05.09.07
Week Twelve
1. Read chapter 12, “A Little Night Work” and write about something that you found encouraging or convicting.
2. How does Prov. 31:18 and 19 say the virtuous woman should spend her evening?
3. How can you plan to use your evenings more profitably? What are some projects that you can work on?
4. What motivation for evening work do you find in Prov. 10:4? Can you think of other motivating verses?
5. How do you use your mind in your free time (driving in the car, shower time, standing in line)? What are some things you can do to better improve your use of that time? How will you start disciplining your mind this week?
Charissa said,
May 13, 2007 at 1:43 pm
1. Read chapter 12, “A Little Night Work” and write about something that you found encouraging or convicting.
Using the evenings for something useful that is still low key is a good idea. Sometimes I get the idea that we are supposed to be busy all the time and utterly exhausted by the time we go to bed, and that makes me feel stressed out, but I don’t really think that is what is supposed to happen. It’s more about using daytime, which is our most energetic time for the most taxing things, and then doing easy things at night. And I know it’s easy to just sit down and relax, but I think that if I had something planned to do, that wasn’t hard, I would do it.
2. How does Prov. 31:18 and 19 say the virtuous woman should spend her evening?
awake and doing something useful
3. How can you plan to use your evenings more profitably? What are some projects that you can work on?
cutting out coupons, using that time to take care of my nails, folding laundry, making cards, crocheting
4. What motivation for evening work do you find in Prov. 10:4? Can you think of other motivating verses?
if we are lazy and don’t do anything, we will become poor. We must be doing work if we want to make money to live. also, working is how we get all the other things done that we need to do
. It seems that when people get really lazy to the point of where they really do nothing, their lives go down the tubes, mentally, physically, socially, and just in the way of everything. This is the extreme case of course, but it’s good to realize how important it is to keep our minds thinking and doing. We can change things up to keep from getting bored, and I think the main thing is, not to plan on sitting around doing nothing every free chance we have. Planning is huge!
5. How do you use your mind in your free time (driving in the car, shower time, standing in line)? What are some things you can do to better improve your use of that time? How will you start disciplining your mind this week?
I think I spend it thinking about what is going on in my life. I think it would be better to pray, for myself, but especially others, or think about ways I can work on improving certain skills, or planning a something fun for or with my husband.
Tanya said,
May 16, 2007 at 4:58 pm
1. Read chapter 12, “A Little Night Work” and write about something that you found encouraging or convicting.
I liked what you said, Charissa, about it not necessarily being the case that we should be utterly exhausted falling into bed at night. If we’re planning how we use our time, that doesn’t have to be the case. I have found that I enjoy working on a project such as needlework or crocheting in the evenings when we watch t.v. or movies. I have a hard time sitting still for a whole movie and justifying the “wasted” time so I pick projects that I can do. I’m still spending time with my husband and it’s still relaxing but I’m getting things done, too! I like the question in the chapter about “what can I get done in 20 minutes”? Really, that’s a great way to break down time. I know someone who works on projects in 15 minute increments. It’s amazing what you can get done in that time when you’re really focused! I pray that we redeem the time that we have – we don’t have a lot of it! I’ve been thinking lately – when I’m 80 and look back on my life… what part of my busyness am I going to think was a waste of time? That sobers me… Just because I’m doing things all the time doesn’t mean that I’m not wasting time…
2. How does Prov. 31:18 and 19 say the virtuous woman should spend her evening?
She is spending them profitably. While she nevers seems to stop going, she does use her time wisely by doing the less taxing things in the evening. I never thought of this aspect of things. Yes, the virtuous woman is always busy but she plans her different tasks in the best order possible so that she is still getting things done but not wearing herself out.
3. How can you plan to use your evenings more profitably? What are some projects that you can work on?
I just finished embroidering a set of pillows for my mom so I need to find another project!
I’m thinking either wash cloths for the kitchen or starting an afghan. We also have a box that contains our “file pile” which is quite large at this time (filing isn’t one of those things that I really like to do) so I could tackle that, too – sorting and getting it ready for filing.
4. What motivation for evening work do you find in Prov. 10:4? Can you think of other motivating verses?
The evening work that the virtuous woman does helps to enrich her life and the life of her family and friends. I think also of Ps. 90:12 – “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” If we’re numbering our days, we aren’t wasting them! Each moment is a gift – and I need to decide to use that gift for good. remembering who has given me that gift.
5. How do you use your mind in your free time (driving in the car, shower time, standing in line)? What are some things you can do to better improve your use of that time? How will you start disciplining your mind this week?
I, too, spend a lot of my “free time” thinking about what’s going on in life and what I need to do and who I need to remember to talk to, etc.. I need to be disciplined to be meditating on Scripture and memorizing it and also to be using those times to pray. Talk about breaking a day up into 20 minutes – that’s about how long my commute to work is… so that’s 40 minutes a day that I could be using more profitably with a disciplined mind! In a week, that’s over 3 hours!! Yikes!
Vanessa said,
May 17, 2007 at 3:35 am
1. Read chapter 12, “A Little Night Work” and write about something that you found encouraging or convicting.
I liked the twenty minute idea and the idea to have a list of things to do in the evening, lists often make doing something a lot easier. It was nice to be reading this chapter now that I’m at home and working during the day. It can be easy to view the night as time to relax, and while it is-I can use it to do so much and really do things I enjoy doing-plus, i usually get a pretty good perk around eight o clock at night-what a perfect time to do cards, exercise, organizing etc.
2. How does Prov. 31:18 and 19 say the virtuous woman should spend her evening?
she is so diligent!
She doesn’t spend them idly, but rather sees this as yet another opportunity to serve her family and grow. She joyfully seeks out more to do, when many others would take a break. Though she is diligently working, she also relaxes in lighter work. This is so amazing, the Proverbs 31 woman is thinking in service mode-24/7
3. How can you plan to use your evenings more profitably? What are some projects that you can work on?
I could definitely do a lot with my evenings. I can budget my checkbook, study my greek, prepare for my Old Testament class next semester, write notes to friends here and at school, clean the house a bit, do some laundry and put together more things which would brighten up our home and show my family Christ’s love.
4. What motivation for evening work do you find in Prov. 10:4? Can you think of other motivating verses?
Like Tanya was saying, Laziness can be so dangerous. One area of laziness can often lead to many others. It helps so much to keep an ordered mind and not allow it to wallow in idleness. This is so helpful not just to success, but to a life devoted to serving God and our family.
5. How do you use your mind in your free time (driving in the car, shower time, standing in line)? What are some things you can do to better improve your use of that time? How will you start disciplining your mind this week?
I try sometimes to just meditate on scripture, lately it’s been hard with so many things going on. But I need to work more to focus my mind on prayer and on applying His word to my life and serving others.
I apologize Tanya for not posting these past few weeks, it has been quite busy. Thank you so much for putting this Bible study together-it is a great encouragement and learning opportunity for me.
Tanya said,
May 18, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Welcome back, Vanessa! Glad to have you!