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WISDOM & PRODUCTIVITY
She has a reputation of being trustworthy, generous, kind and dependable. Her husband is respected because those in authority recognize his wife’s wisdom and productivity. Proverbs 31:11-12 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life* Proverbs 31:11-12 Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. (NIV) Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. I think we can all agree that qualities like productivity, dependability, trustworthiness and generosity don’t happen by accident. It’s clear this woman lives her life intentionally. Because she is responsible and prudent her husband is well-respected. Women who are married, this is one of the most important reasons to plan and live life intentionally. Your husband- and your family- will be well-regarded because of your good choices. When my family and I lived in Wisconsin I was instrumental in starting a youth center in our hometown. Because of that, I came to be regarded as a city leader. When they were first meeting people, my hubby and 3 school-aged kiddos often heard, “Oh, your mom (wife) is the director of the youth center! OK…” and they were judged favorably (hopefully!) by my actions and accomplishments until people learned more about their own individual lives.
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SPENDING PLAN
She has a spending plan. She’s thrifty and makes her home comfortable and beautiful. Proverbs 31:13-14 She shops around for the best yarns and cottons and enjoys knitting and sewing. She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. Proverbs 31:19 She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. This is one of my favorite descriptions of this amazing woman… she brings back exotic surprises. In the past six months I like to think I have embodied this quality as we bought and furnished a new house. I stalked bargains on Offer Up and Facebook Marketplace. Every time I came back with a new treasure my husband would roll his eyes, and he and my son teased me that we’d have to hang rugs on the wall because I had bought so many. But I totally felt like I was bringing exotic surprises to our new house at bargain prices, and when we finally moved in, my family said over and over how beautiful and well-put-together everything was. They even told me how great the rugs looked- and we didn’t have to hang any of them on the wall! And with each of those rooms, I spent less than $100 to make them uniquely ours.
EXTOL
www.planpraypursue.org 20
