produces fruit for both domestic necessity and trade&marketing.  Not only does she manage her family finances, but she also contributes to their income by fortifying the supply and demand.  The way this lady conducts herself, at least to me, is reminiscent of someone born into nobility.  I'm amazed at her unfailing devotion to the details of everyday monotony.
I was reading in a commentary that the merchants she sells to were the Phoenician merchants, these people were renowned for their skills at seafaring as well as their well-rounded merchant skills.  This fact suggests that her merchandise was recognized not only by the local economy, but possibly even on a national or international level as well.  This lady is sharp!

This virtue makes me think of the up-and-coming Royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton (and yes, I'll be tuning in at 2 am to enamour every detail).  This princess-to-be, Kate, is signing up for more than looking pretty in public.  No matter how much we all want to romanticize the idea of her becoming a princess, she will have to be much more than that.  She will fulfill the role of representing an entire continent's worth of nationalities.  She will be a key player in the international diplomacy of the UN.  Her marriage to the prince, while brimming with love and romance, has a very political place in the palace walls.  She has won the contest and the crown, and has been hand-selected (complete with a giant sapphire ring) to represent her kindgom to the world.  Talk about the weight of the world on your shoulders!  Not only is she going to have to make a name for herself in the line of royal lineage, but all while remaining fully composed under the scrutiny of constantly being compared to her predecessor, Princess Diana, the world's own sweetheart who seemed to better everything around her.  Oh Kate, it's tough being a woman in another woman's shadow.  So far though, she seems up for the challenge.

And that makes me ask myself, am I up for that challenge as well?  It just so happens that the history of man has named William and Kate as prince and princess.  But it is important to remember that being heirs and heiresses to the kingdom of God makes us "commoners" royalty on an even bigger scale!  Am I living as a true princess?  Am I bettering everything around me, and representing my King with grace and responsibility?  Am I honoring my prince?  Are my hands cultivating my environment like a well-watered garden?  Am I contributing to the financial well-being of my home and community?

I know I'm nowhere near where I should be, and by the grace of God I am given new chances everyday to keep running toward the goal.  There is always room for improvement, and a princess can never be too good at her job.  So ladies, my prayer for you is that you'll take your roles and run with them.  You're royalty, a precious daughter of the Most High God, and He has chosen you to represent his Kingdom to the entire world, starting with those in your current surroundings.  I pray for all of us to keep running the race, praising our King in public, and bettering the lives of those around us.  Please pray for the determination that will enable me to do the same.

Love,
Caryn

23. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

"A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, 

but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones."

Proverbs 12:4

I have put off writing about Proverbs 31:23 because I struggled with it.  Not in the sense that I don't feel that it describes my husband, but I honestly was trying to see how the Lord was using it in my life.  And then I realized that what it tells us is that a wife can greatly influence the success and prosperity of her husband.  Ladies, we have an important role here, and we can aid in the success of our mates, as well as our marriage.

I love the verse in Proverbs 12:4, which describes the noble wife as her husband's crown.  When I think of a crown, I think of a symbol of royalty and nobility.  A crown non-verbally defines a status; a wife can, without using her words, be a reflection of her husband's character to others by her very presence.  She can be the confidence booster he needs every morning!  She can help him re-charge his batteries after a tough day at work, but she can also drain him like decay in his bones.  

 My husband wakes up every weekday morning at 4:30 am.  He is not a morning person by nature at all, and he needs lots of coffee to make it til sunrise.  Since he interned at his current place of work last year, I have woken up with him most every morning.  He drags so much because it is difficult for him to wake up, so I pack his breakfast and lunch.  It is also the time that God has provided for us to read scripture and pray together before he leaves.  Now, I am not trying to toot my own horn, but I know that this blesses my husband and that is why I do it.  It just so happens I am a morning person and so I'm fully functioning the minute I hop out of bed.  

While in a roundabout way it would seem ridiculous if I don't actually HAVE to get up, I realize at the same time that marriage is about serving each other.  It is not always an easy thing to do, but to know that this is an investment that is long-term will make it worth the little contributions every day.  Plus I love him, so I don't mind making him look good in front of others.  In little ways God already shows me that people notice our relationship (and trust me I am not a fan of attention).  I only hope that that can lead to great friendships and being a fruitful witness. 

I am a big believer in the phrase, "Actions speak louder than words."   I absolutely feel that what we do for others says so much more than what we say we will do for them.  That is a crucial characteristic for a follower of Jesus.  Quite often our words are repellent for non-believers.  We think that because we can argue with someone over world-views that we are being effective witnesses, when the reality is that we could be showing these people that we love them with our actions, portraying the forbearance and humility of Christ.  

