Tim Taylor April 14, 2020 - Guess what? I am truly a blessed man. I believe my wife just provided an excellent example of the kind of actions that mark a Proverbs 31 woman. This is one of the main reasons I'm blessed.
We pray early every morning. As she consider the pandemic, the impact on peoples loss of jobs, the fear of illness and more her heart, or should I say God's heart for our neighbors weighed heavy upon her. She shared this concern with a neighbor whom we pray with several times a month.
She thought about the isolation, the fears, concerns and she just wanted to discover a way to share Christ's love with everyone. She wanted to let them know that someone cares and was available to help or pray for them.
Then she got a God idea for a Neighborhood Food Locker along with a creative way to share it with the neighborhood.
This is how she did it!
We pray early every morning. As she consider the pandemic, the impact on peoples loss of jobs, the fear of illness and more her heart, or should I say God's heart for our neighbors weighed heavy upon her. She shared this concern with a neighbor whom we pray with several times a month.
She thought about the isolation, the fears, concerns and she just wanted to discover a way to share Christ's love with everyone. She wanted to let them know that someone cares and was available to help or pray for them.
Then she got a God idea for a Neighborhood Food Locker along with a creative way to share it with the neighborhood.
This is how she did it!
We hold a weekly prayer meeting at our home and some of our neighbors join us sometimes. When the pandemic started we began to open our home on Sundays inviting some neighbors over for communion. (Yes, we are being careful, washing out hands, etc... ) So she introduced the idea and we began to pray.
She got the idea of a neighborhood food locker. But the question was, how do we let the neighbors know? That's when she got the idea of creating a gift bag. It included candy, nuts, popcorn, a scripture card with some encouragement and a letter introducing our desire to help and to also to make ourselves available to pray for them.
In addition, our neighbor, Kathy, also happens to be a Proverbs 31 woman. She is a teacher, a seer, and is a serious prayer warrior who just happens to have an essential oils business as well. So she put together some oils in a small spray bottle to include in the bags. The spray could be used on counters, surfaces or hands. It sanatizes and smells good to.
Brenda ordered everything, made a grocery run and it just so happened it all arrived just before Easter. Praise God! Resurrection Sunday! She prepared our home so our neighbors could join us for communion and worship. (Which has been awesome I might add. I think angels joined in singing with us at least once). She prepared a special gift for the nursing home taking care of her Mom (89 years old). Then she led our team to distribute the gift bags in our neighborhood and stock the food locker. It inspired other neighbors to chip in too. (Yes, we were careful! See the gloves! We knocked on doors and backed away, etc. The love of Christ compelled us to walk in wisdom with courtesy such that we did not violate anyone's space. At the same time we are more than ready to pray for the sick just like Jesus did with the lepers! With their invitation and permission of course.)
This created a lot of opportunities. I'm sharing this for a couple of reasons.
First, it is to inspire you to pray and obey. You personally can make a difference. This is just one example.
Second, men, if you have a wife that has ideas like this. Help her! It will bless you as you will share in the fruit of the eternal reward.
She got the idea of a neighborhood food locker. But the question was, how do we let the neighbors know? That's when she got the idea of creating a gift bag. It included candy, nuts, popcorn, a scripture card with some encouragement and a letter introducing our desire to help and to also to make ourselves available to pray for them.
In addition, our neighbor, Kathy, also happens to be a Proverbs 31 woman. She is a teacher, a seer, and is a serious prayer warrior who just happens to have an essential oils business as well. So she put together some oils in a small spray bottle to include in the bags. The spray could be used on counters, surfaces or hands. It sanatizes and smells good to.
Brenda ordered everything, made a grocery run and it just so happened it all arrived just before Easter. Praise God! Resurrection Sunday! She prepared our home so our neighbors could join us for communion and worship. (Which has been awesome I might add. I think angels joined in singing with us at least once). She prepared a special gift for the nursing home taking care of her Mom (89 years old). Then she led our team to distribute the gift bags in our neighborhood and stock the food locker. It inspired other neighbors to chip in too. (Yes, we were careful! See the gloves! We knocked on doors and backed away, etc. The love of Christ compelled us to walk in wisdom with courtesy such that we did not violate anyone's space. At the same time we are more than ready to pray for the sick just like Jesus did with the lepers! With their invitation and permission of course.)
This created a lot of opportunities. I'm sharing this for a couple of reasons.
First, it is to inspire you to pray and obey. You personally can make a difference. This is just one example.
Second, men, if you have a wife that has ideas like this. Help her! It will bless you as you will share in the fruit of the eternal reward.
Here are some of the characeristics I saw. I've added underlines.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
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