Shopping and Productive

Virtuous Woman 1×04

Proverbs 31:13- She looks for wool and linen, and works with her hands in delight.

 A “domestic engineer” carefully selects and provides for their family. These days we don’t buy wool and flax, but often times women do the majority of the shopping for their families. It is important to be wise and knowledgeable as a shopper and it can take some skill to do it well.

 During this COVID pandemic toilet paper was a hot commodity and it was important to not panic buy, but also be able to provide for your family and those in need.

 God wants us to well informed and prepared. In Amos 3:7 it says, “Certainly the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret plan to His servants the prophets.”

 In John 10:4 it says, “When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Jesus is the good shepherd. We need to know his voice and how he speaks to us through His word.

 We need to be selective in who we listen to and be able to discern if it of good or evil.

 Philippians 4:8- Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

 We MUST dwell on what is good. Police your thoughts because negativity can be poison. We aren’t supposed to stick our heads in the sand and ignore reality in this broken world, but we can’t let it affect us.

 Jill shares her experience in budgeting her family of four on a limited budget. The Tightwad Gazette was life saver from saving on small things like toothpaste to clothing. To this day she never uses a clothes dryer and only shops by unit price when getting groceries. As women we have the opportunity to financially save for our family, serve, and sacrifice our time.

 The pandemic has made everyone reassess their life and circumstances. It’s time to start considering the cost. Luke 14:28-32- For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This person began to build, and was not able to finish!’ Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to face the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and requests terms of peace.

 Angel urges us to keep God at the forefront of our lives and be eager to work for him because he will always take care of us. Psalm 23 tells us that we shall not want. God is enough for us. We need to listen to Him and what He wants for us because He knows what is best for us. We need to eagerly live to glorify Him in all we do.

Blesses and Perseveres 

Virtuous Woman 1×03 

Proverbs 31:12- She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. 

This verse means that we are to do good to those around us and when we do, we are emulating God. It’s important to remember who our enemy is because it’s not those we choose to hate. We are supposed to love our “enemies” the only true enemy is Satan and his demons. We need to keep it all in perspective. 

No one should intend to bring harm to anyone, especially our spouse. Somehow it still happens and we need to try to nip it in the bud. You need to be a helpmate and give your spouse what they need. It’s important to do it kindly and not begrudgingly. 

Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 

Galatians 3:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

God has a plan for us and we have to wait upon it patiently. The Israelites weren’t patient and they got in major trouble for it.  

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 

When there is conflict in the household it can feel like a warzone. We all think we are in the right and the other is wrong, but it’s not that black and white. Angel’s sister has 5 kids and if they fought both would get in trouble. One got in trouble for not being kind and the other for not being a peace maker. This really forced them to get along and now they are young adults and very close.  

Sometimes in argument it gets to the point where talking, or most of the time, yelling profits nothing. It just makes things worse. We aren’t supposed to fix other people. There is enough work that needs to be done on ourselves. Fight your battles through prayer with your head bowed in full submission to the situation. God can handle the other person. He can work with people who have a humble heart. Don’t let your anger harden your heart and ruin your spirit. 

When someone loves Jesus it can’t help, but show in them. We should be overflowing in God’s goodness and grace. We need to pray in every situation. 

James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 

We are made in the image of God and He does good things. He blesses people. We should do likewise! God doesn’t change. There is no ulterior motive or wavering. 

Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

You are supposed to do good all the days of your life, even after the honeymoon period. To run the race we need to be fit. We need to run even if our spouse isn’t. We get judged according to our own life and deeds. 

We need to have a firm follow through when we run. It was said in a sermon Jill heard at her daughter’s church that Olympians and professional athletes run to win. They train, get fit, and never give up. They aren’t huffing and puffing struggling to finish or doing it nonchalantly. Jill had to ask herself if she was running aimlessly. We all have to do a mental check: Is Jesus in our heart? Is Jesus in our mind? Is Jesus in our feet? I think a lot of people put emphasis on the first two, but skip the latter. We all need to step out in faith and live our faith. 

Put faith into action! The pandemic has made everyone scared and just withdraw into our shell, but to stick our neck out there and help others is what we need to be doing! It’s easy to get lost, but if God is good all the time how do bad things still happen. God allows bad things to happen, but that doesn’t mean He put it into place. We need to evaluate ourself and take the temperature of our faith. It might surprise us to find some of the things that are in our heart. 

Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

Malachi 3:8-12 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts. “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts. 

God has good intentions for us. He wants to bless us, but we also need to bless and glorify Him. We can’t hold back and expect Him to give us plentifully. He keeps His promises. 

The pandemic and tragedy is a great time to get back to God. We need to ask Him to heal our land. We need to be patient and wait upon the Lord and His goodness. Instant gratification has spoiled us. God’s greatness is worth waiting on. We just need to persevere and continue to do His work.