An Excellent Husband
Happy February, beloved! This month, I want to take a moment to thank you and ask for your continued prayers for my husband as he is in the final stretch of his 3-year bible training program. He graduates in May, and is toiling to finish his 60-page thesis paper by April on 'welcoming one another, as Christ' (Romans 15:7). I also want to take a moment to affirm him and our fellow brothers and praise the Lord for them. I have adapted Proverbs 31:10-31, NKJV, to put this to words.
For his worth is far above a pension.
The heart of his wife gladly submits to him;
So she will have no lack of gain.
He does her good and not evil
All the days of his life.
He seeks employment and training,
And willingly works with his hands.
He is like the cargo ships,
He brings his goods from afar.
He also rises while it is yet night,
And provides money for his household,
And a portion for enjoyment.
He considers a venture and pursues it;
From his profits he invests in stock.
He girds himself with faithfulness,
And disciplines his eyes.
He perceives that his enterprise is good,
And his lamp does not go out by night.
He stretches out his hands to the shovel,
And his hand holds the hammer.
He extends his hand to the poor,
Yes, he reaches out his hands to the needy.
He is not afraid of snow for his household,
For all his household is clothed with down.
He makes tools for himself;
His fence is straight and painted.
His wife is known in the community,
When she goes about her errands.
He signs contracts and secures deals,
And supplies encouragement to his coworkers.
Humility and self-control are his clothing;
He shall rejoice in time to come.
He opens his mouth with truth,
And on his tongue is the law of grace.
He sacrificially leads his household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
His children rise up and call him blessed;
His wife also, and she praises him:
"Many sons have done well,
But you excel them all."
People pleasing is deceitful and strength is passing,
But a man who fears the Lord, he shall be praised.
Give him of the fruit of his hands,
And let his own works praise him in the city.
If you are single and desire to marry a God-fearing spouse, ask the Father who gives good and perfect gifts that are suitable for us, if it is His will (James 1:17, Genesis 2:20). Are you widowed (1 Timothy 5:5)? Thank Him for the years you shared. Have you been entangled in sin? Confess and receive His faithful forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:8-10, 2:1-2). Is your spouse an unbeliever and/or walking in sin? Win them over without a word; win them with your conduct (1 Peter 3:1). Or is the Spirit allowing you to see them becoming more and more conformed to Christ (Romans 8:29)? God is the one who enables all of us to do every work (Ephesians 3:20-21), whether single or married. It is easy to point out someone else's flaws (at least it is for me), but let us give glory to the Lord by affirming the work He is doing in and through our brothers and sisters and especially our spouses (Psalm 29:1-2, Philippians 1:1-7)!
Praise Reports:
- Husband is more than half way on the first draft of his thesis;
- Husband and I continue ongoing discipleship; we were able to attend a 2-day marriage conference; and we had the blessing of hosting one of our neighbors for dinner;
- We were able to celebrate the annual February birthday trio (me, husband & my dad);
- Jacob is growing in relationships and humility; and
- Zachary is continuing to work, go to school and spend time with us.
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| Surprise Birthday!!! 😁 |
- Husband is working on his 60-page thesis for his last semester of bible training;
- A new home to live in/near Riverside;
- Wisdom, endurance & to walk in the Spirit, with ongoing health challenges, daily dealings with sin & working (Avi);
- Witnessing and discipleship opportunities; and
- Jacob & Zachary to bear consistent/genuine fruit of salvation.
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