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A Good Wife: A Modest Wife

Day 27 of my 31 Days Writing Challenge! Well, since I skipped a day it’s day 26, but 26 days in the book of Sirach…awesome! Yesterday we considered A Good Wife: An Intelligent Wife. Have you given much thought lately to what kind of wife you are? Well, today (actually late tonight) let’s consider A Good Wife: A Modest Wife.

A Good Wife: A Modest Wife

When I read this verse in Sirach 26, I immediately knew there had to be more to the word “modest” than just a woman who wore skirts and turtle necks. So I headed over to my bookmarked Thesaurus to see what some of the synonyms for “modest” are. Here are some of the words that stood out to me: humble, quiet, simple, discreet, nice, temperate.

I’m not too surprised by any of the synonyms are you? I did like seeing humble on the list because recently as I’ve been reading through Sirach, I’ve taken to drawing a box around the word humble. But the word that made me go “Ah-hah!” was “temperate.”

Yesterday, we considered A Good Wife: An Intelligent Wife and one of the words we considered was “rational.” Temperate can mean calm, moderate, controlled…which sounds like a pretty rational wife to me. So again we see, according to the book of Sirach, a wife who is not a slave to her emotions is a blessing to her husband. Why? Because he can count on her.

A husband needs to be able to depend on his wife’s steady and constant support. Woman was created to help the man because he needed help…or God would not have created her and spoke of her as a helpmate. But he does not need some unstable, flighty woman to contend with. (Of course, I am not talking about a true mental issue.) He needs to know if times get tough, she will remain a constant source of support; it’s hard enough for a man to battle the world, he does not need to then come home and battle his wife. This support frees him up to do what must be done.

A modest wife blesses her husband because he does not have to worry about her behaving scandalously in thought, word or deed. He knows she will carry herself in a controlled manner, not clearing the Target one dollar aisle when there’s no money in the account because she’s bored or trying to keep up with her neighbors. He knows he can tell her he has to work the weekend shift and she’s not going to fly off the handle blaming him for all her unhappiness. He knows she is his safe place in a crazy world.

A modest wife allows her husband to do and be his best because he can count on her.

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by Jenny

A Good Wife: An Intelligent Wife

I’m continuing my 31 Days Writing Challenge for the month of October. I desired to read and blog through the book of Sirach. For at least the next couple of days, I want to focus on the wisdom the book of Sirach contains for and about wives. Today, let’s consider a good wife: an intelligent wife.

A Good Wife: An Intelligent Wife

What would you consider a good wife? Someone who pleases her husband? A woman who maintains a Pinterest worthy home? Yes, yes and so much more. You know I love the Thesaurus, so I looked up “intelligent” in it and I was surprised by some of the synonyms: creative, original, rational, alert, all there, deep, ready…the list is extensive and very interesting.

“Happy the man of a creative wife.” This sentence definitely translates well considering Pinterest has made us all semi creative or at least think we are. But we don’t have to own a glue gun, stash burlap or use a Cricut to be creative. I think a much more creative endeavor is figuring out how to make a a delicious and nutritious meal with the lonely cans at the back of the pantry and the almost freezer burned cut of meat. Or how about pulling together Halloween costumes by raiding closets and drawers?

A creative wife is one who can turn what she has into what she needs or wants.

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“Happy the man of original wife.” Not picking on Pinterest at all, but sometimes imitation which is supposed to be the greatest form of flattery just becomes redundant. An original wife can like polka dots even though chevron is all the rage. She doesn’t have to run to the salon for ombre hair–possible spending money she does not have–just to look like everyone else. She can wear plain ‘ol jeans and not fight to squeeze her middle age, grand multipara body into “Skinny jeans.”

An original wife is a blessing because she knows who she is.

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“Happy the man of a rational wife.” A rational wife is a constant, steady blessing to her husband. He doesn’t have to wonder what time of the month it is because it doesn’t matter. His wife can or at least try to keep herself from being led by her emotions. She doesn’t accept every thought as truth or every whim as something to be done or had. She strives for balance and stability mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

A rational wife does not allow her emotions to dictate who she is.

