05.02.07
Week Eleven
1. Read chapter 11, “A Taste of Success”. What part of the chapter really stood out to you? What is something you found encouraging or convicting?
2. Read Proverbs 31:18 and Ps. 34:8. What are things that other people see you as being “good at”? Why do you think they say this? Do you have any tips for others in those areas?
3. Read Phil. 3:13,14 and Ecc. 9:10. What reasons for confidence do you find there?
4. What is an area that you can see yourself needing to improve your excellence in? How might you plan to do that?
Tanya said,
May 9, 2007 at 4:59 pm
1. Read chapter 11, “A Taste of Success”. What part of the chapter really stood out to you? What is something you found encouraging or convicting?
One thing that stood out to me, as someone who can be overly gung-ho about being industrious, is that the family of the virtuous woman comes First. They get her Best. Once their needs have been met to the best of her ability and with excellence, THEN she moves on to trying to sell and make profits for her home. I think today, maybe becuase of how our society is, that too much focus is taken away from the home. It’s okay for the family to suffer in pursuits outside. Sure, those pursuits could be profitable to the home and family, eventually, but with the virtuous woman, she makes sure that the needs of her home and family are met FIRST and then moves to outside the home. That is a priority list that is good, for me anyway, to keep in mind – in everything I do. By putting my husband and my home first, I am giving glory to God because that is the order that He wants me to have things in. And by His grace, I will have the wisdom to live out my priorities in that order.
I think I might also hang up the quote, “You take care of the depth and let God take care of the breadth” in a place that I can easily see it. I need to be striving for excellence and then let God take care of how far that reaches.
2. Read Proverbs 31:18 and Ps. 34:8. What are things that other people see you as being “good at”? Why do you think they say this? Do you have any tips for others in those areas?
I think that this question brings up something to think about… I need to be humbly aware of the things that God has blessed me with the ability to do, but recognize them for just that – what HE has blessed me with. I have had the experience of asking one woman for help with a project – a woman that I had perceived to have a nack for it – and her response was a humble one of feeling priviledged to be asked. On the other hand, I had another woman – who I hadn’t perceived to have a “nack” for what I needed – volunteer her services, saying that she was good at what I was looking for. I liked how Elizabeth brought up in this chapter that the work of the virtuous woman was noticed by others and they approached her with wanting her help. She was not out trying to sell her own work. She concentrated on reaching excellence in what she did and let that speak for itself.
One thing that God has blessed me to find easy to do is organization and time management. I can see a lot of ways that I need to improve in both but based on the comments that others have made to me, this is an area He has graced me in. I actually enjoy it!
3. Read Phil. 3:13,14 and Ecc. 9:10. What reasons for confidence do you find there?
My confidence is to be placed in Christ and in His work in me, not in what I can do on my own. I don’t know about you, but I have found that when I do start placing my confidence in my own ability, things start falling apart pretty quickly!
4. What is an area that you can see yourself needing to improve your excellence in? How might you plan to do that?
I am thinking through landscaping at our house and trying to figure out what plants to put where and how they might grow the best in different locations. This is a new thing for me (plants in general aren’t my thing – ask people who know my about my brown thumb!). I love plants, however, and watching them grow and blossom so I currently have about 10 books from the library checked out about gardening. Of course, having the books does me no good until I have time to really read them, so I need to be carving that out. I also know some ladies at my work who are particularly good with plants so I am asking their advice on things, as well.
Charissa said,
May 10, 2007 at 2:04 pm
1. Read chapter 11, “A Taste of Success”. What part of the chapter really stood out to you? What is something you found encouraging or convicting?
I’d say this chapter made me think about different skills I have or could possibly use to make some extra income for my family or that I could trade with someone for something. It’s a great Idea to use something you enjoy and have a skill at!! and I haven’t really considered it before. I guess the only way to know if it would work or whether any skill I have would be useful or good enough quality to someone else would be to try it.
2. Read Proverbs 31:18 and Ps. 34:8. What are things that other people see you as being “good at”? Why do you think they say this? Do you have any tips for others in those areas?
I think you are very right Tanya, when you say that it’s important to be humble about skills! There is always room to grow and there is always someone better it seems
which is probably good, as far as being humble.
It is kind of hard to say what I am “good at”, but when I think about things other people have said to me, I guess I’m good at baking and even cooking sometimes. I guess they say this because they like how it tastes and looks, and sometimes people don’t enjoy doing it or haven’t had good experiences with it.
3. Read Phil. 3:13,14 and Ecc. 9:10. What reasons for confidence do you find there?
it’s good to work hard at something! it honors God when you do it for his glory
4. What is an area that you can see yourself needing to improve your excellence in? How might you plan to do that?
well, it’s hard to pick out an area. I’m taking it that is is to be an area that enhances our home life, or could bring in some extra income for our family. And I just don’t know what to say. I could grow in any and every area. I know – I could work on becoming better at making certain dishes instead of always trying new ones and not being especially good at any one in particular. At the church i attended in Sioux Falls there was a lady who was very well known for her cheesecake. I guess she worked at it until she had perfected it.