Photo Credit: theinspiredcafe.com

Happy New Year from the Looking Glass By Kathy!  I am excited to kick off another blogging year, and finally finish the last 4 parts of the 14 Ways A Wise Woman Builds Her House.

Ushering in a new year always begins with me making lists of the various things I want to do, need to do and have to do. I have all sorts of apps on my cell phone to help me with list making.  As I get older, I heavily rely on these.  It comforts me to know that God is also a list maker. Consider:

1.  The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20)

2.  The Things He Hates (Prov. 6:16-19)

3.  The Fruit of The Spirit (5:22-23)

4.  The Qualities of A Maturing Christian (2 Peter 1:5-8)

5.  The First Century Churches Worth Noting (Rev. 2:1-3, 22)

For months now we’ve been focusing on a woman who is a planner. Read past posts here.  The Proverbs 31 woman planned ahead. Take a look:

²⁰ Her hands reach^[n] out to the poor,
and she extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.^[o]
22 She makes her own bed coverings;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.

In my world, if I’m going to reach out to the poor and needy, not be caught off guard by the onset of winter and still present myself in a (regal) classy way, I need to plan ahead.

Reaching out to the poor and extending a hand to the needy: In my world, there are many opportunities to serve the poor and needy.  Many.  Sometimes my planning ahead will look like signing up to physically give/minister to the poor and needy on a specific date/time and/or asking God to show me when and where I can help.  I can plan to purchase or donate much-needed items.  In order to plan ahead, I need to put the time to do that on a list and give it a deadline date.

She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all in her household are doubly clothed: I’m not sure how well in advance the capable wife prepared for snow since she didn’t have a 7 day (in advance) weather report at her disposal.  Even though it snowed in Jerusalem approximately every other year, I’m sure she was always prepared for it.  If I know there’s a impending weather event, I make a list of things we may need.  Gas in the car, batteries, medicine, food, charged cell phone or iPad anticipating any outings, salt for the walkways, etc.  I even make sure we have some fun treats to snack on.  Planning ahead is the key here.

She makes her own bed coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple: Matthew Henry’s commentary elaborates on this verse like this: ‘In verse 22 she makes coverings for herself. “Her clothing is fine linen and purple.” What does it mean she makes coverings for herself? It could refer to a coat, a cloak, a shawl, some kind of a wrap. It also can refer to pillows, blankets, bed coverings. She made coverings for herself. She…the implication here is she made her bed beautiful. I mean, earlier in the Proverbs the prostitute did that to seduce the man. Here is the godly woman making the bed a place of loveliness and comfort. She adorns the beds of her house for herself, for her family, for comfort and for beauty. And then her clothing is fine linen and purple.’  Did you know that January is the best time to purchase bedding and linens?  Sales, sales, sales.  I’m saying purchase because most women are not going to make these (nor do they have to). Consider how you can plan accordingly as a Wise Woman Who Builds Her House.

+First Look: Does Proverbs 31:20-22 speak to your heart about planning ahead?

+Through The Looking Glass: How do you plan ahead?  What helps you build your house as a wise woman?