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“Happy the man of an all there wife.” Woman was created to be the helper of man, not the superhero of the Church potluck, homeless shelter or charity auction. Remember when we considered “Who is My Neighbor?” An all there wife is present for her husband. She’s not running here and there; her contentment is found at home and then she freely shares with others. She can’t rob her husband of herself to give it to others.

“Happy the man of a ready wife.” A ready wife is accessible to her husband. She is close at hand ready to share life with her husband. She is not put off by his needs because she has her own to take care first.

A ready wife understands sacrificial love.

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She does not sit around idly waiting, she anticipates not only her husband’s needs but her own as well. She does not need her husband to complete her, she’s already found that completion in Christ. She’s ready, willing and able to be a good wife, an intelligent wife.

Click here to read more posts about a good wife.

Each day there is more encouragement and even some laughs over on my Facebook page. Head over and “Like” me there for more.

by Jenny

What Does the Bible Say About Money

Have you ever wondered, “What does the Bible say about money?” Have you ever wondered why the Bible would even care about money; isn’t it supposed to be about prayer, heaven and Jesus? Yes to all three. Would you be surprised to know the Bible does talk about money, finances and spending habit as well as Jesus, heaven and prayer. The Bible gives guidance and instruction for life…not just spiritual life. We are called to be good stewards of our money. That’s why it’s important to me to learn how to save money at the grocery store.

When you think of financial planning, who or what do you think of? Dave Ramsey? Yeah, me too! Money Saving Mom? Me too. Both Dave and Crystal approach finances from the standpoint of getting our spending down and our savings up so we can live our best life.

We cannot live an abundant life if we are being crushed by debt, chased by collection companies and fighting over finances.
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So what does the Bible say about money? Well, Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Worrying about money will steal your peace, kill you joy and destroy your hope. Dave and Crystal encourage financial freedom because they want a life that is abundant…and not only monetarily abundant.

Being out of debt and having a savings account allows us to live abundantly and give abundantly. Instead of focusing on ourselves and our financial straits, we can look outward and see the needs of others and have the ability to give. We can give time that we’re not spening crunching numbers, kiting checks and fighting over money. We can give goods that we have purchased without the fear of the bill or buyers remorse. We can give money that, instead of paying large interest payments, or spending on junk we can’t afford and do not need, can fill in the gap for someone just trying to get by.

The book of Sirach contains some sound financial advice.
Wakefulness over wealth wastes away one’s flesh, and anxiety about it drives away sleep.
†Sirach 31:1

Remember that a greedy eye is a bad thing. What has been created more greedy than the eye? Therefore it sheds tears for any reason.
†Sirach 31:13

And one of my favorites, echoed by St Paul the Apostle

So what does being content with little or much mean? It means getting our finances in order so we can live an abundant life that looks outward instead of inward. Being content with little or much means we don’t have to wander the “Dollar Spot” at Target just because we’re there and they have it. Being content with little or much means saying no right now, so we can freely say yes later.

I’m blogging for 31 Days reading the book of Sirach

by Jenny

How to Save Money at the Grocery Store Part 3

I’m posting a short series on ways that we are trying to save money at the grocery store. Here’s part 1 and part 2 of How to Save Money at the Grocery Store.

3. Meal Planning
So back to our Grocery Shopping and Money Saving planning. I have made my list of items on sale that I use and I’ve looked to see if I have any coupons for them. Now I look over that list and plan our meals for the week. If you grocery shop every other week or even monthly, you now do the same…build your meal plan from items on sale.

This has been a recent shift for me. I used to plan my menu first then match sale items to it. But it needs to be the other way around I believe. Using some of the examples I listed in How to Save Money at the Grocery Store Part 2…what if I didn’t have anything with avocadoes planned for this week’s menu? But then I plan a dish with avocadoes next week, when they are not on sale? Well, next week, after I made my list and checked the local sales, I wouldn’t see avocadoes listed in any sales, but they would be on my grocery list, so I’d buy a few at $1.48 each. How about instead, I see avocadoes are on sale this week and we love avocadoes around here! So I make a meal plan that includes avocadoes this week while I can get them on the cheap. If I meal plan according to the sales, I won’t be paying full price for most of the ingredients. {Tweet That!}

Using the examples from Part 1 of How to Save Money at the Grocery Store and Part 2…According to the sale ads and my coupons, I could purchase chicken breasts for $1.99 a pound verse the regular Walmart price of $2.98 a pound. I could also buy some avocadoes at .33 cents instead of $1.48 each using my price match from Aldi plus I could save money on them using one of the apps on my phone. I already had some dry pinto beans and canned tomatoes in the pantry. I also had some Chili Powder, Cumin, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder and dried Oregano in the spice cabinet. Looks like a good week to have Crock Pot Chicken Chili!