And with our spouses, God is giving us the perfect situation to practice this attitude makeover; in our very own homes. 

I am praying for all wives who are struggling with this for any reason, that they serve their husbands and support him in public, that way they are fulfilling their roles and obeying the Lord.  It is my hope that it will help us see the bigger picture.  It is a brand new year, so let us revolutionize the modern marriage!  Let us be the light that shines, the salt that enhances the flavor of life.

In Him,

Caryn 

22. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

It has been 20 days since my last post.  Nearly a month has gone by and I am already seeing the fruits that come from being on a budget!  Honestly I didn't really think that I would see them until a few years from now, after things were gradually being paid off.  But God is so amazing that He is blessing us even now.
After only a couple of weeks, the efforts we are making to honor the Lord in our finances are being rewarded in small but significant ways!  And that is a thing that can only come from His almighty grace.

In Proverbs 31:22 our Lady is reaping the benefits of good stewardship in a similar way.  All throughout the chapter we have seen the ways in which she works hard to esteem those in her household; money management, making clothes and garments, investing in real estate, gardening, etc.  This verse points out that the "fine linen and purple" are expensive evidences of ways that God has blessed her in His grace and lovingkindness.

Cody and I hit up a few after-Christmas sales in Albuquerque on Sunday.  I was telling him  that I felt humility in a good way...  For Christmas I received some wonderful things that I had been wanting, and that I could really use but had put out of my mind because of our budget.   We're talking things that weren't necessarily needs, just things I had decided not go get for myself because I am trying to watch my spending.  I used to worry about finding a means to get said things, but God has put a change in me that only He can take credit for.  I feel so humbled by the fact that my King made a way for me to get these things anyway...  He loves me so much to the point that I am down on my hands and knees in undeserving gratitude.

I guess I am just here to report the awesome things God is doing.  He doesn't hesitate to show his approval.  And the biggest thing I can see is that the changes toward money have come from my heart.  I see now how badly I was deceiving myself, and how poor a job I really was doing.  My Heavenly Father knows the things I need, and even just things I want.  He supplies the birds of the air with food, and clothes the flowers of the field with a splendor that cannot be bought...

This is a fairly short post I noticed, but I'm grateful for that.  Sometimes the best things come in small packages.  Simplicity is a beautiful thing.

I close now with this prayer.
Scripture is being fulfilled in my life right now...  May I remain steadfast in this new attitude, and may I continually bless my Lord with good stewardship.

Have a blessed and Happy New Year!

CW

21. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in double thickness.

Wow I have a lot I've been storing away for this newest post.

In fact, most everything has to do with how I've lately veered off-track from this verse. Instead, I have been experiencing worry on top of worry about my debt. In perfect contrast with the woman of Proverbs 31, I have not been that financially responsible... I know I am married and my husband has typically been the main expert with our finances, but he works long hours every week. I got so used to him paying bills that I never let our balances cross my mind. Now that he is gone for most of the day, I've been in charge of overseeing that my loans get paid every month, and I'm also in charge of banking and utilities.

I've always thought I was a pretty frugal person, but I never realized that I was stopping at being thrifty and not planning for the future. November is a month where we start getting into the holidays and spending for Christmas. Well, we spent without limitation, and I realized that I was going to be paying loans off until I was in my fifties. I felt like the biggest failure...like I was irresponsible, and not a good steward. And worst of all, it's all true.
Ouch.

The woman of Proverbs 31 is a mother, upscale, a home manager, and a hard worker. Her husband, her servants, and her children are all taken care of with her as the boss. She runs a tight ship, is wise with her money, and is prepared for whatever may come.

Realizing this about her from the beginning, all I could see was how I failed at being this for my family, and my debts. I remember writing a facebook status a couple of months ago, asking if i should go for the glamourous life, or the simple life. I wanted the things that come with the glamour, but I wanted the simplicity of just being a good steward. I thought for sure that these two kinds of lifestyles were at odds with each other, but now I realize it's that they were warring in my life. I was spending to acquire glamourous things, but what I really need right now (thank you God for your patience) is a simple life, one focused on becoming a good steward of what the Lord has for me right now. Right now, he has given us a house at an amazing price, and do-able monthly bills. He has also given us a way to pay off all my loans in a few years... and a budding side job with photography.

It's just like Jesus tells us in Luke 16: {10-12} "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who who will give you property of your own?"

Double-ouch.
All this time I was discontent with my life details, but really I have to become master of my present circumstances before I can move on to bigger and better things. All this time I was trying to acquire the things i want on my own terms... I can't believe how easily I was deceiving myself.

