(Writer
of the Week)
By Joy Jenson
When I read
Proverbs
31:10-31,
I am always amazed at how much this wise
woman accomplished on a daily basis. It is easy to get
discouraged and feel overwhelmed when we compare her daily accomplishments
with ours. We, too, can accomplish great things, if we keep
in mind the job description given to us by our Creator.
In
order to keep our focus on the work God has set before us, it may be helpful
to remind ourselves of the following:
1.
Our
Purpose: Genesis
2:18 tells us that woman
was created to be a helper for man. This was the assigned role given to
woman before sin. It was not designed to be
punishment. Titus
2:4,5,
a passage that is equally applicable today as the day it
was written, is a clear reminder of those areas upon
which we should focus our energies: love and be obedient
to our husbands, love our children, and manage our home.
2. Our
Preparation:
In order to accomplish the work that God has given us, preparation must
take place. A young woman should use the time of her youth
to prepare for the role God has given her. Find an
experienced Christian sister who is willing to share her knowledge and
expertise, read books to help you develop various homemaking skills, look for
a Christian woman who has already
proven herself worthy by raising godly children, and glean from her wisdom.
Fulfilling God’s role as a wife, mother, and homemaker is not as easy
as it may seem, and we need to determine
to do our best at the job God has assigned to us.
“Whatsoever thy hand find
to do, do it with thy might...” (Eccl. 9:10).
3.
Our
Priorities: “Every
wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her
hands” (Proverbs 14:1). The
daily responsibilities of the worthy woman were to insure the well-being of
her household. She worked diligently to care for the
spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of her family. She
even used her homemaking skills to make a contribution to the family income,
yet she was able to do so without sacrificing God’s designed structure for
the home. She worked within God’s designed role, which was where she
received self-satisfaction.
4. Our
Plan:
“There
are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless
the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand” (Proverbs 19:21). Determine
now to model your life in keeping with God’s plan for
women. Satan will try to entice
you with the world’s ideas of an accomplished woman, but a
wise woman will understand the folly in such reasoning. Each
of us needs to take time for self-inspection, and give thought
to how we are accomplishing God’s plan for us. If your
home is not structured the way God intended, then begin making some
specific goals regarding changes you can make
in order to pattern your home according to God’s plan, beautiful plan.
An
industrious wife, mother, and homemaker will be able to find work to keep her
busy sun up to sun down. Learn to love your work.
Live your life of Christian womanhood in such a way that God can
proudly say “You are a worthy woman.”
Writer of the Week
My name is Joy Jensen. My parents are Wayne and
Betty
Jackson. I grew up in Stockton, CA. I married George Jensen in
1985. Shortly after we were married, George went to the East
Tennesse School of Preaching (1986-1988).
After graduating, we moved
back to CA, where George worked with the Airport church of
Christ
for 5 years. We then moved nearby to Pacifica, with the continued support of
the Airport congregation, for the purpose of establishing a new work.
After 8 years in Pacifica, we moved to
Iowa,
in 2001, to help a struggling congregation, where we have been
working the last 4 years. The congregation is in Menlo, IA,
which
is about 35 miles west of Des Moines.
George and I have four
children: Julia - 18, Jacob - 16, Luke - 14, and Lindsey. We have
homeschooled our children from the beginning. In addition to homeschooling,
I enjoy teaching Bible class, going on mission trips, cooking, gardening,
sewing, etc.
Our family has been
involved in mission work for a number of years. George has taken
mission trips to
Ukraine,
New
Zealand,
Australia,
Jamaica, India and Sri Lanka. I have been to New Zealand, Jamaica, and
India. George
has taken each of the kids on a mission trip, one at a time.
We were very fortunate to
be able to go, as a family, on a mission trip to India earlier this year. This is the
first time our entire family has been able to go together on a
mission
trip outside the states, and it was very memorable. We
are planning a mission trip to Malawi, Africa,
Lord-willing,
in
May of 2006.
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