August 2025 - A Beautiful Builder

  "She was beautiful for the way she thought. She was beautiful for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No she wasn't beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul." (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

"Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." (Proverbs 14:1)

The older I get and still remain single the more I have to remind myself that I am in a time of preparing. It's so easy to allow each day to pass in a blur of responses instead of intentionally taking steps towards your goals. For most teens/young adults we will one day become a husband or a wife. Proverbs 31:11-12 says, "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." "All the days or her life" ...that includes before marriage. You bring your reputation and your habits into your marriage. When you become one with your spouse your reputation becomes theirs. Who will you bring into your marriage?

1. Attitude: "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." (Proverbs 15:13) Your attitude stems from your heart. "Guide thine heart in the way" if you want to be able to control your attitude you have to control what your mind digests: music, books, movies, video games, companions, they all affect the way you feel. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." (Proverbs 17:22) Your attitude affects everyone around you. "It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house." (Proverbs 21:9) Are you a cheerful person? Your attitude will build or destroy your home. Choose joy.

2. Actions: Every action taken is a grain of sand added to the bag that your life is made of. The actions committed now determine who you become; both mental and physical actions. Pure, grateful, kind, generous, knowledgeable, thoughtful, gracious, contented: you are creating the spouse you will one day be. If you are not content now, you will not be content when you are married. If you are impure in thought or action, you will not be faithful in thought or action after your vows. If you are stingy (with time, energy, or money) you will be stingy when married. No matter who you marry, you still bring you. Who are you?

3. Account: "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, or whether it be right." (Proverbs 20:11) What account do others give of you? People are judged by who they are associated with. "Birds of a feather flock together." What will your reputation say about your spouse? Will your name build them up or tear them down? 

Are you someone you would marry? Now is the time to grow; now is the time to prepare.

"Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." (Proverbs 14:1)