A Wife of Noble Character: Builds Her Home

Proverbs 31:27 -- "She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness."

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An important factor to being a good manager is watching and knowing what is going on. This means understanding how the household itself functions, but it goes beyond that. It also means how emotions and struggles going on outside the home affect the atmosphere within the home.

Proverbs 14:1 -- "A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands."

I talked yesterday about a wise woman. One who is wise takes all factors into account. She supports her family through the struggles they face. She is an encouragement to all those around her. They are able to gain strength and understand from the wife of noble character who is receiving her strength and understanding from the Lord.

By watching everything in her household and being proactive about negotiations and encouragement she is wise and shows her noble character.

So the question now is how to make this concept a reality. This first step is to stop complaining.

Philippians 2:14-16 -- "Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless."

These are three verses to help us encourage those in our household and in our community. If we project negativity, we will receive negativity in return. Negativity is a sure way to tear down your home with your own hands.

When we reach out with positive, constructive appreciations we can build our home up. By watching over our home and the people in it and not be lazy and reactive, but actively reaching out and encouraging all in it.

Philippians 4:13 -- "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

This influence is not possible by our own hands, but only by the grace and strength of God can we bring the best out of others and out of ourselves as reflections of Jesus Christ.

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Wordless Wednesday *Linky* Monsters University

My daughter loves Monsters, Inc, so we were excited to take her to see Monsters University. It was no surprise when she absolutely loved it! We got this cool picture by the banner in the foyer to remember all the happiness that Monsters can bring.

Link up and join me for the Wordless Wednesday fun!

  

A Wife of Noble Character: Speaks Wisdom and Kindness

Proverbs 31:26 -- "When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness."

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The way you think and the way you speak have great control over your life -- probably a lot more than you realize. When we speak negatively we breed negativity. If we only look at the bad side of things (or even always concentrating on the "realities" of the world we live in) that is all we will ever see.

However, God wants more than that for us. He doesn't want us to succumb to the darkness, He wants us to live in His light. He is the light and He wants to live in us -- to guard and guide us.

John 12:46 -- "I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark."

Only when we make the decision to choose light over darkness; choose to be positive, optimistic and begin to see things as God sees them, can we begin to walk out of the darkness and into that light that only Jesus can shine for us.

The wife of noble character speaks words of wisdom. These are positive words which encourage and lift others up, not words to destroy and tear others down.

Ephesians 4:29 -- "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."

Wisdom is found when we know the right way to go and follow that path. The right way is the path of God. He is always right so whatever way He goes is the right path. When we are in communication with Him and read the Bible, He shows that way to us. When we choose to walk the path with God we are wise.

Giving instruction with kindness doesn't mean you lie to be nice. Kindness includes being honest even when no one else will be. However, honesty doesn't mean using destructive and cutting words. It is possible to be honest and kind at the same time.

Proverbs 12:18 -- "Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing."

Wise words are words of God because being wise means walking with God, which the wife of noble character does. So wise words includes honesty and encouragement. There are times where this can be hard, but if you are wise and walking with God, He will give you the words in the exact moment you need them.

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A Wife of Noble Character: Shinning Light

Proverbs 31:25 -- "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future."

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To say the wife of noble character is "clothed" in this sense means covered or wrapped in strength and dignity. These traits are a part of her; she is identified by them.

Her strength is not only her physical ability, but also mental force, moral courage, power of reason as well as resource and authority. These are all traits that are enlightened by God. Her authority comes through Jesus Christ. Only through her relationship with the Lord can all of these attributes be fulfilled to their true potential. It is through her strength in Him that she is known by this strength.

Her dignity is her proof of character, how she conducts herself and responds to the world around her inside and outside of the household. This entire passage is a testimony to her character. She is defined by her noble character and her strength in the Lord.

Fear is an emotion many people struggle with to a lesser or a greater degree. The wife of noble character, however, laughs without fear of the future. This is the result that her noble character and her strong relationship with the Lord grant her.

Psalm 27:1 -- "The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble"

If we put our trust in the Lord, wholeheartedly, then there is no worry because God has it covered. It is only our doubt that causes us fear. The enemy wants us to be afraid because it increases our doubt in God. However, the Lord is my light and my protector -- He will guide and guard us through the roller coaster of ups and downs we call life.

The wife of noble character knows these truths about the Lord, thus she is not afraid of the future, nor should we be. It is her trust in God that allows her to show her strength and confide in her character. She knows that God will guide and guard her through all things. Without fear, she can laugh at the enemy and be a shinning light for all others to know God more fully through her.

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A Wife of Noble Character: Creates and Sells

Proverbs 31:24 -- "She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants."

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The wife of noble character may have a husband of power in the public sphere, but she is not left solely to the home an its needs. She is also very prominent in the community and has power of her own, which she finds through knowing Christ and drawing strength from Him.

Among all of the other trades the wife of noble character has that we've covered, she can also make products like sashes and belted linen garments. She sells these wares within the community and beyond it. She has her own business endeavors to tend to outside of the home, even as she manages everything within the home. This shows ingenuity, creativity, planning, hard work and a mind for business and management.

This verse, as well as the previous verses, portrays a woman who who stands up for herself, has a strong relationship with her husband and the Lord and conducts her business honestly with integrity in and out of the house. Women are not restricted to the household or defined by her husband. She is her own unique individual and conducts her own business. She has great influence on all of those around her, directly and indirectly.

Her husband reflects on her in the same manner she reflects on him. Marriage, just like with God, if full of sacrifice and communication is a necessity. It can be hard work, but it also provides more love and joy than you can ever imagine.

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