In hopeless desperation I began to pray for how to get myself out of this mess. "Oh Lord," I'd say, "Help me to do things your way." God is so good to answer my measly little cries for help, and He provided a plan... I was at borders and I thought I'd try to see what reading material was available for organization (the house is still a recovering mess from Thanksgiving). I came across a book called Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenrieder. A literal answer to prayer, it was all there right in front of me... As I was flipping through the pages and reading what she had to say, I was surprised at how simple life could be, how easy it was to become debt-free, and to do it all on Biblical principles...I was so ready to jump on that bandwagon that I bought the book without a second thought! (I wasn't planning on buying anything that day)

She calls it intentional living. Cody is on board with me like an awesome husband would be, and we are giving our finances and home life a renovation. It's been four days and I already see the changes, not only in our lives at home, but in my over-all attitude. Praise God! He knew I would hit rock bottom emotionally, but He already had a plan to meet me with a way out of my stupidity. Thank you God for your love and mercy and grace.

I close with these thoughts;
God has a plan for everything...If you are going through something similar in your life, I highly recommend getting the book (it's written by a full-time mom who practices what she's preaching). Cody and I are now on a budget...Please pray for us to approach our lives as good stewards, and to be strong in our faith. Help us to stick to each other, and live everyday from the principles of the word.

In faith I know I can now laugh at the days to come.

CW

20. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

A story to open with...

If you ever watch an ant hill, all the little ladies (the males hang out with the queen inside) are always working, non-stop until sundown. I remember one time my husband and I were having a picnic, and there was a small ant hill about 5 feet away from us. I was curious to see if they would drop what they were doing if I left a piece of lunch on the ground. He and I both agreed that it would be interesting to find out! So I laid a little part of my sandwich on the dirt, and just waited.

It took them no more than 5 minutes to find it and start breaking it down. I guess one of their little scouts had smelled it, wandered off, found the scrap of food, and sent back the message to the other workers. It was amazing how fast they started disassembling the piece of sandwich! They didn't hesitate for one second...food is food, and they always sieze an opportunity to store up a snack.

Segway into the present...

This morning I was sitting at my kitchen table and pondering the outside world. The view I have is of the neighbor's front yard across the street. I was reading scripture and drinking coffee, and I came across one of my favorite verses about the wisdom of the ant.
"Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise. She has no chief, officer, or ruler, but she prepares her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest." Proverbs 6:6-8

It's amazing how the will of the Word is reflected in nature, even in the smallest things like ant colonies. God created organization, and it is an innate behavior in us because we are His workmanship. We are supposed to be responsible, carry specific roles in our jobs and in our fellowship, and sieze opportunities that He gives us to. One of those opportunities is to be a servant to those around us.

I find it so interesting that Wisdom is referred to as "she," in Proverbs. While this is truly flattering, I feel it also subtly states that perhaps the female is upheld to a pretty high standard in the scripture. Throughout chapter 31 we have seen how much she spiritually and physically is responsible for. But so many times, how we deal with life is the opposite of wise. How many times have we let our impulsive emotions run our decision-making, instead of relying on the type of Wisdom that can only come from God? Sometimes it feels easier to rely only on emotions instead of fearing the Lord.

I also feel that it is important not to let how much wisdom/knowledge we have give us an ego. We ought to seek wisdom from God, and not from earthly educators. I think that knowledge is something we as women long for deep in our souls. For me it stems from wanting to understand something I don't, showing someone that I understand (either in a time of need or just in a learning environment), and a deep underlying need to be understood. That is a wonderful deep trait put in me by God...however sometimes we let how much we know trick us into thinking we are wise because of how much we have learned.

God's word says that "this kind of knowledge puffs up." (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). Just when you think you know something, be ready to find out that you really have a lot to learn.

I am guilty of the former, and have been time and time again. It is a battle I constantly fight because it has interfered with my having compassion and humility. There is a vast difference between being smart and being wise, and I have often confused the two. If there is any woman I can relate to, it is Eve. Knowledge was Eve's weakness in the Garden of Eden. She thought that trying things in a different way than God's was going to enlighten her and make her wise. Just like her, I have easily deceived myself and suffered the consequences.

Instead of biting off more than you can chew (acting like you know everything), try the little ant's approach and take a little at a time with the help of an army. This strategy will help us in our witness to others.

The word "poor" from Proverbs 31:20 is actually the same word used for "lowly" or "humble." This verse refers to two main types of people; those who are physically and materially poor, and those who are spiritually poor. This extension of ourselves to benefit others is perhaps the most crucial role we could fill in this life. When the Lord gives us resources and blesses us, He expects us to turn around and do it for someone else. When we know someone is surrounded by hopelessness and confusion about their circumstances, we need to be ready to meet them with truth, wisdom, and encouragement because of our hope in Christ.