Last week, I saved $33.84 in price matches, $10.35 of that was just in avocadoes. Now some items I only saved .10 or .20 cents, but as you can see, that change adds up. I then saved $24.95 in coupons. Again, some of my coupons were only for .25 or .30 cents, but again, that adds up. And then between Ibotta, Checkout 51 and Shopimium I saved another $8. Combined savings, $66.79.

Oh, let’s consider one more important point which I need to change my thinking on.

It should not be about how much I saved, but how little I spent. {Click Here to Tweet!}

It doesn’t save me anything if I “saved” $66.79 on things we don’t use and would never buy. For example. We are in the middle of soccer season right now…well, we should be but instead we’re fighting the respiratory virus from hell, anyway…I don’t usually buy sport drinks, but Veronica asked for some Gatorade for her tournaments when she’s out on the field all day for two days. I noticed one of the apps, Ibotta I think, had a .50 “coupon” on Propel water. At our Walmart, a single bottle of Propel is $1, but using my Ibotta app, I was able to purchase it for .50…that’s something we kind of needed. At the same time, there is also some change off a People Magazine. I could buy it and save so many cents off the purchase, but that’s not something I would buy normally. So I might “save” $1 off the purchase price of a magazine, but I spent $2 out of my grocery budget (or however much) to get the deal. I saved nothing.

Share some of the ways you try to save your grocery bill.

Each day there is more encouragement and even some laughs over on my Facebook page. Head over and “Like” me there for more.

by Jenny

How to Save Money at the Grocery Store Part 2

I’m doing a little series on ways we are trying to save money at the grocery store. Here’s part 1 of How to Save Money at the Grocery Store if you missed it.

2. A Money Saving Plan

Once I’ve gone through and found any good deals in the sale ads that I can price match at Walmart, I then look to see if I have any coupons for those items. Anna and I have just started couponing and so far so good. I can see though where it would be easy to make myself crazy trying to chase down every good deal, so I’ve set some boundaries for myself.

First, I only look into a couple of stores. I cannot reasonably save myself time and money chasing down every deal. It does not save me any money to drive to five different stores in an attempt to save a dollar here or earn two here. Fuel cost needs to be a consideration in your grocery shopping deal chasing. This is why I primarily rely on price matching on Walmart. One store, easy-peasy. I will still look at some of the deals listed with Target, Walgreens or CVS though. But only the ones that will “make” me money, in the form of a gift card or in store “money.” But these deals have to be pretty sweet and the store has to be on the way to somewhere I have to be in order for me to do anymore than just look it over.

In addition to traditional coupons, there are a couple of really great apps I use on my phone to save me money at the grocery store. They are like coupons only the money saved comes in the form of a payment either placed on a gift card or deposited to my paypal account.

The really great thing about some of the apps is that some of their “coupons” are for things I typically cannot find coupons for: milk, fresh meat, fruits and veggies.

The ones I have used so far have been Ibotta, Checkout 51, and Shopimium. Here’s how they work; I just loaded these onto to my phone. I look them over as I’m preparing my list and make a note on my list if they have a deal for me to take good advantage of, there was one for avocadoes the other week…the same week I was able to price match the sale price of avocadoes at Walmart. Once I make my purchase and get home, I use my phone to scan the barcode of the item. Once I’ve scanned the barcode, then I take a picture of my receipt and wait for them to give me money…saawweeet!

Since starting with Ibotta last month, I’ve already earned $34.75…on things I would have normally purchased. For example…I’m all about the examples…I earned .25 on the purchase of a gallon of milk, $1 on my lunch meat, $1 on my Windex (which I also had a paper coupon for). And they offer incentives for me to refer friends…hello friends! Even without the incentives, I would be telling you all about this great program. Every little bit counts and it all starts to add up quickly.

Let’s finish this series up with part 3 of How to Save Money at the Grocery Store.