The woman of Proverbs 31 is prepared for both kinds of situations, and more importantly, she actively responds to them. Just like the ant finding the food and bringing it back to the colony, the Proverbs woman sees a person who needs help and helps them. Right now I see myself as this woman, but also the poor person who needs help. Never believe that you are above needing help, and never avoid helping someone who is in need.

The opportunities God places in our lives are always unique and individual, however we are all to respond in the same way; with wisdom, love, and compassion. There are several opportunities that I know He is crossing my path with, and I realize how many times I have just looked the other way. I cower away from the circumstances. Why I am scared, who knows? Perhaps I think I am smarter than my Lord, and that I am not every wrong. But that is when I rely on my own logic and try to ignore what I know God wants from me. Who am I not to respond? Am I superior enough to ignore the needs of God's creation? Do I really have nothing left to learn? The hard truth is that the Son of God, the Word that spoke creation into existence, that became a man and let people beat him and spit on Him, He humbled himself to Glorify the Father, and die for the salvation of man. He is who we are to model our lives after, and He is the stark reminder that going through our lives without any kind of humility is a detriment.

I close as I always do; confounded by the reality that meditation on only one verse in the Word brings a wellspring of truth and revelation. My God is truly amazing.

Pray that I will be bolder in my faith and witness, and more humble in my walk with Christ. God deserves nothing less from me, and anyone else. Pray that the women around you will seek God's wisdom. Pray that for humility.


In Him,

Caryn

19. In her hands she holds the distaff, and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

The wise woman of Proverbs 31 is a hustle-and-bustle merchant by day, and an artisan at night by lamplight. She is always taking advantage of opportunities to spin fibers for clothing for her family, to invest her money, and to prepare for harsh weather and days ahead. I think it should be realized that she seizes every opportunity that comes to her, and that she more importantly makes opportunities to get her work done.

The description of the woman in Proverbs 31 keeps coming back to a main characteristic. In all she does, she is wise. All of her skills stem from wisdom, and she is a servant with those skills, happily using them to enhance the quality of life for those around her. Having free time is definitely considered a luxury that most Americans seek after. It's nice to watch a movie, read a book, or pamper yourself for a day. While it is good to stop and smell the roses every now and then, one shouldn't seek after idle time very often.

Idleness is what today's verse broaches on. The mention of our lady using the distaff and spindle refers back to verse 18 where it says, "she sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night." Most people have probably heard the saying, "Idle hands are the devil's tools." This is a warning that if you aren't doing something useful and constructive with the time that is given you, you are susceptible to sabotaging the good things you have. If a woman's hands are idle and if she is not engaged in worthwhile, constructive pursuits, nothing good can stem from it.

Reading and writing out these validities is definitely easier than doing them. Right now my attitude could very easily be (and at times has been) passive. My husband is away at work for about 10 hours a day, and I have been just staying at home. There are times where I'll decide that I am going to work on something, but then I watch t.v. instead. There is nothing wrong with watching t.v., but it can easily be used to interrupt productivity. There are things I want to do for us like getting the decorating in order, and building a home office. Gardening was on the list for this year, but we moved into our house so close to the fall that I won't bother until the spring. But we need to chop wood and clean out the fireplace, and get to getting on the office organization.

Sometimes I feel myself fighting it. Sometimes I fail at winning against myself. One thing I know, though, is that every time I finish a task on my list, only good comes from it. I helped out my husband, I pushed us a little closer to our overall goals, and my self-confidence gets a boost from the accomplishment. Why should I worry about getting in spare time? God has always provided that for me at times that I was overwhelmed with how much I had going on. He is such a good God, and He doesn't expect me to work myself to death. It's my attitude that needs to be kept in check.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I war with true, biblical submissiveness. I am a 20-something, married for just over a year, and living in a free country. Those are all great ingredients for a hard-headed, super-independent feminaze who worries about being oppressed by her engagements. The reality is, I am the farthest thing from oppressed. I may not be rich, but we can pay the bills and afford things. I may not be a traveling the globe, but my own little world is a thing of true beauty and bounty. I may not have all the camera equipment and social life I could dream of, but I never want for anything, and I have such rich spouse, friend, and family relationships. As it stands, I will not be put in jail or killed because of my "religious" beliefs in this country. My life is so blessed and it is sad that I have such a pathetic attitude about it sometimes. Who am I to say that I am too important to work on something? Who am I to be so entitled as to think I deserve everything I want?

A marriage is supposed to be one of mutual submissiveness to the roles God has given each spouse. No matter what the circumstances, I know I need to uphold my end of the deal. Pray for me this week, that I may be helpful, respectful, productive, and reverent to God, and to my husband.

Thanks,

C.W.